For those who have followed me for a bit, you may have figured out a particular dislike of mine: pop rock. It is a personal bias I cannot seem to get over and no matter how hard I try to find something good about albums such as this, I still end up disliking it anyway. The kind of adjectives I'd use to describe this album, such as uninspired, generic, bland, vapid and boring are about as overused as many of this LP's tropes. There are a few to things that are semi-enjoyable about this album, ... read more

Yves Tumor’s Safe in the Hands of Love was easily one of my favourite experimental records of the decade, combining a visceral mix of pop songwriting and wild noise. So how does Sean Bowie follow up such a well loved record? Well, by presenting us with a far more subdued, yet still excellent and exciting, version of his sound. Heaven to a Tortured Mind is the definition of experimental pop. The songs have unconventional structures, incorporate sounds and textures out of the ordinary but ... read more

For all this album's dark, enthralling qualities, it just didn't captivate me enough. Sorry's debut album is a contemporary take on the tired and tested sites and sounds of post-punk, combining the typically guitar and/or synth driven genre with samples and other electronics. Its a good listen, with the dark production, wicked lyrics and well sustained aesthetic giving plenty of reasons to compliment this record. However, by the second half of the album, things start to really drag, with a lot ... read more

On their forth album, experimental punk group The Garden combine their typically eclectic sound with the kitchen sink pop experimentalism of 100 gecs with mixed success. This album certainly has its moments, leaving me smiling with some of the hilariously over-the-top songs and vocal performances. The album also manages to remain largely liberated from categorisation, something I am guessing the duo were aiming for. However, issues lay in the fact that The Garden seem to be trying far too hard ... read more