Nauja muzika

New(er) music time again! And no, I am not even "going there", as far as either Girls Aloud or Mr Robbie Williams are concerned. Instead, I'll make my entrance again with my usual flair...

"I'm just shakin' my ass. I'm just shaking my derrière!" Such is the mantra of this delightfully refined young lady by the name of Jenn D, in her debut single Lose It. Quite catchy, actually, in a slightly ridiculous sort of way:

Jenn D - Lose It

Its man-flesh all the way once more, courtesy of our fave houseboy band Kazaky, and another extravagant video for their new single Last Night. They've chosen a slightly more funky feel to this song, yet, as with every choon from the boys, it soon gets under your skin without realising it. I wish they would!

Kazaky - Last Night

The rather cute Kid Kasio has really taken a trip back to the 80s with his latest number Telephone Line! It's like House and Hip-Hop never happened...

Kid Kasio - Telephone Line

Here's something that simply oozes "cool". The debut track from a duo calling themselves Solomon Grey, Firechild, is accompanied by an equally hypnotic video, too. Intriguing stuff:

Solomon Grey - Firechild

Speaking of cool, Miss Tracey Thorn (she of the legendary Everything But The Girl) is releasing a Xmas/winter seasonal album! Hopefully Tinsel and Lights will not quite be in the Perry Como/Johnny Mathis market, and if this White Stripes cover is anything to go by, it may be quite bearable - it's In the Cold, Cold Night:

Tracey Thorn - In the Cold, Cold Night

Thanks to my fab friends in Tingle in the Netherlands, here's a real treat! The "angry young man" of the alternative gay ("queercore") music scene, the very lovely Mr Ste McCabe (who we met at Polari back in 2010) has a new album out. It's called Bad Kitty, it's wonderful, and here for your delectation is the whole thing

[2022 UPDATE: Bandcamp no longer supports an embedded player. Click here for the website.]

And finally, let's end with a bit of class. It just had to be... the theme to the new Bond film Skyfall. Here's the cuddly Adele, giving it the full OTT "Bond theme" treatment:

Adele - Skyfall

As always, enjoy - and let me know what you think!

Nouvelle...

It's that time again, to have a little round-up of some of the newer choonz that have given me pleasure lately...

I just have to open with something fabulously cheesy - the return of Gina G!!

I haven't been so excited since I discovered that Tina Charles was still alive and recording! Here is Miss G herself, looking a little startled, with the horribly-titled Next 2 U...

Gina G - Next 2 You (Loud Manners Remix Video Edit)

Here's a rather fabulous electro anthem by a band from Oregon calling themselves Van Go Lion - Body Moves, indeed:

Van Go Lion - Body Moves

Now for rather a novelty; a sublime collaboration between two of my favourite "alternative" artists - the adorable Ste McCabe (who we saw at Polari goes Pope last year, with his song Public Debate remixed by the simply fantabulosa Tingle in the Netherlands: [2019 - ALL GONE]



From the downright eccentric to the "First Lady of Cool". As Miss Sophie Ellis-Bextor releases this month her much-awaited new album Make A Scene, which features several of her hits of the past few years as well as some unheard new stuff, here's a little fave of mine that is on the album - her collaboration with Junior Caldera, Can't Fight This Feeling:

Junior Caldera feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Can't Fight This Feeling

And to finish, have you ever thought what a combination of bagpipes and techno house music might sound like? Me neither. However, Denmark's magnificent Infernal are back, this time in the company of someone called Kato (who I thought was Inspector Clouseau's sidekick, but never mind), with a new single Speakers On which features exactly that! Be afraid.

KATO and Infernal - Speakers On

Enjoy!

Fucked by Jesus, or Kill the Pope?

We had a corker of a night at Polari Goes Pope (especially themed to mark the controversial visit this week of the Holy Fascist Ratzinger to these shores.)

Opening the evening, our host Paul Burston arrived in ecclesiastical vestments, complimented beautifully by scarlet platform stillies!



Teetering on and off the stage, he introduced our first guest reader - the marvellous Irish firebrand Catherine Brogan. We'd heard Miss Brogan read at Polari before, but this time, given the subject matter and her own Catholic upbringing, she really let rip! I like this woman...

Next up was the brilliant Scouser performance poet (another favourite of mine from a few Polaris ago) Gerry Potter, who read some new poems from his second autobiographical anthology Planet Middle Age, plus a poetic tribute to his mate David Hoyle, and a couple of works by his former alter-ego Chloe Poems. Particularly brilliant were I Wanna Be Fucked By Jesus(!) and The Effeminate (which I definitely want read out at my funeral!):

Chloe Poems - The Effeminate

Gerry Potter - Planet Middle Age

Then came the real surprise of the evening, as Paul took great delight in introducing to the stage none other than one of the most influential radical politicians of the 20th Century Tariq Ali to formally launch the book of the moment The Pope is Not Gay by Angelo Quatrocchi.



This is the man who argued against the Vietnam War in a debate with Henry Kissinger, who was a close friend of John Lennon and was cited as an influence by Malcolm X, the author of a controversial critique of the General Zia regime that crushed the Bhutto dynasty in Pakistan (The Leopard and the Fox) and the best-seller Trotsky for Beginners.

A most influential figure in the Leftist politics that emerged from the 1960s, Mr Ali's presence at an event like this was indeed a shining endorsement of the book, and its excoriation of Ratzinger's reputation... I (and most of the audience) was moved to purchase a copy, and I can't wait to read it!

After the break we had a triple bill of anarchic entertainment, as Paul introduced a man whose CV is most impressive - James Maker, close personal mate of Morrissey, former singer with "gay heavy metallers" Red Patent Leather Angels (RPLA), sometime actor, Punk and poet. Reading from his memoir Autofellatio, he cut an impressive dash in his frock coat and stilettos!



Next up was a man who needs no further comment from me, the marvellous David Hoyle, berating the establishment as only he knows how. He was swiftly followed by another genuine treat to close the show - the (very cute) musical maverick genius that is Ste McCabe, radical homosexual and Pope-hater. His songs, delivered in a "faux-innocent" "Jilted John" style, are pithy insights into the way a working class gay boy sees the world, and are just stupendous! From I've Got A Big Car to Kill The Pope, we were just stunned by his energy...

Ste McCabe - I've Got A Big Car

John-John and Tony both purchased copies of his Murder Music CD, which the lovely (and rather fanciable!) Mr McCabe duly signed.

After the dust had settled and the audience started to drift away, Paul invited us back to the "Green Room" to take a few more snaps with the performers - in a bleak little space which is apparently used by Her Majesty when she visits. She'd need gloves I reckon...

It was all over too soon, so we retired to seek some more alcoholic solace at the pub quiz at Retro Bar. A sparkling night's entertainment, and a fitting start to the Autumn/Winter Season, methinks!

Polari