The new box set The Making of Five Leaves Left illuminates a focused and forthright artist at his genesis, and further undermines the idea he was an isolated, haunted romantic.

Balloon’s Ian Bickerton on being compared to Kate Bush, how Iggy Pop and James Williamson soundtracked his youth and Van Morrison scored his life.

In 2020, Emma Swift’s album of Bob Dylan covers, Blonde on the Tracks, brought her widespread acclaim and a new audience. In the midst of making an album of Lou Reed covers, she talks to State of Sound about searching for the real Lou, and what it was like trying on his leather pants.