Sam Smith has marked Valentine's Day by releasing the title track from their forthcoming third album To Die For. Opening with a sample from the 2001 cult film Donnie Darko, the new track pairs soaring strings and evocative piano with Smith’s distinctive vocals and the plaintive confession, “I just want somebody to die for.” Smith recorded the song with Jimmy Napes and Stargate, who... Continue Reading →
Madonna's Madame X has had remixers working overtime over the last few months. The Queer Review's James Derek Dwyer gives Dan De Leon & Anthony Griego's Crave Remix a listen... https://youtu.be/6ErR6R2rH28 My fave tune from Madonna’s wildly disjointed (in a good way!) Madame X, Crave, gets a big room DJ friendly remix shot through with... Continue Reading →
The new album (such a Pet Shop Boys’ word), Hotspot is a majestic return to a beautifully consistent form. Having obsessed about their chart positions, b-sides, obscure formats and rare 12" mixes during my adolescence and coming out, (“Please” sound tracked quite a few sunburned, vacation daydreams in late 80’s Florida and Cape Cod, later... Continue Reading →
Dusk burnishes a blur of glass and metal high-rises as I hurtle through East London on the overground train. I’m curiously scanning the faces of strangers illuminated by the ghoulish, blue light of their smartphones, each one immersed in a digital universe of their own. A squat, middle-aged man sitting next to me in an... Continue Reading →
When I heard that the original lineup of Bananarama was touring for the first time (after all this time!) in 2018, I was excited. Bananarama occupy a special place in the 80s gay pop experience. An unlikely post-punk, shambolic Supremes ruling the charts and MTV whilst shining like a silver flame on a mountain top.... Continue Reading →
A few days ago, while promoting her new album Madame X, Madonna was asked by a journalist if she knew just how much she meant to people. She quite honestly responded that she didn’t. And I’m sure that’s the only possible, sincere answer she could have given. There is no way any truly iconic figure... Continue Reading →
At exactly 8:40, on a recent Wednesday evening, the first queen took to the stage of The Glory. For just over a month in the spring, London’s drag queens and queer performers of every ilk descend here once a week to show what they can do. The Glory is the perfect venue for this showdown.... Continue Reading →
