Undertone. A blog about music.
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Songs for solitude: alone on a mountain with Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher
Completely alone for the night on a remote mountain summit in the Lake District, there was only one album I needed to listen to: Phoebe Bridgers’ 2020 release, Punisher.
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Vulfpeck: Schvitz review – scattergun sixth lacks inspiration
A return after a prolonged hiatus could have spelt creative reinvention for Ann Arbor funk group Vulfpeck. Instead they continue to underwhelm on a sixth album let down by vapid hooks and lazy rehashes.
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Undertone’s best songs of 2022 – part two
Just in time for the end of 2022, it’s time to complete our countdown of Undertone’s top songs of the year.
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Undertone’s best songs of 2022 – part one
It’s time to dive into Undertone’s favourite songs of 2022.
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Parthenope live at the Wardrobe review – the newest star of UK jazz
Returning to Leeds for a one-off homecoming, the Guildhall jazzer’s set was rough around the edges but oozed with potential. Aided by a stellar trio of groove-makers, Parthenope’s dexterity on saxophone in particular is already dazzling.
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Phoebe Green live at the Cluny review – strong material fails to come alive
Touring the UK on the back of daringly original debut album Lucky Me, Phoebe Green’s attention-grabbing pop creations deserved a keener reception in Newcastle. Seemingly put out by the poor attendance and lacking in conviction, Green’s performance struggled as a result.
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Bellowhead live at O2 City Hall review – somehow still dancing
Bellowhead’s golden years as spearheads of an English folk revival may be well past them, but the strength of their blockbuster renderings of centuries-old tunes remained for an evening coloured by the recent passing of a founding member, Paul Sartin.
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LNSO live in Riga review – a spectacular symphonic feast
Presented with a once in a lifetime chance to witness one of Europe’s most renowned orchestras in all their pomp, Undertone had no choice but to grasp the opportunity with both hands. Still a relative newbie to the classical world, there is surely no better way to hear Mahler’s stupendous First for the first time.
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Sigrid live at O2 City Hall review – uninhibited pop joy
Bursting onto stage with trademark energy and buckets of charisma, when Sigrid found her stride in Newcastle she had the place well and truly bouncing. It was the more tender numbers that needed the most refinement.
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Cassia live at NUSU review – sunshine pop trio deserve more
Stuck in an under capacity students’ union and struggling to whip up excitement in the crowd, Cassia’s catalogue of uplifting indie pop tracks will have more successful outings than their trip to Newcastle. Patches of effervescent Mancunian calypso gave a taste of just how brilliant the trio could be.
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Jockstrap live at Belgrave Music Hall review – a delightfully dark fever dream
At their best when basking in strobe lights and stage smoke, Jockstrap proved their credentials in Leeds as artists at the cutting edge of electronic music. No other artist can even begin to sound like them.
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Parcels live at O2 Ritz review – reaching for nightclub nirvana
Leaning heavily into the world of nightclub-ready dance music, a constantly evolving Parcels gave plenty of reason to dance the night away for an eager Manchester crowd. As a live act, they’re only getting better and better.
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Los Bitchos live at Star and Shadow review – scintillating cumbia finds a new home on the Tyne
Sturdy trainers were indispensable for a night of moving and shaking in one of the trendiest little venues in Newcastle. Armed with an arsenal of percussion, it was Los Bitchos’s touching onstage chemistry that turned a good show into a fabulous one.
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Herbie Hancock live at Jazz à Vienne review – world class musician meets world class venue
On a memorable warm summer’s night in Vienne, Herbie Hancock found himself a spectacular venue to deliver one remarkable rendition of his famous compositions after another. Jazz’s answer to Paul McCartney, the 82-year-old remains the unparalleled titan of his genre.
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Skylights live at Whelan’s review – lads on tour have the place bouncing
Carried by a wave of support from a large and boozy entourage of travelling fans, Leeds locals Skylights seemed to be having the time of their lives on a one-off night in Dublin. Who cares if their music wasn’t very good?
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