The week in music

The Yorker presents this week's succinct guide to goings-on of the musical variety, both locally and nationally. Here you'll find previews of a selection of album and single releases from the week ahead, as well as a guide to the hottest tickets in town for live music.

Gigs

One of the highlights of the York music scene this week has to be the visit of the Manchester Camerata as part of the University Concert series. The chamber orchestra will be performing a varied programme of Holst, Schubert, Elgar, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky on Wednesday 3rd February at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall. On Friday 5th, Fibbers plays host to British rock legend Martin Turner with his newly formed Wishbone Ash, while a more mellow evening lies in store at The Duchess on Saturday 6th with Devon-based folk singer-songwriter Jon Allen and his band.

If you fancy travelling further afield for your live music fix, the NME Shockwaves Awards Tour is currently in full swing. Featuring The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Big Pink and The Drums, the show arrives at the O2 Academy, Newcastle on Thursday 4th, and then the O2 Academy, Leeds on Sunday 7th.

Albums

This week sees the much anticipated release of Corrine Bailey Rae’s The Sea, the follow up to her self-titled 2006 album. A world away from the care-free pop of her debut, the material stems from the tragically sudden death of her husband almost two years ago. Sarah Richardson reviews the album’s lead single later in the article.

Also out this week is the fifth studio album from Canadian post-rock band The Album Leaf. Four years since Into the Blue Again, A Chorus of Storytellers has been produced in Iceland by the band’s own Jimmy LaValle and Jón Þór Birgisson of Sigur Rós fame.

But the week’s record highlight comes courtesy of rising indie band Los Campesinos! who today release their third album, Romance Is Boring. With two superb records behind them, front-man Gareth Campesinos! claims that this release marks their best work to date. Judge for yourself, here’s the new video for the album’s title track:

Singles

Hot Chip - One Life Stand

Much the same as what we’ve come to expect of Hot Chip, this song fuses electronic backing (keytars always a prominent feature) with easy-to-sing-along-to lyrics. It’s another solid effort from the band that brought us ‘And I was a Boy from School’ and ‘Over and Over’, but fails to explore new territory making it a little disappointing. Nevertheless, as standard Hot Chip it’s likeable anyway.

Lucie Vincer

Corinne Bailey Rae - I'd Do It All Again

It's not as light as some of the songs off of her first album, but it still works and it gets better with every listen. It is a bit of an odd choice for the lead single of her new album, because it does take a while to get going. That said, if you've liked her stuff before, you'll enjoy this one; it's simply beautiful.

Sarah Richardson

Marina & The Diamonds - Hollywood

‘Hollywood’ marks the use of a more conventional pop-sound for Marina & The Diamonds, but she is never off-message with her uses of a strong piano line, a thumping chorus and vocals where it is obvious that she is relishing her act of satire with every line. As songs go it is a true delight to behold and only aids to peak interest in the forthcoming album.

Peter Searle

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