Plus: The secret life of rap bodyguards
Sleeve Notes | The Guardian

Support the Guardian

Fund independent journalism

Sleeve Notes
Picks of the week
The music industry is engineering artist popularity – listeners are right to be angry
The music industry is engineering artist popularity – listeners are right to be angry
Shaad D'Souza
Numerous tactics, including payola-like deals on Spotify, are promoting artists people haven’t chosen to hear – but the industry refuses to discuss it
Hit em  
How a dream about raves, graves and slime led Matmos’s Drew Daniel to a new music genre
Ravyn Lenae, genius of melody  
What’s left out of love songs is the growth on the other side of a breakup
‘Your favourite rappers are only alive because of our sacrifices’  
The secret life of rap bodyguards
The Chills’ Martin Phillipps leaves a legacy of melancholy brilliance
Andrew Stafford
Reviews
Album of the week  
Meshell Ndegeocello: No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin – a fire reignited
Meshell Ndegeocello: No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin – a fire reignited
Jack White  
No Name – terrific surprise album is his most White Stripes-esque solo release
Jazz album of the month  
Wayne Shorter: Celebration Volume 1 – first posthumous LP is a true classic
Orville Peck  
Stampede – starry duets about gay cowboy love
 
Person Image

Buy a Glastonbury 2024 photograph: ice-cream van and crowd

For this month’s exclusive print drop, the Guardian Print Shop brings you a unique image from Glastonbury 2024, taken by David Levene at the hottest point of the festival. Ice-cream anyone?Print available to buy for one week only until Tuesday, 6 August.

 
Spotlight
How ‘trad punk’ folk band the Mary Wallopers became a live sensation
‘People of all ages get very emotional at our gigs’  
How ‘trad punk’ folk band the Mary Wallopers became a live sensation
Their punked-up versions of traditional Irish songs have wowed audiences. Ahead of recording a third album, the Dundalk band talk about their journey from playing for beer and whisky to this year’s Glastonbury
Classical
When Putin invaded my country, I couldn’t take up arms – I raised my conductor’s baton instead
Keri-Lynn Wilson
When Putin invaded my country, I couldn’t take up arms – I raised my conductor’s baton instead
Album review  
Aigul Akhmetshina: Aigul – mezzo from Bashkortostan is an insouciant star
Aigul Akhmetshina: Aigul – mezzo from Bashkortostan is an insouciant star
Album review  
Jane Stanley: Cerulean Orbits – music with an ear for texture and economy
Jane Stanley: Cerulean Orbits – music with an ear for texture and economy
Prom 16  
BBC Philharmonic/Storgårds – Shostakovich’s impact is blunted
BBC Philharmonic/Storgårds – Shostakovich’s impact is blunted
Prom 15  
The Swingles/BBCPhil/Collon – a bicycle wheel, birds and beatboxing
The Swingles/BBCPhil/Collon – a bicycle wheel, birds and beatboxing
Add to playlist
Soul, psychedelia and sensuality  
Minnie Riperton’s 20 best songs – ranked!
Minnie Riperton’s 20 best songs – ranked!
You may have missed
Meet the man who ranked every Disney song
Wanna be like who?  
Meet the man who ranked every Disney song
When musicologist Robert Komaniecki decided to score the cartoon tunes using complex objective criteria (and some ‘vibes’), he found some startling winners. He shows us his workings
‘I feel naked in front of the entire world’  
Olympics opening ceremony composer Victor le Masne
He started in French electro. Now he’s musical director of the Olympics. He talks about playing Macron his club-banger anthem, defying the far right and sampling workers on Notre Dame
I invented the Apple dance!  
The woman behind Brat summer’s viral choreography
Kelley Heyer says she came up with the Charli xcx-inspired routine – adopted by everyone from Joe Jonas to Brooke Shields – ‘on a whim’
‘Looks like £400 a month. That can’t be right!'  
Readers on their music spending
Are you keeping an eye on spending thanks to expensive vinyl and concert tickets? Guardian readers explain how they’re keeping fandom alive in a cost of living crisis
‘We never stole from kids, just insured places’  
Armand Schaubroeck, the ex-con muse of Andy Warhol
A gangster at 14 and in maximum security prison by 17, he turned his experiences into warped rock that thrilled New York’s art scene. Fifty years on he recalls one of music’s strangest careers
Live music this week
Maestros in Fusion  
Virtuosic Indian ensemble knit two traditions together
Virtuosic Indian ensemble knit two traditions together
Cambridge folk festival  
Robert Plant thrills, Peggy Seeger inspires and Oysterband rock
Womad festival  
Wildly entertaining treasure trove for adventurous music fans
Kitty Empire's artist of the week  
Pet Shop Boys – still never being boring
Get in touch
If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com
 

… there is a good reason why not to support the Guardian

Not everyone can afford to pay for news right now. That is why we keep our journalism open for everyone to read. If this is you, please continue to read for free.

But if you are able to, then there are three good reasons to support us today.

1

Our quality, investigative journalism is a powerful force for scrutiny at a time when the rich and powerful are getting away with more and more

2

We are independent and have no billionaire owner telling us what to report, so your money directly powers our reporting

3

It doesn’t cost much, and takes less time than it took to read this message

Help power the Guardian’s journalism in this crucial year of news, whether with a small sum or a larger one. If you can, please support us on a monthly basis . It takes less than a minute to set up, and you can rest assured that you're making a big impact every single month in support of open, independent journalism. Thank you.

 
Manage your emails | Unsubscribe | Trouble viewing?
You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to Sleeve Notes. Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396