A Song For Jesse Jackson

Reverend Jesse Jackson has died. A key figure of the civil rights movement and instrumental in getting Barack Obama to the White House, his upbringing was tough. He was tougher, yet his message was that of peace and unity. A brilliant orator and a great man. There’s a song that I immediately thought of whenContinue reading “A Song For Jesse Jackson”

Lost In Music: Joshua Idehen – Mum Does The Washing

Truly one of the best lyrical jams of the last five years, this sly and surreal piece of spoken word describes our screwed-up times in an eloquent, deadpan way that makes me chuckle every time. I can’t wait for his debut album..The video is also excellent. I’m not a mum, and never will be, butContinue reading “Lost In Music: Joshua Idehen – Mum Does The Washing”

Archive Review : The Punk Singer

Arts:Blog Cinema Review: The Punk Singer Posted by Across the Arts on March 4, 2014, at 8.20am “Girls to the Front!” Lorna Irvine reviews the celebration of music icon Kathleen Hanna. Once upon a time in the early nineties, long before Britney, Beyonce, Miley and Ri-Ri, Bikini Kill, along with Bratmobile, Huggy Bear, Die Cheerleader, Lois and Sleater Kinney, were part ofContinue reading “Archive Review : The Punk Singer”

Disney Villains

Ever since I was a child, I found Snow White and the like pretty insipid. They just seemed to waft around waiting for things to happen, they had little to no agency. Good girls and boys were boring. I liked the villains., or the creepy ones. Cruella DeVil is a style icon, albeit one thatContinue reading “Disney Villains”

Donald Trump Photo Dump

Happy Valentine’s Day,y’all. Some of his finest looks for you to savour in perpetuity… sorry ladies,he’s spoken for. Sorta.  Dominick Reuter/Reuters Cartman when he discovers irony.  Carlo Allegri/Reuters Making a bigly fist of politics.  Carlos Barria/Reuters That time a journalist asked him his opinion about the separation of church and state.  Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Uncle DonContinue reading “Donald Trump Photo Dump”

Lost In Music: David Bowie – Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Remix)

This is a cut from The Next Day, a remix by James Murphy for DFA featuring the one and only Steve Reich, sampling his ‘Clapping Music’ and a soupcon of Bowie’s ‘Ashes to Ashes’. The clown is faded- the hat may be jaunty, but love is lost.It’s at once a jump forward and a lookContinue reading “Lost In Music: David Bowie – Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Remix)”

Album Review : Maria BC- Marathon

Non-binary, California -based artist Maria BC has a duality to their work. This, their third album, occupies liminal spaces between sleeping and awake states. Their gorgeous ambient sounds can turn from soothing to jarring. It keeps the listener on their toes. Maria BC is a classically trained vocalist, and it shows. Their range is subtleContinue reading “Album Review : Maria BC- Marathon”

The Gaulier Effect

Phillippe Gaulier has passed away at the age of 82. The French clown genius who alongside mentor Jacques Lecoq taught Bouffon clowning as well as more traditional technique, was a real trailblazer, teaching to countless actors and performers. Eschewing the more rigid, serious Stanislavsky method which was so beloved by a whole generation of methodContinue reading “The Gaulier Effect”

Vintage Film Review: Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972)

There is a reason that some film directors are regarded as maestros of the genre, whereas others are relegated to cult status, and so by extension are their products mere cult fodder. This 1972 film sits firmly and comfortably in the latter category. With all the scares of ‘Scooby-Doo’, plus some of the wardrobe, directorContinue reading “Vintage Film Review: Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972)”

Archive Review : From The Deep

Arts:Blog Music Review: From The Deep–From The Deep **** Posted by Across the Arts on October 16, 2015, at 10.20am Lorna Irvine reviews an ‘excellent collaboration’ between Katharine Blake and Nick Marsh. Old Goth that I am, I have long had a girl-crush on Katharine Blake, the angel-voiced singer who made dark, impish music in the 90sContinue reading “Archive Review : From The Deep”