I came home with a foreigner Saturday night

I came home with a foreigner Saturday night

by Jeremy Dixon / Hazard Press

A6, eight pages, Limted edition of 100, colour print, hand stitched. 

£4 (free p&p)

I am a huge fan of found art and found writing. One of my favourite zines of the early 2000's was Found magazine, I included a monthly found poetry column in The Fix (now no more, but at the time the UK's first stand up comedy magazine), and my live interactive show Choose Your Own Documentary centres around four pages of a diary found between the pages of a second hand book. So, even before opening this up, I knew I was going to like it. 

I came home with a foreigner Saturday night reproduces a photographic portrait of a man taken sometime around 1910-1919, and a handwritten entry scrawled on the back. Because its tricky to decipher the handwriting, the text has also been translated into type, and in the process has become poetry. 

The poem is pregnant with desire, promise and hope. And like all found writing is riddled with questions - the who, what, where - but also 'what happened next?'. It is this fragment of time lost that gives this little book its power. 

To buy a copy, or to check out more of Jeremy's work visit: www.hazardpress.co.uk

Review by Nathan Penlington

Finding your way to Dylan Thomas

Finding your way to Dylan Thomas

by Jeremy Dixon / Hazard Press

A4 zine fold, colour printed. 

£3 

A charming little literary zine, a homage to the work of Dylan Thomas and a poem about place. 

The micro-book rests on a simple idea: a series of photographs of the signs that lead to Dylan Thomas' boathouse in Laugharne,  South Wales - a place that directly inspired one of Dylan's most famous works Under Milk Wood. 

Simple thought it might be, this little publication is ultimately greater than the sum of its parts. Finding your way to Dylan Thomas indirectly asks the question that all tourist pilgrimages must ultimately confront - what is it you've ultimately come to see? There is a melancholy in the locations of the heritage signs that ultimately must face the inevitable. 

Fan of Dylan Thomas or not (and how can you really be a not?) it's an engaging publication from a press with many other intriguing literary experiments to explore. 

To buy a copy, or to check out more of Jeremy's work visit: www.hazardpress.co.uk

Review by Nathan Penlington

Unbridled Enthusiasm - Vol 1, No 3

Unbridled Enthusiasm - Vol 1, No 3. Summer 2017. 

by Matt Gholson

14cm x 21.5cm, 28 b&w pages.

Single issues $3 or trades

Unbridled Enthusiasm is a really engaging perzine - it draws you effortlessly into someone else's town, interests, and relationships. Like many of the best zines, Matt is someone who is making a zine simply because he wants to make a zine, and draws upon his life to fill it.

I loved the interview with Matt's wife about her passion for Post Crossing - the postcard sending website; the Mysterious Battery and the Spoon Thief are like the best stories in a local newspaper from a place isn't your own town; Stories From My Dentist might encourage you to get your teeth checked more regularly, if only for the storytelling; Matt's honesty about swimming and his interest in inkjet printers is both sweet and endearing; and the photography project that revisits the same small town locations, with a better camera, 13 years later is right up my street (it reminds me of some of the projects the French writer George Perec carried out). 

If you have an interest in the technical aspects of photography there is something extra here for you too - both in the discussion about using film in 2017, and the details of the cameras used for the photos that fill the zine. Unbridled Enthusiasm is nicely put together, and the b&w photos really pop out of the page. I look forward to reading future issues.

Contact Matt mattgholson (at) gmail [dot] com to buy a copy or to arrange a trade. Matt runs a great website that catalogues zine trades he's made - it's that spirit in the zine world that I'm utterly a fan of. 

Check out photozinetrader.com for more info. 


Review by Nathan Penlington

Vice - Issue 5 & 6

Vice - Issue 5: Living Film & Issue 6: In the red

by Shayan Shafii 

16 pages, 6.5cm x 10.5 cm. B&W, stapled. 

$2 + postage

Vice is a great little pocket zine, with an old skool cut & paste style that is an aesthetic nod to the punk zines of the past.  

The content is a collection of music reviews, cartoons, stories, lyrics, images, and snapshots taken directly from experience. 

Issue #5 (October 2016) considers what happens when you experiment with sleep deprivation, what it's like working in a call centre, and the consequences of owning long living pets. 

The latest issue #6 (January 2017) examines the people riding Amtrak trains, plus poems and stories inspired by "the time for love, hate, and all kinds of intangible imbalances". 

In short Vice is a varied, interesting zine. And like the best kinds of zines - it fits in your pocket for those moments when rather than thoughtlessly scrolling through your phone, you can reach out and feel genuinely connected. 

To order contact: shayanshafii {at} gmail {dot} com

Check out details of past issues here: geocities.co.jp/shayanshafii/underground-society/vice.html


Review by Nathan Penlington.

Things I Thought But Was Wrong

Things I Thought But Was Wrong - Issue 00
Quarter Duck Publications

A5, 24 pages, full colour.

£3

Things I Thought But Was Wrong is the perfect zine for the mid-teens of the 21st century. It consists of a crowd-sourced series of Twitter length statements, each illustrated by an Instagramable artwork. The concept is immediately explained by the title - those moments in which something you always thought was true is shown to be wrong. 

The combination of absurd mishearings and naive misunderstandings with the resulting illustrations makes for a smart, funny, engaging zine. 

I hope I'm not wrong, but I predict big things for Things I Thought But Was Wrong. 


Buy Issue 00 from Etsy: etsy.com/uk/listing/454573914/things-i-thought-but-was-wrong-zine

To submit your own failings join Things I Thought But Was Wrong on Facebook and Instagram @things_I_thought_but_was_wrong


Review by Nathan Penlington 

****I picked this zine up last weekend at Cultural Traffic - a new publishing arts fair held near London's Brick Lane. They produce regular alternative publishing events in the capital, with a really diverse range of makers and sellers. If you're interested check out culturaltraffic.com for more info****

Mark's Demise #1

Mark's Demise #1

16 pages, digest

$1, prefers trades

Primarily photographs from Atlanta, Chicago, and Cleveland. There's a one frame cartoon, and a rant transcribed from an audio recording of a drummer going off about the craziness of their tour schedule. The band is from Atlanta, (oddly, the name of the band was blacked out after the zine was print ready.) Apparently they got lucky opening for a big name act, only problem was the headliners were flying to all the gigs, and the Atlanta band had to drive. I used to be an over the road semi driver and I gotta tell you it's pretty mind numbing what they did.

Since this is issue #1, and because it's brief and not centered on anything in particular, it's hard to say what exactly it is about. Not that that matters.

I would say It's energetic and upbeat, but I could be projecting that. I met Mark for the first time when he handed the zine over for review. I sent an email inquiring about it and he wrote back, “Honestly, I live one block away from you. Want to meet up for a coffee...?” He was energetic and upbeat, so my assessment of the printed matter may not be entirely subjective. Regardless, I give both the man and the zine a thumbs up.

Request a copy @

mark@marksdemise.com

review by Jack Cheiky

This zine is being donated to the Cleveland Zine Library after review.

Tramp

Tramp by Julius Smit / Eyeglass

2016

A5 - 48 pages

£5

Tramp is a mediation on the paths we trace through urban and rural landscapes, exploring how walking is shaped by memory and habit. A combination of black and white photographs and poetic text work together to produce a contemplative zine that forces a new focus on the streets, pavements, paths, alleys and byways that have been shaped by the histories of past journeys. Chance is something that is central to my own work, so the encouragement to wander off from your personal path is something that struck a chord.

It is a well produced zine, that rewards time spent in its company. Buy a copy, pack it in your bag, get lost in a new town, and enjoy the journey.  

Check out Julius' work here: juliussmit.co.uk

Order a copy here: eyeglassphotozines.tictail.com/product/tramp



Review by Nathan Penlington

Dirty Bind - Miami

Dirty Bind @ SWGR Gallery

2235 NW 2^nd Ave

Miami, FL 33127

swgrgallery.com

During my recent visit to Miami, in addition to the pop-up Exile zine shop at History Miami, another happy accidental discovery was Dirty Bind – a curation of zines from over 50 artists – exhibited and sold at SWGR Gallery.

SWGR is just over the road from Wynwood Walls - the uber-‘street’ gallery of graffiti art, some of which is stunning and worth braving the selfie fixated tourists to explore. The zines on offer are mainly graphic design, illustration, fashion and photography inspired, but there are also a few more word focussed publications too. Nestle in the reading chair for an afternoon of quiet page turning.

from SWGR Gallery

So, if you find yourself in Miami, head over – please let them know Syndicated Zine Reviews sent you!

Review by Nathan Penlington

Exscind #1

Exscind #1
36 pages, digest
Limited edition of 100
High quality, slick pages, heavy stock cover
$6 delivered, ($4 media mail)

Adel Souto puts together here a compilation of his work, writing and art, from various eras of his life. Some is previously published, much of it not.

First off, this print version is one of those few that get filed under,  "best value zine publication you'll find anywhere, ever." The only thing I didn't care for about the production was the unattached clear acetate sleeve over the regular cover, (acetate has title in black, card stock has colorful art.) Keeping it all together quickly became a pain in the ass and I discarded it.

The art, primarily photography, ranges from good to great.

The writing is nothing less that polished and professional. How much I liked it varied. The poetry goes in one eye and out the other. There is some whimsical commentary that I find a little trite, (especially when you consider the overall caliber of this writer,) and can only think of as "filler."

However, the bulk of the prose is exceptional. The very best is when Adel writes about himself and his life. There are also bits he does that aren't autobiographical but are written with an almost academic focus. He is intelligent and well read, especially in history.

What ties this all together in a bow is that he's a complex individual with a dark side and plenty of questionable history. Piecing together his intellect, knowledge , criminality, homelessness, and superimposing it over the high quality art he is presenting is fascinating and compelling.

In his attempt to present a cross section of his work he completely succeeds. This is someone to keep an eye on.

Contact to order
adelsouto@adelsouto.com
www.adelsouto.com


review by Jack Cheiky
This zine is being donated to the Cleveland Zine Library after review.

Schneller

Schneller

Lewis Holt

21 x 29cm
128 pages, full colour
Hand assembled and bound

£15


Sometimes with a zine that explores an area outside of your personal experience it can be hard to find a way in, not so with Schneller. To make it even easier the handwritten note that Lewis included with the zine expresses the aesthetic and ethos better than I ever could:

"DIY tattoos made from pen ink and sewing machine needles, DIY skateparks made with blood sweat and beers, drinking travelling, and doing whatever you can or need to enjoy this beautiful art form".

The zine is an almost entirely visual document of a journey spanning the UK, Amsterdam, Germany and Prague. The images have a Vice magazine feel to them, but have a genuine immediacy that results from using 35mm film - a no going back, one shot, if it fails, don't worry just try again ethos. In that way the medium truly reflects the subject. Schneller is a true celebration of DIY culture, and a document of a youth culture that transcends boundaries. 

"Where you come from, what language you speak, your colour, culture, your beliefs; all that is dissolved by the sense of camaraderie you have with each other...You know on one level that it's utterly pointless, but on another, when you get something you have been trying for ages, it can have meaning beyond words".  

And that is reason enough to revel in this heartfelt work.

You can buy a copy via Etsy: etsy.com/uk/listing/267659744/schneller-photobook


Review by Nathan Penlington. 

The Slush Pile - 2015 11 16

Blood and Visions: Reconciling with Being Female by Autotomous Womyn's Press

Price $10.00

Writings by 10 womyn who stopped their transition from female to male. Profoundly personal stories, political analysis, practical advice, and resources for womyn who struggle with dis-identification from their female reality. Deeply moving and informative for all women concerned about the wholeness of our womanhood -- and our sisterhood. 65 Page Zine. 

http://www.greenwomanstore.com/blood-and-visions.html

The Enlightening Beam of Bobby Brown Cassette & Zine – RVNGNL35

$10.00

Art zine and cassette from RVNG Intl. Photos by Aubrey Trinnaman.

Side A:
A1. Bobby Brown & Matt Werth – In Conversation
Side B:
B1. Bobby Brown & Matt Werth – In Conversation (Continued)
B2. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – Bobbing Beams of Light
B3. Austin Cesear – BB01-07

http://dublab.com/shop/the-enlightening-beam-of-bobby-brown-cassette-zine-rvngnl35/

blackseafoam

Every year artists around the world participate in INKtober. This October I took the challenge and produced 31 ink illustrations in one month. The purpose of all illustrations included in this book are uniqueness, self-expression, and fun! I poured a lot of TLC into each drawing and tried lots of fun new techniques. 

Each 4.25x5.5 inch art book includes 31 pages of crisp, laser-printed images. The structure is hand-bound so no two books are exactly alike.

GOLD EDITION! Gold edition books are available for those who love all things shiny. Add $2 and I will hand paint gold detailing on 7 images that originally included gold ink. This is an effect that is impossible to capture digitally and is best appreciated in person. Shiny!! 

I will sign books inside the cover unless otherwise asked. And don't forget to request a little doodle for me to include! 

All drawings are family friendly and full of character!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/256295074/black-sea-foam-vs-inktober-2015-signed?ref=pr_shop

So, what's this about a Dorkroom Zine, then?
The basic idea is to publish a zine filled with photos by Dorkroomers. I'd like to think it'll be a representation of people's best work, but hey, whatever. Of course, making a physical zine costs real-world money, so if you want to be a part of this crazy project, you're going to have to be willing to buy a copy (price to be determined, depending on how much content we have and the quality of the materials.)

Who are you, elgarbo, and how are you qualified to do this?
I'm probably not qualified, but hey, I've got the time and the willingness to organise it. I've made a zine, I know a guy who owns a company printing these things and did a real swell job on my first run around and the price was really reasonable. I've investigated and priced different qualities of paper. I also have some vague experience with putting together one of these things in InDesign - it's probably not going to be a masterpiece of design, but for a Dorkroom publication it'll probably suffice. I am quite happy to do this as a hobby and have no intention of making any money out of this thing whatsoever.

That said, if there's anyone else with the time and willingness to get involved, I'd be grateful for the assistance.

What's the process?
There are a few things that will need to happen to get this off the ground. They are:

1. People registering their interest in participating.
2. Deciding on a name for this fine publication
3. Deciding on the cover photograph
4. Deciding on paper stock
5. Receiving submissions from everyone participating.
6. Collating it into some sort of vaguely aesthetically pleasing design.
7. Finalising the cost.
8. Receiving moneys.
9. Printing / posting.
10. Celebrate!

So, if I participate, what can I contribute?
I envision that everyone who participates will get a double page spread to show off their work. Each page of the zine will be 8 inches wide by 10 inches high, so you'll have a total space to work with of 16 wide by 10 high across the fold of the page. You can fill that space with as much or as little work as you like, as I see it. I'm also happy to take written text, so if you want to write a little spiel about your photos, by all means. If you want to write a little poem about your photos, unusual... but cool. If you want to draw and scan a little picture that goes with your photos, that's also fine. If you don't want to submit any photos whatsoever, but you want to write an essay about photography, that's also not a problem. As long as it all relates to photography in some way, and it fits across a double page spread.

Let's talk cash money
It's hard to pin down a precise figure, because that will depend entirely on the number of pages and the quality of materials. In all likelihood, the cost could be anywhere between $5 and $20 Australian pesos, not including postage. Postage costs are roughly $2.10 within Australia for one zine, $5 to New Zealand and about $7 anywhere else in the world. 

The value of the Australian dollar is currently spiralling into the abyss, so there is every chance that by the time this project comes to its conclusion, your real-world dollars will be able to purchase an infinite supply of this quality publication for the equivalent of a stick of gum.

Sounds rad, I want to get involved.
Sweet. Leave a message in this here thread and we can get to work.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3751549

22 Colour Photographs

22 Colour Photographs

24 pages, 1/2 legal

$5 + postage

I don't feel qualified to review photography, so I'm going to post the foreword page describing the photographer's thoughts, and I'll include a couple of my favorite photos from this volume.

Order:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/217219572/22-colour-photographs?ref=shop_home_feat_3

Contact:

The Gaysi Zine – Issue 3

The Gaysi Zine – Issue 3

120 pages. 21cm x 25 cm.

Rs. 150 + Rs. 30 for delivery charges pan India. (See below for overseas order details)

I've been stuck for a way to do this zine justice in a short review. Gaysi Zine is an extremely well put together collection of short stories, poems, and texts that defy neat categorisation, coupled with a diverse array of illustration, photography, and art. The visual imagery takes a delight in the handmade, in the hand drawn, and the handwritten, all of which gives the writing an extra element of intimacy. So much so that it often feels we are being let in on a secret. 

It is that sharing of personal experience that I love in zines, and how - no matter how far outside my own limited range of experience - it allows you to connect with a stranger in a profound way. That is how I felt reading this issue of Gayzi Zine. Many of the themes surround trust, intimacy, and honesty - all dealt with wit and intelligence. 

The work in Gayzi Zine reaches out beyond the queer scene in Delhi and will connect with you wherever you are. There is so much to explore, that all I can suggest is order a copy and wait with anticipation for a thud through your letterbox. 

For ordering information visit: instamojo.com/GaysiFamily/the-gaysi-zine-edition-3

Check out Gaysi on the web here: Gaysifamily.com


Review by Nathan Penlington

Not Guilty #2

Not Guilty #2

from Blackguard

52 pages, digest size, $?, edited by Midasone >>> midasone[at]ymail.com + www.notguiltymag.com + also available from http://etzinedistro.blogspot.com/
Not Guilty is a graffitti art/street art photography zine and it's all in full glorious colour. Most of the photographs are of artwork on the sides of trains, but there's also walls, bins, public toilets, gates, and some of the photos include the artists, either wearing balaclavas or with a black strip superimposed over their eyes. This one seems to be UK-based. I also checked out the website where there's loads more terrific photos.
[Thanks Monty for sending me this zine!]

Manchester Scenes

Diary

Sophie's Zine Showcase #3

Zine Showcase #3

from Oh My Clumsy Heart by sophie@ohmyclumsyheart.com (Sophie)

Alyssa
Blog // Shop
Pardon Me But What Pickup Line Works Best For You // $3 + shipping

This is a fantastic quarter sized zine featuring twenty-two illustrations of the most ridiculous pickup lines; Alyssa has the most wonderful sense of humour. 'Pardon Me But What Pickup Line Works Best For You' had me smiling and laughing out loud - "If you were a laser you would be set on stunning." This is a definite favourite in my collection and I would absolutely recommend purchasing it. However, I do wonder whether any of them actually work..

Isis
Website // Shop
The Little Tea Zine // $5.00 + shipping

A limited print run of a 40 page zine all about tea featuring recipes, stories, reviews and craft ideas. Tea lovers will adore this thoroughly enjoyable collaborative zine. Suggestions for infusing your own tea with fruit or spices, the reviews of various blends along with the a brief history of tea drinking itself is particularly interesting. For anybody who enjoys a lovely cup of tea I would highly recommend taking a look at this wonderful little zine.

Gemma Correll
Website // Shop
Treasures of Sky Mall // £3.50 + shipping

In her own words Gemma Correll has attempted to convey the feeling of joy and relaxation she gets from visiting Sky Mall in this 12 page, black and white zine. If you don't know who Gemma Correll is by now.. where have you been? Gemma's distinct illustrative style infused with a light-hearted humour is a winning combination. Peruse these baffling items and laugh at their utter uselessness.

Maxime Francout & Café Royal
Website // Catalogue // Blog
Hello / Goodbye // Sold Out

A black and white, 24 page zine limited to fifty copies featuring a blend of photography and illustrative work. A source of inspiration if you have a passion for hand drawn patterns, geometric shapes and an appreciation of skateboarding.

Adrian Curcher
Blog // Tumblr
Gig Etiquette
I received this zine in a trade at The London Zine Symposium from Adrian himself and it quickly became very popular amongst my (at the time) small collection of zines. I love everything about it from the "do's and don't's" etiquette advice to the collage style imagery - I really do think it is fantastic