PAUL DONOVAN applauds an intriguing multi-layered depiction, dominated by a stunning impersonation of Marilyn herself
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Round-up 2018: Tim Wells
TIM WELLS looks back on a stimulating year of poetry, music and publishing
Whippersnappin' punk: Big Joanie
LEO BOIX applauds an audacious, self-questioning film about grief, friendship and film-making
MARY CONWAY admires a brave and topical study of Armageddon that is, unfortunately, unable to come to a conclusion
ANDY HEDGECOCK, JAMES WALSH and JAMIE BRITTON review Hanging by a Wire, I Want Your Sex, The Pout-Pout Fish, and Rise of the Foot Soldier: Retribution
Chris Searle speaks to US pianist RAN BLAKE
The Bard hands out medals for his Edinburgh campaign and urges us to support The Men They Couldn’t Hang
MY CHRISTMAS doesn’t start until I’ve randomly heard the seasonal Slade smash. As of yet, I’ve still not, but this week I did read what may well be my favourite poem of the year.
I’m Shocked by Iris Colomb from Bad Betty Press is a one-poem chapbook, which may well be my favourite of the year. The poem’s a cracker. It starts: “I was drunk but not paralytic ...” and that refrain weaves through it just as I’ve done down Stamford Hill more times than I care to remember. This is small-press poetry kicking it — intelligent, witty and crafted and it felt like more than sex.
Going back to my yoof with 'zines, one of the book launches I best enjoyed in 2018 was Tony D’s collected issues of Ripped & Torn, a punk original dating back to 1976. Herein you’ll find angst and anger but sadly more Adam and the Ants than I care for.
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