end of the road

I was struck by a couple of tweets this morning from Peter Watts (@peter_watts and the author of this month’s Ramones cover story in Uncut). The first ran, “I read the word 'liminal' in the Standard the other day. I think that's psychogeography's 'hippie wigs in Woolworths' moment.”

Mesmerising trek through the land of Dixie: R Cash paints her masterpiece...

Pete Seeger has died aged 94.

It’s recently been announced that a rare live recording of Syd Barrett guesting on guitar with The Last Minute Put Together Boogie Band in Cambridge in July 1972 is to be released – so now seems like a perfect time to revisit the extensive tribute we published in Uncut just after Barrett’s death in July 2006 (Take 112, September 2006). As well as a fantastic piece written by David Cavanagh, we hear from Syd’s friends, collaborators and admirers, including David Bowie, David Gilmour, Mick Rock, Peter Jenner, Damon Albarn, Julian Cope and Kevin Ayers. Shine on…

The Coens go folk...

Colin Greenwood has said that Radiohead's plans for a new album are "up in the air" as members of the band focus on side projects.

Jackson Browne is to be honoured by a new tribute album, Looking into You, due for release on April 28 from Music Road Records. Among the artists covering Browne's songs are Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, JD Souther and Joan As Police Woman. You can hear Don Henley cover Browne's "These Days" here. The tracklisting for Looking Into You is:

The Led Zeppelin legend has just returned with a new group, Minibus Pimps, in collaboration with Deathprod, aka Norwegian Helge Sten. Here, from Uncut’s April 2010 issue (Take 155), is a look back at the bassist and multi-instrumentalist’s other jobs… Fans and famous admirers ask Jones about his favourite instruments, bluegrass, working with REM, the Butthole Surfers and Josh Homme, and being “a bloody good choirmaster”. Interview: John Lewis ___________________

Sometimes, with Bill Callahan, the focus on his records is so unwaveringly on his lyrics, it is tempting to treat them as recited poetry rather than actual music. On an old Smog record like “The Doctor Came At Dawn”, say, the music seems barely there; just a little shading to point up the melodic undertow of a baritone that often wanders closer to speech than song.

Six-disc set from the 'identity crisis' years - three albums, outtakes, lives and a session with Freddie King...