Latest 7 magazine

A weekly review of local and national releases

Recorded with Bjorn (of Peter, Bjorn and John), Youth Novels by Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li is a stripped back yet glowing affair featuring harpsichords, flutes and theremins as well as guitars and drums. The childlike vocals of Li beguile within the emotionally direct chronicles of her life so far. A bit over-long, sometimes a little stylised, nevertheless a superbly constructed album.

New Orleans most famous son, Dr John is back with a new album; City That Care Forgot is a somewhat bitter yet elegant homage to his drowned hometown. One of his best works for many years there’s the never tiring collection of barrelhouse funk, gospel and blues-inflected tunes. Special guests include Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Ani DiFranco.

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Still with plenty to say after all these years Paul Heaton recently called it a day with Beautiful South. Jeff Hemmings took notes.

After 18-years, ten top ten albums and innumerable hits, Paul Heaton decided to call it day at a band meeting on 30 January 2008. The Beautiful South had proved to be one of the biggest bands of their time, with their trademark bittersweet, kitchen-sink dramas. “It was my decision,” says Paul, who is now striking out as a solo artist. “It was difficult to tell everyone, even the brass section! It was more of a social wrench, not a musical wrench. I was beginning to realise how many in-jokes and innuendos we had as a band – I just needed a change.”

Paul has a new album The Cross-Eyed Rambler, and there’s a short tour to back it up. “It’s great; with the Beautiful South we were getting a bit spoilt with hotels and such. Now it’s back to B&Bs,” he laughs. “I suppose there are plenty of good ones in Brighton!”

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Victoria Nangle finds that, increasingly, what will make you laugh on stage won’t be traditional stand-up

You know what’s great about laughter? It can come from the most unlikely of places. I love a good set-up-and-punch gag as much as the next gal; the carefully crafted joke without an extra word to spare – it’s a work of art. But there is something else that you can find on the comedy circuits which people are either loving or hating, and I have no name for it. It’s just someone – or some people – being funny in a format that just doesn’t fit the mould of what we know.

“The audience has no idea why they’re laughing. It just works”

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He’s responsible for creating one of the most wellknown flags in the world. Paul Disney meets up with Gilbert Baker, the creator of the Rainbow Flag

Describe yourself in three words?
Artist, loving and political.

Who, if anyone, do you aspire to?
There’s so many people, that’s a tough one. Harvey Milk springs to mind. He had so much courage, charisma and had a real sense of presence to the people around him.

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