Richard Hawley - London Scala live review

The world's most down-to-earth crooner, Richard Hawley consults the lyric sheets on his lectern: "I took so much acid in the '80s, I can't remember a fucking thing," he admits, smiling and unrepentant. Grabbing songs from classy new album Coles Corner as well as from his coveted catalogue, Hawley boasts a voice somewhere between Johnny Cash growl and Scott Walker trill, so rich and tangy you could spread it on toast. 'Baby You’re My Light' enchants, and 'Born Under A Bad Sign' transforms the Scala into a twinkling 1950s ballroom. "People call this bedwetters' music - well I'll piss on your mattress anytime," he says charmingly, before 'The Waters Of My Time' engulfs any remaining doubters. In a class of his own.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, October 2005 issue

The Chalets – Check In (Setanta) album review

The cleverest pop bands, from Pet Shop Boys to new pups The Pipettes, understand the importance of having a genre-defining theme tune. Irish quintet The Chalets, being both smarter and evidently more pop-savvy than a coach-load of McFly fans, have written a whole album of them. It's gloriously danceable and absolutely irresistible, like Le Tigre mixing it with Roxy Music.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, October 2005 issue

David Ford - I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused (Independiente/Magnolia) album review

Here, former Easyworld singer Ford rationalises, analyses and generally does his best to work through what sounds like a disastrous car-crash of a relationship, with guitar and piano accompaniment. 'I Don’t Care What You Call Me' and 'Cheer Up (You Miserable Fuck)' might not bode well, but this is brilliant - James Blunt for people who actually give a shit about anything.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, October 2005 issue

Au Revoir Simone - Verses of Comfort, Assurance and Salvation (Moshi Moshi) album review

Eight tracks of shimmering electro-pop succour from New York trio ARS, who may as well have been cultured in a test-tube specifically for All Tomorrow's Parties regulars with one too many Stereolab records and a weakness for lissom ladies who know more about keyboards than boys. 'Through The Backyard' and 'Hurricanes' stand out immediately; they’ll make better songs yet, no doubt.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, October 2005 issue

Animal Collective - Feels (Fat Cat) album review

It's possible, if pushed, to plot a psyche/rock line from Pink Floyd and Roky Erickson, via The Soft Boys and Julian Cope, to The Flaming Lips and Olivia Tremor Control, onto Super Furry Animals and beyond. Animal Collective fit somewhere among that cranium-expanding group; Feels, their second full-length album, is a fuzzfolk dronefest of occasionally rewarding but ultimately frustratingly hard-going duration.

Charlie Ivens

originally appeared in The Fly magazine, October 2005 issue