Author: Becky Varley-Winter

Album | Jib Kidder – Teaspoon to the Ocean

Jib Kidder is the pseudonym of Sean Schuster-Craig, a ‘pop collagist’ signed to Domino’s ‘Weird World’ label. A visual and video artist who describes his music as another form of collage, his playful, psychedelic sound lies somewhere between Dirty Projectors and The Flaming…

Album | Diagrams – Chromatics

Diagrams is the latest project of Sam Genders, previously of Tunng, but for me Chromatics is sharper and more interesting than Tunng’s more diffuse work. ‘Phantom Power’ starts out jaunty, gently articulate, all Belle-&-Sebastian-eqsue, rattling along like a red bicycle with a bell…

Album | Lutine – White Flowers

White Flowers begins with ‘Espera’, which means waiting/hoping/expecting, and sounds like an open window on a cold sunny morning: bright, pure voices, and a buzzing hum which could be a harmonium or a discordant amp. The song lyrics throughout have…

Album | Amy LaVere – Runaway’s Diary

Runaway’s Diary was inspired by the ramblings of Seasick Steve, and by Amy LaVere’s own brief stint as a teenage runaway. She inhabits a similar landscape to Lissie’s whole-hearted country rock, with hints of Tom Waits in his more romantic…

Album | Pure X – Angel

The third album by Pure X, Angel, is an extremely laid-back soundtrack for summer. ‘Starlight’ is like a turquoise swimming pool; notes of soul and disco remind me of the dreamy haze of Twin Sister, the lyrics practically whispered. ‘Valley…

Album | Tiny Ruins – Brightly Painted One

Hollie Fullbrook, singer-songwriter of Tiny Ruins, has a voice like honey tea, smooth and warm. This gives her songs a soothing texture, even when they’re sad or wistful, slightly reminiscent of Nick Drake. Brightly Painted One opens with ‘Me at…

Album | Broken Twin – May

Broken Twin has a luxurious, emotional voice that feels perfectly made for belting out love songs. Majke Voss Romme’s stage name might suggest hopelessness, but whatever darkness this album does have is not truly so bleak. As the spring title…