A year in listening

The graph above charts my music listening habits over the past year according to LastGraph...a cool little app. for Last FM.

Quite a lovely shape really.

Sunshine hits me

Another brief hiatus from blogging is testament to the numerous events, unexpected changes and surprises that have peppered my little life over the past few weeks. As the seasons are in transition, so it seems are the directions in which I am traveling at the moment...some instigated by myself, some it appears driven by fate. Sometimes things seem to align in an effortless timely fashion and everything fits into place...those times make me smile.

I am supposed to be working on some freelance stuff for a friend, but the mood took me to blog so I am going to do a brief sum up of notable bobbins and twaddle:

Films

Shifty: I was very lucky to win a Boxfresh competition a few weeks ago. The prizes being a couple of tickets to the industry premier of Shifty at Soho Curzon and some free clobber from the afore mentioned brand. Great film - The directorial debut of Eran Creevy and made for an amazingly low £100k (tip - blow the actors away with the script, then sweet talk them into working for next to nothing) A 24h story set in an outer London suburb, it documents two friends (Riz Ahmed and Daniel Mays) who's lives were parted by tragedy, then reunited four years later where old ghosts return to haunt them. A refreshing take on drug street life in an average British city suburb, low key but effective in photographic direction, with an utterly fluid and semi-improvised dialogue. The lead actors have a brother like synergy on screen that makes it truly pleasurable to get lost in their journey down a spiral of social disintegration and ultimately absolution from their demons. Social realism at its best - highly recommended. 9/10

In the Loop: Armando Iannucci at his absolute best. The scene: The Labour Party just prior to the UN's investigation in Iraq's supposed WMD's and build up to invasion, it's heartless and chaotic spin doctors, whips and press depts, and fascicle MP's lack of PR skills/rational thinking. Razor sharp delivery, crude beyond words, incendiary delivery - an utterly hilarious dark comedy. Rarely have I seem so many chairs vibrate with hilarity and tears of laughter stream down so many faces in one room. Without doubt the funniest thing I have seen in a good few years. Essential viewing. 10/10.

Cheri: Excellent period romantic drama directed by Stephen Frears. A welcome return to form from Michelle Pfeiffer and the brilliant Kathy Bates. Basic story centres around the son of a famous courtesan, his dalliances with his mum's mates and other unlucky ladies of social standing. Utterly hedonistic, sometimes funny, sometimes heartwarming, ultimately redeeming and satisfying. Great soundtrack apparently, though I nearly fell asleep near the end...not through boredom...strange. 8/10.

Somers Town: I have wanted to see this film for ages - it is sooo damn good. Directed by the fantastic Shane Meadows of This Is England fame and a return from the genius child actor Thomas Turgoose. A pure, honest and lovely tale of a brummy runaway and polish immigrant who become unlikely friends, fall in love with the same french girl working in the local cafe and decide to seek her out when she leaves town. Beautiful screenplay and script, with a gritty b&w urban taste to it. Highly recommended. 9/10

I'm on a real good run of cinema at the moment, so a few more reviews to come very soon after my Flickr buddy Mark and I return from the next jaunt. Need to take some photos too...and make more films...Ooo, Raindance soon!

London Marathon

The company I work for sponsor a charity every year and in 2009 it is Help the Hospices. Our offices are bang on the 23rd mile mark and we organise BBQs, face painting, kettle drums, BBC Radio come down with a sound system and we all cheer on those amazing people running for whatever reason it is. I always take photos for the charity which is great fun (they're a lovely bunch of people). So much activity and the atmosphere is highly charged with emotion - this makes for great shots. Great weather for us spectators, but some of the runners were certainly suffering, bless 'em. Top day - loved it.

Tunes

Two bands that I just can't stop playing at the moment, both Scottish, both incredible and I think a few of the songs will enter the 'soundtrack to my life' play list very soon...ah yes, their names: The Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit. Brilliant - remind me of some of the Chemikal Underground bands like Delgadoes. Hope they don't get massive and turn into Snow Patrols - they're mine and I want to keep them to myself and safe from the harm of mass commercial appeal!

Book

The Box Man by Kobo Abe. A Japanese man decides to wear a box on his head, visit his mates and go about his day. Anymore would give it away, but rest assured it's brilliant.

Work

It's cool, challenging, stimulating and sometimes just nuts. I based a campaign around a glass of water - works well I think. Someone asked me to airbrush out their wrinkles and double chin on a portrait - I obliged and it made them happy. Someone else asked me to polish some poo (see book review a few posts ago)...it made me chuckle, then sigh.

I can feel those sunbeams getting stronger as they pierce the clouds and shine on my head - must be summer on its way...or something...

April Skies

Welcome glorious, lovely British Summer Time - everyone starts smiling a bit more and quickly discards the drag of dark days and winter blues. I love this time of year and the months to follow - waking up to and going home in daylight/sunshine; nature coming into bloom; getting more out of the day and enjoying being inside and outside in shorts and sandals! Things are far from smooth at the moment, but getting easier for sure, and the changing of the seasons surely helps. Here's hoping we get a long hot summer this year - we all certainly deserve it!

I've been up to oodles aside from the usual work stuff - the later of which just keeps getting busier and a bit nuts sometimes - things to look forward to stuff though and a few looooong projects finally coming to fruition. A few weeks ago Maria, Rus and I returned to Bad Film Club at The Barbican - This month's offering was the utterly gash Leprechaun in the Hood - shocking it was. Everyone had to wear various tacky fancy dress items and loads of people baked (Green) cakes which were shared around. Great night - shite film, but that's the whole point.

A film experience I had from a completely different end of the spectrum was the excellent Anvil. A touching, sometimes depressing, but ultimately inspiring film - It is the story of a very influential and oft referenced Canadian metal band, who set the standard in the genre's infancy of the early 80s...but couldn't make the leap into the big time. They had to watch as their contemporaries sail off onto global success and all the trappings that came with it, whilst they struggled to make a living doing what they loved. A triumph for the human spirit and belief in one's self. Ironically, the film will probably be the making of them. Without giving too much away, the closing concert could warm the coldest of hearts. Mark and I went to Pizza Express to discuss it afterwards - I think it touched a few 'chords' with the lad, bless him.

Gigwise I went to Koko this Saturday and saw the superb Silversun Pickups. I bought their album Carnavas recently, and whilst good it is a tad overproduced and the vocals are too muted and guitars over-layered. Live they are so much better - think Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine in a melting pot with a dash of Joy Division stirred in - awesome stuff. Other recommended tunage over the past few weeks: For all I care by The Bad Plus and Living Things by Peter, Bjorn and John.

Had a lovely night with my old muckeress Heather last week, who has some exciting news! Also, trotted down to Brixton to watch Liverpool plough Fulham at the last minute with Chris, Lou and Christine. A spot of branding freelance work on the go for a chum from home; making a weekly din with some lads down in Battersea and loving my new guitar very much! Super excited about my forthcoming Filmmakers Foundation at Raindance in June - can't wait for that one. Also, a long weekend back home in the mother county will be a welcome short break from London life. Could do with a proper holiday, but that will have to wait for a wee while.

Next time I hope to be blogging with a bit of a tan, a Magners in my hand and a spring in my step. Until then...

Happiness is six strings and a sparkle

Oh joys of joys! This weekend I took delivery of a little treat that I promised myself when I could afford it - a new guitar. Had my heart set on a candy apple red Jaguar or Jazzmaster, but whilst in Oxford a few weekends ago I tried out a Gretsch Electromatic G5126. I pretty much fell in love with it there and then. It has an incredible tone; that 'Gretsch' sound that everyone prattles on about; very low action, so a super fast neck; an original Bigsby trem. unit...and it's sparkly and looks kick-ass! I have been playing it acoustically and it purrs like a pussycat with an infinite sustain, but plugged in with some dirty distortion it screams like a banshee and has a MASSIVE sound - perfect for the punchy ethereal stuff I like to play. The only thing that slightly concerns me is that is huge - when I wear it standing up it almost completely covers the mid part of my person and the hips of the guitar are nearly 16inches across, but it looks so cool I can live with it! Also, bought a Vox Tonelab LE effects bank as well, as going to sell off all my individual pedals. It too is fantastic.

The Display Team

Had to write about a brilliant new band I have stumbled across (very randomly I should add). The Display Team are a six piece hailing from London and play what I can only describe as proto-progressive jazz punk...sort of thing. They have a mighty brass section too and every member sings (so imagine sometime 6 way harmonies), their key changes are laser sharp and relentless (hence the Jazz likening), the arrangements are chaotic and intricate, and they write witty, sharp and very socially aware lyrics...but most of all humour seems to command their every move.

Chuckles their drummer sent me a promo copy of their yet to be released album Drones, and it is superb. Cheers Chuck!

They are currently touring, so if the happen to be playing near you go see them. From their videos the live shows look intense to say the least. Just hope someone signs them soon!

Heaven for taste buds.

Andy and Kath came round for Sunday lunch today. I wanted to do something special and a bit different, so hunted for a slooooow roasted lamb recipe and stumbled across this.

We all agreed it is the best roast lamb we had ever tasted - the 24hr marinade is superb (and very french), and 7hrs at 120 degrees meant the meat literally fell off the bone when touched. Made Potato Dauphinoise and french garlic beans as an accompaniment. We were so stuffed we couldn't even attempt the Gu Puddings I bought! 

Next time you cook a roast I HIGHLY recommend you try this recipe - it is something else!

A quick top tune recommendation: Silversun Pickups - Carnavas.

The accelerating year

I have neglected my little blog of late, or rather haven't felt the desire to write, which is the whole point anyway. The year is flying by already and so much has happened it feels like a year has already passed. The waves are getting smaller in general, though there are more potential storms ahead - I feel much more prepared and stronger than I did say 6 weeks ago, though the calm waters are still a good way in front. Between us we will see it though and come out better people I am sure.

Been keeping myself as busy as possible without burning out (my adverse sleeping patterns since December are challenging this though - internal body clocks are a peculiar thing). Going to start with a couple of short reviews, then will log an abridged round-up over the past few weeks:

Watchmen - My weekly jaunt to the cinema this week was treated with this incredible film. I seem to be in the minority that I never read the graphic novel, but it didn't stop be being utterly absorbed and blown away. Very complex, dark, 'graphic' and haunting journey through a parallel age. Won't give too much away, but even if you aren't a comic or sci-fi fan, you will not be disappointed by this brilliant (and very long) film. 9/10.

Torture the Artist - An great book that it took me far too long to read (kept getting distracted). In a nutshell that won't give the game away, it is the story of an academy set up to nurture young gifted artistic talent, with the ethos that only good art comes from heartbreak, loss and misery. The students have their lives subjected to persistent disappointment and pain in the hope that their work will be ground-breaking. Of course, they eventually realise what is going on...you can guess the rest. Great book. 8/10.

Tunes - Some new stuff I'm listening to which is making the hairs on the back of my neck stand-up (some more than others): Howling Bells - Radio Wars; The Bad Plus - These are the Vistas; Keith - Vice and Virtue; Prodigy - Invaders must Die; The Pains of being Pure at Heart; Bombay Bicycle Club - The Boy I used to be; Daran Hayman and the Secondary Modern - Pram Town; Airborne Toxic Event; Factory Records Communication Box-Set; Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live in Japan; The View - Which Bitch?.

Events that have passed on my mortal coil: The very sad death of my Great Uncle Charles on my birthday - rest in peace; Great weekends in Surrey, Staffordshire and Oxfordshire with good muckers; Trip home to Yorkshire for a collection of birthdays, long muddy walks and parties; Dragging my birthday celebrations out over 3 weeks (greedy I know); Making music with others again and remembering that I am actually a pretty good guitarist, just rusty and had fallen out of love with my axe!; Loving taking photos and making little films more than ever - a Spring college course is coming up to get the later on to the next level; Working very very hard, involved in some very exciting projects and doing the best work I have ever done - the recognition from both sides of the pond has been nice too; Seeing the beautiful things in life and starting to like myself again, after seeing darkness and half-empty glasses for way way too long; Finding my marbles, sparkle and smile again - they were down the back of the sofa all along! If any of that sounds wank, go read another blog. It means a lot to myself that I can write some of it in the first place, so make no apologies.

Thoughts are with those who have recently had some shocking news and have some tough times to come. Always here for you, as you have been for me.

Until next time...