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The Wild Swans – The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years (Occultation)
An incredible return, initial copies via the Occultation website include an additional three song bonus cd. Beautiful songs, beautiful artwork, and apparently a follow up is already in the planning stages…
GB3/Steve Kilbey – Damaged/Controlled (Rubber Records)
It’s always been tough for Church fans to keep up with the band’s myriad spin offs, solo efforts and collaborations, I nearly missed this album, released late last year and the third from GB3 , who are based around ex- Underground Lovers members. Kilbey sings on seven tracks and co-writes the whole thing.
Talk talk – Laughing Stock (Verve)
Rediscovering this one, twenty years on. Unique and far more melodic than you might think. Critics choice seems to be Spirit of Eden , but for me it’s Colour of Spring and this one.
Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man (RCA Victor Gold Series)
One or other of Gil’s albums has been close to my cd player since last year’s Royal Festival Hall gig, sadly now being played in tribute to another great no longer with us. This one is another under acknowledged classic.
Wild Beasts – Smother (Domino)
Three albums in and no sign of idea fatigue. The vocal style can be a stumbling block for some, but if you can get past that the rewards are many. Catch them on tour in the US from July 12.
Suede – Dog Man Star (Edsel) 2 cd 1 dvd deluxe Reissue
Hard to imagine an album like this being made now as a follow up to a successful debut. Drama piled on top of drama without teetering over the edge. A wonderfully put together reissue.
Peter Murphy – Ninth (Nettwork)
Speaking of drama…strong songs make Ninth one of Murphy’s best solo albums. Once a goth…
Junior Boys – It’s All True (Domino)
“Banana Ripple” was a great taster for their fourth album, plenty more highlights here though.
Kinks – Something Else (Sanctuary) 2 disc deluxe reissue
All three of the current batch of lovely sounding reissues are in rotation at the moment. Yes you’ve probably bought them multiple times and it stings a bit, but overall this is the best version yet.
Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What (Hear Music)
Strong new album, but much better live as demonstrated at the Hammersmith Apollo in London last week…gig postponned for 24 hours due to throat problems, but was worth it in the end!
