The Fat Angel Sings

A Various Artists 3CD, 68 track box set celebrating Leeds’ independent scene of the 1980s. Featuring Soft Cell, Sisters Of Mercy, Gang Of Four, The Wedding Present, Scritti Politti, The Mission, and many more,

Including The Mekons, CUD, Delta 5, The Pale Saints, Girls At Our Best, Age Of Chance, The Bridewell Taxis who all stamped their mark on the indie charts and were regulars/favourites on John Peel’s radio show.

Like many Northern cities, Leeds enjoyed an explosion of music triggered by the big bang of punk rock in 1977. Indie labels sprung up to cater for a new wave of bands, who carved their own identity as the 80s dawned. ‘Where Were You’ is the first comprehensive anthology of Leeds’ independent music from that period, through to the end of the 1980s. From punk to goth, indie pop to industrial dancefloor, out-and-out pop to underground psychedelia, the four hours’ worth of recordings here are a celebration of the musical diversity emanating from the city’s studios and clubs.

Co-compiled by Benoît Farvak (Salvation) with invaluable help and support from Richard Rouska (Rouska Records), ‘Where Were You’ also boasts numerous obscurities which make their debut on CD – including many tracks taken from records now worth a small fortune on the collector’s scene. Featuring extensive sleevenotes written by Andy Peterson, this is a fitting tribute to the legacy from one of the UK’s finest northern musical cities.

“Angel Sister” taken from the new album “Last Rays Of A Dying Sun” by Rain Parade, released on August 4th, 2023.

Matt Piucci and Steven Roback are back with , the first new Rain Parade album since 1985’s “Crashing Dream”. This is only Rain Parade’s third studio album. The band reunited Rain Parade are one of the leading lights of the Paisley Underground scene in the early and mid-’80s in Los Angeles. The album feature’s special guest musicians including Debbie and Vicki Peterson of The Bangles.

The record was tracked at 25th Street Studios in Oakland, CA (owned by David Lichtenstein, son of pop art artist Roy Lichtenstein) and at producer Jim Hill’s studio in Los Angeles. “Jim is basically in the band” tells Piucci. “We don’t do anything without him.”

In addition to Piucci and Roback, “Last Rays Of A Dying Sun” features long-time Rain Parade guitarist John Thoman, guitarist Derek See (the Gentle Cycle / Chocolate Watch Band / Dean & Britta), drummer and percussionist Stephan Junca (The Hellenes, boatclub),

“Last Rays Of A Dying Sun” will be the first release on Denver-based Flatiron Recordings, on their imprint Label 51. Flatiron Recordings is a new record company founded by Enigma Records co-founder Bill Hein, San Francisco and Boulder music vet and entrepreneur Andy Zicklin, and veteran music industry lawyer turned entrepreneur Fred Goldring…from promo submission

“The Paisley Underground heroes return with an LP that thoughtfully blends languid psychedelia and rock & roll punch.” Rain Parade is back with the album release ‘Last Rays Of A Dying Sun’ on August 4th

Brighton-based indie sensation Fur release their highly anticipated single, “I Don’t Know Why (But I Love You),” today via Ingrooves. The eagerly awaited track promises to captivate audiences with its soulful melodies and insightful lyrics.

Fur’s Will Murray, the creative force behind this mesmerising single, describes it as a poignant exploration of the complex nature of love. He shares, “It’s about the breakdown of love and how even when not with someone the love you had/have for them can still carry you through. It can drive you over the edge, but also be the light you need.” Murray’s profound words hint at the emotional depth awaiting listeners in “I Don’t Know Why (But I Love You).”

Fur have been making waves in the indie music scene with their unique blend of nostalgia-infused rock and poetic lyricism. Their distinctive sound has garnered them a dedicated following, and this upcoming release is sure to solidify their position as one of the UK’s most endearing indie acts.

To coincide with the single release, Fur will also embark on tour, taking their soulful sound to fans in London, Manchester, and across South East Asia this autumn.

“I Don’t Know Why (But I Love You)” is s a journey through the complexities of love, a testament to FUR’s musical prowess, and an invitation to experience their magic live on stage. Stay tuned for the release on August 30th, and be sure to grab your tickets to their upcoming tour dates to witness this indie sensation in action.

Prolific songwriter and guitar virtuoso David Tattersall presents 11 new songs on themes of memory, dreams, loneliness and love, featuring nylon-string guitar improvisations in the vein of gypsy jazz legend Django Reinhardt. The David Tattersall Group are old friends who rehearsed together for months in a small, smokey, sweaty room, before recording the album on a huge red boat moored on the River Thames, all vintage microphones and wooden walls inside. Friendship is a vital part of the record’s magic. Stylistic influences include Ronnie Lane, after whom one song is named, and the nylon-string guitar work of Jonathan Richman and Willie Nelson. A pastoral mood prevails, with swells of melancholic violin and Spaghetti Western harmonica, backed by honky-tonk piano and the dry drum sounds of Neil Young’s Harvest period, while the golden voice of Holly Holden adds a touch of glamour to proceedings.

David’s process includes much musical improvisation and stream-of-consciousness writing, but his end goal is to couple classic songwriting with the collective chemistry of musicians playing live in the studio. His lyric influences include Tom Verlaine, John Cooper Clarke and the New York School of Poets, particularly James Schuyler. The vinyl comes with a downloadable version featuring two covers of Townes Van Zandt and Jimi Hendrix.

releases October 6th, 2023

Jethro Tull’s 1982 album ‘The Broadsword and the Beast’ will be celebrated in a brand-new 4LP set. The 40th Anniversary packages include new mixes from Steven Wilson, demos, rough mixes, live recordings and sessions from 1981.

The 40th Anniversary packages includes new mixes from Steven Wilson, demos, rough mixes, a 1982 live recording from Germany and sessions from 1981 with five CDs and three DVDs forming the Monster Edition and the four-disc vinyl edition. An accompanying 164-page booklet tells the tory of the album and accompanying tour with the band and crew plus an accompanying reproduction tour programme from the 1982 tour.

Originally released in 1982, “The Broadsword And The Beast” featured a distinctive blend of rock, folk, and progressive influences accompanied by Ian Anderson’s storytelling lyrics and unmistakable flute, 

‘The Broadsword and the Beast’ is a cross between the synthesiser sound of the 1980s and the folk-influenced style that Tull had in the previous decade.

this album’s masterful storytelling, accompanied by Ian Anderson’s unmistakable flute melodies, garnered critical acclaim and has become a fan favourite over the years. The album mixes electronic sound, provided by Peter-John Vettese (a characteristic that would be explored further on the next album under wraps) with acoustic instruments. “There was some great playing on it by the band,” Anderson recalls. “I think that was very much to do with the rhythm section of Dave Pegg and Gerry Conway, it was very solid and positive. Peter Vettese’s inclusion on the album was also very positive in the way that he brought some thoughtful musicality to it. And Martin Barre did what Martin was getting better and better at doing throughout the eighties, which was being an amazingly good guitar player.

“Regarding “The Broadsword And The Beast” in relation to other Jethro Tull albums, personally I would definitely put it in the upper half, in terms of there being some really good songs, and a definite feeling of there being a slight return to that more conceptual thing, without it being too heavy-handed. Overall, I think that the music was amongst some of our best.”

Jethro Tull’s 1982 album “The Broadsword And The Beast” is the latest of their albums to receive the 40th Anniversary deluxe treatment, with a new eight disc CD/DVD version and a four-disc vinyl reissue to be released through Warner Music on September 1st. Limited Edition 4LP Vinyl and in a 5CD+3CD Set.

The massive 5CD+3DVD ‘Monster Edition’ includes a new Steven Wilson stereo mix of the album, plus a host of associated recordings, also newly mixed by Wilson (CDs 1 & 2). The third disc offers demos, master mixes, rough mixes and more, while CDs 4 & 5 deliver a live set from Germany performed in 1982.

Like a number of shoegaze bands, The Boo Radleys spent a couple years hiding their musical skill and good song writing behind a wall of MBV-inspired noise. In an attempt, perhaps, to break out of the ‘Shoegaze’ scene for which they were best known, the 17-track “Giant Steps” exhibited a wider range of influences and was the band’s second album on Creation Records. This genre-hopping long-player was the one before their 1995 breakthrough album “Wake Up!” which tends to be associated with Britpop.

This resulted in some great music but when they came out of their shell, they got even better. Released not long after their wilfully dissonant “Everything’s Alright Forever” LP, the “Lazarus” EP felt a bit like seeing the band with a new pair of glasses.

The signs had been there all along for The Boo Radleys, but all four songs here are a step up in every way. “Lazarus” would show up on 1993’s “Giant Steps”, but without the long, dubby EP intro that pays off so well when the song roars into focus.  its blend of brass and guitar-squall and acutely introspective lyrics, gave a hint of what was to come and remains lodged in the band’s most-loved and best-known songs. It’s also amazing they’d delegate songs as good as “Petroleum” and “At the Sound of Speed” to b-side material. Extended listening: 1991’s “Every Heaven” EP is pretty fantastic with a nice balance of melody and roar, and has one of the Boos’ best-ever songs, “The Finest Kiss.”

Cieka reflected on “Giant Steps” Creation loved it, people’s reactions seemed really positive. I do listen to it from time to time and still find great moments I’d forgotten about. I think it stands up pretty well today. I’m always left feeling happy to have been a part of the record”.

NME’s 1993 Album Of The Year, named in the Top 20 of Pitchfork’s The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time and lauded as one of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, The Boo Radleys’ classic album, The 2LP edition is also available pressed on purple and orange vinyl at indie shops and comes with a bonus vinyl 10-inch featuring Saint Etienne remixes of both ‘Lazarus’ and ‘Rodney King’. The 20-track CD offers both of those remixes and ‘Peachy Keen’.

The Boo Radleys‘ 1993 album “Giant Steps” has been remastered for a 30th Anniversary reissue.

Eighties synth-pop legends OMD return with a new album called “Bauhaus Staircase”.

The 12-track long-player is their first since 2017’s “The Punishment of Luxury” and is said to be “the band’s most explicitly political record” and the crowning achievement of their “desire to be both Stockhausen and ABBA – born from the impetus to kickstart new explorations during lockdown when, as Andy McCluskey admits: “I rediscovered the creative power of total boredom”.

Andy says “The song is a metaphor for strength and artist passion in the face of criticism and adversity. When times are hard, there is a tendency for Governments to look at cutting funding for creativity, just at the moment when the arts are most needed to nourish our souls. It seems appropriate that the song and its eponymous album were created during Covid Lockdown.”

The album is being issued on CD and as a special 2CD deluxe which offers every track as a demo (including a bonus second demo of the title track). Various coloured vinyl versions are also available.

“Bauhaus Staircase” will be released on 27th October 2023 via 100%

“Nashville’s Be Your Own Pet made a triumphant return to both the stage and airwaves this past year after nearly 15 years apart. Following a whirlwind two-year career in the late ’00s that saw the four teenagers release two records (via Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace in the U.S. and XL Recordings in the U.K.), become magazine cover stars, and play to ravenous sold-out crowds around the world, it became clear that the flame burned too quickly and they needed to call it quits. Now, a decade and a half later, the band haven’t skipped a beat.

Their long-awaited new album “Mommy” was written and recorded by the three founding members Jemina Pearl Abegg (vocals), Jonas Stein (guitar), Nathan Vasquez (bass), and long time drummer John Eatherly. “For better or worse, we all were slapped in the face that it wasn’t as easy on our own,” Stein says of their hiatus. “We were all moderately successful, but nobody found that Be Your Own Pet chemistry.”

Inspired by the band’s one-off, 2022 Halloween show at the Encore Theater at Wynn in Las Vegas, “Danse Macabre” is a spooky, ghoul-inspired 13-song collection. Duran Duran “Danse Macabre” album October 27th, 2023. The 13 song collection includes 2 new Duran Duran songs, “Black Moonlight” and “Confessions In The Afterlife” as well as their cover versions of songs by Talking Heads, Billie Eilish, The Specials, Rolling Stones, and Siouxsie And The Banshees, Rick James and Cerrone, as well as reinterpretations of the title track “Danse Macabre” and some of their own classic songs. The idea was born out of a show we played in Las Vegas on Oct. 31, 2022,” keyboardist Nick Rhodes explained in a press release. We had decided to seize the moment to create a unique, special event the temptation of using glorious gothic visuals set to a dark soundtrack of horror and humour was simply irresistible.”

Guest artists include original band member Andy Taylor and former guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, producer/guitarist Nile Rodgers and Victoria De Angelis of “Maneskin”. the track listing — which includes an update of the rare B-side and fan favourite “Secret Oktober”

“I hope you take a journey with us through the darker side of our inspirations into where we’re at in 2023,” drummer Roger Taylor added. “Maybe you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how Duran Duran got to this moment in time.”

“Danse Macabre” song release August 25th

“Black Moonlight” song release September 22nd

“Psycho Killer” song release October 24th

Singer Songwriter Hozier has achieved his first UK No.1 album, “Unreal Unearth” has debuted at the summit today. “It’s a special feeling to receive this kind of support in your home country,” said Hozier. “A massive thank you to everyone in Ireland for all the love and support shown has me absolutely thrilled.”

The album features “Eat Your Young,” released as its lead track in March, and “Damage Gets Done,’ with a guest appearance by Brandi Carlile. Hozier is one of the set‘s many co-producers, In a five-star review, the Daily Telegraph’s Neil McCormick lavished praise on the album, describing Hozier as “a singer-songwriter who deserves to be considered among the very best of his peers.

Operating as Hozier, “Unreal Unearth” is only his third album in nine years, but it is further evidence of an artist who takes pride in every aspect of his craft, concocting songs of emotional and philosophical depth in richly detailed sonic environments that push this venerable genre into thrilling new spaces. He plays guitar deftly and sings beautifully, drawing on folk, blues and roots forms to marry flowing melodies to meaningful lyrics.”

The Guardian wrote: “Irish singer-songwriter Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s third album is a lot. A teetering stack of soul and rock teeming with furrow-browed, denim-jacketed, glass-cased emotion. It should come with a reading list – its 16 songs are patterned by way of Dante’s Inferno and he has said that epic poetry such as Metamorphoses inspired him.”

It’s been a decade since Andrew Hozier-Byrne (better known as just Hozier) landed on listeners’ radars with the viral, now diamond-certified track, ‘Take Me to Church’ and since then he’s amassed a devoted online fanbase.