Plutonic Rainbows

Alexi Navalny Biography

October 12, 2024

This is Alexei Navalny’s life in his own words: his Soviet childhood, political awakening, his marriage and beloved family, his total commitment to taking on a corrupt regime and his enduring love of Russia and its people. His 2020 poisoning by the Russian security services was a global news event. In 2024 he died in a brutal Siberian prison. He began writing Patriot whilst recovering from his poisoning; it ends with his prison diaries, seen here for the first time.

We witness the growth of his nationwide support. We see his many arrests and harassment and, in stunning detail, the attempt on his life. We understand why he felt he had to return to Russia. In prison, he shows a spirit and a sense of humour that cannot be crushed.

Patriot is the exhilarating life story of one of the most fearless and inspiring figures of our time, who became a beacon to millions and the sole political threat to Vladimir Putin.

Religious Equipment

October 12, 2024

Richie Culver's debut full-length album under his Quiet Husband alias, 'Religious Equipment' on independent Jordan-based label Drowned By Locals.

'Religious Equipment' drills deep into the gritty depths of industrial techno and noise, pulling no punches with a set of tracks named after opiate blockers or substitute drugs like Methadone and Subutex, which serve as sonic stand-ins for suppressed urges, blurring the line between resistance and surrender. Fresh from his live assault at Berlin's Atonal Festival, the album draws on the brutal, repetitive rhythms of techno, while spoken word passages — including one featuring his mother — cut through the chaos with a deeply personal narrative. From the gates of hell to the empty solace of noise, 'Religious Equipment' paints a harrowing portrait of addiction and substitution, where noise becomes a proxy for silence, and intensity replaces numbness.

The album drops on 22nd November 2024.

Nihon Hidankyo

October 11, 2024

Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors, has won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. Known as hibakusha, the survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been recognised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

I think this comes at a very unstable time, especially with the current conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. I think the committee are sending a message and maybe a warning.

Propaganda

October 06, 2024

This Friday sees the return of one of my favourite bands of all time, Propaganda. It features the principal songwriting partnership of Ralf Dörper and Michael Mertens.

Forty years since their inception, and almost two decades since their last release, art-synth auteurs Propaganda return with a brand new chapter in their enthralling story. This self-titled set from principal songwriting partnership Ralf Dörper and Michael Mertens embodies the depth and drama of their early work, while exploring fresh sounds and styles, and reflecting the personal and societal changes since their last outing. Conceived and crafted entirely in their native Düsseldorf, a deliberate decision to help them stay true to themselves, and featuring guest appearances from the acclaimed Hauschka and ascendant Thunder Bae, this is Propaganda at their most essential.

Megalopolis (2024)

October 05, 2024

I just got back from watching this. I did actually enjoy it. For me, there were a lot of universal themes shimmering beneath the surface. It felt like these are things the director, Francis Ford Coppola, is perhaps also occupied with. It is a truly beautiful movie to look at and has some trademark styles and cues that certainly make it feel like a Coppola movie. To be honest, I don’t understand why so many critics have dismissed it.

At times, the film is totally incoherent and yet mesmerising. I think perhaps that is the real allure of this movie.