Hey Music Mag - Issue 3 - December 2018

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FEATURE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR Bill Ryder-Jones Yawn (Domino) At 35-years old, Bill Ryder-Jones has already been in the music business for 22 years, having started out as co-founder and lead guitarist for The Coral. His career as a solo artist began in 2011 with the cinematic masterpiece If… and on his fourth album Yawn, he continues to mine a seam of deep emotional honesty. Ryder-Jones distinguishes himself from so many of his peers with his complex melodies and brave artistic approach. “I can never write the stock little song that isn’t personal because I think people will feel short-changed,” he says, and so the album is soul-bearing, and all the more exceptional for it. The sense of world weariness in his whispery delivery is counterbalanced by the rousing wall of sound guitars and the stirring cello, through which the light gets in and elevates the album. Yawn is the sound of one of the UK’s finest musicians honing in on where it hurts and why, recognising and accepting the enigma of the mind, taking stock of his journey thus far, and creating something that will resonate with and uplift the listener. Nick Rice, Contributor Father John Misty God’s Favourite Customer (Sub Pop/Bella Union) Where does sincerity end and sardonicism begin in the world of Father John Misty? Critics are often perplexed by the unapologetic playfulness of Josh Tillman’s musical alter ego. But, in truth, it’s a moot point. For Tillman’s playful preacher they are one and the same thing. And nowhere is this more apparent than on Father John’s fourth album, God’s Favourite Customer. Caustic confessionals and outré observations are the hallmark here. So that means the dark humour of “pointless benders with reptilian strangers” on Please Don’t Die is balanced by the opening “Sun is rising” on first track Hangout at the Gallows. Musically, God’s Favourite Customer is another winning mix of the hard-fought melancholy of ’70s singer-songwriters such as Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson and the showbiz razzmatazz of Elton John. In an age of bewildering uncertainty characterised by the death throes of consensual politics, Father John’s sonic adventures are the perfect panacea. You don’t have to believe him or even trust him, just enjoy the ride. Jim Butler, Contributor 38 DECEMBER 2018
Judas Priest Firepower (Epic) This felt like a Judas Priest comeback. Firepower is their most solid album since 2008’s Nostradamus and the 2014 release Redeemer of Souls. While fans have spoken against how Rob Halford’s shrieking tone has subsided over the years, this is not entirely a bad thing given that it shows the evolution of Judas Priest’s performances over the decades. To quote Michael Mann from The Guardian discussing Firepower: “The riffs are strong, choppy, hooky and powerful: Traitor’s Gate has one that James Hetfield would have killed for.” Mann hit the nail right on the head. Firepower feels like the sort of album I would’ve enjoyed years ago when trying to understand metal and finding what style suited my personal taste. While this album shows a toned down version of Judas Priest, it’s simultaneously reminiscent of the ‘old times’ when it was all thrash and bash. I can put Firepower down in the same category as Metallica’s S&M; as in it’s them, but different. But as a thirty-something who has been a Judas Priest fan since my teenage years, I’m still me but different too. Firepower is a good change. Aiez Mirza, Graphic Designer Clean Bandit What Is Love? (Atlantic) Coming four years after the electronic music group’s debut album New Eyes, this long-awaited follow-up addresses “different kinds and stages of love” across 16 tracks on its deluxe edition. Featuring Demi Lovato, Solo was such a banger this summer accompanied by an awesome video dripping in amazing use of colour and clever techniques, while Baby sees Clean Bandit hook up with Marina (formerly Marina and the Diamonds) and Luis Fonsi for a super cool cut flushed with Spanish guitar and flamenco rhythms, and a video depicting a bisexual romance, once again showing the band’s support for the LGBT community. Deeves, Content and A&R Manager, Hey Music Anderson .Paak Oxnard (Aftermath Records) Out on his Aftermath label, Dre has put his ‘OG’ stamp on this and maybe applied a bit too much polish to .Paak’s gritty sound, but it still lives up to the hype, with J Cole, Q-Tip, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar all featured. Full of energy, 6 Summers, where .Paak throws in lyrics about Trump’s love child, stands out and Anywhere, with Snoop Dogg and the Last Artful, Dodgr deserves props too for bringing the West Coast home. Youssef Nasser, Hey Music Social Media Producer HEYMUSIC.COM 39
Page 1 and 2: DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 03 JESS GLYNNE
Page 3 and 4: UPFRONT PUBLISHER Hey Music EDITOR
Page 5 and 6: UPFRONT CONTENTS UPFRONT 6 NEWS Wha
Page 7 and 8: A SWEET NIGHTMARE The 20th year of
Page 9 and 10: SIR ELTON ANNOUNCES FAREWELL UK SHO
Page 11 and 12: Photo_Douglas Kirkland HERBIE HANCO
Page 13 and 14: MOBY’S NEW MEMOIR Following on fr
Page 15 and 16: thing or another. It’s okay to cr
Page 17 and 18: “Since the first record, like any
Page 19 and 20: While he won’t pigeonhole himself
Page 21 and 22: station’s Slow Sunday was a begui
Page 23 and 24: AR! HEYMUSIC.COM 23
Page 25 and 26: THE PRAIRIE FIRES The Prairie Fires
Page 27 and 28: Klipsch HP3 Heritage Headphones £1
Page 29 and 30: IE 40 PRO More me. When the show is
Page 31 and 32: E HARMER real dream of making a liv
Page 33 and 34: HEYMUSIC.COM 33
Page 35 and 36: 3 4 If you really, really can’t m
Page 37: Fatima And Yet It’s All Love (Egl
Page 41 and 42: Tonnes: 50 Parts: 6,432, with 95% m
Page 43 and 44: When did you first discover your lo
Page 45 and 46: Lauded for his cosmic soundscapes,
Page 47 and 48: HEY UPFRONT CAMPUSES IN LONDON GUIL

Hey Music Mag - Issue 3 - December 2018

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