Black Sky Thinking
Essays, investigation and opinion on today’s cultural landscape
Black Sky Thinking
The High Cost Of Being In A Band, By Palehorse
Ben Dawson is the drummer in the heavy-as-fuck group Palehorse and he has had enough of the whinging about the price of gig tickets, merchandise and records that punk bands charge. Here he explains why people should cough up and shut up
Black Sky Thinking
No Quarter Given: Three Days In The Life Of Bill Drummond OBA
John Doran tags along with the 'Old British Artist' as he paints graffiti on flyovers, defaces UKIP billboards and relaunches himself as a cross-dresser; all as part of the mammoth 25 Paintings project. All photographs by Tracey Moberly unless otherwise stated
Black Sky Thinking
‘Community In Action’: Sport, Art, Corruption & The World Cup
As the World Cup kicks off in Brazil, Ian Maleney explains how, despite the very real spectres of big business, exploitation and alleged FIFA corruption, global sport still retains a unique capacity to unite people from across communities
Black Sky Thinking
A Dirty Protest: Why An X For UKIP Is A Vote For Profit Over People
As polls predict victory for UKIP in today's European Elections, we explore how, behind the nasty rhetoric that occupies the media, they're a party of rampant neoliberals who, curiously, have failed to oppose EU legislation that gives big business even more power over our daily lives. Dirty Protest headline with thanks and apologies to Stewart Lee.
Black Sky Thinking
Song Of The Digital Flesh: Vocal Manipulation & Our Cyborg Selves
The highly charged vocal manipulations of Holly Herndon, Katie Gately (pictured), Burial and The Knife, writes Alex Borkowski, are powerful expressions of our fast-evolving relationships with technology, space and our own bodies
Black Sky Thinking
Is Record Store Day In Crisis? A Quietus Investigation
Record Store Day 2014 is the biggest yet, with hundreds of exclusive new releases and reissues in shops this weekend. But as vinyl pressing plants struggle to keep up with demand, is the event's success in danger of harming independent labels - and even RSD itself? Phil Hebblethwaite investigates
Black Sky Thinking
We Are All Religious Now: Holy Music In A Secular World
Ahead of the Quietus writers' list of favourite religious and spiritual records, published later this week, Rev. Rachel Mann explores the many roles that holy music continues to play in an increasingly secular society, and explains why it remains an important and affecting force
Black Sky Thinking
Not Bad For Girls: The Sad Necessity Of The Baileys Women’s Prize For Fiction
Sponsorship by a disgusting sweet and milky booze might make it superficially seem rather naff, even obvious and sexist, but the Baileys Women's Prize For Fiction is still unfortunately necessary, argues Stephanie Boland
Black Sky Thinking
Modern Life Isn’t Rubbish: The Trouble With Britpop Nostalgia
The mainstream media are currently engaged in a collective misty-eyed throwback to the 'glory days' of the mid 90s. Luke Turner, who was a teenager at the time, argues that the current canonisation of Britpop is as musically and socially conservative as 1960s nostalgia
Black Sky Thinking
The Seven Ages Of The World Cup Song
With this weekend seeing Gary Barlow and Gary Lineker unveiling the latest stirring anthem to inspire the national XI to success in Brazil, Jeremy Allen looks back at the world cup songs of yesteryear and finds them to be surprisingly telling signs of the times
Black Sky Thinking
A Place To Dream: Arcadia, The Kitchen & The History Of NY Lofts
With William Basinski's Arcadia Series opening this week in London, Robert Barry speaks with Basinski, Michael Gira and Rhys Chatham to trace the rich history of New York's artist-run loft spaces and the pioneering music they fostered
Black Sky Thinking
Deference TV? Political Bias & Why The BBC Should Fight Back
As the closure of BBC3 once more puts the future of the broadcaster into the spotlight, Phil Harrison asks whether the BBC is moving to the right, and what might be done to make it fulfill its important role in standing up to government
Black Sky Thinking
I For One Welcome Our New Robot Vocal Cords: Radical Computer Music
How might electronic music sound in a post human future? Robert Barry enlists the help of Holly Herndon, James Bridle and Conrad Shawcross to explore radical new directions in computer music, from live programming and Algorave to the digital overloads of Black Midi
