Articles about Music
Laura Gibson's grand return
Kaite Welsh listens to Laura Gibson's latest album and finds her recalling the musical quirks she is best known for but also exploring new territory
Kaite Welsh // 27 January 2012
Bedroom dance like it's 1995! Wild Flag shake their shimmy
Wild Flag are a supergroup comprising Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss, Helium's Mary Timony and The Minders' Rebecca Cole. Sophie Mayer examines their formation and delights in their debut self-titled album
Sophie Mayer // 16 January 2012
The brilliant and the eclectic: Gaggle preview their forthcoming debut album
All woman punk choir Gaggle are a diverse group who integrate openly feminist concepts into their performances. Their radical reworking of The Brilliant and the Dark at the Royal Albert Hall was sold out in September. Hayley Foster da Silva reports on their all-too-brief follow-up performance at Hackney New Empowering Church on 15 December 2011
Hayley Foster da Silva // 11 January 2012
The sweet and sour world of Annie Clark: St Vincent's Strange Mercy
Annie Clark began her career with the Polyphonic Spree, has released two albums of dark but sweet left-of-centre pop, and has been touring her new album Strange Mercy across sold out venues around Europe. Louise Allan reveals that Clark hasn't lost her taste for the disturbing and the angelic
Louise Allan // 9 January 2012
Florence: the next instalment
Cazz Blase reviews Florence + the Machine's latest album and finds Welsh's ability to follow her own path and confound people's expectations, while soaking up diverse musical genres, to still be in full force
Cazz Blase // 29 December 2011
The re-emergence of Riot Grrrl music and politics?
Riot Grrrl celebrated its 20 year anniversary earlier this year, and Hayley Foster da Silva is pleased to discover evidence of its legacy in the form of Atlanta's Coathangers and Oxford's Secret Rivals
Hayley Foster da Silva // 22 December 2011
Categories: Music
The Opiates: Billie Ray Martin returns!
With a career spanning over 25 years, Hamburg-born singer, DJ and label owner Billie Ray Martin is a woman with an impressive history in both dance and soul music. Holly Combe salutes her return
Holly Combe // 6 December 2011
Shattering seas: Tori Amos at the Royal Albert Hall
Tori Amos' recent performance at London's Royal Albert Hall served as an emotional reminder for Sophie Mayer of the power of song, and of teenage memories
Sophie Mayer // 25 November 2011
Living in the ice age: Kate Bush's 50 Words for Snow
Six years after Aerial, Kate Bush's latest offering sees her continuing to write, perform and produce music that is out of this world. Debi Withers previews the release, equipped with a healthy appreciation for the ridiculous and a love of Bush's work, tempered by a critical eye for some of the problems inherent within it
debi withers // 20 November 2011
Abi Wade - And Blood and Air EP
At a time when folk music is enjoying plenty of exposure, new blood Abi Wade's brave and disarmingly simple first EP is a fitting addition. Cazz Blase reports
Cazz Blase // 18 November 2011
Music for wintertime: Zola Jesus' Conatus
Nika Danilova -AKA Zola Jesus- grew up training to sing opera whilst listening to Throbbing Gristle and the Dead Kennedys. As the nights draw in and temperatures drop, David Wilkinson reviews her third album Conatus
David Wilkinson // 14 November 2011
Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know
Brit Award winning musician Laura Marling's latest album sees her going beyond her nu-folk roots and taking on a looser, lustier and more sophisticated style. Louise Allan reports
Louise Allan // 2 November 2011
Be the same; be the change: Maple Bee and her world
Cazz Blase reviews the career of Maple Bee (AKA Melanie Garside from Mediaeval Baebes), taking in the albums Hello Eve, Home and Chasing Eva along the way
Cazz Blase // 23 October 2011
Blue Roses
David Wilkinson salutes the talents of Laura Groves, otherwise known as Blue Roses, and finds much to marvel at in her precocious debut album
David Wilkinson // 21 October 2011
Radical rockers UT at The Lexington
Famously name-checked by Le Tigre in 1991's 'Hot Topic', feminist rock pioneers UT originally came from the downtown New York no-wave scene in 1978. They moved on to London, touring with The Fall in the early 1980s and releasing four albums that decade, before disbanding in 1990. Hayley Foster da Silva witnesses their return
Hayley Foster da Silva // 3 October 2011
Evangelista - In Animal Tongue
Sophie Mayer reviews Evangelista's In Animal Tongue and is enraptured by the lyrics, vocals and productions of charismatic frontwoman Carla Bozulich
Sophie Mayer // 1 October 2011
Categories: Music
Cambodian Space Project - 2011: A Space Odyssey
Srey Thy is a singer with a story to tell. Louise Allan discovers this album from Thy's band, Cambodian Space Project, is a mixture of Thy-penned Kmer rock and tributes to a golden age of 60's Cambodian pop
Louise Allan // 16 September 2011
Puffyshoes are coming!
It's all about lo fi! Joanna Tocher, The F-Word's music correspondent in Japan, introduces us to the delights of Puffyshoes who hail from Chiba
Joanna Tocher // 11 September 2011
Categories: Music
Electrelane at Scala
Louise Allan gives an overview of the 10 year career of Electrelane and attends a gig at Scala on 21 July, one of their first after a three year break
Louise Allan // 10 August 2011
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Catherine Elms finds Lady Gaga's latest album something of a mixed bag, but remains optimistic about the stars ability to vary her sound and stay strong on sex and sexuality
Catherine Elms // 8 August 2011
Biophilia - Björk returns
Ruth Rosselson attends the world premiere of Björk's live show, one of several performances at Campfield Market Hall that are her first UK dates in over three years
Ruth Rosselson // 10 July 2011
tUnE-yArDs at the Manchester Deaf Institute
Ruth Rosselson gives the lowdown on a show from Merrill Garbus, a big-voiced artist who exudes confidence on stage through her music, rather than her outfits or dancing
Ruth Rosselson // 10 July 2011
Kitty Wells Dresses: Songs of the Queen of Country Music
Helen G reviews Laura Cantrell's collection of covers of songs by Kitty Wells, the first female country star to release a long-playing record
Helen G // 10 June 2011
Generation Indigo
Cazz Blase reviews Poly Styrene's final work, an angry album with socially biting lyrics but an overall optimistic theme
Cazz Blase // 29 May 2011
A woman called Toothpaste: an interview with Lucy Whitman
Cazz Blase interviews Lucy Toothpaste, who wrote the fanzine JOLT and played a central role in the punk feminist movement
Cazz Blase // 20 May 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Herstory, Interviews, Magazines, Music
Cookie Party! (Death of the Elephant, Stella Zine and Ste McCabe)
Hayley Foster da Silva reviews an evening inspired by riot grrrl and feminist-friendly electro punk
Hayley Foster da Silva // 30 January 2011
Categories: Music
Love: Sacred and Profane
Kaite Welsh reviews a performance of "romantic duets and melancholy ayres" by new opera ensemble En Travesti
Kaite Welsh // 18 June 2010
Categories: Music
The Raincoats play the National Portrait Gallery
The Raincoats are as vital as ever, argues Lydia Harris, who left their recent gig determined to join a grrrl band
Lydia Harris // 4 October 2009
Categories: Music
Girl Power?
The Spice Girls' come-back tour re-opens some questions about the nature of 'Girl Power'. Jennifer Thomson looks back fondly - but critically
Jennifer Thomson // 5 April 2008
Categories: Music
Peaches - Impeach My Bush
Peaches' latest electro-punk album is both explicit and explicitly feminist. Catherine Redfern reviews Impeach My Bush
Catherine Redfern // 1 September 2007
Categories: Music
We Are The Pipettes - The Pipettes
Rachel Harris-Gardiner checks out the debut album from The Pipettes, a fabulous, fun, polka-dotted girl group from Brighton.
Rachel Harris-Gardiner // 13 August 2006
Categories: Music
The Gossip - Manchester July 2006
Cazz Blase reviews a storming gig by The Gossip in Manchester on 18th July 2006.
Cazz Blase // 13 August 2006
Categories: Music
The Spice Girls' Legacy
Sarah Parry defends the legacy of the oft-ridiculed Spice Girls. She argues that 1996 should be seen as a feminist renaissance, and explains how the band promoted ideas of individuality and female friendship that were hugely influential to girls at the time.
Sarah Parry // 29 May 2006
Categories: Music
FHM Music Channel
FHM has launched its own music channel and intrepid Natalie Smith finds a common theme in the videos. (Can you guess what it is yet)?
Natalie Smith // 17 June 2005
Categories: Music, Television
Frank - Amy Winehouse
Is Amy Winehouse really looking for someone "Stronger than Me"? Holly Combe argues that Winehouse's debut album presents a somewhat traditional view of heterosexual relationships mixed with a couple of progressive moments. Yet despite its flaws, the music can't be faulted.
Holly Combe // 1 June 2004
Categories: Music
Le Tigre - London Astoria, April 2004
Jess McCabe finds Le Tigre on top form at the Astoria.
Jess McCabe // 18 April 2004
Categories: Music
Not a Victim - Stephanie Pakrul
Lorraine Smith introduces the intriguing new "edgy folk" singer Stephanie Pakrul.
Lorraine Smith // 18 January 2004
Categories: Music
Tales of a Librarian - Tori Amos
In this new compliation album, Tori Amos brings together 20 of her favourite songs which deal with deeply personal issues such as motherhood, rape, childhood, religion, sex, and finding a voice. As Nicky Raynor explains, there's much more to Tori than 'Cornflake Girl'.
Nicky Raynor // 16 December 2003
Categories: Music
Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones
In the fortieth anniversary of the Rolling Stones, Alix Brodie wonders if the lyrics of music's most notorious misogynists can lend something positive to the cause of contemporary feminism.
Alix Brodie // 15 November 2003
Categories: Music
Kylie Minogue
As a fan of Kylie, Anna Fioravanti finds that writing about the star from a feminist perspective raises deep questions about the nature of feminism itself. Risking judgement, she explains here why Kylie fits comfortably with her own definition of feminism, and why the singer can indeed be a positive role model for women.
Anna Fioravanti // 20 October 2003
Categories: Music
Christina Aguilera - Can't Hold Us Down
Christina Aguilera's new song 'Can't Hold Us Down' contains some refreshing feminist sentiments, says Lorraine Smith.
Lorraine Smith // 16 September 2003
Categories: Music
Women Who Wrock
Anna Sandfield is delighted to find an internet radio station broadcasting music by female artists and woman-fronted bands.
Anna Sandfield // 20 August 2003
Categories: Music
Ani DiFranco - Royal Festival Hall, June 2003
Anna Sandfield is uplifted and moved at a solo gig by the amazing Ani DiFranco.
Anna Sandfield // 15 July 2003
Categories: Music
This is Rockbitch
Lorraine Smith watched channel five's "This is Rockbitch" documentary, but is she any wiser about the radical sex-collective rockers?
Lorraine Smith // 16 May 2003
Categories: Music, Television
The Be Good Tanyas - Bristol Bierkeller, March 2003
Indigo Black is transported by the Be Good Tanyas.
Indigo Black // 16 March 2003
Categories: Music
Ka-ching, bling bling, ching ching - women sing about money
What are female pop stars saying about money?
Catherine Redfern // 15 March 2003
Categories: Music
Interview with Lucy O'Brien
Cazz Blase interviews the author of She Bop II
Cazz Blase // 16 December 2002
Le Tigre - London Astoria, May 2002
Despite the lack of guitars, Helen Watling is blown away by Le Tigre.
Helen Watling // 16 July 2002
Categories: Music
Ms Dynamite - It Takes More
If you're sick and tired of endless misogynistic Gangster rap, it seems you're not alone. Ms.Dynamite is a 21 year-old...
Catherine Redfern // 15 July 2002
Categories: Music
Garbage - Manchester Apollo, April 2002
Michelle Jenkin reckons Shirley Manson is a goddess, especially live.
Michelle Jenkin // 15 July 2002
Categories: Music
