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

Mornin’ All 

After 2+ years of avoidance I finally caught the ‘rona, so am feeling pretty shitty and typing this in bed.  The Domestics were supposed to be playing in Southampton last night, Bristol tonight, and Brixton on Sunday, but of course that’s all screwed now. Ugh. 

Anyway, as you may have already seen, ‘Carrion Repeating’ was finally released on Friday and is getting rave reviews all over (so far! Never count yer chickens!) – just off the top of my fuzzy Covid-head, check out those on the Personal Punk blog, The Ginger Quiff site, The Ringmaster Review, and the 8/10 review – and separate one page article - in the current issue of Vive Le rock magazine (available at all good newsagents or online here). 

There’s a new video out for ‘Bean Counter’ off the album too – you can watch that here.  

So yeah, from what I’ve seen so far people are diggin’ the record. Grab one if you haven’t already – it might cheer me up a bit in my sick bed. Cheers to everyone that pre-ordered. 

COMPETITION NEWS: 

Subscribers will be getting an email within the hour about a competition to win a super-rare test pressing of the album (only 10 of those in the world)…watch your inboxes! It’ll be fun I tells ya! 

And the draw for the 5 mini canvases will be done in the next couple of days, when I can find the energy. 

Until next time 

James

Happy Friday, you lot…here’s a bit of an update, as it’s been a few weeks since the last one. 

One of my side-project bands, DA GROINS, released a 7” EP called ’100% Groin’ a couple of weeks ago.  Totally scrappy garage punk rock ‘n’ roll in a similar style to BILLY CHILDISH, ARMITAGE SHANKS, THE MUMMIES etc. – people seem to like it and there aren’t many left at Kibou Towers.  You can grab one here or here and watch a video for the song ‘The General Pub(l)ic’ here. Shout out to Matt Groin and Zero Groin! 

There’s been plenty of radio play for both Da Groins and the forthcoming solo record too…a shout out to Rock Bottom, Down on the Street, Programa Transmission Lima, Emergency Radio Show, Just Some Punk Songs, and Diskobox amongst others, and the most recent solo single, Mañana, made the Ginger Quiff blog February singles roundup. 

Finally it seems like the release date for the Carrion Repeating album is in sight…what is it? 6 weeks away now? If I’d had more coffee I’d work it out, but I’m still half asleep. If you haven’t pre-ordered it yet you can grab one (in either ‘standard’ or ‘special’ edition forms) here, here, or here. 

WIN STUFF! 

VINYL LP TEST PRESSING! 

If you’ve not subscribed to THIS website yet, let it be known that all subscribers will automatically be entered into a competition to win a super-limited vinyl test pressing of the Carrion Repeating album.  I’d previously suggested that this was simply a draw, but actually it’s much more fun than that!   Sometime in the week starting 25th April, everyone that’s subscribed and therefore I have their email, will receive a collage via email…all you have to do is identify all of the records in that collage…all correct entries will go into the draw for the test pressing.  The draw will take place on Thursday 12th May.  Only 10 of these test pressings exist in the world.  So get on it! 

WIN ONE-OFF ART! 

Any pre-orders (i.e. before release day on 22nd April) of the LP made from this website, or www.kibourecords.bigcartel.com or www.kibourecords.bandcamp.com will be entered into a draw to win one of 5 mini paintings I’ve done. Slightly smaller than A5 size, acrylic on canvas. The 5 paintings are titled: Explosion, Set An Alarm And Live, Crow Johnson, Mind Door, and Escape Route Blocked. 

OK, that’s it for now. Cheers!