BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS. ALL ENTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Adjustable Mustard ‘Denatured Blue’
Album 6th November 2026
Gothic country blues psych rock is what we have here: and its very good indeed. The female vocalist has a fine tone to her voice that reminds me of Siouxsie Sioux but with an American twang, and at times has one casting their thoughts to the good old days of the band Bongwater. The guitarist at times seems to have been possessed by the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, especially on “Sadist For A Song With A Sinful Maker“. And so, the wonderfully named Adjustable Mustard are indeed mustard, and if you are looking for a new Jefferson Airplane these could be the ones you have been looking for.
Analog Dream ‘The Shape Of Us’
EP 20th August 2026
There is something very much early 90’s alt rock about this four track EP which I find very appealing. It reminds me of Sugar – the band that is, not what I can no longer have in my tea. Analog Dream I could imagine being featured on that wonderful late show special all those years ago called No Nirvana (I think), which had the likes of The Screaming Trees and The Smashing Pumpkins and indeed Sugar on it. Yes, they are good enough to have indeed been signed and probably then dropped by a major label after their first album only sold less than a million copies. I like Analogue Dream; they are very good at what they do, and I like what they do…which helps.
Antoine Bellanger ‘La Flute’
Album (Un je-ne-sais-quoi) 18th September 2026
This is all very lovely and warm sounding and French: an aural French Kiss if you like. Lo-fi and slightly experimental pop with spoken pieces scattered throughout, it’s like eavesdropping on strangers, friends who are talking and playing music to each other. It’s very beguiling and unusual and I just wish my French was better as I haven’t a clue what they are going on about. However, the warmth of the melodies and experimental nature overcome this slight hurdle, and on the whole it’s a rather beautiful sounding album.
Difficult ‘Stanislaus’
Album (Knuckles On Stun) 31st August 2026
Let’s be honest, this is right up my street, an album recorded on a four-track tape recorder. As regular readers of this wonderful blog or the handful of people who listen to my own music will know, I have more than a soft spot for it especially when it is done as well as this. Indiepop, punk and alt-rock all belted out with a passion love and humour and more importantly melody. When songs are recorded on a four-track they stand or fail on the strength of the songwriting as there is no studio trickery to cover up the shortcomings of the songs, and on Stanislaus there really is no shortcomings. This album deserves more than its limited 25 copy only cassette release, which as I type has already unsurprisingly sold out. A little indie pop gem, like the Pooh Sticks singing in an American accent.
Goldscammer ‘Mayday Royale’
Album (Morc Records) 28th October 2026
Mayday Royale is all fascinating stuff, gothic psych folk with an ethereal lo-fi magic; an album that weaves a spell of sadness and regret with a wonderful musicality. An album that one can really lose themselves in; at times reminding me of Sparklehorse, at other times, Skip Spence’s OAR masterpiece – both this album and OAR share a oneness of pure sublimity, of originality, the sound of the unravelling of ones psyche, the not quite knowing where the music is going nor which direction it is going to lead you but is quite a beautiful journey it is taking you on.
Darren Hayman ‘I’m Your Team’
Album (Audio Antihero) 16th October 2026
“It’s all been rather lovely” are supposed to be the final words of the great John Le Mesurier, and that phrase rather sums up this moving beautiful work of art by the equally as great Darren Heyman. Darren Hayman is obviously a fine songwriter as his past works have more than proved; just for the Hefner albums alone Darren should be hailed as one of the great British songwriters of the last thirty years or so. I’m Your Team is a subdued affair of sadness melody and melancholy, with a glimmer of the rising sun poking its tongue out at the surrounding darkness: as there is always darkness before light as there is always light before the dark. One of the finest albums I have heard so far this year, it’s always nice to witness a master of his art at the top of his game.
Railcard ‘Two Steps At A Time’
Album (Slumberland / Skep Wax) 18th September 2026
Well, this is all very nice, all 60s pop and indie pop like; it’s all hands in the air where has my hockey stick gone pleated skirts and longing looks; its Saint Etienne dipped in sherbet, the kind of album people who yearn for Joe 90 reruns on tv. Yes, indeed people like me who love music, and love the melody and chimes of guitars: the more vintage the better. The aural equivalent of staring into the eyes of a Sandi Shaw poster and thinking if only.
Swansea Sound ‘Mean To Be Mean’
Single (Skep Wax Records)
Another lovely catchy jangling piece of indie pop from Swansea Sound, a song were Amelia takes to task a music journalist about a bad review he wrote decades earlier. But myself, being married to a Welsh lady, I know they never forget. An amusing and entertaining duet between the two and a rather fine single.
Tana Delle Pigri ‘Figli delle Sette Cascate’
Album 21st September 2026
Figli delle Sette Cascate is almost what The Fall might have sounded like if they were Italian and performed Psych Jazz. It is an enjoyable trip of madness and funk with a bass that has just stepped out of a chase sequence in Starsky and Hutch, and guitars that screech and squeal and perform angular u-shaped bends, twisting and taunting in a cascade of drums and sixties organ frenzy. Yes, an album that is extremely entertaining and fun filled in a psych jazz dub alternative way.
Here’s the message bit we hate, but crucially need:
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