Humanity Hallows Issue 6 Out Now
Pick up your copy on campus or read online
By Sam Gosling
Maximo Park are undoubtedly indie royalty. Formed in 2000 in Newcastle, the band consists of Paul Smith (vocals), Duncan Lloyd (guitar), Lukas Wooller (keyboard) and Tom English (drums). The band have released six studio albums: A Certain Trigger (2005), Our Earthly Pleasures (2007), Quicken The Heart (2009), The National Health (2012), Too Much Information (2014) and now Risk to Exist (2017). The first two albums went gold in the UK and their debut was nominated for the Mercury Prize.
Three years after their last album release, Maximo Park are back with a new album, Risk to Exist, and a huge UK tour. They are also set for a support slot for The Libertines gig at Times Square, Newcastle.
The album opens with What did we do to deserve this? and sets the tone from the first lyric. This is an attempt at a protest album by the Newcastle band but the question remains: what are they actually trying to say?
The music sounds fresh, which is rare in a band that has been around for seventeen years. Do you wanna get high (no I don’t) is a particular highlight and is backed up by a funky sound that wouldn’t be lost on a Prince album. Equally What equals love is a fantastic pop song that shows that Maximo Park can still make a tune.
The album is a return to form by the band and listeners can feel the sincerity in what Smith is singing even if it does lack subtlety and feel a little bit preachy at times. One thing is certain, Maximo Park aren’t quite done with the indie scene yet. Risk To Exist is a great post-debate disco record but it’s not quite there when it comes to being a great album overall.
Featured image: Old Abbey Taphouse Wandering through Hulme in the south of Manchester, you once may have been intrigued to see students and party-ready punters being allured to a science park of all places. A strange place to congregate, but those familiar with the city’s best spots would tell you they were on route to…
Featured image and gallery: Sally Stretch Hungry, Cutscene and Funeralcare take centre stage for Manchester and Liverpool-based BOOT Magazine’s 14th issue launch, showcasing some of the most exciting emerging music from the North West. Manchester band Funeralcare open the night at The Rat & Pigeon, drenched in deep red lighting in the small yet lively…
Featured image: FX / Disney Press Following the premiere of the limited anthology series Love Story (directed by Ryan Murphy) on Disney+ earlier this February, show protagonists John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette have become favourites for a new generation. Almost 30 years after their real-life untimely passing, the show’s popularity has unleashed a…
By Holly Lindsay and Amelie FalconerFeatured image: Jamie Taylor Remember nestling into your parents as they read you the worlds of Harry Potter, The Faraway Tree and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Unfortunately, not all children get the opportunity to create a lifelong love of reading, as 1 in 8 children in the UK currently…
Leave a reply