New releases on CD & DVD
Album: Lil Nas X - Montero
Friday, 17 September 2021
Lil Nas X is good at being a pop star. Like, what could pop culture need more than a young, flamboyant, witty gay rapper from the deep south who can top the US country charts then just when it appeared he might not be able to live up to the success of “Old Town Road” lap dance Satan in the video for the Latin-tinged “Call me by Your Name” and storm to mega sales all over again?
Album: The Eivind Aarset 4-Tet - Phantasmagoria, or A Different Kind of Journey
Thursday, 16 September 2021
Phantasmagoria, or A Different Kind of Journey instantly sets its controls for an excursion into the interstellar void between gaseous and solid objects. Opening cut “Intoxication” begins with lightly pulsing bass and a keyboard texture. Shimmering guitar floats over the top. Though more sparse and lacking vocals, it’s as if Pink Floyd’s “Us and Them” were performed by an earlier model of the band which had focussed on reducing performative grandeur as much as possible.
Album: The Felice Brothers - From Dreams To Dust
Wednesday, 15 September 2021
There’s a modesty to the Felice Brothers, an absenting of ego, even as they seek glimmers of transcendence in the vast American night. These working-...
DVD/Blu-ray: Mr Klein
Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Joseph Losey’s career covered a great deal of ground, and several continents. From The Boy with the Green Hair, a noirish sci-fi film from 1948,...
DVD/Blu-ray: All About Eve
Sunday, 12 September 2021
Rivalled only by Titanic and La La Land for its 14 Oscar nominations, 1950's Best Picture-winner All About Eve is a...
Album: Limiñanas / Garnier - De Película
French psych-rock royalty and an iconic techno DJ team up for something special |
Album: Helen Sung – Quartet+
A celebration of the great women jazz composer/pianists |
Album: Low - Hey What
The Minnesota duo at their most transcendent |
DVD/Blu-ray: The Fifth Horseman is Fear
Gruelling, gripping Czech thriller set in Nazi-occupied Prague |
Album: Martina Topley-Bird - Forever I Wait
Songs of maturity and experience |
Album: Drake - Certified Lover Boy
Way 2 Sexy Uncle D's long-delayed album is business as usual |
Album: The Stranglers - Dark Matters
Eighteenth album from punk crossover originals combines the elegiac with the punchy |
Album: Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
The talented rapper takes things to another level in her masterful fourth album |
Album: Iron Maiden - Senjutsu
17 albums in and a slightly portly old Maiden has still got some sizzle in her |
Album: Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
Triumphant pop-rock pivot |
Blu-ray: The River
When Technicolour really was glorious: Jean Renoir in India |
Album: Gerry Rafferty - Rest in Blue
Ten years after his death, a posthumous new album reaffirms a singular talent |
Blu-ray: Deep Cover
Early '90s American action movie takes on the drug trade and racism within the police |
Album: Rudimental - Ground Control
Latest from London dance-pop quartet is half bland but half bangin' |
Album: Saint Etienne - I’ve Been Trying To Tell You
British pop institution’s affecting concept album about a half-remembered past |
Album: Toyah - Posh Pop
Post-punk pop star bubbles with righteous energy but doesn't quite hit its mark |
Album: The Bug - Fire
Kevin Martin gets fierce and seriously heavy |
Album: Kurupt FM - The Greatest Hits (Part 1)
Not actually a greatest hits collection at all but the entertaining debut from MC Grindah and crew |
Album: Shaun Ryder - Visits from Future Technology
The all-new mellow party person lives to thrill another day |
Blu-ray: The Pawnbroker
Much more than a Holocaust movie, this is Rod Steiger's best film |
Album: Alabama 3 - Step 13
South London’s finest return with a lively state of the nation address |
Album: Standing in the Doorway - Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan
Lockdown album offers fresh perspectives and great company |
Album: Maarja Nuut - Hinged
Musical impressionism from Estonia exists in its own space |
Album: Jungle - Loving in Stereo
Britain's biggest funk/soul band up their ambition further on third album |
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Album: Lil Nas X - Montero
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