Back catalogue: Rock

Review: From the grave, Prince is serving up a banger just in time for Christmas fun this year in the form of a one-sided 12" on Warner. It found him working with his trusty New Power Generation and features the 'damn near 10 min' mix of the song 'Gett Off' which is sure to fire up any dancefloor. It was originally a single - also served up as a one-sider - to promote Prince's new band with a cover that boldly declared that "Nothing can stop Prince and the New Power Generation" and was only issued on 1500 copies, so this is a great treat for fans to own all these years later.

Review: T Rex, and Mark Bolan, will forever be remembered as one of the all-time greatest British rock 'n' roll bands. Perhaps what's so remarkable is just how varied the outfit's output during their decade-long tenure as cult then chart-topping heroes, moving from the psychedelic folk movement into the heady world of glam rock as the 1960s drew to a close. Those who haven't explored their full back catalogue should do so as a matter of urgency. Tanx and Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow are two bonafide gems therein, both albums reflecting the broad influences that helped forge such a unique sound for the group. 'The Groover', and its B-side, 'Midnight', appeared on neither, released only as a standalone 1973 single, but have regularly been attached to special edition versions of those LPs. Now's the chance to own them in their original format.

Review: Their latest release in the Marc Bolan Songwriter series, following on from the success of Songwriter: 1970 and Songwriter: 1971, Demon Records are introducing Songwriter: 1973 to their catalogue. An intimate, vinyl-only look into the influential artist's prolific output, Songwriter: 1971 delves into a period of change during which Bolan was more active than ever, recording music incessantly in recording studios in both the US and Europe - an era in which the distinctive T Rex sound was becoming increasingly limiting for the artist. Over the course of this in depth sixteen-track compilation, featuring a fascinating selection of finished recordings and working versions, this next chapter charts Bolan's attempts to develop and ultimately move away from the sound he had invented for himself.

Review: The Marc Bolan 'Songwriter' series has proven hugely successful and after the focus was on 1972 last time out, this time we jump another year back to 1971. This vinyl-only and intimate release shines a light on the private life of Bolan and how that altered his approach to songwriting. It was in 1972 that his band T-REx became chart-topping superstars and across the 19 tunes here are long versions of tunes like 'Hot Love' and 'Get It On' as well as plenty of b-sides, working versions and demos and a nearly 15-minute long acoustic demo of 'Children of Rarn.'

Review: Tears For Fears might have been away for twenty years, but they have finally re-convened for a brand new album. And The Tipping Point sure is an ambitions one, but an accomplished one, that goes deep and offers up real emotional force akin to their famously introspective 1983 debut, The Hurting. With plenty of bold and powerful songwriting this is a record that will draw in your new fans and appease the diehards of old. Getting lost in this is almost like they were never away. Welcome back.

Review: Preceded by a single of the same name last year, The Tipping Point marks the return of one of the most inventive pop groups to ever do it. In the 1980s, Tears For Fears expanded the possibilities of what a commercial song could be with sophisticated songwriting, unabashed bombast, unexpected curveballs and jaw-dropping hooks. Given the influence they've had, they might not sound so revolutionary amongst the generations of pop acts who have followed their lead, but they return vital and full of purpose. Embracing new sonics but staying true to the songwriting as the central focus of the Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal's project, it's a triumphant return from a truly seminal group.

Review: English hard rock band Thunder dropped their third studio album Behind Closed Doors originally back in 1994. It climbed the charts and ended up at number five, reinforcing the band's status as one of Britain's best of that era. It spawned three Top 40 singles in the shape of 'Castles in the Sand,' 'Stand Up' and 'River of Pain' and featured writing contributions from none other than Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, who had previosuly produced the group. It's a seamless mix of classic and hard rock that gets reissued now in expanded form with extra tracks including 'In a Broken Dream' (Live at Club Citta Japan, 2000) and 'Til The River Runs Dry' (Live at Nottingham Rock City, 2005).

Review: Kazuki Tomokawa is one of the most enigmatic figures in Japan's modern musical history. Not only a poet and a singer, he's also a bicycle race commentator and a self-described vagabond, and in the 70s he set his poems to music as Japan enjoyed something of a folk music boom. It was 1975 when he recorded his first album, in particular teaming up with percussionist Toshiaki Ishizuka for a fruitful musical partnership. Blank Forms has been diligently reissuing much of Tomokawa's music, and now they're turning their attention to this deluxe three CD boxed set comprised of Finally, His First Album, Straight from the Throat, and A String of Paper Cranes Clenched between My Teeth.

Review: Japanese math rock band Tricot hailed from Kyoto and formed back in 2010. The trio featured vocalist and guitarist Ikumi "Ikkyu" Nakajima, guitarist Motoko "Motifour" Kida, and bassist Hiromi "Hirohiro" Sagane and they soon became synonymous with intricately constructed rhythms. They are prolific, too, having put out seven albums so far and A N D is their second from March 2015. It came on their own label Bakuretsu Records and now gets reissued on black and pink vinyl. Its meticulously and tightly woven grooves still stand up almost a decade on.

Review: Tina Turner remains one of pop music's most towering figures and Simply The Best is a timeless compilation that truly lives up to its name. Showcasing Turner's unparalleled talent and electrifying energy, each track on this album is a testament to her incredible vocal range and emotive delivery, from the soulful 'What's Love Got to Do With It' to the empowering 'Proud Mary.' As well as that there are heart-wrenching ballads and upbeat anthems, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy from all across the long and remarkable career of Turner. This new pressing comes on gatefold blue vinyl so is a real collector's item.

Review: It's only been three years since TV Priest formed in London, a city well-known the world over for nurturing incredibly forward thinking, groundbreaking acts. In many ways, TV Priest fit that model perfectly. Having played just one gig, they managed to get signed to the cult and rightly revered label, Sub Pop, and delivered their startling debut album, Uppers, in the height of Britain's Covid-19 nightmare, landing in February 2021.

Here we are, just over one year later and in a different world, albeit one that's arguably just as uncertain. Not least in music, with skyrocketing overheads, sluggish ticket sales, and competition in the form of other events including three years of delayed weddings and family reunions all conspiring to put the only real remaining income source for artists at risk. My Other People is a raucous and unapologetic album for our times, then, throwing guitar cacophonies, surreal theatrical moments, gritty chug, and hyper-emotional overtures into a rock 'n' roll powerhouse that feels at once dejected but determined.

Review: Jules Buckley can do absolutely no wrong in our eyes. The conductor responsible for leading the globally revered Heritage Orchestra has made a name for himself experimenting with the limits and limitless potential of classical music, taking influences from the world of dance and club tunes to open up orchestral performances to new demographics and generations.

He also has the honour of heading up the BBC Symphony Orchestra at select performances, another of the world's finest ensembles. This is just one recording from one of those shows, but clearly proves there's genius at work. The same could be said for Paul Weller, the iconic UK guitarist and singer who here invites said players to rethink tracks from his back catalogue for a staggering 75-minute set that elevates the rocker's oeuvre to greater heights than ever before.

Review: Where do you start with 'Wild' Billy Childish? A true enigma, and a figurehead of the eccentric, anti-establishment British arts scene known for advocating amateurism, non-conformity and free emotional expression through creativity since the 1970s, co-founder of the Stuckism figurative painting movement, concerned with supposed Remodernist ideals which push back against the post-modern, it's almost easy to forget about his recording career in and among the book publishing, exhibitions, poems and Super 8 movies.

Thankfully, then, we have The Fighting Tameraire in our new releases pile to remind us that he's fundamentally a deft hand at writing, arranging, singing and performing lo-fi semi-traditional garage folk stuff that has one foot in the English pubs of bygone ages and another in contemporary alternative rock. This collection is rousing, emotive, witty, and thoroughly human in a way that feels increasingly rare today.

Review: Recorded live at the Rainbow Theatre in London on November 5, 1973 as part of Young's tour with the Santa Monica Flyers, this key show in Young's career finally gets pressed to vinyl thanks to Warner. The band - comprised of Young on vocals and guitar, Nils Lofgren (lead and rhythm guitar, piano, accordion, vocals), Ben Keith (pedal steel guitar, vocals), Billy Talbot (bass, vocals) and Ralph Molina (drums, vocals) - performed a series of standout shows following the release of their seminal album Tonight's the Night. Featuring too many classics to count, including 'Helpless', 'Don't Be Denied' and 'Cowgirl In The Sand', this show is regularly celebrated for its "completely spontaneous and high-revved performance".