Back catalogue: Rock (All)

Review: Two tracks from the Modfather's current 66 album get the remix treatment, with the A-side seeing Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip joining unlikely forces with Parisian DJ and producer Cedric Marszewski aka Pilooski for an overhaul of 'Flying Fish', before the flip hosts 'Flying Fish' Richie Stevens of virtual band Spacemonkeyz works his magic on 'Nothing'. Weller's remixes have been well chosen and generally top drawer ever since Brendan Lynch reworked 'Wild Wood' back in the mid 90s, a rich tradition that continues unabated here.

Review: If you've been keeping an eye on the COVID-19 musical landscape a few things will be clear by now - much is in pieces, and Working Men's Club's debut album, arguably this year's most anticipated, has been postponed until October. You might also have picked up on the fact they made this pandemic party megamix available to stream for free for one week over summer, meaning it's probably scored a few living room moments already.

The release is basically 21-minutes of seamlessly melded synthdom taken from a full record which, as yet, hasn't really been heard save for a few tasters. And the result is perhaps the best example of the intensity, energy and drive that defines every one of the band's fabled live performances. Synth-punk-elec-indie packing huge sounds, finely tuned details and an overall forward atmosphere.

Review: Side-1 kicks off with a raw and funky garage band jam that perfectly captures the spirit of 1967. With its dynamic energy, the track blends elements of jazz, rock, funk and blues, creating an exciting, soul-infused experience. The rhythm section drives the track with relentless energy, while the soulful melodies and infectious groove make it a standout piece. The mix of surf rock and mod influences gives it a timeless, gritty edge that resonates with both vintage and modern listeners. Side-2 takes a more experimental turn with a unique jam laden with saxophone and rich instrumental textures. The track's experimental nature is underscored by its unconventional structure, utilizing the harpsichord to create a distinctive, jazzy vibe. The saxophone adds a layer of depth, intertwining with the rhythm to produce a mood that's both introspective and lively. This track offers a refreshing, avant-garde twist that contrasts beautifully with the raw energy of the opening side.

Review: 'A Shared Sense Of Purpose' is a fittingly collectively-minded name for a new Gordon Chapman-Fox aka. Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan release. The first glimpse of his latest full-length LP, Your Community Hub, this first sampler hears the artist continue to develop his totally singular vision in eerie modernist electronica, deploying lilty arpeggiations and contradictorily Utopian, yet at the same time, sinister, melodies and ambiences; all with a view to producing an uncanny deja entendu. These are deployed to mourn the slow, increasing privatisation of Chapman-Fox's native Warrington-Runcorn, specifically its singular bespoke town centre - its walkways, its local postal system, its gridded shop lots - which were all designed to make it a five-minute city, long before the concept of fifteen-minute cities had entered town planning discourse. Though, perhaps this lament masks a more sinister sense of enjoyment, as there is indeed a perverse sort of pleasure that arises in the bittersweetly uncanny perfumes that waft from this latest haunted mood piece. Perhaps just like the experience of revisiting Warrington-Runcorn after having known it in childhood, we hear both sadness and euphoria, at the same time, in the face of its ostensible loss.

Review: PM Warson's latest album, A Little More Time via Legere Recordings, builds on his reputation as a standout in modern r&b. It is his third album and one that broadens his 60s-inspired vision. While not a complete departure from his r&b roots, it ventures into a range of styles and moods with a vintage sonic palette that will capture the hearts and minds of series soul heads. Recorded at London's famous analogue studio Lightship 95, A Little More Time features 10 original tracks that blend live performance energy with refined songwriting and production and the title track, which was also the lead single, exemplifies the album's blend of vintage pop and soul.

Review: British alternative indie band The Wedding Present's third studio was recorded in just 10 days in America. Steve Albini was the producer which means the music has a more raw and rough edge that the first two albums. It is often placed highly in all time top albums lists by noteworthy outlets like The Guardian and this double 12" package takes in the full original album as well as three EPs - 3 Songs, Dalliance, and Lovenest, and a John Peel BBC Radio 1 Session from 1991 that saw the band play versions of four different tracks from the album.

Review: Weezer's Blue Album is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special edition vinyl release, newly remastered from the original analog tapes and pressed on blue and clear vinyl. Widely considered one of the most iconic debut albums of all time, the 1994 release pushed alternative rock in a new direction with its blend of humor, introspection, and anthemic hooks. Rivers Cuomo's songwriting crafted a unique voice, with geeky, ironic narratives juxtaposed against a backdrop of roaring guitars and power-pop melodies. At a time when the alt-rock world was dominated by angst-filled acts like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Green Day, Weezer stood out with their self-deprecating lyrics and complex emotional themes. Songs like 'No One Else' and 'The World Has Turned and Left Me Here' explored fragile masculinity with both humor and vulnerability. Meanwhile, tracks like 'In the Garage' and 'Surf Wax America' embraced geek culture and fantasies, cementing Cuomo's place as an unconventional frontman. The record also introduced the band's signature soundia hybrid of power-pop, punk, and 70s rock influences. Hit tracks like 'Buddy Holly', with its irresistible chorus, and 'Say It Ain't So', an emotionally raw reflection on family trauma, showced Cuomo's talent for writing anthems that were both personal and relatable. The climactic 'Only in Dreams' closed the album with a sprawling, eight-minute masterpiece, further solidifying Weezer's lasting impact on 90s rock. While initially dismissed by some critics, The Blue Album gained recognition for its mix of heartfelt songwriting and ironic detachment, earning a double-platinum status and becoming a blueprint for later generations of indie and alternative acts.

Review: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' latest album Woodland is a beacon to their enduring partnership and unwavering consistency. Named after their long-standing studio, which survived two tornadoes, the album reflects the duo's resilience and creativity. With a mix of lush yet sparse arrangements, the ten tracks are beautifully recorded by Rawlings, emphasising vocals and guitar. The songwriting is at its peak, with lyrics that resonate deeply, evoking a sense of both melancholy and warmth. Highlights include 'What We Had' and 'Lawman,' where their harmonies are so tight, they sound like siblings. Woodland is a meticulously crafted album that rewards careful listening with Welch and Rawlings at their best.

Review: This much sought-after treasure was originally a private press release back in 1981 but it has been remastered as a special drop for Record Store Day 2024. It is a sublime album of blue-eyed soul with overtones of country and Americana that make it all the more evocative and escapist. The songwriting is reflective, the musicianship is tight, the melodies impressive and the vocals effortlessly captivating. The NuNorthern Soul label has been serving up these sorts of nuggets and obscurities for over a decade now but this is right up there with the best of them.

Review: Like a slightly in-tune Nico from her collab with The Velvet Underground, Natalie Mering's vocals have a unique quality to them that shouldn't go unheard. There's an undeniable country music beauty to the notes and instrumentation in both tracks "A Lot's Gonna Change" and "Andromeda", with Mering hitting those high notes more like Father John Misty and Roy Orbison than Dolly Parton. It's here that it becomes obvious why she is such a trusted collaborator with Ariel Pink. Her album as Weyes Blood, "Titanic Rising", dips and dives through a sequence of emotions that from the halfway point soars like a bird in "Everyday" and the Enya-like "Movies" before making its own crescendo down again on "Picture Me Better" and "Nearer to Thee", closing the album with nostalgia-inducing tales.

Review: Natalie Mering's Weyes Blood project is 12 years deep now, and she follows up on 2019's Titanic Rising with this, her fourth studio album. Her sound evolves in kind over this time from the DIY roots of her appearances on Not Not Fun et al, and now she strikes the figure of an eternal songstress joining the dots from classic 70s composition and production through to the aching, head-fogged reflection of the modern condition. Lead single 'It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody' nails the mood of malaise, but the beauty of her songwriting leads and saves us from slipping into despair. Why not commit to the concept and cop this, the limited Loser Edition of And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow.

Review: RECOMMENDED
Let's face it, White Blood Cells is the moment when The White Stripes really broke the mould. It's a continuation of Jack and Meg's garage rock aesthetic as fine-tuned over two previous albums, and wholeheartedly a straight up rock 'n' roll album. But the elements are so perfectly primed it's impossible not to rank this as one of the greatest long form outings of this century, so far. And we're not alone - Rolling Stone even reckons it's among the best LPs of all time. Pity the fool who disagrees.

From the racing 'Fell in Love With A Girl', to the beguiling mystery of 'The Union Forever', 'I Think I Smell A Rat''s meld of mariachi riffs and mosh stomp and the emotional piano closer 'This Protector', to the innocent acoustic joy of 'We're Going To Be Friends', this is a masterclass of songwriting and arrangement, tracks that evolve, perplex, surprise, and - most importantly - entertain.

Review: RECOMMENDED
It almost (almost) pains us to recommend this one - The White Stripes aren't really a band that should be releasing Greatest Hits albums. We'd much rather them give us a surprise record of typically groundbreaking, brand new theatric and infectious blues-tinged rock 'n' roll. But we are where we are, and after more than a decade without much activity from the siblings beggars can't be choosers.

One of our objections is exactly how you choose what to include on an LP like this. What defines a 'hit' from an outfit that are renowned for packing albums with nothing but stone cold gems, even if they failed to make it onto radio playlists or single format. In this case, though, the challenge has been met - with chart topping fare like Seven Nation Army notably absent, while more wildcard tracks such as 'I Think I Smell A Rat' and 'Dead Leaves On the Dirty Ground' given their deserving dues.

Review: Limited to just 2000 copies, Jack White's newest solo album 'Fear Of The Dawn' comes in a distinctive blue and white sleeve, making this move away from the White Stripes' native red and white colouration clear. Prefaced by the buzzing lead single 'Taking Me Back', we're stoked for the promised energy of this LP, which is the first of two albums slated to hit the shelves in 2022. This LP comes in either single black, 'astro' blue, or 'glow' white versions, as well as CD for the digi-heads.

Review: Jack White has firmly established himself as many things-rock renaissance man and paragon of analogue recording amongst them, but strangest of all in the evolution of this mercurial figure is the way he's consistently challenged himself, and essentially only made wayward and compromising records as his twisted path has continued. Case in point is Lazaretto; perhaps his most eclectic and eccentric work to date, yet also his most focused, personal and euphoric in tone. A glorious trawl through a plethora of styles and moods and replacing the riff-worship of The White Stripes with enough freakish ideas to fill five albums this is proof positive that Jack White's muse is at its most potent when at its wildest.

Review: Jack White's sixth solo album, No Name, arrives as a delightful surprise, offering a raw and invigorating return to his roots. Released with minimal fanfare and initially devoid of track titles, this album shows off White's playful and enigmatic nature. Fans of all stripes will find something to love here: diehard collectors get a rare gem for their collections, while those simply drawn to White's music can dive into 13 new tracks, now officially titled and available on vinyl. Produced at Third Man Records Studios in Nashville, No Name strips away the grandiosity of White's recent experiments, embracing a raw, unpolished sound that harks back to his White Stripes days. The album's blues-infused rock, with its razor-sharp riffs and primal drumming, feels more alive and immediate than his recent work. Songs like 'Bless Yourself' channel the heavy, bruising power of early Shellac and Led Zeppelin, while 'Terminal Archenemy Endling' blends heavy rock with spiritual uplift. White's lyrics are sharp and biting, delivering both humor and intensity. Tracks like 'Archbishop Harold Holmes' and 'What's the Rumpus?' showcase his ability to balance the sublime and the ridiculous, with catchy hooks and incisive commentary. Leaner and more focused than he's been in years, No Name is a thrilling reminder of White's genius and overall, an enjoyable rock album to listen to.

Review: Windy & Carl's album Consciousness encapsulates the duo's exploration of ambient and drone music with a warmer, more pastoral feel compared to their previous works. Absent are the vague dread and claustrophobia, replaced by buoyant soundscapes that evoke sense of tranquility. The song titles themselves, such as 'The Sun' and 'Elevation,' reinforce this lighter tone. 'The Sun' opens the album with simple yet direct electric guitar chords, setting the stage for the serene journey ahead. Even tracks like 'Balance (Trembling)' touch on darker shadings but quickly transition to glowing, comforting tones. Tracks like 'Elevation' and 'The Llama's Dream' contribute to the dream-like atmosphere of the album, with shimmering tones and ethereal vocals adding to its hallucinatory quality. 'Resolution' concludes the album with a final, contemplative note. Consciousness shows Windy & Carl's dedication to perfecting the drone. While there may not be a major departure in style, the album is commitment to crafting immersive sonic experiences. For fans of ambient and drone music, Consciousness is another great album to have and enjoy.

Review: One of history's prominent art punk, post punk, experimental and alternative rock groups, at least one Wire record should sit on everyone's shelf, their richly detailed and deeply atmospheric sound helping lay foundations not just for all the outfits that have picked up the mantel and took the aforementioned styles forward, but also genres such as noise and drone. There really is just so much going on in the often chaotic crescendos and pared back moments alike.

As the title suggests, Not About To Die takes early studio demos from the crew and also correctly makes it clear that, when all these were recorded, the troupe still had decades of creative output ahead of them and weren't going anywhere. That said, by the end of the decade they would disband, before regrouping again, disbanding again, and regrouping. Those details aside, dive in and soak up the unbridled and unapologetic raw creativity at play here.

Review: This timely reissue of Zamrock's Afro-prog-psychedelic masterpiece makes its debut on vibrant yellow vinyl. WITCH was a group influenced by James Brown, the Stones, and Deep Purple and they dominated 70s Zamrock stages in their heyday. Their musical journey spanned only five years and culminated in the fifth and final rock album, which predated a split and a new disco venture in Zimbabwe. The record fuses traditional Zambian rhythms and folk melodies with progressive rock and, somewhat echoing Lukombo Vibes, it embodies the Osibas' "afro-rock" style. This release encapsulates WITCH's evolution and influence and gives a vivid glimpse into the era's musical fusion and cultural resonance.

Review: Zamrock, anyone? Often stylised as W.I.T.C.H, WITCH were one of the leading musical lights of post-colonial Zambia, a band that rose to prominence during the early-1970s, a particularly fertile period in the East African nation during which hopes for the future were incredibly bright. Independence leading to the blossoming of homespun ideas, culture, art and creativity. The story takes a tragic turn as the decade reached its final years, the economy collapsing and policymakers turning increasingly authoritarian. Like many in the 'scene', WITCH would fade, almost into obscurity, although the psychedelic rock-hued legacy they left survived, and then experienced a resurgence from 2012, when they reformed amid renewed interest. Kuomboka represents the group at the height of their fame, an album that still sounds packed with optimism, despite insidious changes in the air when it landed in 1976.

Review: The name Wolf Alice is derived from a story by Angela Carter, and appropriately enough this savage and infectious debut does have more than a little of the fairytale gone macabre about it. The band's indie-rock sound veers in a myraid other stylistic diversions, taking in delicate folk-pop, kraut-tinged groove and My Bloody Valentine guitar scree whilst Ellie Roswell's charismatic whisper-to-scream presence remains fervent and compelling at the mic. Moreover, these songs not only have claws but know how to use 'em, rendering 'My Love Is Cool' more than a mere zesty reinvention of grunge yore, but somewhat akin to the sound of a major new talent taking their first blood.