Jim F, Author at Backseat Mafia

Album Review: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley – Simigwa (Strut Records Reissue)

Strut Records continues its celebration of Ghana’s legendary Essiebons label with the official reissue of Simigwa, the groundbreaking 1975 album by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. Recognized as a cornerstone of Ghanaian highlife…

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News: EFG London Jazz Festival 2025 Announces First Wave of Artists

The EFG London Jazz Festival returns for its 33rd edition from 14-23 November 2025, bringing together a diverse lineup of global talent for ten days of innovative and boundary-pushing music.…

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Album Review: Gnod & White Hills – Drop Out III; A Psychedelic Resurrection Unleashed

With their extensive European and UK tour on the horizon—including their debut collaborative performance at Roadburn Festival—Gnod & White Hills have unearthed Drop Out III, the definitive edition of their…

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Meet: Zach Condon / Beirut ahead of his new album A Study of Losses and European dates

After a prolific yet challenging few years, Zach Condon returns with A Study of Losses, the most expansive Beirut album to date. Commissioned as a soundtrack for a Swedish acrobatic…

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Album Review: Barry Hyde – Miners’ Ballads; A deeply personal folk concept album

Barry Hyde, best known as the frontman of The Futureheads, ventures into deeply personal and historical territory with Miners’ Ballads, released on his own Sirenspire Records. The album is a…

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Album Review: Joe Armon-Jones – All The Quiet, Volume 1; A bold fusion of jazz, funk, and dub.

Joe Armon-Jones has long been at the forefront of the UK’s thriving jazz scene, blending deep grooves, exploratory improvisation, and an ever-expanding sonic palette. All The Quiet: Volume 1, the…

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News: Shack Announce First Tour in 18 Years—Liverpool Homecoming Sells Out in Hours

Beloved Liverpool band Shack have announced their first tour since 2007, reuniting Michael and John Head with original bassist Pete Wilkinson for a series of highly anticipated shows. The band’s…

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Meet: Resurrecting ‘Dropout’: We chat with White Hills as they and GNOD Reignite a Classic

Fifteen years ago, psych-rock explorers White Hills and GNOD put out Dropout, a collaboration that, at the time, was just another experiment in their ever-expanding catalog. Yet, unbeknownst to them,…

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News: Reception: The Wedding Present Musical Premieres in Leeds This Summer

A brand-new musical featuring the songs of David Gedge, The Wedding Present, and Cinerama will premiere at The Warehouse in Holbeck, Leeds, from August 22 to September 6, 2025. Written…

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Track: The Perfect English Weather – Caroline of Brunswick Square; Popguns duo hit the heights

Well, If there’s a more beautiful slice of indie pop released this year, we’ll eat our ill-fitting cardigans. With Caroline of Brunswick Square, The Perfect English Weather return after a…

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