In League With Paton

Pearl Jam - London O2 Arena 18th August 2009 The feeling at the end of this epic performance was, for Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder ‘beyond words...

Steve Lehman Octet – Travail, Transformation and Flow (Pi, 2009) It cannot be said that the title of this album does not prepare the listene...

The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (Bella Union) Many writers are comparing this with Fleet Foxes, if only because both acts are sig...

Apostle of Hustle – Eats Darkness (Arts and Crafts, 2009) With the incorporation of ‘world’ rhythms into western alternative rock currently ...

Can I really be bothered with Mercury Music Prize analysis and predictions again? It's no surprise to see a female-dominated shortlist, ...

Acoustic Ladyland – Living With a Tiger (Strong and Wrong, 2009) The name Acoustic Ladyland had a certain logic when the group emerged as an...

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Honest Jon’s, 2009) I’m not sure there’s much mileage in this conceit beyond one album, b...

Need...more...time...to...write...about...great....records.... Zed-U – Night Time on the Middle Passage (Babel) Steve Lehman Octet - Travail...

Acoustic Ladyland - Clore Ballroom Sunday 14th June Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra/The Bad Plus - Saturday 20th June Ornette...

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (Domino, 2009) ‘Bitte Orca’ would appear to be Dirty Projectors’ breakthrough album – the one that somehow mak...

James Blackshaw - The Glass Bead Game (Young God, 2009) In spite of (or perhaps because of?) once naming a song ‘The Sound and The Fury’, I’...

Antony and the Johnsons - London Hammersmith Apollo, 27th May 2009 This was my first full live encounter with Antony and the Johnsons. I’m p...

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (Warp, 2009) Having studiously ignored the leak of Grizzly Bear’s latest magnum opus that set the internet alight...

The Field - Yesterday and Today (Kompakt/Anti, 2009) Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care (Domino, 2009) Fever Ray - Fever Ray (Rabid/V2, 2009) Ev...

Iron and Wine - Around The Well (Sub Pop Compilation, 2009) I've been quite vocal in my admiration for the songwriting of Sam Beam many ...

The Broken Family Band - Please and Thank You (Cooking Vinyl, 2009) Whilst I derived great enjoyment from the softening of Steven Adams’ lac...

Nick Lowe and Ron Sexsmith - London Royal Albert Hall, 18th May 2009 Can there be a less fashionable musician currently at work than Nick Lo...