Francis Spufford: Light Perpetual review - time regained
A visionary novel of postwar London restores life to the victims of war
On 25 November 1944, a German V2 rocket struck the Woolworths store in New Cross at Saturday lunchtime. It killed 168 people. Francis Spufford’s second novel begins with this “hairline crack” in existence; a mere nanosecond of high-explosive combustion, “measurably tiny, immeasurably vast”. In a matter-dissolving flash, it closes the book of time for five of the small children in the shop.
Album: Goat Girl - On All Fours
South London hipsters meander through 2021’s big issues
The Hermes Experiment, Wigmore Hall online review - innovative and uplifting
Much exciting music being made by, and written for, this talented young quartet
Fast making a name for themselves in contemporary chamber music, The Hermes Experiment players here give a wonderful debut recital at the Wigmore Hall, With a range of pieces as eclectic as their line up – harp, soprano, double bass and clarinet – the quartet perform a multifarious array of works, from Lili Boulanger’s lilting, soothing "Reflets" to composer and
It's a Sin, Channel 4 review - poignant, funny, vibrant masterpiece
Russell T Davies's deep and shapely drama about the impact of AIDS on 1980s London
Finally, it seems, the time is right for a major British TV drama about how the AIDS crisis hit the early 1980s London gay scene.
Album: Bicep - Isles
Dance music to raise lockdown spirits
Apartment House, Wigmore Hall online review - introspective music for isolated times
Serene lockdown listening in three concerts dedicated to Morton Feldman
Another year, another lockdown. Though I have little doubt this was not the way most us of hoped to start 2021, we can at least be grateful that we’re not suffering quite the same drought of live music we experienced back in March. Despite the stringent restrictions, many venues and ensembles are able to offer an array of live and recorded streams, something which wasn’t possible in the UK at the start of the first lockdown.
Gabrieli Consort, McCreesh online review - joyous Bach Christmas Oratorio
Pared-down reading makes for an immersive experience
After the main portion of the Voces8 Live from London Christmas festival revelled in the variety of its groups and repertoire, the final stretch allowed a single group to explore a single masterpiece by a great composer.
Bridgerton, Netflix review - bodice-ripper cliches recycled in Regency romp
Mixed-race historical mashup is entertaining but shallow
Living Newspaper: A Counter Narrative, Royal Court online review – the news, but better
The Royal Court’s experimental piece is political theatre at its finest and fiercest
Edition 2 of Living Newspaper: A Counter Narrative, an experimental new piece of online theatre from the Royal Court, doesn’t mess around. Within minutes, a cry of "Tory scum" is echoing around the Jerwood Theatre – the refrain of an anarchic musical number presided over by a mannequin painted blue, wearing a shaggy blond wig.