In The New Hot Press Christmas Issue: Kim Gordon on her new album and returning to Ireland

Four years on from her memoir Girl In A Band - and eight years since Sonic Youth split - Kim Gordon is starting over with a fantastic first solo LP, No Home Record. Given the painful ending to her collaboration with Thurston Moore, it's surprising just how evocative it is of classic Sonic Youth. Gordon's laconic vocals are front and centre; she demonstrates the same gift for cathartic melodies as displayed on such SU faves as 'Swimsuit Issue' and 'Tunic (Song For Karen)'.

The parallels are often on purpose. 'Hungry Baby' from the new album scrutinises sexual harassment within the music industry in the era of #MeToo. It harks back to a previous occasion she addressed the subject, with the aforementioned 'Swimsuit Issue' in 1992. At that time, nobody thanked her for it.

"'Swimsuit Issue' caused quite the stir," Gordon remembers. "It was kind of embarrassing for me because we had just signed to Geffen. And we'd got a lot of flack for that. When this prominent A&R person was called out for sexual harassment, it was a good opportunity to make a point. But apart from the one person being called out, nothing changed... That's the culture. It's gross."

She wrote in her memoir about Geffen executives telling the band that Gordon should stand centre stage, the better to draw the male gaze. She shrugs. "It's kind of embedded, I guess."

For the full interview, pick up a copy of the Hot Press Christmas Special, available in stores and online now: