W/e 07/08/26 - Durutti Column, Family Stereo, Lucia and the Best Boys, Opus Kink, Plan B

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Opus Kink take Album of the Week with an average of 7.15, and it's fair to say they ran away with it once all the scores were in — the Brighton noiseniks were the clear consensus pick of what proved a fairly muted week for new releases overall. Lucia & The Best Boys finish second on 6.54, a respectable enough showing, while Family Stereo prop up the table on 5.60 — a score that would have been even lower without Phil Cox riding heroically to their rescue on 7.6.

Tune of the Week: Crucify! by Opus Kink — picking up two votes, and nodded to by several others circling different tracks on the same album.

Phil J claims the 😊 this week on 6.85, finding more to enjoy than most across the board. Andy and Sam share the ☹️ on 5.88 — a tough week for both, and from very different directions.

Phil (New)

The Duratti Column 7.9

The guitar sound was very Knopfler on Your Shadow at Morning, remided me of the quiet bits of Telegraph Road. The album was an interesting listen throughout.

Family stereo 7.6

Superb opener with Remedy, Fault lines was great. All of the tracks were emotive and individually really good, but quite similar. Felt a bit much all in one go.

Lucia and the Best Boys 4

I didn't get on with this at all. The music was basic and unoriginal. A very boring listen.

Opus Kink 6.8

I liked the horns and jazz sound. I'm sure would be good fun live but for some reason this didn't click for me. Crucify! was a decent track.

TOW Sargasso Sea - The Duratti Column

Plan B 8.4

Not sure why I've not listened to this before, cracking album enjoyed it.

Andy

The Durutti Column - This felt very new age meditation at times but not in a bad way. Some of it was quite pleasant. Overall it made me think that while Factory were a bit all over the shop it was actually a good thing 5.5

Family Stereo - Pleasant enough but lightweight 5

Lucia and the Best Boys - They’ve definitely got more produced since we first saw them at TGE a while back. The sound also makes me think that adding the best boys to the name was akin to Ms Welch teaming up with her machine. Pretty enjoyable nonetheless 6.5

Opus Kink - This flirts dangerously with what I’d expect a Brighton drum workshop hosted by Chumbawumba to come up with but in the whole it gets past that and the gravelly vocals and experimentation make me think of Matt Johnson with a bunch of extra help. Not too bad at all 6.5

TotW - Lonely Girl by Lucia and co

Plan B - Considering how he looks doing an album that’s more Cee Lo Green than Eminem was always surprising. Crazy that someone who had so much going for him is currently residing in the where are they now pile 6.5

Guy

Durutti Column – This was just (JUST) the right side of being described as “experimental” – which would normally mean a dreadful score from me. It was saved by being a bit more ambient in places. – 5

Family Stereo – A bit soft and folky for my liking. Nothing wrong with it (indeed some of the tracks were well put together) but it just lacked oomph – 6.2

Lucia and The Best Boys – Definitely a touch of the Florence’s about this. I enjoyed this – she’s got a great voice and perhaps a bit more edge to her than Flo which makes for a more interesting sound – 7.6

Opus Kink – I couldn’t get on with this. The wind section annoyed me. I reckon if they’d have stuck to drums, guitar and bass I’d have warmed to it more but the jazzy undertones ruined it. Distinctive sound mind you which you probably have to applaud them for – 6

TOTW – Lonely Girl – Lucia and the Best Boys (with Lauren Mayberry!)

Plan B – Well produced and slick but it’s all a bit souly for my liking. Although there are one or two top tunes such as Writings on the Wall, Traded in my Cigarettes and of course She Said. - 7

Sam

Durutti Column : wasn’t expecting this ! It was perfectly pleasant but not really my thing . 6

Family Stereo : Jesus this went on and on and it was dull and wafty . No ta : 3

Lucia and the Best Boys : I do like them : great voice and this was this weeks winner with :7.5

Opus Kink : I don’t like jazz but the sheer enthusiasm from them is infectious. It’s very Dead Letter at times which is fine with me . Almost gets going properly towards the end but not quite . 7

TOTW another barren week for TOTW but just about I’ll go for Crucify by Opus Kink

Plan B : although much of what I love is guitar based , what I go for is passion . This album is overflowing with passion and emotion . His voice is fantastic and so many huge tunes . 8.8

Mark D

The Durutti Column 5.5

Found this frustrating. Sargasso Sea and Liars were great and second half better overall, but a lot of the tracks felt too soundscape and like they were playing around in a studio.

Family Stereo 6

It's decent enough and was excited by Remedy and quicker Fault Lines but otherwise too samey-acoustic-niceness and a bit dull.

Lucia and the Best Boys 7

Not breaking ground but slicky produced and liked the acoustic guitar sound through a lot of it. Consistently strong melodies and she's got a good voice..

Opus Kink 7.25

A lot going on here but loved the paranoid / nervous energy. There is one too many instruments or twists or vocal quirks in most songs for me but cant deny the style and it def doesn't let up..

TOTW - Crucify! - Opus Kink

Plan B - 8.25

Brilliant collection of songs and blend of styles.. The range of his vocals is top notch. Stay Too Long (actual TOTW) and The Recluse were my standouts.

Jim

The Durutti Column 5

Drifted towards noodley nonsense. Pleasant, without leaving any sort of imprint.

Family Stereo 5.5

It’s well crafted and I’m sure will flick some people’s switches, just not mine. Fair play for his debut and DLR was decent.

Lucia and the Boys 6.5

She has some chutzpah about her, less operatic than Florence , less quirky than Last Dinner Party. Overall enjoyable if a little MOR soft rock at times

Opus Kink 7.5

A cracking debut of mostly controlled chaos - the best and most interesting of the bunch this week buy a distance. Agree with the Deadletter comparison. The first half in particular was great fun with a few TOTW contenders . Top work

TOTW: Opus Kink’s Will It Come For You

Plan B. 8

Not sure if I listened to this when in came out . Some top choons, particularly liked the big soul /funky northern soul numbers.

Matt

The Durutti Column - 6.8

Family Stereo - 5

Lucia and the Best Boys - 5.3

Opus Kink - 7.3

TOTW - Shine my Sunday Shoes, Opus Kink

Paul

The Durutti Column (6.1)

Nice enough, started slowly but improved in the 2nd half.

Family Stereo (5.3)

Very one paced. A few nice songs on here (sea change & fault lines) but it did drag.

Lucia and the Best Boys (6.4)

Didn’t blow me away, She’s got a good voice with a few decent tracks but nothing stands out.

Opus Kink (8.1)

My album of the week enjoyed the dark swampy jazz feel to it. Very similar sound to Deadletter, which is no bad thing. Need to see them playing a smoky basement bar!

TOTW - Opus Kink, Come over, do me wrong

Plan B (7.5)

Powerful soulful voice and a couple of crackers on there. Good choice!

Erol

The Durutti Column - 4

Family Stereo - 6.5

Lucia and the Best Boys - 6.7

Opus Kink - 6.5

TOTW - Fault Lines, Family Stereo

Plan B - Thoroughly enjoyable, reminiscent of the sweet sound of Motown coupled with a great voice. A ray of sunshine in an otherwise mediocre week. 8.5

Phil (OG)

Durutti Column 7.3

Vini doesn’t seem to have tickled many of y’all’s fancy but I enjoyed this. Defiantly playing music that seems one moment to be ambient, the next almost classical, he has a lovely touch and the vocal tracks provide variety, especially the ones featuring Caiolfhionn Rose. He played on Morrissey’s first solo album, you know.

Family Stereo 5.5

I seem to have a low tolerance these days for sensitive singer-songwriters, especially male ones. FS is Blake Watt, and as an SSS he’s straight out of central casting. This album is both tasteful and dreary. If I’d seen him at the Great Escape I’d have walked out halfway through the second number.

Lucia and the Best Boys 6.8

Decent if somewhat predictable. I can see, or rather hear, the Florence vibes. The sort of record I can enjoy without wanting to hear it again.

Opus Kink 7.8

It’s usually a good sign when a band don’t sound like anyone else and this lot don’t. Also, these aren’t so much songs as performances. There’s a theatricality about them, enhanced by the use of horns and it comes as no surprise when, halfway through, they’re joined by fellow Brightonians, the New Eves. I enjoyed this a lot.

TOTW – Opus Kink – The head tree

Classic

Plan B 7.6

I remember liking what I heard from this record when it came out. It’s an impressive album. Why have we not heard much from him since? Or have we and I just missed it?

Mark KE

The Durutti Column - 7 - I listened to this one in the bath for the full immersive sonic experience, and pretty good it was too. About as far from Madchester as you can imagine, yet he's still a bit of a Manc legend and on the basis of this album I can see why.

Family Stereo - 6.5 - I thought this was quite pleasant, nicely produced modern folk.

Lucia and the best boys - 5.5 - decent enough, if a bit reminiscent of those massive power ballads from the 80s that would be in the top 10 and all over the radio for months.

Opus Kink - 7.5 - cut from a similar cloth to the likes of Viagra Boys, Fat White Family and Warmduscher so I liked this, even had a bit of Fun Boy Three attitude to it. There must be something in the Brighton water.

TOTW - Your Shadow At Evening, by The Durutti Column

Annette

The Durutti Column: 5.5

Family Stereo: 5

Lucia & The Best Boys: 7.5

Opus Kink: 7.5

TOTW: Come Over, Do Me Wrong by Opus Kink

Classic: Plan B - 8.5 (loved listening to this again) Thanks Sam!

Adam

The Durutti Column 7

Wouldn’t go amiss a new age love in gathering. Rather peaceful noodling.

Family stereo 5

Just tipped over into a little bit too dreary for me.

Lucia and the Best Boys 7

Good voice. Pop tinged with country.

Opus Kink 7

A very enjoyable listen. Punky jazzy and other stuff thrown in. They somehow make it work.

TOTW The Sweet Goodbye - Opus Kink

Classic 9

Love this album. Soul, rapping - it all comes together in a high energy album. Great memories listening to this.

Justin

The Durutti Column - Part Yes style prog and part Spanish ambient house. I really liked it. Great guitar. 7.5

Family Stereo - Probably needs a few more listens. Very gentle/quiet. Didn't totally grasp me. Very slow indie. 6

Lucia and the Best Boys - More Marina and the Diamonds than Florence in my view. Enjoyable female indie/pop. 6.8

Opus Kink - A bit of Nick Cave and a bit of Pulp. Avant-garde indie. 6.9

TOTW. Durutti Column - Sargasso Sea

Plan B - I love a bit of soul even though I don't listen to it often. This is a great UK soul album. 8

Carlo

The Durutti Column – 6.4

Had the possibility to be great work-focus music, but the songs all had the same instrumental feel. I pay for a subscription to Brain.fm – far better. Sadly, topped off with a couple of dodgy vocals, it killed it for me.

Family Stereo – 5.4

Dull and depressing. One song in isolation is fine… as soon as you have three in a row, I’m ready to jump off a cliff. Although I did choose Fault Lines for TOTW (thin pickings).

Lucia & The Best Boys – 6.1

This album just comfortably played in the background. Not harmful, but also not exciting. Just OK.

Opus Kink – 7.0

The energy felt like they were just having some fun. I didn’t mind it for that reason, but generally not something I would ever play again.

TOTW: Family Stereo – Fault Lines

Classic: Plan B – 7.9

The Jekyll and Hyde of albums. I was expecting this to be full-on rap, so I was pleasantly surprised. Soul or hip-hop? Who knows what the next song will be.

Simon

Durutti Column 7

First listen for me but enjoyed it, a bit noodly to start off with but found the tracks with Caiolfhlionn Rose along with Your Shadow at Evening quite compelling.

Family Stereo 5.5

He may be the offspring of pop royalty but this is all rather pedestrian - there's the odd flicker of life and it's sung beautifully but it didn't exactly get the juices flowing.

Lucia and the Best Boys 6

Nice voice, but it's pretty conventional stuff in a Flo-lite sort of way and none of the tracks were interesting enough to warrant further listening.

Opus Kink 7.5

Didn't mind the sax and it has plenty of other stuff going for it to compensate - agree with the Deadletter comparisons, has a slightly unhinged side to it which I really liked and the track with the New Eves is great.

TotW: Durutti Column - Your Shadow at Evening

Plan B 6.8

Nicely done although not really my cup of tea.