Film - Decoder (1984)

Strange little time-capsule with loads of faces from the early 80's Berlin scene. William Burroughs, Christianne F. Genesis P-Orridge. Brion Gysin's Dream Machines. Some of Throbbing Gristle. Soft Cell. Temple Ov Psychic Youth. Themes are - surveillance; privacy; the war over, for and to distort information; secrecy; fast food; distopian muzac; mind control; genuine scenes of rioting from Reagan's visit to Berlin; corporate non-accountability; celebration & encouragement of aggression in video games. But the real star is the film design, sound and music. Proto- cyberpunk sci-fi and obviously now very topical

Well worth a look

Pontiak - Lack Lustre Rush + Heat Leisure film

This video's all-white

The album 'Innocence' is out 21.01.14, on Thrill Jockey Records, and they are touring-

 

Pontiak April & May Tour:

Tue April 8th - Zurich, Switzerland - Rote Fabrik

Wed April 9th - Ravenna, Italy - Bronson

Thu April 10th - Rome, Italy - Circolo Degli Artisti

Fri April 11th - Conegliano (TV), Italy - Apartmanto Hoffman

Sat April 12th - Torino, Italy - Spazio 211

Sun April 13th - Brescia, Italy - Latteria Molloy

Mon April 17th - Brno, Czech Republic - Boro

Sat April 19th - Breclav, Czech Republic - Piksla

Sun April 20th - Linz, Austria - Kapu

Mon April 21st - Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic - Mumie

Wed April 23rd - Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz

Thu April 24th - Schorndorf, Germany - Club Manufaktur

Fri April 25th - Koln, Germany - Privat
      Sat April 26th Antwerp, Belgium - Trix

Sun April 27th - Krefeld, Germany - Kulturrampe

Tue April 29th - London, UK - Corsica Studios w/ Man Forever, Kogumaza - tickets
    Wed April 30th - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store - tickets
      Thu May 1st - Plymouth, UK - TBC

Fri May 2nd - Bristol, UK - The Exchange w/ Kogumaza - tickets      
      Sun May 4th - Cardiff, UK - Clwb Ifor Bach
      Mon May 5th - Falmouth, UK - Beerwolf
      Tue May 6th - Ramsgate, UK - Music Hall - tickets
      Wed May 7th - Liege, Belgium - La Zone
      Thu May 8th - Utrecht, Netherlands - DB's
      Fri May 9th - Lille, France - La Malterie
          Sat May 10th - Reims, France - L'Appart Cafe
      Sun May 11th - Besancon, France - Le Passengers De Zinc
They also did this which puts me in mind of the Live at Pompeii film for some reason... 

Easy Rider (film)

Well that was way better than I remember it being! 



"We blew it."

Kanashimi no Belladonna (1973) - Film

Very very strange exploitation, occult, porn, animation that is somehow superb! Men come out of this very badly indeed (the sad excuse for a husband in particular). I don't want to spoil the surprises and spectacular artwork, because it is all about pacing. It starts very slowly, and is very down and depressing (and feminists will blow a gasket, with no little justification!) but stick with it because there are reasons for this. It's loosely based on a book called The Witch, and the Director (Eiichi Yamamoto) was seriously into Aubrey Beardsley at the time. If you can get past the muck this is a cult-classic.

 

René Laloux - Les temps morts (1964)

Aliens consider Man and find us wanting.

Louie Bluie

Ladies and Gentlemen meet Howard (not Louis) Armstrong. He started playing String Blues in the 1930s and he and his friends are INCREDIBLE characters. I think this was director Terry Zwigoff's first documentary, and he clearly knew he'd found a walking one-man-show in Howard. What you get here is just over an hour in his company as he tells tall-tails; fascinating stories; bullshits; banters with his friends; and visits amazing folk from his career. Every 3 to 5 minutes these old coots start playing and that's when the joking stops - lethal string blues players with country, gospel, bluegrass and all sorts of other music, influences or influenced by them. They rock HARD. Great characters; great stories; hilarious joking; and awesome music. One of the best documentaries I've seen.

THE POINT - Harry Nilsson 1971

Nilsson's story and songs turned into a wonderful psychedelic animated film. I haven't seen this since I was a kid, and it's even better than I remembered. Possible influences on Pink Floyd and Monty Python as well. Reckon this might be by the team who animated The Phantom Tollbooth!