New Music Reviews
Maria Gadu, BarbicanWednesday, 02 July 2014
Admired by Brazilian musical royalty like Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso, Maria Gadú, at the age of 27, already has four platinum albums to her credit, not to mention a couple of Latin Grammys. Her music blends the urban chaotic modernity of her hometown São Paulo with the grassroots sounds of the North East and Rio. Born Mayra Correa Aygadoux in 1986 Gadú was something of a child prodigy, and began writing songs and recording them onto cassette at the age of 10. Read more... |
Calling Festival, Clapham CommonMonday, 30 June 2014
First there was Hyde Park Calling, then it was Hard Rock Calling and now, re-located in Clapham, it’s just the Calling Festival (presumably the organisers thought Clapham Common Calling carried too many connotations). The venue may have changed but last weekend was, pretty much, business as usual - a couple of stages, watery beer and a two-day smorgasboard of pop and rock. This year, though, all the pop was on day two. Read more... |
theartsdesk at the 2014 Glasgow Jazz FestivalMonday, 30 June 2014
Saturday commuters sprinting for the 17.33 to Ardrossan find themselves dodging an obstacle course of swing-dancing young couples, soundtracked by a pensionable trad jazz band. A shifting crowd of about 100 pause in their journeys at Glasgow Central station to enjoy Penman’s Jazzmen, skilful Scottish veterans comfortable with each other and the demands of this century-old New Orleans music. Read more... |
Bobby Womack: It's All Over NowSunday, 29 June 2014
It’s presumably just a freak of scheduling that on the night the Rolling Stones threw up the bunting across town, an artist to whom they owe a whole heap of thanks was hosting a party of his own. Bobby Womack was the songsmith who co-supplied the scruffy young covers band with their first number one. “It’s All Over Now” was released by the Stones in July 1964 only a month after The Valentinos’ original version. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: The United States of AmericaSunday, 29 June 2014
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Reissue CDs Weekly: C86, The Motown 7s BoxSunday, 22 June 2014
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Melanie De Biasio, Purcell RoomTuesday, 17 June 2014
It’s statement of intent to open your first British headlining show with a 15-minute version of an album track which lasts a minute and three-quarters – from an album which itself lasts barely more than 30 minutes. And then to riff on it, incorporating elements from a debut album which barely anyone beyond your native country has heard. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: Dead MoonSunday, 15 June 2014
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Pat Metheny Unity Group, Eventim ApolloThursday, 12 June 2014
The Eventim (Hammersmith) Apollo, where Pat Metheny’s Unity Group last night gave a spellbinding, if sometimes baffling, performance, has hosted a goodly range of gigs in its time. Few of these can have offered such diversity within a single evening. Piece after piece left last night’s audience whooping with exhilaration, though Metheny’s fondness for mechanical innovation briefly threatened the audience’s otherwise adoring reception. Read more... |
Field Day, Victoria ParkTuesday, 10 June 2014
Decidedly diverse in its musical offerings as ever, this year’s Field Day, which for the first time was spread over two days with the Pixies as a fitting finale, was gifted with glorious sunshine and a chipper ambience. Fresh ferocious voices breaking out and established names reaching back to their roots made for a harmonious mix of boldness and greatness. Read more... |
The United States of America: The United States of America – The Columbia Recordings
Various Artists: NME C86, The Motown 7s Box – Rare and Unreleased Vinyl Volume 2
Dead Moon: In the Graveyard, Unknown Passage, DefiancePages
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