interview

Wire, the highly respected post-punk band that helped shape early on the sound and musical direction of late 70s punk rock, began 2011 with a new album, Red Barked Tree.  What followed was an extensive worldwide tour, which helped spawn the band’s new live album, The Black Session — Paris, 10 May 2011.  The album released in the U.S. on February 7th.

In 2010, Allo Darlin’ transcended the indiepop scene and, in their self-titled LP, released one of the debuts of the year. Full of heartfelt lyrics on love, loss and life, magical melodies and whimsical instrumentation flourishes, it proved that fun and emotional weight aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.

Cambridge-based Alt-J are hoping that 2012 is their year. After cultivating a fanbase through free Soundcloud downloads, they’re now starting to gain some serious press coverage and will be heading out on tour in the early part of the year. Also known by the moniker, △ (it’s the symbol you get when pressing Alt-J on a Mac), the band’s polyrhythmic yet soulful take on glitch-pop means their reputation is only going to grow in the coming months.

Recognition has been a long time coming for London’s Clock Opera. Picked out as a band to watch as early as 2009, it’s not until this year that they’ll finally release their debut album. That said, it’s looking like it’s coming at a perfect time, Clock Opera’s cut n’ paste approach to songwriting – feeding in bits of rock, synth-pop and modern classical – fits in comfortably in our brave new world of cross-genre pollination.

The wonderful, ever-changing sound of Guillemots is currently making its way around the United Kingdom, as the band take to the road in support of their third album Walk the River, released earlier this year.

Real Estate arose at a time when summery beach pop was all the rage. While most bands were eventually swept away by a tidal wave, the New Jersey foursome managed to stand their ground over the malicious forces of early hype. Days, their sophomore release, is mainly a continuation of their classic pop sound with a higher fidelity than their debut; its lackadaisical mood is laced with richly melodic hooks that impress in a subtle, unassuming way.

Slow Club are very much in the ascendency. Their second album, Paradise, is getting rave reviews across the board and they’ve just embarked upon a headline tour of the UK. But before hitting the road singer and drummer Rebecca Taylor found time for a quick phone call with Joe Rivers.

In interviews, you’ve given the impressions that you’re relieved the album is finished and ready to go, did you find it a particularly difficult album to make?

In the twelve months since being signed to Gilles Peterson's label, Brownshill Recordings, Ghostpoet (real name Obaro Ejimiwe) has achieved more than some acts achieve in their whole career.

The tale of AFC Wimbledon will be familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in English football. A non-league club for much of their existence, they were elected to the Football League in 1977, beginning a rapid rise up the pyramid which culminated in their promotion to the top tier just nine years later. In 1988, Wimbledon defied the odds to lift the FA Cup, becoming the first team to have won both the FA Cup and FA Amateur Cup, but it was soon after trophy success the wheels began to fall off.

Like many 18 year old girls, Amy Burns wants to be a successful solo artist. However, what sets her apart from vast swathes of the population is that she isn’t trying to achieve her dreams by turning up to reality show auditions and assuming that “passion” and the fact it “means the world” is all it takes. Making the most of the opportunities the internet affords new talent, she’s doing things on her own terms. Not only a singer and rapper, she also produces all her own tracks.