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Playlists: songs about quirky and unusual love

January 13, 2026 Peter Kimpton

Poison pen? Luvcat has a thing for Dr John Cooper Clarke

Love is strange. It can manifest in many forms - from individual physical and behavioural obsessions, even to non-human attraction - robots and animals. Guest playlister ShivSidecar expertly explores these Agony Aunt questions, inspired by last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, bossa nova, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, samba, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, relationships, oddballs, eccentricity, Mickey & Sylvia, Depeche Mode, Poison Girls, Nine Inch Nails, Luvcat, John Cooper Clarke, Helen Reddy, Dave Rawlings, The Cowsills, T Rex, Marc Bolan, Nanowar Of Steel, Sheila E, Lou Reed, Swell, Yapoos, Augie March, Lisa Germano, Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, Joan Armatrading, Woody Guthrie, Los Chunguitos, Los Campesinos, Magazine, VRSex, Eels, The Eels, The Plimsouls, ZZ Top, Papa Levi, Evelyn Evelyn, Garfunkel And Oates, October Country, Jefferson Airplane, Spirit, The Three O'Clock, Super Furry Animals, Those Naughty Lumps, Hindu Love Gods, ShivSidecar, Sidecar Shiv
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Playlists: songs about chosen solitude

December 9, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Some blissful solitary listening …

Among the many joys of solitude is being able to do exactly what you like. Guest playlister DiscoMonster does exactly that, throwing a personal party in splendid isolation, inspired by last week’s topic nominations, which we can all enjoy on our own too

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In African, avant-garde, blues, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags solitude, playlists, songs, The Chisel, Joan Armatrading, Macy Gray, David. Bowie, New Order, Generation X (band), The Electric Connection, Barbara Manning, Marijata, Altered Images, paul simon, Jill Scott, Rokia Traoré, Tame Impala, Wolf Alice, Fats Waller, Luna Li, Girl In Red, Cartola, Joanna Sternberg, Amy Gadiaga, Sophia Galaté, The Chameleons, True West, DiscoMonster
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Playlists: striking acoustic song versions

June 24, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Simmering power? That’s Cat Power

Renewed, re-imagined, whether by the same artist or covered by another, with a stripped back, unplugged sound, a song can be opened up anew in emotions and lyrics. Guest Loud Atlas artfully explores the magic of the acoustic, inspired by last week’s topic

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In African, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, drone, dub, easy listening, experimental, folk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, lounge, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks, showtime, rock, punk, reggae Tags acoustic, covers, songs, playlists, Richard Thompson, The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain, Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Scala and Kolacny Brothers, The Bad Shepherds, Béla Fleck, Cat Power, Kuricorder Quartet, Seu Jorge, Sekar Melati, Bruce Springsteen, Alzheimer, José González, Charan Po Rantan, Frente!, Joe Collier, Björk, Bjork, Depeche Mode, Big Special, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sinead O'Connor, Leo Kottke, Luvcat, Crosby Stills & Nash, Williams-Fairey Engineering Band, Manic Street Preachers, Gary Jules, Joan Armatrading, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Bernard Sumner, The Beatles, Foo Fighters, Damon Albarn, Loud Atlas, Britney Spears, Nirvana (UK), Radiohead, Buzzcocks, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, John Williams, David Bowie, Gang of Four, Kylie Minogue, Simon & Garfunkel, New Order, Jacob Collier
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Playlists: puzzling and mysterious songs

November 13, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Captain Beefheart … of course

Prepare for a journey into the unknown and deeply strange. Whether in lyrics or musical sound or structure, guest playlister severin leads us through canticular caverns of wonder, inspired by last week’s topic

Read more
In avant-garde, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, Future of the Left, Gong, Nora Dean, Slapp Happy, Syd Barrett, Sarah Vaughan, Captain Beefheart, Miles Davis, Adam Green, Futureheads, Ane Brun, John Jacob Niles, Amelia Coburn, Brian Eno, Tim Buckley, Tangerine Dream, Elvis Costello, The Grateful Dead, Sinead O'Connor, Maurice Ravel, The Lovin' Spoonful, The New York Dolls, Peter Hammill, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Siouxsie Sioux, Agnes Obel, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, The Fall, Edward Elgar, Shonen Knife, 17 Hippies, Toyah, Roy Orbison, Radiohead, Nina Simone, Massive Attack, Anais Mitchell, Jefferson Hamer, VNV Nation, John Zorn, Nik Bärtsch's Ronin, Joan Armatrading, Kevin Coyne, Anita Baker, severin, Severin
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Playlists: songs about the id, ego and superego

September 27, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Hyde and seek: it wasn’t me, it was him …

Will with the conscious and subconscious play out? Inspired by the theories of Freud, but mostly by all the nominations from last week’s topic, guest picker Loud Atlas presents an engaging inner dialogue explaining his excellent choices

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In blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, krautrock, instrumentals, music, musicals, musical hall, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis, psychology, Devo, The Beatles, De La Soul, Landscape, The Chills, Mitski, The Rakes, Moloko, Randy Newman, Johnny Cash, The Beach Boys, Self Esteem, David Bowie, The Damned, Ren, The Chad Mitchell Trio, Skyhooks, Peter Gabriel, Joan Armatrading, The Vaselines, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cramps, Gabby Young and Other Animals, The United States of America (band), The Cranberries, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Tom Lehrer, Daysormay, Ron Moody, Lionel Bart, musicals, Loud Atlas
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Playlists: songs about reading

September 20, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Talking Heads - but what’s in the book?

Read all about it! Or in some cases, don’t believe a word. From books to letters to the media and more, guest of the week George Boyland picks out a classy selection from last week’s topic nominations. Browse and enjoy …

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In blues, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, folk, funk, indie, jazz, music, musical hall, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, psychedelia, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags reading, books, letters, newspapers, news, media, Liverpool, songs, playlists, Billy Bragg, The Boomtown Rats, Edwin Starr, Johnnie Taylor, Pete Townshend, NIck Lowe, Talking Heads, Blind Willie Johnson, McCarthy, PJ Harvey, Joan Armatrading, Swell Maps, Gordon Lightfoot, Rocket From The Tombs, David Crosby, Fairport Convention, Belle & Sebastian, Grant Hart, Future of the Left, The Bevis Frond, Reggae George, Elvis Costello, Julian Cope, Western Promise, George Boyland
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Pride playlists: songs about gender and LGBTQ+

June 30, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Pride: coming out from black and white

Pride: coming out from black and white

Coded 30s black blues to a 1950s Mexican diva, 1970s and 80s politics to full on out dirty disco in 2021, this week’s guest playlister Pop Off! celebrates a personal birthday with Gay Pride parade that goes beyond the obvious anthems

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In blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, experimental, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, LGBTQ, Gay Pride, gender, David Bowie, Bimini, Chavela Vargas, Christine and the Queens, Chumbawamba, Culture Club, Elvis Presley, Fat White Family, The Gossip, Grace Petrie, Jayne County and the Electric Circus, Jobriath, John Grant, Living Color, Living Colour, Ma Rainey, Michel Sardou, Panic! At The Disco, Peaches, Regina, The Replacements, Shemekia Copeland, Skyhooks, Utada Hikaru, Queen, Black Lips, D.A.F., The Damned, Divine, Dusty Springfield, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, George Michael, Hayley Kiyoko, Indigo Girls, Joan Armatrading, Josie Cotton, K.D. Lang, Katie Pruitt, Pansy Division, Pete Shelley, Revolting Cocks, Shirley Bassey, Scissor Sisters, Studio Killers, Tom Robinson, Teegan and Sarah, Turbonegro, Willie Nelson, Sylvester, Alaska y Dinarama, Against Me!, Melissa Etheridge, Kree Harrison, PopOff!
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Playlists: songs about wide, open spaces

June 10, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Fancy a stretch on The Stranglers’ longship? All part of this week’s musical journey

Fancy a stretch on The Stranglers’ longship? All part of this week’s musical journey

Yorkshire moors to oceans wide, endless deserts to mountains high, through genres and geography, mapping from a massive musical landscape of songs from last week’s topic, guest playlister Maki takes us on a splendid journey

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In African, avant-garde, blues, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, hip hop, instrumentals, jazz, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, geography, landscapes, The Peddlers, The Decoration, Be Bop Deluxe, The Stranglers, Iggy Pop, Warumpi Band, Harry Belafonte, Brian Eno, Capercaillie, Jane's Addiction, Cairokee, Aida El Ayouby, The Platters, Bill Callahan, Biffy Clyro, Eri Sasaki, African Tribal Orchestra, Stanely Clarke, Blind Willie McTell, Peaches and Herb, Joan Armatrading
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Take parts: songs with great arrangements

December 5, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Two of the greats. Ray Charles, also a great arranger as well as performer, with composer and arranger Quincy Jones

Two of the greats. Ray Charles, also a great arranger as well as performer, with composer and arranger Quincy Jones

From full orchestration to carefully stripped back, this week let's consider work where in originals or later versions, added instrumentals, vocal parts, melodic fills, changing tempo or keys, have made a great song even better

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In avant-garde, blues, African, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musicals, musical hall, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rocksteady, showtime, rock, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, musical arrangements, orchestration, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Sibelius, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Paul McCartney, Sir George Martin, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Mozart, Nancy Storace, Beethoven, George Gershwin, Ferde Grofé, Mussorgsky, Maurice Ravel, JS Bach, Joshua Bell, Ivor Novello, Cole Porter, Burt Bacharach, David Bowie, Paul Buckmaster, Tony Visconti, Clifford Slapper, David McAlmont, Elvis Costello, NIck Lowe, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Roy Haynes, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, Robin Pecknold, Fleet Foxes, Ennio Morricone, Henry Mancini, Tony Hatch, Sarah Vaughan, Joan Armatrading, Jeff Buckley, Paul Weller, Walter Becker, Steely Dan, Feist, David Sylvian, Peter Gabriel, AC/DC, Luka Sulic, Carla Bley, Ronald Reagan, The Star Spangled Banner, John Denver, The Tokens
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Playlists: songs containing indirect messages

August 7, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Did Dusty get a message. How?

Did Dusty get a message. How?

Rumour has it that there are a couple of great playlists around that totally nail the topic all about indirect communication, sometimes via a third party. Following last week’s topic, let’s just say that this week’s guest Olive Butler might be behind it …

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In avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, electronica, dub, folk, funk, gospel, instrumentals, indie, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, indirect messages, relationships, Elvis Presley, Ed Townsend, Jackson 5, Dusty Springfield, The Lemonheads, Paul McCartney, Wings, Dr Hook, Joan Armatrading, JJ Cale, Nina Simone, Herb Albert, The Tijuana Brass, Diana Ross, The Slits, Wreckless Eric, Ricky Valance, Morrissey, Buddy Holly, The Ink Spots, Josephine Baker, Paul Evans, Kevin Coyne, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich
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Bostin'! Songs from or about Birmingham and The Black Country

May 9, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Roy would …

Roy would …

This week’s topic takes a particular accent towards music inspired by the great British West Midlands city and its surrounding area, a rich cultural mix of ethnicities and styles, industrial history, upheaval and humour

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In avant-garde, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, experimental, electronica, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Birmingham, West Midlands, The Black Country, Roy Wood, slang, The Beat, Black Sabbath, The Move, The Moody Blues, Traffic, Dexys Midnight Runners, ELO, Felt, Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, Joan Armatrading, Roland Gift, Steel Pulse, Laura Mvula, Mike Skinner, The Streets, Ocean Colour Scene, The Nightingales, UB40, industry, Francis Brett Young, Donald Trump, Stewart Lee, Jasper Carrot, Milton Jones, comedy, Jim Capaldi, JRR Tolkien, David Lodge, Jim Crace, WH Auden, Benjamin Zephaniah, Peaky Blinders
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Playlists: songs about confidence

April 25, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Neneh Cherry's taking a confident Buffalo Stance 

Neneh Cherry's taking a confident Buffalo Stance 

From the plucky and cocky to the bold and brave, Beyonce to Blondie, Sparks to Stevie Wonder, this week’s guest Severin has picked two superb playlists from the nominations that will have your striding down the street

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In blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, confidence, psychology, Sparks, Nas, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, Blondie, Stevie Wonder, Peter Hammill, David Cassidy, Billy Swan, Neneh Cherry, NWA, Beyonce, Argent, Eartha Kitt, Gilbert & Sullivan, Muddy Waters, Tom Petty, Howlin' Wolf, Motorhead, The Primitives, Mint Royale, Al Green, Eric Bibb, John Lennon, A Tribe Called Quest, Christine Aguilera, Karine Polwart, Koko Taylor, Fingersnap, The Pointer Sisters, Joan Armatrading, Severin
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Playlists: songs with provocative, strange or humorous titles

February 7, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Mac users: Amon Düül II

Mac users: Amon Düül II

Psychological perspectives to sexual proclivities, social commentary to downright silliness, our guest playlist writer attwilightlarks covers a large articulate range of the human psyche in the wordy titles from last week's topic

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In blues, classical, country, comedy, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, titles, sex, philosophy, Carl Jung, Martin Heidegger, Amon Düül II, A Sunny Day In Glasgow, The Deep Freeze Mice, Garfunkel And Oates, They Might Be Giants, Los Campesinos, Joan Armatrading, The Soft Machine, The Turtles, Jackie Leven, Felt, Indians In Moscow, The Movement, Billie Holiday, The Gourds, The Ramones, The Faces, Tony Joe White, Sam The Sham And The Pharoahs, Mental As Anything, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Ricky Warwick, Desmond Dekker, attwilightlarks
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Playlists: songs about windows

November 22, 2017 Peter Kimpton
What strange sights might been seen through … the car window?

What strange sights might been seen through … the car window?

Aphex Twin's wet windscreen to Sonny Boy Williamson escaping out the bedroom window, it's all going on here. Guest playlister nosuchzone is pure glass – giving us stunning sights and sounds from last week's topic

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In playlists, music, rock, songs, soul, indie, folk, blues, dance, electronica Tags songs, playlists, windows, glass, Aphex Twin, Gentle Giant, Samaris, Eryka Badu, Sonny Boy Williamson, Arthur Russell, Annette Hanshaw, Roni Size/Reprazent, The Rays, Múm, Bessie Smith, Moodymann, PJ Harvey, Joan Armatrading, Dean Barlow, The Beautiful South, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Joe Cocker, The Four Tops, Guillemots, The Lightning Seeds, Joni Mitchell, Ann Peebles, Kinoko Teikoku, The Temptations, Weekend, Tony Joe White, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, John Surman, Howard Moody, Scritti Politti, David Bedford, Kevin Ayers, nosuchzone
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Playlists: songs with arresting opening lines

August 2, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Joan's not in love, but …

Joan's not in love, but …

Madness to metaphor, the sacred to the profane, there are many ways to start a song. Inspired by last week's many nominations, guest writer severin creates two cleverly crafted playlists of examples

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Tags songs, opening lines, Dave and Ansell Collins, Priests, Pulp, Carmen McRae, Joan Armatrading, Bob Dylan, The Supremes, Lindisfarne, Bleach, Happy Mondays, The Grateful Dead, Shaan & Saurav Moni, The Teardrop Explodes, David Bowie, Tom Waits, The Beatles, Etta James, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Captain Beefheart, The Smiths, Jacques Brel, Frank Sinatra, Beck, Scott Walker, Katzenjammer, Severin
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Playlists: songs that seem to fit every topic

September 28, 2016 Peter Kimpton
Some universal songs have tears and fears, and Tears for Fears ...

Some universal songs have tears and fears, and Tears for Fears ...

They just keep coming back. What are they? Guest writer takeitawayGuru authentically defines 'asafarae' songs, great works that missed previous lists and cover many topics, all from last week's suggestions

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Tags songs, universal, asafarae, Deacon Blue, Bellowhead, Robert Earl Keene, The Dogs D'Amour, Nirvana (UK), Tyla Pallas, Strangelove, Tears for Fears, Ramsey Trio, Edgar Winters Group, Reef, Mudcrutch, En Vogue, Joan Armatrading, Kate Bush, The Clash, Creed, The Cult, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin, Moby, Tom Petty, Lou Reed, Soundgarden, Bruce Springsteen, The White Stripes, Nickelback, takeitawayGuru
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Playlists: songs about leadership

July 20, 2016 Peter Kimpton
Conch or conscience? Oh, the toils of leading ...

Conch or conscience? Oh, the toils of leading ...

Who's the head honcho holding the conch? Who is piggy in the middle? From bands to bloody revolutions, this week's guest writer EnglishOutlaw takes your song nominations on a wild and novel adventure 

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Tags songs, leadership, Lord of the Flies, William Golding, EnglishOutlaw, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Thunder, Mark Knopfler, Bob and Marcia, Coldplay, The Marcels, Bruce Springsteen, Dan Fogelberg, The Neville Brothers, Joan Armatrading, rass, Prince Far I, Bat For Lashes, Jack Off Jill, Styx, James Brown, Tom T Hall, David Rovics, The Levellers, Oh What A Lovely War, James Taylor, Soul Asylum, ting, Spitting Image, The Dogs D'Amour
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New Albums …

Featured
Tessa Rose Jackson - The Lighthouse.jpeg
Jan 29, 2026
Tessa Rose Jackson: The Lighthouse
Jan 29, 2026

New album: Beautiful, intricate, understated, poetic and intelligent, this warm, inviting experimental folk by the Dutch-British singer-songwriter is the first LP under her own name, having previously released three as the artist Someone

Jan 29, 2026
Lucinda Williams - World's Gone Wrong.jpeg
Jan 28, 2026
Lucinda Williams: World's Gone Wrong
Jan 28, 2026

New album: The acclaimed veteran country, rock and Americana singer-songwriter and multi-Grammy winner’s latest LP has a title that speaks for itself, but is powerful, angry, defiant and uplifting, and, recorded in Nashville, features guest vocals from Norah Jones, Mavis Staples and Brittney Spencer

Jan 28, 2026
Clotheline From Hell.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Clothesline From Hell: Slather On The Honey
Jan 27, 2026

New album: His moniker mischievously named after a wrestling move, a highly impressive, independently-created experimental, psychedelic rock debut the the Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Adam LaFramboise

Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club: Dead Dads Club
Jan 27, 2026

New album: Dynamic, passionate, heart-stirring indie rock in this project fronted by Chilli Jesson (formerly bassist of Palma Violets) with songs spurred by the trauma of losing his father 20 years ago, retelling a defiant and difficult aftermath, with sound boosted by producer Carlos O’Connell of Fontaines D.C.

Jan 27, 2026
The Paper Kites - IF YOU GO THERE, I HOPE YOU FIND IT.png
Jan 25, 2026
The Paper Kites: If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
Jan 25, 2026

New album: Warm, tender, gently-paced, calmly reflective, beautifully soothing, poetic, melancholic alternative folk and Americana by the band from Melbourne in their seventh LP in 15 years

Jan 25, 2026
PVA - No More Like This.jpeg
Jan 24, 2026
PVA: No More Like This
Jan 24, 2026

New album: Inventive, alluring, sensual, mysterious, minimalistic electronica, trip-hop and experimental pop by the London trio of Ella Harris, Joshua Baxter and Louis Satchell, in this second album following 2022’s Blush, boosted by the creativity of producer and instrumentalist Kwake Bass

Jan 24, 2026
Imarhan - Essam.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Imarhan: Essam
Jan 20, 2026

New album: A mesmeric fourth LP in a decade by the band from Tamanrasset, Algeria, whose name means ‘the ones I care about’, their Tuareg music mixing guitar riffs, pop melodies and African rhythms, but this time also evolves slightly away from the desert blues rocky, bluesy influence of contemporaries Tinariwen with electronic elements

Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews - Valentine.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews: Valentine
Jan 20, 2026

New album: Emotional, beautiful, stirring, Americana, folk and indie-pop by singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, in this latest studio LP in of soaring voice, strong melodies, love, vulnerability and heartbreak, longing and bravery

Jan 20, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore - Tragic Magic.jpeg
Jan 18, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: Tragic Magic
Jan 18, 2026

New album: Delicate, beautiful, ethereal, meditative new work by the two American experimental composers in their first collaborative LP, with gentle understated vocals, classic synth sounds, and rare harps chosen from from the Paris Musée de la Musique Collection

Jan 18, 2026
Sleaford Mods- The Demise of Planet X.jpeg
Jan 16, 2026
Sleaford Mods: The Demise of Planet X
Jan 16, 2026

New album: The caustic wit of Nottingham’s Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn return with a 13th LP of brilliantly abrasive, dark humoured hip-hop and catchy beats, addressing the rubbish state of the world, as well as local, personal and social irritations through slick nostalgic cultural reference, some expanded sounds, and an eclectic set of guests

Jan 16, 2026
Sault - Chapter 1.jpeg
Jan 14, 2026
SAULT: Chapter 1
Jan 14, 2026

New album: As ever, released suddenly without fanfare or any publicity, the prolific experimental soul, jazz, gospel, funk, psychedelia and disco collective of Cleo Sol, Info (aka Dean Josiah Cover) and co return with a stylish, mysterious LP

Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs - Selling A Vibe.jpeg
Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs: Selling A Vibe
Jan 14, 2026

New album: A first LP in five years by the likeable and solid guitar indie-rock Jarman brothers trio from Wakefield, now with their ninth - a catchy, but at times with rueful, bittersweet perspectives on their times in the music business

Jan 14, 2026
Dry Cleaning - Secret Love.jpeg
Jan 9, 2026
Dry Cleaning: Secret Love
Jan 9, 2026

New album: This third LP by the London experimental post-punk quartet with the distinctive, spoken, droll delivery of Florence Shaw, is packed with striking, vivid, often non seqitur lyrics capturing life’s surreal mundanities and neuroses with a sound coloured and polished by Cate Le Bon as producer

Jan 9, 2026
Various - Icelock Continuum.jpeg
Dec 31, 2025
Various Artists: ICELOCK CONTINUUM
Dec 31, 2025

New album: An inspiring, evocative, sensual and sonically tactile experimental compilation from the fabulously named underground French label Camembert Électrique, with range of international electronic artists capturing cold winter weather’s many textures - cracking, delicate crunchy ice, snow, electric fog, and frost in many fierce and fragile forms across 98 adventurous tracks

Dec 31, 2025

new songs …

Featured
Holly Humberstone - To Love Somebody.jpeg
Jan 29, 2026
Song of the Day: Holly Humberstone - To Love Somebody
Jan 29, 2026

Song of the Day: Shimmeringly catchy and singalong, effervescent Abba-esque and Fleetwood Mac-ish piano and synth pop with an eye-catching, vampiric-themed video by the British singer-songwriter from Grantham, heralding her second album Cruel World out on 10 April via Polydor/Universal.

Jan 29, 2026
Nathan Fake.jpeg
Jan 28, 2026
Song of the Day: Nathan Fake - Slow Yamaha
Jan 28, 2026

Song of the Day: Hypnotic electronica with woozy layers of smooth resonance and a lattice of shifting analogue patterns by the British artist from Norfolk, taken from his forthcoming album, Evaporator, out on InFiné Music

Jan 28, 2026
Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Song of the Day: Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean (featuring Saya Gray)
Jan 27, 2026

Song of the Day: Stylish, striking, sensual experimental electro-pop and R&B in this fabulous collaboration between the two Canadian singer/ multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, out on Stone Woman Music/ XL Recordings

Jan 27, 2026
Lime Garden - 23.jpeg
Jan 26, 2026
Song of the Day: Lime Garden - 23
Jan 26, 2026

Song of the Day: Wonderfully catchy, witty, quirky indie pop about age and adjustment by the Brighton-formed quartet fronted by Chloe Howard, heralding their upcoming album Maybe Not Tonight, out on So Young Records on 10 April

Jan 26, 2026
Madra Salach - It's A Hell Of An Age - EP.jpeg
Jan 25, 2026
Song of the Day: Madra Salach - The Man Who Seeks Pleasure
Jan 25, 2026

Song of the Day: A powerful, slow-simmering and gradually intensifying, drone-based original folk number about the the flipsides of love and hedonism by the young Irish traditional and alternative folk band, with comparisons to Lankum, from the recently released EP It's a Hell of an Age, out on Canvas Music

Jan 25, 2026
Adult DVD band.jpeg
Jan 24, 2026
Song of the Day: Adult DVD - Real Tree Lee
Jan 24, 2026

Song of the Day: Catchy, witty, energised acid-dance-punk with echoes of Underworld and Snapped Ankles by the dynamic, innovative band from Leeds in a new number about a dodgy character of toxic masculinity and online ignorance, and their first release on signing to Fat Possum

Jan 24, 2026
Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night - War Child - HELP 2.jpeg
Jan 23, 2026
Song of the Day: Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night (for War Child HELP 2 charity album)
Jan 23, 2026

Song of the Day: A simmering, potent, contemplative new track by acclaimed Sheffield band, their first song since 2022’s album The Car, with proceeds benefiting the charity War Child, heralding the upcoming HELP (2) compilation out on 6 March with various contributors

Jan 23, 2026
White Denim - Lock and Key.jpg
Jan 22, 2026
Song of the Day: White Denim - (God Created) Lock and Key
Jan 22, 2026

Song of the Day: The Austin, Texas-formed LA-based rockers return with an infectiously catchy groove fusing rock, funk, dub, soul, and down-dirty blues with some playful self-mythologising and darker themes, heralding 13th album, 13, out on 24 April via Bella Union

Jan 22, 2026
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Jan 21, 2026
Song of the Day: Holy Fuck - Evie
Jan 21, 2026

Song of the Day: The Canadian experimental indie rock and electronica quartet from Toronto return with a pulsating new track of thrumming bass and shimmering keyboards, heralding their forthcoming new album Event Beat, out on 27 March via Satellite Services

Jan 21, 2026
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Jan 20, 2026
Song of the Day: KAVARI - IRON VEINS
Jan 20, 2026

Song of the Day: Exciting, cutting-edge electronica and hardcore dance music by innovative the Birkenhead-born, Glasgow-based artist Cameron Winters (she), with a stylish, striking video, heralding the forthcoming EP, PLAGUE MUSIC, out digitally and on 12-inch vinyl on 6 February via XL Recordings

Jan 20, 2026
Asap Rocky - Punk Rocky.png
Jan 19, 2026
Song of the Day: A$AP Rocky - Punk Rocky
Jan 19, 2026

Song of the Day: The standout catchy hip-pop/soul/pop track from the New York rapper aka Rakim Athelston Mayers’ (also the husband of Rihanna) recently released album, Don’t Be Dumb, featuring also the voice of Cristoforo Donadi, and out on A$AP Rocky Recordings

Jan 19, 2026
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Jan 18, 2026
Song of the Day: Buck Meek - Gasoline
Jan 18, 2026

Song of the Day: The Texas-born Big Thief guitarist returns with an beautifully stirring, evocative, poetic love-enthralled indie-folk single of free association made-up words and quantum leap feelings, rolling drums and strums, heralding his upcoming fourth solo album, The Mirror, out on 27 February via 4AD

Jan 18, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
Zumbador dorado - mango bumblebee Puerto Rico.jpeg
Jan 22, 2026
Word of the week: zumbador
Jan 22, 2026

Word of the week: A wonderfully evocative noun from the Spanish for word buzz, and meaning both a South American hummingbird, a door buzzer, and symbolic of resurrection of the soul in ancient Mexican culture, while also serving as the logo for a tequila brand

Jan 22, 2026
Hamlet ad - Gregor Fisher.jpg
Jan 8, 2026
Word of the week: aspectabund
Jan 8, 2026

Word of the week: This rare adjective describes a highly expressive face or countenance, where emotions and reactions are readily shown through the eyes or mouth

Jan 8, 2026
Kaufmann Trumpeter 1950.jpeg
Dec 24, 2025
Word of the week: bellonion (or belloneon)
Dec 24, 2025

Word of the week: It sounds like a bulbous, multi-layered peeling vegetable, but this obscure mechanical musical instrument invented in 1812 in Dresden consisted of 24 trumpets and two kettle drums and, designed to mimic the sound of a marching band, might also make your eyes water

Dec 24, 2025
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Dec 4, 2025
Word of the week: crapulence
Dec 4, 2025

Word of the week: A term that may apply regularly during Xmas party season, from the from the Latin crapula, in turn from the Greek kraipálē meaning "drunkenness" or "headache" pertains to sickness symptoms caused by excess in eating or drinking, or general intemperance and overindulgence

Dec 4, 2025
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Nov 20, 2025
Word of the week: discalceate
Nov 20, 2025

Word of the week: A rarely used, but often practised verb, especially when arriving home, it means to take off your shoes, but is also a slightly more common adjective meaning barefoot or unshod, particularly for certain religious orders that wear sandals instead of shoes. But in what context does this come up in song?

Nov 20, 2025

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