Music Features, Spotlights

New Christmas Albums 2021 Round-up

by Ian Wade

A deep dive down the chimney into Christmas season-specific music, starring Kathryn Williams, Chilly Gonzales, ‘The Soul Santas’… and a Michael Bublé ornament



Reissues Round-up: David Bowie, Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, Fela Kuti

by Ian Wade

November’s reissues column, also featuring Atakora Manu, Kylie Minogue, Goldfrapp, Mud, Inspiral Carpets, Os Brazoes, The Shangri-Las and Slade

Reissues Round-up: James Bond, Judas Priest, Kylie Minogue, R.E.M.

by Ian Wade

Our pick of October’s repackaged records, from Motörhead via The Beatles to Donna Summer, Pink Floyd, Carroll Thompson and Spice Girls

Spotlight: Metallica – Metallica (The Black Album) 30th Anniversary + The Metalli...

by Ross Horton

Heavy metal was pushed into the mainstream in 1991 by one of the greatest albums of all time. Its impact on metal, rock and even pop music shouldn’t be underestimated

ABBA voyage back after 40 years with new album and digital arena show

by Peter J Robinson

The Swedish superstars belong to a time when the release of an album was a cultural event. This announcement is up there with those

Reissues Round-up: Primal Scream, Buena Vista Social Club, Robbie Williams

by Ian Wade

Our September digest of the best reissues also features Egyptian instrumental modal pop from the ’70s, Super Furry Animals’ 20th anniversary release of Rings Around The World and Sheena Easton in her pomp

Reissues Round-up: The Beach Boys, Kim Wilde, Habibi Funk, LCD Soundsystem

by Ian Wade

A new monthlyish round-up from the world of reissues and compilations, featuring The Beach Boys, Habibi Funk, LCD Soundsystem and Kim Wilde

George Harrison – All Things Must Pass 50th Anniversary: Spotlight

by Ross Horton

Half a century of the greatest artworks – in any medium – of all time gets celebrated with a plethora of new editions

Spotlight: George Michael – Older

by Ian Wade

Released a quarter of a century ago, here is the album that encapsulates the beautiful soul and true legend that was the real George. It is his masterpiece

Spotlight: Fleetwood Mac – Live (Super Deluxe Edition)

by Ross Horton

Majoring on tracks from Tusk and Rumours, this is a living, breathing document of one of the most spectacular implosions of an artistic collective ever witnessed

New Age Steppers: Stepping Into A New Age – Spotlight

by Matt Cotsell

Reissues reappraise a band formed by The Slits’ Ari Up, revealing the serially collaborative outfit’s warm heart and timeless call for unity

SOPHIE, visionary innovator who sculpted thrillingly uncompromising sound worlds

by Matt Beattie

Grammy nominee, experimental pop musician, DJ, producer and collaborator dies aged 34

Spotlight: Fine Young Cannibals – The Raw & The Cooked / Fine Young Cannibals

by Graeme Marsh

With remastered double CD editions out just in time for Christmas, Graeme Marsh revisits the two albums which formed the entirety of this unique band’s career

Spotlight: The Kinks – Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part One

by Graeme Marsh

This 50th anniversary edition underlines that, for consistency across an eclectic range, it’s difficult to match: here surely is one of the greatest true concept albums of all time

Spotlight: Amy Winehouse – The Collection

by Ross Horton

Two collections pay homage to a singular talent which stands alone in the grand pantheon of British icons: our greatest soul star, and our most relatable broken heart

Dire Straits: brothers in AOR

by Graeme Marsh

Graeme Marsh makes the forgotten case for gazillion-selling AOR as Mark Knopfler and co’s back catalogue gets the deluxe reissue treatment

Mort Garson: unearthing electronica’s unexplained pioneer

by Matt Cotsell

The late Canadian auteur’s work melding baroque exotica with watery synth squeaks and galactic drones is reassessed with three reissues and a previously unreleased compilation

Motörhead – Ace Of Spades (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

by Ross Horton

This reissue’s kitchen sink approach to an album which laid the foundations for a whole decade of heavy metal is only fitting

Michael Rother – Solo II

by Ross Horton

The German experimentalist shines a light on his solo work with a new box set, and unveils a standalone new album, Dreaming

Do It Any Way You Wanna: An Introduction to Patrick Cowley

by Matt Cotsell

The sonic equivalent of opening a bottle of amyl nitrate, Cowley’s work shone a light on the multifaceted aspects of queer self-hood

Spotlight: Spoon – Slay On Cue

by Ross Horton

The chance to relive the journey, or experience it for the first time – and discover if they’re one of the most underrated bands in the world