As children, when we lost a toy, we were taught to ‘retrace our steps’. To go back over the very recent past to find what we had lost. And Natterers are retracing hardcore punk’s steps to recover what has been lost in recent years. More »
If Marvel Comics’ Man-Thing made a record it would sound dangerously close to 20 Years In A Montana Missile Silo. Sci-fi synths swirl and soar over Creedence Clearwater Revival-style swamp rock, topped off with David Thomas’ idiosyncratic warbling yelp. Pere Ubu are one of those rare bands who are – as John Peel put it when referring to The Fall – “always different, always the same.” More »
Bathed in blue stage lights, with the ageing pipes of an old church organ looming impressively over them, Cúla Búla towered over the crowd upstairs at The Quays on a stage built at least seven feet off the ground. More »
Hypopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia (definition: a fear of long words) is a wondrous mess of contradictions. By taking 21st century pop and melding it with The Jesus Lizard’s rhythmic disorientation, The Butthole Surfers’ sonic experimentation and the propulsive beat of dance music, Hypochristmutreefuzz have crafted a debut album of brilliant modernity. More »
Inventive emo riffs snake over thrash metal powerchords while the hardcore punk vocals spit the lyrics. Earl Grey have taken the potential trappings of watered-down pop-punk and added just a dash of venom to the cocktail. More »
33 seconds into Lace, there’s a ringing seventh chord that sends chills running down the spine. Hannah Aldridge’s strong, sultry vocals snake around the melody like a wisp of Marlboro smoke on the longest track across the 10 songs on Gold Rush. A barfly’s southern-gothic epic of a tale. More »
There’s a fine art to the lazy day. More »
‘Cause he’s got a voice that’d make Tom Waits go “damn man what did you do to yourself?!”, you can’t understand a word James Leg sings. More »
Somewhere in recent memory, two such grassroots genres as indie and country went multi-platinum. Conclusive proof that the genres have not so much infiltrated the mainstream as that the mainstream as infiltrated them are records such as Morganway. More »
This is the sound of what’s known as ‘a boy done-good’. And Jerry Harmon is certainly that, with a grammy nomination to his name, he could in fact be the pinnacle of ‘a boy done-good’. More »
by James Fleming
Psychedelic rock tends to make more promises than it can keep. More »
The efficacy of cables, and in particular USB and digital cables, is a much debated subject in the audio world. However, Dan Worth, Hifi Pig’s resident computer audiophile is convinced of different cables’ bringing benefits to the overall system. Here he tries out The Chord Company’s Signature Tuned Array USB cable costing £400 for a 1m length. More »
The £2800 Simaudio Moon Neo ACE is a versatile, all-in-one solution that you need only add speakers to…there’s even an on-board moving magnet phonostage. John Scott finds out just how ACE it really is. More »
SYSTEM-1 from Code Acoustics is a high quality 3-way active speaker, with off-board electronics module including crossovers and amplifiers. It is UK made and costs £6350 direct from the manufacturer. Ian Ringstead turns up the volume and puts the SYSTEM-1 though its paces. More »
Remember the Vodafone Smart ultra 6 phone GadgetyNews reviewed last August? Well, they have today released the follow-up. I give you the Vodafone Smart ultra 7.
The Smart ultra 6 was very popular and even won awards so the new kid had better have its whits about it.
Can the Smart ultra 7 fill the boots of its predecessor?
Check out the full review over on GadgetyNews.com
The Intempo Retro Blaster continues the company’s fascination with past decades. Not so long ago I reviewed their 50s-style jukebox and today I take a look at their modern take on a 70s/80s classic – the ghetto blaster.
For those of you too young to remember when portable audio meant a small, mono, transistor radio the arrival of the Walkman and the mighty ghetto blaster was the dawning of a new age. No longer were you at the mercy of radio DJs when you wanted music on the move. Now you could pack a few C90 cassettes (ask your parents) with your favourite tunes on and then annoy anyone within earshot in the park, on the bus, or on the train.
Read the full review on GadgetyNews.
The Intempo Bluetooth Jukebox is a new twist on a 1950’s throwback. A modern nod back to when fashion started to shake off the constraints of post-war rationing and less conservative styles started to appear.
The 50s brought tighter skirts and leather biker jackets, as well as the now timeless Jukebox.
Whenever the word ‘Jukebox’ crops up in conversation it’s not the modern, networked, video playing version that appears in my head – rather the colourful arched numbers found in the 50s Malt Shops, Cafes and eateries.
Get the full review at GadgetyNews.com
The BenQ BL2420Z monitor should not be confused with the BenQ XL2420Z gaming screen whose larger sibling, the XL2720Z, I reviewed back in October. The BL in the name shows that it is part of BenQ’s Business Line.
The BenQ BL24020Z gets a 23.8-inch AMVA panel, a thinner bezel and smaller stand foot-print than previous models, and a brushed metal effect texture on the base.
So, is this business machine fit for purpose or should it be given its P45 and told look for another job?
Read the full review over at GadgetyNews.com
The Oppo F1 smartphone was brought to a gathering of Oppo fans aboard a boat on the Thames. Whilst the F Series phones are aimed at the mid-range market, this new smartphone may well have ideas above its station, but manages to keep the price remarkably affordable.
Oppo has created quite a name for itself amongst the smartphone community for not only being able to release decent hardware at a very reasonable price point but for producing some great camera phones.
Get the full review at GadgetyNews.com
Looking at the Sengled Pulse put me in to two minds, which is quite apt as this device is slightly schizophrenic.
Audiophiles might cringe at the thought of shoving a JBL Bluetooth speaker inside an LED light bulb but for ‘normal’ folks this solution may be a slice of genius. Well, that’s what Sengled is hoping.
Get the full review at GadgetyNews.com
Opus 3 SAC
D Cat 19421
