Broken Bells | Album Review

The name of good ’80s music has too often been taken in vain of late with many wannabes riding the retro bandwagon.  They abuse the synth by over-use, totally missing the point of what made that particular decade stand out – its diversity and, more importantly, its innovation. Yet once in a while you hear [...]

Drake – Thank Me Later | Album Review

As a complete body of work, the highly anticipated Thank Me Later is undoubtedly effective and coherent. What it lacks in flair and punch, it makes up for in musical intelligence. Despite numerous (hopefully unintentional) album fillers there are many strong moments. Tracks such as ‘Miss Me’, ‘Thank Me Now’, ‘9am In Dallas’, ‘Light Up’ [...]

K-Os – Yes | Album Review

I always consider it a promising sign when a rap artist can win over a non-fan of the genre like me. Hip Hop is usually a style of music I like in small doses; short, sharp sporadic bursts do just fine. However, Yes the latest offering from Canadian/Trinidadian singer-songwriter and wordsmith K-Os – née Kevin [...]

The SoulJazz Orchestra – Rising Sun | Album Review

The Souljazz Orchestra is already onto their fourth album release with LP Rising Sun, on Strut Records, carving onto their famous love for Afro, jazz and Latin beats a new bright cast.  Concentrating on jazz this album round, SoulJazz carry their militant lyrics only in black and white notes as this album is all instrumental. [...]

Anane – Ananesworld | Album Review

The term ‘easy-listening’ has a bad reputation. Which is a shame because it’s most apt to describe the second album by New York-based Cape Verdean lovely, Anane; simply titled Ananesworld. With the uncharacteristically sunny weather we’ve been enjoying here in the UK, the songstress and DJ’s sophomore project is the perfect accompaniment; undemanding and easy-on-the-ear. [...]

Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute | Album Review

“If Jay-Z makes rap look easy, Kweli makes rap look hard”. I utterly believe this opening quote can be used as a summary for the BK emcee’s career. Going deeper in the rabbits hole, a stupendous emcee: chameleonic and acrobatic flows, relevant and diverse subject matter in the much arid panorama of substance that composes [...]

YahZarah – The Ballad Of Purple Saint James | Album Review

YahZarah is a name we have become familiar with in the last several years through various Little Brother / Justus League songs and albums and her previous releases Hear Me (2001) and Blackstar (2002). Still fresh in the minds and ears of many with last year’s Foreign Exchange group release Leave it all Behind, the [...]

Akala – DoubleThink | Album Review

From the classical music that hits your ears on the intro, to the sickeningly insightful and observant lyrics and the gentle piano that signs the album off; DoubleThink, the latest offering from UK Hip Hop artist Akala, is not what you’d expect. This is Akala’s third album and he’s come a long way from where [...]

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