loreleiirvine

Overlooked Classics: That Dog (1993)

That Dog’s debut eponymous album is just the epitome of perfection to me. The combination of indie pop and strange classical and jazz elements is still quite unlike anything I’ve heard. The band are perhaps like a less brutal Miranda Sex Garden, or softer Slits or Raincoats. Songs- and harmonies- don’t quite go where theyContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: That Dog (1993)”

Frankenweenie(1984)

In many ways, the original short film version of Frankenweenie is a sharp satire on horror cinema and its tropes: after all, Shelley Duvall plays the Mom, which foreshadows the macabre undertow (isn’t she the archetypal horror film Mom as resilient Wendy Torrance in The Shining?) Written by Lenny Ripps and directed by a youngContinue reading “Frankenweenie(1984)”

Album Review: Sanctuary

A mighty collaboration between the Colombian composer Jose Parody and Grayson Sanders and Leviticus Penner, Sanctuary Vol. 1 and 2 is steeped in the kind of quietude that is neither comforting nor kind, but still incredibly beautiful. Truth is meditative, sparse and features voices that weave in and out drones. Smoke In The Halls isContinue reading “Album Review: Sanctuary”

Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Once Upon A Time Is 40

Siouxsie and The Banshees emerged fully formed from the punk scene- Siouxsie Sioux and Steve Severin were part of the Bromley Contingent who followed the Sex Pistols- and gained notoriety for a spiky, atonal and extended version of The Lord’s Prayer during the spit, vomit and snot heyday. However, by the time of this, theContinue reading “Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Once Upon A Time Is 40”

A John Waters Christmas

Good taste? Bad taste? It’s all so subjective, dahhling. One man who has no such quibbles in these matters is peerless movie director John Waters. As befits the man dubbed The Pope of Trash by William S Burroughs, Waters’ seasonal picks are as kitsch and hilarious as many of his films. Not for him, theContinue reading “A John Waters Christmas”

Record Label Of The Month: Upset The Rhythm

Based in London, indie promoter and record label Upset The Rhythm is the epitome of punk. Formed in 2003 as a promoter, they officially launched as a label in 2005. Featuring bands like Deerhoof, Trash Kit, Terry, Sauna Youth, Rattle, Kaputt, and most recent signing, Japanese punk band NicFit, they specialise in lo-fi, post-punk andContinue reading “Record Label Of The Month: Upset The Rhythm”

Music News: Boris Have Signed To Sacred Bones

Dream team! Legendary Japanese doom rockers Boris have just signed to the brilliant label Sacred Bones. First single Drowning By Numbers is out now and it’s a brilliant, psychedelic layered dirge. They’re the only acceptable Boris to listen to these days. #satire A new album follows in 2022.

Album Review: Laura- Mary Carter- Town Called Nothing

Blood Red Shoes frontwoman Laura-Mary Carter has always been a wonderful musician, and her new solo project is equally fascinating, but this time, her post- grunge shredding has been replaced by a country noir mini-album. Town Called Nothing invokes dusty, ominous Westerns, the eerie moment before the showdown. It starts off deceptively pretty, with fineContinue reading “Album Review: Laura- Mary Carter- Town Called Nothing”

Interview: Carolyn Yates and Linda Duncan McLaughlin Talk ‘Gazing’

A powerful, challenging, provocative and funny new play, Gazing, looking at female representation and autonomy, has been inspired by Kim Ayres’ photography exhibition ‘Women over Fifty’. It starts on Saturday at Dumfries and Galloway’s DG Arts Festival. Ahead of its run this weekend, Lorna Irvine caught up with the creator, playwright Carolyn Yates, and castContinue reading “Interview: Carolyn Yates and Linda Duncan McLaughlin Talk ‘Gazing’”

Lost In Music: Jamie Black- Leather

Queer Theory is a long- running, iconic cabaret/club night in Glasgow and now they’ve launched a brand new label. The first single release on the label is a shimmering, bittersweet electro torch song by Jamie Black- who has regularly performed as the lead singer of QT’s sassy house band Black Doves- and is now launchingContinue reading “Lost In Music: Jamie Black- Leather”