written for High Voltage ‘Nice Guys’ is the second single from We Are Scientists’ new LP ‘Barbara’ and it should act as the vehicle for the band’s demise. It is dull, uninspiring and lyrically annoying, and in the eclectic music world that exists currently, this kind of tripe will surely not last five minutes. The… [Read more…]
June 8, 2010
written for High Voltage Parisian popsters Yeti Lane have returned from their brief hiatus a member down, but the duo that remain have still managed to create some wonderful sounds on their new EP ‘Twice’. There are remnants of the old Yeti Lane, with the majority of the new EP still offering indie-pop delicacies, but… [Read more…]
June 4, 2010
Hungry Pigeon 2010 turned out to be an enormous success and Manchester can be proud to have hosted such an impressive event. Around 150 bands played over the three days and it allowed a large audience to assess the credentials of many aspiring music acts. With so many bands performing, there was inevitably going to… [Read more…]
June 1, 2010
Andy Murray limped out of this year’s French Open with a disappointing defeat to Czech player Tomas Berdych, losing 6-4 7-5 6-3. It was an unsatisfactory end to a campaign that had thrilled and delighted for the first three rounds. Murray looked disjointed, but credit must go to Berdych for the way in which he… [Read more…]
May 29, 2010
Andy Murray deserves a lot of credit for this excellent third-round performance at Roland Garros. His opening match was an epic five setter, followed by a second-round encounter that was hit by large rain delays, meaning the game was stretched over two days, denying Murray the crucial days rest needed to aid recuperation between difficult… [Read more…]
May 29, 2010
Andy Murray defeated Juan Ignacio Chela in the second round of the French Open despite severe rain delays interrupting the match and meaning it stretched over 2 days. This was the second time in recent weeks he has defeated Chela comfortably and he now he takes in place in round 3 where he will play… [Read more…]
May 27, 2010
Andy Murray produced a superb comeback in his first round match at this year’s French Open, coming from two sets and a break down to beat Richard Gasquet of France 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1. Both players produced some superb tennis during the 4 hours 4 minutes on court, with Gasquet showing the kind of… [Read more…]
May 27, 2010
written for High Voltage Manchester’s Hungry Pigeon swoops back into town this weekend and it looks set to top last year’s inaugural event. It is an amalgamation of all things creative, with music, film, fashion photography and art coming together to create a special spring bank holiday weekend festival in Manchester. Athlete are the headline… [Read more…]
May 24, 2010
written for High Voltage An expectant audience packed into Manchester’s Mint Lounge to witness the regional premiere of ODDSAC, the new ‘visual album’ from Animal Collective. It’s an hour-long spectacle which marries together new Animal Collective tracks with eerie and psychedelic visual artistry. It is a piece 4 years in the making and offers fans… [Read more…]
May 20, 2010
It would seem that the ATP World Tour has come to life in recent weeks. The two Masters Events in Rome and Madrid have ignited what has been an otherwise tepid start to 2010 from some of the game’s biggest names. Andy Murray’s form has picked up considerably, while in Madrid this week, Rafael Nadal… [Read more…]
May 15, 2010
Last Friday saw the official launch of I Am Blackbird’s fantastic new EP ‘This Town’ at the Night & Day Cafe in Manchester. Recently named Piccadilly Records’ ‘Record of the Week’, a truly deserved accolade, the EP is excellent and there is a review available on Passions Just Like Mine for anybody not familiar with… [Read more…]
May 13, 2010
written for High Voltage Friday 14th May sees the regional premiere of ODDSAC, a new ‘visual album’ from Animal Collective, which is the result of 4 years worth of collaboration between the band and filmmaker Danny Perez. The hour-long spectacle was premiered back in January at the Sundance Film Festival and should provide thrilling viewing.… [Read more…]
May 4, 2010
written for High Voltage I Am Blackbird are Manchester’s finest new music act and this week sees the release of their long-awaited debut EP ‘This Town’. It is a breathtaking collection of songs that should act as a catalyst for the band to go on and achieve great things. Unquestionably the best live act in… [Read more…]
April 30, 2010
written for High Voltage British Sea Power’s performance here in Manchester tonight was notable for numerous reasons. Firstly, the band offered a great display of musicianship, with each member worthy of high praise. An expert display of intricate songs demonstrated their undoubted ability and professionalism. They are also a band who possess great presence, with… [Read more…]
April 30, 2010
written for High Voltage The wait is finally over. Beast Rest Forth Mouth, Bear In Heaven’s second long player, was released in the US in October last year, but it has taken its sweet time to arrive on these shores. It bristles with purpose, retaining many of the psychedelic undercurrents that underpinned their first album,… [Read more…]
April 25, 2010
written for High Voltage Tonight saw yet another Brooklyn-based band descend upon The Deaf Institute and provide an impressive display of musical ability. Bear In Heaven are little known in the UK at present, but expect them to become more widely recognised in the not too distant future. They create vast musical landscapes that contain… [Read more…]
April 23, 2010
written for High Voltage It is difficult to define ‘Love Is All’. Their latest long player, ‘Two Thousand and Ten Injuries’, quite clearly exhibits indie, pop and punk influences, but they also attempt to make use of saxophone and boy/girl harmonies, making a definite description of their approach difficult to arrive at. What is clear… [Read more…]
April 18, 2010
written for High Voltage Laura Marling delivered a spectacular set of folk songs tonight at The Lowry, and left her audience in no doubt that she has the talent and ability to continue her ascent in music. Her vocal delivery is excellent but she also possesses the more difficult skill of being able to write… [Read more…]
April 18, 2010
written for Student Direct Andy Murray’s abysmal form shows no signs of subsiding, with a lacklustre defeat meaning that he has now slipped to fifth in the world rankings. The red clay of Monte Carlo may not be his preferred surface, but a dismal 6-2 6-1 second-round defeat to world number 33 Phillip Kohlschreiber has… [Read more…]
April 16, 2010
written for High Voltage The Paris Riots demonstrated tonight that last year’s appearance at FIB was not a fluke, and that performances on larger stages may become habitual in the future. Their stage presence is exemplary, and they write pretty impressive stadium rock songs, meaning they are quickly outgrowing the smaller music venues, and, judging… [Read more…]
April 14, 2010
written for High Voltage The Smiths have left behind a unique and enduring legacy. Their songs are listened to by more people now than ever before and they continue to influence an untold number of new bands. Morrissey’s unsurpassed ability to write poetic lyrics, that were both witty and sorrowful, meant that the band were… [Read more…]
April 12, 2010
Written for High Voltage Things are going extremely well for We Have Band. Having built a strong reputation as an impressive live act, the London-based three-piece have signed to France’s largest independent record label, have an album pending and are booked to play a plethora of live dates across the UK and Europe. If their… [Read more…]
April 7, 2010
The Magnetic Fields played an extraordinary 29 songs at the glorious Manchester Cathedral tonight, and their set was as impressive as it was long, offering a beautiful sound that matched the spectacular visuals inside one of Manchester’s oldest buildings. Even with a back catalogue as extensive as theirs, it was an unexpected but pleasant surprise… [Read more…]
April 7, 2010
Andy Murray lost 6-4 6-4 to American Mardy Fish in the second round of the Miami Masters, leaving little doubt that, if his current poor form persists, it will threaten his position among the tennis elite. Since mid 2008, Murray has continually improved his game, winning numerous Masters Events and contesting 2 grand-slam finals, however,… [Read more…]
April 1, 2010
written for High Voltage Manchester’s Deaf Institute was packed to the rafters as The Drums made their much anticipated return to this growing left-field venue. An expectant audience did not leave disappointed as the New Yorkers provided an energetic performance full of vocal hooks and superb dancing. Support tonight came in the shape of Uranium… [Read more…]
March 31, 2010
written for High Voltage Band on the Wall is one of Manchester’s finest venues and the music on display this evening was more than a match for the splendid setting. Karima Francis was the headline act, though a stunning performance by I Am Blackbird ensured that the audience left with a new name imprinted firmly… [Read more…]
March 29, 2010
After a disappointing performance last time out in Dubai, Andy Murray was looking to improve greatly here at the first Masters 1000 event of 2010, in the Coachella Valley, California. However, his progress was halted at the quarter-final stage by the big-hitting Swede Robin Soderling and Murray now heads to Miami with some serious thinking… [Read more…]
March 22, 2010
written for High Voltage There must be something in the Brooklyn water as this famous borough of New York is producing some seriously good music at present. What is so refreshing about the Brooklyn ‘scene’ is the bands that comprise it. They are impressive and obviously talented, yet the myriad of distinct sounds each creates… [Read more…]
March 17, 2010
written for High Voltage Karima Francis has established herself as one of the stand-out singers to have graced the Manchester music scene in recent years. Some breathtaking Manchester performances, including an impressive In The City date, caught the eye of many; and she was eventually signed to Kitchenware Records and performed live on Jools Holland.… [Read more…]
March 16, 2010
written for High Voltage Attempting to categorise Yeasayer in terms of musical genre is a thankless task. There can be very few bands who attempt to fuse such an eclectic mix of influences and achieve such a unique sound. However, one thing for certain is that their new album Odd Blood offers a far greater… [Read more…]
March 5, 2010
The Dubai Tennis Championships is a tournament held in high-esteem by many of the world’s top players. The palatial setting and extravagant 7-star hotel means that the players are particularly well looked after. This luxurious and pleasurable treatment means that, for many of the games top stars, it is one of the stand-out tournaments on… [Read more…]
March 1, 2010
Manchester has a renowned reputation for being a hot-bed of musical talent, though occasionally that can feel like an over-played myth. There are seemingly endless amounts of bands with very little talent or direction and many gig nights in Manchester will leave you disappointed. Still, every now and then a band will come along and… [Read more…]
February 10, 2010
It is instantly obvious when listening to Crystal Stilts that their musical diet is somewhat limited, however, this does not detract from the quality of their sound. Their songs are simple in technical terms, with stripped down drum patterns and uncomplicated chord structures, but their minimalist approach and dark, crooned vocal, together with reverb-heavy guitar… [Read more…]
February 7, 2010
If you have become increasingly concerned about the damage our ‘special relationship’ with America is doing to Britain’s reputation in the world, then Clare Short is an MP who should command your respect. This is a lady who has written and spoken extensively about the need for Britain to reassess its foreign policy and play… [Read more…]
February 7, 2010
Andy Murray again excelled himself on the highest tennis stage, this time at the 2010 Australian open. Murray’s form over the two weeks was spectacular, and, despite losing 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) in the final to Roger Federer, he is surely getting ever closer to winning that elusive grand-slam title. Criticism of his decision to… [Read more…]
February 3, 2010
Written for Student Direct photography by Sam Ellis After a breathless 2009, which saw the release of 2 new albums and 2 re-released classics, as well as endless touring across America, UK and Europe;… [Read more…]
February 3, 2010
Hello, we are Bollard Construction Limited and we are the creators of the world’s first Morrissey Hotel, a unique complex located in the heart of Manchester, England. Opened in 2009 and costing over £117m to create, it took 2 years to complete the construction of this 5 star attraction. It is hoped that Morrissey Hotel… [Read more…]
June 8, 2010
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