mon 21/07/2025

New Music Reviews

RBMA presents LFO, XOYO

joe Muggs

Of all the major acts from the the acid house/rave explosion, Leeds's LFO seem least interested in becoming a “heritage act”. Perhaps it's because Mark Bell (the sole member of LFO since the early departure of Gez Varley) has no need to cash in on the brand, thanks to his lucrative “day job” as producer of choice for the likes of Björk and Depeche Mode.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Hawkwind, Dual Form, The Children’s Hour, Buddy Guy

Kieron Tyler


Hawkwind Space RitualHawkwind: Space Ritual

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Glen Campbell: The Rhinestone Cowboy, BBC Four

Kieron Tyler

Although there was no shortage of interview clips with Glen Campbell [who has died at the age of 81] in this fine overview of his career, the tragedy was that archives were so heavily drawn on. Tragic because pop-country stylist Campbell has Alzheimer’s and is limited in what he can contribute.

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Sinéad O'Connor, LSO St Lukes, London

Thomas H Green

The manner and the speed with which Sinéad O’Connor veers between impishly poking fun at herself and her material, and delivering it with scorching force, is bewildering.

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Dropkick Murphys, Barrowlands, Glasgow

Lisa-Marie Ferla

Was there ever a band to generate such passionate fan adulation as Dropkick Murphys? Keeping up a chant of "Let's Go Murphys" for a good 10 minutes before there was any sign of the Boston seven-piece on the city's most famous stage, the Glasgow punks were in fine voice even before the raucous singalongs began.

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CD: José James - No Beginning No End

peter Quinn

On this debut album for Blue Note, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter José James effortlessly blends the beat-driven mien of hip-hop, the surprising transitions of jazz and the raw emotion of classic R&B to produce his strongest statement to date. Following three critically acclaimed albums for the Brownswood and Verve labels, James seems to have discovered the key to making the simple resonate.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Marianne Faithfull, Françoise Hardy, Pia Fraus

Kieron Tyler

 

Marianne Faithfull Broken EnglishMarianne Faithfull: Broken English

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Just in From Scandinavia: Nordic Music Round-Up 6

Kieron Tyler

Santa has returned home, but he wasn’t the season’s only visitor from the Nordic lands. The crop of recent music in from the region embraces genre-crossing jazz, vintage-style rock, the expected electropop, cross-border collaborations and a seven-year-old Finn. Exploring all corners of Scandinavia’s music, theartsdesk journeys where no one else does, landing in Norway first for some finely formed jazz.

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David Bowie, 66, releases first new single in a decade

theartsdesk

Well, he was always ahead of the game. In a few years’ time 66 will become the new official pension age in his native United Kingdom, but David Bowie has chosen to celebrate his 66th birthday by coming out of what many perceived to be retirement. “Where Are We Now?” was launched without any previous fanfare earlier this morning, and you can listen to it and watch the video (directed by Tony Oursler) here.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Broadcast, João Gilberto, James, Here Comes the Hurt

Kieron Tyler

 

Broadcast: Berberian Sound Studio Original Soundtrack

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