It was a small family bookshop, on a peaceful back street in a small town on the fringes of London. I treated it as my own personal library, and I would sit there for hours on end, often on the floor, usually not buying anything. I loved that bookshop, so naturally I had to go and betray it.

Finally! Thirty-two years to the day that the Joy Division singer Ian Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen comes an event celebrating his musical legacy rather than wallowing in the myth and melodrama of his demise.

David Cameron claims that Dark Side of the Moon is his favourite album. Yeah, right says John Rentoul – these days, politicians' pop picks come direct from the focus group

English folk buoyed on a current of ethnic rhythm: tabla, sitar, cittern, dhol, electronica ... It's not an easy trick to pull off without sounding self-conscious and contrived – and in truth contrivance is close to the essence of the project.

While applauding Carlos Santana's dedication of Shape Shifter to native peoples everywhere, it might have been hoped that the album itself were more impressive.

Nick Waterhouse is another retro-R&B stylist in the vein of Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse, with the kind of analogue obsession that suggests even the valves of his heart glow: this debut album was even cut on the same Gold Star Studios lathe used by Phil Spector.

The professional organiser and de-clutterer of Lily Allen, La Roux, Ed Sheeran and members of the England rugby team talks to Emily Jenkinson about how to keep order at home

A muffled blast from the past

A muffled blast from the past

The Jamaican double bassist and ska pioneer Lloyd Brevett has died at the age of 80.

An album devoted to the examination of the bits left when hearts get broken.

A couple of years ago, on an evening from which I was regrettably absent, a few friends of mine ended up partying with Andrew W.K.. If you're familiar with the 32-year-old American rock star/celebrated hedonist/motivational speaker, you'll know that this is a big deal. The man has made it his mission to party; it's his religion.

A fabled beauty comes to town

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