Pre-sale of the week is The Bride, the fourth album from Bat For Lashes, which follows the story of a woman whose fiancé has been killed in a crash on the way to the church for their wedding. Written as the soundtrack to an imaginary film, The Bride is Natasha Khan’s most ambitious work to date,…
First of the recommended releases for 18 March is Iggy Pop’s collaboration with Josh Homme, which stands proudly alongside anything either have done in the past. Underworld’s Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future has no right to be irresistible and relevant, but it is. Primal Scream’s Chaosmosis is hugely ambitious and well worth a…
The exclusive releases for this year’s Record Store Day, on 16 April 2016, have been announced! It’s an monster list once again, with more than 550 items exclusively available, a wealth for music lovers of all descriptions. These are strictly limited editions and will only be available in participating shops. If there is any particular release…
Leading off the new releases for 11 March is Pete Yorn, with some simply gorgeous songwriting, next up our in-store stars for 12 March at 1.30pm, Breabach, with their innovative and invigorating new album of modern folk, Astar. Emmy The Great’s third album is a beguiling mixture of old and new that will entrance you,…
First up for 4 March is a debut album by a band called Mexrissey, an album of Morrissey covers done with a full mariachi band, and it’s brilliant! Nada Surf’s first for 4 years captures the indie rockers at the height of their considerable powers. The Cat Empire have delivered a lovely, danceable jazzy album…
There are some great releases coming out on 26 February. First, Emitt Rhodes returns with his first album for 40 years, and its a triumph! Look him up if you’re not familiar with his story. Bonnie Raitt releases Dig In Deep, which is a gutsy blues-rock follow-up to her Grammy-winning Slipstream, noisy Australian hard rockers…
First up for 19 February are The Fall with their latest: if you haven’t heard them, do try it. Wolfmother return with their third hard-rocking album. On a completely different note the legendary Mavis Staples releases a fine album called Livin’ on a High Note. For those of you whose memory goes back to Transvision…
There are some unusual and fine releases for 12 February: Freakwater’s Scheherazade is neither folk, bluegrass or blues but somehow a mix of all three; Rokia Traoré’s beautiful Né So (‘Home’) is a great introduction to world music if you haven’t yet dipped your toe in that water; Fay Hield has produced a captivating, compelling…
5 February sees the return of the indefatigable Cult with their latest, Hidden City. Elton John provides us with his 33rd – yes that’s right, 33rd – studio album, Wonderful, Crazy, Night. James Hunter has conjured up a compelling slice of old-school R&B in Hold On, Field Music return with their fifth album, and their…
Pre-sale of the week is The Hope Six Demolition Project, which draws on several journeys undertaken by P J Harvey, who spent time in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Washington, DC over a four-year period. The album was recorded last year in residency at London’s Somerset House. The exhibition, entitled ‘Recording in Progress’, saw Harvey, her band,…