BBC News - UK — Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook opens a new Manchester club, based in the old Factory records offices. more info

Guardian Music — The fiercely independent, post-punk eardrum perforators are to reunite. But there's plenty of evidence that they are motivated by more than just a big pay chequeAsked in a 2006 interview if he would ever consider reforming Swans, the band he led from... more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — The hot sun is beaming down on the face of the rhythm guitarist playing onstage in Mexico in 1999. On occasions he gazes up to the sun, he is slightly blinded by its glare and he is annoyed that he has left his sunglasses behind in the dressing room ... more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — The Killers have once again come top of an Xfm poll, with their 2004 song ‘Mr Brightside’.Xfm listeners voted on what they thought were the top 1000 songs ever recorded and chose the Brandon Flowers penned song as the number 1.The track ... more info

Aquarium Drunkard — Following 9/11, the world seemed a bit colder. If there were an historical event that defined the 00s for the United States, it was certainly that one, and the disillusioned wake of its terror certainly felt chilly and uncertain. Maybe that’s why ... more info

Fantastic Weapon — I get really, really skeptical when bands who send me music to review list REALLY GOOD artists under their "Influences." So I was immediately expecting an aural atrocity when I visited Daddy Lion's myspace page and they had the following artists list... more info

Guardian Music — At this time of knees-up fun, you need menacing and foreboding music – and this London trio's synth-noir should be a vigorous corrective to all that mulled wineHometown: Hackney, London.The lineup: Gabriel Gurnsey, Dominic Butler, N Colk.The b... more info

Stereogum — The Drum' "I Felt So Stupid" is a really catchy song ... wait for that chorus. As I mentioned last time: On their MySpace they list the Smiths, the Legends, the Shangri-Las, the Tough Alliance, the Embassy, Orange Juice, and Joy Division as influence... more info

Guardian Music — These cerebral prog-poppers prove that Manchester is finally producing innovative, intelligent music againHometown: Manchester.The lineup: Duncan Wallis (vocals), Robin Richards (bass), Pete Broadhead (guitar), Dan Spedding (guitar), Andy Proudfoot (... more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — Dylan Moran has said that Oasis were always a boring band.The stand-up comedian told The Quietus that he much prefers the Arctic Monkeys to the now-split Manchester group.Moran said: "The Arctic Monkeys are very witty. It's a banging tune with funny ... more info