This is the story of a band that could have been. I hated music lessons at school. You know – the compulsory classes, often on a Friday afternoon, where you had to learn what crotchets and minims are, and play things on Casio keyboards. Someone would always manage to trigger one of the pre-loaded backing… Continue reading Where it all began
Category: what to listen to
The fourteen-year wait
Remember how exciting it used to be – when we were younger, and less measured about such things – to discover an emerging band or artist that sounded like they were making songs just for you? And how much of a thrill it was to finally get your hands on their debut album, after weeks… Continue reading The fourteen-year wait
Latest good stuff, November 2018
It took me two months to read At Home In The World – partly because I’ve had rather a lot on, and partly because, well, it doesn’t so much get under your skin as work its way into your blood vessels and scratch at you from the inside. Joyce Maynard was trained to write like… Continue reading Latest good stuff, November 2018
Latest good stuff, 27th August
Gather The Daughters, Jennie Melamed With hindsight, it was not a good idea to read this book while watching The Handmaid’s Tale (that season finale; Jesus Christ). A dystopian tale set on a remote island where women are first the property of their fathers and then their husbands, it does not make for a joyful,… Continue reading Latest good stuff, 27th August
Desert island discs
At some point soon, I’m going to have to come to terms with the fact that I’ll probably never appear on Desert Island Discs. Not as long as I keep putting off writing the several books I have planned in my head in favour of the instant gratification that blogging brings, anyway. At a friend’s… Continue reading Desert island discs
Words and music, July 2018
I still have no idea what to call this round-up of things I’m currently reading, watching, listening to and generally amusing myself with. If you have any snappy suggestions, do please share then with me. Puns appreciated. Waxahatchee I was lucky enough to see indie project Waxahatchee (led by Kate Crutchfield) in Brighton a couple… Continue reading Words and music, July 2018
For your eyes and ears
You’ll be pleased to know I’m down off my political soapbox for moment. Here’s what I’ve been reading and listening to over the last week or so… The books Conversations With Friends, Sally Rooney This has been on my to-read list for months, as it was widely praised upon its release last year, and most of… Continue reading For your eyes and ears
Changing the agenda
I don’t listen to the Today programme anymore – I did for a while, and when I’ve got the hang of leaping out of bed on the dot of 6am rather than hitting snooze five times and eventually stumbling into the shower at 6.20, I daresay I will again – but I was quite intrigued*… Continue reading Changing the agenda
Sunday Stuff, 13/08/17
The Beguiled If someone asked me to describe my dream film, in theory, The Beguiled would be it. A predominantly-female cast? Check. Southern Gothic, Southern accents? Check check. An Irish rogue played by Hollywood’s go-to guy for Irish rogues, Colin Farrell? Check. Raging passions and sexual tension being violently suppressed? Check. The thing about Sofia Coppola’s work… Continue reading Sunday Stuff, 13/08/17
Sunday Stuff – 02/07/17
Let’s take a break from The Politics and talk about the good stuff, the life fuel – food, books and music. Full Moon Fever, Tom Petty ‘Free Fallin” was the first song I ever taught myself on guitar. It’s ludicrously easy (capo on the third fret and the chord pattern D-G-G-D-A) but aged 12, I… Continue reading Sunday Stuff – 02/07/17
Inbetween Girl 