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 music pulsing through the groove.

Life And Times kicks off the release, and is a mid-paced gem. In the blink of an eye years have gone by, croons band front man Desmond Lambert, and from listening to the way he sings you could imagine Des indulging in Swing too. Desmond plays guitar as well as singing, with his subtle guitar melodies being arm-twistingly persuasive and charming. Settle Down, up next, boasts a great chorus, before the slowest song of the EP in Shine Some Light magically proves to be perhaps the band's most entrancing tune of all - heralding yet greater things from these three in the near future. Incidentally, it's Des' brother Gavin on the bass, while Rob Flanagan completes the picture on the drums.

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...

Album Reviews - Marissa Nadler - The Saga Of Mayflower May (Beautiful Happiness) By Steve Rudd
	This album certainly won't be to all tastes, and it's very unlikely that we'll hear any of Marissa's music in the charts anytime soon. Still, that is no reflection whatsoever on the quality or the originality of the music. It's simply that Marissa's music unfortunately isn't the type to really permeate into the mainstream, with one of the primary reasons being Read more...

Music, Album Reviews - A Certain Type of Person - The Great Bishop Robbery EP II By Michelle Dee
	I didn't go out today; instead I reached for the attractively packaged seven- track EP from Sheffield band A Certain Type of Person. They are a folk tinged five-piece with an eye for detail and unusual instrumentation including organs and vibraphones. At times the gentle acoustic sound is reminiscent of our own folk advocates Cowfish albeit with a more gravel laden Levellers style lead vocal. Read more...

Album Reviews - Foreign Sun Demo By Steve Rudd
	I first came to know of this Hull-based band back in 2000 when I was lucky enough to catch one of their gigs at the Hull Adelphi venue. Back then, I was stunned. Here and now, I'm gob smacked. Pretty soon after I saw the band, Foreign Sun seemed to disappear, but between then and now the band front man Rich Goldspink has been knuckling Read more...

Album Reviews - Love As Laughter - Laughter's Fifth (Sub-Pop) By Steve Rudd
	This Alternative American rock band is the brainchild of Sam Jayne, who has been releasing LAL-affiliated work since 1996, with this astonishingly brilliant 11-track LP being the band's fifth album. Laughter's Fifth was recorded in Sam's friend's basement over the course of five months in Delaware (that area in the USA that Wayne and Garth blatantly Read more...

Album Reviews - Steve Reed - I Have To Go By Nick Quantrill
	I Have To Go is the debut full-length release from Hull based singer-songwriter, Steve Reed. His debut release, And So On And So Forth was a promising, yet ultimately one-dimensional record that nevertheless showcased the potential of his considered approach to guitar pop. This new release sees significant steps Read more...

Album Reviews - David Wrench - The Atomic World of Tomorrow By Steve Rudd
	This ten-song-strong masterpiece of an LP is in a league of its own, as this David Wrench character proves to be something of an Alt-Pop-loving genius in his own right. Boldly opening with World War 4, this upbeat tune is literally out of this world and heaving with the chorus-based pop elements of Erasure and Duran Duran in their musical prime. Read more...

Album Reviews - Emma Rugg - Oceans / Depart EP By Steve Rudd
	Since Hull singer-songwriter Emma released her fabulous debut album Isolated Impression, her song writing style has changed somewhat, with this five-track EP being the perfect showcase for two brand new songs (in Oceans and Depart), along with appearances from her older tunes When I Looked At You and Prelude To The End Read more...