Issue 171

Meet fashion's boys who are girls who like girls to be boys..

Fashion Special takes a walk on the wild side with fashion’s hottest couple, Ash & Eliza, whilst exploring shifting identities with classic literature, forgotten superheros, identity crises and animalistic polaroids.

Girls Are Loud

Since they first appeared in Dazed, the hype around Little Boots, La Roux, Florence & The Machine, COCKNBULLKID and Marina & The Diamonds has reached fever pitch.

In at the Deep End

After topping the charts, Feist, has jumped into the unknown by making her film debut opposite Britian's most versatile actor Cillian Murphy, the pair re-unite to talk stage fright and rock dreams.

Space Cadets

Empire Of The Sun are a synth-pop dream team on a mission to take over the music world.

Fashion's New Gender

With designers determined to get today's men to explore their feminine side, we find out why it's time for boys to lose their inhibitions and express themselves.

Your History: Brody Dalle

The punk pin-up explains The Distillers split and looks forward to a Spinnerette future.

Q&A: Liam Howlett

The Prodigy beatmaker laughs at Gene Simmons, threatens to stamp on Damon Albarn's head, and recalls his greatest productions

Art: Hung & Drawn

Christian Holstead creates strange memorials from trash; Klara Kristalova remembers an inspiring tragedy; Gregor Schneider haunts empty rooms

Literature: Bound & Flogged

Iain Sinclair explores psychogeography of Hackney; Tom McCarthy and The Lovers Of Modern Debris outline their inauthentic manifesto.

Film: Cut & Wrapped

Tom Hardy beefs up to play Britain's most volatile prisoner in Bronson; the legendary graphic novel Watchmen finally hits the screen; backstage at the Paris Opera Ballet in Le Ballet De l'Opera Paris; Jeff Keen gets a major retrospective at the BFI; Metal heads Anvil go the distance; Biggie is resurrected in Notorious

Music: Agony & Ecstasy

Portland disco-rockers Hockey start to take themselves seriously; we hear some mysterious sounds from Golden Filter; lo-fi pop from Lissy Trullie; Rabid Records keep their label roster close to home; Danimal Kingdom keeps it surreal; Zaza bring art-rock to life; Mi Ami kick some political noise; Beirut creates an mixtape inspired by Mexico