Audiotrail

23/05/2022

LIVE REVIEW: BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD

https://audiotrail.co.uk/2022/05/23/live-review-black-country-new-road/

Black Country, New Road perform an exciting new set of brand new songs following the departure of vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Isaac Wood.

Brudenell Social Club Ninja Tune

20/05/2022

Ummmmm… There’s a new Arcade Fire record out…

REVIEW: https://audiotrail.co.uk/2022/05/20/review-arcade-fire-we/

25/02/2022

REVIEW: LONELY SINGLES CLUB - FEB '22

https://audiotrail.co.uk/2022/02/25/review-lonely-singles-club-feb-22/

A round up of the most interesting singles released this February.

Featuring Chalk Hands, Lucy Dacus, dälek, Foo Fighters, ITHACA, Lingua Ignota, Caroline Polachek, Greg Puciato, Row of Ashes, RZA and Sharon Van Etten.

12/02/2022

REVIEW: BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD - ANTS FROM UP THERE

https://audiotrail.co.uk/2022/02/12/review-black-country-new-road-ants-from-up-there/

Black Country, New Road’s sophomore record is a true landmark in alternative rock music. A devastating, crushing and explosive tour-de-force of sheer melancholy, intensity, chaos and catharsis.

Ninja Tune

11/02/2022

REVIEW: ROLO TOMASSI - WHERE MYTH BECOMES MEMORY

https://audiotrail.co.uk/2022/02/11/review-rolo-tomassi-where-myth-becomes-memory/

UK mathcore icons Rolo Tomassi return with a triumphant and dreamlike album built on daring sonic contrasts and juxtapositions.

MNRK Heavy The Ranch Lewis Johns

07/02/2022

REVIEW: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - TIME SKIFFS

https://audiotrail.net/2022/02/07/review-animal-collective-time-skiffs/

Following a wobbly path of releases and critics turning their backs on them, Animal Collectivereturn with their most focused and assured record in ages.

02/02/2022

REVIEW: LONELY SINGLES CLUB - JAN '22

https://audiotrail.net/2022/02/02/review-lonely-singles-club-jan-22/

A new column rounding up the most interesting singles released each month, good and bad.

This January we have new jams from Animal Collective, BCNR, Charli XCX, Grimes, The Smile, Denzel Curry, Ghost and more.

27/01/2022

REVIEW: GILMORE TRAIL - IMPERMANENCE

👉 https://audiotrail.net/2022/01/27/review-gilmore-trail-impermanence/

Years in the making, British post-rock quartet Gilmore Trail’s third album is a disciplined and mannered love letter to the subgenre they adore.

11/01/2022

REVIEW: CLAIRE ROUSAY - SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO FRIENDS

👉 https://audiotrail.net/2022/01/11/review-claire-rousay-sometimes-i-feel-like-i-have-no-friends/

Prolific US sound artist Claire Rousay takes us on a lengthy meditation exploring companionship and solitude, told through field recordings and non-linear compositions in sound collage.

07/01/2022

REVIEW: BURIAL - ANTIDAWN

👉 https://audiotrail.net/2022/01/07/review-burial-antidawn/

Much revered UK electronic producer Burial returns with his most formal new release since 2007’s masterwork Untrue; a full on immersion into sound collage and field recordings.

Burial Hyperdub Records

15/12/2021

BOTY: TOP 25 SINGLES OF 2021

https://audiotrail.net/2021/12/15/boty-top-25-singles-of-2021/

The best single releases of 2021 including a Spotify playlist. Check it out!

SPOILER ALERT

Featuring...
Big Thief, Black Country, New Road, black midi, Sarah Brand, BROCKHAMPTON, CHVRCHES, Circuit des Yeux, Deafheaven, Lana Del Rey, Dry Cleaning, Earl Sweatshirt, Halsey, HEALTH + Nine Inch Nails, Injury Reserve, Cassandra Jenkins, JPEGMAFIA, Lil Nas X, Lingua Ignota, LoneLady, Kacey Musgraves, Emma Ruth Rundle, Taylor Swift, Tyler, The Creator, Sharon Van Etten + Angel Olsen, Weezer

06/12/2021

REVIEW: NOVEMBER '21 LISTENING TRAIL

https://audiotrail.net/2021/12/06/review-november-21-listening-trail/

It’s the final reviews round-up of 2021 before I dive into my BOTY lists, so I’ve been extra rambly this time! Here are some of the most interesting releases from November.

Featuring...

Mira Calix - Absent Origins (Warp)
Circuit des Yeux - -io (Matador)
Converge & Chelsea Wolfe - Bloodmoon I (Deathwish / Epitaph)
Endless Boogie - Admonitions (No Quarter)
Duncan Evans & Wilderness Hymnal - Until Liars Fear You (Trepanation)
Gnod - La Mort Du Sens (Rocket Recordings)
Jessica Moss - Phosphenes (Constellation)
Emma Ruth Rundle - Engine Of Hell (Sargent House)
Taylor Swift - Red (Taylor's Version) (Republic)

22/11/2021

REVIEW: OCTOBER '21 LISTENING TRAIL

A look back at some of October’s most interesting record releases including James Blake, Lana Del Rey, Grouper, Kayo Dot, Lil Ugly Mane and Marissa Nadler.

https://audiotrail.net/2021/11/22/review-october-21-listening-trail/

22/10/2021

REVIEW: SEPTEMBER '21 LISTENING TRAIL

https://audiotrail.net/2021/10/22/review-september-21-listening-trail/

September was so stacked I couldn’t fit everything in that I wanted to write about. Not only that but I had a real hard time picking the record of the month as there were so many good contenders. Let me know what you think.

Featuring...
the body & Big ‡ Brave - Leaving None But Small Birds (Thrill Jockey)
Crywank - Just Popping In To Say Hi (Self-released)
Injury Reserve - By The Time I Get To Phoenix (Self-released)
Lil Nas X - Montero (Sony Columbia)
Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (Age 101)
MONO - Pilgrimage Of The Soul (Pelagic)
Kacey Musgraves - Star-Crossed (Polydor)
STILL - { } (Trepanation Recordings)
Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine - A Beginner's Mind (Asthmatic Kitty)

19/09/2021

REVIEW: AUGUST '21 LISTENING TRAIL

https://audiotrail.net/2021/09/19/review-august-21-listening-trail/

A deep look at some of the most interesting records released in August from Big Red Machine, CHVRCHES, Deafheaven, Joy Orbison, Lingua Ignota, Serpent Column, Ulver and Wolves In The Throne Room.

Sargent House House of Mythology

13/09/2021

REVIEW: HALSEY - IF I CAN'T HAVE LOVE, I WANT POWER

https://audiotrail.net/2021/09/13/review-halsey-if-i-cant-have-love-i-want-power/

Halsey collaborates with Nine Inch Nails legends Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to create an edgy, cinematic pop record channelling the emotions, hopes and fears of pregnancy and childbirth.

Read the full review at the link above.

20/08/2021

REVIEW: JULY '21 LISTENING TRAIL

https://audiotrail.net/2021/08/20/review-july-21-listening-trail/

A look back on some of the most interesting records from July with rambling reviews including Bleachers, Sarah Brand, Clairo, Billie Eilish, Vince Staples, Tyler The Creator and more.

Featuring...
Bleachers - Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night (RCA Records)
Sarah Brand - Red Dress (Self-Released)
Clairo - Sling (Republic Records)
Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever (Polydor)
Foodman - Yasuragi Land (Hyperdub Records)
Koreless - Agor (Young)
Low Roar - Maybe Tomorrow (Tonequake Records)
Alexis Marshall - House Of Lull. House Of When (Sargent House)
Vince Staples - Vince Staples (Motown)
Emma-Jean Thackray - Yellow (Movementt)
Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost (Columbia)
Year of no light - Consolamentum (Pelagic Records)

04/08/2021

REVIEW: LINGUA IGNOTA - SINNER GET READY

https://audiotrail.net/2021/08/04/review-lingua-ignota-sinner-get-ready/

Kristin Hayter proves once again to be one of the most forward thinking artists of our time with her most moving and organic set of songs yet. Lingua Ignota’s third masterpiece explores unsettling avant-garde hymnal soundscapes deep within the Christian dominance of rural Pennsylvania.

Sargent House Rarely Unable

Kristin Hayter proves once again to be one of the most forward thinking artists of our time with her most moving and organic set of songs yet. Lingua Ignota’s third masterpiece explores unset…

29/07/2021

REVIEW: A SEA OF DEAD TREES - GARMONBOZIA

Read it here: https://audiotrail.net/2021/07/29/review-a-sea-of-dead-trees-garmonbozia/

Glaswegian one-person post-rock band A Sea Of Dead Trees returns with their emotional and soul baring fourth record, Garmonbozia, named after a mysterious creamed corn substance in Twin Peaks.

A Sea of Dead Trees | Trepanation Recordings

27/07/2021

REVIEW: JUNE '21 LISTENING TRAIL

https://audiotrail.net/2021/07/27/review-june-21-listening-trail/

A round-up of the most interesting records to enter my earholes in June ’21, including aggressive industrial hip-hop, Norwegian black metal legends, Australian indie folk, an anonymous neo-soul collective and more!

Featuring...
Backxwash - I Lie Here Buried With My Rings & My Dresses (Self-Released)
Bossk - Migration (Deathwish Inc.)
Darkthrone - Eternal Hails...... (Peaceville Records)
Death Goals - The Horrible & The Miserable (Self-Released)
MJ Guider - Temporary Requiem (Self-Released)
Loraine James - Reflection (Hyperdub Records)
Francis Lung - Miracle (Memphis Industries)
Maple Glider - To Enjoy Is The Only Thing (Partisan Records)
SAULT - NINE (Forever Living Originals)

06/07/2021

REVIEW: LONELADY - FORMER THINGS

LoneLady delivers her most confident and striking album yet, built on relentless grooves, detailed production and infectious rhythms.

READ HERE: https://audiotrail.net/2021/07/06/review-lonelady-former-things/

Warp Records

LoneLady delivers their most confident and striking album yet, built on relentless grooves, detailed production and infectious rhythms.

26/06/2021

REVIEW: AMENRA - De Doorn

Amenra’s seventh opus is the Belgian sludge metal masters’ first outside of their Mass series, bringing new musicians and elements into their intense and harrowing sound.

Relapse Records

https://audiotrail.net/2021/06/26/review-amenra-de-doorn/

Amenra’s seventh opus is the Belgian sludge metal masters’ first outside of their Mass series, bringing new musicians and elements into their intense and harrowing sound.

15/06/2021

REVIEW: MAY '21 LISTENING TRAIL

Rambling reviews on some of May’s most interesting new music releases, from avant-garde black metal to UK hip-hop to progressive jazz rock and more!

Featuring...

Arooj Aftab - Vulture Prince (New Amsterdam)
The Black Keys - Delta Kream (Nonesuch Records)
black midi - Cavalcade (Rough Trade Records)
Burial - Chemz / Dolphinz (Hyperdub Records)
Dawn Ray'd - Wild Fire (Prosthetic Records)
HEALTH + Nine Inch Nails - Isn't Everyone (Loma Vista Recordings)
Pete and Bas - Quick Little Mixtape (Self-Released)
POLA - Opaque (Soundtracking The Void)
Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen - Like I Used To (Jagjaguwar)
Squid - Bright Green Field (Warp Records)
Victory Over The Sun - Nowherer (Self-Released)
Violet Cold - Empire Of Love (Self-Released)



https://audiotrail.net/2021/06/15/review-may-21-listening-trail/

Rambling reviews on some of May’s most interesting new music releases, from avant-garde black metal to UK hip-hop to progressive jazz rock and more!

15/05/2021

REVIEW: APRIL '21 LISTENING TRAIL

Rambling reviews covering some of the most interesting April record releases.

Featuring:
BROCKHAMPTON - Roadrunner (Question Everything)
BRUIT ≤ - This Machine Is Burning... (Elusive Sound)
Dinosaur Jr. - Sweep It Into Space (Jagjaguwar)
Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg (4AD)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_D's P*e At State's End! (Constellation Records)
Jean-Michel Jarre - Amazonia (Columbia Records)
Skullcrusher - Storm In Summer (Secretly Canadian)
Taylor Swift - Fearless (Taylor's Version) (Republic Records)



https://audiotrail.net/2021/05/15/review-april-21-listening-trail/

April was another huge month for new music and sadly trying to juggle a return to my normal job and writing about all the interesting albums I heard just wasn’t possible. But here are some of…

13/04/2021

REVIEW: MARCH '21 LISTENING TRAIL

A reviews round up of the most interesting new music releases from March. Have you listened to any of these records and what do you think of them?

Featuring...
Clark - Playground In A Lake (Deutsche Grammophon - DG)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club (Interscope Records)
Gazelle Twin & NYX - Deep England (NYX Collective)
The Hyena Kill - A Disconnect (APF Records)
DJ Muggs - Dies Occidedum (Sacred Bones Records)
Parannoul - To See The Next Part Of The Dream (Self-released)
Portal to the God Damn Blood Dimension - Rotten Fruit; Regular Orchard (Ripcord Records)
PUPIL SLICER - Mirrors (Prosthetic Records / Trepanation Recordings)
Sugar Wounds - Calico Dreams (Self-released)
Xiu Xiu - OH NO (Polyvinyl Record Co.)

https://audiotrail.net/2021/04/13/review-march-21-listening-trail/

Rounding up the most interesting March 2021 releases with rambling reviews.