paulfcook

"the coruscating, relentless grit, and blown out nature of the arrangements brings a certain cleansing power" Paul F Cook reviews the "sonic-colonic" effect of stevenvsnothingness' new album 'I’m just here right now'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"four beautiful tracks that shimmer; replete with romance and a languid warmth" Paul F Cook reviews August Cooke’s new "swirling and dreamlike" EP 'On The Line'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Blood Simple has stood the test of time. It’s well written, filmed, acted and edited, and it’s thrilling from start to finish" Paul F Cook reviews STUDIOCANAL's excellent 4K restoration of Joel & Ethan Coen's 1984 classic debut 'Blood Simple'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"calming without being soporific and has an unforced charm that allows it to be played many times without ever outstaying its welcome" Paul F Cook reviews the "miasma of psychedelic colours" on Firestations' new release 'International Dust'. Out on the Lost Map label. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"His sense of cinematic drama taps into a musical golden hour throughout" Paul F Cook reviews the "songwriting masterclass" of Ed Seed's new album 'Eat Your Heart Out'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"keening ice-bursts of guitar that shoot out into space...a monolith-solid rhythm section keeping the song rooted to the earth" Paul F Cook reviews the "abyss-summoning" power of 'Blurred', the new single from TIGER!SHIT!TIGER!TIGER! @paulfcook.bsky.social

"hypnotic arrangements of pulsing rhythms, rippling percussion, electronic swirls, and Mural Ertel’s ever-present Saz" Paul F Cook reviews 'XXX' the new "rich and rewarding" album from Türkiye’s BaBa ZuLa. Released through Glitterbeat Records. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Watching Kikuyu Land made me want to find out much more about the tea I drink" Paul F Cook reviews 'Kikuyu Land' co-directed by Andrew H. Brown and Bea Wangondu, the story of the terrible cost of tea production on the workers who pick the leaves by big corporations. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"another beautiful collection of tracks that could calm even the most active of inner monologues" Paul F Cook reviews the "the human in the celestial" harp playing of 'Vale of Tears' the new album from Andy Aquarius. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"a magical world where each song represents versions of herself and the album’s concepts with myriad different moods to experience" Paul F Cook reviews the "stillness and wonderment" of Agnes Obel's new album 'The Meaning of Flowers'. Released through Deutsche Grammophon. @paulfcook.bsky.social

DVD REVIEW: THE PETER SELLERS COLLECTION "it’s wonderful to spend time with Sellers and watch his development as a character actor" Paul F Cook reviews the 8-disc set of re-mastered Peter Sellers' films from 1955-1963 including classic The Ladykillers. Out on Studiocanal. @paulfcook.bsky.social

SINGLE/VIDEO PREMIERE: LABELS–VOID "a 3-act psych-rock opera that begins with the assault of fast chord changes & full-tilt drumming, like Motörhead on a rocket-sled" Joyzine readers get a first look at 'Void' the new single from LABELS. Paul F Cook provides the hyperbole. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"their preternatural ability to make three instruments and three voices sound like more than the sum of their parts is as inspiring as ever" Paul F Cook reviews the "dizzying" and "epic" return of Pozi with their new single 'Hale-Bopp'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

VIDEO PREMIERE: MOODIE BLACK - WARM TO YOU "Taking you to the edge of uncomfortable...compelling & alive" Rapper & noise artist Moodie Black has given Joyzine readers the first chance to experience the video for new single 'Warm For You' which Paul F Cook says is "like a tornado in a gravel pit".

"there are so many acute angles you might have to dig out your school geometry set to measure them." Paul F Cook reviews the "percussion, propulsion, and perspicacity" of Plum's new album 'Bodies In Motion'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"a superpower that slows time and allows the listener to revel in the moment and be transported into her emotional landscape" Paul F Cook reviews the "poetic and often painful autobiography" of Rowena Wise's sophomore album 'Bad Things Feel Good*'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"a burst of well-intentioned rage against the toxic machine" Paul F Cook reviews the "one-inch-punch of righteous anger" on Wealthy Women's new single 'Atheist Wife'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"The album has an uplifting feeling that picks you up and gently skips and shuffles you along its ten tracks" Paul F Cook reviews the "catalogue of so many perfect moments" on Loma Suyo's new album 'Paloma'. Released through the Earthly Measures label. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"A band that AI could never recreate and that is something I celebrate with every single one of their releases" Paul F Cook reviews the Run Logan Run's new release 'An Ear In Place Of A Mouth' which completes a trilogy of EPs that started with 'Prey For Peace'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

FILM REVIEW: SHOOT THE PEOPLE - MISAN HARRIMAN "Harriman maybe softly spoken but his camera is screaming for us to get involved." Paul F Cook reviews the new documentary about photographer & activist Misan Harriman. Directed by Andy Mundy-Castle, by Watermelon Pictures. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"slowly layering fuzz on top of distortion on top of cavernous reverb" Paul F Cook reviews the "star going supernova" sound of TIGER! SHIT! TIGER! TIGER!'s new single 'Glue'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

TRACK BY TRACK: ORLA NOBLE – UNFURL Orla Noble's album 'unfurl' is an exceptional debut. Her track by track is a wonderfully illuminating dive into each track with inspiration from art and poetry, crown shyness, vulnerability, friendship, and the power of wooziness. joyzine.org/2026/07/05/t...

"like a gentle hand on your arm guiding you to the beatific chorus" Paul F Cook reviews the "sumptuous wash of sounds" on Cherry Seraph's new single 'splitting the sky'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Conte and Lahs have done wonders dialling up the club vibes while retaining the authenticity of the source material" Paul F Cook reviews the percussive dancefloor joy of 'Reloved (the Afro Club Mixes). Released through Four Flies Records. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"drawing from folklore and collaging myriad sounds into layered and captivating sonic arrangements that often centre around drones, strings and her divine voice" Paul F Cook reviews the "swirling galaxy of elongated sounds" on Alison Cotton's new album 'The Gods Laugh'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"quite simply her most exquisite album" Paul F Cook reviews "the most beautiful landscape" of Sumie's new album 'Stardust In Valleys'. Released on Anna Von Hausswolff's label Pomperipossa Records. @paulfcook.bsky.social @annavonhausswolff.bsky.social

"KÖLN 75 is acted and edited like bebop with the cast all playing together in harmony like a great jazz band" Paul F Cook reviews the true story of 18-year old Vera Brandes who put on the Keith Jarrett concert in Cologne in 1975. Directed by Ido Fluk and with Mala Emde as Vera.

"The EP is built on blissful fluidity. It is marshmallow and sparklers and the feeling you get in a plane when you rise above the clouds and the sun fills the cabin" Paul F Cook reviews the "lighter-than-air buoyancy" of 'Traces & Tremors' the new EP from Jinjé. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"a collection of tracks driven by pulsating rhythms and intoxicating beats that it is hard not to move to" Paul F Cook reviews the "beauty and power" of Racines new album 'Arilos Mennar'. Released by Locomotiv Records. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"glitchy dub-vibes and layers of velvet jazz held in beautiful suspension by sounds that are put together with gentle precision" Paul F Cook reviews 25th anniversary of A Certain Frank's 'Nothing' which "sparkles with class". Released by Bureau B. @paulfcook.bsky.social @bureaub.bsky.social

"splashy, angular, nearly-out-of-control, febrile and raw" Paul F Cook reviews the "serious fun" of 'Never Been Cheddar', the new EP from Tits Up. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Its glorious arc draws you in from the outset and holds your attention right through to the shimmering end" Paul F Cook reviews 'Blue Morpho' the "iridescent " new album from Ed O'Brien. Out on the Transgressive label. @transgressive.bsky.social @paulfcook.bsky.social

"it’s hard not to be swept up in the undeniable energy of voice and percussion" Paul F Cook reviews 'Flame Folclòre' the "inspirational and joyous" new album from Occitan duo Cocanha. Out on the Bongo Joe label. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"their most atmospheric and affecting album to date" Paul F Cook reviews the "effortless fluidity" of Tamikrest's new album 'Assikel'. Out on the amazing Glitterbeat label. @paulfcook.bsky.social

SINGLE PREMIERE: ANNA RAN – VULTURES WITH GUILT "We are all in the liminal space between understanding the world is on fire but not having the energy to put it out" Paul F Cook reviews the "disquieting beauty" of 'Vultures with Guilt', by Anna Ran. Out 22 May. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"replete with grace & depth on a subject that would resonate with anyone who has experienced the grief of losing a loved one" Paul F Cook reviews With Sun's single 'Go Lightly', which has the "serene feeling of weightlessness" on a song written after the death of her mother. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"From the opening bars there is a joyful bounce that starts to fill you up like helium, a sense of being lifted from the mundane into the magnificent" Paul F Cook reviews the "incredible kaleidoscope of influences" on Pigeon's new album 'OUTTANATIONAL'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Beauty can sometimes come from pain, and adversity often makes the living of life all the sweeter" Paul F Cook reviews 'Dahlia' the "effortless and beautiful" new single from Sumie. Taken from the album 'Stardust In Valleys' out 12 June. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"sunlight seems to shine through every track" Paul F Cook reviews the "uplifting beats and soaring tunes" of AySay's new album 'Mal' which mixes Anatolian folk and Nordic pop. Out on V2 Records. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"as magnificent, heart-rending, uplifting and honest on the fiftieth listen as it did on the first" Paul F Cook reviews the "perfect mix of the electronic and the analogue" on Pictish Trail's new album 'Life Slime'. Released by Fire Records. @pictishtrail.bsky.social @paulfcook.bsky.social

"An album that so comprehensively distils the anger you feel towards the state of the world right now that you get chills listening to it" Paul F Cook reviews the "angry symbiosis" of words & music on dälek's release 'Brilliance Of A Falling Moon'. @daleknwk.bsky.social @paulfcook.bsky.social

"the difference between film and digital; it feels real and alive and not created by an AI prompt" Paul F Cook reviews the "low rumble of bass, gravel guitar, pounding drums, super-catchy vocals" of Topsy Turvey's new album 'Fighting the Ginormous Macho Nacho'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Their technical proficiency is awash with humour and mesmerising tunes that quicken the pulse and a promote a euphoric sense of happiness" Paul F Cook reviews the "sexy staccato" of intergalactic microtonal duo Angine de Poitrine and their new album 'Vol.II' @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Haiku Salut’s perfect balance of the electronic with the acoustic, coupled with the jazz and classical elegance of Meg Morley’s piano playing" Paul F Cook reviews 'The Lost Score' by Haiku Salut & Meg Morley .Out on Lo Recordings. @haikusalut.bsky.social @paulfcook.bsky.social

"These are songs that dispel the cold and dark of winter and usher in the optimism and warmth of the sun waking up in spring" Paul F Cook reviews the "beatific voice and buoyant guitar playing" of Aure on her new album 'Printemps' @paulfcook.bsky.social

"The Foot & Leg Clinic move from acoustic to electric and fun to frenzy with ease" Paul F Cook reviews the "angular indie and lightly psychedelic folk" of The Foot & Leg Clinic's new album 'Sit Down for Rock and Roll'. @paulfcook.bsky.social

"Oscar & Isla cooked the slime fresh, so it was warm when it was being poured on me" Paul F Cook reviews the "the slime of the century" in the video for Pictish Trail's new single 'Life Slime', the title track from his forthcoming album. @pictishtrail.bsky.social @paulfcook.bsky.social

"a cracking riff, great backing, and a chorus that’ll be stuck in your head for days" Paul F Cook reviews the "languid rock-vibe" of Annie Dressner's new single 'Dumb Boy'. @anniedressner.bsky.social @paulfcook.bsky.social

"fits beautifully into the liminal space between being asleep and awake" Paul F Cook reviews the "soporific" and "intoxicating" album 'goblynmarkytt' from Chicago's Hazel City. @paulfcook.bsky.social