As is the brutal way with deadlines on monthly magazines, yesterday afternoon I had to send out a request to all of Uncut's writers for their albums of the year lists, so that we can start the long and meticulous process of compiling a Best Of 2014 chart.
Last year, Warp Records embarked on a campaign for Boards Of Canada's "Tomorrow's Harvest" comeback that was notable for its obtuseness. Unmarked 12-inches were hidden in record stores, strings of numbers and inexplicable broadcasts were strewn enigmatically across the internet. At one point, I recall some talk of red moons and feverish online triangulations pointing to a bookshop near Edinburgh as the centre of the universe. It was all fun, and the album at the end of it all was great, but perhaps it wandered a little off course as it went on.
Another issue in the bag yesterday, which'll be in UK shops on August 26, and which features, if you're in the mood for guessing games, someone who's never been on our cover before.
Welcome to the new issue of Uncut! John’s on holiday this week – he was last seen disappearing into darkest Gloucestershire – so it falls to me to show you around this month's edition instead.
Glastonbury can be a cruel mistress, punishing us with her ever changing moods. This morning brought thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening. Now the sun is ablaze across the festival, and the pre-Metallica mood is incongruously mellow to the max.
Robert Plant has confirmed details of his new album, lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar.
The album — which has been recorded with The Sensational Space Shifters — will be released on September 9 on Nonesuch / Warner Bros. Records.
The stage times for this month's Glastonbury festival have been revealed.
Scroll down for information on the timings for the Pyramid Stage, Other Stage, West Holts Stage, The Park Stage, John Peel Stage Acoustic Tent and Avalon Stage. Glastonbury 2014 takes place on Worthy Farm over June 27-29, with the gates to festival opening on June 25.
Pyramid Stage
Friday
Arcade Fire 22.00-23.45
Elbow 20.00-21.15
Lily Allen 18.30-19.30
Rudimental 16.45-17.45
De La Soul 15.15-16.15
Rodrigo y Gabriela 13.45-14.45
The War on Drugs 12.30-13.15
