The Glorious Surrealism of The Lovely Eggs

Everyone knows eggs are the best way to start the day. So whenever life is challenging and…well.. pretty shit, I turn to Holly Ross and Dave Blackwell, aka Lancaster psych punk duo The Lovely Eggs. The uncompromising, fiercely DIY indie band, who are also a married couple, make surreal, day-glo music with absurdist nursery rhymeContinue reading “The Glorious Surrealism of The Lovely Eggs”

Overlooked Classics: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity

Debut albums rarely feel as raw as From Her To Eternity. The Birthday Party had dissolved pretty messily, amid drug abuse and ego problems, so Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds could have toned things down a little in order to hit that commercial paydirt. Ha, as if. Cave was far too independent, too contrarianContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity”

Lost In Music: Lil Mama- Lipgloss

Forget Lil Kim, Lil Mama is way cooler. She’s the epitome of sass. How cool is she? Tom Waits joined Iggy Pop as a guest on his 6Music radio show recently, and they both took turns going, “What you know ’bout me?” after playing this. It was very funny. I love this track and video,Continue reading “Lost In Music: Lil Mama- Lipgloss”

Album Review: Dummy- Free Energy

Dummy’s new album, Free Energy, is perfect for moving to, or moving around cities to. It hits the sweet spot between experimentation and melodic indie pop. The Los Angeles band, comprised of Emma Maatman, Alex Ewell, Nathan O’ Dell and Joe Trainor, feel very much of the zeitgeist, as well as timeless. ‘Nine Clean Nails’Continue reading “Album Review: Dummy- Free Energy”

Album Review: Molchat Doma- Balaya Palosa

The Belarus trio, who recently relocated to Los Angeles, have crafted a subtle and complex piece of darkwave here. It’s music which is perfect for travelling home on trains as dusk gathers in crowded cities. Take your pick which city. This album is concrete and neon, dark and ominous. It’s rather beautiful too. The plethoraContinue reading “Album Review: Molchat Doma- Balaya Palosa”

Lost In Music: This Mortal Coil

Formed by 4AD bosses Ivo Watts-Russell and John Fryer, This Mortal Coil made some of the most sublime, prescient music ever. Not everyone was keen. AR Kane dismissed them as simply “people in black clothes with shaved heads” and the second album by the collective , the dense,sprawling Filigree and Shadow (also my favourite) wasContinue reading “Lost In Music: This Mortal Coil”

Album Review: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds- Wild God

And lo, Nick Cave and his band of Bad Seeds did release their most epic, commercial album thus far. ‘Conversion’ is cinematic, bolstered by a heavenly choir. ‘Frogs’ is similar, and the title track is some kind of attempt to glean joy from adversity. Obviously, there’s some personal stuff in there: O Wow O WowContinue reading “Album Review: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds- Wild God”

Film Review: Distant Sky- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Live in Copenhagen

Oh,Nick. These are the sweeping, thunderous songs, mostly from the period of Push The Sky Away/ Skeleton Tree . When Cave and the band really let go, they’re mesmerising. Cave’s baritone seems coated in sulphur, and he’s not so much singing as spitting out ghostly ectoplasm. He roars, hollers, or menacingly takes it down toContinue reading “Film Review: Distant Sky- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Live in Copenhagen”

Possibly, Definitely, Actually… Maybe…

Whisper it, but it appears that the feuding Gallagher bros Lennon and Brains are actually getting the band back together. Yes, Ahr Kid and Songwriter Kid are apparently reforming Oasis. The overrated monobrows will be touring next year. I’m with the ever-quotable Bjork who described Oasis as “bad boy scout music”. Their laddish, Beatles -worshippingContinue reading “Possibly, Definitely, Actually… Maybe…”

Film Review: Weird:The Al Yankovic Story

The man,the myth,the moustache.. Now, the movie. In many ways, ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic epitomises not only art, but in some ways strikes at the core of what it is to be human. So it is with this inspired mock biopic, co-written and directed by Yankovic himself with Eric Appel, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the parodyContinue reading “Film Review: Weird:The Al Yankovic Story”