Lazy Gramophones Journals

There's a fridge magnet in my kitchen which depicts a finger with a bow tied round and declares 'If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.' I noticed it as I put some milk away while making a couple of cups of tea. Taking one of the brews to my housemate I saw on her bookshelf a blue spine boasting 'ways to improve your memory.' This struck a chord within me. I had never thought of lying as a helpful memory training exercise until now. I have always been defensive about lying. Being quite 'economical with the truth' myself, I suppose in a way I am a bit of an advocate for liars (not you Tony Blair; you dug your... read more

When pondering over the subject for this post I realised that in fact, I had jumped the gun a bit and rather like Star Wars, I needed to backtrack a little and set the canvas for the picture I am going to paint first. So, this is both part 2 and part 0, and it's not often you can say that. Going right back, I always had a problem with being told what to do, I always asked "Why?” and even if I could see the sense in something, I wouldn't do it. Why? Because if I'd been told to, it was a must, if it was a must it was surely a chore. Conversely, if I was told not to do something, I knew it was because it was really good... read more

Short, honest reviews you can rely on (as much as the government). Paranormal Activity (2007) "As far as couples home movies go, this is a bit lame. The upside of it all is that you get a choice of 3 outcomes" 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) "In space no one can hear you snore" Crash (1996) "There's something for everyone here" Trainspotting (1996) "My opinion of this film is biased due to a gross misunderstanding" Dancer in the Dark (2008) "A rollicking frolicking musical" Jacob's Ladder (1990) "Even Macaulay Culkin can't salvage this predictable farce about a man's dying moments" ... read more

Earlier this year when I was first sent the script for Pawnography I couldn't possibly imagine writing songs about 'Love' for a play about 'Love' and genuinely had no idea how or why writer/director Tracy Keeling had even thought of me when finding a composer/songwriter to write for the piece. I was challenged to write a song about 'Love' about two years ago, having been long-known to have kicked the subject of 'Love' to the kerb many many moons ago for being over-used and ill-expressed by too many. Naturally, I wanted to leave this subject matter well alone. Little did I know that a few pages into reading the play for the first time I would be so... read more

(Title image: Space, by Lee Miller) This journal is the third in a series of pieces I expect to write about those certain 'elements' of life that inspire and influence my writing. I think it's important to acknowledge these elements, as essentially they represent the root of our craft, they are the seeds that precede the fruit of our labour, the 'components' without which our thoughts, our images, our music, our words, simply would not exist. I hope you enjoy my ramblings and in return I would love to hear all about the things that inspire and influence you. After all, "without sharing, the imagination becomes little more than an echo... read more

Short, honest reviews you can rely on (as much as the government). Sex and the City (2008) "A Flawed Masterpiece" Sunshine Cleaning (2008) "Laugh...I nearly shat myself" The Passion of the Christ (2004) "A subtle portrayal of one man's torment" Dude, Where's My Car (2000) "Genius" Citizen Kane (1941) "Citizen Kane, is particularly Lame" The Blair Witch Project (1999) "Unashamedly unoriginal, uninspired and unrealistic. Just follow the river you effing idiots!" Irreversible (2002) "Enchanting...one for the ladies" Team America: World Police (2004) "Move over... read more

With the release of 'Skeletons in the Closet' our minds are now turned towards the next in this Lazy Gramophone Shorts series. The theme of this next booklet is 'Guilt'. We will be asking 6 artists to create an image based on or inspired by this theme. The finished images will then be passed onto a writer who will interpret the image into a short story or poem. The resulting pieces will be printed in a beautiful booklet with a letter pressed cover and high quality digital internal print to be released this autumn. We are looking to find an illustrator and a writer to submit work with the chance of being included in the booklet. Illustrators:... read more

Matt Black is a long-time collaborator and member of Lazy Gramophone, contributing illustrations to our many publications, displaying work at our events - especially the successful ICA show in 2008 - as well as offering constant advice and critique. This month we have asked Matt a few questions to hopefully shed some further light on his dark arts. --- Lazy Gramophone: Chicken or egg? Matt Black: I am quite partial to both, but not at the same time. You can't beat a good dipping egg with soldiers though. LG: What's wrong with society today? MB: Don't get me started.... read more

"Six writers were asked to create a short piece of writing based on the theme of "Skeletons in the Closet". These writers were then teamed up with six artists and illustrators who were, in turn, asked to create an image based on or inspired by that piece of writing. ... and this is the result." So, our forthcoming limited edition print of Skeletons in the Closet, the first in the revival of the Lazy Gramophone shorts series, is almost upon us. Here at LG Studios we have been frantically working away on the letter... read more

It's been a long time coming and will be a long time here. The Record Industry is changing. No. It has changed. Beyond all recognition and predictability. It seems as though the people have finally spoken and are voting with their feet... OK, er, fingers, as the shift to digital download continues in the face of the Industry's attempts to halt it in its tracks, pardon the pun. Strange that so many have yet to cotton on to this and still rely on 'Who's signed to Who' as a mark of quality and calibre in an artist. No sir. Those days are long gone. Why not ask yourself: Who's our generation's Stevie Wonder? Who's our Pink Floyd? Who's our Bob Dylan? Kate... read more