The Fat Angel Sings

The Black Keys have a new album coming out May 13th via Nonesuch Records titled “Dropout Boogie“. We got the first look at it with the single “Wild Child,” which came with a playful video that found Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach infiltrating a school and returning to their roots. Unlike “Wild Child,” the new song doesn’t come with a narrative music video, but it does find them lending a gravelly sheen to their bluesy basement-rock beginnings.

In honour of the new album, the duo will head out on a hefty 32-date tour, featuring Band of Horses as guests on all dates. Ceramic Animal, Early James, and The Velveteers will also appear on select runs of the tour.

The Black Keys’ “It Ain’t Over” from the new album ‘Dropout Boogie’

Arcade Fire disappointed a lot of fans with 2017’s “Everything Now” , but after hearing their excellent new single “The Lightning I, II,” we’re staying cautiously optimistic about their upcoming album “WE”. The two-part, six-minute song feels like the Arcade Fire we know and love, and they sound totally reinvigorated. Adding to the excitement, Radiohead collaborator Nigel Godrich co-produced this LP with the band, and Peter Gabriel appears on a song.

The sixth studio album from the Canadian superstars rolls back the conceptual idea to a more suitable kaleidoscopic indie-rock that references Bowie and Big Thief. It has big ballads and synth pop. It features Peter Gabriel and Father John Misty doing “stomps and breaths”, some great songs and some clunkers.

After their 2017 stumble “Everything Now”, all signs point to a return to form on Arcade Fire’s sixth studio album “WE”, coming May 6th on Columbia Records. “Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)” is our second of those signs so far, following the March release of dual lead track “The Lightning I, II.”

“Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)” appears on the album’s “WE” side, as a press release notes, “the half of the record that channels and revels in the power and joy of human (re)connection.” Like an indie-rock Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, the track finds Win Butler addressing younger generations—and those still to come with a moving warmth and generosity of spirit, offering wisdom and encouragement over a bright, acoustic guitar-driven instrumental. “A lifetime of skinned knees / And heartbreak comes so easy / But a life without pain would be boring,” Butler counsels, with orchestral sweep and sprawl to reinforce the highs and lows through which his love will always remain unconditional.

The opening tracks, particularly this second one, which has all the hallmarks of Arcade Fire at their best – the nonchalant call and response, spatial intro, a big sprawling kick-in with tension-filled synths and drum hits (the credits have Portishead’s Geoff Barrow’s name on ‘Granular Synthesis’), strings by Owen Pallett, and world-building lyrics about Icarus and the Acropolis. And, it’s got one of those fine Reginé outros.

“There’s nothing saccharine about unconditional love in a world that is coming apart at the seams,” says Butler in a statement. “WE need each other, in all of our imperfection. ‘Lookout Kid’ is a reminder, a lullaby for the end times, sung to my son, but for everyone … Trust your heart, trust your mind, trust your body, trust your soul. Shit is going to get worse before it gets better, but it always gets better, and no one’s perfect. Let me say it again. No one’s perfect.”

There’s nothing saccharine about unconditional love in a world that is coming apart at the seams. WE need each other, in all of our imperfection. “Lookout Kid” is a reminder, a lullaby for the end times, sung to my son, but for everyone… Trust your heart, trust your mind, trust your body, trust your soul. Sh*t is going to get worse before it gets better, but it always gets better, and no one’s perfect. Let me say it again. No one’s perfect.

Produced by Nigel Godrich with Arcade Fire’s own Butler and Régine Chassagne, “WE” is easily one of the most exciting releases on the way in May. The band seem to have rediscovered the anthemic earnestness and joy that first made them a household name.

due 5/6 via Columbia Records

Don Giovanni Records has announced that punk rock lifer Mikey Erg will release his new album “Love At Leeds” on June 24th, 2022. The album was recorded by Steve Albini at his iconic Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago IL. The band features DIY working class hero Jeff Rosenstock on lead guitar and background vocals.

Mikey released the album’s first single “Almost Like Judee Sill” an ode to the late, great tragic songwriter in a tight two minute power pop-sprint. The track is available through Bandcamp now.

“Love At Leeds” is the realization of many dreams for Mikey Erg. A lifelong music obsessive, growing up in the early 90’s, there was one sound he’d always hoped to capture on his recordings. The sound of Steve Albini. Steve’s credits include The Pixies, PJ Harvey, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant and of course Nirvana’s third LP “In Utero”: one of Mikey’s absolute favourite records.

Mikey had never in his twenty-plus year recording career ever gotten to make a fully analogue recording. “Love At Leeds” was the perfect time to rectify all of that. Using the group of musicians that helped him realize his debut solo LP “Tentative Decisions” (Jeff Rosenstock, Alex Clute & Lou Hanman), he Headed to Chicago to make this dream a reality.

Recorded and mixed in just five days, “Love at Leeds” is a swift twenty five minute long grunge-pop tour de force. Once the album was complete, Steve and his trusty razor blade compiled the master mix reels and sent the band on their way. The tapes then made the journey to Hollywood California to the legendary Bernie Grundman Mastering facility to be mastered and cut straight to lacquer disc by Chris Bellman (Frank Zappa, Neil Young, Kenny Dorham, Pearl Jam). 

Mikey, who takes his name from the seminal mid-2000s NJ pop-punk band THE ERGS! who he was drummer and principal songwriter for, is a decades-long fixture in the DIY punk rock scene, directly influencing the next generation of power pop and punk bands as he concurrently continues his solo song writing career.

The first single “Almost Like Judee Sill” – everywhere now – is a breakneck tight two minute melodic pop gem that will demand several subsequent re-listens.

Mikey Erg continues to set the gold standard for hooky punk love songs. “Love at Leeds” is him at the top of his songwriting game—just one finely tuned ear-worm after another.” – NY Times bestselling author Dan Ozzi

Just last month Young Guv (aka songwriter Ben Cook) released his latest masterpiece, GUV III, and now the ever-prolific musician is already back to announce its sequel, GUV IV, due out June 24th from RFC and Hand Drawn Dracula (Canada).

Where GUV III encapsulates Cook’s most instantly accessible guitar pop song writing (earning praise from the likes of Stereogum, SPIN Magazine, Paste Magazine, Uproxx, and many more), GUV IV represents the most sonically adventurous side of Young Guv. Cook has an unparalleled ability to write perfect power pop but GUV IV highlights his expertise with the many other sounds and styles that have dotted Young Guv’s expansive catalogue over the years. The record effortlessly moves between hazy, Madchester-inspired rave ups, twangy California jangle, and even homemade sophisti-pop–while always retaining Cook’s undeniable melodies.

GUV IV’s lead single “Change Your Mind” sees Cook teaming with frequent collaborator James Matthew VII for a blend of hazy hooks, pedal steel guitar, and a nearly psychedelic mood that transports the listen to the New Mexican desert where it was written.

“Take Up All My Time” by Young Guv, from his upcoming release ‘GUV IV’ out March 11th, 2022 via Run For Cover Records and via Hand Drawn Dracula (Canada) –

Another Michael released their debut full-length, New Music and Big Pop, last year, earning praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Stereogum, Billboard, Uproxx, Flood Magazine, Paste Magazine, and many more. Now the Philadelphia-based guitar pop upstarts are back with a strikingly catchy new single, “Water Pressure.” Streaming everywhere now, the gorgeous new song finds Another Michael leaning into their cozy acoustic side, with vocalist/guitarist Michael Doherty and guitarist/keyboardist Alenni Davis weaving together some of the group’s most satisfying harmonies to date.

Another Michael have two upcoming Northeast shows, with more tour dates to be announce soon.

“Water Pressure” by Another Michael, out now via Run For Cover Records

A reawakening for the Swedish visionaries, “Sincere” solidifies their impressive trajectory in a fuzzed out haze of dark and arresting shoegaze pop. An expansive trip through noisier, bittersweet pop realms that recalls My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Deerhunter.

Underpinning everything there’s a continuing sense of drama throughout; richly textured crescendos, chiming guitars and delicate melodies are guided by Caroline Landahl’s tender yet sharpened vocals. “Sincere” is joyously effervescent, but with a dark underbelly where fury manifests in a swirl of entrancing and propulsive percussion.

A gorgeous and dazzling piece of aching romanticism, destined to feature on a thousand mixtapes.

Recorded last year in Malmö, Hater welcomed two new band members and those early day sparks saw them quickly turning demos into fully-formed new songs that appear on the record. “Sincere” was produced by long-time collaborator Joakim Lindberg and was mixed and mastered by John Cornfield, whose credits include Ride, The Stone Roses .

Hater release new single ‘Far From A Mind’ . The track is from their forthcoming new album ‘Sincere’ out 6th May. Suppressing overpowering emotions on the disconcerting ‘Far From A Mind’, it’s joyously effervescent with a dark underbelly where fury manifests in a swirl of entrancing and propulsive percussion.

It’s a good day for lots of Ride news. Please read on for more on the imminent Nowhere30tour, the reissues, new merch and a live film.

Firstly, we were really looking forward to getting out and touring the 30th anniversary of “Nowhere” back in 2020. Then the pandemic hit and delayed our plans, but here we are in 2022 and we are still buzzing about getting out on the road, if anything, more so than before.

The 30th-anniversary reissue of Ride‘s seminal 1990 debut, “Nowhere”, should have come out in 2020, but, of course, stuff got in the way. Here it is in 2022, though, on vinyl, with a gatefold sleeve and embossed artwork, and on CD. So time again to marvel at a defining work of British shoegaze. Time again to dance moodily to jangly guitars and mopey harmonies, interjected by moments of sheer psychedelic distortion, and pedal-enhanced guitar solos.

The confidence the Oxford four-piece, barely out of their teens, had in merging elements of the Byrds and My Bloody Valentine is astounding. That they had truly hit on something special is also evident from the fact that post-Britpop, post-Radiohead, and post-Coldplay these songs sound fresher than ever. The opener, “Seagull”, is still both thunderous and trippy, “Polar Bear” is still surging and ferocious, and “Vapour Trail” is still simply immense and spell-bounding. All hail an album as important to the development of British rock as (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?

We feel that “Nowhere” is a debut album worth celebrating, and as well as the tour, we’ve decided to start pressing new editions of the vinyl from the original Ride era. The first batch not only includes “Nowhere“, but also Going Blank Again, and an album we’ve created out of the first “4 EPs”. This new album has given us a chance to create some new (but old school) Ride artwork which we are pretty pleased with. 

“Nowhere” was originally released on 15th October 1990, featuring classic tracks including “Vapour Trail”, “Polar Bear” and “Dreams Burn Down”. Widely considered one of the greatest albums not only of the ‘shoegaze’ genre, but of the 90s, “Nowhere” was Creation Records’ first Top 75 album, peaking in the UK album charts at number 11.

One of the seminal records of the shoegazer movement, Ride’s “Nowhere” typifies all of the best qualities of the movement’s sound. Shimmering, psychedelic atmospheres, squalling guitars shot through with distortion, and hypnotic drones balanced by genuine pop songcraft are all on ample display here, and are executed with a precision and mastery that represent the pinnacle of their technique. ‘Seagull’ the album’s opener, pushed by the swirling twin guitar attack of Andy Bell and Mark Gardener, is simultaneously thunderous and radiant. Surging cuts like ‘Polar Bear’ testify to Ride’s skill at building dynamic tension and ringing sonic drama. But Ride were more than mere noise-merchants; their debt to psychedelic ’60s pop also results in some fine song writing, as the chiming, arepeggiated pop confection ‘Taste’ reveals. Nowhere is Ride’s finest moment, and as a definitive document of shoegazer bliss, it ranks right alongside My Bloody Valentine’s classic Loveless.

Back in the early 90s, before indie bands made the tabloids, Ride were one of our great white hopes. Fusing the sonic headrush of My Bloody Valentine with the Byrds’ jingle-jangle immediacy, they seemed destined to shine. Debut album “Nowhere” captured them at their adolescent peak and “Vapour Trail” is effectively their signature tune; FX pedal-enhanced guitar assaults and nascent teenage vocals tempered by a love of all things pop.

Still to come are reissues of Ride’s final two original era albums: 1994’s “Carnival of Light” and 1996’s “Tarantula”. 

Ride have announced details of their upcoming reissues of their early catalogue. On November 4th, Wichita Records will release vinyl and CD reissues of 1990’s “Nowhere” and 1992’s “Going Blank Again“. Also out that day, and perhaps most exciting of all, is compilation “4 EPs”, that for the first time collects Ride’s first four EPs — “Ride, Play, Fall“, and “Today Forever” — onto one set.

All these reissues feature remastered audio, and Ride’s Andy Bell told us, “These are my favourite pressings ever of these albums. Creation was an amazing record label but they didn’t press on the greatest vinyl. I’d rather have one of these new ones than an original any day.”

The follow-up to “Nowhere”, “Going Blank Again” saw the Oxford quartet embrace their prog side. Lead single “Leave Them All Behind” was an eight minute FX-pedal onslaught that somehow managed to crack the top twenty and get them on TOTP. On the other hand, “Twisterella” and “Mouse Trap” proved they could strip away the noise in favour of concise three minute pop melodies. A career best.

Ride set themselves a tough task by having to follow up their excellent full-length debut, “Nowhere“, an album that still stands as one of the finest examples of Britain’s shoegazer movement. Fortunately, the band rose to the task. While not quite as immediately striking or hypnotic as “Nowhere”, “Going Blank Again” is a charmingly different kettle of fish. Of course, there is plenty of the band’s trademark epic sonic play, including oceans of layered guitars shot through with distortion and effects, shimmering psychedelic textures, and thumping bass and drums. But “Going Blank Again” is much brighter and more pop-oriented than its predecessor, with songs like ‘Twisterella’ and ‘Not Fazed’ making ample use of chiming guitar lines and catchy melodic hooks. While the dark-and-gloomy, drone-fixated shoe-gazer fans may disparage the record, Ride’s sophomore release shows the band building on their sound while polishing their popcraft.

Still to come are reissues of Ride’s final two original era albums: 1994’s “Carnival of Light” and 1996’s “Tarantula“. 

It’s a good day for lots of Ride news. Please read on for more on the imminent Nowhere30 tour, the reissues, new merch and a live film.

Firstly, we were really looking forward to getting out and touring the 30th anniversary of “Nowhere” back in 2020. Then the pandemic hit and delayed our plans, but here we are in 2022 and we are still buzzing about getting out on the road, if anything, more so than before.

Ride have announced details of their upcoming reissues of their early catalogue. On November 4th, Wichita Records will release vinyl and CD reissues of 1990’s “Nowhere” and 1992’s “Going Blank Again”. Also out that day, and perhaps most exciting of all, is compilation “4 EPs“, that for the first time collects Ride’s first four EPs — “Ride, Play, Fall”, and “Today Forever” — onto one set.

All these reissues feature remastered audio, and Ride’s Andy Bell told us, “These are my favourite pressings ever of these albums. Creation was an amazing record label but they didn’t press on the greatest vinyl. I’d rather have one of these new ones than an original any day.”

We’ve decided to start pressing new editions of the vinyl from the original Ride era. The first batch not only includes “Nowhere”, but also “Going Blank Again”, and an album we’ve created out of the first “4 EPs“. This new album has given us a chance to create some new (but old school) Ride artwork which we are pretty pleased with. 

Entitled “4 EPs”, this album compiles the first four Ride EPs onto one record for the first time ever. It features the tracks from Ride, “Play, Fall” and “Vapour Trail”. Ahead of their ‘Nowhere’ 30th anniversary UK tour starting 20th April, shoegaze legends Ride have announced the details of the reissues of their early classic albums via Wichita Recordings.

The full details of our reissues all lovingly released 4th November on Wichita Recordings. The audio from the original recordings has been reworked and finessed, and will be reissued on vinyl, cd and digital: The first 4 EPs are compiled onto one record for the first time ever. It’s a beautiful gatefold album on double white vinyl, plus there’s a 16 page booklet featuring archive photos and an essay by Nathaniel Cramp from Sonic Cathedral. “4 EPs” will be available as a double LP set on white vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with “new (but old school) Ride artwork” and a 14-page booklet featuring rare archive photos.

2LP – Packaged as a beautiful gatefold album on double white vinyl. This is accompanied by a 16 page booklet featuring archive photos and an essay by Sonic Cathedral’s Nathaniel Cramp.

Still to come are reissues of Ride’s final two original era albums: 1994’s “Carnival of Light” and 1996’s “Tarantula”. Stay tuned for details on those.