Jan 21, 2022 By Dom Gourlay Issue #69 - 20th Anniversary Issue

Amusing characters populate some of the songs of Leeds, England post-punk four-piece Yard Act, including those on their debut album, The Overload. Midway through the album’s title track, frontman and wordsmith James Smith sings from the perspective of Graham, who dispenses unwelcome advice about how they’d be “better off kicking that dickhead singer you’ve got in out the band” and should stick to covers and avoid political lyrics, especially if they want to perform at a pub called The Grand run by a landlord named Fat Andy. More

Dec 24, 2021 By Jennifer Irving Issue #68 - Japanese Breakfast and HAIM (The Protest Issue)

First and foremost, Arlo Parks is a poet. Born Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho, Parks grew up in London both as a storyteller and an amalgamation of her family’s varying music taste. Raised on ’80s French pop, Prince, and her uncle’s record collection that ranged from Sade to Bob Dylan to Earth, Wind & Fire, Parks had a solid musical foundation when she picked up a guitar at 13. By the time Parks was a teenager her storytelling had evolved to poetry and now with a guitar in hand it transitioned to songwriting. More

Dec 22, 2021 By Dom Gourlay Web Exclusive

With 2021 coming to an end, Under the Radar asked its writers to look into their collective crystal balls and look ahead to the next twelve months. So, without further ado, here are the 22 acts Under the Radar and its contributors are most excited about as we approach 2022. More

Dec 09, 2021 By Jasper Williams Issue #68 - Japanese Breakfast and HAIM (The Protest Issue)

When applied to a Japanese fighting game character, a punch is never just a punch. It becomes “Megaton Justice Fist” or something along those lines. Just looking at Ela Minus’ grid of synths, sequencers, and drum machines inspires comparable purple prose. Minus’ craft isn’t just a cerebral sequence of turning knobs and playing keys: each action is augmented by singular intent or feeling. More

Nov 22, 2021 By Andy Von Pip Issue #68 - Japanese Breakfast and HAIM (The Protest Issue)

The foundations for North London post-punk band Dry Cleaning were laid when friends Lewis Maynard (bass), Nick Buxton (drums), and guitarist Tom Dowse (guitars) decided to have some fun and began jamming together. As the music took shape they discussed introducing vocals into the mix. They tried doing it themselves before discussing approaching other singers. Then the name of a mutual friend, Florence Shaw—a graphics and illustration lecturer—was mooted. More

Nov 15, 2021 By Ben Jardine Issue #68 - Japanese Breakfast and HAIM (The Protest Issue)

Squid want you to know that they’re nice people, really. Despite the shouting lyrics, the sharp guitars, and the take-down of the flawed facets of our modern lives, the English five-piece are genuinely lovely people. And they have something to say. On their debut album, Bright Green Field, the group take aim at city life and dive deeper into their Krautrock and jazz affinities, with an influence from sci-fi books. More

Nov 10, 2021 By Dom Gourlay Web Exclusive

Former Cooper Temple Clause members Ben Gautrey and Kieran Mahon tell us about their latest project. More

Nov 08, 2021 By Mark Moody Issue #68 - Japanese Breakfast and HAIM (The Protest Issue)

It’s not every day that a musician’s choice of instrument forever changes their trajectory. And here we are speaking of things more granular than Dylan going electric. Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo borrowed a studio mate’s Ace-Tone organ for their Painful album and that kept them from ending up just another indie guitar band. Recent Sub Pop signee Lael Neale likewise borrowed a friend’s vintage Suzuki Omnichord and avoids the trap of becoming just another folk singer. Of course writing some killer songs doesn’t hurt either. More

Sep 10, 2021 By Andy Von Pip Web Exclusive

“It’s been crazy,” laughs North Carolina singer/songwriter Indigo De Souza, regarding the critical acclaim for her second album Any Shape You Take. “It’s also the busiest I’ve ever been in my life.” More