William Sutton's Blog, page 10
May 1, 2019
Goldmine Magazine review of Jeays’ new album
Lovely review of Philip Jeays‘ new album
Angelina Supercop (Ditton Pye – 1 CD) from Goldmine Magazine – cheers to them.
Goodness, has it really been twenty years?
Twenty years since English singer-songwriter Philip Jeays’ debut album, October, burst onto the pre-millennium, post-Britpop, pre-Napster, post-whatever scene (how excited we all were to party in 1999), alerting anyone who would listen to a performer who could have flourished in any musical era he chose. And how fortunate we are that he selected ours.
Eight albums later, and four years after his last (The Wildest Walk), Jeays at least glances back at the anniversary with two songs, “November” and “December,” that he admits “carry on the same story from ‘October’.” But he then counters the continuity with “Already April,” which has nothing to do with any of them.
It’s a typically wry Jeays gesture; as wry (although this was certainly not planned) as the fact that Angelina was released just three days on from the death of Scott Walker – perhaps the only Anglo-American songwriter with whom Jeays’ vision could be said to share its living space. (At least across Walker’s first four albums.)
There’s that same sense of high drama, eternal emotion and romance poised on a tightrope of despair, and the same barely-disguised love of Jacques Brel. Those same glances into everyday mundanity, too – the tin of peaches in “December,” the girl who swears in Dutch… “Maartje Says Nothing,” Jeays confesses, is the girl who “introduced me to Deep Purple and Alice Cooper,” and you might not be expecting it but, with a rock band suddenly blasting behind him, you know her influence lingered.
Such moments of mayhem, of course, are rare. Even with band, orchestra, horns and more to back him through the album, Jeays sounds and feels like a lone troubadour, naked bar the scantest of accompaniment – a testament to both the conviction of his vocals, the strength of his lyrics, and the sheer ferocity of his observations. (That said, the cataclysm unfolding around the epic title track runs the Jeays tonsils very close indeed.)
Lines leap out like saber toothed tigers. “What Did You Do In The War?” is already sardonically flavored by the current state of British politics and culture, a lacerating dismissal of all the nonsense that now seems “normal.” Yet still there’s one phrase that hits like a ton of well-aimed bricks: “Johnny hurt his arm. Shall we have a five minute silence?”
Ouch.
It’s a subjective question to say the least – who are the finest songwriters of the century-so-far? It’s one that is further skewed by the continuing relevance of so many survivors from the decades before that; and further still by the fact that many of the likeliest candidates are scarcely household names.
The thing is, that latter really doesn’t matter. Across twenty years and nine albums, Philip Jeays has consistently, and unerringly, delivered, to the point where it’d be disingenuous to even try and proclaim Angelina Supercop his finest album yet. They all are. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait so long for the next one.
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April 30, 2019
Mental Health, Crime, & Magical Cities
I’m proud to be nominated for the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival’s Writing Awards for his short story ‘Affirmations’. The awards, held in partnership with Bipolar Scotland, are one of the festival’s flagship events, publishing first time writers alongside established names. The event, 22 May, is hosted by best-selling author Ian Rankin. Fingers crossed. I’ve read the story in Portsmouth Bookfest, in Valentine’s Day Massacre, and at SLAMinutes Goes Mental.
I also appear in CrimeFest‘s panel on ‘1900s: A Century of Change’ on 10 May, alongside Titan Books stablemate Cavan Scott, and Crime Writers’ Association chair, Linda Stratmann.
On 15 June, I deliver a paper in University of Portsmouth’s Magical Cities conference, hosted by the Supernatural Cities project, on ‘Underground cells: biomes within the innards of the Metropolis’.
A few pics of previous Supernatural Cities conference at Asylum Steampunk; above, the cover sheet for Biomes presentation.
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April 29, 2019
An Afternoon with Philip Jeays (& Asbo Derek)
The first in an occasional series of Saturday afternoon gigs at The Prince Albert, cobbled together enthusiastically by members of Asbo Derek.
This one will feature respected (it says here) chanteur and Derek-producing lovie, Philip Jeays – with a quietish but electric band – and Asbo Derek hammering out the usual out-of-touch garage fun.
Further turns padding out the bill will include Brian Blaney telling stories and Jem’s oldest mate, Adrian Couper, reading some poems. Further acts may be confirmed.
It’s a Bank Holiday Saturday. You can come and make merry with us and still have time to get the replacement bus service home or, indeed, spend the evening at the bar safe in the knowledge that you won’t get too pissed to see the bands.
Tickets will be £6 in advance from us or from Resident.
Prince Albert, 48 Trafalgar St, Brighton, BN1 4ED
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Times a-Change at CrimeFest
1900s: A Century Of Change
See you at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, Broad St, BS1 5TA, for this year’s Crimefest.
I’ll be on a panel on Friday morning, alongside some excellent novelists.
11:20 – 12:10, Friday 10 May 2019
Carolyn Kirby
H.B. Lyle
Cavan Scott
William Sutton
Participating Moderator: Linda Stratmann, the new chair of the CWA (Crime Writers’ Assocation).
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April 9, 2019
AdiEU EU (Labour Fundraiser)
A glorious night at Hunter-Gatherer, celebrating and berating, creating and commiserating on the night that we didn’t after all bid adieu to the EU, raising money for the upcoming council election campaign.
Gareth Toms compered calmly and skilfully. Tom Sykes & Ollie Grunner gave us a bellicose dystopian Churchillian double act. Poems from Amanda Garrie and Richard Peirce.
Vincent Adams introduced us to future theme park UK, when all the residents have left following DNA tests proving nobody is English enough. Wordbass, Maggie & Dave, gave us poetry and curry.
Mark Cassidy gave us thought-provoking poesy. Paula Savage and Steve Plummer sang those old tunes.
Jamie & the Jet (Jamie West and William Sutton) sang us all the way to the raffle.
Thanks to the audience and to Brian at Hunter-Gatherer. See you at Hunter-Gatherer on April 15 and in Cosham on April 25 for more musical-poetic fundraising.
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AdiEU EU (Labour Fundraiser)
A glorious night at Hunter-G...
A glorious night at Hunter-Gatherer, celebrating and berating, creating and commiserating on the night that we didn’t after all bid adieu to the EU, raising money for the upcoming council election campaign.
Gareth Toms compered calmly and skilfully. Tom Sykes & Ollie Grunner gave us a bellicose dystopian Churchillian double act. Poems from Amanda Garrie and Richard Peirce.
Vincent Adams introduced us to future theme park UK, when all the residents have left following DNA tests proving nobody is English enough. Wordbass, Maggie & Dave, gave us poetry and curry.
Mark Cassidy gave us thought-provoking poesy. Paula Savage and Steve Plummer sang those old tunes.
Jamie & the Jet (Jamie West and William Sutton) sang us all the way to the raffle.
Thanks to the audience and to Brian at Hunter-Gatherer. See you at Hunter-Gatherer on April 15 and in Cosham on April 25 for more musical-poetic fundraising.
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March 25, 2019
AdiEU EU
Hunter-Gatherer, PO4 4JR
7:30 Gareth Toms
Tom Sykes & Ollie Grunner
Amanda Garrie
Richard Peirce
Vincent Adams
Maggie & David
8:30 Gareth Toms
Mark Cassidy
Paula Savage
Steve Plummer
9:20 Raffle
Jamie & the Jet (Jamie West, William Sutton)
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March 11, 2019
Portsmouth Bookfest 2019 #3
Great Detectives
Poirot is the Greatest Fictional Detective, as argued by his obedient spokesperson, Carol Westron, and voted by Portsmouth Bookfest audience.
Our Great Detectives event was fun with a lovely, friendly audience and introductions to fascinating detectives from our local crime writers. Dr Ruth Galloway was championed by Diana Bretherick; Martin Beck by Quentin Bates; Cadfael by Charlie Cochrane.
As moderator, I mostly managed to disguise my ignorance by making a show of knowing nothing about the genre. Thanks to all the contributors, to the audience, and to the librarians.
A lovely idea for an event.
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Portsmouth Bookfest 2019 #4
Around the World in 10 Books
Around the World in 10 Books was provocative, inspiring, entertaining – and we left with more books than we would fit in your bag. Bravo to Scott Pack and Judith Robinson for this magical tour around the globe, bringing to our notice 10 Books they’ve loved. This is exactly what I want from my literary festivals.
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Portsmouth Bookfest 2019 #2
The Mysterious Case of the Haberdasher’s Scissors
“The Mysterious Case of the Haberdasher’s Scissors” was a glorious piece of literary mischief-making by local writer-researcher-performers Matt Wingett and Alison Habens. I’m reluctant to say more, as anything I mention about Conan Doyle, Wells, and Kipling risks giving some of the story away.
They shall, I hope, perform it again at a venue nearby in an upcoming festival or two, and then we will discover what was the secret behind the mysteriously labelled huckabuck and tweed in the shop window on King’s Road.
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