What a fully-formed debut Red Roses For Me, released in 1984, was. Somehow producer Pete Brennan managed to distil the chaotic energy of The Pogues’ live gigs.It’s stunning. This, coupled with irrepressible lead singer Shane MacGowan ‘s gimlet eyed poetry (Transmetropolitan, Dark Streets of London) meant they were forever torn between raucous piss- up andContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Pogues- Red Roses For Me”
Category Archives: Lorna Irvine
The Future’s Here Today: Erika Angell
Sometimes, a piece of music just stops you in your tracks and pins you to the spot. I was transfixed when MaryAnne Hobbs played this on her BBC6 Music show this morning. Majestic, burbling electronic music with icy, neo-Goth vocals, Erika Angell is worth investigating. Her music is as deep as a well. She’s aContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Erika Angell”
Lucifer Over Lanarkshire: Diane Morgan Is A Disgrace
I’m not asking for cancellation here, because, as I previously stated, I have a sense of ambivalence about banning artists, but there’s one actor who really winds me up: Diane Morgan. She’s a disgrace. For those of you unfamiliar with her work, Morgan is a comedy actor who is utterly typecast. Essentially, she plays stupid,Continue reading “Lucifer Over Lanarkshire: Diane Morgan Is A Disgrace”
Overlooked Classics: AC Marias -One Of Our Girls
Formed by Wire’s Bruce Gilbert and Graham Lewis, with film maker and singer Angela Conway, AC Marias made an album which pretty much seemed to disappear into the ether as soon as it had arrived. That’s probably as apt a metaphor as you could wish for, given the strange nature of this beautiful album. EvenContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: AC Marias -One Of Our Girls”
Is Cancel Culture Over?
Jonathan Richman arguably wrote one of the first songs about cancelling artists due to their dodgy tendencies. Titled ‘Pablo Picasso ‘, the chorus went, “Pablo Picasso was never called on asshole”. and was a pointed critique on his philandering. I wonder what he makes of Louis CK, Russell Brand and Lizzo. Nobody is infallible inContinue reading “Is Cancel Culture Over?”
Film Review: Love, Lizzo
Until the recent allegations against her, I had a lot of admiration for Lizzo. Born Melissa Jefferson in Detroit, she went from niche hip hop artist to global superstar in a decade: not bad for a big, Black woman who sings, raps, twerks and is a classically trained flautist with her own clothing brand andContinue reading “Film Review: Love, Lizzo”
Lost In Music: JSBX- Talk About The Blues
It’s not every day that Hollywood royalty plays your band in a music video,but that’s exactly what happened for Jon Spencer Bues Explosion in 1998 when Evan Bernard directed this little film. Winona Ryder, Giovanni Ribisi and John C Reilly portray the power trio. ‘Talk About The Blues’ is lifted from the studio album,’Acme’. SpencerContinue reading “Lost In Music: JSBX- Talk About The Blues”
Favourite Cover Versions: Iggy Pop and Jarvis Cocker – Red Right Hand
Nick Cave has often said it’s not his favourite self-penned song, and I agree: it’s kinda hokum, with its Hammer Horror organ and slightly cheesy delivery. So, Iggy Pop and Jarvis Cocker (who better?!?!??) brought out this collaboration and I love it, it sounds dirtier and tougher than the original slightly coy version from NickContinue reading “Favourite Cover Versions: Iggy Pop and Jarvis Cocker – Red Right Hand”
Album Review: Small Pond- Emerging Vol 3
The small but mighty indie label Small Pond, based in Brighton, shows that alternative !music is very much thriving. This new compilation has a wide diversity of genres. There’s bright, anthemic indie pop from MaxwellTheBand with piledriving opener, ‘Bic Lighter’, Currls provide soulful /emo inspired indie with ‘April Fool’. Peach Season are another musical uContinue reading “Album Review: Small Pond- Emerging Vol 3”
Five Times Top Of The Pops Was Worth Watching
I’m positively fossil aged, but back in the day, we had these nebulous concepts called “the charts”. This was when record companies received notification of which musical artists were selling the most singles. The Top 40 was thus reflected on a terminally naff TV show on the BBC, usually with teenagers grinning dementedly, dancing inContinue reading “Five Times Top Of The Pops Was Worth Watching”
Hit The North 