There's a Scottish band in every Panini sticker packet and on this evidence they might turn out to have been unfairly maligned, but Haiti's energy and inventiveness wins out

Final group game sees both teams forgetting where they are. Paraguay are set up for the Classical Olympics while the USA have got their big TV events mixed up and dressed for the Oscars. Paraguay's superior technique and poise almost gets them through but the US bring it back in the second half

Absolutely outrageous tactical appropriation from Bosnia as they not only rip off Latin American tactics wholesale but throw in a bumbaclart rabona in the first minute. 3-0 up by the time the Canadians are out or the dressing room. Or out of bed, who can tell.

We might be in for an upset here as hot favourites South Korea have ideas to burn but none of them cohere, and they're undone by the most route-one goal imaginable from the Czechs. Reputations mean nothing at this level, Clive

Strong opening game although I'm afraid Mexico's overuse of the old A-ha formation doesn't stand a chance against the superior pace and technique of the South Africans. And then there's the big talkbox lad upfront to put it firmly in the back of the net

There's a specific magic to relistening to an album you only had on cassette, except now in proper sound quality and on good headphones/speakers. In my experience these are the records most likely to reveal entirely new sounds and depths. (Oh shit this actually has bass etc)

What are some big/representative amapiano/3step mixes that are worth seeking out? I always feel like this music isn't best heard on YouTube or via 30-hour playlists, I want to hear it in the hands of a DJ who knows what they're doing. Preponderance of big/obvious tunes positively encouraged

That's made me listen to Geese again and they're... not exactly a nailed on commercial proposition either. But I can see how "bonkers energetic party band" hooks people in a way that "man going crazy in a shack in the desert" doesn't

Even if there was insane marketing money at play, going "we should spend it on this" is one hell of a judgement call. (Also the lesson of Gay Dad still holds, all the marketing in the world won't help if you don't catch people's ear and make them care)

I would be interested to read this article

We have one of these, takes us up a big hill and drops us opposite our building. I would be lost without it

This album still rules but the Batman stuff has probably done its long term reputation no flavours (not that Todd Terry needs it)

I assume there's one incredible Balearic classic on there that everyone has known since time immemorial without realising?

"Everything in her room was covered in honey" is the really grim line there

I find this story (plus the house with 200 dogs in it) deeply horrifying in a kind of new and interesting way

Little Eyes, from a few years ago, is tremendous - a creepy, fantastical data privacy dystopia that should be to your tastes if you haven't read it

The track I listened to (Mata Zyklek) was actually banging, in that it was very easy to imagine a festival tent going mental to it once it got going. The microtonal elements felt natural rather than look-at-me and would be less likely to throw people than the stop-start rhythms at the beginning.

An Architects Dream is a lovely song but for different reasons the vocal openings are very much "god no". All of these are songs you only listen to if you're playing the album all the way through, no one goes to them when they want a Kate fix

We were there as well, the songs from the first album got more of an industrial techno remake. Everyone looked like they were having fun (also we got to say hello in the pub afterwards)

Please tell me you also did this during the moon landing

Logistically I think they have to let the sketches play out for longer - it becomes unworkable as a live show otherwise, but yes a lot of them do go on too long. I'm still on board but they should probably quietly retire whoever is writing the wacky drama student historical sketches

Massive Attack would like a word with you here

Went to see The Drama last night, deeply deeply rancid and highly enjoyable

And that it's the police and MPs doing the looting

It worked on the last album! I had to bail out of this towards the end, very much lost in a maze of kitchen sinks.

Haha OK getting very strong "WTF do we spend all this money on?" vibes from this album. We still haven't maxxed out with the symphony orchestra, OK get the ghost of Al Green in why not?

Whole thing could have done with more cake and less icing imo.

Infinite Pests (Raye, 2028)

Stick some interludes in there as well

I am generally pro-Raye but keep turning the album off after a few minutes in a "when are the intros going to stop?" way. I assume it's one of those records that's immediately better if you start it at track three or four

FWIW there is actually a corresponding Mario level to every scene in Ulysses