We’ve lost some wonderful people lately, and far too young: Benjamin Zephaniah, Olly Emanuel and Sinead O’Connor, to name but a few. Damo Suzuki ,while not as young, nevertheless leaves a sad space in our lives. The indefatigable solo artist and former Can frontman toured and recorded well into his senior years. He passed awayContinue reading “Anatomy Of A Fall Song: I Am Damo Suzuki”
Category Archives: Pop culture
My Favourite Comedy Sketch…Ever
In December 1976, Queen were scheduled to appear on an early evening TV show, Tonight With Bill Grundy. But they couldn’t make it, so instead Sex Pistols were invited, along with their pals, The Bromley Contingent. This included a young Siouxsie Sioux. Grundy, already a little drunk and not au fait with the zero fucks givenContinue reading “My Favourite Comedy Sketch…Ever”
The Space Age Genius of Tomita
Before Air or Aphec Twin, there was Isao Tomita. Born in Tokyo, Japan in the early 30s, he’s often overlooked for similar sound pioneers. While Kraftwerk and The Radiophonic Workshop were rightly praised for their forward-thinking approach to electronic music in Europe, Tomita was quietly, brilliantly, doing his own thing in Japan. Sadly, his passingContinue reading “The Space Age Genius of Tomita”
Overlooked Classics: Ultra Vivid Scene’s eponymous debut
Le swoon! This album is still incredible, all these years later. The debut album, Ultra Vivid Scene, by the band with the same name, is often forgotten about in the usual indie legends slots. Not here,though. Forgive my little foray into self- indulgence, it’s my birthday tomorrow. It was 1988, and I was experiencing myContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Ultra Vivid Scene’s eponymous debut”
One From the Archive: Forever Summertime
. FOREVER SUMMERTIMEJune 26, 2018 • Sofia Coppola’s ‘The Virgin Suicides’: essay by Lorna Irvine. All of my favourite films have an elusive quality to them: so it is with Sofia Coppola’s debut feature from 1999, ‘The Virgin Suicides.’ It deftly captures the nature of ephemeral youth. Air’s gorgeous electronic soundtrack is elegiac, with throbbingContinue reading “One From the Archive: Forever Summertime”
Why The Traitors Works
Warning: spoilers ahead… Farewell then, to the unmissable second series of The Traitors UK. Presented by everyone’s favourite glam auntie type, Claudia Winkleman, it’s the BBC’s biggest cash cow in years, and with good reason. It’s great fun, and very smart. Essentially, a game like Mafia or Cluedo, but framed as a reality show withContinue reading “Why The Traitors Works”
Overlooked Classics: Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
Overlooked may be a strong term, but this album by Danny Brown remains, for me, a trailblazer. There’s an old adage that goes, “you’re only as good as your friends” . I believe this is as true of artists and their collaborative colleagues. Featured here are Kendrick Lamar; Kelela, Be Real, Petite Noir and EarlContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition”
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”
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?”
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”
Hit The North 