Watch Joy Division biopic Control free and legally online

Missed Anton Corbijn's Joy Division movie Control when it came out? Well, you can see it for free (and legally) online if you're quick.

It's a promotional thing between Lovefilm and Volkswagen's See Film Differently. Type in your name and email address and you'll be given a 'watch online' credit to see Control anytime over the next 48 hours.

Only 1,000 credits, so if you want to watch it, get in now.

Watch Control at Lovefilm

Like Punk Never Happened - Brian McCloskey's Smash Hits archive online

We love a labour of love (apart from UB40's obviously) - and Like Punk Never Happened - Brian McCloskey's Smash Hits archive is such a labour. If you've an urge to rediscover the 80s music scene, it's a dream.

Of course, the cool kids weren't reading Smash Hits, they were eyeballs deep in the NME, Melody Maker, Sounds and The Face to name just four. But looking at the site and its associated Flickr archive, you probably get more of a feel for the decade and its music from here than some meandering article on Blue Rondo A La Turk in the NME.

See the blog, pick the issue, then head to the Flickr gallery where every page is scanned for your nostalgic delight. The working day will just melt away. A new issue will go up every fortnight.

Like Punk Never Happened - Brian McCloskey's Smash Hits archive

Rap Battles - the hip hop board game

Who needs Monopoly when you can get your hands on Rap Battles, the first (and probably last) hip hop board game.

According to the write up, the aim of the game is to be the first player to earn $1000 by rapping, which you'll do by picking up Rap card and Star cards, as well as throwing a dice to pick your tune. That tune is played out via the boom box and if successful, you pocket the cash.

Sadly, no spinning on lino for bonus cash and certainly no guns allowed. But at £19.99, it sounds like a lot of fun if you have a houseful (and you've had a skinful).

Find out more at the Spinning Hat website

Deep Purple's Hush single reissued on 7-inch vinyl for Record Store Day

It's come round again. Yes, the day when we're told to go to record shops under the banner Record Store Day. Of course, it's pretty counter-productive. Our thoughts on that here. But that's not the point of this story, we're flagging up an interesting release for the event - a reissue of Deep Purple's classic 1969 floorfiller, Hush, on vinyl.

Ok, it's not quite a reissue, it's more interesting than that. This very limited 45 will feature a BBC recording of Hush, recorded for Chris Grant’s 'Tasty Pop Sundae' in early 1969, backed  by Speed King, also recorded for the Beeb in the same year. Both tracks are from an upcoming BBC Sessions album, which isn't likely to see a vinyl release. The single also has  original Harvest artwork too. Nice.

1,400 copies will be pressed, all sold at stores in the UK participating in Record Store Day. Here's a tip - if you want it, get up at 3am and them hope it doesn't rain in the 6 hours you have to wait outside. Otherwise, you'll have to buy one for 10x the price on eBay the next day. Cynical? Us? Of course!

Record Store Day website

Marina Celeste - UK tour and album with Terry Hall

Ok, stick with this one, it's a long one.

The video below is of the song Our Lips Are Sealed, which was re-worked by Nouvelle Vague and Terry Hall a year or so back. The video features an old Louise Brooks movie, but that's by the by.

Anyway. the female singer on that was Marina Celeste and she's just recorded a new album called The Angel Pop, which is a collaborative project between herself and the legendary Terry Hall.

Not only that, she's touring that album in the UK. See over the page for the dates in April.

Marina Celeste website