Not Forgotten: Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
The problem with Joy Division is that it is like a Colombo re-run: however brilliant it is, you know precisely how it ends. Last week, ‘Unknown Pleasures’ celebrated its 40th birthday, so I sat down to listen to it, as though for the first time. The truth is, its magnificent. The guitars soar over tight …
Album Review: Madonna – Madame X
I don’t know about you, but I’m beginnning to think Madonna is a Time Lord. In Madame X, Madonna presents yet another regeneration and an album with two themes: the accessible songs based in part on her experiences living in Portugal, and the songs based on her Madame X character. Madame X the character is …
See: Christian Death reveal new video for ‘Forgiven’
I have a long-standing but distant relationship with Christian Death. One dark 80s night, I found myself alone at Goth Night. My bleached perm was a beacon of light among the sea of jet black weave. I asked John the Goth what music he liked, and he declared his love for Christian Death. Intrigued, I …
Album Review: Hackney Colliery Band – Collaborations Vol. 1
I have to declare my prejudices. One of the best nights of my life was spent in the company of the Hackney Colliery Band (HCB). We turned up disgracefully early, and watched as the room went from empty to crushingly full, and then the boys blasted through own material and their legendary covers of Toto’s …
News: Madonna, Eurovision, Future and Daring Greatly
At last night’s Eurovision Song Contest, Madonna performed two songs: ‘Like a Prayer’ and her new song ‘Future.’ The vocals were not in tune. People threw shade, dissed the costume, said she should retire. This morning I listened to ‘Future’ carefully from here. It’s actually pretty good, its just better as a studio track than …
Feature: Backseat Mafia Guide to Eurovision 2019
Ever since Bucks Fizz ripped off their skirts in the service of a grateful nation, I’ve been a massive Eurovision fan. This is honestly one of the best contest we’ve had in years. Here’s the Backseat Mafia guide to this years runners and riders in the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. This is all the …
Track: Ruthie – “Land of my Lover”
Splitting up with people is basically rubbish, isn’t it? When Ruthie left her partner in Berlin and returned home to start over in Leeds, it inspired a triptych of singles, each charting the stages you go through at the end of a relationship. This post reviews all three of the singles, and concludes the one …
Track: Lucy Dacus – ‘My mother and I’
Americans are different. They have Electoral Colleges and TV programmes which come in seasons, and they have ‘holidays.’ This year. American Lucy Dacus is celebrating these ‘holidays’ through a series of singles. She’s already done Valentine’s Day with a cover of ‘La Vie en Rose,’ (https://youtu.be/ynDeTGUji1I). America celebrates Mother’s Day in May, so now we’re in …
Track – Ellie Goulding: 16
On the surface, 16 is a standard pop song, but there are depths here for those with the time to find them. The cheerful, spangling melody is familiar to anyone who has been in a Top Shop on a Saturday. The video is all smoking and tattoos, the suburban rebellion of a girl from the …
Track: Madonna – Medellín
The Queen of Pop is back. On June 14, Madonna launches her 14th album, Madame X, and is trailing the first track Medellín on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and all the usual places now. The album marks another reinvention from a woman who already has more regenerations than Doctor Who. This time Madonna is …