Such was the excitement surrounding Terry Hall’s return to The Specials for 2019’s Encore that they swiftly reconvened in early 2020 to begin a new album. This – for obvious…
Toyah – Posh Pop review
After years of copyright wrangling, the belated reissues of her early albums has finally allowed Toyah to be reassessed. So far, Sheep Farming In Barnet and The Blue Meaning have…
Live Review – Moseley Folk And Arts Festival
MOSELEY PARK, BIRMINGHAM, 3 SEPTEMBER 2021 “We’re not strictly folk!” bellows Miles Hunt during The Wonder Stuff’s Friday evening set at the Moseley Folk And Arts Festival. It’s a statement…
Review: How To Be A Rock Star by Shaun Ryder
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Few have lived the (literally) high life of rock stardom with more fervour than Shaun Ryder – tales of debauchery are as synonymous with the Happy…
New album review: Gizelle Smith – Revealing
Gizelle Smith Revealing Jalapeno Records 8/10 Gizelle Smith’s sonic palette is broadened for her third studio album – rock, pop and electronica influences are now woven into the mix alongside the…
Reissue review: The Selecter – Too Much Pressure
An overdue deluxe edition of the pioneering classic lineup’s sole album is a reminder there was more going on than just those iconic 2Tone singles Everyone knows On My Radio,…
Boxset review – EMF 30th Anniversary Boxset
Self-released through a Kickstarter campaign, EMF’s career-spanning £60 boxset puts many bigger-budget reissues to shame. It houses vinyl editions of all three albums, new rarities compilation Flipsides And Bona Fides…
Reissue review: Dire Straits: The Studio Albums 1978-1991
By their swansong On Every Street, Dire Straits were the punchline to jokes about yuppies and MTV, provoked by 1985’s Brothers In Arms, which went 14x platinum in Britain alone.…
Embrace announce vinyl reissues and one-off live show
Embrace are releasing Out Of Nothing and This New Day for the first time on 180g vinyl on 30 October via Craft Recordings. The long sought-after reissues were cut at…
Sunshine Walkers: The Best Of Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry
Album Review of Sunshine Walkers – The Best Of Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry K L Recording 7/10 Forming Katrina and the Waves after the first incarnation of The Soft…