Maybe I’m biased as I live here, but you can always rely on Glasgow bands to bring that punky energy. Current Affairs are yet another to shake your bones to. Joan Sweeney, Andrew Milk, Gemma Fleet and Sebastian Ymai have formed from many other fine indie bands like Shopping, Pissy, and The Wharves, so theirContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Current Affairs”
Tag Archives: Lorna Irvine
Overlooked Classics: Miranda Sex Garden- Fairytales Of Slavery
Many bands soften their sound as they progress, chasing more commercial routes. Not so for the experimental collective, Miranda Sex Garden, who followed up their goth rock album Suspiria with this absolute barnstormer. Fairytales Of Slavery, released in 1994, was co-produced by Einsturzende Neubauten’s Alexander Hacke. The band had toured with them, and some ofContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Miranda Sex Garden- Fairytales Of Slavery”
Theatre Isn’t Yer Living Room!
If, as Dr Ramani Durvasala posits, we’re living in an age of massive entitlement and incivility, this could explain the rise in theatre bad behaviour. According to an article in The Guardian (published yesterday) there’s been a huge rise in violence, disruption, loud food consumption, etc. across the UK. Several actors and members of theatreContinue reading “Theatre Isn’t Yer Living Room!”
Overlooked Classics: Trees Lounge
Steve Buscemi’s directorial debut from 1996 (which he also wrote) remains something of a cult film, often forgotten. I’m never really sure why, I think it’s rather brilliant. It’s got the toughness of Bukowski; the low-key observations of Carver, and dry humour of Jarmusch. Buscemi plays Tommy, a man who has lost his ex, TheresaContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Trees Lounge”
Actually, You Can Judge A Book…
…By looking at the cover, sometimes. Artwork on books is increasingly becoming more important, as it can illustrate the contents beautifully. Some are so gorgeous as to be collectible. One such case is with Angela Carter and her dazzling novel, Nights At The Circus. Her main character, Fevvers, is a stunning, buxom trapeze artist showgirlContinue reading “Actually, You Can Judge A Book…”
Album Review: Pickle Darling- Laundromat
As more artists emerge, blinking, from lockdown uncertainty into new horizons, it’s good to see others who remain true to the lo-fi spirit. New Zealand based multi-instrumentalist and producer Pickle Darling, real name Lukas Mayo, is one such artist. Photo credit: Nick Robinson Their third album is eccentric, fuzzy and really rather sweet, but neverContinue reading “Album Review: Pickle Darling- Laundromat”
Overlooked Classics: Santogold
Artists who change their names mid-career often confuse me, but I can make exceptions. Santi White, whose eponymous debut solo album came out in 2008 under the name Santogold, is a bit of a musical genius, I think.She’s now better known as Santigold. What a debut it is. She’d been part of the millennial neo-Continue reading “Overlooked Classics: Santogold”
Tina : Goddess
Born Anne May Bullock, in 1939, she’ll forever be the force of nature that is Tina Turner. A fiery fusion of soul, rock and blues, we all know how she survived the abuse of first husband Ike Turner, and had a second career as a solo artist in her own right, aged 44, but sheContinue reading “Tina : Goddess”
Benny and Joon: Raisins
Benny and Joon from 1993 is a flawed but likeable film. Sure, it doesn’t really depict mental health problems in a subtle or realistic way (apart from June’s meltdown on the bus) and it’s all resolved far too easily, but it’s redeemed by beautiful performances from Mary Stuart Masterson as June and Johnny Depp asContinue reading “Benny and Joon: Raisins”
Overlooked Classics: Cranes- Wings Of Joy
The London band Cranes are often overlooked when people talk about early nineties indie bands. They’re something else altogether, often labelled Goth, industrial, neo – classical, shoegazing or dream-pop. The truth is, they are all of these things, and their own unique thing. Formed by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw, the band could grind, orContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Cranes- Wings Of Joy”
Hit The North 