Some Things Never Change

When it comes to a new album by Robin Trower, some things never change. The guitar work will be breathtaking. The songwriting will be heartfelt and fearless. The vocal will siphon the soul. True to form, from the opening swoop of electric guitar, Something's About To Change is a thrilling encapsulation of everything fans love about the celebrated bandleader. And yet, as the title implies, this album finds Trower twisting his talent into bold new shapes. Released on Robin's 70th birthday, Something's About To Change announces a world-class musician at the top of his game. With his own V12 record label allowing Trower to bypass the spirit-sapping protocol of the modern industry, it's no wonder this new album sounds so vital.

Digitally remastered and expanded 30th anniversary deluxe edition of Devo’s 1988 album. Over the years this totally underrated album has become a true fan favorite, as well as a prediction of these unsettling times we live in. So, it seems only fitting it’s right now that Total Devo gets it’s first time reissue for all to hear. Back in 1988, when the airwaves were being homogenized by vapid pop, Devo set about creating their first album in four years. The result was this slice of overt irony, a dance orientated, back to basics, emotionally arch selection – including now classics ‘Baby Doll’ and ‘Disco Dancer’ – that twisted pop on it’s head by imitating in part the very music it mocked. Despite it’s industrial edge and unusual trademark quirk, the joke was so honest at the time that it was inevitably lost, but in the years since hindsight has this serving as a true testament to another of Devo’s misunderstood works of art.

DEVO 'Recombo DNA' is a 2-CD collection packed to its aluminum-wafered edges with 42 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS* which have been carefully cultivated from the effusively illustrated tapeboxes of the Official DEVO Archive. These recordings cover the period just after their first independent Booji Boy singles to the year before they sign with Enigma Records. In other words, for the first time on this planet, The Archivists are proud to be able to officially present to you Original Demos, Alternate Takes, Rough Mixes, Unissued Masters and Other Audio Arcana from the years DEVO were signed to Warner Bros Records. Augmented with almost a dozen scrumptious pre- and post-WB-era delights, 'Recombo DNA' collects over two-and-one-half hours of Prime DEVO Double Helix Fun.

The Howard Hewett/Jody Daniels/Jeffrey Daniels edition of Shalamar was in excellent form on Big Fun, Friends and The Look, but if one had to pinpoint the group's best release ever, the hands-down winner would have to be its fourth album, Three for Love. With Leon Sylvers III producing and members of Shalamar and Lakeside contributing to the writing, all of the pieces fell into place quite nicely. Shalamar enjoyed major hits with the irresistible "Make That Move" and the sentimental ballad "This Is for the Lover in You," and every bit as strong are the funky "Pop Along Kid" and the dreamy "Somewhere There's a Love." A non-musical point: when The Right Stuff reissued Three For Love on CD in 1997, the liner notes stated "copyright 1978," but in fact, the album wasn't released until late 1980; there's no way Three for Love could have even been recorded in 1978 because Hewett had yet to join Shalamar.

Recently I stumbled over the simplest yet most profound message, somewhere I least expected it - in a children s story. It said: "have courage and be kind." In my opinion this is all it takes and sums it all up. "Basically it's all quite simple!" "Have courage": be open, don't be afraid of change or the new and the unknown, dare to go out there and do things, believe in yourself and be who you really are. "Be kind": always consider, listen, include and appreciate the people and the world around you, because in one way or another we are connected with everyone and everything.

Supertramp followed an unusual path to commercial success in the 1970s, fusing the stylistic ambition and instrumental dexterity of progressive rock with the wit and tuneful melodies of British pop, and the results made them one of the most popular British acts of the '70s and ‘80s, topping the charts and filling arenas around the world at a time when their style of music was supposed to have fallen out of fashion…