paulfcook

ALBUM REVIEW: SESSA – PEQUENA VERTIGEM DE AMOR - Joyzine Sessa is the recording name of São Paulo-based singer, guitarist and instrumentalist Sergio Sayeg and his new album Pequena Vertigem De Amor (roughly translates as ‘the vertigo of love’) harks back to...

"as effortlessly cool as any Brazilian album from the golden age"

Paul F Cook reviews the lush sounds and laid back beauty of Sessa's new album 'Pequena Vertigem De Amor'.

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ALBUM REVIEW: DAS KOPE – BRUTAMONTE - Joyzine Das Kope is Brazilian-born, Los Angeles-based psych-pop artist who draws from his love of psychedelia, krautrock, bossa nova and post-punk who describes his music as "The Beach Boys trapped in a Black...

"a woozy, tape-warped, scuffed up universe that had me hooked from the opening track"

Paul F Cook reviews the "gritty beauty" of 'Brutamonte', the new release from Das Kope.

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@daskope.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: THE FLOWER PRESS – SLOWDANCE - Joyzine The Flower Press is a most fitting name as the new album 'Slowdance' feels more rooted in the country than the city and, like the music it contains, manages to capture the essence of being outdoors wh...

"Like the best watercolourists or oil painters, he captures a sense of landscape beautifully"

Paul F Cook reviews the "somnambulistic poetry" of The Flower Press' new album 'Slowdance'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: FF8282 – A THIN MEMBRANE BETWEEN HER HANDS - Joyzine April Emily, recording under the name ff8282, has released their new album 'a thin membrane between her hands', a wonderful soundscape that swims in ambient waters and soothes as much as it treats the...

"a sonic forcefield against the outside world"

Paul F Cook reviews the "understated power of soundscapes" on ff8282's new album 'a thin membrane between her hands'. Released by 4000 Records.

@4000.bsky.social
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SINGLE REVIEW: DRINK THE FIRST LIGHT – ADAM ROSS (FEAT C DUNCAN) - Joyzine 'Drink The First Light' is the new standalone single from Adam Ross and features fellow Scot C Duncan and three-and-a-half-minute slice of perfect pop.

"a three-and-a-half-minute slice of perfect pop"

Paul F Cook reviews the "magic-hour warmth" of Adam Ross's new single ‘Drink The First Light’, out on Fika Recordings.

@songsbyadamross.bsky.social
@fikarecordings.com
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FILM/DVD REVIEW: LE QUAI DES BRUMES (PORT OF SHADOWS, 1938) 4K RESTORATION - Joyzine Le Quai Des Brumes (Port Of Shadows, 1938), directed by Marcel Carné is a film that foreshadows film noir and the French New Wave as much as it was made at a time of great apprehension for a second gr...

"You can hide but you can’t run"

Paul F Cook reviews the 1938 French classic film 'Le Quai des Brumes' ('Port of Shadows') now available as a 4K restoration.

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SINGLE REVIEW: ANNIE GARDINER – HERO’S HEM - Joyzine Annie Gardiner's new single ‘Hero’s Hem’ is a return to a more folk-inspired sound, underpinned by the quick pulse of plucked guitar chords and some lush strings.

"as satisfying as a murmuration at dusk in summer"

Paul F Cook reviews the mellifluous vocals and soaring strings of Annie Gardiner's new single 'Hero's Hem', taken from the forthcoming album 'Sleeping Dogs'. Released on her own Crystal Fuzz label

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ALBUM REVIEW: ORCHESTRA GOLD – DAKAN - Joyzine Orchestra Gold was a band formed in 2015 by guitarist and arranger Erich Huffaker with singer and percussionist Mariam Diakite and 'Dakan' is their new album fusing the rhythmic bounce of African trad...

"Orchestra Gold harness the energy of their sound to focus everything into a hugely uplifting and joyous whole"

Paul F Cook reviews the "rhythmic bounce of African traditional music & riff-heavy punch of psychedelic rock" on Orchestra Gold's new album 'Dakan'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

SINGLE/VIDEO REVIEW: CLUTTER – SUPERSTAR - Joyzine Clutter are one of the rising stars on the PNKSLM label and 'Superstar' is their new single.

"garage rock with the anger of 80’s post-punk"

Paul F Cook reviews the "splashy growl" of Clutter's new single 'Superstar'. Out on the always amazing PNKSLM label.

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@pnkslm.bsky.social

EL ELU KU (ep), by The Happy Somethings 4 track album

We've just let loose a new ep!
thehappysomethings.bandcamp.com/album/el-elu...
4 brand new songs for anyone who would like them...
😃😍😎
#newmusic

EP REVIEW: JULIE ODELL – DISAPPEARING ACT - Joyzine As falling leaves herald the start of Autumn, and scarves, gloves, hats and waterproofs being dug out of cupboards, Julie Odell’s new EP 'Disappearing Act' is a perfect accompaniment to the time of ye...

"a perfect accompaniment to the time of year as it provides the same warmth and golden glow as an open fire"

Paul F Cook reviews the "rotational and hypnotic" delight of Julie Odell's new EP 'Disappearing Act'.

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SINGLE REVIEW: WITH SUN – SHOEBOX - Joyzine With Sun's new single 'Shoebox' came from linking a childhood memory of repurposing a Clark’s shoebox as a doll’s bed with watching her own daughter doing the same thing, while also symbolic of a home...

"another tiny, but perfect, vignette from With Sun, a study on life and how to make it a little more palatable"

Paul F Cook reviews the "unforced strength" of With Sun's new single 'Shoebox'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

SINGLE REVIEW: PICTISH TRAIL – TORCH SONG - Joyzine The third single from Pictish Trail's forthcoming album 'Life Slime'.

"a confessional ballad that channels the unease of late-night solitude"

So says Pictish Trail of his new single 'Torch Song'. Paul F Cook reviews and also sets out Oct/Nov tour dates.

@pictishtrail.bsky.social
@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: LLYN Y CWN – MEGALITHS IN DUB - Joyzine Dark ambient artist Llyn Y Cwn has re-worked his album 'Megaliths' into a darker dub album that is monolithic and tectonic.

"stone molecules and earth vibrated by subterranean sound systems"

Paul F Cook reviews Llyn Y Cwn's "monolithic, tectonic" dub re-working of his album 'Megaliths'. Out on the Cold Spring label.

@coldspringrecords.bsky.social
@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: PIP BLOM AND WILLEM SMIT – LONG FLING - Joyzine Willem Smit and Pip Blom are each in a band as well as being in a relationship and have now made one of the year's best indie albums together called 'Long Fling'.

"fizzes and crackles with so many ideas that collide and explode into such exciting music"

Paul F Cook reviews "the wonderful collage of a relationship" captured on Pip Blom and Willem Smit's self-titled album under the name Long Fling.

@pipblom.bsky.social
@paulfcook.bsky.social

FILM REVIEW: DIVA – 4K DVD RELEASE - Joyzine The story of Jules (Andréi), an opera-obsessed courier whose bootleg recording of a rare concert by American diva Cynthia Hawkins is believed to be a tape connecting the chief of police with a Parisia...

"luxuriate in the incredible mise en scène of this stylish romantic thriller with a phenomenal score"

Paul F Cook reviews the "Chain smoking coolness & effortless charm" of the 4K restoration of Jean-Jacques Beineix's classic 1981 film 'DIVA'. Released by @studiocanal.co.uk
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LIVE REVIEW: CERYS HAFANA – ST. GEORGE’S, BRISTOL - Joyzine Cerys Hafana’s show at St. George’s, Bristol was an enthralling experience with the Welsh triple harpist and double bass player Ursula Harrison holding the audience in their spell.

"exceptional music that is as enthralling live as it is on record"

Paul F Cook and Ani Collier review the "mellifluent beauty" of a "dwfn a hudol" night with Welsh triple harpist Cerys Hafana and double bass player Ursula Harrison at St. Georges in Bristol.

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ALBUM REVIEW: EERA – I’LL STOP WHEN I’M DONE - Joyzine For her new album EERA was inspired by the famous Marilyn Monroe quote: “I don’t stop when I’m tired, I only stop when I’m done”.

"beguiling, emotive, poignant"

Paul F Cook reviews the 'gentle perfection' of EERA's new album 'I'll stop when I'm done'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: CERYS HAFANA – ANGEL - Joyzine Cerys Hafana's new album 'Angel' is sublime and Hafana has a way of taking traditional folk as a starting point then weaving it into their own musical style; inspiration transmogrified into something ...

"guides you to a place of exceptional beauty and intrigue"

Paul F Cook reviews 'Angel' the "sublime" and "beguiling" new album from Cerys Hafana.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

That's really kind, thank you Happys

ALBUM REVIEW: KING VATRA – BELLS FROM THE DEEP - Joyzine The tracks on King Vatra's 'Bells From The Deep' feel simultaneously modern and ancient, and you can’t help imagine standing in the early morning mist as it swirls around standing stones or the skelet...

"Zen-calm and more than capable of soothing the savage beast (or hangover)"

Paul F Cook reviews the "simultaneously modern and ancient" beauty of King Vatra's new album 'Bells From The Deep'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: SHAPEDNOISE – ABSURD MATTER 2 - Joyzine Producer, DJ and sound artist Antonino Pedone as Shapednoise on new release Absurd Matter 2 builds magnificent worlds that crumble, warp, become distorted and abraded

"magnificent worlds that crumble, warp, become distorted and abraded"

Paul F Cook reviews the "brutal but beautiful" 'Absurd Matter 2' from producer, DJ and sound artist Antonino Pedone aka Shapednoise.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

FILM REVIEW: THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT – 4K RESTORATION - Joyzine The Man in the White Suit (1951) is part of The Ealing Comedies, a group of some of the most beloved British films and this 4K restoration looks every bit as pristine as the white suit itself.

"looks every bit as pristine as the white suit itself"

Paul F Cook reviews Ealing Comedy 'The Man in the White Suit' (1951). Alec Guinness is inventor Sidney Stratton whose miracle fabric threatens the livelihood of mill owners & workers alike. Out thru @studiocanal.co.uk.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

EP REVIEW: NO PEELING – NO PEELING - Joyzine No Peeling’s self-titled EP is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it release a rumble-tumble, free flowing, bar fight in a sweet shop.

"a rumble-tumble, free flowing, bar fight in a sweet shop"

Paul F Cook reviews the "exhilarating and lo-fi" self-titled EP from No Peeling. Out on Feel It Records.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

In the 70s my dad often took me along to his work's film club (16mm projector whirring/smoky room) & as a 9 years old I saw Tod Browning's 'Freaks' (1932), and 'Soylent Green'. Tbf, he had thought 'Freaks' suggested a mad cap comedy and we stayed I didn't freak out (sorry). A love of film was born.

SINGLE REVIEW: DISGUSTING SISTERS – TGIF - Joyzine Disgusting Sisters are a chaotic electronic pop rock duo of real-life sisters Jules & Josie and 'TGIF' is their new super-catchy single.

"more catchy choruses in one song than most bands put on an entire album"

Paul F Cook reviews the "uber-catchy tunes and compelling beats" of Disgusting Sisters new single 'TGIF'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

EP REVIEW: FAT CONCUBINE – EMPIRE + EXCLUSIVE JOYZINE TRACK - Joyzine Fat Concubine mix the electronic with the avant-garde and their album EMPIRE is their first full release since the single ‘for Who The Fools toll’ was released in May this year.

"hypnotic and exhilarating on record and evoke the danger of a dive bar"

Paul F Cook reviews the "subterranean pull" of Fat Concubine's new EP 'EMPIRE' plus Joyzine readers get an exclusive listen to 'Feeding off the dogs' ahead of the EP release on 12th September.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: GHOSTWOMAN – WELCOME TO THE CIVILISED WORLD - Joyzine The Teutonic and tectonic Ghostwoman are back with another slice of grit and glory on 'Welcome to the Civilised World

"V8 power, N2O and multiple chrome exhausts that spit fire, filthy blues, and psychedelia"

Paul F Cook reviews the "utterly tectonic" new album from Ghostwoman, 'Welcome to the Civilised World'. Out on Full Time Hobby Records.

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@fulltimehobby.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: THE BETHS – STRAIGHT LINE WAS A LIE - Joyzine The Beths are back with 'Straight Line Was A Lie', an album of more soaring indie-pop tunes plus a new emotional depth.

"new wave grit wrapped up in pop colours" with a "bittersweet heart"

Paul F Cook reviews the "emotional depth" and "massive tunes" of The Beths' new album 'Straight Line Is A Lie'.

@thebeths.bsky.social
@antirecords.bsky.social
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