Lou Reed: 2 March 1942 - 27 October 2013

Lewis Allan Reed died today, aged 71, in Long Island. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family. His music has been a source of inspiration to many (including us here at Blasted- to an absurd level, in fact) and will continue to be so for a very long time. If you don't have the The Velvet Underground & Nico, White Light/White Heat,  The Velvet Underground, Loaded, VU, Transformer and Berlin, get them all tomorrow and learn them all back to front, you may well find some of your favourite records. R.I.P. Lou.

From Loaded (1970).

Blackest Ever Black announce Tropic of Cancer's 'Restless Idylls'

After releasing numerous EPs and singles over the last few years, Camella Lobo's Tropic of Cancer will finally release its debut album, Restless Idylls, on the continually awe-inspiring Blackest Ever Black. The album and preceding 7", More Alone, sees TOC's return to the label after a series of singles and EPs (including a split 12" with HTRK) on the likes of Ghostly International and Karl O'Connor(AKA Regis)'s Downwards. O' Connor has, incidentally, provided additional production on both the album and single; the former is released on 23 September with the latter preceding it in late July. You can stream More Alone via SoundCloud below.

7" mix of Tropic of Cancer's 'More Alone', a track which features in different form on the forthcoming album Restless Idylls . The one-sided 'More Alone' 7" will be released in August 2013 on Blackest Ever Black. Restless Idylls follows on September 23 on double-vinyl, CD and digital formats.

Image courtesy of Blackest Ever Black

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 'Push The Sky Away' Trailer

Find out more & pre-order now from http://www.NickCave.com The new album coming February 18, 2013 Filmed and directed by Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Editor: Matt Nee | Colourist: Vic Parker

Exciting news today as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have announced the release of their 15th studio album, Push The Sky Away. The follow up to the playful Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, and their first since the departure of founding member Mick Harvey, will be released on 18 February 2013 on the usual formats, as well as the de rigueur 'super deluxe' box set.