Search results: U-4-Ya

Review: The original Bridgit Mendler soundtrack to the citrine teen drama movie of the same name sees a full version on vinyl LP this spring. Notable not only for its inclusion in the contemporary musical film, but also for its chart-topping success, the ten songs that make up the many acts of this high-school drama were destined to charm the pubescent masses, coinciding with the film's overarching theme of the school's students transcending use of after-school detention to musical effect, in order to overcome their personal struggles. Imagine Glee meets The Breakfast Club; a cabal of songwriters including Ali Dee, Maria Christensen, Bryan Todd and Jeannie Lurie lay down an array of sure-to-be hits for Mendler to perform on behalf of the cast here.

Review: Love 'em or hate 'em, NOW That's What I Call Music! are still going strong, and this time present four new special collector's editions, which together present 250 essential hits from the past 40 years on CD. This being the third of four, this CD homes in on the decade spanning 2003-2013, a golden era of chart pop centring on musical flavours of the likes of Gnarls Barkley, The Pussycat Dolls, Stereophonics and James Blunt. Set to exploit the deeply-ingrained recesses of memory of noughties kids - built up over childhoods spent parked up in front of the TV, marvelling at the spectacles of 4Music and MTV - NOW strike once again.

Review: Aziza Brahim's fantastic new album Mawja is a blend of Sahrawi roots music, folk, and contemporary sounds that reflect on the resilience and spirit of her homeland. Through haunting vocals and poetic lyrics, Brahim shares stories of displacement, longing, and hope, drawing from her experiences as a Sahrawi refugee. Backed by hypnotic rhythms, intricate melodies, and soul-stirring instrumentation, each track creates a rich tapestry of sound which means the record is more than just an album; it's a powerful testament to the human spirit and a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice. Brahim's music resonates deeply, transcending borders and connecting hearts across the globe.

Review: Stretched across three discs, this deliberately classics-heavy compilation does a decent job in joining the dots between r&b in the modern sense of the term (I.E smooth and soulful vocal workouts underpinned by hip-hop style beats) with the original American definition (music of black origin). In practice, that means hits by Fugees, Usher, Toni Braxton, Brandi & Monica and En Vogue sitting side by side with Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, the formative house brilliance of Ten City, the UKG-adjacent exploits of Craig David and Blazin' Squad, the pop-tastic songs of Pussycat Dolls, Cleopatra and Britney Spears, the street soul of Soul II Soul, and the tear-jerking reggae brilliance of Dawn Penn.

Review: The much loved NOW series has provided the soundtrack to many young people's lives over the decades and despite the changes in the way we all consume and purchase music, it seems to be thriving. It is currently in there middle of serving up bumper overviews of certain musical decades and this latest vast collection, NOW: Millennium 2004-2005, comes across four sides of yellow and white vinyl. This is pure and unadulterated pop from the biggest names in the game such as The Shapeshifters, Snow Patrol, Keane, George Michael and many more. A fun one for sure.