In the sweepstakes for longest time between albums, bassist Neil Swainson finally follows up his 1987 debut 49th Parallel with this year’s Fire in the West.

Soulful art-rock outfit Seal Party presents their rich and captivating debut album MMXXII, a meaningful and timeless place that is filled with improvisation, fury, and lyrical beauty, Evoking ‘70s soul, rock and R&B while maintaining a raw and exploratory approach, this eclectic work meshes unusual songwriting and musicianship with a style that is at once playful and rebellious.

Sweden’s Mammoth Volume made a trio of quirky, prog-infused stoner rock records in the late nineties and early ‘aughts, earning itself critic’s darling status in a field not normally known for that label.

Ree-Vo is Andy Spaceland (AKA Andy Jenks) and T. Relly. Recorded, produced and mixed by Andy at Bristol’s Christchurch Studios, known as the home of _Mezzanine_-era Massive Attack, this album was tweaked and fine-tuned during the summer of 2020.

This September, Munly J.Munly 32nd is getting ready to release his new book exploring the magic land of Lupercalia with his new book, Döder Made Me Do It.

Casting a wide net, Keezer brings a swath of influences – hard bop, fusion, postbop, third stream – to his music.

Unlike larger, more prodigiously-attended Real Estate shows, this more intimate setting allowed one to focus attentively on Courtney’s exquisite singing and guitar playing, and to better appreciate his delectable songwriting flair.

LA-based singer-songwriter and Grammy-winning producer Rich Jacques has released his debut EP Everything Must Change, a 6-track collection that takes the listener through his soothing sonic world and a single of the same name. Wonderfully beguiling, this music is uplifting amidst dark times as politics, environmental concerns and Covid-related concerned have significantly weighed on everyone’s minds.

Ultimately what this session comes down to is pure fun – these guys clearly enjoy their musical interaction, playing everything with a relaxed intensity.

This 7” platter features live performances from 1970 of two songs that would soon appear in studio versions on CCR’s Cosmo’s Factory album.

Alternative / indie rockers ON – a trio comprised of Toronto music scene veterans, formerly of popular 90’s outfits Acid Test, Danko Jones and Rocket Science – present their brazen new single “Underdog” as they reveal dates for their impending Ontario tour.

Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Brian Lynch continues his Songbook series with Vol. 2: Dance the Way U Want To, a reclamation of his back catalog through remakes and reinvention.

Iconic shoegaze/postpunk outfit A Shoreline Dream is back with a new album after a pandemic time-out. Loveblind_will arrive on September 23 via Latenight Weeknight Records, following their critically acclaimed _Melting album (2020). Ahead of this, the band presents the infectious lead track “Alarms Stop Ringing”, previewing 40 minutes of goth-induced progressive walls of sound. Loveblind promises to be an album that shoegazers, post-rock lovers and daydreamers should take note of.

Singer, songwriter and all-round music impresario Tim Bowness operates in a fairly unique artistic area.

UK-based soulful indie pop duo Karamelien present their debut single “Ascension Heights”, a laid-back and groovy summer tune inspired by and featuring Top Topham’s track of the same name. While technically a new project, this soaring perfect pop offering actually has a rich and touching backstory.

Glasgow*-based *Starry Skies are set to release their fourth studio album Small Wonders via Fox Star Records, following up 2020’s long player Do It With Love. With a brilliant mix of classic rock, power pop and folk-pop, the band is back with a crowdfunded album of shimmering delights

Drummer Billy Drummond has long been a rhythm keeper’s rhythm keeper, the demand for which might explain why he hasn’t headlined a recording since 1996.

With a new single “Ghosts” out, an album of covers behind them, and new material coming along thick and fast, it was the perfect time to sit down with Dan Kubrinski of Deadfinger and find out what was happening in their world.

The solo guitar extravaganza Electric Git Box draws on songs from throughout his career, from his 1976 debut Clarity, Circle, Triangle, Square to 2019’s WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW.

Led since their 2014 inception by guitarist/vocalist Matt Dudzik, these guys probably can’t cross the street without sneering at oncoming traffic, but they know from hooks.

Day 4 of Lollapalooza 2022.

While this follow-up resembles its predecessor Dark Americana: Stories and Songs in mood and style, it feels more ambitious and expansive, with intricate arrangements that conjure Ennio Morricone’s spacious, evocative spaghetti western soundtracks.

Dublin future-retro electronic artist Circuit3 (the electronic pop alias of Peter Fitzpatrick) presents his third album ‘Technology For The Youth’ LP. Released via Manchester’s AnalogueTrash label, this album was mastered by Richard Dowling, known for his work with Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue, Motorhead, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, New Order and Sparks.

London*-based alt-rock / metal artist *Grace Solero their new Metamorphosis,a power-packed labour of love that is raw, grungy, dreamy and atmospheric all at the same time

Boston singer/songwriter Abbie Barrett likes good, catchy songs and guitars. In what style those things come together depends entirely on what the tune demands – even if that’s several things at once.

Austin*-based rock duo *The Caughtery presents their debut Self-Titled EP, released on July 15. Mixed by the legendary Tim Palmer (Robert Plant, Ozzy Osbourne, Tin Machine, The Mission, HIM, U2, Pearl Jam), who jointly produced it together with David Gayler, this EP was recorded by Lee Jackson at Studio71West near Austin. Tim Palmer also contributes guitar on this glorious debut.

Clay Joule is a singer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist, songwriter. After the success of the previous single “Funky Sphere,” it was only natural that we hunted down the latest release, the aptly titled “Summer Breeze” and found out what this next single was all about.

Scruffy synths and existential despair add up to a mesmerizing debut.

Day 1 of Lollapalooza 2022.

With In Tense, his second album as a leader, Raghavan has staked a claim as one of modern jazz’s most interesting composers and bandleaders.

What the audience heard was pure power as the band delivered songs from their thus far quite prolific four album career. At times, the rhythms can be as jarring as they are uncompromising but they always land in a way that might make one forget how well these songs are actually constructed and relish in the sum of their parts.

With Chicago dropping their 38th album of their career, one of the tracks in particular, “The Mermaid” featuring Joanna Pearl, sums up their collaborative prowess and eclectic musical approach perfectly.

So Many Days, the band’s ninth album, leans on acoustic and 12-string guitars, vocal harmonies and rootsy tunes that find a midway point between early Poco and the folk rocking side of Big Star.

The Big Takeover’s Pre-Coverage of Lollapalooza 2022 in Chicago, IL.

Manchester art-rock quartet Weimar has released its debut album Dancing On a Volcano digitally via German Shepherd Records and on CD via Marlene’s Hat Records; 12 tracks take the listener on an unpredictable excursion through the socio-political and personal challenges of our modern age.

How many times have we seen a person in their twilight years, still doing it, whatever it is, and making us think, “Man, I hope I still have that much fire at their age.” Well, folks, please welcome Sheila Jordan to the stage.

Ernest Moon are Steven Doran and Brian Murphy, two highly creative songsters with a gift for wise cracks and impactful one-liners, brought together by a liking for eggs on toast. They offer lush lyrics, heavy hands and a rat-arsed sincerity. Their sound has been described as pushy pop, “filling the gap between pretentious lyrical art and bog standard pop music”.

San Antonio’s long-running Krayolas didn’t attract the power pop tastemakers back when the genre flourished in the eighties, never seeming to break out of their region until thirty-odd years later.

The next generation of Orange Country rock.

Sons Of features four lengthy modular synthesizer compositions from Sam Prekop and John McEntire, first forged across the duo’s improvised 2019 European tour.

Soulful art-rock outfit Seal Party presents their new single ‘Kaleka’, a stunning Bowie-esque piano-based composition that complements the band’s most recent single ‘Maison’ featuring R&B organ wizard Chris Rob (Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Anita Baker, Talib Kweli). Both songs are rich and captivating tasters of their forthcoming debut album ‘MMXXII’, bringing the listener to a meaninful and timeless place.

Thirty-six years on from his last LP, Foster, re-signed to Blue Note, issues his (very) long awaited ninth album Reboot.

NYC*-based cinematic folk-rock artist *Jessie Kilguss is back to offer a pure dose of her trademark magical realism with the single “Great White Shark”. The first taste of her new album What Do Whales Dream About at Night?’

Ree-Vo is Bristol’s Andy Spaceland (AKA Andy Jenks) and T. Relly. Recorded, produced and mixed by Andy at Bristol’s Christchurch Studios, known as the home of _Mezzanine_-era Massive Attack, this album was tweaked and fine-tuned during the summer of 2020.

Play or Die is a strong record that casts a much-needed light onto a shadowy corner of a jazz icon’s oeuvre.

Montreal*-based indie rock / post-punk quartet *The Ember Glows present their new single “Silent Love”, a sonic exploration of steadfast love, the fragility of life and the power of silence.

Despite first impressions from the band’s name, Philadelphia duo Grassy Sound does not play bluegrass.

The band’s second album since returning from the dead in 2017, Transmissions From Mothership Earth doesn’t rework the formula as much as reiterate that it still functions properly.