In the year where bottomless prosecco and brunch became a religion with more Sunday attendance than the Catholic and Church of England combined. The year David Moyes had a resurrection that Lazarus would envy. The Year Harvey Weinstein got outed, his dignity and life going downhill fast than Franz Klammer, the year Giggs spoke on some songs on an “album” and everyone went crazy. Drake started saying fam. Donald had an awkward drink of water. Dj Khaled played dress up for social media with his doll that you’d think was a real child, but no decent parent would do that, surely. The year there were more Lil this and that, put together would make a modest big this and that at best, not Big Shaq though, the gift and the curse in 2017 for Michael Dapaah, who will never walk into a Lidle or Waitrose on a cold day without white middle class kids saying “Oi, Take of Your Jacket”, or pursue his better comedy without people saying “Yeah yeah fam now do Big Shaq”.

Hip hop has had so many number names flying around 21 this 21 that it may lead to Sum 41. Jeremy Corbyn is in GQ, Theresa confessed about how ratchet she was was back in the day, running in fields. A guy sprinkled some salt on meat, got the name Salt Bae bestowed upon him by the internet, and became a world wide sensation. Yeah its been a funny ol year hasn’t it?
Musically though we thought I’d do an alternative Albums of the Year that may have slipped under the radar. I know Kendrick Lamar, Bjork, Tyler The Creator , Jlin, Sampha, Jay Z etc all dropped some above average stuff, but i’m sure you haven’t missed those. I just thought I’d point out some other under the radar albums worth a listen and all the respect in 2017.
Lets face it the only list people care about is the Pitchfork – Albums of the year which also serves as your usual hipster vinyl shopping list. But I’ve done a list based on some of my highlights which my counterparts haven’t already covered apart from on that needs tripple mention.

 

Brockhampton – Saturation

 

Continue reading “Hinged: Albums of The Year We hope you didn’t miss. Justin’s” →

Gnod – Just Say No to the Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine

Do Gnod sleep? A new album each year, constant touring and an excellent collaboration EP with Surgeon must mean they are due a lovely long nap. As the title suggests Gnod are not happy with the world, and want you to know why. If you’ve had the joy of seeing Gnod live this year you will have enjoyed riff-driven, kraut-spangled, rage that will probably still be ringing in your ears.

Continue reading “HINGED ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: JACK’S” →

How did Motive Sounds start?

Motive Sounds started as an online zine back in 2001/2002 or thereabouts. We’d review local shows, releases from local bands and all chat shit on a forum. I then released a 2 CD compilation of local bands at the end of 2003 and just kept on releasing stuff up until 2013.

Continue reading “HINGED SPEAK TO THE GOOD PEOPLE AT MOTIVE SOUNDS.” →

Djing for money (usually in bars and weddings) you often get terrible requests, but that comes with the fact you are usually trying to please a large range of people. I’ve had everything from Dj Sammy to some guy saying “Ere mate. You should start your set off with ‘In my life’ by The Rasmus. It will get everyone up dancing.” I told him “No’, and that I only knew one song by The Rasmus song. He then proceeded to give me the history of The Rasmus for a good 15 mins. And my what an incredibly dull band they were! Continue reading “Play for pay: Tales of a bar Dj.” →

Dear Dizzee
Long time no Speak Dizzee, How are you? Been a while think last time we really had something of substance between us, was around 2007 during that Maths and English class. Sorry for phasing you out, after that. Wasn’t really feeling it when you went a bit Bonkers, the people you surrounded yourself with, your new crew Calvin Harris, Armand Van Helden, I was feeling that. Even when you went on that holiday with Laidback Luke, I passed on that. Everyone was like remember Dizzee? He’s changed. But that’s life is all about innit? It’s been a while since we hung out with that Boy In Da Corner. People grow up and some Tounge ‘N Continue reading “A letter to old Dizzee Rascal” →

How old are Duke Studios and how did it start?

Duke Studios is 6 years old, we moved our full operation over our new building on Sheaf St 2 years ago allowing us to expand and on our public events space and our bar and café Sheaf St Cafeteria. Continue reading “LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS: A CHAT WITH DUKE STUDIOS.” →

Here we are, six months into 2017 and what have we learned? This year doesn’t seem to be killing off our heroes as much as its predecessor, the world’s still fairly racist and more great albums have been missed by many a blogger and blog reader. Let me fill your ears with Hinged’s list of ‘under the radar’ albums for the first half of 2017.

Continue reading “If you don’t know, now you know…. 2017 P1 Under the radar albums of 2017 P1” →