Lee McFadden's "Round Tuit" Reviews

After the sublime genius of Asbo Derek’s “Ulysses Twin”, Vic Godard’s Gnu Inc label unveil a – well not exactly new discovery as they’ve been around for twenty-five years – Middlesbrough’s Pellethead. They attribute their longevity with the following statement – “We are in the band and have been for such a long time because it is a laugh. We laugh a lot. We take the piss a lot. It is good.” “The Best Of A Bad Bunch” -   not exactly the most positive title for a compilation – is a resume for Pellethead’s silver anniversary – including a special re-recording (“Hear Me Now”) and a brand new offering – “Skips”.   There will be some out there who may already possess all the other songs on this ‘ere LP, but for the vast majority that is the rest of us, the album is an invigorating breath of fresh (ish) air. The opener, “Social Creeper”, guides us towards the theory that there is tragedy behind Pellethead’s comedy. The song’s subject desperately tries to play down the ongoing collap

             Corporationpop is the project of Elise Hadgraft – who late last year began to combine her poetry with sparse but accessible electro backing tracks.   “Meet Me By The Viaduct” is her debut EP – four tracks recounting the trials of decaying relationships, a troubled and confused teenage past, and a cynical overview of the “progress” of her hometown. “Seven Miles South” commences with the tagline – “Welcome To Stockport”. It is here that my imagined notion of the Stockport Tourist Bureau adopting this for their next advertising campaign immediately flounders. A resigned, caustic analysis of a suburban town treading the steady contemporary path of wastefully managed council resources and the ongoing, all-encompassing stranglehold of gentrification. Just to redress this balance a little, I loved the place on my ONE visit there recently – but like everywhere else – residents undoubtedly find more to criticise than occasional tourists – wherever they live. “Ted Hughes