EMI North レコード& CD

Review: Perhaps snatching the crown for best North of England band name since English Teacher, Bored At My Grandmas House (the singer-songwriter project of Leeds-based musician Amber Strawbridge) presents a fresh new album, Show, Don't Tell, following the titular mantra to an absolute T, across a beautifully recorded 12-track indie album that indeed poses more questions than it answers (in a great way). With its subject matters candid (earning trust, social reticence, general early-twenties angst) and its song structures bite-sized, the overarching style is Bedroom Pop with capital Bs and Ps, blowing the rest of the competition out of the bunkbed studio with its simple chorus treatments, hypnotic guitar riffs and deft instrumental contributions from bassist and producer Alex Greaves and drummer Niall Summerton.

Review: With Jimi Goodwin having retired from touring duties, this album takes on a whole new level of significance as it brings to question whether this album marks the end of the road for them as a unit. We certainly hope that it's just the beginning of a new era as they sound at the top of their game and reassert their reputation as one of the best British bands. The achingly beautiful 'Renegade' is right up there with their Lost Souls era and featured some stunning lyrics that tug at the heart strings: "As you walk out the door / Then your walking out, you're out forever." Meanwhile, 'Cold Dreaming' has an epic feel to it and is Leeds indie sorts The Music-esque - it's lush and orchestral with an epic chorus melody that will have you punching the air triumphantly. One to crank up on the car stereo and wind down the windows for definitely.

Review: 2025 is set to be a bountiful time for indie reunions. Oasis may be grabbing all the headlines, but Doves are a band that matter just as much. They're up there with the best to have ever come out of the north of England. Just reading the title of their biggest hit - 'There Goes The Fear' - and we bet you can't help but hum the melody. It's daring to try to follow a back catalogue as good as theirs with something new. Thankfully, this new album - their first in five years - is colossal and set to embolden their strong fanbase's already unwavering commitment. It's one of those where it's best to check your pulse if you're not gripped by their soaring guitar lines, marching drums and other lush embellishments that underpin Jimi Goodwin's - quite frankly - Godlike voice.

Review: Despite being across their new album, Doves lead singer Jimi Goodwin has reported that he has no intentions of joining the iconic Manchester indie band in promoting on their upcoming 2025 tour. So, the solution to this is to get this - their first album in five years - on orange vinyl and turn your living room into the main arena and let it sound like a Jimi Goodwin-led Doves are right there with you. The 'There Goes The Fear' hitmakers are on a winning streak with this latest release and the performance from the band is up there with their classic album The Last Broadcast so it would be a surprise if this doesn't become a number one. Expect an epic, sweeping wall of sound and Goodwin's vocals to give you goosebumps thanks to his emotionally-charged delivery and naturally great timbre, which is truly a gift from the gods.