Review: Soulboy (2010)

Can't say I'm one for northern soul nostalgia. Don't mind a chunk of the music from that particular scene, but I can do without the never ending desire to re-create the 'Wigan Casino years'. I'm sure it was a good night out, in fact I know it was as two older sisters of mine were regulars there. But they moved on - and maybe others should too. Although for some people, the Wigan nostalgia is a very profitable way of life, so that's hardly going to happen, is it?

Anyway, that nostalgia phobia is exactly the reason why I didn't go and see Soulboy at the cinema and the same reason why I've put off watching and reviewing the DVD that popped through the letter box on Christmas Eve. But after some delay, I bit the bullet and you know what? It's not so bad after all.

Review: Gainsbourg (2010)

It did the rounds at arthouse establishments last year, but as I live in multiplex city, it didn't make it 'round our way'. So here I am with a DVD of Gainsbourg for a first viewing. Is it the definite record of Serge Gainsbourg? We'll deal with that later.

But let's start with the movie itself. Directed by Joann Sfar and starring Eric Elmosnino as the man himself, it's effectively the edited highlights of Gainsbourg's life, from his earliest days as a Jewish/Russian refugee in Paris during the World War II, ending as he drives into the sunset with his final partner, Bambou, bizarrely the grand-daughter of General Friedrich Paulus of the German army on the Russian front. I'm guessing that's some kind of symmetry.

Upside Down Creation Records documentary - screening details

 

We mentioned it some time back, but now the details of the first screenings of Upside Down, the Creation Records documentary, have been announced.

The Danny O’Connor-directed film tells the story of the label's origin, the bands that made their name on it and how the story came to a sticky financial ending in 1999. Alan McGee is pleased with the end product, saying it 'captures the spirit of Creation completely, Danny gets it completely, he did some much research, he knows it all. The film is bang on'.

BFI and Flipside bring hippy psych drama Season of the Witch to the big screen

If you fancy a rare night at the flicks, make sure it's Wednesday 19th May, when the Flipside and the BFI screen The Season of the Witch in London.

A Donovan song covered by Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger - and it's the latter pairing that feature in this former Wednesday play. The Seaso of the Witch is a rarely-seen, location-shot BBC piece, with Julie Driscoll playing Meredith, dropping out of the automated world of the typing pool and heading off on a quest for 'good vibes and personal freedom' - ending up in the underground haunts and clubs of Brighton, as well as hooking up with hobos Jake and Shaun (Paul Nicholas and Robert Powell). Music of course, is by Brian Auger.

Also showing at the NFT1 on the same bill is some footage of Brian and Julie onm both Top of the Pops and Frist on Sunday. Tickets presumably on sale soon - get in touch with them for more details. In the meantime, enjoy this video of the song below.

BFI website

DVD Review: The Kinks - You Really Got Me

Here's a little tale. When I was around six years old, I was given a vintage 'suitcase' record player to play with, along with a load of old, slightly scratched singles, long discarded by previous generations of the Walker family. The Beatles, The Stones, Scott Walker, some old soul tunes and some a batch of early Kinks singles. So while my friends were dancing around to the latest pop tunes on the radio and TV, this child was getting down to 'Dead End Street' and 'Where Have All The Good Times Gone'. I've been hooked on the band ever since and was even lucky enough to meet Ray Davies a few years back. Which is why I've been looking forward to the You Really Got Me DVD landing.