South African Music Magazine
The tenth studio album from Animal Collective is a cerebral slap on the brain. You don’t even get a second to think as the compilation kicks off with Moonjock and the first single, Today’s Supernatural. Their sound on Centipede Hz is a progression from psychedelic folk funk to frantic digi-pop on a steady drip of Read More »
Cat is back! It’s been nearly 7 years since Chan Marshall released The Greatest, which in itself was a ‘come-back’. The indie songstress has been at it since the days when ‘indie’ was still an abbreviation for independent. 20 years later and seven sparsely released albums, just knowing Chan Marshall’s history is enough to consider Read More »
The English hamlet of Noid has about as much in common with the swampy Deep South as Earl Grey and Jack Daniels. That doesn’t seem to bother The Heavy in the slightest. They are essentially a rock band and this is essentially a rock album, but it’s one unashamedly drenched in neo-soul and retro rhythm Read More »
The newly abbreviated ISO’s revamped sound hits with the veils and trickery of The Twilight Zone. Gone is the sprawling Pretoria Prog Rock – the flailing solos and questing instrumentals. Entering the scene is 80′s melancholy Pop – all sniffing, sobbing keyboards and general vibes of synth apprehension, with pretty, curtailed teen man vocals, throbbing Read More »
Black Box Revelation comes from that school of bluesy rock ‘n roll revival that made 2006 to 2008 so great. You can tell: they have ‘black’ in their band name (Footnote: think Black Mountain, The Black Keys, The Black Lips, Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club etc). Their fourth album, My Perception is still carrying that Read More »
Ard Matthews probably should have been a local rock star by now. But something about his comings and goings imply a lack of commitment, or something less definable… he never feels completely… here. Guitarist and lead vocalist of highly talented, Nineties Pop-fusion outfit Just Jinjer, Mr. Matthews had a good thing going. The band was Read More »
After the Nu-Metal wave hit, the dime-a-dozen-factor was immense. But as the generics faded, those with that extra drive and unique flavour persisted. Slipknot is one of those. Masks and intense live show antics aside, the band writes great songs, with the perfect blend of brutal intensity and the ability to be extremely catchy, and Read More »
System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian made an impressive solo turn with his Elect the Dead album in 2007 (followed by the live orchestra backed version Elect the Dead Symphony). Here he continues his personal musical journey and has by no means discarded his extremely conscientious outlook and socio-political outspokenness when it comes to Read More »
After JB and KG ripped rock convention a brand new one with their hilarious brand of acoustic fuelled Rock on the Tenacious D debut, their equally gut-busting movie The Pick of Destiny added an even more tangible dimension to their mission for total Rock take-over. So over a decade and many (not always stellar) Jack Read More »
With her fulsome American vocal chords, and Americana stylings, it comes as a surprise to find out Tailor is as local as Mrs. Balls. Her artist name, too, is a deflection, or rather re-flection. Upon securing free license with her record deal (the suits don’t meddle with her muses) she cast herself Tailor, to celebrate Read More »
