Music news

• Ty Segall: Ty Segall review – gnarly, gratifying garage rock star

  26-01-2017 23:30
  
  (Drag City)Ty Segall is suitably prolific for a garage rockstar – he has put out a solo album almost every year for the past decade, not to mention a raft of collaborations. Also in keeping with the unselfconsciousness of his chosen genre is the fact that there doesn’t seem to have been much progression: this Ty Segall, his second self-titled album, pedals back from the raucousness and heavy distortion of his last record proper, Emotional Mugger, and resumes the peppy but still relat
  
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• Kehlani: SweetSexySavage review – music to do your tax return to

  26-01-2017 23:15
  
  (Atlantic)The title of this interminable 19-track debut album shows how Californian R&B singer Kehlani sees herself, however inaccurately. There is some melodic sweetness here, in the chorus to Undercover or the modest earworm of Get Like; savagery is signified by a willingness to say the F word and smoke blunts in her videos. But sexiness is utterly absent in a record whose jaw-slackeningly boring lyrics make it more like a first date from hell. R&B masters take solipsism and turn it in
  
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• Cloud Nothings: Life Without Sound review – stop meditating and crank up the noise

  26-01-2017 23:00
  
  (Wichita)If the title of Cloud Nothings’ fourth studio album suggested the Cleveland indie rockers were dialling down the volume, then band linchpin Dylan Baldi was keen to go along with that: “This record is like my version of new age music,” he claimed in October. Turns out he was talking what is known in the trade as complete bilge. Because with its scuzzy feedback and crashing drums, Life Without Sound would be terrible in a salt-infusion aromatherapy steam bath. Instead, B
  
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• Valerie June: The Order of Time review – glorious, ethereal, sublime

  26-01-2017 22:45
  
  (Concord Records/Caroline Music)Valerie June’s acclaimed 2013 debut, Pushin’ Against a Stone, was a crucial stage in a meteoric rise from selling home recordings from a car to supporting the Rolling Stones and winning a fan in Michelle Obama. Her second album finds the Tennessean again blending genres – folk, classic pop, soul and Appalachian bluegrass – into a cohesive whole, thanks to her top-notch songwriting and sublime musicianship. With her sultry ache of a voice, s
  
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• Horse Thief: Trials and Truths review – earnest, check-shirted Americana

  26-01-2017 22:15
  
  (Bella Union)Americana is a crowded field these days, but Texas-by-way-of-Oklahoma outfit Horse Thief did enough to stand out with their 2014 debut Fear In Bliss. With singer Cameron Neil’s off-kilter yet heartfelt vocals, it brought hints of something wild-eyed and psych-tinged: think the big-sky balladeering of Band of Horses rubbing up against the freak-folk of early Animal Collective. It’s disappointing to report then, that for their follow-up, Horse Thief have dialled down the u
  
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• Rose Elinor Dougall: Stellular review – gothic mystery and malady

  26-01-2017 22:00
  
  (Vermilion Records)“Everything tonight, everything tomorrow, everything at once,” whispers Rose Elinor Dougall on All at Once, a shadowy sister to Blondie’s Rapture. Hedonism, and the recklessness of being a twentysomething struggling in London, shape the second solo album from the former Pipette. The moody propulsion of the city’s krautrock scene – the Horrors, Toy (frontman Tom is her brother) – offer relief from the oppressive, gothic mood: here is a place
  
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• Readers recommend: share your songs about cheating

  26-01-2017 21:00
  
  Make your nomination in the comments and a reader will pick the best eligible tracks for a playlist next week – you have until Monday 30 January What does the word “cheating” mean to you and how have musicians summed this up in song?
  You have until 11pm on Monday 30 January to post your nomination and make your justification. RR contributor George Boyland (who posts as sonofwebcore in the comments) will select from your recommendations and produce the playlist, to be published
  
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• Sir Elton John is writing the music for The Devil Wears Prada musical

  26-01-2017 20:05
  
  The pop veteran is bringing the cut-throat world of fashion to the stage.
  
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• Lula Pena: Archivo Pittoresco review – from shape-shifting fado to the Twilight Zone

  26-01-2017 20:00
  
  (Crammed Discs)Lula Pena is a Portuguese singer and guitarist with a highly individual take on fado (or phado, as she calls it). She describes herself as an “existential musician”, releases few albums (this is her third since 1998), and says her approach to music is “wandering borderless and intuitively through different languages and sounds”. Don’t let that put you off. She constantly changes styles as she segues between her own work and settings for Brazilian poet
  
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• From Joni Mitchell to Laura Marling: how female troubadours changed music

  26-01-2017 19:55
  
  Singing about drugs, politics and disappointment was once seen as a male pursuit – and almost half a century after female artists began to defy convention, many are still trying break the mould
  In the summer of 1969, Newsweek published an article under the headline The Girls – Letting Go, charting the burgeoning careers of a group of young musicians it termed “a new school of talented female troubadours”. They sang about politics, love affairs, the urban landscape, d
  
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• Morten Schantz: Godspeed review – the jazz kamikazes are back, and won't be leaving

  26-01-2017 19:45
  
  (Edition)The phrase “21st-century Weather Report” has been applied to the work of thirtysomething Danish keyboardist and composer Morten Schantz, and the sound of that gamechanging phenomenon certainly surfaces here, in the keyboard surges and low-end churn of Schantz’s Escape Velocity and the headlong Ceasefire. For his Edition Records debut, Schantz rekindles his long-running partnership with saxophonist Marius Neset and thrilling Phronesis drummer Anton Eger launched in the
  
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• Malala Yousafzai's UN speech set to music for Women's Day

  26-01-2017 19:32
  
  BBC Radio 3 will air the new commission, entitled Speak Out.
  
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• John O’Gallagher: Live in Brooklyn review – powerful jazz-making without a safety net

  26-01-2017 19:30
  
  (Whirlwind)Bebop, that harmonically knotty jazz revolution of the mid 20th century, is still fertile territory for some inquisitive younger players – such as the US alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher, a formally advanced virtuoso who has borrowed, among many things, Viennese school serialism and the late George Russell’s modalism in quests to reshape jazz melody. This live recording featuring Johannes Weidenmueller (bass) and Mark Ferber (drums) is jazz-making without a safety n
  
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• Thile/Mehldau: Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau review – remarkable rapport as bluegrass meets jazz

  26-01-2017 19:15
  
  (Nonesuch)
  Two very different musicians hit a remarkable rapport on this double album: bluegrass mandolin virtuoso and vocalist Chris Thile, and jazz piano star Brad Mehldau. But they’re bonded (and have been, since their first partnership in 2011) by affection for Bach, the Beatles, blues and bluegrass alike. Thile sings a lot, invoking an ethereal falsetto, the imploring call of a ’50s teenage crooner, a nasal Dylanesque snarl, or a rural bluesman’s grouchy defiance. Mehldau&
  
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• Barenboim, Bernstein and the Berlin Phil: Southbank Centre launches 2017-18 season

  26-01-2017 18:36
  
  The season will see the Queen Elizabeth Hall reopen and visits from Barenboim’s West-East Divan Orchestra and Rattle’s Berlin Philharmonic, while artistic director Jude Kelly spoke of the need for people to ‘bump into’ classical musicDaniel Barenboim brings his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to the Southbank Centre in London for the first time in the 2017-18 season for another first: a tribute concert to his first wife, the late cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Du Pr&eacut
  
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• Ringu vs The Grudge Face Off In Super Scary Movie Clip That Will Make You Poop Your Pants

  26-01-2017 18:35
  
  Scariest face off EVER.
  
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• David Bowie appears on British postage stamps, year after his death

  26-01-2017 18:16
  David Bowie is to appear on a range of British postage stamps as a tribute to the musician who died last year, the postal service has announced. "This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to an individual music artist or cultural figure," the company said in a statement. The Beatles and Pink Floyd have previously been honoured with a stamp issue, it said.
  
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• Ed Sheeran reveals new global tour dates after year-long break

  26-01-2017 17:54
  Ed Sheeran has revealed the first dates for a new world tour, after taking a year-long break from the music scene. After making a long-awaited return with new tracks earlier this month, the 25-year-old singer has now announced plans to share his new material with a spring tour.
  
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• Father John Misty’s ‘Pure Comedy’ Music Video Features Pepe The Frog As Donald Trump…

  26-01-2017 17:47
  
  The American singer/songwriter isn’t pulling any punches with his take on the 'horror show' of humanity...
  
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• 15 Beauty Products Megan McKenna Uses IRL

  26-01-2017 17:41
  
  The only way is McKenna...
  
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• Kylie Jenner Dodges A Potential Lawsuit By Uploading A Carefully-Planned Instagram Post

  26-01-2017 17:38
  
  Kylie Jenner uploaded a post on Insta to avoid legal action
  
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• Watch a clip from The Depraved Appetite of Tarrare the Freak – video

  26-01-2017 17:36
  
  Puppets and opera aren’t such strange bedfellows, as this exclusive video of Wattle and Daub’s new show – about the French spy with a monstrous appetite – proves. The new opera features 10 characters but only two singers and two puppeteers to depict what its creators describe as a ‘gruesomely dramatic’ story. Here is a glimpse of the puppet autopsy scene• The Depraved Appetite of Tarrare the Freak tours until 10 March. Continue reading...
  
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• Cate Le Bon: ‘Guitars were inspired by female bodies. Why are they uncomfortable for women to play?’

  26-01-2017 17:14
  
  St Vincent got so sick of her instrument not suiting her, that she designed a new guitar with room for ‘a breast or two’. Good for her, says Le BonOften, I get called a singer-songwriter in the same breath as my musical collaborator, Tim Presley, is called a musician. The main difference between us when we work together is that I am with bosom and he is not. The impression given by this differentiation between us is that I use a guitar to facilitate my songwriting needs while Tim rea
  
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• Camila Cabello’s First Solo Track Has Possibly ‘Leaked’ Already

  26-01-2017 17:07
  
  Wait, what?!
  
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• Rae Sremmurd on Black Beatles and why Up Like Trump made them ‘prophets’

  26-01-2017 17:00
  
  The Mississippi brothers’ hit became a global ‘epidemic’ when it became the soundtrack to the mannequin challenge. They explain how they kicked in the music industry’s door Related: Mannequin challenge, Rae Sremmurd and the meme-powered viral hit You could never say that Rae Sremmurd can’t stay in character. The Mississippi brothers have an image of being hip-hop’s hard-partying, swag-bragging, enfant terribles, and – true to form – they are worse
  
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• What You Missed In Music: Beyoncé’s Comic Book Cover, Alicia Keys Samples Kanye West & More

  26-01-2017 16:45
  
  Also, Flying Lotus' feature film is reportedly subjected to a walkout at the Sundance film festival. Oh dear.
  
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• Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs present English Weather review – the sound of the post-60s hangover

  26-01-2017 16:00
  
  The Saint Etienne crate-diggers have unearthed some evocative obscurities from that moment in British rock between psych and prog
  In recent years, Saint Etienne have supplemented their careers as pop musicians and film-makers with a fascinating sideline in musical archeology. The band’s members have helmed a series of esoteric compilations that attempt to shed light on ignored areas of pop’s past: their 2012 collection Saint Etienne Presents Songs for the Lyons Cornerhouse launched a
  
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• David Beckham Publicly Embarrasses Brooklyn After Trolling His Instagram Live

  26-01-2017 15:43
  
  David Beckham calls out Brooklyn Beckham for not being at school.
  
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• Selena Gomez And The Weeknd Just Made Their Relationship Instagram Official

  26-01-2017 13:48
  
  Thank. Goodness.
  
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• Vicky Pattison, Marnie Simpson, Scarlett Moffatt And More Celebs Slay The NTAs Red Carpet

  26-01-2017 13:39
  
  Including Marnie's eye-popping see-through dress.
  
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• What It's Actually Like To Cheat On Someone

  26-01-2017 13:34
  
  We all know it's wrong, but a lot of us will do it at some point in our life...
  
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• Bournemouth SO/Karabits review – beautifully engineered all-Soviet programme

  26-01-2017 13:23
  
  Lighthouse, Poole
  Prokofiev was paired with Shostakovich on a night when Kirill Karabits brought out the full tragic power of the latter’s Eight symphonyIn the eight years that Kirill Karabits has been the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s chief conductor he has shown an ever-widening range of musical sympathies, from the baroque to the present day. But Russian music has always brought the best out of the Ukrainian-born Karabits, and his latest programme was an all-Soviet affair, pair
  
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• 17 Of The Most Explosive Fights Reality Star Couples Have Ever Had

  26-01-2017 13:11
  
  Someone's going to take out an eye...
  
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• Incredible News: The Salt Bae Chef Is Opening A Restaurant In London

  26-01-2017 12:58
  
  Salt bae chef to open a restaurant in London.
  
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• Lisa Appleton Lives Out Scotty T Fantasy As She Performs Sexual Moves On The Next Best Thing

  26-01-2017 12:50
  
  What... Is... Happening?
  
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• Your Cat Might Actually Be To Blame For Your Awful PMS

  26-01-2017 12:44
  
  *Tries and fails to resist making a pussy joke*
  
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• Taylor Swift & Zayn Malik Tease Plate Smashing ‘I Don’t Wanna Live Forever’ Video

  26-01-2017 12:19
  
  The full video is almost here!
  
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• Ex On The Beach Spoiler Video: Geordie Lass Zahida Allen ERUPTS In Explosive Meltdown Over Spin The Bottle

  26-01-2017 12:00
  
  Don't miss brand new Ex On The Beach, Tuesdays at 10pm - only on MTV!
  
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• You Can Transfer Your Pokémon Now And It Changes EVERYTHING

  26-01-2017 11:47
  
  Get the squad back together from your old Pokémon games!
  
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• Ed Sheeran Officially Announces 2017 Tour Dates Kicking Off In March

  26-01-2017 11:36
  
  Find out when Ed's coming to town HERE...
  
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• Marnie Simpson & Lewis Bloor Reunite At NTAs And Prove They’re More Loved Up Than Ever Before

  26-01-2017 11:30
  
  Yesss!
  
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• Kylie Jenner Unveils Her Enormous Valentine's Day Cosmetics Collection

  26-01-2017 11:12
  
  Kylie Jenner announces her Valentines Day collection
  
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• Let's post: David Bowie stamps – in pictures

  26-01-2017 11:03
  
  Have a look at the set of stamps the Royal Mail is issuing to pay tribute to David Bowie, featuring six albums and four live toursNews: David Bowie commemorated by Royal Mail stamps
  Continue reading...
  
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• Kasabian & More Announced To Play Reading & Leeds 2017

  26-01-2017 11:03
  
  Kasabian will join Muse this August!
  
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• The Brink: Knucks

  26-01-2017 10:56
  
  Read more here...
  
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• Tom Grennan Sang At A Party Once & Now He's Performing With Chase & Status...!

  26-01-2017 10:30
  
  We get to know our next Brand New For 2017 nominee...
  
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• Britt Robertson Reveals Boyfriend Dylan O'Brien Once Mistook His Trapped Wind For Appendicitis

  26-01-2017 10:03
  
  We've all been there.
  
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• David Bowie commemorated by Royal Mail stamps

  26-01-2017 09:38
  
  The set of 10 stamps, celebrating four tours and six albums including Hunky Dory, Heroes and Blackstar, goes on sale 14 MarchDavid Bowie stamps – in pictures
  David Bowie is to be commemorated with a full set of 10 postage stamps from the Royal Mail. The stamps, which go into circulation from 14 March, commemorate six Bowie album covers as well as four of his tours. Explaining the decision for the tribute to Bowie, Philip Parker of Royal Mail said: “For five decades David Bowie was at
  
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• Selena Gomez Shares First Trailer For Her New Netflix Show 13 Reasons Why

  26-01-2017 09:23
  
  It's set to be the new Pretty Little Liars.
  
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• Boulez in the jungle: avant-garde music's indigenous soul

  26-01-2017 09:00
  
  Distracted from his composing and iconoclasm by the necessity of earning some money, a young Pierre Boulez found work with a Parisian theatre company. Three trips he made with them to South America changed him and his music forever
  The composer and conductor Pierre Boulez died in January last year, aged 90. He was the first of many great musicians to die in 2016 but his name was rarely mentioned in the end-of-year roundups, simply because he didn’t have the public prominence of David Bowie
  
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