Abandoned harps! pulp connections! bas jan tune in to the art-punk spirit of ’79

Reeling from illness and uncertain times, Skunk Anansie ’s future hung in the balance. But with new album The Painful Truth, they “stood on top of the cliff, held hands and jumped into the clouds”.

Forget for a moment that More is Pulp’s first album since We Love Life in 2001: it’s great just to have Jarvis Cocker, erudite popstar about town, back. He’s obviously always doing... stuff... but Coc

This month…

The Dead Daisies Lookin’ For Trouble SPV ...

Away from his day job as The National’s lugubrious frontman, MATT BERNINGER has reached back into his Ohio upbringing for a ruminative new solo record. But behind the childhood tales of gang fights, drowned train cars and Christmas tree farms lurks midlife melancholy. “I’m writing about trying to understand my own fear,” he tells Laura Barton

U.S. Girls ★★★★ Scratch It 4AD. CD/DL/LP ...