BLAG #8
They're now reviewing zines, which is good to see. This issue also has some rather cruel drummer jokes, an interview with sound engineer Ed Mustafic and stacks of music reviews, mainly of underground music - some bands are Gondwana, Team Rocket, Crazyface, Cocker Spaniels, Bleeding Hearts, Mugwump, Moonbabies. Although this zine has a main emphasis on less-known bands, they often interview famous bands - this issue it's Utah Saints. blagmail@aol.com or charlie@blagmail.freeserve.co.uk

BUTYRIC #2
Mostly concerned with well-knowns - The Wannadies and Coldplay are interviewed, as are Ozomatli (the latter aren't a familiar name to me as I'm not really all that involved with hip-hop and related scenes, but I gather this lot are pretty famous?) and there's an article on Jello Biafra. On the less-known side, there's an interview with Echolalia, who are due to have their 1st single released by Happy Chopper Records (run by some friends of Andy Butyric). This zine also has a large helping of non-music stuff such as a rather scientific piece dealing with genetic engineering/drugs/electrodes in the brain, and an also scientific but less jargony article on Prozac vs Ecstasy. This follows on from the Viagra vs Poppers article in the last issue; Andy is a research chemist so he knows what he's on about. A rather unusual zine, as it's quite possibly the only one to mix music and science. andye@happychopper.co.uk

THE EXCLUSIVE #6
A very musically open minded zine which completely opposes elitism in music. Includes popular bands such as Muse, cult heroes such as Billy Childish and pretty much unknown local (Stoke) bands such as Rima (also interviewed are Michael J Sheehy and Merz). As well as the interviews there's stacks of music reviews which again cover everything from the well known side of indie/alternative to obscure home recorded tapes; fanzine reviews and columns written by various contributors (subjects include Abba hatred, Steve Lamacq hatred, smoking, graffiti and other subjects). matt@exclusive2.freeserve.co.uk

(AUTO) COMBUSTIONE SPONTANEA
New zine from Barbs who used to write Screaming Sheep and Looking For Midnight. This is not music this time but poetry and prose written in Italian. Unfortunately I don't speak much Italian so find this zine impossible to review in-depth. Barbs also sent me what she'd written so far for the second issue of Looking For Midnight - it appears Barbs is going to issue this in an 'unfinished' form but it is actually thicker than (Auto) Combustione Spontanea and could pass for a full zine. This is written in English by various contributors and contains a mixture of live reviews of Italian music, film reviews, stuff on Frida Kahlo, poetry, a personal article on bisexuality and an interview with the photographer Rachel Yule. Info from Barbs Mongarli, Via Mattei 7/5, 30175 Marghera, Venice, Italy.

VENDETTA #14 & #15
Really impressive indie/alternative music zine. They get to interview a number of bands who are well respected within the scene, and there's a real feeling that the writers are genuine fans of these bands, as opposed to the sort of zines that get a chance to interview some band or another and don't really know much about them or don't like them, but interview them anyway to fill space. What's most special about this zine for me is editor Ben's obvious enthusiasm for Delta - it's rare that I'll see any mention of them in a fanzine, so it's great to know that there are other zine people who like them. The Delta interview in #14 isn't actually a Delta interview as such - Patrick does answer a couple of the questions but mostly this is an interview with Dishy Recordings' Guy Sirman. However, as he knows the band so well, what you get is a very in-depth and informative interview. This issue also has a review of Laughing Mostly, and #15 includes a review of Slippin' Out, in which Delta are described as "the best band in Britain", no less!
#14's editorial explains why Ben has carried on doing the zine despite having little spare time, and this shows he's definitely a true music fan who is doing a zine for the right reasons. Vendetta is a refreshing change from all the zines done by people who admit they're only doing a zine to get free records that they can sell, or cos they think it will help them get a job in the music biz. The music reviewed is varied, ranging from 60s reissues to indiepop to post-rock to well known stuff like The Charlatans, Embrace, Muse, etc. It's a zine about music the writers like, not music the writers think they should like because it belongs to a certain scene. #14 also includes interviews with Beachwood Sparks, The Church, Flying Saucer Attack, Whipping Boy, Joe Pernice, Honeyrider, Six By Seven, Trembling Blue Stars, Looper, Dora Flood, Jack Rabid and Mark Clifford, plus stacks of reviews (and they print contact details, something a number of zines omit). #15 has a Poptones article, interviews with Little Red Rocket, The Embrooks, The Aislers Set, Ether Net, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Dandy Warhols, Gene, The Go-Betweens, Outrageous Cherry, smallstone, Candidate and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and lots of reviews. I can definitely recommend this zine - each issue is $5 (US)/$7 (overseas), payment to Ben Szporluk, from PO Box 931057, Hollywood, CA 90093, USA.

MY LITTLE EMPIRE #3
Very obsessive Manic Street Preachers zine in which the two teenagers behind the zine write embarrassing drooling articles on the band which often focus more on their sex appeal than their music. To like this zine, it helps if you're a Manics fan (even better if you fancy them as well) and neither of these things apply to me. On the other hand, this zine is based in Alvechurch, fairly near to my area, and they give some coverage to local bands, which is good as there are lots of great bands coming out of Birmingham and the local area at present. Twist are interviewed, as are Senseless Prayer (who also have a live review) and The Regulars have their demo reviewed. There are no contact details though - what's the point of reviewing a demo or other self-released item when you don't tell the readers how they can get it? Also includes a few personal articles and a page of zine reviews, mostly of other Manics zines, and this time they've remembered the contact info! Costs £2 + A4 SAE which seems a bit steep, but it is quite a thick zine. Cat, 16 Warbank Close, Alvechurch, Birmingham B48 7PA.

THE ORIGINAL SIN #32
The Original Sin was never a messy zine but it's even neater now as it's done on computer. As usual it's packed full of little-known bands so there's lots to discover in here. Includes interviews with Violafan, Sticks 'N' Stones, Evelyn Forever, Savile Row, Some Men, The Chaos Engine, Devotion, Equatronic and Masaker Staccato, and reviews of zines and music from many underground genres. One of the best zines there is for discovering unheard-of music. didier.becu@pandora.be

A CHEERY WAVE FROM STRANDED YOUNGSTERS #5
Interviews with Clearlake, Saloon, Pop Threat, Scarlet Soho, Delicate Awol and Big Day Out, articles on Fortuna Pop! and Reading 2000, music reviews, and well drawn cartoons that are actually funny (especially the 'post-rock' one). alcwsy@hotmail.com

YOU KILLED KING KONG #6
Zine from Norway, but written in English. Has retrospectives on Throbbing Gristle and Joy Division, interviews with Laika, Low, Tarantel and Lasse Marhaug, and reviews of all sorts of obscure music from electropop to black metal. Knut Holsaether, Fraenav 75, 6415 Molde, Norway.

ZEITGEIST Vol 6 Issue 1
Genre-hopping reviews zine encompassing pop, punk-folk, metal, experimental, indie-rock, psychedelic, spacerock, hardcore, house, trance, blues, industrial, electronic and more. Most of the music covered is underground so there's lots to discover. This zine is free - contact info@zeitgeist-scot.co.uk

RHYTHM AND BOOZE
Not sure of the issue number but it's the one that came out on March 16th, according to the cover. It's a free zine with gig listings in the West Mids/Worcs areas, music reviews from this area and beyond, and interviews with Sick Puppy, Intention and The Priory. The text is tiny so there's loads crammed in. will@rhythm-and-booze.co.uk

WIDE OPEN ROAD #5 & #6
Artistically designed, and written in a personal and quite 'literary' style that's reminiscent of those sort of zines that I tend to associate with the mid 80s to early 90s indiepop scene, but I've not seen so many of them in recent years. #5 has writings on Airport Girl, Lambchop, The Clientele, Seafood, Helen Love, The Delgados, The Beach Boys, AKA, Belle & Sebastian, 'C86 For Dummies' and more; #6 has bits on The Go-Betweens, Velvet Crush, Fortuna Pop!, The Windmills, Birdie, Juniper Moon and others. #5 is £1 + A5 SAE and #6 is free with an SAE from Stu, Flat 5, College Court, Glaisdale Road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 2HF.

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