Juno Recommends Rock / Indie / Folk / Metal / Punk / 50s / 60s: August 2022

Review: Ever the king of the DIY approach, the inimitable Jack White recorded this one at his own Third Man Studio last year, then mastered it and released it himself on his own label. It's his fifth solo album - the second of the year - and is something of a therapy session for the cult singer-songwriter, with highlights galore. There is a real confessional quality to the songs here, especially on the likes of 'Please God, Don't Tell Anyone' which is about his regret for the way he lived certain parts of his life. He also professes his love for his new wife Olivia Jean, with plenty of fluid melodies and understated grooves also featuring throughout a fine album.

Review: Stockholm post-punks Viagra Boys pull no punches on their visceral Cave World album, which is a distillation of the chaos of our times into a potent mix of indie and alternative rock. These post truth "cow-funk-kraut-wave" enlightenment tunes are fearless in design and execution as the brilliant band thrashes through this moments return to form. It comes on a limited edition green vinyl and is a potent follow up to their last outing back only in 201 when Welfare Jazz marked their stunning debut. Inspired by a conspiracy theory about evolution it takes aim at society and then some.

Review: The rise of Black Midi has been hard to keep up with over the past few years. Their first release was no less than a link up with Can's Damo Suzuki in 2018, and their Schlagenheim debut LP followed promptly afterwards and won them unanimous praise the world over. Since then, they've blazed a trail out in front with an angular confection of art punk that's catchy and obtuse in equal measure. After 2021's Cavalcade, they're back with Hellfire, a third album which builds on the melodic growth of their last while notching up the intensity. Lead single 'Welcome To Hell' comes snarling out in a cacophony of funky, discordant bombast - the sound of a band relishing their success as a springboard for bigger, wilder ideas.

Review: Interpol's seventh album sees the long-standing NYC indie rock giants teaming up with the legendary production team of Flood and Alan Moulder for a trip into sadness, darkness and introspection. For devoted fans of the band, those themes should ring true and spell out another record to be cherished for those downcast days. Daniel Kessler's serpentine guitar work cuts an imposing, but ultimately graceful figure on 'Into The Night', while Samuel Fograino's propulsive drumming continues to explore meters beyond linear motorik drive and Paul Bank once more speaks from the deepest reaches of his soul.

Review: Working Men's Club have already gone on a wild ride despite only forming in mid-2018. They were already on Melodic with their debut single one year later, soon snapped up by Heavenly who released their self-titled debut in 2020. As they've grown fast, their sound has raced towards a compelling kind of synth pop clearly indebted to the likes of Cabaret Voltaire and The Human League, but certainly not constrained by those monolithic influences. On their second album, lead single 'Widow' points to a powerful, subtly noirish sound. It's a little more bombastic compared to the angular funk of earlier single 'John Cooper Clarke', but not less refined and clear in its intentions.

Review: The Cat's Miaow are treasures of Australia's indie scene, with a cult following which has only grown over time. Their quirky like an indie band should be, but at heart they're able to craft beautiful songs which reach back to their inception in 1992. World Of Echo have combed back through the band's discography to pick out the finest cuts, primarily focusing on their string of seven-inch singles, rare compilation offerings and one previously unreleased track which should delight devoted fans (of which there are many). Pressed up for a wider distribution now the world is much more hip to their game, this is a fitting tribute to one of the finest bands to hail from down under.

Review: Shy, Low's s/t album pressed to vinyl for the first time! This will be limited to 200.

Review: Leaf Hound emerged at the beginning of the 70s as the hard rock boom was underway. Starting out as Black Cat Bones, they were something of a cult concern with ties to bands like Free and Atomic Rooster, and you can hear that raunchy blues sound all over this, their second album. Released in 1971 on Decca, Grower Of Mushrooms is classic rock through and through, with Peter French on vocals and Michael Halls on guitar. The album remained a rarity which these days would set you back serious cash for an original pressing, but now you can enjoy it with this 50th anniversary pressing on limited green vinyl.

Review: Talk Talk are true totems of the British synth-pop tradition, and they certainly took an interesting path into experimental realms from the midpoint of their career, but it all began right here. The Party's Over is grandiose in all the best ways, capturing an era of exquisite songwriting which was groundbreaking and traditionally rooted at the same time. Like ABC, Talk Talk knew how to deliver bombast and sentimentality without losing the depth of their work, and now, 40 years on, this spectacular album is being given a reissue on white vinyl.

Review: If you need an introduction to the anarcho-punk legends, Crass, perhaps you've strayed too far off the beaten path. If you're a genuine crass-er, crass-ite(?), then this *ahem* unofficial (but legacy standard) collection of early demos ranging from 1977-1979, is a vital component to your collection. Even the most visionary punk auteurs, capable of pissing off and captivating legions in equal stead, had to begin somewhere, and work meticulously on their chaotic craft before accosting the unsuspecting masses. This is the rare chance to take that process home with you, and absorb it all in true fly-on-the-wall abject voyeurism.

Review: Minimal Compact hailed from Israel in the 80s, spearheading the country's post-punk and new wave movement with a run of excellent albums which reached well into international scenes. On this single for Fortuna, 'Statik Dancin' from their debut EP gets revisited in its original and instrumental forms. It's a perfect slice of disco-not-disco which will go down a storm in any wave-oriented dance spot, and as a bonus treat we also get a wild style dub from the mighty Mad Professor who twists the original out in the grand tradition of the 80s B side.