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i n t e r v i e w s

 

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santiago street machine

you don’t meet bands like santiago street machine too often; focused, funny and confidently relaxed all at the same time; their music stands out in a city already renowned for a creative swell of dance-based music occurring under the greying overcoat of Manchester’s ageing six-string heritage...david edwards explains...
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trojan horse

manchester has been harbouring prog ambitions for the best part of a decade, but trojan horse are taking it to new 21st century levels...alex lynham investigates
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deadbeat echoes

david edwards investigates a band of two cities, whose rallying cry is simply to love music as much as the people who live in them...
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beecher

rachel mann celebrates the return of beecher; asks why it took so long and why their favourite manchester band of all time is most probably 10cc...
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delphic

delphic's rick boardman is collared at haldern pop by incendiary mag's richard foster with questions loaded and primed by cath aubergine... 
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black knights

the black knights - a legend in  their own making unravelled - but only slighty - by david edwards
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kirsty almeida

kirsty almeida talks about record deals, the art of music and waltzing... in another engaging interview with mm's david edwards 
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the janice graham band

david edwards supplies the words and gu the pictures, in this interview with one of manchester's finest new young bands - toast, sausages and salford provide a backdrop to this exciting and truly unique quartet's story
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chris eatough

david edwards caught a glimpse of something rather new and wonderful at islington mill this spring - find out more in his interview with chris eatough (not the cyclist)
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sylence

 

adam irving asks rapper sylence to unravel life on the city's music scene and to reveal what actually are the challenges for an aspiring urban artist
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amanda palmer

 

from the dresden dolls to a broken foot in manchester, dave himelfield interviews the remarkable amanda palmer
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team waterpolo

 

another mission for tom southworth as he shares a pool with team waterpolo, preston's brightest great alt.pop hopes since fi-lo radio - big things beckon in 2009
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twisted wheel

 

tom southworth catches a glimpse of the twisted wheel on their own, often  wild, headline tour. as their debut album is getting the finishing touches, dates with The Courteeners, The View and that not insignificant manc outfit, oasis also beckon...
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juno ashes

 

cath aubergine catches up with juno ashes - pedigree lineages apart they've just won a prize and share a passion for spicy food - yum...
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the star fighter pilot

 

PODCAST - a superfast blipview with manchester's leading electro pioneer - he favours sailors attire, has a record coming out and has some crazy scripts floating around ...listen on ...
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good shoes..not cobblers

 

helen jones catches up with good shoes and singer rhys at their recent manchester show - the dazzling prospects for 2007 come clean on their foot wear based issues..
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sunday international

PODCAST - includes live tracks from the bands electric circus appearance at oldham castle plus manchestermusic.co.uk interview - 20min / 18mb podcast for download - strange trans-continental indie from stockport and beyond
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alex is on fire

 

dave adair gets a/o/f to relax during the taste of chaos tour - cups of tea and some very open talking yield a close view of this hot outfit.. 
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amber club

 

PODCAST - includes live session tracks plus manchestermusic.co.uk interview - 20min / 19mb podcast for download - psychedelic space rock on tap from north east manchester's finest
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YSN - last interview ever..

 

three months after unleashing the single "more" which had half the manchestermusic staff falling over themselves with superlatives, cath aubergine caught up with the band's flamboyant frontman pete wurlitzer in the ramshackle walk-in cupboard that passes for a dressing room at dry bar
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sounds from the other city 2006

 

manchestermusic catches up with mark from dead digital - along with the rest of the dd collective, their urban festival, sounds from the other city 2006 builds on the innovative and magical success of last years event....we find out more
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morning after girls

 "..we want people to have experienced every emotion you can possibly feel...that you’ve witnessed something, not that you’ve seen a band like the other one you saw in a pub last night.." - dave adair asks more

 

 

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brakes

brakes started life as eamon hamilton’s (bsp) outlet for his rustic brand of poetic, acoustic artistry. Now he finds his outfit has crystallised into a trouper-group, as oppose to one of these style over substance super-groups...exclusive interview with eamon... 

 

 

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red mojo

not long after this sincere and strident Warrington quintet released the latest in a string of demos ‘70/80’, their blues rock with a hint of funk and disco groove wet the appetite of Scottish indie label crunch records...

 

 

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be your own pet

dave adair catches up with nashville’s finest rockers, in a cold and dark outlet of the hallowed hall of the roadhouse in manchester. rocks most punk band right this moment insist they're ' not punk, as we’re not really changing anything....'

 

 

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Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello

from sonic youth, via the clash to new york city, eugene hutz and gogol bordello take on 'racist marketing' with an amazing collision of progressive art and traditional music...rachael clegg digs deeper.. 

 

 

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this aint vegas

this ain’t vegas are probably one of the most important and “real” bands in britain. their uncompromising stance on song writing, performance and the music industry has earned them equal respect from the diy underground, their friends and contemporaries The futureheads and maximo park and indeed, the man.

 

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helen boulding

what fools we’ve been, for overlooking helen boulding.the ebullient and crafted sheffield songstress even shares her songs with the main act on tonights bill - dave adair investigates a  hardworking and soul-searching, insightful performer. 

 

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the fountain

the fountain are the lean, mean all singing but no dancing trio - the original name ‘r mutt’ was ditched due to its unintended canine connotations and swapped for the name of a ‘sculpture’ - which also tied in neatly with an unreleased aronofsky film.....read on brainiacs

 

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nine black alps

sat on a palette in a quiet corridor backstage at the manchester academy, nine black alps’ sam forrest opens up to rachael clegg about the band, musical ratios, his despising of indie and the new manchester scene....

 
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goldie lookin chain

supporting feeder in blackpool ? missing dog excrement at the turnstiles of their favourite football club, glc tone down slightly for an audience of thirteen year olds. not much though as the band consider world issues, such as the process of legal claims for tripping and falling..dave adair is on the bench.  

 

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death from above 1979

dfa are from canada, but want to save america from itself - as well put the world to rights in between pummelling out dirty bass lines and thundering drum work out outs - rachael clegg finds out what makes this bomb tick... 

 

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stranger son of wb

 

they’ve only been around for six months and already they’ve been causing quite a fuss. this isn’t altogether surprising as they are what some people would term a ‘supergroup’. formed from the ashes of two of Manchester’s most respected underground acts, The Stranger Son of WB have succeeded by continuing the ethos of their former bands while managing to sound completely different and yet equally dazzling..Dave Himelfield digs deeper
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behind green lights

PODCAST -  behind green lights are about to release their debut single and are one of the citys most touted acts in a sea of exciting music. listen to the band talk about their roots, future and inspiration from dylan...listen to our exclusive audio interview     
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the permissive society

PODCAST - A summer interview with The Permissive Society, who reveal their love of writing on cop cars, their boundless enthusiasm for rock and roll. Listen on for an idea of what makes the Permissives tick...the first of our summer audio interviews     
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maximo park

 

like so many others, paul Smith and his maximo park cohorts spent eons waiting for one modest bus, to transport his brand of popular music into the public consciousness - then suddenly a monolithic shining coach capable of space travel, turned up with their names emblazoned along the sides - a dangerously over capacity manchester gig preludes an american tour  - did we mention that they’re the first guitar band to be signed to the electro head fuck label warp records - dave himelfield finds paul smith  currently rather psyched
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keith

the name eventually grows on you. it actually makes a bit more sense if you remember that famous keith’s include keith richards and keith moon. rob allen discovers that , as you get to know the band through their live shows and scattered demo tracks, that there could be nothing less important to them than something as trifling as a name.

 

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martha wainwright

 

bloody mother fucking asshole...from the very wainwright dynasty that brought us  loudon, rufus and the mcgarringles, martha is an altogether different kettle of fish. mention of leonard cohen and feminism and not being 21,  all crop up in rachel cleggs interview with one of 2005's rising stars  
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performance

 

Performance were shattered; they had just recorded a live performance for BBC Radio 6. The band had never recorded anything live on-air before. Signed to Polydor just days before this interview, Rachael Clegg chatted to them in a noisy bar in Manchester about their musical ideas and the pros and cons of being signed to a major label.  Electronic they may be, using the hard, cold edges of transistors and digital processing, but here's a band who are  pleasant, co-operative and very funny indeed.
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lemon jelly

 

Those Lemon Jelly-makers have more jelly, only this time it’s darker, more eclectic, and, as Fred and Nick assert, most definitely ‘not like the old album’. 64-95 is a sensual treat, in audio and visual format. Lemon Jelly have also produced an hour-long DVD of synchronised visuals and music. Intrigued by Lemon Jelly’s latest phenomena Rachael Clegg interviews Fred Deakin about the visual aspects of music and the concepts behind 64-95.
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a silver mount zion

To many ASMZ not only possess what might be a deep and meaningful name, they're also their version of the worlds best supergroup. Committed Led Zep fans to the core, ASMZ combine sacred harp singing with a concern about   political violence and the escalation of racist wars. Not just your straight forward rock band by any means. Rachel Clegg witnessed the live experience and gets a chance to dig just a little deeper. 
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goldie lookin' chain

From the bands first known appearances people speculated as to whether the GLC were the next equivalent Beastie Boys or whether they were in fact more a collective of phonies who had more in common with the Spice Girls and cared about an industry of money as oppose to rap. Craig Mather, Chec / Chec / Chec / Checz it out in his Chav investigation

 

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q and not u

World renowned for it’s fierce anti-corporate stance and strict adherence to punk ideals Washington DC’s Dischord records has been one of the few labels to succeed entirely on its own terms away from the fear and despotism of the mainstream music industry. As well as that Dischord has produced some of the most important guitar music of the 80s and 90s. Q and Not U, one of their flagship bands carry on that tradition. MM met up with them on their recent tour.
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pretty girls make graves

So just what do you want from your 21st century rock? Seattle five-piece Pretty Girls Make Graves proved on their last ‘New Romance’ LP that you could take a huge array of indie rock sounds, re-arrange them and still come up smelling of fresh pop roses while simultaneous rocking damned hard..............
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laymar

Laymar have been a diamond in the rough for too long since they formed just over three years ago. After a change in line ups and recent surge of more shows and a new found power the band feel deserved of more attention, and its glaringly obvious the band deserve it if you have seen them live. In an overcrowded bar ManchesterMusic ask the band why things have taken so long and where they go from here.
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the forest

welcome to the world of the forest. shadows, canopy covered, large exterior spaces populated by the sonic awe of post indie, post rock buzzwire musings. less heavy rock, more like heavy industrial equipment. the forest are bringing back the sounds of urban rebellion to its spiritual home of manchester. read on as craig mather peels back a small part of their armour and takes a peek inside.
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oceansize

We first interviewed OCEANSIZE in April 2000 upstairs at the band on the wall. Just over a year later we met up with the band on the eve of the launch of their debut CD on soviet union (see bottom of this page !). Four EPs and an album later, (inter) national critical acclaim has been theirs. As 'Music For Nurses' is released, we catch up with the band as they make preparations for their second album and hit the road for their autumn tour.

 

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mike west

Mike West  plays  what he likes to call New Orleans levee-billy music. Trying to work out when she last saw him (she realised it was 1991 when The Man From Delmonte  went out on a high, as some London venue neither of us can recall the name of, took exception to the coachload of Mancunians invading the stage sometime around the fourth encore and pulled the trip-switch) -  Cath Aubergine catches up and recalls the days when his trademark lopsided hair was a fixture at any gig worth going to in town... 

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madrugada

 

Stars in every European country except England and a couple of others where music is probably banned, Dave Himelfield chats to Robert Buras, guitarist of Norway’s biggest and blackest Madrugada

 

 

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ash

 

Manchester Music caught up with Ash members Charlotte Hatherley (Guitar and Backing Vocals) and Rick McMurray (Drums) at their Manchester date of their ‘Meltdown’ tour.  With the band absent from the mainstream for over two years I felt a few questions were suitable for firing at the longstanding heroes of British punk pop.

 

 

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pernice brothers

 

Far from any rumours of a split the Pernice Brothers have another record in the wings. Dave Himelfield exclusively interviews Joe Pernice, as his American indie stars, The Pernice Brothers, hit manchester

 

 

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the little explorer

 

Is The Little Explorer here to save the day -  Mighty Mouse style? Who knows and frankly, we need not abandon hope if they don’t  - Dave Himelfield speaks to the kings of the underground..
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human shield

 

Geraint Rees  goes underground to find out who, what, is human shield - subterranean electro  that exists further below the 'scene'  - with  radio 1 sessions and a personal  invitation to "party like its £19.99 - you've just got to read on...
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jarcrew

 

Craig Mather chats with the fractured  and sometimes  unpredictable Jarcrew. Find out which bands they'd like to play with, how the follow up album will be produced and listen to yet more off the wall leftfield rock and roll musings..   
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lost prophets

 

Lost Prophets speak to Ed Mellet about their next album and their steady and then more recently, meteoric climb up the UK charts. As the Welsh rock scene fuels large scale Euro-success, whats next on the LP agenda ? 
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funeral for a friend

 

Kerrang!'s best new band explain why cancellations and illness won't stop their progress  - their destination, firmly,  our hearts and minds  - J-O investigates 
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wrath records

Wrath Records based in Leeds involve the people who have helped their city  and Manchester forge quite a special relationship over the last few years. With gig swaps, Leeds bands based here, Manchester bands there, we decided to ask a few questions. This is what the Yorkshire capitals underground guru's had to say.  
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the bellrays

 

kate wheeler gets on the transatlantic cable to find out what makes the bellrays tick as they release their latest uk album on mcgees poptones label. the californian quartet explain how motown somehow got mangled with spirited punk rock. 
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amplifier

chairsmissing / manchestermusic.co.uk graduates amplifier are firmly into the big time. with major radio airplay, mtv rotation and major tours, at the time of interview it was almost impossible to believe that their music for nations debut single was yet to be released. geraint rees caught up with them at the witchwood just to see how much blood sweat and tears it takes to make such monumental music  
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ten days

10 days are one of manchesters next gen-bands just waiting happen. from junior campus metal to offers of scandanavian noise fests, 10days  deal up the flux of mid-eastern distorted guitars and an urban blast of anthemic dark rock performed by gothic disaffected youth 
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moco

moco are already clipping their way into the billboard top 100. there's loads going on with the wigan warriors and we catch up with them as their new single 'miss mantaray' hits the shops.  
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mcclusky

tom kirk catches up with welsh noiseniks mcclusky. from albini to stomach pains, from tearing up manifestos and the philosophy that all music is 'shit', mcclusky can be as intense off stage as they are on, despite what is most probably an extreme medical condition prevailing during their recent summer '03 visit to the Roadhouse
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inspiral carpets

after manchestermusic made the worlds very first announcement that the inspirals were reforming, april 2003 sees the bands return facing sold out shows, the promise of a rarities compilation and possibly a new album of brand new material. Rob Allen catches up with the band and provides an exclusive insight into what has brought the carpets back together.
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tRANSELEMENt

 

At one of their sessions for John Peel, the great bearded eclectic one was naturally compelled to describe them as “weird”. DJ Magazine called their 2001 mini-LP Sour Blast “a distinctly different approach…(that)…will blow you away”. NME described their recent “Pendletones” EP as “a bright blast of leftfield creativity”. An ample case perhaps, to herald Transelement as one of today’s most important underground bands? 
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puressence

 

a triumphant third album, top 40 hit and sold out shows herald the return of puressence. is this the beginning or the end ? as far as manchester is concerned, neither- rather another chilling chapter in the book of goth pop and a band that epitomises the citys slant on sci-fi urban decay set against towers of glass and steel. deep ? read on   
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david r black

 

david r black return from LA and then bury - their west coast rock has kids from both the beaches and the valleys moshing eargerly - ged camera provides an insight into one of manchesters greatest hidden acts 
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my computer

my computer - with a debut single and album backed up by massive stamps of approval by the NME, the band take to the road and speak to manchestermusic about past lives, the joys of home recording and the future of manc electronica
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tsuji giri

tsuji giri - no press doesn't mean no credibility. we provide further evidence of the giris' popularity and the basic fact that they are one of the most important and progressive acts in manchester - welcome to the world of razor sharp sonics and blistering anthems.   
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the obsession

kill the queen - stop the jubilee. anarchy and rebellion don't require a high street sponsored royal festival or Brian May's mullet playing the national anthem atop Buck'  Palace. what we do need is more incendiary insurrection in the form of trash basement kings, the obsession. see how they did in our interview exam - vox pop this way.
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thee virus house

anarchy in the fcuk? - sharp dressed men with no agenda but plenty of manifesto - thee virus break out the views on long distance volvo driving and how they brandish their heavy gear rock and roll without injuring anyone - well broken legs don't count do they ?
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roger

who? what ? eh ? will any of these questions be answered by roger ? music from a car showroom -  I'll have the bucket seats, joy stick stereo and alloys - read on as roger mix their big ends with their middle eights 

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palo alto

Slit your wrists and smile - Palo Alto are a real live contradiction. Tom Kirk talks angst, snorts caffeine and doubts The Strokes' sexuality with Minus Money's hottest property. Staring over the precipice: Pics by Ashtray Art.
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minus money

a collective that not only embraces art, music and performance, but also 'hopscotch' - welcome to manchester's newest and brightest collection of  homespun genius...tom kirk investigates
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fi-lo radio

Tom Kirk first heard fi-lo interrupting his studies in 1999 - in 2001 they may be the north's greatest product so far this century - read on to find out more....
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tompaulin

Even though UglyMan charge us on the door we catch up with the literally, biggest band in Manchester, Tompaulin. With an album and more than a plaudit for each track on it, we get a glimpse into the northern town world of Blackburns greatest export (well since the Rovers of course...)
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lookin

we catch up with the young punks in town. bouncing around like a heavy rock tigger they've brought a taste of L.A. punk rock with plenty of pop - just having left school doesn't stop them either. 
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subculture

It may be only two issues old, but subculture has a legacy that goes back to the early 90's. We catch up with two members of the team that somehow manage to give us CD crammed full of dream local exclusives and a fanzine that borders on brilliance and madness.
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oceansize

on the day of the release of their new e.p. " a very still movement", we catch up with oceansize for some mild mannered chat, a catch up and no hype - yes ladies and gentlemen, they are here to stay - find out what they've been up to.... 
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kill II this

just who are this band of metallers that people keep muttering about - are they good, are they big and more importantly are they from manchester ? all is revealed in this exclusive interview
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witness

they're back - bigger stronger and with a new approach that mixes the new with the roots of their stunning 1999 debut album. its a witness coup this time, as we get to grips with the band, the record and the gig.
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i am kloot

those happy campers from IAK awarded us an interview at long last and gave us an insight into their first releases on Wall of Sound and their impending headline tour.  

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