Paul Weller, David Bowie, Roger Waters and the best albums of 2015 all feature in the new issue of Uncut, out now.
We join Paul Weller on tour in San Francisco, and find the Modfather five years sober, “enjoying the clarity” of playing to enthusiastic crowds and breaking the US, his way.
“I love playing music,” he tells Uncut. “I can’t imagine that passion ever stopping.”
Also in the new issue, we delve inside David Bowie’s new, ambitious Blackstar album. As well as an extensive, in-depth review, Blackstar’s bandleader, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, reveals all about Bowie’s remarkable working practices, including jazz solos, conceptual feedback and sushi lunches.
“I remember Tony [Visconti] and David both saying, ‘Wow, this is going so fast. You’re doing a great job.’ David took everything we did during the day home at night and listened intently to it, trying to figure out what he wanted and so on. His attention to detail that way was eye-opening.”
Elsewhere, as he prepares to release a new film of The Wall, Roger Waters discusses war, Pink Floyd and a lifetime of being “a very angry young man”. “If you’re honest in any way,” he tells us, “you paint what you see. I lived in a political household, so politics was always part of my life.”
Also in the issue, we reveal the finest albums, reissues, films and books of 2015, all voted for by Uncut’s staff and contributors, and put your questions to Josh Tillman aka Father John Misty. “If anyone could provide a fragrance experience that would encapsulate what it means to be a young woman today, it was me,” he quips.
Pere Ubu’s original members, including frontman David Thomas and synth pioneer Allen Ravenstine, take us through the creation of their debut single, “30 Seconds Over Tokyo” – “we had to assure the pressing plant that that was what the song was supposed to sound like!” says Thomas.
In our ‘album by album’ feature this month, Robert Forster recalls The Go-Betweens, recreating a photograph of James Joyce for the cover of his debut solo album, and why he “never made a bad record in London”.
The 40-page reviews section includes releases from David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Sunn O))), Jonny Greenwood, Arthur Lee & Love, The Magnetic Fields and Laurie Anderson, while U2 and Joanna Newsom‘s live sets are reviewed.
Neil Young, Janis Joplin, Miracle Legion and Gwenno are all to be found within our Instant Karma news section, while Natalie Prass takes us through the songs and albums that have shaped her life.
The free CD, The Best Of 2015, includes some of the finest songs of the year, from the likes of Ryley Walker, Courtney Barnett, Wilco, Father John Misty, Björk, New Order and Julia Holter.
The new issue of Uncut is out now.
The History Of Rock – a brand new monthly magazine from the makers of Uncut – a brand new monthly magazine from the makers of Uncut – is now on sale in the UK. Click here for more details.
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