The Monolith Cocktail
The contemplative, insightful and critical music blog, launched in 2010, built on a lifetime of music obsession.
- Finally home form hospital, but long recovery lies ahead. I've managed however to post new reviews for albums by Howling Bells, Ira Dot, Ted Milton & Sam Britton's The Odes team-up, @pefkin.bsky.social and @wewantsounds.bsky.social @unsunghunger.bsky.social monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
- Wohoo..a weekend pass for me from hospital. And whilst waiting to get signed out, my meds, I've managed to put together an end of the month summary of choice music. monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/30/t...
- From my hospital bed in the Renal unit at Glasgow's QE hospital, I'm managing to post Brian Bordello's first roundup of the year. monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/28/o...
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- Part of this month's digest, the latest edition of the long-running Social Playlist. Anniversary LP nods to Bowie, Dylan, Lou Reed, Cheyenne Fowler, Them. More recent tracks from NEDA and Penza Penza. open.spotify.com/playlist/2kO...
- Thoughts on upcoming new releases by Greg Stasiw, Tachube, Roudi Vagou & Läuten der Seele @quindirecords.bsky.social and the late Charles ‘Poppy Bob’ Walker. Plus the latest track from The Bordellos. monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/16/t...
- As we're celebrating late genius Capricorns, today would have been Scott Walker's birthday. I've done many tributes over the year, but still think Bish Bosch was one of his finest works. monolithcocktail.com/a-z/archive-...
- Plucked from the archives, my original piece on #DavidBowie Blackstar (10 this month) and Station To Station (50), plus a new preface and updated playlist special. Remembrance and celebration. monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
- In-between Bowie's birthday, the remembrance of his passing a decade ago, and anniversaries of both Blackstar and Station To Station (50 this month), I'm posting a special tomorrow. It will include my updated playlist, originally created on news of Bowie's death. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGo...
- Out this Friday: Clémentine March ‘Powder Keg’. "...freed-up chamber-pop, alt-folk, country waned and glitterball hybrid of gathered thoughts, romantic encounters and introspections voiced by Brigitte Fontaine, Cate Le Bon and Gina Birch." clementinemarch.bandcamp.com/album/powder...
- My inaugural reviews column of 2026 is here. Features the debut album from the Animal Collective's Geologist, plus albums & EPs from @sarahshaunofficial.bsky.social @prahrecordings.bsky.social Clémentine March, Foster Neville @subexotic.bsky.social and more... monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
- 2025 marked our 15th anniversary. To celebrate we compiled a series of playlists featuring a track (when possible or available) from every release we reviewed during that time. In alphabetical order, here's Part 1: the A's. open.spotify.com/playlist/5J0...
- A final push before winding down for Christmas. Here's part 2 of our most rated, returned to and loved records of the year. monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
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- Reposted by The Monolith CocktailHuge thanks to @monolithcocktail.bsky.social for including Sun Eaters by Alberto Novello & Rob Mazurek in their best albums of the year list. The album came out in February and it’s awesome in the true sense of that word. albertonovellorobmazurek.bandcamp.com/album/sun-ea...
- the concluding part of our choice albums of 2025 list. In alphabetical order, from N to Z. Neon Crabs @halfedgerecords.bsky.social Che Noir, @hivemindrecords.bandcamp.com Alberto Novelle & Rob Mazurek, Nowaah The Flood, @picniclunch.bsky.social monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
- @intlanthem.bsky.social did well this year in our choice albums of 2025, with @maciestewart.bsky.social Tortoise and Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes all making the list. monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
- the concluding part of our choice albums of 2025 list. In alphabetical order, from N to Z. Neon Crabs @halfedgerecords.bsky.social Che Noir, @hivemindrecords.bandcamp.com Alberto Novelle & Rob Mazurek, Nowaah The Flood, @picniclunch.bsky.social monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
- We also loved and rated albums in 2025 from @cruelnaturerecs.bsky.social Cosimo Querci @quindirecords.bsky.social @ramblerecords.bsky.social Sophia Djebel Rose, Staraya Derevyna @andrewspackman.bsky.social SAD MAN, Pharoah Sanders, @scotchfuneral.bsky.social
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- Alt choice albums from the year part 1, starring @paisleyshirt.bsky.social Cindy, Theon Cross @newsoil.bsky.social @joelcusumano.bsky.social @dyrfaser.bsky.social @farrurob.bsky.social @eikoishibashi.bsky.social @ltheadtrip.bsky.social @intlanthem.bsky.social monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/11/e...
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- My choice list of albums from the year: most loved, returned to and sometimes underrated or lost in the hubris. Part One covers the As to Ms selections. @ajogmusic.bsky.social @swcrecords.bsky.social @armstrong-wales.bsky.social @audioobscura.bsky.social + monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/11/e...
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- The final Daily Bread column of 2025. New music from @cruelnaturerecs.bsky.social @toxicchicken.bsky.social '...what The Doors may have sounded like if they were brought up with the Game Boy and not the blues.' monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/08/o...
- The final part of our 15th anniversary celebrating playlists. open.spotify.com/playlist/0y2...
- Reposted by The Monolith CocktailHuge thanks to @monolithcocktail.bsky.social for the wonderful review of The Vertical Luminous by F.Ampism. The album is out today and it’s best you listen here: fampism.bandcamp.com/album/the-ve...
- This month's Perusal is filled with new sonics and the most insane of religious fervent rock 'n' roll revivals. @flaurecords.bsky.social @hivemindrecords.bandcamp.com @andrewspackman.bsky.social @cullenbgallagher.bsky.social @ingrownrecords.bsky.social monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/03/t...
- This month's Perusal is filled with new sonics and the most insane of religious fervent rock 'n' roll revivals. @flaurecords.bsky.social @hivemindrecords.bandcamp.com @andrewspackman.bsky.social @cullenbgallagher.bsky.social @ingrownrecords.bsky.social monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/03/t...
- All the choice releases and tracks from the last month on the Monolith Cocktail. From rediscovered Biblical Polish new-wave-jazz to griot and the pop. monolithcocktail.com/2025/11/28/t...
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- The final Digest of 2025: Features Babau, The Flower Press, Erell Latimer, Plants Heal @quindirecords.bsky.social and Super Grupa Bez Fałszywej Skromności. Plus volume 103 of the Social playlist, with anniversary nods to LL Cool J, The Who, Burning Spear... monolithcocktail.com/2025/11/19/t...
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- Part 15 of the anniversary celebrating playlist series: the Vs. Includes all the various compilations we've reviewed in that time plus @violetnox.bsky.social The Vickers, Viguela, Virgin Vacation, Vlimmer, Vukovar and more... open.spotify.com/playlist/3bv...
- A review this month of cover star Suntou Susso griot imbued album Jaliya Silokang. Plus the new SML album from @intlanthem.bsky.social, Snorkel, Shoko Nagai, Silver Nun, Yalla Miku and Tanne Delle Pigri. monolithcocktail.com/2025/11/04/t...
- Last house call for this year's Halloween playlist. monolithcocktail.com/2025/10/27/h...
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- End of the month Revue: Choice albums and tracks of October. @joelcusumano.bsky.social Amira Kheir, @prahrecordings.bsky.social NiCKY, @picniclunch.bsky.social Cosimo Querci @quindirecords.bsky.social @violetnox.bsky.social Tortoise @intlanthem.bsky.social monolithcocktail.com/2025/10/31/t...
- Don 'Soul Dracula'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Pk...
- Gloria 'Holy Water'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh9a...
- The Halo Benders 'Devil City Destiny'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=38A7...
- Dan Wool 'Oroboran'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=agBy...
- Opal Onyx 'The Devil'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuER...
- Salem Trials 'I Am Hexed'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UGn...
- Annie Anxiety 'To Know Evil'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZv1...
