J. Snape

Pretty poor, Burroughs-lite imitation, 3 Nov 2009

I've read Vellum which was average and pretentious and gave Ink a good try before throwing it away in exasperation. This is pale attempt to rehash the cut-up novels of William S Burroughs and it fails woefully short of coming anywhere near. One of the central characters (Harlequin) and the story surrounding him is almost lifted straight from Burroughs. Quite incredible. We even have things such as the orgone guns and homosexual assassins. Place of Dead Roads, Cities of the Red Nights, The Wild Boys, Kim Carsons anyone? Come one, this is has been done so much better before.

This is poor stuff really. Dense, self indulgent and nonsensical. Unoriginal too. I was enormously… Read more

British Techno-Industrial is alive and well, 4 July 2007

Ade Fenton has cut his teeth on the home and international club circuit and has a reputation for his amazing live sets that display his skill with the darker side of electronica, fused with industrial rock and pounding techno. All these elements, and some great song writing, are gathered here in his long playing debut.

His capability in the studio was proven when he produced Gary Numan's 2006 album, Jagged, and with Artificial Perfect he proves that he is no mean songwriter either. The material owes more than a passing nod to Nine Inch Nails and Numan's later work, but also has echoes of the darker elements of techno as delivered by the likes of Dave Clarke et al… Read more

OK, but falls short somewhat, 6 Jun 2006

This book could have been so much better. The story is a classic and so ripe for a ripping fantasy yarn, and Alec does inject a stackload of characters and builds a whole almost governmental structure into heaven, but somehow I just don't think it works.

The book would have benefitted from a strict editor and I doubt that there was one. Published by a christian organisation and written by an evangelist of sorts, a little more secular objectivity would have made for a better story. More specifically, I couldn't help feeling that the entire story was being rushed along in parts and set up for yet more espousing of the endless beauty of God, almost ad nauseum.

I'd agree… Read more