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See first picture of Radiohead back in the studio

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See first picture of Radiohead back in the studio

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood appear in uncaptioned image... Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich has posted a picture of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood as they work on the band's new album. The image of the two band members was posted by Godrich without comment on Twitter. It shows the pair in a recording studio. Last month (November) Greenwood gave an update on the progress of the band's next album, stating that they are trying a number of different approaches. Asked whether the band are in the studio, Greenwood said: "I’m late, they’ve all gone there now. We're currently playing and recording and it’s fun to see everyone again, it's been a long time coming, we've been waiting all of us for a long time."

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood appear in uncaptioned image…

Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich has posted a picture of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood as they work on the band’s new album.

The image of the two band members was posted by Godrich without comment on Twitter. It shows the pair in a recording studio.

Last month (November) Greenwood gave an update on the progress of the band’s next album, stating that they are trying a number of different approaches.

Asked whether the band are in the studio, Greenwood said: “I’m late, they’ve all gone there now. We’re currently playing and recording and it’s fun to see everyone again, it’s been a long time coming, we’ve been waiting all of us for a long time.”

The Who and Ron Wood lead tributes to Ian McLagan

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The Who and Ron Wood lead tributes to Ian McLagan

Stars pay tribute to keyboard player who died yesterday... The Who and Ron Wood have separately paid tribute to Ian McLagan, who died yesterday [December 3]. Writing on Twitter, The Who said: "So very sad to hear of the news about #IanMcLagan who passed away following a stroke on Wednesday 2 December. RIP Mac." Meanwhile, Wood paid tribute to both his former bandmate Ian McLagan and the Rolling Stones' saxophone player Bobby Keys, who died on December 2. Wood Tweeted: "God bless Bobby and Mac". Earlier, Kenney Jones had commented, “I am completely devastated by this shocking news and I know goes for Ronnie and Rod also.” The keyboard player's death was confirmed in a post on his website yesterday evening [December 3]. "It is with great sadness and eternal admiration that we report the passing of rock and roll icon Ian McLagan. Ian was a member of the Small Faces and Faces and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. He died today, December 3, 2014, surrounded by family and friends in his adopted hometown of Austin, Tx, due to complications from a stroke suffered the previous day. He was 69 years old.” The Faces split in 1975, and McLagan began work as a session musician, playing with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Bonnie Raitt and Frank Black over the years. He also performed regularly with Billy Bragg, who paid tribute to the keyboard player on Twitter, writing: "I have lost a dear friend and British rock has lost one of its greatest players. RIP Ian McLagan". Meanwhile, Andrew Loog Oldham ‏also paid tribute, Tweeting: "IAN MCLAGAN ; R.I P with kim, with steve & ronnie. we'll be better friends in the next run. un abrazo siempre" The filmmaker Judd Apatow wrote: "That is terrible news. He performed with Ryan Adams at the end of This Is 40. A great, brilliant guy who made the world better." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfqnsm38EE Photo credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images Entertainment

Stars pay tribute to keyboard player who died yesterday…

The Who and Ron Wood have separately paid tribute to Ian McLagan, who died yesterday [December 3].

Writing on Twitter, The Who said: “So very sad to hear of the news about #IanMcLagan who passed away following a stroke on Wednesday 2 December. RIP Mac.”

Meanwhile, Wood paid tribute to both his former bandmate Ian McLagan and the Rolling Stones’ saxophone player Bobby Keys, who died on December 2. Wood Tweeted: “God bless Bobby and Mac”.

Earlier, Kenney Jones had commented, “I am completely devastated by this shocking news and I know goes for Ronnie and Rod also.”

The keyboard player’s death was confirmed in a post on his website yesterday evening [December 3].

“It is with great sadness and eternal admiration that we report the passing of rock and roll icon Ian McLagan. Ian was a member of the Small Faces and Faces and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. He died today, December 3, 2014, surrounded by family and friends in his adopted hometown of Austin, Tx, due to complications from a stroke suffered the previous day. He was 69 years old.”

The Faces split in 1975, and McLagan began work as a session musician, playing with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Bonnie Raitt and Frank Black over the years.

He also performed regularly with Billy Bragg, who paid tribute to the keyboard player on Twitter, writing: “I have lost a dear friend and British rock has lost one of its greatest players. RIP Ian McLagan”.

Meanwhile, Andrew Loog Oldham ‏also paid tribute, Tweeting: “IAN MCLAGAN ; R.I P with kim, with steve & ronnie. we’ll be better friends in the next run. un abrazo siempre”

The filmmaker Judd Apatow wrote: “That is terrible news. He performed with Ryan Adams at the end of This Is 40. A great, brilliant guy who made the world better.”

Photo credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images Entertainment

Ian McLagan dies aged 69

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Ian McLagan dies aged 69

The Small Faces and Faces musician suffered a stroke yesterday... Ian McLagan has died aged 69. The keyboard player's death was confirmed in a post on his website earlier this evening [December 3]. "It is with great sadness and eternal admiration that we report the passing of rock and roll icon Ian McLagan. Ian was a member of the Small Faces and Faces and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. He died today, December 3, 2014, surrounded by family and friends in his adopted hometown of Austin, Tx, due to complications from a stroke suffered the previous day. He was 69 years old. His manager Ken Kushnick says, 'He was a beloved friend to so many people and a true rock'n'roll spirit. His persona and gift of song impacted the music across oceans and generations.' "Ian's friend and bandmate Kenney Jones said, 'I am completely devastated by this shocking news and I know goes for Ronnie and Rod also.' Ian's artistry, generosity and warmth of spirit touched countless other musicians and music fans around the world. His loss will be felt by so many. "Ian was scheduled to begin a North American tour today, opening for label mate Nick Lowe." The Faces split in 1975, and McLagan began work as a session musician, playing with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Bonnie Raitt and Frank Black over the years. He also performed regularly with Billy Bragg, who paid tribute to the keyboard player on Twitter, writing: "I have lost a dear friend and British rock has lost one of its greatest players. RIP Ian McLagan". Meanwhile, Andrew Loog Oldham ‏also paid tribute, Tweeting: "IAN MCLAGAN ; R.I P with kim, with steve & ronnie. we'll be better friends in the next run. un abrazo siempre" The filmmaker Judd Apatow wrote: "That is terrible news. He performed with Ryan Adams at the end of This Is 40. A great, brilliant guy who made the world better." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfqnsm38EE Photo credit: Dick Barnatt/Redferns

The Small Faces and Faces musician suffered a stroke yesterday…

Ian McLagan has died aged 69.

The keyboard player’s death was confirmed in a post on his website earlier this evening [December 3].

“It is with great sadness and eternal admiration that we report the passing of rock and roll icon Ian McLagan. Ian was a member of the Small Faces and Faces and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. He died today, December 3, 2014, surrounded by family and friends in his adopted hometown of Austin, Tx, due to complications from a stroke suffered the previous day. He was 69 years old. His manager Ken Kushnick says, ‘He was a beloved friend to so many people and a true rock’n’roll spirit. His persona and gift of song impacted the music across oceans and generations.’

“Ian’s friend and bandmate Kenney Jones said, ‘I am completely devastated by this shocking news and I know goes for Ronnie and Rod also.’ Ian’s artistry, generosity and warmth of spirit touched countless other musicians and music fans around the world. His loss will be felt by so many.

“Ian was scheduled to begin a North American tour today, opening for label mate Nick Lowe.”

The Faces split in 1975, and McLagan began work as a session musician, playing with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Bonnie Raitt and Frank Black over the years.

He also performed regularly with Billy Bragg, who paid tribute to the keyboard player on Twitter, writing: “I have lost a dear friend and British rock has lost one of its greatest players. RIP Ian McLagan”.

Meanwhile, Andrew Loog Oldham ‏also paid tribute, Tweeting: “IAN MCLAGAN ; R.I P with kim, with steve & ronnie. we’ll be better friends in the next run. un abrazo siempre”

The filmmaker Judd Apatow wrote: “That is terrible news. He performed with Ryan Adams at the end of This Is 40. A great, brilliant guy who made the world better.”

Photo credit: Dick Barnatt/Redferns

Watch new Bob Dylan short film, From The Village To The Basement

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Watch new Bob Dylan short film, From The Village To The Basement

Jeff Bridges has narrated a new short film about Bob Dylan and the Basement Tapes sessions at Big Pink. Available exclusively on Bob Dylan's Official Facebook Page and BobDylan.com, From The Village To The Basement compresses more than 12,000+ photographs into an extended time-lapse tracking shot, opening on the sidewalk in front of the Washington Square Hotel in Greenwich Village, moving northward through upstate New York, and finally pulling into the driveway of Big Pink, where The Basement Tapes were recorded in 1967. Following the route traveled by Dylan and The Band from Manhattan to the West Saugerties on their way to Big Pink, From The Village To The Basement is a virtual road trip with narrator Jeff Bridges serving as tour guide, recounting the history and mystery of The Basement Tapes, their influence on American music and the bootleg culture these recordings launched.

Jeff Bridges has narrated a new short film about Bob Dylan and the Basement Tapes sessions at Big Pink.

Available exclusively on Bob Dylan’s Official Facebook Page and BobDylan.com, From The Village To The Basement compresses more than 12,000+ photographs into an extended time-lapse tracking shot, opening on the sidewalk in front of the Washington Square Hotel in Greenwich Village, moving northward through upstate New York, and finally pulling into the driveway of Big Pink, where The Basement Tapes were recorded in 1967.

Following the route traveled by Dylan and The Band from Manhattan to the West Saugerties on their way to Big Pink, From The Village To The Basement is a virtual road trip with narrator Jeff Bridges serving as tour guide, recounting the history and mystery of The Basement Tapes, their influence on American music and the bootleg culture these recordings launched.

Post by Bob Dylan.

Elvis Costello announces tour dates for summer 2015

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Elvis Costello announces tour dates for summer 2015

Detour tour to run in May and June... Elvis Costello has announced a 21 date tour for next year. The shows begin on May 30 in Salisbury and run through to June 26. Tickets for the Detour tour go on sale Friday December 5. Costello will play: Saturday May 30: SALISBURY, Festival Sunday 31: BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall And then in June: Tuesday June 2: BRIGHTON, Dome Wednesday 3:OXFORD, New Theatre Thursday 4: SOUTHEND, Cliffs Pavilion Saturday 6: HARROGATE, International Centre Sunday 7: LLANDUDNO, Venue Cymru Tuesday 9: GATESHEAD, Sage Gateshead Wednesday 10: MANCHESTER, Bridgewater Hall Thursday 11: GLASGOW, Royal Concert Hall Saturday 13: CARLISLE, Sands Centre Sunday 14: NOTTINGHAM, Royal Concert Hall Monday 15: LIVERPOOL, Philharmonic Wednesday 17: STOKE-ON-TRENT, Victoria Hall Thursday 18: CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange Friday 19: SOUTHAMPTON, O2 Guildhall Sunday 21: BRISTOL, Colston Hall Monday 22: LEICESTER, De Montford Hall Wednesday 24: PLYMOUTH, Pavilions Thurday 25: CARDIFF, St Davids Hall Friday 26: BASINGSTOKE, The Anvil

Detour tour to run in May and June…

Elvis Costello has announced a 21 date tour for next year.

The shows begin on May 30 in Salisbury and run through to June 26.

Tickets for the Detour tour go on sale Friday December 5.

Costello will play:

Saturday May 30: SALISBURY, Festival

Sunday 31: BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall

And then in June:

Tuesday June 2: BRIGHTON, Dome

Wednesday 3:OXFORD, New Theatre

Thursday 4: SOUTHEND, Cliffs Pavilion

Saturday 6: HARROGATE, International Centre

Sunday 7: LLANDUDNO, Venue Cymru

Tuesday 9: GATESHEAD, Sage Gateshead

Wednesday 10: MANCHESTER, Bridgewater Hall

Thursday 11: GLASGOW, Royal Concert Hall

Saturday 13: CARLISLE, Sands Centre

Sunday 14: NOTTINGHAM, Royal Concert Hall

Monday 15: LIVERPOOL, Philharmonic

Wednesday 17: STOKE-ON-TRENT, Victoria Hall

Thursday 18: CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange

Friday 19: SOUTHAMPTON, O2 Guildhall

Sunday 21: BRISTOL, Colston Hall

Monday 22: LEICESTER, De Montford Hall

Wednesday 24: PLYMOUTH, Pavilions

Thurday 25: CARDIFF, St Davids Hall

Friday 26: BASINGSTOKE, The Anvil

Steve Marriott film in the works

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Steve Marriott film in the works

Quadrophenia actor Phil Davis to direct... A short film about Small Faces singer Steve Marriott is in the pipeline. Called Midnight Of My Life, the film is to be directed by Quadrophenia actor, Phil Davis. The film will be the subject of a crowd-funding campaign on uk site crowdshed.com for 40 days from December 1, 2014. According to a press release from the production company, Very Nice Joe Ltd, "Midnight Of My Life is set in July 1985 and while Rock and Roll's great and good are strutting their stuff at Wembley for Live Aid, Steve Marriott is propping up the bar of a dingy pub in Putney waiting to play to a small crowd of boozers. While he waits for the rest of his band, bitter and drunk, an encounter with a young revival Mod restores Steve's faith." The film will be released in 2015, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the Small Faces and the 30th anniversary of Live Aid. Phil Davis, whose work also includes Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake and Whitechapel, said, "Steve Marriott was a brilliant songwriter, mean guitarist and had one of the all time great rock and roll voices. This little film is a fitting tribute to him and all the other talents who fell from grace but carried on playing because they loved it." You can find more information here. Photo credit: Robert-Günther-©-JR-Project-Rabenstein-Günther

Quadrophenia actor Phil Davis to direct…

A short film about Small Faces singer Steve Marriott is in the pipeline.

Called Midnight Of My Life, the film is to be directed by Quadrophenia actor, Phil Davis.

The film will be the subject of a crowd-funding campaign on uk site crowdshed.com for 40 days from December 1, 2014.

According to a press release from the production company, Very Nice Joe Ltd, “Midnight Of My Life is set in July 1985 and while Rock and Roll’s great and good are strutting their stuff at Wembley for Live Aid, Steve Marriott is propping up the bar of a dingy pub in Putney waiting to play to a small crowd of boozers. While he waits for the rest of his band, bitter and drunk, an encounter with a young revival Mod restores Steve’s faith.”

The film will be released in 2015, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the Small Faces and the 30th anniversary of Live Aid.

Phil Davis, whose work also includes Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake and Whitechapel, said, “Steve Marriott was a brilliant songwriter, mean guitarist and had one of the all time great rock and roll voices. This little film is a fitting tribute to him and all the other talents who fell from grace but carried on playing because they loved it.”

You can find more information here.

Photo credit: Robert-Günther-©-JR-Project-Rabenstein-Günther

Thompson – Family

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Thompson – Family

Folk-rock Von Trapps’ generation game... His father is “one of the greats”. His mother “has the most beautiful voice in the world”. As Teddy Thompson notes on the title track of this unconventional family album, the pressure of living up to his genetic billing has never been easy. “And I am betwixt and between,” sings the 38-year-old with brutal clarity. “Sean Lennon, you know what I mean.” Certainly, few singer-songwriters this side of Adam Cohen, Jakob Dylan or Rufus Wainwright have had an act to follow quite like Teddy Thompson and younger sister Kami. However, the fact that their nephew Zach Hobbs - son of Richard and Linda Thompson’s older daughter, Muna - and half-brother Jack Thompson (Richard’s son by his second wife) have chosen to ply a similar trade is testament to the folksy creativity – and distinctly British-accented melancholy – that seemingly courses through their bloodline. A patchwork quilt of songs from the various branches of the Thompson family tree, written separately but stitched together collectively, Family might easily come across as an act of calculated smugness - a showcase for the family silver. However, it ends up being a more nuanced guide to the Thompsons’ flawed but just-about functioning dynamic, divorces, remarriages and all. Richard Thompson’s contributions are typical of the former Fairport Convention guitarist’s idiosyncratic combination of twitchy bonhomie and underlying coldness; the half-chirpy “One Life At A Time” speaks of an effort to keep emotional vampires at arm’s length (“I’m not thrilled about you,” he bumbles), while “That’s Enough” - an close relative of his own “Time To Ring Some Changes” - is a compelling slab of non-specific, us-and-them agit-prop; a fist waved defiantly at nothing in particular. Linda Thompson, meanwhile, brings her uniquely fragile gravitas to bear on two typically mournful ballads - “Perhaps We Can Sleep” and the faux-traditional lament of a dying matriarch, “Bonny Boys”. “Dry your tears, I am at peace,” she swansings, languid yet precise, after exhorting her young to live well and marry wisely, all the action – as ever – occurring several miles below the surface of the song. Given their forebears’ tendency to make musical molehills out of emotional mountains, it’s no great surprise that the younger Thompsons thrive on understatement too. Kami Thompson’s deceptively flyweight “Careful” is a breezy piece of Fleetwood Mac circa Rumours psychodrama - with a cheeky cut’n’shut finish from the Modern Lovers’ “Roadrunner” - while woozy closer “I Long For Lonely”, a duet with husband James Walbourne, is a tasteful nod to her family’s spiderish yearning for dark corners. Bassist Jack Thompson, meanwhile, abandons words entirely for the moody, elastic throb of “At The Feet Of The Emperor”, while Zach Hobbs’ straight-up folk/blues “Root So Bitter” sounds not unlike something his grandma’s old Glasgow pal John Martyn might have spat out in the late 1960s, before he lost the use of his consonants. However, it is Teddy Thompson’s title track that ultimately gives the album its stylistic and emotional heft. A Jackson C Frank-ish 3/4 strum, it succinctly expresses that combination of boundless love and who-exactly-are-you ambivalence that represents - to most functioning adults - the essence of the family dynamic. Detailing how being a Thompson has been simultaneously a privilege and a burden, the “boy with red hair and no smile” demonstrates something of his parents’ inky-black humour with an absent-minded takedown of Muna. “My elder sister is prettier than you’d believe,” he keens. “My younger sister is prettier still and can sing.” (“Believe me when I tell you that it was better this way round,” he tells Uncut. “Kami would have been far more upset. Muna can take it – I know that.”) Hurting the ones you love the most, it seems, comes natural for any family – musical or otherwise – but the Thompsons’ essential good nature shines through stronger than any sibling niggling. Dysfunctional but somehow comforting, and ultimately you don’t need to be Sean Lennon to know how that feels. Jim Wirth Q&A TEDDY THOMPSON Why did you decide to bring the family together for this album? I was also having some sort of miniature mid-life crisis. I was thinking about my family a lot and how I moved away from them a long time ago. In retrospect, I came up with this project to get everyone back together. I was really trying to heal some wounds for myself, but I dragged everyone along with me; ‘Come into my therapy session, whether you like it or not.’ Is there is a Thompson family musical style? Songwriting-wise, we all have that distinctive dour outlook. And I also hear it in the voices, and the turn of phrase all the way to Zach – his guitar playing sounds so much like my dad’s, and I think Kami sounds just like my mum sometimes. I don’t know what it is but it’s there and it’s really strong. Was it like being in the Von Trapp family growing up as a Thompson? The polar opposite of that. My parents divorced when I was six and they never played music in the house. We weren’t the types to get round the piano and sing together. My dad just left, like a lot of fathers do, and then my mum remarried and went away on this new romance with a new husband and left us with my grandmother, Betty Pettifer. Both of my parents left in very quick succession. We didn’t have an unusual childhood but we did have a weird childhood ‘cause we were ripped apart, especially me and Kami. INTERVIEW: JIM WIRTH Photo credit: Courtesy of Linda Thompson and Nancy Covey

Folk-rock Von Trapps’ generation game…

His father is “one of the greats”. His mother “has the most beautiful voice in the world”. As Teddy Thompson notes on the title track of this unconventional family album, the pressure of living up to his genetic billing has never been easy. “And I am betwixt and between,” sings the 38-year-old with brutal clarity. “Sean Lennon, you know what I mean.”

Certainly, few singer-songwriters this side of Adam Cohen, Jakob Dylan or Rufus Wainwright have had an act to follow quite like Teddy Thompson and younger sister Kami. However, the fact that their nephew Zach Hobbs – son of Richard and Linda Thompson’s older daughter, Muna – and half-brother Jack Thompson (Richard’s son by his second wife) have chosen to ply a similar trade is testament to the folksy creativity – and distinctly British-accented melancholy – that seemingly courses through their bloodline.

A patchwork quilt of songs from the various branches of the Thompson family tree, written separately but stitched together collectively, Family might easily come across as an act of calculated smugness – a showcase for the family silver. However, it ends up being a more nuanced guide to the Thompsons’ flawed but just-about functioning dynamic, divorces, remarriages and all.

Richard Thompson’s contributions are typical of the former Fairport Convention guitarist’s idiosyncratic combination of twitchy bonhomie and underlying coldness; the half-chirpy “One Life At A Time” speaks of an effort to keep emotional vampires at arm’s length (“I’m not thrilled about you,” he bumbles), while “That’s Enough” – an close relative of his own “Time To Ring Some Changes” – is a compelling slab of non-specific, us-and-them agit-prop; a fist waved defiantly at nothing in particular.

Linda Thompson, meanwhile, brings her uniquely fragile gravitas to bear on two typically mournful ballads – “Perhaps We Can Sleep” and the faux-traditional lament of a dying matriarch, “Bonny Boys”. “Dry your tears, I am at peace,” she swansings, languid yet precise, after exhorting her young to live well and marry wisely, all the action – as ever – occurring several miles below the surface of the song.

Given their forebears’ tendency to make musical molehills out of emotional mountains, it’s no great surprise that the younger Thompsons thrive on understatement too. Kami Thompson’s deceptively flyweight “Careful” is a breezy piece of Fleetwood Mac circa Rumours psychodrama – with a cheeky cut’n’shut finish from the Modern Lovers’ “Roadrunner” – while woozy closer “I Long For Lonely”, a duet with husband James Walbourne, is a tasteful nod to her family’s spiderish yearning for dark corners.

Bassist Jack Thompson, meanwhile, abandons words entirely for the moody, elastic throb of “At The Feet Of The Emperor”, while Zach Hobbs’ straight-up folk/blues “Root So Bitter” sounds not unlike something his grandma’s old Glasgow pal John Martyn might have spat out in the late 1960s, before he lost the use of his consonants.

However, it is Teddy Thompson’s title track that ultimately gives the album its stylistic and emotional heft. A Jackson C Frank-ish 3/4 strum, it succinctly expresses that combination of boundless love and who-exactly-are-you ambivalence that represents – to most functioning adults – the essence of the family dynamic. Detailing how being a Thompson has been simultaneously a privilege and a burden, the “boy with red hair and no smile” demonstrates something of his parents’ inky-black humour with an absent-minded takedown of Muna. “My elder sister is prettier than you’d believe,” he keens. “My younger sister is prettier still and can sing.” (“Believe me when I tell you that it was better this way round,” he tells Uncut. “Kami would have been far more upset. Muna can take it – I know that.”)

Hurting the ones you love the most, it seems, comes natural for any family – musical or otherwise – but the Thompsons’ essential good nature shines through stronger than any sibling niggling. Dysfunctional but somehow comforting, and ultimately you don’t need to be Sean Lennon to know how that feels.

Jim Wirth

Q&A

TEDDY THOMPSON

Why did you decide to bring the family together for this album?

I was also having some sort of miniature mid-life crisis. I was thinking about my family a lot and how I moved away from them a long time ago. In retrospect, I came up with this project to get everyone back together. I was really trying to heal some wounds for myself, but I dragged everyone along with me; ‘Come into my therapy session, whether you like it or not.’

Is there is a Thompson family musical style?

Songwriting-wise, we all have that distinctive dour outlook. And I also hear it in the voices, and the turn of phrase all the way to Zach – his guitar playing sounds so much like my dad’s, and I think Kami sounds just like my mum sometimes. I don’t know what it is but it’s there and it’s really strong.

Was it like being in the Von Trapp family growing up as a Thompson?

The polar opposite of that. My parents divorced when I was six and they never played music in the house. We weren’t the types to get round the piano and sing together. My dad just left, like a lot of fathers do, and then my mum remarried and went away on this new romance with a new husband and left us with my grandmother, Betty Pettifer. Both of my parents left in very quick succession. We didn’t have an unusual childhood but we did have a weird childhood ‘cause we were ripped apart, especially me and Kami.

INTERVIEW: JIM WIRTH

Photo credit: Courtesy of Linda Thompson and Nancy Covey

Paul Weller announces 2015 UK tour of ‘often missed’ towns and cities

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Paul Weller announces 2015 UK tour of ‘often missed’ towns and cities

Tour begins on March 5 in Plymouth... Paul Weller has announced details of a 2015 tour which will see him towns and cities "often missed" by artists on tour in the UK. After starting in Plymouth on March 5, the 14-date tour will see Weller visit Swindon, Watford, Stoke-On-Trent, Halifax and Carlisle among other locations. The tour ends in Edinburgh on March 22. Tickets to see Paul Weller go on general sale at 9am on Friday (December 5). Weller recently spoke to Uncut about the re-release of The Jam album Setting Sons. "I think I just ran out of ideas, if I’m really honest," he admitted. "Maybe I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing for us to do anyway. It was a bit of a half-baked concept." Paul Weller will play: Plymouth Pavilions (March 5) Swindon Oasis (6) Portsmouth Guildhall (7) Watford Colosseum (9) Warwick Arts Centre (10) Stoke Victoria Hall (12) Cambridge Corn Exchange (13) Southend Cliffs Pavilion (14) Blackburn King George's Hall (16) Scunthorpe Baths Hall (17) Halifax Victoria Theatre (18) York Barbican (20) Carlisle Sands Centre (21) Edinburgh Playhouse (22) Photo credit: Lawrence Watson

Tour begins on March 5 in Plymouth…

Paul Weller has announced details of a 2015 tour which will see him towns and cities “often missed” by artists on tour in the UK.

After starting in Plymouth on March 5, the 14-date tour will see Weller visit Swindon, Watford, Stoke-On-Trent, Halifax and Carlisle among other locations. The tour ends in Edinburgh on March 22.

Tickets to see Paul Weller go on general sale at 9am on Friday (December 5).

Weller recently spoke to Uncut about the re-release of The Jam album Setting Sons. “I think I just ran out of ideas, if I’m really honest,” he admitted. “Maybe I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing for us to do anyway. It was a bit of a half-baked concept.”

Paul Weller will play:

Plymouth Pavilions (March 5)

Swindon Oasis (6)

Portsmouth Guildhall (7)

Watford Colosseum (9)

Warwick Arts Centre (10)

Stoke Victoria Hall (12)

Cambridge Corn Exchange (13)

Southend Cliffs Pavilion (14)

Blackburn King George’s Hall (16)

Scunthorpe Baths Hall (17)

Halifax Victoria Theatre (18)

York Barbican (20)

Carlisle Sands Centre (21)

Edinburgh Playhouse (22)

Photo credit: Lawrence Watson

Brian May joins campaign for Asteroid Awareness Day

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Brian May joins campaign for Asteroid Awareness Day

The Queen guitarist signs declaration warning of dangers from asteroids... Brian May is among a number of high-profile names who have signed a declaration calling for Asteroid Awareness Day. According to a report published in today's Guardian, May along with astronauts and scientists from around the world have joined forces to combat potential threats posed by an asteroid strike. Their plans include a live concert and an awareness day. Signed by Lord Rees, the astronomer royal, Ed Lu, a former shuttle astronaut, and May, the declaration calls for a speeding up of the search for dangerous asteroids and the adoption of Asteroid Awareness Day on 30 June 2015. The awareness day, which the Guardian notes may involve a Live Aid-style concert, coincides with the anniversary of an asteroid strike in 1908 in Tunguska in Siberia.

The Queen guitarist signs declaration warning of dangers from asteroids…

Brian May is among a number of high-profile names who have signed a declaration calling for Asteroid Awareness Day.

According to a report published in today’s Guardian, May along with astronauts and scientists from around the world have joined forces to combat potential threats posed by an asteroid strike.

Their plans include a live concert and an awareness day.

Signed by Lord Rees, the astronomer royal, Ed Lu, a former shuttle astronaut, and May, the declaration calls for a speeding up of the search for dangerous asteroids and the adoption of Asteroid Awareness Day on 30 June 2015.

The awareness day, which the Guardian notes may involve a Live Aid-style concert, coincides with the anniversary of an asteroid strike in 1908 in Tunguska in Siberia.

The Rolling Stones “devastated” by death of Bobby Keys

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The Rolling Stones “devastated” by death of Bobby Keys

Keith Richards also posts personal message of condolence... The Rolling Stones have posted a statement on their website following the news of the death on December 2 of Bobby Keys, their long-serving saxophoninst. "The Rolling Stones are devastated by the loss of their very dear friend and legendary saxophone player, Bobby Keys. "Bobby made a unique musical contribution to the band since the 1960s. He will be greatly missed." Keith Richards, meanwhile, has paid his own tribute to Keys, posting a hand-written letter on his website. Richards' tribute reads: "Bobby. "I have lost the largest pal in the world and I can't express the sadness I feel although Bobby would tell me to cheer up. "My condolenses to all that knew him and his love of music." Richards also posted a smaller message reading, "Another good bye to another good friend. I will miss you, Bobby." Keys toured with the Rolling Stones for more than 45 years, also playing on studio albums including the band's storied run from Let It Bleed to Exile On Main Street. Most recently, Keys played on the Stones; 14 on Fire tour, but in October was forced to pull out of dates in New Zealand and Australia due to poor health. Keys was reportedly battling cirrhosis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmfi3UbDPnQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI-OzM0dy30 Photo credit: Estate Of Keith Morris/Redferns

Keith Richards also posts personal message of condolence…

The Rolling Stones have posted a statement on their website following the news of the death on December 2 of Bobby Keys, their long-serving saxophoninst.

“The Rolling Stones are devastated by the loss of their very dear friend and legendary saxophone player, Bobby Keys.

“Bobby made a unique musical contribution to the band since the 1960s. He will be greatly missed.”

Keith Richards, meanwhile, has paid his own tribute to Keys, posting a hand-written letter on his website.

Richards’ tribute reads:

“Bobby.

“I have lost the largest pal in the world and I can’t express the sadness I feel although Bobby would tell me to cheer up.

“My condolenses to all that knew him and his love of music.”

Richards also posted a smaller message reading, “Another good bye to another good friend. I will miss you, Bobby.”

Keys toured with the Rolling Stones for more than 45 years, also playing on studio albums including the band’s storied run from Let It Bleed to Exile On Main Street.

Most recently, Keys played on the Stones; 14 on Fire tour, but in October was forced to pull out of dates in New Zealand and Australia due to poor health. Keys was reportedly battling cirrhosis.

Photo credit: Estate Of Keith Morris/Redferns

Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys dies aged 70

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Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys dies aged 70

Saxophonist Bobby Keys, best known for his work with The Rolling Stones, has died aged 70. Keys passed away in Tennessee earlier today (December 2), a few months after taking medical leave from the Stones' rescheduled Australia and New Zealand dates in October 2014. The saxophonist, born on the same day as Keith Richards, first performed with the Stones on 1969's Let It Bleed, and featured on some of their best-known songs, including "Brown Sugar" (where he took a prominent solo), "Live With Me" and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". He played on all the band's tours since 1982, including their headline set at 2013's Glastonbury. Keys also recorded with three Beatles, guesting on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, Ringo Starr's Ringo and Goodnight Vienna, and John Lennon's US No 1 single, "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night". Other artists he performed or recorded with include Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, Humble Pie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dr John and BB King. Keys wasn't just a sideman, either, releasing two records under his own name in the 1970s.

Saxophonist Bobby Keys, best known for his work with The Rolling Stones, has died aged 70.

Keys passed away in Tennessee earlier today (December 2), a few months after taking medical leave from the Stones’ rescheduled Australia and New Zealand dates in October 2014.

The saxophonist, born on the same day as Keith Richards, first performed with the Stones on 1969’s Let It Bleed, and featured on some of their best-known songs, including “Brown Sugar” (where he took a prominent solo), “Live With Me” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”. He played on all the band’s tours since 1982, including their headline set at 2013’s Glastonbury.

Keys also recorded with three Beatles, guesting on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, Ringo Starr’s Ringo and Goodnight Vienna, and John Lennon’s US No 1 single, “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night”.

Other artists he performed or recorded with include Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, Humble Pie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dr John and BB King. Keys wasn’t just a sideman, either, releasing two records under his own name in the 1970s.

Fleetwood Mac to headline Isle Of Wight Festival 2015

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Fleetwood Mac to headline Isle Of Wight Festival 2015
Fleetwood Mac will headline the Isle Of Wight Festival 2015. The band, who recently announced a string of huge UK tour dates for 2015, will perform on the Main Stage at the festival on Sunday, June 14. They have reportedly signed an exclusive worldwide deal to headline the event, making it their ...

Fleetwood Mac will headline the Isle Of Wight Festival 2015.

The band, who recently announced a string of huge UK tour dates for 2015, will perform on the Main Stage at the festival on Sunday, June 14. They have reportedly signed an exclusive worldwide deal to headline the event, making it their only festival appearance of the year.

Mick Fleetwood recently denied rumours that Fleetwood Mac will be appearing at Glastonbury in 2015 and this exclusive festival appearance is further confirmation that the band will not appear at Worthy Farm next year.

The Isle Of Wight Festival 2015 will take place on 11-14 June at Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight. General tickets are on sale 9am on December 5.

In a statement confirming the news, Fleetwood Mac said: “We’ve always wanted to come to the UK to play The Isle of Wight Festival, and so we are delighted that in 2015, we are finally making it happen! So many of our fellow artists and friends have played at this historic event over the years, and we can’t wait to see all of our fans on the island next summer.”

Meanwhile, festival organiser John Giddings added: “It’s no secret that Fleetwood Mac have been on my wishlist for The Isle of Wight Festival for some time now, so I’m very pleased and extremely proud to have them headline next year’s event. With Christine now back in the band too, it is going to be a momentous occasion, a moment in music history.”

Isle Of Wight Festival takes place between June 11-14. In 2014 the festival was headlined by Biffy Clyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kings Of Leon.

Click here to check the availability of Fleetwood Mac tickets.

PJ Harvey reads ‘The Guest Room’ from her debut poetry book – listen

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PJ Harvey reads ‘The Guest Room’ from her debut poetry book – listen

Visit SoundCloud to listen to PJ Harvey reading 'The Guest Room' for The New Yorker, a poem taken from her first book, The Hollow Of The Hand. The book will be released in autumn 2015 and is a collaboration with photographer and filmmaker Seamus Murphy with Bloomsbury securing the worldwide rights to the release. Text for 'The Guest Room' can be found at the New Yorker's website. The book of poetry and images was created during Harvey and Murphy's travels between 2011 and 2014 to destinations including Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Washington DC. The journeys began following Harvey's eighth studio album, 'Let England Shake'. "Gathering information from secondary sources felt too far removed for what I was trying to write about. I wanted to smell the air, feel the soil and meet the people of the countries I was fascinated with," said Harvey in a statement. "My friend Seamus Murphy and I agreed to grow a project together – I would collect words, he would collect pictures, following our instincts on where we should go." Seamus Murphy added: "Polly is a writer who loves images and I am a photographer who loves words. She asked me if I would like to take some photographs and make some films for her last album 'Let England Shake'. I was intrigued and the adventure began, now finding another form in this book. It is our look at home and the world." Earlier this year PJ Harvey shared her cover of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds' 'Red Right Hand', recorded for the second series of BBC drama Peaky Blinders. The cover was her first new track since releasing protest single 'Shaker Aamer' in August 2013, which followed 'Let England Shake'. In September of this year Harvey received an honorary degree from Goldsmiths University.

Visit SoundCloud to listen to PJ Harvey reading ‘The Guest Room’ for The New Yorker, a poem taken from her first book, The Hollow Of The Hand.

The book will be released in autumn 2015 and is a collaboration with photographer and filmmaker Seamus Murphy with Bloomsbury securing the worldwide rights to the release. Text for ‘The Guest Room’ can be found at the New Yorker’s website.

The book of poetry and images was created during Harvey and Murphy’s travels between 2011 and 2014 to destinations including Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Washington DC. The journeys began following Harvey’s eighth studio album, ‘Let England Shake’.

“Gathering information from secondary sources felt too far removed for what I was trying to write about. I wanted to smell the air, feel the soil and meet the people of the countries I was fascinated with,” said Harvey in a statement. “My friend Seamus Murphy and I agreed to grow a project together – I would collect words, he would collect pictures, following our instincts on where we should go.”

Seamus Murphy added: “Polly is a writer who loves images and I am a photographer who loves words. She asked me if I would like to take some photographs and make some films for her last album ‘Let England Shake’. I was intrigued and the adventure began, now finding another form in this book. It is our look at home and the world.”

Earlier this year PJ Harvey shared her cover of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds’ ‘Red Right Hand’, recorded for the second series of BBC drama Peaky Blinders.

The cover was her first new track since releasing protest single ‘Shaker Aamer’ in August 2013, which followed ‘Let England Shake’.

In September of this year Harvey received an honorary degree from Goldsmiths University.

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd pleads not guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession

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AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd pleads not guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs. The plea was entered by Rudd’s lawyer, Paul Mabey QC, as the 60-year-old was excused from appearing in Tauranga District Court today (December 2). Rudd faces charges of threateni...

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs.

The plea was entered by Rudd’s lawyer, Paul Mabey QC, as the 60-year-old was excused from appearing in Tauranga District Court today (December 2).

Rudd faces charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. The former carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail in Rudd’s adopted home of New Zealand.

The drummer was originally charged with attempting to procure the murder of two men, but the charge was dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Judge Tom Ingram said Rudd’s case is likely be heard at a judge-alone trial next year. Details of the complainant and three witnesses relating to the charge of threatening to kill will continue to be suppressed on the judge’s orders, following an application by Crown Prosecutor Greg Hollister-Jones, reports the New Zealand Herald.

The drummer made a bizarre court appearance in New Zealand on November 19, when it was reported that he jumped on the back of one of his security guards outside the courthouse, winked at journalists and drummed a rhythm on the dock.

Previously, the other members of AC/DC spoke out about the arrest, stating that Rudd must “get himself well”.

Guitarist Angus Young also stated that the band is still “committed to going forward and touring” new album ‘Rock Or Bust’, which was released on Monday (November 28).

Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin front U2 for World Aids Day – watch the full performance

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Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin front U2 for World Aids Day – watch the full performance
U2 performed a special concert in New York’s Times Square last night, with Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin filling in for frontman Bono, who is recovering from a cycling accident. The singers were drafted in to prevent the World Aids Day event from being cancelled in Bono’s absence – wat...

U2 performed a special concert in New York’s Times Square last night, with Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin filling in for frontman Bono, who is recovering from a cycling accident.

The singers were drafted in to prevent the World Aids Day event from being cancelled in Bono’s absence – watch the full performance below.

Martin – wearing a T-shirt that read ‘SUBSITUTU2’ – joined the band to perform ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘With Or Without You’, telling the crowd: “Dreams come true for young and old people alike.”

Springsteen joined the band on the specially constructed stage to play ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’ and ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’. He dedicated the latter to “Bono in Ireland – be well, my friend.”

The event was introduced by a speech from former US president Bill Clinton, who said: “I got this email from Bono, recuperating in Dublin, and he said I had to come here tonight to do the intro. And here’s what I want to say to you: 26 years ago we could never have had an event like this on World Aids Day because to be diagnosed with Aids was a death sentence… this year, for the first time ever, more people were put on life-saving medicine than were diagnosed with Aids. We can win this fight.”

Also appearing at the event was Kanye West, who performed a medley of ‘Jesus Walks’, ‘Black Skinhead’ and ‘Touch The Sky’ in lashing rain, and country singer Carrie Underwood.

The event was staged by Bono’s charity Red. Earlier this year, U2 gave away their song ‘Invisible’ in a deal that saw Bank Of America donate $1 (60p) per download of the track to the Global Fund To Fight Aids, Tuberculosis And Malaria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzI_UN8_MOo

U2 played:

‘Beautiful Day’

‘With Or Without You’

‘Where The Streets Have No Name’

‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’

The 154 Best Albums Of 2014 (A very personal list…)

John Mulvey
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The 154 Best Albums Of 2014 (A very personal list…)

Hey, here are my 154 favourite albums of 2014. As usual, I haven't aimed for a fixed number; just listed everything, in a loose order, that I've enjoyed these past 12 months. I'm aware that some of you will find a list of 154 good albums improbable/unmanageable - ie that I couldn’t possibly give unequivocal support to everything here. Which is fair enough. Nevertheless, I think they're all worth a few listens, including some releases that maybe won't get recognised in many other end-of-year charts. If I'd stopped at 100, for instance, I'd have had to leave out things like the Pye Corner Audio/Not Waving split and the Kassé Mady Diabaté albums, as well as a bunch of more mainstream records that, while not stuff I specialise in, I think deserve a nod in a more esoteric selection like this one. Please note, too, I've added links to a load of reviews of specific albums. If nothing else, this sheer weight of records that I've liked is my annual attempt to prove that there's no such thing as a bad year for music, if you've the time to go hunting. I do have that time, of course, and I'm very grateful to have a job that lets me get away with this, and an audience who indulges me. Thanks for your support over the year and, once again, please share your own lists, questions and comments below and at uncut_feedback@timeinc.com. There's always time to discover more - I'm sure I've missed out a few things here that you'll point out to me… Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey 154 Suarasama – Timeline (Space) 153 Ariel Pink - Pom Pom (4AD) 152 Luluc – Passerby (Sub Pop) 151 Jozef Van Wissem - It Is Time For You To Return (Made To Measure/Crammed Discs) 150 Loudon Wainwright III – Haven’t Got The Blues (Yet) (Proper) 149 Metronomy – Love Letters (Because) 148 Alexander Turnquist – Wildflower (Western Vinyl) 147 Mark McGuire – Along The Way (Dead Oceans) 146 Gareth Dickson - Invisible String (Unwork) 145 Woo – When The Past Arrives (Drag City) 144 Drive-By Truckers – English Oceans (ATO) Read Uncut's review of the Drive-By Truckers' "English Oceans" here… 143 Perfume Genius - Too Bright (Caroline) 142 Simian Mobile Disco – Whorl (Anti-) 141 Sam Amidon - Lily-O (Nonesuch) 140 FKA Twigs – LP1 (XL) 139 Tarwater - Adrift (Bureau B) 138 Neil Young - Storytone (Acoustic) (Reprise) 137 Gruff Rhys – American Interior (Turnstile) 136 Mirage - Blood For The Return (Olde English Spelling Bee/Weird World) 135 Mike & Cara Gangloff - Black Ribbon Of Death, Silver Thread Of Life (MIE Music) 134 Lawrence English – Wilderness Of Mirrors (Room40) 133 Joan Shelley - Electric Ursa (No Quarter) 132 Jungle- Jungle (XL) 131 The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams (Washington Square) Read Uncut's review of The Hold Steady's "Teeth Dreams" here… 130 Flying Lotus - You're Dead (Warp) 129 Vashti Bunyan – Heartleap (FatCat) Read Uncut's review of Vashti Bunyan's "Heartleap" here… 128 James Blackshaw – Fantômas (Tompkins Square) 127 Elisa Ambrogio - The Immoralist (Drag City) 126 The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian) 125 Rag Lore - Misr Environs: Cairo Road Recordings And Other Half Truths (Cabin Floor Esoterica) 124 Bryan Ferry - Avonmore (BMG) 123 Einsturzende Neubauten - Lament (BMG/Mute) 122 Tashi Dorji - Tashi Dorji (Hermit Hut) 121 Richard Reed Parry – Music For Heart And Breath (Deutsche Grammofon) 120 You Are Wolf – Hawk To The Hunting Gone (Stone Tape) 119 Terry Waldo – The Soul Of Ragtime (Tompkins Square) 118 Tricky - Adrian Thaws (False Idols) 117 AC/DC - Play Ball (Columbia) 116 Luke Abbott – Wysing Forest (Border Community) 115 East India Youth – Total Strife Forever (Stolen) 114 Grandma Sparrow - Grandma Sparrow & his Piddletractor Orchestra (Spacebomb) 113 New Bums – Voices In A Rented Room (Drag City) 112 Kevin Morby - Still Life (Woodsist) 111 The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits (Sacred Bones) 110 Julian Casablancas + The Voidz - Tyranny (Cult) 109 Goat – Commune (Rocket) Read Uncut's review of Goat's "Commune" here… 108 Kelis – Food (Ninjatune) 107 J Mascis – Tied To A Star (Sub Pop) 106 Sharon Van Etten – Are We There (Jagjaguwar) Read Uncut's review of Sharon Van Etten's "Are We There" here… 105 Kasai Allstars – Beware The Fetish (Crammed Discs) 104 Doug Paisley – Strong Feelings (No Quarter) 103 Bishop Nehru/DOOM - Nehruviandoom (Sound Of The Son) (Lex) 102 Pye Corner Audio/Not Waving - Intercepts (Ecstatic) 101 Kassé Mady Diabaté - Kiriké (No Format!) 100 Avi Buffalo – At Best Cuckold (Sub Pop) 99 Lubomyr Melnyk - Evertina (Erased Tapes) 98 Afghan Whigs – Do To The Beast (Sub Pop) Read Uncut's review of Afghan Whigs' "Do To The Beast" here… 97 MV & EE - Alpha Lyrae (Child Of Microtones) 96 Martin Duffy - Assorted Promenades (O Genesis) 95 Arca - Xen (Mute) 94 Dylan Shearer – Garagearray (Castleface/Empty Cellar) 93 Spider Bags - Frozen Letter (Merge) 92 Robert Plant - Lulllaby… And The Ceaseless Roar (Nonesuch) Read Uncut's review of Robert Plant's "Lullaby And The Ceaseless Roar" here… 91 The Allah-Las – Worship The Sun (Innovative Leisure) Read Uncut's review of Allah-Las' "Worship The Sun" here… 90 Mark Kozelek - Sings Christmas Carols (Caldo Verde) 89 Howlin Rain – Live Rain (Agitated) 88 Crying Lion - The Golden Boat (Honest Jon's) 87 Wand - Ganglion Reef (God/Drag City) Read my review of Wand here… 86 Olga Bell – Krai (One Little Indian) 85 Black Bananas – Electric Brick Wall (Drag City) 84 Mark Lanegan Band - Phantom Radio (Heavenly) Read Uncut's review of Mark Lanegan's "Phantom Radio" here… 83 A Winged Victory For The Sullen – Atomos (Erased Tapes) 82 Mogwai – Rave Tapes (Rock Action) 81 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - I'm In Your Mind Fuzz (Heavenly/Castle Face) Read my review of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard here… 80 Weyes Blood - The Innocents (Mexican Summer) 79 Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Phosphorescent Harvest (Silver Arrow) 78 Metabolismus - Sus (Amish) 77 Dream Police - Hypnotized (Sacred Bones) 76 Morgan Delt – Morgan Delt (Trouble In Mind) 75 Todd Terje – It’s Album Time (Olsen) 74 Watter – This World (Temporary Residence) 73 Håkon Stene - Lush Laments for Lazy Mammal (Hubro) 72 Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer - Bass & Mandolin (Nonesuch) 71 Robert Stillman - Leap Of Death (Archaic Future) 70 Plaid – Reachy Prints (Warp) 69 Mary Lattimore & Jeff Zeigler - Slant Of Light (Thrill Jockey) 68 Blonde Redhead – Barragán (Kobalt) 67 Reigning Sound – Shattered (Merge) Read Uncut's review of Reigning Sound's "Shattered" here… 66 Plastikman – Ex (Mute) 65 Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots (Parlophone) 64 M. Geddes Gengras - Collected Works Vol. 2: New Process Music (Umor Rex) 63 Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 2 (Mass Appeal) 62 Richard Thompson – Acoustic Classics (Proper) Read my piece about Richard Thompson here… 61 Oren Ambarchi - Quixotism (Editions Mego) 60 Meatbodies - Meatbodies (In The Red) Read my review of Meatbodies here… 59 Caribou -Our Love (City Slang) 58 Ex-Hex - Rips (Merge) 57 Bill Callahan – Have Fun With God (Drag City) Read my review of Bill Callahan's "Have Fun With God" here… Read my review of Bill Callahan live here… 56 David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights – End Times Undone (Merge) 55 Ty Segall – Manipulator (Drag City) Read my review of Ty Segall's "Manipulator" here… 54 Neil Young – A Letter Home (Third Man/Reprise) Read my review of Neil Young's "A Letter Home" here… 53 Linda Perhacs – The Soul Of All Natural Things (Asthmatic Kitty) Read my review of Linda Perhacs live here… 52 Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Singer’s Grave A Sea Of Tongues (Domino) 51 Shellac - Dude Incredible (Touch & Go) 50 Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness (Jagjaguwar) 49 Khun Narin Electric Phin Band - Khun Narin Electric Phin Band (Innovative Leisure) 48 Cool Ghouls - A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye (Empty Cellar) Read my review of Cool Ghouls here… 47 Wooden Wand – Farmer's Corner (Fire) 46 D Charles Speer & The Helix – Doubled Exposure (Thrill Jockey) 45 Wolfgang Voigt - Rückverzauberung 9/Musik für Kulturinstitutionen (Kompakt) 44 Steve Gunn & Mike Cooper – FRKWYS VOL 11: Cantos De Lisboa (RVNG INTL) Read my piece about Mike Cooper here… 43 White Fence - For The Recently Found Innocent (Drag City) I reviewed this one here 42 Noura Mint Seymali – Tzenni (Glitterbeat) 41 Jesse Sparhawk & Eric Carbonara – Tributes & Diatribes (VHF) 40 Woods – With Light And With Love (Woodsist) 39 Loscil - Sea Island (Kranky) 38 Girma Yifrashewa – Love And Peace (Unseen Worlds) 37 Bing & Ruth - Tomorrow Was The Golden Age (RVNG INTL) 36 Hans Chew – Life And Love (At The Helm) 35 Jennifer Castle - Pink City (No Quarter) 34 Rhyton - Kykeon (Thrill Jockey) Read my review here 33 Tinariwen – Emmaar (PIAS) 32 Purling Hiss - Weirdon (Drag City) 31 Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems (Columbia) Read Uncut's review of leonard Cohen's "Popular Problems" here… 30 OOIOO – Gamel (Thrill Jockey) Read my review of OOIOO here… 29 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Wig Out At Jagbags (Domino) 28 Tweedy - Sukierae (dBpm) Read Uncut's review of Tweedy's "Sukirae" here… 27 Black Dirt Oak – Wawayanda Patient (MIE Music) Read my review of Black Dirt Oak here… 26 Dylan Howe – Subterranean: New Designs On Bowie's Berlin (Motorik) 25 Thee Oh Sees – Drop (Castleface) Read Uncut's review of Thee Oh Sees' "Drop" here… 24 Liam Hayes & Plush - Korp Sole Roller (Bandcamp) Read my piece about Liam Hayes and Plush here… 23 Thurston Moore - The Best Day (Matador) Read Uncut's piece about Thurston Moore live here… 22 Pye Corner Audio – Black Mill Tapes 3&4 (Type) Read my review of Pye Corner Audio here… 21 Jack White – Lazaretto (Third Man/XL) Read my piece about Jack White here… 20 Ryley Walker – All Kinds Of You (Tompkins Square) Read my piece about Ryley Walker here… 19 Alice Gerrard - Follow The Music (Tompkins Square) Read my review of Alice Gerrard's "Follow The Music" here… 18 Thom Yorke - Tomorrow's Modern Boxes (Bittorrent!) Read my review of " Tomorrow's Modern Boxes" here… 17 Africa Express Presents… - Terry Riley's In C (Transgressive) Read my review here 16 Nathan Bowles - Nansemond (Paradise Of Bachelors) Read my review of Nathan Bowles' "Nansemond" here… 15 The Aphex Twin - Syro (Warp) 14 Earth - Primitive And Deadly (Southern Lord) 13 Xylouris White - Goats (Other Music) Read my review here 12 Bohren & Der Club Of Gore – Piano Nights (PIAS) Read my review of Bohren & Der Club Of Gore here… 11 Real Estate – Atlas (Domino) Read my review of Real Estate's "Atlas" here… 10 Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté - Toumani & Sidiki (World Circuit) 9 Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - Dereconstructed (Sub Pop) Read my review of Lee Bains III here… 8 Fennesz - Bécs (Editions Mego) 7 Frazey Ford - Indian Ocean (Nettwerk) Read my review of Frazey Ford's "Indian Ocean" here… 6 Steve Gunn - Way Out Weather (Paradise Of Bachelors) Read my review of Steve Gunn's "Way Out Weather" here… 5 Chris Forysth & The Solar Motel Band - Intensity Ghost (No Quarter) Read my piece about Chris Forsyth here… 4 Bitchin' Bajas - Bitchin' Bajas (Drag City) 3 Sun Kil Moon – Benji (Caldo Verde) Read my review of Sun Kil Moon's "Benji" here… 2 Hurray For The Riff-Raff – Small Town Heroes (ATO) Read my review of Hurray For The Riff Raff's "Small Town Heroes" here… Read my interview with Hurray For The Riff Raff here… 1 Hiss Golden Messenger - Lateness Of Dancers (Merge) Read my interview with Hiss Golden Messenger here…

Hey, here are my 154 favourite albums of 2014. As usual, I haven’t aimed for a fixed number; just listed everything, in a loose order, that I’ve enjoyed these past 12 months.

I’m aware that some of you will find a list of 154 good albums improbable/unmanageable – ie that I couldn’t possibly give unequivocal support to everything here. Which is fair enough. Nevertheless, I think they’re all worth a few listens, including some releases that maybe won’t get recognised in many other end-of-year charts. If I’d stopped at 100, for instance, I’d have had to leave out things like the Pye Corner Audio/Not Waving split and the Kassé Mady Diabaté albums, as well as a bunch of more mainstream records that, while not stuff I specialise in, I think deserve a nod in a more esoteric selection like this one. Please note, too, I’ve added links to a load of reviews of specific albums.

If nothing else, this sheer weight of records that I’ve liked is my annual attempt to prove that there’s no such thing as a bad year for music, if you’ve the time to go hunting. I do have that time, of course, and I’m very grateful to have a job that lets me get away with this, and an audience who indulges me. Thanks for your support over the year and, once again, please share your own lists, questions and comments below and at uncut_feedback@timeinc.com. There’s always time to discover more – I’m sure I’ve missed out a few things here that you’ll point out to me…

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

154 Suarasama – Timeline (Space)

153 Ariel Pink – Pom Pom (4AD)

152 Luluc – Passerby (Sub Pop)

151 Jozef Van Wissem – It Is Time For You To Return (Made To Measure/Crammed Discs)

150 Loudon Wainwright III – Haven’t Got The Blues (Yet) (Proper)

149 Metronomy – Love Letters (Because)

148 Alexander Turnquist – Wildflower (Western Vinyl)

147 Mark McGuire – Along The Way (Dead Oceans)

146 Gareth Dickson – Invisible String (Unwork)

145 Woo – When The Past Arrives (Drag City)

144 Drive-By Truckers – English Oceans (ATO)

Read Uncut’s review of the Drive-By Truckers’ “English Oceans” here…

143 Perfume Genius – Too Bright (Caroline)

142 Simian Mobile Disco – Whorl (Anti-)

141 Sam Amidon – Lily-O (Nonesuch)

140 FKA Twigs – LP1 (XL)

139 Tarwater – Adrift (Bureau B)

138 Neil Young – Storytone (Acoustic) (Reprise)

137 Gruff Rhys – American Interior (Turnstile)

136 Mirage – Blood For The Return (Olde English Spelling Bee/Weird World)

135 Mike & Cara Gangloff – Black Ribbon Of Death, Silver Thread Of Life (MIE Music)

134 Lawrence English – Wilderness Of Mirrors (Room40)

133 Joan Shelley – Electric Ursa (No Quarter)

132 Jungle- Jungle (XL)

131 The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams (Washington Square)

Read Uncut’s review of The Hold Steady’s “Teeth Dreams” here…

130 Flying Lotus – You’re Dead (Warp)

129 Vashti Bunyan – Heartleap (FatCat)

Read Uncut’s review of Vashti Bunyan’s “Heartleap” here…

128 James Blackshaw – Fantômas (Tompkins Square)

127 Elisa Ambrogio – The Immoralist (Drag City)

126 The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)

125 Rag Lore – Misr Environs: Cairo Road Recordings And Other Half Truths (Cabin Floor Esoterica)

124 Bryan Ferry – Avonmore (BMG)

123 Einsturzende Neubauten – Lament (BMG/Mute)

122 Tashi Dorji – Tashi Dorji (Hermit Hut)

121 Richard Reed Parry – Music For Heart And Breath (Deutsche Grammofon)

120 You Are Wolf – Hawk To The Hunting Gone (Stone Tape)

119 Terry Waldo – The Soul Of Ragtime (Tompkins Square)

118 Tricky – Adrian Thaws (False Idols)

117 AC/DC – Play Ball (Columbia)

116 Luke Abbott – Wysing Forest (Border Community)

115 East India Youth – Total Strife Forever (Stolen)

114 Grandma Sparrow – Grandma Sparrow & his Piddletractor Orchestra (Spacebomb)

113 New Bums – Voices In A Rented Room (Drag City)

112 Kevin Morby – Still Life (Woodsist)

111 The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits (Sacred Bones)

110 Julian Casablancas + The Voidz – Tyranny (Cult)

109 Goat – Commune (Rocket)

Read Uncut’s review of Goat’s “Commune” here…

108 Kelis – Food (Ninjatune)

107 J Mascis – Tied To A Star (Sub Pop)

106 Sharon Van Etten – Are We There (Jagjaguwar)

Read Uncut’s review of Sharon Van Etten’s “Are We There” here…

105 Kasai Allstars – Beware The Fetish (Crammed Discs)

104 Doug Paisley – Strong Feelings (No Quarter)

103 Bishop Nehru/DOOM – Nehruviandoom (Sound Of The Son) (Lex)

102 Pye Corner Audio/Not Waving – Intercepts (Ecstatic)

101 Kassé Mady Diabaté – Kiriké (No Format!)

100 Avi Buffalo – At Best Cuckold (Sub Pop)

99 Lubomyr Melnyk – Evertina (Erased Tapes)

98 Afghan Whigs – Do To The Beast (Sub Pop)

Read Uncut’s review of Afghan Whigs’ “Do To The Beast” here…

97 MV & EE – Alpha Lyrae (Child Of Microtones)

96 Martin Duffy – Assorted Promenades (O Genesis)

95 Arca – Xen (Mute)

94 Dylan Shearer – Garagearray (Castleface/Empty Cellar)

93 Spider Bags – Frozen Letter (Merge)

92 Robert Plant – Lulllaby… And The Ceaseless Roar (Nonesuch)

Read Uncut’s review of Robert Plant’s “Lullaby And The Ceaseless Roar” here…

91 The Allah-Las – Worship The Sun (Innovative Leisure)

Read Uncut’s review of Allah-Las’ “Worship The Sun” here…

90 Mark Kozelek – Sings Christmas Carols (Caldo Verde)

89 Howlin Rain – Live Rain (Agitated)

88 Crying Lion – The Golden Boat (Honest Jon’s)

87 Wand – Ganglion Reef (God/Drag City)

Read my review of Wand here…

86 Olga Bell – Krai (One Little Indian)

85 Black Bananas – Electric Brick Wall (Drag City)

84 Mark Lanegan Band – Phantom Radio (Heavenly)

Read Uncut’s review of Mark Lanegan’s “Phantom Radio” here…

83 A Winged Victory For The Sullen – Atomos (Erased Tapes)

82 Mogwai – Rave Tapes (Rock Action)

81 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – I’m In Your Mind Fuzz (Heavenly/Castle Face)

Read my review of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard here…

80 Weyes Blood – The Innocents (Mexican Summer)

79 Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Phosphorescent Harvest (Silver Arrow)

78 Metabolismus – Sus (Amish)

77 Dream Police – Hypnotized (Sacred Bones)

76 Morgan Delt – Morgan Delt (Trouble In Mind)

75 Todd Terje – It’s Album Time (Olsen)

74 Watter – This World (Temporary Residence)

73 Håkon Stene – Lush Laments for Lazy Mammal (Hubro)

72 Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer – Bass & Mandolin (Nonesuch)

71 Robert Stillman – Leap Of Death (Archaic Future)

70 Plaid – Reachy Prints (Warp)

69 Mary Lattimore & Jeff Zeigler – Slant Of Light (Thrill Jockey)

68 Blonde Redhead – Barragán (Kobalt)

67 Reigning Sound – Shattered (Merge)

Read Uncut’s review of Reigning Sound’s “Shattered” here…

66 Plastikman – Ex (Mute)

65 Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots (Parlophone)

64 M. Geddes Gengras – Collected Works Vol. 2: New Process Music (Umor Rex)

63 Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 2 (Mass Appeal)

62 Richard Thompson – Acoustic Classics (Proper)

Read my piece about Richard Thompson here…

61 Oren Ambarchi – Quixotism (Editions Mego)

60 Meatbodies – Meatbodies (In The Red)

Read my review of Meatbodies here…

59 Caribou -Our Love (City Slang)

58 Ex-Hex – Rips (Merge)

57 Bill Callahan – Have Fun With God (Drag City)

Read my review of Bill Callahan’s “Have Fun With God” here…

Read my review of Bill Callahan live here…

56 David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights – End Times Undone (Merge)

55 Ty Segall – Manipulator (Drag City)

Read my review of Ty Segall’s “Manipulator” here…

54 Neil Young – A Letter Home (Third Man/Reprise)

Read my review of Neil Young’s “A Letter Home” here…

53 Linda Perhacs – The Soul Of All Natural Things (Asthmatic Kitty)

Read my review of Linda Perhacs live here…

52 Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Singer’s Grave A Sea Of Tongues (Domino)

51 Shellac – Dude Incredible (Touch & Go)

50 Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness (Jagjaguwar)

49 Khun Narin Electric Phin Band – Khun Narin Electric Phin Band (Innovative Leisure)

48 Cool Ghouls – A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye (Empty Cellar)

Read my review of Cool Ghouls here…

47 Wooden Wand – Farmer’s Corner (Fire)

46 D Charles Speer & The Helix – Doubled Exposure (Thrill Jockey)

45 Wolfgang Voigt – Rückverzauberung 9/Musik für Kulturinstitutionen (Kompakt)

44 Steve Gunn & Mike Cooper – FRKWYS VOL 11: Cantos De Lisboa (RVNG INTL)

Read my piece about Mike Cooper here…

43 White Fence – For The Recently Found Innocent (Drag City)

I reviewed this one here

42 Noura Mint Seymali – Tzenni (Glitterbeat)

41 Jesse Sparhawk & Eric Carbonara – Tributes & Diatribes (VHF)

40 Woods – With Light And With Love (Woodsist)

39 Loscil – Sea Island (Kranky)

38 Girma Yifrashewa – Love And Peace (Unseen Worlds)

37 Bing & Ruth – Tomorrow Was The Golden Age (RVNG INTL)

36 Hans Chew – Life And Love (At The Helm)

35 Jennifer Castle – Pink City (No Quarter)

34 Rhyton – Kykeon (Thrill Jockey)

Read my review here

33 Tinariwen – Emmaar (PIAS)

32 Purling Hiss – Weirdon (Drag City)

31 Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems (Columbia)

Read Uncut’s review of leonard Cohen’s “Popular Problems” here…

30 OOIOO – Gamel (Thrill Jockey)

Read my review of OOIOO here…

29 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Wig Out At Jagbags (Domino)

28 Tweedy – Sukierae (dBpm)

Read Uncut’s review of Tweedy’s “Sukirae” here…

27 Black Dirt Oak – Wawayanda Patient (MIE Music)

Read my review of Black Dirt Oak here…

26 Dylan Howe – Subterranean: New Designs On Bowie’s Berlin (Motorik)

25 Thee Oh Sees – Drop (Castleface)

Read Uncut’s review of Thee Oh Sees’ “Drop” here…

24 Liam Hayes & Plush – Korp Sole Roller (Bandcamp)

Read my piece about Liam Hayes and Plush here…

23 Thurston Moore – The Best Day (Matador)

Read Uncut’s piece about Thurston Moore live here…

22 Pye Corner Audio – Black Mill Tapes 3&4 (Type)

Read my review of Pye Corner Audio here…

21 Jack White – Lazaretto (Third Man/XL)

Read my piece about Jack White here…

20 Ryley Walker – All Kinds Of You (Tompkins Square)

Read my piece about Ryley Walker here…

19 Alice Gerrard – Follow The Music (Tompkins Square)

Read my review of Alice Gerrard’s “Follow The Music” here…

18 Thom Yorke – Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes (Bittorrent!)

Read my review of ” Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes” here…

17 Africa Express Presents… – Terry Riley’s In C (Transgressive)

Read my review here

16 Nathan Bowles – Nansemond (Paradise Of Bachelors)

Read my review of Nathan Bowles’ “Nansemond” here…

15 The Aphex Twin – Syro (Warp)

14 Earth – Primitive And Deadly (Southern Lord)

13 Xylouris White – Goats (Other Music)

Read my review here

12 Bohren & Der Club Of Gore – Piano Nights (PIAS)

Read my review of Bohren & Der Club Of Gore here…

11 Real Estate – Atlas (Domino)

Read my review of Real Estate’s “Atlas” here…

10 Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté – Toumani & Sidiki (World Circuit)

9 Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires – Dereconstructed (Sub Pop)

Read my review of Lee Bains III here…

8 Fennesz – Bécs (Editions Mego)

7 Frazey Ford – Indian Ocean (Nettwerk)

Read my review of Frazey Ford’s “Indian Ocean” here…

6 Steve Gunn – Way Out Weather (Paradise Of Bachelors)

Read my review of Steve Gunn’s “Way Out Weather” here…

5 Chris Forysth & The Solar Motel Band – Intensity Ghost (No Quarter)

Read my piece about Chris Forsyth here…

4 Bitchin’ Bajas – Bitchin’ Bajas (Drag City)

3 Sun Kil Moon – Benji (Caldo Verde)

Read my review of Sun Kil Moon’s “Benji” here…

2 Hurray For The Riff-Raff – Small Town Heroes (ATO)

Read my review of Hurray For The Riff Raff’s “Small Town Heroes” here…

Read my interview with Hurray For The Riff Raff here…

1 Hiss Golden Messenger – Lateness Of Dancers (Merge)

Read my interview with Hiss Golden Messenger here…

Stream Wilco’s Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 Disc Three

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Stream Wilco’s Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 Disc Three
Wilco release two collections today [December 1] on Nonesuch Records. What's Your 20?: Essential Tracks 1994-2014 is a 2-CD/digital compilation of songs culled from the band’s previously released studio recordings, while Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 is a 4-CD/4-LP/digital-box-set of ...

Wilco release two collections today [December 1] on Nonesuch Records.

What’s Your 20?: Essential Tracks 1994-2014 is a 2-CD/digital compilation of songs culled from the band’s previously released studio recordings, while Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 is a 4-CD/4-LP/digital-box-set of rare studio and live recordings collected from the band’s extensive audio archives.

We’re delighted to premier Disc 3 from Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014, which includes an early take of “Handshake Drugs“, live versions of “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” and “Hell is Chrome (Live)”, as well as deep cuts “Bob Dylan’s 49th Beard”, “A Magazine Called Sunset” and “More Like The Moon”.

You can pre-order from Amazon here.

And you can read Uncut‘s review of What’s Your 20? and Alpha Mike Foxtrot here.

Meanwhile, the tracklisting for Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 Disc 3 is:

I’m The Man Who Loves You (Live)

The Good Part

Cars Can’t Escape

Camera

Handshake Drugs (First version)

A Magazine Called Sunset

Bob Dylan’s 49th Beard

Woodgrain

More Like The Moon

Let Me Come Home

Old Maid

Hummingbird (Alternate)

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (Live)

Hell Is Chrome (Live)

At Least That’s What You Said (Live)

The Late Greats (Live)

Just A Kid – with The Blisters

Kicking Television

Pete Townshend announces orchestral version of The Who’s Quadrophenia

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Pete Townshend announces orchestral version of The Who’s Quadrophenia
Pete Townshend has announced details of a new orchestral version of The Who’s 1973 album, Quadrophenia. The classical version of the rock opera has been orchestrated by Rachel Fuller and will be released by Deutsche Grammophon in June 2015, with a world premiere concert at London's Royal Albert H...

Pete Townshend has announced details of a new orchestral version of The Who’s 1973 album, Quadrophenia.

The classical version of the rock opera has been orchestrated by Rachel Fuller and will be released by Deutsche Grammophon in June 2015, with a world premiere concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall on July 5.

Tickets are on sale at 9am on December 5, priced at £35.00, plus fees, and will be available here.

Conducted by Robert Ziegler, the show will feature the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Oriana Choir and stars Pete Townshend and Alfie Boe, who will sing parts originally performed by Roger Daltrey.

Terry Reid – River

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Terry Reid – River

Free-roaming masterpiece of one of rock's nearly men... Terry Reid was the youngest of a post-war generation of often electrifying British vocalists that included Eric Burdon, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Steve Marriott, Joe Cocker and Steve Winwood. At 16, he was the charismatic front man of soul stompers Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers who at a spectacular show in November 1966 at the Capitol Theatre in Cardiff headlined by The Small Faces was a raw-voiced livewire, quite the equal of Steve Marriott, then in his raucous mod pomp. Great things were predicted for Reid when he went solo, although he would always be more popular among fellow musicians than the wider a public, with whom he never really connected. Eric Clapton, for instance, was a fan and Reid supported Cream on a 1968 American tour. The Rolling Stones dug Terry, too, and he opened for them on their 1969 US tour, the one that ended badly at Altamont. Jimmy Page thought highly enough of him to ask Reid in 1968 to join the band that became Led Zeppelin. Reid, however, was committed to a solo career that everyone kept telling him was about to take off and recommended the then-unknown Robert Plant, with whom he shared a talent for high-end shrieking. For the same reason, Reid also turned down a chance to join Deep Purple, the gig going instead to Ian Gillan. But neither 1968 debut Bang Bang It’s Terry Reid (bizarrely released only in America) or its eponymous 1969 follow-up sold well and Reid was soon in bitter dispute with manager/producer Mickie Most, an old school pop svengali determined to groom him as a suave soul crooner. Reid was looking far beyond the local Locarno and seasons in seaside cabaret, however. He was increasingly drawn by the lure of Los Angeles, where like-minded musical souls were even now gathering in stoned idyll, making the kind of expansive, adventurous music free of commercial orthodoxies he now felt himself compelled to write and record. In early 1970, he quit Britain and moved to California, eventually signing to Atlantic when label head Ahmet Ertegun personally negotiated his release from Most’s restrictive clutch. The first sessions for the album that was released in May 1973 as River took place in London. A series of long meandering sessions with Yes and ELP engineer Eddie Offord resulted apparently in enough material for three albums, most of which was discarded when at Ertegun’s suggestion Reid resumed work on the record in America with producer Tom Dowd. Even by the unpredictable standards of the time, River, as fashioned by Dowd, defied categorisation, the music a free-associative mix of folk, blues, jazz, bossa nova, soul, rock and samba, Dowd letting the tapes run and allowing Reid therefore to go wherever it was he felt like going, which in most instances was somewhere off the known grid, where only Tim Buckley, Van Morrison and John Martyn were simultaneously venturing. Album opener, “Dean”, offers immediate evidence of a song-writing style unfettered by conventional obligations to the tyranny of verse and chorus, beginning and end, build up and climax. A skittish guitar lick is followed by Reid’s speculative humming, as if he’s looking for a groove, a moment of lift-off that quickly comes as drums and bass tumble busily in and what turns out to be David Lindley’s slide guitar makes a noise that sounds like bullets whizzing over your head, Reid’s marauding voice a tomcat howl, recalling Tim Buckley’s carnal squawk on Greetings From LA. The cut’s lack of conventional structure is typical of the following three tracks, apparently improvised jams that at times are markedly reminiscent of the funky gumbo that Little Feat served up on Dixie Chicken, released the same year. The fractured panache of these songs gives way on the album’s second side to a heavy-lidded languor, a kind of stoned euphoria with Reid’s voice at its lithest, slurring phrases, blurring words, oblivious of obvious syntax. The title track, “Dream” and “Milestones”, featuring just Reid’s voice, acoustic guitars and occasional percussion, are nearly all vapour, an evocative mist, a melodic drizzle and spray that primarily brings to mind the aching drift of Buckley’s Blue Afternoon and Lorca, with an echo too on the multi-tracked vocals of “Milestones” the spectacular abstractions of Starsailor and David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name. Allan Jones

Free-roaming masterpiece of one of rock’s nearly men…

Terry Reid was the youngest of a post-war generation of often electrifying British vocalists that included Eric Burdon, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Steve Marriott, Joe Cocker and Steve Winwood. At 16, he was the charismatic front man of soul stompers Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers who at a spectacular show in November 1966 at the Capitol Theatre in Cardiff headlined by The Small Faces was a raw-voiced livewire, quite the equal of Steve Marriott, then in his raucous mod pomp.

Great things were predicted for Reid when he went solo, although he would always be more popular among fellow musicians than the wider a public, with whom he never really connected. Eric Clapton, for instance, was a fan and Reid supported Cream on a 1968 American tour. The Rolling Stones dug Terry, too, and he opened for them on their 1969 US tour, the one that ended badly at Altamont. Jimmy Page thought highly enough of him to ask Reid in 1968 to join the band that became Led Zeppelin. Reid, however, was committed to a solo career that everyone kept telling him was about to take off and recommended the then-unknown Robert Plant, with whom he shared a talent for high-end shrieking. For the same reason, Reid also turned down a chance to join Deep Purple, the gig going instead to Ian Gillan.

But neither 1968 debut Bang Bang It’s Terry Reid (bizarrely released only in America) or its eponymous 1969 follow-up sold well and Reid was soon in bitter dispute with manager/producer Mickie Most, an old school pop svengali determined to groom him as a suave soul crooner. Reid was looking far beyond the local Locarno and seasons in seaside cabaret, however. He was increasingly drawn by the lure of Los Angeles, where like-minded musical souls were even now gathering in stoned idyll, making the kind of expansive, adventurous music free of commercial orthodoxies he now felt himself compelled to write and record. In early 1970, he quit Britain and moved to California, eventually signing to Atlantic when label head Ahmet Ertegun personally negotiated his release from Most’s restrictive clutch.

The first sessions for the album that was released in May 1973 as River took place in London. A series of long meandering sessions with Yes and ELP engineer Eddie Offord resulted apparently in enough material for three albums, most of which was discarded when at Ertegun’s suggestion Reid resumed work on the record in America with producer Tom Dowd. Even by the unpredictable standards of the time, River, as fashioned by Dowd, defied categorisation, the music a free-associative mix of folk, blues, jazz, bossa nova, soul, rock and samba, Dowd letting the tapes run and allowing Reid therefore to go wherever it was he felt like going, which in most instances was somewhere off the known grid, where only Tim Buckley, Van Morrison and John Martyn were simultaneously venturing.

Album opener, “Dean”, offers immediate evidence of a song-writing style unfettered by conventional obligations to the tyranny of verse and chorus, beginning and end, build up and climax. A skittish guitar lick is followed by Reid’s speculative humming, as if he’s looking for a groove, a moment of lift-off that quickly comes as drums and bass tumble busily in and what turns out to be David Lindley’s slide guitar makes a noise that sounds like bullets whizzing over your head, Reid’s marauding voice a tomcat howl, recalling Tim Buckley’s carnal squawk on Greetings From LA. The cut’s lack of conventional structure is typical of the following three tracks, apparently improvised jams that at times are markedly reminiscent of the funky gumbo that Little Feat served up on Dixie Chicken, released the same year.

The fractured panache of these songs gives way on the album’s second side to a heavy-lidded languor, a kind of stoned euphoria with Reid’s voice at its lithest, slurring phrases, blurring words, oblivious of obvious syntax. The title track, “Dream” and “Milestones”, featuring just Reid’s voice, acoustic guitars and occasional percussion, are nearly all vapour, an evocative mist, a melodic drizzle and spray that primarily brings to mind the aching drift of Buckley’s Blue Afternoon and Lorca, with an echo too on the multi-tracked vocals of “Milestones” the spectacular abstractions of Starsailor and David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name.

Allan Jones

PJ Harvey to release her first poetry book, The Hollow Of The Hand

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PJ Harvey to release her first poetry book, The Hollow Of The Hand

Musician collaborates with photographer Seamus Murphy after securing deal with publisher Bloomsbury... PJ Harvey is to release her first book, titled The Hollow Of The Hand, in autumn 2015. The poetry book will be released in collaboration with photographer and film maker Seamus Murphy with Bloomsbury securing the worldwide rights to the release. The book of poetry and images was created during Harvey and Murphy's travels between 2011 and 2014 to destinations including Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Washington, D.C. The journeys began following Harvey's eighth studio album, Let England Shake. "Gathering information from secondary sources felt too far removed for what I was trying to write about. I wanted to smell the air, feel the soil and meet the people of the countries I was fascinated with," said Harvey in a statement. "My friend Seamus Murphy and I agreed to grow a project together – I would collect words, he would collect pictures, following our instincts on where we should go." Seamus Murphy added: "Polly is a writer who loves images and I am a photographer who loves words. She asked me if I would like to take some photographs and make some films for her last album Let England Shake. I was intrigued and the adventure began, now finding another form in this book. It is our look at home and the world."

Musician collaborates with photographer Seamus Murphy after securing deal with publisher Bloomsbury…

PJ Harvey is to release her first book, titled The Hollow Of The Hand, in autumn 2015.

The poetry book will be released in collaboration with photographer and film maker Seamus Murphy with Bloomsbury securing the worldwide rights to the release.

The book of poetry and images was created during Harvey and Murphy’s travels between 2011 and 2014 to destinations including Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Washington, D.C. The journeys began following Harvey’s eighth studio album, Let England Shake.

“Gathering information from secondary sources felt too far removed for what I was trying to write about. I wanted to smell the air, feel the soil and meet the people of the countries I was fascinated with,” said Harvey in a statement. “My friend Seamus Murphy and I agreed to grow a project together – I would collect words, he would collect pictures, following our instincts on where we should go.”

Seamus Murphy added: “Polly is a writer who loves images and I am a photographer who loves words. She asked me if I would like to take some photographs and make some films for her last album Let England Shake. I was intrigued and the adventure began, now finding another form in this book. It is our look at home and the world.”

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