Review: "In Rainbows", Radiohead's seventh album, finally gets a physical release! It's one thing downloading this landmark album, but to actually hold this is something special. Not only do you get increased sound quality, but you also get the amazing artwork from Stanley Donwood. This album includes "Nude", a live favourite for many years that was originally written during the "OK Computer" sessions. More minimal that their "Kid A" period, "In Rainbows" does something that very few albums have done - its sound is distinct from previous Radiohead albums, but is still clearly Radiohead. Hail to the kings, they are back on top form.
Review: Public Service Broadcasting's fifth studio album, The Last Flight, four years on from their 2021 concept album, Bright Magic, taking inspiration from the life and final voyage of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart. Frontman J. Willgoose Esq. explained the choice of Earhart's story, noting a desire to highlight a female-focused narrative amid an archive dominated by male figures. He was initially drawn to Earhart's final flight but became increasingly fascinated by her extraordinary achievements and dignified philosophy. The album's first single, 'Electra,' shows what to expect - a pulsating, funk-inspired track capturing the vibrancy and excitement of Earhart's Lockheed Model 10-E Electra aircraft. With interlocking percussive melodies and driving electronics, 'Electra' embodies the same determination and force as Earhart's daring spirit. The Last Flight promises a rich, life-affirming exploration of adventure, speed, and freedom, featuring guest appearances by Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) on pedal steel and Berlin voices Andreya Casablanca and EERA, both of whom contributed to Bright Magic.
Review: Ultra-vintage reissued psych-pop from Parsley Sound, whose self-titled debut for Mo Wax was one of the label's most prized releases, and yet ended up massively inflated in price due to early sellouts and low pressing numbers. The duo / band made up of Danny Sargassa and Preston Mead are deft emulators of full-band sonics, producing the illusion of a wider ensemble; Parsley Sounds followed the early EPs 'Ease Yourself And Glide' and 'Twilight Mushrooms', but was comparatively much softer on the ears, charming the listener with its herbal pan flutes, downtempo era string segments, and not-too-heavy 70s throwback haunto-pysch cult propulsions. Clearly an early influence of now colossal cognates of the sound like Caribou and Four Tet, Parsley Sounds is essential heads' listening for those who wish to lead a certain uncanny, chintzy still life, yet who also know something of the restless beauty of said life. A5er 'Ocean House' is the expansive ballad that proves this, finding a lo-fi yet cavernous vocal opportunity in an otherwise claustrophobic cranny of sound.
Review: Godspeed You! Black Emperor are back for their newest and most eagerly awaited album, No Title As Of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead. This upcoming record, their first since 2021's G_d's Pee At State's End!, comprises six tracks that promise to uphold the band's renowned style of merging ambient textures with explosive crescendos. The album's title, steeped in the bleak realities of a world fraught with turmoil and disintegration, is echoed in the music itself. The compositions integrate field recordings, sparse instrumentation, and solemn hymns, embodying their anti-war and anti-capitalist ethos. Known for their dramatic contrasts and expansive, multi-part pieces, Godspeed You! Black Emperor continue to blend influences from post-punk, progressive rock, and avant-garde. No Title As Of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead promises to deliver a compelling and introspective listening experience, staying true to the band's politically charged and dystopian themes.
Review: Uncollected Noise New York '88-'90 marks Galaxie 500's first new archival release in nearly three decades, presenting the most extensive collection of unreleased and rare material from the band. Spanning 24 tracks, this compilation includes the complete Noise New York studio recordings, outtakes and non-album tracks. The band meticulously compiled this collection, tracing their journey from their earliest studio moments to their final recordings. Featuring eight previously unheard tracks and rare, long-out-of-print studio material, Uncollected Noise New York '88-'90 offers a hidden history of the band's evolution from beginning to end. Produced and engineered by Kramer at Noise New York from 1988 to 1990, the album's packaging includes archival images and historical liner notes by the band. Galaxie 500's three studio albums include 'Today' (1988), 'On Fire' (1989), and 'This Is Our Music' (1990). 'Shout You Down' and 'I Wanna Live' are two standout tracks from this release with the band's raw and evolving sound on full display
Review: Can Live in Keele 1977 captures a key performance from one of the most innovative bands of all time. This long remoured album features Can's late-period lineup: Irmin Schmidt, Jaki Liebezeit, Michael Karoli, and Holger Czukay, joined by Rosko Gee on bass. Czukay's shift to "waveform radio and spec. sounds" adds an otherworldly layer to the band's hypnotic, avant-garde textures. Pieced together from archival and fan recordings, the album highlights the unpredictable and experimental nature of Can's live performances during their 1976-77 peak. The inclusion of tracks that fans have long considered the best of their live work brings a raw, dynamic energy. Fans of Can's legendary improvisations will appreciate the diversity of sound, from ambient passages to intense, chaotic jams. Live in Keele 1977 stands as a crucial document of the band's legacy as they explore "inner space rock" and live sonic exploration.
Review: The Necks return with their latest album Bleed, a single, expansive 42-minute composition that delves into the delicate beauty of decay and space. As one of Australia's most daring and long-standing minimalist-jazz groups, the trioiChris Abrahams on piano, Tony Buck on drums, and Lloyd Swanton on bassicrafts yet another unique piece in their vast body of work. Formed in 1987, The Necks have become known for their extended, improvisational compositions that patiently unravel, building subtle intensity through repeated musical motifs. Bleed is no exception, but the atmosphere they create here feels both familiar and fresh. The album masterfully balances stillness and tension, exploring themes of desolation and transformation with understated elegance. Released to mark the group's 35th anniversary in 2022, Bleed showcases their remarkable ability to evolve while staying true to their distinctive sound. The slow, meditative pace allows each note and texture to breathe, inviting listeners to get lost in its spacious, evolving soundscape. With this release, The Necks continue to push the boundaries of minimalist jazz.
Review: Moin's album Paste, released in 2022, built on the groundwork laid by their debut Moot! and took alternative rock in fresh, unconventional directions. The trioiJoe Andrews, Tom Halstead (of Raime) and percussionist Valentina Magalettii crafted an eclectic blend of sounds, mixing scuzzy guitars, live drums and abstract vocal samples. These monologues, pulled from spoken word compilations and other eclectic sources, added a layer of nostalgia and mystery throughout the album. Tracks like 'Hung Up' merged crystalline guitar tones with raw, anxious rhythms, while 'Forgetting Is Like Syrup' offered a dense, swirling mix of guitars and vocal fragments. Paste didn't settle into any one genre but instead explored the interplay between indie pop, grunge and minimalist influences, adding electronic elements to form a unique sound collage. Moin's ability to bridge diverse genres and ideas set Paste apart, establishing them as boundary-pushers in modern rock music.
Please Call To Book (Le'ts Write A song Project) (4:41)
Review: As the title suggests, Broadcast have collected all their demo recordings made between 2000 and 2006 and compiled them onto a single 14-track record. But that's not the main piece of news: sadly, this one marks the end of releasing from the band, tying the bow on an game-changing career to say the least. Many of these tender tidbits were worked into finished productions appearing on Haha Sound, Tender Buttons and The Future Crayon; it's an impressive flex to be able to flaunt your one-offs and pack them onto a single recorded finale. What's more, the connotations aroused by form - demos - as well as the sonic content of these gems plays nicely up to Broadcast's now well-established aesthetic, which is one for the ages, to be sure. The album also includes two songs discovered by James after bandmate Trish's passing: 'Come Back To Me' and 'Please Call To Book' which was her response to Broadcast's 2006 'Let's Write A Song' project, where fans were asked to submit lyrics on a postcard which would then be worked into a finished song.
Review: Chelsea Wolfe's latest album, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, is a haunting and emotionally charged masterpiece. Known for her shadowy blend of Gothic industrial, doom, and folk, Wolfe delves deeper into electronic soundscapes with this release, while maintaining her trademark dark, atmospheric style. The album explores themes of severing toxic ties and the cyclical nature of grief and healing. With ten tracks that seamlessly blend industrial textures, eerie vocals and ambient layers, it's an immersive journey from start to finish. Tracks include the opener 'Whispers in the Echo Chamber', where Wolfe's hushed vocals and industrial beats create a brooding atmosphere, and 'Everything Turns Blue', a track full of lyrical power and electronic drive. The closer 'Dusk' is a breathtaking finale with a casual yet explosive climax. While the middle sectionifeaturing 'The Liminal', 'Eyes Like Nightshade' and 'Salt'islows the album slightly, their deep atmosphere still shines. Other highlights like 'House of Self-Undoing' and 'Unseen World' elevate the record to new heights with their driving rhythms and haunting melodies. Overall, this is a powerful, deeply personal album that fans of darkwave, industrial, and ambient metal will adore.
How I Wrote How I Wrote Elastic Man (Cock & Bull) (4:02)
Scabby The Rat (1:44)
I Don't Fear Hell (4:13)
Review: Chicago-bred noise rock legends Shellac deliver their sixth studio album To All Trains, following up 2019's The End Of Radio Peel Session retrospective with an abiding, slowly-honed new full-length - their first original work in a decade. Though released to little fanfare, To All Trains is a totemic album, committing to themes of transience and dread; guitarist Steve Albini, drummer Todd Trainer and bassist Bob Weston do it properly here, promising a pristine new release born of long weekends, tireless sweats and, naturally, all-analog treatment at Albini's Electrical Audio studio in Chicago.
Review: In December 2001, at Maida Vale Studios, Bill Callahan's Smog delivered a raw, haunting session for the BBC. Alongside bandmates Jessica Billey, Mike Saenz and Jim White, Callahan's performance embodied a Lynchian mood of U.S. darkness in the wake of 9/11, covering Stevie Nicks, Lou Reed, and Smog tracks with a sombre, tour-worn edge. Callahan reflects, "It's all live, no overdubs. The session felt encapsulatedisomething foreign, yet intimate." The band's reimagining of 'Beautiful Child' in a minor key, the fiery rendition of 'Cold Discovery', and the moving take on 'Jesus' highlight the raw, unfiltered essence of this live recording.
Review: Beth Gibbons releases her debut solo album Lives Outgrown. Notably containing ten songs that were in total written over the course of ten years, the overarching mood is one of saying farewell and musing on the bittersweetness of loss. The English singer and notable Portishead member's solo efforts often operate with this affect, but Gibbons' latest is of special import, given the length of time over which these songs were crafted and occasionally performed over the years. As demonstrated by lead track 'Floating On A Moment', the palette is soft and reflective, hitting only the softest dynamic notes, as Gibbons sings of unique lifetime journeys and a dealt-with sense of friends suffering being left behind.
Review: Les Rallizes Denudes' Yaneura Oct 80 is an almost ritualistic performance that blends dark, nocturnal atmospheres with raw, passionate energy. The addition of guitarist Fujio Yamaguchi brought a bluesy edge, creating a dense, dissonant soundscape that feels both lethargic and hypnotic. This release marks a significant moment in the band's history, showcasing a unique lineup that left a lasting impact on fans. The tight rhythm section provides a solid foundation for the intense interplay between Mizutani and Fujio, resulting in a surreal and ethereal sonic experience. Makoto Kubota's meticulous mixing and mastering ensure that this performance is preserved in its raw, psychedelic glory, making the world of Les Rallizes Denudes an intriguing piece of Japanese music history.
Review: The Canadian sonic soothsayers here deal out their shortest, and most immediate record since their 1997's debut, yet for all its 40-minute brevity, there's no shortage of the kind of monolithic intensity that the band have become renowned for. As orchestral and elegiac as it triumphantly amp-abusing, "Asunder..." is a masterclass in windswept atmospherics, powerful dynamics and apocalyptic grandeur, building to a climax with enough emotional heft to shake any listener's world on its axis. Existing more than ever outside of genre and comparison, Godspeed continue to inhabit an awe-inspiring sonic landscape that is theirs and theirs alone.
May Nothing But Happiness Come Through Your Door (7:52)
Oh! How The Dogs Stack Up (2:01)
Ex-Cowboy (8:46)
Chocky (9:51)
Christmas Steps (9:11)
Punk Rock/Puff Daddy/Antichrist (2:09)
Review: Mogwai were something of a shock to the senses when they emerged with their debut Young Team in 1997, and they followed that up with a remix album just to make clear they weren't about to follow any kind of standard rockist trajectory. That kept the possibilities comfortably open for their second album proper, Come On Die Young. In hindsight, the album remains an outlier in the Mogwai catalogue thanks to its prevalent sparse arrangements, and the rarely spotted vocals featuring prominently on 'Cody', but that's precisely what makes it such a special record.
Review: German outfit Cluster were pioneers in the world of prog rock, Kraut and experimental early electronic music some 50-odd years ago. Their music still resonates to this day - and fetches high prices for those willing to pay it - but thankfully reissues like this keep it available to those of us more interested in the music than the format or the investment value. This one is rooted in cold wave and synth elegance, with its loose-limbed rhythms and bendy chords, cosmic intonations and ever-optimistic melodies all making for a brilliantly unique listen and cosmic journey.
Review: Carrying the torch for bittersweet post-punk introspection like few others of her generation, Carla dal Forno has always captivated through the strength of her songwriting. That she also successfully channels the sound of the DIY 1980s is a bonus. On her third album, dal Forno has settled in rural Australia and the album reflects a drastic shift in her circumstances since being in the cut and thrust of Berlin and London. There's space for more open, light-touch songs to match the brooding, low-register tracks she made her name on. But in essence, dal Forno remains true to her muse, meaning returning fans will be more than satisfied with the latest step on for one of the finest singer-songwriters in contemporary post-punk.
Review: Spell Blanket - Collected Demos 2006-2009 by Broadcast offers a rare glimpse into the creative process of Trish Keenan and James Cargill during the post-Tender Buttons period. This compilation features songs and sketches drawn from Keenan's extensive archive of four-track tapes and MiniDiscs, laying the groundwork for what would have been Broadcast's fifth album. The recordings showcase the duo's experimental approach to music-making, with Trish and James exploring new sonic territories and refining their distinctive sound. The photography used in the artwork is captured by Trish and James themselves, adding a personal touch to the collection. Designed by Broadcast's long-time collaborator Julian House, the artwork complements the nostalgic yet forward-thinking nature of the music.
Review: Life Go's On's reissue of Organisation's Tone Float sheds light on a pivotal moment in music history. Known as the precursor to Kraftwerk, Organisation's debut album offers a blend of avant-garde experimentation and early German prog. Featuring Ralf Hutter, Florian Schneider, and Klaus Dinger among others, the album combines acoustic instruments with bold electronic elements, creating a cerebral yet immersive sonic experience. Tracks like 'Vor Dem Blauen Bock' showcase the band's innovative approach, bridging natural and synthetic textures with ethereal flutes, majestic organ and varied percussions. Tone Float remains a gem of musical innovation, capturing a moment when boundaries between genres blurred, setting the stage for Kraftwerk's iconic future.
Review: Frank Zappa's Apostrophe (') stands as one of his most acclaimed works, achieving both commercial success and critical acclaim. It was Zappa's first Gold Record and top ten hit in America while 'Don't Eat the Yellow Snow' reached the popular charts as well. This 50th Anniversary edition, released on a striking metallic gold vinyl, features a new remaster by Bernie Grundman, celebrating an album that has been a cornerstone for discovering Zappa's unique musical style. The album blends Zappa's trademark humor with intricate musicianship, featuring a mix of incomplete narratives and clever satire. 'Don't Eat the Yellow Snow' introduces listeners to Zappa's peculiar sense of humor with its distinctive guitar fills and drumming. 'Nanook Rubs It' continues the story with fast-paced guitar work and playful horn arrangements. 'St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast' showcases excellent horn and xylophone work in a brisk, energetic track. 'Father O'Blivion' is an eccentric blend of spacey effects and zany lyrics, while 'Cosmik Debris' stands out with its compelling guitar riff and biting social commentary. Tracks like 'Apostrophe' feature a powerful collaboration with Jack Bruce of Cream, marked by exceptional bass and guitar performances. 'Uncle Remus' impresses with its uplifting piano and engaging solos, and 'Stink-Foot' rounds out the album with bluesy riffs and humorous lyrics. Apostrophe (') remains a seminal album that captures Zappa's eclectic genius and continues to impress new listeners with its inventive spirit.
Review: Critics talk of 'timelessness' like it's going out of fashion, but when it comes to Irish folk the word carries more clout. Lankum, a four piece contemporary outfit born from the ever-thriving Dublin scene and a duo project, Lynched (named after the band's two founding brothers, Ian and Daragh Lych), are a perfect example of what we're talking about. Live In Dublin is a great reference point to understand this. If ever there were sounds made to be experienced IRL then it might be the noises these multi-instrumentalists evidently love to make. Simultaneously capable of transporting us to peaty moorlands of the past, while hitting nail on head as to where we are today, and presenting bold visions of how sounds might develop tomorrow, from rousing crescendos to pin-drop-quiet, this is relentlessly captivating stuff.
Review: Renowned for his seminal work with acts such as The Moody Boys, 400 Blows, and The KLF, the incomparable Tony Thorpe compiles this astutely curated, meticulous collection of 16 rare and sought-after post-punk era cuts that the maestro would regularly spin at parties, making them his personal pile of niche gems. Featuring tracks from Public Image Ltd, Mark Stewart and The Maffia, Basement 5, 23 Skidoo, and African Headcharge, to name but a small handful, Post Punk Theory arrives spread out across 2xLP and includes a 40-page fanzine booklet written by Matt Annis with photographs by Simon Pyke and Ian Brodie. A unadulterated true post-punk time capsule for both lifers and studious newcomers alike.
Review: Not to be confused with Zoot Allures, the 22nd studio album by American rock enigma Frank Zappa - released in 1976 - but purposefully confusable with that record, Zoot Alloors is just one artefact from the artist's critically acclaimed and technically astounding broadcast from New York City in November 1981. Like everything else Zappa, this mini-LP is part of a wider universe he constructed for himself before inviting fans to exist in it with him, and his inimitable performances style is captured here beautifully. Even the recording does its best to suck us right in there and leave us to explore. Tracks aren't so much tracks, but jumping off points for intense rock & roll, jazz, blues, glam and psyche jam movements that are invigorating, captivating and disorientating. A true original.
Review: Martha Skye Murphy's debut album Um is a groundbreaking blend of baroque beauty and electronic noise, creating a tapestry of sound that is both organic and artificial, hi-fi and lo-fi. Collaborations with artists like Claire Rousay and Roy Montgomery add depth to the album, which is the result of rigorous studio sessions with producer Ethan P. Flynn. Murphy's lyrics are evocative, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources, from Ancient Roman torture to Fred and Ginger tap routines, creating a sense of longing and distant memory throughout the record. With its dreamy appeal and compelling vocal performances, Um is a stunning debut that displays Murphy's talent admirably.
Review: Yet another reissue to come out via David Tibet's current reissues occupation Cashen's Gap is the incredible eleventh Current 93 record Swastikas For Noddy. Playing up recurrent motifs of ruination and spoiling - always present in Tibet's music since early - every facet of this record seems to find an impertinent glee in juxtaposing the beautiful with the ominous, the dainty with the dearth. Perhaps it's a cursed record, as its intent spelt doom from the get-go: it first ran into copyright trouble after its title provoked the ire of writer Enid Blyton, who certainly did not appreciate the apparent Nazification of her beloved character. But over that hump came the real backstory: Tibet said, "I took a load of acid on the top of the house where Rose McDowall was living and I had a vision of Noddy crucified in the sky and it really impressed me...", which led to a crazed but short-lived Noddy consumer fanaticism on the artist's part. This record was of course born of that period of Noddy thrall; it nonetheless mystifies the gaudy children's character and toy's allure, couching it in bewitching pagan folk monodies and dastardly end-of-times industrial-hell crescendos. Perhaps when we forget Noddy, we forget the nation. Remastered by The Bricoleur at Bladud Flies!, and with the original artwork refreshed and reborn by Rob Hopeye, this 12" vinyl picture-disc comes in a full-colour die-cut sleeve, which is printed on both the outside and inside.
Review: Black Country, New Road marks a new chapter as a six piece with this new album of previously unreleased music. It was recorded by therm at the Bush Hall venue in London, a legendary place where they played six special shows at the end of last year. This follows a busy and sold out run of shows and the success of 'Ants From Up There' as Lewis Evans, May Kershaw, Georgia Ellery, Luke Mark, Tyler Hyde and Charlie Wayne find some of their highest nights. Critical and fan praise followed them everywhere last year and that will only continue with this, we sense.
Why Can't I Have What I Want Any Time That I Want (7:36)
Unforming (6:08)
Ebbing (11:23)
No More Of This (6:56)
Review: The Beggar is a mightily impressive 16th studio album from Swans. It is founding member Michael Gira who has written and produced it with some fine contributions from both current and past Swans members, plus members of Angels Of Light a guest spot from Ben Frost. This record emerged from the lockdowns of 2020 onwards and the sense of isolation that brought. The songs came easily, says Michael, once he came to terms with that and were informed by the fact that he worried these might be his last new writings. I they are, they are some of his best.
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