INTERVIEW – KIRK BRANDON
Kirk Brandon is post-punk royalty. A key player, from his punk outfit ‘The Pack’ in 1978, then with his bands ‘Theatre of Hate’ and ‘Spear of Destiny’ he’s scorched a trail of passion and power for almost forty years. I caught up with him between studio recording sessions and preparations for a UK tour at …
Past Lives: Peter Principle of Tuxedomoon 1954 – 2017
Tuxedomoon (originally consisting of Steven Brown and Blaine L. Reininger ), were part of the late 70’s San Francisco ‘Freak Scene’, which also included The Residents, Chrome and Flipper. Their underground sound, comprising of mainly synth, sax and tape-recorder, was boosted by the arrival of Peter “Dachert” Principle on bass in 1978. Their only credo was that …
Track: Beaches – ‘Void’
Melbourne psych outfit Beaches release a new single ‘Void’, from a forthcoming double album Second of Spring in September. Australian psych is really setting the pace at the moment, and this is no exception. Driving guitars and a relentless beat that doesn’t let up, like Dandy Warhols in a wind-tunnel, echo-drenched vocals, and yes I think …
past lives: George A. Romero, February 4, 1940 – July 16, 2017
Film-maker, George A. Romero, died on July 16th, 2017, after a losing a brief aggressive battle with lung cancer. His name is synonymous with the zombie movie, a genre he almost singlehandedly created. His 1968 film ‘Night of the Living Dead’ is rightly hailed as a groundbreaking classic in horror movie history. He made further …
Classic Compilation: Orbital – Back to Mine
The ‘Back to Mine’ compilations premise was simple. After pummelling your brain to mush in a sweaty club, with four hours of repetitive beats, the DJ in question would invite you back to his pad, where he would show you his gentler side by playing you chilled-out choons, as you melted into his couch, the …
News : Bureau B to release Moebius Story Leidecker album ‘familiar’
Dieter Moebius (1944–2015), was one half of German experimental Krautrock pioneers ‘Cluster’, along with Hans-Joachim Roedelius. The pair collaborated widely and released various other albums; the Moebius & Plank (as in Conny, legendary producer) album ‘Rastakraut Pasta’ being one of the more interesting and bizarre. Now Hamburg indie label Bureau B will release in October, recording sessions …
Album Review: Sleaford Mods – English Tapas
Nobody wants to be the new Joe Strummer, or Ian Curtis or Henry Rollins anymore, they all wanna be Gary Barlow. An endless stream of delusional chumps, born to sing, who just want to play stadiums every weekend (even Queen didn’t play stadiums every weekend). Play your cards right and you could be just like …
Not Forgotten: The Human League – Hysteria
In the early 80s people wanted Pop Stars and Pop delivered. Debbie Harry, Boy George, Adam Ant, Gary Numan, each one putting their own unique stamp on it, with an unforgettable look. And then along came Phil Oakey, who’d been germinating in a dark world of weirdness. He was androgynous pop perfection; all the girls …
Live Review: André Brasseur – Reflektor Club, Liège 12.2.17
Belgian organist André Brasseur should be mentioned in the same hushed reverential tones as Giorgio Moroder or Jean Jacques Perrey, but alas such cult status evaded him. Maybe because he invested the proceeds from his 1965 hit ‘Early Bird’ (which sold a staggering six million copies) into two (not one but two!) dance clubs in …
Album Review: Julian Cope – Drunken Songs
Few artists can claim to have ploughed such a rich and bizarre furrow as Julian Cope. From scouse-pop Smash Hits pin-up, calling at Scott walker acid casualty, via stone(d) circle antiquarian, Krautrock stoner rocker, and ending up as some kind of grizzled shamanic Norse god biker Jim Morrison. His various guises have oft confounded loyal …