Woah!  Second mailout in a week (don’t worry this ain’t going to become a habit)! 

But, as you will have hopefully seen already, my new book, Domesticated Vol.1 is available on pre-order now from Earth Island Books here. You should get one; you might like it! 

AND…DRUM ROLL……

New The Domestics Album: ‘East Anglian Hardcore’

The long-awaited new album from The Domestics is up for pre-order from TODAY!!!  It’s called ‘East Anglian Hardcore’* and you can get it on vinyl (black or white) or CD.  The CD version also has our previous album, ‘Cherry Blossom Life’ on it, as that’s only ever been released on vinyl and is sold out anyway.  The vinyl version of the album comes with a 16 page A4 lyric/artwork book, which also includes the chords to all the songs…I (eagerly?) await a tidal wave of cover versions – HA! 

New 'East Anglian Hardcore' T Shirts 

There are also new t-shirts (again, black or white), with the album cover artwork on the front and a cool new backprint on the, er, back. 

New ‘East Anglian Hardcore’ Patches 

Not only that, but there’s a new ‘long’ patch which will look great on your jacket, or anywhere else you care to put it.  Only £2.50 (and with free postage if ordered with anything else!). 

Fun Competition! Win a 7”! 

FINALLY, there’s a fun competition draw to win one of just 8 (yes, you read that right! EIGHT!) 7”s.  You get one entry ticket into the prize draw for each CD or vinyl copy of ‘East Anglian Hardcore’, or ‘East Anglian Hardcore’ t-shirt you order during the pre-order period. 1 item = 1 ticket, 2 items = 2 tickets, 3 items = 3 tickets etc. – as many as you want! The one caveat is that once your name is pulled out of the hat and you’ve won a copy of the 7”, that’s it – you can only win ONE of the 8 7”s.  This seems fair and gives people a chance to win one. It’s a bit of fun; let’s not be dicks about it.  

OK, that’s enough for now.  Go and get some East Anglian Hardcore goodness into your lives! 

*It's the best thing we've ever done.  Of course, I would say that.  But it is!

Evenin’!

Just an update on a new thing seeing the light of day very shortly, and which I'm very excited about!

I have a book called Domesticated Vol.1 up for pre-order RIGHT NOW! 

It’s published by the excellent Earth Island Books, home of writers such as Ian Glasper (that whole series of books on different eras of UK punk are great; absolutely recommended if that’s of interest subject-wise), Tim Cundle (I recently read his ‘Compression’ novel, and an enjoyable read it was too), Welly Artcore (of Artcore fanzine infamy), Alex CF  (from the band, Fall of Efrafa), and David Gamage (ex-Couch Potatoes, Joeyfat, and Rydell) amongst many others.

Anyway, I think my book is an entertaining read.  It’s a bit of a scrapbook really, there are words, there are photos from gigs and tours, there are illustrations.  Some is angry, some humorous.  It’s definitely tapping into my inner ‘bastard offspring of John Cooper Clarke and Ivor Cutler’ and I couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out to be honest!

You can find out more, and order one here for the princely sum of just £9.99. Would be good if you did as I’m already working on a follow up, and if no one buys Vol.1, Vol.2 probably won’t get published! HAHA!

Anyway, hope you grab one and enjoy it. Earth Island are a really cool independent publisher and absolutely deserve a bit of your hard-earned.

Until next time.

Laters taters!

J

Mornin’! 

Today (18th) sees the start of a pre-order for a new limited edition 12".  It's a 5 song (21 minute) mini album by Domestic Curse, which is me and John Hewson (AKA Curse). The record is officially out on 30th November, so will likely be shipped around the 28th-ish. 

We've known each other for years as our respective bands have played together in the past, and finally our slow burner of a collaboration has come to pass on lovely shiny black vinyl, and it's called The Five Curses. 

This is what it says on the Kibou Records website: 

"Musically, we’re in electronic overload…think throbbing, whirring, and rattling synths, thumping kick drums, skeletal drum ‘n’ bass, chest-thumpin’ bottom end, and raw punk vocals in a long-form almost-stream-of-consciousness style; sneering and barbed.  

Lyrical targets include perpetual timewasters, thick-as-shit fascists, mid-life crisis melts, coked-up estate agents, serial exaggerators, and a culture that sees us annihilate ourselves on the regular as a means of fleeting escape.  All get a full-on verbal tongue-lashing. 

Dirty squatted warehouse music for clued up punks. Crank it waaaaaay up, ya cunts!" 

As far as I'm concerned, it's as punk as fuck and I'm so pleased with how it's turned out.  We've been working on these songs for several years on and off (in fairness probably more "off" than "on" as various major life events halted progress for many months, many times). 

Please grab a copy of the record here, here, or here. 

There's also a video for one of the songs, Marching On, here:

The 12" is also available from: 

Cimex Records (Sweden) 

Guerilla Vinyl (France) 

Autonomonster Records (UK) 

Charlie's Big Raygun Records (UK)

OK, I thought it was about time I did a super-quick update on activities: 

Well, last night I was on BBC Essex talking about a new poem. I’d had a message from them asking me to submit something, so I did a little endangered species/time travel piece called Your Grandkids Won’t Believe You.  I’ve just this minute added to the Kibou Records YouTube channel, you can check it out below, and listen to the radio show here (I’m on about at around 1:46/1:47ish if you're pushed for time). 

I also recently did a longer interview with Tim Cundle on the Mass Movement Presents… radio show, which was a lot of fun, and you can listen to it on catchup here. 

Oh, and I also did a nice little interview about the 'Cruor' book I did with Dave Cullern, and a bunch of other stuff with The Screever magazine – you can read that here. 

Finally, the Punks Listen book is out now, to which I was honoured to be asked to contribute alongside legends like Tim Burgess, Henry Rollins, Dick Lucas, Tim Pope, Viv Godard, and many many more.  All proceeds from the book go to support the efforts of The Red Cross helping refugees from war torn Ukraine.  It's a great read that I think any music fan would enjoy (and despite the title, it's not all about punk per se). Anyway, more info and purchase details from the Hope Collective Ireland here or Earth Island Books here.

New about the Domestic Curse 12” coming in a few weeks…

Just in case you were unaware...the Cruor book (co-written with Dave Cullern from Haest), has been out for a week or two.  It's picking up great reviews so far: 

"‘Cruor’ is a great little poetry book by two British punks; both enraged yet hopeful, but expressive in very different poetic voices. Definitely pick this up if punk poetry is your jam." (The Screever) 

"Two differing styles, both rooted in a tradition of challenging societal norms. Two writers who understand the disciplines required to effectively imbue their respective voices into the medium of poetry. By turns elemental, poignant, melancholic and absurd, this book is rich with the mosaic of life. If, like me, you have a strained, oftentimes sniffy relationship with poetry, I urge you to add this to your meagre collection. It’s for real." (Personal Punk) 

"Across 59 poems you get to explore author, their insight, personal thought and simply the intimate world around us through their eyes and experience with greater landscapes also ventured. Both Dave Cullern and James Domestic also lead you to look at your own experiences and thoughts in many ways. You may share their anger, disappointment, joy and laughter with life and as we found will definitely find the richest enjoyment within Cruor." (The Ringmaster Review) 

You can grab a copy from this store, or from Kibou Records here or here for a mere £7. 

More info, and a few samples here. 

Plus there are a few video readings on my Instagram 

Check it out.  It's "culture" innit.

Also, one of my bands, Tokyo Lungs has a new record out - a split 7" with Leicester's finest, Feral State - fast, noisy hardcore punk?  Yep! Grab one from here or here for a meagre £5 an' smash yer 'ouse up! I think this is our best recording thus far.

Anyway, that's all.  Over and out.

James

Hey! Stuff's a-happenin'! 

First up, I have a book of poetry on a short pre-order from today.  Well, that's misleading; I actually have half a book on a short pre-order from today, as Dave Cullern (Haest/Toxic Wotsit Records/The Dead Anyways) wrote half of it!

Books will be shipped on, or around, 19th September 2022 (as will anything else on the same order, obviously!). 

I've had the odd poem published previously, but not for a while, and Dave has had a few books out over the past few years...we thought it'd be cool to team up and do a 'split' book, with each of us writing half each.  The front cover is a section of one of my paintings, which is still available in the store.

In its 100 pages we take on everything from ageing disgracefully to toxic masculinity, politics to love, conspiracy theorists to fake punks, and celebrities to Brexiteers, all written with the same raw, honest voices that both are respectively known for in their lyrics. Some reflective, some downright funny.

Anyway, over the 10 day pre-order period you'll see myself and Dave reading selected poems from the book on our respective Facebook and Instagram pages, if that floats your boat.

With just 100 copies in the first print run, you should probably grab one while you can from here, here, or here.

In other news, one of my side-projects, TOKYO LUNGS, has a new 7" E.P. out - another split actually! We're on one side, and Leicester's finest, FERAL STATE are on the flip.  Just 500 copies worldwide. Pure UK hardcore punk. Fast and raw!!! Grab one here, or here.  You can check it out here (please subscribe to the Kibou Records YouTube channel while you're there).

Cheers!

James

Happy Friday, everyone. I’m insanely behind with everything, as I only got back from two weeks in Murcia in the early hours of yesterday, but my new single, Holiday, comes out today on all the usual platforms. 

For me, one of the most exciting things about this is that GMPMSK have done an amazingly good remix of Holiday.  If you’re unaware, GMPMSK is Dave Ellesmere (ex-DISCHARGE, DR & THE CRIPPENS, DISGUST, FLUX OF PINK INDIANS etc.) who has been making electronic music under many different aliases in Berlin for 20 years now. If you’re into dub with a serious SCIENTIST / LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY / MASSIVE ATTACK / KING TUBBY feel, I reckon you’ll love this. 

If you’re a Spotify user, you can find the standard version here, and the GMPMSK Dub Remix here.

There's a video for each version too: Holiday (Standard Version), and Holiday (GMPMSK Dub Mix).

As ever, it’d be really cool if you could take a few seconds to share this stuff around…the “reach” for DIY artists on most affordable online platforms is pitiful these days…if people don’t share this stuff, hardly anyone sees it! 

Oh yeah, and The Domestics play at Dean Lane Hardcore Fun Day in Bristol on 3rd September. 

Should be an update on the book I’m doing with Dave Cullern next time…it’s just gone to the printers.  

Laters 

James

PS: Vinyl and download versions of the Carrion Repeating album (which includes Holiday) available from the store on THIS site or from here.

Holy shit!  It’s June already!  

OK, so a quick update on activities:  

Loads more great reviews coming on for Carrion Repeating – I’m probably jinxing myself by saying this, but every single review has been amazing – which is gratifying to say the least.  Latest ones include the U.S. blog Faster and Louder (“One of the year's finest LPs!"), RNR Magazine (“Laser-sharp observations of the current absurdities of the human condition delivered with razor-sharp, venomous wit and intelligent post-punk poetics”), Louder Than War (“The absurdity of first world problems is highlighted here with both venom and humour”), German magazine, Ox Fanzine ("The HC-Punk Master himself, now with an exceptional solo album”), and Gadgie (“One of the more unusual and interesting releases that have arrived at the Thrash Parlour of late. Recommended for you weirdoes out there"). You can read all of the album reviews in full here.  

In other news, there’s a three page interview with yours truly in Safety Pin Magazine, and in the aforementioned Ox Fanzine (“fanzine” always seems a little misleading for this title as it’s a widely available magazine), in addition to the excellent review of Carrion Repeating, Faze Out is on the cover-mounted compilation CD. Wallop!  

In other news, the next gig for my bunch of noisy ‘erberts, The Domestics, is Poison Fest in Brighton on 18th June. If you fancy it fast and loud, we’ll see you there.

James

OK, so here’s an update on stuff… 

The great reviews keep coming for Carrion Repeating, including in the latest issue of, er, Issue, and U.S. mag, Razorcake.  And plenty of radio play too on Louder Than War, Pulsebeat, Laura Beth’s Mixtape Show and more 

Also, should be in the next issue of Safety Pin magazine, whenever that’s out.  Did you see the review and article in Vive Le Rock? Nice to be on the shelves of WH Smiths again!  

This weekend sees me and my noisy compadres, THE DOMESTICS, play gigs in a few places, so if you like fast hardcore punk with shout-along choruses, try one of these on for size: 

Friday 20th May: Red Lion, Stevenage 

Saturday 21st May: The Birdcage (at The Festing), Southsea 

Sunday 22nd May: The Maypole, Derby (it’s a matinée and runs 3pm – 8pm so don’t be late!) 

After having to cancel five gigs over three weekends due to me/Dan the guitarist having Covid, we’re chomping at the bit! I’ve put on a fucking ton of weight over Covid and am a bit embarrassed by it to be honest, so just remember, an ego this size bruises easily (so you don’t need to mention it, OK). Haha! 

ALSO (1)…I’ve been working on an electronic project with John Hewson, ex-of Essex/Suffolk legends The 5 String Dropout Band (a band that could and should have done so much more but remained a well-kept secret)…the project is called DOMESTIC CURSE and we’ve just finished the mix on a 5 song, 23 minute 12”, tentatively titles ‘Five Curses’.  More details to follow when I have some! 

ALSO (2)…I’ve been working on a book of poetry with Dave Cullern from HAEST and the Breakfast Punx Podcast.  You’ll like it; it’s good. Details as and when I have them… 

ALSO (3)…new paintings are up in the store and will continue to be added as and when.  Cheers to those of you that have picked one up.  I love doing them, but don’t have the space to put them up. 

Cheers to those of you that have picked up the record already.  It means the world to me that I’m getting such nice messages from people about it.  Good for the aforementioned ego.  A number of people have said it should be played on BBC 6 Music, but sadly it hasn’t been yet!  I’m not saying you ought to request tracks from it from Marc Riley, Iggy, Tom Robinson etc, but if you really wanted to do that I wouldn’t be against the idea. At all. 😉 

Right, that’s it. 

Laters 

J

Hey hey!  Just a quick one to say cheers for all the entries into the “win a test pressing” competition – a lot of you clearly know your music and identified a LOT of the 111 record covers in the collage.  However, two contestants pulled out in front and managed to identify the exact same number of covers correctly…so I tossed a coin and the winner is….[drum roll]….[tension builds]…[“get the fuck on with it!” you cry]…J***n Gi****né (I'm tired and can't think whether I should publish the name in full or not, so erring on the side of caution).  Well done!  Will get that out to you early next week – a real rarity with only ten copies in existence. 

I hope those of you that took part enjoyed it – I thought it was a bit more fun that a straight ahead prize draw, and I hope that maybe you checked out some music that might be new to you, or revisited some old favourites, off the back of it. 

Various other things to tell you about (did you see the feature and album review in Vive Le Rock? – if not, get down to WH Smiths or Morrisons and grab a copy (it’s the one with The Cult on the front) but they can wait. 

Have a top weekend. 

James