Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain found The Raincoats’ can-do, English art school playfulness as invigorating as Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon did their dismissal of gender stereotypes. Nominally still under punk’s umbrella, The Raincoats’ second album, from 1980, featured then forbidden art rock drummers Robert Wyatt and This Heat’s Charles Hayward, betraying wider influences.
Tempos and moods mutate mid-stream. Instruments shift from rhythm to lead at will. Barrier breaking Seventies feminist theory is made flesh. Songs stretch and compress in breathless conversational patterns, like someone’s thrilling undergrad big sister in punk trousers, back briefly from London, and telling you all about the world.
A classic.
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Hiewy, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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John Robins, Comedian
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Guest1001, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Peter Fears, Twitter