From April 1964, a real curio - The Spiders' I Want To Hold Your Hand knock off Baby Doll, even borrowing lyrics. They were Link Wray/The Wraymen, & Lawn was an affiliate of their label Swan. Spiders = Beatles. Geddit. No cigars though. Here it is: youtube.com/watch?v=Ce5e...

Refining rather than advancing, Materia exists within an established safety net. Julia Holter’s new album is out this week on @dominorecordco.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/de...

The One Chord Wonders / Quick Step single was not all The Adverts recorded for Stiff in March 1977. The single of the hitherto unheard We Who Wait / New Boys changes the story. Top-drawer stuff, and I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Freak-out electric guitar, free-jazz sax and more evident leanings towards jazz. On her 14th album, Temple Songs, Laura Veirs enters new territory. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/te...

On the live album CBGB’s 1985, Rochester New York’s Absolute Grey’s blend of folk rock and psychedelia is an attention grabber (@patthomashistorian.bsky.social was in the band). I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Released June 1967 - the Scotty McKay Quintet's blistering Train Kept A'Rollin. Guest guitar from Jimmy Page: one of his highest-octane Yardbirds-era outings. What was said about it for the Acid Dreams LP too. Here it is: youtube.com/watch?v=W3FD...

2 of 2. 5 August 1966 - 60 years ago today. The Beatles' Revolver LP and Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine single were issued. Here's what I said for @theartsdesk.bsky.social about the 2022 Revolver box set (and John Lennon's relative absence from the LP): theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

1 of 2. 5 August 1966 - 60 years ago today. The Beatles' Revolver LP and Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine single were issued. Here's how the single was in Japan (great Budokan pic), Denmark, Germany & Australia. Varied approaches.

Compiled by @rockingbob.bsky.social, the elegant Motorway City - The Golden Age of Car Travel 1966-82 is a hymn to when driving was an end in itself. Out on @acerecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

A musical storm in a shabby Shoreditch basement. Went to see Bristol’s terrific Sunglasz Vendor at Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes. Wrote about it for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/su...

29 July 1966 - 60 years ago today. Glenda Collins' Joe Meek-produced/written It's Hard To Believe It and (in the UK) The Byrds' 5 D (Fifth Dimension) are released. Amazing records, though back then perhaps for different audiences.

French copy of The Yardbirds' Over Under Sideways Down. Considering the title of the B-side, it's ironic that Jeff Beck isn't seen in the photo used for the sleeve.

The reappearance of Gloria Mundi’s July 1978 debut album I, Individual is a surprise - a punk-era landmark of British art rock. Out through @punk77-79.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Where the Fades Meet, Andy Dragazis’ new album as Blue States, evokes the roots of acid jazz. Out this week on @memphisindustries.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/bl...

Floating Frequencies / Intuitive Synthesis 1, Eleh’s foundational 2006 album of electronic minimalism, is reissued. Out on @imprec.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Armagideon Time - When Punk Met Dub (1978-1984) is a partial account of how Brit-punk absorbed an aspect of reggae. Out on @cherryredrecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

8 July 1966 - 60 years ago today. The Troggs' With A Girl Like You is issued. Wild Thing was no one-off. Reg Presley was now writing hits. The equally great, MC5-covered I Want You on the flip. UK here, and as it was in shops for Germany, Denmark and France.

Beautifully crafted and shimmering, but intrinsically aloof. US-based Australian duo Luluc’s sixth album Sweet Thief is out this week (through @inhousepress.bsky.social). I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/th...

"What poets do you dig?” "Smokey Robinson.” So said Bob Dylan in December 1965. Shop Around - The Smokey Robinson Songbook is a first-rate salute to a creative colossus. Out on @acerecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

1 July 1966 - 60 years ago today. A good day for record buyers. New releases: The Action's Baby You've Got It; Dusty Springfield's Goin' Back; The Pretty Things' A House In The Country; The Hollies' Would You Believe LP.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the release of their sole single Keys to Your Heart, a look at Joe Strummer’s pre-Clash (@theclash.com) band The 101’ers - making the case for wading through their tangled musical legacy. On @theartsdesk.bsky.social today: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

50 years ago today - 27 June 1976 - the just-defunct 101'ers Keys to Your Heart was released by Chiswick Records. The sole single by Joe Strummer’s pre-Clash (@theclash.com) band. Here it is, plus the Chiswick Records press release. More on this tomorrow for @theartsdesk.bsky.social.

Here's the Japanese Doors Touch Me EP, from May 1969, with a nice pic of them on stage at The Roundhouse on either 6 or 7 September 1968. Behind them - by John Densmore. Is this Mick Farren?

Cate Kennan’s (@catekennan.bsky.social) crepuscular, intriguing second album Shadows makes a virtue of nebulousness. Out on @krankyltd.bsky.social through @rarelyunable.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/ca...

Big in Sweden. But not so big in their home country. Sect Maniacs - The Complete Sixties Sessions is a box-set tribute to the frequently fantastic Downliners Sect. Out on @cherryredrecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

New edition of the album capturing ‘possibly the most powerful human sound ever recorded.’ John Coltrane’s Ascension is out again for what would have been his 100th birthday. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Former Servants lynchpin David Westlake’s great 2nd solo album, 2002’s Play Dusty For Me, was barely issued back then. Now - albeit in digital-only form - it reappears via @cherryredrecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

Slightly off for its 60th anniversary - recorded 31 May 1966 at West Hampstead's Klook's Kleek (later The Moonlight), the fantastic live Zoot! LP from Zoot Money's Big Roll Band - one of the topmost UK soul/R&B/jazzish albums.

The glorious Promise Me Delight - Italo Disco And European Pop From The Golden Age is a firm candidate for one of the year’s most notable archive releases. Out on @acerecords.bsky.social. I’ve looked at it today for @theartsdesk.bsky.social: www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mu...

A deeply weird listen - Australian issue of the 1st Clash LP. Mastered/EQd to emphasis the mid range: a conventional take on the sound. Not a trebly scratch as per the UK. Extra clarity too. It works: esp Deny, Cheat, Garageland. The live White Riot is awful though, as there's little to work from.