Back catalogue: Indie/Alternative

Review: Ed Black, aka "edbl," is an increasingly prominent hip-hop and R&B artist and composer who has emerged from South London's indie music scene alongside luminaries like Jorja Smith and Jamie Isaac. His sound, a blend of lo-fi soul and hip-hop akin to Jordan Rakei and Tom Misch, garnered attention when Spotify UK featured him on their New Music Friday cover. Additionally, Music Business Worldwide Magazine nominated him as one of The Hottest Independent Artists In The World and now he backs up that potential with 'The Way Things Were,' featuring the mellifluous vocals of Isaac Waddington.

Review: A brand-new five-track EP from the current darlings of the indie scene. The Leeds four-piece have had an impressive few months, having dropped their debut album 'This Could Be Texas' in April and performing across major festivals in Europe, as well as being nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize. The new project, recorded during their sessions with BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music, includes live versions of tracks from the album, plus covers of LCD Soundsystem's 'New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down' and Billie Eilish's 'Birds Of A Feather'.

Review: XL boss Richard Russell's Everything Is Recorded returns with 'Porcupine Tattoo', an unexpected yet compelling collaboration with Bill Callahan and Noah Cyrus. The track, released via XL Recordings, came about during sessions at LA's infamous Chateau Marmont hotel, when Russell asked Callahan who he'd most like to write a song for. Callahan's surprising answer: Noah Cyrus. The result is a stripped-down folk tune with subtle gospel undertones, featuring Callahan's deep, pitched-down vocal layered alongside Cyrus' delicate voice. Russell's production, iminimal yet atmospheric, ihighlights the contrast between Callahan's gravelly tone and Cyrus' ethereal presence. Recorded during a rain-soaked week, the track evokes a sense of melancholy and intimacy. On Side-2 'Norm', is a tribute to comedian Norm Macdonald, featuring only Callahan. This release continues Russell's tradition of creating genre-blurring, evocative collaborations.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


You should never assume too much when it comes to Eartheater. Powders on Mad Decent and finds the maverick modernist at her most vulnerable and exposed. Where she's so often warped and manipulated her voice as part of her hyper pop experimentation, here she comes through in strikingly direct terms whether soaring over elegant threads of synthesis (on gorgeous opener 'Sugarcane Switch') or covering System of a Down's 'Chop Suey' in fragile, acoustic fashion. Even after so many albums, it feels like we're still in the process of understanding the many dimensions of the Eartheater creative universe, and here is but one new galaxy to explore.

Review: Another BBC Sessions edition compiles nearly two decades of live-in-studio performances from Echo & The Bunnymen, tracing the Liverpool legends' rise from wiry post-punk outsiders to accomplished songwriters. John Peel and Janice Long oversaw the sessions with eagle's eyes, as production polish from classics such as 'The Killing Moon', 'Rescue' and 'Lips Like Sugar' reveal the band's skeletal brilliance and moody immediacy. Something of a guide to the band's career arc as a whole, we hear the way paved for a more expansive, melancholic texture in the later years, despite an ever morphotic, modulable lineup. The Cult Legends reissue set offers longtime fans and newer listeners a chance to hear the Bunnymen with studio intimacy and live spontaneity; less theatrical than their stage shows, but just as haunting.

Review: Echo & The Bunnymen's What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?, their eighth studio album, reflects a more introspective and matured sound from the post-punk icons. Released in 1999, this album marked a departure from their earlier work's grandiose, bass-driven rock, offering a gentler, acoustic-driven atmosphere. Tracks like the title song and 'Rust' highlight Ian McCulloch's soulful vocals, with lush string arrangements and a restrained yet heartfelt delivery. The addition of horn accents on 'Get in the Car' and 'When It Blows Over' brings unexpected warmth, while 'History Chimes' closes the album on a melancholic piano note. The album showcases a thoughtful evolution of their signature sound, offering a reflective soundtrack for both longtime fans and new listeners. This album demonstrates a band comfortable in its musical maturity, resonating with the contemplative themes of aging and legacy.

Review: A reissue by Secret Records of Echo & The Bunnymen's Greatest Hits Live In London performance, played at the Shepherd's Bush Empire stadium in November 2005 and eventually released in 2017. Mirroring the setlist of their better known best-of live album, Me, I'm All Smiles, this record serves as its rawer counterpart, lacking the post-prod polish and song quantity handled by Snapper Records. Here only 11 tracks feature, including 'Killing Moon', 'Lips Like Sugar', 'Nothing Lasts Forever' and the obligatory sendoff and live favourite 'Ocean Rain'.

Review: Indie favourites Eels are back with 'Eels Time!' via the E Works bale in collaboration with Play It Again Sam. This album is the group's 15th studio release overall and comes a year after a busy 12 months of touring which saw them take their popular and long-awaited Lockdown Hurricane tour across Europe and North America. The show, and the following compilation Eels So Good: Essential Eels, celebrated more than three decades of their music and this fins them back with all new material recorded between Los Feliz, Los Angeles and Dublin, Ireland, with contributions from Koool G Murder, The Chet and Sean Coleman.

Review: Mark Oliver Everett has taken his band a long way from those head mid-90s indie rock days, but 15 albums in it's heartening how much the Eels sound is intact. It's never stagnated, but the core of charming, wry songwriting at the heart of the project remains the fundamental and that comes through clearer than ever on the tender acoustic sound of this new album's lead single, 'Time'. Written in the wake of the pandemic, when they could all get back together in person, it was written between Los Feliz, LA and Dublin, and it features AKoool G Murder, The Chet,ATyson Ritter, and Sean Coleman as guest contributors.

Review: Efterklang's seventh studio album, Things We Have In Common, closes a musical chapter that began with Altid Sammen and continued through Windflowers. Embracing a simpler, more inclusive approach, the album reflects a gentler harmonic tension and straightforward tonal language. While Altid Sammen explored human community and Windflowers delved into nature, Things We Have In Common centers on collective spirituality and belonging. The album reunites the core trioiMads Brauer, Casper Clausen, and Rasmus Stolbergiwith former member Rune Molgaard, whose spiritual journey has profoundly shaped the album. Molgaard co-wrote seven of the nine tracks, infusing the record with his unique perspective. Featuring contributions from international artists like Zach Condon, Tatu Ronkko, Hector Tosta, and Mabe Fratti, and notable collaborations with Francesco Donadello and the South Denmark Girls' Choir, the album marks Efterklang's 20th anniversary with a rich, evolving soundscape that reflects two decades of artistic growth and reconnection. Come and enjoy one of the most underrated bands of the millennium.

Review: Contemporary British electronic pop expert meets singer-songwriter Elderbrook expands his sound with his new album, Another Touch, which comes after establishing himself on the world stage s the voice of the Grammy-nominated 2017 collaboration with CamelPhat, 'Cola.' He has described this new long player as a "journey of personal discovery' and on that trip, he explores themes of love, loss and life's ups and downs, packaged in catchy, feel-good dance-pop tracks suited for big clubs. Blending melodic house and tech grooves, while his vocals mix falsetto with more moody deliveries, this album perfectly captures today's dance music penchant for crossing over by offering up accessible beats with some catchy emotional depth.

Review: British singer-songwriter Elderbrook is best known for the vocals on 2017's 'Cola', a Grammy-nominated single with CamelPhat, but now he shows a much broader range of sounds with his new album Another Touch which he bills as "a journey of personal discovery." It builds around themes of life's love, loss, ups and downs but essential is a collection of very accessible and feel-good dance-pop hits for large-scale clubs. The production takes the form of lots of catchy and melodic house and tech grooves while his vocals are a mix of falsetto and more moody sung-spoken deliveries. It's an album that very much chimes with the crossover dance sound of now.

Review: The debut studio album by American rock band Electric Six came as a demented party record, building on the high production value, yet still enjoyable musical approach of mainstream pop and industrial rock in the late '90s and early noughties. The Detroit band had been going since 1996 but only struck the starry heights of fame in 2001, when 'Danger! High Voltage' established their bluesy, raunchily delicious dance-funk sound. The star cut on the record, and ensuing hilarities such as 'Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother)', 'I'm The Bomb' and 'Gay Bar', proved just the right dosage of tension and irreverence.

Review: The brilliant Dark Entries celebrates its 15th anniversary by going back to its roots and offering up a reissue of its inaugural release: New York collective Eleven Pond's 1986 classic, 'Bas Relief'. This mega-rare record has become a stone-cold cult classic album revered by dark pop devotees. It features James Tabbi, Jeff Gallea, Jack Schaeffer, and Dan Brumley on a mix of guitars, synths, vocoders and drum machines and is a sound inspired by seminal labels like 4AD and Factory Records, and moody acts like Joy Division and Fad Gadget. For this reissue, it has been remastered to correct previous reissue flaws and comes in a screen-printed jacket with a lyric sheet, postcards, and a bookmark. Only 500 copies have been pressed so don't sleep on this one.

Review: Elmiene's latest offering presents a smooth, immersive listen, blending soulful electronics with subtle, emotive melodies. Opening with the tender 'TLC,' the release quickly establishes its intimate mood, which is carried through tracks like the lush 'Light Work.' 'Crystal Tears' shifts to a more ambient space, while 'Ode To Win' builds a contemplative, understated momentum. The release really comes alive on the second side with 'Sweetness' and 'Until It's Dust,' where the production deepens into something atmospheric and hypnotic. 'Dark Out (Season of Thieves)' adds a touch of brooding intensity, and 'Anyways' closes on a contemplative note.

Review: Empire Of The Sun is set to mark a new chapter with their fourth album, Ask That God. This album signifies a significant evolution, embracing an infectious new sound while maintaining their roots. Following the recent single 'Changes,' the band has released 'Music On The Radio,' a breezy indietronica track that encapsulates their signature blissful electronica. Luke Steele's shimmering vocals blend seamlessly with a throbbing, elastic beat, creating catchy effect. Steele describes the song as a teenage rebellion against imaginary emotions, driven by Nick Littlemore's unique lyrical touch. The hypnotic groove of the bass is irresistible, showing the duo's talent for melodies and hooks. Ask That God represents a profound shift for the band, reflecting their journey and growth. This album promises to be a transcendent experience for fans, reaffirming Empire Of The Sun's innovative spirit.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Lora Logic, co-founder of UK punk band X-Ray Spex, was unexpectedly ousted before the recording of their 1977 debut Germ Free Adolescents. Undeterred, she formed the post-punk band Essential Logic which became known for its angular sax lines and distinctive vocals. Their 1979 debut album Beat Rhythm News (Waddle Ya Play?) reached number 11 on the UK Indie chart. In 1995, she rejoined X-Ray Spex for Conscious Consumer and in 2022, Essential Logic returned with the boxset Logically Yours, followed by 2024's Rekalibrated, featuring diverse remixers. This 45th Anniversary Deluxe edition includes the original album, a bonus album of Essential Logic's 1978-1983 recordings and new sleeve notes by Lora.

Review: Lora Logic, co-founder of UK punk band X-Ray Spex, was unexpectedly ousted before the recording of their 1977 debut Germ Free Adolescents. Undeterred, she formed the post-punk band Essential Logic which became known for its angular sax lines and distinctive vocals. Their 1979 debut album Beat Rhythm News (Waddle Ya Play?) reached number 11 on the UK Indie chart. In 1995, she rejoined X-Ray Spex for Conscious Consumer and in 2022, Essential Logic returned with the boxset Logically Yours, followed by 2024's Rekalibrated, featuring diverse remixers. This 45th Anniversary Deluxe edition includes the original album, a bonus album of Essential Logic's 1978-1983 recordings and new sleeve notes by Lora.

Review: Lora Logic, co-founder of UK punk legends X-Ray Spex, was famously ousted before recording their 1977 debut, Germ Free Adolescents. Undeterred, she formed Essential Logic, a post-punk outfit celebrated for angular sax lines and distinctive vocals. Their 1979 debut, Beat Rhythm News (Waddle Ya Play?), reached number 11 on the UK Indie chart and now arrives on CD to mark its anniversary. Logic reunited with X-Ray Spex for Conscious Consumer in 1995 and revived Essential Logic with 2022's Logically Yours boxset and 2024's Rekalibrated, featuring a diverse array of remixers. This Deluxe Edition includes the original album, a compilation of 1978-1983 recordings and new sleeve notes penned by Lora herself.

Review: Some albums introduce a band, but others define them, and Songs From An American Movie: Learning How To Smile is one of those defining records. Released in 2000, this album became a cornerstone for fans, showing that Everclear was more than just another California rock band. It came during a challenging time, providing a lifeline through its exploration of themes like life, love, and resilience. Initially drawn to Everclear through their hit So Much For The Afterglow, fans were eager to see what came next. The band delivered with a two-part album that, while echoing the sounds of the 70s, offered layers of depth beyond its seemingly playful surface. Learning How To Smile is more than just an album; it's a cohesive story deeply rooted in frontman Art Alexakis's personal experiences, including his second divorce. This album is arguably Everclear's magnum opus, showcasing a level of performance and production that many bands take decades to achieve. Each track stands alone, yet together they create a remarkable, heartfelt narrative. Standout songs like 'AM Radio' and 'Wonderful shine', with 'Brown Eyed Girl' providing a fresh and improved take on the classic.

Review: Since turning his hand to music production midway through the last decade, XL Recordings owner Richard Russell has delivered a couple of predictably hard to pigeonhole, guest-packed albums as Everything is Recorded. Russell, of course, has an admirably bulging contacts book and as deep a knowledge of British music - be it hip-hop, grime, rave, jazz, experimental electronica or otherwise - as anyone. The depth of both is naturally evident on third album Temporary, with Russell and a dizzying list of guests delivering atmospheric, sample-rich fusions of head-nodding, hip-hop leaning grooves, field recordings-heavy sample collages, woozy dream pop, sub-heavy nods to UK bass, slow-motion neo-folk, blunted trip-hop, contemporary UK jazz, hazy Americana and much more besides. That it works as a coherent and sonically adventurous album is testament to Russell's increasing skill as a producer and standalone musical artist.