The Cinematic Orchestra - Album Review

Earlier this year I was waiting in great anticipation of one of my favourite British bands releasing their newest album. When the Cinematics finally dropped Ma Fleur after what had seemed like an eternity of waiting I was a little crestfallen.

It seemed the quota of jazz stylings that had suffused their earlier work had taken a backseat, to the more acoustic sounds you might be more familiar with on Zero 7’s first album. Ma Fleur also seemed to lose a lot of darkness and urgency of the earlier albums.

Now, the seasons (such as they are anymore) have rolled around and I find myself listening again to Jason Swinscoe et al. and maybe being a little more open minded. As much as I’d love to recapture another slice of Nu-Jazz/ Chill Out of the Cinematics, the simple truth is they have grown.

Yes, the lush orchestration is there, but where as Everday dared to slow the beats down, Ma Fleur dispenses with them altogether at some points; the jazz drumming has been swapped out for a more soulful approach and the clarinet has been traded in for folksier guitar. In fact it may well be that until As The Stars Fall you won’t recognise it as Cinematics album at all.

Clearly this work is far more sublime that either Motion or Everyday but is still well worth a listen.

Insomnia Haiku

I can’t sleep again
Insistent thoughts fill my mind
Uneasy in my skin

Iron Man

Aside from the fact that he’s going to appear in the achingly cool Iron Man next summer, Robert Downey Jr. has been popping on my radar fairly frequently over the last few years. Let’s take a look:

Firstly there was Good Night and Good Luck (2005), and although he was a member of the supporting cast you really can’t throw a blanket on his charisma, even when alongside (a very on form) George Clooney. This film is a wonderfully shot and paced, black and white film about the McCarthy witch hunts and never resorts to out and out name-calling. Even if you don’t know much about American history or politics this film is worth checking out.

A Scanner Darkly (2006) was the perfect platform for Downey Jr. to showcase his demons, he has served time for drug related shenanigans. Alongside a stellar ‘alternative’ cast of Winona Rider, Keanu Reeves and Woody Harrelson, Downey’s ‘Barris’ was as brilliant as he was unhinged. A Scanner Darkly won’t appeal to every palate but if you’re brave enough to try something different (both visually and story wise) it’s well worth a look.

More recently he appeared in lightly fictionalised, true story Zodiac (2007), where he played Paul Avery, a journalist given to baiting the serial killer in question, the 1970’s Zodiac Killer. He frequently stole scenes from the quieter, more contained Jake Gyllenhaal and helped carry the long (but not overly so) film. I think you really have to love film to watch this one, it’s basically a film about police procedure and that takes some patience to watch.

Which brings us to Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang(2005). Although I missed this at the cinema (damn it), I rented a copy of this movie out and really enjoyed it. Once again Downey brings his ‘bad boy about town’ image to the role and gets mixed up in all sorts of underworld mayhem. Not only is this film funny and clever, but the dynamic between Downey and Val Kilmer is great.

So, 2008 will bring us another comic book adaptation, but lets hope with the creative control Marvel are exerting, and the almost perfectly cast of Downey Jr. as Tony Stark we’ll be onto a winner.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/

Thngs I've Learned

D.I.Y. requires the intellect of a genius, the patience of a saint and the ability not to shout ‘F*ck’ in stressful situations. At time of writing the shelves and blinds are still attached to the walls; long may it last.

I think I have a dirty crush on Trinny and Suzannah. I don’t even watch their programs. I think the rationale is; there is something for everyone – curvy blonde with great tits or slinky, aristocratic brunette. Take your pick. That said I don’t want either of them coming near my wardrobe…

67% of London bus drivers are frustrated rally racers. They accelerate and brake with all the finesse of a ham-fisted pugilist.

The statistic in the previous line is completely made up but you get the idea.

Moloko and/or Roisin Murphy is like crack, I can’t stop listening to it of late. Fortunately Wikipedia informs me it’s ‘Electronica’, which is good, as if I had to admit to liking ‘pop’ music might die.

I currently have the attention span of a… er, what was I writing about? Seriously, I find it difficult to read comics at the moment. I blame the lack of sleep.

Knocked Up may well be one of the finest comedies you’ll see this year, regardless of whether you have or haven’t been pregnant and are or are not a guy or gal.

You can buy the coolest movie-geek apparel at lastexittonowhere.com.

Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem

The tag lines goes thusly:

In Space No One Can Hear You Scream

On Earth

No One Will Care.

It’s almost prophetic. Just as the tag line to 2003’s appalling franchise mash-up was Who Ever Wins, We Lose, (primarily the audience lost two hours of their lives), so goes AVP: Requiem.

My initial reaction was, ‘Yes, this trailer is so bad I really don’t care.’ The body count alone in the trailer is frankly a little ridiculous and reveals almost nothing of the story line – probably because there isn’t one.

But then the anger seeped in, and I realised I do care. I’ve loved the original Aliens Trilogy for a very long time and Predator really is good, gory Sci-Fi fun. So why can’t Fox do us, the geeked-out, fan-boy, cinema-going public, the decency of hiring a script writer who doesn’t cater to fifteen year old boys?

Fox are painfully aware of the absolute drudge they are selling. Aliens Vs Predator didn’t even receive a press screening because they knew it sucked so badly, the critics would have panned it, and no one would have gone to see it.

Why must we constantly endure these dumbed down, plot lite, special effects extravaganzas? Surely the aim of science fiction is to pose questions about humanity and technology and tell great stories in fantastic settings?

Or maybe I’ve got it all wrong and it’s about filling Multiplexes with acne riddled boys, who enjoy seeing people mutilated in as many ways as the Director can think of.

Attack Of The Colossus!

Not a great deal of news today so I’ll revert to shameless self promotion.

My fourth feature for DK Findout magazine is due in the shops any day now. The new editor was after all things weird and wonderful, so I wrote about Colossal Squid; not because I’m an expert but because I think they are cool and scary.

What more do kids want than cool scary stuff these days huh?

Previous efforts have been Greek Mythology, Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies and Samurai. So I’m carving out a boy/ geek niche for myself. Book reviews have slowed down a little due to house moves and enthusiasm although I was surprised to find that I've chalked up 19 reviews now.

As if all this wasn't enough it looks like TRANSFORMERS Comic UK #2 will outsell the previous issue so there are some happy faces at Titan Towers © at the moment.

Origins

I know what you’re thinking; ‘Why the hell does this guy have a freaking mushroom on his web banner? And what do mushrooms have to do with beards anyway? What is this guy on?’

Which is precisely the point. The name of this blog was thought up (or blurted out in a high pitched voice) by my partner in crime, during a rather extreme experience with some Fungus.

Here’s a Bill Hicks quote that sums up my opinion completely:

“No, I don't do drugs anymore, either. But I'll tell you something about drugs. I used to do drugs, but I'll tell you something honestly about drugs, honestly, and I know it's not a very popular idea, you don't hear it very often anymore, but it is the truth: I had a great time doing drugs. Sorry. Never murdered anyone, never robbed anyone, never raped anyone, never beat anyone, never lost a job, a car, a house, a wife or kids, laughed my ass off, and went about my day.”

Whilst I’d never suggest recreational drugs to anyone here’s my pointers for having responsible chemical adventures. After all, it scans that if you can drink responsibly then why not get stoned responsibly?

1. Location.You are basically strapping yourself to some kind of mental rollercoaster for the next two or more hours. Make sure you are comfortable. In the same way you wouldn’t go on a rollercoaster in a mini skirt (girls), you don’t wanna drop acid dressed as a Fairy in Beirut… think about it. Environment is very important; as are the people you surround yourself with.

There is a good chance that you’ll feel more comfortable in your own home and you run less risk of running into Police, idiots looking for fights or people who will be freaked out by you.

2. Less is more. In our gung-ho beer culture it’s easy to get carried away with a more-more-more attitude. Wouldn’t it be better to have a night where you got mildly spanked out of your tiny little mind than 24 hours suffering from crippling fear/ being sick?

3. Be prepared. Get the supplies in. If your smoking weed you will desire cake/ pizza/ good tea or biscuits. Papers, tobacco and lighters go without saying.
Lighting is important and darkness is hard work when you’re a bit fuzzy. Lava lamps, Uplighters and dimmer switches are your friends. Candles are bad, bad, bad.
Soft things – cushions, duvets, couches. Don’t get too comfortable though or you’ll just drop off (if smoking).

4. Entertainment. What to do in your heightened or dulled down state?
Music – playing Tool whilst stoned is one thing, whilst on Mushrooms, it is entirely another. Have the right tunes, genres and vibe for your big night.
Movies – Possibly even harder to plan for than music, familiarity is good. Trying to keep up with the plot of a film you haven’t seen before whilst being fascinated by the swirls in the plaster on the ceiling doesn’t work. Some films demand a cheeky joint just to watch, such as Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, The Big Lebowski, Donnie Darko, Napoleon Dynamite … you get the idea

5. Work as a team. Look out for each other and try to have an emergency plan if things get weird. Also, know which one of you looks the most straight. He will be the designated ‘Neighbour Talker’ for when next door/ the people downstairs complain about the noise.

6. Plan ahead. Make sure you have the following day off. What’s the point in getting cheerfully wasted if you spend the next eight hours at work feeling bombed out?

7. It’s supposed to be fun! If you’re not having a good time go to bed, take a glass of water with you and get your buddies to check in on you if they are still running riot.

Richard Morgan – Book Review

Altered Carbon
Richard Morgan
Paperback

Takeshi Kovacs awakes to find that his personality has been broadcast some 180 light years to Earth. He’s in a body with a history all of it’s own, railroaded into working for a man some two hundred and fifty years old and given a mystery to solve that is nigh on impossible.

Fortunately Takeshi is an ex-Envoy.

Fusing together Cyberpunk and hardboiled detective noir, Richard Morgan mines a seam of great ideas: the most fundamental being that humans have their personalities stored digitally and can be ‘decanted’ into new bodies. Based on this premise and the many options and variables surrounding it, Morgan weaves a sordid tale of a fantastically violent future. Much of the book feels more like a film and fans of BladeRunner or Aliens will feel both at home and exhilarated by the dystopia Morgan has created. At times the author cheekily alludes to things beyond the scope of the book that will have you dying to know more.

The pace of this novel is frankly breathtaking up until the last quarter, when you’ll need to pay attention as the twists and consequences come thick and fast. The story starts out small and personal but quickly becomes more global and political, all underpinned with Morgan’s dark humour. The supporting characters are never flimsy; frequently flawed, broken and making the best of an uncaring future world.

Told from the first person and with an undeniable swagger, Kovacs is a perfect anti-hero who, despite his occasional gold heartedness, is not someone you want to get on the wrong side of in any star system.

An adrenaline soaked, darkly sexy, super violent, super intelligent book that will grip you (or strangle you) to the very last page. Buy it now.

10 / 10

New Banner

Checked out the sexy new banner?

Special thanks goes to out to the very talented Sarah Langton who very kindly offered to design a banner for me and then put up with all my silly questions regarding pixels/ size etc.

At time of writing I'm just back from a week off and up to my neck in e mail. A proper post will follow shortly.