Adele Bertei’s memoir isn’t a comprehensive history of the women who played a huge part in the culture of No Wave, but a series of extraordinary snapshots that become a very satisfying whole over this book’s wonderful three hundred pages. Adele Bertei arrived in New York in 1977 and had cut her “queer teeth” in Cleveland’s gay bars for two years, and was therefore experienced and savvy enough to take on whatever New York decided put in her way. Whether it was Nan Goldin, Kathy Acker, Lydia Lunch, Madonna or all the other women from bands, art and film, who would fundamentally change what they were involved in, Adele sucked it all up and spat it back out with interest. Her band The Bloods’ single Button Up a case in point, an absolute stonewall No Wave/post-punk classic. To be filed alongside anything by The Bush Tetras, Lizzy Mercier, Lydia Lunch, The Contortions, Ut, et al. A book also about the prizes and pitfalls of living an outsider life totally committed to making art (and promoting the art of others) and the friends found and lost along the way. Maybe the last few sentences of this review should be these: “What truly set No Wave apart from past artistic movements? The women. They didn’t just participate. They set the tone and lit the fuse.” And the story of these New York tone-setters and fuse-lighters has never been told as well as this. What are you waiting for? Adele Bertei’s brilliant book awaits your attention.

No New York (A Memoir of No Wave and the Women Who Shaped the Scene) – Adele Bertei – Publ. by Faber - £20.00

Steven Long