Strange phenomena

It’s quarter of a century since Kate Bush released her landmark single, ‘Running Up That Hill’. That’s scary. I can’t quite believe it’s been that long, but it’s true. I was 16 when it came out, and listening to it today, it still sounds box-fresh. In 1985, Kate Bush was a solid fixture in my […]

Plastic not-so-fantastic, then

Another childhood illusion shattered, another comfort zone wrecked. Belgian punk “sensation” Plastic Bertrand has admitted he wasn’t the singer of his one and only UK hit ‘Ça Plane Pour Moi’. Is there nothing left we can believe in? This is far more devastating than the Milli Vanilli ‘scandal’ of 20 years ago. Poor Plastic (real name Roger Jouret, […]

The Miserable Rich

I am absolutely smitten by Of Flight & Fury, the second album by Brighton band The Miserable Rich. It may have been Stornoway’s year in the folk-pop stakes, but I think this record easily eclipses the Oxford band’s debut. Described as ‘chamber pop’, largely on account of their gorgeous cello and violin players, The Miserable Rich are more of a quirky bowtie combo […]

Tom’s the Big Boss Man

Heartfelt congratulations to our very own Tom Gilson,who got in touch to say that he came 3rd in the Elvis World Cup in Cardiff on July 4th (won by Scotland’s Johnny Lee Memphis). Tom told IHGN: “I haven’t reached the burger years yet just trying to do my best as an E.T.A and pay respect to […]

Things can only get bitter…

The Tories are only back in power a wet minute and look who’s crawled back from the lair of the woodworm. Only Phil Collins. Back, back, back, he is. Considering Britain’s now going back to Victorian values, back to basics, back to colonial, feudalistic, tally-ho, smash-the-oiks Conservatism, why not go the whole hog and bring back old Phil too? I’m […]

The King is dead – let’s keep killing him

As we motor towards the summer silly season, our thoughts turn inexorably towards amateur entertainment. We still can’t get enough of it, it seems. It’s been no time at all since our media’s ironists had their hearts broken by Jedward’s inability to win Z-Factor – but, thanks to Vanilla Ice, Abrakebabra and Shake ‘n’ Vac, the […]

The Sound of the Underwhelmed

Because I’m a parent, people, with the very best of intentions, always feel the need to recommend Trabolgan Holiday Village to me, as if I look like the sort of dad who needs to have a disc inserted where my imagination should be. I mean, yes, we are all aware of the difficulties in coping […]

Fred Wedlock 1942-2010

It’s with much sadness that I note the passing of Fred Wedlock, the Bristol teacher-turned- folk singer and humourist. For me and many other pop pickers of my generation, he’ll always be remembered as the man who made ‘The Oldest Swinger In Town’ famous, taking it to number 6 in the UK charts in 1981. Although Fred wasn’t the […]

Scarlet Fever

The magnificent Fever Ray in chilling form during her acceptance speech for “Best Dance Artist” at the P3 Gold Awards in Gothenburg, in her native Sweden. Although maybe not as terrifying as some of the goons who normally given awards for doing any old amateur rubbish, it’s a behind-the-sofa moment like no other I’ve ever seen.

If at first you don’t succeed…

If we’re looking for positive messages in these recessionary times, look no further. Here, in this newly unearthed archive from 1974, is proof that persistence really does pay off. Well, even if not, maybe it’ll pay off next year.