Listen: Art Brut - 'Modern Art' [Record Store Day 2020]

Words: Saam Das

Having been moved back already on multiple occasions, Record Store Day UK 2020 finally launched today, August 29th. The "Day" has, in fact, been separated into three dates - with releases also due on 26th September (including 'Say My Name' by Destiny's Child on 12" vinyl) and 24th October (featuring Eminem's 'My Name Is' on 7"). For today's releases, we'd like to highlight Art Brut's special 'Modern Art' project, with three hundred personalised record sleeves, organised and released by Alcopop Records.

Preview: Twelve Of The Best Value UK Music Festivals In 2019

Words: Saam Das

Can you feel it coming? Festival season is almost well and truly under way so we figured we'd try to pick out some brilliant UK music festivals that we also think are brilliant value for money. On a per capita band basis, Glastonbury Festival and its behemoth of a line-up should probably be on here but with tickets around £250 quid, we've understandably opted more for smaller scale festivals for those with a lower budget.

Ten Choice Picks For Record Store Day 2019

Words: Saam Das

Yes, every day is record store day but today is the official 2019 Record Store Day - the twelfth annual iteration of a day that is a celebration of independent record stores across the world, driven by new and special releases. We've collated a list of ten choice picks from Record Store Day 2019, and in a change to our regular programming, you can view the list in reverse alphabetical order below.

Listen: Art Brut - 'Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out!' [New Track]

Words: Saam Das

Five barren years on from their 'best of' compilation, 'Top Of The Pops', it seemed fairly safe to assume that Art Brut were done and dusted. Far from it. We will soon hear the band's follow-up to their last studio album, 2011's 'Brilliant! Tragic!, out on the fantastic Alcopop Records no less. Hear the first taste of their new material, in the form of the spirited and predictably ludicrous 'Wham! Bang! Pow! Let's Rock Out! below.

Listen: Akira The Don + Friends - Living In The Future 2.5

Words: Saam Das

Following his brilliant cover of 'I Am Not A Robot', rapper/producer Akira The Don partially won me over. He's back with another great track - along with some pals - Big Narstie, MC Lars, Eddie Argos and Scroobius Pip. Listen to 'Living In The Future 2.5' below.

Art Brut! Top of the pops!

So has been the cry from Art Brut's charismatic frontman Eddie Argos for the past couple of years. But with the demise of the BBC's long running music show Top Of The Pops (Guardian article), many of their fans have resorted to an online petition to finally fulfil the Art Brut dream.

They were supposed to go on TOTP for eight weeks in a row and everything, or so they decreed in debut single Formed A Band. They even wrote a speedy number entitled Top Of The Pops, featuring all sorts including hot "new" property The Long Blondes. Download it at the bottom of the page. If you think the 'Brut deserve their shot then sign the petition here.

Now, Top Of The Pops has been suffering over the last few years but it's a British institution isn't it? That darned Andi Peters. I guess it is pretty redundant now but that didn't stop Guillemots being magic on it last week (YouTube link). Oh well.

Art Brut & Friends - Top Of The Pops
Art Brut - Emily Kane (my pick off the album)

Buy Bang Bang Rock & Roll at Amazon