Lots To Talk About

So much is happening that I almost can't keep up, but I'm going to try and get myself together using this blog to sort out my thoughts. WARNING: you, as the reader, may need to cartwheel in order to keep up. Okay? Good. Let's go. The Edinburgh International Book Festival Every year, every August, my…

First Album by Miss Kittin And The Hacker

If I had to choose a handful of albums that I needed, actually couldn't live without, during a bizarre epidemic then surely one of those albums would be the quietly seminial First Album by Miss Kittin And The Hacker. We all have albums that never leave our iPods. This album is one of those, forever…

Kirkland Ciccone’s Psychic Advisery Hotline (or my ‘career’ as a psychic adviser)

A little known part of my life is that period after college when I set myself up as a psychic adviser. Yes, it's true. Did I want to work in a factory? No, I don't have the temperament. The noise in particular wouldn't suit me. You think I'm lying? You should see me in a…

Coronavirus? F* *k Off!

A few weeks ago Trump was telling people that Coronavirus was a Democrat hoax. That man perpetuates blatant fraud and gets away with it because his Twitter distracts everybody, including the press. If this virus doesn't make Trump's supporters understand how wholly ineffective he is as a leader, then nothing will. I wish Britain would…

Walking back to Happiness…

Now that the news is out about Happiness Is Wasted On Me (it’s available to pre-order hint hint hint), I can’t get myself sorted for actually getting out and about, promoting it. I’ve been speaking to some venues, looking at doing live shows, or literary salons. They’re the only salons I go to! Everything is…

Songs To Lose Your Wig Over: Tape Loop by Morcheeba

Tape Loop is a downtempo masterpiece of mood and atmosphere. I say that with complete confidence. Whenever I listen to it, I reckon it sounds like the most ‘90s song ever. Yet other times, it sounds like a time we haven’t quite reached. It melds so many elements into one track, yet it sounds unfussy.…

Kylie In The ’90s

There are two types of Kylie Minogue song. The type that work and the type that don’t. Being talented as she is, Kylie definitely has more in the former category rather than the latter. Really, an argument could be made that Kylie is the greatest indie popstar ever to work an independent label. Stock Aitken…