The Screaming Target Archive number 1 – The Birthday Party
The Screaming Target returns from their hiatus of reviewing albums, to write about the now legendary Birthday Party gig at the Warehouse club.
Reviews
Under the Bridge – A Liverpool Mystery
Ritchie Hunter reviews the book Under the Bridge – A Liverpool Mystery by Jack Byrne, a story of corruption, secret police and sectarianism.
Time For Magic: A Shamanarchist’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year
Tommy Calderbank reviews the book ‘Time For Magic: A Shamanarchist’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year by the late, great Jamie Reid, which will have its Liverpool launch on 16th July, 7-8.30 at The Florrie.
Kinds of Kindness (18)
Nick Daly reviews the black comedy film Kinds of Kindness, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone and William Dafoe, screening at FACT from July 5th 2024.
Boys From The Blackstuff
Richard Lewis reviews the production of Boys From The Blackstuff, the landmark drama initially broadcast on BBC2 in 1982, performed at the Royal Court till 11th May.
Challengers (15)
Nick Daly reviews the new sports drama film Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya, showing at FACT from April 26th 2024.
The Legend of Ned Ludd
Neil Morrin reviews the play The Legend of Ned Ludd which explores what happens when machines make decisions rather than humans, on at the Everyman Theatre until May 11th.
The Smoky God by Neil Campbell
Tommy Calderbank reviews The Smoky God, the new album by Neil Campbell. based on the book The Smoky God, or a Voyage Journey to the Inner Earth by Willis George Emerson.
Romeo 660 by Ian Cantwell and Marty Snape
Tommy Calderbank reviews Romeo 660, the new album by Ian Cantwell and Marty Snape.
Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge Final
Rob Harrison reviews the final of the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge, now in its thirteenth year, held at Leaf on Bold Street.
Poor Things (18)
Nick Daly reviews the new film Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and adapted from a novel by Alasdair Gray, showing at Picturehouse, Liverpool.
Keys to the Forest: A Poetic Journey by Tom George
Sandra Gibson reviews Keys to the Forest: A Poetic Journey, a compilation of poems by Tom George, with illustrations by Jennie Wishart.
Those Roads
Rob Harrison reviews Those Roads, a new song by Úna Quinn and Neil Campbell, specially commissioned by the Liverpool Irish Festival 2023.
La Feria Festival Launch
Valeria Denegri reviews the launch of La Feria, the festival of Latin American Arts and Culture held at the Unity Theatre.
Siapiau – Pi – 161CD (2023)
Rob Harrison reviews the new album by Siapiau, an improvisational quartet who have been playing together in different formats for over twenty years. For this new project all that experience is put to good use in a blend of poetry and free jazz in this excellent CD from Discus records.
Barbie (12A)
Dave Routley reviews the new blockbuster film Barbie when he all wanted to do was watch Oppenheimer.
Burnt Rain by Roc Sandford
Tracey Dunn reviews the book Burnt Rain, a powerful, compelling polemic by veteran eco-protestor Roc Sandford.
Asteroid City (12A)
Nick Daly reviews Asteroid City, the new film directed by Wes Anderson and showing at Picturehouse.
The Hit List – July 2023
The Screaming Target strays into free jazz and ambient soundtracks territory this month with local musicians Malchamech and Neil Campbell.
John Robb – The Art of Darkness
The Screaming Target visits The British Music Experience to catch John Robb talk about his new book, The Art of Darkness, and hear tales of Liverpool “Goff culture”.
The Hit List – March 2023
Welcome back to The Screaming Target, the home of new releases, and the hits just keep coming as we head into the new year with Cymande, Mary Elizabeth Remington, Everything but the Girl and others.
What Are You Going To Do With 390 Photographs of Christmas Trees?
Nicholas Couchman reviews the screening of Lawrie Vause’s animation “What Are You Going To Do With 390 Photographs of Christmas Trees?” held at Granby Winter Garden.
Poetry from the Edgelands of the Mersey: Greg Quiery’s poetry collection Oglet
Cornelia Gräbner reviews Oglet, a collection of poems by Greg Quiery based on visits to edgelands on the banks of the river Mersey.
Imagine Living by Deborah Morgan
Sandra Gibson reviews the new book by Deborah Morgan, Imagine Living, the sequel to her acclaimed novel, Disappearing Home.
Empire of Light (15)
Chris Doran reviews the British romantic drama film Empire of Light, written and directed by Sam Mendes and starring Olivia Coleman.
Babylon (18)
Nick Daly reviews the period comedy drama film Babylon, written and directed by Damien Chazelle and screening at Picturehouse.
The Screaming Target Christmas List
Welcome to the Christmas Screaming Target featuring two new releases from Christine and the Queens and NoSo and another nostalgia trip with some ideas for Christmas presents.
Experimental Folk Review
Tommy Calderbank reviews The Experimental Folk night held at the Unitarian Church and featuring Lotus Blossoms, She’s In The Trees and Feral Wheel.
The Hit List – November 2022
The Screaming Target presents the new reviews this time featuring new releases from Neil Campbell and Nicola Collarbone, and American singer songwriter Kramies.
Neil Campbell – Faldum
Tommy Calderbank reviews Faldum, the new album by Liverpool composer and multi-instrumentalist Neil Campbell, released on November 4th.
Don’t Worry Darling (15)
Nick Daly reviews the psychological thriller film directed by Olivia Wilde, Don’t Worry Darling.
Review of Cellular Vessel
Ritchie Hunter reviews an absorbing film about rhythm and health and how a community copes with living next to the main arterial route for freight in and out of the Port of Liverpool.
Nope (15)
Nick Daly reviews the sci-fi western film Nope, directed by Jordan Peele and screening at Picturehouse.
1972, the year music rocked
The Screaming Target takes time off from new reviews to wallow shamelessly in a heady nostalgia trip.
Review of Asteroid by Graculus
The Screaming Target reviews the album Asteroid by Graculus, featuring improvisations and electronic re-imagining. Graculus, named after the weird bird in Noggin the Nog, are based in Liverpool.
The Hit List – May – June 2022
The Screaming Target returns to cover the new releases from May and June, what a mixed bag we have for you for this month….
A-Z of St Helens – Places – People – History
Colin Serjent reviews the book A-Z of St Helens by local author Sue Gerrard who reveals the history behind St Helens, its streets and buildings.
The Archaeology of Merseyside in 20 Digs
Colin Serjent reviews the book, The Archaeology of Merseyside in 20 Digs, written by Liz Stewart and Vanessa Oakden who explore the stories of Merseyside’s past from mesolithic to modern times.
The Hit List – April 2022
The Screaming Target reviews the new selection of releases from March to April. It’s a mixed bag, to be sure, but well worth checking out.
The Hit List – March 2022
Music reviews by The Screaming Target of the past releases from January and February 2022 including Walt Disco, NoSo and Drug Couple.
A-Z of The Wirral: Places-People-History
Colin Serjent reviews the book by Les Jones, A-Z of The Wirral: Places-People-History, which delves into the history of the peninsula highlighting well-known landmarks and famous residents and its hidden places of interest.
The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Concert (12A)
Colin Serjent reviews The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Concert, the film of the concert on the roof of Apple Corps on January 30th, 1969, showing at Picturehouse, Liverpool.
Cow (12A)
Colin Serjent reviews Cow, the documentary film directed by Andrea Arnold which follows the daily life of a Holstein dairy cow called Luma.
The Hit List – December 2021 – Part 2
This is the last lot of music reviews before Christmas, featuring post-punk hustlers from Cumbria and some home-grown improvising free jazz musicians from our Liverpool home.
The Hit List – December 2021
When he’s not been doing his Christmas shopping The Screaming Target has been busy writing album reviews, here are two for December, the albums Crawler by IDLES and Huffy by We Are Scientists.
Neil Campbell’s ‘The Great Escape’
Tommy Calderbank reviews The Great Escape, the new album by one of Liverpool’s finest guitarists, Neil Campbell.
Liverpool: The Postcard Collection
Colin Serjent reviews the book by Alan Spree, Liverpool: The Postcard Collection, which showcases a selection of beautiful old postcards from the late nineteenth century to the 1940s.
Van Gogh Alive
Sandra Gibson reviews Van Gogh Alive, the immersive multi-sensory experience on at Media City, Salford Quays till January 23rd 2022.
The Hit List – October 2021
Music reviews by The Screaming Target who has been quiet this last month, but the music as ever hasn’t and there’s some new stuff to wrap your ears around including Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Parcels and Nadia Sheikh.
Maple Glider – To Enjoy is the Only Thing
Rob Harrison reviews the debut album by Maple Glider, To Enjoy is the Only Thing, out now on Partisan Records.
The Truffle Hunters (12A)
Colin Serjent reviews the documentary The Truffle Hunters, filmed over a three year period in the Piedmont region in north western Italy it follows the elderly men and their dogs who make a living from harvesting the rare Alba Truffle.
Gunda (PG)
Colin Serjent reviews the documentary film Gunda made by Russian director Victor Kossakovsky which follows the daily life of a pig with its litter and its farm animal companions.
Birkenhead Reflections
Colin Serjent reviews Birkenhead Reflections, the new book by Ian Collard, where historic and modern images are merged to show the changes in Birkenhead through the decades.
The Hit List – May 2021
The Screaming Target discusses how the pandemic has affected the music industry, and also reviews some of the latest tunes reaching the Nerve office.
The Hit List – March 2021, Part 2
Hey ho, here we are still in March, and still they come, The Screaming Target reviews a second batch of releases before they slip through the net.