Few comedy pairs are like Vic Reeves and the gorgeous Bob Mortimer. I laugh like a drain at their shenanigans. But it’s their most absurdist moments that tickle me most, and like rent free in my noggin. Their parody of lTV lookalike/soundalike competition ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ makes me laugh like a twat every time.Continue reading “Vic and Bob Gotta Have Faith”
Category Archives: Music
Lost In Music: Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry
It may be a one hit wonder, but what a wonderful song. Used in many iconic films, this cat, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, had quite the vocal range. One of my favourites ever. Who could forget Corey Haim in The Lost Boys singing along with this. Frogman joined the great lily pad in the sky, thisContinue reading “Lost In Music: Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry”
Lost In Music: Angine de Poitrine
Seems like everyone has an opinion on oh-so enigmatic Quebec duo Angine de Poitrine at the moment, from Justin Hawkins to outspoken Glasgow comic Limmy. They’re becoming ubiquitous at the moment, possibly with good cause. Styled like a fusion of Tristan Tzara and Strawberry Switchblade with a soupcon of Noseybonk (those phallic noses, ugghhhhh) inContinue reading “Lost In Music: Angine de Poitrine”
Just Step Sideways: Dean Friedman – “Well,Well”, Said the Rocking Chair
Billy Joel , Billy Schmoel. New Jersey legend Dean Friedman is where it’s at, kids. Too funky to be a crooner, too silly to be MOR, he occupied a strange position in the rock music galaxy in the seventies. Some of his music was confessional singer -songwriter, a la Elton John; some was like aContinue reading “Just Step Sideways: Dean Friedman – “Well,Well”, Said the Rocking Chair”
Film Review : Pavements
When is a biopic about Pavement not a biopic about Pavement? When it’s Pavements. This film, written and directed by Alex Ross Perry eschews a linear rock doc narrative, exactly as you’d expect for an American indie band who are a mass of contradictions: with a sound forever torn between sleepy and frenetic; loose andContinue reading “Film Review : Pavements”
Theatre In Pop Is Back
Back in the seventies, decent pop leaned into the avant-garde, with artists transcending mere gigs. This was pop as theatre. Bowie, Kate Bush and even prog rock charlatans like Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Genesis could be found using stage craft, props and exquisite scenography to boost their strange and otherworldly music. This elevated itContinue reading “Theatre In Pop Is Back”
Lost In Music:Prince- The Beautiful Ones
There are many songs I could have picked as a tribute: obvious anthems (‘Purple Rain’, ‘Little Red Corvette ‘, ‘Raspberry Beret’, etc) or the more lascivious songs (‘Get Off’, ‘Cream’, ‘Sister’, ‘Darling Nikki’, ‘Kiss’, ‘Sexy MF’ etc) even his big conceptual songs from the Sign O’The Times era or featuring his Camille alter -ego. ButContinue reading “Lost In Music:Prince- The Beautiful Ones”
Lost In Music: Prince- Controversy
It’s, almost ridiculously, a decade since we lost the visionary Prince. So, with no fanfare at all, here’s one of the earliest hits which put him on the musical firmament. Drink a purple coloured beverage to him and his legacy tonight. He was the full package, a total visionary, a funky one-off.
Hold Music
I call my doctor, and am subsequently third in the queue. I’m mesmerized by the hold music, reassuring warm piano ostinatos that go on and on till the point of tedium. I imagine it’s the theme to a sitcom. The sitcom is American, as is so often the case. We open on a bunch ofContinue reading “Hold Music”
A Kathy Acker Playlist
I’ve been reading the great Kathy Acker again, someone whose blunt, unvarnished prose is like steel and concrete. She’s timeless because Americans are, as we are in the UK too, struggling to make ends meet. Her books represent the desperation, the lost love, family stress, romantic disappointments and the defiance of those who slipped throughContinue reading “A Kathy Acker Playlist”
Hit The North 