DOUGLAS FIELD relishes the hard-boiled language, satire and humour of the third and last of the Harlem trilogy
Latest editorial
Album reviews with Ian Sinclair: November 22, 2021
Latest releases from Courtney Barnett, Nation of Language and Henry Parker
STEPHANIE BROWN draws attention to the hidden labour of the female embroiderers, and how a 19th century replica made no such error
MIK SABIERS revels in a band that ploughs an idiosyncratic furrow of expletive laden, guitar-driven alt rock
ANDY HEDGECOCK, MARIA DUARTE and ANGUS REID review Synthetic Sincerity, Our Hero, Balthazar, Heartstopper Forever, and A Year In London
The bard invites readers to a gig, raps for Clacton, and lays out the Burnham-Hurzeler conundrum
RON JACOBS recommends an important book that enhances the oppositional theories put forth by Fanon and, in doing so, remakes psychology itself
Courtney Barnett
Things Take Time, Take Time
(Marathon Artists)
★★★★
THE third album from Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett continues to mine the rich seam that she has made her name with – seemingly mundane observations and everyday concerns sung like she has just got out of bed, accompanied by slackerish indie guitar licks.
It’s an engagingly refreshing mix – the melodies and witty phrasing are brilliant, and she is able to voice millennial angst as well as any musician I can think of. Single Write A List Of Things To Look Forward To is positively sunny, while on If I Don’t Hear From You Tonight she gives a glimpse into living through the pandemic in Oz: “It’s so quiet outside/with this curfew lullaby.”
Similar stories
New releases from Laura Veirs, The Waterboys, and Yard Act
New releases from Shearwater, Florry, and Navy Blue
New releases from Kneecap, Sam Blasucci, and Juni Habel
New releases by Porridge Radio, The Cribs, and Bjorn Meyer