DEAD CAN DANCE: ANASTASIS 13.08.2012

Album Review: Dead Can Dance (Australia), Anastasis, Released: 13.08.2012, Label: PIAS, Available on Double Vinyl (Comes with free MP3 Download Code), C.D., MP3 Download Album & Box Set with USB Stick.

 I have liked Dead Can Dance since a friend introduced them to me back in 1996, coincidentally the year their last album 'Spiritchaser' was released. This release came as a surprise, I had no idea that Lisa Gerrard & Brendan Perry were working together again.

On previous Dead Can Dance albums I had always found the songs with Brendan singing on them to be weaker. This is no longer the case. Brendan's singing now appears to have a richness to it that was lacking in the past. Lisa's vocals are as strong as ever.

With previous Dead Can Dance albums, I found there was a tendency for a degree of patchiness and short interlude songs. Anastasis differs in this regard and I would say that there is a high degree of quality throughout. None of the songs I find to be difficult to enjoy. There is a dreamy soothing quality to it. You would not go to put this on if you wanted up tempo, though when in the right mood, this is a highly satisfying listen. The songs attain an even higher level of quality with the final two songs 'Return of the She-King' and 'All in Good Time', both of which have endued shivers in response to their staggering beauty. It is fantastic Dead Can Dance are back, long may their return continue.

When I heard about the album, I went to check about tour dates, to see that European dates had been announced and were all sold out. I hope for more dates being announced, as I had wanted to see them perform and then gave up hope due to their years of inactivity.

Rating: 09/10. (Purchased on Vinyl).

LIANNE LA HAVAS: IS YOUR LOVE BIG ENOUGH? 09.07.2013

Album Review: Lianne La Havas (U.K.), Is your Love Big Enough?, Released: 09.07.2012, Label: Warner Bros., Available on Vinyl (Comes with free MP3 Download Code), C.D., C.D. Deluxe & MP3 Download Album. 

I had purchased this as had previously purchased the 'Lost & Found' E.P. released in 2011. I had purchased the E.P. on the strength of her performance of the song 'Age' on 'Later...with Jools Holland'. This is a song which I still feel to be quite remarkable. A gentle song pondering whether it is okay to go out with a considerably older man, with enchanting sparseness.

On the album this is still one of the outstanding songs, though for reasons I cannot fathom it has been rerecorded. Sadly in my view there is only one other very good song on the album which is the title track. This is a pounding soul number.

The album has quite a range of stiles, though not in a good eclectic way. To me it more suggests a lack of focus. The rest of the pieces I find to be fairly forgettable filler.

I am still intrigued in regard to future releases. The simple reason for this is that if someone can write and perform by themselves a song like 'Age' which has such simple grace, then they have potential.

Rating: 03/10. (Purchased on Vinyl).

Live Performance Review: Adam Ant & The Good The Mad & The Lovely Posse, Thursday 01.11.2012, 18:45, O2 A.B.C., Glasgow

To begin as way of explanation. Adam Ant was my first favorite pop star that I can remember. The first song I am aware of consciously remembering is Ant Music from 1980, when I was four. I was in Glasgow in April 2011 for another concert and saw a poster for Adam Ant at the Academy in May 2011. Myself and the three others I was with decided to go. When walking into the venue and seeing the massive Adam and the Ants logo from 1980 behind the stage, I felt quite emotional, in a way I can't fully explain. Adam that night was far better than I could have hoped for, and the crowd gave a very fevered response. Myself and one other from that party went to see him in the Picturehouse in Edinburgh in December 2011, which again was very enjoyable. After that performance I said to my mate, that I would go again if it was in support of new work.

Thursday's concert was the first night of the Blue Black Hussar Tour in support of the new album to be released on January 21st 2013 called 'Adam Ant is the Blue Black Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter'. This will be his first album since 1994.

The band sounded good before, though sound better now. The drumming, particularly the female, is very impressive, and the guitarist sounded better. Adam is still a class showman, he appeared relaxed and was not treating the older songs with too much reverence. The whole performance was very enjoyable, the lighting was striking and the songs were performed with a touch of menace (in a good way). Although there was new material including 'Cool Zombie' the first single from the new album, it would have been nice had there been more, though this feels like quibbling when the performance was as good as it was.

Rating: 08/10.       

Film Review: The Shining (15), (U.K./U.S.A. 1980) (Director: Stanley Kubrick), Wednesday 31.10.2012 20:15, The Filmhouse, Screen One, Edinburgh

This was a screening of the original U.S. cut of the film, which had never before been seen in U.K. cinemas, and went on to get a general release here on 02.11.2012. When originally released in the U.S., it was not well received, so Stanley saw to removing 25 minutes for the version that would be released in the U.K..

I had heard of the longer U.S. version seven years ago, so got myself a copy on D.V.D., and therefore have been familiar with this version for some time. It had struck me, that when I subsequently went on to mention about there being two version to others over the past seven years, no one I mentioned it to seemed to know about this.

As soon as I saw the longer U.S. version it appeared to me to be a better film. There was more build up and background given to the characters. It feels to have more depth. I have read that this detracts from the horror element. This is hard for me to detect, as I think once you have seen a horror film several times it is no longer frightening anyway. If you think you know The Shining from the version the U.K. has had for 32 years, you don't.

Some have commented that Jack's performance is over the top, though I find it very engaging and watchable. On seeing this version again in the context of a cinema, what impressed me most was the portrayal of the disturbed child by Danny Lloyd, the calm travelling camera work and the sound. Whether viewed as horror or not, I think in this longer form, the film is one of Kubrick's classic works.

I highly recommend to any film/Kubrick enthusiast.

Rating: 10/10.    

Film Review: Room 237 (15), (U.S.A. 2012) (Director: Rodney Ascher), Sunday 28.10.2012 15:30, The Filmhouse, Screen Three, Edinburgh

This is a documentary film that gives voice to nine people's differing interpretations of what Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' (1980) is actually about. The proposed allegories range from it being about the genocide of the native American Indians, to the Holocaust to Kubrick's admission to having been involved in faking footage of the moon landing. There are also other oddities noted about the film, including how the hotel has an impossible layout, etc.

The people speaking about what they see in the film admit their views have arisen from obsessive viewing, and in my mind too much time on their hands. Some of what is suggested is preposterous, though conveyed with such certainty, that it becomes intriguing rather than annoying. The film is highly amusing in parts and due to it's soundtrack is quite hypnotic.

The voices are played to footage of scenes being discussed, which seemed quite obvious, though it works very well and therefore also there is the added bonus of no talking heads. Clips from other Kubrick films are used in the background, along with clips from other well known films, all of this is used well to assist with understanding what the people are speaking about. Due to the footage used, I would say that I would expect that even if you had not seen 'The Shining', you may still enjoy this as a film about obsession and the absurd. Very enjoyable.

Rating: 08/10.

Live Performance Review: The Tallest Man On Earth, Saturday 27.10.2012, 19:00, H.M.V. Picturehouse, Edinburgh

(For information about the album the tour is in support of, 'There's No Leaving Now', please see the review written in June 2012.)

Support: Crooked Fingers; nothing to write home about.

The Tallest Man...was a sell out, which I had not anticipated. It appears as though he is more well known and liked than I had been aware of. There was a lot of younger people in the audience, who gave a typically young fevered reaction. The performance itself was quite something. The man is young, very charismatic, and is very skilled at guitar. He is quite a quirky performer, which added to the charm.

What I find odd is that there are songs that can definitely draw parallels in tone and vocal inflection with early Dylan, yet the young at the gig treated this with reassuring reverence, going so far as to get the older drinkers to shut up in the intro to songs. Also the fact that he is Swedish, which now even more oddly seems an irrelevance, as he is so fluent in speech between the songs, that if you did not know where he came from, you would have no cause to wonder.

There was a good breadth of songs from across his albums and E.P.s, the finger-picked songs working better. If the whole concert had been the guitar-chord songs, then the gig would not have been as memorable. One of the finger-picked songs that particularly stood out was 'Criminals' from his most recent album; the performance of that was a transfixing beauty.

There were two songs that were performed on keys. One of these, the final song in the encore, was 'The Dreamer' which is also at present my favorite song of his. The original of this song is on guitar, and I would have probably have preferred to have heard it performed on that instrument, though then again it was nice enough to have heard it. Between the first song of the encore and 'The Dreamer', he performed a reworking of Paul Simon's Graceland, which was charming. The performance was for approx 90 minutes. It was very enjoyable and I am glad I went.

One note - how many times should a performer tell the audience that they appreciate them? This became such a frequent refrain between songs, that it did not annoy, as appeared genuine, though it did appear odd.

Rating: 08/10.

Film Review: Skyfall (12A), (U.K./U.S.A. 2012) (Director: Sam Mendes), Saturday 27.10.2012 15:00, The Cameo, Screen One, Edinburgh

Lets not beat about the bush, in my view this is the finest Bond film there has been, and it has set a bench mark for future Bond films. It also confirms for me, that Daniel Craig is the best Bond to date. I've heard various people say that your favorite is usually he first one you knew when you were young. I disagree, though then the first I was introduced to was Roger Moore. I have time for many aspects of Sean Connery's portrayal, less so Roger Moore, I find both to be too sexual. Pierce Brosnan I feel to have done nothing with the character that is praiseworthy and was also partial to low level smut of a similar vain to Moore, though not as pronounced.My preferred performances in the role, aside from Daniel are from Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby.

Within the genre of action, this could be seen as a classic, not just in Bond terms. There are good performances from across the cast, and Javier Bardem does make a very good and righteous baddie. There is good depth in terms of plot and performances. It felt quite untypical Bond in some respects, which may be what made it feel to be so good.

There is again as in the other Craig Bond films a reassuring lack of reliance upon gadgets, culminating in the build up to the final battle, Bond prepares as though he were a member of the A-Team. Again, as in the other Craig films, he does not fall into bed with a lady at the end, another aspect I like about Daniel's bond films, sex is not treated as a reward for a successful mission. There are nods to the past; references to exploding pens, the car from Goldfinger and Bond stepping on the backs of Komodo Dragons in a similar vain to how Moore did with Crocodiles. Despite this it never felt nostalgic, always remaining rooted in the present.

The film is based on the threat posed by cyber terrorism, how cyber technology can keep us exposed, and therefore how by disconnecting from cyber technology, can help keep us safe. Relaying upon our wits and knowledge is always the more secure way to live.

The cinematography is beautiful, particularly in Scotland. The title sequence was very good (again an aspect I have been impressed with in all of Daniel's films) and even the theme song is fine (I'm not generally into Adele, and although I won't be purchasing the song, it is going some for me to admit liking one of her songs).

The running time is just shy of 2 & 1/2 Hours, and the plot requires attention. I don't think it is really one for the young kiddies, although it is a 12A some parents may wish to try it. It shows London effectively under terror attack, this is portrayed in a potentially real world way which may make it more distressing for the very young, in a way that the fantastical world of the batman films (also 12As) is less likely to. For those who can keep attention for over two hours, I think this is a very enjoyable film of an, in terms of Bond, exceptionally high standard.

Rating: 10/10. (Never expected to say that of a Bond film.)
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2012: Ten Flawless Films To Date In Order Of Release:
Magic Trip (Documentary)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Turkish) 
Goodbye First Love (French)
The Dark Knight Rises
Searching For Sugar Man (Documentary) 
Anna Karenina
About Elly (Iran) 
Tabu (Portuguese)
Frankenweenie
Skyfall