Articles by Ben Rackstraw
Ben has written 17 articles for Nouse
On the Up: Simian Mobile Disco
By Ben Rackstraw — October 11, 2007
Most of us were screaming ‘Because We. Are. Your Friends’ at the top of our lungs in sweaty indie rooms across the land.
Tuning – Brudnell Social Club Leeds – 12/10/07
By Ben Rackstraw — October 11, 2007
On tour with the material from their third album Good Arrows, electronic-folksters Tunng will arrive at the fantastically intimate Brudenell Social Club on Thursday.
Prinzhorn Dance School – You are the space invader
By Ben Rackstraw — October 11, 2007
Despite the name, Prinzhorn Dance School seem to have discovered the virtues of simplicity. You’d think that music so spare it sounds like some twanged rubber bands and a tin drum wouldn’t work – but it really does. Taking music back to its basics so you can actually hear the melodics without straining through fuzzy [...]
The Thrills – The Midnight Choir
By Ben Rackstraw — October 11, 2007
The Thrills have jumped the sunny Californian ship in favour of “the worst neighbourhood in all of Canada”. The reason being they wanted a more “intimate, reflective,” album this time.
Beverley Knight – Queen of Starting Over
By Ben Rackstraw — October 11, 2007
Beverley Knight! She’s always seemed a bit like a nice leather armchair to me, great quality but been around for a few years, becoming somewhere you sit occasionally without giving much thought to. Listening to this single is like that armchair poking you in the bum with one of its springs, letting you know that [...]
Mark ronson ft. Amy Winehous – Valerie
By Ben Rackstraw — October 11, 2007
Continuing his attempt at world domination that began with being a white man making a successful hip hop song (2003’s ‘Ooh Wee’) and now involves remixing Bob Dylan.
On the up: One night only
By Ben Rackstraw — June 1, 2007
There are moments in everybody’s life where the feeling of advancing age strikes suddenly. A crippling descent into a dark world of terror and mortality, it is most commonly triggered by the realization that somebody younger than you is excelling in a deeply enviable position, an 18-year-old player being picked to play football for England, for instance, or somebody sailing solo around the world.
A good face for radio
By Ben Rackstraw — May 31, 2007
Steve Lamacq’s Radio 1 show was essential listening for a generation of music fans. Ben Rackstraw chats to his childhood hero
On The Up: The Young Knives
By Ben Rackstraw — March 6, 2007
As I speak to The Young Knives, the threesome behind last year’s indie-punk smash The Voices of Animals and Men, they are preparing for their last gig on British soil before heading across the Atlantic for a series of dates in America. “In theory,” says House of Lords, bassist and brother of lead singer Henry Dartnall, “but we’re having a bit of trouble with our American visas.”
Singles Reviews
By Stephen Mitchell, Ben Rackstraw, Sara Sayeed, Oliver Elliott and Kathryn Bromwich — March 6, 2007
This edition we review singles by Six Nation State, Bondo Do Role, Gisli, Deftones and Archie Bronson Outfit
The Sounds
By Ben Rackstraw — March 6, 2007
[rating: 3]
Album: Dying to say I told you so
Out: 21/03/07
Singles Reviews
By Ben Rackstraw, Sara Sayeed and Steve Gardner — February 13, 2007
Band: union of knives
Single: evil has never
Does the world need more indie bands trying to make dance music? “Genres are so irrelevant!” I hear you scream from your oh-so-cool discotheque. Well then, here’s some more indie with synths and a house beat.
Mika, Leeds Cockpit, 28/2/07
By Ben Rackstraw — January 23, 2007
[rating:5]
Lets get one thing straight: Mika is going to be absolutely huge. Huge like a mountain or the sky or some other traditionally large concept. You might have heard his single ‘Grace Kelly’ – not released until the 29th January, but currently riding high in the charts due to those handy new download rules…
Singles Reviews
By Ben Rackstraw and Sara Sayeed — January 23, 2007
Air – Once Upon a Time
Unfortunate choice of title. Propelled into fame by Sofia Coppola and monopolisers of the ‘memorable ad music franchise’ Air, once upon a time, were arguably quite good. It makes you wonder where that inspired decision to release a filler-sounding track as their first single came from.
Field Music, Tones of Town
By Ben Rackstraw — January 23, 2007
[rating: 3]
If there was a barrier to commercial success in Field Music’s self-titled 2005 debut it was that the note-perfect pop was constantly interrupted by rhythmic innovations. The drums cutting through the vocal harmonies was both praised as part of their inventive sound and criticised as difficult to follow, with some critics dismissing the band as part of the ‘angular’ scene.
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