The most hotly anticipated album of the year is another step closer as Radiohead have released the first single off their as yet untitled ninth album. ‘Burn The Witch’ opts for a mesmerising yet sinister orchestral sound which is a marked departure from the electronica of their previous album The King of Limbs. The music video features a stop-motion retelling of The Wicker Man. Prior to it’s release the band teased fans with snippets of the video, leaflets in the post, and by deleting content from their social media. Only time will tell if the album lives up to expectations.
Album Review: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity
Heavy Metal | Psychedelic Rock
41%
The Edge performs at The Sistine Chapel
U2 guitarist The Edge has made history by becoming the first contemporary musician to perform at the Vatican’s magnificent Sistine Chapel. He performed an acoustic set backed with an Irish choir as part of a conference on regenerative medicine and the fight against cancer. The setlist included ‘Walk On’, ‘Yahweh’ and ‘Ordinary Love’ as well as a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘If It Be Your Will’.
Top Tracks: Mumford & Sons, Baaba Maal, The Very Best and Beatenberg – There Will Be Time
Having already broken away from their folk origins and ventured into indie rock for their latest album Wilder Mind, Mumford & Sons are continuing their search for new sounds. Conceived on their sell-out tour of South Africa the band have collaborated with Senegalese singer/songwriter Baaba Maal, London based DJ duo The Very Best and South African pop group Beatenberg. The coming together of artists from such different backgrounds to work together unreservedly is really heart warming. The different styles integrate perfectly and evoke an unbridled sense of energy, unity and joy in what they have created. The collaboration’s EP Johannesburg, which was recorded in just two days, is released 17th June.
Spotlight!: Meadowlark
Bristol based duo Kate McGill and Daniel Broadley are on to a winning formula. Having come together because they both longed a change of musical direction in their careers, they settled on a mix of folky guitar and piano interspersed with some lush ambient electronics. The subtle soundscape and McGill’s delicate vocals on tracks like ‘Fly’ and ‘Satellite’ result in a captivating and chilled-out mood. It’s like the musical equivalent of a deep and tranquil oasis glistening in the sun. It’s far too easy to get sucked into their simple and soothing songs and just escape the world for a short while. Having supported Amber Run and Rhodes, and having received plenty of well deserved support from the likes of BBC Introducing and Flying Vinyl, Meadowlark are certainly set to take off.
Fans of Oh Wonder, Gabrielle Aplin, Birdy and The Staves should check out their latest EP ‘Paraffin’.
Playlist: March/April 2016
Album Review: Matthew and the Atlas – Temple
Matthew and the Atlas – TempleMust Own Albums: Spirit of the 60s
The Doors – The Doors
The Doors debut album features very little overdubs; it is essentially a snapshot of one of their famously wild live performances at the Whisky a Go Go. Featuring some of their biggest hits including ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’ and ‘The End’, this album introduced the world to Jim Morrison’s dark poetic lyrics and wild personality. The world hasn’t seen anything quite like it before or since.
Big Brother and the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
Quick to capitalise on the success of their performance at Monterey Pop Festival, the band released their debut and Cheap Thrills shortly after. It would be the band’s last album with the incredible Janis Joplin as their lead singer. It spawned two of her biggest hits, ‘Piece of My Heart’ and ‘Ball and Chain’, and kickstarted her hugely influential, but sadly short-lived solo career.
Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
One of the greatest albums of the “Summer of Love” and the first to include Grace Slick as front woman. Spawning the massive singles ‘White Rabbit’ and ‘Somebody to Love’ it propelled them to become international stars. Glace Slick became one of the pioneering women in rock music and inspired such people as Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith and Florence Welch.
Cream – Disraeli Gears
Considered one of the first and most successful supergroups of all time. Disraeli Gears saw them depart from the blues sound of their debut and venture into more psychedelic territory, such as on ‘Strange Brew’, ‘Tales of Brave Ulysses’ and the band’s signature song ‘Sunshine of Your Love’. Although they were only together for a couple of years, they influenced a host of important bands including Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.
MTV brings back Unplugged
MTV bosses have decided to bring back some much needed music to their channel. It has been announced that they will be reviving their Unplugged series, the most successful show in the channel’s history. Further details have yet to be announced about what artists are due to perform. Unplugged gained notoriety after producing some of the most captivating live performances of the 90s, and in some cases of all time, from such artists as Nirvana, Eric Clapton, Pearl Jam, REM and Alice In Chains.
Prince passes away
As if we haven’t lost enough wonderful people already this year, musical icon, innovator and visionary Prince has sadly died aged 57. The cause of his death has not yet been released but he was rushed to hospital last week for severe, flu-like symptoms. Prince had an unparalleled career that influenced countless people and spanned nearly 40 studio albums. His eclectic and eccentric catalogue included such massive hits as ‘When Doves Cry’, ‘Little Red Corvette’, ‘1999’, ‘Kiss’, ‘The Most Beautiful Girl in the World’ and his signature song ‘Purple Rain’. A mysterious and secretive figure he was one of the most imaginative creative forces in music combining rock, soul, funk, R&B and electronica. He had an incredible vocal range, was a peerless multi-instrumentalist and was among the best guitarists ever to walk the Earth. He has left a remarkable legacy and will be sorely missed.
Belwood Music 