The Pop Corporation

WORDS ABOUT MUSIC + POP CULTURE

  • KENYA GRACE / MODERN LOVE + LIQUID ELECTRO

    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…

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  • MICHAEL HEAD / RETURN OF THE JANGLE

    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…

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  • MIX // HEARTBREAK IN ANOTHER TONGUE

    We feature yet another gem from the wonderful My Analog Journal, and this time, we’ve got The Grey Area (or, Ed to his mates) who hosts a great show on Noods Radio and a night called ‘Silencio’. He says of his set: “This mix represents a part of my collection I don’t get to air…

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  • BILL RYDER JONES VIA EUROTRASH

    Bill Ryder-Jones – the indie girls fancy him and he writes and produces cool music – he’s got it all hasn’t he? Well, he’s prepping the new LP with some preview singles, and of course, there’s a new one and we’re telling you about it. That’s how it works innit? So what’s the craic? His…

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  • DEF.FO WITH AN AUTUMN BAROQUE GEM

    Writing pop music isn’t easy, despite what dopes might say. When you get a slice of baroque, folk-pop, you better not ignore it and we’re super into this new track from def.fo, ‘Autumn Leaves’. If you like some strings with your jangle, get on this. It’s a group that features Tom Powell (Michael Head and…

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  • LOU REED AMBIENT VINYL

    Now ambient music is back, the good folks over at Light In Attic Records have teamed up with Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed’s Archive custodians to give us a vinyl reissue Lou’s ‘Hudson River Wind Meditations’. It’s not been on record before, and as you’d expect, it’s a real fancy package indeed. Out January 12,…

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  • GREAT SONGS THAT ARE JUST ANNOYING / PART1

    Some songs, some albums are beatified by rock critics decade-on-decade, and sure, we should doff our cap to cultural impact and massive sales and all that stuff. But honestly, we’re allowed to just be irritated too. There’s loads of stuff that gets rammed down your craw so hard that the sheer ubiquity of the damned…

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  • GOD BLESS YOU, SHANE MACGOWAN

    If there’s one thing no-one can ever accuse Shane MacGowan of, it’s a boring life. Excessive, sure, but on his own terms – MacGowan may be most famous for a Christmas song, but the real heads know that there’s so much more to him than the ‘Fairytale of New York’. Big Shane was born in…

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  • SIMON REYNOLDS WRITES ABOUT THE FUTURE

    Writer and pop-culture fiend Simon Reynolds is releasing a new book. He’s a clever so-and-so, so this is good news. He’s looked at retro culture and dance music in the past, so marrying the two (of a fashion), this time, he’s looking backward to look forward. The book is called ‘Futuromania: Electronic Dreams, Desiring Machines…

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  • JAMC ENTER THEIR XTRMNTR PHASE

    Bobby Gillespie may have left the Jesus & Mary Chain yonks ago, but there’s still a spiritual connection between the Reids and Primal Scream. With that, JAMC has got a new song out and it reminds us a bit of the Screamteam in their XTRMNTR period. Tenuous, sure, but if we didn’t write something, we’d…

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STOP HOARDING TUNES


  • ROB MAZUREK FUTURE SHAMAN

    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…

  • SAM SMITH VERSUS SAUCEPAN

    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…

  • BJORK’S DAUGHTER RELEASES MUSIC

    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…

  • NEW PET SHOP BOYS DUE

    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…

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THERE’S NO MONEY IN THIS GAME ANYMORE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO WRITE SOMETHING FOR THE POP CORPS, YOU ARE WELCOME TO GET IN TOUCH. HAPPY HUNTING.