Seasick Steve - Man from Another Time Album Music Review

 

Seasick Steve has released his fourth album already, as he is advanced his years without being disrespectful, he has crafted his music over those years of wandering around America and has lot of stories to tell us of those travelling years.

What is appealing about this album called Man from Another Time is that he has recorded this album on good old analogue recording equipment and tape, which gives a warm sound.

With his array of home-built guitars and instruments especially his one-string Diddley-Bo guitar and the thumping sound of the stomp-box that gives the one guitarist player in the Deep South his rhythmic beat and timing.

RELATED MUSIC REVIEW Flipron

To get the crowd boogie-on-down the opening Diddley Bo has that raw sing-along and handclapping, while whistling-out loud feel.

The next song Big Green and Yeller is more growlin' with a big sound but only Steve singing, his guitar playing and a drummer absolutely superb.

There are songs on this album like Dark which has a sombre feel as Seasick Steve sings one of the opening lines, I travel light.

A few songs feature Steve playing guitar and singing like Man from Another Time where he wonders way some folk keeps talking about the past.

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Just Because I Can is another song Steve is playing slide guitar and singing this number and well as My Home.

Finally, there is a ten-minute Seasick Boogie, which ends the album in fine 'ol form.

What is good to see and hear is an artist that don't need modern technology to make them sound good, it's back to basics, and that appeals today like we've seen before with the synthetic pop music becoming boring.

Seasick Steve Man from Another Time on CD

Seasick Steve Man from Another Time on Vinyl

Seasick Steve Man from Another Time T-Shirts

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Dylan Thompson

Valkyrie Film Review

 

Valkyrie is a true story about Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg who was a General in the German Army before and during the Second World War.

What is remarkable about this story is the enormous risk Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg played by American actor Tom Cruise, he took to get support to kill the German Nazis leader, Adolf Hitler.

RELATED FILM REVIEW: Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

If you can imagine thinking of 'how' you would kill the most notorious leader of the last century.

If you contacted the wrong person in the German government of the time you would be executed, and not only that but your family and friends wouldn't be spared.

So, the importance in telling this story as Tom Cruise has stated himself, a "big challenge" and an "enormous project" because of the responsibility in telling a truthful story that actually happened and is still being taught today around the world because of the devastation caused by the Second World War, which affected every man, woman and child in some way or another.

RELATED FILM REVIEW: The Reader

This film took two years to make not to mention the pre-production work involved, which took a further two years, so it's well recommended you see this war thriller, it will place you at the edge of your seat.

It's got a star-studded line-up of the greatest actors from Tom Cruise to Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard and many, many others!

Valkyrie on DVD

Valkyrie on Blu-ray

Dylan Thompson

The 96th Academy Awards: A Night of Triumph, Tears, and Twitter Tirades

 

The Dolby Theatre glittered like a scattered diamond necklace on March 10th, 2024, as Hollywood's elite gathered for the 96th Academy Awards.

Jimmy Kimmel, the ever-charming host, returned for his fourth time, keeping the night light with his signature wit and a few playful jabs at the industry's quirks.

Oppenheimer Reigns Supreme

The night belonged to Christopher Nolan's epic biopic, Oppenheimer.

The film, a chronicle of the enigmatic physicist's life and the creation of the atomic bomb, swept the major categories, bagging seven awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Nolan himself.

The win cemented Nolan's status as a true auteur, sparking renewed discussions about the power of historical dramas in a world saturated with superheroes.

Stone, Stuns, Again

Emma Stone proved she's a force to be reckoned with winning her second Best Actress Oscar for her captivating performance in Poor Things.

Her portrayal of a young woman resurrected with a new identity resonated with audiences, leaving them both heartbroken and hopeful. Stone's emotional acceptance speech, where she thanked her family and championed emerging female filmmakers, had the audience reaching for tissues.

Animation Heats Up

The animation categories were a battle royale this year. 

Hayao Miyakaki's whimsical The Boy and the Heron triumphed over the highly anticipated Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse, sparking debate among animation enthusiasts.

Some praised the Academy's recognition of a quieter, character-driven story, while others felt the snub of the visually groundbreaking Spiderman sequel was a missed opportunity.

Where Was The Diversity?

Despite strides towards inclusivity, the #OscarsSoWhite conversation resurfaced.

The lack of nominations for actors and directors of colour fueled social media discussions, prompting renewed calls for the Academy to reflect the vast tapestry of filmmaking talent.

A Night to Remember

The 96th Academy Awards will be remembered for its celebration of cinematic excellence, tearful victories, and of course, a healthy dose of controversy.

One thing's for sure: the conversation around these awards is sure to keep the buzz going until next year's red carpet rolls out.

The Oscars 2024

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DJ Foundation - Paradise - Album Review

 

DJ Foundation proves you can be in the middle of nowhere and become the most resourceful with limited materials, and DJ Foundation has done just that.

You can be excused and say, 'who is DJ Foundation?' And you can ask yourself what the hell am I talking about!

But DJ Foundation is from Mosul, Iraq. Okay putting that to one side, he lives in the most dangerous and violent country he has managed to produce an album called Paradise of Iraqi and Middle Eastern music fused together with good old Western disco beats and vibes.

Now it doesn't stop there as his guest vocals were provided by religious leaders, political figures, business types and any other vocal soundbites he could get his hands on, not bad considering he used a battered old computer to do his project on.

Paradise on Vinyl

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Rob Clarke

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Asian Dub Foundation - Punkara - Album Review

 

Asian Dub Foundation have been bubbling under the surface and are now back with their latest release Punkara.

This album is just as vocal to social issues and the continuing fight against injustices, which songs like Target Practice, Superpower, and Altered Statesmen says it all in itself.

Asian Dub Foundation name speaks for itself usinf sub-continent Asian music mixed with punk driven guitars, dub, pop, and this time reggae beats.

One surprise is Iggy Pop making a guest appearance on one of his songs No Fun!

ADF - Punkara CD

ADF - Japanese Import CD

ADF Vintage T-shirt

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Dylan Thompson

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Pendulum - In Silico - Album Review

 Pendulum have released their second album called In Silico.

If you haven't heard of this band from Australia then you are missing out on a band that make drum 'n' bass music but this follow-up to their debut Hold Your Colour, is somewhat different as they incorporate pop, dance, and fusions of guitar laden music with electronic beats underneath driving the tracks along.

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Pendulum Poster

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Rob Clarke

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Drag Me To Hell - Film Review

 

Drag Me To Hell is a superb horror film, which starts with Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) a little old lady begging Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), the financial advisor of the bank to be lenient with her and give her an extension on her home loan, even going as far as getting on her knees to help change the refusal of her request.

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But Mrs. Ganush has a few surprises up her sleeve and seeks revenge for not only the refusal of the home extension loan but the humiliation she suffered in the bank, while back workers and customers looked on in disbelief.

A warning to bank staff always accept requests from little old ladies or you may find yourselves meeting the same fate as the bank's financial advisor Christine Brown, especially in the bank induced, credit crunch recession, we find ourselves needlessly in!

Drag Me To Hell available on DVD and Blu-ray

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Little Ashes - Film Review

 

Little Ashes is a true story about one of the greatest artists that lived in the 20th Century, painter, photographer, sculptor, and writer Salvador Dali.

The film takes you back to a young Salvador Dali back in the 1920's - 1930's when Dali met poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who tried to have a homosexual relationship with Dali.

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While studying in The Residencia de Estudiantes (Students Residence), which was a modern and influential cultural centre in Madrid, especially in the 20's and during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Dali, Lorca and film maker Bunuel formed an artistic group.

Salvador Dali moved to Paris where high society and a decadent lifestyle ensues and Dali becomes involved with a married woman known as Gala (who he later marries), when Lorca visits Dali in Paris he finds Dali has a different and changed outlook to life.

Little Ashes is available on DVD and Blu-ray

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Star Trek - Film Review

Star Trek has been remarkably and perfectly mordenised and will start a new beginning for existing fans of years gone by and a new younger audience that will enjoy this film.

The director J.J. Abrams, if unfamiliar with his name was responsible for directing films like Mission Impossible III, and programmes like Lost and Alias, and then the screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman who wrote for films such as Transformers, Mission Impossible I and II plus Lost and Alias, so if you like the films and programmes of the above then you'll love the slickness of Star Trek.

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So, what's in store for this new beginning in the world of Star Trek, well a new young crew which look very much like the original crew of the past. The film starts a new mission and that's a new construction of the Spaceship Enterprise going 'boldly where no one has gone before'.

The mission involves defending and being glorious in defeating their enemies with very impressive battles and fighting scenes but just as important is the story and with top notch screenwriters you get that not just relying with the special effects like we've seen with other films, which disappoints film fans, it is democracy in films where the 'people' are being listened to?

Go and see with your own eyes and enjoy.

Star Trek available on DVD and Blu-ray

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Stark - Put It To Your Head - Album Release

What do I get with NYC based band Stark? Vibes of energy from this trio that sound much more than three!

Lani Ford has a respectable job and on the opposite spectrum of life chooses to strap on bass guitar around her and sings punk rock songs like 18 Again, remember energy re-emerging, whta anout Dreams Come True with the opening line 'Kelly ended-up with the giy Kate s'posed to marry' this is a tiny snippet of how clever and well thought of poetic lyrics, maybe the appeal could-be that the lyrics have been lived rather than words waiting to invent the scenarios?

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Whatever the process of creativity from Stark, Put It To Your Head will do just that.

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Rob Clarke

Your Demise - Ignorance Never Dies - Album Release

Your Demise gives you an idea, things can go down until there is nothing, but what would you be left with? Ignorance Never Dies!

I suppose a band that has had quite a ride since they formed way-back in 2003 [this album was originally released in 2009], and have just released their debut album, you have to salute their girt, dirt, and bareknuckle persistence.

You may think it took a longtime in getting released that somehow this band isn't all that good?

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Fair comment, but what I've been head banging to for the past forty minutes don't come by from being bad, yes, they are a heavy metal band, and the music has many different angles to their songs, and tempos.

Your Demise very cleverly fused the first track and second so well that you beg for more!

Hopefully there will be a second coming.

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Dylan Thompson 

So Shush - Wistful Wanders - Album Release

 

So Shush are not quiet and floods of sound comes from the burst of the first song People Need Something.

To give you an idea of what you get with So Shush is not only distorted guitars but synthesizers are a major force, even taking main musicial patterns in the songs: Antarctica, In The Darkness, and Sigh and Smile.

When the third song plays Urban Sanctuary, I get hypnotised with the vocals provided by Carole Smart and the heavy usage of keyboards lifting up and down, with lead guitar bursting through in the middle of the song.

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While I listen further the vision, I have of this group is a good pop band and if I'm not mistaken while sounding modern that will appeal to today's audience, have an 'old soul' feel to them, which works very well and brings something fresh to the table.

There are many anthems in this album, so check it out for yourself, I did!

[Please note: The songs on Wistful Wanders are now on So Shush compilation album: This is So Shush.]

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Susan Hopfield

Fancy a Space Shuttle from NASA?

If unlike me, you have a mere £26 million sitting in the bank and fancy a Space Shuttle from NASA then you're in luck.

Yes, that's right, NASA are selling three Space Shuttles because wait for it, they need the money.

Yes, the most powerful and richest country on Earth, not yet a superpower of the Universe, hasn't got enough cash to keep-up the space programme.

Now I know there is a recession on but you kind of think America could have chucked in a few more billions of dollars to make end meet when we're looking at the human race from living up above once we've polluted and destroyed planet Earth, wouldn't you?

Now it will cost £4 million making it safe in other words making sure you can't just do your own DIY space travel or heaven forbid compete with NASA, and this includes postage and packaging the Royal Mail could do with this money too!

I suppose Iran and North Korea couldn't buy one, just a thought?

*Please note this article was originally written in March 2009, and we are going through our archives and thought this news article was worth putting on our Blogger, it's kind of funny, hope you enjoyed reading this article and leave a comment if so desired; be kind!

Dylan Thompson

Milk - Film Review

Milk has been getting much respected adulation for this independent film telling us of the true story of the first openly gay American Senator Harvey Milk played by Sean Penn.

This is a powerful portrayal of Harvey Milk which sean Penn has made a point in his acting career of making films especially independent films of stories that matter.

A film like this wouldn't have been made by the top-gun studios as homosexuality is still not accepted by the American establishment.

In the 70's a period following on from the civil demonstrations on such issues as the Anti-War protests and black civil rights marches of the 60's, so it's seeming fitting someone like Harvey Milk would say, 'Hang-on what about gay rights?' Thus, a movement was born.

In 1970 Harvey Milk turned 40, and started like the most of us have, or will do and question one's life. What is it all about? Mid-life crisis is what it's termed. So, Harvey Milk with his lover moved to San Francisco the gay capital of America and the western world, and set-up a shop called Castro Camera in the poor working-class neighbourhood of Castro.

It's in San Francisco that Harvey Milk gets the notion of 'change' and to get equality across the board in American society. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America.

Milk is available on DVD

Susan Hopfield

The Baader Meinhof Complex - Film Review

The Baader Meinhof Complex is the true story of Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu), Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) and Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek) who were the radicalised children of the Nazi generation, which is about to send Germany in the 1970s on a terrorist path of bombing and causing chaos within the foundations of democracy in Germany who like other countries are facing their own social problems, this being the worst and deadliest.

The argument of resorting to violence was the perception of American influence and political unity in the German state didn't approve and felt America was becoming too imperialistic.

The means are often spoken to justify the end result and here it was thought of creating a more 'human society' whatever that is supposed to mean when you're carrying-out terrorist atrocities against unarmed civilians who only want to live in peace, like the rest of us.

Soon the young terrorists are pursued by the head of German police Horst Herold (Bruno Ganz) who knows only too well that stopping this cause will only touch the tip of the iceberg.

The Baader Meinhof Complex is available on DVD

The Baader Meinhof Complex is available on Books

Rob Clarke

Pathology - Film Review

Pathology has been a film not that much advertised as it hasn't got a big-name actor in it but may have produced a few, because this film is about Ted Gray (Milo Ventimiglia) an extremely intelligent graduate who is training in the top Pathology programs in America.

As he begins to learn more about pathology practices, procedures, and the causes of death his talent catches the eyes of his fellow graduates.

As time moves on and Ted begins to socialise with his fellow graduates, he is shown a hidden group that uses pathology techniques in unethical ways.

As the start of the film title reads, 'some way that pathology is a window to God'.

As doctors, they see the perversion and corruption of the flesh by all means unnatural: violence, toxins, and maddness to determine the cause of death, how haunting!

Pathology is available on DVD

Rob Clarke 

Bangkok Dangerous - Film Review

Bangkok Dangerous is a slick film directed by the Pang Brothers starring Nicolas Cage as Joe the central character who happens to be a well-paid assassin.

The title of this film gives the location of the film, yes Bangkok, Thailand. Joe has four assignments or kills of some unsavoury types in Bangkok.

The way that Joe works is interesting, and the story is clever and fresh as it's done differently, which I haven't seen in a film before.

As the film progresses, we see Joe start to date a Thai lady who works in a chemist shop, and we start to see a different side to Joe, the film does slow at these encounters shows us the calming influence in his life of death.

What does this do to his mental state and outlook on life? You won't be disappointed at the thoughtfulness of the story, and how the story ends.

Bangkok Dangerous is available on Blu ray DVD

Susan Hopfield 

The Reader - Film Review

The Reader has already won a Golden Globe for Kate Winslet - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, another award from the CFCA and the BFCAA for Kate Winslet as best supporting actress and is being nominated for the Oscars and BAFTAS for 2009.

So, what's the story to this celebrated film starring Kate Winslet as Hanna who helps a sick young boy half her age back home. Micheal (Michael Berg) the young boy finds Hanna to thank her for her help and soon the both of them ensue in a secret affair, which is made stronger by their love of reading books. One day Hanna disappears, and Michael never sees her again.

The Second World War begins and ends. Michael (Ralph Fiennes) now a young man and is a law student sits in court observing the Nazi war crimes when he meets Hanna again, but she is now a defendant in one of these trails. 

What will become of this encounter?

The Reader is available on Blu ray DVD

Dylan Thompson

Transporter 3 - Film Review

 

Transporter 3 is fast octane action once again from Frank Martin (Jason Staham) trying to transport Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), who was kidnapped and is the daughter of Leonid Vasilev (Jeroen Krabbe), the Environmental Minister for the Ukraine government.

While having to contend with the usual heavy mob, while driving from Marseilles through to Odessa in the Ukraine.

Transporter 3 is available @HMV

 Dylan Thompson

Jah Wobble & The Chinese Dub Orchestra - Chinese Dub - Album Review

Susan Hopfield

Jah Wobble has been creating music for over forty years, and this release and project has reached the crux of his remarkable career as a musician.

Jah Wobble & The Chinese Dub Orchestra won the Cross-Cultural Collaboration category for the album Chinese Dub, which was commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company for European Capital of Culture 2008, with support from the Arts Council Northwest.

Chinese Dub is a mixture and clash of eastern music blended together in a nice fusion melting-pot of western technological music, Jah providing Bass. 

Jah Wobble tour included a show on the BBC Radio 3 stage at WOMAD, with his handpicked musicians from China, Tibet and Mongolia, he put together while visiting China back in 2007, which finished as a 22-piece Anglo-Chinese orchestra. 

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