Rock 'n' Roll Times
lunes, octubre 12, 2026
New Music: Cold Blue Dawn
The Compilation: NOW Yearbook '94
In spite of everything, 1994 was a mixed bag. It was the year Kylie BACK with "Confide in Me", Sting had his first UK top 10 hit with "When We Dance", and Bruce Springsteen returned to the UK top 10 for the first time in nine years with his No 2 single "Streets Of Philadelphia".
Amongst Boy bands included here are Take That, Boyzone, Boyz II Men, East 17 (two tracks including the Christmas No 1 ‘Stay Another Day’) and the first half of CD 2 (the Britpop section) is the exception rather than the rule, but excellent all the same with tracks from Oasis, Radiohead, The Stone Roses, Suede, Elastica, Primal Scream et all.
Two doses of Elton John from the Lion King soundtrack is probably two too many, but very good to see Crowded House's "Locked Out", Sophie B. Hawkins’ "Right Beside You" and The Grid’s "Swamp Thing" included here.
The usual formats on offer: 4CD sets (deluxe hardcover book and card sleeve editions) and the 3LP version, which delivers 44 tracks across six sides of bright blue vinyl.
viernes, octubre 09, 2026
The Compilation: Now 12" 80s "1987"
Other remarkable highlights are the extended version of Curiosity Killed The Cat's excellent "Misfit", the "John Potoker Extended Mix" of Fine Young Cannibals' "Ever Fallen in Love", "The Whole Story" version of ABC's "The Night You Murdered Love", the superb "Superb, Superb Mix" of Swing Out Sister's "Twilight World" (a great mix, but an odd choice, given it's effectively the album version) and more long mixes from New Order, Simply Red, Wet Wet Wet, Johnny Hates Jazz and Jan Hammer.
NOW 12″80s: 1987 – Part Two is out on 16 October 2026.
Track List:
New Music: A Man From The Future
New Music: How's It Goin'
jueves, octubre 08, 2026
Albums: Renascent
The band is back with one of the most beautiful albums of their existence, airy, magical music and songs that can either sound like a reassuring backdrop to life or, played louder, become a subtle pop dream. The title means rebirth, more than apt given the long wait. And there’s a joy there in that this is the Durutti Column of the long-standing trio featuring drummer Bruce Mitchell and bassist, keyboard player and producer Keir Stewart.
Mitchell described Reilly's work as "constantly surprising", while Reilly said "every single piece of music writes itself"; a press released called it a "symbolic return to origins". The artwork for the album was created by design studio 8vo, with whom the band had worked since their days on Factory Records, the album was also given a Factory Too catalogue number, in collaboration with Oliver Wilson, son of Tony Wilson.
Recording sessions for the album were informal, often taking place in Reilly's kitchen, minimal studio equipment was used, with Stewart serving as producer. The tenth track, "For Friends Everywhere", is a reworked version of the band's early track "For Belgian Friends", given in a new orchestral arrangement.
The album opens with the gentle throb of "Echoes In The Memory" but slips softly into a longer piece, the near-Oriental twinkle of "Your Shadow At Morning". Next is "Time Past And Present," the longest piece at almost six minutes, echoes and swirls around Reilly's guitars. With "Agonistes," which enters with a dreamy drumbeat, then sees the harmonic sweep of experimental Manchester vocalist Caoilfhionn Rose. Renascent also features the acclaimed lead single "Liars," a bona fide entry into the Column canon with layers guitar refractions and sighing keys over portentous drums a truly regretful sound that brings back the classic Durutti Column sound. Closest to a pop song is "Vapours In A Matchbox," Reilly’s guitar jangling and swirling in the clouds, while "Your Shadow At Evening" sees the mystical guitar work swept along by a rocky beat.
Now Rose returns to sing vocals, and provide piano, for the next track, "Sargasso Sea," the only gentle and romantic song so far. Reilly’s spoken, murmured vocals drift through the musical haze of the album second single "Scammer" before "For Friends Everywhere," the most rounded, elegant piece. The musical ensemble here sees Stewart on celeste, marimba and bass clarinet, along with guest musicians on French horn, violins, piano and timpani, a new age orchestral work.
Reilly has suffered traumatic times in recent years but he has returned with one of his best, the long gap in proceedings only giving his vision a new depth. Musically, Renascent exists in a dialogue between past and present and is perhaps the most collaborative album Durutti have made – and not just because of the increased input of Mitchell and particularly of Stewart. Reilly’s Manchester neighbor, folktronica artist Caoilfhionn Rose sings on the stately, yearning “Agonistes” and sings and plays piano on the gorgeous, hymn-like "Sargasso Sea." Reilly's artistic philosophy remains rooted in motion and response. Creativity, for him, is an ongoing process; reactive, immediate, and alive. That sense of momentum carries through Renascent, an album that does not seek to recapture the past but to reanimate it, allowing it to evolve in new and unexpected ways.
So far, the album has receive universal acclaim, a beautiful piece of music with Reilly's at his best, a collection of tunes that sometimes works perfectly as a film score and sometimes edging as a rock album, the music flows fantastic with minimalism, romanticism and ambient elements everywhere, no doubt why the band is enjoying a well-resurgence of interest amongst listeners.
Rocktrospectiva: The Heavy And Innovative "Badmotorfinger" Turns 35
The focus on the Seattle grunge scene helped bring attention to Badmotorfinger, and the singles "Outshined" and "Rusty Cage" found a major audience in rock radio and MTV. Badmotorfinger became the band's highest charting album at the time on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number 39. The album received critical acclaim, citing the significant improvements over earlier releases and evolution in the band's sound.
The band kept in touch with producer Terry Date—who had worked on their previous record—due to their positive working relationship and a desire to avoid the pressure of finding a new producer. Additionally, Ben Shepherd's arrival breathed new life into the band, complementing the group's existing musical expertise.
The album showcases a melting pot of sounds—ranging from grunge and alternative metal to heavy metal and hard rock—making it both interesting and cohesive. Furthermore, the songs adopted a more commercial approach, making them viable for radio promotion; in the words of Kim Thayill, the album was "fast and weird," thanks to the contributions Shepherd brought to the mix.
One of the most emblematic tracks was "Rusty Cage," particularly due to the sound of a wah-wah pedal and an audio filter used by Thayil; the riff is both beautiful and strange, utilizing alternative tunings—a formula repeated on "Holy Water" and "Searching With My Good Eye Closed" (tuned to E), as well as "Mind Riot"—which brought a fresh dimension to their sound.
The lyrics also lent themselves to this approach, with Cornell addressing subjects ranging from the personal to society, government, the economy, and similar themes. The over-exploitation of the figure of Jesus is exposed in "Jesus Christ Pose"; "Outshined" discussed periods of extreme self-confidence and how that can backfire; and "New Damage" offered a critique of the American Right. Regarding the title, Kim Thayil says it was a play on a Montrose song called "Bad Motor Scooter"—that was the inspiration. They included it because it sounded aggressive, and it served the band well.
Although the album was overshadowed by the unexpected fame of "Nevermind", it succeeded in garnering support for the band and selling millions of copies at the time; furthermore, it helped popularize alternative rock and brought the grunge style and sound into the mainstream.
Badmotorofinger Track List:
miércoles, octubre 07, 2026
The Compilation: The Best Of "A Flock Of Seagulls"
This brand new compilation arrives in different formats. The 3CD version of The Best Of A Flock Of Seagulls offers singles on CD 1, BBC Sessions on CD 2 and B-sides and Rarities (including 12-inch mixes) on CD 3.
A 2LP vinyl edition spreads the 15 tracks from CD 1 across two yellow vinyl records. The compilation is also available as a single CD variant.
The Best Of A Flock Of Seagulls will be issued on 20 November 2026 via BMG.
A Flock Of Seagulls 3CD Deluxe Track List:
CD 1 – Greatest Hits
Rocktrospectiva: The Trendy And Influential "Tom Tom Club" Turns 45
New Music: End Of The World
Britpop band Sleeper have announced a new album, End of the World, and shared its first single, title track "End of the World." The new album is due out February 12, 2027 via the band's own label, Gorsky Records. The band features Louise Wener (vocals, rhythm guitar), Jon Stewart (lead guitar), Andy Maclure (drums), and Kieron Pepper (bass guitar). Wener says it's the most personal Sleeper album. "It's a very different record for me," she says in a press release. "I'm Gen X, we tend not to confront our emotions or display them easily to the outside world. There’s strength in that, but also solitude. I got to the point where I felt I was dissolving. Like if I didn’t put my discomfort somewhere, I’d cease to exist." Of the title track, Wener says: "It's a song about breaking free. The moment you turn round and say: Enough. I’m done. Whoever is hurting you—a partner, a family member, a way of life that no longer fits—leaving may feel like your world is ending. It might also be the most liberating thing you can do."





