Lost In Music: Deadletter- The Snitching Hour

Okay, maybe indie isn’t dead, after all. Deadletter have made one of the best singles of the year here. Like The Cribs and The Zutons, with a pinch of The Jam in the bassline, this is a belter. The Yorkshire band are on their way. It’s caustic, catchy as hell, and there’s a nod toContinue reading “Lost In Music: Deadletter- The Snitching Hour”

Dance Preview: Too Close To The Sun

Photos by Jassy Earl You can always rely on Barrowland Ballet to create work for wee ones and families alike that is fun, playfully imaginative and yet highly multilayered. So it is with their new piece, Too Close To The Sun. Interrogating complex issues around climate change and collective anxiety, through the prism of IcarusContinue reading “Dance Preview: Too Close To The Sun”

EP Review: Patrick Wolf- The Night Safari

Ever the shapeshifter, it’s hard to believe Patrick Wolf has been making solo music for two decades now, so youthful does his appearance seem. Yet, here he stands having weathered many storms, both personal and professional. Indeed, thunderstorms as metaphor feature in this, his most recent EP. In many ways, The Night Safari feels likeContinue reading “EP Review: Patrick Wolf- The Night Safari”

Lost In Music: Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation

Before the all-time conquering Beyonce, there was Janet Jackson. Prior to Rhythm Nation, she’d been something of a sweetie pie, the wholesome, apple- cheeked kid sister to Michael, forever in his shadow. A few good singles aside, she hadn’t really resonated in the UK . But, teaming up again in 1989 with super-producers Jam andContinue reading “Lost In Music: Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation”

New Release: PJ Harvey- A Child’s Question, August

Ahead of her forthcoming tenth album, PJ Harvey releases this, her elegiac and beautiful new single, A Child’s Question, August. Working with Flood and John Parish, this bodes well for the album. It’s stunning, with a churning lyricism. The video was created by renowned photographer Steve Gullick, and actor Ben Whishaw provides backing vocals. ItContinue reading “New Release: PJ Harvey- A Child’s Question, August”

Kim’s Karaoke

The late eighties was ripe for parody. Pompous, crass, sexist pop was seemingly ubiquitous. So, Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth took the leery Robert Palmer tune, Addicted To Love, and kicked it in its groin. Ciccone Youth’s The Whitey Album was both knowing piss -take and affectionate homage. Their Sonic Youth offshoot was never goingContinue reading “Kim’s Karaoke”

Just Step Sideways: Richard Dawson- The Hermit

He’s possibly the closest thing we’ve got to a modern-day William Blake, with his lyrical, wry and political musings on our troubled isle.. Now, the genius that is Richard Dawson, officially releases the forty one minute video for The Hermit. Directed by film maker James Hankins and filmed in South West England in the summerContinue reading “Just Step Sideways: Richard Dawson- The Hermit”

Lost In Music: Sonic Youth and Lydia Lunch- Death Valley ’69

I’m not a huge admirer of Richard Kern. To me, he’s just a dirty old man who keeps on- inexplicably- getting art funds. Okay, Submit To Me was kinda sexy, in a ridiculous way. But his video for Sonic Youth and Lydia Lunch ‘s Death Valley ’69 is brilliant, co-directed by Judith Barry. Indeed, someContinue reading “Lost In Music: Sonic Youth and Lydia Lunch- Death Valley ’69”

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!”

The Future’s Here Today: Say She She

Now this is something potentially incredible. A female -led seven piece band from Brooklyn, Say She She fuse the sass of Luscious Jackson with the rhythms of ESG and the ethereal fluttering harmonies of Cocteau Twins. Three amazing singers- Nya Gazelle Brown, Priya Malik and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham- make up said harmonies, and the restContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Say She She”