Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Felt may not have made the longest lasting impact on the common conscious, but nevertheless the UK indie set struck a real chord, and are still widely seen as cult icons among those who know. As part of the deserved celebrations for equally revered label Cherry Red's 45th anniversary, we can now dive into one of the band's finest moments, with this double-A 45" single. Opening on 'Primitive Painters' it doesn't take long to realise where we are on the sonic scale. Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser in a duet with frontman Lawrence, it's rightly considered one of the great British singles of the 1980s and one of the decade's most powerful collaborations, saturated in shoegaze and dream pop while still being resolutely part of a New Wave. Meanwhile, 'Penelope Tree' on the flip opts for a janglier but no less epic feeling.

Review: The Flaming Lips' The John Peel Session of October 17, 1996, marked a pivotal moment in the trajectory of the Flaming Lips. Just before their rise to international prominence, the session captured their essence through four tracks that showcased their eclectic blend of neo-psychedelia, experimental rock, and indie influences. Peel, renowned for his astute ear for new talent, played a crucial role in introducing the band's unique sound to a broader audience. The session serves as an audio bookmark to their innovative approach and the impact of Peel's support in propelling them towards global recognition.

Review: Of all the rock 'n' roll deities, Marianne Faithful might be the most curious. Catapulted to stardom via the hit single 'As Tears Go By', she quickly became the female figurehead of the British Invasion of the US charts and youth culture - a period of time defined by an explosion in popularity of (largely English) bands Stateside. Indeed, she's been active since 1964, has lived the incorrectly romanticised side of the music industry to the full (heroin addiction, homelessness, mental illness) and survived to tell the tale.

A huge problem is the fact not enough people are listening. A case of it's them not her, too often her enormous contribution to the pantheons is overlooked or understated. And yet here we are with Kissing Time - evidence of her status among peers. Drafting (drum roll, please) Jarvis cocker, Beck, Blur, Billy Corgan, and Dave Stewart to support on tracks veering from delightfully robot sleaze droid elec-pop gem 'Sex With Strangers' to the stripped, raw and slightly psyche guitar outing, 'Love & Money', how's that for influence?

Review: Demon Records have embarked on a project to put out four new vinyl reissues from Mark E. Smith and his cult band The Fall.The Infotainment Scan album landed back in 1993 on Permanent Records and went on to be the outfit's highest charting work, entering the UK charts at a frankly unbelievable #9. That said, it is the most accessible of all their records with its cover of Sister Sledge's 'Lost in Music' as well as tunes like 'Paranoia Man in Cheap Sh*t Room' and 'Glam Racket'. This is the first time it has been on wax in almost three decades.

Review: Film De Geurre aka Fred Laser, Max Whiteshoe, Victor Chon and Xenia dropped their self titled dark wave, post punk and minimal synth masterpiece back in 1981. It has become a cult classic ever since and is their one and only ever album. It now comes reissued with a 24"x24" poster & original insert with lyrics courtesy of Mental Groove. The rhythms throughout are stark but compelling, with jangling guitars layered up over the chilly synths and dark, deadpan vocals delivered up top in a matter of fact style. It has a steady pulse that keeps you locked in as the guitar strings ping about and the mood changes from curious and beguiling to more moody and direct

Review: It has taken five years for FKA Twigs to follow up her astonishing first album, "LP1". With that kind of timeframe, you can't help but have high expectations for the finished product, expectations "Magdalene" more than meets from the off. An artist in the truest sense - with every step and stage in the recording process controlled by her - it's an accomplished comeback for a woman who in the last half decade has experienced both personal loss and major physical challenges. Don't expect more of the same, then, but instead a talent finding new purpose and new confidence following difficult times. With the ever-impressive Nicolas Jaar giving a helping hand, the result is a raw, honest record that's deeply personal, full of self-reflection and, ultimately, accepting and positive. Not to mention destined to be on repeat. Her position as one of the UK's most vital and compelling acts re-confirmed.

Review: For Fleet Foxes, there'll be no clock-burning or heartelt 'omming' round Stonehenge this winter, as Robin Pecknold and co. present their latest album 'A Very Lonely Solstice', for all the hurt hearts out there freezing away alone in this festive quarter. Pecknold resonates; all tracks on this LP were recorded at the pinnacle of the artists' own solitude, during a live-streamed event performed on the winter solstice of 2020 just days after COVID restrictions in New York tightened. Coming to CD, black and limited white vinyl, songs from every classic Fleet Foxes album, From Helplessness Blues to Crack-Up, are reimagined acoustically here, as Pecknold's voice resonates through a lonesome yet gripping chamber space.

Review: London-based DIY label Fika are a trusted source of indie pop, and they're onto a winner presenting the first album from Fortitude Valley. They're fronted by Laura Kovic, who had served plenty of time in other East London bands like Tigercats before getting to steer the ship for this latest project. Although they're rooted in the UK and have a sound which nods to bands like The Beths and Lush, the name is actually a nod to the Brisbane music scene Kovic came up in. Whichever end of the earth you're listening from, the pop hooks come on fast in this irresistible album of jangly tunes with an indie bite.

Review: Josephine Foster and collaborator Daniel Blumberg produced Domestic Sphere as "an altar cloth of songs stitched together as liturgical music for a restless homestead." Foster plays only on the acoustic guitar and does wondrous things with her voice and a wide range of frequencies. She conveys true feelings with every note and it adds up to a rather transcendent experience. Field recordings reflecting daily life in a Spanish village are mixed into the music as is a cameo from her late great-grandmother. The melodies on this one will stay with you long after the record finishes playing.

Review: A work that surely needs little to no introduction, 'Repeater', was the seminal debut full-length from post-hardcore visionaries, Fugazi. From the demise of emo pioneers, Rites Of Spring, and hardcore punk godfathers, Minor Threat, came the enigmatic pairing of Guy Picciotto and Ian MacKaye, with the latter's burgeoning artistry left fully untethered to conjure a work transcendent of post-hardcore or alternative rock. Mapping out the blueprint for punk and alternative music throughout the nineties, even predating the likes of Nirvana's 'Nevermind', or Pearl Jam's 'Ten'; few projects have stood the test of time or been cited as such an integral influence by a dynamic range of artists from Rage Against The Machine to The Dillinger Escape Plan to American Football. Aggressive, expansive and highly critical of issues still plaguing our world today, from drug abuse to greed and privatisation, the ethos of, 'Repeater', (quietly referencing The Beatles' 'Revolver') has only swollen with time.

Review: Future Islands newest album As Long As You Are is a work that readdresses some of their past while also looking to the future and a new sound. This process of redemption comes as drummer Mike Lowry officially joins the band as a songwriter to add to the foundational trio of William Cashion, Samuel T Herring and Gerrit Whelmers. The synth wave sound the band is famous for remains and is as bright and joyous as it has been in their nearly 15 year history. Heavenly choruses also make it last long in the memory and sure to win new fans as well as retain the old.