How is it possible? Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ ‘Skeleton Tree’s a decade old. An overwhelming album scrutinising appalling loss, grief and coping through love, it was arguably the most personal album Cave had ever created at that pont. Andrew Dominik’s film, ‘One More Time With Feeling’ that came out to accompany the album,Continue reading “Skeleton Tree Is A Decade Old”
Category Archives: Profile
That Mitchell and Webb Look- Series 1(2006)
The first series of ‘That Mitchell and Webb Look’ is by far the best. It came along at exactly the right time, 2006, when sketch comedy shows seemed moribund. Melding their contrasting ‘Peep Show’ personas with outright absurdism, it was very silly and often inspired. There was ‘Numberwang’, the quiz show with no discernible rules;Continue reading “That Mitchell and Webb Look- Series 1(2006)”
G-L-O-R-I-A
Gloria Steinem has passed away at 92 and I have nothing but respect for what she achieved in her lifetime. From protesting for our reproductive rights, to working undercover as a Playboy Bunny to report on their unfair working conditions, she was pretty fearless. The tireless feminist activist and journalist made women’s struggles go mainstream.Continue reading “G-L-O-R-I-A”
Lost In Music : Holy Motors – Hellishly Hot
The recent single from the Estonian indie band is a slinky little minx, with shimmering Cure-esque synth, Eliann Tulve’s typically yearning vocals and twangy guitar. It’s atmospheric and sleepy, but there’s a current of unease, like night sweats. “Hellishly Hot”, indeed. A new album, full of sadness and tarnished dreams, is forthcoming, for warmth throughoutContinue reading “Lost In Music : Holy Motors – Hellishly Hot”
Lost In Music: Lene Lovich- Bird Song
Before Toyah, Hazel O’ Connor, Bjork, Florence Welsh and Amanda Fucking Palmer, there was the beautiful Lene Lovich. Part of Stiff Records’ roster, the Serbian American artist was a contemporary of Kate Bush but arguably a bit kookier. ‘Lucky Numbers’ was of course her top ten hit in the UK, but I prefer this. Jeepers,Continue reading “Lost In Music: Lene Lovich- Bird Song”
Overlooked Classic: Plan 9 From Outer Space
Ah, pity poor misunderstood Ed Wood Jr. He was a man with a dream, a love of pink angora, and a movie camera. No matter that he barely scraped a storyboard together: in his head IT ALL MADE SENSE. Let’s ignore his dreadful nudie cutie film nonsense and zoom in on his masterwork, For thereContinue reading “Overlooked Classic: Plan 9 From Outer Space”
Lost In Music: Fini Tribe*
If Pet Shop Boys are perceived as the pop Gilbert and George, then Edinburgh’s Fini Tribe (sometimes written as finitribe) were DADA. Formed in 1982, there were originally six members: Phillip Pinsky, Chris Connelly, Davie Miller ,John Vick, Andy McGregor and Simon McGlynn. Together, they fused post-punk radicalism with strong visual art, samples and beats,Continue reading “Lost In Music: Fini Tribe*”
Moira Rose Forever🌹
Few comedy icons make me cackle like the late, wonderful Catherine O’ Hara and her Schitt’s Creek character Moira Rose. Where to start ? Her high fashion, bordering on Gaga ridiculous; her feral wigs, her quasi- European accent and arcane euphemisms and language, the many levels of delusional that she was… She’s simply one ofContinue reading “Moira Rose Forever🌹”
Should’ve Been A Hit: Pop Will Eat Itself-Can U Dig It?
P…WE…I! Back in the day, West Midlands scamps Pop Will Eat Itself were a scrappy grebo band. Grebo was a term for scruffy, rough around the edges indie bands and was ubiquitous for about ten minutes in the mid -eighties. It obviously didn’t take off like grunge or Britpop, though. Then, after zero success, butContinue reading “Should’ve Been A Hit: Pop Will Eat Itself-Can U Dig It?”
Five Of The Best: Tirzah
There aren’t many artists around right now like the mighty Essex -born artist Tirzah. Her music is beautiful, with her soulful vocals wrapped around murky bedroom pop. She’s engaged yet laconic, accessible but enigmatic, hot and also chilled. These paradoxes are what make her so fascinating. Her collaborators speak to her exquisite taste too. She’sContinue reading “Five Of The Best: Tirzah”
Hit The North 