Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot (B-Unique) By Steve Rudd Release Date: October 18th 2004

There's no sense in beating around any bush: this Leeds five-piece is one white-hot rock outfit - and it seems certain that these Yorkshire boys are going to more than ingratiate themselves and their incredibly catchy music to the masses in the coming few months. The telltale signs of imminent and far-reaching success are blaring loud and clear, partially reflected in the fact that the band's storming debut single was awarded the single of the week in the NME.

I Predict A Riot, produced by the legendary Stephen Street, is somehow even more of a melodic masterpiece with a killer chorus to literally die for, as gratifying guitars, vitriolic vocals and smooth samples of synths graciously collide to provide genuinely enthralling entertainment. There also sounds to be a sultry Glam façade to the band, as if they've heard Franz Ferdinand and been disappointed. A disappointment that might just have been motivation enough for the Kaiser Chiefs to casually glamourise the current Brit-pop rock 'n' roll field of dreams themselves. This single, that deserves to storm the charts with pride, oozes the polished brilliance of the Plastic Heroes' latest work, and should you be in the mood for checking them out in the flesh, there is barely a town or city in this fine country that isn't being graced with their stylish presence during October, as they hit the road largely in support of The Ordinary Boys. Just as they demand yours. 5/5 www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk

Single Reviews - The Others - Stan Bowles (Poptones) By Steve Rudd
	These guys have reveled in one hell of a year, going to inspirational extremes in the art of self-publicity for their Alternative poppy and punky rock 'n' roll band. The likes of Embrace and The Libertines have long been applauded by fans for staging secret gigs in Read more...

Single Reviews - Daniel Rachel - Dear Friend (Dust Records) By Steve Rudd Release Date: September 27th 2004.
	Daniel Rachel, as a style-conscious solo singer-songwriter, is truly to be treasured. I couldn't recommend his work more, so seek it here, seek it there. Then slip it on, stand back.. and listen. No, I mean really listen. Dear Friend is an astonishing song, crisp with twin acoustic guitar-based purity that Read more...

Album Reviews - Koreisch - The Decaying Schizophrenic Christ Complex (Calculated Risk) By Steve Rudd
	This 14-track album is actually a re-release, although it has been remixed and remastered and so might still appeal to folk who bought this monster the first time around in the late nineties. Such folk would have been of the variety that is obsessed with hardcore rock to manic Read more...

Album Reviews - The Clauberg Opera - The Death of this City By Michelle Dee
	Is The Clauberg Opera's foreboding CD title, The death of this city, prophesising the end of Hull? It could be describing the very nature of urban society where all cohesion is lost to poisonous, suspicious, insular, ideologies. When does a city actually die? Read more...

Album Reviews - Three Movements - Electricity Wiped out Heaven (Calculated Risk) By Steve Rudd
	If you've got half an hour of your life to spare for this 6-track mini-album, then good for you - it's nigh impossible to be disappointed by the raving beauty and dynamic musicianship on offer. The atmospheric, haunting subtlety of instrumental opener Awaken is so breathtaking that Read more...

Album Reviews - Ernest: (Pimps, B**ches and) Superheroes By Elsie Creek
	Ernest have progressed quite steadily in the two years since they formed. Some bands make a big entrance and disappear just as fast, while others go on for years wondering why they don't get the recognition they deserve. However; for this four-piece from Hedon, the hard work is paying off, Read more...

Album Reviews - Hayley Hutchinson - Independently Blue (album/ R N R Music) By Steve Rudd
	This 12-track, 43-minute album is packed with some of the most beautiful and heart-breaking songs that I've heard in years, and singer-songwriter Hayley - now living and working from her base in York after a childhood brought up in Scotland - is only in her early twenties. Listening to these astonishing tunes, all of which Read more...

Album Reviews - The Boxer Rebellion - Code Red (single/ Mercury) By Steve Rudd
	These guys have led a lucky couple of years since Alan McGee spotted them playing their hearts out in the New Bands tent at Glastonbury. So impressed was he that he signed them up to his Poptones label, through which two severely limited edition/ scandalously sought after Read more...

Album Reviews - We Start Fires - Caught Red Handed (11 tracks/Head Girl) By Steve Rudd
	Proudly keeping the DIY punk spirit alive, Darlington quartet We Start Fires (in which female members outnumber the male contingency three to one) aren't ones to wait around for a record company exec to get out his chequebook. They believe in their music to such an extent (which they Read more...

Album Reviews - Cathy Davey - Something Ilk (album/ Regal) By Steve Rudd
	This 14-track release is an infinitely interesting and beautifully conceived album, opened with Come Over, which is reminiscent of the sultry sounds that Italian-born singer-songwriter Elena is making. Complete with a cool riff and sexed-up PJ Harvey-esque swagger, this is Read more...

Single Reviews - Still Life at the wheel By Michelle Dee
	After a promising start, a distinctive vocal, which can only be described through emotions rather than words, tells a story of a road trip gone sour. Short chords punctuate the verse and, at the wheel, gathers pace. The chorus kicks in followed by rolling guitars. One or two of the backing vocals seem superfluous but Read more...

Single Reviews - Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (Parlophone) By Steve Rudd
	Release Date: September 6th 2004. It's been one hell of a couple of years for this American pop-punk-rock quintet, and deservedly so. This is the title track from their ever-so-popular Ocean Avenue album that was released to instant acclaim earlier this year, and - somewhat Read more...

Single Reviews - Sam Roberts Band - Brother Down By Steve Rudd
	Release Date: August 30th 2004. This guy - and his band - has long been big business in Canada from where they hail, going so far as to be awarded with Best Artist and Best Album awards at this year's Juno Awards. Now it's time for the UK to see and hear what all the amassed fuss Read more...

Single Reviews - Ricky - That Extra Mile/Beat The Best Out Of Me By Nick Quantrill
	Release date - 6th September, 2004. Following hot on the heels of acclaimed debut album, The Summer Sun Still Echoes, Portsmouth's finest, Ricky return with a double A-side that will (hopefully) accompany some long awaited summer sun. The single picks up Read more...

Single Reviews - The Hot Puppies - Green Eyeliner (single/ PURR) By Steve Rudd
	Release Date: September 27th 2004. I've got a funny feeling that this Aberystwyth quintet is about to become very well known indeed over here in England, following a prolonged spell of relative fame in Wales, courtesy of their last Dawn Of Man release Read more...