So Hard So Hot Archives | XS Noize

Irish artist CHERYL-ANN announces new single ‘Little Things You Do’

August 25, 2023

Irish singer/songwriter Cheryl-Ann has announced the release of her highly anticipated new single ‘LITTLE THINGS YOU DO’ available on all major streaming platforms today. Cheryl-Ann, a queer female artist with a bubbly, poppy personality on […]

PRINCESS GOES release video for new single BLUR from new album ‘Come Of Age’

August 24, 2023

Princess Goes, the trio led by the charismatic showmanship and signature voice of vocalist, lyricist, musician and actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under, Lazarus) alongside keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen (Blondie, Cyndi Lauper) and drummer […]

PAUL BRADY to receive the legend award at this years Northern Ireland Music Prize at the Ulster Hall

August 24, 2023

The Oh Yeah Music Centre is thrilled to announce that this year’s Legend Award recipient is Paul Brady. The presentation will be made at the Northern Ireland Music Prize on Wednesday, 15th November, at the Ulster Hall, Belfast. Following the presentation, Paul will […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Ta-ku – Songs To Come Home To

August 25, 2023

Five years after his last studio album, Ta-ku returns with his latest full-length release, Songs to Come Home To. Anyone paying attention to Australia’s lo-fi hip-hop scene over the last decade will undoubtedly have noticed […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Nora Kelly Band – Rodeo Clown

August 24, 2023

The cover photo of Rodeo Clown, the debut long player of Montreal-based country outfit the Nora Kelly Band, alludes in some measure to the theme running through the album. Band leader Nora Kelly explains, “We […]

BOOK REVIEW: Ziggy Marley – Music Is In Everything

January 16, 2023

Back in 2020, Ziggy Marley teamed up with Lisa Loeb to release a catchy and infectious song that will get people of all ages to sing along called “Music Is in everything”. This song which […]

BOOK REVIEW: Pop Rock Icons by Philippe Margotin

December 15, 2022

Judging by the front cover, one might expect Pop Rock Icons to be festooned with infographics. It isn’t. Instead, it’s a collection of photographs depicting “London’s Swingin’ 60s & 70s”. Rather than homogenise and cluster […]

‘Pop’ at 25: Looking back at the orphan child in U2's discography 2

‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

March 3, 2022

In March of 1997, 26 years ago, U2 released their much anticipated ninth studio album POP; for fans and critics alike, it quickly became their most polarizing release. There is a prevailing feeling that POP […]

CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

June 17, 2021

This week sees the 40th anniversary of Duran Duran’s self-titled debut album. XS Noize looks back on this momentous release from a band that would become the ‘Fab Five’ of the ‘80s. It was December […]

REVIEW: ABBA Voyage at ABBA Arena, London

August 18, 2023

The last ABBA UK live performance took place on 11th December 1982. The Swedish quartet played ‘Thank You for the Music’ on The Late Breakfast Show hosted by Noel Edmonds almost five years before MTV […]

Liam Gallagher at Koko, London Photo credit: Zekaria Al-Bostani (@zek.snaps)

LIVE REVIEW: Liam Gallagher at Koko, London

August 10, 2023

Much media coverage has been about large music venues and outside music events being pivotal to boosting the economy. Thankfully, some small music venues, including the 1,410-capacity Koko, received significant investment too. Following £ 70 […]

XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

December 22, 2018

2018 has been an incredible year for albums. The year saw the strongest new acts in decades release their debuts, as well as a number of alternative legends returning to top form. The world of dance […]

The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

October 29, 2018

Welcome to the October 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to support […]

IN FOCUS// Field Day 2023 with Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Arca and others at Victoria Park, London

August 22, 2023

Victoria Park is a place of yearly festivities and grand summer concerts. On the 19th of August, one of the most creative and mysterious electronic music producers – Aphex Twin – had a hugely awaited […]

IN FOCUS// STIFF LITTLE FINGERS at Custom House Square, Belfast

August 21, 2023

Following their SOLD OUT Custom House Square show in 2022, Legendary NI Punks STIFF LITTLE FINGERS returned to Custom House Square for another special night in Belfast on Saturday, 19th August 2023, alongside an all-star line-up […]

JAMES BLUNT announces spring 2024 UK arena tour

August 23, 2023

James Blunt makes a most welcome return to the road next year in support of his brilliant new album Who We Used To Be – out October 27th on Atlantic Records. James and his band […]

MAISIE PETERS announces headline show at The Telegraph Building, Belfast on Friday 27 October

August 22, 2023

Fresh from her first No. 1 album, ‘The Good Witch’, and an acclaimed debut set on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, Maisie Peters has announced additional ‘Road To Wembley’ and ‘The Good Witch Comes To Europe’ tour […]

ARCTIC MONKEYS Announce World Tour Finale in Dublin & Belfast

August 22, 2023

Arctic Monkeys will be returning to Dublin & Belfast in October for a series of arena dates to mark the end of their World Tour. The band are pleased to announce Miles Kane as Special […]

INTERVIEW: Jessica Lynn Talks ‘Mixed Signals’ & Her UK Tour

July 4, 2023

Like many artists, Jessica Lynn had the brakes put on her career when the Covid pandemic shut the world down. But she didn’t let the uncertainty of what the future might hold stop her from […]

INTERVIEW: Aries Marquis talks ‘Motivation’ & future music plans

June 26, 2023

With his talent having first been recognised by his father – who heard him singing on a voicemail – Aries Marquis has been performing since 2007, and the music he makes blends an array of […]

INTERVIEW: Pamela Laws talks about her new album ‘The Ones I Love’

June 16, 2023

New York City-based singer-songwriter Pamela Laws recently released her album, The Ones I Love, a vibrant collection of songs encompassing country, rock, and pop elements. Laws explains, “‘The Ones I Love’ is my fourth studio […]

Exploring the Sonic Apocalypse: John Lydon Delves into Public Image Limited’s ‘End of World’ Album

August 17, 2023

In episode #142 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets John Lydon from Public Image Limited to discuss their new studio album End of World. Public Image Limited returns with End of World – […]

INTERVIEW: The View’s Kyle Falconer on the Exorcism of Youth

August 10, 2023

In episode #141 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Kyle Falconer from The View to discuss their long-awaited new album, Exorcism of Youth. The View are back after a five-year hiatus with their […]

INTERVIEW: The Baseball Project’s Scott McCaughey talks Grand Salami Time!

August 3, 2023

In episode #140 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Scott McCaughey from supergroup The Baseball Project to discuss their fourth studio album, Grand Salami Time! The band is made up of Steve Wynn […]

ALISON GOLDFRAPP announces debut solo album ‘The Love Invention’ & shares new single ‘So Hard So Hot’

March 16, 2023 XS Noize

Today, British synth-pop visionary Alison Goldfrapp announces her inaugural solo album, ‘The Love Invention’, set for release on the 12th of May via Skint. The upcoming record promises to be an evolutionary chapter in the […]

Irish artist CHERYL-ANN announces new single ‘Little Things You Do’

PRINCESS GOES release video for new single BLUR from new album ‘Come Of Age’

PAUL BRADY to receive the legend award at this years Northern Ireland Music Prize at the Ulster Hall

Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Ta-ku – Songs To Come Home To

ALBUM REVIEW: Nora Kelly Band – Rodeo Clown

Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Ziggy Marley – Music Is In Everything

BOOK REVIEW: Pop Rock Icons by Philippe Margotin

Classic Albums

‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

Live Reviews

REVIEW: ABBA Voyage at ABBA Arena, London

LIVE REVIEW: Liam Gallagher at Koko, London

Round Up

XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

In Focus

IN FOCUS// Field Day 2023 with Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Arca and others at Victoria Park, London

IN FOCUS// STIFF LITTLE FINGERS at Custom House Square, Belfast

JAMES BLUNT announces spring 2024 UK arena tour

MAISIE PETERS announces headline show at The Telegraph Building, Belfast on Friday 27 October

ARCTIC MONKEYS Announce World Tour Finale in Dublin & Belfast

INTERVIEW: Jessica Lynn Talks ‘Mixed Signals’ & Her UK Tour

INTERVIEW: Aries Marquis talks ‘Motivation’ & future music plans

INTERVIEW: Pamela Laws talks about her new album ‘The Ones I Love’

Exploring the Sonic Apocalypse: John Lydon Delves into Public Image Limited’s ‘End of World’ Album

INTERVIEW: The View’s Kyle Falconer on the Exorcism of Youth

INTERVIEW: The Baseball Project’s Scott McCaughey talks Grand Salami Time!

So Hard So Hot

ALISON GOLDFRAPP announces debut solo album ‘The Love Invention’ & shares new single ‘So Hard So Hot’