1. Peter Hook and Manchester Camerata – Joy Division Orchestrated
Back in 2019, my friend Paul and I went to the Royal Albert Hall to see this show - Hooky playing the songs of Joy Division, completely rearranged to be played by band and orchestra. It could have been awful, but it was HUGE.
We are going again to see the show at the Palladium on 10th September so finding this mini-documentary about that 2019 show has got me very excited!
2. RSD pt 2
I was very unfussed by RSD 2 this year - the only thing that caught my eye was Wild Mood Swings by The Cure. An album I didn't get at the time, but has really grown on me, especially The 13th, which is as strange and wonderful as anything they have ever written.
3. Pinged!
Ok, I would be lying to say getting pinged by the NHS App was a brilliant thing - it buggered up seeing The Orielles on Tuesday and it cost me £50 in a black cab to get home. But I did make my own Pinged playlist, which amused me lots - completely understand if you think this is tragic...
4. Hey Miki, you're so fine!
Miki Berenyi from the splendid Lush is back with her second album fronting Piroshka. Fellow bandmates include Justin Welch from Elastica, Michael Conroy from Modern English and Moose from, erm...Moose! It's an Indie/Britpop supergroup. Can't wait to properly listen to the album, xxx.
5. The Helicopter of the Holy Ghost
Billy Reeves from theaudience (his band with Sophie Ellis-Bextor) was involved in a truly awful car crash back in 2001 (see this week's article in the Guardian). Take the time to read the article - he has no memory of writing an album before the crash, and has finally felt ready to record to, with the help of some pretty cool musician friends. It's beautiful.
See you next week, stay safe, x