Rocktrospectiva: The Eponymous Debut Album By Go West Turns 40

Released in April 1985 "Go West" was the debut studio album by the English pop duo Go West. The album brought the band into the limelight, scoring them a string of top 40 hits in the UK and New Zealand. "We Close Our Eyes" was the most successful single, reaching No. 4 in New Zealand and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself reached No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart. The Album spawned four singles "We Close Our Eyes", "Call Me", "Goodby Girl", "Eye To Eye" & "Don't Look Down". 

Go West, formed in London by Peter Cox and Richard Drummie, had been writing songs for the album since 1982. Two songs featured on the album, "We Close Our Eyes" and "Call Me", helped them land a record deal with Chrysalis Records.

This 9 track album opened with lead single "We Close Our Eyes", which gave the duo a #5 UK hit single in 1985. It bursts open with synth/brass riffs that are repeated in the chorus. The vocals are pop-rock styled, set over a perfect 80s solid beat. It’s a fantastically 80s song and absolutely catchy. Next was "Don't Look Down" a song that has plenty of smooth synth blasts that remind me a fair bit of Jump by The Pointer Sisters. The track is particularly catchy in the chorus, and again is packed with the same kind of energy as the previous track. The third track was the group's second single Call Me, which bounces in but is essentially a softer song – musically and vocally. 

Next was "Eye To Eye" is up next, and I’m soon reminded me of the lyrics of Kajagoogoo's hit Too Shy. There’s plenty of 80s Obligatory Saxophone here too. It’s quite a nice mid-tempo track. "Haunted." was a song is quite up-beat and relatively catchy too, and has tons of growling electric guitar in it. The vocals here really shine, with plenty of space for them to show off their vocal range. "S.O.S". This bursts open with percussion and a lot of bass guitar. The guitars really go for it in this song, particularly during the chorus. The third single "Goodbye Girl." This was a much slower more ballad-ish track. This slower song must have felt like quite a contrast but it’s the weakest song on the album so far. "Innocence" followed next, with an army of robotic synths and growling guitars before Peter’s vocals slide seamlessly in. The album closed with "Missing Persons." This is a bit of a downbeat drifty song with saxophone, piano, wafting vocals.

The honors of certain tracks on this record was the song "Goodbye Girl" was featured in the first episode of the second season of the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. The song "Call Me" is included on the soundtrack for the popular 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, on the fictional in-game radio station "Flash FM" and on the official soundtrack release.

Go West Track List:  

 

1. We Close Our Eyes

2. Don't Look Down

3. Call Me

4. Eye To Eye

5. Haunted

6. S.O.S.

7. Goodbye Girl

8. Innocence

9. Missing Persons

The Compilation: Now The Albums 1980-1984 Essential Tracks From Iconic Albums

NOW Music will issue a second volume under their "Now That"s What I Call An Era" banner.

The first volume – The Sound of the Suburbs – focused on music from the late 70s, whereas this new collection – The Albums 1980 > 1984 – is concerned with music from the early part of the decade we like to call ‘the 1980s’ – but with a twist: None of the tracks were released as UK singles – they are all album tracks or deep cuts as some people like to call them.

So… favourite artists, familiar sounds, often best-selling albums, but not the tracks you'd normally expect on compilations. From Wham!'s first album, Fantastic!, there's "A Ray of Sunshine" and from Make It Big the song 'Hearbeat' is selected. "Frankie’s First Affair" is picked from Sade's Diamond Life album, while from Alison Moyet’s Alf, "Where Hides Sleep" is selected.

The superb title track of Paul Young's No Parlez earns a place on merit, as does a pair of tracks from Duran Duran’s first two albums: "Is There Anyone Out There?" and "The Chaffeur".

In 4CD deluxe hardcover book form, The Albums 1980 > 1984 features 72 tracks in this vein, including Paul Simon’s "Hearts and Bones", Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Black Night White Light", Tears For Fears' "The Hurting", The Police's "When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around" and many more.

The deluxe 4CD includes a 28-page booklet with a track-by-track guide, just like the Yearbooks. A 40-track 3LP vinyl version features each LP pressed on blue, white and pink vinyl

Now That’s What I Call An Era: The Albums 1980 > 1984 will be released on 30 May 2025.

Track List:  

CD 1

1. Wham! – A Ray Of Sunshine

2. Haircut 100 – Lemon Firebrigade

3. ABC – Show Me

4. Culture Club – Black Money

5. Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart – This City Never Sleeps

6. Alison Moyet – Where Hides Sleep

7. Sade – Frankie’s First Affair

8. Roxy Music – The Space Between

9. Japan – Talking Drum

10. Duran Duran – Anyone Out There

11. The Human League – The Things That Dreams Are Made Of

12. Spandau Ballet – Reformation

13. Heaven 17 – We Live So Fast

14. Ultravox – New Europeans

15. Donna Summer – Protection

16. Tina Turner – I Might Have Been Queen

17. Bruce Springsteen – The Ties That Bind

18. Pretenders – Mystery Achievement

 

CD 2

 

1. Wham! – Heartbeat

2. Soft Cell – Secret Life

3. Bananarama – Young At Heart

4. Nik Kershaw – Bogart

5. Thompson Twins – The Gap

6. Howard Jones – Equality

7. Bronski Beat – Junk

8. Shalamar – Don’t Try To Change Me

9. Imagination – All Night Loving

10. Toyah – Jungles Of Jupiter

11. Kim Wilde – Our Town

12. Culture Club – Boy Boy (I'm The Boy)

13. Mari Wilson – Are You There With Another Girl?

14. Carmel – Tracks Of My Tears

15. The Style Council & Tracey Thorn – The Paris Match

16. Paul Simon – Hearts And Bones

17. Joan Armatrading – Turn Out The Light

18. Paul Young – No Parlez

 

CD 3

 

1. Duran Duran – The Chauffeur

2. Japan – Taking Islands In Africa

3. Tears For Fears – The Hurting

4. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Black Night White Light

5. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – She's Leaving

6. Laurie Anderson – From The Air

7. The Cure – Play For Today

8. Joy Division – Isolation

9. R.E.M. – Harborcoat

10. The Psychedelic Furs – President Gas

11. Blancmange – Game Above My Head

12. China Crisis – Red Sails

13. The Associates – Gloomy Sunday

14. Adam & The Ants – Ants Invasion

15. The Teardrop Explodes – Second Head

12. Echo And The Bunnymen – Crystal Days

13. The Jam – Man In The Corner Shop

14. Aztec Camera – We Could Send Letters

15. Nick Heyward – The Day It Rained Forever

 

CD 4

 

1. New Order – Age Of Consent

2. The League Unlimited Orchestra – Hard Times

3. Visage – Anvil Night Club School

4. Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

5. Talk Talk – The Party's Over

6. The Fixx – Reach The Beach

7. David Sylvian – Nostalgia

8. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Almost Blue

9. The Cure – Shake Dog Shake

10. Blondie – Angels On The Balcony

11. Dexy's Midnight Runners – Tell Me When My Light Turns Green

12. The Clash – Overpowered By Funk

13. The Police – When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around

14. Grace Jones – Nightclubbing

15. UB40 – Tyler

16. The Selecter – Too Much Pressure

17. The Specials – Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)

New Music: Down To Be Wrong

           

Haim have shared exciting news of their brand new album, coming on 20th June. The new record, entitled "I quit" is the trio's fourth release via Polydor. The announcement of the album comes alongside the release of a new single, "Down to be wrong". The new track is the third offering from the forthcoming album, following previous hits, "Relationships" and "Everybody's Trying To Figure Me Out", The new track is a defiant reminder of self preservation - with an earworm chorus that gets right under your skin. “Don’t need you to understand, don’t know if you can,” is the track’s parting message, and perhaps a tease of what’s yet to come on the unheard tracks. The video was shot by Bradley & Pablo and shot by Larkin Seiple. The new album - which will contain a whopping 15 tracks - was produced by Danielle Haim and Rostam Batmanglij. 

Albums: Sleep Of Reason

The Pet Shop Boys', Neil Tennant is a talented singer and songwriter. Following the announcement of a new collaborative album with composer Mark Springer, the singer has now released it. Mark was part of Rip Rig + Panic, a post-punk band founded in 1980, which also featured Neneh Cherry. Since then he has worked primarily as a solo artist, composing piano music, and scores for TV shows. 

His latest collaboration is with Neil Tennant and Sacconi Quartet, a UK-based classical string quartet founded in 2001.

Announcing the news on Pet Shop Boys' social media, they posted the album's artwork writing: Composer Mark Springer’s forthcoming new album, "Sleep of Reason", which includes a collaboration with Neil Tennant, is now available to pre-order on double vinyl and CD exclusively at the Bandcamp link in bio.

'The album is planned for release in April 2025 and consists of three major pieces inspired by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya: a piece for solo piano, a string quartet and a quintet for voice and strings. Mark Springer plays the piano, The Sacconi Quartet perform the quartet and they are joined by Neil Tennant on vocals for the quintet. The opening track "Phantoms and Monsters" can be listened to now at the Bandcamp link.'

Following the initial announcement, a second post confirmed the release date and that the album is available on CD. Neil told his fans: 'I just met the composer Mark Springer to get some CDs of his beautiful work, “Sleep of Reason”, the first part of which I sing on. It’s always exciting to get finished copies of a new record and this looks very handsome! It’s released on April 25th. Neil x'.

Speaking about the album, Neil said: "I bought a book of Goya's print series Los Caprichos which had inspired Mark's music and saw that the artworks were a satirical, cruel, nightmarish portrayal of the politics, corruption and culture of his era, exploring his dreams - or nightmares - while exposing the double standards of the ruling establishment.

"The lyrics I wrote for 'Sleep of Reason', in response to Los Caprichos, are intended to be sardonic and dreamlike, looking back to Goya's nightmares but then reflecting on my experiences in 21st Century popular culture and media in which I have located the 'monsters' Goya saw in his dreams.

"It often feels like we're living in an era dominated by monsters with their grotesque egos hollering through social media, unfiltered and untruthful, leaving a trail of wreckage behind them. Maybe it's always felt like that."

Sleep Of Reason The tracklist features 13 songs which are listed below.

1. Phantoms and Monsters

2. A Witch and a Devil

3. Truth is for Losers

4. Schmutzig

5. My Friend the Monster

6. The Madness of the Summer'

7. Morn

8. Noon

9. Night

10. Break

11. Fligh

12. Dark

13. Moon

New Music: Alley

            

The legendary alt-rocker Suzanne Vega has shared today a new single "Alley" is the latest advance track from Vega's forthcoming Flying With Angels following "Rats," "Speakers Corner," and "Chambermaid." This one carries along its minor-key guitar tapestry on a propulsive drumbeat, sung by Vega at her breathiest and understated best.

New Music: Pink Elephant

           

Win Butler and his band have shard their Pixies-esque "Pink Elephant" song sees the group continue with their more restrained, guitar-focused approach.Speaking about the track  the frontman explained: "When you feel like you're making a record, sometimes a song contains the universe, that you know other songs – even if they haven’t shown up yet – are gonna show up. Cause they're related to the universe of that song. "It's like, if you're in a desert and you find a well. It's the only well in that part of the desert. And you see one animal walk up – you know other animals are nearby, 'cause everyone's coming to the same well. If you find that one exotic creature, other songs are gonna come to hang out in the same place." His wife and bandmate Régine Chassagne then compared the "Pink Elephant" single to the "Reflektor" and "The Suburbs" title tracks, and how they unlocked those albums’ respective worlds.

In Memoriam: The Anarchic Pere Ubu's "David Thomas" Died At 71

The legendary US musician who was a major influence on post-punk and alt-rock scenes thanks to his spirited, chaotic style, David Thomas, who fronted the wild and free-thinking American rock band Pere Ubu, has died aged 71.

A statement on Pere Ubu's Facebook page said that he died "in his home town of Brighton & Hove, with his wife and youngest step-daughter by his side. MC5 were playing on the radio." The statement continues: "He will ultimately be returned to his family home, the farm in Pennsylvania, where he insisted he was to be "thrown in the barn" … We'll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can: "My name is David Fucking Thomas… and I'm the lead singer of the best fucking rock and roll band in the world.'"

That band were indeed a force to be reckoned with, channelling the raucous, raw energy of garage rock into adventurous songwriting decked out with saxophones, funky bass and Thomas’s spirited exclamations. With a post-punk spirit even before punk had properly got going, Pere Ubu were a big influence on the alt-rock that emerged in the 1980s including bands such as Pixies amongst others.

Born in Miami and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Thomas formed his first band Rocket From the Tombs in 1974, who, despite some notoriously energised live shows couldn't find a record deal and never put out studio material, then formed Pere Ubu, taking their name from a character in a play by absurdist French writer Alfred Jarry. "It was a name that wouldn't mean anything to 95% of an audience," he later said. "I wanted to create a band that Herman Melville, William Faulkner or Raymond Chandler would have wanted to be in."

The debut single "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" was released in 1975, and the band impressed an A&R at Mercury Records, which created a whole new imprint for their 1978 debut album The Modern Dance. Described as "harsh and wilfully ugly" in Rolling Stone, it contained superb vocal performances from Thomas, such as the exhilarating rant of Life Stinks, and while it wasn’t a commercial success it chimed with a growing post-punk movement. The band broke up briefly in 1979, then for a longer period after fifth album Song of the Bailing Man. Thomas put out a series of records away from the group, with backing bands such as the Pedestrians and the Wooden Birds, before Pere Ubu reformed in 1987. 

This was the beginning of the band's most commercially successful phase, with a major label behind them, prompting minor MTV hits such as Waiting For Mary, and appearances on British TV.They released 14 albums in the following years, with Thomas the sole founder member leading a changing lineup of more than 20 musicians.

Thomas also had intriguing side projects, such as an appearance in Rogue's Gallery, a star-studded concert series performing pirate songs he also performed What Will We Do With a Drunken Sailor on a 2006 album that also featured Sting, Lou Reed and Nick Cave and a 2002 West End production of "junk opera" Shockheaded Peter. 

After living with kidney disease, Thomas had been recording an album that "he knew was to be his last". The album will be completed after his death, along with an autobiography and an archival project of live concerts.

News: The Pet Shop Boys Official Remixes For Tina Turner And The Hidden Cameras

This Friday, The Pet Shop Boys and Neil Tennant released a pair of remixes and a collaborative album called with composer Mark Springer called "Sleep of Reason", the remix of Tina Turner's song "Hot For You Baby", which was released for the first time earlier this year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of 'Private Dancer

 

The original song was recorded at the time Tina recorded her breakthrough solo album "Private Dancer". It was written by Australian duo George Young and Harry Vanda and produced by John Carter, but did not see an official release until earlier this year, after it was unearthed.

Sharing the details of the new release, alongside another remix, the "West End Girls" band wrote: 'Pet Shop Boys are happy to reveal two new remixes for Tina Turner and The Hidden Cameras, both of which are released digitally today and available to hear now.

'The first track is a PSB remix of Tina Turner’s "Hot For You Baby", a previously undiscovered song from the 1984 "Private Dancer" album recording sessions.

The second track is The Hidden Cameras' new digital single "How Do You Love?", which is streaming now and will also be released as a limited edition twelve-inch vinyl on Friday, 9th May. All details are available on The Hidden Cameras official website.

New Music: Achilles

           

"Achilles", is the new single from The Divine Comedy, taken from the band's forthcoming album, Rainy Sunday Afternoon, Achilles is yet another example of Neil Hannon's peerless songwriting. Hannon explains the origins of the song: "I saw a man this morning who did not wish to die". So begins the opening lines of Patrick Shaw-Stewart’s 1915 poem, "Achilles in the Trench". I read a newspaper article about it around the time of the various WW1 centenaries and was very struck by it. The growing dread of the young classics scholar as he waits to board a troop ship for Gallipoli. ‘Shells and hells for me’. It made me feel tremendously grateful to have grown up in the postwar oasis of calm. To have made it to my forty-third birthday, outliving Shaw-Stewart by some fifteen years. I trust he wouldn't mind that I pilfered a few of his lines. I hope it draws attention to his writing, his sacrifice, and the sacrifice of his contemporaries. Especially in these fraught times.” Achilles was written, arranged and produced by Neil Hannon. The video was directed by his long-time collaborator, the French director and photographer Raphaël Neal. It's the sixth video he's made with The Divine Comedy. "The Achilles music video is probably my favourite work I’ve ever done for The Divine Comedy." Raphaël Neal explains "In the past, our videos often had a narrative, but this time, there would be no story, Neil visualising instead a tableaux-based studio video. Some scenes, like the one where the WW1 soldier imagines himself as Achilles, illustrate the song and the original poem by Patrick Shaw-Stewart. Others take us somewhere else. Yet they all say something about the themes of the song: getting older, reflecting on death and, at the heart of this existential struggle, bravery."

New Music: Dreams

           

The Knocks & Dragonette are meticulously crafting their upcoming album "Revelation", and now they shared their latest single "Dreams," it's an impressive tracks in line with the already explosive offerings single the project released before, now with "Dreams" they elevates the era with its captivating synth-hued dance-pop vibes, promising a standout hit. This powerful collaboration is above all shaping up to be a defining moment in their storied careers.

New Music: It's Where I'm From

          

The Moonlandingz the avant-garde group enlist Iggy Pop for their latest release, accompanied by a movement-led journey into male vulnerability on their new single "It's Where I'm From", accompanied by a new music video – directed by Jeanie Crystal. The third instalment of a three-part collaboration with the director, the new visual delves into themes of male vulnerability, sexuality, insecurities and ego, translated through movement. Talking about the project, Crystal says, "I'm always thinking about the very obvious correlation to me between the rock icon, messiah/demagogue and the father and how these figures influence the behaviours of boys and men. This is the finale of a three piece sequence (for The Moonlandingz) about male vulnerability, sexuality, and the absurd complexities of trying to understand the label of man." The group's second album "No Rocket Required" is set for release on 25 April via Transgressive Records.

New Music: Before You I Just Forget

           

Irish five-piece Fontaines D.C. have released a new song "Before You I Just Forget." It is part of the deluxe edition of their 2024 album, Romance, The deluxe edition also includes “It's Amazing to Be Young,” which the band shared in February  There’s also a stripped back version of the album's "Starburster" and melds into a cover of David Lynch's "In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)," from the soundtrack of Lynch's 1977 film Eraserhead. In a press release, the band's Conor Curley had this to say about the new single, which was produced by James Ford: "Before You I Just Forget" is a song that started with a vision of this really blown out sound, something that heaved and shifted with new details, becoming apparent every time you would listen. Like never being able to step in the same river twice, the song morphs and changes.

Albums: Mixes Of A Lost World

The Cure will release Mixes of a Lost World in June, an album of remixes of songs from last year’s acclaimed Songs of a Lost World.

Standard 2CD and 2LP editions will feature brand new remixes from the likes of Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital and many more. Both discs feature all eight tracks from the album in remixed form. Deluxe three-disc sets (3LP and 3CD) add additional remixes and reworks from Chino Moreno (Deftones), Mogwai and 65daysofstatic, among others. 

The third bonus disc adds all eight tracks from the album, giving you three versions of the record in remixed form. The 3LP set is half-speed mastered and comes with a poster, as does the 3CD edition. Both versions (two-disc and three-disc) are available on cassette, which is exclusive to The Cure’s shop.

Mixes of a Lost World will be released on 13 June 2025 via Polydor. All The Cure’s recording royalties will benefit the WarChild charity.

 

Mixes Of A Lost World Track List:  

 

CD1: 

 

1. CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Paul Oakenfold ‘Cinematic’ Remix)

2. ENDSONG (Orbital Remix)

3. DRONE:NODRONE (Daniel Avery Remix)

4. ALL I EVER AM (meera Remix)

5. A FRAGILE THING (Âme Remix)

6. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Danny Briottet & Rico Conning Remix)

7. WARSONG (Daybreakers Remix)

8. ALONE (Four Tet Remix) 

CD 2

 

1.  I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Mental Overdrive Remix)

2. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Cosmodelica Electric Eden Remix)

3. A FRAGILE THING (Sally C Remix)

4. ENDSONG (Gregor Tresher Remix)

5. WARSONG (Omid 16B Remix)

6. DRONE:NODRONE (Anja Schneider Remix)

7. ALONE (Shanti Celeste ‘February Blues’ Remix)

8. ALL I EVER AM (Mura Masa Remix) 

CD 3 [deluxe only]

 

1. I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Craven Faults Rework)

2. DRONE:NODRONE (JoyCut ‘Anti-Gravitational’ Remix)

3. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Trentemøller Rework)

4. WARSONG (Chino Moreno Remix)

5. ALONE (Ex-Easter Island Head Remix)

6. ALL I EVER AM (65daysofstatic Remix)

7. A FRAGILE THING (The Twilight Sad Remix)

8. ENDSONG (Mogwai Remix)

The Reissue: Bryan Ferry 13th., Studio Album "Olympia" Will Be Reissued

Bryan Ferry's 13th studio album, Olympia, will be reissued next month on CD and vinyl. Originally released in 2010, Olympia includes contributions from Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, David Gilmour and Nile Rodgers. The single "You Can Dance" was co-written with Dave A. Stewart of Eurythmics. 

According to Bryan:  When we did "You Can Dance", it started off as a country and western kind of track and I turned it into something with a different feel altogether.

The album features model Kate Moss on the front cover and at the time of release was available in various editions including a CD+DVD deluxe with two bonus tracks and some video content. A large format super deluxe added a bonus CD of remixes. A Vinyl Factory pressed 200g deluxe vinyl was also available.

For 2025, the new CD edition effectively replicates the old deluxe but loses the DVD. So the two bonus audio tracks are the same: "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" and "One Night". A new LP version is pressed on 180g red vinyl. Bryan Ferry has overseen updated artwork for both formats (this appears to be minor).

Simultaneously, with Olympia is a reissue of Ferry's 1999 album As Time Goes By, a collection of cover versions of popular songs and jazz standards. Like Olympia this record was co-produced with Rhett Davies. No bonus tracks on CD this time, just the 15 songs that were originally on the album. The LP reissue is pressed on 180g ‘honey gold’ vinyl.

Olympia and When Time Goes By are reissued on 30 May 2025 via BMG.

 

Olympia Track List: 

 

1. You Can Dance

2. Alphaville

3. Heartache By Numbers

4. Me Oh My

5. Shameless

6. Sont To The Siren

7. No Face, No Name, No Number

8. BF Bass (Ode To Olympia)

9. Reason Or Rhyme

10. Tender Is The Night

 

Bonus Tracks

 

1. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night

2. One Night

 

When Time Goes By Track List: 

 

1. As Time Goes By

2. The Way You Look Tonight

3. Easy Living

4. I'm In The Mood For Love

5. Where Or When

6. When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful

7. Sweet And Lovely

8. Miss Otis Regrets

9. Time On My Hands

10. Lover Come Back To Me

11. Falling In Love Again

12. Love Me Or Leave Me

13. You Do Something To Me

14. Just One Of Those Things 

15. September Song

Rocktrospectiva: The Brilliant "Voices Carry" Turns 40

Released on 20 April 1985 "Voices Carry" was the first studio album by the US new wave band 'Til Tuesday, the album spawned three singles "Voices Carry" which went to #8 on the Billboard singles chart and remains the band's best-known song. The "Voices Carry" video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and was played heavily on MTV. The album's second and third singles were "Looking Over My Shoulder" peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the magnificent "Love in a Vacuum". 

 

The album entered the Billboard 200 at 152nd place on June 25. The album spent 31 weeks on the chart, peaking at 19. 'Til Tuesday's debut album, Voices Carry, was a fairly good album with a decent production, Mike Thorne does a decent job on much of the album and excellent work on the title track. Former manager Randall Barbera spoke with this writer prior to the album's recording, when Human League/Pete Shelley producer Martin Rushent was being considered for the task.  

 

The band released the hit demo of "Love in a Vacuum," which saturated Boston airwaves prior to the record deal? As good a job as Mike Thorne did on the song "Voices Carry," the world at large has not heard the inspired and innovative recording that was the original "Love in a Vacuum." 

 

'Til Tuesday demos. "Don't Watch Me Bleed" has the same kind of mesmerizing bass that makes "Voices Carry" so captivating, while the final track, "Sleep," could be the Human League going deep into the underground. There was something about this combination of Pesce, Hausman, and the brilliant Robert Holmes that would make a 'Til Tuesday reunion a welcome thing. 

 

The haunting lyrics and dark tones of the keys and bass on songs like "I Could Get Used to This" or "No More Crying" separate this recording from the work of similar '80s bands. "Looking Over My Shoulder" has a bubbling intensity which Holmes' guitar adds drama to. Voices Carry may have achieved success because of the MTV video, but there were nine other songs to go along with the hit, and this album and its follow-ups should have had as much commercial success. 

 

Voices Carry" is quite a glossy album for such an initially unknown band's debut. The songwriting and lyrical wit on the album is top notch, with every member of 'Til Tuesday getting equal credit for each composition. A large part of the sound is shared between Aimee Mann's thick and funk heavy bass and Robert Holmes shimmering guitar work. Despite the title track stealing most of the credit, the rest of the album is practically no filler; tracks such as "Love In A Vacuum" or "No More Crying" show an undeniable knack for subtle production textures and anthemic, sing-along choruses.

Unfortunately, 'Til Tuesday are an incredibly unfairly forgotten one hit wonder; every song on here sounds like a potential hit and shows an extreme ear for lyrical depth and hooky choruses. While the top 10 hit "Voices Carry" steals most of the show, the rest of the album is highly, highly recommended.

 

Critics were mixed, some describe it as a pleasure but not a revelation, others praised their vocalist Aimee Mann her attitude also because she had her own look and a voice that's evocative, thought not yet distinctive enough to stake out its own turf in the crowded field of female vocalists. Nevertheless, and despite considered' em a one-hit wonder, in the years to come, a popular Canadian teen dram "Degrassi: The Next Generation" was famous for naming each episode after an '80s hit song or album, in this case, they named a two-part episode after this album. 

 

Voices Carry Track List: 

 

1. Love In A Vacuum

2. Looking Over My Shoulder

3. I Could Get Used To This

4. No More Crying

5. Voices Carry

6. Winning The War

7. You Know The Rest

8. Maybe Monday

9. Are you Serious?

10. Don't Watch Me Bleed

11. Sleep

New Music: Don't Speak

            

The newly emerging project Loaded Honey make their official debut with the single "Don't Speak". The dance-pop duo utilises the skills of J Lloyd and Lydia Kitto from Jungle, two musicians who met in the studio, only to forge a deep and abiding friendship. Later living together, the two have swapped ideas for some time now, their skills fused during sessions across Jungle's last two albums, ‘Volcano’ and ‘Loving In Stereo’. The single has a certain ealy 1970's sound with modern pop euphoria, the retro video is shot in what resembles a lonely American diner, the second in a series of 11 one-shot visual character pieces that have been created to accompany the music, directed by J Lloyd and Charlie di Placido.

New Music: Dancing On Volcanoes

           

Having released three albums in Welsh and Cornish, "Utopia" is Gwenno Saunders' first album recorded predominantly in English, and presents a very different side to her life and songwriting.With "Dancing On Volcanoes, Gwenno says: I feel as if I've written a debut record, because it's a different language and it's a different part of my life. It's about that point where I go out into the world on my own, which people generally write about first, and then get on with their lives. But it's taken me so long to digest it — I needed 20 years just to make sense of things, and I realised the starting point of my creative life isn't Wales, it's actually North America."Dancing On Volcanoes" is heartbreakingly gorgeous, like a luxurious perfume gently hitting your senses and lingering a long time. 'Heartbreaking' because there's something so precious, fragile, and fleeting in that song, which really brings the feeling of dancing on something as hot and explosive as a volcano across.Video is under direction by Clare Marie Bailey and edited by Gwenno.

The Compilation: Certain Shades Of Limelight

Cherry Red announce a new Swing Out Sister collection, the 8CD box set called Certain Shades Of Limelight.

This 8CD set features newly mastered albums released between 1994 and 2004 along with three bonus CDs of B-sides, remixes, edits and rarities. The albums in question are:

• The Living Return (1994)
• Shapes And Patterns (1997)
• Filth And Dreams (1999)
• Somewhere in the Night (2001)
• Where Our Love Grows (2004)

This set has been compiled in conjunction with Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell and the booklet features notes from John Earls. The packaging will be the same as before and a third SOS box in this series has been confirmed!

Certain Shades Of Limelight will be released on 27 June 2025, via Cherry Pop.

CD 1: The Living Return

 

1. Better Make It Better

2. Don’t Let Yourself Down

3. Ordinary People

4. Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool

5. Don’t Give Up on A Good Thing

6. Making The Right Move

7. La La (Means I Love You)

8. Feel Free

9. Stop And Think It Over

10. That’s The Way It Goes

11. All In Your Mind

12. Pesadelo Dos Autores

13. Low Down Dirty Business

 

CD 2: Shapes and Patterns

 

1. Somewhere In the World

2. Here And Now

3. We Could Make It Happen

4. Shapes And Patterns

5. Better Make It Better

6. Something Out of This World

7. Joe Meek’s Cat

8. Stoned Soul Picnic

9. You Already Know

10. Always

11. Now You’re Not Here

12. Icy Cold as Winter

13. Shapes And Patterns (Reprise)

 

CD 3: Filth And Dreams

 

1. Who’s Been Sleeping

2. Closer Than the Sun

3. Sugar Free

4. Filth And Dreams

5. Happy When You’re High

6. If I Had the Heart

7. When Morning Comes

8. Invisible

9. World Out of Control

10. Make You Stay

 

CD 4: Somewhere Deep in The Night

 

1. Through The Sky

2. Will We Find Love?

3. Somewhere Deep in The Night

4. The Vital Thing

5. What Kind of Fool Are You?

6. Suspended In Time

7. Alpine Crossing

8. Fool Tag

9. Where The Hell Did, I Go Wrong?

10. Non E Vero Ma Ci Credo

11. Touch Me Now

12. The Vital Thing-Take B

13. Where Do I Go?

14. Now Listen to Me 

 

CD 5: Where Our Love Grows

 

1. Love Won’t Let You Down

2. Where Our Love Grows

3. When The Laughter Is Over

4. Certain Shades of Limelight

5. From My Window

6. Caipirinha

7. Where Our Love Grows (A Cappella)

8. Let The Stars Shine

9. We’ll Find a Place

10. Happy Ending

11. La Source

12. Love Won’t Let You Down (More Love)

 

CD 6: The Big Elsewhere

 

1. Now You’re Not Here – Vocal Mix

2. Now You’re Not Here – Daddy Macks Back

3. Now You’re Not Here – Da-Li-Da

4. Now You’re Not Here – So Low

5. Now You’re Not Here – Water and Water

6. Now You’re Not Here – Desolate Shores

7. Now You’re Not Here – Deep Siesta

8. Now You’re Not Here – Instrumental

9. Now You’re Not Here – TV Mix

10. Now You’re Not Here – Cool Mix

11. Now You’re Not Here – Original Karaoke

12. Now You’re Not Here – Passion Fruit Mix

13. Now You’re Not Here – Original Single Mix

 

CD 7: Excursions and Versions

 

1. La La (Means I Love You) – Self Anointing Version

2. La La (Means I Love You) – U.S. Mix with Flute

3. La La (Means I Love You) – UK Edit W/Guitar Solo

4. La La (Means I Love You) – U.S. Mix with Trumpet

5. Better Make It Better – Eastside Connection

6. Better Make It Better – Ten Men Mix

7. Better Make It Better – Acappella Mix

8. Heaven Only Knows – Little Piece of Heaven Mix

9. Heaven Only Knows – Too Much Heaven Mix

10. Somewhere In the World – Circle & Square Mix

11. Somewhere In the World – Instrumental

12. Somewhere In the World – Original Karaoke

13. We Could Make It Happen – Instrumental

14. We Could Make It Happen – Original Karaoke

15. We Could Make It Happen – What’s Happening Mix

 

CD 8: More excursions and versions

 

1. Who’s Been Sleeping – Parabolica Mix

2. Alpine Crossing – Gravallax Mix

3. Alpine Crossing – A Cappella Mix

4. Alpine Crossing – Extended Mix

5. Waters Of March – Single

6. La La (Means I Love You) – Edit

7. Better Make It Better – Edit

8. Better Make It Better – Radio Edit

9. Better Make It Better – Edi

10. Ordinary People – Edit

11. Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool – Edit

12. Making The Right Move – Edit

13.Stop And Think It Over – Edit

14. All In Your Mind – Edit

15. Through The Sky – Single Edit

16. Somewhere Deep in The Night – Radio Edit

17. Love Won’t Let You Down – Radio Edit

New Music: Moment In Time

           

The Liverpool now five-piece band, The Farm return with their first new single in many years, "Moment In Time". Instantly recognisable by sound for their aspirational, observational and near-spiritual upbeat and electro-inspired indie, and by sight for their mod-ish terrace gang wardrobe, the band now is look ahead to the release of their long-awaited, fifth album on Friday 20 June 2025.

New Music: Charge Of The Light Brigade

            

Kula Shaker is back and shares their new single "Charge Of The Light Brigade" the band began recording their new album in Alonza’s studio in Belgium before heading to the deepest, darkest Devon to lay down the rest. The track acording to Mills: it's a very heavy-sounding record, considering there's no electric guitar on it. The drums and acoustic guitar were recorded at the same time onto the same microphone. Space echo, fuzz bass and harpsichord were added afterwards, built around a typically pulsating bass from Alonza Bevan, pushed along by Paul Winter-Hart’s drum pattern, Crispian throws a wonderful melody which will be cracking on to sing along to live, now the Hammond organ wizard Jay Darlington layers some psychedelic glitter, while a great backing vocal in the chorus brings thoughts of City Gent and mini skirt-styled ’60s summers. About the video, it was filmed at All Saints Church by Putney Bridge, Charge Of The Light Brigade may have allusions to spiritual vampires and the fairy cavalcade of Celtic folklore, but it still seeps with the lustre of psychedelic rock that Kula Shaker have become renowned for. The film finds our female protagonist escaping the charge of Mills, Darlington, Bevan and Winter-Hart, who are more like characters risen from a Hammer Horror death scene than a Lord Tennyson-inspired Crimean War troop.