Joined in 2023 
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It's meaning things outside of just the context of on an amazing sound system in a club or on a PA system in a student hall. He said in 2017, "We’ve been playing 'Born Slippy' live for 20 years, and the reaction from the audience is so strong it's almost overwhelming.
Most tracks you'll hear will require massive breakdowns or some kind of build to get everyone moving, and this doesn't have that. The plot thickened when, due to a complicated fusion of hormones, horrible family dynamics and a no-good boyfriend they hated, Jo ended up leaving home at 16. Or so the publishers of Jo Brand’s anthology of memoirish self-help, for those seeking advice on “How To Do Female”, would suggest. But, as she admits in numerous places, ‘I have not been scientific, this has been totally my own subjective view’. Is Jo Brand really so fem-centric she doesn’t recognise this’d probably be just as bad as any allegedly male-dominated scenario?Of course, that was before the values of cynicism, misogyny and the societal expectation that Jo would be thin, feminine and demure sent her off down Arsey Avenue. I began reading with optimism, however, in the hope that Brand’s unique talent for acerbic, dark comedy and her witty observations of life would offer an interesting insight that might prove radical, timely or illuminating.
Of course it's mainly focused on 'Born Slippy', arguably the finest track Underworld would ever produce, but does feature a (well actually two, thanks to SomeWhiteNoise below for pointing it out) remix(es) of 'Banstyle', a track on Underworld's album 'Second Toughest in the Infants', which was still relatively new at the time, Banstyle being conjoined with 'Sappys Curry' on the album. I was a bit confused by what this book was attempting to do, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. While some poetry events took place virtually during lockdown, Donald admits that many find the likes of Zoom or streamed events a barrier to expression, and he’s emphatic that the community element of Born Lippy is what makes i t special. Born Lippy is a gathering of all the things Jo Brand wishes she’d known, all the things she’s learnt, and all the things she hopes for the future. Nights such as Born Lippy – who celebrate their third birthday this month – provide a valuable space for wordsmiths of all disciplines to show off their skills.There are some witty observations and biographical information but, that aside, she doesn't say anything new. One of the impacts on the spoken word scene has been the death of venues and the lack of work for poets, we are dependent on venues which may disappear altogether without a significant support package. We provide a platform for new and established artists from across the UK to explore place, identity and hope in a joyful way that connects people. One of the most perplexing aspects of this book is how little is aimed at women in particular, despite its How To Do Female manifesto. So it was a nice read, if hardly challenging or earth-shattering - which I suspect is exactly what it's intended to be!
Ultimately this makes Born Lippy** the printed equivalent of a long soliloquy from Jo, perhaps down the pub. We wanted to create a space which would convert the uninitiated, challenge the misconception that poetry is dull, boring and not for them. It didn't keep my attention and at times I felt my mind drifting off and I had to refocus and reread the paragraph I had skipped over.Now she’s considerably further along life’s inevitable bloody ‘journey’– and she’s fucked up enough times to feel confident she has no wisdom to offer anyone.
Brand’s adult perspectives do seem dominated by a legacy of negative experiences, mostly around the nexus of issues around women’s bodies, beauty, and weight. And sadly, I think we also deserve quite a bit more in a tome on “how to do female” than what we receive from Brand here. New remixes were commissioned for this release, along with a new video, compiled by Danny Boyle of clips from his film Trainspotting. Putting my own gender to one side momentarily – and I’m not referring to dressing to the left for a change – whilst both candid and reasonably entertaining, Born Lippy is disappointing for being almost entirely anecdotal, i. HOW TO MANAGE A BULLY * YOUR FAMILY AND HOW TO SURVIVE IT * WHAT NO-ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT THE FEMALE BODY * BEING DIFFERENT * SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT SOCIABLE * HOW NOT TO FALL IN LOVE * FEMINISM: A RE-BRANDING * ADVENTURES IN YOUR HEAD * HAVING FUN * NOT HAVING FUN: WHAT TO DO WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG * STAYING SANE * YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU WEAR * MODERN MANNERS* HOW TO DO WHAT YOU WANT: OR NOT DO WHAT OTHERS WANT * BEING HEALTHY * GETTING ON A BIT * THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES: MORE DEADLY THAN THE MALE?If you are going to get pissed, make sure someone reliable is with you to get you home for example - that sort of good advice! To coin the somewhat disappointing mantra of the book, Brand fans with similar ideas should probably “lower your expectations”. Jo mentions her early life and start in comedy but doesn't waffle on about herself too much and she is refreshingly honest about life including topics on love, drugs, family and dealing with depression. I've always enjoyed Jo Brand's humour so I was pleased to received this as a birthday present on its publication.
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