New York state of mind

A new Thurston Moore record? Well, go on then - if you insist... Rock 'N' Roll Consciousness is out on 28th April, recorded in Crouch End (near his Stoke Newington manor) by Paul Epworth and with his now established accomplices James Sedwards, Deb Googe and Steve Shelley.

It comprises just five tracks, three of which feature lyrical contributions from London poet Radieux Radio, with whom Moore's collaborated on a 7", previous record The Best Day and most recently a residency called Watch The Sky at the Islington Mill in Salford.

The first of the songs to see the light of day is the largely (and perhaps surprisingly) understated 'Smoke Of Dreams', electrified only by a section of chugging guitar over which Moore solos like J Mascis. It's a wonder six-string pyrotechnician Sedwards was able to restrain himself for four minutes. Meanwhile, the lyrical subject matter indicates that while you can take the boy (well, nearly sixty-something man) out of New York, you can't take New York out of the boy.