In the magazine June 2012

Featuring Hot Chip, Best Coast, Sigur Ros, Japandroids and more.

How many bands even get to their fifth album these days? It’s an achievement that has just been notched up by Hot Chip, and they’ve done it in style. Few have a back catalogue as intriguing or distinctive as theirs, and in their new full length ‘In Our Heads’ they’ve gone and topped the lot. One of the perks of this job is getting to hear new records before the rest of the world. It’s no exaggeration to say that, even weeks after the first play, this one hasn’t left the stereo. From dance to R&B, house to techno, South London’s premier pop scientists have cooked together a peerless formula. Few deserve a cover quite as much.

Not that we’re short of brilliant bands this month: Japandroids’ new record is equally awesome, while any month you can welcome back The Hives is probably going to be more fun than most. We talk to a legitimate icon in the form of Sleater-Kinney and Wild Flag’s Carrie Brownstein, get up close and personal with Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino and take you behind the scenes of our party at this year’s Camden Crawl.

There’s also the story behind Sigur Ros’ latest, interviews with Peaking Lights and Liars, studio catch ups with newcomers Willy Moon and Theme Park, reports from the ground at this year’s Great Escape, a run through Alt-J’s ace debut album AND we go on a date with Andrew WK. Party hard, readers. Grab it on the streets or via diymag.com now.”