Diccon Johnston

Bob Collum and The Welfare Mothers “This Heart Will Self Destruct”

April 27, 2021 Diccon Johnston 0

A witty, vaudevillian performance effectively combining swing, rockabilly and country-rock. ‘This Heart Will Self Destruct’ comes across like the musical equivalent of a theatrical show. It has an up-tempo sound and is largely comprised of superficially […]

Israel Nash “Topaz”

April 8, 2021 Diccon Johnston 0

The modern, vital heart of country soul beats right here. ‘Topaz’ is the seventh album by Israel Nash and it firmly benchmarks a significant step in his musical evolution. It has lost none of the expansive […]

Matthew James Lyons “Relics”

March 18, 2021 Diccon Johnston 0

Reflective melodies from a modest and gentle Australian songwriter. Matthew James Lyons, or Matt as he introduces himself, comes across as a thoroughly decent and self-deprecating bloke. Couple this with the fact you can count on […]

AUK’s Chain Gang: Cowboy Junkies “Lost My Driving Wheel”

February 15, 2021 Diccon Johnston 0

Lilly Hiatt ‘Walking Proof’ was written late at night at the end of a tour. It reflects on the price that is paid by musicians due to the distance from friends and family as she reaches […]

Modern Hinterland “Diving Bell”

February 9, 2021 Diccon Johnston 0

Rather magnificent English indie rock with Californian overtones. ‘Diving Bell’ is the third album by Modern Hinterland, following relatively swiftly on the back of last years release, ‘The Longest Part Of The Night’. This marks a […]

Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Tom Waits

August 5, 2026 2

The musical influence of Tom Waits over the last seven decades has spanned far beyond what one might define as americana. His deep, gravely voice, has been described as having been soaked in a vat of […]

Paul McClure “The Good And The Bad Of It”

August 5, 2026 0

The Rutland Troubadour returns for album number four. Paul McClure, on his fourth album, decided to go to pastures new and left the rural north and travelled south to East Sussex and the fine Bex-Pop Studios […]

Artists with Hearts of Gold contribute to two more albums of Neil Young covers

August 5, 2026 0

Includes tracks from My Morning Jacket, Lucinda Williams and MJ Lenderman among others. Cinema Music Group, Killphonic Records, and City Slang have announced Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 2 – Out of […]

Articles by Diccon Johnston