For The Sake Of Song

"From the mountains of Madrid to the coast of Barcelona..." Gonna be in the presence of greatness tonight, as we've got tickets to see the Nobel-winning legend from Hibbing perform in our  Ciudad Condal , and in the classy Liceu opera house at that. It's the 30th year of the Never Ending Tour already, ain't that something? And wouldn't it be awesome if he pulled out this fitting old chestnut once again for a change? Cherry on top, Bob... Bob Dylan - Boots Of Spanish Leather (live Glasgow '98)

Canada calling, and we're listening. 'Cause some days all you need is a healthy dose of innocent, ramshackle indierock. Charmed, I'm sure. Nap Eyes - Boats Appear

The finest krautrock comes from Japan these days, and if this taster from the upcoming Minami Deutsch album is anything to go by, With Dim Light is gonna be a psychedelic trance monster that puts Godzilla to shame. Out next month on the mighty Guruguru Brain label, so start saving up, my tomodachi . Minami Deutsch - Tangled Yarn

Unlucky late sixties outfit from the Windy City plays a mean version of ye olde I Know You Rider . Lowdown dirty shame these guys never got to make another album. "March wind gonna come and blow all my troubles away..." Jam! Mountain Bus - I Know You Rider

Fool for you again... Spotlight on the Thompsons then so, with a glorious track each from four great albums. Pour Down Like Silver  ('75) happens to be my personal dark sufi folk fave, but Bright Lights Tonight ('74), Hokey Pokey (also '75) and Shoot Out The Lights ('82) are not too far behind. "Everything you do you do for me..." Richard & Linda Thompson - The Calvary Cross Richard & Linda Thompson - I'll Regret It All In The Morning Richard & Linda Thompson - For The Shame Of Doing Wrong Richard & Linda Thompson - Wall Of Death

A most mellow affair, the 15th effort from Hoboken's finest. Kaplan, McNew and Hubley sound more sixties than ever here, and that's not a bad thing at all. Lovely miniatures float by lazily, and all is well with the world. What riot could they possibly be on about? Yo La Tengo - She May, She Might

"As he rode down the drive, he turned on the radio and Buck Owens came through the old speakers. 'At least they're playing a good song,' he said as he leaned over to the cooler on the floor and found a beer. He opened it, took a long drink and sighed." That's from Willy Vlautin's new novel Don't Skip Out On Me . Helluva book. Buck Owens - Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache) An what's more, as Vlautin is also active in the band Richmond Fontaine, he and his chums recorded an atmospheric instrumental soundtrack of sorts to the book as well. Cool stuff all around. Richmond Fontaine - Meeting Billy In El Paso

"Smoke rings fill the air, blues is a-comin' my way..." Sick and tired of smoking guns, so how about a smoking six pack? Sooty sugar lump artwork - as usual - by Tinca . Bafflin' indeed, folks. Joe Maphis - Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) David Wiffen - Smoke Rings Lee Perry - Bafflin' Smoke Signal Voice Of The Seven Thunders - Out Of The Smoke Wooden Shjips - Black Smoke Rise Kikagaku Moyo - Smoke And Mirrors Inevitable smoky bonus tracks: The Smoke - My Friend Jack Lazy Smoke - There Was A Time

Lovely day out, spring has finally sprung, and have I got the ideal soundtrack for you: a lazy duet from '67 between future tropic�lia greats Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso. "There will always be hope in my heart..." Gal Costa e Caetano Veloso - Cora��o Vagabundo

"Things went on; Lennon got shot, Dylan got religion. He could never decide which depressed him most..." Just a quote from The Bridge by Iain Banks, my fave Scottish writer of all time. John Lennon - God Bob Dylan - Blessed Is The Name (Live '79)

Just some fine fine jazz I've been digging recently. Sit back, relax, and enjoy, my amigos da musica . Andrew Hill - Flight 19 Marion Brown - Spooks Roy Haynes - Moon Ray Don Cherry - Brown Rice

Mount Moriah frontwoman H.C. McEntire goes at it alone, and her soulful, gospel-tinged, and above all very southern brand of Americana sure proves a treat. She's from Durham in North Carolina, which has come to be known in some well-informed circles as Hiss Golden Messenger country, so it's no surprise their Phil Cook is involved here. Others from the Hiss orbit - Tift Merritt, Angel Olsen, William Tyler - and beyond - Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna - lend a helping hand, too. Out now on the still cool Merge label. H.C. McEntire - Baby's Got The Blues

"It was a head-trip, it was a friendship..." Robert Forster finishes a half-written, left-behind song by his longtime Go-Betweens partner Grant McLennan, deftly turning it into a homage to the pal who passed away so suddenly. "We will not see his kind again..." Robert Forster - It Ain't Easy

"And why do you tell me not to go there, would you jump into defences if I do?" Presenting an oblivious six pack for your listening pleasure. Sad sad art by Tinca . Benny Joy - Nowhere The Only Ones - Miles From Nowhere Shoes - Nowhere So Fast The Replacements - Nowhere Is My Home The Aints - It's Still Nowhere Bettie Serveert - This Thing Nowhere