Martyn Coppack

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I was raised out of steel in the swamps of New Jersey, well, at least I like to think so. The reality is a mundane town in North Wales called Wrexham. After years of trying to escape via the means of sex, drugs and rock and roll (well, two of them are right!) I eventually settled down to a life of nappies and office work. This wasn't enough though and that urge to be Keith Richards just kept creeping up…that's when I met Dan. Like a collision of two worlds, a grand meeting of minds or just pure luck, I pestered Dan with my rather basic scrawlings on unknown punk bands only for the reply to be, you are able…join us…and so it was. I love music and I love writing so to do both is a no-brainer really. I may be the resident old school rocker of E&D but the truth could not be further away. Put aside my Springsteen fixation and you will find a nice sweet person who, when put in front of a typewriter, becomes a cross between Bukowski, Thompson and Bangs. Beware any bands who try to mollycoddle me into a good review, I bite. All music is good but in particular it has to be Americana, psych and garage for me. E&D has given me the opportunity to push my beliefs onto other people and I am forever grateful. May this go on forever! As a side note, I stilll to this day do not understand what Post-Rock is. Â

Articles by Martyn Coppack

The Waterboys – Life, Death and Dennis Hopper

Expect an artist and his band continuing to push his own boundaries and his fans expectations.

Over-Gain Optimal Death – Die Underground

Shards of molten guitar feedback streak across the surface, casting flints of aggressive riffs cascading into the abyss of rock and roll.

Mien – Miien

This pedigree serves to create music which is truly an innovative and creative peak in all their musical histories combined.

Mirror Queen – Dying Days

There is absolutely nothing here which is going to break the mould but on this showing who cares. It’s a classic throwback to the days of classic rock radio.

Black Elephant – The Fall Of The Gods

For those of you yearning for a bit of heavy blues space rock then there is much to enjoy here.

Porridge Radio – Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me

A dark, majestic album full of beautifully raging lyrics.

W. H. Lung – Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates

Imagine hitting the peak of a wave as a surfer and remaining there through all its undulations. That is the sound of W. H. Lung in full throttle.

Juju – Apocalypse Is God’s Spoiler

Apocalypse Is God’s Spoiler is the latest album from the multi-instrumentalist, and may very well be the most fully formed. Dense, layered, yet open to accepting ears, it’s Popol Vuh for a new generation

Kungens Man – For samtida djur 1

For an album that almost feels like a stop gap on first listen, ‘For samtida djur 1’ is a really enjoyable entry in the now rather large Kungens Man discography.

Sendelica – Man, Myth & Magic

Four very distinct pieces, each examining different facets of man and their relationship with magic and science. Drawing deep on the ancient myths of Wales, there is an undeniable sense of the mystical.

Slift – Ilion

Their previous album Ummon really set them up as one of the finest space rock bands around, and now with Ilion they have taken that a step further.

Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts

Still retaining that black sense of humour and fun, Autopsy show no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Green Lung – This Heathen Land

One of the best rock albums this year, and you get the sense that they have just started to hit their stride too. A fantastic blast of occult hard rock.

Super Furry Animals – Phantom Power (20th Anniversary)

Restraint may be a peculiar concept for a band whose gig finales often had them blasting out 20 minutes of techno noise whilst they stood on stage dressed as Yeti’s, but freed from the particular confines of a “concept” they were able to make a much more human album.

Focus Wales 2023 – 10 Things I Love About You!

With the sun now settled on another edition of the ever excellent Focus Wales festival, held every year in the North Wales town (oops…now a city) of Wrexham, its maybe time for a some reflection on another wonderful three days of music and networking

Gnoomes – Ax Ox

The album has an almost transitional feel to it, undoubtedly brought on by the nature of some the tracks which evoke journeys across the continent, but it also feels like a welcome personal return for the band members.

Sweet Baboo – The Wreckage

There’s a strong sense of the Canterbury Sound through The Wreckage, more than helped by some of the more jazzier elements.

Marlene Ribeiro – Toquei no Sol

The quiet calm that exudes from Marlene’s debut is a suitable tonic for those looking for something to drift off too, away from the worries and concerns of these times.

Dropkick Murphys – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

It may only be January, but a contender for gig of the year has been thrown down. . .

The Men – New York City

The Men certainly show no signs of growing old gracefully, and let’s thank them for that because we always need a band such as these in our lives.

Carlton Melton – Resemble Ensemble

This album will speak to the converted like psych from heaven but has enough easy hooks to pull in the casual listener if they can get passed some of the more quieter drone sections.

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