Leeds Market Record Fair continues to deliver. £15 for the Richman, £20 for the other six
Kevin Morby in a sub-tropical Manchester, easily occupying the demi-god rock star persona he’s busily cultivating. And…what a band. Keep an eye on the name Liam Kazar
New to me until today, another literary, swapping instruments at will outfit endorsed by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and the ubiquitous MJ Lenderman. Friendship, Florry, Wednesday, Styrofoam Winos…quite a scene developing
Splashed out on some Joe Henry vinyl at a very decent price. ‘Blood From Stars’ is his minimalist masterpiece
An understated masterpiece. Gene Clark in 1987 given a new lease of life by the majestic Carla Olson
By some stretch, the best album I’ve heard this year. Music that occupies. It has a languid, mystical quality. Produced so sympathetically that its layers emerge and insinuate without overwhelming. Plus, Kurt Vile is not one to take himself earnestly. Lyrically, he’s a comedian and a visionary.
Reacquainting with the Argentina team of 1978. Passarella - what a player he was. Kempes, Luque (died, Covid), Ossie, Bertoni...not pictured, the reserve centre back, Daniel Killer
Connemara coast this morning. Midges settling into their routine after the high winds
So much great new music in the last couple of weeks. From its eponymous nod to the local mob scene to the gargantuan ragged Americana of the closing anthem the recently elusive Deer Tick have crafted an album of epic proportions
I’m a sucker for Cherry Red comps, they do it so well. I doubt there’s many tracks on this I haven’t got somewhere or other but still…out end of the month
Despite the scepticism from some Mackenzie devotees I think Simon Raymonde did a spectacular job in bringing this album to fruition. ‘And This She Knows’, inspired by a dream featuring Kylie Minogue, is barely held together by the incredible voice.
The world requires The Lemon Twigs. They get better and better, complemented by the crystalline, spatial sound in the Brudenell's Community Room and the fabulous new songs. Everything Harmony.
3 Yorkshire Peaks with the kids. I kept up (mostly). 10 mainly ascending hours, the nearest to rock climbing I’ve been to, 25 miles of (mostly) fun, sun and deep, deep chat
Power pop has never lost its legs. I was a huge fan of Shoes and Gary Klebe’s solo LP keeps the layered guitars nicely compressed and the choruses huge. Deceptively deep and enigmatic songs that plumb the meaning of life.
90 minutes of murder ballads and bone-dry Americana in Leeds 6. The Handsome Family, 32 years inhabiting their own genre with humour and serious musicianship.
Without a shadow of a doubt Kevin Morby has made the album of his career to date. Literate, poetic, humane, subtle, harmonious, beautifully produced.
Transports me to a time and a place and a gig that is etched - ETCHED - on me.