Opinion & Essays
Clear-sighted and well informed opinion on the culture of our past, present and future
Why Reports of the Death of UK Nightlife are Greatly Exaggerated
From venue closures to VAT, conversations around the UK’s beleaguered nightlife sector have struck a singularly gloomy tone for more than a decade. But has that pessimism become part of the problem? Ed Gillett asks whether our eulogies for the late-night scene have outlived their usefulness.
Black Sky Thinking
From The Shout to Bait: Listening to the Sound of Movies about Sound
Darran Anderson relishes hearing Rupert Hine's soundtrack to Jerzy Skolimowski's 1978 psychological horror, The Shout and discovers a sonic gateway in the process. Contains mild spoilers for films The Shout, Berberian Sound Studio, Blow Out, and The Conversation
Anniversary
Been Around The World: The Magical Odyssey Of The Avalanches’ Since I Left You
A concept album that transcended its concept, a stealth mix-CD, global disco, sampledelic exotica, yacht rock by other means: the Australian group’s debut was many things, writes David Bennun - and above all it was, and remains, a joy. This article was first published in 2020
Anniversary
The Murmuring of the Future: Ghost In The Shell 30 Years On
Lawrence English speaks to art director Hiromasa Ogura and composer Kenji Kawai in order to celebrate one of the greatest anime ever made. Japanese interview translation by Haruna Ito. Cover portrait of Hong Kong courtesy of the author
Black Sky Thinking
Essays, investigation and opinion on today’s cultural landscape
Black Sky Thinking
Why Oasis’ Reunion is the Perfect Soundtrack to Britain in 2025
As the Gallaghers megatour rolls back into the UK, Ed Gillett examines how they fit into the current febrile and nostalgia-driven political climate – and asks what aspects of it they helped usher in
Black Sky Thinking
25 Years of Infernal Weight: The Destructive Legacy of Electric Wizard’s Dopethrone
Dopethrone, says Dan 'The Doom' Franklin, is the greatest album ever recorded; so great in fact that it splintered the band that created it. But one person was standing in the wings, with resurrection on her mind. Jus Oborn and Liz Buckingham discuss the 25-year legacy of Electric Wizard's most notorious album
Black Sky Thinking
25 Years of Infernal Weight: The Destructive Legacy of Electric Wizard’s Dopethrone
Dopethrone, says Dan 'The Doom' Franklin, is the greatest album ever recorded; so great in fact that it splintered the band that created it. But one person was standing in the wings, with resurrection on her mind. Jus Oborn and Liz Buckingham discuss the 25-year legacy of Electric Wizard's most notorious album
Low Culture Essay
Illuminating treasured cultural artefacts
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Tariq Goddard on Jeremy Brett, the Perfect Sherlock Holmes
Tariq Goddard declares that in Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective, the actor delivered one of the greatest TV performances of all time – one that was so total, it arguably destroyed him
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Duncan Wheeler on Ozzy at the 1989 Moscow Music Peace Festival
Although they went to the same primary school, Duncan Wheeler knew little about Ozzy Osbourne until Jon Bon Jovi led him to a VHS of a gig that counts as one of the strangest live events in rock history
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Tom Howells on Michael Mann’s The Keep
Achtung! Hollers Tom Howells, Michael Mann's 1983 Nazisploitation horror film isn't merely the turkey it is often seen as – a Tangerine Dream soundtrack, eviscerated fascists, what's not to love about that?
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Arusa Qureshi on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater Soundtracks
Arusa Qureshi was never allowed a skateboard, but the soundtracks to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series of computer games were a vital introduction to music – one that, she argues, was far more effective than today's algorithm-driven discovery mechanisms
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Tariq Goddard on Jeremy Brett, the Perfect Sherlock Holmes
Tariq Goddard declares that in Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective, the actor delivered one of the greatest TV performances of all time – one that was so total, it arguably destroyed him
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Duncan Wheeler on Ozzy at the 1989 Moscow Music Peace Festival
Although they went to the same primary school, Duncan Wheeler knew little about Ozzy Osbourne until Jon Bon Jovi led him to a VHS of a gig that counts as one of the strangest live events in rock history
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Arusa Qureshi on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater Soundtracks
Arusa Qureshi was never allowed a skateboard, but the soundtracks to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series of computer games were a vital introduction to music – one that, she argues, was far more effective than today's algorithm-driven discovery mechanisms
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Subscribe NowAnniversary
Spotlighting the impact of cultural landmarks
Anniversary
30 years on: Angus Batey dissects Liquid Swords By GZA
Angus Batey delves into his own extensive interview archive to reassess Liquid Swords three decades later. This feature was first published in 2015
Beyond The Hits
A deeper dive beyond the charts
Beyond The Hits
Stronger Than Pride: Beyond The Hits Of Sade
Sade superfan Alex Macpherson celebrates the release of a career-spanning box set by selecting lesser known gems from their back catalogue
