Releases | Counteract

Album review: JAWS blossom on new album The Ceiling

March 15, 2019March 15, 2019 Sophia Lega Bombay Bicycle Club, Coasts, Conor Schofield, Gethin Pearson, JAWS, Peace, The Cure, Title Fight

Birmingham’s young indie boys are all grown up. Their third album, ‘The Ceiling’, sees them blossom into a fully-fledged rock act.

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‘The Best Of Newton Faulkner … So Far’ recaps the last decade of the singer-songwriter’s career

March 14, 2019March 14, 2019 Declan Bowring Best Of, Blackstreet, Dua Lipa, Kate Nash, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Newton Faulkner, Queen, Rusted Root

Newton Faulkner drops his first ‘Best Of’ compilation, tracking his journey as a songwriter over the last ten years.

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You Dirty Blue tease new EP ‘Make Way For The Montage’

February 27, 2019February 27, 2019 Emily Doyle stuka, Sunflower Lounge, You Dirty Blue

Tamworth alt-rock duo You Dirty Blue are kicking off 2019 with a brand new EP, Make Way For The Montage, released March 1st.

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Review: Two-tone heroes The Specials return with important new album Encore

February 10, 2019July 11, 2019 Danny Thompson Coventry Cathedral Ruins, The Specials

Encore is filled with smart social commentary, tackling issues such as racism, Britain’s political uncertainty and sexism.

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Review: Sam Hollis ponders If Ever, Could You Imagine? on great new LP

January 24, 2019 Samuel Lambeth Album, artist, Birmingham, Bojack Horseman, local, Sam Hollis, singer-songwriter

Second City troubadour Sam Hollis continues his prolific – and peerless – run of form with an eclectic debut album. Sam Lambeth reviews.

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Review: The Specials return with enchanting new single ‘Vote For Me’

December 13, 2018December 13, 2018 Rhiannon Davies Album, Birmingham, Encore, Horace Painter, Jerry Dammers, Lynval Golding, single, ska, terry hall, The Specials, Torp Larsen, two-tone

Ska and 2 Tone legends The Specials return with brand new single ‘Vote for Me’, ahead of the release of their brand new album Encore in February 2019.

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Review: The 1975 reach ambitious new heights on ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’

December 2, 2018December 3, 2018 Luke Charnley A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, Album, Birmingham, Matt Healy, Oasis, Review, The 1975

On their third full-length, The 1975 hone their excessive tendencies and genre-hopping sound to produce a rich, personable magnum opus.

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Review: The Clause ponder ‘Where Are You Now?’ on thrilling new single

November 30, 2018December 1, 2018 Samuel Lambeth All the Young, Courteeners, Oasis, The Clause, The Cribs, Where Are You Now

The Clause offer up Britpop balladry, complete with stadium-worthy string arrangements, on new single ‘Where Are You Now?’

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Local reggae oufit Kioko put their own spin on chart bangers for new EP ‘Covers Vol. 1’

November 28, 2018November 29, 2018 Maryam Snape 02 Institute, Birmingham, Calvin Harris, Covers, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, EP, Jorja Smith, Kioko, Post Malone, Preditah, sbtv

Local reggae juggernaut Kioko delivers sleek renditions of current chart music on their ‘Covers’ EP, adding their well-known stylistic flair and charm