Issue 84 / Dec 2017/Jan 2018

DANSETTE
NICK ELLIS expands on his
preference for albums over single
tracks, and reveals some of the
records that were floating his boat
around the time he was making his
new LP, Adult Fiction.
Tim Buckley
Blue Afternoon
Straight Records
Inside Pussy Riot
The feminist art-punk collective tell their story through
an immersive installation at London’s Saatchi Gallery.
The theatrical INSIDE PUSSY RIOT allows the public
to navigate the Russian court and prison system,
which Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova
and Maria Alyokhina spent two years in having been
convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious
hatred” after a 35-second performance in a Moscow
cathedral in 2012. Throwing up questions about
protest, freedom and political imprisonment, the
exhibition follows Pussy Riots’ triumphant UK tour
where they were joined by Pink Kink, and runs until
24th December. For more information and tickets, head
to saatchigallery.com/art/inside-pussy-riot.
Pussy Riot
Throw Shapes Thursdays
Beloved Baltic venue Constellations continue their
regular Live Music Thursday events throughout
December. Taking place every other Thursday,
the gigs ordinarily take place in the main bar area
of the venue and make for the perfect way to
raise the curtain on the weekend with some of
the best party-starting bands around. To close
their three-part residency at the event, THE JAM
SCONES QUARTET are preparing for a special
performance of their mathematically problematic
jazz (the quartet has five members) on 7th
December. Two weeks later, JUNK will take up
the baton, providing their blend of hip hop, jazz
and funk.
Lez Be Avin It
Geared towards the lesbian community, but open to all, new club night LEZ
BE AVIN IT launches at Invisible Wind Factory’s Substation on 2nd
December. As well as burlesque and pole dancers, the night hosts DJ
sets from long-time activist and filmmaker SANDI HUGHES, artist and DJ
HANNAH BITOWSKI, and wonder pop trio STEALING SHEEP, who bring
one of their legendary costumed sets to the Substation. The whole event
is run by those who identify as female – from promoters to performers,
right through to bouncers and bar staff – and the night promises a safe
space for all those who want to attend, regardless of gender, sexuality and
ethnicity. Tickets are just £5 a pop so they’re pocket-friendly too.
Blue Afternoon is an unappreciated classic. Here is a man
who is moving with his art and stretching the rules at
the same time. Buckley takes the traditional context of
folk-song/storytelling and allows it to breathe through a
combination of guitar, acoustic bass, piano and vibes
without losing the most important element of his music –
the voice.
Jessica Pratt
Jessica Pratt
Birth Records
JESSICA PRATT keeps it simple. Her playing and lyrics
are abstract at times, but never lose their sense of melody.
That’s the magic in her songs. No one really digs her over
here, probably because she’s not very visual. For me, she’s
doing something different, using traditional techniques to
do something new, and I can dig that.
The Blue Nile
Hats
Linn Records
IWFM’s Festive Transmissions
For some, the festive period is a time of rest and recuperation. Not for
the folks of IWFM RADIO. The community radio station is bookending
the month of December with a STATION LAUNCH PARTY on the 1st
of the month, and a NEW YEAR’S EVE TRANSMISSION on the 31st.
The Launch Party takes over Drop The Dumbulls with live music and
DJ sets from a host of the stations venerable emcees, while their NYE
Transmission broadcasts live from the Kazimier Garden with Dig Vinyl on
decks all night in Rat Alley – and you’re all invited. The Bido Lito! team are
also adding to the mix, bringing you not one but two festive specials of
our IWFM show Pink Audio Dynamite over December. Head to iwfmradio.
com to listen to shows and get tickets for their events.
It’s Quizmaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!
Narrative and setting. This album creates whole pictures
within a picture, like an Edward Hopper painting coming
to life. In fact, Hats has it all. The economy and poetry
of Paul Buchanan’s pen are underrated. And, of course,
the soundscapes created by the band as a whole are
breathtaking. The album’s high-end, synthetic 80s, studiosharp
production only adds to the intensity of the songs.
Planxty
Cold Blow And The
Rainy Night
Polydor
The Real Quiz
Bido Lito! and Liquidation’s joint Christmas trivia
extravaganza returns on 13th December with The
Real Quiz. In its new home of Constellations, the
event looks to cap off a great year in Liverpool music
with fans, friends and colleagues looking to pit their
wits against one another for a selection of fantastic
prizes. Once again, proceeds from the night will go
to chosen charities The Whitechapel Centre and
MIND and there’ll be live music from special guests.
Head to bidolito.co.uk for tickets.
Storytelling is the bread and butter of all music,
and PLANXTY do it so well. Whether it is in the form of
songs and words or just plain instrumentals, the essence
of a story must communicate to the listener and, on Cold
Blow..., we see a juxtaposition of tales old and new, yet
their sense of time, place and age is irrelevant. Here, we
hear the very nature of the fable itself – timelessness.
Head to bidolito.co.uk to read (and listen to) more of Nick
Ellis’ selections. Adult Fiction is out now on Mellowtone
Records.
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