Category: Reviews
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Blakroc [Album Review]
It’s usually a disaster waiting to happen when we see these hybrid projects of rock mixed with hip-hop artists. Ever since “Rock This Way”, artists have been wanting to cross these two worlds together, and at times it works but more often than not it’s like Eddie Murphy collaborating with Rick James: Two people great…
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Soweto Kinch's London Launch for War In A Rack EP [Event Review]
Being a Hip Hop MC and a saxophone player, Soweto Kinch has tried to bridge the gap between the Hip Hop and jazz genres to create his own unique sound for both types of audiences. Held last Sunday at Richmix in Shoreditch, London, this launch event was a showcase of his talent and ability to…
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CHROMEO – DJ-Kicks (ALBUM REVIEW)
I make no secret of my enduring fixation with 80s music. I find my palate constantly returning to that most innovative of decades for inspiration now more than ever, when the current musical landscape sometimes appears to be in an arid state. It is therefore a pleasure to have found kindred spirits in Chromeo, the…
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LIVE REVIEW: Beverley Knight in Birmingham
With a career spanning 15 years, 6 studio albums, over a million album sales and several high profile awards, Beverley Knight has long been lauded as the reigning ‘Queen of UK Soul’ by mainstream media, however she is not without her detractors. I doubt there are many who would deny Beverley’s vocal abilities, nonetheless many…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Rihanna – Rated R
It’s been a highly publicised turbulent year for Robyn ‘Rihanna‘ Fenty, with her assault in February catapulting her into a strange place of sensationalised super stardom that even her mega-hit “Umbrella” didn’t garner. But whilst she has been ever-present on blogs and gossip pages, she didn’t utter a word on record and her silence transcended…
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LIVE REVIEW: LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL – REBIRTH OF THE COOL
Last Tuesday night saw the premiere performance by the ‘Rebirth of The Cool’ project at the Blackheath Concert Halls, South-East London, as part of the London Jazz Festival 2009 (in association with Trinity College of Music’s regular ‘Beats In The Bar’ showcase night). ‘Rebirth…’ combines the forces of some of the UK’s brightest young talents…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Foreign Beggars – United Colours Of Beggattron
It’s always a cringeworthy moment whenever a tabloid newspaper misinterprets a crossover urban act as UK Hip Hop due to their attire of baggy clothes and bling. It’s cringeworthy because fans of the genre know that the “real” UKHH scene has boasted some of the best and purest acts in recent history including Skinnyman, Klashnekoff…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Shafiq Husayn – “En’ A-Free-Ka”
Upon playing Shafiq Husayn’s debut solo LP “Shafiq En A-Free-ka” to my 65 year old father (possibly the world’s oldest Sa-Ra fan) his first reaction was, “This isn’t Sa-Ra, is it?” Shafiq whether intentionally or naturally has departed from the “Sa-Ra” sound. A unique sound trademarked half a decade ago when Sa-Ra burst through our…
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LIVE REVIEW: Breakestra @ Dingwalls, London (18th Nov)
Breakestra, back for another European tour and back with their first album since 2005’s, are like sugar to ants for lovers of funk! They took it to funky town last night at Camden Locks Dingwalls – and although front man Mixmaster Wolf was not present due to apparent immigration issues, mastermind Miles Tackett lead the…