Ben Left

1 week ago | whenthehornblows.com | Ben Left

CourtingA Liverpudlian four-piece boasting a healthy balance of experimental weirdness and catchy pop melodies? No, not The Beatles, but Courting, the rising hyperpop rockers who have released three albums in almost as many years, with their latest ‘Lust for Life...’, earning them a glowing five-star review from The Observer.

3 weeks ago | whenthehornblows.com | Ben Left

One of rock’s great songwriters, Paul Weller is rightly celebrated for his punchy, poetic brand of punk. Yet look closer at his work with The Jam, venture beyond to his time with The Style Council, and dive into his decades-long solo career, and you’ll find another genre which has influenced practically everything he’s ever made: soul music. As early as the punk explosion of 1976, The Jam were wearing the influence of soul on their sleeves.

2 months ago | whenthehornblows.com | Ben Left

Sexist double standards are one of the many themes explored on Bilk’s second studio effort, with others including living for the moment, dashed relationships, the beauty of young love, and, er, bed rotting. Perhaps the most prominent lyrical theme of the album, however, is very concept of rock ‘n’ roll, and what that means to Abrahams. “Rock and roll to me is freedom, you know what I mean?

Jan 23, 2025 | whenthehornblows.com | Ben Left

If there was just one word to describe Bilk, it would surely be unapologetic. The Chelmsford trio have an iron-clad belief in what they do, and no time for those who try to tell them otherwise. They make the music they want to make, and if some people don’t like it - so what? Their logo is quite literally a spitting snail, which gives you an idea of how little they care what people think of them.

Oct 23, 2024 | whenthehornblows.com | Ben Left

More than 40 years after The Jam played their final gig at the Brighton Centre, the group’s former frontman Paul Weller still knows how to command an audience - in the very same venue, no less. “This one’s for anyone who was at this gig, same place, in 1982”, he declares, deep into a set primarily concerned with his soulful, understated solo material, rather than the gruff punk of his original guise.