The Departure - Dirty Words (Parlophone) By Steve Rudd

Fit to bursting with a few of the coolest tunes of recent years, there are three past single releases from this Northampton-nurtured band gracing this eleven-track album in the form of the uber-catchy All Mapped Out, Be My Enemy and Lump In My Throat. This album has been far too long in coming, but the wait has been more than worth it, as The Departure continue to set the nation's hearts and minds alight with their passionate and uplifting brand of new-wave rock music.

Opening tune Just Like TV is an upbeat pop-infused gem of high-octane gimmicks, with the voice of David Jones shining like an orgy of superstars in the dead of night. From start to finish, over the course of forty life-enhancing minutes of sheer entertainment, the superbly shimmering feel-good vibes never ever take a turn for the worse, with the funky Talkshow getting every listener in the mood for more, more, more from this hugely talented and undeniably exciting band. Changing Pilots could even be a crossover dance hit, given the bold drum and bass strains that underpin such a tune's driving rhythm, yet Arms Around Me scores even more brownie points given its beautifully melodic presence. Listen closely to David Jones. He is an incredibly gifted singer. Listen closer, and you might just hear the odd echo of Robert The Cure Smith's extraordinarily emotion-soaked voice. To say that the more you hear this album, the more you will love it, isn't merely a superficial statement. It's the truth; and you better believe it. www.thedeparture.com

Album Reviews - Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Cold Roses (Lost Highway) By Steve Rudd
	By God, this guy never ever seems to stop working. Despite a rather recent injury to one of his arms after an accident he had while playing a gig, this Country-Rocker is most definitely back on the scene - and not with just a few songs, but with a double-album that heralds a whole 19 brand new tracks. Granted, the total running time of both CDs combined comes to less than eighty minutes Read more...

Music News - Bad Girls Collective By Carolyn
	As the house and dance music scene in England goes from strength to strength the city of Hull is supplying it with new and innovative DJs by the dozen. There are many good DJ's in this area and for its size and limited selling area, Hull is certainly keeping up with the rest of the country in its varied nights across the city and many new genres are being supported. There does seem to be a lack of Read more...

Album Reviews - The Automatic - Recover (B-Unique) By Steve Rudd Release Date: October 24th 2005
	Viciously vibrant, dynamically deadly and extraordinarily exciting are just a few ways of describing this thoroughly refreshing blast of music from the amazingly young band in The Automatic... a quartet of guys who are clearly plussed-up on the type of music that makes the masses tick. Busting out of a small Welsh town, they sound destined to take the world by storm Read more...

CD/Album Reviews - Blind Frog Ernie - Inner Sanctum By Bernie Laverick
	Like skiffle, boogie and ragtime, the concept album seems almost like an ancient relic from a long gone era. But who could forget Rick Wakeman's epic The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table or even, The Six Wives of Henry Vlll? Riveting stuff! Even then, it was seen as self-indulgent pap, and quite Read more...

Single Reviews - Clor -Good Stuff (Regal) by Steve Rudd
	Fans who have been following this hugely exciting and innovative band right from the start might be glad to know that the original release of Good Stuff (when it featured on the band's limited edition Welcome Music Lovers EP) is now something of a much sought-after collector's item, with such a release Read more...

Single Reviews - Morning Runner - Be All You Want Me To Be (Parlophone) by Steve Rudd
	It's so far been a long and hard wait for Morning Runner's debut album, and still there is no sign. That's due in the new year, but in the meantime - and to follow up the success of the band's amazing Gone Up In Flames single - Be All You Want Me To Be demands attention like an angel of mercy stalking the underworld. Quite simply, this is yet another beautiful Read more...

Album Reviews - Stoner - Life And Times (EP/Rhythmbank) By Steve Rudd
	Superficially judging by the cover photo of this stunning three-track EP release, one might blindly assume because this trio is comprised of three stylish young lads that the music will be of the all-out rock variety. They sure look ready to rock, and in spurts they do rock, but for the most part the music of Stoner is a refreshing diversion for rock fans in that there are strong elements of Soul Read more...

Single Reviews - Hey Negrita - Old Britannia by Steve Rudd
	Following-up their marvellous Devil In My Shoes single in captivating style, this is the second single from Hey Negrita, a London quartet that deserves to be huge. Pushing an intriguing style of music, elements of new-wave 'Country' and 'Pop' music dominate the lush and simply lovely sound. Old Britannia Read more...

Music News - Press Release - Introducing Paparazzi Whore
	Bass driven glam punk with attitude is how people are describing Paparazzi Whore. DJ Steve Lamacq is currently playing the first track I Don't Think So from their debut album I'd Rather be Infamous Than Famous. Also, Claire Sturgess from XFM has made them Unsigned Band of the Week. Pulse Rated Hot Trax are now playing the second track Read more...

Album/CD Reviews - Ricky - High Speed Silence (Beat Crazy Records) By Nick Quantrill
	Ricky were undoubtedly one of the music industry's success stories of 2004. Sheer determination, effort and no little talent saw the band's self-released single hit the national charts and the accompanying debut album receive a four-star review in 'Q' magazine. Now signed to Beat Crazy Records, their debut release for the label, Stop Knocking The Read more...

Music News - Ricky visit Hull Schools - 20th September 2005
	Jim Lines and Gary Rex of Portsmouth based band Ricky visited Hull as part of the relentless process of recording local school children performing a football chant. This is for their forthcoming single, a football inspired indie-anthem for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. The premise is simple; wouldn't it be great to have the sound of a massive crowd at the beginning of the song to really add some Read more...

Music News - PRESS RELEASE - Bob Sinclair 'In The House' 3XCD Compilation (Defected Records) Release Date: 5th September 05
	Ladies and gentlemen, Bob Sinclar is In The House 20 years of frisky Parisian eclecticism shapes the first ever mix CD - plus a full-length, lounge-tinged Latin bonus disc - from music's premier playboy superstar. 'French music was always horrible,' says DJ and producer Christophe Le Friant, aka Bob Sinclar. 'I was ashamed once to have French tracks in my record case. Read more...

Album Reviews - The Answer - Keep Believin' (EP Release/ALBERT) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	When a band like The Darkness requests that your band open for them at the Brixton Academy, then you surely know that you are onto a very good thing indeed. This is what happened to this truly awesome band in The Answer, who are busting out of Downpatrick in Ireland with a metaphorical fistful of dynamite and an aching ambition Read more...

Album Reviews - Fuji Heavy - Demo By Steve Rudd
	One of the most magnificently original and shamelessly eccentric demos that I've heard in absolutely ages, these three tracks from this refreshing Brighton band might just blow you away for good. The type of music herein is almost impossible to categorise, as the delightfully contemporary Prog-Rock Sunburn hurls itself at you in a most explosively Read more...

Album Reviews - The Apostacy - Demo By Steve Rudd
	What to expect from a band that opens up a demo with a song entitled Asparagus? Well, this slick rock-loving trio are no way as boring as asparagus, with such a tune in fact having roots in blazing Funk-Metal folds, as front man Shaun Garner sings and plays guitar as though System Of A Down are his favourite God-damned rock band since time began. Read more...

Album Reviews - Edwina Hayes - Out On My Own (Radar) By Steve Rudd
	I came to know and love the music of Edwina Hayes, who was born in Dublin, via something of a simple twist of fate. I was reading my local paper - The Driffield Times - and there was an article in there mentioning Edwina's music. Strange, I thought - I've heard of Edwina and have previously read good things about her and her music, but why Read more...

Music News - Mr Beasley - Radio 1 Tip Hull Band's Debut Single! By Matt Hill
	With Radio 1's One World show playing their debut white label single, this month Neon charts in DJ Magazine's top 40. So who are Mr Beasley and what's this new music they're making? After a few years of jamming, Bobby, Matt and Will met singer Sarah a year or so ago, and started to get some concrete ideas together. For the recent live gigs James has joined the line up on guitar Read more...