Features

“I was fortunate to meet Annette Peacock a few times and I mentioned how much I loved “Real and Defined Androgens”. She replied, “Yeah, two chords, simple yet very effective. That one was really big in the gay s&m clubs!”.”

“Her vocal sounds effortless here, she’s just letting it happen without any force. In a time when you can find pretty much everything online it’s kind of exciting that this little moment of perfection isn’t very accessible.”

“Onto the turntable went Tír na nÓg’s self titled debut from 1971. And what a beautifully pure piece of progressive folk awaited me. Sonny Condell and Leo O’Kelly’s wonderfully crafted songs shine, with them both playing such instruments as tablas, dulcimer and Moroccan pottery drums!”

“I used to listen obsessively to The Kinks as an art school student and spent hours in my bedroom teaching myself their songs on ukulele. I soon became very determined to learn how to play the lead interludes in “Milk Cow Blues”, mainly because I loved the raw energy of it and taught myself by ear.”

“On the song “Caucasian Bird Riffles”, Julie Tippetts stands centre-stage. She’s in on the first bar, to minimal piano and Hammond organ accompaniment, singing with little vibrato or inflexion, but with a dominating, glacial presence, as the descending melody line accompanies the opening salvo from Haines”

“I remember people called it mod punk when it came out even ‘tho they don’t sound anything like The Jam. I think it was probably more because of their fashion and graphics style. But what it is, is an absolute banger of a GREAT record. It’s full of super catchy songs, loud as fuck guitar, great pic slides and really great snotty vocals. It’s also got a bit of an early Dischord sound and attitude”

“The steamy image it conjures up sends sends major goosebumps up and down my spine. I can’t put on mascara and listen to this at the same time.”

“This is a stunning record of New Age/Ambient music, that perfectly reflects the personality of the person that made it. Alex has always had a strong and admirable connection to natural world, we remember them talking excitedly about plans to make a documentary about Magpies and their various calls and songs.”

“As a bass player, I love hearing bass combined with different types of instruments, in this case the Irani santur, a 72-string instrument dating from approximately 500 BCE. I love the combination of urgency and melancholy I hear in this song.”

“Some of my favourite performances recently have been unaccompanied vocal folk singing. I stumbled across Shovel Dance Collective performing in the courtyard at Supersonic and again at midnight around the (digital) campfire at Supernormal. Their presentation of authentic, trad working class songs of struggle and hopefulness are so beautiful and have been absolutely joyful in these awful times.”

“If we weren’t all worried enough about imminent nuclear annihilation in 1980, Pete Wylie had to introduce us to the horrors of the doomsday clock. What then sounded like a rallying call from the bunker now sounds more like borderline power-pop if not for Wylie’s spirited shouty vocal. Ominously the clock is now set at 1 minute 40 seconds to midnight. Bugger.”

“The thing I really love about the Durutti Column and this song in particular is the simplicity and space. When you’re making instrumental music it can be tempting to fill in all the gaps, but Vini Reilly can take two or three melodic lines and really make the most of them. I can’t think of anything you could add or take away from this to make it any better.”

“The most prolific gang in town. Impeccable output. Killer production. This album bowled me over when I listened to it. Each track is a thrill and sails unchartered waters.”

“Taking emotional responsibility for my actions often feels impossible because of the abuse I have experienced and the mood and personality disorders I have. In a fight, flight, or freeze situation, I will flee every single time.”