1980s
Album: The Specials - Protest Songs 1924 - 2012Thursday, 30 September 2021
When The Specials returned with their chart-topping 2019 album Encore, it was a wonderful surprise. As well as being their first in nearly four decades (excluding material by alternately named intermediary incarnations), it proved they were more... Read more... |
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre review - a spectacular West End show to delight fans old and newTuesday, 28 September 2021
There’s a lot of going back to the future in theatres just now - shows (like this one) postponed by 18 months or so and delayed still further by co-star Roger Bart being indisposed on press night are bringing the bright lights back to the West End.... Read more... |
Duran Duran, O2 Institute, Birmingham review – an intimate gig for the local megastarsThursday, 16 September 2021
Incredibly it’s now 40 years since the release of Duran Duran’s debut album. To mark this event, the remaining members of the band’s classic line-up decided to return to Birmingham. Not to the NIA or any similar-sized venue, but for a couple of... Read more... |
Album: The Stranglers - Dark MattersSaturday, 04 September 2021
Following the death last year from COVID-19 of keyboard player Dave Greenfield, it appears the The Stranglers’ five decade journey may finally be drawing to a close. They bucked all odds by maintaining a path after singer Hugh Cornwall left in 1990... Read more... |
The Nest review – intriguing, off-kilter family dramaThursday, 26 August 2021
The Nest is a peculiar animal, hard to nail down, parts family drama and social satire, but with a creepy sense of suspense rippling under the surface that threatens to bust the plot wide open. The fact that it’s written and directed by... Read more... |
Album: Toyah - Posh PopWednesday, 25 August 2021
Toyah, always a one-off, has been a surprise star of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Her YouTube Sunday Lunches, kitchen-filmed cover versions with her husband, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, have been celebratory shared moments, jaunty, unlikely, silly,... Read more... |
Bagdad Café, Old Vic review - sweet but scattershotFriday, 30 July 2021
A gorgeous song exists in search of a show to match over at Bagdad Café, the 1987 film that gave the world the memorably plaintive "Calling You", which is threaded throughout Emma Rice's stage adaptation of the movie with understandable... Read more... |
Uprising, BBC One review - powerful documentary about the New Cross fireWednesday, 21 July 2021
Earlier this year, Steve McQueen addressed the forgotten history of black British people through the Small Axe dramas he made for the BBC. Now McQueen has turned to documentary for Uprising. It airs over three successive nights and was co-directed... Read more... |
Album: Gary Kemp - InsoloWednesday, 14 July 2021
Spandau Ballet started well, their slick, slightly angular pop-funk adding a certain something to early Eighties new romantic frippery. Later, especially with the success of global schmaltz-smash “True”, they lost what teeth they had, drifting into... Read more... |
10 Questions for Bobby Gillespie of Primal ScreamFriday, 02 July 2021
Bobby Gillespie (b 1962) is best known as the lead singer and driving force of rock band Primal Scream. He was born and raised in Glasgow and met future Creation Records boss Alan McGee at school. The pair would later move to London and, after a... Read more... |
Album: Laura Mvula - Pink NoiseWednesday, 30 June 2021
Album number three from Ivor Novello-winning singer-songwriter Laura Mvula sees her paying singularly personal homage to the music of the 1980s. Change, Chic, Michael Jackson and more are all called to mind at various points, with “Church Girl”... Read more... |
Blu-ray: Fast Times at Ridgemont HighTuesday, 01 June 2021
Watching Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 2021 is like taking a trip in a time machine and stepping out into a totally different world. The 1982 teenage comedy marked the debut of director Amy Heckerling (who would go on to make Clueless)... Read more... |
