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Martin Aston
Author & Journalist
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Hercules & Love Affair, Attitude, 2010
When disco collective Hercules & Love Affair released its second album Blue Songs , I interviewed head honcho Andy Butler, who gave the...
MA
Feb 4, 201811 min read


Flying Nun: The untold story of a trailblazing indie label, The Vinyl Factory, 2016
At its peak, Flying Nun was New Zealand’s Rough Trade, Mute, Factory and 4AD all rolled into one; and yet the label remains tragically...
MA
Feb 2, 20181 min read


Dylan at Newport: The Other Side of the Mirror, Radio Times, 2007
I first wrote about Bob Dylan for Radio Times in 2005 when BBC's Arena strand showcased Martin Scorcese's No Direction Home, about, "a...
MA
Feb 1, 201810 min read


An introduction to Tim Buckley in ten records, The Vinyl Factory, 2016
To mark fifty years since his debut album and this week’s release of unearthed demos via Light In The Attic , I told the tale of one of...
MA
Feb 1, 20181 min read


Gary Oldman, Neon, 1998
In 1998, I interviewed British actor Gary Oldman, fresh from his directorial debut, the grim, harrowing Nil By Mouth . Yet his latest...
MA
Jan 11, 201815 min read


Derek Jarman, Planet magazine, 1991
In 1991, I interviewed the British film director Derek Jarman for the New Zealand arts magazine Planet, after he'd made Edward II, based...
MA
Jan 10, 20189 min read


Pulp – live review, Melody Maker, 1986
My ‘Pulp years’ began here, with a live review in 1986, for Melody Maker. It was the first step towards what became a book published in...
MA
Jan 9, 20181 min read


John Grant: Queen Of Denmark MOJO LP of 2010
John Grant’s debut solo album Queen Of Denmark deservedly won MOJO Magazine’s album of 2010. I interviewed him about the MOJO victory...
MA
Jan 9, 20185 min read


Queens Of Country, Radio Times, 2005
Linked to the BBC documentary on the “Queens” of country music, I interviewed country superstar Tanya Tucker, DJ Bob Harris and...
MA
Jan 1, 20188 min read


How Music Came Out, The Vinyl Factory, 2017
15 records by unsung LGBTQ+ pioneers In 2015, I wrote about Jackie Shane for my book, Breaking Down the Walls Of Heartache: How Music...
MA
Oct 26, 20171 min read


How Music Came Out: at Spiritland, Oct 15th
October 15 7pm: Spiritland's killer sound system presents the forgotten queer pioneers of popular music, such as Fred Barnes, Gene Malin,...
MA
Sep 1, 20171 min read


Martin Hannett: an introduction in ten records, The Vinyl Factory, 2017
Chris Hewitt’s new book, Martin Hannett: His Equipment And Strawberry Studios , has inspired a ten-record introduction to the late,...
MA
Mar 22, 20171 min read


Lush, 4AD Foreword, 2016
Lush's announcement of their first shows in 20 years had a different ring than comparative band reformations because of what brought them...
MA
Aug 26, 20161 min read


Tanya Donnelly: Rhode Island Odyssey, 4AD Foreword, 2016
From Throwing Muses to The Breeders to Belly to solo-world, to reunions; it's been quite a trip for Tanya Donnelly. Here is my 4AD...
MA
May 5, 20161 min read
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