
End of year round-ups can be a pretty predictable affair, with publications counting on fandoms of massive stars boosting their signal, be it an inflated spot on the chart, or a provocatively low spot designed to agitate. Of course, some massive releases are worthy of lofty positions, but we prefer to give spots to the…

On Monday, we’ll be announcing our LPs of 2023. We figured that this will leave it late enough that no-one will surprise us with a complete masterpiece and ruin everything. We’ve tried to go for albums that are away from the grain, but honestly, it’s what we were listening to the most, so we’re not…

We are prepping ourselves to do our End Of Year lists, but it’s more of an emotional readying because they take ages to do. What doesn’t help is that everyone has started releasing Christmas songs to really give us a deadline. Thankfully, the one we’re sharing from Anastasia Coope is a little freaky gem. While…

Just the other day, everyone was sharing their Spotify Wrapped graphics and having a giggle and all that, but things were about to get tremendously serious at Spotify HQ. This week, the streaming behemoth announced that they’d be sacking 17% of their staff. That’s around 1,500 people losing their pay just before Christmas. Pretty brutal.…

Kiss are no longer real people, and will be forever young as some imaginary thing. See, they’ve announced the ‘end of its physical existence’ because now, they’ll be digital avatars. They’ve copied ABBA obviously, because pop walks so rock can run. Anyway, it all feels a bit weird and this whole scenario is like when…

Kenya Grace apparently had a viral smash, but virality is something that passes us by so we’ll just have to accept what’s been said regarding all that. What we do know, however, is that Kenya’s new single ‘Paris’ is a slice of future pop that we like a whole bunch. Writing, producing and performing her…

Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band are bringing back the jangle, with Ciao Ciao Bambino! Recorded in West Kirby with Bill Ryder-Jones (him again!), Head says: “’Ciao Ciao Bambino’ came to me one night when I was thinking about the first words I ever heard. It was a song called ‘Ciao Ciao Bambino’ that my…

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…

Latto’s ‘Sunday Service’ is now an all-star affair now there’s a redo with the million selling Megan Thee Stallion and the mighty Flo Milli. As you’re expect, it’s a huge club ready clunky beat and firebrand cockiness on the mic from all three. An uber charismatic affair as you can imagine. It’s not a game-changer…

The third Electric Pendergrass album has dropped, with more vaporwave-ish synth wibbles and obscure mining of soft breaks and bits. This new one, available to download for free (or at any price you fancy throwing into the hat if you’re feeling generous), is only available from Bandcamp, so if you’re waiting for Spotify, don’t hold…
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