The 23rd of May sees, for the first time, a comprehensive DVD release of Andrei Tarkovsky's films. In December, it will be the twenty-fifth anniversary of his untimely death - if you haven't seen his films, do yourself a favour and invest in the collective works of one of cinema's true geniuses...
With the sad news of Poly Styrene's early passing it's important to note her not insignificant contribution to punk music - both Poly and Ari Up challenged the many staid and static musical conventions of the 1970's with their attitude, their enthusiasm and, don't ever forget this, their talent.
X-Ray Spex first album, 'Germ Free Adolescents,' is a small classic, packed full of great tunes, enormous amounts of reverberated sass and a keen understanding of what it was like to be part of a disenfranchised underclass - Poly was all three things the overwhelmingly white, male and middle class music establishment was not and could (and would) never be.
We will not forget her or her music. In some small unobtrusive corner of our hearts, today, will always be Day-Glo.
Today is 'record stores day.' What strated out as a bit of fun has metamorphosed into something not entirely unimportant - a way of celebrating music and music emporiums. Emporia. Doesn't matter. What does matter, however, is that small and slightly larger, independent and independently minded record stores are given a platform to say, 'hey, we're still here, how are you today? Buy some records.'
Stewart Lee is curating a show aimed at capturing the spirit of the early years of alternative comedy. At Last the 1981 Show will feature Arthur Smith, Norman Lovett, Nigel Planer and Chris Lynam - South Bank Centre, 29 May 2011
And Arnold Brown....
And here he is!
And more. Probably.
Also, the second series of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle has been given a BBC2 slot on Wednesdays at 11.20pm, starting May 4.
This is a nice article written by Edward Docx (writer of 'The Calligrapher') in The Guradian.
I suspect many would agree with the characters Docx has chosen as his favourites - they're all wonderful examples. Any of the three marvellous novels written by the late, greatest Edward Wallant feature protagonists whose own descent into madness accompanies an equally strong desire to save others from their own, 'fate worse than life.'
Forget all about 'The Last Waltz,' or 'Gimme Shelter,' or even the '68 Comeback Special,' Jonathan Demme's marvellous 1984 concert movie featuring Talking Heads', 'Stop Making Sense,' is the finest example of the genre - saving of course a certain 1978 grainy recording of a certain bands performance at a certain state mental hospital...
That aside, 'Stop Making Sense,' is concert biographies, and David Byrne's, finest moment. Forget all about the big suit, the bigger suit and the suit that's three sizes too big, the songs, the energy of the performances, the way the whole thing comes enticingly, deliciously together - it's the perfect example of three unforgettable, unassailable nights, sussed images and beyond magical music blended seamlessly together by Demme, cinemtaographer, Jordan Cronenweth and the band, playing more magnificently than they've ever done.
It may be twenty years ago but it seems like never before...
