SONG OF THE MONTH: Dopamine by Robyn (November 2025)

WORTH A LOOK? ****

Robyn’s 1st new music for 7 years breaks no new ground but serves instead as a reminder of why we fell in love with her brand of electronica served with her trademark glacial vocals.

  • Read on for reasons including how we hope Dopamine triggers a new album release
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Impact by SG Lewis, Robyn & Channel Tres (week beginning 21/8/20)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

What do you get if you introduce arguably the world’s most exciting pop star of the moment to a British singer-songwriter and a Compton rapper/producer?

  • Read on for reasons including why Impact is the sound of this summer’s dancefloors

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best Gig of 2019 so far

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2018 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2019 so far and what’s to come. Suede (twice), Shura and Bananarama are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best gigs of 2019 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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GIG REVIEW: Robyn at Alexandra Palace

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Alexandra Palace

WHEN? 12/4, tour runs until 17/8

SETLIST: Send To Robin Immediately; Honey; Indestructible; Hang With Me; Beach 2k20; Ever Again; Be Mine; Because It’s In The Music; Love Is Free; Between The Lines; Dancing On My Own; Missing U; Call Your Girlfriend; Trust Me; Stars 4 Ever; With Every Heartbeat; Human Being; Who Do You Love?

Fellow blogger A Humdrum Mum makes clear exactly what sort of fan she is when she reviews a gig and, in tribute, we’d explain here that we think Robyn’s 2010 Body Talk is 1 of our favourite ever albums but that the 8-year wait for follow up Honey meant it could never live up to the heightened expectation.

  • Read on for reasons including whether the 8-year wait for the Honey Tour was worth it Read More

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2019

  1. Dame Maggie Smith’s 1st theatrical performance in 12 years

When we raved about film There’s Nothing Like A Dame we never thought we’d see Dame Maggie tread the boards again but she returns to London for the 1st time in 12 years in a new one-woman play called A German Life based on the actual testimony of Brunhilde Pomsel, who once worked for Joseph Goebbels. Runs 6/4 to 11/5/19. Tickets The Downton Abbey film is expected to be released in September.

  • Read on for reasons including Sally Field, Bananarama tour, Jessie Buckley film & Game Of Thrones returns

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for October

  1. Dame Eileen Atkins in The Height Of The Storm

There’s Nothing Like A Dame and we loved the film of that name which starred Dame Eileen (pictured above) who appears here in this Florian Zeller drama with Jonathan Pryce (Game Of Thrones) at the Wyndhams 2/10 through 1/12. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Lady Gaga, Jim Broadbent, Dr Who goes Macbeth and Game Of Thrones in Hampstead

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best song of 2018 so far

We awarded 13 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2017 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2018 so far and what’s to come. Goodbye To Yesterday, Can’t Stop The Feeling and New Rules are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 8 best songs of 2018 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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ALBUM REVIEW: Nothing’s Real by Shura

WORTH A LOOK: *****

OUT: 8/7

TRACKLIST: (I); Nothing’s Real; What’s It Gonna Be; Touch; Kidz’n’Stuff; Indecision; What Happened To Us; (II); Tongue Tied; 2Shy; White Lies; The Space Tapes.

It’s noon on Saturday the day after the Brexit result triggered David Cameron’s resignation and Shura is telling the audience at Glastonbury’s Other Stage that her entire set is about break-ups.

  • Read on for reasons why Nothing’s Real is this summer’s soundtrack

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ALBUM REVIEW: Summer 08 by Metronomy

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: 01/07

TRACKLIST: Back Together; Miami Logic; Old Skool; 16 Beat; Hang Me Out To Dry; Mick Slow; My House; Night Owl; Love’s Not An Obstacle; Summer Jam.

Metronomy frontman Joseph Mount is explaining in interviews that he’s not going to tour this record.

  • Read on for why this may be Metronomy’s best ever album

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LIVE REVIEW: Shura

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: KOKO

WHEN: 1/6

SETLIST: Nothing’s Real; What’s It Gonna Be; Touch; Kids’n’Stuff; Indecision; What Happened To Us?; Just Once; Make It Up; 2 Shy; White Light.

Shura must have been disappointed when she realised her biggest London gig to date earmarked for the 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire had to be rearranged from 29/5.

  • Read on for why Shura’s debut album Nothing’s Real will soundtrack the summer

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