Simon Williams (Fierce Panda Records) - "The Story Of Brothers & Sisters" (5:45)
Review: Today marks a significant milestone as Coldplay's iconic Brothers & Sisters EP celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special edition release. Originally launched via Fierce Panda Records, the EP was pivotal in shaping the band's early sound and building their devoted fanbase. Released as a gatefold double BioVinyl 7", this commemorative edition includes the classic tracks 'Brothers & Sisters' and 'Easy To Please', alongside the addition of 'Only Superstition'. Recorded for a modest L450, the EP made its mark, climbing to number 92 on the charts. As an intriguing bonus, the anniversary release features a new track, 'The Story of Brothers & Sisters', offering a spoken word insight into Coldplay's formative years. Lifted from Simon Williams' audiobook 'Pandamonium! How Not To Run A Record Label', this excerpt vividly recounts the band's early days at iconic venues like Camden Falcon and Kentish Town Bull & Gate, where they caught the attention of Radio One's Evening Session and garnered their first NME reviews. Celebrating both Coldplay's journey and Fierce Panda's 30th anniversary, this release encapsulates a pivotal moment in music history.
Review: For fans of classic soul like Lee Fields and Bobby Oroza, Kelly Finnigan's latest 45 is a pure delight. On the A-side, an upbeat Northern soul-inspired track from A Lover Was Born pulses with raw emotionisyncopated guitars and brass-powered intensity back Finnigan's story of a love in crisis. The B-side adds a bonus cut, evoking the 60s soul vibe of Stax Records with a deep, minor-key groove. Here, gospel-tinged harmonies and moody horns underscore Finnigan's heartache, capturing a timeless feel with modern passion.
Review: Hot on the heels of his acclaimed sophomore album A Lover Was Born, Kelly Finnigan makes a quick return with this soul-packed 7". The A-side, 'Get A Hold Of Yourself,' is a Northern soul-inspired stomper that channels the raw emotion of Memphis soul with heavy drums, syncopated guitars, bold horns and Finnigan's impassioned vocals. It tells the story of a rocky relationship where emotional strain disrupts physical connection then the B-side is a fresh bonus cut from the A Lover Was Born sessions inspired by Barbara & The Browns' Stax classic 'Hurts Me So Much'. It's a moody groove with gospel-infused vocals.
Review: In the early 1980s, Britain had a vibrant cassette culture that now gets spotlighted through a limited edition 12" featuring multi-instrumentalist Kez Stone's project, Imago. He was a notable name in Cornwall and the West Country's music scenes with previous projects, Artistic Control and Aaah! which have come back via reissues many times in the last ten years. Imago was a new one-ff project that first emerged with one track on the Perfect Motion compilation curated by NTS Radio's Bruno and Flo Dill and now the full LP, originally released in 1985 on the local label A Real Kavoom, has been remastered and added to with three additional gems. Stone's teenage punk influences sit next to Imago's eclectic approach to sound that blends new wave and psychedelic elements into something irresistible.
Review: Portishead's limited edition 10" vinyl release showcases live renditions of 'Sour Times' and 'Roads', capturing the band's signature trip-hop essence. Recorded in 1998 at The Warfield in San Francisco and Norway's Quart Festival, the tracks highlight Beth Gibbons' haunting vocals and the group's atmospheric instrumentation. The minimalist red sleeve with debossed cover adds a tactile dimension, making it a must-have for collectors and fans seeking a tangible connection to Portishead's live artistry.
Review: Ryan Adams' cult classic album Blackhole is finally being released, much to the anticipation of his devoted fanbase. Initially demoed in 2006 and heavily bootlegged over the years, this long-awaited official release features raw and emotionally charged tracks, including 'Catherine', previously only performed live. The album's creation coincided with a tumultuous period in Adams' life, marked by struggles with addiction, making its release not just a musical event but also a reclamation of a pivotal moment in his career. Adams merged two versions of the albumione reflecting a chaotic vocal performance and another crafted in the midst of his struggles. The release promises to satisfy years of speculation while offering an authentic glimpse into Adams' artistic evolution. With its blend of previously unheard material and emotional depth, Blackhole stands as a testament to the beauty found within vulnerability and fans eagerly await its arrival.
Review: Advance Base makes is the name given to melancholic electronic story songs made by US indie label owner and musician Owen Ashworth. Ashworth can sing the phonebook and has mastered the art of cutting all the fat from his words to deliver succinct, compelling stories to lo-fi Daniel Johnston-ish music. ‘The Year I Lived In Richmond’ doesn’t colour anything in metaphor and it’s a frank tale about a woman who had stabbed a burglar and his experience living close to it. The album title is as apt as could be. Meanwhile, ‘How You Got Your Picture on the Wall’ is heartbreaking in its delivery and has a clever twist at the end. Ashworth under his moniker Advance Base is an outsider hero with a level of artistry and songwriting that's quite rare to find. Absolutely stunning.
The Inevitable Return Of The Great White Dope (4:00)
Mama's Boy (4:26)
Three Point One Four (3:33)
Mope (1:05)
Yummy Down On This (3:38)
The Ballad Of Chasey Lain (2:31)
RSVP (0:21)
Magna Cum Nada (4:01)
The Bad Touch (4:07)
That Cough Came With A Prize (0:15)
Take The Long Way Home (3:10)
Hell Yeah (0:39)
Right Turn Clyde (4:17)
This Is Stupid (3:06)
A Lap Dance Is So Much Better When The Stripper Is Crying (2:17)
The Ten Coolest Things About New Jersey (5:42)
Along Comes Mary (3:24)
The Bad Touch (The Eiffel 65 mix) (4:28)
The Ballad Of Chasey Lain (The Flirt mix) (3:42)
Mope (The Pet Shop Boys extended remix) (7:52)
Review: To mark the 25th anniversary of Hooray for Boobies, the Bloodhound Gang have reissued their infamous third album on splatter-coloured 180g vinyl, giving fans another chance to dive into its wild mix of genres and humour. Originally released in 1999, this album catapulted the band to worldwide success, selling over four million copies and topping charts everywhere. Musically, it's a collision of rap-rock, punk, and electronic beats, packed with cheeky, often absurd lyrics that have become the band's signature. 'The Bad Touch', the album's standout hit, is driven by a playful, catchy synth line that pairs perfectly with its notorious lyrics. Elsewhere, 'The Ballad of Chasey Lain' blends rock energy with humorous storytelling, while 'Mope' is an eclectic mix of samples, pulling from sources as diverse as Metallica and Pac-Man. This reissue also features three rare remixes, including a hyperactive Eiffel 65 version of 'The Bad Touch', a sultry take on 'The Ballad of Chasey Lain' and Pet Shop Boys' extended remix of 'Mope'.
Review: Campus Christy is a new collaboration between Stones Throw Records founder Chris Manak (aka Peanut Butter Wolf) and musician Brian Ellis. Nearly 25 years after his 1999 debut My Vinyl Weighs a Ton, Manak revisits his high school garage band roots by forming this project to reinterpret lesser-known tracks from the late 60s to early 80s. With Manak on vocals and Ellis providing instruments, Campus Christy is a nostalgic nod to the past that blends influences from an era that shaped Manak's musical journey. It's both a personal tribute and a fresh exploration of forgotten gems.
Review: Straight out of Mile High City, this garage / indie rock group from Denver were around during the heady days of the Seattle scene and the grunge scene when it was all kicking off and ought to have been one of the biggest bands in the world. They were the first non-Seattle band to sign to Sub Pop, a label who adored them for their thunderous riffs and explosive live shows. Before signing to Sub Pop, they released this album - their debut studio LP, which is a succinct blast to listen to full of raw MC5-esque energy. It's not changing the wheel - or even trying to - but there's something hugely fun in being ill concerned with the idea of originality and just competing with the greatest rock n' roll bands of all time and coming out sounding on par.
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