Features

Of all the guitarists associated with the Takoma School, it’s hard to think of one who imbued folk music with quite as much mystical portent as Robbie Basho. 1978’s “Visions Of The Country”, his tenth album, is a fantastic case in point: “I would paint for you a portrait of North America as a beautiful woman,” he wrote in the original sleevenotes, “when she was young and untamed.”

As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, a big backlog of music to work through here. And while I try and offer some fractionally different recommendations away from the usual media pile-ons (Oh look, Haim etc), this Janelle Monáe album is terrific and I totally recommend having a listen on The Guardian’s stream: very much in the zone of “The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill” (especially “Victory”).

I guess there are probably worse jobs to return to after a fortnight’s holiday. I arrived back in the Uncut office yesterday to be greeted by a big pile of new releases, which I’m still picking my way through. Currently playing: Track Two of Damon’s reissued “Song Of A Gypsy” – “Generally regarded,” it says here in the press release, “as one of the finest privately-pressed psychedelic rock records” of the late ‘60s. We shall see.

David Byrne & St Vincent at End Of The Road 2013 - review Ethan Johns at End Of The Road 2013 - review Eels at End Of The Road 2013 – review Parquet Courts at End Of The Road 2013 – review Mike Heron & Trembling Bells at End Of The Road 2013 – review William Tyler at End Of The Road 2013 - review Belle & Sebastian might not have surprised anyone with their last two albums, 2006's The Life Pursuit and 2010's Write About Love, but it seems their fans' love for them is growing even deeper - these two are their highest charting records, in the UK and America.

Belle And Sebastian at End Of The Road 2013 - review Ethan Johns at End Of The Road 2013 - review David Byrne & St Vincent at End Of The Road 2013 - review Eels at End Of The Road 2013 – review Parquet Courts at End Of The Road 2013 – review Mike Heron & Trembling Bells at End Of The Road 2013 – review One of the highlights of this weekend's Uncut Tipi Tent is almost certainly William Tyler's performance on Sunday afternoon. It's hot and dry in Dorset, and Tyler's dusty, crystalline solo guitar pieces are the perfect counterparts.

Belle And Sebastian at End Of The Road 2013 - review David Byrne & St Vincent at End Of The Road 2013 - review Ethan Johns at End Of The Road 2013 - review Eels at End Of The Road 2013 – review Parquet Courts at End Of The Road 2013 – review William Tyler at End Of The Road 2013 - review Mike Heron of The Incredible String Band has teamed up with Trembling Bells a number of times over the last couple of years - in fact, I saw them almost exactly two years ago to the day at London's Vortex Jazz Bar.

Belle And Sebastian at End Of The Road 2013 - review David Byrne & St Vincent at End Of The Road 2013 - review Eels at End Of The Road 2013 – review Parquet Courts at End Of The Road 2013 – review Mike Heron & Trembling Bells at End Of The Road 2013 – review William Tyler at End Of The Road 2013 - review Producer turned artist is weird enough, but Ryan Adams producer Ethan Johns playing new songs produced by Ryan Adams is even stranger...

Belle And Sebastian at End Of The Road 2013 - review Eels at End Of The Road 2013 – review Parquet Courts at End Of The Road 2013 – review Ethan Johns at End Of The Road 2013 - review Mike Heron & Trembling Bells at End Of The Road 2013 – review William Tyler at End Of The Road 2013 - review When David Byrne and Annie Clark got together to make an album you wouldn't necessarily have imagined they'd be united by brass - especially the kind of brass parts that can only be described as 'fidgety'.

Belle And Sebastian at End Of The Road 2013 - review Eels at End Of The Road 2013 – review David Byrne & St Vincent at End Of The Road 2013 – review Ethan Johns at End Of The Road 2013 - review Mike Heron & Trembling Bells at End Of The Road 2013 – review William Tyler at End Of The Road 2013 - review This time last year they were unknowns self-releasing their Light Up Gold album in a limited run, but now New York/Texas indie-punks Parquet Courts are packing out the Big Top tent at End Of The Road.

Belle And Sebastian at End Of The Road 2013 - review Parquet Courts at End Of The Road 2013 - review David Byrne & St Vincent at End Of The Road 2013 - review Ethan Johns at End Of The Road 2013 - review Mike Heron & Trembling Bells at End Of The Road 2013 – review William Tyler at End Of The Road 2013 - review "Look what we brought you!" shouts E. "A motherfucking wonderful glorious double-rainbow!"