NORTHAMPTON HERALD & POST MUSIC BLOG: Pete Doherty is back for busiest month in music

It has been a big first week in what is notoriously known as one of the busiest months in music with plenty of new releases to check out already.

First to mention this week is the return of Pete Doherty and Babyshambles as they release their first album since 2007’s ‘Shotters Nation’. Reactions to the 3rd album ‘Sequel To The Prequel’ have been mixed however after a 6 year break and given the lifestyle of a certain Mr Doherty they sound in remarkably good form. The album offers something for all Doherty schools of thought. For the those craving a punky Libertines sound check out the track ‘’Fireman” or the slightly less noisy “Farmer’s Daughter” providing classic Babyshambles at their best. Living in Paris seems to have done the frontman a lot of good resulting in the jazz infused title track and for fans of previous Ska-esque track ‘Pentonville’ the new album provides yet another under the name of ‘Dr No’ and not forgetting their single release, the feel good ‘Nothing Comes To Nothing’ the type of track you’d expect to find on an episode of The Inbetweeners. All in all the album ticks a lot of boxes and proves to be a strong come back album, fans have a lot to thank bassist Drew McConnell for as he has been hailed in interviews as the brainchild behind the majority of this record. Babyshambles will be paying nearby Birmingham and Leamington Spa as part of their September/ October UK tour.

It’s not often that a voice can stop you in your tracks, enough to make you freeze and look around, however Northampton are blessed to have Folk/ Blues singer-songwriter Leila Jane currently based here. I first saw Leila at an open mic night early this year and was immediately blown away, now a regular name on the local circuit she really is solid gold. With a voice as distinctive and powerful as Amy Winehouse yet with a sound somewhere between Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell merged with a Robert Johnson style of playing her music really comes to life live. This week Leila shared a playful new track ‘There’s So Much’ (scroll down to listen) online and as always with her material is well worth a listen and can be heard via www.soundcloud.com/leila-jane. This is one artist destined for bigger stages.

Earlier this week I guested on UnseeNN Radio’s Review Corner. The radio show is run by SeeNN, a local online curated newsletter, aesthetically compiled by 16-25 year olds. One of the tracks I am heard reviewing is by Strangers and titled ‘No Longer Lost’. The electronic “dark pop” band from Northampton/ London have had a spurt of recent success including a number of their tracks played on XFM and rightly so. These guys know how to write a song with ‘No Longer Lost’ having one of the strongest choruses I’ve heard from a local artist all year. Make sure to visit their website www.strangersmusic.co.uk to hear their electronic take on the Arctic Monkeys latest release ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High’ and if you like it, it’s free to download. Bedge’s Review Corner show on UnseeNN Radio can be heard online at www.seenn.org/unseenn-radio/ and the show featuring me will be available to listen to from the 16th of this month.

This Friday local Garage/ Punk Pop band The Bophins take centre stage at the Charles Bradlaugh. Kicking off at 9pm and running until 3am expect the 3 piece to supply a jagged and fast paced set, if you’re into mid to late 1970s New Wave then The Bophins are bound to please. Check out the tracks “Treeman” and “Dynamite Chick” on their YouTube channel TheBophins. Also on the bill is Joe Woolley, described as “Northampton’s finest wandering troubadour” along with the Revolver DJs Alex Novak of Northampton’s Spiral Archives and the University of Northampton’s Mike Starr playing a mix of Rock/ Punk/ Indie/ Alternative. This is a free event and promises to be a lively one. Check back next week for the review.

Remember to visit www.realbowman.com for additional content and to follow @RealJimmyBowman for all the latest music updates in and around Northampton. Artists can contact me at 

jimmybowman_@hotmail.com

To view the piece on the website click here.