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The Big Takeover Issue #95

Kevin Burke

Kevin Burke has just begun at The Big Takeover. An Irishman who has lived his life in the company of music and sounds from around the world. He is currently a regular contributor and reviewer for Ireland’s HeadStuff online site where he dives into popular music culture along with art and movies. Kevin also contributes to Belgium’s Peek-A-Boo alternative-rock magazine, print and online versions contain his interviews and reviews. Along with past contributions to Metal-Temple online and Music News, his path has finally led here.

Lee Michael Stevens - I Miss U Now (Self-Released)

1 August 2021

The debut solo single by Swagger frontman Lee Michael Stevens is the first step in a promising journey.

Shirley Collins - Crowlink Ep (Domino Recording Co.)

1 August 2021

Dame Shirley Collins returns with the power of nature in and all it’s beauty

Where We Sleep - The Scars They Leave (Self-Released)

22 July 2021

Beth Rettig and Where We Sleep release their debut long-player, and it is explosive and enchanting

Goldie & the Gingerbreads - Thinking About The Good Times - Complete Recordings 1964-1966 (Ace Records)

20 July 2021

Rock music’s premier all-female band get a long overdue retrospective.

Clifford/Wright - For All the Money in the World (Cliffsong Records)

18 July 2021

CCR legend Doug ‘Cosmo’ Clifford releases an extraordinary piece of work on August 27th, a collaboration with the late Steve Wright from the Greg Kihn Band

Francie Conway - Staycation (Sunfish Music)

11 July 2021

Francie Conway continues on his divine path of excellence with “Staycation”

Barry Goudreau's Engine Room - The Road (Self-Released)

4 July 2021

The legandary Boston guitarist returns with his Engine Room outfit, and stylishly follows up 2017’s Full Steam Ahead album

Ellen Foley - Fighting Words (Self-Released)

27 June 2021

Ellen Foley returns, and she means buisness on her latest album ‘Fighting Words’

Sleater-Kinney - Path Of Wellness (Mom + Pop)

25 June 2021

Sleater-Kinney return with an album that defies expectations, and proves how they will not simply disappear.

Garbage - No Gods No Masters (Infectious Music)

24 June 2021

Garbage release album #7, a statement of consistency that displays a heavy amount of social consciousness

Róisín Murphy - Crooked Machine (Skint Records)

23 June 2021

The sonic chanteuse Róisín Murphy returns with the same energetic class as 2020 with Crooked Machine

The John Williams Syndicate - Out Of Darkness (Wulfrun)

5 June 2021

The producer with the midas touch John Owen Williams releases his debut album Out Of Darkness, and all expectations are fulfilled

Jowe Head - Strawberry Birthmarks (Glass Records Modern)

25 May 2021

Released June 4th on deep red vinyl and digital, Strawberry Birthmarks is a collection of unreleased recordings from post punk artist Jowe Head

Kimberley Rew And Lee Cave-Berry - Purple Kittens (Self-Released)

21 May 2021

On June 18th, Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry return with a new long-player titled ‘Purple Kittens’, a tour-de-force of styles and perfectionism.

Jackiem Joyner - Journey Of Passion Ep (Joyner Media Company LLC)

10 May 2021

An Ep released late last year, that is well worth investigation.

Du Blonde - Homecoming (Daemon T.V)

3 May 2021

Sometimes albums come along that make you go “What the f@ck?”, this is one such album, and it is a divine rapture of brilliance.

Teenage Fanclub - Endless Arcade (PeMa)

2 May 2021

Teenage Fanclub release the most anticipated album of 2021, and thankfully it delivers, and revels in the flaws of our ideals. 

Steve Cropper - Fire It Up (Mascot Label Group/ Provogue)

1 May 2021

Steve Cropper has just released ‘Fire It Up’, and it is incendiary.

Maia Sharp - Mercy Rising (Crooked Crown)

26 April 2021

Due out on May 7th, the latest emotional banger from Maia Sharp, the aptly titled Mercy Rising

Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come - Eternal Messenger | An Anthology 1970-1973 (Esoteric Recordings)

16 April 2021

Released on June 25th, a long overdue retrospective of Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come with an impressive five disc set

Jim McCulloch - When I Mean What I Say (Violette Records)

7 April 2021

Due for release on May 21st, ‘When I Mean What I Say’ is an album that is a long time coming, and it has been worth the wait

The Reducers - Live: New York City 2005 (Rave On Records)

9 March 2021

The Reducers remind us of their unequalled brilliance on a new live set

Hayley And The Crushers - Fun Sized (Rum Bar Records)

3 March 2021

The Californian-based dynamo outfit Hayley And The Crushers return with a new set of music, a six-song set aptly titled Fun Sized.

Strangers In A Strange Land + Vince Melouney - Ring My Bell (Ace Records)

22 February 2021

The San Francisco based outfit Strangers In A Strange Land release a cover of the Bee Gees “Ring My Bell” featuring a Bee Gee and Shel Talmy

Palmyra Delran & The Doppel Gang - Lucky In Love (Wicked Cool Records)

22 February 2021

Palmyra Delran returns with The Doppel Gang, and the music world is a better place.

Genya Ravan / The Shang Hi Los - I Who Have Nothng | Sway Little Prayer (Rum Bar Records)

21 February 2021

A testimony to Rock And Roll, courtesy of the split single featuring Genya Ravan and The Shang Hi Los

Matthew Shaw - Nachtmusik (Glass Modern) 

21 February 2021

Matthew Shaw delivers an album of tribute, nostalgia and advances, with the electric poetry of Nachtmusik.

2020: The Reissues That Rocked - 5 Of The Best

19 December 2020

As 2020 rolls to a close, writer Kevin Burke looks at a selection of worthwhile reissues

2020: The Bravery & The Art - 10 Of The Best 

19 December 2020

2020 was a brave year to release music without the touring or usual album promotion, writer Kevin Burke explores 10 of the Best album release

Lia Ices - Family Album (Natural Music)

18 December 2020

Lia Ices returns in late January with an album that resonates with a divine splendor

Girl Band - Shoulderblades (Rough Trade)

10 December 2020

Girl Band announce a new album, tour dates and release the single “Shoulderblades”

The Jigsaw Seen -Sleigh Bells Ring Ep

2 December 2020

The Jigsaw Seen go full tilt seasonal on the sublime Ep Sleigh Bells Ring

Toyah - Sheep Farming In Barnet [2CD/DVD + Vinyl Editions] (Cherry Red Records)

2 December 2020

Landing December 11,  Sheep Farming In Barnet is the sublime debut by Toyah, a fully realised release, 41 years after it’s initial incarnation

Kathy Crinion - Standing On The Edge [Feat. Adam James Deiboldt] (Whitethorn Music/ISG Records)

1 December 2020

The new atmospheric single from Irish songstress Kathy Crinion features the added charm of vocalist Adam James Deiboldt.

Perry Farrell -The Glitz; The Glamour [Box Set] (Last Man Music)

1 December 2020

The Glitz; The Glamour is an overview of Perry Farrell’s pre and post Jane’s Addiction work.

dunkie - Working To Design (SWND Records) 

6 November 2020

dunkie have just released Working To Design, balanced between cinematic depth and melodic bliss, it is an album that requires investigation.

David Bowie - Metrobolist (Parlophone)

4 November 2020

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s classic The Man Who Sold The World, the album returns on limited edition vinyl in it’s original intended format of Metrobolist

The Seeds - Vampire (Hypnotic Bridge Records)

31 October 2020

The sixties pysch-garage rockers The Seeds return with a new single.

Wayne County & The Electric Chairs - The Safari Years (Cherry Red Records)

29 October 2020

Before anyone did anything, Wayne County had done it all, and this four disc set proves that point.

Iwan Gronow - Out On A Limb EP (Self-Released)

28 October 2020

Recently Iwan Gronow released his debut Ep, falling short of an album but with a glorious depth

Twink - Think Pink | 50th Anniversary Edition

25 October 2020

Kevin Burke investigates the 50th anniversary re-release of a psychedelic classic, the indispensable Think Pink by Twink

Dandy Warhols And Bebe Buell - Femme Fatale (Cobraside) 

23 October 2020

A diamond worth mining from the plethora of RSD releases, Dandy Warhols and Bebe Buell who do a blistering take on Femme Fatale

Strangers In A Strange Land - Poison Chalice (Ace Records)

21 October 2020

Strangers In A Strange Land return, backed by a supergroup and legandary producer Shel Talmy

Imelda May - Slip Of The Tongue (Decca Records)

20 October 2020

Writer Kevin Burke checks out the latest release by soulful-rockabilly songstress Imelda May

Dennis Davison - The Book Of Strongman (Pretty Plague)

13 October 2020

Jigsaw Seen vocalist Dennis Davison delivers a staggering musical statement with The Book Of Strongman

The Boys - The Boys...On Safari (Captain Oi!/ Cherry Red Records)

21 September 2020

Released on September 25th, a comprehensive box set celebrating the Safari recordings by The Boys

Suzanne Vega - An Evening Of New York Songs And Stories (Cooking Vinyl Limited)

12 September 2020

Kevin Burke looks at the latest, live release from Suzanne Vega, along with the upcoming globally streamed shows .

Cesarians - Rachel Frieda (Glass Records Modern)

10 September 2020

On September 18th, the London-based Cesarians return with their third long player. Rachel Frieda, an album that continues their powerful hat trick of creativity.

Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts - Nowhere To Go But Everywhere (Wicked Cool Records)

10 September 2020

On September 18th, Nowhere To Go But Everywhere is an album that springs to life, with a spirited collection of songs

Ace Frehley - Origins Vol.2 (eOne / SPV)

2 September 2020

Some legends never stop thrilling, and Ace Frehley does exactly that on Origins Vol.2