portals//polarities, the debut album from Estonian-voiced, London-based electro-popsters Night Tapes, marks them as one to watch for (out on Nettwerk Music Group). I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

Can anyone help? Playing David Ackles' American Gothic - it still has the price sticker from where it was bought. But I can't recall which shop it was. I may have got it from Cheapo Cheapo on Rupert Street. Does anyone recognise the price sticker?

The First Family: Live At Winchester Cathedral 1967 is amazing. Must-have, first-ever release of the earliest document of Sly and the Family Stone. Out on High Moon Records. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Went to see Brìghde Chaimbeul at Hackney’s Round Chapel (through @ilkamedia.bsky.social). Wrote about it for @theartsdesk.bsky.social. Here: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/br...

New @mojomagazine.bsky.social is out. The cover=Bob Dylan. Inside, me (@kierontyler.bsky.social) on Lorelle Meets The Obsolete’s Corporal (@soniccathedral.bsky.social), @theantlers.bsky.social’s Blight (@transgressive.bsky.social), Dead Famous People’s Wild Young Ways (@tinyglobalmusic.bsky.social).

“Robyn is a former pop puppet who has cut her strings” said The Guardian’s 2007 review of the ‘Robyn’ album. Originally issued in 2005 in Sweden, it reappears for its 20th anniversary. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Lamenting the increasing regularisation and ubiquity of the abhorrent. Yasmine Hamdan’s I Remember I Forget بنسى وبتذكر is out on Crammed Discs. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

French version of the 1st Kinks LP vs the UK original. The former with its reconfigured, hit-single-featuring tracklist which works well. Best of all: in the UK for Dave Davies "no girl passes unnoticed when he's around"; in France he has the rather less mild "réputation de Don Juan."

A narrative as important to the understanding of punk and post-punk as stories shouted with much more volume. Chiswick Records 1975-1982 - Seven Years at 45 RPM is out on @acerecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

International is Saint Etienne’s (@bobpetesarah.bsky.social / @rockingbob.bsky.social) final album. It’s an unalloyed winner. Out this week on @heavenlyrecordings.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

From where the seeds of Christie’s Yellow River were sewn. Soul-tinged Leeds mod-poppers The Outer Limits are dug into by @cherryredrecords.bsky.social’s Just One More Chance: Anthology 1965-1968. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Existing in its own space, Benedicte Maurseth’s Mirra is a haunting, intense evocation of Norway’s uplands and its wildlife. Out through soundslikegold.bsky.social & @ampersandPR.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

A whole album dedicated to The Beatles’ What's The New Mary Jane. It’s terrific. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Taking inspiration from the Californian desert - but warm rather than desiccated. Eve Adams’ American Dust is out this week through @inhousepress.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

Issued in November 1977 but recorded in September 1975, I’m A Mess by the Isle of Wight’s Stormtrooper was a mighty punk-presaging noise with top-notch lyrics. Comes with a Sid Vicious and Wreckless Eric-adopted badge. Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKbW...

The bonus-stuffed 3-CD @theresidents.bsky.social set American Composer’s Series centres on 1984’s George & James and 1986’s Stars & Hank Forever! albums. Out on @cherryredrecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

The Fourmost's second single, November 1963's I'm In Love. Written by Lennon-McCartney, and as good/bad as Tommy Quickly's Tip Of My Tongue. How did LenMac react when hearing this feeble cast-off on the radio? Great, publishing money?? Or, oh dear??? Here: youtube.com/watch?v=wAQt...

Marissa Nadler’s ethereal, sparse new album New Radiations explores disconnection. Out on @mrsimonraymonde.bsky.social’s @bellaunion.bsky.social and Sacred Bones. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

The new @mojomagazine.bsky.social is out. On the cover, Robert Plant. Inside, me (@kierontyler.bsky.social) on Patrick Watson’s Uh Oh (@secretcityrecords.bsky.social).

Despite their idiotic name, these San Francisco psychedelic pioneers sounded astonishing. The previously unissued evidence from 1966 is collected on Just Like Gold - Live At The Matrix. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Calling Denmark Street people. Amazing footage in this (colourised) 1965 Dutch TV film for The Ivy League's Tossing and Turning. And, see John Carter frying eggs. m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z2P...

Watch and be mesmerised as this miserable tale unfolds. A revised version of The Rise and Fall of The Clash is about to come out. Here's what I said about the - to be lauded as, by focussing on the bad times, it is a mould breaker - original: theartsdesk.com/new-music-tv...

Amongst the oddest of the many odd Rolling Stones-related 1964 singles: Bobby Jameson's Nov '64 All I Want Is My Baby (UK + US ['65] promos). Unique Oldham/Richards writing credit, wild Jimmy Page guitar. Jameson's story is as wild. Here: youtube.com/watch?v=mtPP...

Chip Shop Pop - The Sound of Denmark Street 1970-1975 is saturated with energy and joy. Compiled by @bobpetesarah.bsky.social's @rockingbob.bsky.social. On @acerecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

German Sex Pistols fun. In Germany, EMI and Virgin there had their own takes on how Anarchy In The U.K. and Pretty Vacant should be when they reached shops. Different takes to the UK.

When the abstract, folkiness, grunge and shoegazing collide. Strangest Feeling by the Sydney dwelling Bonniesongs is out this week (hannahgouldmusicpr.bsky.social). I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

The Cramps' 1st 2 singles: Surfin' Bird (rel Apr 1978) & Human Fly (Dec 1978). Records which changed music, and perceptions of music (for me, at least). Seeing them in 1979 was an education.

Intriguing box set reveals alternate version of Liverpool-born, auteur-driven pop band The Pale Fountains. Shack & Michael Head fans need it. The Complete Virgin Years is out on @cherryredrecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Who needs a band name? Photo says it all?? Danish issue of The Last Time. Boldly - no band name on the sleeve. As these sleeves were designed/printed in the issuing territory, guess it's by choice. UK record inside, as often per the case.

Richard Hell/Voidoids' Blank Generation (1976). Plus the record it borrowed from: 1959's Bob McFadden and Dor's The Beat Generation (Dor = Rod McKuen). No McKuen credit on the Hell record, but it's very close: youtube.com/watch?v=Y5-H...

Just got this: Howie Casey & The Seniors' Double Twist. Issued January 1962. Merseybeat's 1st record. Manic. Unlike any other UK record from then. Casey later played w Wings & T.Rex. Freddy Fowell (on the label) became the amusing Freddie Starr. For-real historic record as good as it should be.

Mike Taylor’s super-rare British jazz albums Pendulum and Trio are reissued. Idiosyncratic, uncompromising – capturing an incomparable vision of music. I’ve looked at them today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

The early Earth And Fire were terrific - and it was great to recently get a UK copy of one of their best, Ruby Is The One. For balance, the Dutch original here too. And here's Ruby... on TV: m.youtube.com/watch?v=7WY0...

The new @mojomagazine.bsky.social is out. On the cover, Brian Wilson or Suede. Inside, me (@kierontyler.bsky.social) on Bobby Conn’s Bobby's Place (@tapeterecords.bsky.social).

This is great, tho' not sure what could be read into it - my column on @cherryredrecords.bsky.social's Pilot set The Singles Collection is the most-read piece on @theartsdesk.bsky.social today. Here it is: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Tubeway Army were active, but Gary Numan was solo (@garynumanofficial.bsky.social @numandiscography.bsky.social). His 29 May 1979 Peel Session is out on @beggarsarkive.bsky.social @beggarsgroup.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Went to Tallinn for the extraordinary Estonian Song and Dance Celebration 2025 (Laulupidu, Tantsupidu, Rahvamuusikapidu). Amazing (mfaestonia.bsky.social). Enormous, but it feels secret. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/es...

Utopia, @gwennosaunders.bsky.social’s new album, is an art-music aural memoir which might be a result of employing a form of astral projection. Out this week on @heavenlyrecordings.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

The fascinating Manticore Tapes is a snapshot of @motorhead-official.bsky.social in August 1976. It’s also the earliest recording of the definitive line-up of one of the UK’s most idiosyncratic rock bands. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Sunwise, singular sonic auteur Brìghde Chaimbeul’s third solo album, reshapes traditional Celtic music: folk music drawing from, and incorporating, minimalism. Out through @ilkamedia.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

The convoluted saga of Rupert’s People, A Whiter Shade of Pale and Reflections of Charles Brown. All encapsulated by the Rupert’s People comp Dream In My Mind. Out on @cherryredrecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

This is curious. From late 1979, Belgian single of Talking Heads' Life During Wartime. On the back of the sleeve - in French & Flemish - it says WEA is looking for new talent: send two tracks on cassette. Strange A&R strategy. Did anyone do so?

A sugar-coated exorcism. A Sober Conversation is the most meticulously melodic, outwardly most immediate @bccamplight.bsky.social album to date. Out on @mrsimonraymonde.bsky.social’s @bellaunion.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/al...

Aesthetically, High Time is the most splendid collection of ferocious Sixties rockers The Sonics so far. This box set of seven seven-inch singles is out on @acerecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Tomorrow I'll be looking at High Time, the @acerecords.bsky.social box set of Sonics seven-inchers for @theartsdesk.bsky.social. So here's November 1964's The Witch / Keep A' Knock'in - their 1st single. OK shape, plays through fine.

Went to see Patrick Wolf at Rough Trade East. Wrote about it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/pa...

The new @mojomagazine.bsky.social is out. On the cover, The Beatles. Inside, me (@kierontyler.bsky.social) on Herman Dune’s Odysseús & @brianbilston.bsky.social and The Catenary Wires’ Sounds Made By Humans (@skepwax.bsky.social).

Magic and January are magnificent powerpop classics, but there’s much more to Pilot than the big hits. The Singles Collection is out on @cherryredrecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

60 years ago this week, 2 US bands debuted on the UK's singles chart. Everly Brothers, Gene Pitney & B Dylan were already in there, but The Byrds' Mr Tambourine Man & Sir Douglas Quintet's She's About A Mover were something else. UK bands now had competition on their home turf. A pivotal week.

This looks curious: Secrets and Lies, Mona Best and The Beatles. On Radio 4 on Saturday. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...