For Samhain, forget Freddy, Jason or The Human Centipede. I’m going vintage all the way. Jacques Tourneur’s 1942 classic for RKO, Cat People, is still a stylish, strange little gem. Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon) is a Serbian illustrator who believes she’s descended from panthers, as she turns into a cat when she’s sexually aroused. ThisContinue reading “Vintage Films: Cat People”
Category Archives: Pop culture
Demis in a Kaftan
We really need to make the kaftan *the* fashion item for 2024 spring/summer collection. Late Greek crooner Demis Roussos made the kaftan popular in the seventies, because he was a big fella, bless him. I like it: bold patterns, voluminous, teamed with big patent boots. It’s maximalist chic. Demis in a kaftan, I know, IContinue reading “Demis in a Kaftan”
Film Review: It’s A Rockabilly World
… Except it’s not,not really. This Brent Huff documentary from 2016 looks great on paper, purporting to look at the rockabilly subculture in all its sassy glory. Instead, it focuses on the Viva Las Vegas convention, with lots of hipster types with sleeve tattoos, blue hair and brothel creepers. It’s colourful enough, and everyone looksContinue reading “Film Review: It’s A Rockabilly World”
Album Review: Women In Revolt!Underground Rebellion in British Music 1977-1985
This brilliant compilation album, released to accompany the Tate Britain exhibition Women In Revolt! has a couple of bona fide UK punk classics in The Slits’ Typical Girls and X Ray Spex’ Identity, but there are also some gems from more obscure artists like Ludus , Poison Girls, Mo-dettes and The Gymslips, all of whomContinue reading “Album Review: Women In Revolt!Underground Rebellion in British Music 1977-1985”
Overlooked Classics: Hail The New Puritan (1987)
“Michael! Michael! “ I’m trying not to get too nostalgic here, as any nostalgia suggests there’s nothing worth dipping into in contemporary culture, but Charles Atlas’ fictionalised account of Michael Clark was like a firework going off in my soul. Something just sparked within me. Epiphany is an understatement. This was something I wanted inContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Hail The New Puritan (1987)”
Preview: Women In Revolt! @ Tate Britain
This is an enormously exciting bit of news . Tate Britain has just announced a new exhibition, starting on November 8th, showing the seismic shift in female-led art, politics and culture in the UK. Because it’s not just about Thatcher, The Clash and The Sex Pistols. WOMEN IN REVOLT!ART AND ACTIVISM IN THE UK 1970-1990Continue reading “Preview: Women In Revolt! @ Tate Britain”
Put Blood In The Music: Sonic Youth and John Zorn
This film, directed by Charles Atlas for The South Bank Show in 1989, was what made me fall in love with SY, and admire Zorn. Using a fanzine type approach to his montage – talking heads floating in front of New York street scenes, it’s a typically playful approach from Atlas (more of whom, later).Continue reading “Put Blood In The Music: Sonic Youth and John Zorn”
The Trouble With Irony
In the first part of this millenium, it seems you couldn’t move for irony. Arched of brow,barbed of zinger, pop culture was dominated by irony. It gave us nu-rave, refurbished arcade games, vintage style, the Burlesque and cabaret revival, and- arguably most prominently – comedy that to many was just plain offensive. I get it,Continue reading “The Trouble With Irony”
The Austerity Era Hogarth
Christopher Spencer, who makes wonderful collage art as Cold WarSteve, is a Birmingham artist who I adore. He’s the austerity era Hogarth as far as I’m concerned. The main image (above) is his Coronation postcard, created to celebrate the best of the UK. It’s got everyone from Bowie to The Clash, Laura Mvula to LilyContinue reading “The Austerity Era Hogarth”
Another Song for Barbie: Shonen Knife- Twist Barbie
Forget Nicki Minaj or even Aqua, there’s only one song about Barbie that I’ve time for, the ultimate anthem for the famous doll, IMO, and it’s the mighty Shonen Knife with Twist Barbie. The lyrics are so cheeky, a satire of western beauty standards : ” Blue eyes, blond hair, tight body, long legs…Bam bamContinue reading “Another Song for Barbie: Shonen Knife- Twist Barbie”
Hit The North 