Guardian Music — These four Norwegian girls make a joyous, reggae-influenced racket that recalls ska-pop pioneers the SpecialsHometown: Bergen, Norway.The lineup: Marie Amdam, Maria Råkil, Marie Moe and Embla Karidotter Dahleng.The background: How refreshing. An all... more info

Guardian Music — Record companies plan affordable alternative to Brits that will recognise variety and innovation as well as chart successMusic awards ceremonies are, as a rule, glitzy, champagne-fuelled affairs that celebrate chart-toppers and feature barely dressed... more info

Guardian Music — From Caribou to the Who, here are your favourite songs that say it's over, it's over, it's over. Warning: contains country musicBreaking up is hard to do, I noted rather glibly in my introductory blog to this topic. True enough. But the thing about d... more info

Guardian Music — A track from one of our favourite albums of last year gets the 'chop pop' treatmentReleased last year, Tracey Thorn's second solo album, Love and its Opposite, detailed the break-up of other people's relationships in excruciating detail. Over longing... more info

Guardian Music — Seven days with the musician more info

Guardian Music — Music can be helpful in dealing with the breakdown of a relationship and the rollercoaster of emotions that go with it. What other songs would you recommend to get through a divorce?Marvin Gaye – Here My Dear"I guess I'd have to say this album is d... more info

The Vinyl Villain — The decade that was the 80s is one that divides opinion on whether it was a good era for music. On the one hand, there were some really appalling things inflicted upon us.....Jive Bunny, Shakin Stevens, Joe Dolce, The Birdie Song, Cliff Richard bein... more info

Guardian Music — If St Etienne evoke memories of an idyllic London, this boy-girl duo do the same for beach resorts from Ayia Napa to IbizaHometown: Athens, Greece.The lineup: Sarah P (vocals), RPR (music).The background: It's only week three of January and already w... more info

Lost In Your Inbox — The strangest thing happened, a confluence of memories and events that doesn't happen very often. It's kind of hard to explain, but I'm going to try. I recently re-read Watership Down , which if you haven't read, you oug... more info

Guardian Music — A Christmas treat from Tracey Thorn, whose album Love and Its Opposite blew us away this yearHere's Tracey Thorn covering Sufjan Stevens's Sister Winter (you can hear the original here). Enjoy it on our stream or download it with additional Christmas... more info