Heaving ourselves into 2025 like a rebuilt BILLY bookcase with half its dowels missing, No Tags returns to its usual schedule.
We kick off with a journey to the North Circular, where London’s biggest club is under investigation following two drug-related deaths and an alleged stabbing. Following the recent revelations about Drumsheds in Jim Waterson’s excellent London Centric newsletter, we ask: why is it so hard to have a realistic conversation about safety in clubs? The doublethink surrounding drug dangers, harm reduction and venue security makes it impossible for promoters, cops and authorities to keep everyone safe. But when the venue in question is a former IKEA with a capacity of 15,000, the contradictions just keeping stacking up.
Next we indulge in one of our favourite anorak pastimes – arguing about arbitrary historical groupings of underground records! We contend that 2013 was the best year for album releases so far this century, with DJ Rashad, Oneohtrix Point Never, Sky Ferreira, Kanye West and Dean Blunt among the strong portfolio of evidence. But Taganistas aren’t so sure. We’re seeing lots of representation for the early 2010s in our IG comments, yet very little love for the early 2000s. Anyone? Expect more bickering and perhaps even a knockout tournament in the future.
And now, an announcement. ‘Tis the season for hibernating in front of the TV and racking up those numbers on Letterboxd, and in that spirit we are proud to present – adapted from an original opinion by DJ and friend-of-the-show Finn McCorry – the first ever No Tags film season! Introducing: Big Beat Cinema.
What is Big Beat Cinema, you ask? In your heart of hearts, you already know. So before we get into it properly next week on the podcast, follow No Tags on Letterboxd and dive into our Big Beat Cinema list, featuring BBC classics such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Kneecap, Sexy Beast and Snatch. (You don’t need an account to see what we’ve picked.)
We’ve also got a second pressing of the No Tags book on the way, so if you missed out the first time, head to Shopify to place your order. The book can also be found in shops around the UK and even abroad: Good News (Soho), Magma (Coven Garden, Clerkenwell), Artwords (Hackney), Rova Editions (Bristol), Magalleria (Bath), Rare Mags (Stockport), 20k and a Dead Sheep (Manchester), Well Read (Lisbon).
Plus, if you’re in the US, we’ve sent a bundle of books over to our essayist Chris Zaldua in San Francisco for informal distribution, and we’re hoping to have a similar linkup on the East Coast soon. If you’re interested in stocking the book, get in touch.
In the meantime, if you enjoyed this episode of No Tags, please do rate, review and subscribe on your podcast app of choice. We’d also ask you to consider subscribing to our paid tier, which costs £5 a month and helps us continue planning, recording, editing and transcribing these regular podcasts – or in the case of next week’s episode, will go towards renting some seriously ropey turn-of-the-noughties films. Swordfish anyone?
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