The Pop Corporation

MUSIC EDUCATION IS BROKEN

This academic year, there’s been a bit of troubling news. In terms of taking A-Level music as a subject, we’ve seen a record low, with only 5,493 out of 800,000 pupils choosing it as an option. Since 2010, that’s a 45% drop across the UK. What is the cause of this? What needs to be
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MODERN NATURE, BACK.

Jack Cooper’s Modern Nature are back with a new track from forthcoming LP ‘No Fixed Point In Space’ called ‘Cascade’ and features Julie Tippets. It’s a bruised, psychedelic-ish folk-jazzy post-rock number, which granted, is a lot of words, but if you’ve heard Modern Nature before, you’ll know it’s a kaleidoscope of influences and good shit.
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TOM TOM CLUB BEING AMAZING

We can’t lie to you – initially, we were meant to cover a lot more music from the past on these pages, revisiting lost classics and reappraising hidden treasures and all that. We accidentally became transfixed with new releases, which is kinda good seeing as new bands need the press while they’re still around. Anyway,
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PORTABLE RADIO FEEL LIKE A DOG

Selena Gomez has announced a return to music. Miley Cyrus has confirmed a new song. There’s new Guns N Roses music. However, the entire world is talking about the new single from Portable Radio. Portable Radio – perhaps the greatest band in the entire world right now, not that anyone’s noticed – have a new
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STEPHEN STEINBRINK NEWIE IS A GOODIE

Stephen Steinbrink, who we hadn’t heard of until we pressed play on the below video, has a cool new song out. Let’s tell you some stuff first though, so you get the illusion of value for money, even though we’re doing this for free. There’s going to be a new album called ‘Disappearing Coin’ and
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PUNCH: TRYING TO MAKE IT IN 1976

There’s so many documentaries about musicians that focus on inevitable success or how lonely it is at the top, which is fine and all – but there’s more interesting stories than that. And so, to 1976 documentary about Bradford wannabes Punch. A Close Up North feature called Punch On The Road, it’s 30 minutes of
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TALKING HEADS TO REUNITE [WAIT]

Tina Weymouth’s group – Talking Heads – are going to get back together. That’s bait, obviously. They’re not planning on stepping on stage to make music together BUT it might be a sign that, in their age, things might be mellowing between the members of the group. In fact, they’re regrouping for a Q&A with
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ELVIS ’68 COMEBACK DOC

Elvis’ comeback special in ’68 is a legendary moment in pop music. It marked a return to an artist’s roots for one, which wasn’t hugely heard of at the time and, furthermore, reminded everyone that Elvis could be insanely hot – especially when he appeared on screen in his Leather Daddy guise. Now, the TV
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FIEVEL IS GLAUQUE NEW TRACK IS GREAT

Have you heard of Fievel Is Glauque because you saw them supporting Stereolab? Have you not heard of them, but are interested in a band that supported Stereolab all the same? Well, here’s a new pair of songs from the group called ‘I’m Scanning Things I Can’t See’/’Dark Dancing’ and it’s super good and we
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HANS ZIMMER, MAIDA VALE, AND WE JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING

Hans Zimmer has been made a co-owner of BBC Maida Vale Studios and, we can’t lie, we’re only writing about it because we want to say something else which is related. The BBC sold the historic venue which has been in operation since the ’30s, which has hosted The Beatles, Bowie, Dusty and you know
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