Still crazy
This Heat split in 1982, but their records influenced some of the most inventive alternative musicians who followed. Neil Cooper caught the improv kings’ live return as This Is Not This Heat at Café Oto
Yellow pearl
The first seven inch from Jim Lambie’s label is slightly bonkers but irresistable, writes Neil Cooper
Bitches Brew
The third installment of a celebratory showcase of Scotland’s virtuoso female jazz players takes place tonight, writes Neil Cooper
Urban shuffle
Hilarious, profound, prolific and uncategorisable, Giant Tank are an underground treasure, writes Neil Cooper
More Viking than you
Haftor Medbøe and friends have created a fearsomely fine album, writes Neil Cooper
Bells from the deep
Golden Teacher have collated their first three storming singles into one glorious disc, writes Neil Cooper
Style in full swing
In the third part of his sleevenotes to the new Boots for Dancing compilation, Neil Cooper looks at the band’s timely embrace of funk
Just the ticket
In the second part of his sleevenotes to the new Boots for Dancing compilation, Neil Cooper traces the band’ s roots
Let them in
Martin Creed’s succinct protest songs bely a hefty emotional power, writes Neil Cooper
Leaders of the pack
Teen Canteen reprise a timely, all-star benefit gig for Scottish Women’s Aid, writes Neil Cooper
The filth and the fury
Uncompromising, inventive and oppositional, Sleaford Mods provide a perfect soundtrack to the age of austerity, writes Neil Cooper
When we ruled the school
Alistair Braidwood is charmed by Stuart David’s typically-understated memoir of the early days of Belle and Sebastian
Lost classics
Samantha Jones’ second single is a peerless piece of gutsy ’60s melodrama, writes Neil Cooper
The day the music died
A manuscript of original lyrics to Don McLean’s epic American Pie was recently auctioned in New York. Simon Warner explores the backdrop to the song’s conception and the hidden meanings behind its much-coveted words
Tracks of my tears
Simon Frith salutes a brilliant piece of music writing which returns the song to centre stage
A city of tears
Patrick Small is charmed by “The Possibilities are Endless”, a new documentary about Edwyn Collins