paullester
Why Terence Trent D'Arby became Sananda Maitreya: 'It was that or death'
In 1987, his debut album saw him hailed as a rival to Michael Jackson and Prince – but then his star crashed and burned. He talks about the nervous breakdown that triggered his identity change, living as a recluse and the music industry’s ‘Olympian’ conspiracy to bring him down
Paul Lester
05, Oct, 2017 @12:17 PM
Tyler, the Creator: Flower Boy review – closet door opens to gawky gorgeousness
Is the rapper once banned from the UK for homophobic lyrics now coming out? Either way, this heavenly hip-hop record visits multicoloured corners of his mind
Paul Lester
21, Jul, 2017 @2:06 PM
New band of the week: Phoenix and the Flower Girl (No 145)
The last ever New Band of the Week brings an appropriately phantasmagoric end to the column’s 11-year run
Paul Lester
27, Mar, 2017 @7:00 AM
New band of the week: The Orielles (No 144)
This West Yorkshire trio ply a jangling, funky sound that has already earned props from cutie-indie legends the Pastels
Paul Lester
20, Mar, 2017 @2:21 PM
New band of the week: The Physics House Band (No 143) – a perfect prog rock storm fit for gig veterans
Brighton trio beloved of comedian Stewart Lee whose dazzling instrumental work will appeal to ancient prog fans and young math rockers
Paul Lester
13, Mar, 2017 @8:00 AM
New band of the week: Girl Ray (No 142) – lo-fi pop of teen romance with nods to 70s balladry
North London indie trio specialising in wan, winsome heartache have ambitions to rival the songwriting greats
Paul Lester
06, Mar, 2017 @11:45 AM
New band of the week: Ménage à Trois (No 141) – lounge funk and synthadelic slow jams
Mancunian boy band who met at a gay karaoke bar specialise in music that ‘longs for sun and love and good times’
Paul Lester
27, Feb, 2017 @8:00 AM
New band of the week: Papooz (No 140) – masters of the infectious pop throwback
French duo specialising in warm-toned bossa nova pop songs so catchy they should carry a health warning
Paul Lester
20, Feb, 2017 @8:00 AM
My first love song: musicians remember the soundtracks to their teenage crushes
A shaggy Texan, a firebreathing dancer, Liz Taylor … stars relive their first loves – and the tunes that bring them back
Interviews by Paul Lester
14, Feb, 2017 @7:00 AM
New band of the week: Gothic Tropic (No 139) – object lessons in shiny pop
She’s not very goth and there isn’t really a tropical flavour to her music, but if you like pure pop 70s/80s style, then you’ll love this one-woman band
Paul Lester
13, Feb, 2017 @10:55 AM
New band of the week: Parcels (No 138) – rapturous retro-pop and studio slickness
The Aussie band, now living in Berlin, make immaculately polished MOR pop that would sound at home in the company of Chic or 70s-era Fleetwood Mac
Paul Lester
06, Feb, 2017 @8:00 AM
New band of the week: Kairon; IRSE! (No 137) – Nordic funk, freakout jazz and shoegaze
Finnish prog band whose dexterous music ranges from dreamy pastoral passages to angular metallic surges
Paul Lester
31, Jan, 2017 @11:26 AM
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