Category Archives: Music

Waiting for The Vapors’ return – the Dave Fenton interview

I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, you remember The Vapors. I also realise that many of you will now have the song Turning Japanese lodged in your head, and a few of you will think that was the whole story. … Continue reading

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Teenage Fanclub – Here (PeMa/Merge, 2016)

I’m not quite sure it was a good thing to come to this review on the back of penning my thoughts on the latest album from The Wedding Present. I love both bands, but they’ve taken radically different paths since … Continue reading

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Going, Going … The Wedding Present (Scopitones, 2016)

A new Wedding Present album after a four-and-a-half year break, and we’re into uncharted territory again. It involves some journey too – a North American East-West road-trip (and a half) from Kittery to Santa Monica via various points, initially suggesting … Continue reading

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Introducing the Islandman – the Elliott Morris interview

There’s a song on The Waterboys’ 1990 album Room to Roam that appears particularly apt in describing the career journey of inventive guitarist and singer-songwriter Elliott Morris. In Islandman, Mike Scott cites England as his ‘spine, the backbone and the … Continue reading

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Fortune favours Lonely the Brave – the Mark Trotter interview

Two top-40 albums into their career, and with a fervent fan-base at home and overseas, Lonely the Brave are proving a major draw on the live circuit. Their debut album, The Day’s War, peaked at No.14 in the UK charts, … Continue reading

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Here’s where the story continues – tracking down Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake

From the moment I first heard those searing guitars on debut single Everything Flows, I was sold on Teenage Fanclub. And although I find it difficult to comprehend this, it’s now been a quarter of a century since their first … Continue reading

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Looking back with the ultimate R’n’B survivor – the Wilko Johnson interview

I reckon Wilko Johnson forgot I was calling. Either that or he was just wrapped up in the book he was reading, Thomas Middleton’s early 17th century play, The Revenger’s Tragedy, enjoying time to himself back at home in Southend before … Continue reading

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About the Young Idea – talking about The Jam with Nicky Weller

From the moment you turn right at the desk inside the Cunard Building’s The Jam – About the Young Idea exhibition and head down a mock London Underground tunnel lined with promo posters publicising the original records, you’re in for … Continue reading

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Matteo’s Modern world – in conversation with writer Matteo Sedazzari

Matteo Sedazzari was part-way through his latest social networking drive when we spoke, spreading the word about debut novel A Crafty Cigarette – Tales of a Teenage Mod while getting to grips with the ever-changing world of new media. “I like … Continue reading

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Restart on reel two – back in touch with Gary Numan

Following the success of his 2013 album Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) and its accompanying two-year world tour, Gary Numan returns to the UK soon, for a live celebration of his breakthrough long players, Replicas, The Pleasure Principle and Telekon. After a … Continue reading

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