“My progress has been fitful,” Cathal Coughlan once said of his career. In the Irish songwriter’s life, there were certainly “anti-career” moments. His original band Microdisney supported David Bowie in concert then immediately split up. He shoved a Virgin Mary souvenir up his backside in a typically riotous performance with The Fatima Mansions. And as Bubonique, he recorded an album called ‘Trance Arse Volume 3’ with the comedian Sean Hughes. Now that’s a career.
‘Mascara Streakz’, the first Altered Images album for 39 years, is stuffed with delicious synthpop nuggets. Clare Grogan would like to thank her Tom Courtenay-inspired fitness regime, F Scott Fitzgerald and Nancy Pelosi
Maximum Joy’s Janine Rainforth recalls the making of the Bristol post-punk band’s 1981 debut ‘Stretch’, a dub-inspired single which became a surprise hit on the dancefloors of NYC
Generally speaking, listening to a self-aggrandising peer saying, “You like [influential band]? Well, you should really listen to [obscure band]” tends more towards an act of generosity and patience than an educational experience.