The New Cue #470 February 28: Andy Bell, The Horrors, Julien Baker & TORRES, Panda Bear, Doves, Everything Is Recorded, Shura, Mandrake Handshake, Casino Hearts

"Alan McGee believed in Ride's music from the start."

Good morning,

Welcome to your regular Friday fix of new music picks, couple of punchy Q&As to keep you sweet and a tale about a disgusting egg. That last one isn’t a regular occurrence in this publication but we’re branching out, trying new things to get those paid subscriptions up, and this week that new thing is a section about a manky egg.

To read about it, though, you’ll need to be a fully-fledged TNC diehard because it’s on the other side of the paywall. This paywall can be easily negotiated though, so if you want the paywall to take the day off, click below and become one of the heroes who pay £5 a month to keep these shenanigans rolling:

Here’s this week’s playlist:

And here it is for the Apple Music crew.

Enjoy the edition, see you on Monday

Ted and Niall

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Release Valve #1: Andy Bell

Today sees the arrival of the excellent new solo record by Ride and ex-Oasis don Andy Bell. Titled Pinball Wanderer, it’s a dreamy collection of atmospheric art-rock and Andy celebrated its release in the best way possible. That’s right, he took on a Release Valve Q&A…

The first record I loved was: The Beatles’ Tell Me Why. I listened to three particular Beatles records in the house a lot. With The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night and Beatles For Sale. My dad bought them while he was at college, plus a few EPs. That was his pop collection, along with a Simon & Garfunkel record. The first one I responded to was With The Beatles. People don’t talk much about that album, but it’s got some really cool moments on it. I love Don’t Bother Me, for example. Tell Me Why is not one that I listen to much now, but it really fired me up at the age of about seven.

The last record I loved was:
Currently rinsing these five:

Earl Sweatshirt – Sick!

Maxime Denuc – Nachthorn

Mk.gee - A Museum of Contradiction

Emily A. Sprague - full/new

Doechiii - Alligator Bites Never Heal

The musician I grew up most wanting to be is: Johnny Marr

My fantasy band would feature: Mark Gardener, Steve Queralt, Loz Colbert

The greatest gig I ever saw was: Too many incredible gigs to mention… The Fugees’ first gig in Sweden, The Stone Roses in Oxford, 1989, The Smiths in Oxford, 1985, Kendrick Lamar at the O2 on the Damn. Tour, Orbital at Glastonbury, 2024, New Order at Glastonbury, 1987. So many!

The greatest gig I ever played was:
Ride - Roundhouse Camden 2024
Oasis - River Plate Stadium 2009

My favourite group when I was 13 was: The Beatles

The story of my new album goes like this: This one was about enjoying the process and not over-thinking it. I had some like-minded souls helping me and I’m really happy with the results.

I couldn’t have made it without:
Formatively in life? My parents made me who I am.
In music? Alan McGee believed in Ride's music from the start.
In my life right now? My wife and children, my circle of friends.

The one song everyone should listen to that isn’t on one of my albums is:
The Commune.

The song I wish I’d written is:
The Cure – A Night Like This.

The film everyone should see is:
Withnail And I.