Tag Archives: Sonic Cathedral

New music – Andy Bell & Masal: Common Primitives (Sonic Cathedral)

Posted on by
Reply

posted by Ben Hogwood, with text from the press release

Andy Bell (Ride / Oasis) and Essex-based harp and synth duo Masal have released their new album Common Primitives, on the Sonic Cathedral label.

It’s their second collaboration, following 2023’s Tidal Love Numbers, and it’s a stunning, meditative collection which veers from kosmische to astral jazz by way of Turkish folk tunes and all the way back again.

The trio launched the album earlier this week with two incredible, intimate live shows at SJQ in Dalston, which saw them incorporating a cover of Faust’s proto-shoegaze classic Jennifer into their set.

The unlikely trio of Andy, plus Masal’s Özlem Şimşek and Alastair Johnson, first came together when the duo supported Andy at a show in Chelmsford in early 2022. Their first album – 2023’s acclaimed Tidal Love Numbers – consisted of four lengthy, almost ambient tracks and is included here on vinyl for the first time as part of a two-record set. By contrast, the seven tracks that make up Common Primitives are almost concise, but also a lot more layered and complex.

“We tend to work from initial, free-jammed ideas, building form and arrangement from there,” explains Alastair of their working method. “This album became a more iterative process where we went back over the ideas – adding, editing and cutting the original material. This approach led to more fleshed-out finished pieces and contrasts with the first album which all came together relatively quickly. Above all, we believe you should go where the vibe takes you.”

Published post no.3,043 – Saturday 10 October 2026

New music – Sennen: New Quiet (Sonic Cathedral)

Posted on by
Reply

posted by Ben Hogwood, with text from the press release. Sennen photographed by Brian David Stevens

Sennen release New Quiet, their first album in over 10 years, on 30 October. It’s a wonderfully warm and fuzzy record, self-recorded by the band but with the end results mixed by James Chapman, aka Maps. It sounds at once fresh but familiar, with the band approaching their music with an uncomplicated honesty.

The first single – the Big Star-shaped Here It Comes – is out now on all digital platforms. It is a bittersweet, summery song with a hopeful message, with its repeated refrain of “everything will be OK”.

“I didn’t write that line with any cynicism,” says singer / guitarist Larry Holmes. “There’s an awareness of how fragile being OK is, and the magic of the things in your life that make you feel like everything will be OK. Us making this new record was definitely one of those things.”

You can watch the video by Innerstrings below:

On New Quiet, the now London-based four-piece’s familiar influences are still there, but this time they are leaning into them rather than shying away. “In the past we’ve felt uncomfortable, but you can end up sabotaging a good idea like that,” explains singer/guitarist Rich Kelleway. “On this album, I think we’re feeling a sense of freedom from self-imposed stipulations we’ve put upon ourselves.”

In short, they’re having fun and enjoying being a band again, something that was inspired by putting together an expanded anniversary reissue of their classic debut album Widows in 2021. This certainly explains the slightly wistful atmosphere that pervades New Quiet, a mix of nostalgia and acceptance.

“When we did the Widows reissue we were able to recognise the unfiltered joy we got from being in a band and making music together when we were in our early 20s,” says Rich, “and making the new album has brought that into focus again.

“I’ve accepted that I need this band in my life. I like to think we’ve funnelled that feeling into making this record and it’s an honest expression of us, now.”

“Sennen is a lifeboat for us, and always has been,” adds singer/guitarist Larry Holmes. “The happy-sad, fear, hope stuff comes from us getting older and having to experience a fair old fucking slice of life here and there – as does everyone.”

Essentially, New Quiet is an album about itself; about the importance of being in a band; about making a record; about listening to music.

This band could be your life.

Published post no.2,963 – Thursday 30 July 2026

Switched On – Pye Corner Audio – More Songs About The Sun (Sonic Cathedral)

Posted on by
Reply

Reviewed by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

The second Pye Corner Audio studio album for the excellent Sonic Cathedral label is a sequel to Let’s Emerge!, the long player with which he took his bow in 2022. Martin Jenkins, the prolific writer behind the pseudonym, moves further into Balearic warmth with the addition of guitars by Andy Bell, whose work has been enjoyed in this parish for a number of years.

Talking about the album, Jenkins says, “I wanted the whole record to be awash with distortion and saturation, but not in a blown-out guitar amp kind of way. Almost every element has been subject to some form of saturation.”

What’s the music like?

As you might expect, heat-soaked! The album is an ideal blend of electronica and shoegaze, topped off with some restrained euphoria in the form of vocals from Andy Bell and Ian Rankin. Bell proves an ideal match for the dreamy textures of Analogue Dreams, while Cycle goes through the gears with a strong electro bassline. Bell knows when to add propulsion in just the right measure, with a touch of Krautrock here and dubby house there.

Rankin’s involvement is a joy, his spoken word bringing a real frisson to The Breath Of Now, with its low-slung groove right out of the early 1990s. Towards the end of the album the temperature dips, the music cooler to the touch and exploring more shoegaze territory, but the move complements the first half nicely.

Does it all work?

It does – with More Songs About The Sun proving the ideal counterpart to its predecessor.

Is it recommended?

For sure. A hot weather beauty!

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,941 – Wednesday 8 July 2026

New Music – Pye Corner Audio Ft. Andy Bell – Cycle (Sonic Cathedral)

Posted on by
Reply

by Ben Hogwood, with text lifted from the press release

Pye Corner Audio has announced a forthcoming new album, More Songs About The Sun, due for release on June 19. His second studio album for Sonic Cathedral is a sequel of sorts to 2022’s acclaimed Let’s Emerge!

The first single, Cycle, is out now on all digital platforms and you can watch the video here:

“Cycle is probably the most direct ‘pop’ song that I’ve written,” explains Pye Corner Audio, aka Martin Jenkins, of the track, which was teased on last week’s vernal equinox and is released today, just ahead of the start of British Summer Time this weekend.

It’s an instant hit of sunshine, the portentous synth intro soon giving way to an indie-dance banger with a rare outing on vocals by Martin and added shoegaze / psych guitars from his sometime Sonic Cathedral labelmate (and Ride / Oasis member) Andy Bell.

You can watch the video below, and also listen / purchase on Bandcamp:

Published post no.2,838 – Thursday 26 March 2026

New music – Whitelands: Blank Space (Sonic Cathedral)

Posted on by
Reply

by Ben Hogwood, taken from the press release

London shoegazers Whitelands have released Blankspace, the fourth single from their forthcoming album Sunlight Echoes, due from Sonic Cathedral on 30 January.

There is an impressive depth to this track, for as the press release recognises there is “some real grit underpinning the melody. Unsurprising, as it’s about a particularly dark period in singer Etienne Quartey-Papafio’s life. “I was faced with mortality and very difficult things,” he says. “I’m still not sure how to talk about it.” “It’s about coming face-to-face with death, grief and mortality,” expands bassist Vanessa Govinden. “This one song became a way to carry all of that heaviness.”

You can watch the striking visualiser by Whitelands’ guitarist Michael Adelaja below:

Published post no.2,764 – Sunday 11 January 2026