Looking back on The The’s major label debut ‘Soul Mining’ it is fair to say that it has stood the test of time. Singles such as ‘This Is The Day’ and ‘Uncertain Smile’ still fizz with a vibrant, wonky pop energy, making it hard to believe that the album is three decades old.

Originally released on 21st October 1983, the recording of ‘Soul Mining’ began in the spring of 1982, when The The founder and primary member, Matt Johnson decamped to New York to record ‘Uncertain Smile’ with producer Mike Thorne.

Featuring a host of talented musicians, including JG Thirwell (aka Foetus, Manorexia and Steroid Maximus), Zeke Manyika (Orange Juice), electronic DIY pioneer Thomas Leer and Jools Holland, Johnson set out with a clear vision in mind – to produce an album that felt cinematic; a record of width, depth and texture and one which avoided the mundane line-up of two guitars, bass and drums.

Singer, songwriter, producer, occasional rapper and all round king of the club banger Example releases his brand new album ‘Live Life Living’ today through Epic Records. This new album sees Example return with his trademark propulsive, electronic dance sound. Including the singles ‘Kids Again’ and ‘One More Day (Stay With Me)’, ‘Live Life Living’ is set to soundtrack this summer’s Ibiza sunset.

A new production of Broadway classic 'Annie Get Your Gun', scored by Irving Berlin, will tour the UK starring Emma Williams & Jason Donovan. To celebrate, Piney Gir has recorded a new cover version of 'I Got The Sun In The Morning'.

The Official Charts Company has announced that Bastille’s single 'Pompeii' is currently the most streamed track of all time in the UK, racking up over 26.6 million plays. UMPG also holds a publishing share on five more tracks within the Top 10 Most Streamed Songs Of All Time list including 'Wake Me Up' by Avicii, co-written by Micheal Einziger, Pharrell Williams’ single 'Happy', 'Blurred Lines' by Robin Thicke, 'Radioactive' by Imagine Dragons, co-written by Alex Da Kid, and Clean Bandits' 'Rather Be', co-written by Jimmy Napes.

Klaxons are back with their third studio ‘Love Frequency’, released through Akashic Rekords/Sony today. Featuring the tracks ‘There Is No Other Time’, ‘Show Me A Miracle’, ‘Children Of The Sun’ and ‘Atom By Atom’ this new release sees Klaxons return to their euphoric, electro post-punk best.

Legendary Modfather Paul Weller returns with his new ‘best of’ compilation ‘More Modern Classics’, released on Virgin Records this week. ‘More Modern Classics’ is the long awaited follow up to 1998’s ‘Modern Classics’ which showcased the first part of Weller’s highly successful solo career. The new 21 track LP features songs taken from Weller’s solo albums in over the last 15 years, including 'From The Floorboards Up', 'That Dangerous Age' and newest single ‘Brand New Toy’– released for 2014’s Record Store Day.

Four Universal Music Publishing artists took home Ivor Novello awards yesterday. James Blake topped the Best Contemporary Song category with his single ‘Retrograde’ whilst The Chemical Brothers won the award for Outstanding Song Collection. Mumford & Sons picked up the prize for International Achievement and the legendary Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award.

 

The mighty Coldplay return to centre stage with their sixth studio album 'Ghost Stories', released through Parlophone today. Featuring the singles 'Magic' and 'A Sky Full of Stars', 'Ghost Stories' sees Coldplay step back from the blazing energy of 2011's chart topping 'Mylo Xyloto'. Instead this new release takes an introspective turn with Chris Martin's trademark emotive vocal delivery overlaying a more atmospheric backdrop.

UMPG writer Danger Mouse has co-written and produced The Black Keys’ eighth studio album ‘Turn Blue’, which was released through Nonesuch Records this week.

The album, featuring critically acclaimed single ‘Fever’, was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood during the summer of 2013, with additional recording done at the Key Club in Benton Harbor, Michigan and guitarist Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound in Nashville in early 2014.

Described by Clash Magazine as ‘unsurprisingly monstrous’ fusing ‘tenacious funk with serrated Neil Young-like guitars’, ‘Turn Blue’ is the follow up to The Black Keys' Grammy Award winning ‘El Camino’ (2011) – which was also co-written and produced by Danger Mouse.

Lily Allen has topped the UK album charts with her third studio album ‘Sheezus’, released on Regal. Lily returned to the studio last year following a three year hiatus, and shot to the top of the UK singles chart with her cover of Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’, whilst new single ‘Hard Out Here’ also charted in the Top 10 that same week.