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Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Reeves and Mortimer Tour

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Vic and Bob are doing some live dates, the first in lord knows how long to mark their 25th anniversary. I saw them in 1990 in an all standing venue which was more like a gig than a comedy show. It was brilliant and so funny I was gasping for breath at times. It’s probably too late to get tickets now but I note the venues are all arenas which means I’m already in two minds about this.. Comedy in enormodomes is never any any good..is it? Apparently Mr Dennis and Lister will be there which is great, I wonder if Whiskey and Brandy Bolland will make an appearance?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-SPTUMC65c

Happy Birthday Beany!

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Ladies and gentlemen I propose a toast to long-standing Word/Afterword blogger Beany who today has reached a significant birthday with a zero after it. In honour of his lifelong ambition to acquire the most tasteless record collection on the planet, let’s salute the emeritus professor of pap with some truly dreadful records. If anyone can find one he hasn’t got in his collection I’ll be very surprised but there is your challenge. I’m sure he’s got several copies of this one: N.b this isn’t the original Bucks Fizz that’d be too easy, it’s David Van Day’s “Bucks Fizz” with a specially ‘updated’ version of Making Yr Mind Up. Bleee…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2t54cHSE8Q

Dutch Uncles – O Shudder

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What does it sound like?:

This is the fourth LP from Marple’s finest Dutch Uncles. I caught a support slot from them a few years ago when they were promoting their debut and was immediately grabbed by their strangeness and charm. It’s hard to pin down what they do, best way I can describe it is a mixture of angular indie, a jauntier take on the sort of sophisticated pop the likes of Talk Talk, late period XTC and Blue Nile did in the 1980s, a Kate Bush approach to melodic leaps and twists and just a dash of the less noodly side of prog rock. This record is more electronic than previously, the guitars take a back seat to synths which recall 80 movie sountrack tropes albiet offset by a lush sounding string section. There is, on first listen, a certain lack of instant hooks, however there are melodies and refrains that creep up on your with repeated listens which is the mark of an album you’ll want to revisit again to reveal its charms.

What does it all *mean*?

If you’re not familiar with the band, some may find the fey, warbling vocals and some of the » Continue Reading.

New one from Wire

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I know Wire have a few fans here, they’ve just announced a new (eponymous) LP and this is the teaser track for it. Typical Wire track in that it’s very short, has no chorus or immediate hook, but oddly catchy. It’s a grower.