News
Track: On-U sound announces comprehensive New Age Steppers reissue campaign, stream the unreleased ‘Send for Me’
Out on 19th March 2021, On-U Sound are reissuing the four studio albums, plus another album of unreleased music from seminal group New Age Steppers, who were essentially a loose collective based around the partnership of Adrian Sherwood and The Slits’ Ari Up. The band existed, albeit on and off, between 1980 and 2012, bringing …
Bleach Lab announce EP for March – hear the blissful glide of ‘Old Ways’
FORMED up in the wooded hills of Buckinghamshire, since relocated south of the Thames, Bleach Lab have an appreciation of the good things; think the Cocteau Twins, think Mazzy Star, think glimmer and shimmer, languid vocals spreading loving and lovelorn vocals over guitar chime. All the good things. Despite 2020 sending a viral tornado through …
Track: The Electorate release the single ‘Skeleton’ from their impressive debut album ‘You Don’t Have Time to Stay Lost’
‘You Don’t Have Time to Stay Lost’ is the outstanding debut album from Sydney outfit The Electorate – appearing in my list of favourite antipodean albums for 2020. I described the album as perfectly capturing the ennui of modern middle-aged life and wrapping it into beautiful melodies and wistful observations that manage to express the …
News: The classic albums ‘Submarine Bells’ and ‘Soft Bomb’ by The Chills are now re-issued through Flying Nun Records
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the New Zealand indie music scene ever since the heady days of the eighties, with the Dunedin music scene, spearheaded by the legendary Flying Nun Records, the explosive ingredient. And, at the head of the vanguard was, of course, the delectable The Chills. Flying Nun Records have now …
SEE: Tape Runs Out – ‘Hospital’: sheer indiepop brilliance on Austerity
AUSTERITY RECORDS down in Brighton is one of those grassroots labels with a nose for coming excellence – doing, to paraphrase the Creation compilation – god’s work. And boy oh boy, have they ever hit the ground running in 2021 with recent signings, Tape Runs Out. Tape Runs Out are a seven-piece who formed in …
Say Psych: News: Stereolab announce Electrically Possessed [Switched On Volume 4]
Stereolab have announced the arrival of Electrically Possessed [Switched On Volume 4], the fourth addition to their Switched On series with single ‘Dimension M2’. This new volume will be released via Warp Records and Duophonic UHF Disks on 26 February. Following on from the first volume released in 1992, 1995’s Refried Ectoplasm, and 1998’s Aluminum Tunes, the long-awaited fourth installment spans 1999 – 2008 in …
TRACK: El Michels Affair to release new album of funk exotica; hear ‘Murkit Gem’, feat. Piya Malik
EL MICHELS AFFAIR are going all out with the most transporting global groove these days; witness the brilliance of “Dhuaan”, the Hindu funk exotica single drop from last summer, which seems to wizard into being the kind of 7″ you can only crate-dig in some 4am dream. Such a tune can’t really exist, right; can …
Track: Leave the Capitol from The Fall’s forthcoming live release
Mark E Smith may be gone, but his genius shines as bright as ever with the news of a new bootleg live recording called ‘Live at St.Helens Technical College, ‘81’ being released via Castle Point Records exclusively on vinyl (12” and a 7” in a gatefold jacket, including a digital download) on February 19th. Pre-order here Castle …
Track: The Ghost of Helags release dreamy, nostalgic synth pop track ‘Mary’ and announce debut album
Over the past year The Ghost of Helags have released a batch of gorgeous singles displaying an immaculate craft in melodic electronic pop infused with melancholia and elegant poise. They even took part in an exclusive Live in Session with Backseat Mafia (if you haven’t already – go and subscribe). It is excellent news then that their debut …
