paulfcook

ALBUM REVIEW: RANIL Y SU CONJUNTO TROPICAL – GALAXIA TROPICAL - Joyzine 'Galaxia Tropical' is Analog Africa’s 43rd release and features a selection of tracks from Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical.

"Ranil’s voice is warm and unembellished as it tap dances over the percussion"

Paul F Cook reviews 'Galaxia Tropical' Analog Africa's compilation of tracks by Peruvian singer Ranil. 14 outstanding cuts to "to indulge all your rhythm needs".

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ALBUM REVIEW: AYKA – DOGGY BAG - Joyzine Ayka is the recording name of Norwegian-Turkish artist Ayça Lingaas and new album 'Doggy Bag' Doggy Bag is raw around the edges but totally captivating.

"it’s a breath of fresh air to listen to something that is unpolished, free from auto-tune, and truly genuine"

Paul F Cook reviews the "uncut gem" that is Ayka's new album 'Doggy Bag'.

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ALBUM REVIEW: ANNIE GARDINER – SLEEPING DOGS - Joyzine Sleeping Dogs is Annie Gardiner's second solo album under her own name and, once again, the emotive nature of her dark folk is captivating and replete with the poetry of storytelling and allusion.

"Annie Gardiner has gone subterranean deep to mine these precious songs from ancient caves and bring them into the light"

Paul F Cook reviews the "poetry of storytelling and allusion" of Annie Gardiner's new album 'Sleeping Dogs'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

LIVE REVIEW: DEATH MACHINE + ASTRID CORDES – HOTEL CECIL, COPENHAGEN - Joyzine The Death Machine gig is on a cold night in Copenhagen, and the warmth of venue Hotel Cecil is inversely proportional to the -3°C outside. Death Machine by name, life affirming by nature.

LIVE REVIEW: DEATH MACHINE + ASTRID CORDES – HOTEL CECIL, COPENHAGEN

Paul F Cook was Hotel Cecil in Copenhagen to see the "life affirming" and "widescreen wonder" of Death Machine with perfect support from Astrid Cordes with her "natural charm" and "fabulous voice".

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SINGLE REVIEW: LEG PUPPY 2.0 – LANYARD MAN - Joyzine ‘Lanyard Man’ is a bittersweet release as 2026 is Leg Puppy 2.0’s 10th Anniversary bringing their 10th, and final, album.

"This is a look at a life that is every bit as plastic and disposable as the lanyard itself"

Paul F Cook reviews the "unsettling backdrop" and "inbuilt sneer" of Leg Puppy 2.0's new single 'Lanyard Man'.

@legpuppy20.bsky.social
@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: YĪN YĪN – YATTA! - Joyzine Yatta! Is the new album from Maastricht band YĪN YĪN who manage to balance an eclectic range of musical styles such as Italian and Space Disco, Library Music, and psychedelic sounds.

"the spaced out sounds of Italo Disco, library music, psychedelia, and guitars that can be surf in one track, sitar-like in another"

Paul F Cook reviews the "eclectic range of musical styles" on YĪN YĪN's new album 'Yatta!'

@paulfcook.bsky.social

SINGLE REVIEW: CHROMA – STRAIGHT MEN - Joyzine CHROMA announce their new album (out in April) with a bang as they release the single ‘Straight Men’ which tackles the attitude of men towards women head-on.

"Knockout riffs & driving rhythms...an amazing vocal performance that is part sneer, part fear"

Paul F Cook the "glam rock power" of CHROMA's new single 'Straight Men'. Out on Alcopop! Records.

@chromabanduk.bsky.social
@ilovealcopop.bsky.social
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ALBUM REVIEW: IMARHAN – ESSAM - Joyzine 'Essam' is the fourth studio album from Imarhan and is a swaying, undulating, uplifting joy and their finest release to date.

"a swaying, undulating, uplifting joy"

Paul F Cook reviews the "supreme sense of family and friendship" woven into Imarhan's new album 'Essam'. Released through City Slang Records.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

Do It! 😄

And how does it sound? Any crackers on there?

Things of 2025: Joyzine Editor Paul Maps shares his favourite music and culture of the year - Joyzine It's the final day of our Things of 2025 celebration and we end with the choices of Joyzine's founder and editor since 2003, Paul Maps.

THINGS OF 2025 #8 - PAUL MAPS, EDITOR

It's the final day of Things of 2025 with a selection from Joyzine's founder Paul Maps which Includes albums from New Eves & Deerhoof, Slime City‘s ‘This Song Costs £2,000’, 'Only Connect' & 'Alma’s Not Normal' on TV & the great work of Music Venue Trust.

THINGS OF 2025: PAUL F COOK SHARES HIS FAVOURITE MUSIC AND CULTURE OF THE YEAR - Joyzine Joyzine's Deputy Editor shares his music and culture highlights of 2025.

THINGS OF 2025 #7 - PAUL F COOK
Today it's Deputy Editor Paul F Cook's highlights include albums by Cerys Hafana, Death Machine, Ghostwoman, Felbm, Dead Pioneers Pip Blom & Willem Smit, Adam Ross' single & Chris Frantz's book 'Remain In Love'.

@songsbyadamross.bsky.social
@felbm.bsky.social

My 100th review for Joyzine in 2025!

ALBUM REVIEW: HAYWARDxDÄLEK - Joyzine On the new release 'HAYWARDxDÄLEK', rapper/producer Dälek has worked with drummer Charles Hayward bringing New Jersey and South East London together in a collision of industrial beats and unsettling s...

"unresolved chords and beats that sometimes keep the ship from crashing on the rocks and at other times are the rocks" + "the power & clarity of Dälek’s voice"

Paul F Cook reviews rapper/producer Dälek's collaboration with drummer Charles Hayward on 'HAYWARDxDÄLEK'.

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SINGLE REVIEW: iiis – CHAIRS / ARMS - Joyzine iiis (pronounced ‘eyes) are an Oxford-based 3-piece and their new double-A single is 'Chairs' and 'Arms' which demonstrate beautiful restraint and a compelling poetic tunefulness.

"two tracks that demonstrate beautiful restraint and a compelling poetic tunefulness"

Paul F Cook reviews the "quiet tension" of iiis new double-A single 'Chairs'/'Arms'.

@iiisbandoxford.bsky.social
@paulfcook.bsky.social

SINGLE REVIEW: GASOLINA – THIS TIME OF YEAR / EXPENSIVE - Joyzine ‘This Time of Year’ and ‘Expensive’ are festive tunes from Gasolina, out on the PNKSLM label.

"It scores 100% on the Carey-o-meter, gets a solid 11 out of 10 for ‘sing-a-long-ability"

Paul F Cook reviews the "jingle and tinkle, major to minor" of Gasolina's new double-A release '‘This Time of Year’ & ‘Expensive’. A Christmas cracker on PNKSLM.

@pnkslm.bsky.social
@paulfcook.bsky.social

LIVE REVIEW: BLIND YEO + PICTISH TRAIL – THE JAM JAR, BRISTOL, 21/11/25 - Joyzine Paul F Cook reviews the uplifting, life affirming and joyous gig by Pictish Trail and Blind Yeo at The Jam Jar, Bristol on 21 November 2025

"an evening that was uplifting, life affirming and joyous"

Paul F Cook reviews the "driving groove" of Blind Yeo with support from the "mellifluous and mental" Pictish Trail, live at The Jam Jar in Bristol.

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@pictishtrail.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: ELIJAH MINNELLI – CLAMS AS A MAIN MEAL - Joyzine Ever wondered what folk songs would be like re-worked as dub plates then Elijah Minnelli has you covered on his new album 'Clams As A Main Meal'.

"this album folds folk and dub into a perfectly crafted whole"

Paul F Cook reviews the "folk dipped in reggae colours" of Elijah Minnelli's outstanding new album 'Clams As A Main Meal'

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SINGLE REVIEW: LINDSEY TROY – I’VE SEEN THE WILLOW TREES - Joyzine 'I've Seen The Willow Trees' is the new song from Lindsey Troy and her first solo material since her duo Deap Vally split.

"a wonderful beginning to a new chapter in Lindsey Troy’s musical life"

Paul F Cook reviews the "powerful and tender" ballad '‘I’ve Seen The Willow Trees’ the new solo single from Lindsey Troy.

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ALBUM REVIEW: LE GRAND COUTURIER – LE GRAND COUTURIER - Joyzine 'Le Grand Couturier' is the self-titled second album from Jean-François Riffaud, Rachel Langlais, and Clément Vercelletto, a trio who know their way round the French experimental scene and have taken ...

"This is a Tiki bar run by Tom Waits in the basement of One-Eyed Jacks from Twin Peaks"

Paul F Cook reviews the "Hawaiian fever dream" of Le Grand Couturier's eponymous album, released on the wonderfully eclectic UJNSQ label.

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ALBUM REVIEW: SESSA – PEQUENA VERTIGEM DE AMOR - Joyzine Sessa is the recording name of São Paulo-based singer, guitarist and instrumentalist Sergio Sayeg and his new album Pequena Vertigem De Amor (roughly translates as ‘the vertigo of love’) harks back to...

"as effortlessly cool as any Brazilian album from the golden age"

Paul F Cook reviews the lush sounds and laid back beauty of Sessa's new album 'Pequena Vertigem De Amor'.

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ALBUM REVIEW: DAS KOPE – BRUTAMONTE - Joyzine Das Kope is Brazilian-born, Los Angeles-based psych-pop artist who draws from his love of psychedelia, krautrock, bossa nova and post-punk who describes his music as "The Beach Boys trapped in a Black...

"a woozy, tape-warped, scuffed up universe that had me hooked from the opening track"

Paul F Cook reviews the "gritty beauty" of 'Brutamonte', the new release from Das Kope.

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@daskope.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: THE FLOWER PRESS – SLOWDANCE - Joyzine The Flower Press is a most fitting name as the new album 'Slowdance' feels more rooted in the country than the city and, like the music it contains, manages to capture the essence of being outdoors wh...

"Like the best watercolourists or oil painters, he captures a sense of landscape beautifully"

Paul F Cook reviews the "somnambulistic poetry" of The Flower Press' new album 'Slowdance'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

ALBUM REVIEW: FF8282 – A THIN MEMBRANE BETWEEN HER HANDS - Joyzine April Emily, recording under the name ff8282, has released their new album 'a thin membrane between her hands', a wonderful soundscape that swims in ambient waters and soothes as much as it treats the...

"a sonic forcefield against the outside world"

Paul F Cook reviews the "understated power of soundscapes" on ff8282's new album 'a thin membrane between her hands'. Released by 4000 Records.

@4000.bsky.social
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SINGLE REVIEW: DRINK THE FIRST LIGHT – ADAM ROSS (FEAT C DUNCAN) - Joyzine 'Drink The First Light' is the new standalone single from Adam Ross and features fellow Scot C Duncan and three-and-a-half-minute slice of perfect pop.

"a three-and-a-half-minute slice of perfect pop"

Paul F Cook reviews the "magic-hour warmth" of Adam Ross's new single ‘Drink The First Light’, out on Fika Recordings.

@songsbyadamross.bsky.social
@fikarecordings.com
@paulfcook.bsky.social

FILM/DVD REVIEW: LE QUAI DES BRUMES (PORT OF SHADOWS, 1938) 4K RESTORATION - Joyzine Le Quai Des Brumes (Port Of Shadows, 1938), directed by Marcel Carné is a film that foreshadows film noir and the French New Wave as much as it was made at a time of great apprehension for a second gr...

"You can hide but you can’t run"

Paul F Cook reviews the 1938 French classic film 'Le Quai des Brumes' ('Port of Shadows') now available as a 4K restoration.

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SINGLE REVIEW: ANNIE GARDINER – HERO’S HEM - Joyzine Annie Gardiner's new single ‘Hero’s Hem’ is a return to a more folk-inspired sound, underpinned by the quick pulse of plucked guitar chords and some lush strings.

"as satisfying as a murmuration at dusk in summer"

Paul F Cook reviews the mellifluous vocals and soaring strings of Annie Gardiner's new single 'Hero's Hem', taken from the forthcoming album 'Sleeping Dogs'. Released on her own Crystal Fuzz label

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ALBUM REVIEW: ORCHESTRA GOLD – DAKAN - Joyzine Orchestra Gold was a band formed in 2015 by guitarist and arranger Erich Huffaker with singer and percussionist Mariam Diakite and 'Dakan' is their new album fusing the rhythmic bounce of African trad...

"Orchestra Gold harness the energy of their sound to focus everything into a hugely uplifting and joyous whole"

Paul F Cook reviews the "rhythmic bounce of African traditional music & riff-heavy punch of psychedelic rock" on Orchestra Gold's new album 'Dakan'.

@paulfcook.bsky.social

SINGLE/VIDEO REVIEW: CLUTTER – SUPERSTAR - Joyzine Clutter are one of the rising stars on the PNKSLM label and 'Superstar' is their new single.

"garage rock with the anger of 80’s post-punk"

Paul F Cook reviews the "splashy growl" of Clutter's new single 'Superstar'. Out on the always amazing PNKSLM label.

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@pnkslm.bsky.social

EL ELU KU (ep), by The Happy Somethings 4 track album

We've just let loose a new ep!
thehappysomethings.bandcamp.com/album/el-elu...
4 brand new songs for anyone who would like them...
😃😍😎
#newmusic