• Castrovalva + Exit International – The Library, Leeds – 07-12-12

    by  • 12/12/2012 • 2 Comments

    Castrovalva

    People often talk about Glasgow as having a vibrant music scene, and in a lot of respects that’s a fair assessment to make – we are a UNESCO world music heritage site after all. However, the past few years have seen the reputation Leeds rocket – particularly with regards to new and so-called underground music. The dirty, scuzzy, slightly obtuse bands that I tend to be drawn towards seem to have been spawning, or at least end up connected in some way to the Yorkshire city at an alarming rate. Castrovalva is one such band, so I took the chance to hop on a train to join some of the other popdodger writers for the weekend and see what things were like on their home turf. (more…)

    WATCH: We Are the Physics – Dildonics

    by  • 08/12/2012 • 0 Comments

     

    “I was reading this thing that I might’ve just imagined about scientists constructing sperm from human bone marrow that would, ultimately, render the male genitalia completely useless as a reproductive organ”, explains vocalist Michael M. “I think it might’ve been in an issue of TV Quick. So we wrote the song about how redundant the male would become, unable to compete with artificial counterparts, reducing the flesh penis to a cozy piece of old world technology like a Nokia from the 90s, but veiny. It’s not so much a warning as an undermining of patriarchal ideas, and also we released it on 7″ and that’s a wee laugh.”

    What else can be said? Also on 7″

    READ: Return to Aljustrel – Tell The People I’m Not Coming Down

    by  • 19/11/2012 • 0 Comments

    Return to Aljustrel

    When this CD landed in my hands I was rather excited, I have always been very impressed with Return to Aljustrel’s live shows, and this did not disappoint.  Tell The People I’m Not Coming Down, from the first listen, delivers the unexpected in every way.  A wonderfully mastered self-recorded album, that feels like and an emotionally saturated journey through their minds, each word takes your hand and your heart through the torment of modern day life.  (more…)

    Any Color Black – Arches, Glasgow.

    by  • 17/11/2012 • 0 Comments

    Any Color Black - Glasgowphotos/words: Stephen McLeod

    Any Color Black are Andy Bell and Louise Mather. They come from Glasgow, and play dark, poppy, electro-rock. That might seem like a bit of a mouthful, but I’m sure it makes sense to you intelligent folks out there.

    When the email first dropped into my inbox about the duo earlier on in 2012, I just assumed that they were a relatively new bunch. It turns out that they’ve actually been kicking around playing gigs all over the place for years, and even had their music featured on the likes of the cult TV series Lip Service, set in their home city. (more…)