Lost BoY zine poison city weekender edition paper arms, apart from this luca brasi, ted danson with wolves + more 1
wtf iz in dis
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12 local records
paper arms
apart from this
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luca brasi
4 1 7 1
ted danson with wolves
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21 art
int’l records
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books
4 2 news: www.lostboyrecords.tumblr.com records/distro:
www.lostboyrecords.bigcartel.com
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Thank YOU for buying LBZ and supporting the community it fosters . Huge thanks to Tyler, Tim, Josh and Dean for contributing. Infinite thanks to Wil, Chris and Bosma for being legends. All photos courtesy of the respective owners. all text: oliver dan-cuthbert triangleshoe@hotmail.com all design: jasmin stengos jasminstengos@gmail.com
paper arms facebook.com/paperarmsmusic
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Following yet another successful European run, we caught up with Josh from Paper Arms to chat about touring, Adelaide and what the future holds for the band.
Hey there! Who are we talking to, and what is your role in the band? Josh. Vocals/Guitar/Loser of valuables.
I think it’s safe to say that Paper Arms have found their place in Europe – you guys have done extensive stints there for the past couple of years. Recently you headlined with support from The Slow Death. Is it weird to fly half way around the world and have people know your music? Yeah man. The weirdest. There’s nothing like showing up to a town you’d never heard of, to find out that people there had heard of us. One of the cooler experiences we’ve had in music.
Despite the melancholy nature of your most recent LP, there is an overriding sense of positivity, which is even embodied in the record’s title The Smoke Will Clear. Was this intentional in writing the record?
Yeah it was, although it’s still pretty dark in places. I find it really hard to write positive songs. Sad songs just come so much more naturally. So when I was writing lyrics for this one, and I was actually sad in my life at the time, I had to try my best to steer it somewhere ‘non-wrist-slitty’ or no one would have wanted to listen to it. To be honest, I probably wouldn’t have wanted to sing it every night. I think it’s important to acknowledge when life has knocked you on your ass. But it’s also important to get back up and kick life square in the nuts for being a jerk. Hopefully at some point in there we captured that.
What has been your favourite place to play in Europe, and how does Europe as a whole compare to Individually, each member of Paper Arms seem to be touring Australia? Well... anyone from Europe reading this, we creative in all aspects of life, being designers and love you all equally. But, if we had to choose, photographers when not on the stage. Do you feel Germany is the one. The people there have a real that this multi-faceted creativity influences your fire in their belly for music. That and they’re all music? fluent in English and are super friendly. For us touring Europe is a much easier time than touring Australia. It’s better set up for it. The cities are closer together, the local scene is super involved and people volunteer to make dinner for travelling bands every night. Also the riders barely ever run out... I’m not going to lie, we definitely got spoilt over there.
In the last few years, you’ve also been lucky enough to play with a heap of ‘big names’ – bands like Strike Anywhere, Bane, boysetfire, Mad Caddies, A Wilhelm Scream. How does it feel to have, no doubt, listened to many of these bands and now play alongside them? It’s always a huge honour. There are a lot of bands that I’ve grown up being a fanboy of, that I’m now friends with. I think that’s a really cool thing about punk music. The people at the top of the game aren’t too far out of reach, and at the end of the day, they’re just kids like us.
It definitely influences our album covers and t-shirt designs. I don’t know... I guess it all comes from the same place... but it’s somehow separate. Music gives me a whole different creative rush than design. It’s a bit more immediate and dangerous. It’s more physical. A bit more personal. It doesn’t have a client. I’ve never shed a tear at the beauty of a well designed poster, but I have done for a heart breaking or uplifting song. I guess that’s why music will always be our unsullied art project. Design is my prostituted art for money. We all need money.
Given the band’s creative background, how much control do you guys exert over design elements, like record sleeves and shirt designs? All of the control. We’re geeks with that stuff.
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Your headlining Weekender show, with Grim Fandango, Stockades and Initials, sold out in 45 minutes. Are you excited to be a part of such a phenomenal display of local music, particularly after missing last year’s Weekender?
So excited. It was actually a huge bummer to not be able to play it last year. I think it’s a pretty awesome thing that this little local show that we’re a part of sold out so quickly too. No matter how big the Weekender gets I hope it always keeps being a celebration of great Australian music, with an awesome international cherry or two on top.
Credit: Pamprelune
The question on everyone’s lips is when Paper Arms will be releasing new music. There was a three year lapse between the last two records – will there be a similar delay or can we anticipate a new release sometime in the next year?
We are slow song writers... but we are slowly writing. It’s a bit different now because I’m living in Melbourne and the other boys are back in Adelaide, but we’re doing our best. There’s already talk about another Europe trip next year and if that happens we’ve been told we need a new record... so... I guess we’ll get right onto that.
Despite having a pretty rad music scene, Adelaide is relatively small, particularly when it comes to the punk community. How do you feel the local scene’s insular nature has affected the band?
I think that it lead us all to have some pretty varied tastes in music. When we were growing up there wasn’t enough bands to have segregated scenes really. So hardcore bands would play with emo bands and punk bands and rock bands all on the same night. I guess when you think about it, we’re kind of all those things thrown into a blender.
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To wrap up we usually ask what local artists you’re loving at the moment, but instead maybe you could give us an insight into some of the European bands you discovered whilst there this year? First thing to come to mind from this trip is a guy called Tim Vantol. He’s a folk-punk singer that we met last year from the Netherlands, but he’s been touring full time for the last year or so, and when we bumped into him this year he was killing it. Check him out.
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Having just come off the Basement tour, Apart From This have put out a new 7� which only solidifies their place in the Australian music scene. Tim shares his thoughts on the tour, Weekender and the record with us - hopefully there is more to come from the band before the year’s out!
apart from this apartfromthis.bandcamp.com
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Hey there, what is your name and role in Apart From Given the band’s melding of post-hardcore, punk This? and grunge, you have played with a mix of bands in My name is Tim and i sing and play guitar in Apart the past. This has allowed Apart From This to make From This friends across genres, ranging from the Poison City family to hardcore acts like Legions and Born The band have just supported Basement nationally, Free. Is it an active process in the songwriting to driving almost 6000 kilometres around Australia. try to incorporate elements from different scenes, How did the tour go, and what was your favourite or do you find that the band’s various influences show to play? culminate unconsciously? The tour was amazing it was just what we needed, playing to sold out crowds alongside one of Australias best bands Toy Boats and then of course Basement felt surreal. My favourite show was at The Evelyn in Melbourne, this same show would also go down as one of the greatest shows we have played to date.
To coincide with the tour, you guys pressed a new 7”, Spinning. Did you approach this release differently at all, in comparison to last year’s debut LP?
Definitley. Even though we worked in the same studio with the same producer Sam Johnson, this time around we tracked all the instruments live for a more organic sound and then tracked the vocals and overdubs seperately. This approach was much quicker and more enjoyable and sounds like a REAL band playing REAL songs.
As a member of the Poison City family, do you regard Weekender as an integral event for the preservation of the scene it supports, particularly in the face of a ‘declining’ music industry as a whole? Of course, we couldn’t thank Poison City enough for all the support we have received. Nobody really cared about us until PCR signed us and it has helped us a great deal, to be part of The Weekender and playing with all these awesome bands is a dream come true PCR are keeping it real and not slowing down anytime soon!
We all listen to alot of music and previously with other releases we subjected to a certain genre but nowadays the sound is maturing and we just freely write whatever comes to mind whether the riff is heavy, soft or technical we can still make it sound like Apart From This. We have always played with bands from different scenes because it’s good exposure and a different experience and also mixed bills are interesting nobody wants to hear the same thing over and over again.
This year’s Weekender is pretty mental. Who are you most looking forward to catching live?
All the bands but especially Knapsack and Pity Sex!
With a bunch of touring and a release already under your belt for 2014, what’s next for Apart From This? Our second album and plenty more touring!
To wrap up, could you share some of the local bands you have been stoked on lately?
There are plenty of great bands coming out of Australia here a few you should definitely check out though.. Legions, Have/Hold, Postblue, Clowns and Weedy Gonzales.
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Yo’ Put That bag back on ’ s new ep and debut 7 ’’
‘Sometimes There’s Nvothing You Can Do’
Stream available now @ yobagpunk.com Purchase from lostboyrecords.bigcartel.com or Beatdisc, Blackwire, Resist, Red Eye + Poison City Records 11
local records With A Q – Georgia Maq
If you haven’t heard of Georgia Maq, or last year’s incredible demo, it’s about time you grab this 7” and listen up. Intertwining a stunning voice with lyrics that expose the harsh realities of growing up in Melbourne, Maq proves herself to be a songwriter with a lot of things on her mind. Often politically charged, Maq knows exactly when to drop a dollop of her brilliant humour into each track to relieve some of the tension, from budgie smugglers to porn. The best part is, although comical, these lyrics make a point just as much as the more serious lines that follow them. Some are turned off by Maq’s language and its contrast with her voice – an obvious similarity to fellow Melbournian Lucy Wilson – but this no-holding-back approach is exactly what the genre needs. What is the point of sugar coating the stories being told or, worse yet, censoring them? This is folk punk at its finest – satirical, passionate and just plain talented.
Combuster – TV Programmes
Relatively new as a band, it sounds like TV Programmes have been playing together for a decade. This EP proves the band have great potential, simply because it is already great. Often instrument-focused post-rock records can sound like derivatives of derivatives, the same guitar lines thrown over each other until every band sounds like the same old rubbish. TV Programmes show there is still hope, with innovation in every track. Opening with the uplifting ‘Breadbox’, we are lulled into the record with comforting vocals that seem to reassure you that life is okay – just don’t expect them to feature as prominently for the rest of the record. This is guitar driven music, yet it does not shove guitar down your throat with intense solos, instead creating beautiful harmonies that play off each other. Expect this EP to be an under-the-radar classic of the year, and watch TV Programmes rise above the rest in the near future.
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Galactic Circle – Family Values
Partystarter – Ride The Tiger
Family Values have been kicking around Newcastle, playing straight up, classic punk/hardcore for a while, and have landed some sweet supports and more recently managed to get interstate. This release proves their worth – and what could be in the future – with a ballsy approach to contemporary social and political issues that is severely lacking in the scene at the moment. The female fronted vocals are incredible, and display a furious passion like no other, highlighted on tracks like ‘Punchin In’ and ‘Letter To The Editor’. The inclusion of ‘Hot Chips’, an ode to the delight of eating hot chips instead of burgers, wings and steaks, is perfect, showing off the humorous side of Family Values that is more often encapsulated in mocking or sarcastic lyrics. Unrelenting throughout, the closing track, which is also the longest at 2:26, ‘Tura Satana’ is a capsule of all the band is, and also of what is (hopefully) to come in the future. With overtones of old school punx like Black Flag in the lyrical and instrumental content, it’s hard not to love this release. The only problem is it’s too damn short.
Opening with a minute long anthem that calls upon the mighty punk of the Descendents, you can tell from the opening notes that this will be an EP to get up and dance to. Immediately juxtaposed with the soul of following track ‘Fence And Wall’, Ride The Tiger demonstrate their aptitude for crafting classic songs that will translate into an incredible live show. Vocals are shared amongst the band throughout, adding to the overall dynamics of the record, and are supported perfectly by guitar work that matches line for line, with the odd riff for good measure. The percussion holds everything together, though, emphasised on tracks like ‘Two Days’ and ‘Birdman’, completing a very, very tight record. An overriding sense of Tassie-ness is embedded in the record, a perfect accompaniment to any Luca Brasi release. Partystater has so much energy that it’s infectious, leaving listeners not just nodding their heads, but literally jumping up and down, hoping for more.
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luca brasi lucabrasipunkrock.bandcamp.com
With a new record out and a heap of shows already played this year, Luca Brasi have moved from strength to strength. Tyler sat down with us before their set at Weekender to chat about the festival and their new LP.
wHi! Who am I talking to, and what is your role in Luca Brasi?
My name’s Tyler and I play bass (badly) and sing (worse) for Luca.
You guys have recently released your second LP, By A Thread, did you have a different focus with this record compared to the last one, having now established yourselves as a formidable presence in the local music scene?
I guess for this record we really wanted to throw everything we had at it, to focus on making a clear coherent record rather than just put every song we had together and put it out. This time around we just spent a lot more time working all the details out, hopefully it shows.
I read another interview you guys did a few months ago, where it was stated that whilst recording there was a lot of This Town Needs Guns and Polar Bear Club being played. Were there any other bands on high rotation during recording? I think Tom definitely spends a lot of time listening to a range of different bands. He writes a lot of the music and always draws upon a range of things; this time around it was a lot of twinkly guitar heavy stuff. High rotation for me at the time was a lot of Speech Patterns and mainly a lot of slower stuff to try and relax with in between studio stress.
In comparison with your first LP, I can definitely see the influence in guitar work from bands like This Town Needs Guns. Where else do you think the band drew on external influences during recording? Yeah for sure, Tom especially loves and writes a lot of twinkly, weird tuning guitar stuff. What he brought to us was that style of writing and we decided that we would combine this with some more raw “Luca” style elements and see what sort of mutant would emerge.
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The lyrical content of both records is pretty personal, but also relatable to a wider audience. Do you approach writing lyrics as a sort-of release from life? Totally, one hundred percent nailed it. I think that anyone who does something in the vein of music, hell anything really, uses what is going on in their life and releases it through what for me is a pretty cathartic medium. A lot of the time I can’t sleep unless I get the stupid thoughts from my head into my phone or onto paper.
Luca Brasi have been a bit of a juggernaut in the local scene, touring the nation several times as headlines and supporting other artists. During this time you have played with some pretty diverse artists, like Bodyjar, La Dispute, Title Fight, Heroes For Hire, Endless Heights, and, more recently, Violent Soho. Why do you think Luca Brasi are able to fit into so many different lineups? Our goal from the start was “let’s have fun” and that’s sort of what we have run with. I think that the friendships we have been lucky enough to make sort of pushes genres to the side. If we’re mates then let’s do shows, fuck it, simple as that! I honestly think that the legends who we are fortunate enough to be mates with in any genre transcend who is playing.
With the success of label mates like Smith Street Band, Bennies and Paper Arms overseas, are Luca Brasi looking at cracking foreign music scenes this year?
Totally! It has been in the planning for a while but very soon we will be able to announce some very exciting stuff!
It seems that Tasmania has a small, but very vocal, scene. How has being based in Tassie effected you as a band?
Dead right, Tassie’s scene is small but those who see the bands from here kinda get blown away. I guess it’s very often overlooked but the bands from here who do get out and go for it, do get noticed. For us we are just extremely lucky, we have the best friends in the world who supported us from day dot. Without that it never would of spread and we are so thankful for everything all our friends have done/ continue to do for us. I also think the camaraderie here is totally next level, lotsa love and support.
Who are you most excited to catch at this year’s Weekender?
Oh man, everyone! Such a hard call, can I just say everyone? I love everyone.
This will be Luca Brasi’s fourth Weekender. How do you think the festival has developed tover the years?
Four Weekenders? Holy shit, I’m not sure what I’ve been doing with myself but the first one seemed like yesterday. We’re so lucky to have seen the fest and Poison City itself grow exponentially each year into the powerhouse they exist as today. I think bands like Smith St and The Bennies have played a huge part in people taking notice, and thus the fact that Andy and Aaron have been able to expand and just keep on keeping on. It still has the same feeling of closeness it always has, no matter the size.
Finally, what is your favourite Tassie band at the moment?
Right now Speech Patterns are killing it. Such an amazing and proficient band. Just incredible, I can’t wait until they get out there and just blow minds.
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ted danson with wolves facebook.com/teddansonwithwolves
With a name change and release of their debut LP, the mighty Teddy D’s have gone from local star, playing every show thrown at them, to Australian underground heroes. Returning to Melbourne for the millionth time for Weekender, we chat with Dean to see where the band are at.
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Hi, who are we talking to and what do you do in Teddy D’s?
In blending genres, Ted Danson evidently have a variety of influences that they draw on. What artists do you think are the most influential for the band?
Hi! My name is Dean and I play bass and occasionally shout some stuff too.
Let’s get straight to business – you have finally received the vinyl pressing of your debut LP,WWTDWWD?, how does it feel to be able to put your name on the physical record?
It was a long, long, long time coming (some of the songs were two years old before we even began recording and we had issues with the pressing plant on top of that) so when I finally held a copy in my hands I was both stoked that we had finally achieved this goal and incredibly anxious to repay everybody’s patience and get the orders out there. A very proud moment and a MASSIVE relief.
The LP has received pretty rave reviews all round, with particular emphasis on your melding of genres. What pushed the band to create such a unique sound? Haha, I don’t know how unique it is but if there is any genre hopping happening it’s probably from a combo of a short attention span and taking too long to make the thing - we kept changing our minds about which bands we wanted to rip off.
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I think at any given point in time one of us is listening to something one of the Kinsellas did (American Football, Cap’n Jazz, Owls, Their / They’re / There, etc) so that’s probably a pretty massive one. There’s also a fair bit of math-rock stuff in there (Drugs To The Dear Youth by Tera Melos is both mine and Josh’s favourite record) and we’ve definitely drawn a lot from some great local DIY acts of recent years such as Intentions (RIP) and To The North.
This is by no means your first Melbourne show, having played their numerous times over the last few years. Care to share with us your best interstate tour story?
On our trip to Melbourne last year with Oslow, a certain band member who will go unnamed succeeded in his mission of smoking ten joints on the way down there. Hilarity ensued.
the LP was also the first release on the newly established Eunoia Collective. What was it like to work with your friends on the label in releasing the LP?
It’s pretty much the ideal situation for this sort of thing, having friends who are super motivated for the right reasons helping you do this stuff the way you want to. Not only do Dave and Uda work very hard at organising all our sorry arses but all the bands in the collective look out for each other for gear and places to stay etc as well. What more could you ask for?
You guys are on this year’s Weekender fest, who are you most looking forward to seeing?
Very, very excited to be playing with a few record of the year contenders on the Sunday in Harmony, Roku Music and Mere Women. Also very keen to see our good friends in Grim Fandango and Stockades on the Saturday. Pity Sex should be awesome and so should Hoodlum Shouts and Infinite Void and High Tension … oh man, I could keep going!
With the record now out, what can we expect from Ted Danson for the rest of the year?
We’re not playing a lot of shows in the back end of the year, we’ve been working on new stuff a fair bit and plan to head back into the studio in November to work on some tracks for a split or two. Or maybe an EP. Who knows?
Thanks for chatting with us! To finish, can you drop some names of the rad locals you have been jamming lately?
Well recently I’ve been flogging Canine’s demo, Popular Music That Will Live Forever by Narrow Lands, Sometimes There’s Nothing You Can Do by Yo, Put That Bag Back On and Dys/Closure by Fat Guy Wears Mystic Wolf Shirt. ALL EXCELLENT RELEASES.
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art Daniel Crooks @ Anna Schwartz Gallery
Pushing the boundaries of photography and visual media, Crooks has established himself as a domestic presence in the art community, continually challenging ways of thinking and perception of our world. In his new exhibition, Truths Unveiled By Time, the artist experiments with the physical, creating twisted installations of pure white that dominate the sparse gallery setting. These figures call on his previous body of work, in their morphed state, so that we are left with an unrecognisable form. Utilising a 3D-printer to create these sculptural pieces that, in their base form, so simply question the very nature of time and its construction, Crooks complements his prior post-modern practice in novel and exciting ways.
Italian Masterpieces @ National Gallery of Victoria
Dominating seven rooms, the Italian Masterpieces exhibition is a who’s who of artists from the 16th to 18th century, featuring some of their most influential and brilliant works. Those included seems almost like the contents of an art history textbook – Titian, Raphael, Corregio, the list goes on. The emotion and beauty within each piece is incredible, the skill with which each is painted undeniable. It is hard to convey the spectacular nature of this collection, often not found in Australia due to the costs involved in transporting delicate and priceless works from overseas. Coupled with live music at 1pm and 2pm, as well as tours throughout the day, this exhibition is not to be missed if you have some spare time and have any interest in the arts.
Closes 27th September.
Closes 31st August.
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int’l records
Never Hungover Again – Joyce Manor
You Will Eventually Be Forgotten – Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)
Barely longer than previous releases, Joyce Manor once again leave listeners craving more. Despite the record being their most developed and polished, the band have not forgotten their unique take on the genres they mash together. More than ever, instrumentation plays a leading role, and it works in the band’s favour, giving songs more dimension than the often quick paced, power chord based previous releases. Of particular note is the prominent role of bass in most songs, giving these tracks far more character. On record, tracks that should play lead like ‘Victoria’ and ‘Catalina Fight Song’ seem to fall short of the mark, although will no doubt explode when played live. Unfortunately, every song comes across as good, but not great. There are few stand out moments, but also very few disappointing parts. A distinct lack of the ‘catchy-ness’ that underlay all past releases is evident, requiring repeated listens to really capture one’s imagination.
Empire! Empire! have been one of the most recognised in the emo revival for years now, and this far too overdue full-length proves the wife-husband duo will remain on top. The simple, mellow tunes are nothing out of the ordinary, based on their back catalogue, but to have a records worth of material allows listeners to truly immerse themselves in the band’s signature style. Like with their past records, however, one cannot sometimes help but feel that each track is too ‘same same’, which has produced some pretty scathing opinions of the band online. Yet in that is the charm of Empire! Empire! – perhaps they are still yet to create some truly innovative material, but at least what they do play is solid. Some tracks attempt to push the sound further, like the intensity of ‘Foxfire’ and ‘Its So Much Darker…’, but it is never enough. Finally we have an LP from the dynamic duo, after way too many splits and EPs, which will no doubt please fans, but it will fail to win over anyone disillusioned with their previous releases.
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Kingfisher – Prawn
Mediumship - Dikembe
Prawn have been floating around for several years, seeming a bit on the sideline, sometimes getting lost in the swarm of bands ‘reviving’ the emo scene. If they were the water boy before this record dropped, however, they are most definitely a star player now. Having self-released several records before signing with the celebrated Topshelf Records for an EP and split, all previous efforts have culminated to produce Kingfisher. Everything about this record has been obviously deliberated over, and perfected, from the opening drums and vocals of ‘Scud Runner’, to the horn sections in ‘Thalassa’ to the charming simplicity of the artwork. As with past records, vocally Prawn sound desperate, as if every single line is sung with every bit of passion there is left. This creates an air of reality throughout the record, cutting past the overused whiny or nasal vocals of other bands in the genre. This authenticity has been lacking from an unfortunate majority of records this year. Simply put, Prawn deliver, blowing all expectations for Kingfisher, out of the water. This will be a serious contender for record of the year on a lot of listeners’ lists, make sure you’re one of them.
I will not lie, I am a massive Dikembe fan. Since hearing their debut LP, Broad Shoulders, I’ve been in love. So it is out of love that I say that I am completely underwhelmed by Mediumship. It is by no means a bad record, but as a follow up to their previous efforts I cannot help but feel it is somewhat lacklustre. Broad Shoulders was a release you could put on, and after only one spin you could sing along. Mediumship seems directly in contrast – with some parts seeming completely inaccessible after many, many plays. Opener ‘Even Bother’ is a classic Dikembe track, but it almost sounds like a B-Side from early sessions. Following are stand out tracks ‘Hood Rat Messiah’ and ‘Pelican Fly’, both of which show the band’s potential and ingenuity. Of particular note is the experimentation with the vocals, obviously pushed in all directions, which really adds to the record. There are other novel aspects to the record, like the heavier ‘Las Vegas Weather’, but sometimes they come across as far too incongruent with each other. The record closes on some really strong tracks, particularly ‘Gets Harder’ and ‘Donuts In A Six Speed’, so perhaps I am being too harsh, my expectations for what I thought would be my Record Of The Year clouding my judgement.
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books Generation Loss / Available Dark Elizabeth Hand
The Circle – Dave Eggers
With the increasing cries around the globe, that our world is sliding quickly towards that reminiscent of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, it is little surprise that the dystopian genre has seen a comeback. Eggers’ work may be one of the most profoundly ‘modern’ in the genre, given not only its recent publication, but more decisively its emphasis on contemporary technologies. The novel follows protagonist Mae as she accepts a position at The Circle, a company that is essentially an amalgamation of Google, Facebook, Apple, etc, and documents her experiences and the reactions of those around her as The Circle gains exponentially increasing control over California and the world. Perhaps the greatest feature of the novel aside from the gripping writing is, like any good dystopian work, the ability to clearly see how our current world could easily slide into that painted by the author. Through this terrific and timely work, Eggers pulls readers into the debate surrounding privacy, technology and democracy, questioning readers’ interpretation of where our world is heading and what should be done about it.
Crime fiction has had a strong following for decades now, attracting thousands of writers to rehash the same basic storyline over and over. Elizabeth Hand breaks away from this group, producing two works centred around Cass – a photographer who started her career in the 1970s punk scene, before quickly moving on to photos of the dead or drugged. The strong character development not only allows readers to feel intimately close to the protagonist, but also provides a lens in which both novels are viewed through. Hand’s writing is hauntingly beautiful throughout, creating vivid images of places and people, in a way unparalleled in any crime literature I have read. The first novel is set in Maine, where Cass meets her artistic idol and gets involved with washed up hippies, whilst the second takes readers to Scandinavia, as our protagonist gets tangled up in some black metal satanic cult business. Thoroughly enjoyable reads, but not recommended for the weak of heart. These are in a similar vein to the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy, but written with a far more literary appreciation.
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Dear Leader – Jang Jin-Sung
First Fifteen Lives of Harry August – Claire North
Relatively few citizens escape North Korea, although many attempt to flee into Chinese. Most are either captured at the border or detained whilst in China and unsympathetically sent back to their literal deaths. Jang Jin-Sung is in the incredible position of not only fleeing the regime, but being the only member of the Pyongyang ‘elite’ to have done so. Jang served as the equivalent of the nation’s Poet Laureate, his works of course praising the Kim dynasty, and was given unparalleled access to domestic and global information for a citizen. This is a biographical work that attempts to reconstruct Jang’s life, whilst also endeavouring to explain the intricacies of North Korean living and politics from a unique perspective. Undoubtedly full of stories that will break your heart, and question humanity, there are glimmers of hope, even in this unthinkable totalitarian world. Without question, the North Korean regime will collapse in our lifetimes, and its borders be flung open. This book should be read by all, so that we can come closer to understanding the depravity of the situation, as well as the empathy and support these people will need in the near future.
Rarely does a book combine such varying elements in such a successful way, but seem to go almost completely under the radar. Claire North is the pseudonym of an unknown, although apparently well known, and the book she has produced is definitely an unrecognised highlight so far in fiction releases this year. The novel is based around a small minority of people known as Kalachakras – those who are reborn as the same person (presumably in a parallel universe) once they die, yet remember everything from their previous lives. It is an odd concept, but North’s writing makes it instantly easy to understand. As the characters traverse time and space, several times over, North reveals one of the highlights of this book – a deep knowledge of historical events from the last few centuries that imbue the novel with reality. The author creates characters with vast background to each, and cleverly describes the interaction of each in every life. A book such as this is far too hard to describe in regards to the storyline, instead I can only commend it for not overdoing the fantasy elements, interweaving a sense of the real world through a plethora of historical events.
A Country Too Far – Rosie Scott & Tom Keneally (ed.)
As far as socio-political issues go in contemporary Australia, the ‘issue’ of asylum seekers is a pretty dividing one, with many regarding the government’s treatment of them as human abuse and, simply put, just wrong. Two the country’s leading literary figures, Scott and Keneally, have assembled an extensive collection of short works surrounding the topic. Expect these works to be pro-asylum seekers and anti-government policy, with each author’s anxieties and fear shining through in short stories, poetry and short essay pieces. Acting as an easy-to-read summary of the debate, and containing so many well-known authors, it is surprising this book was not better received nor publicised. A great tool for self-education on the matter, this is recommended for those after an easily digested and engaging recount of affairs, despite not every single piece being valuable or effective in this context.
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see more lostboy stuff! news: www.lostboyrecords.tumblr.com records + distro + zines: www.lostboyrecords.bigcartel.com
A Music.Arts. Literature.Zine.
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