Ocean Colour Scene - Saturday

(Morning Star, January 31, 2010)

Album review

Ocean Colour Scene try their best to disprove Darwinian theory. They have spent decades refusing to evolve from their Dadrock inception, steadfastly swimming against the modernity of the chart tide, and yet here they still stand.

Saturday kicks off like a slice of The Who circa 1968 - stacked with catchy hooks and Simon Fowler's unmistakable bluesy roar - but there's no resonant sound of a fantastic leap ahead from What Once Was.

Opener 100 Floors Of Perception starts: "100 Mile High City falling to the floor," perhaps intended to signify a farewell to the old by demolishing one of OCS's big hits, but there's no ruination of the old guard here.

From the Seahorse-esque Mrs Maylie to the lyrically Kinks-inspired Village Life, OCS are forever flogging the rotten corpse of Dadrock in the hope that they'll live on. Nothing lasts forever, guys.

Icons of Elegance - Dancing is Easy

(Morning Star, January 31 2010)

Album review

The third album from this tuneful Finnish familial duo is not entirely original, so neophiles should steer clear. But for the rest of us - those who can appreciate that a good tune doesn't have to reinvent the riff - there's some lovely music on show here that will enrich the winter for your tired old stereo.

The opening title track is melodious guitar-powered pop with a distinct lack of guile. The delightful Sigh, My Heart says more about these two brothers - that they're not afraid of sharing their feelings to a quite unusual degree.

The retro Norwegian Girl and the touching, erm, Touching make this a well-rounded, delicate record. It's not unusual, but it's wonderful all the same.

Chris Bradley - At The Outpost

(Morning Star, January 17 2010)

Heavy on the acousto-pop, Chris Bradley's second solo record takes him a further step from work with his bandmates in Aberfeldy.

The maturity in his singing is bewitching from opener The Man I Love, underpinned by folk instrumentals and lyrics which speak of a wider world.

Bradley has clearly built on the elements which succeeded in his 2008 debut Voices, and has carved here the self-aware work of a folky Nick Lowe.

Golden Girl has all the accomplishment and intellect of Carrack-era Squeeze, while the biting Your Close Friend offers an emotional window on betrayal.

Paul Vickers and The Leg - Itchy Grumble

(Morning Star, January 17 2010)

If you have time to spare for the inventive and incongruous, welcome Paul Vickers And The Leg.

Throwing out the musical rule book, this is a - whisper it - concept record.

Like 2008's Tropical Favourites, it does make itself unwelcome at times, telling the story of the immortal Itchy Grumble and his travels and travails.

Opener Overture is a series of atonal beeps, giving way to the frankly haywire Vial, which brings to mind Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica.

The descent of Itchy offers a rich lyrical seam of the uneasy, but frankly, it's all a little bit much in parts for a pop record. Proceed with caution.

Sounds of 2010

(Morning Star, 3 January 2010)

Kurran and the Wolfnotes

With soothing melodies straight outta San Fran in '67, London-based Kurran and his four-strong band are taking the Crosby, Stills and Nash express to the dizzy heights of hippy songsmithery with their harmony-soaked sound.

Your Four Limbs is all beseeching lyrics and plaintive folky vocals.

Debut single Whatabitch may send the feminists baying, but in truth, the chirpiness of the alt folkers will disarm any heart.

Live, their fragility switches for a raw rocky sound that ignites the stage and is getting folk fans in quite a lather.

Why not join them?

Delphic

Taking the clear chiming notes of New Order and mixing them up with dancey beats, our friends in the north Delphic are flying the Manchester flag with aplomb.

Already off the starting block with last August's single This Momentary, these thoroughly modern musicians are now putting their defining moment Doubt into the hands of the fans, hosting a remix contest online via their website.

As they've also already launched their own iPhone application, when it comes to the future, they're really breaking down the walls - and the beats. Delphic's debut album Acolyte will be released on January 11.