Geoff Topley
Before I begin, can I just say I’m utterly hopeless at writing biographies, in all my years of knocking out CD-Rs under my many artistic guises I’ve never cobbled together a decent press release. Whether it be through shy modesty or plain embarrassment at blowing my own trumpet, I struggled when it came to self promotion. Just as well then that I’m not trying to inflict anything apon you here.
As you may have gathered, I’m a musician of sorts from Portadown. I’ve been floating in and around the Northern Irish music scene for over 20 years. (If you really want to know more about this aspect of my life, google me) In fact, it was through sending Dan my music that I came to know about Echoes and Dust.
I listen to a wide range of musical styles but my main interest is in instrumental rock/metal, dreampop/drone and I do have a leaning towards electronic music. My ears are very much tuned into melody, whatever the genre. Though I have a penchant for the extremities of Noise Rock/Hardcore when the mood takes me.
It’s been a lifelong ambition to write music reviews and I’m very grateful to have been given this opportunity.
Articles by Geoff Topley
There are glimpses of greatness, but mostly this is a set of songs that seem to exist and none of them are really that essential.
Beyond The Past is a truly stunning album, here’s hoping we can soon be at one with these four beautiful souls once again.
Dark story telling that scratches areas of the human mind that some might keep locked away.
This album has more snap, crackle and pop than a bowl of cereal and is Mogwai’s finest collection in years.
There is much to enjoy with New Fragility despite the underlying current of angst and dark themes that inspired it’s creation.
I feel there is much more to come from Divide and Dissolve, Gas Lit is an astounding beautiful beast of an album.
Twoism is worth your attention if you like music that isn’t afraid to encompass many musical genres and you have an ear for the more melodic/atmospheric side of post metal.
10 Years Gone is a snapshot of a band at the height of their powers and fans will be elated at hearing these versions of songs they know and love.
Dublin’s Bitch Falcon may have created their own exciting genre here with ‘dream grunge’ and Staring At Clocks is a stunning debut album.
Child Soldier: Creator of God is ambitious, weighty, noisy, complex, infuriating and brilliant all at the same time.
Crippled Black Phoenix have made a record for these times, it is bleak, but it is also beautiful.
This album is vibrant, joyful and utterly brilliant, it truly makes me feel alive, alive, alive, alive, alive!
With Ohms, Deftones have yet again created another excellent album of great songs that will fit in perfectly to an already immaculate repertoire.
Public Enemy return to Def Jam but this album fails to come close to the albums they released first time round.
Peninsula is a quality collection of smart, well written songs crossing multiple genres, imbued with fine melodies from start to finish. One to watch!
I can unequivocally say that American Head is the finest album The Flaming Lips have recorded and is completely and utterly vital to get you through this shit show called life.
If you like Torche, then Watertank will float your boat as they have a tremendous way with melody and big chunky riffs.
Oslo band Caves Of Steel have delivered a fine collection of melodic post rock/metal.
Boaby Coull is a remarkable album considering that A Sea of Dead Trees is mostly the work of one man and his looper pedal.
Stephin Merritt remains an exquisite song writer, inventive artist, creative genius, frustrating fucker and wonderful, beautiful soul.
I don’t know what it will take for The Dears to get what they deserve but if you know their music, you’ll be all the richer for it.
