Ian Wade

Stroppy, Optimistic, Overdressed Young Men: Robert Elms Remembers the Blitz Club

Blitz: The Club That Created the Eighties, a new book by Robert Elms, returns the reader to a bygone London of squats full of future popstars and cans of Red Stripe to recall the nightclub that birthed Spandau Ballet and Visage and might just have invented the future

Saint Etienne

International

The final album from Bob, Pete and Sarah. And they're going out with a bang, finds Ian Wade

Low Culture Essay: Ian Wade on Queer As Folk

In this month's subscriber essay, Ian Wade writes on how pioneering British gay drama Queer As Folk, screened by Channel 4 in 1999, reflected a generation's experiences of coming out and discovering their identity

The Ultimate Fuck You: McAlmont & Butler’s ‘Yes’ Revisited

Andy Bell

Ten Crowns

Erasure singer heads to Nashville, belts out a suite of ten big pop anthems seasoned with a healthy dash of club music, gospel and Debbie Harry

Transcendental Cheap Magic: Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ At 40

On 3 December 1984, Wham! released a Christmas single that over the years would lose none of its power despite becoming a sonic monolith of the festive season. Ian Wade reflects on how the song has haunted his life, and the strange melancholy of a Christmas pop death.

The Strange World Of… Gay Disco

Following the publication of his new book 1984: The Year Pop Went Queer, Ian Wade offers up a guide to ten key tracks from the era's gay dancefloors, from Eartha Kitt to Evelyn Thomas

The Show: Michael Cragg’s Wild Ride Through Early-00s Pop Music

With his new book *Reach for the Stars*, Michael Cragg explores the backstage tears and Prozac prescriptions that fuelled the legendary stars of the new millennium, from Girls Aloud to Atomic Kitten

Depeche Mode

Memento Mori

Now stripped back to a two-piece, Depeche Mode find a remarkable new economy, finds Ian Wade

Fiddlers On The Doof: Decius Vol.1

Lias Saoudi, Fats McCourt, Maggie The Cat and Douglas Lucas join the brothers May for a sordid mandisco manifesto

Love & Ecstatic Dancing: Soft Cell & Human League Go Long

Four decades ago Human League (as The League Unlimited Orchestra) and Soft Cell revolutionised the art of remixing and cemented the idea of the remix album in the public consciousness, says Ian Wade

Reissue Of The Week: LCD Soundsystem’s The Long Goodbye

As LCD Soundsystem's supreme 2011 gig receives a lavish 10th anniversary reissue, Ian Wade delves into a completist's dream of a performance, and ponders the significance of 'farewell' gigs

Feel Like Dancin’? Jake Shears’ Favourite Albums

We mark Pride month with sometime Scissor Sister Jake Shears as he guides Ian Wade through 13 favourite records, from Elton John to Bongwater, Ween, Mr Bungle, Aphex and Ike & Tina Turner

Why Kink-Shaming Has No Place At Pride

As cities around the world gear up for their annual Pride parade, Ian Wade argues that the kink and fetish community are a vital part not only of historical struggle of the LGBT+ community, but its present too. Photos thanks to Sean Ivermee

Live Report: Saint Etienne Play Tiger Bay At The Barbican

Ian Wade goes to London's Barbican for "a bunch of trad. arr. bangers" from Saint Etienne's third album. Live photography by Jamie Fry

The Chemical Brothers

No Geography

With guest vocals from Japanese rapper Nene and Norwegian singer/songwriter AURORA, The Chemical Brothers' latest, No Geography, is up there with their best, finds Ian Wade

Brian Eno

Here Come The Warm Jets / Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy / Another Green World / Before And After Science

Four albums of peak Eno, restored and re-released on delicious vinyl.

Saint Etienne

Home Counties

LIVE REPORT: The Human League

Touring in support of the kind of retrospective that the band, and their fans, truly deserve, Ian Wade finds the Human League showcasing their versatility and their steadfast commitment to being — as the record says — "a very British synthesizer group." (Photos by Maria Jefferis.)

Tiga

No Fantasy Required

Evergreen Thirteen: Will Young’s Favourite Albums

Following the release of his sixth album, 85% Proof, last year the singer-songwriter changes into some comfortable trousers and talks Ian Wade through his 13 all-time favourite records

Peaches

Rub

Chemical Brothers

Born In The Echoes

Róisín Murphy

Hairless Toys

Ghost Culture

Ghost Culture

Strange Refuge: Holly Johnson Discusses His Favourite Albums

In our final Baker's Dozen of 2014, Ian Wade talks to the former Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman following the release of Europa, his first solo album in 15 years, about his all-time top 13 LPs

LIVE REPORT: John Grant

Ian Wade reports on the Czars frontman's collaborative performance with the Royal Northern Sinfonia at the Southbank Centre in London

Todd Terje

It's Album Time

Grace Jones

Nightclubbing (Reissue)

LIVE REPORT: Despacio

Ian Wade heads to the Roundhouse to catch Despacio, and is blown away as they find his sweet spot

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Frankie Said

Temples

Sun Structures