As someone who has spent a good decade lavishing praise on/making excuses for Julian Cope’s music while so many of his old fans have wandered off in dismay at another Brain Donor CD, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised at being one of the very few people who enjoyed his show at Latitude last month. I blogged about this captivating spectacle at length over here, so won’t go into it all again now.

Find out which place has produced the most stars in the UK

The Pretenders icon is taking part in a future 'Uncut Audience with'

Stereolab, Teddy Thompson and more in our recommended releases round-up

It was back in March that Tropic Thunder first made it onto my radar. I was skimming through a copy of Entertainment Weekly, and found a full-page picture of Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jnr in combat fatigues, rifles at the ready, creeping through the brush in a jungle setting clearly meant to represent Vietnam. What struck me, first, was the idea of these excellent comic actors making a Vietnam spoof could be a brilliant wheeze; secondly, the rather jaw-dropping fact that Downey was in blackface.

Stormy, heavenly and hymnal – it’s like they’ve never been away

The son also rises. A great, Orbison-inspired piece of work

Latest findings from the pan-European pop boffins

Rhinestone Cowboy returns to Capitol. With added Travis!

One-off music sessions are compiled for new release