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: David Bowie, Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, Fela Kuti

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

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

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

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: Primal Scream, Buena Vista Social Club, Robbie Williams

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

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

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: George Michael – Older

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
Spotlight: Fleetwood Mac – Live (Super Deluxe Edition)

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
New Age Steppers: Stepping Into A New Age – Spotlight

SOPHIE, visionary innovator who sculpted thrillingly uncompromising sound worlds

by Matt Beattie
Grammy nominee, experimental pop musician, DJ, producer and collaborator dies aged 34
SOPHIE, visionary innovator who sculpted thrillingly uncompromising sound worlds

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

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

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
Spotlight: Amy Winehouse – The Collection

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
Dire Straits: brothers in AOR

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
Mort Garson: unearthing electronica’s unexplained pioneer

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

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
Michael Rother – Solo II

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

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
Spotlight: Spoon – Slay On Cue