In their original incarnation, reggae-ska-punk band Sublime left the world with two excellent albums – 1992’s ‘40oz To Freedom’ and 1996’s ‘Sublime’. Between these two essentials, the sketchier ‘Robbin’ The Hood’ presented some great tracks, but lacked the momentum of the other records, with the more obviously finished material joined by narrative skits and acoustic pieces. For the more patient fan, it actually offered a broader insight into how the band worked; never beholden to one style, Bud, Eric and Bradley were always keen to experiment.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
KIKI HOLLI + THE REMEDY – Something About You EP
By using mechanised beats and reverbed sounds to open this EP, KiKi Holli + The Remedy immediately advertise an interest in taking their audience somewhere that feels a little detached. There’s very little that’s organic about the sound, but in this case “detached” doesn’t mean “cold”. As the first couple of verses of ‘Something About You’ play out, it becomes clear that this number’s music draws from different sources, but pretty much exists in its own world. The rhythms of this track call back to the trip hop movement of the 90s; the sparsely applied electric guitar chords – chopping with a sharp edge, but never feeling intrusive – lend more of a film score quality, leaning towards a couple of 90s Bond themes, but in contrast, Holli’s lead vocal takes on a smooth presence, crying each line as if drowning in a soul/R&B arrangement. …And it’s that voice that helps this to really shine, and also to invite the audience deeper into the band’s world, even at times when the music might seem a little more aloof. This takes several plays before it’s true magic shines through, but at the point where things start to click, chances are, the listener will consider Holli’s vocal style incredibly alluring, and want to hear more. Potentially much more.
BRYAN FERRY – Another Time, Another Place
By the beginning of 1974, Bryan Ferry had achieved star status in the UK. In two short years, he’d recorded two big selling albums with Roxy Music, appeared on both Top of The Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test and even found time to record his own album of cover versions, the brilliantly inventive ‘These Foolish Things’. That solo debut reached a slightly broader audience than the artier Roxy Music and scored a top five place on the UK album chart.
STATUS QUO – The Early Years Vol 2 (1970-1972)
As any big Quo fan knows, the band’s early recordings for Pye Records have been milked to death for the reissue market. From cheapo compilations to multi disc sets, it’s felt as if Pye era material has always been an easy licence for anyone hoping to make a quick quid. Most of the compilations are a little lacking, but occasionally a decent one will creep through, and BMG’s 2024 release ‘The Early Years, Volume 1’ did the best job ever, presenting a 5CD box set rounding up pretty much everything from the band’s archives from between 1966 and 1969.
Watch: Lost Velvet share new video for ‘Right Back’
The first thing that’s striking about ‘Right Back’, the current single from Reading based newcomers Lost Velvet, is how perfect it sounds. The rhythm track cracks through the slow arrangement with a genuine edge that’s rather striking. It contrasts the mellow music and hazy vocals brilliantly. The second thing you’ll likely note is how quickly this band are able to set up a great atmosphere: the sharp production contrasting with the trippy vocal sounds evokes a great mood even before the first verse has reached its climax.