Suki Benjamin

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Pussy Riot announce ‘MATRIARCHY NOW’ mixtape featuring iLoveMakkonen, Tove Lo, Big Freedia and more

Pussy Riot have announced their debut mixtape ‘MATRIARCHY NOW’ and shared new song ‘PLASTIC’ with iLoveMakkonen. READ MORE: From the archives – Who are Pussy Riot? A guide to the Russian activist group who crashed the World Cup Final ‘MATRIARCHY NOW’ is released on August 5 via Neon Gold Records and arrives shortly before the 10th anniversary of their August 17, 2012 conviction of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”, for which some members of the Russian feminist collective spent two years in jail for protesting against President Vladimir Putin. Ahead of the mixtape’s release, the collective have today (July 8) shared ‘PLASTIC’ – one of seven tracks on the tape – featuring US rapper iLoveMakkonen. An accompanying music video directed by Haley Bowman has also been released. Advertisement ‘MATRIARCHY NOW’ has guest spots from Tove Lo (who executive produced the project), Big Freedia, Salem Ilese, Kito, Hudson Mohawke, Slayyyter, Phoebe Ryan and others. ‘PLASTIC’ and the mixtape follow Pussy Riot’s latest political action last June in which they hung a 4ft “MATRIARCHY NOW” banner from the third floor of the Texas State Capitol to protest the national attack on reproductive rights. ‘MATRIARCHY NOW’ cover art. CREDIT: Ksti Hu ‘MATRIARCHY NOW’… Read More →

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Chvrches considering full album shows to celebrate 10 years together

Chvrches have said that they have ideas about marking their decade as a band as well as how to celebrate 10 years of their 2013 debut, ‘The Bones Of What You Believe‘. READ MORE: Chvrches at Mad Cool 2022 on karaoke bangers, Robert Smith and a decade together The Scottish trio were speaking to NME backstage at this year’s Mad Cool in Madrid, Spain. Chvrches played the first day of the festival yesterday (July 7) and in the NME video interview talked about their anniversary, working with The Cure‘s Robert Smith and more. When asked if fans can expect more music from the band soon following the release of their fourth record, ‘Screen Violence‘, last August, lead singer Lauren Mayberry said: “Not at present! We’re touring a bunch and doing mostly that for the rest of the year, and then who knows? I think we’ll figure that out as we get to it. Advertisement “It’s weird, I thought you were going to say ‘10 years’ because everyone keeps talking about how it’s 10 years since the band started and next year will be 10 years since the first record, which feels kind of mental. It’s a nice time to take… Read More →

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The HU share details of new album ‘Rumble Of Thunder’

The Hu have today unveiled details of their second album ‘Rumble Of Thunder’. READ MORE: Mongolian metallers The Hu: ‘We want to become one of the legendary bands’ The Mongolian rock band have also previewed the album’s release with new single, ‘Black Thunder’, which you can check out below. The band’s 12-track second studio album is set for release on September 2 and includes ‘This Is Mongol,’ their last single released in May as well as new single ‘Black Thunder’. Pre-order the album here. Advertisement The song is said to “incorporate Mongolian values, telling a powerful story of battle, faith, and death lyrically and visually”. Watch the song’s video below: Speaking about the new single, vocalist Gala shared, “’Black Thunder’ is the crown jewel of our second album. The music video is split into two parts and conveys the core values of men through visuals. “Our producer Dashka chose a unique location in Mongolia to shoot the video, where we had a great time riding the horses in the vast grassland of our countryside. We hope that our pride in our culture shines through, as we aimed to bring viewers joy and a piece of our culture through this video.”… Read More →

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Fiona Apple appears on new Watkins Family Hour song ‘(Remember Me) I’m The One Who Loves You’

Fiona Apple appears on Watkins Family Hour’s new song, a cover of the country classic ‘(Remember Me) I’m The One Who Loves You’. READ MORE: Fiona Apple – ‘Fetch The Bolt Cutters’ review: an intoxicating and excoriating listen that will cut deep The song, which was written by Stuart Hamblin and became a hit for Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb and Dean Martin, is listed on the band’s third album, ‘Vol. II’, out on August 19. As Consequence Of Sound reports, the cover was created during a Watkins Family Hour tour in 2015. That same year Apple had collaborated with the group on ‘Where I Oughta Be’, a Harlan Howard song made famous by Skeeter Davis. Advertisement ‘Vol. II’ is the follow-up to Watkins Family Hour’s second album, 2020’s ‘Brother Sister’. They released their self-titled debut album which was comprised only of covers in 2015. Watkins Family Hour is bluegrass musical collaborative led by siblings Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins who used to play in the Americana band, Nickel Creek. They formed the group in the early ’00s, hosting an informal musical show with friends at LA nightclub Largo. ‘Vol. II’ features guest appearances from Jackson Browne, Jon Brion, Madison Cunningham,… Read More →

Neil Young with Crazy Horse – Toast

In 2000, Neil Young and Crazy Horse took up residence at Toast – a recording studio on San Francisco’s Mission Street. Awaiting overdue renovation, the district itself was in poor condition. The back door at Toast opened onto a view of derelict buildings; aside from a doughnut shop on the corner, their only neighbours were rats and the squatters. Inside Toast, the vibe was undetermined. As Young wrote in his memoir Special Deluxe, there were “some serious problems with my marriage” (to his then-wife Pegi). ORDER NOW: The Beatles are on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut Instead of arriving at the sessions as usual with a handful of songs ready to go, Young apparently spent much of his time at Toast sitting on the studio floor, scribbling onto yellow pads, while the Horse watched TV and struggled to comprehend Toast’s lack of essential kitchenware. “Everything seemed temporary, even Crazy Horse,” Young wrote in Special Deluxe. “Although we had some great moments [in the studio] and the music was soulful, it wasn’t happy or settled.” Taking a break, the band headed to South America for shows in Brazil and Argentina before returning to San Francisco, reinvigorated. This renewed spirit… Read More →

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Bob Dylan’s ‘Ionic Original’ re-recording of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind” sells for £1.48million

A one-of-a-kind re-recording of Bob Dylan singing his 1963 classic ‘Blowin’ In The Wind‘ has sold at auction for £1.48million ($1.78million). READ MORE: Bob Dylan – ‘Rough And Rowdy Ways’ review: arguably his grandest poetic statement yet The re-recording, which sits on a one-of-one Ionic Original format disc, has marked the first time in 60 years that Dylan has re-recorded the song that was written in 1962 and released as part of the 1963 album ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’. Today’s (July 7) live bidding at Christie’s in London topped out at £1.2million, reports Variety, but an official release sent out by the auction house cited the higher price including commissions. Advertisement The price was well over the estimate the auction house had posted for the recording, which was in the range of £600,000 ($716,000) to £1million pounds ($1.19million). Bob Dylan – Credit: Harry Scott/Redferns First announced in April by producer T Bone Burnett, the Ionic Original format used for the re-recorded Dylan track is “lacquer painted onto an aluminum disc, with a spiral etched into it by music. This painting, however, has the additional quality of containing that music, which can be heard by putting a stylus into the spiral and… Read More →

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Japanese Breakfast reveals she sang on “fave band” The 1975’s new song ‘Part Of The Band’

Japanese Breakfast has told fans that she contributed vocals to her “fave band” The 1975‘s new song ‘Part Of The Band‘. READ MORE: Japanese Breakfast – “This year is about enjoying myself – my number one job is to have fun” The singer-songwriter, real name Michelle Zauner, wrote online that she “got to sing a little on this for my fave band” when linking to the video premiere of the band’s comeback single, which was released today (July 7). ‘Part Of The Band’ is the first taste of The 1975’s fifth album, ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language‘, which was announced at the end of last month along with the tracklist. Advertisement Other known collaborators on the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’ include in-demand producer Jack Antonoff, who co-produced ‘Part Of The Band’. The 1975’s new album has been the subject of speculation for some time, with Healy poking fun at the prospect of “making another ‘classic record’” back in August 2021. The band will make their live return in August, playing two gigs as part of Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival. The gigs will mark the band’s first live shows since they performed in Dublin in March 2020. No… Read More →

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Julien Baker shares emotive new single ‘Guthrie’ and announces ‘B-Sides’ EP

Julien Baker has announced a three-track EP of outtakes from her recent third album, ‘Little Oblivion’, alongside the release of an emotive new single titled ‘Guthrie’. READ MORE: Julien Baker live in Nashville: a fierce, cathartic full-band rebirth The EP, titled ‘B-Sides’, will arrive on July 21 via Matador (pre-save it here), coinciding with the first date of her joint US tour with Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten. The record features three songs that were recorded during the studio sessions for ‘Little Oblivions’ but didn’t make the cut for the album’s final tracklist. Despite not suiting the album, though, Baker said on Instagram that she “really like[s ‘Guthrie’] in its own right”. Advertisement Listen to ‘Guthrie’ below, then check out the cover art and tracklist for the ‘B-Sides’ EP: ‘B-Sides’ EP tracklist: 01. ‘Guthrie’ 02. ‘Vanishing Point’ 03. ‘Mental Math’ ‘Little Oblivions’ was released last February and earned a four-star review from NME. Advertisement In the year-and-a-half since then Baker has shared collaborations with the likes of Fucked Up and The Ophelias, and contributed to a compilation album to raise money for the National Network of Abortion Funds. She’s also released a ‘Little Oblivions’ remix EP, covered a Smashing… Read More →

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Doja Cat asked Noah Schnapp for ‘Stranger Things’ co-star Joseph Quinn’s details

Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has revealed that he was asked by Doja Cat to send her details of his co-star Joseph Quinn. In a video posted on TikTok, Schnapp, who plays Will Byers in the Netflix series, shared an exchange between him and the singer where she asked him to tell Quinn to “hmu [hit me up]”. READ MORE: Here’s what we know about ‘Stranger Things’ season five The video opens with a screenshot of a fan who tweeted a photograph of Quinn, who plays Eddie Munson in Stranger Things, writing: “Doja look how fine Joseph Quinn is.” Advertisement In response, Doja wrote: “It’s fucking criminal.” joseph quinn fine as shit — cum (@DojaCat) May 30, 2022 Schnapp’s video then shows a screenshot of his messages with Doja, where the singer wrote: “Noah can you tell Joseph to hmu? Wait no. Does he have a girlfriend?” After Schnapp encouraged her to “slide into his DMs”, Doja replied: “I don’t know his Instagram or his Twitter. He doesn’t have a DM to slide in.” Schnapp then sent over Quinn’s Instagram profile, writing: “Right here ma’am.” @noahschnapp #stitch with @taradanto thirsty doja ♬ original sound – Noah Schnapp Advertisement Quinn has ballooned… Read More →

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aespa reveal ‘Girls’ was supposed to be released a lot earlier

aespa have revealed that their forthcoming sophomore mini-album ‘Girls’ was initially slated for release a lot earlier. READ MORE: aespa reflect on their “unreal” 2021: “It takes a little time for everything to start kicking in” The K-pop quartet recently sat with Audacy for an interview as part of the entertainment platform’s video series Audacy Check In, where they spoke about ‘Girls’ ahead of its release tomorrow (July 8). When asked about the preparation process for the album, member Giselle revealed that ‘Girls” release had actually been pushed back from its original date to make way for more refinements to be made to its songs. “It was released a lot later than what was expected,” she shared. “‘Girls’ was actually supposed to be released in around, like, March or April.” Advertisement Due to the extra time aespa had to work on the mini-album, Giselle said that the group had the chance to “experience the process of making it better, and clean[ing] and cutting the result”. “Recording the other songs and trying to express more of our vibe and stuff, I think we put a lot more effort into doing that since we had a little bit more time than what was expected,” Giselle concluded…. Read More →

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Post Malone to perform ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ in virtual reality concert

Post Malone is set to showcase his new album in a virtual reality concert for Meta. The 40-minute concert film, Twelve Carat Toothache: A VR Experience, will premiere in Venues within Horizon Worlds, a free online virtual reality app accessible via Meta Quest headsets. The show will also be aired via Malone’s Facebook and Instagram. READ MORE: Post Malone – ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ review: his sobering comedown Speaking to Billboard, the ‘Rockstar’ singer said: “What really appealed to me was Meta being a great partner and allowing us to go absolutely nuts to create some of the most epic shit ever. It’s just a really cool, really different way to experience the album.” Advertisement Special guest appearances will include The Kid LAROI, Fleet Foxes, and Roddy Ricch, performing on their respective collaborations from the album. Malone added that he also “got to light some things on fire too” for the VR show. “Opening and listening to a new album had always been an experience for me,” Posty explained, “and now with VR and what Meta is doing, it’s taking the meaning of an album experience to another level.” Twelve Carat Toothache: A VR Experience will premiere on July 15, after which… Read More →

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Noah Cyrus reflects on recovery from Xanax addiction

Noah Cyrus has discussed her recovery from a Xanax addiction and how she used music to get through her struggles. READ MORE: Noah Cyrus: “I can’t believe I put out my first song when I was 16 – what was I thinking?” In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the singer opened up about her addiction to the drug, which is often prescribed for anxiety and panic attacks, and where it all began. “My boyfriend at the time, when I was 18, was the first person that gave me a Xanax, and it became a way for us to bond,” she said. “I think I wanted to fit in with him. I wanted to be what he wanted and what he thought was cool and what I thought everybody was doing … Once I felt that it was possible to silence things out for a second and numb your pain, it was over.” Advertisement Cyrus has been in recovery since 2020 but noted that at the height of her addiction, she was “surrounded by people who were easily able to get it by buying it from people,” adding that it “becomes this dark pit, bottomless pit”. On her recovery, the singer… Read More →

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Day6’s Young K unveils stripped-down cover of Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’

Day6 vocalist Young K has shared a stunning rendition of Oasis’ 1996 single ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’. READ MORE: Nayeon – ‘IM NAYEON’ review: TWICE’s oldest member steps into the solo spotlight Filmed in a garden, the video features Young K performing a stripped-down version of the song while accompanied by a guitarist. “And so, Sally can wait / She knows it’s too late as we’re walking on by / Her soul slides away / But don’t look back in anger, I heard you say,” he sings in the chorus. Young K’s rendition of ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ is the latest in a string of monthly covers released by the K-pop idol, who is currently inactive from the boyband as he serves his mandatory military service. His last cover had been a performance of Corrine Bailey Rae’s 2005 single ‘Like A Star’, which he unveiled in June. Advertisement Last September, Young K released his debut solo mini-album ‘Eternal’ a month prior to his enlistment in October. The record included seven songs written and composed by the musician, and was led by the single ‘Guard You’. In a four-star review of the album, NME’s Sofiana Ramli praised its… Read More →

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Self Esteem announces as final headliner of Rockaway Beach 2023

Self Esteem has been announced as the third and final headliner of the 2023 edition of Rockaway Beach Festival. READ MORE: Dressed as Meadowhall, Self Esteem’s Glastonbury performance was iconic – here’s why The festival will return to Bognor Regis in the first week of January next year, with headline sets already confirmed from Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) and Peter Hook + The Light. Others on the line-up for the Butlins festival, which will run from January 6-8, 2023, are The Futureheads, Big Joanie, The Anchoress, Billy Nomates, Panic Shack, SCALPING and Sinead O’Brien. Advertisement See the full line-up for Rockaway Beach 2023, featuring new headliner Self Esteem, below. ? We're pleased as punch to reveal this next batch of new additions to our #RB23 line up. Our third official headliner, the exquisite @SELFESTEEM___ who will make her return to Rockaway following her spellbinding REDs performance back in 2020. Tickets: https://t.co/RHxFpEZVQ7 pic.twitter.com/v5nnLaizdI — Rockaway Beach (@rockaway_fest) June 29, 2022 After the Rockaway Beach set, Self Esteem will play her biggest headline shows to date later this year as part of a 2023 UK tour. Taylor will take Self Esteem’s acclaimed recent album ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ back on the road, with a recently… Read More →

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Olivia Rodrigo covers Natalie Imbruglia at surprise intimate Manchester performance

Olivia Rodrigo made a surprise intimate performance in Manchester last night (July 3) following her huge gig in the city – see footage below. The star was playing a show at the Apollo in the city last night as part of her UK/European tour behind debut album ‘Sour’, and after the show she headed to the tiny Bunny Jackson’s bar for a special performance. Between scheduled performances at the bar, Rodrigo reportedly asked those playing the gig if she and her band could play a song herself. Advertisement She then proceeded to head through a rendition of Natalie Imbruglia’s 1997 hit ‘Torn’. One Twitter user who was playing Bunny Jackson’s last night shared footage on Twitter of Rodrigo’s performance, writing: “Why yes Olivia Rodrigo, of course you can turn up at Bunny Jacksons on a bloody Sunday evening and play a song for a laugh before our 3rd set.” See footage below. Why yes Olivia Rodrigo, of course you can turn up at Bunny Jacksons on a bloody Sunday evening and play a song for a laugh before our 3rd set. pic.twitter.com/mpMbpkRlLq — OJB (@Oliver_james) July 4, 2022 THIS IS SO RANDOM. OLIVIA RODRIGO, AKA THE BIGGEST POP STAR OF… Read More →

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Jay Park announces new single ‘Need To Know’

Korean-American musician Jay Park has announced his new single ‘Need To Know’. READ MORE: Nayeon – ‘IM NAYEON’ review: TWICE’s oldest member steps into the solo spotlight The song was announced today (July 4) by Park’s label More Vision on Twitter, alongside a comic book-themed teaser image. The picture reimagines the singer-rapper as a superhero named Won-man alongside an unnamed female character, leading fans to speculate that the ‘Need To Know’ may also feature a female artist. ‘Need To Know’ is due out on July 12 at 6pm KST. The song will arrives about four months after his previous release ‘Ganadara’, which featured South Korean singer-songwriter IU and also marked Park’s first release under his newly established label, More Vision. “I NEED TO KNOW BABY”▶️ 2022.07.12 (Tue) 18:00 KST@JAYBUMAOM #박재범 #JayPark#WONMAN #NeedToKnow #MOREVISION pic.twitter.com/TuYwHrw1Jd — MORE VISION (@MOREVISIONKR) July 3, 2022 Advertisement Park launched New Vision in March with an introduction video that took the form of a candid interview. “I kept running no matter how tired I was because I wanted to create a better environment and better life for the people I love,” he said, before sharing his vision of the company. The establishment of More Vision came less… Read More →

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Cardi B talks working with Kanye West on ‘Hot Shit’: “He’s such an amazing, sweet person”

Cardi B has talked about working with Kanye West on her latest single ‘Hot Shit’, calling the rapper “an amazing, sweet person”. Her first single in more than a year, ‘Hot Shit’ arrived on Friday (July 1), featuring verses from Lil Durk and West — now legally known as Ye. Speaking to Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe about the track, Cardi revealed that West had given her his part earlier this year, when he was making headlines for his public disapproval of ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s new partner, Pete Davidson. A particular line in West’s ‘Hot Shit’ verse seems to reference this period; “Another headline, ‘Where your hat at?’/ ‘N***a, go home, where your kids at?“. Advertisement “Kanye gave me this verse a couple of months ago when he was just all over the media, because of all of the things that were going on,” Cardi told Lowe. “I like how his verse, it’s personal, but it’s not that personal.” “I’m so happy that he gave me this verse,” she added. “And I had a lot of conversations with Kanye West. I learned so much about him and he’s such an amazing, sweet person. I’ve been feeling like, I wish a… Read More →

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Umbro partners with Joe Strummer Foundation for charity football shirt

Umbro has partnered with the Joe Strummer Foundation to release a charity football shirt, raising funds for the foundation and the projects it supports. The Clash frontman Joe Strummer was a big fan of football, having used the game as a way to bring the band together during rehearsals. According to a press statement, “During rehearsals at Vanilla Studios in Pimlico for the recording of London Calling in 1979; he and the rest of the Clash played lots of 5-a-side and used football as a means of bringing the band closer together, getting them tight and making them play together as one. Local kids would come and knock on the door and ask them to play.” Advertisement The JSF FC ‘Strummer United’ campaign aims to promote equality, inclusivity, and diversity, while providing opportunities to young people. The Umbro x Joe Strummer Foundation shirt features an exclusive Strummer football motif, with the back of each shirt emblazoned with ‘STRUMMER 22’ player details. The vermillion red jersey is made from 100% recycled polyester. All proceeds from the shirt, which is priced at £50, go to the Joe Strummer Foundation and its various nationwide projects. The limited-edition charity shirt is available to buy here. Presenting… Read More →

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Glastonbury artists see uplift on the Official Albums Chart

Following last weekend’s Glastonbury Festival, a number of artists have seen an uplift on the UK’s Official Albums Chart this week. READ MORE: Glastonbury Festival 2022 – review: camping, killer tunes and catharsis on Worthy Farm According to new Official Charts Company data, artists including Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Diana Ross and Wet Leg have seen a boost in their sales and streams after their Glastonbury sets. Billie Eilish, who became the festival’s youngest-ever headliner on Friday (June 24), has enjoyed a jump in this week’s Official Albums Chart Top 40. Her last album ‘Happier Than Ever’ had an 84 per cent week-on-week boost to its combined weekly sales and streams in total, placing it on Number 10. Advertisement Previous album, 2019’s ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’, is also up by 36 spots to Number 25, while Eilish’s debut ‘Don’t Smile At Me’ makes it to Number 39. Elsewhere, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’ doubles its weekly sales and streams tally, surging 110 per cent week on week while enjoying a jump of 44 chart places back into the Official Albums Chart Top 20 (19). The album’s title tack has also risen 40 places to Number 20. Wet… Read More →

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‘Stranger Things 4’: Stream the complete official soundtrack

The complete tracklist for the official Stranger Things 4 soundtrack has been revealed – you can stream the collection in full below. Netflix today (July 1) released the final two episodes of the hit sci-fi fantasy series’ fourth season (titled ‘Papa’ and ‘The Piggyback’) after dropping the first seven instalments late last month. READ MORE: Stranger Things cast and creators on the “massive” new season The tunes from the first volume of Stranger Things 4 – including Kate Bush‘s record-breaking ‘Running Up That Hill’ – appear on ‘Stranger Things: Soundtrack From The Netflix Series, Season 4’, which has now been completed by a further six songs from episodes eight and nine. Advertisement The new additions are as follows: Metallica‘s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Siouxsie And The Banshees‘ ‘Spellbound’, James Taylor‘s ‘Fire And Rain’, Rick Derringer’s ‘Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo (Single Version)’, and Steve Perry & Bryce Miller’s new extended remix of ‘Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)’ by Journey. Other artists to feature include The Beach Boys, Talking Heads, KISS, The Cramps and Dead Or Alive. Fans can listen to the entire soundtrack through their desired online streaming platform here, or via Spotify below. A CD edition is set to arrive on September 9… Read More →

Michael Nesmith – Tantamount To Treason Vol 1 (reissue, 1972)

There’s added poignancy in this reissue of Nesmith’s fourth post-Monkees album, following his death in December last year. Yet rather than being a sentimental salute, Tantamount To Treason underscores Nez’s status as a country-rock forefather of a rather idiosyncratic bent. ORDER NOW: THE BEATLES ARE ON THE COVER OF THE LATEST ISSUE OF UNCUT Produced by Nesmith himself, Tantamount To Treason was his only recording with the Second National Band, a sextet featuring just him and pedal-steel guitarist Orville “Red” Rhodes from the first incarnation, plus session musicians including bassist Johnny Meeks, who did time as lead guitarist with the Blue Caps, and noted jazz drummer Jack Ranelli. In the run-up to release, Nez had been feeling the impact of diminishing market returns on his First National Band records, which makes this set even more of a triumph. It’s the full realisation of his aesthetic, interpreted by skilled players – nine tracks of expansive country rock with psychedelic and jazzy flourishes, intriguing experimental touches and a relaxed, almost meditative feel. This remastered edition – expanded for both vinyl and CD – follows right behind 7a’s reissue of And The Hits Just Keep On Comin’, from later the same year. First up… Read More →