This tune is fan-fucking-tastic. It took me about ten seconds to realise it’s Underworld, and a few more to realise it wasn’t a new remix of Born Slippy – arguably the greatest dance tune of all time.

(more…)

I discovered Can at the age of 16, back when I was at school. Not because I was some sort of cool avant-garde kid but purely because they put out an album for a cut-price 59p. 

(more…)

Girl groups are not normally my thing, especially those “idol” groups who dress up, dance and sing. But I can make an exception for Atarashii Gakko! Because while they are girls, and they do dress up and dance and sing, AG! are a kind of anti-girl-group girl group.

(more…)

Not sure how I’ve missed seeing or hearing this remarkable piece of pop history before – a ten-year-old Michael Jackson singing the blues.

(more…)

When I heard this infectious slice of Northern Soul on the radio I thought two things: first that it was by a black dude, and secondly that it was a reaction to the state of the world today. Wrong on both counts.

(more…)

Michael Rother: Barbican, London – Live Review

Pioneering krautrock legend Michael Rother performs selections from his solo works and influential albums with Harmonia and Neu! to an appreciative sell-out crowd in London.

Lana Del Rey must wonder who she has to fuck to win a Grammy Award. Once again this week she walked away empty-handed.

(more…)

The Pheromoans are new to me and I’m willing to wager they’re new to you. Yet this peculiarly British band has been ploughing its lone furrow for 18 years.

(more…)

This song came out when my kids were at primary school and we used to sing it every day as they were about to leave the house, with one minor lyrical change – “Get your fleece on.”

(more…)

Last night I went to see music legend Michael Rother and took my chum and self-styled (kraut) ‘rock expert’ David Stubbs along to the Barbican to help me identify some of the tunes.

(more…)