Back catalogue:

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


In the early 1980s, Britain had a vibrant cassette culture that now gets spotlighted through a limited edition 12" featuring multi-instrumentalist Kez Stone's project, Imago. He was a notable name in Cornwall and the West Country's music scenes with previous projects, Artistic Control and Aaah! which have come back via reissues many times in the last ten years. Imago was a new one-ff project that first emerged with one track on the Perfect Motion compilation curated by NTS Radio's Bruno and Flo Dill and now the full LP, originally released in 1985 on the local label A Real Kavoom, has been remastered and added to with three additional gems. Stone's teenage punk influences sit next to Imago's eclectic approach to sound that blends new wave and psychedelic elements into something irresistible.

Review: In the early 1980s, Britain had a vibrant cassette culture that now gets spotlighted through a limited edition 12" featuring multi-instrumentalist Kez Stone's project, Imago. He was a notable name in Cornwall and the West Country's music scenes with previous projects, Artistic Control and Aaah! which have come back via reissues many times in the last ten years. Imago was a new one-ff project that first emerged with one track on the Perfect Motion compilation curated by NTS Radio's Bruno and Flo Dill and now the full LP, originally released in 1985 on the local label A Real Kavoom, has been remastered and added to with three additional gems. Stone's teenage punk influences sit next to Imago's eclectic approach to sound that blends new wave and psychedelic elements into something irresistible.

Review: Iggy Pop, the avant-garde icon and punk pioneer, in his element, delivering a blistering performance at the 2023 Montreux Jazz Festival. Backed by a seven-piece band, he breathes new fire into Stooges classics like 'TV Eye' and 'I Wanna Be Your Dog', igniting the crowd with his raw energy and undeniable stage presence. The setlist spans his illustrious career, from the visceral punk anthems 'Raw Power' and 'Search and Destroy' to the infectious grooves of 'The Passenger' and 'Lust For Life'. Pop also showcases material from his recent album, 'Every Loser', with tracks like 'Modern Day Ripoff' and 'Frenzy' seamlessly integrated into the set. This recording is a testament to Pop's enduring legacy and his ability to captivate audiences with his unique blend of punk rock and avant-garde theatricality.

Review: Iggy Pop's performance at the 2023 Montreux Jazz Festival is a thrilling showcase of both his legendary past and revitalised present. Marking his third appearance at the prestigious event, Iggy delivers a fiery set with a seven-piece band, reinvigorating Stooges classics like 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' and 'T.V. Eye', while captivating the crowd with solo anthems such as 'Lust for Life' and 'The Passenger'. The show also features new material from his recent album Every Loser, including 'Modern Day Ripoff' and 'Frenzy', proving his ongoing relevance in the rock scene. Recorded with pristine multi-track audio and complemented by stunning 4K visuals, the concert blends the raw energy of vintage Iggy with the vitality of his current creative resurgence. This live recording captures a moment of remarkable musical power, reaffirming Iggy Pop as one of the most dynamic and enduring figures in rock music.

Review: Recorded in 1975 after the disintegration of The Stooges and eventually released, albeit in altered form, in 1977, the album saw Iggy recording his vocal contributions at weekends, on leave from the mental institution at which he was recovering from heroin addiction. With the addition of pianos, acoustic guitars and saxophones to the musical palate it's a different beast from the raw power - and Raw Power - of the Stooges, a bridge between his garage rock roots and the classier pop offerings he'd soon become known for. A fascinating document, regardless, it's well worth a listen.

Review: Ten years after their brilliant sophomore LP Smoke + Mirrors, rock-radio-ready roilers Imagine Dragons (once celebrated as, among many, the biggest band in the world) mark the occasion with a fresh vault of 14 previously unreleased demos from the sequent album's recording sessions. While the original showed off the band's dynamic range, securing them many a number-one spot, this collection offers a raw glimpse into the creative process of the LV power-pop rovers. Much less polished than official chartists might expect, we still note of the band's seemly evolution out of an already rather anachronistic early-10s EDM-plated sound, primed for radi-a and stadia alike. Many of these songs were written for the road, so it's interesting to hear, and/or imagine, what might've been if the band had followed these songs to their glossiest conclusions at the time.

Review: There are some records you buy simply because you love the name. Or maybe that's just us? Either way, from where we're sticking stuff into the shopping cart, Index For Working Musik's second long form is one of those examples. Which Direction Goes The Beam more than lives up to the quality of the band name, and then goes and adds artwork which can only be described as 'stunning' into the mix. Angular, jerky, harsh, and artsy rock noises that run between the savage and distorted to the rousing and rollocking, the five piece should be ranking up there with the most innovative, imaginative and inimitable guitar outfits out there at the moment. Chamber-esque arrangements, strange murky mystery, and the overall feeling that we're in uncharted territories and nobody - but nobody - wants to find their way home

Review: Since forming more than ten years ago, Inhaler have exceeded all expectations and proven they're among the very best indie rock outfits touring today. They have shaken the nepo baby tag (singer Elijah Hewson is Bono's son) and earned fans' understanding that they're at the forefront of the industry on merit. They have a huge following in their hometown Dublin, where they are set to headline a 20,000 capacity show, and are filling out top venues all over the globe. With this ambitious new album, their live shows look certain to hit new heights. Single 'Your House' is a highlight as it channels the rabble-rousing atmosphere of DFA records legends LCD Soundsystem in the verses, meanwhile stunning gospel harmonies provide spine-tingling backing to Hewson's singing. It's their third album and, perhaps driven by the desire to push themselves, it shows the band run the gamut of pop whilst keeping their indie rock DNA firmly intact - a sparkling addition to the Inhaler oeuvre.

Review: The Innocence Mission's 13th studio album is a delicate masterpiece that blends poetic lyricism with sparse instrumentation, creating an ethereal, lo-fi atmosphere. Frontwoman Karen Peris's distinctive voice, imbued with emotional fragility, is the centerpiece, guiding listeners through songs of yearning, memory and subtle beauty. The band's gentle arrangementsiprimarily acoustic guitar, bass and occasional pianoiframe these contemplative tracks, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing, reminiscent of 1970s childhood sing-alongs. Themes of memory and loss run throughout, with lyrics that evoke vivid imagery and emotional depth. In one standout moment, everyday objects serve as gateways to memories of lost loved ones, while in another, the arrival of a beloved is compared to the blooming of snowdrops and magnolias. The album's mood is often wistful, with moments of joy and hope rising amid the melancholy. With its intimate, understated production, the record invites reflection, offering a soothing antidote to the chaos of the world. Subtle shifts in mood and instrumentation keep the album fresh and immersive, ensuring its place among the band's finest work, showcasing a deepened affection for their craft and a mastery of sensory storytelling.

Review: INXS have gone all in and hired the best in the business to provide a brand new stereo mix of their 1985 Listen Like Thieves album, namely Giles Martin and Paul Hicks, who have been remixing and remastering the Beatles back catalogue together. Ill content to let a better sounding album be enough of a package, the Australian 80s icons add previously unreleased sessions tracks, outtakes, demos and a live recording the BBC did at the Royal Albert Hall in 1986. Of the tunes on here, 'This Time' has a U2-esque stadium-filling atmosphere that is undeniably empowering. But it's also great hearing another, more stripped back side to the new wave icons and 'Kiss The Dirt' is a great place to start with this - you can hear a work in progress and let your imagination can fill in the gaps.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Records very slightly warped***


Kick, the sixth and best-selling 1987 studio album by Australian band INXS, solidified the band's place in music history with its unmistakable sound. This six x platinum-selling album features four U.S. Top 10 singles, including the chart-topping 'Need You Tonight.' Mastered by Ryan K. Smith from an EQ'd Dolby tape copy and pressed at Quality Record Pressings, this 180-gram 45 RPM double LP promises unparalleled sound quality. Pressing 'Kick' at 45 RPM across two LPs significantly enhances the album's audio fidelity. The 45 RPM format allows for wider grooves and more space for the stylus to track the record's intricate details, resulting in a richer, fuller sound. This format minimizes distortion and improves the high-frequency response, delivering clearer vocals, more defined instruments, and a dynamic range that closely replicates the original studio recordings. The result is a listening experience that reveals nuances and depth previously unheard on standard 33 1/3 RPM records.

Album highlights include 'New Sensation', with its infectious guitar riff and vibrant energy, this track is a quintessential INXS anthem that captures the band's blend of rock and dance elements. 'Never Tear Us Apart' is the albums main ballad, featuring Michael Hutchence's emotive vocals and the band's ability to craft songs with deep emotional resonance. The orchestral arrangement adds a layer of sophistication and timelessness. 'Devil Inside', driven by a pulsating bassline and Hutchence's sultry performance, this song epitomizes the band's fusion of rock and funk, creating an irresistibly dark and alluring atmosphere. The album's No. 1 hit, 'Need You Tonight,' features a memorable hook and a seductive rhythm that made it a staple of 1980s pop-rock. The album has plenty of lesser known songs to explore and enjoy as well like the vibrant and catchy 'Calling All Nations'. Produced by Chris Thomas, 'Kick' successfully fused the funk and soul influences of INXS's earlier work with mainstream rock appeal. This reissue by Analogue Productions, with its meticulous mastering and high-quality pressing, ensures that Kick can be experienced in all its glory. Whether revisiting this classic or discovering it for the first time, listeners will appreciate the enhanced audio fidelity and the timeless appeal of INXS's greatest album.

Review: Jason Isbell's tenth album is the first to hear the singer-songwriter without his 400 Unit band, and marks a return to the spotlight after a ten-year break, following 2015's Something More Than Free. Recorded over five days at Electric Lady Studios in New York, Isbell contrasts to the studio totalities of his earlier records here, this time playing all the songs on a single all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar. Evoking warm, diurnal drives across interstate roads, and carvings on oak tree trunks forsook by old times, Isbell's lyrics are real wrenchers, balancing fantasies of an outlawed life lived on the run, with those of a humbler pedigree.

Review: Since parting company with alt country/Southern rock combo Drive By Truckers in 2007, singer/songwriter Jason Isbell has built a successful career as a solo artist. While he initially explored a punky and bluesy sound, by 2015 he'd pivoted to a softer sound inspired by folk and Americana. Ten years on, following a period spent touring extensively, Isbell is finally ready to drop another solo album. Wonderfully stripped-back but no less evocative or lyrically rich than his earlier work, Foxes In The Snow comprises 11 songs in which Isbell accompanies himself on acoustic guitar. There's no hiding place with such a sparse sound, but Isbell genuinely nails it. In fact, it could be his strongest and most startling solo album to date.

Review: If you've managed to tune out of society's collapse and the reorganisation of global orders for a second this week, it might have become apparent that Jason Isbell has swept up countless Album of the Week column inches. It's not hard to hear why, either. Finally, then, something we can all agree on - Foxes In The Snow is a breathtaking slice of Americana, folk, country and unplugged rock that's very timely really. Proof, if it were needed, of the vulnerability, thoughtfulness and feelings that can define humans if they stop shouting and shooting each other. An all-acoustic recording, Isbell played a 1940 Martin 0-17 guitar and nothing else to make this record. As so many critics have pointed out, how exposed he is throughout is why this feels like an artist unleashing their true superpowers. It's raw, it's honest and there is absolutely nowhere to hide here. For anyone. Expect few dry eyes in any house when this plays out, then.