'We Appreciate What We've Got': Embrace Go Back To What They Know

Some folks are set in their ways. Maybe they fear change, or maybe they just know their own minds. Indie-rockers Embrace have always attracted a portion of fans who don’t like the group’s more experimental efforts.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Monday, 05 March 2018

A Kind of Magic: Introducing The Wandering Hearts

If you don’t believe in destiny, take a quick look at the Wandering Hearts’ story. You soon will. This fast-rising British quartet boasts the kind of origin tale that was surely inked in the stars by a mystical, music-loving force. Beyond that superficial calling card, though, lies a band who, thanks to a sublime brand of alt-folk Americana, have just created one of the most accomplished debut albums of recent times.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Words First: Lucy Dacus Gets Her Point Across On The Sweeping 'Historian'

Photo: Dustin Condren Words first. That’s how Lucy Dacus sees it.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 26 February 2018

"I Can't Speak For Others, But I'm Real." Ocean Wisdom Talks 'Wizville'

There's no doubt the wider UK urban music scene is currently enjoying exposure on a level never seen before (Stormzy just won a couple of Brits and called out the Prime Minister on live TV, winning the support of another political leader in the space of 24 hours). But, while much of the mainstream attention has been afforded to the burgeoning grime scene, UK hip hop is enjoying a mini-renaissance of its own.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Friday, 23 February 2018

Don't Repeat Yourself: Introducing Seeb

Norwegian production trio Seeb create precision engineered, massively popular electronic anthems charged with soaring emotions. If you haven't heard of them yet, you will soon.

Written by: Milly McMahon | Date: Thursday, 22 February 2018

All Chips On This Bet: Van William Goes It Alone On 'Countries'

Photo: Silvia Grav Van William’s bandmates are downstairs making breakfast when he rolls out of bed on a Wednesday morning. “We all eat together and then start jamming and just work on the arrangements for a bit,” he explains.

Written by: Milly McMahon | Date: Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Hop On Board With Us: Screaming Females Get Ambitious on 'All At Once'

Photo: Farrah Skeiky Find Screaming Females at the merch desk, say hello. If you’re going to buy a record, they think you should get the new one. It’s the one they’re most excited about. If you like it you can go back and fill in the gaps later on. “We’re an active band. We’re a live band,” Marissa Paternoster says. “We want the audience to be excited about what we’re doing right now. Hop on board with us. Travel with us."

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 19 February 2018

Dreams Realised: Hell is For Heroes on 15 Years of 'The Neon Handshake'

There are some albums that you simply can't imagine being released at any other time, or under any other circumstances. In 2003, the rock world was in a strange place: emo wasn't a commercial prospect yet, nu metal was on the way out, and the Strokes hadn't been around long enough to spawn their clones. So, when energetic London quintet Hell is for Heroes emerged, they didn't just plug a gap – they captured imaginations.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Tuesday, 13 February 2018

GoGo Penguin: The Humble Men Behind 'A Humdrum Star'

Photo: Fabrice Bourgelle On a cold, dark evening in February, 2016, GoGo Penguin were preparing to play a sold out Village Underground in Hoxton, east London. It was, at the time, probably their biggest headline gig to date. Most bands - particularly instrumental, experimental three-piece jazz bands - would feel some creeping nerves at the size of the task ahead.

Written by: Tom Seymour | Date: Monday, 12 February 2018

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Brian Fallon Talks Sophomore Solo LP 'Sleepwalkers'

When we last spoke to Brian Fallon it was November 2016, eight months on from the release of his debut solo album, 'Painkillers’. He was riding the wave of newfound creative freedom that comes with going it alone, already writing songs for its follow up and making promises for the future. Unlike many of us heading into a new year, he kept most of them.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Thursday, 08 February 2018

Surprise Surprise: Lemuria Talk Dismissing Expectations and 'Recreational Hate'

A good surprise requires planning, because it doesn’t take long to see through one that’s been hastily assembled. That must have been playing on Lemuria’s mind as they put the finishing touches to ‘Recreational Hate’.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 02 February 2018

Elder Statesman: Jamie Lenman on 'Devolver' And Sending People Home Happy

When Jamie Lenman decided to break up the much-loved rock trio Reuben in 2008, it was more than just the end of an era. He suffered what he later described as complete musical “burnout” and decided to pursue a career as a full time illustrator.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Friday, 02 February 2018

The Thrill of Imperfection: Dan Patlansky On Keeping It Raw

Photo: Tobias Coetsee If you’re fed up with over-produced music and sick of average singers having their voices enhanced by studio technology, then Dan Patlansky feels your pain. Which is why ‘Perfection Kills’, the guitar slinger’s aptly-titled new album, deliberately aims a blues-rock blunderbuss at any notion of flawlessness. It’s delivered with an unvarnished live sound that’ll make you feel like you’re in the front row having the fortitude of your eardrums tested.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 01 February 2018

Rock 'n' Soul Preacher Man: Arise For Anderson East

Straight out of Alabama (via Nashville) and armed with a voice that sounds like Ray Lamontagne if he was possessed by the spirit of Otis Redding, Anderson East is on the cusp of the big time thanks to a heart-wrenching mix of smoking soul, super-charged R&B and gospel on his new record, ‘Encore’.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 31 January 2018

Everything Evolves: The Barr Brothers On Fusing Past And Present With 'Queens of the Breakers'

Photo: Pedro Ruiz “Music is a very humbling experience. Humility is the key to a greater sense of humanity, leading to better compatibility, sympathy, compassion and communication with people. When you strengthen your musical voice, the ability to listen to other musicians and feel compassion grows. That is just a theory. But I absolutely subscribe to it.”

Written by: Milly McMahon | Date: Thursday, 25 January 2018

Shooting For The Stars: The Xcerts' Murray Macleod On New LP 'Hold On To Your Heart'

The Xcerts have been labelled underdogs so often it’s almost become a running joke. In the context of the UK alt-rock scene, this makes sense: the Scottish trio have made three albums of angst-ridden power pop in a decade when it’s hardly been in vogue.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 17 January 2018

"Being Perfect Is Not Important": Shopping Talk New LP 'The Official Body' And Defying Expectations

Photo: CJ Monk The office. The bank. The government. “There is no ‘official body’, in any sense of the term, it’s just society has made it so that there is,” Shopping’s Billy Easter says. “And it’s not even like there’s this one person, we’ve ended up in this place where we somehow believe that there’s the correct way to do things, the correct way to look, or you have to go through the official channels and stuff. And it’s all just not real.”

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Thursday, 11 January 2018

Stereoboard's Albums To Look Forward To In 2018

New year, new music. Them’s the rules. In 2018 we can expect a boatload of exciting stuff from faces old and new - head below to get the basics on just a few of the records we’re excited to get our hands on in the next 12 months.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 08 January 2018

Stereoboard's Gigs to Look Forward To In 2018

Feeling a bit blue from the post-Christmas slump? Here at Stereoboard, we’re missing those mince pies, putting out recycling bins full of used wrapping paper, finishing the last of the chocolate and looking at the now-depressing Christmas tree with despair. Fear not - we’ve a list of the most exciting events in live music to start thinking positively about the new year. Get out your diaries, kids...

Written by: Helen Payne | Date: Friday, 05 January 2018

The List: Stereoboard's Best Albums of 2017

td#right {display:none !important;} ​ That's another 12 months (almost) filed away. If we're being kind, it was a mixed bag. But one thing 2017 had on its side was the music. We had a couple of future all time classics dropped into our laps and a consistent stream of exciting, thought-provoking and, importantly, fun records to keep us occupied. 

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Tuesday, 12 December 2017