My previous pseudonym before Lorelei was Spoilt Victorian Child. This was when I wrote for my previous blog, The Tempo House. It’s still online, and yes, as with this one, it’s named after classic Fall songs. My wonderful cousin Audrey has a theory that personal style and taste is set in your formative years ofContinue reading “It Was Never “Just A Phase””
Category Archives: Pop culture
Vintage Film Review: Welcome To The Dollhouse
Todd Solondz’s debut feature film from 1995 is still the most painfully accurate depiction of school brutality I’ve seen: the usual parental advice of ‘just ignore them and they’ll go away” never works, simply because bullying is a ritual, and relentless in its targets. So it is for the main character here and target ofContinue reading “Vintage Film Review: Welcome To The Dollhouse”
Album Review: All The Young Droids: Junkshop Synth Pop
Philip King’s compilation of late-seventies – mid-eighties synth pop has a similar, if less political, approach as Adam Curtis: find leftfield, obscure tracks and highlight them, creating a sideways look at pop culture. As the title suggests, there is a DIY, deliberately un-glossy attitude to much of the music on offer. Frankie Goes To HollywoodContinue reading “Album Review: All The Young Droids: Junkshop Synth Pop”
The Rise- But Not Quite Fall- Of The People’s Pervert
A still from the film Pulp: A Film About Life,Death And Supermarkets Once again, Pulp find themselves positioned as the indie outsiders. While their recent reunion and album garnered much enthusiasm (despite being a little disappointing) it’s Oasis who yet again get the headlines, playing to thousands. I wonder how Jarvis, Candida, Nick and MarkContinue reading “The Rise- But Not Quite Fall- Of The People’s Pervert”
Happy 80th Birthday, Debbie Harry!
How’s it possible? How can it be? Angela Trimble, better known as Debbie Harry, turned 80 on the 1st of July. Belated birthday greetings to a true icon, the NYC goddess with sun in her hair, fiery attitude, intelligence and an incredible voice. She has it all, and she’s influenced countless artists. We’re always touchedContinue reading “Happy 80th Birthday, Debbie Harry!”
Peace, Love and Keir Starmer
Glastonbury 2025 has finished for another year, but vapour trails of outrage remain in the air. Sir Keir Starmer, our UK prime minister, is currently embroiled in a row about the broadcast of Bob Vylan, the punk duo and their chants of ” Death to the IDF”. Politically incendiary playlists? Not on his watch. AsContinue reading “Peace, Love and Keir Starmer”
Glasto Queen: Self Esteem at Glastonbury Festival, BBC
It ‘s official now: Self Esteem performed one of the best ever sets at Glastonbury, televised by the BBC. Rebecca Lucy Taylor is now a bona fide pop star, from the moment she sashayed onto the stage with her anti- Handmaids to the euphoric finale with everyone in a conga line, kitted out in SheffieldContinue reading “Glasto Queen: Self Esteem at Glastonbury Festival, BBC”
TV Review: Shifty
Film maker Adam Curtis has many detractors: his naysayers suggest he’s cynical, paranoid, unwatchable, a conspiracy theorist. I think this is all a tad unfair. He simply curates archive footage, patchwork style, adds ideas and weaves it all deftly together, both a satirist and retro-futurist. He lets the viewer go along with his non -linearContinue reading “TV Review: Shifty”
Film Review: Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche
It ‘s tough at the top, and it’s far from easy being the offspring of a punk legend, either. That’s the overarching theme of Celeste Bell and Paul Sing’s critically acclaimed documentary about X Ray Spex singer Poly Styrene. Narrated by Bell herself, who shares a similarly sleepy, childlike drawl with her late mother, thisContinue reading “Film Review: Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche”
Not Coming Soon To A Multiplex Near You…
Ex-Bros. The latest episode in the Top Gun franchise focuses on two plucky young pilots and their narcissistic attempts at decimating the entire planet in a myriad of nefarious ways… Errr… I mean, the breakdown of a wholesome and utterly genuine friendship between Maverick and Goose. What went oh so wrong with the bros? TrulyContinue reading “Not Coming Soon To A Multiplex Near You…”
Hit The North 