December 1, 2013

On World AIDS Day, David Shenton remembers his friends and their simple requests with an astonishingly beautiful cartoon. Polari Safari cartoon by David Shenton.

On Fire.

The irrepressible Rubyyy Jones introduces the Familyyy Fierce Collective, cabaret stars who dance, strip and flip.

“We will challenge your ideals of beauty, gender and sex. We will move you, with flesh, skill and the opportunity to expand your mind and heart.”

[rating=3]
Released October 21, 2013
On Arrows, Polly Scattergood ranges from the perverse and genuinely dark to the self-pitying and juvenile.

“The things that marked her out as being different – her own relentless self-involvement and a singing style which manages to be downtrodden and girly – are still evident but the songs let her down more often than not.”

[rating=5]
Released October 1977
Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell is one of the most powerful progressive rock albums of all time.

“Bat Out of Hell became one of the biggest selling albums of all time, with an estimated sales of 43 million copies worldwide. Meat Loaf and Steinman created something rare and special, a multi-layered rock album with not one stale track on it.”

November 20, 2013

Love Is In The Air (rather early this year due to a relatively mild winter… so far). Polari Safari cartoon by David Shenton.

Submission and power.

Following a 5 star review of their debut album, Dominae, Andrew Darley spoke with Leanne Macomber, one half of the synthpop duo Ejecta.

“Ejecta is a mysterious creature. She finds herself on earth after being reborn, or reanimated, or perhaps as a ghost who has just passed over into the next realm. Maybe even an alien. She is always depicted nude to allude to this displacement. Naked, she bears no signs of her culture or class. She is a timeless every woman in this sense.”

[rating=3]
Cert: 18 • France: 179 min • Quat’sous Films • November 22 2013

The winner of this year’s Palm d’Or, Blue is the Warmest Colour is bold and edgy, yet its flaws often leave the film without a heart.

“With the lush, delicate micro-precision of Kechiche’s process, Blue is the Warmest Colour hugs you through the three hour run time, but the hug is with uneasy, unfamiliar arms. The precision of his lens both tightly grips but takes the true fully-formed love out of the frame.”

[rating=5]
Cert: 18 • US: 87 min • Fine Line Features • July 20, 2001

Hedwig and the Angry Inch was the first queer rock ‘n’ roll musical film of the 21st century, and a story that has a crazed and schizophrenic spirit.

“Starring many of the same people from the original stage production, including John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor and Stephen Trask (who wrote the music), it’s the strange journey of a transgender punk rock queen and her search for fulfilment.”

[rating=5]
Released November 15, 2013
Dominae is an accomplished album built on the tension and insecurities of relationships. It sparkles.

“Something special exists in the sincerity of the words and how they come together with the backdrop of synthesizers and drumbeats. It’s an energetic and uplifting event that feels like receiving a reassuring hug from your closest friend following a bad experience.”

[rating=5]
Released March 1957
Little Richard is the Godfather of Queercore. Here’s Little Richard was the wildest LP cut during the early days of rock ‘n’ roll.

“Here’s Little Richard is ground zero for those in the LGBTQ community who wanted to pick up a guitar and rock harder and meaner than anyone else.”