Hockney broke social taboos by celebrating same-sex relationships in his art – often by depicting the quiet, everyday moments of gay domestic life.
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The pop star reminisces about his X Factor audition, which took place near Wembley Stadium in 2010.
MONO
Snowdrop (Temporary Residence)
Like The Twilight Sad’s It’s The Long Goodbye, Mono’s 13th album is a coming to terms with a death in the family. Steve Albini may not have been a blood relation, but the Japanese band’s friend and producer was as good as.
In many ways, the album’s title is perfectly chosen, suiting the specific circumstances and encapsulating Mono’s general modus operandi. Snowdrops symbolise beauty, elegance and fragility but also hang their heads as though weighed down by a heavy burden. What’s more, they flower in the winter but herald the first stirrings of spring.
But there the analogy breaks down because Snowdrop’s grandiose instrumentals offer few glimpses of anything fresh or new. The title track delivers an undeniable thrill when the guitars crash in, but overall this is well-trodden turf for a band who pointedly reject the ‘post-rock’ tag in interviews while enthusiastically embracing all of the genre’s core signifiers. Gerbera is the standout, but perhaps primarily because it could have been written to order for salivating ad execs in need of soundtrack material.
words BEN WOOLHEAD
Noughts & Crosses author Malorie Blackman and Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson are made dames, as the rugby league star is knighted.
Stars of the hit TV show say they did not know their on-screen husbands had previous convictions.
The sale has been filled with contention, from Paramount’s battle with Netflix over the company to scrutiny over industry consolidation and worries about politics. David Ellison, the leader of Paramount, is the son of Larry Ellison, a donor to President Donald Trump.
HAWKWIND
Psychedelic Selection (Cherry Red)
Hawkwind has always been a revolving door of musicians, and space-rock veteran and founder member Dave Brock is back with a 15-song album showcasing the band’s current line-up. Musically, it’s difficult to fault this latest offering, but I found myself questioning why Psychedelic Selection needed to exist.
Sides one and two consist primarily of reworkings of classic songs such as Hurry On Sundown – the last recording made with late guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton – and The Demented Man from the album Warrior On The Edge Of Time. This is where the Psychedelic Selections falls short. The phrase ‘if it ain’t broke, why fix it?’ springs to mind, and these reworkings sent me running back to the originals.
It isn’t until side three that the album truly comes into its own, with a collection of dynamic new tracks that capture the spirit of Hawkwind at their best – including the standout Goonhilly Downs, a heavy, hypnotic instrumental, and Oceans Spiral, with its jazzy piano. With original material of this quality, it begs the question: why did the band need to revisit old ground at all?
words LYNDA NASH
Alison O’Donnell, one of the original cast, says she wanted to explore other acting opportunities.
The Canadian-born artist will be performing her official Fifa song at the Toronto opening ceremony.
The Bradford-born artist, who has died at 88, was one of the most influential artists of the modern era.