The highlight of the week gone by, for me at least, was, of course, attending the playback of Leonard Cohen’s new album Old Ideas. Cohen was there, as you’ve no doubt heard by now, and if he had so chosen he could have kept his audience hanging on his every word for many more hours than he did. I’ve already written about the vent, but it seemed also timely to revisit this piece, written originally for my Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before column in Uncut, about meeting Cohen in somewhat unusual circumstances in June 1974.

Ringo Starr has announced plans to release a new album at the end of this month.

Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood has recorded a new album with Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki.

You can watch the video for Arctic Monkeys' new track 'You And I' now by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking. The track, which features Richard Hawley, will appear as the B-Side to the band's forthcoming single 'Black Treacle', which is due for release on January 23. The single will be released on 7" and as a digital download. It is the latest track to be taken from last year's 'Suck It And See' album.

Paul McCartney has hinted that he could play a special show at the London 2012 Olympics.

Producer William Orbit has hinted that he is set work with Blur on their new studio album.

Pulp have announced three more live dates for this summer.

Neil Young has hit out at the sound quality of 21st century recorded music, revealing that listening to it makes him "angry".

Over the past year or two, MC Taylor of “Hiss Golden Messenger has become not just one of my favourite American contemporary songwriters, but also a great source of musical recommendations; most recently, of course, with his terrific “Wah-Wah Cowboys” mixtape.

Haul out the Vespa! Jimmy the Mod rides again on two and five CD reissues of Townshend’s 1973 opera. Plus demos, photos, posters, studio diaries…