Zen FC Vinyl & CDs

Review: Not content with merely being one of the biggest selling indie bands of right now, Yard Act are busy carving themselves a tasty side hustle as A&R men, with their Zen FC label scooping up some of the most exciting other music around as well as their own. This album from Sheffield's long serving synth maverick Adrian Flanagan (Kings Have Long Arms, Eccentronic Research Council, International Teachers Of Pop) is not an obvious choice for the guitar slingers, being closer to electro pop than indie, but it's a compulsive and ingenious listen all the same. Written during lockdown, it follows the rise and fall of an imaginary superstar DJ, each song pushing the narrative along and featuring a plethora of guests, including Richard Hawley and Maxine Peake, both of whom feature at the album's 'comedown' conclusion.

Review: Who said music has nothing to say these days? In an age of plastic people distracted to the point of distraction from the shocking atrocities, privilege, inequality and prejudices that are frogmarching society into a death trap of a future, Benefits stand out like a beautiful sore thumb - battered, bruised, and British, they are the epitome of an 'issues band' and we welcome any opportunity to listen and write about them.

Like some sort of rabid Idles, here the Middlesbrough one man crew make noises that defy logic, twisted cacophonous bars of ravenous distorted sound, and then layer council estate spoken word over the top. Angry enough to make you feel like there is still hope, and innovative enough to make you wonder whether - in an increasingly risk-averse music industry - enough people will get to know and love them. Make sure you do.

Review: RECOMMENDED
The thing everyone needs to understand about the UK is the disparity between projected image and real life is almost as overwhelming as the rich-poor divide. On the one hand, there's posturing of pomp, pageantry, grandeur and decorum. Then you actually get here and realise there are really only two types of inhabitants of this island nation, and few of either have manners - those who only give a shit about themselves, and the often eccentric others who do want to help those they pass on the street.

Yard Act, arguably the best thing we've heard to come out of Leeds since the emergence of super-talented techno producer Happa, directly address the first category of British resident in this, their startlingly raw and delightfully off-centre debut album. From middle class trendies to Brexiteering belligerents, think Sleaford Mods providing a backing track to IDLES' observational poetry, with an added dose of Jarvis Cocker-esque theatrics, only less camp, much rawer.