Judy. By John Renbourn

Ken Russell 3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011

Original Film Poster

Ken Russell's adaptation of Aldous Huxley's "The Devil's of Loudon", is in my mind one of the greatest English film's ever made. The director, who died this week dared to take it where no one else dared to go. Not only is the film itself a masterpiece in film making, but also, the set design, casting, musical score and screenplay work together in such a way as to create a dizzying phantasmagorical and utterly compelling account of this infamous chapter in the history of the Catholic church in France. Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave give the performances of their careers, and the film was banned in Italy by the Catholic church. Well, that's the least you can expect from Ken!


For a full obituary and short film about his work follow this link to The Guardians obituary of this film making force of nature. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/nov/28/ken-russell-cinema-dies

He was larger than life in every way, and this was always reflected in nearly everything he was involved in.Ken Russell, film maker, documentary maker, writer and larger than life individual, 3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011.

Fairport Covention Maidstone 1970...

At last the whole concert has been uploaded to YouTube, all be it in frustrating 4min segments?!! Brilliant musicianship and songwriting from the strongest Fairport line up post Sandy Denny. Once Sandy had gone, you really had to think of them as a different band. The dynamics changed considerably with the mercurial Dave Swarbrick stepping into the fore to almost become the band leader. The material changed too once Sandy had left to join Fotheringay. The band started to delve more and more into the traditional folk song genre which had started with the classic "Liege and Leaf" album. The highlight for me is the live 9min version of "Now Be Thankful". The rest as they say is musical history. What puzzles me is all the hype around Bumford and Sons, or whatever they're called. It's been sitting ready to be listened to in the shape of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and all for the past 40 years!!

"Now be Thankful" Maidstone 1970

Blackwaterside

Taught to Bert Jansch by Anne Briggs, who wrote the original song, but the tune was probably influenced by a traditional English folk tune, stolen by Jimmy page and presented to the world on Led Zeppelin's 1st album as Black Mountainside complete with sitar and finally to me by way of Bert Jansch's version. Drop 'D' tuning, capo 2nd fret.

11 Moustachioed Daughters...Viv Stanshall and The Big Grunt

This from 1970 I think, The Marty Feldman something or other. If this isn't on of the most disturbing pieces of television, then I don't know what it is. Brilliantly insane, Roger Ruskin Spears inventions, Viv Stanshall's eye's and who the hell is that little fat guy on the guitar, and more to the point where did Viv find him? Good God the seventies were a strange time...

billy childish - sunday painter

Documentary look at the world of the multi talented Billy Childish...Let the film and the man speak for themselves. Far too prolific to sum up at this time of night...

Billy Childish Documentary...

Oliver Postgate and the story of Small Films...

Oliver Postgate was and will always be a giant of children's television/animation/film and fantasy. He created hundreds of hours of food for young minds in the shape of the various projects, programmes and characters under the Small Films umberella, and what's even more amazing is that he did it with the help of only a handful of like minded enthusiasts in his tiny studio come barn.

They didn't call it Small Films for nothing. The company consisted of Postgate and Peter Firmin, and between them they cooked up among others, Ivor The Engine, The Clangers, Bagpuss, Noggin The Nog and The Pogles.

Oliver Postgate wrote the scripts, narrated most of the voices, did the sound effects, created the characters and took care of all the animation filming and sound production, while Peter Firmin drew and built the characters, made costumes and scenery and painted the sets. So, with cardboard cut out characters, often coloured by their children, elastic bands, string, sellotape, blue tack, cotton wool and other odds and ends they conjured up the magical worlds of Ivor, Noggin and all the other wonderful characters that transformed the lives of legions of school children, for five minutes each weekday evening during the 1970's before the boring world of grown ups and the six o'clock news.

Behind the scenes, Oliver Postgate called in Anthony Jackson to help with some of the voices. Peter Firmin's own daughter played the role of Emily in the unbeatable 'Bagpuss', while the characters where brought to life with the aid of Meccano, brass tacks, magnets, fuse wire and the timeless magic of stop start animation.

Simpler times, in a simpler world. Watch this affectionate documentary and re-live the magic that was Oliver Postgate and Small Films. Ivor the Engine of course is back in all new episodes made for BBC Wales, and even though most of the animation is now created using computers, none of the magic is lost. Thanks Oliver for enriching and shaping my childhood and my imagination.

Pelagicus...Mike, Neil & Mark Pearson's family wildlife album

All kinds of critters and creatures and a profusion of birdlife abound in this excellent nature/wildlife/travel/photography blog from Yorkshires answer to The Three Amigos. In their own words... "After their great Floridian adventure, the 3 members of the Pearson clan returned to their respective homes. Mark, being drastically short of money, took up a post as personal trainer to Bruce Forsyth, to prepare him for the forthcoming series of "Come Dancing". Neil, is taking a short rest in Providence before setting off for Chile in order to research his next book - The Frogs of the Atacama Desert. Mike has returned to the UK where he spends all his time watching Coronation Street". GoTo: http://pelagicus.blogspot.com/

Large Emerald...

VBS.TV

http://www.vbs.tv/watch/soft-focus-uk/billy-childishArt, Technology, Science, Music, Underground Film, Internet, Video, Environmentalism, Fringe Politics, Sex, Communication, Design, Ideas, Drugs, Animals, People, Interviews, Views, Arty Americans, German Inventors, Culture etc...It's all here at www.VBS.TV
Billy Childish interview link: 
http://www.vbs.tv/watch/soft-focus-uk/billy-childish

Poor Boy a Long Ways From Home...

I've no idea who wrote this originally, maybe someone can enlighten me. I got it from listening to John Fahey. When I was playing it originally it was simpler, then I noticed the similarity with the Stones song 'Poor Boy' off the 'Beggars Banquet' L.P. I sort of mashed up the two adding one of Keith's licks in the second and third verse. Open D Tuning.

The Dovers.."Baby What am I Gonna Do"

Christ knows I love this song and the mighty Dovers (more on them later). Nostalgia, family and great tunes...

Vigilante Man..

My take on the Woody Guthrie Classic via Ry Cooder. Sound quality a bit poor, but we don't worry about that sort of thing round these parts.

Bobby Brown...Not Whitney's Bad Boy

I discovered this, to put it mildly, strange artist through my friend, NZ musician Stefan Neville. Read his strange story at the excellent Mutant Sounds blogspot. I can't work out whether I actually like this album, 1972's "The Enlightening Beam Of Axonda", but I keep listening to it so something's going on. He would've made a brilliant cult leader I'm sure. No idea who Johnny is in the narrative of the album, maybe it was Bobby himself.  He loved his dogs. Very tripped out and spooky...Read the article, download the music here: http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/01/bobby-brown-1972-enlightening-beam-of.html

Mr. Bobby Brown

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

I've just recently got into this act from the late '60's. They seem very eclectic but interesting if a little patchy. I'll write more once I've investigated them a bit further. In the meantime...



I made this film to go with this insanely great little track "Roger the Rocket Ship", from the album "Markley, A Group"..."Look out for me I'll tear you apart, look out for me I have no heart". Very Charlie Manson lyrically and a little bit disturbing. Got that west coast 1969 spook to it. Just Fab!