Guardian Music — Don Van Vliet shouldn't be seen as a 'weirdo' – he had pop tricks up his sleeve and his most difficult music entered the top 20There's one Captain Beefheart song that I haven't been able to get out of my head since his death was announced. Sue Egyp... more info

Guardian Music — Discordant and mesmeric, the 1960s Magic Band singer Don Van Vliet was rhythm and blues based but completely unorthodox; latterly he won fame as an artistCaptain Beefheart, Don Van Vliet, who has died at the age of 69, was one of the most influential... more info

Guardian Music — Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, was mysterious, alchemical, inexplicable and unrepeatableHe never sold many records. His biggest hit album, Lick My Decals Off Baby, reached number 20 in the UK in 1970. But in a recording career that lasted from... more info

Core News — “Ras Kwame introduces a selection of amazing dubstep moments from the Radio 1 and 1Xtra archives, including live sessions, DJ mixes and interviews.” Dubstep Takeover Ras Kwame’s Dubstep Archives BBC 1Xtra 2010-12-12 [Hotfile download] Tracklist... more info

Guardian Music — Paul Morley introduces his discussion with Simon Napier-Bell, former manager of Wham!, mentor to Marc Bolan and lover of pop and pop starsLet me count the ways that you could describe Simon Napier-Bell, and also the ways that confirm that if you want... more info

Altsounds — Album out digitally now and physically January 24th 2011 through Hypnote www.myspace.com/thechemistrysetuk (http://www.myspace.com/thechemistrysetuk) Psychedelic-Pop band The Chemistry Set have quite a history. Flexidisc kings and veterans of the... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Tongue said... ALIEN SEX FIEND - The Singles 1983-1995 THE MUMMIES - Death By Unga Bunga!! THE GHASTLY ONES - Unearthed SHADOW PROJECT - Shadow Project THE TRASHWOMEN - The Trashwomen vs Deep Space undeadfuzz http://youngmosstongue.blogspot.com Levi... more info

Guardian Music — Japanese manufacture has stopped and soon the world's first low-cost, portable music player will go the way of BetamaxFew objects evoke the 1980s as much as the Sony Walkman, bringing to mind memories of hours spent untangling chewed cassette tapes a... more info

Guardian Music — Stepping in at 6Music, John Peel's son Tom Ravenscroft is proving a real chip off the old blockThis week saw the anniversary of John Peel's death, six years ago on Monday. He was often mentioned in the campaign to save 6Music, a station many regard a... more info

Guardian Music — They were never handy enough to be as ubiquitous as MP3 players – yet cassette Walkmen reshaped how music was heardOccasionally, when stuck on a bus next to someone whose MP3 player is turned up to 11, letting all of us enjoy a noise that goes "Tss... more info