Author:Irvine Welsh

Irvine Welsh turns his attention from social critique of working class Edinburgh to the surreal scorched neon backdrop of Las Vegas in this sweeping stansalone new thriller. An already divided family is brought into open warfare when a wealthy couple decide to leave their vast fortune to their Gen Z college drop out grandson, leaving their furious daughter out in the cold and hell bent on revenge. Meanwhile a sinister new neighbour insinuates himself into the already dysfunctional family dynamic, spreading further discord. This is a novel that is something of a slow burner, but once it gets into its stride it unrelentingly gathers pace with each passing chapter until it reaches a breathtakingly unexpected climax. The characters, some more likeable than others, are well drawn and the backdrop of sin city itself, with its unrelenting heat and seedy underbelly and sub culture, is convincingly evoked in this cleverly constructed tale. This propulsive multigenerational saga of Trumpian America is full of the author’s trademark black humour, social realism and biting satire. It’s certainly a change in direction from his more recent work, but nonetheless it’s an enthralling and gripping read that fans of his previous novels will surely » Continue Reading.

Author:Georgia Rose Lucas

As Richard Thompson said Sandy was “the most important singer of my generation, no one has come along to touch her since.”

I should say the reason I said I would review this book is because like several other books in the People’s History I contributed to this one too, although reading through I realise I gave the wrong date for my contribution, the photo of my 1975 poster even has the correct date on the 8th of October.

I’d seen a poster asking for contributions on a bookshop in Muswell Hill after I’d received the email asking for help as well as Georgia’s request for contributors.

Having read through it I realised there were other things I could have added such as after the record launch in a friend’s shop we adjourned after with the then three remaining members of Fotheringay for a curry and a chat.

with contributions from people who saw Sandy in concert either solo or with Fairport Convention or Fotheringay it also uses some old interviews of musicians who are no longer with us. Its a very comprehensive exploration of her life, music and the legacy she left behind. Quite » Continue Reading.

Author:Nick Holmes, Hans Meertens

Steven Wilson’s career as part of Porcupine Tree has already been covered in an earlier book in the On Track series, but here we have the first of a two volume look at his subsequent solo work. This covers the decade from 2008’s Insurgentes set to 2017’s To The Bone, a period where Wilson experimented with a number of different musical styles, from the prog leanings of The Raven That Refused to Sing to the much more listener friendly 80’s influenced To The Bone. It’s a period that includes what for me remains his masterpiece, 2015’s Hand.Cannot.Erase, and another ser I really like from the same year, the compilation set Transience, which is a great introduction to his more accessible work, focussing as it does on shorter pieces. For those unfamiliar with his music, don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all prog, because these early years also feature jazz, electronica, indie rock and even pop. This is a good, solid look at this part of his career, written by an author who is obviously very well versed in his music, so it’s certainly worth your time investigating this title if you’re a fan as it » Continue Reading.

Author:Nina Allen

I read a lot, and rarely post reviews on what at heart is still a music site. However there are some books that affect you so much you want to make sure everyone knows about them, and even better that they discuss with you. So it is with the 2023 novel Conquest by Nina Allan, the first book of hers I’ve read.

She broadly writes within the sci-fi and fantasy genres, though as will become clear this is a novel that escapes easy genre classification. The start of the novel details the disappearance of Frank, a man increasingly prone to viewing the world through a conspiracy lens, in this case one that centres around an ongoing alien invasion, government supersoldiers being bred to battle this, and the hushing up of anyone who discovers the truth. Recovering from hospitalisation for ‘Generalised Anxiety Disorder’ After meeting fellow believers he fails to return home, leading to his girlfriend recruiting a private detective, Robin, to find out what has happened to Frank.

This is the bare outline of the plot – and the sections of the narrative that concern Robin can be read like a detective story. There are clues along the » Continue Reading.

Author:Richard Bowes

I enjoy an oral history, but this is something different: a people’s history, drawn from the contributions of some 500 “Numanoids” whom Bowes asked to submit stories, recollections and photographs. Even though I was reading an advance PDF, it is clearly a beautiful book, with 250 excellent pictures and a crisp, uncluttered layout. There are no chapters, just a chronological sequence of anecdotes, reflections and stories, drawing on TV appearances, gigs, record releases and personal interactions with the man himself.

Naturally, virtually all the contributors regard Numan as a visionary and musical genius. The only dissenting voice is from Numan himself. On a recent Word in Your Ear podcast about the book, he described himself as “essentially a guy who wears make-up for a living”, and spoke of the challenge of coming to terms with such adulation. Numan remains amusingly self-deprecating but respectful, if disbelieving, about what he represents to his fans—in a way that clearly has not even nibbled at the edges of, say, David Lee Roth’s consciousness. In the introduction, Numan writes: “I will never think I’m special … Same goes for any suggestion of being talented … Nonetheless, reading this book has reminded me that, » Continue Reading.

Author:Paul Sexton

Remember those long ago days when there were no arenas or exhibition halls? If you wanted to attend a gig, it was a small club or perhaps a city hall. Into this vacuum came the university venues, satisfying the new market created by the rising popularity of that new fangled rock music. Boasting an introduction by none other than Mark Knopfler, this excellent and hugely enjoyable book tells the story of how, with the advent of the albums era, upcoming and even established bands travelled the length and breadth of the UK in their trusty Transits in search of the next gig, while hoping to be offered that elusive record deal. Looking back, it’s no surprise that many of today’s managers and promoters cut their teeth as social secretaries, learning their trade at the sharp end, and giving opportunities to bands that went on to become household names, such as Zeppelin, Floyd, Sabbath. Genesis, Dire Straits, Queen and The Who. Even Paul McCartney played this circuit when Wings first took flight. There’s plenty of fond reminiscences and hoary old anecdotes from the main players as the author explores that burgeoning scene when we were all so much younger » Continue Reading.

Author:Kevan Furbank, Chris Salisbury, Andrew Mon Hughes & Grant Walters

I have to confess that I am a sucker for any book on prog, and this look at what was happening in the pivotal year of 1974 is therefore right up my street. Perhaps the last of the golden years of the genre, it offered rich pickings and here the author dissects twenty of the key releases, including The Lamb, Relayer. Red and Journey to The Centre of The Earth to pluck out just a few of the biggest ones. He also shines a welcome light on perhaps less familiar releases by the likes of Magma, PFM, Gong and Hatfield & The North. Each album is examined in detail, looking at the background of the bands, the recording process and most importantly of course the music itself. I really enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend it to any prog fan – what a year it was, when the discerning fan really was spoilt for choice and you could have spent your meagre weekly pocket money ten times over!

I really enjoy a bit of Skynrd, a band whose music from their seventies heyday has really stood the test of » Continue Reading.

Author:Stephen Palmer

Another year, another Pink Floyd book, this one examining their career album by album. Given the band’s story has already been told many times, this new title doesn’t really add anything new in the factual sense, so really its raison d’etre is the critical look at each record. The author is firmly in the Gilmour/Wright camp, particularly carrying a flame for the latter, who to be fair was an integral part of the band’s sound until the mid seventies. He is rather less keen on Waters, and unsurprisingly this taints his view of the later albums. He dismisses The Wall as merely ok and nothing special, and positively hates The Final Cut, and contends that AMLOR is a better album than both, while also displaying a strange affection for the very mediocre The Division Bell. Not a view I can concur with I’m afraid, but there you go. His looks at each album are decently written without being exceptional, and he does try to give his own slant on the music, which is to be commended even if it’s sometimes a bit lightweight and has a few annoying factual errors which rather stick out like the proverbial sore » Continue Reading.

Author:Alan Parks

The second novel in this new series, and the sequel to last year’s introductory (and outstanding) ‘Gunner,’ is set in New York in the December of 1941. The European allies are desperate to draw the USA into World War Two, and ex detective Joseph Gunner, now working for the British Secret Service, is despatched across the ocean to ferment pro war sentiment using every trick in the book, including blackmail. However, a plot to ensnare a prominent politician in a honeytrap operation goes badly wrong when the femme fatale is found dead, and Gunner realises he has been betrayed and his cover blown. Caught between the clutches of the NYPD, The Mob and a secret group of Nazi sympathisers, and with global events accelerating out of control;, he faces a race against time before he becomes the next victim, while at the same time unwittingly stumbling upon an even greater and far reaching conspiracy which would have devastating consequences for the world order. A very good read, tautly plotted and fast paced, with the author superbly capturing the sights and sounds of New York at that time, and combining this with a very plausible and well researched storyline » Continue Reading.

Author:Alasdair Gill

While some will be familiar with food critic AA Gill’s writing for The Times, fewer likely know of the two chefs in his immediate family; brother Nick and son Alisdair. Alisdair’s book may seem to be about the culinary arts, anchored by his journey from Kitchen Porter to Head Chef. Indeed there are many recipes (actually, for me, too many). However, the main course (sorry…) here is really family, relationships and the shadow cast over them by addiction.

There’s no shortage of books about addiction and recovery. Indeed, Gill senior wrote one of the better ones, “Pour Me”. Alasdair wastes no time introducing us to his own drink and drug dependencies. Aged 26 working with a small number of other barely functional addicts at a restaurant called the Plum Gate in London’s east end, his constant need for drink and drugs has to be funded somehow, and restaurant kitchens are one of the few places an addict can do both. His description of daily kitchen service is visceral with a side of dark humour.

Gill’s masterful turn of words elevates what could easy be just another sordid treaty in self-pity into something genuinely engaging. He’s unrelenting in acknowledging » Continue Reading.

Author:Nikki Smith

Nikki Smith is a new author to me, but has already written five earlier novels. This new thriller, set in the UK and South Africa, sees a seemingly perfect life disintegrate before your eyes. When his wife becomes uncontactable at their holiday home in South Africa, the worried husband travels from the UK to investigate, only to discover his wife is missing from their blood stained safari lodge, while on the wall is a missing person poster with his own photograph and details. I won’t give any more away, but the plot, which is told from different perspectives and moves from the present to the past, is very cleverly constructed, and just as you think you’ve worked out what’s going on the author pulls the rug from under your feet. The book also contains some vivid and very evocative descriptions of the South African landscape and its wildlife that very much add to the overall atmosphere, and indeed almost seem to transport you to the country. This dark mystery thriller is one that will keep you intrigued to the very last page – fast paced, suspenseful and full of twists and turns, I’d certainly recommend it, and on » Continue Reading.

Author:Daniel Dylan Wray

The post-war Sheffield music scene evolved, without external influence, for decades.

Terry Thornton opened the first jazz club, Club 60, in a damp cellar beneath a pub and, two years later The Esquire, in an old flour mill (which went on to become The Leadmill), with gigs by Vance Arnold and the Avengers, featuring local gas fitter Joe Cocker.

Across town, ex-con Peter Stringfellow hired church halls and set himself up as a promoter (and shagger) with gigs by Screaming Lord Such, some Scousers called The Beatles (whatever happened to them, eh?), before setting up The Mojo Club and hosting gigs by the likes of Ike & Tina Turner.

Sheffield got a reputation for being “The Arsehole of the Musical Universe” and local performers, including Tony Christie, were able to refine their acts away from the spotlight.

A 1971 City Hall show by T-Rex was the Sheffield equivalent of the Sex Pistols at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall half a decade later – in the audience were members of ABC, the Human League and Def Leppard.

The availability of dole, housing benefit, and ex-industrial buildings for peppercorn rent, provided fertile ground for the nascent » Continue Reading.

Author:David Starkey, Scott Robinson

I think most would agree the period from 73 to 87 was The Boss’s imperial phase. It certainly contains my three favourites from his canon, Darkness, Nebraska and Greetings. Here the author takes a deep dive into those golden years when every record was essential listening, covering the eight studio albums plus the Live 1975-85 set. There’s plenty already been written about this era of course, but the author manages to give a fresh perspective on some familiar songs, appealing to both the committed fan and the casual listener. It certainly gave me a nudge to relisten to these albums, some of which I think it’s fair to say have stood the test of time rather better than others. This marks the point where I rather lost touch with Sprinsgsteen, only having dipped in and out of the next almost forty years of work, most subsequent albums getting only a handful of listens with the exception of The Rising and Tom Joad – but it was an exciting ride while it lasted, and of course he still delivers the goods on stage even if the records aren’t quite as compelling as they once were. In conclusion » Continue Reading.

Author:Iain Key & Richard Houghton

Another stash of memories from the People’s History book thread. The basis of these books is fans, band members (sadly absent here), their entourage sharing the moments that formed, defined, and (possibly) broke the band. And give an insight to the enduring legacy, influence and reverence. And it is that legacy, influence and reverence that is important in these books – A People’s History of The Thompson Twins would unlikely (a) make the grade, or (b) sell that much if it did.

The Smiths were indeed a moment in time marking a point in the early 80s when “Indie” moved from being “small audience material on minor record labels” to a crossover into the mainstream. This is not intended to be a definitive history but a history across 300 pages told by those who were involved, were there, bear the scars, and still hold the highest esteem for an outspoken (some would say odd-ball) singer, musical partner in crime and tune, plus backing from a solid if un-noticed (until the court case) rhythm section. The stories range from their fist gig at The Hacienda when Morrissey got annoyed with the crowd and the poster stating » Continue Reading.

Author:Bob Spitz

US author Bob Spitz proves that there’s still plenty to say about The Rolling Stones in this epic new biography of the band. Although it appears that he, perhaps unsurprisingly, hasn’t been able to interview any of the band members, he has nevertheless forensically gone through their story from its very beginnings with the proverbial fine toothcomb. It takes as its heart the bond between two young boys that has endured for over six decades, and their volatile, even alchemical, creative partnership, while simultaneously drawing in others who fell within their orbit, those who survived the course such as Watts and Wood, and those, like Jones, Taylor, and eventually even Wyman, who fell by the wayside. There is certainly a huge amount of detail here, and although many of the stories are already well known the author shines a light to give them a welcome new perspective. While the book itself clocks in at a hefty 700 pages, the last 100 are reserved for the bibliography, index etc, so there’s actually 600 pages to get through. Rather frustratingly, the content is heavily skewed towards their early years – by page 450 Exile has only just been released, which » Continue Reading.

Author:Stuart MacBride

Following hot on the heels of the recent short form novel ‘And The Corpse Wore Tartan’, we have here a full length story featuring DI Roberta Steel and her trusty sidekick ‘Tufty’ Quirrel. With retirement just a few short weeks away, all she wants to do is quietly see out the final days of a thirty year career policing Aberdeen’s seedy underbelly before riding off into the sunset. However, it seems the North East of Scotland doesn’t want her to go gently into the good night. A body is discovered in a wheelie bin, there’s a violent protest to deal with and the unwelcome presence of a populist far right politician looms large, all made more challenging by a large proportion of her colleagues being off sick. It seems these final few weeks may be the death of her! This is another darkly comic tale from MacBride, which simultaneously manages to incorporate a captivating police procedural while making some pertinent points about today’s broken society. There’s even a cameo appearance from Logan MacRae along the way, so what’s not to like? All in all, another really enjoyable page turner from one of the masters of this genre!

Length » Continue Reading.

Author:John Connolly

A new addition to the long running Charlie Parker series is always welcome. Once again set in Maine, this, the 23rd in the sequence, is another absolute corker. Hired to investigate the death of a teenager at a remote school for troubled children, Parker soon realises something far more sinister is afoot. Meanwhile, a group of men are playing The Game, involving the kidnap and murder of itinerant women – but it appears one of them has broken their rules. As Parker digs deeper, troubling new facts emerge about both himself and his long standing colleagues Louis and Angel. There are tantalising glimpses into their back-story, but frustratingly it appears there are more questions than answers – for now at least. As the main story unfolds, there are in the background more unexplained developments in the mysterious nether world inhabited by Parker’s dead daughter. Another gripping novel which successfully merges a crime novel with a parallel supernatural world, and one which fans will love. If only we didn’t have to wait another year for the next instalment!

Length of Read:Medium

Might appeal to people who enjoyed…

Although this can be read as a standalone novel, it really works » Continue Reading.

Author:Richard Butterworth, Emma Stott

Back to the sixties with the latest two books in this series. First up is MC5, who produced three uncompromising high octane albums between 1969 and 1971, with a very belated fourth effort appearing in 2024. This book is rather heavy on the hyperbole for my taste, but in fairness it does a good job of disecting the releases as well as examining the cultural ecosystem that spawned them. I suppose Kick Out The Jams is their enduring legacy, but realistically they are something of a historical footnote musically in the UK at least. This is an enjoyable well researched read, but realistically it’s aimed squarely at the hard core fan. Forever Changes is one of those iconic sixties albums whose appeal has transcended the passing of time, still sounding fresh six decades later. It’s forerunner, Da Capo, is often somewhat in its shade but is also well worth reacquainting yourself with. Again, we have a detailed look at the albums from the various phases and incarnations of the band, as well as a peek behind the scenes of what was going on internally within the ranks. The band soldiered on after their initial heyday, although » Continue Reading.

Author:Anthony Horowitz

A welcome new instalment in this series of murder mystery novels, in which the author himself appears as a character playing the ‘Watson’ role to ex copper Daniel Hawthorne’s ‘Holmes’. The first book in this series, The Word Is Murder, is being filmed for a movie adaptation, but when the pair arrive to visit the set they find a far from happy camp. The two stars hate each other due to incidents in their past, the director is pretentious, the screen writer is an eco warrior determined to impose their views on the script, and to cap it all the producer is about to run out of money. It seems things can’t get any worse until the actor playing Hawthorne is fatally stabbed, leaving the real life Hawthorne with no choice but to step in and investigate his own murder! The plot is as convoluted as the many suspects’ intertwined pasts, but along the way we are given some more tantalising glimpses into Hawthorne’s puzzling private life and his rather mysterious childhood. A very entertaining and captivating read that really keeps the pages turning, and leaves the reader eagerly hoping for further revelations in the next novel.

Length » Continue Reading.

Author:Andrew Wild, Chris Sutton, Stephen Lambe

The Doobie Brothers were an FM radio staple in the US in the seventies, and it was something of a surprise to see them barely mentioned in the Raised On Radio book by Paul Rees that was recently reviewed on here. Their career had two distinct phases, the early seventies period that produced classics such as Listen To The Music, China Grove and Long Train Running, and the post 1975 era featuring Michael MacDonald that gave us a rather different smooth sound with the likes of Minute By Minute and What A Fool Believes. They are one of those bands that just seem to keep on going with differing line ups, with their most recent album appearing just last year. This book gives a thorough appraisal of their whole career, as usual taking the albums song by song, but also providing a potted history of the goings in the band over the decades. A very enjoyable read for fans of this band which has shifted over 40 million albums over the years, and is currently touring to celebrate their 50th anniversary..

Black Sabbath were in a hole when Ozzy was fired after the Never » Continue Reading.

Author:Alan Bennett

This fourth volume of diaries appears a full ten years after 2016’s Keeping On Keeping On, and covers the years from then up to 2024, the year in which Bennett turned ninety. It covers a turbulent era, encompassing Covid, Brexit, the death of the Queen and the rise of Johnson and Trump, so there’s certainly plenty of grist for the writer’s mill! Nonetheless, there’s still plenty of opportunity to mull over the minutiae of life with his deadpan wit, evidenced in trips to Europe and pilgrimages back to his native Yorkshire, alongside the serious business of writing several more best selling books, the premiere of his play Allelujah!, the revival of Talking Heads and the filming of The Choral. However, there is an underlying air of poignancy and even melancholy that pervades the book as he contemplates the changes in the country coinciding with the changes within himself as he deals with the physical and mental challenges of old age, along the way reminiscing fondly about his long gone childhood years. His distinctive voice shines throughout this captivating volume as he finds joy and sorrow in the most unexpected places, while at the same time giving vent to » Continue Reading.

Author:Hans Meertens, David Waterfield

This book takes a deep dive into Iggy Pop’s output between 1977 and 1999, a period which saw the release of no less than 13 albums. I’m only really familiar with the first two, the Bowie collaborations The Idiot and Lust for Life, both of which still stand up almost fifty years later. For some reason I lost track of his subsequent albums, all of which are considered in depth in this comprehensive and well researched book – and there certainly is plenty to mull over, the sheer variety of styles, the musical detours, the highs, the lows and the ones that got away. If you’re a fan, you’ll devour this breakdown of each record, and even if, like me, you’re only a casual listener it will pique your interest sufficiently to encourage you to have a listen to some of the albums that may have passed you by first time around.

Is it really 45 years since Making Your Mind Up won Eurovision – suddenly I feel very old! I must confess I know nothing about them, other than remembering their other big hits, My Camera Never Lies, Now Those Days Are Gone, and the » Continue Reading.

Author:Liz Nugent

This is Liz Nugent’s sixth novel, the preceding five titles all being award winners, so no pressure then! I’m pleased to predict though that she’s certainly in line to make it six out of six with this excellent new title. It’s another dark and deeply disturbing tale of a dysfunctional family, set between the USA and Eire. Ruby Cooper and her sister seem to have an idyllic life until a cruel incident fractures their world and causes the family to implode, with the aftershocks reverberating down the generations for years to come. Even decades later, the wave of destruction continues to affect all their lives, but it seems inevitable that the truth and its long hidden dark secrets will eventually be dragged into the harsh glare of daylight, and then the inevitable consequences will be unleashed for both innocent and guilty alike. Despite the subject matter, I really enjoyed this book, but be warned this unsettling, compelling tale of a damaged individual will totally ensnare you in its tangled web for the entire duration. Another distinctive and unique novel from this outstanding writer!

Length of Read:Medium

Might appeal to people who enjoyed…

Nugent’s previous novels, dark fiction and » Continue Reading.

Author:Mario Giammetti

Italian journalist Mario Giammetti has written numerous books on Genesis and the individual band members over the years, although this is only the third to be translated into English. It is, in fact, a revised and updated version of a title that was originally published in Italy twenty years ago, now bringing Banks story completely up to date. He is undoubtedly a very gifted writer and performer – I think he maybe doesn’t always come across in the best light in interviews, but he was undoubtedly one of, if not the, main musical and creative driving forces in Genesis. This very comprehensively researched book delves exhaustively into his life and work, from his childhood days through the various iterations of Genesis and on to his frequently overlooked solo outings, which are finally given the in depth attention they deserve. The translation can at times perhaps feel a little clunky, but nevertheless you can’t fault the level of detail the author goes into, with quotes from numerous interviews over the years both with the man himself and with an extensive and impressive cast of friends and collaborators. As always, Kingmaker have done a great job on the book, producing » Continue Reading.

Author:Stewart Home

Stewart Home has been an agent provocateur on the edge of art, punk, and politics since the mid-1970s. This romp through the chequered history of Yoga in the West through the twentieth century got him noticed by the main-stream media.

His story introduces a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells, from a US Houdini wannabee on the make, through Edwardian army officers who just happened to be Aleister Crowley acolytes and fans of fascism , to out–and-out Nazis and ends up in the era of QAnon. It’s a well-worn ploy: something familiar and mundane being tarted up as Ancient Wisdom of the East. In this case, posture-based exercises were passed off as Yoga asanas and sold to rich Americans and Europeans. Of course, anything that seemed to be the esoteric wisdom of an Aryan Root Race got fascist blood pumping.

It’s an easy, entertaining read populated by eccentrics and sociopaths. Unfortunately, quite a few of them were – and continue to be – very influential.

Length of Read:Short

Might appeal to people who enjoyed…

Bare Faced Messiah (the L Ron Howard biog), Strange Angel (the Jack Parson Biog), Bad Medicine.

One thing you’ve learned

Yoga as practiced in » Continue Reading.