Caribou plays it safe in Manchester on a bill with some of the newest and brightest while Battles explore the freedom of losing a memeber. Matthew Britton reports.
ReviewsAuthor Matthew Britton
Perfume Genius – The King’s Arms, Salford 17/05/11
On a Salford stage, many thousands of miles away from his Seattle base and with the backdrop of an oil projector, Perfume Genius sings the most honest, aching lyrics about love and loss. It’s nothing short of breathtaking.
Record Store Day: TLOBF meets Manchester’s Piccadilly Records
Like most independent record stores, Piccadilly in Manchester is about more than just shifting units. Matthew Britton caught up with Piccadilly Record employee Paul Allen to find out more.
Rainbow Arabia – Boys and Diamonds
Whilst Boys and Diamonds is a strong debut, it never really threatens to break out of that into being outstanding, rarely making the leap into it’s own space that you spend the entirety of its 41 minute running time urging it to do.
David’s Lyre w/ Mammal Club – Night and Day, Manchester 18/02/11
There’s something that aches about seeing David’s Lyre play songs to a half empty room when they’re clearly meant to be for baying mobs. The song craft that has always been evident in the recorded material transfers into something mildly reminiscent of a bootlegged Jeff Buckley show when performed live – tender, enigmatic and fraught, though more a facsimile than the real thing.
Everything Everything – RNCM, Manchester 13/12/10
Throughout their career, Everything Everything have been a band that have simply demanded a response, their fervent fan base reacting to the smatterings of disparaging reviews with the kind of zeal only reserved for bands destined for big things.
Wavves – Islington Mill, Salford 09/11/10
It’s difficult to imagine that it was less than two years ago that Wavves had yet to release an album. Now promoting his third, Nathan Williams appears at ease with himself on the stage – a far cry from the days of fighting with band members and being bottled off at Primavera.
Wild Nothing – Deaf Institute, Manchester 08/11/11
Dream pop is hardly the most boundary breaking of genres, but there’s still a lot to get excited about with Wild Nothing – especially now they seem to be coming to terms with the stresses and strains of being a successful touring act.
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – The Deaf Institute, Manchester 05/11/11
The final CFTPA tour was always going to be an event laced with sadness, though for many different reasons. A band splitting up to pursue different directions is one thing, but a man who is tired of playing songs he wrote over ten years ago is another entirely.
TLOBF Introducing // Big Deal
After years of seeing girl/boy act take to the stage and trot out twee platitudes that don’t really go anywhere, Big Deal are a breath of fresh air…
Crystal Castles & HEALTH – Academy 2, Manchester 23/10/2010
HEALTH and Crystal Castles on the same bill? Manchester gets blessed with noise-pop according to Matthew Britton.
Beach Fossils – Deaf Institute, Manchester 25/10/10
In full flight, Beach Fossils are laws unto themselves, mercilessly moving back and forth; the intertwining of their riffs dramatised by the several near misses between band members and flailing guitars.
