‘A lot of late 70s bands wore grey. But we were determined to have fun’: the return of the mega-influential Swell Maps after 46 years www.theguardian.com/music/2026/m...
A nice piece on Swell Maps in the gliubiad. There's a new album on which I contributed a song. The album will not dissapoint
Yep. Totally agree. No dole, no student grants. I've no idea how a bunch of young kids get it together. I mourn the days when a bunch of 'chancers' could bag a record deal - with a bit of dosh - and record some cool singles, maybe, and an album. Tour the toilets. That's the start...
Re that Quietus piece; it's also a timely reminder that the two important producers/engineers of 5 of my early albums: Phil Vinall and Steve Albini, are no longer here...
thequietus.com/opinion-and-...
Hadn't realised it was 30 years ago - alot of albums have passed under the bridge in that time. Ta @thequietus.com for reprinting this.
Honestly the collective national level of disdain for Brits living in Dubai on all my social media platforms today really is bringing the UK together as one in a way that's hard to achieve in the modern era.
Maybe we'll reenact it live at the Palladium.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
Nice Graun piece on BBR. Much thanks to @luketurner.bsky.social
Radiohead and the Indie(tinder)sticks have never been known to exhibit one iota of wit in their half century of 'serious' rock. I find this difficult.
Noncept. Strong.
Next stop outside Sandringham for a photo shoot!
Andrew Saxe Case.
Glass of brandy and a revolver? But I guess that would be the honourable thing to do...
In the interests of transparency I shall be releasing all my texts to Peter 'Mandelson' Mandelson before Black Box Recorder's London Palladium show.
Went to Tate Britain for my annual pilgrimage to the Richard Dadds. Avoided the 'Turner versus Constable - the rivals'. What halfwit curators think up this nonsense. I can only look at one painting at a time. Galleries are stupid.
“No one is illegal on stolen land. F* ICE.”
— Billie Eilish, during her GRAMMYs speech
Nice review in Uncut of the new, yes new! Swell Maps album. I played on a couple of tracks and even got to write a song!
*Sniffs, mutters* Pearls before swine. #onfiretoday
*High voice* 'Placebo are collaborating with the RSC and soundtracking Brecht'
* Demarcates stage and phones Paul Mason*
thequietus.com/portal/ The Quietus @thequietus.com @luketurner.bsky.social have put up an old piece about yer Black Box Recorder for our return to light entertainment. Ta Quietus people.
The problem with this writing is that the NME (and Swells) didn't have the intellectual rigour. E.g. The Trotsky quote - the Russian Futurists morphed into Marinetti's Italian Futurists - Mussolini's lackey's. The whole piece can be pulled apart as such. God, i'm writing into the NME letters page!
I'm looking for my Mercury Music Prize runners up gong from (ahem) 1993. I intend to give it to Donald Trump, its rightfull owner.
The real King of Rock n Roll.
Lists are for shoppers not rockers. But the following are all great live albums:
Beatles Live At The Starr Club
Dr Feelgood - Stupidity
Kiss Alive
Totales Turns - The Fall
1969 - Velvets
And VU Live At Max's Kansas City - for Jim Carroll's interventions.
From Dylan to disco, Beyoncé to Bob Marley: the 30 best live albums ever – ranked! www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...
Wholeheartedly agree with Jerry Lee at number 1. Unarguably the greatest live album ever, and the Killer is backed by Surrey's greatest rock n roll band: The Nashville Teens
Feb 2nd, my pal Nick (who plays keys with myself and Peter Buck) will be questioned by John Niven about his early exploits with those Crashland chaps. Go, I am.
I love The Fabs Gene Vincent/ Hamburg period. Billy Childish is almost right when he claims that Live At The Starr Club was their greatest record. Almost...
I've just found out that simpering halfwit Robert 'Rob' Jenrick is 15 years younger than me! My staunch resolve to never vote for any of these pricks has been borne out.
LOW[E]: released on this day in 1977
youtu.be/JhZqsYkl1zI?...
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