Saturday, 14 June 2025

Complete Fool - Chloe Foy

 


Chloe Foy

Complete Fool

I was lucky enough to watch Chloe Foy as a support act for Conchur White at Old St. Pancras Church back in 2023. Her songwriting and performance were utterly sublime.

I discovered she was doing a tour of record stores and mooched over to Oxford to catch her promoting her new album. She showcased the majority of her album in a pared down but completely flawless and emotional performance. Even though I had heard her sing this live it didn’t prepare me for the elegance and beauty of this new album.

Chloe Foy mingles genres from the beautifully layered vocals and strings that seem to hark back to the heady days of Hoffman, Livingston and David alongside the Jud Conlon Chorus (from Disney’s Cinderella) before breaking into the sweet simplicity of the title track. This journey through musical styles is a sweet and heady confection that layers harmonies, orchestra and chorus. The album takes pleasant and surprising twists throughout. Each song soars but in different and unexpected ways. There are hints of country, of Nick Drake pastoralism, alt folk, pop, rock and so much more to be found here.

This album is an absolute joy from start to finish.

https://chloefoymusic.bandcamp.com/album/complete-fool




Sunday, 1 June 2025

Coffinmaker's Blues by Stephen Volk

 

It is not very often that a book finds you when you need it the most.

I have been umming and ahhing about whether to ever write again. Veering between continuing to self-publish, bothering with sending novels to agents or publishers anymore or, far more crucially, sitting down and actually writing anything.

I was comforted to discover that a writer I consider to be at the top of his game suffers very similar self-doubt. His struggles with both the internal mechanisms of writing and the external realities of getting the work made were painfully relatable. I was struck particularly by his insights into where ideas come from and the terrifying feeling of writer’s block which chimed with my own existential crisis as a writer.

There is much more to this book, however. It is stuffed with helpful musings on the value of research, how to write dialogue and create character, on the connections between horror and comedy, along with invigorating polemic on the state of the industry both in the UK and the States. There are wonderfully reflective anecdotes and thoughts on his own experience in working in TV and Film (including a fascinating account of the creation and reception of Ghostwatch). The work is also peppered with observations regarding influential writers and directors that have had me scuttling to eBay to look for works that I have missed.

These essays, collected from Black Static over a 10 year period and placed in this single volume, reveal an evolution of Volk‘s own character over time. I love the confessional style of this collection; Volk’s voice at times crying out in frustration or whispering helpful or hopeful nuggets of advice. Whilst this is a book that encourages you to dip in and out, I found I could not stop reading, pulled through it by his passion and sense of fun. Overall, it is his love of horror and the realisation of its power that truly make their mark, making me want to get back to my desk and start scribbling stuff again.

What have I taken from this? I need to enjoy the moments in teaching, writing and family life as they come. I need to welcome the highs and the lows as they are a part of me and any potential stories I create.  I need to read and watch more!

If you love horror, are fascinated by the process of writing or just want to be thoroughly entertained by a wonderfully honest screenwriter and author then read this.

 
Chris Lambert


Wednesday, 30 December 2020

MFZ Ceefax Reviews - Scarred for Life - Volume 2

Castles in Space ride the misremembered nostalgia highway of dreams.

PICK YOUR 40 YEAR OLD SCABS WITH SCARRED FOR LIFE 122

* * * * * * * * * *

ON SFL2 THIS MORNING

1:00 POCKET PAVILIONS PRESENT THE HALCYON CLOCK (Episode 1) Three charming children fall into an old Grandfather Clock and find themselves drifting into the past towards better days that never existed.

2:15 THE TWELVE HOUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE BRAIN CHILDREN (Episode 6) Will Jez and Polly solve the puzzle set by the nefarious Baron Cerebellum? They are lost in a maze but by god they’re happy. And so are you.

3.06 CORRELATIONS PRESENT RECALL (Drama) Will you regain the function of your limbs as the robot voodoo priestess presses another silicon needle into your plastic effigy?

4.56 HANDSPAN PRESENTS WHAT’S IN THE BOX? (Entertainment) It spins! It shines! It glints! It slowly opens! Who dares to put their hand inside today? (Presented by Peter Duncan)

5.00 CULT OF WEDGE PRESENTS THE DAY BEFORE DOOMSDAY (Afternoon Play) Stark warnings. Ominous marches. The end is near. Pull the eiderdown over your head and wait for oblivion.

6.22 OLIVER CHERER PRESENTS TENSION PIECE (Episode 241) Sit still and let their eyes burn into the back of your neck. Don’t move. They can hear you breathing.

Castles in Space weave another wonder.

ARE YOU SCARRED FOR LIFE? ASK THE HOODED PUPPET. 666

* * * * * * * * * *

ON SFL2 THIS MORNING

7.07 THE BRITISH STEREO COLLECTIVE PRESENTS IN THE TALL GRASS (Episode 7) As the Bucolic Plague sweeps the land only picnics and naming clouds can stave off the Wheat Ghost.

8:16 THE BENTLEY EMERALD LEARNING RESOURCE PRESENTS THE CITY OF GOLDEN LEAD (Episode 19) When the master blinks his enormous eye Wyndham placates him by taking him on a tour of the desolate metal city. 

9.25 THE SOULLESS PARTY PRESENTS A SCHOOL AT WAR (Episode 51) Rotters versus Riders. The houses rise up. This week as Form 7b mourn the loss of Jimmy, Fred Trotter finds the organ pump. All hell breaks loose.

10.32 QUIMPER PRESENTS HAPPY BORDERS (Situation Comedy) Richard  Briers sinks to his knees in East Berlin. A kindly soldier (Penelope Wilton) is trapped inside the sound of desolation whilst lost children sing over Carpenteresque loops.

11.22 KEITH SEATMAN PRESENTS ONE LOST WEEKEND (Episode 241) As waves break on an aluminium foil shore, Keith beats a charming rhythm with the dried bones of Midge Ure.

12.06 LISTENING CENTER PRESENTS INTERMISSION (Intermission) Flashes of colour, a girl with a doll, the drawings you sent in, an Atari spinning on a potters wheel. All this and more in the liminal space between programmes.


 Castles in Space find delicious aural treats.
SHOW ME ON THIS DOLL WHERE HE PLACED HIS HAT. 432
* * * * * * * * * *
ON SFL2 THIS AFTERNOON

13.07 PULSELOVERS PRESENT DOBBS AND CLOGG (Episode 4) The intrepid duo find 
themselves trapped in the backrooms of Woolworths. The creeping certainty that they will never find the answer becomes more concrete.

14:10 THE HEARTWOOD INSTITUTE PRESENTS YOU CANNOT WIN A NUCLEAR WAR 
(Documentary) Professor Jonathan Sharp presents a scintillating argument for digging a deep hole in the back garden using the force of his will, sweeping noise and crackling soundbites.

15.05 OLIVER CHERER PRESENTS DOWN WHITE CORRIDORS (Episode 75) Enjoy a ride 
on a gurney through what appears to be a hospital but soon transforms into an ancient abandoned nunnery.

16.33 THE METAMORPH PRESENTS STARDRIVE (Science Fiction) When Gavin wakes 
from his Tizer hangover he finds himself trapped inside a vast silver room with only a joystick for company.

17.00 VIC MARS PRESENTS THE TIME MENDERS RETURN (Episode 1) In this brand new 
repeated series from ABC Matt and Davy deftly run up and down the corridors of time chased by people in improbable wigs and suits no-one wears.

18.06 THE HOME CURRENT PRESENTS UNKNOWN SAMENESS (Dance) As the ice melts on the pylon, the grey shifts and wakes, and Legs and Co dance incorrectly on a giant motherboard.

Castles in Space are emptying my wallet.
RIP OFF YOUR MR BUMP PLASTER WITH SCARRED FOR LIFE. 43
* * * * * * * * * *
ON SFL2 THIS AFTERNOON

17.51 PANAMINT MANSE PRESENTS SUNSTROKE SCOUT (Episode 4) His bare knees brushing against the bracken, our intrepid adventurer finds hidden treasure in an old biscuit tin as celluloid scratches flicker on the glass.

18:10 SALVATORE MERCATANTE PRESENTS THE GARDEN (Documentary) Originally shown in darkened science classrooms on the school projector this unrestored piece of film showcases the decaying secrets hidden behind the wall.

19.25 THE HOME CURRENT PRESENTS LOBSTER BOY (Romance) When Martin wakes 
from restless dreams he finds himself transformed into a beautiful lobster. In this episode he pursues his modelling career and falls in love with a Hermit Crab.
20.33 APTA PRESENTS EQUINOX (Documentary) A detailed and beautiful exploration of the slowly melting skin of cryogenically frozen sunbeams.

21.00 THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF INFORMATION PRESENTS THROUGH THE ARCHED WINDOW (Episode 13) Hold on tight to Humpty’s arm as Alex and his minions joyfully pull you into the house via an inappropriate entrance towards a happy nightmare of electric brass and seaside memories.

Wednesday, 30 October 2019

MFZ CEEFAX REVIEW - MEADOWSILVER SINGLES




Stannard and Co. have made an ESOTERIC MUSICAL TREAT
MEADOWSILVER LEAD THE DANCE 122
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
ON MEADOWSILVER TONIGHT
5:00   MIDSUMMERS QUEEN (Episode 1) The Midsummer Queen is coming and all will   bow before her. As she glides towards you a group of Futureworld   residents play for the Delos Medieval World banquet with their   charmingly anachronistic   instruments from the time to come.
6:15   FAIR SAPPHIRE (Episode 6) The haunting tones of Gayle Brogan weave a
  magical spell as the Meadowsilver Minstrels raise a lost spirit   forgotten for many millennia. Nothing is left unsaid.
7.00  THE CORONATION OF THE HERRING QUEEN (Special event) Families from   across this fair land, clad in their coronation masks, will be gathered   around their flickering sets tonight to celebrate the crowning of the   Herring   Queen. I am kneeling. Are you?
8.15  SHE CASTS HER SPELL (Education) With a whisper from the earth Grey   Malkin demonstrates how to use a Mellotron to cast a successful love   spell. Prepare your potions. (Recipe details on page 471.)
10.15  HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN (Film) Truly Scrumptious and Carratacus Potts eat the   fruit of the Mushroom Tree and, possessed by the spirits of   Meadowsilver, set light to the stars in an orgiastic lullaby of fractal   swirls.

Tuesday, 1 January 2019

Wyrd Kalendar: Launch Day! The Wyrd Kalendar Album is Released

Wyrd Kalendar: Launch Day! The Wyrd Kalendar Album is Released: You can buy the album right here, right now... WYRD KALENDAR Released by Mega Dodo Edited and curated by Chris Lamb...

Wednesday, 31 October 2018

Wyrd Kalendar: The Wyrd Artists Mix

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Friday, 26 October 2018

Wyrd Kalendar: Wyrd Kalendar Album Available for Pre-Order

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