The Tammy Shine: Ok Shine Ok

It took Tammy Ealom, front woman of Denver based punk band Dressy Bessy, 30 years to go out on her own with a solo album. Naming herself The Tammy Shine for this momentous occasion she was in full control of the complete process for what would become a collection of high energy tracks. The songs on Ok Shine Ok are raw and tough, as Ealom has learnt not to take shit from anybody.

Her guitar is always upfront, acting as the core for her blend of garage rock, grunge and punk. It all sounds so deceptively simple and straightforward, but her less is more approach leaves her plenty of room to make her lyrics about disastrous dates, and wanted (Love Letter) and unwanted (Junk Mail) postal deliveries.

Steven Wilson: two special shows @ Royal Albert Hall in London

Steven Wilson has announced two special shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 28 & 29. He and his band will be joined by Parallax Orchestra and a full choir. Pre-sale (for subscribers to his Substack) starts Wednesday 18th February 2026 at 10:00 AM. General on-sale on Friday 20th February at 10:00 AM:

» stevenwilsonhq.com

Jumble Hole Clough: The Man Holding The Horse's Hoof

Avant-garde musician Colin Robinson is reaching a new high on the lyrics front on The Man Holding The Horse's Hoof, the new album by his one-man project Jumble Hole Clough. He namechecks Steve Reich in Please Don't Stand On The Infinity Well, is haunted by a triggerhappy rodent (A Winged Squirrel with a Bazooka) and sneaks in a reference to an infamous ski jumper in a song about a coat of arms (Eddie the Eagle has Two Heads).

Overall Robinson is a twisted funky mood, especially in the two tracks about a subject dear to his heart: vehicles from yesterdays (The One-Eyed Matador and In a Bedford at an Eisteddfod). He huffs and puffs with adamant glee, throwing in shards of Adrian Belew-esqye guitar and using pretty much every percussive instrument he gets his hands on, plus a few choice field recordings and spoken interjections by Jim Ramsden and Nigel Lawson. Calling it eccentric doesn't come close for this one, his 51st album in all. Make no mistake, there is a method in his musical madness, but analyzing it to death would spoil the fun he is obviously having.

Icarus Phoenix: On my belly

If anything singer-songwriter Drew Danburry does not shy away from being straightforward in his lyrics. On my belly, the new single he wrote for his band Icarus Phoenix, is a jangling pop song about having doubts contemplating having offspring.

Lines like "Put a baby in me she said put a baby in me she said // Not on my belly or my face not on my belly or my face" likely won't make it past the stuck-up gatekeepers of mainstream playlists. Which is a damn shame, because these things happen in the real world and it comes with an ace melody. As per usual the track is also available as solo acoustic version.

Words about music (824): Aristotle

Music directly represents the passions of the soul. If one listens to the wrong kind of music, he will become the wrong kind of person.

Aristotle