Hit Singles

Hit Singles

Send us your questions for Arthur Baker!

In New York in the early 1980s, Arthur Baker straddled the crucial intersection where hip-hop met post-punk, disco, electro, R&B and rock. He helped Afrika Bambaataa make the epochal, Kraftwerk-inspired “Planet Rock” and brought New Order into the clubs with “Confusion”, going on to work with everyone from Bob Dylan to Al Green. THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE It’s a story told with gusto in his new autobiography Looking For The Perfect Beat, published by Faber on May 22. But before that, he’s kindly submitted to a gentle grilling from you, the Uncut readers. So what do you want to ask a seasoned studio sensei? Send your questions to audiencewith@uncut.co.uk by Tuesday April 22 and Arthur will answer the best ones in a future issue of Uncut.

Hit Singles

Stereolab announce new album, Instant Holograms On Metal Film

Stereolab have announced that their first new studio album for 15 years, Instant Holograms On Metal Film, will be released on May 23 via their own Duophonic UHF Disks, in association with Warp Records. Advertisement THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE Watch a video for lead single “Aerial Troubles” below, directed by Laurent Askienazy: [embedded content] Instant Holograms On Metal Film features thirteen songs written by Laetitia Sadier and Tim Gane, and performed by Sadier, Gane, Andy Ramsay, Joe Watson and Xavi Muñoz, who comprise the current touring line-up of the band. Advertisement The album also features guest contributions by Cooper Crain and Rob Frye (Bitchin Bajas), Ben LaMar Gay (International Anthem), Ric Elsworth, Holger Zapf (Cavern Of Anti-Matter), Marie Merlet and Molly Hansen Read. Instant Holograms On Metal Film will be available on double vinyl LP in standard and colour variants, as well as CD and digital formats. Check out the artwork and tracklisting below, and pre-order/pre-save here. Mystical Plosives Aerial Troubles Melodie Is A Wound Immortal Hands Vermona F Transistor Le Coeur… Read More →

Hit Singles

Nardia’s New Single “Is It You” Is a Dreamy Slow Burn About Longing, Mystery—and Emotional Mastery

Some songs don’t just hit the ears—they hit the heart, hard. And “Is It You,” the latest single from Australian artist Nardia, doesn’t ask for your attention—it quietly demands it. Released as the first taste of her upcoming album Own Every Scar, “Is It You” is a slow-burning meditation on connection, curiosity, and the disarming vulnerability of asking: Could you be the one? With minimalist production and sultry restraint, Nardia’s voice floats front and center—stripped and powerful. There’s nothing extra here. No vocal acrobatics for show. Just pure feeling, delivered with the type of honesty that makes time slow down. “‘Is It You’ is about that raw, intimate feeling of wanting to connect with someone while navigating uncertainty,” says Nardia. “It’s a personal reflection on vulnerability and the mystery of human connection.” That mystery plays out not just in the song but in the single’s accompanying visual—a cinematic, nostalgia-drenched video set in a glowing retro diner, where memory and fantasy blur like condensation on a coffee cup. Is she imagining the moment, or did it really happen? Is he real or just a mirror for her longing? The answers don’t come easy. But that’s the point. Nardia’s voice, rich with… Read More →

Hit Singles

“A damn fine cup of coffee!” How Twin Peaks revolutionised television

From Uncut’s April 2010 issue [Take 155], the making of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Uncut spoke to the show’s creators and stars to discover how the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer revolutionised television forever… “I had zero interest in doing a TV show. I have never really been into TV. I initially thought it was a terrible idea,” says David Lynch, 64, but still somehow blessed with a pinched, boyish voice. “I had an agent who was more of a TV agent, and he started talking to me about doing a show.” Advertisement In spring 1986, Lynch’s agent, Tony Krantz, might not have been alone in thinking his client needed a change of direction. Following the cult success of 1977’s Eraserhead, and an Oscar nomination for The Elephant Man in 1980, Lynch’s Hollywood career had stumbled. He’d turned down a chance to helm Return Of The Jedi for George Lucas, then attempted to start his own sci-fi franchise with Dune, only for the film to be one of the biggest bombs of the 1980s. Now, he’d returned to more personal work with the small-scale movie, Blue Velvet, which had just been sent out to film festivals, and was by… Read More →

Hit Singles

Blondie’s Clem Burke has died, aged 70

Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died aged 70, “following a private battle with cancer”. The news was confirmed by Blondie’s social media accounts today (April 7). Advertisement “It is with profound sadness that we relay news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke following a private battle with cancer,” reads the statement. “Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie. His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. “Clem’s influence extended far beyond Blondie. A self proclaimed ‘Rock & Roll survivalist’, he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists, including Eurythmics, Ramones, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Chequered Past, The Fleshtones, The Romantics, Dramarama, The Adult Net, The Split Squad, The International Swingers, L.A.M.F., Empty Hearts, Slinky Vagabond, and even the Go-Go’s. His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of. We… Read More →

Hit Singles

Hiroshi Yoshimura – Flora

For those unfamiliar with the work of Hiroshi Yoshimura, the title of the final track – “Satie On The Grass” – gives some clues as to what we can expect on Flora. Satie is of course Erik Satie, the French composer and pianist who himself was a pioneer of “furniture music”, a style intended as a form of background music, as opposed to conscious listening. He was a significant influence on the formation of minimal music, which began to take shape in the ’60s, a couple of decades before the recording of Yoshimura’s landmark albums of his own take on furniture music, or as it’s now better known, environmental music. Advertisement THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE The Japanese phrase for this genre is kankyō ongaku, a term which became more widely known in 2019 when Light In The Attic released the boxset Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990, which includes one of Yoshimura’s best tracks, “Blink” from his masterful 1982 debut, Music For Nine Post Cards. The following year,… Read More →

Hit Singles

The Waterboys – Life, Death & Dennis Hopper

The concept album has a chequered history in rock’n’roll. As a musician of a certain vintage – inspired by punk, rooted in rock classicism – Mike Scott flinched when collaborator Simon Dine suggested to him that an album about Dennis Hopper should include an instrumental for each of the actor’s five wives. The memory of Rick Wakeman’s Six Wives Of Henry VIII flashed up, and it was not an inspiring thought. And yet. And yet. Advertisement THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE There’s no getting away from it. Life, Death & Dennis Hopper is a concept album. It is all about Dennis Hopper. It is inspired by Dennis Hopper. It explores the life and times of Dennis Hopper. It includes – look away now, prog fans – instrumental interludes for each of Dennis Hopper’s five wives. Yet it is, like all Waterboys records, a deeply personal thing. It is completely different from everything that Scott has ever done, yet entirely in keeping with it. It could be a page from his Jungleland fanzine. It… Read More →

Hit Singles

Experience R&B’s Essence: “Coast In Romance” by Shaun Royal

When you hear Shaun Royal ’s “Coast In Romance” — you remember what R&B was always supposed to be about: connection. Intention. Soul. The track asks you to slow down, to listen, to feel. That alone makes it radical. From the opening lines, Shaun doesn’t waste time with surface-level romance — he gets to the root of what it means to truly be seen by someone. The kind of love he’s singing about isn’t transactional. It’s layered, patient, and real. His lyrics weave a soft but confident narrative — a man in tune with his emotions, unafraid to express joy, longing, and vulnerability. Lines like “I found out all the ways to speak it” hit different in a world where emotional literacy is still too rare in male voices in R&B. Shaun’s story is just as compelling. A kid from South Central L.A. raised on Stevie, Tevin, and MJ, now co-founding his own production company and sharing stages with legends. He’s not just writing songs — he’s rewriting what it means to be a modern R&B artist. The music video doubles down on the intimacy. No gimmicks — just tone, texture, and tenderness. It’s a mood piece. The visuals serve… Read More →

Hit Singles

Have Moicy!

This feature originally appeared in Uncut’s March 2022 [Take 298] issue Advertisement Join us at the blackberry bushes, where MICHAEL HURLEY can be found cutting back the foliage deep in the Oregon wilderness. As the veteran folk singer prepares to release a new album, The Time Of The Foxgloves, he leads Stephen Deusner through his wild and idiosyncratic career – from Greenwich Village in the ’60s onwards. Stand by for many marvellous digressions, sundry gardening tips and a glimpse into “Snocko Time”. Oh, and Bob Dylan? “That’s a bad question.” Michael Hurley was cutting back blackberry bushes in his front yard when inspiration struck. It’s hard, back-breaking work even for a young man, but even more taxing for an 80-year-old. Still, it’s absolutely necessary when you live deep in the Oregon wilderness. “It’s not something you can do quickly because they’re very prickly and incredibly aggressive,” he explains. “Their defences are good. They can loop a vine over the top of a tree, come down the other side and replant another bunch of bushes. If you let them, they’ll take over your house. It’s like an alien invasion.” A tasty alien invasion? “If I find a really good bunch that… Read More →

Hit Singles

Bruce Springsteen announces lost albums motherlode

Bruce Springsteen has confirmed details of a mammoth, 9 LP/7 CD box set, Tracks II: The Lost Albums, which is released by Sony Music on June 27. Advertisement THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE The set spans 1983 – 2018 and includes 83 songs. “’The Lost Albums’ were full records, some of them even to the point of being mixed and not released,” says Springsteen. “I’ve played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I’m glad you’ll get a chance to finally hear them. I hope you enjoy them.” The Lost Albums will arrive in limited-edition nine LP, seven CD and digital formats — including distinctive packaging for each previously-unreleased record, with a 100-page cloth-bound, hardcover book featuring rare archival photos, liner notes on each lost album from essayist Erik Flannigan and a personal introduction on the project from Springsteen himself. Advertisement A companion set — Lost And Found: Selections from The Lost Albums — will feature 20 highlights from across the collection, also arriving June 27 on two LPs… Read More →

Hit Singles

Stereolab tease new music

Stereolab are teasing their first new music since 2010’s album, Not Music. Advertisement The band – who reformed in 2019 – appear to have sent UK subscribers to their mailing list a 7″ single with a song called “Aerial Troubles” on one side and an instrumental on the other, along with a word search. THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE The band had already teased that something was coming in their Lab Report mailout from Monday, March 31, where a link led to an picture of a cardboard record mailer with “Unsolicited Stereolab Material” printed on it. On Tuesday, April 1, they posted a photograph on their Instagram page of what looks to be a record in a brown paper bag. Advertisement Stereolab are also touring extensively later this year. MAY25 — Brussels, Belgium – Botanique Les Nuits Botanique26 — Köln, Germany – Gloria28 — Hamburg, Germany – Grunspan29 — Berlin, Germany – Huxley Neue Welt30 — Frankfurt, Germany – Zoom31 — Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso JUNE01 — Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje03 — Nantes, France… Read More →

Hit Singles

Brown Horse – All The Right Weaknesses

A band’s early trajectory tends to follow a certain pattern. First comes the rough toil, birthing obscure songs that very few people are interested to hear, gigging in backroom bars and so on, hoping for some kind of validation. Or at least an audience. If you’re lucky, you’ll get signed. Then comes the first album, usually shortlisted from songs you’ve been fussing over for the past few years. And if you’re luckier still, there’ll be attendant live shows, an accelerated period of development and a swift return to the studio. This is exactly where Brown Horse are at. THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE Advertisement The Norwich sextet seemed to arrive from nowhere with last year’s Reservoir, a remarkably assured debut that ran the tenets of classic country-rock through a noisier, post-millennial filter. But they’d actually begun as a folk quartet some six years earlier, playing covers and originals in empty pubs, before regrouping (and swelling) into something more guitar-directed. Eventually picked up by the ever-discerning Loose label, the album was immediately followed by… Read More →

Hit Singles

Hear S.G. Goodman’s new track, “Fire Sign”

S.G. Goodman has shared a new track, “Fire Sign”, a taster for her upcoming third studio album, Planting By The Signs – which is released via Slough Water Records / Thirty Tigers on June 20. Advertisement You can hear the track below. THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE Says Goodman of “Fire Sign”, “After touring relentlessly for 2 years, ‘living like the sun don’t shine / on the same dog’s ass everyday,’ as the song puts it, I came off the road questioning my purpose and choices. People are quick to tell you that you are not working hard enough, but slow in telling you that you are working hard enough. That seems to be up to you, as well as your ‘why?’. Despite this burnout and other personal setbacks, I found the fire to keep pushing and to make what I believe is my best record yet. ‘Who’ll put the fire out?’ The only person who can put my fire out is myself.” Advertisement [embedded content] Goodman recorded Planting By The Signs at the Nutt House in Sheffield, Alabama,… Read More →

Hit Singles

The Beatles movie cast confirmed!

The cast of Sam Mendes‘ Beatles films has been announced. THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE Dubbed The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the films star (l to r) Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney), Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr) and Joseph Quinn (George Harrison). The four theatrical feature films – one from each band member’s point-of-view – will open in cinemas from April 2028. As yet, the scriptwriter on the project is unknown.

Hit Singles

Bobby Weir announces first London show for 22 years

Bobby Weir has announced a very special show with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, June 21, 2025. THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE The Grateful Dead co-founder will be joined by his Wolf Bros bandmates: Don Was on bass, along with Dead & Company‘s Jeff Chimenti on piano and Jay Lane on drums. This orchestral project debuted in America in 2022 with a sold-out four-night run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where Weir and his bandmates performed with the National Symphony Orchestra. Tickets for the Royal Albert Hall performance will be available through a series of presales beginning Wednesday, April 2 at 2PM BST and the general on sale will follow on Friday, April 4 at 4PM BST. Fans can sign up for the artist presale here.

Hit Singles

Inside our latest free Uncut CD: Small Faces’ Something Nice – rarities, live and exclusives!

Small Faces are the stars of our latest free CD, Something Nice, available with the May 2025 issue of Uncut. The 11-track album includes rarities, alternate takes and live cuts, including a set of tracks from the new deluxe edition of The Autumn Stone. Advertisement This slew of rare Small Faces goodies is largely pooled from Kenney Jones’s recently revived Nice Records. “I started the label in the ’90s to raise money for Ronnie Lane when he had multiple sclerosis,” Jones tells Uncut. “I put it to bed after he died, but have since thought, ‘No, I want to do something with this.’” The first Nice release was 2021’s Live 1966, an extraordinary document of Small Faces’ two sets at the Twenty Club in Mouscron, Belgium, selections from which comprise the first half of our CD. “It was one of the first gigs we’d ever done abroad,” recalls Jones. “We always loved jamming and that gig is really what the Small Faces were all about. You can hear why Led Zeppelin became big fans – Page and Plant in particular. The spirit of those early days never left us.” Also included are rare mixes, cuts from the newly expanded edition… Read More →

Hit Singles

Learn About Sandy Ortega’s Musical Journey Now

New York City is known for its rich musical history, and one of its most exciting and soulful artists is Alexander “Sandy” Ortega. A native New Yorker, Sandy Ortega has been captivating audiences with his deeply-rooted Spanish gypsy guitar music for years. His performances are not just concerts; they are emotional journeys that connect the listener to centuries of tradition while breathing new life into it with his unique compositions. Although he grew up surrounded by music, Sandy didn’t pick up the guitar seriously until a decade ago, committing himself to the practice with the dedication needed to truly master the instrument. Today, after nearly 10,000 hours of practice, Ortega has composed an impressive repertoire of 41 original pieces, with each composition rooted deeply in the Spanish guitar tradition while adding his personal touch—a combination of Andalusian spirit, New York energy, and his unwavering faith. Sandy Ortega’s music resonates with the soul. His latest composition, “Dulce Miel (Sweet Honey)”, is a reflection of the rich history of Spanish gypsies fleeing to the mountains during the Spanish Inquisition. This piece, number 33 in his repertoire, is a vision brought to life. According to Ortega, he sees himself playing in a parlor,… Read More →

Hit Singles

Sufjan Stevens announces 10th anniversary reissue of Carrie & Lowell

Sufjan Stevens has announced that a 10th anniversary deluxe reissue of Carrie & Lowell is coming via Asthmatic Kitty on May 30. THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE The double LP will include seven previously unreleased bonus tracks, a 40-page art book and a new essay by Stevens. Hear the previously unreleased “Mystery Of Love (Demo)” below. Taken from the original Carrie & Lowell album sessions, it was later re-worked and re-recorded for Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name: The bonus disc also includes demo versions of “Death With Dignity”, “Should Have Known Better”, “The Only Thing” and “Eugene”, as well as expansive outtakes of “Fourth Of July” and “Wallowa Lake Monster”. Pre-order Carrie & Lowell (10th Anniversary Edition) here.

Hit Singles

Spiritualized, Barbican Hall, London, March 27

Things were very different in early 1995 when Spiritualized’s magnificent second album Pure Phase came out at the height of Britpop, reaching number 20 in the charts. But as Jason Pierce shows this evening, not much has changed in his world. Seven albums and 30 years later, J Spaceman’s vision remains essentially the same as he channels the heavy cosmic blues and raw Americana that has come to define the Spiritualized sound through a 15-piece ensemble for this special anniversary performance. Advertisement THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE This is the band’s second night at the Barbican as part of a run of shows this year celebrating Pure Phase, the Spiritualized album that tends to get overlooked in favour of its follow-up Ladies And Gentleman We Are Floating In Space, but which many fans consider to be the perfect distillation of Pierce’s musical genius. It moved the band on from their more delicate debut Lazer Guided Melodies by bringing in some of Pierce’s most immediate pop songs – “Medication”, “Lay Back In The Sun”… Read More →

Hit Singles

The Who, Royal Albert Hall, London, March 27, 2025

It says a lot about Roger Daltrey’s support for the Teenage Cancer Trust that when The Who take the stage at the Royal Albert Hall it is the band’s first show for almost exactly a year – in fact, it’s their first since last year’s Teenage Cancer Trust show. And The Who will be back here again on Sunday to headline a second evening on behalf of the charity. Tonight, at least, Daltrey and Pete Townshend are in fine form, delivering a set packed with hits but also containing a great deal of warmth, humour and character. On the likes of “Love, Reign O’er Me”, “Behind Blue Eyes” and “5.15”, they don’t quite roll back the years, as much as embrace the reality of their age with a heartening defiance. Advertisement THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF UNCUT IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW: STARRING SMALL FACES, A SMALL FACES RARITIES CD, RADIOHEAD, LOU REED, BOOTSY COLLINS, POGUES, THESE NEW PURITANS, SUZANNE VEGA AND MORE The Who first played the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust a quarter of a century ago in 2000. On that occasion, they were joined by special guests including Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Eddie Vedder… Read More →

Hit Singles

The Smiths: “We wrote songs about our experiences”

From Uncut’s March 2015 issue [Take 214], how The Smith’s 1985 album Meat Is Murder provided a radical manifesto for troubled times, one overshadowed by the “violence, oppression and horror” of Margaret Thatcher. Uncut tracks down band members, intimate associates and contemporaries to tell the full story of a band at their closest and most adventurous… Advertisement The distance travelled by The Smiths in late 1984 can be measured, to some extent, in car journeys. En route with the rest of The Smiths from their respective homes in Manchester to Amazon Studios in Kirkby during the winter of 1984, Morrissey would sit at the back, to best enjoy the full benefit of the car’s central heating system. The vehicle – a 1970s white stretch Mercedes rented from R&O Van Hire, Salford – had once been used for weddings. Now it was being used for another type of celebration. The Smiths – along with their fledgling co-producer, Stephen Street – were heading to Amazon to record their second LP, Meat Is Murder. “We had a feeling the grown-ups had left the building and it was left to us to break some rules and have some fun,” Johnny Marr told Uncut. Despite… Read More →