Black Sky Thinking
Essays, investigation and opinion on today’s cultural landscape
Black Sky Thinking
Glastonbury At 50 & The Loss Of The Communal Under Coronavirus
25 years ago, Jude Rogers had her life changed somewhere in a field near Pilton. On the 50th anniversary of the first Glastonbury weekend, she reflects on the sunny days of 1995, lamenting the loss of the communal live experience in the Coronavirus summer of 2020
Black Sky Thinking
Why Monuments Are More Than Racist Symbols, By Algiers
Algiers grew up in the shadow of Stone Mountain, a giant memorial to Confederate military leaders built as late as the 1970s. Here, the group's Ryan Mahan explains how it inspired their music and why we have to look at the structures behind the symbolism of monuments
Black Sky Thinking
Build, Connect, Educate: Why The UK Needs To Examine Its Own Racism
For every George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Trayvon Martin, there's a Rashan Charles, Sean Rigg, Cynthia Jarrett or Mark Duggan. Police brutality and racism against the black community is not just a uniquely American travesty
Black Sky Thinking
Ten Things You (Possibly) Don’t Know About Kraftwerk
While doing her research for a meaty Kraftwerk retrospective in The Observer, Jude Rogers found out a fair few things that were a bit too Geek Central for the general broadsheet reader. Here follows therefore, 10 things you might not have known about Kraftwerk. Photo by Lucy Johnston
Black Sky Thinking
How The Music Industry Took On Napster And (Not Everyone) Lost
Two decades on from Metallica's infamous decision to sue Napster, Eamonn Forde looks back and explores how the rock troupe's co-belligerent Dr Dre ended up outsmarting Ulrich & co, changing tack, and laughing all the way to the bank
Black Sky Thinking
How Coronavirus Is Killing The Music You Love
With live music at a standstill, coronavirus poses an existential threat to artists, festivals, promoters - even this publication. Ed Gillet examines the implications of the pandemic and the incompetence of the British government in dealing with it
Black Sky Thinking
Cowley At The Glory Hole: The Art Of Queer Liberation
Taking a holy trinity of Patrick Cowley's sex journals, Roy Garrett's poetry and Maxx Mann's forthcoming reissue, Max Shand explores the joy and tragedy of the queer American underground, from 70s exuberance to the 80s AIDS crisis
Black Sky Thinking
We’re Free? What Are You Being Served Tells Us About Brexit
As the EU waves goodbye on Brexit Day, Alexei Monroe looks at two declining institution full of sexist attitudes and obsessed with better days that never really were and joins the dots between England and Grace Brothers' Department Store of 70s sitcom Are You Being Served
Black Sky Thinking
Listen Deeper: The Strange Case Of Iannis Xenakis & Pauline Oliveros
Iannis Xenakis has long been seen as a titan of modern composition, written about in awed tones, the subject of innumerable retrospectives. Yet why, asks Dan Siepmann, has his work for so long overshadowed non-male artists like Pauline Oliveros?
Black Sky Thinking
How Rosalía’s Music Is A Journey To The Heart Of Divided Spain
Rosalía has been one of pop's standouts in recent years and, says Ben Cardew, her music provides a way for outsiders to understand the complexities of contemporary Spanish politics. Photo thanks to Primavera Sound / Sergio Albert
Black Sky Thinking
Why Celebrities & Brands Can No Longer Hide Their Political Allegiances
As the most significant general election in decades looms, Nathalie Olah questions celebrities and brands who like to make vague political statements but don't take a stand to say who, exactly, they're endorsing
Black Sky Thinking
What The Blue Story Ban Tells Us About Racism In Britain
Jeffrey Boakye argues that the banning of Blue Story by two cinema chains shows how in the UK black art is held to different standards to everything else, and "a reminder of just how poised society is to reject blackness on the assumption that it can be a corrupting force"
Black Sky Thinking
Idle Threat: Who Are The True Champions Of DIY Rock In 2020?
You can call it “Crank Wave”, you can call it “Wonk”, or you can even refer to “It Might Give You A Headache But Boy Is It Exciting-core”, says John Doran, as long as you recognise the importance of the Speedy Wunderground label and drop the embarrassing references to IDLES and Shame
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Baker's Dozen
E3 Worldwide: Dizzee Rascal’s Favourite Albums
As Dizzee Rascal releases his first album since 2017, he guides Aaron Bishop through the songs that shaped him and how the artists behind them resonated with him from being the only black kid playing Nirvana on the estate to smoking with Snoop Dogg.
Baker's Dozen
Ongoing Adventures: Rachel Unthank’s Favourite Albums
Jude Rogers speaks to Rachel Unthank about her abiding love for and political importance of maintaining the folk tradition... but explains she wasn't averse to a bit of Faith No More when it all got too much. This week's Baker's Dozen.
