Mutantes

A few bits and pieces to mop up today, beginning with one last thankyou to everyone who has posted on the end of year blogs – or, come to that, who's commented on any of the things I’ve written in the past 12 months. It’s been a genuine pleasure to hear from almost all of you; and of course heartening to discover other people interested in the same music.

Previously: 100-81, 80-61

Apologies for the radio silence these past couple of weeks – I’ve been on holiday a long way from the CD mountain, catching up on some well-earned silence. Thanks for all your correspondence in the meantime, not least the kind words about my “Seeing For Miles” comp, and the Brazilian contributions to the Os Mutantes piece.

As ever, a bit of a backlog here, but I’ll try and file some previews of The XX, the surprisingly fine Os Mutantes comeback, Andrew WK’s solo piano improvisations and, especially, the Unthanks album in the next few days.

As you can see, plenty of interesting new things have turned up since I last posted a playlist, not least new albums from Jim O’Rourke and, amazingly, Os Mutantes. This week’s problem, though, is the immense distraction of two wonderful-sounding new boxsets from Rhino; one dedicated to Big Star, the other a four-CD set called “LA Nuggets”.

The Sheffield boys continue the British domination at Spanish festival

Just got back from an incredibly frenetic show by !!! - the US dance-punk outfit were incredible. Singer Nic Offer fuelled with helium sneakily passed onstage by CSS' Lovefoxxx who was still waiting in the wings having just played another technicolor show, welcomed the baying crowd squeaky high - and the show was on!

Arctic Monkeys play tonight, after The Klaxons and The Horrors triumph

The thirteenth International Festival De Benicassim is starting in Valencia, Spain today (July 19) and Uncut.co.uk will be bringing you all the action live.

Wilco, Devo, Arctic Monkeys, Rufus and Iggy all to play this weekend