The Unconventionals

Chan-wook Park: Thirst
The director's dark revenge trilogy of Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance were astonishing examples of the noir thriller. Now the Korean film-maker is exploring the subject of vampires. Following the release of the beautiful Swedish film; Let The Right One In, I have high hopes for Park's foray into the horror genre.

Richard Linklater: Me and Orson Welles
1937, and a young Orson Welles is directing the theatre production of Julius Caesar. Linklater always understands characters and insists on naturalistic performances. Christian McKay is a revelation as Welles and Zac Efron, away from his High School Musical noose, gives a mature performance. The production should also be commended for convincingly portraying 30's America.

James Cameron: Avatar
Combining a titanic (sorry) budget and revolutionary special effects, Avatar looks set to be revelatory. Given Cameron's science-fiction pedigree, at the very least this film should be a mammoth spectacle.

Pixar: UP
Following the magnificent Wall E, Pixar are tackling a decidedly more human story. The elderly protagonist is a first, but as demonstrated in Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle, an aged character works as well as a teenager. Press screenings indicate that Pixar's standards are ever-increasing.

Nicolas Winding Refn: Bronson
Tagged as the Clockwork Orange of the 21st Century, the films cinematography is striking and Tom Hardy, as the titular lead, gives an electrifying performance.

Alex Rivera: Sleep Dealer
Made with a low budget, the film is a disturbing distopian vision of future technologies and social reliance.

Shane Meadows: Somers Town
The flag bearer for British independent film-making, Meadows' latest should be another stark but creative exploration of life in suburban England.

Top 100 Hip-Hop Tracks Of All Time

What follows is the culmination of 15 years’ work, if it can be referred to as such. A lot of time, money and love has gone into the composing of this list, which started out as a Top 50 until I realised there was no possible way that I could cut any of these tracks. So without further ado, here are my Top 100 hip-hop tracks:
100. I Got 5 On It - LunizA nostalgic choice - one of my first CD singles - a summer ode to mary jane.
99. Overnight - Hudson MohawkeThe most recent addition, the Glasgow beatsmith’s club-ready fractured instrumental which just edges out label-mate Flying Lotus’ ‘Massage Situation’.
98. Live At The BBQ - Main SourceA consummate posse cut, featuring the then unknown Nasir Jones AKA Nas.
97. Holla If Ya Hear Me - 2PacThe perfect distillation of Tupac Shakur’s fury, swagger and street insight.
96. Down With The King - Run DMC/Pete Rock & CL SmoothA leg-up for past masters courtesy of the mid ‘90’s most in-demand beat-maker
95. Thuggish Ruggish Bone - Bone Thugs N HarmonyCleveland’s finest announced their arrival with this truly unique gem. Just don’t mention Blazin’ Squad.
94. The Man To Praise - Percee PNew York old-school mainstay takes a lap of honour with help from Madlib.
93. Concrete Schoolyard - Jurassic 5Warm, witty childhood reminiscences from the old-school throwbacks.
92. Get Ur Freak On - Missy ElliottTimbaland’s finest ever production and a visionary megastar at the top of her game.
91. The Scenic Route - PanaceaDaisy age throwback from the reformed Rawkus label, with buttery flows and melodic beats.
90. Mice In The Presence Of The Lion - HardnoiseA nod to the UK scene of the ‘80s, which spawned other luminaries such as the London Posse and Hijack.
89. Regulate - Warren G/Nate Dogg“It was a clear black night, a clear white moon”.88. Nobody Beats The Biz - Biz MarkieOften derided as comedy-rap, Biz was also responsible for some of the genre’s most influential novelty classics. Ask Rahzel.
87. Bump - Spank RockFilthy, funny and funky, mostly courtesy of Amanda Blank’s scene-stealing last verse.
86. Workinonit - Jay Dee/J DillaThe late, great producer’s ‘Donuts’ was a visionary suggestion of future routes for hip-hop.
85. Livin’ Proof - Group HomeStark New York boom-bap, with the trademark Premier cuts.
84. 99 Problems - Jay-ZRick Rubin-bolstered flossing from one of the greatest.
83. Nothing In Particular - The BrotherhoodLittle known gem from the solitary album (5* in Hip Hop Connection) by the UK’s Shylock, Spyce and Mr Dexter.
82. Children’s Story - Slick RickWimbledon’s finest at his very best. No Slick Rick, no Snoop.
81. The Corner - Common/Last PoetsKanye West’s finest moment behind the boards, as Common ropes in the venerable Last Poets to pay tribute to a cornerstone (pardon the pun) of ghetto life.
80. Raw - Big Daddy KanePure lyrical skills from one of the sharpest rhyme-writers to pick up the pen.
79. You Got Me - The Roots/Erykah BaduThe wonderful, Jill Scott-penned hook and ?uestlove’s drum n’ bass breakdown made this one of the Philly crew’s best.
78. All That I Got Is You - Ghostface KillahHeartfelt, childhood ode to poverty and love by the otherwise seemingly Neanderthal Wu-Tang Clansman.
77. Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme - EdanGeeky, fan-boy tribute to his predecessors from hip-hop scholar Edan.
76. Grindin’ - ClipseMinimal production genius from Pharrell underpins his two protégé’s street smart hustle.
75. South Bronx - BDPFierce defence of hip-hop’s geographical origins from the Boogie Down’s most famous team KRS One and Scott La Rock.
74. The Militia - Gangstarr/Big Shug/Freddie FoxxxA powerhouse collaboration, made all the more memorable by Freddie Foxxx’s frankly terrifying final verse.
73. Rappers Delight - Sugarhill GangThe first hip-hop track? A dubious claim perhaps, but one of the most iconic, infectious ditties ever committed to wax.
72. Run The Line - Peanut Butter Wolf/Rasco/Q-BertStones Throw Records’ first breakthrough, initiated by label founder and vinyl junkie PBW, backed by razor-sharp beats and rhymes.
71. Talk Like Sex - Kool G RapMisogynistic to the extreme, G Rap’s filth-fest goes all-out to offend but maintains a sense of humour. Sample lyric: “Time or place don’t matter to me sweetie, I’ll fuck you on a (sic) A-train while I write graffiti”.
70. Award Tour - A Tribe Called QuestOne of Q-Tip and co’s finest, boasting a fabulous intro and hefty beat.
69. My Mind’s Playin’ Tricks On Me - Geto BoysAffecting study of urban paranoia from Houston’s Geto Boys.
68. Resurrection - Common SenseBefore he lost the ‘Sense’, Chicago’s dazzling MC laureate crafted the visionary album ‘ Resurrection’. It’s title track still sounds astonishing.
67. Fix Up Look Sharp - Dizzee RascalA colossal beat and Dizzee’s irrepressible rhyme style combine to create one of the UK scene’s biggest crossover hits.
66. Drop - The PharcydeBoasting one of J Dilla’s greatest beats and a fantastic, boundary-pushing video from Spike Jonze, these LA stoners came up with another winner in ‘95.
65. Over The Counter - Madlib/Talib KweliInsanely talented leftfield pairing with a scorching beat and bassline providing the platform for Kweli to deliver one of his best verses.
64. It Was A Good Day - Ice CubeBefore the dismal film career got in the way, Cube was a great documenter of life in the hood and its ups and downs, as this warm track shows.
63. Sucker MCs - Run DMCOft-quoted first release from hip-hop’s first megastars.
62. Real Estate - Blak TwangFrom the ill-fated holy grail of UK hip-hop, Taipanic’s ‘Dettwork South East’ came this stark depiction of life on the Tanners Hill estate in SE8, filtering Nas’ ghetto narratives through a British lens.
61. Bring The Noise - Public Enemy“Yeeeaaah booooooy”.
60. Bucky Done Gun - MIAA straight lift of Deise Tigrona’s Brazilian baile funk classic ‘Injecao’, supplied by MIA’s producer Diplo.
59. Juicy - Notorious BIGBIG’s rags to riches tale was recently the subject of a Hollywood movie. Here, he tells it in his own words.
58. Shimmy Shimmy Ya - Ol’ Dirty BastardThe late, great ODB, the Wu-Tang’s loose cannon with a crazy, deranged classic.
57. Devil’s Son - Big LDevilish by name and nature, Big L’s first single packed in the punch-lines.
56. Fuck The Police - Jay Dee/J DillaOne of the greatest producers and possibly the most loved and eulogised artist no longer with us.
55. Cell Therapy - Goodie MobBefore Cee-Lo Green became synonymous with Gnarls Barkley he was a founder member of the unique and trail-blazing Goodie Mob, always in Outkast’s shadow but creators of this classic.
54. Eye Know - De La SoulThe archetypal daisy age track. Peace and love hadn’t sounded so good since the ‘60s.
53. Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaata & The Soul Sonic ForceIgnoring its featuring in any film scene involving break-dancing, this early electro classic paved the way for a huge amount of subsequent dance-floor fillers.
52. Microphone Fiend - Eric B & RakimWhen I interviewed Blak Twang back in 2003, he told me that it was this track which first inspired him to become a rapper. It’s not hard to see why.
51. Top Billin’ - Audio TwoProbably the most simplistic beat and rhyme scheme of any hip-hop track, but somehow still sounds glorious.
50. Fortified Live - Reflection Eternal/Mos Def/Mr ManThe centre-point of Rawkus’ underground classic ‘Soundbombing’, with Kweli and Mos Def showing why they were heralded as saviours of alternative hip-hop.
49. Sound Of Da Police - KRS OneDamning indictment of New York’s finest from KRS with its iconic “woop woop” chorus and Jamaican-style toasting.
48. Bullet In The Head - Rage Against The MachineTry telling Zach De La Rocha he’s not in a hip-hop band. That dude is angry.
47. Braggin’ Writes - J-LiveBewildering rhyme skills from an unsung maestro of the art-form.
46. What’s My Name - Snoop Doggy DoggIf only for the hilarity of Snoop performing it at Live 8 and getting the broadcasters in all kinds of trouble for his judicious use of ‘fruity’ language.
45. The Seed (2.0) - The Roots/Cody ChestnuttA spruce-up of Cody’s bizarre, funky-as-hell ode to procreation performed by the legendary Roots crew.
44. Dettwork South East - Blak TwangThe London anthem to end them all, edging out London Posse’s ‘How’s Life In London?’.
43. I Know You Got Soul - Eric B & RakimProbably the most-quoted track in hip-hop history, its Bobby Byrd sample creating the canvas for Rakim to create pure verbal art.
42. Welcome To The Terrordome - Public EnemyAn exhausting barrage of samples and ideas courtesy of the Bomb Squad, the co-operative production geniuses behind PE’s ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’.
41. Rock The Bells - LL Cool JIt’s hard to believe now, given the god-awful loverman schtick LL has been dining out on since 1990, but once he was the greatest battle rapper alive. This track is testament to those days.
40. Straight Outta Compton - NWABirthed ‘gangsta rap’ in the public consciousness and showed the breathtaking capabilities of a fired-up Ice Cube.
39. Ego Trippin’ - Ultramagnetic McsFrom the ‘88 classic ‘Critical Beatdown’ came this swaggering, old-school stormer.
38. Unbelievable - Notorious BIGOne of DJ Premier’s best productions and a cheeky R Kelly vocal sample on the hook gave Biggie all the ammo he needed to get busy.
37. The Takeover - Jay-ZFrom Jay-Z’s finest hour ‘The Blueprint’, this Doors-sampling put-down of Nas and Mobb Deep showcased a masterful MC at his most cutting.
36. Scenario - A Tribe Called Quest/Leaders Of The New SchoolIntroduced to the world a young Busta Rhymes, whose brilliant, bonkers verse stole the show and made him the household name he is today.
35. Bang Your Head - GravediggazWu-Tang spin-off project from leader The RZA which featured this astonishing adrenaline shot, characterised by screaming, bowel-shaking bass and OTT performances all round.
34. Liquid Swords - Genius/GZAAn unlikely dalliance with ska, showing the Wu-Tang have a knack for finding great source material, regardless of the genre.
33. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5Took hip-hop out of the clubs and on to the street. Melle Mel’s social commentary engaging the fledgling movement with the problems at the core of its communities. There was no turning back from here.
32. Eric B Is President - Eric B & RakimFrom Eric B & Rakim’s stellar debut ‘Paid In Full’, which is basically the key text for any aspirant MC.
31. End To End Burners - Company FlowFiercely underground crew expressing their love for the train carriage graffiti ‘burners’ which popped up all over New York in the early ‘80s.
30. Shake Your Rump - Beastie BoysFrom the Beastie’s wonderful ‘Paul’s Boutique’ album, which with help from the Dust Brothers, revolutionised the world of sampling.
29. The Light - CommonA love song every bit as beautiful as those of the Motown greats. Reputedly inspired by Erykah Badu, the muse of choice for boho hip-hoppers the world over.
28. Lady Don’t Tek No - LatyrxAn irresistible invitation to indulge dance-floor desires by bay area legends Lyrics Born and Lateef. Along with DJ Shadow and Blackalicious they formed the highly reputable Solesides collective.
27. Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park) - Nas“Sentence begins indented, with formality. Moderations infinite, money-wise or physiology. Poetry, that’s a part of me.”
26. Organ Donor - DJ ShadowThe highest ranking instrumental track, from Shadow’s epoch-making opus ‘Endtroducing’.
25. Witness (One Hope) - Roots ManuvaThe highest-ranking UK track, by the brilliant Rodney Smith. A timely reminder of the capabilities of home-grown talent in a US-dominated industry.
24. Nuthin’ But A G Thang - Dr Dre/Snoop Doggy DoggG-funk’s finest hour, the high-pitched synths and laconic drums of Dre’s early ‘90s creations were showcased brilliantly here while a young MC with a sing-song drawl and laid-back delivery announced his arrival to the world.
23. Hip-Hop - Dead PrezFurious political polemic from MC’s Stic Man and M1, backed up by what could possibly be the heaviest bassline ever committed to wax.
22. Patriotism - Company FlowAnother onslaught of politics, delivered with a sarcastic scowl by El-P and Big Juss and backed by the dense production style which characterised El-P’s beats and made him one of the most challenging producers since the Bomb Squad.
21. Alphabet Aerobics - BlackaliciousA harmless bit of showboating here, as Gift Of Gab pulls out his party piece verbal work-out over a quickening beat. I want to find a karaoke bar who will let me attempt a version.
20. Ms Jackson - OutkastOutkast’s heartfelt apology to a certain “baby momma’s momma” with Andre 3000 showing his wonderful knack for composing choruses which embed themselves in your brain, never to leave.
19. Passin’ Me By - The PharcydeA breath of fresh air in ‘92, these LA oddballs were self-deprecating, funny and shy. This break-through track heralded the arrival of a west coast counter-point to the macho tales of guns and gangs which characterised the city‘s output at the time.
18. Stan - EminemHell, even the Dido sample worked on this truly unique work by one of hip-hop’s all-time biggest stars. The form and structure of this track is where its genius lies, Eminem skewering conventional wisdom with a seven minute epic told from the perspective of a deranged fan. It almost topped the UK Christmas chart, too.
17. ‘93 ‘Til Infinity - Souls Of MischiefSimilarly to J5’s ‘Concrete Schoolyard’, Souls Of Mischief reminisce beautifully on this all-time classic from the year of its title.
16. Come Clean - Jeru Tha DamajaDJ Premier at the height of his powers blessed his protégé with a beat that’s as close to perfect as any on this list.
15. The Headbanger - EPMDThe finest example of the posse cut, with great turns from Erick Sermon, Parrish Smith and K-Solo before Redman turns up with his characteristic zany style and walks away with the plaudits. The beat is like a shot of pure adrenaline, too.
14. Fight The Power - Public EnemyChuck D lays into some holy cows on this 1989 classic from Spike Lee’s seminal ‘Do The Right Thing’. Elvis and John Wayne get it in the neck as Chuck vents his righteous fury over a deluge of samples.
13. Shook Ones Pt 2 - Mobb DeepCold-as-ice self-produced street smarts form Mobb Deep’s Havoc and Prodigy who continued the chronicles of the 41st Side Queensbridge projects started by neighbour Nas, but imbued them with chilling menace and ill-intent.
12. Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J“Don’t call it a comeback!”
11. CREAM (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) - Wu-Tang ClanThe hauntingly beautiful piano sample frames Inspectah Deck and Raekwon’s tales of the hard-knock life. From a damn-near perfect debut LP, this was undeniably one of its most special moments.
10. Work The Angles - Dilated PeoplesTextbook underground hip-hop with dextrous cutting, pounding beats and insightful MCs. Everything about this track is executed so clinically it could have been fashioned by robots.
9. 8 Pt Agenda - The Herbaliser/LatyrxNinja Tune’s Herbaliser may not have been a name you’d expect to see on this list, their usual stock in trade being chilled-out beats for smoking to. However, on this rare nugget, they enlist Latyrx to school all the fakers out there with their inventive manifesto, filled with pearls like “We don’t believe in other people stealing the ideas that our cerebrums cultivate and create. Make no mistake”.
8. Mass Appeal - GangstarrWhile ‘Unbelievable’ may be close and ‘Come Clean’ equally pulls no punches, DJ Premier saved his greatest sonic creation for his day job. The sample is amazingly simple and the scratching akin to a manual for aspirant turntable wizards. Guru, as always, allows his monotone flow to complete the tripartite wonder that is ‘Mass Appeal’.
7. Life’s A Bitch - Nas/AZA stunning evocation of impending manhood and coming of age from arguably the greatest hip-hop album ever recorded, Nas’ ‘Illmatic’. “I work up early on my born day. I’m 20, it’s a blessing, the essence of adolescence leaves my body, now I’m freshened.”
6. Method Man - Wu-Tang ClanGuru once noted that the key to being a great MC is “mostly the voice”. Method Man definitely fits into this category of great MC, he could literally say anything and it would sound amazing. Again, not convinced by the acting career, however.
5. Nature Of The Threat - Ras KassFrom the underground classic ‘Soul On Ice’, ‘Nature Of The Threat’ is that distinctly un-radio friendly concept, the eight minute dissection of the shameful history of western civilization, set to music. Citing Schopenhauer amongst others, Ras Kass’s academic bombardment both shocks and inspires, in equal measures.
4. TROY (They Reminisce Over You) - Pete Rock & CL SmoothA masterfully-placed horn sample dominates this layered, indelible track by the third of ‘90s hip-hop’s acknowleged masters, after Premier and The RZA. The heartfelt lyrics obliquely pay tribute to a deceased friend, Trouble T-Roy of Heavy D & The Boys.
3. My Melody - Eric B & RakimAnother selection from ‘Paid In Full’, elevated to a much-higher placing than ‘I Know You Got Soul’ and ‘Eric B Is President’ by virtue of Rakim’s incredible third verse, which may well be the best ever laid down.
2. Respiration - Blackstar/CommonAlthough Talib Kweli might have something to say about that. His contribution to this conceptual track about the breathing city boasts line after line of poetic majesty, out-stripping excellent contributions from Mos Def and Common. “Look in the skies for God, what you’ll see besides smog is broken dreams flying away on the wings of the obscene”.
1. Rebel Without A Pause - Public EnemyTopping the poll is this tour-de-force from possibly the most important act of the 1980s. A screeching, insistent siren leaps out from the Bomb Squad’s dense, noisy squall of a track, while Chuck D’s righteous fury inspires and hits like a battering ram. There’s been nothing like it before or since. All the other elements which made PE such a vital group - Flava Flav’s comic relief, Terminator X’s signature scratch - are present and correct and play their part to perfection.The Top 100

Rich's 300 Word Reviews

Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea)
Dir: Hayao Miyazaki

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Jap 2008) is the latest animated feature by the revered director Hayao Miyazaki. As with the majority of his films, the auteur took the roles of screenwriter and lead animator, as well as director.
The film is essentially an exploration of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, where a 5 year-old boy discovers a goldfish of royal descent who wants to be a human. But that’s where similarities with Anderson’s fable end: As with many of Miyazaki’s features, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea becomes a parable on modern Japan and the countries isolation from values and customs it upheld in the past. Beginning with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), through to My Neighbour Totoro (1988) and on to Princess Mononoke (1997), the filmmaker has always explored Japan’s disregard for its environment.

Dispite his moral piety, Miyazaki is careful not to alienate his audience and he gives his characters and their surroundings remarkable depth; adding layer after layer of imaginative detail to every cell of animation. Miyazaki creates his films to be accessible to both children and adults and refuses to patronise either.
The soundtrack by the director’s longterm collaborator Joe Hisaishi is a sweeping orchestral piece that never distracts us from the images onscreen.
Although arguably lacking the originality or clear voice of his much cherished My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is a welcome addition to Miyazaki’s sociological catalogue.
Since 2001, when Spirited Away took the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the West has begun to take notice. Even John Lasseter; head of Pixar Studios and dedicated admirer of Miyazaki’s work is beginning to pay homage. One wonders if Wall E (2008) would have been conceived if it were not for Miyazaki.

Trailer @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXI7x6ExPuc

Rich's 300 Word Reviews

Watchmen (2009)
Dir: Zack Snyder

Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel (one of the Times’ top 100 novels of the 20th Century), about a historically alternative America, whose society is altered incomprehensively with the arrival of super being Dr. Manhattan, is a bold, but inconsistent production.
Moore’s philosophical machinations on a dystopian America are preserved, while Snyder implements his particular style of filmmaking; demonstrated in previous feature, 300 (2006). And style is something Watchmen exudes; the soundtrack, which includes songs from the likes of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Nat King Cole and Jimi Hendrix, complements the frequently switching time periods and anarchic onscreen action. The cinematography is saturated with Snyder’s trademark slow-motion camerawork and displays of graphic violence, which add visual flair, but distract from the sombre observations on a nihilistic culture.
The performances mainly convince. The narrator; Rorschach, is handled expressively by Jackie Earle Hayley, whose portrayal imbues the character with the perfect imbalance between compassion and psychosis. Dr. Manhattan is sensitively portrayed by Billy Crudup. The actor manages to earn empathy from the audience through a character who is fundamentally detached from the human condition. The representations of the remaining Watchmen could have easily drifted into parody, but the cast manage to give their characters distinct personalities and psychological depth.
Watchmen was regarded by many to be unfilmable, but some striking productions have evolved from such a challenge; such as Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003).
While Snyder’s film may not be recognised as a classic of the science-fiction genre alongside other contemporaries such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and more recently The Matrix (1999), it will hold a place in the creative landscape due to its revered source material.
Other films in a similar vein include V for Vendetta and Sin City, both released in 2005.

Trailer @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4blSrZvPhU

Rich's 300 Word Reviews

Let the Right One in (2008)
Dir: Tomas Alfredson

Recently, the vampire genre has become staler than garlic bread left overnight.
Underworld (2003), Van Helsing (2004) and Twilight (2008): Conventional, stereotypical and safe.
Let the Right One in (2008), directed by Tomas Alfredson is a contemporary vampire film set in the director’s homeland of Sweden.
The film focuses on the relationship between severely bullied twelve-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), and Eli (Lina Leandersson); a peculiar girl who moves into the apartment next door and turns out to be a 200 year-old bloodsucker.
Alfredson’s film uses beautifully stark and restrained cinematography to represent an isolated, snow covered Sweden, contrasting dramatically with the lashings of blood following Eli’s feeding habits. The score also manages to evoke the barren landscape and the remoteness between the film’s characters.
The script by John Ajvide Lindqvist, adapted from his original novel, is minimalist and poignant, complementing the film’s backdrop and unsettling themes. From a director’s point-of-view, Alfredson is not afraid to slow the pace down, lingering on scenes that develop Oskar and Eli’s connection.
The film succeeds through its ability to disturb and shock, without using established horror conventions, such as an over-reliance on gore, erratic camerawork and molevelent sexualised characters. Instead, the film’s intensity builds through elements suggested rather than shown, such as Eli’s conflicting otherworldly nature and her unhealthy relationship with Oskar.
The performances by the principle leads are mesmerising. Hadebrant portrays Oskar sensitively and subtly, delivering fear and love with equal conviction. Leandersson has a unique physicality; her strikingly androgynous features and figure lend a sinister quality to Eli.
This is a welcome addition to a tired genre, proving that well-trodden paths can still be re-laid. It should be recommended to all followers of horror or World Cinema.
Other films in a similar vein include Shadow of the Vampire (2000) and Martin (1977).
Trailer @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICp4g9p_rgo

Rich's Top 20 Mixed Genre Games

I recently compiled a list of my top twenty games spanning the range of genres. A few choices are nostalgic, but remain superbly crafted examples of the media.

Top 20 Mixed Genre Games

1) Street Fighter II: Turbo (Arcade)
King of brawlers, only the most dedicated players could perfect its honed systems, until it became a virtual art form. Street Fighter IV may eventually steal its crown, but not yet. Preferred over Soul Calibur’s and Super Smash Bros’ button mashing.
2) Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
A majestic videogame, practically flawless, barring a semi-conventional storyline. Preferred over A Link to the Past’s devious puzzles and Okami’s calligraphic wonder.
3) Baldur’s Gate II: The Shadows of Amn (PC)
Epic in scope, with an excellent storyline and fully interactive characters. Roleplaying’s pinnacle. Preferred over the original and Planescape Torment.
4) Super Mario 64 (N64)
Nightmarishly addictive, with ingenious platforming puzzles. The first time Mario turned three-dimensional. Preferred over other incarnations such as Super Mario World and Allstars.
5) Goldeneye (N64)
Superbly crafted shooter. Solid single player story, but it excelled in multiplayer. No first person shooter has bettered it. Preferred over Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Doom and Half Life 2.
6) Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube)
The pick of a great series with fantastic physics and a tightened control system. Arguably moved away from its survival horror roots, but managed to reignite a flaccid franchise. Preferred over the Silent Hill series.
7) Championship Manager 3 (PC)
Uber detailed and addictive simulator. Preferred over the The Sims and Theme Park.
8) Day of the Tentacle (PC)
Best point and click adventure from a fabulous stock of LucasArts games. Combined surrealist humour with a roster of charming characters. Preferred over the Monkey Island series, the Broken Sword series and Grim Fandango.
9) Mario Kart 64 (N64)
All about the multiplayer, just so much fun! Preferred over the SNES version, Wipeout, F Zero and all driving simulators.
10) Shenmue (Dreamcast)
A story driven masterpiece, with incredible character exploration and dialogue. The way games are heading. The button sensitive combat is a flaw, but why complain, when the game contains a full edition of Space Harrier. Preferred over Fable II.
11) Star Wars: Tie Fighter (PC)
Superbly atmospheric flight simulator, evoking the vast Star Wars universe. Preferred over others in series and all flight simulators.
12) The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (Xbox 360)
Epic RPG with specific first person perspective interaction. Ingenious Guild quests and dialogue strings overshadowed a distinctly average storyline. Preferred over Ultima Underworld and Thief: the Dark Project.
13) Turtles: The Arcade Game (Arcade)
Fabulous arcade scroller, taking full advantage of the TMNT licence. Playable with four players. Preferred over X Men: The Arcade Game and Golden Axe.
14) God of War II (PlayStation 2)
Greatest action game ever created. Sublimely detailed graphical flourishes, beautifully modelled enemies and relentlessly paced. God of War III may trump it. Preferred over Tomb Raider.
15) Diablo (PC)
Amazing hack and slash fantasy establishing the foundations of World of Warcraft. Brilliant design and perfectly balanced difficulty curve. Preferred over all imitators.
16) Streets of Rage II (Megadrive)
Side-scrolling heaven. Typified the Sega Megadrive, with catchy music, a steep difficulty curve and excessive violence. Preferred over Double Dragon and Final Fight.
17) Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC)
Pinnacle of strategy games. Great units to command and varied missions. Preferred over Cannon Fodder, Age of Empires and Starcraft.
18) Final Fantasy X (PlayStation 2)
The complete J-RPG package. Random map battles are a sore point. Preferred over Phantasy Star and Final Fantasy VII (yes, I know! Blasphemy).
19) Wonder Boy (Arcade)
Nostalgic masterpiece, simplistic, but packed with charm and imagination. Appeared childish, but disguised a devilishly tough game. Preferred over Shinobi and the Alex Kid series.
20) Deus Ex (PC)
Deep first person shooter/RPG, paved the way for augmenting characters and the later success of Bioshock.

Web Watch - Daytrotter Sessions

Anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary North American music in its myriad forms - from acoustic guitar wielding folksy troubadours to lavish preppy pop or raging, bile-spraying punk - should have a look at the amazing Daytrotter Sessions website. The premise is simple - invite band to studio, record few tracks, put them on web for general consumption. The genius of the site is in its subtleties - the quirky illustrations of each band, the tangential musings of the narrator and the features. Even Pitchfork will be quaking in their boots at the labyrinthine prospect of a writer documenting a WHOLE WEEK of listening to an album, day by day. The sessions are extensive, as a new one is updated pretty much every day. So here is a quick run-down of some recent highlights:

Princeton Ivy League indie band with an ear for a pop hook, cue 'This Year's Vampire Weekend' heraldings.

The Acorn Last seen supporting Fleet Foxes on a series of sold-out dates across Europe, these fellow Bella Union signings have a similarly captivating style, particularly on the amazing 'Hold Your Breath'.

Cold War Kids Big news in 2007, have they succumbed to the sophomore slump? Not on the evidence of the excellent 'Something Is Not Right With Me'.

The site is excellent for discovering new bands, but also great for getting free exlusives by more established acts such as Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, The National, Two Gallants, The Ting Tings(?) and Vampire Weekend (also known as 'Last Year's Vampire Weekend And This Year's As Well').

Howling Bells Interview on getcloser.com

Monday night I met and interviewed Australian ex-pats Howling Bells before their in-store gig at Covent Garden's Fopp store to mark the release of their new album 'Radio Wars'.

See the interview here.

Topics vary from label changes to Britney covers and performing in lifts and public toilets. Check out the live footage as well, showcasing the progression in the band's sound since they first surfaced a few years back.

Fopp's bargain potential was up to its usual impeccable standards as well - picked up exemplary mix albums by Madlib and Andy Smith for a measly total of six notes!

Fresh Produce '09 - The Best In New Music

The dust may just be starting to settle on 2008’s plentiful end of year polls of albums and artists, but Baltimore’s Animal Collective are an early certainty to be there come December. Their latest opus ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ fuses their previously disparate sonic experiments - ‘Sung Tongs’ wayward folk, Panda Bear’s ‘Person Pitch’ - into a cohesive whole. Multi-tracked vocals, rave synths and a throbbing pulse propel the likes of ‘My Girls’ and ‘Summertime Clothes’ into definite crossover territory, although they stay too wilfully obtuse to seriously bother charts as well as lists.
The Gaslight Anthem timed their breakthrough with Bruce Springsteen’s latest to remind the world of the anthemic ingredient which must inhabit the New Jersey waters, but fellow native sons Titus Andronicus put a more literate and furious spin on the blue-collar sing-a-longs of yore. In one of the finest London gigs of the year so far, they graced Hoxton Bar & Kitchen’s stage, singer Patrick Stickles orchestrating his bands’ perfectly choreographed chaos and raging in a voice reminiscent of Shane MacGowan at his most lucid and Conor Oberst at his most vitriolic. By the time he leaps into the appreciative crowd during their self-titled first single, their billing as a dynamic and dangerous live band was well and truly cemented. Supporting were the less reliable but equally promising Little Death, who boasted a drummer and bassist more than their last capital appearance at Madame Jojos. Second track ‘Baby Can You Dig Your Man’ captures their quiet-loud majesty perfectly and has something of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s in the call and response dual between riff and beat.
While it is becoming more and more difficult to find truly great hip-hop albums nowadays, some mavericks are taking the more traditional aspects of the genre and skewing them to such an extent that they become difficult to recognise. MC/Producer duo Dalek recall Public Enemy and Dead Prez in ‘Gutter Tactics’ opening oratory salvo, provided by former Obama minister and notorious firebrand Rev. Wright. Here the concessions to traditional wisdom end - the harsh, chaotic soundscapes paying as much tribute to Sonic Youth and Lightning Bolt as the Bomb Squad or El-P. The MC’s voice is sunk very low in the mix as well, rendering his eloquent diatribes as rhythmic instrumentation unless you listen very closely. Probably not going to top any charts either then.
NASA’s star-studded ‘The Spirit Of Apollo’ boasts some of the stranger collaborations of recent times (Karen O and ODB? Tom Waits and Kool Keith?) and also some of the most predictable, (Kanye and Santogold, MIA and Spank Rock) the end result unfortunately falling well short of the sum of its parts.
Having started as a beat-maker for the legendary Ninja Tune label, Fink then performed a strange career about-turn, re-inventing himself as an earnest singer-songwriter. His latest collaborative project Sideshow is a joyous celebration of dub's space, vibe and texture. 'Admit One' sees guest vocalists Courtney Tidwell and Tina Grace contributing to this love letter to Trojan and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Charity albums are universally well-intentioned and invariably disappointing as lazy covers, ill-thought out demos and the like often make the cut. Refreshingly, Red Hot and War Child have bucked the trend of mediocrity with the excellent ‘Dark Was The Night’ and ‘Heroes’ collections respectively. Curated by The National’s Bryce and Aaron Dessner, ‘Dark Was The Night’ unites many of the finest similarly-minded artists operating in North America’s burgeoning alt-rock, Americana and folk scenes. Top marks for the first side go to Yeasayer and The National themselves, along with Antony’s delicate rendering of Bob Dylan’s ‘I Was Young When I Left Home’ and Sufjan Stevens‘ incredible ‘You Are The Blood‘. The second side ups the pace a little and boasts fine contributions from The New Pornographers, My Morning Jacket, Sharon Jones and TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek.
Back to the day job, Sitek helps TVOTR dramatically re-interpret Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ for the War Child comp, where all the artists contributing have been selected by the original performers to cover one of their favourite hits. Hot Chip bring an unthinkable breeziness to Joy Division’s ‘Transmission’ complete with vocoder and steel drums, while The Hold Steady predictably honour Springsteen and the Scissor Sisters go all out to out-glam Roxy Music’s ‘Do The Strand’. Even if a few of the tracks miss the mark, it’s worth a listen a) Because it’s for an honourable cause and b) Because it’s interesting to weigh up who succeeds and who falls flat on their face. Or else why would people give a shit about the X-Factor?
Heading for the dancefloor, the upcoming Fabric Live offerings by A-Trak and Toddla T promise to be something special, but in the meantime head straight for Herve’s ‘Ghetto Bass’. A mind-boggling array of dancefloor dynamite resides in one half of the Count & Sinden’s record box, taking in fidget/tech house, electro, drum ‘n bass and dubstep. His remixes of Kidda’s ‘Under The Sun’ and Bloc Party’s ‘Mercury’ are worth the entrance fee alone. Following the success of Flying Lotus, Warp Records have released another winner in Glasgow beat maestro Hudson Mohawke’s EP ‘Polyfolk Dance’ which takes the glitch-heavy beats of his LA counterpart and expands them into jazzy, psychedelic terrain.
Upcoming delights are sure to include the new Bat For Lashes album - recorded with mavericks Yeasayer - and the Micachu debut, surely the only woman to have released a grime mix-tape and composed for the London Philharmonic Orchestra…