BOR

In the twenty-five years since The Hives exploded around the world, they have sold out stadiums and shared stages with everyone from AC/DC to The Rolling Stones. SPIN calls The Hives "the best live band on the planet" and Howlin' Pelle "the greatest frontman in rock," and the BBC dubbed the band "a force of nature." Rolling Stone named Veni Vidi Vicious one of the Top 100 Albums of the decade and "Hate To Say I Told You So" earned a spot on Pitchfork's Top 500 Songs of the 2000's. They have sold millions of albums world-wide with multiple RIAA Gold-certifications. In the time since Lex Hives, the band has released 2019's double A-side "I'm Alive"/"Good Samaritan" as well as a live album via Third Man Records, and embarked on a series of global tours. The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons marked a true renaissance for the band in 2023 hitting #1 in Sweden, #2 in the UK and worldwide touring. If that was THE COMEBACK, The Hives new record is all set to be THE TAKEOVER!

Saint Etienne’s new album, International, is their final album-length statement, after the group’s 35-year excursion through pop. A dreamlike drift with friends and collaborators, International features cameos from the higher echelons of pop - 80s chart heroes, electro, acid house and all points in-between, from Vince Clarke to Nick Heyward, Confidence Man to Erol Alkan, Chemical Brothers, Orbital, Doves and Xenomania, through to the lesser known, but equally exhilarating Bradfordians Augustin Bousfield and Flash Cassette (an artist described as “sitting somewhere between Funkadelic and a SEGA Mega Drive”). Saint Etienne are the 90s band who never left us, never imploded, and never adhered to clichéd excess. They are a testament to getting along, getting on with creating something new and, of course, getting away with it.

Mono Inc.: Darkness 2025 [CD]

Meg Duffy of Hand Habits wrote new album Blue Reminder as a reaction to what one does when happiness actually comes knocking. After years of collaborating and touring with musicians like Kevin Morby and Perfume Genius, Duffy still draws on the solace of that community, but takes center stage, with their most assured, classic songwriting yet against a backstop of nuanced instrumentation and moving testimony. The record is a celebration of commitment: to being a more honest version of yourself, driven by a romantic love that recognizes the beauty of imperfection. Lead single “Wheel of Change” is perhaps the most joyous and anthemic song Duffy has ever made, with a chorus that remains stuck in your head, but the record as a whole traverses a myriad of emotions where the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.

Phillips Grant-Lee: In the Hour of Dust (Signed) [CD]

Reiersrud Knut Og Iver Kleive: Vidunderligst ... [CD]

White Lies: Night Light [CD]