Tag Archives: BMG

New music – M / Robin Scott – AI? (BMG)

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from the press release, edited by Ben Hogwood

M / Robin Scott has announced details of a new album, the FAQs of life, the first to be released using Scott’s ‘M’ moniker alongside his own name, and the first new album of music under the former guise in over 40 years, he explains, “I just thought, why don’t we amalgamate the two? A marriage of me and my alter ego.”

the FAQs of life, set for release on 11 July 2025 on BMG, launches with AI’, a gentle yet hypnotic, melodically sweet, piece of art-pop that finds Scott pondering the implications of new reality including Artificial Intelligence.

There are few artists who have had a career as diverse as Robin Scott. As ‘M’ he crafted the iconic multi-million selling song Pop Muzik (which was recently rediscovered, and devoured by a new generation of fans after becoming a viral TikTok sensation complete with its own dance craze. “It’s probably bigger now than it was the first time around!” he exclaims), played folk clubs with Ralph McTell and John Martyn, shared time with David Bowie, produced and collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto, released records by the likes of Adam Ant, recorded The Slits with Julien Temple and worked extensively making music in Africa, collaborating with celebrated trio ‘Jive Shikisha’.

Scott’s fondness for biodiversity and eclecticism is apparent all over his new album; a record of meticulously crafted songs that glide across multiple genres from pop to rock via new wave, disco and even a touch of country. “Music for me has always been a voyage of discovery,” Scott explains. “I’m constantly looking for something which surprises me and for this record I wanted to be outside of my comfort zone – to discover something different, something new.”

While the record features longstanding collaborators Ali Gavan and Phil Gould, it is a true solo album in many senses. The initial sketches emerged during lockdown with Scott having to create a new studio set-up from scratch, giving him the opportunity to approach things from a fresh perspective. For many of us, it was a period of intense reflection; for Scott it was intensified as he contemplated losses in his own life. “It’s an homage to people I’ve loved and lost – a dedication to all those I trust and believe in. It’s also about the foreverness of the things we do, the impressions we make and the things we leave behind. The legacies we create on this planet.”

As the playful title suggests, the FAQs of life is a probing album exploring the state of things, both internally and externally. “We all have questions,” says Scott. “And there are a certain amount of answers readily available, but do they cover everything? Who knows? I’m playing with words to some extent but it’s a term or an expression which sums up the way we’re all floating in this vast sea of information, trying to figure things out. There’s just no manual for this!”

The end result of this journey is a record that is a landmark moment for Scott. It represents him coming to terms with his past, integrating it into his future, and the resulting album contains some of the most crystallised visions and ideas he’s ever had. “I want this to be a showcase of where I’m at,” he says. “Because I’m truer to myself in these recordings than I’ve ever been. It’s the spectrum of my personal experience, from both ends of the telescope!”

Published post no.2,551 – Sunday 1 June 2025

Let’s Dance – Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine (Skint / BMG)

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Róisín Murphy – Róisín Machine (Skint / BMG)

reviewed by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

A new Róisín Murphy album is always a cause for celebration – whether it has been with her band Moloko or, in more recent times, a solo record in collaboration with a number of electronic music luminaries. This time around Róisín Machine, her first long player in four years, sees her working once again with Crooked Man aka Richard Barratt.

As if the new album was not enough Murphy has been busy making visual complements to the music under lockdown.

What’s the music like?

It is difficult to imagine a more stylish artist than Róisín Murphy. Even with Moloko it felt like her expressiveness matched the music in an effortless way, which made the finished result even more stylish and cool. Little has changed under her own name, though if anything the music is more dance based and the vocals even more meaningful.

Róisín Machine tells a story, threaded beautifully from start to finish, and as a result it works best when heard in a complete span. There are many telling lyrics, but the opening gambit, “I feel my story’s still untold, but I make my own happy ending”, sets the scene perfectly, after which Murphy and Barratt concoct a persuasive, loping groove.

Questions are asked as the album progresses. Kingdom Of Ends finds the singer “waking up every morning, thinking what the hell am I doing?”, while even during the cool chic of Shellfish Madamoiselle, with its bumpy beats and warm synthesizers, she feels that “I shouldn’t be dancing at a time like this”.

Difficult, though, when the music is so persuasive. The groove and vocal of Something More are a perfect match, the stylish slow disco-house brilliantly done. The same, too, goes for the effortless groove of Incapable. For the last two tracks, Narcissus and Jealousy, the tempo quickens and the pulse rate too, Róisín more obviously on the dancefloor.

The most compelling stories are told in Murphy’s Law, however, where she sings of how “I’d rather be alone than making do and mending”, but finds her instincts are pulling her in different directions.

Does it all work?

Yes – either as a single whole or as individual tracks, Róisín Machine is brilliantly worked through. The singer sounds completely at home, but at the same time there are thought provoking lyrics and feet-provoking grooves.

Is it recommended?

Wholeheartedly. This is an album that embodies the saying ‘Style never goes out of fashion’. Róisín Murphy remains one of our finest vocalists, and like a fine wine is just continuing to improve with age. Richard Barratt proves the ideal match in the production department, and together the two have made one of the best pop albums of the year.

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