The Forgotten History of Women Pirates

The author of “Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas,” Laura Sook Duncombe came up with the concept of this new book quite simply. A fan of the movie “Hook,” Duncombe simply wondered where all the female pirates were. Her book explores the history of several women—including Moroccan pirate queen Sayyida al-Hurra and ancient Norse princess Alfhild. “But Duncombe’s book …

Asphixiation: Aural Risk

Premiering on Stereogum—despite having been recorded in 1980—Asphixiation’s “Aural Risk” is an art project worth paying attention to. Created by Philip Brophy (of experimental group → ↑ →) Asphixiation was a performance art creation in which Brophy recorded an entire disco album called What Is This Thing Called “Disco”? and had a fake band perform it. Chapter Music is reissuing the album for the first …

A Writer on Loving Prince

Almost a year after the legendary Prince passed away, writer Ben Greenman has written an article on his love of the artist, his feelings about fandom, and his decision to write a book about the iconic man. Part essay and part personal memoir, the piece is both analytical and emotional—conjuring up that strange version of sorrow we feel when somebody we didn’t know, but loved, …