Lorna Irvine

Glasgow

Freelance Arts Writer at Freelance

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Articles

WITCH - Sogolo - The Wee Review

2 weeks ago | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Often referred to as “the Zambian Beatles” during the ’70s and ’80s, WITCH (short for We Intend To Cause Havoc) have released Sogolo, their second album for this current era after the critically acclaimed Zango from 2023. And it’s every bit as triumphant as the former. Helmed by legendary vocalist Emanyeo “Jagari” Chanda, a commanding and charismatic frontman, the fire and energy which they absolutely emanate in live settings is present here.
Planning for Burial - It’s Closeness, It’s Easy - The Wee Review

1 month ago | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Enigmatic Pennsylvanian multi-instrumentalist Thom Wasluck has been carving his own musical niche for the last twenty years, yet has always kept a relatively low profile. Much like Richard D James or near-namesake Burial, he’s all about the music. Forever termed “gloomgaze” by the tastemakers, his oeuvre is a reminder that genres are increasingly reductive in the 2020s.
Tune-Yards - Better Dreaming - The Wee Review

1 month ago | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Parenthood, it seems, has not diluted the wayward spirit of avant-pop duo and real life partners, Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner, aka Tune-Yards. This sixth studio album sees a return to the rawness of breakout album (the second), W H O K I L L. It’s a winning choice to strip things back a little and let Garbus’ incredible contralto soar, leaping octaves.
Andy Bell - Ten Crowns - The Wee Review

1 month ago | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Andy Bell, former singer of synth pop duo Erasure, only gets more wonderful with time. This new solo album follows hot on the tottering heels of his glorious Torsten project, which was both a triumphant theatrical performance and soulful soundtrack. The opening track ‘Breaking Thru the Interstellar’ may wrongfoot the listener into thinking it will be pure pop throughout, with its hands in the air, easy-breezy house vibes.
Self Esteem - A Complicated Woman - The Wee Review

2 months ago | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Safe mainstream pop, a la Chappell Roan, would have been an easy route for Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, to take at this stage of her career. After all, she’s done the acting bit; Cabaret in the West End with Jake Shears, a dabble in teatime television. But she’s not an obvious pop star, she’s far more subversive, inventive and smart. Tough messages of our fragmented Britain are served with a velvet glove.
Divide and Dissolve - Insatiable - The Wee Review

2 months ago | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Divide and Dissolve are not your average doom metal band. Formed by the powerhouse composer and multi-instrumentalist Takiaya Reed, they have classical chops as well as face melting solos. Better yet, despite playing instrumentals, they also have something to say about the state of the world, railing against the neo-Nazi orange clown and his toxic toadies.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Death Hilarious - The Wee Review

2 months ago | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Produced by guitarist Sam Grant, Pigs x 7’s follow-up to 2023’s Land Of Sleeper isn’t much of a sonic departure from the Newcastle behemoths, but still has some crispy little winners. From the early ’80s Motorhead-inspired ‘Blockage’ to the psychedelic, frazzled ‘Collider’ it is of course all underpinned by Matthew Baty’s relentless, snarling vocals and sardonic humour.
Sacred Paws - Jump Into Life - The Wee Review

Mar 27, 2025 | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

It seems extremely apposite watching the pink blossom falling from trees whilst listening to the new album from Glasgow/London duo Sacred Paws: this album’s songs are all about transition, from the end of relationships, to the start of new life changes. So it feels apt that it’s getting an early spring release. This is not a wild jump into the unknown, more a measured, tentative one, before finding a safe place to land.
Jeffrey Lewis - The Even More Freewheelin’ Jeffrey Lewis - The Wee Review

Mar 20, 2025 | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

Sometimes, a singer-songwriter is only as good as their famous fans. The likes of Ezra Furman and Marc Riley both adore scrappy U.S. folk indie hero and comic book guy Jeffrey Lewis, though Lewis has never quite scaled the heights of the former for me (or plumbed the ridiculous depths of The Creepers for the latter). Rather, his deadpan, man-out-of-time schtick recalls, variously, an American Art Brut, a lo-fi Lou Reed, and mid-era Jonathan Richman.
The Horrors - Night Life - The Wee Review

Mar 17, 2025 | theweereview.com | Lorna Irvine

The timeless goth band have come a long way from 2007 and the release of their spiky debut album, Strange House, which was a feral, garage-punk nightmare. Night Life, their fifth studio album, sees them refine the sound more, but still feels as crepuscular as the title would imply. Contrasts are why it works so well. It sets out its stall early with ‘Ariel’, a twinkly synth-pop song which mines the best parts of the eighties.