Dave Franklin
Musician, scribbler, historian, gnostic, seeker of enlightenment, asker of the wrong questions, delver into the lost archives, fugitive from the law of averages, blogger, quantum spanner, left footed traveller, music journalist, zenarchist, freelance writer, reviewer and gemini. People have woken up to worse.
A Deep Dive into music inspired by the desert
Of all the myriad landscapes found on this wonderful planet, it is perhaps those seemingly empty quarters that we call deserts that are the...
Bongo Boy Rock ‘n’ Roll TV Episode 4 Season 11 –...
Remember when TV stations such as MTV and VH1 birthed the idea of 24-hour music video rotation, a whole TV network dedicated purely to...
We Owe It All To You – Ellen Hayes (reviewed by...
Not all devotional music has to be dry, dusty and serious, and Ellen Hayes is the proof of that with her latest album, We...
That Was The Musical Week That Was – 160522
Another busy week surrounded by cool music. Remember to check you the artists work, share some of their music and maybe even buy some...
Remissions – Craig Norris Byrd (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
Not all music is about changing forms, breaking templates, kicking down musical barriers or creating new genres. Genres are so 20th century anyway. The...
Insane in The Ukraine – Darrell Kelley (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
It is only natural at this time of war and crisis on the borders of Eastern Europe that everyone is trying to do anything...
The Moon – Franki Love (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
Having given us an excellent album titled The Sun, it only follows that Franki Love returns with The Moon, an album with the same...
Everything We’ve Ever Had (We’ve Had to Fight For) – Cold...
When I was younger I worshipped at the feet of a whole bunch of bands who managed to take elements of punk swagger, apocalyptic...
Hoped You Couldn’t Tell – Twelve Days In June (reviewed by...
Taken from the glorious Anhedonia album, Hoped You Couldn't Tell is actually one of the straighter pop-rock tracks to be found amongst its cinematic...
Anhedonia – Twelve Days In June (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
There is something both light and anthemic going on in the music found on Andedonia. It is created by putting an acoustic guitar front...
Everyday Existential Crisis – Madeline Rosene (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
Talking To Myself easily made my shortlist of the best singles to have passed under my pen in 2020, a cool, pop-rock belter matching...
Send Them Love – Stephen Jacques (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
Stephen Jacques has a great way of making his songs sound slightly ragged and raw around the edges. Some of that has to do...
A Deep Dive into the music of The Space Race
When looked at in hindsight, all decades can be seen as transitional. Change is always afoot, and the world is constantly moving from one...
Bongo Boy Rock ‘n’ Roll TV Episode – Ep3 Season 11...
I've said it before but it is worth repeating, Bongo Boy take the effort out of finding the coolest new music for you. Most...
That Was The Musical Week That Was – 070522
A great week for new music, all styles and sounds have been flitting around the office. Give the playlist a spin, there is something...
On The Day That You Come To – Del Vertigo (reviewed...
As this ep opens into the swirling soundscape and haunting indie-blues vibes of Obsidian Hills, if Del's voice doesn't immediately make you utter out...
This Is Worth It – Blue Soul Ten (reviewed by Dave...
Blue Soul Ten is truly an artist of the modern age. Sure, it is easy to see where his influences lie and This Is...
Feels Better – Kenny Fame (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
Over a cool, cutting-edge reggae-pop groove, Kenny Fame puts into words the way that we all feel from time to time. Those moments when...
These Are The Only Golden Memories – Gear (reviewed by Dave...
It is easy to keep banging on about the B-word (Brit-pop) when talking about Northern Ireland's Gear, lazy journalists (of which I am one)...
Standing Upon This Array – Jarad Miles (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
From the evocative, opening title track, you know that you are being taken by the hand and led along pop paths less travelled. For...
PREMIERE: Lightning – The Impliers (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
It's with bands like The Impliers that as a writer I feel the need to lean on one of those neat similies that we...
Beyond The Mind – Angelo Nicola Giuliano & Luca Mazzillo (reviewed...
Angelo Nicola Giuliano has, over a series of deft and delicate releases, dazzled us with his ability to turn instrumental piano lines into sonic...
The Outsider – Maryann (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
From the outset, listening to The Outsider feels like you have stumbled on a long lost rock and roll gem from the 60s or...
Warm – E.G. Holmes ft. Dave Edwards (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
As I sit here with a gentle breeze wafting into the office on a hot day, the title already appeals to me. But as...
Crawl – Destroy The Planet (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
I think what I like most about this latest track from Destroy The Planet is the way that they merge various strands and sub-genres...
Great Big Love – South Dog Rock (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
How can you not love a song like this? (Don't answer, it's a rhetorical question!) Not only is Great Big Love full of funky,...
Creep Slow Vol 1 – Face D’Ville (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
I get presented with such a tidal wave of unfulfilling rap music these days - mumbling rappers spouting cliched lyrics to the same, off-the-shelf,...
Twisted Dreaming – Dead Leg (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
There is something wonderfully laid back, almost to the point of willfully lazy, about the way Twisted Dreaming loops and lopes along to begin...
Hope of Angels – Karen Salicath Jamali (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
Having first discovered Karen Salicath Jamali's exquisite piano pieces on the recent Bongo Boy compilation, The 64th FYC Album, I was pleased to see...
Baby I Don’t Know – JD Days (reviewed by Dave Franklin)
This latest release from the always busy, always creative JD Days, is the perfect blend of soul and pop, both genres contrasting, complimenting and...
