As the ever-more saddening images of Whitney Houston’s final days and hours are thrust into focus via the tabloids, I can’t help but want to push them from view – but the multiple pile-up that was her life of late seems impossible to look away from. For a girl who grew up in the 80s [...]

2012 is most definitely London’s year, but it seems to us that it could also be a landmark 12 months for Emeli Sandé. The Scottish singer has already been named as the Critics’ Choice at this year’s Brit awards, following in a long line of success stories including Adele and Jessie J. Having had her [...]

Way back when, in the time when I only had 57 Facebook friends (imagine) and when Google Plus was just a glint in Larry Page’s eye, I told you Gotye was ace. In fact, I even went so far as to name his second album Like Drawing Blood as my album of 2008, and interviewed [...]

Photo: John Marshall With less than six weeks to go till The Brits, last night saw the stars turn out to hear the Brits nominations for 2012, swanking it up at London’s Savoy with their host DJ Greg James. The big winners at the halfway stage with most nominations are Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and [...]

I think he might be a bit excited about his new daughter, Blue Ivy. In the song, Jay-Z reveals that Beyonce suffered a miscarriage prior to giving birth to Blue, but most of all the track bubbles over with the enthusiasm of a first-time father, even including his new daughter’s gurgling on the track. It’s [...]

Farewell then, 2011. You had your moments, but it’s time to move on now. Chop chop. And yes, I know I’m a little late with my Best Albums list, but blame Christmas and all those delicious mince pies and mulled wine that fogged my brain. So what did the past 12 months bring? Musical highs [...]

I’ve long been a fan of Paolo Albertazzi – the artist formerly known as Boyde. To greet the New Year he’s giving away his new single Love Like You’ll Never Get Hurt, a beautiful bite of electronica that builds to a gorgeously lilting crescendo. If it ticks your box, check out his Soundcloud page for [...]

So this is Christmas, and what have you done? I’ve listened to a whole bunch of new music this year – but frankly, what’s new music when it’s now considered OK to play Wham!’s Last Christmas at crazy volumes? Nowt, that’s what. However, it’s not all about Mariah, Wham! and The Pogues, despite what radio [...]

Photo credit: Becky Rui (www.beckyrui.com) It’s the 25-year anniversary of Wham! The Final and to celebrate, we caught up with Wham!ettes Pepsi and Shirlie to talk about the old days. Still close after all these years, the pair were a hoot to interview, cackling their way through a forest of memories…

Erasure, The Roundhouse, London – October 25th 2011 I first saw Erasure on The Innocents tour in 1988 at the Hammersmith Apollo. Back then, Andy Bell was a blur of glitter and glamour, belting out the group’s hits while camping it to the max. For a teenager from Southend, this was about the most intoxicating [...]