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What’s inside the new Uncut..?

Michael Bonner
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What’s inside the new Uncut..?
There are, perhaps, worse ways to spend the day. Last month, I was invited down to meet David Gilmour on his houseboat recording studio, Astoria, moored on the bank of the Thames. In a neat piece of theatre, Gilmour - accompanied by his wife, Polly Samson - appeared as if by magic in the impeccably ...

There are, perhaps, worse ways to spend the day. Last month, I was invited down to meet David Gilmour on his houseboat recording studio, Astoria, moored on the bank of the Thames. In a neat piece of theatre, Gilmour – accompanied by his wife, Polly Samson – appeared as if by magic in the impeccably kept grounds of Astoria; how did they do it? In truth, there’s a private tunnel designed by Capability Brown that runs underneath the road to emerge into the garden. A welcoming handshake and we were off.

Ostensibly, I was there to discuss Rattle That Lock – Gilmour’s first studio album in nine years. But during our time together, the conversation broadened out to explore Gilmour’s remarkable career, both as a solo artist and as a member of Pink Floyd.

Gilmour was a warm, courteous host. I asked his old friend Robert Wyatt for his first impressions of Gilmour, when they met over 40 years ago; it’s a description that still seems remarkably apt. “He had a patrician air that I find very unusual in rock music,” Wyatt told me. “He was dignified, witty. Grown up. I like him, but I’ve always been a little awestruck by him. Not because he’s intimidating, but you feel that he’s listening and watching. His bullshit detector is on ‘alert’ a lot of the time.”

Aside from Robert Wyatt, I also spoke to close friends and collaborators about their experiences with David down the years. I heard some terrific stories, and we also reflected on some amazing music, past and present. Oh, and David even dropped a major revelation about his future plans…

You can read our world exclusive interview with David Gilmour in the new issue of Uncut; which goes on sale in UK shops today. You can also buy it digitally by clicking here.

In related news, I should mention that by clicking here you can David Gilmour, Nick Mason and famous fans pick Pink Floyd‘s 30 greatest tracks.

As you’d expect, there’s plenty more elsewhere in our issue. John travelled to California to witness the one of the Grateful Dead‘s recent Fare Thee Well shows and get the inside scoop on these very special concerts. We’ve worked closely with our good friends at Rhino on this month’s free Grateful Dead CD: Ramble On Rose. It’s our humble attempt to construct the Dead album that never was, a putative sequel to Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. Judging by some early reactions on social media from subscribers, it seems to have been received even better than we anticipated: so thanks to those who’ve Tweeted and Facebooked us about it. We are, understandably, very proud of it.

But wait… there’s even more! Peter Watts uncovered tales involving black magic, police raids, pig’s heads and the Great Pyramid in the company of Killing Joke. Jason Anderson spoke to many of the performers and organisers involved with the Newport Folk Festival during it’s transitional years in the mid-Sixties, and came back with fascinating look at the birth of the folk roots revolution. Spoilers: contains some Bob Dylan. And Andy Gill travelled to Chicago for an Independence Day barbeque in the company of Ryley Walker, one of our favourite upcoming artists.

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Meanwhile, Julien Temple answers your questions on The Clash, Wilko Johnson, the Sex Pistols and more in An Audience With… (there is a very funny story involving Peter Cook, Mick Jagger and a lift), the Isley Brothers‘ “Harvest For The World” features in our Making Of… slot, and the legendary Tropicália musician Caetano Veloso talks us through his best releases in Album By Album. Jason Williamson from Sleaford Mods reveals the records that shaped him in My Life In Music.

In a bulging reviews section, there’s new albums from Titus Andronicus, Beach House, Drinks and Iris DeMent and we look at major reissues from Rory Gallagher’s Taste, Led Zeppelin, Pere Ubu, Pavement, The Who, Black Sabbath and the Cocteau Twins. Live, we review AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac, there’s Janis Joplin and Orson Welles in DVD and in books, Allan catches up with a biography of Neil Young‘s formative years. In film, I review Noah Baumbach‘s new film, Mistress America, the Vic Godard documentary, and a brilliant Jordianian film Theeb, among others.

As if that wasn’t enough, in the front section, we take a peek at the Rolling Stones‘ forthcoming EXHIBITIONISM and report on a hush-hush playback of Keith Richards‘ new album. There’s Kristin Hersh on Vic Chesnutt, the original Charlatans, an I’m New Here on Mac DeMarco, jazz tyro Thundercat and the latest on the Uncut stage at this year’s End Of The Road festival.

I think that’s it. Apart from to say, do please let us know what you think of our new issue and the free CD. But beyond that, we’d love to hear your thoughts on recent albums you’ve bought, gigs you’ve seen, favourite artists that are perhaps overdue reappraisal, or what on earth is going on in True Detective at the moment.

You can write to us at uncut_feedback@timeinc.com.

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelBonner

Uncut, David Gilmour cover
Uncut, David Gilmour cover

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Hear New Order’s new single, “Restless”

Michael Bonner
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Hear New Order’s new single, “Restless”
New Order have released a new single, "Restless". The track appears on the band's forthcoming album, Music Complete, which is released on September 25, 2015. You can hear the song below. It is the band’s first new material since Waiting For The Sirens’ Call in 2002 and the first to feature Gi...

New Order have released a new single, “Restless“.

The track appears on the band’s forthcoming album, Music Complete, which is released on September 25, 2015.

You can hear the song below.

It is the band’s first new material since Waiting For The Sirens’ Call in 2002 and the first to feature Gillian Gilbert since 2001’s Get Ready.

The tracklisting for Music Complete is:
Restless
Singularity
Plastic
Tutti Frutti
People On The High Line
Stray Dog
Academic
Nothing But A Fool
Unlearn This Hatred
The Game
Superheated

The band have also announced tour dates.

New Order play:
November 4 – Paris, Casino de Paris
November 6 – Brussels, Ancienne Belgique
November 8 – Stockholm, Annexet
November 11 – Berlin, Tempodrom
November 16 – London, Brixton Academy
November 19 – Glasgow, Academy
November 21 – Liverpool, Olympia
November 24 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Neil Young and Willie Nelson reveal this year’s Farm Aid line-up

Michael Bonner
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Neil Young and Willie Nelson reveal this year’s Farm Aid line-up
The line-up for this year's Farm Aid festival has been announced. The annual event, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will be held on September 19 at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, Chicago. The line-up is headed by the organisation's four board members - Willie Nelso...

The line-up for this year’s Farm Aid festival has been announced.

The annual event, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will be held on September 19 at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, Chicago.

The line-up is headed by the organisation’s four board members –
Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews – alongside guests Jack Johnson, Imagine Dragons, Kacey Musgraves, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mavis Staples, Holly Williams, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, Insects vs. Robots and Blackwood Quartet.

“We organized the first Farm Aid concert in Illinois in 1985 to respond to the people suffering during the Farm Crisis,” said Willie Nelson in a statement via Rolling Stone. “Thirty years later, in Chicago, we’ll bring together so many of the people — farmers, eaters, advocates and activists — who have made the progress of the Good Food Movement possible. At Farm Aid 30, we’ll celebrate the impact we’ve had and rally our supporters for the work ahead.”

Meanwhile, Neil Young recently released a 10-minute short film, Seeding Fear. The film accompanies his current album, The Monsanto Years. Click here to read Uncut’s review.

The film is credited to “Bernard Shakey“, Young’s long-standing directorial pseudonym.

Writing on his Facebook page, Young said: “As I write this, the dark act is up for a vote in the House of Representatives; representatives of the people. The dark act takes away the rights of those people to vote for or against things like GMO labeling in their states. It does seem ironic. If the act is passed, it will truly be a dark day for America.

“Monsanto is a corporation with great wealth, now controlling over 90% of soybean and corn growth in America. Family farms have been replaced by giant agri corp farms across this great vast country we call home. Farm aid and other organizations have been fighting the losing battle against this for 30 years now.

“Dairy and meat farming is done in those white sheds you see from the freeway, no longer on the green pastures of home with the old farmhouses and barns. Those beautiful buildings now stand in ruin across the country. This has happened on our watch while the country slept, distracted by advertising and false information from the corporations. Monsanto and others simply pay the politicians for voting their way. This is because of ‘Citizens United’, a legislation that has made it possible for corporations to have the same rights as people, while remaining immune to people’s laws.

“Both Democratic and Republican front runners are in bed with Monsanto, from Clinton to Bush, as many government branches are and have been for years. This presidential election could further cement the dominance of corporation’s rights over people’s rights in America. If you have a voice you have a choice. Use it.

“On the human side, the film I would like you to see tells the story of a farming family in America, but the same thing is happening around the world. It is a story that takes 10 minutes of your time to see. It is a simple human one, telling the heartbreaking story of one man who fought the corporate behemoth Monsanto, and it illustrates why I was moved to write The Monsanto Years.

“The film presents a rare opportunity to hear from the source as Mr. White is one of only four farmers who is still legally allowed to speak about his case as all the others have been effectively silenced.

“Thanks for reading this and I hope you look at this simple and powerful film, ‘Seeding Fear’.”

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Members of Roxy Music and The Clash form supergroup

Michael Bonner
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Members of Roxy Music and The Clash form supergroup
Phil Manzanera and Paul Simonon have teamed up with Tony Allen and a number of other musicians to perform at an Italian music festival. Manzanera, Simonon and Allen will be joined by Italian musician Ligabue, Columbian singer Andrea Echeverri and London-based violinist Anna Phoebe for a performance...

Phil Manzanera and Paul Simonon have teamed up with Tony Allen and a number of other musicians to perform at an Italian music festival.

Manzanera, Simonon and Allen will be joined by Italian musician Ligabue, Columbian singer Andrea Echeverri and London-based violinist Anna Phoebe for a performance at the La Notte della Taranta, taking place in Salento in the south of Italy on August 22.

Manzanera serves as the festival’s Maestro Concertatore this year.

“I’m delighted that La Notte della Taranta has attracted such wonderful artists,” says Manzanera. “And it’s a tribute to the fine local muscians and dancers that they want to be part of this incredible concert. I’m hoping that this year, all of us performing can ensure that one of Italy’s best kept secrets, reaches a wider international audience.”

You can find more details about the festival by clicking here.

Meanwhile, Phil Manzanera appears in the new issue of Uncut, as part of our exclusive David Gilmour cover story.

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

This month in Uncut

Tom Pinnock
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This month in Uncut
David Gilmour, the Grateful Dead, Killing Joke and Bob Dylan all feature in the new issue of Uncut, dated September 2015 and out now. Gilmour, who releases his new album Rattle That Lock in September, discusses the end of Pink Floyd, his new record and getting older, in a world exclusive interview....

David Gilmour, the Grateful Dead, Killing Joke and Bob Dylan all feature in the new issue of Uncut, dated September 2015 and out now.

Gilmour, who releases his new album Rattle That Lock in September, discusses the end of Pink Floyd, his new record and getting older, in a world exclusive interview.

“I think I’ve found my feet,” says the guitarist, singer and songwriter. “It’s quite late in life to start finding one’s feet, I must admit. Or at least, to find them again.”

Uncut editor John Mulvey heads out on the road and in the parking lot with the Grateful Dead and their Deadheads during the recent Fare Thee Well shows.

We also hear the incredible tale of Killing Joke from the band themselves – topics covered include maggots, burned flats, gay brothels, police raids, black magic, pigs’ heads, the Great Pyramid and the restoration of antique furniture.

“There’s been overdoses, alcoholism, violence, nastiness and betrayal upon betrayal of Shakespearean proportions,” explains Youth. “But it’s a priceless legacy.”

Bob Dylan‘s controversial appearance at 1965’s Newport Folk Festival is investigated 50 years on, with eyewitness accounts of the event from Judy Collins, Buffy Sainte-Marie and organiser George Wein.

Elsewhere, Uncut joins irreverent folk guitar troubadour Ryley Walker at a Chicago BBQ, to talk near-fatal road accidents, his “fucking terrible” album and the desire to share his music. “If I’ve got a couch, and can buy cigarettes and records, I’m the richest man in the world!” he tells us.

Brazilian Tropicália legend Caetano Veloso takes us through the greatest albums of his career, and recalls his time imprisoned and exiled by the country’s military dictatorship.

“I’ve always been very well-received,” he explains today. “But I have also had to face strong and surprisingly aggressive reactions. I have to say it’s more or less the same right now.”

The Isley Brothers reveal how they made their classic single “Harvest For The World”, a story including powerful handguns, Jimi Hendrix‘s influence and the call for “a peaceful gathering of all human beings”. “This song will always be relevant,” says Ernie Isley, “as long as the goal isn’t accomplished.”

At the front of the magazine, director Julien Temple answers your questions, Kristin Hersh remembers Vic Chesnutt, Mac DeMarco introduces himself, and the original Charlatans explain why they’ve returned. Elsewhere, Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods reveals the eight records that shaped his life.

In our reviews section, new and archive releases from the likes of Titus Andronicus, Beach House, Drinks, Iris DeMent, Taste, Pere Ubu, Led Zeppelin and Yo La Tengo are reviewed, along with AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac live, and films and DVDs on Janis Joplin, Orson Welles and ELO.

Our very special free CD, Ramble On Rose, is a unique take on the Grateful Dead‘s legendary lost album, the end of a trilogy that began with Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. On the free CD, then, are 10 select cuts from the Dead’s prime, many from classic concert releases.

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Ask John Grant!

Tom Pinnock
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Ask John Grant!
With a new album, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, on sale on October 2, John Grant is set to answer your questions in Uncut as part of our regular An Audience With… feature. So is there anything you’ve always wanted to ask the singer-songwriter? What's his favourite thing about living in Iceland...

With a new album, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, on sale on October 2, John Grant is set to answer your questions in Uncut as part of our regular An Audience With… feature.

So is there anything you’ve always wanted to ask the singer-songwriter?

What’s his favourite thing about living in Iceland?

What do he and Sinéad O’Connor get up to during recording breaks?

Is he still the GMF?

Send up your questions by noon, Thursday, July 30, to uncutaudiencewith@timeinc.com.

The best questions, and John’s answers, will be published in a future edition of Uncut magazine.

Please include your name and location with your question.

Photo by Michael Berman

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Harmonia announce vinyl box set

Michael Bonner
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Harmonia announce vinyl box set
Grönland Records will release the entire Harmonia back catalogue as a five vinyl box set, including previously unreleased material recorded 40 years ago at Harmonia HQ: Forst, Lower Saxony, Germany. The set covers Harmonia's lifspan, from 1973 to 1976. Harmonia comprised Dieter Moebius and Hans-Jo...

Grönland Records will release the entire Harmonia back catalogue as a five vinyl box set, including previously unreleased material recorded 40 years ago at Harmonia HQ: Forst, Lower Saxony, Germany.

The set covers Harmonia’s lifspan, from 1973 to 1976. Harmonia comprised Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius of Cluster, and Michael Rother of NEU!. They were later joined by Brian Eno.

News of this release comes after the death of Dieter Moebius on July 21.

The box set consists of:

Musik Von Harmonia (1974; digitally remastered)
Deluxe (1975; digitally remastered)
Tracks And Traces (1976; digitally remastered on double vinyl including the “lost” Brian Eno recordings, which were found and originally released in 1997
Live (1974; digitally remastered)

And in addition to the four Harmonia albums there will be a fifth vinyl: Documents 1975, featuring previously unreleased recordings from Hamburg gigs and 2 studio tracks from Forst.

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard – Django And Jimmie

Graeme Thomson
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Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard – Django And Jimmie
It might be over 30 years since their 1983 smash Pancho & Lefty, but at the age of 81 and 78 respectively country music’s Statler and Waldorf sound as engaged, energetic and mischievous as ever, if a little dewy-eyed at times. The opening title track is a lovely, lilting hymn to the pair’s ...

It might be over 30 years since their 1983 smash Pancho & Lefty, but at the age of 81 and 78 respectively country music’s Statler and Waldorf sound as engaged, energetic and mischievous as ever, if a little dewy-eyed at times.

The opening title track is a lovely, lilting hymn to the pair’s formative influences, and thereafter nostalgia is rarely far away. On Haggard’s “Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash” the duo reminisce warmly over a lively chick-a-boom backing, though thankfully they refuse to whitewash over the dark side of the Man In Black, who “carried his pills in a brown paper sack”. Elsewhere, there’s a nod to Bob Dylan on a jaunty version of “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”.

As well as doffing their Stetsons to their peers, they raise a glass to one another. Haggard sings Nelson’s classic “Family Bible”, Willie returns the favour on “Somewhere Between”, and they croon together on Hag’s peerless “Swinging Doors”. Of the handful of bespoke new songs, highlights include the excellent title track and the greased-up truck-stop boogie of “It’s All Going To Pot”, which has plenty fun portraying Nelson as a trailblazer for stoner culture.

The pair kick up a similar kind of hot fuss on the driving “It’s Only Money”, one of four tracks Nelson co-wrote with producer Buddy Cannon. The other three – “Alice In Hulaland”, “Where Dreams Come To Die” and “Driving The Herd” – are fine and strong, but it’s Haggard who delivers an ace with “The Only Man Wilder Than Me”, a hymn to their combined 159 years spent “on a lifelong spree”.

Much like the rest of Django And Jimmie, it’s a vibrant argument for the benefits of ornery misadventure. Nelson sings like a canary and plays like a dream, Haggard growls like a grizzled jailbird, and everyone seems to be having a blast. Long may they roll and run.

Pink Floyd’s 30 best songs

Uncut Staff
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Pink Floyd’s 30 best songs
 To coincide with our world exclusive interview with David Gilmour in this month's Uncut, here's the Floyd's 30 greatest songs... as voted for by Gilmour himself, Nick Mason and their friends, fellow musicians and famous fans, including Paul Weller, Jarvis Cocker, Wayne Coyne, Ice Cube, Jim Reid, M...

1 Shine On You Crazy Diamond
From Wish You Were Here (1975)
Pink Floyd were world-famous, rich beyond their dreams, and under pressure. Waters revisited the theme of mental illness (which had been central to Dark Side…), but this time rooted it in the real-life disintegration of Syd Barrett. Unfolding over 13 carefully measured minutes, the song’s mood is one of equipoise before the onslaught – and while Waters rarely allowed sentimentality to creep into the Floyd, it’s clearly appropriate on “Shine On…”, and is judged perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT7bbgsyzKc

David Gilmour: It’s great that this is No 1, as it’s the purest Floyd song, the peak of that particular stage in our development. We wrote the song in a dingy rehearsal room near Kings Cross – I have no idea why we were in such a dark, cheap and horrible rehearsal space when we’d just released one of the biggest-selling LPs in history! Ha! Maybe it was tight-arsed management.

The song fell out of a four-note guitar figure that I came up with – that distinctive opening sequence. Roger really liked it. It had that haunting, serial quality, like something from a piece of modern classical music, or from a film soundtrack. The rest of the song was a joint effort, which was becoming rare at around that time, where me and Roger tended to write separately and bring the ideas into a rehearsal. But here the song seemed to emerge organically out of a jam. There’s the pedal bassline that links into the last part, lots of interesting chord changes, and Nick’s drumming, which switches between a kind of 12/8 shuffle to a swing beat and back. The ideas were all so good that we wanted room for them to breathe, which is why the complete version is about 26 minutes long, and needed to be split in two as it didn’t fit on one side of an LP.

Roger would always disappear for a few days to write lyrics and he came up with this tribute to Syd. They’re beautiful words and it’s a heartfelt tribute that speaks for us all. It had been four or five years since we’d last seen him, and I think it was all tied up with our feelings of regret and possibly guilt. It was a remarkable coincidence that, not long after we’d finished recording “Shine On…”, Syd wandered into the studio at Abbey Road. Everyone’s memory of the event is a bit hazy. My memory is of a rather plump chap wandering around No 3 studio while we were mixing in the control booth. God knows how he managed to get past security – it was pretty tight then and I’d imagine that it’d be impossible nowadays! And it took us all a while to work out who it was – we were all a bit shaken as to how different he looked. We had a chat with him. When we played him some of the stuff we were working on he thought it was really good “but a bit long”. Ha!

For years after he left, Syd was the elephant in the room when it came to Pink Floyd. He was the glue that linked us all. He knew Roger, Rick and Nick from the first incarnation of the band, obviously, before I joined, but me and Syd were also close friends, dating back before the band. I liked to remember the Syd of my teens, this sweet, crazy, fun-loving friend that I went to France with and went busking with. And the terrible thing is that I couldn’t really equate that figure with the person that he turned into. The thing was, his mental problems always seemed to come up when the issue of the band surfaced. So it was his family’s preference that members of Pink Floyd didn’t visit him, as it might set off another relapse. So it’s astonishing to think that that time in Abbey Road was the last time I ever saw him.

Obviously, the news of his death was enormously sad. I’d known he was ill for a long time, but the reality was terribly sad, even if me and the rest of the band had been grieving for him for over 30 years. The thing was that the Syd I knew hadn’t been around for a long time. If I have one regret it’s that I’d not been more forceful with his family and gone to visit Syd in Cambridge. But it’s a difficult one to negotiate, isn’t it?

Syd’s death affected the way I now play “Shine On…”. It’s a tremendously adaptable piece of music. On the original it’s a pretty big production, with harmonies and backing singers. On my last tour, it became more mournful. I stripped away everything. After a few dates, it became more experimental. We developed a new way of playing the opening where Phil Manzanera, Guy Pratt and Dick Parry would play wine glasses – you know, rubbing a wet finger over the rims – that had been tuned to an open chord, replicating the organ part, and I’d play the guitar riff over the top. That was a throwback to the LP we were initially going to make instead of Wish You Were Here, in which the sounds were going to be made with household objects, an idea we ditched but which influenced some of what we did after that. It makes the track even more haunting and ethereal.

Interviews: Nick Hasted, Rob Hughes, John Lewis, Paul Moody and Jaan Uhelszki

Order Uncut’s Deluxe Ultimate Music Guide: Pink Floyd while stocks last at Backstreetmerch.com

The 26th Uncut Playlist Of 2015

John Mulvey
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The 26th Uncut Playlist Of 2015
An unusually active nightlife for me this past week: on Saturday, I went to see Terry Riley and wrote about it here; then, on Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a secret Mick Head gig in a small, incense-filled church around my old stamping ground of Stoke Newington. Time has conspir...

An unusually active nightlife for me this past week: on Saturday, I went to see Terry Riley and wrote about it here; then, on Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a secret Mick Head gig in a small, incense-filled church around my old stamping ground of Stoke Newington. Time has conspired against me being able to write about it properly (though I can confidently recommend the review that should be appearing in The Observer and on the Guardian’s website this Sunday). Very special night, though, as a celebration of Head and his incredible songs, from “Emergency” (on the first Shack album, “Zilch”; how weirdly poignant to hear references to Channel 4’s Diverse Reports, 25-odd years on) up to “Velvets In The Dark” from the second Red Elastic Band single that came out earlier this year.

A lot of the songs, predictably, came from the ’90s, and the run from “Waterpistol” to “HMS Fable”, centring on “The Magical World Of The Strands” (Here’s my Strands review, and recent interview with Mick Head). Head’s apparently been staying in London for the last few weeks, and the church was full of old friends and family from there and from Liverpool. Not least Head’s sister Joanne, who sang “Daniella” (from “HMS Fable”) magnificently and almost stole the show – as you can hear on this desk recording of the whole show…

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey

1 Wilco – Star Wars (dBpm)

Get Wilco’s “Star Wars” for free here

2 Plainsong – Reinventing Richard: The Songs Of Richard Farina (Fledg’ling)

3 Alela Diane & Ryan Francesconi – Cold Moon (Believe Recordings)

4 Lee Bannon – Pattern Of Excel (Ninja Tune)

5 Golden Void – Berkana (Thrill Jockey)

6 Hallock Hill – Folsom Cave (Bandcamp.com)

7 Kurt Vile – B’lieve I’m Goin Down (Matador)

8 Duane Pitre – Bayou Electric (Important)

9 Various Artists – Don Letts Presents Dread Meets Punk Rockers Uptown Volume 2 (Universal)

10 Peaches Featuring Nick Zinner – Bodyline (Adult Swim)

11 AFX – Orphaned Deejay Selek 2006-08 (Warp)

12 Steve Hauschildt – Where All Is Fled (Kranky)

13 Gun Outfit – Dream All Over (Paradise Of Bachelors)

14 Bixiga 70 – III (Glitterbeat)

15 Simon Scott – Insomni (Ash International)

16 Unwound – Empire (Numero Group)

17 The Grateful Dead – Ramble On Rose (Uncut/Rhino)

18 Michael Head & The Strands – The Magical World Of The Strands (Megaphone)

19 James Elkington & Nathan Salsburg – Ambsace (Paradise Of Bachelors)

20 Henryk Gorecki – Symphony No 4: Tansman Episodes (Nonesuch)

21 Hauschka – A NDO C Y (Temporary Residence)

22 Julia Holter – Have You in My Wilderness (Domino)

23 Fuzz – Fuzz II (In The Red)

24 Natural Snow Buildings – Terror’s Horns (Ba Da Bing)

25 HeCTA – The Diet (City Slang)

26 John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure (Bella Union)

Jamie XX – In Colour

Piers Martin
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Jamie XX – In Colour
For someone who treads so softly, the music of Jamie Smith has already made a huge impression on contemporary pop. At just 26, the Londoner has spent the past six years living what many would perceive to be a fantasy life in which everything he turns his hand to – the two albums with his schoolfri...

For someone who treads so softly, the music of Jamie Smith has already made a huge impression on contemporary pop. At just 26, the Londoner has spent the past six years living what many would perceive to be a fantasy life in which everything he turns his hand to – the two albums with his schoolfriends in The xx, his distinctive remixes, his satisfyingly eclectic DJ sets – is greeted with critical and commercial acclaim.

As a producer, he has dabbled with high-end pop, allowing his woozy tracks to be sampled by Drake and Alicia Keys, and composed a score for a modern ballet at this year’s Manchester International Festival, in addition to taking on a commission from the National Gallery to soundtrack a painting from its collection (he chose a neo-Impressionist landscape by Théo van Rysselberghe).

But it was 2011’s full-length We’re New Here, his inspired reworking of Gil Scott-Heron’s swansong I’m New Here, that first suggested Smith, then 21, could articulate his own feelings in an original and heartfelt way. Edging uneasily into the spotlight usually occupied by his xx bandmates Romy Madley-Croft and Oliver Sim, Smith transformed Scott-Heron’s inner-city blues into a different kind of streetwise sadness, one informed as much by the minimalist melancholy of The xx as his love for vintage soul and disco, and British house and techno. Propelled by Smith’s hazy skip’n’shuffle, the old soulman’s NYC love letter became a misty-eyed London rave-up, ultimately providing Smith with a blueprint of sorts for In Colour.

Amongst all this, Smith today finds himself a central figure in a trend in dance that romanticises a golden age of rave, as a generation of producers – Burial, Joy Orbison, Lee Gamble – fetishise old-school jungle mixtapes and look to YouTube for nostalgic footage of beaming ’90s clubbers, under the illusion that most innovations in electronic music were dreamt up and executed while some were still in primary school. Rather than attempt anything radically new, In Colour – the title a dig at the xx’s none-more-black look – celebrates Smith’s blissful version of the past, and the results are frequently glorious.

Having set out his stall with last summer’s “All Under One Roof Raving”, a homage to UK clubbing that weaved snippets from pirate radio and artist Mark Leckey’s cult 1999 video piece, Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore, around his trademark steel-drum-laced groove, Smith perfectly captures the anticipation and rush of the rave with “Gosh” and “Hold Tight”. “Gosh” in particular is an absurdly thrilling album opener with a surging bassline that appears to lasso the listener and drag them willingly to the dancefloor, encouraged all the way by a London MC chirping “Oh my gosh!” Equally uplifting is “Loud Places”, essentially a meatier xx number sung by Madley-Croft into which Smith has stitched the colossal chorus from Idris Muhammad’s 1977 hippy-disco classic “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This”; a cheesy move, arguably, but one he pulls off with aplomb.

Madley Croft also sings “SeeSaw”, a loved-up Boards Of Canada sunrise moment Smith produced with his friend, Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden. Not to be outdone, Oliver Sim smoulders on “Stranger In A Room”, perhaps the album’s weakest link, while the dancehall bounce of “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” finds Atlanta rapper Young Thug and Jamaican star Popcaan exhorting positivity on a lithe Smith cut quite unlike anything else on In Colour. Smith rolls out the steel drums for “Sleep Sound” and “Obvs”, which lollop along tastefully, the latter a couple of pineapples away from being a calypso version of “Moments In Love” by Art Of Noise.

Before In Colour, one might have characterised “Girl” – the closing track here – as the definitive Jamie xx jam, a rolling, quasi-garage, mutant shuffle evocative of The Field or, further back, Akufen. What In Colour reveals is the sheer scope of Smith’s skills as a songwriter and producer. The xx on ecstasy: not a bad idea at all.

Q+A
Jamie xx
Naming tracks “Gosh” and “Hold Tight”, do you romanticise a ’90s
UK rave scene you were too young to be part of?
I do do that. I think that’s how all dance music is, it tends to be retrospective. Even stuff that’s ‘future’ isn’t really. But what I liked about those phrases is they’re old English phrases. “Oh my gosh” is a very old English thing to say and then jungle MCs started to say it in the ’90s. I like that more than it being a reference to ’90s dance music. I like its general Britishness.

Would you say In Colour is a very British dance record?
Well, London is a big part of what I think about when I’m making music, just because I love it and I’m in it all the time. The record was also made all over the world and I’d like it to not just have a London influence.

How did “Loud Places” come together?
The chorus is from Idris Muhammad’s “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This”. I had several versions of “Loud Places” but I was struggling with it. Then I listened to that record that I’ve loved for so long and the lyrics seemed to make perfect sense with what Romy was singing. So I tried it and it was like a eureka moment.

You have been recording the new xx album in Iceland, Texas and Los Angeles – is it nearing completion?
I’m not sure. I’m really happy with everything, but can’t really tell how far we are along. It’s nice to have so much time.
INTERVIEW: PIERS MARTIN

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Watch Neil Young’s new 10-minute short film

Michael Bonner
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Watch Neil Young’s new 10-minute short film
Neil Young has released a 10-minute short film, Seeding Fear. Rolling Stone reports that the film tells the story of farmer Michael White, who with his father Wayne, took on agriculture giant Monsanto in court. The film accompanies his current album, The Monsanto Years. Click here to read Uncut's ...

Neil Young has released a 10-minute short film, Seeding Fear.

Rolling Stone reports that the film tells the story of farmer Michael White, who with his father Wayne, took on agriculture giant Monsanto in court.

The film accompanies his current album, The Monsanto Years. Click here to read Uncut’s review.

The film is credited to “Bernard Shakey“, Young’s long-standing directorial pseudonym.

Writing on his Facebook page, Young said: “As I write this, the dark act is up for a vote in the House of Representatives; representatives of the people. The dark act takes away the rights of those people to vote for or against things like GMO labeling in their states. It does seem ironic. If the act is passed, it will truly be a dark day for America.

“Monsanto is a corporation with great wealth, now controlling over 90% of soybean and corn growth in America. Family farms have been replaced by giant agri corp farms across this great vast country we call home. Farm aid and other organizations have been fighting the losing battle against this for 30 years now.

“Dairy and meat farming is done in those white sheds you see from the freeway, no longer on the green pastures of home with the old farmhouses and barns. Those beautiful buildings now stand in ruin across the country. This has happened on our watch while the country slept, distracted by advertising and false information from the corporations. Monsanto and others simply pay the politicians for voting their way. This is because of ‘Citizens United’, a legislation that has made it possible for corporations to have the same rights as people, while remaining immune to people’s laws.

“Both Democratic and Republican front runners are in bed with Monsanto, from Clinton to Bush, as many government branches are and have been for years. This presidential election could further cement the dominance of corporation’s rights over people’s rights in America. If you have a voice you have a choice. Use it.

“On the human side, the film I would like you to see tells the story of a farming family in America, but the same thing is happening around the world. It is a story that takes 10 minutes of your time to see. It is a simple human one, telling the heartbreaking story of one man who fought the corporate behemoth Monsanto, and it illustrates why I was moved to write The Monsanto Years.

“The film presents a rare opportunity to hear from the source as Mr. White is one of only four farmers who is still legally allowed to speak about his case as all the others have been effectively silenced.

“Thanks for reading this and I hope you look at this simple and powerful film, ‘Seeding Fear’.”

Meanwhile, Young recently announced he intends to remove his music from streaming services.

He said he was motivated by “the worst sound quality available in the history of broadcasting.”

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

New Jam box set to feature six previously unreleased concerts

Michael Bonner
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New Jam box set to feature six previously unreleased concerts
The Jam are to release a new 6-CD box set Fire & Skill: The Jam Live on October 30, 2015. The set will feature six previously unreleased concerts, one from each year of their major-label career. It comes packaged in with a 72-page, colour hard-back book, with individual gatefold wallets for th...

The Jam are to release a new 6-CD box set Fire & Skill: The Jam Live on October 30, 2015.

The set will feature six previously unreleased concerts, one from each year of their major-label career.

It comes packaged in with a 72-page, colour hard-back book, with individual gatefold wallets for the discs, designed as facsimiles of the original tape boxes. The set also includes a new essay, period photos, rare memorabilia and set of five postcard prints.

The tracklisting is:

Disc One
Live at the 100 Club – September 11, 1977
I’ve Changed My Address
Carnaby Street
The Modern World
Time For Truth
So Sad About Us
London Girl
In The Street Today
Standards
All Around The World
London Traffic
Heat Wave
Sweet Soul Music (b-side of “Modern Word”)
Bricks And Mortar (b-side of “Modern Word”)
In The City
Art School
Back In My Arms Again (b-side of “Modern Word”)
Slow Down
18. In The Midnight Hour
19. Sounds From The Street
20. Takin’ My Love
21. In The City (encore)

Disc Two
Live at the Music Machine – March 2, 1978
The Modern World
London Traffic
I Need You
The Combine
Aunties And Uncles
Standards
Here Comes The Weekend
Sounds From The Street
News Of The World
London Girl
In The Street Today
Bricks And Mortar
In The Midnight Hour
Carnaby Street
All Around The World
Slow Down
News Of The World (Sound-check – bonus track)

Disc Three
Live at Reading University – February 16, 1979
The Modern World
Sounds From The Street
Away From The Numbers
All Mod Cons To Be Someone
It’s Too Bad
Mr Clean
Billy Hunt
In The Street Today
Standards (Originally released on Dig The New Breed, 1982)
Tonight At Noon
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
News Of The World
Here Comes The Weekend
Bricks And Mortar / Batman
The Place I Love
David Watts
Heat Wave
‘A’ Bomb In Wardour Street

Disc Four
Live at Newcastle City Hall – October 28, 1980
Intro
Dreamtime
Thick As Thieves
Boy about Town
Monday
Going Underground
Pretty Green
Man In The Corner Shop
Set The House Ablaze
Private Hell
Liza Radley
Dreams Of Children
The Modern World
Little Boy Soldiers
But I’m Different Now
Start!
Scrape Away
Strange Town
When You’re Young
The Eton Rifles
Billy Hunt
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
To Be Someone
‘A’ Bomb In Wardour Street
David Watts

Disc Five
Live at Hammersmith Palais – December 14, 1981
The Gift / Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
Man In The Corner Shop (originally released on Live Jam, 1993)
Ghosts
Absolute Beginners
Town Called Malice (originally released on Live Jam, 1993)
Set The House Ablaze (Originally released on Dig The New Breed, 1982)
That’s Entertainment / Tales From The River Bank
Precious
Happy Together
In The Crowd / David Watts
Boy About Town
Pretty Green
Funeral Pyre (originally released on Live Jam, 1993)
Circus
Going Underground
Big Bird (Originally released on Dig The New Breed, 1982)
Little Boy Soldiers

Disc Six
Live at Wembley Arena – December 2, 1982
Start!
It’s Too Bad
Beat Surrender
Away From The Numbers
Ghosts
In The Crowd
Boy About Town
Get Yourself Together
All Mod Cons
To Be Someone
Smithers-Jones
The Great Depression
Move On Up
When You’re Young
David Watts
Private Hell
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
Mr Clean
Trans-Global Express
Going Underground
The Butterfly Collector (originally released on Live Jam, 1993)
Dreams Of Children
The Gift

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Slade reveal 1971 – 1975 box set

Michael Bonner
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Slade reveal 1971 – 1975 box set
Slade have announced details of a new box set due for release on October 16, 2015. When Slade Rocked The World 1971 - 1975 will include the band's four albums from the period along with singles, a flexi-disc and more. The box set contains: * 4 vinyl albums reproduced in their original sleeves, re...

Slade have announced details of a new box set due for release on October 16, 2015.

When Slade Rocked The World 1971 – 1975 will include the band’s four albums from the period along with singles, a flexi-disc and more.

The box set contains:

* 4 vinyl albums reproduced in their original sleeves, remastered and pressed on 180gm coloured vinyl

* 4 double sided picture sleeve singles covering the key hits of the period not on the albums

* Flexidisc, Slade Talk To 19 Readers

* 2 CD collection of the audio on the four vinyl LPs

* 10” hardback book featuring reviews, features and memorabilia from each of the key years

* Reproduction of George Tremlett’s 1975 book The Slade Story

You can pre-order the box set by clicking here.

The full tracklisting is:

VINYL LP & SINGLES TRACKLISTINGS
Slayed?
How D’You Ride
The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazee
Look At Last Nite
I Won’t Let It ‘Appen Agen
Move Over
Gudbuy T’Jane
Gudbuy Gudbuy
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
I Don’ Mind
Let The Good Times Roll
Feel So Fine

Slade Alive!
Hear Me Calling
In Like A Shot From My Gun
Darling Be Home Soon
Know Who You Are
Keep On Rocking
Get Down With It
Born To Be Wild

Old New Borrowed And Blue
Just Want A Little Bit
When The Lights Are Out
My Town
Find Yourself A Rainbow
Miles Out To Sea
We’re Really Gonna Raise The Roof
Do We Still Do It
How Can It Be
Don’t Blame Me
My Friend Stan
Everyday
Good Time Gals

Slade In Flame
How Does It Feel
Them Kinda Monkeys Can’t Swing
So Far So Good
Summer Song (Wishing You Were Here)
O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday
Far Far Away
This Girl
Lay It Down
Heaven Knows
Standin’ On The Corner

4 Double A side picture sleeve singles
‘Coz I Love You’ / ‘Look Wot You Dun’
‘Take Me Bak ‘Ome ‘ / ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’
‘Skweeze Me Pleeze Me’ / ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’
‘The Bangin’ Man’ / ‘Thanks For The Memory’

The Albums That Rocked The World Tracklisting
CD 1
Slayed?
How D’You Ride
The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazee
Look At Last Nite
I Won’t Let It ‘Appen Agen
Move Over
Gudbuy T’Jane
Gudbuy Gudbuy
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
I Don’ Mind
Let The Good Times Roll
Feel So Fine

Slade Alive!
Hear Me Calling
In Like A Shot From My Gun
Darling Be Home Soon
Know Who You Are
Keep On Rocking
Get Down With It
Born To Be Wild

CD 2
Old New Borrowed And Blue
Just Want A Little Bit
When The Lights Are Out
My Town
Find Yourself A Rainbow
Miles Out To Sea
We’re Really Gonna Raise The Roof
Do We Still Do It
How Can It Be
Don’t Blame Me
My Friend Stan
Everyday
Good Time Gals

Slade In Flame
How Does It Feel
Them Kinda Monkeys Can’t Swing
So Far So Good
Summer Song (Wishing You Were Here)
O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday
Far Far Away
This Girl
Lay It Down
Heaven Knows
Standin’ On The Corner

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

An interview with Lawrence: “‘Primitive Painters’ was this great big statement, Felt were going to be massive.”

Michael Bonner
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An interview with Lawrence: “‘Primitive Painters’ was this great big statement, Felt were going to be massive.”
I wrote about Felt's magisterial 12" single, "Primitive Painters", for Uncut's June 2015 issue [Take 217]. I ended up speaking to Lawrence for close to an hour for the piece; so for your delectation here's the full transcript. Subjects under discussion: being attacked by dogs, nearly working with To...

How did Liz Fraser come to be on the record?
Liz came with Robin to work on her own lyrics and songs and that, so she’d be upstairs in the bedroom, in their room, working on her lyrics. She had a bed full of books that she was poring though, reading and writing. Anyway, when we’d recorded “Primitive Painters” and we listened back, Robin said “I’ve got a good idea.” He ran upstairs and he said to Liz, “I want you to sing this song.” He just played her the end section. I wrote the lyrics out for her on a piece of paper, she went in, listened to it once on headphones, and then just improvised around it. It was as real as that. It was a remarkable moment. When you listen back to something like that, we knew we’d got it.

It was on the cusp between the 7-inch culture of the late ‘70’s and the 12-inch culture of the Eighties.
Yeah, I wanted it to be a stand alone release like Wild Swans’ “Revolutionary Spirit” and Joy Division’s “Atmosphere” which were 12-inches. “Atmosphere” was on 7-inch, but that was that French label so it didn’t count. Songs that were too big to hold on 7-inch, they were big. Cherry Red wanted to do a 7-inch edit of “Primitive Painters”, but I wouldn’t let them.

Talking of Cherry Red, what was your relationship like with them at that point?
Michael Alway was the A&R guy who signed us to Cherry Red. He formed a new label with Geoff Travis and they went to Warners and they started Blanco Y Negro. He always promised that he’d take us with him. He took most of the Cherry Red rock stuff, and he left us behind, because Warners just wouldn’t entertain the idea of having Felt. So we were on a label that we didn’t want to be on. But we all made friends and we had two albums left to deliver so we did Strange Idols Pattern, and then Ignite the Seven Cannons. I’d been speaking to Alan McGee at this point so I knew we were going to Creation after this last album. There was no animosity there, we were all friends and I’ve never fallen out with them, we’d been friends for years and it was just business.

You made a video with Phil King a couple of years later. How did that come about?
We were on Creation when we did it. What happened was, I don’t know why but it was mooted that we should do a video for “Primitive Painters”. It got half made. Cherry Red and Creation were meant to pay for it together, pay half each. Cherry Red came up with their half because they initiated the project, and McGee didn’t pay his half. So we did half a video with Phil’s friend Danny. What you see on YouTube is half a video. We were meant to do another half and join it together, have stuff superimposed over the top, have extra scenes. But all you can see really is me and Phil in Phil’s house in Hammersmith, just standing around. It’s ridiculous. I was so embarrassed when it leaked out. So we put it to bed, and it lay there until somebody scooped it up and put it on YouTube or leaked it on a VHS probably first, it was probably a leaked VHS first.

Yeah, it’s got that slight tracking wobble you get every now and again on VHS…
I should’ve been more attentive and got hold of it and cut it up or something. I was very meticulous about ‘there’s no extra tracks’ and things like that, no demos or extra tracks hanging around. But with this for some reason it went wrong. I can’t remember why it was resurrected I’d say about a year and a half later. Maybe together McGee and Cherry Red were going to do something.

Where do you think now the song fits into your body of work? Is it a song you still feel proud of?
Oh yeah, oh wow. It was great that we went back – at that time you never went back and revisited anything – and we spent an extra afternoon getting it right and perfecting it. It was this great big statement, Felt were going to be massive. I was prone to short pop songs. My thing was, I’m going to break in to the mainstream by doing a short pop song. I was totally off the mark. We nearly had a hit single with a six-minute track that was not a traditional pop song, let’s put it that way. I reckon that if it would’ve been in the ’90s, it would’ve been a Top 10 song – because the independent movement was ready to promote songs like that. In 1985, there was no apparatus for a song like that, to take it to the mainstream. Even The Smiths would only get to 23, and the Cocteaus would only get to 38. I’m really proud of the song, I’m really proud that Maurice got his moment. I’m proud of the fact the Cocteaus are on it. I suppose it was the high point of the first days of Felt wasn’t it?

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.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Graham Parker & The Rumour – Mystery Glue

Luke Torn
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Graham Parker & The Rumour – Mystery Glue
Graham Parker recently described his long-overdue return to the UK, his breakout backing band the Rumour in tow, as a victory lap, and Mystery Glue — smart, nuanced, good-natured, relaxed, masterful, the songs sashing and swaying with a kind of jazzy elegance — radiates with the confidence of ju...

Graham Parker recently described his long-overdue return to the UK, his breakout backing band the Rumour in tow, as a victory lap, and Mystery Glue — smart, nuanced, good-natured, relaxed, masterful, the songs sashing and swaying with a kind of jazzy elegance — radiates with the confidence of just such an endeavor. The subtext for the sextet’s second record following their surprise 2012 reunion, and Parker’s appearance in the Judd Apatow’s smash hit movie This is 40, is “we’ve paid our dues plenty, this time it’s (mostly) for fun.”

But it’s hardly mindless fun. Parker’s songs still cut and slash, at times with righteous indignation, and the Rumour are focused, just within a different lens. Considering the gritty, hardboiled, defiant R&B that defined the group’s explosion out of the UK in the late 1970s, Mystery Glue plays as its slightly shocking obverse: open-hearted, airy, poised, versatile, but slotted with plenty of slyly relevant observations on a world gone mad circa 2015. Now that the long-ago pressures—of a career, of a hit record—are off, the group sounds regal, like an ensemble that has seen it all and can play it all, gracefully slipping into the role of diverse honky-tonk pub band of your dreams. From nods to reggae and jazz, soul and rockabilly, it all merges into the Rumour’s mélange.

Parker’s songwriting, meanwhile, veers masterfully from the political to the personal, the playful to the melancholy, from retro to right now. There are no awkward attempts at Rumour-esque retreads; instead, he simply continues along the arc of his more recent work—consistently strong, unfairly ignored albums (see especially 2001’s Deepcut To Nowhere and 2007’s Don’t Tell Columbus), comprised of witty compositions with strong angles on history, sociology, downed romance, the absurdities of modern life, and the complexity of human relationships. Just about all of the new ones come stocked with pop hooks so persistent they’ll commence rattling around the cerebellum after just minimal attention.

Among Glue’s more striking offerings is “Flying Into London”, an exceptionally atmospheric bit of anxiety and anticipation performed with acuity, plus superb guitar-and-keyboard tradeoffs by Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont, and Bob Andrews. Working on multiple levels, its universalism suggests a faceoff with reality, a sizing up and coming to terms; it manages, too, to hook in all that old Rumour history, if only surreptitiously. “Wall Of Grace”, meanwhile, is Mystery Glue’s most affecting song. A fascinating character sketch, the protagonist (Grace) proudly papering her walls with family photos, the song crawls inside the her heart and comes out with a kind of giddy affirmation, of life, of love, aided by the Rumour nailing its stretched-out glider of a melody, Schwarz’ wah-wah solo, and the album’s most devastating hook.

The combo’s playfulness rules on the upbeat zingers “Swing State” and “I’ve Done Bad Things”. “I live in a swing state/It’s better than a state of hate,” Parker joyfully posits on the former, castigating those blindly chasing material wealth amid swimming keyboards and dancing guitars. On the latter, the Rumour underpin with Stax-style country soul, Parker exuberantly shedding of guilt and shame, before taking a noose to the song with a coruscating, politically pointed middle eight: “We need someone who gets up there and stands for what’s right,” he barks, as the Rumour positively wail in support.

Elsewhere, Parker’s songwriting sparkles with lines that might initially appear clichéd (“Pub Crawl”, “Slow News Day”), but sink in as casual, conversational, astutely observational, while the Rumour traverse. “Railroad Spikes”, for example, plays on the ancient themes—work song, train song—angling toward a kind of Johnny Cash-style rockabilly. “Fast Crowd” revisits the group’s familiarity with reggae—a think-for-yourself theme hung over a reggae backdrop. “Long Shot”, the de facto title track, lays down some heart-on-sleeve philosophy, playing like a classic pop anthem, Parker tidily wrapping up the life’s elusive ethereality in four-and-a-half short minutes.

Q&A
Graham Parker
What are things like with the Rumour now?
This is a jump from the last one. Now that we’ve played together a bit more. It’s still extremely complex, how the band fits together, but the Rumour are settling into the musicianship. They can play with a huge variety, and the record sounds incredibly natural to me. It takes extreme effort, actually, but the end result is now sounding effortless.

“Flying Into London” is the song that struck me quickest…
A song is a grain of truth blown up out of all proportion, you know. ”Flying into London” came from this feeling, of kinda hurtling myself into something and I don’t know what it’s going to be like. And it’s got all this foreboding in it.

How have things changed for you over the last few years?
In some ways, it’s superfluous, because I’m just gonna do what I do anyway. I’m a field of one. You never know how these things are going to go, but it certainly didn’t hurt me to be in a number 3 movie in America.

So, with your new record deal, a boxed set is in the works?
Yeah, I’m signed to Universal. How does that happen? Anyway, it was first going to be a Graham Parker and the Rumour boxed set, but it morphed. This guy putting it together became aware that between 1980 and now I’ve made a lot of records, and he couldn’t believe how good they were. He said, “let’s do a career-spanning boxed set, with DVDs.” So, we’re picking out songs from every record.
INTERVIEW: LUKE TORN

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

David Gilmour world exclusive interview: the new Uncut revealed!

Michael Bonner
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David Gilmour world exclusive interview: the new Uncut revealed!
As David Gilmour returns with his latest studio album, he invites Uncut to his houseboat recording studio moored on the river Thames for a world exclusive interview. On sale in the UK from Tuesday, July 28, the new issue sees Gilmour reveal the secrets of his brilliant new album, Rattle That Lock, ...

As David Gilmour returns with his latest studio album, he invites Uncut to his houseboat recording studio moored on the river Thames for a world exclusive interview.

On sale in the UK from Tuesday, July 28, the new issue sees Gilmour reveal the secrets of his brilliant new album, Rattle That Lock, and look back at the many peaks of his illustrious career.

“In some ways, I think I’ve found my feet,” says Gilmour of his new album. “It’s quite late in life to start finding one’s feet, I must admit. Or at least, to find them again…”

David-Gilmour-Kevin-Westenberg

Meanwhile, Gilmour reflects on his extraordinary musical adventures, from “Fat Old Sun” to On An Island and The Endless River – with help from his oldest friends and collaborators. We hear stories involving Steve Marriott’s old home, Tiger Moths, the pizza restaurants of southern France and Smiths cover versions.

We learn, too, which song reminds David Gilmour of Syd Barrett – and which song reminds him of Roger Waters…

All will be revealed in the new issue of Uncut. Available in UK shops and to buy digitally from Tuesday, July 28.

The issue comes with a FREE GRATEFUL DEAD CD: our historic attempt to piece together the album that should have followed “Workingman’s Dead” and “American Beauty”…

You can find more details about how to order Rattle That Lock, plus David Gilmour’s forthcoming tour dates, by clicking here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHP7l0EaouM

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.

Meanwhile, the September 2015 issue of Uncut is on sale in the UK on Tuesday, July 28 – featuring David Gilmour, a free Grateful Dead CD, Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival, AC/DC, Killing Joke, the Isley Brothers, Julien Temple, Ryley Walker and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Small Faces 5-CD set to include rarities and outtakes

Michael Bonner
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Small Faces 5-CD set to include rarities and outtakes
A new Small Faces box set will include rarities, outtakes and alternative versions. The Decca Years is released on Octobr 9, 2015. The 5-CD box set compiles everything that the Small Faces recorded for Decca during their 18-month record deal with the label, along with the last remaining recording ...

A new Small Faces box set will include rarities, outtakes and alternative versions.

The Decca Years is released on Octobr 9, 2015.

The 5-CD box set compiles everything that the Small Faces recorded for Decca during their 18-month record deal with the label, along with the last remaining recording sessions that the group made for the BBC during the same period.

This includes an interview with Steve Marriott which has not been officially heard in the UK since it was made by the BBC Transcription Services for transmission overseas. In total, 5 BBC interviews with Steve Marriott are featured.

All the audio, including the rarities and alternative versions, has been remastered from original analogue sources under the supervision of Kenney Jones.

You can pre-order the set by clicking here.

The release follows yesterday’s news of a Faces box set, You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything, which is due on August 28, 2015.

CD 1
GREATEST HITS: Worldwide singles As, Bs & EPs

1. What’Cha Gonna Do About It
2. What’s A Matter Baby
3. I’ve Got Mine
4. It’s Too Late
5. Sha La La La Lee
6. Grow Your Own
7. Hey Girl
8. Almost Grown
9. All Or Nothing
10. Understanding
11. My Mind’s Eye
12. I Can’t Dance With You
13. I Can’t Make It
14. Just Passing
15. Patterns
16. E Too D
17. Don’t Stop What You’re Doing
18. Come On Children
19. Shake
20. One Night Stand
21. You Need Loving

CD 2
SMALL FACES

Original UK LP Decca LK 4790
Released 6 May 1966

1. Shake
2. Come On Children
3. You Better Believe It
4. It’s Too Late
5. One Night Stand
6. What’Cha Gonna Do About It
7. Sorry She’s Mine
8. Own Up Time
9. You Need Loving
10. Don’t Stop What You’re Doing
11. E Too D
12. Sha La La La Lee

CD 3
FROM THE BEGINNING

Original UK LP Decca LK 4879
Released 2 June 1967

1. Runaway
2. My Mind’s Eye
3. Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow
4. That Man
5. My Way Of Giving
6. Hey Girl
7. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me
8. Take This Hurt Off Me
9. All Or Nothing
10. Baby Don’t You Do It
11. Plum Nellie
12. Sha La La La Lee
13. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me
14. What’Cha Gonna Do About It

CD 4
RARITIES & OUTTAKES

1. Come On Children (alternate version)
2. Shake (alternate version)
3. You Better Believe It (alternate version)
4. Own Up Time (alternate version)
5. E Too D (alternate version)
6. Don’t Stop What You’re Doing (alternate version)
7. What’s A Matter Baby (alternate mix)
8. What’Cha Gonna Do About It (alternate version)
9. Sha La La La Lee (stereo version)
10. Runaway (alternate mix) (stereo)
11. That Man (alternate mix)
12. Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow (alternate mix)
13. Picanniny (backing track)
14. Hey Girl (alternate version)
15. Take This Hurt Off Me (different version)
16. Baby Don’t You Do It (different version)
17. My Mind’s Eye (early version) (mono)
18. Talk To You (take 5 backing track)
19. All Our Yesterdays (take 7 backing track)
20. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me (alternate take 2)
21. Show Me The Way (take 3 backing track)
22. I Can’t Make It (take 11 backing track)
23. Things Are Going To Get Better (take 14 session version)

CD 5
BBC SESSIONS

BBC Studios – Saturday Club – 23-Aug-65
1. Interview with Steve Marriott 2. What’cha Gonna Do About It (BBC Session version)
3. Jump Back (BBC Session version)
4. Baby Don’t You Do It (BBC Session version)

BBC Studios – Joe Loss Pop Show – 14-Jan-66
5. Sha La La La Lee (BBC Session version)
6. What’cha Gonna Do About It (BBC Session version)
7. Comin’ Home Baby (BBC Session version)
8. You Need Loving (BBC Session version)

9. Steve Marriot Pop Profile Interview

BBC Studios – Saturday Club – 14-Mar-66
10. Shake (BBC Session version
11. Interview with Steve Marriott
12. Sha La La La Lee (BBC Session version)
13. You Need Loving (BBC Session version)

BBC Studios – Saturday Club – 3-May-66
14. Interview with Steve Marriott
15. Hey Girl (BBC Session version)
16. E to D (BBC Session version)
17. One Night Stand (BBC Session version)

BBC Studios – Saturday Club 3-Aug-66
18. You’d Better Believe It (BBC Session version)
19. Understanding (BBC Session version)
20. Interview with Steve Marriott
21. All Or Nothing (BBC Session version)

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.

Meanwhile, the August 2015 issue of Uncut is in shops now – featuring David Byrne, Sly & The Family Stone, BB King and the death of the blues, The Monkees, Neil Young, Merle Haggard and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Bob Marley’s 70th birthday year celebration continues with two vinyl box sets

Michael Bonner
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Bob Marley’s 70th birthday year celebration continues with two vinyl box sets
Bob Marley's 70th birthday year-long celebration continues with the release of two new box sets, The Complete Island Recordings and The Complete Island Recordings: Collector’s Edition. Released on September 25, 2015, the sets feature 11 albums on 180-gram vinyl. The Complete Island Recordings co...

Bob Marley‘s 70th birthday year-long celebration continues with the release of two new box sets, The Complete Island Recordings and The Complete Island Recordings: Collector’s Edition.

Released on September 25, 2015, the sets feature 11 albums on 180-gram vinyl.

The Complete Island Recordings comes in a standard version and a special Collector’s Edition.

Both editions come packaged silver boxes and have a lift-top lid that resembles a Zippo lighter; the Collector’s Edition box is actually metal.

The Complete Island Recordings: Collector’s Edition will also include a 70th anniversary slip mat and two photos in glassine envelopes.

Both boxes will include Bob’s 70th birthday logo and all nine Bob Marley & The Wailers studio albums recorded for Island Records.

The 11 LP’s from the box set will also be released individually on 180-gram vinyl beginning September 25.

Apart from the actual disc labels which will feature more recently reissued artwork, the LP’s will faithfully replicate the original album pressings. The Live! album will include the original poster with the vinyl, while the Exodus album will feature the original gold metallic jacket with embossed lettering. The Babylon By Bus album will feature the die-cut cover with the color printed inner sleeves showing through.

The albums are:
Catch A Fire
Burnin’
Natty Dread
Live!
Rastaman Vibration
Exodus
Babylon By Bus
Kaya
Survival
Uprising
Confrontation

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.

Meanwhile, the August 2015 issue of Uncut is in shops now – featuring David Byrne, Sly & The Family Stone, BB King and the death of the blues, The Monkees, Neil Young, Merle Haggard and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.

Ultimate Music Guide: Sex Pistols

Charlotte Treadaway
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Ultimate Music Guide: Sex Pistols
Never mind the b*******, here's the latest Uncut Ultimate Music Guide: the complete and unexpurgated story of the Sex Pistols. Inside, you'll find a wealth of punk reportage from the archives of NME and Melody Maker: manifestos from Malcolm McLaren and Tony Parsons; adventures with the band in Amste...

Never mind the b*******, here’s the latest Uncut Ultimate Music Guide: the complete and unexpurgated story of the Sex Pistols. Inside, you’ll find a wealth of punk reportage from the archives of NME and Melody Maker: manifestos from Malcolm McLaren and Tony Parsons; adventures with the band in Amsterdam, Stockholm and Uxbridge, and on their last fateful tour of America; many long-lost interviews that reveal the antic genius and secret depths of the Pistols. Plus! We pass new, in-depth judgment on every Sex Pistols release, and follow the adventures of John Lydon, through the glory years of Public Image Ltd, up to the provocative Sex Pistols reunion in 1996, and beyond. “Energy, that’s the thing that’s missing from this bleeding country,” Lydon tells one Melody Maker journalist in 1986. “It makes me sick. What becomes clear to me is that I’m needed here. Good God, you need me. I’m your conscience…”

Order Online

 

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