22 posts
A new lease of life for songs lost to the bedroom, two brothers with Michael Jackson-sized ambitions, and a synth-pop pioneer at the controls – these were the ingredients necessary…
Classic Album: Songs Of Faith And Devotion – Depeche Mode
Following up the enormous success of Violator almost broke Depeche Mode. But despite Dave Gahan’s heroin addiction and inter-band fighting, with Songs Of Faith And Devotion they eventually created a…
Classic Album: Technique – New Order
Conceived amid a summer of hedonism during Ibiza’s infancy as a party capital, New Order returned home to the tranquillity of the English countryside to perfect their Technique, resulting in…
Toyah Willcox Interview: Rebellion and Collaboration
After more than 40 years in the music business, Toyah Willcox is as creatively hungry as she was in her teens. Classic Pop chats to the high priestess of punk…
The Lowdown: Japan and David Sylvian
Inspired by glam and myopically lumped in with the New Romantics because of a proclivity for cosmetics, Japan were always more art than pop. They quit after five albums, reunited…
Reissue Review: Iggy Pop – Zombie Birdhouse
There are few artists whose oeuvre is quite so hit-and-miss as Iggy Pop. Pick a card, any card – which Iggy will you get? His strongest moments came when he…
Review: Marina – Love + Fear
Marina Diamandis has been giving life a lot of thought recently, and she’s reached a number of conclusions. One is that she no longer needs the imaginary ‘Diamonds’ who’ve accompanied…
Classic Album: Welcome To The Pleasuredome
The old adage decrees that the brightest star shines half as long and no group encapsulated that more than Frankie Goes To Hollywood, who made more of an impact in…
Review: The Divine Comedy – Office Politics
If you consider Neil Hannon too clever for his own good, then starting his 12th collection by declaring “I jump the queue/ ‘cause I’m smarter than you” won’t help his…
Review: Lloyd Cole – Guesswork
“No need to scream and shout…” Serene and sincere, Guesswork seeks inspiration in contrasting legends, and the results will make them proud. There appear to have been two vital musical…