Viva La Download: Coldplay crowned i-Kings of 2008

_Viva La Vida..._ biggest-selling digital release of the year

New Young Pony Club

The Optimist

Two Poems By: Alex MacDonald

Back across the Atlantic, on home turf, this week's new writing comes from London-based poet Alex MacDonald

LISTEN: New Cat Power & Lana Del Rey

Cat Power's new single sees her team up with Lana Del Rey

Dominic Voz

Right to the City

Composer Voz brings a glossy, rubbery sound palette to a fractured portrait of urban life

Rum Music For February Reviewed By Jennifer Lucy Allan

Molam gems, Ainu traditional music and experimental hurdy gurdy in Jennifer Lucy Allan's excursion into international sonic hinterlands

Arctic Monkeys Announce New Album

AM set for release in September

A Babylonian Tower: Marc Hollander’s Favourite Music

Marc Hollander's Aksak Maboul have released one of the albums of the year and his Crammed Discs label have consistently provided a wide-ranging soundtrack to the globe. He guides David McKenna through favourite albums in this week's Baker's Dozen

Some Major Rock & Roll Problems: Craig Finn’s Favourite Albums

Will Parkhouse speaks to the Hold Steady frontman about his thirteen most played LPs

T.O.M.B Record At Mayhem Grave

US black metal band sample field recordings taken at the grave of murdered Mayhem frontman Euronymous’ grave on LP Fury Nocturnus. Watch a new video for 'Awake...DARKNESS' below

To Dance & Disappear: Lauren Martin On Moscow’s Outline Festival

Lauren Martin heads to the Karacharovsky Mechanical Plant for a weekend of raving that's far from the interchangeable line-ups commonly found at Europe's electronic festivals. Photos thanks to Kieran Behan

A Criminal Record? Synchronicity By The Police 30 Years On

Julian Marszalek may have fond memories of being a pre-teen fan of The Police but as an adult he has slightly colder feelings about their farewell album

The Armed Unveil New Album, ‘Perfect Saviors’

They've also shared the Iggy Pop-featuring video for lead single 'Sport Of Form'

Bridie Jackson And The Arbour

New Skin

I Need A Double Dozen: Chris Corsano’s Favourite Albums

As he releases two new albums, the prolific drummer, improviser, and serial collaborator Chris Corsano takes Stewart Smith through 13 favourite records, from punk to jazz to his year spent listening only to Curtis Mayfield

Composites For A Generation: James Fry’s Baker’s Dozen

From the hits of Hot Chocolate and the trashy joys of Sigue Sigue Sputnik to the 'death jazz' of Miles Davis and the angst of Portishead, James Fry takes us through his life in thirteen albums