Music Reissues Weekly: Blow My Mind! The Doré-Era-Mira Punk & Psych Legacy

BLOW MY MIND! Hot collection of Los Angeles independent-label Sixties obscurities

Hot collection of Los Angeles independent-label Sixties obscurities

Any compilation with a track credited to “Unknown Artist” is always going to entice, especially when it’s one which goes the full way by digging into original master tapes to find the best audio sources and previously unearthed nuggets. In this case, it’s not known who recorded “To Make a Lie”, a dark, menacing cut where a disembodied voice intones about the threat of a giant willow tree (“it’s coming!”), evil, pain and walking into eternity over a doomy organ, spiralling guitar and draggy drums. As it ends – a female scream.

Album: Susanna Hoffs - Bright Lights

Another pleasant collection of covers from the Bangles’ front woman

It’s been almost 10 years since Bangles’ front woman Susanna Hoffs has released any original tunes, preferring instead to go for unexpected songs by reasonably well-known artists.

This is a pity, as she’s had a hand in writing more than a few cracking tracks over the years – “Hero Takes a Fall” and “Dover Beach” from the Bangles’ first album All Over the Place being particularly notable examples. Still, if the muse isn’t giving up the goods, improbable cover versions is as good a way to go as any.

Album: ABBA - Voyage

★★★★ ABBA - VOYAGE After 40 years, pop’s great quartet makes a welcome and convincing return

After 40 years of silence, pop’s great quartet makes a welcome and convincing return

Immortality is reserved for monotheistic religions and Marvel superheroes, but in the material world, we also know Abba’s songs are ageless and will not die. After all, they have their Abbatars; we have our abattoirs.

Album: Diana Ross - Thank You

★★★ DIANA ROSS - THANK YOU The latest lives up to expectations. Except when it doesn't

Ross's album lives up to expectations. Except when it doesn't

In an ideal world, we would want the flashbulbs of fame that have been focused on Diana Ross for virtually her entire life to reveal a figure who is not just regal but also ageless. We would want her to be able to connect with us emotionally through the strength and character of her singing, just as she could fifty or more years ago.

Album: Electric Eye - Horizons

★★★ ELECTRIC EYE - HORIZONS Norwegian psych-rock with jazz and Krautrock leanings

Norwegian psych-rock with jazz and Krautrock leanings is a trip

Bergen’s Electric Eye’s pithy description of themselves is “psych-space-drone-rock from Norway.” They also say they “play droned out psych-rock inspired by the blues, India and the ever-more expanding universe.” Horizons is their fourth studio album.

Portico Quartet, St John at Hackney review - softly beautiful discordancy

★★★★ PORTICO QUARTET, ST JOHN AT HACKNEY Softly beautiful discordancy

The perfect church setting for an ambient ritual

Composed entirely of their 2021 release, Terrain, Portico Quartet’s Friday night concert at St John at Hackney was a beautiful performance, albeit slightly marred by a low stage and a chatty audience.

Music Reissues Weekly: The Sun Shines Here - The Roots Of Indie-Pop 1980-1984

THE SUN SHINES HERE - THE ROOTS OF INDIE-POP 1980-1984 A great listen

A great listen, but despite this box set’s title a definition of ‘indie-pop’ remains out of reach

The Sun Shines Here - The Roots Of Indie-Pop 1980-1984 is three-CD set in a clamshell box with 74 tracks. The opener is “Better Scream”, January 1980’s debut single from Wah Heat! The closing track was issued in November 1984: The Jesus And Mary Chain’s first single “Upside Down”. In between: Mo-Dettes, The Monochrome Set, Microdisney and Marine Girls.

Black String, Grand Junction review – storm-force intensity

★★★★ BLACK STRING, GRAND JUNCTION The otherworldly sound of Korea’s finest quartet

Immerse yourself in the defibrillating, otherworldly sound of Korea’s finest quartet

If you were looking for a word to describe Black String in performance at Grand Junction in Paddington, before the high altar of the church of St Mary Magdalene, itself a pinnacle of Victorian neo-Gothic bravura, then that word would be “intense”. Intensely intense. More intense than a blooming bank of Intensia.