MARY CONWAY applauds the revival of a tense, and extremely funny, study of men, money and playing cards
Album reviews
Latest releases from Fruit Bats, Valerie June and Field Music
MEHDI ACHOUCHE explores the constant fascination of cinema with Marxist alienation from Fritz Lang and Chaplin to Bong Joon Ho
FIONA O’CONNOR steps warily through a novel that skewers many of the exposed flanks of the over-privileged
MARY CONWAY applauds the study of a dysfunctional family set in an Ireland that could be anywhere
MICK MCSHANE is roused by a band whose socialism laces every line of every song with commitment and raw passion
New releases from Mountain, Soul Asylum and Michael McDermott
ALEX HALL is disgusted by the misuse of ‘emotional narratives’ to justify uninformed geo-political prejudice
Fruit Bats
The Pet Parade
(Merge)
★★★★
“HELLO from here to you all out there/It feels like it has been years.” I’m not sure when the opening words to the Fruit Bats’ ninth album were written, but their lonely delivery makes them perfect for the Covid years.
Having worked under the Fruit Bats moniker for 20 years, US musician Eric D Johnson — also active with Bonny Light Horseman — has created an impressive set of mercurial Americana on this album.
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IAN SINCLAIR draws attention to the powerful role that literature plays in foreseeing the way humanity will deal with climate crisis
Detailing the deluge of delusion and dishonesty pushed by the pro-war camp, IAN SINCLAIR identifies four key tactics corporate journalists use to confuse audiences and suppress opposition to the proxy war in the east
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