Rarely has a band changed direction quite so radically, frequently and successfully as The Thompson Twins.

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I’ve never been able to make up my mind whether I like the Lambrini Girls for their shouty punk energy or hate them, probably for the same reason.

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Isaac Hayes is such a natural star: muscular and shaven-headed with a deep and surprisingly sensitive voice, underpinned by funky, lavishly orchestrated jams.

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‘Allo… When this came out half a century ago we all went around copying Ian Hunter’s greeting that kicks off his debut solo single Once Bitten, Twice Shy.

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WhoMadeWho are a Danish trio from Copenhagen with an ever-evolving array of diverse musical influences who began in the mid-2000s.

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Obviously there’s no ‘good’ way to die but to lose your life in a house fire, as Jill Sobule has done, must rank among the most unfortunate and unpleasant of all. (more…)

This is not just a great tune but a cleverly constructed composition – created by combining two tracks recorded 37 years apart.

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Here’s my latest playlist for the month of April and as ever it’s eclectic; one of the most diverse yet. We’ve got postpunk guitar legends (Keith Levene, John McKay), banging dance choons (ATB, Altern-8, Baby D), vintage soul (Three Degrees, James Carr), old-skool hip-hop (Luniz) and nu-skool reggae (Protoje), ambient (JakoJako) and country (Kaylee Rose) and tributes to those who left us in April (Max Romeo, David Thomas, Mike Berry, Wizz Jones…. Pope Francis).

The Blow Monkeys’ hit single Digging Your Scene symbolised the Eighties with their lavishly produced single, topical lyric, and stylish video. (more…)

Like some ultra-sweet confection that rots your teeth, this novelty chart topper from 1999 is just so addictive you can’t help but love it. The appeal is a combination of three things: its infectious trance beat, that twangy Hawaiian guitar figure, and the breathy bedroom vocal.

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