The Leano - Steps To Leanoland (Colarj Records) Reviewed By Steve Rudd

The Leano is a one-man rapping machine with a social conscience and a hugely original approach to music-making. He might hail from London, but he wrote and produced this stunning thirteen-track debut album up in Hull of all places. The city is even immortalised in the acoustic guitar-accompanied Ganjaholic, a tongue-in-cheek ditty which wryly follows the fortunes of a Ganja-guru on the city's mean streets. The Leano's music has received airplay on a number of high-profile radio stations such as Radio One and Asian Network, and justifiably so, given the strength of tunes such as the album-opening Black Box Friend which is an upbeat stunner that will no doubt remind a great many people of The Streets' music.

Brothers And Sisters, meanwhile, promotes Faithless-esque lyrics that are politically motivated to stunning effect, before songs such as Tired Streets and Lost In Dam further highlight The Leano's superb songwriting talent that bring tales of middle-class Britain to life in style. The Leano is currently back down in the big smoke and trailing around the open mic circuit there, just waiting to be noticed. For sure, these here Steps To Leanoland bear the man in great stead, for this album is like a stairway to hip-hop heaven that deserves to be heard by one and all. www.collarjrecords.com

Single Reviews - D'Ya Feel Lucky? by The Fondas (Levelsound Records) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Swiped from their Dirty Kicks album, this storming anthem is one of the finest cuts from such a long-player, brimming with explosive energy, and locked and loaded with guitars naturally cranked to the max, resulting in a battering wall of sound off which the singer's voice-to-die-for valiantly bounces. D'ya Feel Lucky? is both inescapable Read more...

Single Reviews - Sunday International - So Calm (Future Butterfly) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Should you be bored with the latest wave of rock 'n' roll bands that are currently dominating the airwaves, make a beeline for this hugely exciting band before the masses catch wind of them - for Sunday International sure can write some storming tunes. Their So Calm rock anthem, for starters, is a gloriously energetic tune that is fearlessly fuzzy, explosive and Read more...

Album Reviews - Waiting For Tomorrow by Soular Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Hailing from New Mexico, this top US band has been strutting its highly original stealth since 2002, with this release building on the reputation that their 2004 Time And Space record nurtured. Having opened gigs for the likes of Liz Phair and Longwave, they are already a pretty well known and hugely respected outfit, and now it's time for the good people of the UK to Read more...

Album Reviews - Under Attack by The Alarm (EMI) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	As with every song on every past Alarm album, every single one is a trail-blazing anthem. Welshman Mike Peters is, always has been, and always will be the voice of The Alarm. And what a soul-powered voice he has got, as opening tune Superchannel takes up where the previous Alarm long-player - In The Poppyfields - left off. Here we Read more...

Album Reviews - CD Reviews - Lorca (10-track demo) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Every last one of these ten tracks is special in its own right, with opening tune Nothing Stays The Same paving the way for some grand emotions delivered courtesy of some beautiful music and extraordinarily touching vocals. Indeed, the opening track progresses from its lush acoustic guitar-based foundations into a majestic rock masterpiece, Read more...

Album Reviews - Dirty Days by Jaed on Instant Karma Records Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	The Jaed entity is basically Vanessa Eve on vocals and guitar, backed by a bassist and drummer. It's primarily Vanessa's 'gig' as such, and she's clearly the driving force behind all of these eleven songs. Vanessa grew up in Melbourne, but her childhood wasn't a particularly rosy experience for her, especially when she found herself living Read more...

Music Band News - iLiKETRAiNS Terra Nova Single (Fierce Panda Records) Release Date: 29th May 06
	Sandman described their last single nothing short of phenomenal and A Rook House For Bobby sold out in two days. Room Thirteen.com proclaimed the song, released through the KiDS label, an unequivocal masterpiece. thisisUll.com described the band as epic and malevolent after the Leeds five piece stole the show at Scarborough's Read more...

Single Reviews - Gregory Darling - That'll Be The Day (F.O.D) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	This exceptionally talented singer-songwriter has certainly had an extraordinary career in the music business to date, having worked with the infamous likes of Julian Lennon and ace producer Tony Visconti, and having recorded with the likes of Faster Pussycat in the past. Now, he's showing off his songwriting talents on his own terms, and in doing so now delivers his Read more...

Single Reviews - Mogwai - Friend Of The Night (PIAS Recordings) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Mogwai have undoubtedly been one of the most exciting art-rock bands of the past decade, and so it's with open arms that we welcome these five lads back with this new single that's taken from their new album, Mr Beast. Their tear-jerking and spine-chilling Friend Of The Night single is melodramatically enchanting, as a subtly rousing patchwork of sublime Read more...

Music Band News - Ernest Double A Side Puppies /Preggie Single Released through Sonic Vista Recordings Release Date: June 19th 2006
	They have been called the most under rated band in Hull. They find new life long fans whenever, wherever they play. They do spectacular things with lights, sounds and bubbles. They play jaw droppingly good music. They are Ernest, the one, the only Ernest. They have signed to Sonic Vista Recordings and are preparing to release a very special Double Aside Read more...

Music Band News - The Blackouts Split By Bassist Ian Waller
	The Blackouts www.myspace.com/theblackouts01 would like to announce the split of the band, as of 18th may 2006. It was decided that it would be impossible for all band members to continue playing and creating music and remain happy both in social lives and work/college. While the split wasn't amicable, the remaining 3 band members are still in touch. Read more...

Album Reviews - Revolution EP (4-track demo) by Little Fish Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Julia Sophie might regard herself as being something of a Little Fish, but she's certainly got a grand talent and huge potential as she swims into the big, bad world of the music industry. Julia is a self-taught British singer-songwriter who has had a hard time of it in her personal life, having had to endure the torment of drug addiction, depression and a debilitating throat Read more...

Album Reviews - Graham Coxon - Love Travels At Illegal Speeds (EMI) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Since leaving Blur, Graham has proved himself to be one hell of a rock god, and right from the off with this mesmerising thirteen track album, the focus is on loud guitars and swaggering rock 'n' roll trials and tribulations. Fittingly, the album-opening tune is the hugely popular single release Standing On My Own Again - a bona-fide anthem in every respect. Read more...

Album Reviews - The Landaus - 5 Track Demo Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	If the likes of Razorlight can take the nation by storm as they have, then so can these young upstarts from Hull. Each of these five tracks is a chart-hungry monster, packed to the hernia-inducing hilt with jaw-dropping melodies and soul-filled vocal performances that have the power not only to break one's fickle heart, but to effectively smash to smithereens. Read more...

Album Reviews - The Sesh 3 Compilation By Michelle Dee
	I'm not going to review this collection compiled by DJ Mak -host of the Sesh night at Linnet and Lark in Hull- track by individual track. Reasons being, for the most part I have talked previously on the bands that appear on here previously on this site. I listen to these bands most Tuesdays, and Sundays either live or through the demos played by Mak. I also listen to Read more...

Album Reviews - Hazardous Chemistry By Andy Cornfoot Reviewed by Bekki Stephenson and Michelle Dee
	Similarly to Andy's last album, Hazardous Chemistry takes you on a journey. Lying somewhere between chilled out tunes and summer anthems, it is hard to put your finger on one specific overall feel. Each track leads perfectly on to the next, combining just enough similarity and diversity which leaves you lingering for more. A US vibe flows through the Read more...

Music, Columns - Andy Tullock's Music Column February to March 06
	Okay, so I'm kinda expecting a dressing down of Parent Magnitude for coming home late from Block (Hide & Seek in macho speak) 2 hours after your tea was put out. So maybe I should explain have I got time before I wash my hands & sit down to eat Meat Pie & Chips? Thanks. Basically after the launch of my monthly ramblings I had Februarys all prepared and in the bag Read more...

Single Reviews - Morning Runner - Burning Benches (Parlophone) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Slowly but surely these four lads are breaking into the big time with their anthemic Emo-edged Indie-Rock music. Their sets in support of Coldplay's last tour naturally thrust them into the limelight, and now that their stunning debut album - Wilderness Is Paradise Now - has stormed the charts, this band is fast becoming one of the most famous and respected groups in the country. Read more...