The Blow Monkeys have just released new single Long Lost Child from the band's forthcoming new studio album Birdsong.

Lead singer and guitarist Dr Robert is, to quote Uncut magazine's review of Birdsong, "in rude health" throughout the album's ten-tracks, with Long Lost Child being a great example.

Backed by fellow founder members Mick Anker (bass) and Neville Henry (sax), with Crispin Taylor on drums and additional musicians Toby Baker (keys), Gina Foster (vocals) ,Steve Sidelnyk (percussion) and the incredible string arrangements of Nigel Hopkins, Long Lost Child's deeply soulful groove finds Dr Robert ruminating on the topic of self-discovery.

"To a certain extent, we all carry the imprint of our first caregivers and how they shape our world view," says Dr Robert. "The conditioned responses that spring out of early childhood can sometimes run - and ruin - our lives without us even knowing it. It took me a lifetime and a lot of therapy and to see that. We have to become ourselves, even if it's painful. Thankfully, society today is much more open minded and willing to talk about stuff like this. So this is a new genre: Mental Health Soul Music!"

Fresh from co-writing Paul Weller's last hit single Rise Up Singing, producing the acclaimed Sweet Illusions album for Peter Capaldi and releasing the critically acclaimed side-project album The Instant Garden with folk icon Matt Deighton, it's clear Dr Robert is once again on a creative roll that's set to continue throughout 2025.

New Arcades are back with a new chapter with NRW. Presenting their next installment "Through Desolation". A synth driven album with a darker sound and tone, that still delivers the catchy anthems we all love New Arcades for. A must for all synthlovers.

Isaac Howlett, front person of acclaimed synth-pop outfit Empathy Test, unveils his latest solo single Spiralling - a raw, dance-floor-ready track addressing depression and anxiety from his own lived experience. Collaborating with the enigmatic European music collective A State of Flux, Howlett delivers a compelling blend of accessible hooks and emotional nuance, transcending genre boundaries.

Drawing from diverse electronic influences, Spiralling creates a soundscape that’s both immediate and immersive, pairing dance-floor rhythms with rich, emotionally layered textures. It’s a musical journey into the depths of inner turmoil.

“I’m in the privileged position of being asked to collaborate a lot, but rarely find time. However, when a deliciously dark demo entitled Spiralling landed in my inbox, I was immediately inspired. The lyrics come from something my late grandfather said which stuck with me; “depression runs in the men, on your mother's side”. I felt like a time-bomb waiting to explode.”
– Isaac Howlett

Behind the production, A State of Flux, known for its creative anonymity and fluid collective ethos, crafted a backdrop that marries both clarity and complexity...

“We wanted to create a musical backdrop that, on the surface, seemed immediately accessible, but also delivered on complexity that mirrored Isaac’s personal expression. It was a highly collaborative and fluid process where the track developed over a series of months with everyone contributing musical ideas.”
– Peter 7, A State of Flux