Clash

I’ve just been reading your comments on yesterday’s Vampire Weekend blog – thanks for those. They helped me crystallise my thoughts about that much-vaunted African influence on the album. What’s interesting, I think, is not that they draw on African sounds, but how they point up the affinities between that spindly, melodically cartwheeling guitar sound and the indie-rock tradition.

The veteran of 1978's protest set for historic gig

Erstwhile Test Icicles guitarist Dev Hynes in Americana-tinged change-of-direction

Band pull out the stops at NME Awards launch party

As I write, I’m listening to the second disc of “In Rainbows” for, I think, the third time. First impressions, then. The eight tracks shouldn’t be considered as offcuts, as inferior cousins of the songs that made it onto the first set; in fact, I’ve a hunch that some Radiohead fans might actually prefer some of the songs here.

Punk veterans Mick Jones and Tony James to host 'Carbon Casino'

Today: Mick Jones tells us his choice! Plus, vote for yours!

I wasn’t able in the end to go to see The National at Shepherd’s Bush Empire last night, but Chris Robert’s nobly came off the sub’s bench to file this report.

Riot On The Radio festival kicks off later this month

Today: Lenny Kravitz clashes with Nirvana in Edinburgh