Rocktrospectiva: The Underrated Gem "Home" Turns 35

Released on 19 June 1990 is the second studio album by the Irish rock band Hothouse Flowers. It reached number 5 on the UK Albums Chart and 1 on the Australian charts, The album continued their exploration of Irish folk and gospel just like in their debut album, People, the record that introduced Hothouse Flowers to the world. But while Home is every bit as good as People, it lacks an obvious standout track in certain way.  Nonetheless, several singles were released from this disc, namely "I Can See Clearly Now," "Give It Up," "Christchurch Bells," Hardstone City" and "Movies." 

 

About the record, the listener can clearly appreciate the shadow of Van Morrison looms large over Home, from the slow, piano-driven ballads "Sweet Marie" and "Shut Up and Listen" to gospel choir-backed rockers like "Giving It All Away" and their cover of "I Can See Clearly Now." But Hothouse Flowers aren't simply a pale imitation of their influences, though, and their songwriting and musicianship are excellent throughout. 

 

From the clever anthem "Movies" to the Eastern-tinged "Water," Hothouse Flowers have created a masterful collection of pop songs. Home is an underrated gem. If the band's first album achieved great success, what does the people didn't expect to see was that this record definitely overpass their early success charting in several countries peaking at No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK. 

 

Keeping the same line-up and producers tandem on this album, and among the five single released, it was "Give It Up" their finest and plus succesful, a total hymn with a blend of soul, gospel choirs and indie rock spreading positive vibes with its enthusiasts choruses and catchy verses covered by a restless piano, another good track here was Johnny Nash's cover "I Can See Cleary Now", a version marked by a long piano intro before singing, gospel choruses, a brilliant sax solo that highlight the whole tune, the mid-tempo "Movies" root rock with a dynamic rhythm base to empowered the singer and the lines, "Christchurch Bells", a fine melodic ballad boosted by a vocal powered interpretation by Liam O Maonlai, "Hardstone City" a blues-rock melodic tune full a charge and energy vibes is another remarkable tune on the record, then, the rest of the album is worthy a listen with another four nice ballads, like the six minutes tune "Sweet Marie", a folk acoustic ballad with piano arrangements full of sensibility, the vibrant and happy "Shut Up And Listen", the melancholic "Home" full of sorrow and yearning, and "Trying To Get Through" with its grave vocals overwhelming the instrumentation here and one of the most convincing tunes on the album. 

 

The heartland-rock/pop on "Giving It All Away" with a punchy sax solo, the euphoria on "Eyes Wide Open" with slices of folk-rock and certain celtic coloured tunes that took us to the profound Ireland, another celtic rock tune with "Water" keeping the heartland-rock tunes with jolly choruses, the enthusiastic "Dance To The Storm" and to finish, the band bet for an old traditional song on "Seoladh Na Ngamhna" a traditional Irish tune reprise in 42 seconds and with a chant that emerged at the end of the account as useless. 

 

The critics praised the gospel-influenced rave-ups that punctuate the band's second album highlighted  full-blown horn tunes, like 'Hardstone City' and 'Giving It All Away'" and due this reasons, the album was considered an underreated gem.  

 

Home Track List:  

 

1. Hardstone City
2. Give It Up
3. Christchurch Bells
4. Sweet Marie
5. Giving It All Away
6. Shut Up And Listen
7. I Can See Clearly Now
8. Movies
9. Eyes Wide Open
10. Water
11. Home
12. Trying To Get Through
13. Dance To The Storm
14. Seoladh Na Ngamhna

Rocktrospectiva: The Danceable "Clockwise" Turns 35

Released about this time 35 years ago, "Clockwise" was the second studio album by Greek duet Bang, formed by Thanos Kalliris aka Paul Stevens and Vassilis Dertilis aka Billy Adams, the band had a certain success with the maxi-single "You're The One" peaking at No. 74 on the UK charts with an influenced SAW tune. The second album spawned two singles "You're The One" and "Holding My Heart". 

 

After achieving a certain success in the Eurovision contest in 1987 with the song "Stop" a pop/funk dance tune but despite the huge expectations and critics, the song achieved only 64 points staying at No. 10, but this boosted the duet international career aproaching certaint acts and artists such as Shep Pettibone and François Kevorkian.

 

In 1990 the duet released "Clockwise" a fantastic 11 tracks collection soaked in dance pop heavily influenced by the tunes of Stock Aitken Waterman, the first single was a re-issue of "You're The One" peaking at No. 74 in the UK singles chart, the second "Holding My Heart" received a heavily air-play with a video entirely recorded in Hollywood that aided to spread the sound of the duet, achieving a little succes on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at No. 93, indeed, Bang is the only Greek act until now ever toured in Japan.  

 

Unfortunately the duet split their ways and Thanos Kalliris became a solo succesful artist in his native Greece in the 1990s, but at least they left us a fantastic album full of danceable moment following the same path as SAW bubblegum pop standards at the end of the 1980's and early 1990s. 

 

Clockwise Track List: 

 

1. Holding My Heart

2. Some People

3. Love Games

4. I Know (Maybe I Was Wrong)

5. I Can't Stop The Rain

6. You're The One

7. More Than Anything Else

8. Don't Burn The Bridges

9. Wasted All My Tears

10. Can't Turn Around 

Rocktrospectiva: The Outstanding "Alias" Self-Titled Debut Album Turns 35

Released on 18 June 1990, "Alias" was the self-titled debut album from the Canadian band Alias, the album spawned two singles "More Than Words Can Say" & "Waiting For Love", the first single reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 in the United States. and the second peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard hot 100 and finally "Haunted Hart" peaked at No. 18.

Back in the early 1990’s several fantastic albums from bands were released, many of these records were quite fantastic but unfortunately never reach the stardom they deserved and never reaching the number of fans that they deserved, in part, thanks to the shift in the musical landscape that was in progress back then.

One of those acts were the Canadian band Alias their debut self titled album was one that, while certainly not an unknown one, should have been bigger. The record actually went Gold when released in 1990 and garnered three singles, the power ballad and band's most-successful tune‘More Than Words Can Say’ 

The band was made up of artists that were already known in the music world. Freddy Curci and Steve DeMarchi who were both previously in the band Sheriff, the other three members of the band, Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen and Mike DeRosier, were all founding members of the phenomenal band Heart, so they're practically pro musicians, Curci had a fantastic and clear voice that sounded utterly fabulous throughout the record, you can check again the terrific ballad ‘More Than Words Can Say’.

The songs were outstanding and simply wonderful AOR gems. The band was a talented group of artists and they sounded great through each track as one would expect with the names involved on the record. But despite their good record, Alais never garnering a massive following like other AOR bands such as Foreigner and Survivor did, even thought Alias still held their own, produced a great record with some incredible songs and gathering a rather large following at the time, yet, sadly, the record still remains somewhat of an undiscovered gem for many, believe it or not.

Alias returned in 2009 with their sophmore album, "Never Say Never", a record that was recorded in 1992 but never released due to the rise of the Grunge era. It is a decent effort but not ever really reaching the strength of the debut.

Alias proved to be a consummate example of commercially oriented, hummable, yet guitar-based FM radio hard rock. The main focus was obviously set on the talents of lead vocalist Frederico Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi, nevertheless with great input from the steady rhythm section of former Heart members Steve Fossen, Roger Fisher and Mike DeRosier, along with steve’s brother Denny DeMarchi on additional keyboards and backing vocals. An impressive lineup of musicians, to say the least, who all contributed to one of the finest, most well-produced debuts from the tail end of the golden era of AOR and Hard rock scene

Alias Track List

1. Say What I Wanna Say 2. Haunted Heart 3. Waiting For Love 4. The Power 5. Heroes 6. What To Do 7. After All The Love Is Gone 8. More Than Words Can Say 9. One More Chance 10. True Emotion 11. Standing In The Darkness

New Music: That Feeling

           

The Farm are back with their second new single, "That Feeling". 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 formerly riotous, now reformed 80s/90s Liverpool five-piece return as wised-up statesmen of pop and look ahead to the release of their long-awaited, their fifth and forthcoming new album will be available on Friday 20 June 2025.

New Music: The Air That I Breathe

           

Belinda Carlisle has shared now the official video of her cover of The Hollies' 1973 hit, The Air That I Breathe, as the first single from her upcoming album, ‘Once Upon A Time In California’. The track serves as the lead release from The Go-Go’s legend’s first English-language pop album in almost 30 years, admitting the song has always been one of my very favorites growing up."I love the lyrics and the complicated melody," she says. "This was on the list I originally made of songs that I wanted to sing if I ever did a cover album" about the video she said: "I'm so happy with the way it turned out and I absolutely love the video as it sort of harkens back to my early solo albums and videos."

New Music: Incomprenhensible

           

Big Thief have announced a new album. Double Infinity is the band’s sixth studio and will be out September 5 via 4AD, the record was made with a rotating cast of collaborators, among them Alena Spanger, Ginla’s Jon Nellen, Natural Information Society’s Mikel Patrick Avery, and Laraaji. The now trio following the departure of bassist Max Oleartchik shares the lead single "Incomprehensible", and nice smooth vibe and nostalgia yes the fear of getting old

In Memoriam: Nitzer Ebb's Frontman "Douglas McCarthy" Has Died Aged 58

Douglas McCarthy, the irrepressible frontman and chief lyricist of British industrial band Nitzer Ebb, has died aged 58. No cause of death given for influential electronic body music vocalist whose punchy, declarative style found fans across both rock and dance. 

 

A statement on the group’s social media reads: "It is with a heavy heart that we regret to inform that Douglas McCarthy passed away this morning of June 11th, 2025. We ask everyone to please be respectful of Douglas, his wife, and family in this difficult time. We appreciate your understanding and will share more information soon." No cause of death was given.

 

With a style he succinctly described as "shouting and pointing", McCarthy had an almost preacher-like quality as he sang full-throated commands and declarations, revelling in the body rapture described on their song Hearts and Minds. Paired with the pulsating electronics of the group, their music became a major influence on artists such as Nine Inch Nails. 

 

Born and raised in Essex, McCarthy met future Nitzer Ebb drummer David Gooday aged 10, and formed the group with fellow friends Bon Harris and Simon Granger in 1982.

 

With cheap synths and beats hammered out on a metal bin they dubbed "John", the group gradually welded together their sound, releasing a demo in 1983 followed by debut single Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works two years later.

 

Their ironically martial sound and aesthetic would be misinterpreted by some – "the totalitarian imagery reflected the austere political time, the miners' strikes and riots," Harris later explained – but it proved infectious on dancefloors, as tracks such as Let Your Body Learn and Warsaw Ghetto crossed over into the burgeoning worlds of techno and acid house. "The closest I felt to God was listening to Join in the Chant"” the era’s legendary DJ Andrew Weatherall once said.

 

Nitzer Ebb attracted the attentions of major label Geffen in the US, and they released their debut album That Total Age in 1987. The band toured with Depeche Mode that year, and McCarthy worked with Depeche Mode’s Alan Wilder on side project Recoil. After five albums, Nitzer Ebb split in 1995.

 

McCarthy moved to Los Angeles, then Detroit, then returned to England where he studied design and film in Cambridge followed by a spell working in advertising. He later returned to music, collaborating with techno producer Terence Fixmer, before a Nitzer Ebb reunion in 2007. The group released another studio LP, Industrial Complex, and continued to tour. McCarthy released a solo album, Kill Your Friends, in 2012.

 

Back in March 2024, McCarthy stepped down from a European Nitzer Ebb tour, citing liver cirrhosis "following years of alcohol abuse … for over two years I have not been drinking, but recovery is a long process".

New Music: I Started A Joke

           

Paul Weller is sharing a striking versión of Bee Gee's "I Started A Joke" the Mod Father versión is haunting original and is included in Weller's latest recording "Find El Dorado", a deeply personal new album of reinterpretations, out on 25th July. 

New Music: Trance State

          

Suede shares their new single "Trance State," taking from their anticipated next album ‘Antidepressants’ due 5th September via BMG, A tension-filled, angular number that initially recalls the dark allure of Joy Division, ‘"Trance State" follows "Disintegrate"  to be the second single shared from ‘Antidepressants’, and sees frontman Brett Anderson lyrically delve into notions of obsession and paranoia. Speaking about the track, he has observed: "When you fall apart, there's such an honesty and a truth to that. You're revealing your real self. You're presenting yourself to the world completely unvarnished. You're not able to present a facade to the world anymore. It’s just you."

New Music: Chambermaid

           

Suzanne Vega is debuting the new animated lyric video for the single "Chambermaid" from her critically acclaimed new record Flying With Angels, out now on Cooking Vinyl. The video, directed by artist/animator Michael Arthur. Speaking about "Chambermaid," Vega explains, "In my adaptation of Bob Dylan's ‘I Want You,’ I imagine what the character of the Chambermaid would say about her own aspirations, and her relationship with the great man himself." Flying With Angels—Vega's first full-length album of all new music in over a decade—is produced by her longtime collaborator and guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright, Laurie Anderson, Duncan Sheik).

In Memoriam: The Beach Boys Co-Founder "Brian Wilson" Dies Aged 82

Brian Wilson, the legendary frontman and co-founder of The Beach Boys, has died at the age of 82, his family announced: "We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away," his family said in a statement shared online. "We are at a loss for words right now," they added. "Please respect our privacy at this time as our family grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world."

 

Born in 1942 and raised in Hawthorne, California, Wilson formed a group along with his younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. They would go on to become one of the United States biggest rock bands, The Beach Boys. 

 

One of the most commercially successful bands of all time, they have sold more than 100 million records globally, according to the group's website. The music magazine Rolling Stone ranked them at 12 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".

 

Wilson's catalogue with the group includes dozens of hit singles, including the three number one singles 'I Get Around', 'Help Me, Rhonda', and 'Good Vibrations'. He was especially known for using the recording studio to create unique sounds, especially on the album Pet Sounds, which contributed to his reputation as a music pioneer.

 

Wilson lost his wife Melinda in 2024. The couple had been married for 24 years, and adopted their children Dakota Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rose, Dylan and Dash together. Wilson also had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, from his first marriage.

 

The musician was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic in 1984, according to Forbes, when doctors found evidence that his brain damage was linked to his use of psychedelic drugs. In February 2024 it was revealed he had dementia.

Rocktrospectiva: The Underrated And Fairly Good "The Beach Boys" Turns 40

Released  on 10 June 1985, "The Beach Boys" was the 25th studio album by US rock band the Beach Boys. Produced by Steve Levine, it was the band's first album after the drowning of founding member Dennis Wilson. and also the band's first album to be recorded digitally and the last released by James William Guercio's Caribou Records.  The record charted at number 52 in the U.S. and number 60 in the UK. The album spawned three singles "Getcha Back", "It's Gettin' Late", & "She Believes In Love Again". 

 

In many cases, the album was considered as a solo effort by Brian Wilson, he was the creator. The other band members are just performers. Basically it was something like "Keepin' The Summer Alive" but with a polished production stated in the 1980s, for instance "Getcha Back" seemed like a continuation part of the intro and main song of the band's last album released in 1980, same for "California Calling".

 

Even thought many critics said this album was pretty much like a parody of what the band used to be, althought there are fine moments here worthy to listen, indeed it was a rare album pretty much like a 1980s sound, something like a band from the 1960s playing their tracks in the 1980s with a an evolution in their sound. Again the almost imperative participation of Brian Wilson on the record gave it an extra mile, even in despite Denni's tragic death. Brian Wilson's cut were brilliant despite Landy's control at the time, his vocals on "Getcha Back" were cool and turn the track into something pretty nostalgic but with and updated production, "Male Ego" and "I'm So Lonely" are amongst the stronger tracks on here, like a prove that the icon still can delivered great music and lyrics despite his mental condition back then even with such an out-of-date sound.

 

Ringo Starr were among the guest musicians, he played solidly drums on "California Calling", and Stevie Wonder did his best on "I Do Love You", the heavy sequencers, synths and drum machines everywhere! was something many fans didn't get back then, this was due the producer  Steve Levine who has notable for his work with Culture Club. Due this reasons many fans considered the top 40 hit single "Getcha Back" as the worst song here, by far. It's nothing but a horrible rewrite of "Don't Worry, Baby," complete with obnoxious faux-teenage romance lyrics and vocals by middle-aged male. 

 

"California Calling" has balding Al Jardine regaling us about the wonders of surfing again. Despite a good melody by Brian and real timpani from Ringo, Al singing about surfing being "totally rad" just makes my skin crawl. It's was nice to see  Brian returning to form after "KTSA", both in songwriting and vocals, but most of his songs seemed to drift a bit aimlessly. "Male Ego" was a bouncy, loose number sort of reminiscent of  "Love You", but a lot better. However, "Matter of Time" and "I'm So Lonely" din't really go anywhere. "Crack at Your Love" was very disturbing. One of the best things about this album was that Carl's lead voice is everywhere, which lifts "It's Gettin' Late" and "Maybe I Don't Know" a bit above the average 80's synth-popper. 

 

Not all the things heard here was a waste, and there was one thing to thank Culture Club, they were Masters of the Hook, and the time and the oblique lyrics are very interesting. Bruce comes up with his second-best ever Beach Boys song with "She Believes in Love Again," just drenched with those harmonies and Carl's lead vocals. Really romantic and lovely. "Where I Belong" is simply a tour de force. 

 

The use of digital technology did inspire Brian to begin work on his first solo album next, but there wasn't much here to entice many new listeners. The critics were mixed called the album 'pretty entertaining', adding 'though not a world-beating act of artistic reassertion, does serve to showcase those amazing voices, and to remind the world that nobody does it better—still. The album produced a top 40 single and a chart entry, but despite the sheen production by Steve Levine (Culture Club) the album remained even today as one of the most odds and disturbing by many hard to the bone Beach Boys fans, even when Levine reflected that he had remained "immensely proud" of the album and lamented its poor sales.

 

The Beach Boys Track List:  

 

1. Getcha Back

2. It's Gettin' Late

3. Crack At Your Love

4. Maybe I Don't Know

5. She Believes In Love Again

6. California Calling

7. Passing Friend

8. I'm So Lonely

9. Where I Belong

10. I Do Love You

11. It0s Just A Matter Of Time

12. Male Ego

New Music: Everybody Laughs

           

David Byrne, the iconic Talking Heads frontman, has unveiled his highly anticipated new album, Who Is the Sky?, his first solo release in seven years. The album, due out on September 5 via Matador Records, is a reflection of Byrne’s distinct creative voice. Who Is the Sky? follows his 2018 critically acclaimed album American Utopia. The new record promises to deliver more of Byrne's innovative and thought-provoking sound, blending personal reflections with broader societal observations. The lead single, "Everybody Laughs,"  sets the tone for the album. It comes with an official music video directed by Gabriel Barcia-Colombo, and captures Byrne’s unique perspective on life. In the song, Byrne explores the shared human experience of joy and sorrow. Byrne’s choice of the word "everybody" is intentional, offering a wide-angle lens on life in New York City while retaining an intimate, personal touch. The song contrasts themes of negativity with an uplifting musical groove, highlighted by a powerful collaboration with St. Vincent, who joins Byrne for some dynamic vocal exchanges

In Memoriam: The Funk Pioneering Genius "Sly Stone" Dies Aged 82

Sly Stone, the US musician who lit up generations of dancefloors with his gloriously funky and often socially conscious songwriting, has died aged 82. "After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family," a family statement reads. "While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come."

 

With his group Sly and the Family Stone, Stone tied together soul, psychedelic rock and gospel into fervent, uplifting songs, and became one of the key progenitors of the 1970s funk sound alongside James Brown and others. The group's hits include 3 US No 1 singles – Everyday People, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) and Family Affair – plus Dance to the Music, I Want to Take You Higher, Hot Fun in the Summertime and more. The 1971 album There's a Riot Goin' On, a moody reflection on civil rights and the corrupted idealism of the postwar era created predominantly by Stone apart from the rest of his band, is widely regarded as one of the greatest of the 20th century.

 

Born as a Sylvester Stewart to a Pentecostal religious family in Texas in 1943, Stone grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. His first music came in a gospel quartet with three siblings, the Stewart Four, who put out a locally released single in 1952. As a young man he became well known in the fertile musical scene of countercultural San Francisco: a multi-instrumentalist and radio DJ who had a series of local bands and worked as a producer for garage rock and psychedelia groups such as the Beau Brummels.

 

In 1966, he fused his band Sly and the Stoners with his brother Freddie's group Freddie and the Stone Souls, to form Sly and the Family Stone. Their breakthrough came the following year with Dance to the Music, and success was fully established by their fourth album in two years, Stand! (1969), which eventually sold more than three million copies. The band's stylistic and racial diversity attracted a broad audience, and they played both of the defining music festivals of 1969, Woodstock and the Harlem cultural festival.

 

Hits continued more fitfully during the early 1970s, and the group – notorious for no-shows at concerts – slowly fractured amid increasing drug use. Stone would record There’s a Riot Goin' On predominantly on his own, applying one of the earliest uses of a drum machine; albums such as Fresh!, with its Richard Avedon portrait of Stone on the cover, were also primarily his work. The band split entirely in 1975, though Stone continued to use the band name for solo releases.

 

Despite having laid the rhythmic groundwork for disco, Stone couldn't sustain his career in the late 1970s, and his addiction to cocaine worsened. He continued to perform with peers such as Funkadelic and Bobby Womack, but album releases dried up after 1982’s Ain’t But the One Way.

He was arrested in 1983 for cocaine possession, and for driving under the influence of cocaine in 1987, prompting him to flee California for Connecticut. He was apprehended two years later, and sentenced to 55 days in prison, five years’ probation and a fine. His difficulties meant that he was little seen during the 1990s, and it wasn't until 2006 that he performed in public again, at a tribute to Sly and the Family Stone at the Grammy awards. He performed with the Family Stone on a tour the following year, but often erratically, and made a lacklustre appearance at 2010's Coachella festival. His final album, I’m Back! Family & Friends, featuring re-recordings of old songs alongside three new tracks, was released in 2011.

Back in 2015 he was awarded $5m in a lawsuit against his former manager and attorney, successfully arguing that royalty payments had been diverted from him, though he ultimately wasn't awarded the money due to the terms of a 1989 royalties agreement with a production company. Difficulties with royalties meant that Stone spent many of his latter years in poverty; in 2011 he was living in a campervan in a residential area of Los Angeles – voluntarily, he claimed – and relying on a retired couple for food. “Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music,” the family statement added. “His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.”

Stone was married from 1974 to 1976 to Kathy Silva, with whom he had a son, Sylvester Jr. He later had two further children: Sylvyette with Cynthia Robinson, and Novena Carmel.

New Music: Y Gath

           

With her new album Utopia due out July 11 via Heavenly Recordings, the Welsh superstar and former Mercury nominee Gwenno shares her new single "Y Gath" (The Cat) alongside a stylish video in which she's seen exploring her feline side, featuring Cate Le Bon and H.Hawkline. A hazy and glorious Cymraeg paean to the cat and the grimy city walls that surround them, the single sounds like spectral feline poetry being delivered at a midnight pagan gathering. Commenting on the track Gwenno says: "Y Gath" means The Cat. I just don't know how I feel about cats, you know? But I also think it's because I am a cat in many ways. I see myself in these creatures and I’m part envious, part disgusted by them. So it’s a song about cats and birds nodding at you, and the style of the song evolved quite naturally into something very familiar and Welsh. And then when I asked H Hawkline and Cate Le Bon to be on it, it just made complete sense. We all knew what it needed to be, because we’ve all grown up on S4C and 70s psychedelic rock music, and Welsh language music. So we didn’t need to have a big conversation, we just know what this is about.

New Music: The Air That I Breathe

           

Belinda Carlisle will release a new studio album, in August, called Once Upon a Time in California. It's a covers album which includes classic songs such as Bacharach & David’s ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ written for Dionne Warwick, the Carpenters‘ ‘Superstar’, Harry Nilsson’s ‘Everybody’s Talkin’ and more. The first track/single being made available is Belinda's version of The Air That I Breathe, written by Albert Hammond and a major hit for The Hollies in 1974.

New Music: Hymn

           

The Pet Shop Boys are sharing "Hymn" in honor to Alexei Navalny. A year ago the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, died in prison in Russia. The Pet Shop Boys comment: We dedicate this song to his memory and his cause. The video production is under charge of: Nikolai Severin & Iaroslav Mudriakov

New Music: Ring My Bell

           

The Minneapolis-based Night Moves release "Ring My Bell," the second single from their forthcoming album Double Life,due out July 25 via Domino. This new single is the musical and emotional counterpart of their two previous singles before with lead singer John Pelant extending an invitation to be asked for help whenever times get inevitably tough, all above the spring-loaded rhythm of drummer Mark Hanson, bassist Micky Alfano and guitarist Charles Murlowski. The single is released alongside a new video by longtime collaborator Shawn Brackbill.

News: Morten Harket Has Been Diagnosed With Parkinson Disease

Shocking news for the fans of the Norwegian band a-ha, because their lead singer, whose music many people are very familiar with, has just revealed he has Parkinson’s disease.

Morten Harket is the lead singer for A-ha, known for hits such as "Take on Me"  and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." included in the band's debut studio album "Hunting High And Low" which is just celebrating 40 years of its original release. 

The singer/songwriter, father of five and grandfather said in a press release on the band's website, when asked if he will sing again, he was not sure. "I don’t really know. I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign," Harket said. "I'm broadminded in terms of what I think works; I don't expect to be able to achieve full technical control. The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. As things stand now, that's out of the question. But I don't know whether I'll be able to manage it at some point in the future.

Harket adds that there were only a handful of people who knew his diagnosis, until now. He says he wasn't sure he wanted to go public because of the unpredictable consequences of that. Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn't a problem for me; it's my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me. I'm trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline. It's a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There's so much to weigh up when you’re emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general."

New Music: Heaven Is No Feeling

            

Cate Le Bon has announced a new album. Michelangelo Dying which is out September 26 on Mexican Summer and features fellow Welsh artist John Cale on a song. The artist has shared now the lead single, “Heaven Is No Feeling,” comes with a music video directed by longtime collaborator H. Hawkline. According to video director: "There are moments in life you can't make up, that seem unfathomable, then they happen,” Hawkline said of the clip in a press statement. “Life calls you on a banana phone and tells you her oldest joke, everybody crowds around and you try to remember the words to your favorite song. If you were to ask me how we made this video, I couldn't tell you. 

New Music: Cutthroat

           

British post-punk band Shame have announced their new album, Cutthroat, set to release September 5 via Dead Oceans. Now they have shared its title track accompanied by a video directed by Ja Humby and produced by Rhory Danniells. The band has also announced an expansive EU/UK tour beginning in late September. Steen spoke on the new single in a press release. “I was reading a lot of Oscar Wilde plays where everything was about paradox. In  "Cutthroat," it’s that whole idea from Lady Windermere’s Fan, "Life's far too important to be taken seriously."

New Music: What3vr

           

With a curious blend of grunge and synth pop, Yeule the Singaporean artists drops a new video for her single "What3vr" from their forthcoming album "Evangelic Girl Is A Gun" one of the most strange, weirdo and best music video to date, a bizarre story telling that turns a pop song into a a hell of a trip, courtesy of video directo Nat Ćmie. 

New Music: Lawdy Rolla

           

Paul Weller will release a brand-new covers album in July, his second following 2004's Studio 150.  Find El Dorado features contributions from Noel Gallagher, Robert Plant, Declan O’Rourke and more, and will be released July 25 on Parlophone. The first release is a version of Lawdy Rolla, originally recorded by French jazz/soul outfit The Guerrillas in 1969

New Music: It's Just Life

           

Emerging from Birmingham in 2024, the duo, comprising of Euan Woodman and Thomas Rhodes have released their newest single "It's Just Life", and have also announced the release of their debut album "Good For The Soul." The new track opens with a flurry of drums and guitars before the immediate punch in the gut vocals “spent your life thinking / forgetting how to feel /…it’s just life,” hit you. It infiltrates the mind immediately, scratching a cerebral itch. The repetitive, disco-esque beat from the synths, behind the rawness of the guitar and drums, is a neat little addition, taking the track up another level. The heavy, pulsating sound of "It's Just Life" is accompanied by the duo’s sharp, biting vocals - the speed of the chorus, and the build up to the bridge carries an air of protest to it, “money! work! power! freedom! prison! school! success! legion! living! dying! thriving! surviving!” - it’s two minutes and forty-seven seconds of insane, chaotic, brilliant energy and you can watch this vibe on the duo video directed by Benji Charles.