Iron Fist Of The Sun "Behavioural Decline" CD [2009]
There's not a lot on offer here, to be honest. Most of it is boring and uninteresting. We are treated to the usual Power Electronics fare - slow, low-key drones accompanied by the traditional beeps and squeals, accentuated on some tracks by the standard "shout the lyric over and over again" vocal. Not a lot to be excited about here.
(2 out of 5)
Cages "Folding Space" CD [2009]
What in the living fuck is this?? And I mean that in a good way. Cold Spring have released something special here. What dominates the disc is the wild, wailing female vocalist, accompanied by a variety of different sounds. From ambient drones, to looped choir-like voices, to acoustic guitar which turns into manic electric guitar; this release offers up more than you expect. There's even a bluesy rock track in here. Complete awesomeness; a real gem.
(5 out of 5)
Friday, 27 November 2009
Friday, 11 September 2009
Batch #9
Les Anges Exterminateurs (The Exterminating Angels) DVD [2006]
The second part of Brisseau's trilogy on sexual taboos is a lot more interesting than the third (which I have already reviewed). Weird angelic apparitions aside, the film is about a director searching for a couple of females to star in his film. During the casting, he meets up with two girls who are well up for it, shall we say. Even going so far as to masturbate each other in a restaurant for him. This leads to numerous lesbian sexual encounters where he is the voyeur, taking his role as a director into a new and dangerous realm.
The lesbian sex is very strong in this film, with the girls actually touching each other down below. I think the all-girl threesome scene in the hotel is probably one of the most erotic scenes I have seen in recent years. Apart from this, the film is devoid of the pretensious boredom which would blight the next movie, A L'aventure, at least to a certain degree. The angelic apparitions and the cryptic "radio" voice-over providing a hook to keep you watching.
(4 out of 5)
Karhozat (Damnation) DVD [1987]
This is the earliest film of Bela Tarr which I have had the fortune to watch. It's certainly not as slow as his later epics (read: this is just above snail pace), but it sure shows the brilliance yet to come. It is about a man who is having an affair with a married woman who sings at a local bar. He sees her whenever she is free from the watchful eye of her husband. As much as she tries to push him away, he continues to persue her, confessing his love for her.
The film is obviously black & white and features lots of slow tracking shots, though the speed is slightly different to Tarr circa 2009. Its enthralling from start to end, featuring an iconic scene where everyone is drunkenly dancing together in a bar. Truly magnificent stuff.
(5 out of 5)
Trois Couleurs Bleu (Three Colours Blue) DVD [1993]
I'd never really been interested in this trilogy before, but I decided to watch the one which seemed the most intriguing for me, Blue. I don't know whether I'll get around to the other two, but for now, at least I tried one.
It's about a woman who has to come to terms with the loss of her composer husband and young daughter in a car crash. Despite jumping into bed with a friend of her husband, she runs away from her country house and takes an apartment in the city where she attempts to forget the grief of the accident. She eventually finds out a shocking secret regarding her husband's life and attempts to soothe her pain through music.
Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski tackles this film brilliantly, with intruding close-ups and dramatic use of the classical score (particularly during the "device" where he fades to black in the middle of a scene and then fades back in again ten seconds later). Juliette Binoche is a very intense actress, and also very pretty.
(4 out of 5)
Pure DVD [2005]
When I saw that this was released on Artificial Eye, I assumed that it had to be something special. I'd never heard of the film before, but for AE to be putting it out must have meant that it was something different to the complete and utter dross that we British have been subjecting on the world. Surely?
No. It's another dire, depressing English film about drug addicted mothers and little kids being forced to fend for themselves during this hard time. It's nothing original, and totally shameless in its pandering to the masses approach. It employs all the tired old film-making devices; emotive music and cliched characters. Keira Knightley is massively miscast as a city cafe waitress; although I would like to wank all my semen over Molly Parker's face.
(2 out of 5)
The second part of Brisseau's trilogy on sexual taboos is a lot more interesting than the third (which I have already reviewed). Weird angelic apparitions aside, the film is about a director searching for a couple of females to star in his film. During the casting, he meets up with two girls who are well up for it, shall we say. Even going so far as to masturbate each other in a restaurant for him. This leads to numerous lesbian sexual encounters where he is the voyeur, taking his role as a director into a new and dangerous realm.
The lesbian sex is very strong in this film, with the girls actually touching each other down below. I think the all-girl threesome scene in the hotel is probably one of the most erotic scenes I have seen in recent years. Apart from this, the film is devoid of the pretensious boredom which would blight the next movie, A L'aventure, at least to a certain degree. The angelic apparitions and the cryptic "radio" voice-over providing a hook to keep you watching.
(4 out of 5)
Karhozat (Damnation) DVD [1987]
This is the earliest film of Bela Tarr which I have had the fortune to watch. It's certainly not as slow as his later epics (read: this is just above snail pace), but it sure shows the brilliance yet to come. It is about a man who is having an affair with a married woman who sings at a local bar. He sees her whenever she is free from the watchful eye of her husband. As much as she tries to push him away, he continues to persue her, confessing his love for her.
The film is obviously black & white and features lots of slow tracking shots, though the speed is slightly different to Tarr circa 2009. Its enthralling from start to end, featuring an iconic scene where everyone is drunkenly dancing together in a bar. Truly magnificent stuff.
(5 out of 5)
Trois Couleurs Bleu (Three Colours Blue) DVD [1993]
I'd never really been interested in this trilogy before, but I decided to watch the one which seemed the most intriguing for me, Blue. I don't know whether I'll get around to the other two, but for now, at least I tried one.
It's about a woman who has to come to terms with the loss of her composer husband and young daughter in a car crash. Despite jumping into bed with a friend of her husband, she runs away from her country house and takes an apartment in the city where she attempts to forget the grief of the accident. She eventually finds out a shocking secret regarding her husband's life and attempts to soothe her pain through music.
Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski tackles this film brilliantly, with intruding close-ups and dramatic use of the classical score (particularly during the "device" where he fades to black in the middle of a scene and then fades back in again ten seconds later). Juliette Binoche is a very intense actress, and also very pretty.
(4 out of 5)
Pure DVD [2005]
When I saw that this was released on Artificial Eye, I assumed that it had to be something special. I'd never heard of the film before, but for AE to be putting it out must have meant that it was something different to the complete and utter dross that we British have been subjecting on the world. Surely?
No. It's another dire, depressing English film about drug addicted mothers and little kids being forced to fend for themselves during this hard time. It's nothing original, and totally shameless in its pandering to the masses approach. It employs all the tired old film-making devices; emotive music and cliched characters. Keira Knightley is massively miscast as a city cafe waitress; although I would like to wank all my semen over Molly Parker's face.
(2 out of 5)
Monday, 7 September 2009
Batch #8
A L'aventure DVD [2009]
Only the French could get away with something like this. This is the final part in Jean-Claude Brisseau's loose trilogy about sexual taboos and it's one of those films where the plot is specifically designed so that the director's opinions can be read out by the characters. Essentially, the plot doesn't matter too much, it's mainly about the dialogue.
A pretty but annoying young woman becomes unfulfilled by her fiance's sex, resulting in her first pissing him off by masturbating in the next room, then by actually having an affair with a psychologist named Greg. Through Greg, Sandrine then meets a couple of other women who lead sexually diverse lives, and, when all is said and done, get down to shagging in various ways. Obviously there is lots of philosophical drivel along the way, including some bizarre scenes of hypnosis, and the idea that the subconscious mind can affect the body in more ways than one.
The lesbian sex in this is very realistic, to the point that you'd be forgiven for thinking that they were actually touching each other in an explicit way. But there's enough of that around anyway, and the director manages to show it without degrading his actresses. A quick brightening up of the picture and a few presses of the zoom button reveals a girl's mouth very close to another's vagina, but no actual contact is made. But congrats to the director for faking it, and yet making it so arousing (take that, 9 Songs, you pile of shit).
If you can be bothered to sit through the lengthy chatter, or actually have an interest in this kind of thing, you may find it an enjoyable viewing. To me, though, I'm kinda getting tired of listening to the French waffle on about life, love and the universe. As if Breillat hadn't already bored us enough with her opinions on sex.
(3 out of 5)
Izgnanie (The Banishment) DVD [2007]
This is a very beautiful and moving Russian film about a family who take a trip out to stay at a house in the countryside. Once there, the wife informs the husband that she is pregnant for the third time, but that the child is not his. The film displays perfectly his sadness and internal torment upon this revelation, as he battles with his own desires over how to resolve the issue.
The movie reminds somewhat of Tarkovsky, with its long, slow shots and images of wind rustling through the trees. Rather than being a copy, though, it adds to the atmosphere and conveys Alex's distress perfectly. Throughout its 2 and a half hour length, it never becomes boring.
The only problem is the ending. The fact that we find out we have been deliberately misled from the very beginning about the child, just to provide a tragic twist on the story. It's the kind of thing you expect from an overrated Dan Brown novel. I felt that it let the film down at the final hurdle.
(4 out of 5)
A Londoni Ferfi (The Man Fron London) DVD [2007]
I fell in love with Bela Tarr's films when I watched Satantango, which has now become my favourite movie. It was an immense (7 hour), beautiful and challenging film, which put him in his rightful place as a master director, alongside the likes of Tarkovsky. When deciding to feast myself on his back-catalogue, I wasn't sure whether I would be treated to the same standard of artistic excellence, or whether I would be let down.
This film didn't disappoint. It is recorded in trademark black and white, with a pace that a snail could overtake, but it's completely enthralling from start to finish. Every scene throughout its 130 minutes (not 90, as the Artifical Eye DVD erroneously states) unfolds upon your screen with a subtle and deliberate beauty, drawing you in even when nothing appears to be happening. That's when you know you have the mark of a great filmmaker, when you can film the mundane and make it engrossing.
(5 out of 5)
Bes Vakit (Times & Winds) DVD [2006]
This is a superb film from Turkey about a group of young children growing up in a remote mountain village, and the trials they face as their lives unfold. One of the children endures a fruitless and brutal relationship with his father and yearns to kill him. With his friends, he devises many childish ways of ending the old man's life.
Full of slow tracking shots showing the enourmous beauty of the scenery, this film is full of tender emotion as the children go about their lives as best they know how. It's ultimately quite a sad journey. The child acting is pretty good.
(4 out of 5)
Only the French could get away with something like this. This is the final part in Jean-Claude Brisseau's loose trilogy about sexual taboos and it's one of those films where the plot is specifically designed so that the director's opinions can be read out by the characters. Essentially, the plot doesn't matter too much, it's mainly about the dialogue.
A pretty but annoying young woman becomes unfulfilled by her fiance's sex, resulting in her first pissing him off by masturbating in the next room, then by actually having an affair with a psychologist named Greg. Through Greg, Sandrine then meets a couple of other women who lead sexually diverse lives, and, when all is said and done, get down to shagging in various ways. Obviously there is lots of philosophical drivel along the way, including some bizarre scenes of hypnosis, and the idea that the subconscious mind can affect the body in more ways than one.
The lesbian sex in this is very realistic, to the point that you'd be forgiven for thinking that they were actually touching each other in an explicit way. But there's enough of that around anyway, and the director manages to show it without degrading his actresses. A quick brightening up of the picture and a few presses of the zoom button reveals a girl's mouth very close to another's vagina, but no actual contact is made. But congrats to the director for faking it, and yet making it so arousing (take that, 9 Songs, you pile of shit).
If you can be bothered to sit through the lengthy chatter, or actually have an interest in this kind of thing, you may find it an enjoyable viewing. To me, though, I'm kinda getting tired of listening to the French waffle on about life, love and the universe. As if Breillat hadn't already bored us enough with her opinions on sex.
(3 out of 5)
Izgnanie (The Banishment) DVD [2007]
This is a very beautiful and moving Russian film about a family who take a trip out to stay at a house in the countryside. Once there, the wife informs the husband that she is pregnant for the third time, but that the child is not his. The film displays perfectly his sadness and internal torment upon this revelation, as he battles with his own desires over how to resolve the issue.
The movie reminds somewhat of Tarkovsky, with its long, slow shots and images of wind rustling through the trees. Rather than being a copy, though, it adds to the atmosphere and conveys Alex's distress perfectly. Throughout its 2 and a half hour length, it never becomes boring.
The only problem is the ending. The fact that we find out we have been deliberately misled from the very beginning about the child, just to provide a tragic twist on the story. It's the kind of thing you expect from an overrated Dan Brown novel. I felt that it let the film down at the final hurdle.
(4 out of 5)
A Londoni Ferfi (The Man Fron London) DVD [2007]
I fell in love with Bela Tarr's films when I watched Satantango, which has now become my favourite movie. It was an immense (7 hour), beautiful and challenging film, which put him in his rightful place as a master director, alongside the likes of Tarkovsky. When deciding to feast myself on his back-catalogue, I wasn't sure whether I would be treated to the same standard of artistic excellence, or whether I would be let down.
This film didn't disappoint. It is recorded in trademark black and white, with a pace that a snail could overtake, but it's completely enthralling from start to finish. Every scene throughout its 130 minutes (not 90, as the Artifical Eye DVD erroneously states) unfolds upon your screen with a subtle and deliberate beauty, drawing you in even when nothing appears to be happening. That's when you know you have the mark of a great filmmaker, when you can film the mundane and make it engrossing.
(5 out of 5)
Bes Vakit (Times & Winds) DVD [2006]
This is a superb film from Turkey about a group of young children growing up in a remote mountain village, and the trials they face as their lives unfold. One of the children endures a fruitless and brutal relationship with his father and yearns to kill him. With his friends, he devises many childish ways of ending the old man's life.
Full of slow tracking shots showing the enourmous beauty of the scenery, this film is full of tender emotion as the children go about their lives as best they know how. It's ultimately quite a sad journey. The child acting is pretty good.
(4 out of 5)
Thursday, 27 August 2009
9 Songs
9 Songs DVD [2005]
Ok, before we get into this crap, let me just say that my absence from this blog has been due to me writing a novel. I have been spending most of my time working on that project and didn't want to break away from it. But seeing as though I am almost at the end, I took a night off and decided to do a review.
So, I'm guessing most of you already know about this film and all the controversy around it. Despite my best efforts not to give this a chance, I finally went against my prinicples and decided to do just that. What a waste of an hour and 6 minutes it was. And to think I have films like The Werckmeister Harmonies and Damnation sitting on my desk ready to be played. Bad choice on my part.
Hang on, what the fuck, I hear you cry - 66 minutes? Yeah, that's what I thought when I looked at the runtime. But honestly, this feature seems like 120 minutes; it's that tedious. The film takes just over an hour to show us the formation and dissolution of a one year relationship between two dull gig-goers. The girl, whatever her name was, is American, and acts as though her last film was I Love Cum 12. The guy, a Brit, has a face like chipped brickwork, and about as much screen presence.
Well, let's get down to the content. The whole 9 songs gimmick. And that's all it is really: a gimmick. One that gets old very quickly. The protagonists' life - mainly sexual - is interspersed with (thankfully) short performances by awful and uninteresting bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Elbow, Super Furry Animals, etc. But it's overdone, and you have to stop yourself reaching for the fast-forward button. But not that what lies between is any the more enthralling. If the pair aren't having sex, then they are sitting around eating, smoking, doing coke... but in scenes that last about 15 seconds. There is no substance to any of it, no atmosphere, no build up of emotions, nothing to make you give a shit.
Let's talk about the obvious thing: the sex. It's dull. And forced. The only words which come out of the girl's mouth are "fuck me" and "come inside me". Over and over again. At first we are teased with only brief glimpses of the fabled "real sex", but before long we get to see some actual hardcore action (although, admittedly, it still only lasts a matter of seconds). By the time we get to see him take a lick of her vagina, though, I was already bored out of my mind. The most explicit scene sees her sucking him off (really badly), and then there is a cut to her wanking semen out of his dick.
If you want real sex in a film, you'd be better off watching In The Realm Of The Senses. Even The Brown Bunny's whole blowjob scene was ten times more enthralling than this entire fucking film. But, come on, what's with this whole real sex thing anyway? I'll admit it, if used right, it can add something to a film, whether that is just blatant shock, actual eroticism, or even repulsion. If done right, it can truly add something. But this pile of junk doesn't tick any of those boxes. It purely exists in a work which shows us nothing we haven't seen before, and what's worse, doesn't even challenge or push boundaries. I might as well have taken out one of the pornos from under my bed. But that's not to say that this movie is porn, oh no, I have porn films with better plots than this. This movie is just fucking dire, full stop.
I couldn't care less about either of the two characters. Even if a film isn't aiming for character development, it surely must have something which sucks you in (not off) and keeps you interested for its duration. Even as pure asethetic viewing, this work is a terrible failure. If I was supposed to have garnered some kind of deep feelings regarding the pair's passionate relationship and their eventual parting, then I'm afraid I came out of it empty. It was all too fast and too boring. Maybe if Mr Winterbottom had spent more time creating some kind of emotion, or even chemistry, in his scenes, instead of cutting them short to feature more dross from The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, this film could have been something decent.
Like I mentioned previously, if you want a film with constant real sex scenes througout, get ahold of In The Realm Of The Senses. At least that film has the ability to keep you glued to the screen with its atmosphere. Plus you even get ample time to get your dick out for a quick pounding during the blowjob scene, unlike this film. Honestly, why the fuck did the BBFC give 9 Songs an 18 certificate? It's fucking worthless. What artistic merit does it have? If I was on the board, I would have said fuck off, take this shit and throw it in the nearest toilet.
This film is only going to appeal to certain groups of people. Firstly, and obviously, those with an interest in the bands who perform on it. Secondly, those who are still hooked on buying films with real sex because either they don't have access to porn shops, or they are too young to discern between good films and utter garbage like this.
I would urge people to stay away from this. Don't fall into the trap of "Oh, it might not be as bad as all those Amazon buyer reviews, I'll give it a go". I wasted an hour of my life watching this fucking rubbish. Don't make the same mistake.
[0 out of 5]
Ok, before we get into this crap, let me just say that my absence from this blog has been due to me writing a novel. I have been spending most of my time working on that project and didn't want to break away from it. But seeing as though I am almost at the end, I took a night off and decided to do a review.
So, I'm guessing most of you already know about this film and all the controversy around it. Despite my best efforts not to give this a chance, I finally went against my prinicples and decided to do just that. What a waste of an hour and 6 minutes it was. And to think I have films like The Werckmeister Harmonies and Damnation sitting on my desk ready to be played. Bad choice on my part.
Hang on, what the fuck, I hear you cry - 66 minutes? Yeah, that's what I thought when I looked at the runtime. But honestly, this feature seems like 120 minutes; it's that tedious. The film takes just over an hour to show us the formation and dissolution of a one year relationship between two dull gig-goers. The girl, whatever her name was, is American, and acts as though her last film was I Love Cum 12. The guy, a Brit, has a face like chipped brickwork, and about as much screen presence.
Well, let's get down to the content. The whole 9 songs gimmick. And that's all it is really: a gimmick. One that gets old very quickly. The protagonists' life - mainly sexual - is interspersed with (thankfully) short performances by awful and uninteresting bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Elbow, Super Furry Animals, etc. But it's overdone, and you have to stop yourself reaching for the fast-forward button. But not that what lies between is any the more enthralling. If the pair aren't having sex, then they are sitting around eating, smoking, doing coke... but in scenes that last about 15 seconds. There is no substance to any of it, no atmosphere, no build up of emotions, nothing to make you give a shit.
Let's talk about the obvious thing: the sex. It's dull. And forced. The only words which come out of the girl's mouth are "fuck me" and "come inside me". Over and over again. At first we are teased with only brief glimpses of the fabled "real sex", but before long we get to see some actual hardcore action (although, admittedly, it still only lasts a matter of seconds). By the time we get to see him take a lick of her vagina, though, I was already bored out of my mind. The most explicit scene sees her sucking him off (really badly), and then there is a cut to her wanking semen out of his dick.
If you want real sex in a film, you'd be better off watching In The Realm Of The Senses. Even The Brown Bunny's whole blowjob scene was ten times more enthralling than this entire fucking film. But, come on, what's with this whole real sex thing anyway? I'll admit it, if used right, it can add something to a film, whether that is just blatant shock, actual eroticism, or even repulsion. If done right, it can truly add something. But this pile of junk doesn't tick any of those boxes. It purely exists in a work which shows us nothing we haven't seen before, and what's worse, doesn't even challenge or push boundaries. I might as well have taken out one of the pornos from under my bed. But that's not to say that this movie is porn, oh no, I have porn films with better plots than this. This movie is just fucking dire, full stop.
I couldn't care less about either of the two characters. Even if a film isn't aiming for character development, it surely must have something which sucks you in (not off) and keeps you interested for its duration. Even as pure asethetic viewing, this work is a terrible failure. If I was supposed to have garnered some kind of deep feelings regarding the pair's passionate relationship and their eventual parting, then I'm afraid I came out of it empty. It was all too fast and too boring. Maybe if Mr Winterbottom had spent more time creating some kind of emotion, or even chemistry, in his scenes, instead of cutting them short to feature more dross from The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, this film could have been something decent.
Like I mentioned previously, if you want a film with constant real sex scenes througout, get ahold of In The Realm Of The Senses. At least that film has the ability to keep you glued to the screen with its atmosphere. Plus you even get ample time to get your dick out for a quick pounding during the blowjob scene, unlike this film. Honestly, why the fuck did the BBFC give 9 Songs an 18 certificate? It's fucking worthless. What artistic merit does it have? If I was on the board, I would have said fuck off, take this shit and throw it in the nearest toilet.
This film is only going to appeal to certain groups of people. Firstly, and obviously, those with an interest in the bands who perform on it. Secondly, those who are still hooked on buying films with real sex because either they don't have access to porn shops, or they are too young to discern between good films and utter garbage like this.
I would urge people to stay away from this. Don't fall into the trap of "Oh, it might not be as bad as all those Amazon buyer reviews, I'll give it a go". I wasted an hour of my life watching this fucking rubbish. Don't make the same mistake.
[0 out of 5]
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Flowers From Exile
ROME "Flowers From Exile" CD [2009]
I was immensely excited about this release. Somehow I managed to miss out on the taster EP, but maybe that was a good thing, since I ended up listening to the new album having not heard any of the tracks before. It was fresh to my ears and I had no idea how the new material would sound. I was not disappointed.
ROME is the brainchild of Jerome Reuter and was founded in Luxembourg only 4 years ago in 2005. Since then has seen the release of 4 albums and 2 EPs. For "Flowers...", Jerome (guitar & vocals) is joined by Patrick Damiani (guitar, cello, bass, drums & keyboard) and Nikos Mavridis (violin). Being a three-piece has certainly affected the project's sound - though not drastically - and it is a welcome progression.
With a theme of the Spanish civil war, this CD has a unique flavour compared to its predecessors. Starting off with a progressive almost Rock piece, we are treated to some really laid-back Folk-rooted guitar hymns, with Jerome's deep, soothing vocals flowing freely throughout. Things pick up pace a bit towards the middle, anthems steeped in melancholy, but still managing to sound uplifting. Some trademark ROME elements are still here - speech samples at the end of tracks, etc, but all in all this is a big step away from the Cold Meat Industry releases. A step the right way, it should be noted.
(5 out of 5)
I was immensely excited about this release. Somehow I managed to miss out on the taster EP, but maybe that was a good thing, since I ended up listening to the new album having not heard any of the tracks before. It was fresh to my ears and I had no idea how the new material would sound. I was not disappointed.
ROME is the brainchild of Jerome Reuter and was founded in Luxembourg only 4 years ago in 2005. Since then has seen the release of 4 albums and 2 EPs. For "Flowers...", Jerome (guitar & vocals) is joined by Patrick Damiani (guitar, cello, bass, drums & keyboard) and Nikos Mavridis (violin). Being a three-piece has certainly affected the project's sound - though not drastically - and it is a welcome progression.
With a theme of the Spanish civil war, this CD has a unique flavour compared to its predecessors. Starting off with a progressive almost Rock piece, we are treated to some really laid-back Folk-rooted guitar hymns, with Jerome's deep, soothing vocals flowing freely throughout. Things pick up pace a bit towards the middle, anthems steeped in melancholy, but still managing to sound uplifting. Some trademark ROME elements are still here - speech samples at the end of tracks, etc, but all in all this is a big step away from the Cold Meat Industry releases. A step the right way, it should be noted.
(5 out of 5)
Monday, 6 July 2009
Bird Seed
Whitehouse "Bird Seed" LP [2009] [orig. 2003]
The UK Power Electronics masters Whitehouse release their 17th album on vinyl format as part of their ongoing collector's reissue programme. Just to fill you in, William Bennett is releasing 17 out of his 19 albums on vinyl in limited quantities, with bonus tracks wherever possible. This edition was originally put out on CD in 2003, coming hot on the heels of their much-famed "Cruise", an awesome album of varying sound and art.
This release follows up quite closely with some tracks seemingly sounding familiar, though as a whole offers something distinctly different. I did read up on the lyrics to this a few years back, but my memory fails me, though I do recall that they were brought together from various subjects and sources, creating something which is intently baffling and deliberately immediately nonsensical. You gotta dig deep, I guess.
One thing which bugs me about this release is the inclusion of yet another collage piece - the title track. It was best done on "Mummy & Daddy", though was revived for "Cruise" and seemed to work, yet on this release it bored me to death completely. Even with Sotos' "Buyer's Market" in my collection, I still didn't wanna hear another piece like this.
As a bonus, the vinyl release offers an additional track in the form of an extended instrumental version of "Wriggle Like A Fucking Eel", which I believe is taken from the 12" single. What sounds like thundering djembes is much more enhanced and placed over the original track's electronic squeal. It's a bit repetitive but still nice to have.
(4 out of 5)
The UK Power Electronics masters Whitehouse release their 17th album on vinyl format as part of their ongoing collector's reissue programme. Just to fill you in, William Bennett is releasing 17 out of his 19 albums on vinyl in limited quantities, with bonus tracks wherever possible. This edition was originally put out on CD in 2003, coming hot on the heels of their much-famed "Cruise", an awesome album of varying sound and art.
This release follows up quite closely with some tracks seemingly sounding familiar, though as a whole offers something distinctly different. I did read up on the lyrics to this a few years back, but my memory fails me, though I do recall that they were brought together from various subjects and sources, creating something which is intently baffling and deliberately immediately nonsensical. You gotta dig deep, I guess.
One thing which bugs me about this release is the inclusion of yet another collage piece - the title track. It was best done on "Mummy & Daddy", though was revived for "Cruise" and seemed to work, yet on this release it bored me to death completely. Even with Sotos' "Buyer's Market" in my collection, I still didn't wanna hear another piece like this.
As a bonus, the vinyl release offers an additional track in the form of an extended instrumental version of "Wriggle Like A Fucking Eel", which I believe is taken from the 12" single. What sounds like thundering djembes is much more enhanced and placed over the original track's electronic squeal. It's a bit repetitive but still nice to have.
(4 out of 5)
Gomorrah
Gomorrah [2008]
Based upon five stories from the bestselling book by journalist Roberto Saviano, which exposes the true life happenings of the Neapolitan crime organisation, the Comorra, similar to the Mafia. After the release of his book, attempts were made by the Comorra to eliminate him (yeah, whack him). Saviano was given a permanent police escort to protect him and has since left Italy to escape from living in hiding.
This should give you some kind of idea as to the kind of people the film is dealing with here. Not the glamourized hoods ala The Godfather; there is no such romanticism here. The film portrays all the gang members with gritty and brutal realism, and doesn't stylise anything. This isn't a stereotypical Hollywood tale of likeable gangsters, so those expecting such a thing should best stay away.
As regards to the film itself, it's better if you are a bit clued up as to what is going on with these people, as the movie offers no such explanation and simply dumps you in the middle of it all, often wondering just what the fuck is going on at times. It's easy to get a little lost at first, but you soon find your footing, becoming enthralled by the happenings on the screen. Young kids wearing bullet proof vests and being intentionally shot at close range to prove that they are "men." Two young careless guys getting themselves into deep shit by stealing bosses' guns and shooting them off across lakes in their underwear, pretending to be Tony Montana. The film is a sea of criminality where you are left to figure it all out yourself and watch as it comes to a bloody, violent end.
Like I said before, this isn't for you if you are after more Godfather, Donnie Brasco, etc, unless you have an open mind and have a genuine interest in this kind of thing. It's not the best movie in the world, but it's worth giving a chance.
(4 out of 5)
Based upon five stories from the bestselling book by journalist Roberto Saviano, which exposes the true life happenings of the Neapolitan crime organisation, the Comorra, similar to the Mafia. After the release of his book, attempts were made by the Comorra to eliminate him (yeah, whack him). Saviano was given a permanent police escort to protect him and has since left Italy to escape from living in hiding.
This should give you some kind of idea as to the kind of people the film is dealing with here. Not the glamourized hoods ala The Godfather; there is no such romanticism here. The film portrays all the gang members with gritty and brutal realism, and doesn't stylise anything. This isn't a stereotypical Hollywood tale of likeable gangsters, so those expecting such a thing should best stay away.
As regards to the film itself, it's better if you are a bit clued up as to what is going on with these people, as the movie offers no such explanation and simply dumps you in the middle of it all, often wondering just what the fuck is going on at times. It's easy to get a little lost at first, but you soon find your footing, becoming enthralled by the happenings on the screen. Young kids wearing bullet proof vests and being intentionally shot at close range to prove that they are "men." Two young careless guys getting themselves into deep shit by stealing bosses' guns and shooting them off across lakes in their underwear, pretending to be Tony Montana. The film is a sea of criminality where you are left to figure it all out yourself and watch as it comes to a bloody, violent end.
Like I said before, this isn't for you if you are after more Godfather, Donnie Brasco, etc, unless you have an open mind and have a genuine interest in this kind of thing. It's not the best movie in the world, but it's worth giving a chance.
(4 out of 5)
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