
Hey! Do you like new music and, not just new music, but slightly difficult music that’s fun? Well, you should check outy Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra newbie, ‘Future Shaman’. Apply here if you like wonky jazz and post-rock. It’s discordant, good stuff. Mazurek is a composer/trumpeter and the Exploding Star Orchestra features Damon Locks…

We like a popstar making bold choices, and Sam Smith has been doing exactly that lately. It doesn’t matter whether you like the tunes or not, we should absolutely support a commercial artist when they lean into the experimental and off-kilter. Did you see them on SNL, with Sharon Stone draping themselves all over the…

It feels kinda shitty referring to a new artist as ‘Bjork’s daughter’, but needs must. Isadora Bjarkardottir Barney is her name, and she’s released her debut solo work as part of a comp showcasing Icelandic music. The comp is called ‘DRULLUMALL 4’ and Isadora’s track – ‘bergmál’ – is really good, you’ll be glad to…

The mighty Pet Shop Boys are all set to share some previously unreleased songs in April. It’s all part of a new thing they’re doing and that new thing is a book called ‘Annually’. The 2023 edition of the yearly release (hence the name) will be a 64-page hardback affair, containing journals, photos from their…

You can try and be as clever as you want, deep diving on this, that, and the other… but sometimes it’s just worth reminding yourself how great a band were. From Detroit, America’s greatest music city, Inner City was the brainchild of the great Kevin Saunderson and Paris Grey. Saunderson of course, was one of…

Light In The Attic have been doing a wonderful job giving Lee Hazelwood’s back catalogue a spring clean, and they’re at it again, this time with ‘Nancy & Lee Again’, now available to pre-order on vinyl and, even better, 8-track! It’ll be streaming too, if you’re not in the habit of buying stuff. It’ll be…

Some people are already all over this, some are not – but Eddie Chacon was in Charles & Eddie (‘Would I Lie To You?’ ohyeah!) and he’s been releasing really, really brilliant music lately. Like, utterly fantastic AOR/Future Soul/NuYacht brilliance on Stones Throw Records. No lie. With the 2020 album ‘Pleasure, Joy And Happiness’, he…

We’re like everyone when we say we’re interested in things that are genuinely horrible. Not ironically; no humour — just a fascination in how things can go so badly wrong… or weird. If you’re not into upsetting things, this is your warning to stop reading right now. Of course, a lot of people enjoy reading…

Sopwith Camel ‘Miraculous Hump Returns From The Moon’ ltd coloured vinyl LP reissue pre-order (release date 10th February) Have you heard ‘Fazon’ by Sopwith Camel? It’s utterly fantastic and one of those dreamy, cosmic chuggers that’ll make you want to slowly get ripped to the tits, gently. The good news, if you want to own…

Compton’s very own, Channel Tres, is back with another slice of sophisticated party house, and in addition to that, there’s going to be a debut LP too, released on a major label because he’s talented like that. The album is called ‘Head Rush’ and you’ll be able to get it on June 28th on RCA,…

Or: Longevity doesn’t automatically get you the big gigs. Without looking at inflation, it does seem that arena shows are disproportionately expensive these days. There’s been a spike in ticket prices in the post pandemic period that leaves a number of fans thinking that they’re priced out of shows. Now, anyone with any cop-on will…

One of France and European pop’s most iconic women has died. Françoise Hardy, who propelled herself to stardom in the ye-ye scene and beyond, passed away after a long battle with a dreadful illness. In her later years, she would campaign for euthanasia in her home country, and her son Thomas Dutronc, left the simple…

Tiny Desk gigs are great and a jewel in the crown of the already wonderful NPR over in the States. They showcase talent old and new and their tastes are right across the board, as they should be. The latest to get excited about is Chaka Khan’s who is obviously one of the greatest to…
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