Free as a bird

A new photobook captures the rip-roaring spirit of Lynyrd Skynyrd in their prime

The ballad of John and May

John Lennon ’s ‘lost weekend’ was actually a productive time for him, both professionally and personally. Companion May Pang tells it from her side

Listen, listen

A tranche of recently discovered Sandy Denny lyrics have inspired a new album by Carla Fuchs

Drum club

Post-punk pounders Lol Tolhurst and Budgie team up with Jacknife Lee and big-name pals for electro-rock odyssey

Setting

WE’RE NEW HERE

Uncut Playlist

On the stereo this month...

ON THIS MONTH’S CD

UNCUT and THE WHO present...

AN AUDIENCE WITH... KRISTIN HERSH

The Throwing Muses supremo talks wild swimming, Stipe’s surprise duet and how she found her Clear Pond Road

MODERN NATURE

No Fixed Point In Space

NATURAL HIGHS

The road to No Fixed Point In Space

Q&A

Jack Cooper: “If it goes onto the tape, that’s it”

SUFJAN STEVENS

Javelin ASTHMATIC KITTY

A to Z

This month…

EMMA ANDERSON

Pearlies SONIC CATHEDRAL

Q&A

Emma Anderson “I was very unsure and nervous”

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE

REVELATIONS

ROBERT FINLEY

Black Bayou EASY EYE SOUND

Q&A

Robert Finley: “You gotta relate to people”

ISRAEL NASH

AMERICANA Album of the month

AMERICANA ROUND-UP

TRIGGERED by her recent induction into the Rock

THE FEELIES

REVELATIONS

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM

History Books

Q&A

Brian Fallon on the benefits of a break

DANIEL VILLARREAL

Lados B INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM

Q&A

Daniel Villarreal: “I like to experiment and take risks” 

THE REPLACEMENTS

Tim (Let It Bleed Edition)

HOW TO BUY

More Replacements live recordings

Q&A

Tommy Stinson: “I had questions…”

JONI MITCHELL

Joni Mitchell Archives Vol 3: The Asylum Years (1972–1975) WARNER MUSIC

A to Z

This month…

HAWKWIND

Space Ritual (50th Anniversary Edition) CHERRY RED

Q&A

Dave Brock on long-forgotten Ampex tapes and aliens

SARAH DAVACHI

Selected Works I & II: Experiments In Psychoacoustics, Timbre & Minimalism: 2011–2021 LATE MUSIC/DISCIPLES

Q&A

Sarah Davachi: “I can’t stop…”

MARTIAN HIGHS

How to buy Mouse On Mars

VARIOUS ARTISTS

If There’s Hell Below

DENNIS BOVELL

The 4th Street Albums Collection DOCTOR BIRD

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FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION

Once again defying sonic expectations, WILCO return with a new album rich in experimental, art-rock flourishes. But, as JEFF TWEEDY explains, the path to Cousin proved challenging as they re-evaluated and rebuilt the entire record in the company of guest producer Cate Le Bon. Here Tweedy explains how methodology, autobiography and falling in love with albums that “aren’t easy” continue to shape Wilco as they reach their third decade. “The challenge gets bigger every year for sure,” he tells Michael Bonner

“Wilco with a different lighting director”

Cate Le Bon on producing Cousin

“It takes a long time to reinvent the wheel”

Nels Cline reflects on Wilco’s most recent 10 years

CRAIC ADDICTS

The rabble-rousing antics and do-it-yourself spirit of THE MARY WALLOPERS have brought a raucous power to traditional Irish music not seen since the heyday of The Pogues. Uncut gets the Guinness in and hears how they’ve gone from lockdown livestreams to festival favourites, tapping into the political power of folk, punk and hip-hop. “We’re not preachy,” they tell Tom Pinnock. “You don’t need to be a miserable cunt, you can have fun with it.”

IMMACULATE CONCOCTION

The story behind the Wallopers’ signature tune “Cod Liver Oil & The Orange Juice”

Crime & The City Solution

Tracing the tracks of Simon Bonney’s ever-evolving, continent-hopping band

Higher Powers

A prodigy of Sun Ra and John Coltrane, PHAROAH SANDERS merged jazz and spiritualism to forge a transcendent new sound. With Pharoah’s ground-breaking, self-titled 1977 album reissued this month, John Lewis explores its creator’s master plan. “There was always a touch of the Biblical prophet about Pharoah,” reveals one eyewitness. “The spirit seemed to radiate through every note he played.”

HOW TO BUY PHAROAH SANDERS

PHAROAH SANDERS Pharoah’s First ESP, 1965 His

PHAROAH GOES DISCO!

1978’s ill-advised dalliance with slick R&B 

MOTOR ON

Over 30 years since their debut A Catholic Education, TEENAGE FANCLUB continue to refine their brand of timeless songwriting. But with a new album due – the brilliant Nothing Lasts Forever – the band convene in a Glasgow rehearsal room to reveal the secrets of their longevity. “You’ve got to try things that don’t work,” hears Alastair McKay

Total Control

How the LA new wavers turned a “very fast, very angry” thrash into an enduring slice of yearning minimalism

To Kingdom Come

ROBBIE ROBERTSON helped change the course of music – twice. First, as Bob Dylan’s sidekick on his legendary 1966 world tour and again as songwriter and guitarist for The Band. It was as their guiding spirit that he conjured a mythic and timeless vision of American music whose influence endures to this day. “His passing,” wrote Dylan, “leaves a vacancy in the world.” Here, Richard Williams pays tribute to a remarkable body of work – and its complex creator. On p89, meanwhile, VAN MORRISON recalls his enduring friendship with Robertson: “We were from the old school.”

“There was no stress...”

Photographer ELLIOTT LANDY on documenting The Band

“We used to talk on the phone all the time”

Van Morrison recalls a collaborator and previous neighbour

Robbie Robertson: BUYER’S GUIDE

BOB DYLAN LIVE 1966, THE “ROYAL ALBERT HALL”

“Let’s not use the word ‘genius’, let’s not talk about that stuff...”

After decades in limbo, THE WHO’s abandoned Life House project is finally seeing the light of day – as part of a mammoth boxset along with its successor, Who’s Next. But as he attempts to unravel the complex relationship between this legendary lost album and the band’s unalloyed masterpiece, PETE TOWNSHEND also has other things to consider. Not least, what’s next for him and his surviving bandmate, Roger Daltrey: “I don’t have a unique vision for The Who going forward,” he reveals to Rob Hughes

“I WAS BLOWN AWAY”

Glyn Johns on recording Who’s Next

“IT STRUCK A CHORD”

David Arbus on “Baba O’Riley”

“IT SPOKE TO PEOPLE”

Ethan Russell on shooting the album cover

DEVO

O2 Academy, Edinburgh, August 17

ARTHUR VEROCAI

UC Theatre, Berkeley, California, August 19

Last orders for Loach’s socially aware oeuvre?; when small investors took on Wall Street; children of the revolution reunited…

THE OLD OAK of the title is

LOST ANGEL: THE GENIUS OF JUDEE SILL

DOC’N ROLL FILM FESTIVAL

BOOKS

WHAT was it like being Bernie Taupin, the

Not Fade Away

Fondly remembered this month

Feedback

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Crossword

WIN!

Will Sergeant

Echo & The Bunnymen’s guitarist reveals his distinctly un-punk inspirations: “What can I say, I love prog rock!”

UNCUT

Robbie Robertson by Gijsbert Hanekroot/ Getty Images On

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