LTW newsletter 72
Spring has indeed sprung, and the green and ghostly lands at the edge of Europe are suddenly verdant, vibrant and alive. The birds are singing and the crows are trashing the magpie’s nest and the students in the tower block next to mine are shrieking and shouting in the streets all night.
The months of monochromatic UK grey, where music is the only dash of colour in our endless moody skies, have suddenly come into full five sense bloom, and it feels like an endless party of sorts on the streets. Music seems to come out of every window and Blighty feels like the best place to be in the world. Like a desert bloom, It may not last long, but when it arrives, it’s extraordinary.
Meanwhile, I have almost finished my spoken word tour with a last a couple of dates left in Nottingham and Corsham (Wiltshire).
Pop down.
It would be lovely to see you.
It’s been great traversing up and down the country meeting LTW readers and visiting towns that even I, in my decades of touring, have never been to before.
https://louderthanwar.com/john-robb-announces-do-you-believe-in-the-power-of-rock-n-roll-spoken-word-uk-tour-for-spring-2024/
In the meantime, there has been much musical excitement on the site….
Weird that the Eurovision Song Contest has become the frontline for all the pop and politics arguments in the world. At one time, it was some weird remote cabaret that was nowhere near this kind of fierce debate, but in 2024, it is the meeting point between corporate showbiz, geopolitical wrangling like an Israel boycott and sex and gender issues with Irish entry, Bambie Thug becoming the latest bete Noir in pop culture and annoying all the right people with their gender mix and Marilyn Manson meets Kanye West meets pop noir tune. The Cork-raised goth pop performer really has embraced the art of darkness, and it is another example of when the Eurovision Song Contest taps into proper pop culture, it does really well. Of course, LTW already covered Bambie Thug, who looks like the eventual winner of the competition way back in 2022…
https://louderthanwar.com/cassyette-bambie-thug-alien-blaze-deaf-institute-manchester-live-review/
Supersonic festival in Birmingham is one of our favourite festivals with its mix of cutting edge metal, electronic and weird folk. The bill is always full of surprises and great moments and this year looks like one of the best and we really recommended a trip to Birmingham this summer…
One of the best albums this year has been from Nadine Shah - her deeply personally album number five is full of flickering darkness and a powerful pop noir. It’s an enthralling and thrilling work, and her current tour brings the album fully to life.
Those errant Scottish storytellers Arab Strap have returned with another new album that is full of the scuzz and dread of modern life. ‘A crashing crescendo of beautiful noise and a truly great album.’
https://louderthanwar.com/arab-strap-im-totally-fine-with-it-👍-dont-give-a-fuck-anymore-👍-review-album-of-the-week-2/
Decades ago, Scotland was full of post-punk hopefuls who were corralled together on what is arguably the coolest label of the period, Postcard Records. The most enigmatic of these was Josef K, whose future pop made up of high octane fast treble guitars and sharp and angular songs still sound like missives from that future to this day. The band may never have broken through, but their influence was massive, and finally, a book has been written that explores their brief and thrilling career.
There’s been some great new music this week. The Gospel bring their choir and dark energy for a gothic take on Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’ which now shivers with its own thrills brining out the flickering shadows of the original.
https://louderthanwar.com/the-gospel-cover-madonna/ (Opens in a new window)
Another great tune comes from Immersion - the current project made up of Colin Newman from Wire and Malka Spigel from Minimal Compact. This is a thrilling slice of linear modern pop with those perfectly judged melodies and sleek perfect lines of the post-punk pioneers twisted with modernity. Truly recommended.
LTW faves Girls In Synthesis are back with yet another new album that furthers their pop/noise perfection. We review the album here and also interview the band.
Slovenia is already famous for Laibach, and the small nation is brimming full of talent that sees the glorious MENT festival every spring the label behind this event, Moonlee Records, have been busy putting out some great groundbreaking music as this interview with label head honcho celebrates.
https://louderthanwar.com/moonlee-records-interview-with-miran-rusjan/ (Opens in a new window)
Kristin Hersh has been writing great music since her days fronting Throwing Muses. We celebrate her ‘Hips And Makers – 30th Anniversary Edition’ which repackages one of her most loved albums. ‘She should never be classed as underground in my eyes. A true talent who the kids should be ashamed of missing. Fuck your Taylor Swift’s and Myley Cyrus. This is the real deal…’ claims our reviewer.
https://louderthanwar.com/kristin-hersh-hips-and-makers-30th-anniversary-edition-album-review/
Hip hoppers and show stoppers, Nubiyan Twist release their new album Find Your Flame and our reviewer claims, 'perfectly showcases the nine-piece band’s versatility as they skip effortlessly from jazz and soul through R&B to Afrobeat'
https://louderthanwar.com/nubiyan-twist-find-your-flame-album-review/ (Opens in a new window)
