Playlist: The (un-ironic) Joy of Easy Listening
When somebody mentions Easy Listening, what is your reaction? If it’s to cringe, consider yourself off our Christmas list… For some time now, the only way to properly appreciate the genre we term...
Playlist: Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia
The second Liverpool Psych Fest is almost upon us. We’ve got the playlist to get you in the mood… As DJ Bernie Connor noted in his piece in the Guardian Guide last Saturday,...
3 am: Wonder, Paranoia and the Restless Night
Inspired by the forthcoming exhibition of the same name at the Bluecoat, C James Fagan presses play on a mix probing night’s dark recesses… It’s 3 AM. Where are you? Lost in an...
10 Best: Autumn Gigs
As Autumn approaches, it’s comforting to know it brings with it an impressive batch of gigs. We pick our top 10… We hate to be the ones to break the news, but summer...
Rough Trade Records
A label with more peaks and troughs than its average signing, Rough Trade Records has a colourful history… When the Strokes’ debut, Is This It, surfaced in 2001, it served a dual purpose....
Literature in Pop!
Inspired by last week’s World Book Night, Nathan Richardson takes us through some of his best-loved literary songs… Last Tuesday (23rd April) was World Book Night. In cities across the U.K. a series...
ACDSleeve: Songs I Love
Especially for Record Store day, we ask design genius and founder of ACDSleeve, Tom Leggett, to take us on a tour of his favourite releases … For a guy who designs album packaging for...
Soundtrack to my Ego
The mixtape is the ultimate representation of the ego, argues C James Fagan, as he gets to grips with his very own cultural artefact … Music, noise and sound; hardly new things, but...
When Melody Ruled the Airwaves
Artist Michael Lacey takes the playlist’s helm this week, to muse most vigorously on enjoying classic doo-wop, swing and jazz … Music plays an important role in my artistic practice, keeping me tethered...