When Did Northern Soul Get so Southern?
Northern soul, the 1970s dance movement rooted in industrial northern England, is experiencing a resurgence driven by Gen‑Z. Youth‑led clubs in London, Bristol, and other southern cities now dominate the scene, posting viral dance videos and all‑night events. Meanwhile, the original northern venues rely on aging patrons, limiting their growth as young people migrate south for work and nightlife. Academics warn that the cultural heritage of the north risks being eclipsed despite the movement’s broader national appeal.
From Michael to Back to Black, Authorised Music Biopics Are Becoming Bland, Blatant Propaganda. Audiences Deserve Better | Simran Hans
The article argues that authorized music biopics, exemplified by the upcoming Michael Jackson film, have become formulaic vehicles for estate‑driven profit rather than honest portraits. It notes that "Michael" sidesteps the singer’s long‑standing abuse allegations, focusing instead on a glossy...
Add to Playlist: The Disaster-Baiting Jazz-Rock Brinkmanship of Taupe and the Week’s Best New Tracks
Glasgow trio Taupe has dropped their third album, *Waxing | Waning*, on Minority Records, capturing their notorious live intensity in a studio setting. The record fuses “not jazz” improvisation, sludgy rock, and home‑grown electronics, highlighted by the chaotic single “Lemonade Tycoon.” Critics note...
Walter Smith III: Twio Vol 2 Review – Classic Jazz Is Vividly Alive in the Hands of This Incisive Saxophonist
Walter Smith III’s new Blue Note release, *Twio Vol 2*, revisits classic jazz standards with a stripped‑down trio of saxophone, bass and drums. The 45‑year‑old Houston‑born saxophonist blends bebop‑era phrasing with modern improvisational flair, delivering fresh takes on songs such as...
‘When I Finish My Classes, I Feel Sad’: Anger Builds over Gyms Swapping Pop Classics for Cheap Covers
GLL, the operator of Better leisure centres, scrapped its commercial music licence in March, switching to royalty‑free tracks from the Power Music app to curb rising costs. The move is projected to save roughly $1.27 million a year but has sparked anger...
‘I’m Not Famous. But I Can’t Go to the Chippy’: Courteeners’ Liam Fray on Filling Stadiums, Defying Extinction – and...
Manchester indie rock stalwarts The Courtiers staged a rare, sold‑out gig at Manchester’s Night & Day venue to promote their new greatest‑hits compilation. Frontman Liam Fray, now 40, reflected on two decades of touring, his ongoing battles with depression, social...
The Clean – 10 of the Best
The Clean, formed in Dunedin in 1978, pioneered a lo‑fi DIY sound that fused West Coast psychedelia, post‑punk, and garage rock. Their 1981 EP "Boodle Boodle Boodle" reached No.5 on the New Zealand charts and lingered in the Top 20 for six...
Madonna: I Feel So Free Review – Album Teaser Offers Hypnotic Glimpse of a Return to Her Club Scene Roots
Madonna’s 15th studio album, Confessions II, arrives on July 3, 2026 via Warner Records. The teaser track “I Feel So Free” showcases a deliberate return to her New York club‑scene roots, drawing on classic Chicago house and Donna Summer‑style basslines. Produced largely with longtime...
Add to Playlist: The Sweaty, Unvarnished Electropop of Punchbag and the Week’s Best New Tracks
British sibling duo Punchbag returns with the EP I Am Obsessed, expanding their wonky‑pop roots into darker, arena‑ready electropop. The record balances gritty tracks like “I Love This!” with the politically tinged ballad “Playing God,” showcasing a more polished melodic approach. The article also curates...
Massive Attack: Boots on the Ground (Ft Tom Waits) Review – First Single in a Decade Is a Dark Hymn...
Massive Attack has broken a ten‑year silence with the single "Boots on the Ground," featuring a haunting contribution from Tom Waits. The seven‑minute track blends dark, experimental beats with Waits’s laboured breathing and a stark silence, underscored by a politically...
90s Rock Icon Bob Mould: ‘When Cobain Died, I Pulled the Plug – There Was Nothing Worth Saving’
Bob Mould, frontman of 90s alt‑rock band Sugar, says Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994 drove him to scrap the band’s unfinished second album. Sugar’s 1992 debut Copper Blue topped the UK charts, earned NME’s Album of the Year, and cemented the...
From the Devil’s Violinist to Devil’s Horns - Why Classical and Heavy Metal Are a Natural Pairing
The Philharmonia Orchestra will stage "Forged in Sound: Heavy Metal Orchestrated" at the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival, pairing a full symphony with classic heavy‑metal repertoire. The program highlights a long‑standing dialogue between classical virtuosity and metal’s technical aggression, citing influences...
‘She Wanted to Disappear in Silence’: The Magical Life and Mysterious Death of Married Musician Duo Irena and Vojtěch Havlovi
Irena and Vojtěch Havlovi, a Czech married duo known for fusing baroque instruments with minimalist, ambient and folk textures, died within a year of each other—Vojtěch in 2025 and Irena in October 2026. Their music, cultivated in Prague’s churches and...
‘R&B Today Is Like Brazilian Football – the Creativity, the Skill’: Odeal, the Genre’s Hottest UK Star
British‑Nigerian singer Odeal, hailed as the UK’s hottest R&B act, headlined his first Brixton Academy show in March and is set to tour US arenas supporting Summer Walker. After a self‑built career—including a 2020 mixtape released independently and a publishing...
Bollywood Classics, Rave Bangers and Michael Stipe Duets: 10 of Asha Bhosle’s Greatest Recordings
Asha Bhosle, India’s most prolific playback singer, has recorded over 12,000 tracks across eight decades, from her 1943 Marathi debut to a 2002 electronic duet with Michael Stipe. The list highlights ten landmark recordings that illustrate her evolution—from classic Bollywood...