As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, a big backlog of music to work through here. And while I try and offer some fractionally different recommendations away from the usual media pile-ons (Oh look, Haim etc), this Janelle Monáe album is terrific and I totally recommend having a listen on The Guardian’s stream: very much in the zone of “The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill” (especially “Victory”).

I guess there are probably worse jobs to return to after a fortnight’s holiday. I arrived back in the Uncut office yesterday to be greeted by a big pile of new releases, which I’m still picking my way through. Currently playing: Track Two of Damon’s reissued “Song Of A Gypsy” – “Generally regarded,” it says here in the press release, “as one of the finest privately-pressed psychedelic rock records” of the late ‘60s. We shall see.

Pixies have released a brand new EP and video today (September 3). The four-track EP, titled EP-1, was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and was produced by Gil Norton, who also helmed previous Pixies releases Dolittle (1989), Bossanova (1990) and Trompe Le Monde (1991). Also released today is the first video from the EP, for the track "Indie Cindy", which you can watch below. The trackslisting for 'EP-1' is as follows: 'Andro Queen' 'Another Toe In The Ocean' 'Indie Cindy' 'What Goes Boom'

David Crosby has revealed details of his forthcoming album on Twitter. Crosby - who's been providing regular Twitter updates about the album over the last few months - confirmed last night [September 2] the album title and release date, as well as provided more information about the guest musicians who've played on it. In the first Tweet, Crosby wrote: "OK I think it is done ....a brand new David Crosby record.....11 tracks ...all new ....I love it ...."

According to a report in London's Evening Standard last night [September 2], David Bowie is reluctant to make his long-awaited live comeback because he is experiencing nerves over the prospect of returning to the stage. Earlier in the day, representatives working for Bowie have said the singer still has "no current plans" to perform live following reports he has been offered a multi-million pound deal to play in London next year.

DVD debut of long-unavailable concert footage from 1996, with bonus backstage access...

Arctic Monkeys debuted a new track "Arabella" at Zurich Open Air Festival. It was the first time the band have played the track live. "Arabella" is taken from their forthcoming album AM. You can watch the band perform the song by scrolling down the page. AM is set for release on September 9 and also features the tracks "R U Mine?" and "Do I Wanna Know?". Guests on the album include Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and former member of The Coral, Bill Ryder-Jones.