Indie
Comic: Monsters of Rock by Sally-Anne Hickman
Some time ago I proudly announced to Jim that I was also going to write a bit about comics and graphic novels. Since then I have done absolutely nothing on either. With the approaching promise of a family holiday, however, I took a trip to London’s two greatest comics stores to see what was on …
New Music: CatBearTree – Let’s Share Hearts
CatBearTree are a south-London threepiece made up of Zoe Konez (guitar), Claudia Mansaray (bass) and Sarah Smith (drums) who released their debut EP on Friday 2nd August, launching it through a multi-act bill at the Finsbury in Manor House, North London, up near my neck of the woods. They’ve been together since 2011, practising and perfecting …
From an old record box: Ox – dust bowl revival
What seems a very long time ago I went along to an acoustic spot in Cambridge to catch up with a friend (apologies to both Mark Day and Jon Wright, given that I can’t remember which of the two it was. Perhaps I can recoup some credit by saying I wish they had both been …
ALBUM REVIEW: VUVUVULTURES – PUSH / PULL
In the next few weeks I’ll be transitioning from my ‘early 30s’ to my ‘late 30s’. It’s not the end of the world, and 35 isn’t traditionally seen as being a landmark birthday, however I find myself oddly preoccupied with a wistful nostalgia for my youth, lamenting the long-missed opportunities that just passed me by. …
New Music: Bubblegum Lemonade – Have you seen Faith?
Bubblegum Lemonade is an offshoot of sorts for Lawrence ‘Loz’ McClusky, who is usually one half of Strawberry Whiplash with Sandra McClusky. He makes what is essentially pure jangly indie-pop with both outfits, but out right now is a lovely 7″ vinyl (yes, that’s right now) on the fabulous Matinee records from the former, a …
See: Vuvuvultures release new video for Steel Bones, plus album launch news
Why is it scary stuff happens in Car Parks in films and TV. Yet in my life nothing even remarkable has happened in a Car Park. Once, when I was in a bit of a rush, I lost my ticket at the John Lewis car park in Sheffield, and I had to go to the …
Feature: LCD Soundsystem – James Murphy Is Playing At My House
Last night I finally watched LCD Soundsystem’s swan song live documentary Shut Up And Play The Hits. While it didn’t move me quite like I’d hoped it would(an 8 year old punching couch cushions pretending to be a member of the Justice League throughout the film didn’t help…in my living room, not the movie itself), …
Track: The Joys of Sleeping release new track, Dude York parts I & II
I like sleeping. That feeling when you wake up and you don’t really know what time it is, or it’s much brighter than you expect is a wondrous thing. And that feeling (or is this just me) when you squeeze your fists together in the morning and they feel really weak. Is that only me? …
From an old record box: Cud – Robinson Crusoe
This was an early glory of my burgeoning (or so I thought) record collection and indie cred. They’d been in Peel’s Festive Fifty the year before (I looked that up this morning – back then I had no idea that Peel’s Festive Fifty existed let alone who Sonic Youth or The Fall were) with “Only …
From an old record box: Grant Lee Buffalo – Buffalondon Live
The early nineties: years of massive change in my listening habits and, really, a first proper awakening to music, fuelled by the powerful indie spirit of both UK and US alternative rock scenes. To be honest though, I probably wouldn’t have known as much about it if it hadn’t been for the huge ambitions of some of …