This month…

Finding poignancy in the dread and dislocation of modern living, London four-piece DRY CLEANING have garnered admirers including Nick Cave, Grace Jones and Jeff Tweedy. As new album Secret Love refines their nervy post-punk sprechgesang, the band set their sights on new targets. “Art and humour are our main weapon,” they tell Stephen Troussé

Black And Blue UMC/POLYDOR

From The Bottom Of An Old Grandfather Clock (reissue, 2004) DEAD OCEANS

London’s post-punk seismographers pick up more weird vibrations on their third album. By Victoria Segal. Illustration by Cold War Steve.

SPARKS AND SUEDE KEEP IT SPIKY, BRYAN FERRY RELAXES INTO A NEW ERA AND ANDY BELL SERVES UP A MASTERCLASS IN HOOK-LADEN POP 01 SPARKS MAD! (TRANSGRESSIVE) Sparks may have landed on a new record label i