Oxford's biggest student newspaper, produced by and for members of the University of Oxford, since 1991.
It’s not often we get to do an introducing profile on Oxford students, but the band Northeast Corridor have begun warranting comparisons with other bands formed at the university such as Foals. The soulful, crooning vocals of lead singer Nick Hampson are reminiscent of Jeff Buckley and the subtle guitar playing that accompanies it gives […]
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Listening to a Flying Lotus (Steve Ellison) record for the first time, from ‘1983’ to ‘You’re Dead!’, you are simply awestruck. So many things, all at once, it shouldn’t work, et cetera. This same train of thought leads to the major criticism of Flying Lotus: he creates music which is disjointed, sketch-like, overloaded with ideas. […]
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Woman’s Hour pick up attention without always trying to thanks to their band name. The relieving thing about this is that they deserve that attention. Their brand of smooth indie washes over the listener, using unobtrusive synths and occasional brass, to create a blend of some of the best elements of indie music.
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Gerard Way has always been way more than the emo superstar most people have taken him for over the past decade or so. As My Chemical Romance’s ashes grow cold (ending on ‘Fake Your Death’, an insanely uplifting song about a band’s end), Gerard Way is stepping into a musical spotlight he often was not […]
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Mumford and Son’s record company, Communion, have introduced the world to some of the biggest names in folk and indie music: from Catfish and the Bottlemen to Michael Kiwanuka to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.
Continue ReadingRDJ releases first new music in thirteen years! Yeah, except this, true to form for Cornwall’s favourite ginger, lying, tank-driving ‘n blimp-flying son, is not quite the whole truth. As wiser heads writing excellent first-listen pieces over at FACT magazine and the Quietus have pointed out, the man known most famously under the moniker Aphex […]
Continue ReadingFrom the incomprehensible lyrics to the impressive soundscapes, alt-J have gone a long way since they first captured attention with their double A side of ‘Matilda’ and ‘Fitzpleasure’. Two years later and they now have a Mercury Prize to their name, as well as being one band member short. Bassist Gwil Sainsbury left at the […]
Continue Reading“Encyclopedia’ is full of magic and surprise” claims The Drums’ lead singer, Jonny Pierce, in the album notes for their latest release “Encyclopedia,” out September 23rd. The combination of these bold claims with the excitingly uproarious lead single “Magic Mountain,” and that title – Encyclopedia – promised an album of daring breadth and scope from […]
Continue ReadingThe deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, two unarmed black males, have spurred protest across America this summer. Al Sharpton, Rand Paul, and every major newspaper have all been in agreement: American police departments have structurally racist problems that need to be addressed. As well as this, police need to be held more accountable. […]
Continue ReadingIt’s the most respected music honour in Britain which divides everyone from fans to critics to bands. No, we’re not talking about Popjustice’s Twenty Quid Music Prize, but the Mercury Prize. Every year a select group of judges sits down and argues out which are the best British albums of the year. Getting on the […]
Continue Reading2014 has been the year that every musician you thought had disappeared announced that they were back. From Kate Bush playing her first live shows in 35 years to Jamie T suddenly reappearing from whatever hole he had been in, it wouldn’t be surprising if Richey Edwards popped back from being presumed dead. Damien Rice […]
Continue ReadingI stand at the top of The Royal Mile and look out across the mass of faces pushing through the throb of people. As flyers glide about of their own accord, seemingly bereft of owners, more paper is pushed into my reluctant hands. I filter in between shoulders, searching for a familiar face. My luggage […]
Continue ReadingIt is a sunny Sunday afternoon in Kingston upon Thames and I am sat outside on the back patio of Banquet Records. There are weeds growing up between the cracks in the paving stones and it is quite surreal to be sitting in sun loungers, chatting to Charlie Simpson. The former Busted man seems to […]
Continue ReadingMost of us have dreamed about it at some point. Whether it’s for the adoring fans, constant parties or love of music itself, we all had a point in our lives where we wanted to be in a band. Our fascination with the ins and outs of rock stardom is the reason why so many […]
Continue ReadingJenny Lewis has come to epitomise 21st century American rock and roll. From leading Rilo Kiley to being one half of Jenny and Jonny to guesting for Brandon Flowers, Wavves and everyone in between, she is somewhat unavoidable. Clearly not believing in holidays, she is rewarding us with her third solo album, making it ten […]
Continue ReadingTooting Tram and Social doesn’t seem like an ideal place for a gig, with a barely raised stage making it impossible to see if you are under 5’5” and more than two rows back. Despite this, the high vaulted ceiling lit with chandeliers and dimmed light bulbs make it a refreshing change from the corporate […]
Continue ReadingFresh from their Glastonbury headline set, Arcade Fire have returned to Hyde Park (three years after they last played here) to finish off their European tour as part of the British Summer Time festival series with Barclaycard. Boasting an impressive array of support acts, Win Butler walks out onto the stage at 4:15 saying that […]
Continue ReadingThe never-ending list of bands playing Glastonbury always makes it somewhat impossible to decide who you are going to see. Even the ones you do pick will inevitably hit and miss: some sets feel like a waste of time given that you could have been off your face in Arcadia whilst others make you wish […]
Continue ReadingHe’s back. After years of speculation, the mystery man has finally announced his return. It’s been four years since Jamie T has played any shows but today he posted a handwritten note on his website stating that “I have decided it might be time to play a few shows”. In case you have all forgotten, […]
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