Review by Hugh Wilson

Releasing a record a quarter of a century after your first, and over a decade since your last activity of note, is never going to be risk free. And it could be argued that it’s a particularly parlous undertaking for a band like Jason and the Scorchers (JATS), the original and most [...]

Review by Stephen Taylor

Well stone me. You wait 30 years for a new Gil Scott Heron album and then two come along at once.

Lou Bond may me new to you and me, but hiphopapotamuses have been sampling him for decades. This self-titled re-release gives those of us that don’t have access to the bargain vinyl [...]

Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should declare an interest. Since Ys was released I have inhabited the music of Joanna Newsom in the same way a fish inhabits water. A big, strong, noble salmon, probably. Could also be a goldfish too though, given my regulation 21st [...]

I have often thought of a band composed of sons of the famous – Jakob Dylan on guitar and vocals, James McCartney on guitar, James Garfunkel on backing vocals, Jason Starkey on drums. Perhaps Dhani Harrison can be prevailed upon to switch to bass. They could do a charity version of Father and Son. With [...]

Stephen Taylor

You know the phrase “The house always wins”. Every casino in the world thrives by knowing exactly the odds on every game. Each punter is CCTVed grinning and expectant on their way in and captured shuffling out, pockets so much the lighter.

Barney Bentall sashayed (albeit unknowingly) into the Big Fat Cynical Old Arsehole Grand [...]