Take Scottish institution The Broons, put something in their tea, and you’re halfway to understanding the genius of Ivor Cutler. I’m a wee bit late to the table here, but January the 15th marked what would have been the great Ivor Cutler ‘s 100th birthday. Born into a Scots Jewish family, his dour, sweetly subversiveContinue reading ““God Bless You, Mr Cutler! “”
Category Archives: Profile
Lost In Music: AR Kane: i
I have a particular interest in bands who occupy liminal spaces, and do their own unique thing, apart from hype machines and trends. A R Kane are one such band. They were dream pop before it attained that definition, proto – shoegazing, or avant-pop way ahead of the curve. I adore their second album, ‘i’.Continue reading “Lost In Music: AR Kane: i”
The Future’s Here Today: Shake Chain
Signed to our pals at Upset The Rhythm (always a sign of quality) Shake Chain have an imminent new release forthcoming with debut album Snake Chain. Featuring the genuinely unhinged vocals of Katie Mahony, they’re an uncompromising, bloody slice of post -punk. Whereas other bands believe themselves to be alternative, this band are truly uniqueContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Shake Chain”
Why Shoegazing Endures
It’s funny, but shoegazing in the late eighties and early nineties was supposed to be a fad in British music, something that lasted as long as a teen crush. Taking as its sonic template sixties psychedelia, Goth, Cocteau Twins dreaminess and the melding of noise and beauty you could find in Sonic Youth’s ground-breaking midContinue reading “Why Shoegazing Endures”
The Surprise Hit of 2022: Justin Hawkins Rides Again
Who would -a thunk it? Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness, has become the YouTuber of 2022. With his brilliant comic timing, sense of irony and vast musical knowledge, he’s a louche, irreverent delight. Erudite and self deprecating, the stylish frontman also has an extremely eclectic taste in music.Essentially, he knows his Arca fromContinue reading “The Surprise Hit of 2022: Justin Hawkins Rides Again”
Just Step Sideways: Dogging Tales
Like a fever dream taken directly from the pages of Viz comic but created by Chris Morris, Dogging Tales from 2013, remains one of the most unforgettable TV documentaries of the last twenty years. Screened as part of Channel 4’s True Stories strand, and in actual fact directed by Leo Maguire, it was more JeremyContinue reading “Just Step Sideways: Dogging Tales”
Eerie Wanda Is Back!
Marina Tadic, aka Eerie Wanda, is back with her gorgeous, ethereal dreampop. After a brief hiatus, the Dutch- Croatian singer -songwriter has a new single, Long Time, released ahead of the forthcoming album Internal Radio, released in September. A more expansive sound doesn’t mean she’s compromising. She’s still unique and low-key, making it all soundContinue reading “Eerie Wanda Is Back!”
THAT DIFFICULT THIRD ALBUM: Kate Bush – Never For Ever
Yeah,yeah, we all love Hounds Of Love and acknowledge that it’s a game changer, but I am rather partial to Kate Bush’s third album , Never For Ever. Released on September 7th in 1980, it is wilfully eccentric (Babooshka, The Wedding List, Violin) febrile and beautiful. Even the cover points to the esoteric strangeness within:Continue reading “THAT DIFFICULT THIRD ALBUM: Kate Bush – Never For Ever”
Edinburgh Festival Preview: Americana- A Murder Ballad
This show, premiering at this year’s Edinburgh Festival, couldn’t have captured the zeitgeist more, as headlines about yet more mass shootings and the new firearms law in New York remain fresh in our minds . Written by leading Scottish playwright Morna Young and featuring music composed by Davey Anderson, the production from Pepperdine Scotland isContinue reading “Edinburgh Festival Preview: Americana- A Murder Ballad”
The Future’s Here Today: Yazzus
Based between London and Berlin, DJ and producer Yazzus is brilliant – a cheeky, smart lady who mixes like a dream, crossing genres: pop, drum ‘n’bass, electro, house, techno,grime, trap and soul- you name it, she can skilfully weave it altogether into a beautiful sound collage. Recently, she’s exclusively mixed for BBC 6Music, Radio 1Continue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Yazzus”
Hit The North 