Offbeat Music

Reviews · Interviews · Playlists from the alternative music scene

All Posts 142 posts
Minor Victories Interview
interview

Minor Victories Interview

Collaborations you would find many in the music scene. The best are naturally those that were not initiated for commercial reasons but because of the incentive of the musicians themselves. In the case of Minor Victories we were surprised by an initially casual idea for two artists collaborating turning into a whole band releasing a great self-titled album – a treasure trove of diverse and yet distinctive songs. Minor Victories have been taking their songs to the stage since this summer and Offbe

· Alice Peters-Burns · 10 min blog Editors

Red Eye, XAD, Twilight Fields

On this dreary Sunday (let’s not complain – we had an outrageously hot September here so far), it is time to dig into the blog again. I have some fine new three releases for you, covering a wide spectrum of the often unfairly put-into-one-box indie music genre. Red Eye, XAD, Twilight Fields. Let’s get going: Red Eye Just out is a new sigle by Red Eye called “Moroccan fruit”. Red Eye are of the nowadays rare breed of musicians implying that every song should carry a message. What greater

· Alice Peters-Burns · 3 min Indie new releases

Vibrissae, Audiodeluxe, Prana Crafter - listen now!

As you will notice, this blog features interviews with the well-known artists of the music scene (well-known to you, dear reader, if your musical interest lead you to this page) as, shall we say, a by-product of my radio shows. Initially this blog was meant to work the other way round though: New bands, mostly unsigned, that featured in my radio shows, were to be given more deserved exposure here. Which brings us to the wonderful (in no particular order) Vibrissae, Audiodeluxe, Prana Crafter – l

· Alice Peters-Burns · 2 min Audiodeluxe Indie
Kevin Morby Interview And Gig Review - Support: Jess Williamson
interview

Kevin Morby Interview And Gig Review - Support: Jess Williamson

So we are off again to the best venue in the area, Reflektor in Liège, Belgium. I won’t harp about it yet again, trust me, it is the perfect place. Tonight everyone is looking forward to see Kevin Morby play after the release of his third solo album “Singing Saw” (Dead Oceans) that for many already has secured a place in the top records of the year. Having a hectic tour schedule and not much time, I am very grateful that Kevin Morby took some time for an interview which you will find below. Here

· Alice Peters-Burns · 9 min gig review Indie

Indian Summer New Releases

I hope you had a lovely summer so far. Where I am, it was not much of a summer really and we are all waiting for an Indian summer. The nights are already getting quite cool. This is the time to settle down with some nice music (isn’t it always). Time for Indian Summer New Releases. The brilliant thing about this lack of summer was that the usual slack in new releases was also missing. I am trying to work my way through this huge backlog on this blog that is at the very tailend of part-time occ

· Alice Peters-Burns · 5 min Brigid Mae Power Hologram Teen
On The Turntable In Summer

On The Turntable In Summer

As the world is going mad and it never ceases raining here, it seems, I am in dire need of music. I don’t know about you. So, before I flee to rest, enjoy and also discover new music hopefully, I will leave you with some recommendations for the summer months. Now is the time to dig into the music as the flood of new releases subsides. So: On the turntable in summer. 50FOOTWAVE Kristin Hersh first emerged together with Tanya Donelly as Throwing Muses and has since delivered a steady stream

· Alice Peters-Burns · 5 min Dark Narrows Indie
Shearwater Interview
interview

Shearwater Interview

To celebrate the end of one tour, Shearwater from Austin, Texas, started another one. Believe it or not, they graced our wee town with a performance which might have spooked the band a little as the venue is in a WWII shelter bunker that is now a listed building and called the Musikbunker. I turned up already and shrieked my way through the dark bunker, ready or not for a Shearwater Interview. Anyhow, those who in spite of it being a weekday night and the footie being on came, were treated to a

· Alice Peters-Burns · 13 min Indie Jetplane and Oxbow
The Chills: Gig review, Cologne 2016

The Chills: Gig review, Cologne 2016

Martin Phillipps kindly gave me an interview ahead of The Chills‘ only gig in Germany, May 30th, Gebäude 9 in Cologne. Read all about it here. So what was the gig like? It was everything you would expect and then some more! Arriving fairly early, as the The Chills were billed for 8pm with no support act and a virtual apocalyptic downpour making driving a bit, true to form, “Underwater Wasteland”, it was all quiet in the yard outside the venue. Hey people, did you not hear The Chills calling or

· Alice Peters-Burns · 3 min Cologne concert
The Chills - European tour! Interview! Sic!
interview

The Chills - European tour! Interview! Sic!

Billy Connolly, the Scottish comedian, said that the Scottish emigrants to New Zealand did not find it southern enough on first arrival or rather the weather still too clement and decided to venture further south – to the almost southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, Dunedin. Dunedin might ring another bell, though, as it is also the home of the famed Dunedin sound represented by legendary Flying Nun record label. And this is where The Chills come in! The story of The Chills is one of c

· Alice Peters-Burns · 14 min Dunedin gig

Helix Pulsar, The CracKers, Maths And The Moon

Time to savour some new music from the neverending well of Offbeat Music Blog. First up I would like to introduce you to Helix Pulsar, a French electro rock synth pop band, they have released their debut EP (with 12 tracks!) “Beyond The Wall”. If any of you readers are old enough to remember Danse Society or Clan Of Xymox (ah, those were the days) or young enough to come across them again, you are not far off Helix Pulsar’s sound, yet contemporary and with more electronic sounds and harmonies

· Alice Peters-Burns · 2 min Helix Pulsar Indie
Marble Sounds & Precious Few Gig Review

Marble Sounds & Precious Few Gig Review

Marble Sounds from Belgium are currently on tour mostly presenting songs from their new album “Tautou”. If you want to know more about the history of Marble Sounds and “the ins and outs” of the band, you can also refer to an interview with Pieter van Dessel, head of the band, here on this blog. And here comes the Marble Sounds & Precious Few Gig Review! Marble Sounds are: Pieter Van Dessel – vox, guitar, keys Gianni Marzo – guitar, vox Frederik Bastiaensen – bass Mattijs Vanderleen – drums Bre

· Alice Peters-Burns · 3 min Belgium gig
Mary Lattimore gig review

Mary Lattimore gig review

Mary Lattimore from Philadelphia travelled our shores with Great Lake Swimmers after the release of her new album “At The Dam” (Ghostly International) that is spinning in the Offbeat household non-stop and was so perfectly prescribed by someone writing in to BBC Radio 6 that I cannot but quote it: “Preparing for a holiday, listening to “At The Dam” which was inspired by her experiences on tour. What could be more perfect?” Mary Lattimore is one busy woman and it is not an easy feat to travel t

· Alice Peters-Burns · 2 min At The Dam gig review