bluenoseneil

Let's face it; there are only a small handful of artists offering a consistently exciting and varied output within the genre across a career spanning 30 years . This is no exception. For anyone wondering why the first half is mixed and the rest isn't, it's cos it was a vinyl-friendly release. It takes nothing away from the tracks that aren't mixed as they all lift the album as much as the others. Lead off single 'No Reason' is superb and a CB standard banger of a tune. 'Live Again' ... read more

Okay, let's have it right: this was purely an opportunity to cash in on the anniversary for the record label. The additional tracks and outtakes add literally nothing to the legacy of Daft Punk who were - up until RAM - a formidable and quite brilliant group. I myself was totally sucked in by the teaser marketing and videos back in 2003 but when I reflect back now I genuinely don't listen to or regard this album as their greatest. I revert back to Homework, Discovery, Human After All and ... read more

I love the way old 90's Electronic acts continue to innovate and scare the living crap out of the new pretenders. Leftfield are no exception and what Neil Barnes has done here is nothing less than exceptional. Yes, bringing in 'everyone's darling' Grian Chatten from the immense Fontaines DC never hurts, but frankly it would have been a strong track without his vocal. Sensible nods to the roots of the Leftfield sound, cleverly avoiding most of the aesthetic of the (mostly awful) Rhythm and ... read more

There's not really been a lot to shout about with Placebo for a few good years. For me personally, Battle For The Sun and Loud Like Love were mostly a little formulaic and Poppy, deviating from the angst and melancholy that formed Placebo's best work. Now, here's a thing: when you're writing about the state of the world post-pandemic, endless touring that requires you to retread the back catalogue again and again, and how life has changed since the early days of the band, you can turn out some ... read more