14 days

Review: There really is no-one like Mark E. Smith - eternal iconoclast, genius savant and relentless plougher of his own unique and demented furrow for forty odd years now, in which he's committed a frankly terrifying thirty-two albums to posterity. 'New Facts Emerge' is the latest transmission from his twisted and relentlessly perverse alternate universe, and it defies logic or reason to stand proud as one of his most gritty and vital works of the century so far. Gnarled and purgatorial, it sees Smith's voice at its most feral and aggressive against a barbaric backdrop of incisive riffage. The great man may increasingly physically resemble one of the Germans at the end of Raiders Of The Lost Ark, yet 'New Facts Emerge' is proof that you write this potent malcontent off at your peril.

Review: Re-issue of this underground classic for those that know! Originally released in 1983, Lifetones comprised of duo Charles Bullen and Julius Cornelius Samuel. Bullen was previously in short lived but seminal art rock outfit This Heat and drummer Samuel was also known in some circles as Dub Judah. Hailed by many as an influential and innovative project, the band fuses dub, krautrock, middle eastern and post punk aesthetics interestingly on this Zeitgeist/soundtrack for early 80's Thatcherite Britain and the struggles of youth in Brixton in the face of economic adversity.

Review: Back in 1979, Scottish group Skids released their seminal debut 'Scared To Dance', an equally abrasive but more intellectual continuation of punk, but also one of the albums that helped establish the UK's post-punk sound. Having not released a record in nearly 37 years, 'Burning Cities' marks their long-overdue return. Both the band and the album benefit greatly from Killing Joke bassist Youth's punchy production, which aids the group as they simultaneously explore contemporary rock and reprise some of their early-eighties sound. 'Burning Cities' is the comeback album that has propelled Skids right back into relevance, in a time when their high-energy anti-establishment songwriting will resonate more than ever.