The List: Videos Of 2025

           

1. Hot Chip "Devotion" Director: Will Kindrick) 

           

2. Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke "Back In The Game" (Director: Jonathan Zawada) 

           

3. Florence + The Machine "Everybody Scream" (Director: Autumn De Wilde) 

           

4. Kula Shaker "Good Money" (Directors: Laurie Peters/Crispian Mills) 

           

 5. The Moonlandingz "Sign Of A Man" (Director: Jeanie Crystal/Farry) 

           

6. White Lies "In The Middle" (Director: Andreas Nilsson) 

           

 7. Sorry "Echoes" (Director: Asha Lorenz) 

           

8. Saint Etienne x Confidence Man "Brand New Me" (Kyle Platts) 

           

9. Sparks "Porcupine" (Director: Fred Rowson) 

           

10. Pulp "Got To Have Love" (Director: Jarvis Cocker)

The List: Compilations & Reissues Of 2025

Now's the chance to check the best compilations and reissues of 2025, featuring remastered classics and especial collections to bring alive classic and timeless tunes, hidden tracks, and interesting rare stuff, hope you love our annual selection: 

 

1. Happy Mondays   "The Factory Singles"   (London Records)

 

Celebrating 40 Years of one of Britain’s most iconic and era-defining bands, The Factory Singles is the definitive tribute to a group that reshaped the sound of UK music. This fully remastered 2CD collection brings together their landmark singles from 1985–1992, capturing the raw energy, innovation, and fearless creativity that made them a cornerstone of the Factory Records and Madchester legacy. From underground club anthems to crossover hits, every track showcases their unique fusion of attitude, electronic experimentation, and dancefloor-ready grooves. These singles not only defined an era but also laid the foundations for the alternative dance and indie scenes that followed.

 

2. The Style Council   "Café Bleu Especial Edition Box Set"   (UMC Polydor)

 

When The Style Council's debut album Café Bleu was released in 1984, Weller and wing-man Mick Talbot unveiled a cosmopolitan blend of jazz, soul, and pop that felt effortlessly sophisticated and daringly fresh. Café Bleu was more than a debut—it was a statement of intent, redefining what British pop could sound like in a new decade. The Café Bleu Special Edition is a treasure trove for Style Council devotees and music lovers alike - an immersive journey into one of the most inventive eras of Paul Weller’s career. This lavish release unveils a wealth of previously unheard material, including early demos, alternate takes, and unreleased songs that showcase the band’s restless drive for experimentation and evolution.

 

3. NOW   "Yearbook '89"   (Now Twic)

 

NOW Music proudly presents 60 more essential singles from the magical year of Pop that was 1989. This final Yearbook for the decade we like to call ‘the Eighties’ starts with Queen's ‘I Want It All’ and ends with Band Aid II’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ (the ‘unofficial’ Band Aid single according to a revisionist Bob Geldof!). In between are 76 other tracks including hits from Simple Minds, Soul II Soul, Neneh Cherry, Fine Young Cannibals, Kylie, Jason, Holly Johnson, New Order, Bros, Transvision Vamp, Roachford (“there’s no fog!”), The Beautiful South, Living in a Box, Tears For Fears, R.E.M., Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, The Cure, Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians, Sam Brown, The Bangles, Simply Red and many more. 

 

4.  Bryan Ferry   "Bête Noire"   (BMG)

 

Bête Noire was the follow up to 1985’s Boys and Girls and was co-produced with Patrick Leonard. Johnny Marr was amongst the contributors to Bête Noire, whose singles were ‘The Right Stuff’, ‘Kiss and Tell’ and ‘Limbo’. Only ‘The Right Stuff’ troubled the UK top 40, peaking at No 37 For the 2025 reissue Bête Noire is released as a 2CD deluxe edition and on purple vinyl. The second disc of the 2CD set offers remixes and edits from the original singles. 

 

5. NOW That's What I Call An Era   "Such A Good Feeling 1980-1995"   (Now Twic)

 

NOW Music proudly presents the latest release in the Now That’s What I Call An Era series - Such A Good Feeling: 1988-1995 - a celebration of a truly transformative time in music, when dance culture reshaped the mainstream, soundtracked a generation, and lit up the charts across the UK and beyond. This 4CD dive into the golden years of house, rave, and club anthems features 82 essential tracks spanning the late '80s to the mid '90s, bringing together the biggest hits and most iconic names that defined the era. 82 tracks across four discs - An unforgettable journey through the sounds that defined an era - NOW That’s What I Call An Era - Such A Good Feeling: 1988-1995 — the definitive celebration of a golden age of dance music.

 

6. Danny Wilson   "Complete Danny Wilson 5CD Box Set"   (Cherry Red) 

 

Complete Danny Wilson' is a 5CD boxset bringing together the group's two albums as well as all their b-sides, mixes and a complete live show (some of which has never been heard before). The band have been involved in all aspects of the release and have been interviewed extensively for the booklet providing an insight into their history.

 

7. James   "Nothing But Love: The Definitive Best Of"   (UMC-Mercury)

 

Nothing But Love – The Definitive Best Of is a comprehensive, career spanning highlights collection from James. The release documents the band’s journey through their singles as well as fan favourites and selections made by the band. The 3CD takes fans on a chronological journey from the beginning of the band’s releases up until the present day. The deluxe set features two new tracks, "Wake Up Superman" and  "Hallelujah Anyhow". Additional highlights include "Laid", "Sit Down",  "She's A Star" and "Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" as well as tracks from James’ most recent number 1 album, Yummy. The 3CD includes an accompanying booklet which contains exclusive track commentary from members of James.

 

8. Hot Chip   "Joy In Repetition"   (Domino)

 

Joy In Repetition is the first ever anthology of some of the best of Hot Chip. It covers the band’s work, from their landmark EMI/DFA debut, The Warning, and traces their artistic evolution up to the present day. Packed with stone-cold bangers from across their career: "Ready For The Floor," "I Feel Better," and "Flutes," to name a few. Alongside, new track, "Devotion", which sees the band in full voice, merging pop hooks with their unique dancefloor mentality. Joy In Repetition highlights the consistency of their stellar career so far and cements their status as one of the most important British groups in the last two decades. To complement this, the album comes housed in a cover designed by legendary British pop artist Sir Peter Blake, mastermind behind the iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band artwork. 

 

9. Simply Red   "Recollections Box Set"   (Music On Vinyl)

 

Simply Red celebrate four decades of music with 'Recollections' - 40 glorious, newly recorded versions of their classic songs. Produced with long-time collaborator Andy Wright, the collection delivers beautiful yet faithful takes on timeless favourites including "Money's Too Tight To Mention," "Holding Back The Years," "Stars," "Fairground" and many more. Mick Hucknall explains: "As a way of celebrating 40 years of Simply Red, we thought it apt to release these takes. Andy Wright set about capturing the atmosphere and sonics of the originals and has done a magnificent job. This has enabled us to come full circle and celebrate our 40 years with you."

 

10. Pet Shop Boys   "Disco 5"   (Polygram UK)

 

Disco 5 is the latest instalment of Pet Shop Boys’ continuing ‘Disco’ album series, which started in 1986. The 12-track collection features ten Pet Shop Boys’ recent remixes of songs by artists including Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Primal Scream, Paul Weller, Tina Turner, Claptone, Wolfgang Tillmans and more, as well as a remix of their own track ‘Dreamland’ featuring Olly Alexander.  

The List: Books Of The Year 2025

Another year has come to an end, and now it's time to take a look back at our favourite books of the 2025, according to us, the most captivating, notable, brilliant, an exciting in terms about music, photography, art, & fashion statement; we hope you love 'em: 

1. Mike Joyce   "The Drums"   (New Modern)

Mike Joyce, the last member of the band to release their autobiography and this is his no-holds-barred story of what it was like to play the drums in the Smiths. Throughout his honest and witty reflections, Mike answers the question he and bassist Andy Rourke used to often ask each other: ‘Where did it all go right?.  In The Drums, Mike Joyce finally gives us the perspective of the self-confessed biggest Smiths fan in the world who from the start was just some lad from the suburbs of Fallowfield who played the drums. This book truly conveys what it felt like to be a member of the Smiths.

 

2. Scott Schuman   "The Sartorialist MILANO"   (Taschen)

 

Fashion’s original social media master Scott Schuman, aka The Sartorialist, hits the streets of one of Europe’s most stylish cities for this tailor-made collection of Milano’s visually charismatic people. Schuman, who now calls Milano his home, combines portraiture with dazzling cityscapes and revealing reportage.

 

3. Paul McCartney   "Wings: The Story Of A Band On The Run"   (Allen Lane)

 

This is the story, in their own words, of a band that came to define a generation. Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run tells the madcap history of Paul McCartney and his newly formed band, from their humble beginnings in the early 1970s to their dissolution barely a decade later. Drawn from over 500,000 words of interviews with McCartney, family and band members, and other key participants, with a cast of characters including John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jagger and more, Wings recounts the musical odyssey taken by a man searching for his identity in the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup. Soon joined by his wife – American photographer Linda McCartney – on keyboard and vocals, drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Denny Laine, McCartney sowed the seeds for a new band that would provide the soundtrack to the decade. 

 

4. Paul Vallely   "Live Aid: The Definitive 40-Year Story"   (New Modern)

 

For the first time, Vallely gives his full eye-witness account of those 40 years. The book, which has a foreword by Bob Geldof, is crammed with stories of how pop, poverty, politics and power are interwoven in the Live Aid story. Geldof encounters presidents, prime ministers and popes as well as the pop heroes who adorned his bedroom wall as a boy. Bob drinks late-night whisky with Margaret Thatcher, is forced to write a grovelling apology to Bill Clinton and meets Vladimir Putin on a boat in the Mediterranean. He pressurises The Who, sweet talks Pink Floyd, and is awestruck by Bowie. Is Bob Geldof a bully or a charmer, saint or ‘white saviour’, or simply a force of nature?   

 

5. Jonathan Gould   "Burning Down The House: Talking Heads And The New York Scene That Transformed Rock"   (Mariner Books)

 

New Yorker contributor Jonathan Gould offers an authoritative, deeply researched account of a band whose sound, fame, and legacy forever connected rock music to the cultural avant-garde. From their art school origins to the enigmatic charisma of David Byrne and the internal tensions that ultimately broke them apart, Gould tells the story of a group that emerged when rock music was still young and went on to redefine the prevailing expectations of how a band could sound, look, and act. At a time when guitar solos, lead-singer swagger, and sweaty stadium tours reigned supreme, Talking Heads were precocious, awkward, quirky, and utterly distinctive when they first appeared on the ragged stages of the East Village. Yet they would soon mature into one of the most accomplished and uncompromising recording and performing acts of their era.

 

6. Charlie Burchill, Graeme Thomson & Jim Kerr   "Our Secrets Are The Same: Friendship & Fame At The Heart Of Simple Minds"   (Constable)

 

A candid, moving and kinetic story of self-realisation through the power of music, Our Secrets Are The Same is the remarkable joint memoir by Simple Minds' founder members, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. It not only reveals the inner workings of one of the most innovative and successful British bands of the past half-century, but the deeply personal tale of an extraordinary friendship which powered teenage dreams into visionary action 

 

7. Dan Jennings   "Paul Weller: Dancing Through The Fire"   (Constable)

 

Across musical history, certain artists have transcended their craft to become cultural icons, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sound and style. Paul Weller, the legendary British musician, singer and songwriter, stands among the select few whose influence spans generations. His enduring popularity, traversing the explosive energy of The Jam to the sophisticated sounds of The Style Council and a prolific solo career spanning over thirty years, underscores the timeless appeal of his work. Weller also holds a unique position in music history: he shares the rare distinction with Lennon and McCartney as one of the few artists to achieve Number 1 albums in five consecutive decades. Dancing Through the Fire explores the fascinating narrative of Paul Weller's musical career, weaving together never-before-told stories, intimate insights and perspectives from the man himself and those who have been integral to his remarkable journey. 

 

8. Debsey Wykes   "Teenage Daydream: We Are The Girls Who Played In A Band"   (New Modern)

 

Debsey Wykes was the bass playing singer in the first all girl punk group Dolly Mixture. Thrown into the musky, misogynistic, male dominated world of the UK music industry in the late 1970s, they enjoyed unlikely #1 success alongside Captain Sensible of The Damned on1982’s even unlikelier cover version of ‘Happy Talk’, whilst fame and success on their own individual terms alluded them. Debsey went onto greater prominence with Saint Etienne with who she has performed since 1992, whilst in 2025, desirable Dolly Mixture reissues sell out around the world as quickly as they are printed.

 

9. Hans Werner Holtzwarth   "Georg Baselitz"   (Taschen)

 

From existential paintings and motifs painted upside-down to rough-hewn wooden sculptures and remixes of earlier paintings—the art of Georg Baselitz is consistently challenging. With 400+ images from 1960 to the present, this updated monograph presents the full range of his work in stunning depth and detail. 

 

10. Evan Dando   "Rumours Of My Demise: A Memoir"   (Faber & Faber)

 

Rumours of My Demise is Evan Dando's story - raw, wild, unfiltered and straight from the source. A privileged kid who snuck into gigs and crashed on whatever floors he could find. A stunningly gifted rocker who propelled his high school band into the highest reaches of indie fame. The industry's favourite 'alternahunk' until he wasn't, who all the same burned through the 90s like he owned them. A guitarist and singer who racked up struggles punctuated by some striking successes in the internet hashtag decades that followed, before making a wholly new home and life in Brazil.

In Memoriam: Director Rob Reiner And His Wife Were Found Killed

Director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, were found killed in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, and the couple's son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested for murder, according to police.

Nick Reiner, 32, was taken into custody on Sunday night, hours after the couple was found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home, according to law enforcement sources. Nick Reiner is being held without bail, according to authorities.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the Reiners," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Monday.

Law enforcement sources told ABC News, Nick Reiner was not at home when his parents were found stabbed to death. Investigators believe he left at some point after the stabbings. Sources said the LAPD was able to easily and quickly find him near the University of Southern California, where he was arrested for murder.

The Reiners' daughter found her parents' bodies on Sunday, sources told ABC News.

Rob and Nick Reiner got into an argument Saturday night at a holiday party they attended, sources said.At the party, Nick was seen acting strangely, the sources added. The film-maker, 78, and his wife, 68, were pronounced dead at a house in an upmarket neighbourhood of LA on Sunday. Their son Nick has been arrested.

"It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner," the Reiner family said. "We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time."Rob Reiner, 78, and Singer, 68, married in 1989 and share three children: Jake, Nick and Romy.

Reiner was known for directing classic films in a variety of genres, including When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery and A Few Good Men, as well as for championing liberal causes and Democratic politics. Spinal Tap star Christopher Guest and his wife Jamie Lee Curtis said they were "numb".

Reiner, the son of comedy great Carl Reiner, started his career in the 1960s and made it big playing Meathead in groundbreaking TV sitcom All in The Family in the 1970s. The programme was a US remake of British comedy Till Death Us Do Part, and scored him two Emmy Awards.

Reiner achieved futher success with cult mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, which he directed as well as playing on-screen director Marty DiBergi. That began a run of classic Hollywood movies directed by Reiner, including Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992), the latter of which scored him an Academy Award nomination for best picture. He reunited with Spinal Tap for long-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which was released in September.

As an actor, he also appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street, Postcards from the Edge and Bullets Over Broadway, as well as TV shows including New Girl and The Bear. Reiner also co-founded the successful Castle Rock Entertainment production company.

He was married to Laverne & Shirley actress Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981 and is the adoptive father to Marshall's daughter, actress Tracy Reiner.

He married Michele Reiner, an actress, photographer and producer, in 1989, later recalling that they met during the making of When Harry Met Sally. The couple have three children together. Michele owned the Reiner Light photography agency and production house.

Reiner was also an active campaigner for social and political causes, and for Democratic political candidates.

Politicians who paid their own tributes include Obama, who said: "Rob's achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. "But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people - and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action."

It is not clear what reports the president is referring to, and while the investigation is being treated as a homicide, police have yet to comment on any possible motive.

Rocktrospectiva: The Odd And Experimental "Sandinista!" Turns 45

Released on 12 December 1980 "Sandinista!" was the 4th., studio album by English rock band The Clash, it was released as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side. It crossed various genres including funk, reggae, jazz, gospel, rockabilly, folk, dub, rhythm and blues, calypso, disco, and rap. For the first time, the band's songs were credited to the Clash as a group, rather than to Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The band agreed to a decrease in album royalties in order to release the 3-LP at a low price.

The title refers to the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, and its catalogue number, 'FSLN1', refers to the abbreviation of the party's Spanish name, Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional., the album spawned three singles "The Call Up", "Hitsville UK" & "The Magnificent Seven" and "Bankrobber" which not appear on the album.

The album was recorded over most of 1980, in London, Manchester, Jamaica and New York. It was produced by the band (primarily Mick Jones and Joe Strummer), recorded and mixed by Bill Price, and engineered by Jeremy "Jerry" Green (Wessex Sound Studios), J. P. Nichols (Electric Lady Studios), Lancelot "Maxie" McKenzie (Channel One Studios), and Bill Price (Pluto + Power Station Studios). 

Dub versions of some of the songs and toasting was done by Mikey Dread, who had first worked with the band for their 1980 single "Bankrobber". With Sandinista! the band reached beyond punk and reggae into dub, rhythm and blues, calypso, gospel and other genres. The album clearly displays the influence of reggae musician and producer Lee "Scratch" Perry (who had worked with the band on their 1977 single "Complete Control" and who had opened some of the band's shows during its stand at Bond's in New York in 1980), with a dense, echo-filled sound on even the straight rock songs.

When recording began in New York, bass guitarist Paul Simonon was busy making a film called Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, and he was replaced briefly by Ian Dury and the Blockheads bassist Norman Watt-Roy; this later caused some bad feeling when Watt-Roy and keyboard player Mickey Gallagher, a fellow Blockhead, claimed they were responsible for co-composing the song "The Magnificent Seven", as the song was based on a tune of theirs. Watt-Roy and Gallagher would subsequently be given a co-writing credit. Dread, too, was upset that he was not credited as the album's producer, although he was credited with "Version Mix". Other guests on the album include singer Ellen Foley (Jones' partner at the time), guitarist Ivan Julian formerly of the Voidoids, harmonica player Lew Lewis (formerly of Eddie and the Hot Rods), and Strummer's old friend and musical collaborator Tymon Dogg, who plays violin, sings on and wrote the track "Lose This Skin"; he later joined Strummer's band the Mescaleros. 

This was also the only Clash album on which all four members have a lead vocal. Drummer Topper Headon made a unique lead vocal contribution on the song "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe", and Simonon sings lead on "The Crooked Beat".

 

According to Joe Strummer, the decision to release a triple-LP was their way of mocking CBS for resisting their desire to release London Calling as a double album, then releasing Bruce Springsteen's double album The River less than a year later. Strummer took pleasure in the abundance, saying "It was doubly outrageous. Actually, it was triply outrageous." Mick Jones said, "I always saw it as a record for people who were, like, on oil rigs. Or Arctic stations. People that weren't able to get to the record shops regularly." The band's wish to release the album at a low price was also met with resistance, and they had to forgo any royalties on the first 200,000 copies sold in the UK and a 50% cut in royalties elsewhere.

 

The song "Washington Bullets" was lyricist Joe Strummer's most extensive—and most specific—political statement to date. In it, Strummer name checks conflicts or controversies from around the world; namely in Chile, Nicaragua, Cuba, Afghanistan and Tibet. (In reference to the first three, Strummer seems to side with what he sees as popular leftist movements or governments, while in the latter two, he sharply criticises the policy of Moscow's and Beijing's communist governments for what he sees as their imperialist actions.) Some reviews of Sandinista! called "Washington Bullets", along with "The Equaliser" and "The Call Up", "the heart of the album".

 

The initial reviews in the UK, initial reviews were mostly poor some considered the album as simple and ultimately depresses, meanwhile in the US, critices were more mixed by considerind the album as an ambitious project, a breakthrough record thar deserved comparison with The Beatle's "White Album", even though the album was included in several "best of the year" critics polls in 1981.

 

Sandinista Track List: 

 

CD1: 

 

1. The Magnificent Seven

2. Hitsville UK

3. Junco Partner

4. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe

5. The Leader

6. Something About England

7. Rebel Waltz

8. Look Here

9. The Crooked Beat

10. Somebody Got Murdered

11. One More TIme

12. One More Dub (dub version of One More Time  

13. Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)

14. Up In Heaven (Not ONly Here)

15. Corner Soul

16. Let's Go Crazy

17. If Music Could Talk

18. The Sound Of Sinners

 

CD2:  

 

1. Police On My Back

2. Midnight Log

3. THe Equaliser

4. The Call Up

5. Washington Bullets

6. Broadway 

7. Lose This Skin

8. Charlie Don't Surf

9. Mensforth Hill (Something about England's backwars with overdubs)

10. Junkie Slip

11. Kingston Advice

12. The Street Parade

13. Version City

14. Living In Fame (dub version of If Music Could Talk)

15. Silicone Sapphie (dub version of Washington Bullets)

16. Version Pardner (dub version of Junco Partner)

17. Career Opportunities 

18. Sheperds Delight

News: Pet Shop Boys Announces "Annually 2026"

Pet Shop Boys today announce the 2026 edition of “Annually” which will be published on 16th April and is now available to pre-order at the link:   Annually 2026

 

The 64-page, hardback book will include:

• Archive: A history of the Pet Shop Boys in 20 objects. Chris and Neil talk about a selection of random but revealing items pulled from their studio basement.

• Chris Heath documents PSB’s summer weekend in Warwickshire during which they performed Dreamworld Live at historic Warwick Castle.

• A feature on an iconic 80s moment (which one you’ll have to wait and see).

• Plus exclusive photographs, your letters answered, news and more.

Annually 2026 is exclusively available from the official PSB store for £20.00 (plus P&P) and will ship from the UK on April 16th. Please note delivery dates will therefore vary depending on local postal services

New Music: Downtown (Still Corners Cover)/Fake Like (Poliça Cover)

The Afghan Whigs are back with their first new music since 2022's How Do You Burn? . The band has released two new cover songs, taking on "Downtown" by Still Corners and "Fake Like" by Poliça. 

They turn the former into a shuffling rock cut with an emphatic vocal delivery from Greg Dulli, while the latter is an emotive piano-led ballad. Dulli said: “Both of these songs were born out of soundcheck jams. Each song holds a particular resonance for me and I really felt the lyrics, so they both flowed freely and felt good to sing.”

           

1. Downtown (Still Corners Cover) 

          

2. Fake Like (Poliça Cover) 

Rocktrospectiva: The Overlooked "Fine Young Cannibals" Turns 40

Released on 9 December 1985 "Fine Young Cannibals" was the debut album by the English rock band Fine Young Cannibals, the album featured the singles "Johnny Come Home", "Blue" & "Suspicios Mind".

The self-titled album from Fine Young Cannibals was one of those debut albums with so much promise, it also had the misfortune of living in the shadow of their second album The Raw & The Cooked, which brought them global fame.

Nevertheless, the band came about under not-so-great circumstances. Back in 1983, bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox of the English Beat discovered through a phone call from the band's accountant that their two lead singers, Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger, had left the popular band to form a new group, General Public. Instead of trying to resurrect the English Beat, Steele and Cox came up with the idea to form their own band.

Frustrated after not finding what they were looking for in a frontman until they remembered the guy from a ska band from Hull called Akrylykz that supported the English Beat on their British tour. Even though he was the sax player who occasionally sang vocals, there was something about him that stuck with them. They found Roland Gift performing with an R&B/Soul group called Bones and he was singing lead and had that something extra that they needed, so Steele and Cox brought him on board. They came up with the name Fine Young Cannibals from a 1960 film called All The Fine Young Cannibals, starring Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood.

Initially, Fine Young Cannibals had trouble getting signed to a record deal, but a TV appearance changed all of that. The band was filmed performing "Johnny Come Home" on a show called The Tune, a Friday night program that showcased unknown bands.

Thanks to appealing voice of Gift's with certain elements of Redding, the hit single "Johnny Come Home" was practically the sound of the English Beat but without sounding like one of their albums, except for their common thread with their attacks on Thatcherism, like you can noticed in "Blue" which was backed by some ‘60s soul and a killer vocal by Gift. Another highlight from the record was the ballad "Funny How Love Is" to chilled the listener, and then of course the incredible "Suspicious Mind" featuring backing vocals from Jimmy Sommerville (Bronski Beat, The Communards). Written and originally recorded by Mark James but later made famous by Elvis Presley, now this version was absolute perfection and Gift and Sommerville's contrasting voices mix so well that it is my preferred version of the song.

Critics were mixed praising a variety of emotional shades, others highlighted Gift's casual authority as a vocalist and said that the lyrics strike a fine balance, noting the subtle and not so subtle toll politics and economics take on relationships. Definitely a powerful and satisfying debut which unfortunately has been overlooked by the massive succeed of their following album. 

 

Fine Young Cannibals Track List: 

 

1. Johnny Come Home

2. Couldn't Care More

3. Don't Ask Me To Choose

4. Funny How Love Is

5. Suspicious Minds

6. Blue

7. Move To Work

8. On A Promise 

9. Time Isn't Kind

10. Like A Stranger  

In Memoriam: British Photographer "Martin Parr" Dies Aged 73

The iconical & legendary British documentary photographer Martin Parr has died at the age of 73, his foundation announced, after battling Myeloma, a type of blood cancer. 

One of the best-known documentary photographers of his time, whose lens was often focused on the peculiarities of the English class system, Parr died at his home in the western English city of Bristol on Sunday.

Martin Parr was born on May 23, 1952 in Epsom, Great Britain. By the age of 14, Parr knew that he wanted to become a documentary photographer. His grandfather George Parr, an amateur photographer and fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, influenced his choice. Later, from 1970 to 1973, Parr went on to study photography at Manchester Polytechnic.

At the beginning of his career, Parr worked exclusively with black and white photography, creating a series titled The Non-Conformists about rural life and endangered non-Conformists chapels (in 2013, Aperture released his book by the same title: The Non-Conformists. Photographs by Martin Parr). Since 1982, Martin Parr has switched entirely to color photography and never returned to monochrome images. Working in the genre of documentary photography, Martin Parr does not disdain from Fashion shoots for the world's leading brands, but still manages to retain his distinctive photographic handwriting.

Parr rose to prominence with his 1980s collection, The Last Resort, which depicted working-class visitors to the seaside town of New Brighton, with highly saturated shots of frazzled beachgoers lit by lurid flash.

In The Cost of Living, Parr captured gentrification under the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, documenting the middle classes keeping up appearances at suburban garden parties and fundraising events with an always satirical eye.

In an interview with ArtDependence Martin Parr said:  "I shoot all classes and I am fascinated by everyone in their own environment. I am very democratic. When creating a portrait of people, I like to show their environment. It’s a good strategy."

Rocktrospectiva: The Remarkable "Senderos De Traición" Turns 35

Released on 5 December 1990, "Senderos De Traición" was the 2nd., studio album by Spaniard band Héroes del Silencio, the album spawned four singles, the samshing "Entre Dos Tierras", "Maldito Duende", "Oración" & "Con Nombre De Guerra", the album aided the band to become one of the most succesful bands ever emerged from Spain. 

 

Inspired in the sound and look-a-like of bands such as The Cult, New Model Army and perhaps in a minor way The Mission; Héroes Del Silencio emerged with a strange an unique power, obviously there was a huge evolution on this second album that made 'em brilliant and overwhelming, taken from the movie "El Sendero De La Traición (Betrayed) from 1988 to named their sophomore album, the band began to work with the amazing ex-Roxy Music, Phil Manzanera, practically he gave that sound and production that made of the band a powerful international outfit. 

 

The opener "Entre Dos Tierras" was the most evocating and powerful tune ever created by the band at the time, and loved and shinny one, with certain gothic influence from Juan Valdivia's echo guitar to Bunbury's anthological voice to crowned one of the most perfect tunes ever done in spanish, next was the other magnificent tune from the set "Maldito Duende" considered the finest and best tune ever created by the band, nevertheless, Joaquín Cardiel and Pedro Andreu on rhytmical section were increible with the interesting heavy drums and opaque percussion on some tunes, for instance "Senda" and odd one from the set, with certain slices from Raphael perhaps The Doors imaginaery with an intense and remarkable tune. 

 

The tune "Hechizo" marked the perfect blend between David Bowie and the icons The Mission, a drama tune highlighted by Phil's powerful production as a way to add variety and deepth to the sound, "Oracion" was another definitory moment from the album with a remarkable bridge-verse filled by beautiful acoustics courtesy Bunbury, "La Carta" was a dark pop song with obscure guitars as a way to made a breaking point on the record, "Malas Intenciones" had a beautiful interlude, then the filler "Sal" and of course another remarkable point on "Despertar" with a beautiful lyric full of interpretations. 

 

Again the guitars heavily influenced by The Cult on "Decadencia" to made of this one of the most delicious tracks of the album, a sublime moment was the guitar solo, a track created to be performed in arenas, and of course "Con Nombre De Guerra" smooth and in certain way relaxed due that acoustic atmosphere, and finally "El Cuadro II" with certain references to Andy Warhol. 

 

The album achieved commercial success and positive critics, putting the band in the main focus, propelled by the sellings, the band embarked into a massive 140 dates tour, the album marked the end of "La Movida" and then rock music was taking the airwaves and charts guided by them early in the 90s. 

 

Senderos De Traición Track List: 

 

1. Entre Dos Tierras

2. Maldito Duende

3. La Carta

4. Malas Intenciones

5. Sal 

6. Senda

7. Hechizo

8. Oración

9. Despertar

10. Decadencia

11. Con Nombre De Guerra

12. El Cuadro II