The Pop Corporation

WORDS ABOUT MUSIC + POP CULTURE

  • REVISITING RIDE’S CARNIVAL OF LIGHT

    Even though Ride referred to their 1994 LP ‘Carnival of Light’ as “Carnival of Shite”, and being a departure from their usual jangle of noise and shoegaze, many fans regard it a lesser work. The Pop Corporation disagrees, and disagrees hard. You see, back in ’94, Britpop was kicking in and a number of groups…

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  • PARIS TEXAS / MAKING RAP ROCK A NON DIRTY WORD

    Perhaps it’s testament to Outkast that any new genre-blurring rap group that emerges immediately makes us think of them. The latest group who are surely getting tickled with that brush are young hot-shots, Paris Texas. That’s nothing to do with the film of the same name, so calm down country boys. It appears that Paris…

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  • PHIL HARTMAN // BEFORE COMEDY, LP SLEEVES!

    You’ll know Phil Hartman whether you know it or not. He was the voice of Simpsons character Troy McClure, Lionel Hutz, Duff Man and more. He was a pivotal member of the SNL cast, and featured in a number of movies and all that good stuff. Normally, any piece about Hartman soon moves into the…

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  • LISTEN TO KIDS PLAY SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE

    If you’re not following Mystery Discs on YouTube, you’re denying yourself one of the most brilliant and unusual record collections on the planet. With the tagline ‘obscure records are fun’, you’ll find high school bands and amateur outfits performing shaky, gorgeous heartfelt music, Steely Dan covers, big jazz, wonkiness and loads of magic treasure that…

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  • REVIEW // AVA ROCHA / NEKTAR

    It’s poor form to liken a new artist to a legend straight off the bat, but there’s a wriggling, unescapable something about Ava Rocha that reminds us of Gal Costa. Gal, is of course, one of the most legendary artists to come out of Brazil and the Tropicalia movement, so no pressure Ava. However, while…

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  • REVIEW // APHEX TWIN / BLACKBOX LIFE RECORDER

    Aphex Twin, we’re happy to say, is at it again. Even though he’s not been especially prolific with sensible, mainstreamish releases, he’s been quite busy with a number of lung busting, eye frying shows around the world. Of course, there’s a been a slew of things released for the ultra-dedicated. Like what? Well, devotees will…

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  • CITY POP // Hiroshi Nagai SOUND BURGER

    Hiroshi Nagai is the man who you may have seen the work of on a number of City Pop releases – for the uninitiated, that’s the cool ’70s and ’80s Japanese pop music that’s impossibly sophisticated; a bit like Yacht Rock with a smidge of disco and jazz fusion. Nagai’s work is synonymous with Japanese…

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  • REVIEW // TRAVIS SCOTT // UTOPIA

    2023 has been a lean year for big time, platinum plated releases, and with the fact that there’s been a sore lack of number ones for the most competitive genre on the planet (after all, hip hop is a contact sport), Travis Scott is here to generate the fuss. And is there much fuss to…

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  • NEW MACCA TOUR?

    Looks like Paul McCartney – the greatest living human on planet earth – is planning a big ol’ tour, which is great news for those of us who like seeing someone take yet another victory lap for a frankly absurd life of insane quality. On his social channels, it said ‘GOT TO GET YOU INTO…

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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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