Mary Gauthier keeps it real in a way few others have ever dared to do in her autobiographical coming-of-age song Drag Queens In Limousines. (more…)

The Teardrop Explodes were one of my favourite bands in the late Seventies. I bought all their records and saw them several times.

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I first came across the name Margo Cilker five years ago when she released a debut album with the mysterious and unpronounceable title Pohorylle.

The music was rooted in old-time storytelling country music – the genre sometimes called “cowboy country” – but with a contemporary twist, built around motifs of family and nature.

Her songs have earned her comparisons to Lucinda Williams, which is high praise indeed, or perhaps just lazy journalism, because I don’t hear that at all. 

I must admit that after my initial discovery I seem to have rather forgotten about her, until I was reminded by my daughter’s best friend Zoe, and discovered this excellent new tune.

Cilker is a California girl who has moved up north, first to Oregon and thence to Washington with her husband, to live and work on their ranch. Her music, meanwhile, has moved south in its influences.

I now need to acquaint myself with her second album, Valley Of Heart’s Delight, while waiting for her next one to arrive. In the meantime, here’s a catchy li’l taster.

William Orbit was one of that elite echelon of music producers with an identifiable “sound” that can be recognised almost as soon as you hear it. (more…)

Babybird, aka Stephen Jones, had been making home demos for five years without a record deal when You’re Gorgeous shot into the chart.

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John Douglas was a founder member of The Trashcan Sinatras, playing guitar and singing harmonies with the Glasgow band since 1986.

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Hey Joe is not just a classic, but a genuine rock standard, with at least a hundred versions. This is one of my favourites, by blues guitarist Roy Buchanan.

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British DJ Dave Clarke teamed up with German electroclash ensemble Chicks On Speed on this banger, with a Bauhaus sample to boot.

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Leon Bridges teams up with dance trio Jungle on a slice of uplifting summer soul infused with the sound of Afro jazz and funk.

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Sigue Sigue Sputnik arrived in an explosion of silly hair and sci-fi costumes as a postmodern pastiche of the ultimate Eighties band.

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