Seamus Heaney's Death Of A Nauralist reviewd by Denni Ruskin.

Seamus Heaney was a farmer's son from south Country Derry born in 1939. In 1966, Death of a Naturalist, was published. In 1995 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Heaney died in 2013, aged 74. Although I was born in the city rather than the countryside I somehow relate to Heaney's poem about vivid childhood memories to do with nature. Towards the end of the poem there's a line, "I sickened, turned, and ran." I laughed when I read this it brings me back to when I was the kind of kid who frogs could make feel squeamish and paranoid, just by existing. When we studied this poem for GCSE the teacher told us about Heaney's younger brother died in an accident and as a result there are a lot of poems about "loss of innocence." I guess, to some extent this poem is about growing up and about gaining awareness of the big, bad world outside our window.I like the fact he gives us the name of his teacher (Miss Walls). It's funny how the tiny detail that his teacher is female and young and unmarried, is the right about of information. Pets tend to die young and therefor give children their first taste of bereavement. When we first did sex education at school frogs were mentioned and we all witnessed a frog being dissected in biology. The teacher using the term, "Daddy Frog" makes me smile as it reminds me of things my mother told me when I was very small. I remember before my voice broke there was a time when I was so nervous about speaking in public as I'd sometimes make a sound like a frog's croak. It's a memory that still makes me feel uncomfortable. Heaney seems compelled to use words connected to nature. Often I notice words like bogs, mud, trenches, furrows, earth - I don't mean to sound crass but this sense of him getting his hands dirty is what makes him special. Heaney once said, "The aim of poetry and the poet is finally to be of service, to ply the effort of the individual into the larger work of the community as a whole." I like this quote and I like to think other poets agree with him.

Text by Denni Ruskin March 2020

Nick Revell reviews A New Hope exhibition at The Mainstream Gallery

Comedian and Earthling Nick Revell is the genius behind BBC's BrokenDreamCatcher which The Sunday Times described as being, "wonderfully odd" and The Observer said was, "Uplifting and so good." You can read his full biog: here.When he's not doing stand-up Mr Revell likes to visit The Mainstream Gallery in Planet Thanet and give feedback on what he sees.

Gordon Beswick filmed his responses to 3 of the works that appeared in a group show called, A New Hope and uploaded it to You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xopLM3sCGvs

Above: 100 year old map by Bonnie Wong

Text by Astrid Horkheimer

Jan 2020

John Lennon is not dead

We die three times. The first time is when are heart stops beating. the second time is when we're put in the ground and the third time is when everyone stops saying our name. John Lennon will live on forever in the hearts of fans all around the world. We'll never forget him.
John Lennon Is Not Dead will feature 80 artists who want to keep his memory alive. Some will paint or draw Lennon, some will make reference to his art, other s will make work inspired by his lyrics.
The majority of the show will be affordable, small scale, pop art. There will however be a few surprises. The work will be hung cheek by jowl in a salon style.
Duglas Stewart, Corin Johnson, James Lawson, Sadie Hennessey, Emma Coleman, Loretta Wall, Georgia Hayes, Chris Tosic, Agnieszka Zapala,

. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Xmas Art Market Curated by Alice Herrick

The Xmas Art Market, curated by the artist Alice Herrick, took place on Thursday 19th of December at http://vout-o-reenees.com/eventtype/the-stash-gallery/

Among those selling their mini masterpieces were the art dealer, curator, and writer: Clive Jennings.

These splendid knickers were stitched by the artist Julia Maddison

Above: The artist Cate Halpin with her F**k Boris prints.

Above: Sadie Hennessy looking dashing in some Harry Pye Sunglasses.

Above: Editor of The Dark Times, Paul Sakoilsky

Above: Joe Sakoilsky

Jasper Joffe and Harry Pye. Jasper is holding a bag of delight.

Corey models a Karl Lagerfeld t-shirt designed by Tosic & Pye

Gordon Beswick puts tinsel round a print of 'The Life Drawing Class' (by Beswick & Pye)

The artist Michael Coles hides behind one of his brilliant masks.

Above: An official Harry Pye mask, 2 Unofficial calendars and Santa Corey sporting a, "Bring Back Pubes" badge designed by Sadie Hennessy.

Above: Paul Sakoilsky helps Alice Herrick draw winning raffle numbers. Money raised from the raffle went to help a Food Bank Charity. The Xmas Art Market was well organised and lots of fun. It helped us forget about the miserable election result and lots of people came away with unusual Xmas presents for their loved ones. Well done Alice and all the artists who took part.

Cut Out And Keep Me by David Devant and His Spirit Wife

They say, "the best things come to those who wait," and fans of David Devant & His Spirit Wife are in for a treat.The new Devant album, Cut Out And Keep Me is their first since 2004 and it's probably their best. 

Last night at The Water Rats in Kings Cross the band were on fine form and a packed crowd marveled at their new material.

Singer Mikey Georgeson (a.k.a "The Vessel")and Co have come up with 12 fab new tracks. Album opener, Sublime is an intriguing yet soothing celebration of being over the hill. Sally's Down With The Kids is fast and fun bit of Glam Rock. Guitarist Foz is an amazingly inventive player it's great to hear him go balls out. The Bowie-esq Data Streams gives bass player, Le Colonel the chance to shine. Rough Magic is pure pop perfection and deserves to be a huge hit. Georgeson sounds very soulful on this immediately lovable track. The title track, Cut Out And Keep Me is an impressive recording that wouldn't be out of place on Abbey Road. Side One closes with the dreamy, This Train. It's a curious song which doesn't sound like anything the band has done before. 

Here I Am begins with a My Sweet Lord intro and features a guitar riff not unlike Day Tripper. The song is Mikey musing on why we remember what we remember - it's interesting. Miracles Happen could have been a single by Madness (circa Cardiac Arrest). The music is upbeat and jolly and the lyrics are witty. Drummer, Professor Rimshot plays military style drums to perfection. 

The Weatherman is yet another very strong track. I think Foz is playing The Saw rather than the guitar on this song. One of the few pop songs to mention both Cliff Richard and Heidegger. (He's A Bit Of A) Rake is a killer. It really packs a punch and is great to bop around to. In some ways it's the most similar to the Devant we know and love. It's as good as Devant classics such as Cookie and Ginger. Early Worm is pleasant, sophisticated and charming. And finally, album closer, Putting My Demons to Bed is just fantastic. I love this song. Again it's surprisingly soulful and the band sound super tight. The, "night night" outro that the backing singers do is just beautiful. If you want suggestions as to what to buy the music lover in your family this Xmas... my vote is for David Devant. 'Cut Out And Keep Me' is a classic.       

Buy the CD from this site: cutoutandkeepme.com

Cut Out And Keep Me was recorded at Kindness Studios, Brighton.

Text and photos by: Harry Pye

December 12 2019

Ten Things I Love About Gabi Garbutt's debut album

THE TITLE

You've got to love an artist with the guts to call their album 'The Discredited Language of Angels'. It's a wonderfully open-ended title - possibly nodding to the psychedelic visions of William Blake, apparently a big influence on Gabi, but perhaps also a comment on the current era of Corbyn-bashing spin and fake news.

THE COVER

Are you looking at me punk?!  The stare says it all!

FOOLING AROUND

The first sound you'll hear after pressing play is the turbulent swirl of a Hammond organ that wouldn't be out of place on a classic Otis Redding tune. Album opener 'The Fool'' is driven along by a big booted Northern Soul beat, a proper high octane stomper.

BRASS TACKS

The album's co-producer and the key member of Gabi's backing band the Illuminations is Sean Read. Read has performed with everyone from the Manics to the Rockinbirds, but it's his work co-ordinating the distinctive brass section of Dexys that's most immediately noticeable here. Add powerful blasts of saxophones and trumpets to the rougher-edged indie moves and you've got a unique, rich and rousing sound.

THE POP…

Although they're dispatched with a dash of punk rawness, there's no denying Gabi's keen instinct for writing catchy tunes that take up residence in your brain, Previous candidates.  Prime candidates are the string of recent singles - 'Lady Matador', ‘The Fool’ and ‘Heat of the Machine’ - but the handful of slower tracks are equally hard to shake off.

& THE POETRY

As well as Blake, she counts Lorca and Patti Smith as influential as The Clash and Ezra Furman and there’s a real, evocative poetic edge to Gabi’s lyrics that sets them apart from the usual guitar band cliches. 

THE BALLAD

Definitely the album's emotional centrepiece, 'Armed With Love' is a woozy lighters in the air moment, given a subtle sonic spruce up for the album after initially appearing as her first single a couple of years back.  Written about the power of continuing to love in the face of evil and misfortune, it connects  

HANDCLAPPING 'HEAT...'

'Heat of the Machine' makes great use of that glam rock staple, the real, live handclap. About time for a revival, we reckon.

MELLOTRON MAGIC

Another relic of another age, the eerie majesty of the Mellotron, is dusted off and re-invented here, sending shivers down to the spine of ‘Bright Tiger Eyes’.

THE ANGELIC ENDING

Our favourite track has to be the album's closer 'Ravens and Angels', a proper anthem with a touch of Madness-style soul-done-London style.  The Illuminations’ Jimi Scandal gets to really let loose with a Scandal-ously great guitar solo just before the LP ends too.

Listen to Gabi's single, Heat of The Machine:  here 

The Discredited Language of Angels is released by Music As Insurgent Art.

Text by John Robbins 
November the 16th 2019

OS-SOLO reviewed by Tine Frellesen

OS-SOLO – meaning "Us Solo" – is a community of 20 Danish artists and designers exhibiting their handmade products ranging from ceramics, jewelry, woodcraft, photography, prints, paintings, embroidery and textiles.

Designers Tanja Oppermann and Jan DP Jørgensen took the initiative to make this creative community so that artists and designers would have a place to show and sell their products and reach a larger audience. Also it is a platform for members to collaborate and develop new ideas, projects and products.The shop has a great variety of contemporary Danish art and design, with a fine selection of ceramics – examples are the geometric and colourful works by Michala Hoffmann: 

And the beautiful minimalist forms by Tanja and Jan.

OsSolo exhibit artists working in different media, such as Sidsel Ludvigsen's witty embroidered pieces above or the delicate wooden cases by Brags and Galmez. 

The shop has a creative and inspiring atmosphere and prizes range from 10 – 300 pounds. It is important for OS-SOLO to have affordable pieces, even when the pieces are handcrafted. OS-SOLO aims to build an exciting, contemporary and affordable brand.  

Above image by Cecilie Scopp

Do visit, if you are in Copenhagen. Opening hours are: Wed – Friday: 12-6pm, Sat. 11-4pm

OS-SOLO, Oehlenschlægersgade 32, Copenhagen, Vesterbro District. (Don’t let the street name put you off, Danish people can’t spell it either!) Facebook and Instagram: Ossolo Cph. 

Text by Tine Frellesen