John Peel – Essentially Pop

Essentially Pop

Pop essentials and a little bit more

READ ALL ABOUT IT – New Book Tells The Story Of The Front Page, The Tiny Nightclub That Brought Legendary Live Music To Carlisle

November 24, 2020

A Few months ago I reviewed a book by Paul Talling which heralded London’s Lost Music Venues. An exercise in nostalgia, Talling’s work also underlined…

15
Shares

JUST DESSERTS – Blancmange Frontman Neil Arthur On Striving For Simplicity In His Songwriting

October 11, 2017

Though frontman Neil Arthur is disarmingly modest about their achievements, Blancmange were one of the most successful bands to emerge from the experimental electronic…

15
Shares

DAZE RUN AWAY – Frontman Guy Chadwick Gives The Inside Story On The House of Love Ahead Of Their Headlining Show At Indie Daze 4

September 18, 2017

Singer-songwriter Guy Chadwick and his guitar hero sidekick Terry Bickers were being mentioned in the same breath as The Smiths creative partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr.

Yet just as they were at the apogee of their powers, it all started to go wrong.

15
Shares

YOU CAN’T MOAN CAN YOU? – David Gedge On More Than 30 Years As Leader Of The Wedding Present

November 27, 2016

In the annals of Indie rock, David Gedge is one of the last great survivors. While other great hopes and next big things crash…

15
Shares

Indie band Khartomb return with their first new music in more than 30 years

ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT – ’80s Indie band Khartomb Resurface After More Than 30 Years Away

June 19, 2016

There are plenty of artists who’ve had long gaps between releases – Kate Bush, David Bowie and ABC to name but a few.

But indie groovers Khartomb are in a class of their own, having just reemerged with their first new release since – wait for it – 1983.

15
Shares

New Salient Braves EP - They Must Have Seen Me Coming

NORTHERN SOULS – Barnsley’s Salient Braves Kick Up The ’80s On New Five-Track EP

June 4, 2016

Salient Braves’ shambling sound is shot through with nostalgia, reviving the spirit of the ’80s for the social media generation.

15
Shares

The Essential Weekly Playlist of: Sean Hocking

January 8, 2016

Based in Hong Kong, Sean Hocking is the founder and owner of Metal Postcard Records. An avid listener of John Peel from the late 1970s onwards, Sean discovered, between the hours of 10pm and midnight, when Peel’s show was aired, the true breadth of music available. We asked Sean to narrow down his top 10 “can’t live without” tracks.