So, how do you spend almost £30k on just 10 records? Simple, buy the 10 most expensive records sold on Discogs in August. And, if you did, as well as having one of the smallest and most expensive record collections in the world, you’d also have one of the most varied. Discogs’ ten highest hitters this month is a mixed back to say the least. … Continue reading How do you spend £29,105.58 on just 10 records?
The Bella Union boss recounts the story of how the back-in-the-studio Texans, Midlake, became a valued and best-selling member of his label’s family… Releasing four albums in 16 years might seem a little… well leisurely, compared to say the Ramones, who released (wait for it…) six albums in their first THREE years, or even Talking Heads, who put out four of the greatest albums of … Continue reading Simon Raymonde on… Midlake Return
The musical polymath tells Felix Rowe about recording his new album in Nashville, producing Father John Misty on acid and stepping into the shoes of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour… What took you to Nashville to record Dixie Blur with a live band, rather than working alone in your own studio as usual? Continue reading Jonathan Wilson – “To reinvent would be a crime…”
As the Mercury-nominated folk songwriter releases a new record commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s voyage to America, he tells Gary Walker about a special album… This album was lying in my dad’s extensive vinyl collection when I found it. He was a big fan of Randy Newman, and along with Chris De Burgh, I really consider those two the ‘soundtrack to my … Continue reading Seth Lakeman – “why I love Randy Newman…”
CBS staff photographer Don Hunstein captured this much-imitated image of Bob Dylan and girlfriend Suze Rotolo in 1963 at the corner of Jones Street and West 4th Street in New York’s West Village. The initial plan for Bob’s second album had been to photograph Dylan and Rotolo inside his nearby apartment, but struggling to get the shot, Hunstein suggested… Continue reading The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan and photographer Don Hunstein
M. Ward will release his new album Migration Stories through Anti Records on 3 April. The captivating first track, Migration of Souls is out now… Having established himself as one of modern America’s most unique and versatile voices, folk trailblazer M. Ward has just announced a new album called Migration Stories. For his new album he journeyed to Quebec to work with Arcade Fire’s Tim Kingsbury, Richard Reed … Continue reading Folk legend M. Ward releases track from new album 'Migration Stories'
The distinctive Nick Drake debut is one of the most melancholy albums ever laid down on vinyl. Saying that, if you’ve got a first press you’ll be smiling… The 1969 UK first press 10-track stereo vinyl LP of Nick Drake’s stunning debut album, Five Leaves Left, was released on Island’s pink ‘block’ label. This label design was short lived, with only two albums having their … Continue reading Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left
A mere 10 albums in and Violent Femmes continue to be one of America’s most distinct alternative underground artists; sitting somewhere in that territory between Pixies, Royal Trux and Meat Puppets, their latest album, as many of them do, haphazardly traverses punk, country, folk and alt-rock, and is driven by the inimitable, and often wonky, vocal of the semi-legendary Gordon Gano. On the album’s title … Continue reading Violent Femmes – Hotel Last Resort
You might not know the Barns Courtney name, but you’ll probably know his songs Glitter And Gold and Fire from a host of sync spots on TV. He deserves to be known properly, as his music has the big personality to match Courtney’s flamboyant, Brandon Flowers-style vocals. He’s from Cambridgeshire, but is bigger in the States, where he’s regularly performed on chat shows. Small wonder … Continue reading Barns Courtney – 404
Despite often costing far less than a regular LP, many samplers have become highly collectible. Surely a definitive list of 40 is impossible? Step forward Mark Sampson… The birth of the sampler album is generally attributed to Jac Holzman, the head of Elektra Records. With no budget for advertising, he looked for other ways of promoting his catalogue (then) of folk and world music. Always … Continue reading The Essential: Samplers
