Author: Miles Keylock

“A careful reading of the fictions that are being published in South Africa today reveals a harrowing truth, whose theme-handling hideousness, lack of linguistic heartiness, only the insincere and half-sighted would deny. Novelists are inextricably ensnared in a web of overfamiliar and old- fashioned tropes, images and modes: the well is dry.” So writes Unathi Slasha in his essay, Much with the Dead & Mum with the Dying, or: Rigidities of Rationalism, Camaraderie Criticism & Contemporary South African literature. His penchant for pulling no punches has earned the Despatch-based scribe something of a reputation for being difficult – or even…

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From poetic soul classics and soaring pop promises to sexy rock rhapsodies, unapologetically political singer-songwriter croons and beyond. Miles Keylock took to the streets to find out what love songs strike the perfect chord with Grahamstown’s citizens this Valentine’s Day. “Angels and Devils the Following Day” by Dory Previn off Mythical Kings and Iguanas (1971) The key lines for me in this [early-in-my-life] ‘song’ story are: “and the one that was gentle hurt me much more than the one who was rough and made love on the floor”. For me, this song is about class associations… you can tell I…

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