Profiles
1950-2021 (2021)
Nicky Crewe pays tribute to her friend and Pennyblackmusic writer Keith How who died unexpectedly in January.
Features
Vinyl Stories (2015)
In 'Vinyl Stories' Dave Goodwin speaks to artist and former record and bookshop owner Keith How about the Beatles' 'Rubber Soul'
Related
Interviews
Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus
Interview
The mysterious and elusive Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus discuss their new pair of albums with Keith How.
Jowe Head
Interview
Keith How talks to former Television Personalities and Swell Maps guitarist Jowe Head about his new solo album 'Widdershins', and is also given fascinating insights into his art and music.
Jowe Head
Interview
Keith How talks to former Television Personalities and Swell Maps guitarist Jowe Head about his new solo album 'Widdershins', and is also given fascinating insights into his art and music,
John Foxx
Interview
John Foxx and the Maths recently released a new album, 'The Machine', inspired by an E.M.Forster short story and accompanying stage production. Keith How speaks to him about the inspiration behind the music and also gets a glimpse into his current thinking.
Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus
Interview
Keith How gets a rare insight into the philosophy and workings of the elusive and inspiring Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus.
Profiles
Georg Purvis
Pink Floyd in the 1970s
Keith How finds Georg Purvis' account of Pink Floyd’s history through the 1970s not only fascinating but a compulsive read even for a know it all fan!
Karen Dalton
Profile
Keith How reflects on the rediscovered career of 60's folk artist Karen Dalton and new box set, 'Recording is the Trip'.
Hubro Music
Profile
Keith How investigates three recent releases from Norway’s eclectic Hubro label and discovers that, once again, the label breaks new and exciting ground.
Hubro Music
Profile
Keith How is impressed by two new albums of atmospheric and engaging music, the Nils Okland Band's 'Lysning' and the Erlend Apneseth Trio's 'Ara', both of which have recently come out on Norwegian label Hubro Music.
Anthony Robustelli
Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left to Know about This Elusive Band
Keith How investigates an extraordinary new detailed biography about Steely Dan
Dead Can Dance
Profile
Keith How revisits and is impressed by 4AD's latest vinyl re-releases of the Dead Can Dance's 'Garden of Arcane Delights', 'Within the Realm of a Dying Sun' and 'Toward the Within'
Band
Book - Elliot Landy/The Band Photographs 1968-1969
Keith How examines Elliott Landy’s photographs of the Band which are presented in a new published book
John Kruth
This Bird Has Flown: The Enduring Legacy of Rubber Soul Fifty Years On
Keith How finds disappointing American author and musician John Kruth's new book 'This Bird Has Flown' on the Beatles 1965 album, 'Rubber Soul'
Small Faces
Profile
Keith How reflects on new five CD Small Faces box set 'The Decca Years 1965-1967', which highlights their early years
Bill Nelson
Diary of a Hyperdreamer, Vol. 2
Keith How is enthralled by the second volume of cult musician Bill Nelson's diaries, which covers the years 2005 and 2006
Michael Head
Profile
Megaphone Records re-issue the acclaimed 1997 masterpiece, 'The Magical World of the Strands', by Michael Head and the Strands. Keith How re-discovers its magic and 'The Olde World', an accompanying release of new recordings.
Spooky Tooth
Profile
With a new nine CD box set retrospective 'The Island Years' that comprises their entire history from 1967 to 1974, Keith How examines the career of prog rock act, Spooky Tooth
Live
Jim Ghedi and Toby Hay
Old House Museum, Bakewell, 14/10/2018
Keith How watches Jim Ghedi and Toby Hay bring their new instrumental album to Bakewell’s Old House Museum for a Sunday afternoon session.
Celsi, Bragg and Maitland
Green Man Gallery, Buxton, 16/08/17
Keith How catches Celsi,Bragg and Maitland as their 'Second Summer of Love' tour reaches his neck of the woods and finds them in fine form.
Toby Hay
C.A.R.A.D. ,Rhayader 19/11/16
Keith How enjoys guitarist and instrumentalist Toby Hay's launch gig for his new EP 'Birds' in Rhayader in rural Wales
Richmond Fontaine
Greystones, Sheffield, 25/4/2016
Keith How enjoys Richmond Fontaine's literary Americana at a gig in Sheffield on their farewell tour
Joanna Newsom
(With Alasdair Roberts), Albert Hall, Manchester, 31/10/2015
Keith How finds pianist and harpist Joanna Newsom a conflicting experience at the Albert Hall in Manchester
New Candys
(With the Shrines and Baby Naga), Riverside, Sheffield, 27/4/2015
Keith How at Sheffield’s Riverside watches his latest favourite band from Italy, psychedelic act New Candys, despite major technical problems, play an enthralling set
Laura Moody
The Castle, Manchester
Keith How witnesses experimental singer-songwriter and cellist Laura Moody play a spellbinding set in an intimate gig at the Castle in Manchester
Bella Hardy
Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, 26/4/2105
Bella Hardy, folk's new shining star returns with a new album to promote to her native Peak District. Keith How with Nicky Crewe goes along to the Pavilion Arts Theatre in Buxton to see if she lives up to the hype
Toby Hay
(With Nick Jonah Davis and Jim Ghedi), Cafe 9, Sheffield, 21/1/2015
At the Heretics' Folk Club new base in Sheffield, Keith How enjoys a captivating evening of folk rock from Welsh instrumental musician Toby Hay and his fellow guitarists Jim Ghedi and Nick Jonah Davis
Gondwana Orchestra
(Supported by Mammal Hands) Millenium Hall, Sheffield, 30/1/2015
Keith How watches Manchester-based composer and trumpeter Matthew Halsall's sprawling band Gondwana Orchestra play a jazz-influenced set at the Millenium Hall in Sheffield to promote their new album, ‘When The World Was One’
Albums
Bert Jansch
Crimson Moon
Keith How appraises a reissue of 'Crimson Moon', the 21st LP by legendary, late Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch which feature appearances from Johnny Marr and Bernard Butler.
Mercury Rev
All is Dream
In our 'Re: View' section. in which our writers reflect on albums from the past, Keith How finds that a timely sumptuous four CD celebration of Mercury Rev’s 'All is Dream'from 2001 presented with demos, live materials and unreleased material proves to be a relevant and fascinating listen.
Bert Jansch
Avocet
Keith How reflects on Bert Jansch's 1979 album, 'Avocet', which has been newly re-released in an expanded version on vinyl.
Sorrow
Under the Yew Possessed
Keith How examines recently re-released 1993 lost classic 'Under the Yew Possessed', the debut album of Sorrow, which featured Stawberry Switchblade's Rose McDowall and her then husband Robert Lee.
John Foxx
Metamatic
In our Re: View section, in which our writers reflect on albums from the past, keith How reflects on ‘Metamatic’, electronic music pioneer John Foxx’s 1980 groundbreaking solo debut album after leaving Ultravox, which has just been re-released in a three CD deluxe edition.
Howe Gelb
Sno Angel Like You
Keith How examines Giant Sand front man Howe Gelb's solo album 'Sno Angel Like You' which found him working with a Canadian Gospel choir and finds it standing the test of time
Uther Pendragon
San Francisco Earthquake
In our 'Re: View' section, in which reflect on albums from the past, Keith How examines a new compilation of long lost recordings from Uther Pendragon, an unknown late 1960's/1970's San Francisco psychedelic/rock band
Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Arcana
Optimism
Keith How investigates a new edition of Bill Nelson’s 1988 album 'Optimism', which has been released in a remastered and expanded version
Features
Nathan Hall
Under the Radar
In his ‘Under the Radar’ column Keith How finds that ‘On the Blink’, a new set of songs from South Wales psychedelic mystic Nathan Hall is both inventive and pleasing, and makes vintage yet modern folk pop music.
Alison Cotton/Jenny Sturgeon
Under the Radar
In a double edition of 'Under the Radar Keith How discovers two rather special releases by two very talented women artists from different ends of the “new folk“ spectrum, both equally beautiful and beguiling.
Field Lines Cartographer
Under the Radar
In our 'Under the Radar' section this month Keith How finds 'The Spectral Isle', the new album from Field Lines Cartographer to be an impressive, fascinating and fulfilling listen.
Cinder Well
Under the Radar
'Under the Radar' uncovers a groundbreaking new album from one of the forerunners of the new underground roots music movement. Keith How finds Cinder Well’s 'No Summer' a lo-fi masterpiece, which is both reverential and beautiful.
David Ian Roberts
Under the Radar
Keith How in 'Under the Radar' reviews David Ian Roberts' latest pastoral, progressive folk release, 'From The Harbour'.
Help the Witch
Under the Radar
In the latest 'Under The Radar', Keith How reviews the musical companion to a collection of spooky folk stories, and a power trio from Sheffield by way of Joshua Tree.
Sigur Ros
The Image That Made Me Weep
In our series 'The Image That Made Me Weep', in which a different one of our writers or photographers reflects on a favourite image, Keith How writes of the video for Sigur Ros's 'Olsen Olsen'.
Lockdown Special
Under the Radar
In a lockdown special of his regular 'Under The Radar' column, in which he searches out under acknowledged bands and acts, Keith How takes the opportunity to explore some brilliant new music that could easily pass us by.
Pefkin
Under the Radar
In 'Under the Radar', in which he searches out under-rated bands and acts, Keith How examines Scottish sound collagist/experimental musician Pefkin and her latest album, 'Celestial Navigations'.
Brian Eno
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love' Keith How writes of his ten favourite Brian Eno songs between the ten year period of 1973 to 1983,
1967
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...'Keith How reflects on ten of his favourite songs from 1967.
Henry Parker/Meadowsilver
Under the Radar
In this edition of 'Under the Radar' Keith How unearths more treasures from the quieter corners of our musical landscape - a talented singer/songwriter and an inspiring new collaboration of psych/folkers.
Finland
Under the Radar
In this edition of his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out under-rated and little known bands, Keith How finds himself returning to Finland, a trip with some musical discoveries and chance encounters.
Aaiieenn/Bistro Boy
Under the Radar
In 'Under the Radar', in which he searches out under-rated bands, Keith How writes on a recent trip to Iceland of his discovery of two very different Icelandic electronic artists, Aaiieenn and Bistro Boy.
Aaiien/Bistro Boy
Under the Radar
In 'Under the Radar', in which he searches out under-rated bands, Keith How writes on a recent trip to Iceland of his discovery of two very different Icelandic electronic artists, Aaiieenn and Bistro Boy.
Rowan Amber Mill
Under the Radar
Keith How in 'Under the Radar' goes on a mystical and magical English pastoral journey courtesy of eerie folk collaboration Rowan:Morrison.
Cobalt Chapel
Under the Radar
In his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out under-rated artists and labels, Keith How examines Sheffield/London-based duo Cobalt Chapel's self-titled debut album, which is an uniquely inventive psychedelic folk classic.
Toby Hay
Under the Radar
In his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out lesser known artists and labels, Keith How reflects on Wales’ best kept secret guitarist Toby Hay. who releases an engaging new recording 'The Longest Day', that follows on from 'The Gathering', last year's highly acclaimed album.
Svein Finnerud Trio
Under the Radar
In his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out often under-rated musicians, Keith How reflects on the Svein Finnerud Trio's recently reissued 1970 album 'Plastic Sun' which, inventive and sometimes challenging, brings to light the work of this little known Norwegian jazz trio.
Jim Ghedi
Under the Radar
In his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out often under-rated musicians, Keith How examines Sheffield-based instrumental musician Jim Ghedi's new release, 'A Hymn for Ancient Land'.