My girlfriend is into her craft stuff and found these cool Star Wars mini amigurumi created by Lucy Ravenscar who can be found at: http://lucyravenscar.blogspot.com/ Excellent work Lucy!

The less you know about this film the more you’ll enjoy it, I think – so I won’t be saying anything about the actual plot – but having finally seen this the other night I enjoyed it so much I felt the need to write about it briefly here. The story is great, taking parts from other great sci-fi films but still bringing something new to the genre. It’s clearly low budget compared to your average sci-fi blockbuster, but the lo-fi effects work very, very well.

The fact that it’s directed by Bowie’s son seems to have done it no harm in the media but doesn’t particularly interest me, apart from the fact he’s obviously done a great job. Sam Rockwell, (who was also in Galaxy Quest!) is utterly brilliant. I won’t say any more about why as I want to steer clear of all spoilers – just go see it.

Finally, the soundtrack is incredible – Clint Mansell, formerly of Pop Will Eat Itself, who also scored a trilogy of films by Darren Aronofsky, the unremittingly depressing Requiem for a Dream, the slightly less depressing The Wrestler, and the apparently absurd The Fountain (not seen that one yet). All his scores are amazing, and even though Lux Aeterna has been a bit overused for dramatising the crushed dreams of x-factor contestants and other TV gameshow rubbish, it still makes the hairs rise on the back of my neck when I sit and listen to it by choice.

Welcome to Lunar Industries – Clint Mansell (Moon OST)

Lux Aeterna – Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream OST)

I’m delighted to say that Playing with the Past is back in Edinburgh for a second night on August 22nd. This combination of film and live music was my highlight of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival (ok I only saw one other film, what of it?) bringing together three of my favourite Edinburgh bands eagleowl, Meursault and Found, to provide original soundtracks to some bloody ancient, but fascinating pieces of footage.

The picture above is from the film Granton Trawler, for which eagelowl provided a lovely instrumental sea-shanty, complete with a brilliant replication of a creaking boat, which Bart somehow created merely by twisting his guitar strap (via an effects pedal). Living in the vicinity of Granton Harbour, it was great to see this genuine slice of life from over 70 years ago, and although the fisherman’s life looked very tough indeed, it’s hard not to romanticise their seafaring ways just a little bit when you’re stuck on the number 8 bus due to endless roadworks. Notice I didn’t mention the word ‘salty’ once. The ‘owl also provided a fast and furious accompaniment to a strange little animated film from Canada called Begone Dull Care which let us see the other, less laid back side of the band.

Meursault were up next, for Stan and Ollie, a bizarre piece of newsreel about Laurel and Hardy’s visit to Edinburgh, back in the day when there were those old-fashioned trams.. (cough). Their accompaniment to this piece was quite subtle, with their main contribution to the event an epic twenty minute piece de resistance to the 1936 short Night Mail, about the postal train from England to Scotland.

This was a bit of a blast from the past as I was shown this film as part of my degree many moons ago. Like Granton Trawler it made by the GPO film unit, which was a pioneer of British documentary, if I remember rightly.

I’ve included a very brief extract from the Meursault track below, to give you a sneak preview if you weren’t there, and am hoping that the band won’t mind (if they do though, it will be removed sharpish..) Cheers to Chris Bathgate for his recording expertise.

Finally it was Found (who I’ve seen live so often recently they must think I’m stalking them). They had a particularly tricky piece called Camera Makes Whoopee, which included montages of various instruments, making it difficult for them to deviate from the footage, but the band cleverly brought in samples and beats to match what was on screen.

What I enjoyed about this was the creative, and different approach taken by each band, and the genuine enthusiasm of the crowd. I’d like to see some contemporary local film-makers teaming up with the city’s musical talent more often, but I can see that it would take a lot of work to come up with something like this completely from scratch.

Anyway, it’s great that there’s another night in the offing making this an almost unique, two-night only event that you’ll not want to miss the second time around.

  Meursault – Night Mail (extract from Playing with the Past live performance)

Playing with the Past is on at the Filmhouse, Edinburgh on August 22nd: more info here.

On Thursday Mel and I are heading New York City for the first time ever for five days. To say we’re excited is something of an understatement. We’ve both discussed going there many times since the day we got together – and we’ll be celebrating 11 years since that fateful day while we’re there (yes I am bloody old)- so I’m hoping some of the romance from the above picture will rub off on us (after all I don’t need to be in Manhattan for the Woody-esque morbid neuroses and unintentional slapstick comedy to commence).

I also have a personal link to NYC as my grandparents on my Dad’s side emigrated there from Ireland many years ago, and went through the whole Ellis Island process when they arrived. My cousin Rory lives there now and I’m hoping we can hook up with him when we get there.

I guess the trip could be a let-down given the expectations built up over the years through the iconic imagery of countless classic films, and through reading about all the amazing musical history that’s taken place there, not least the emergence of Bob Dylan, one of my all-time heroes. Of course, things aren’t the same as they were in the 60′s but I’m guessing that there’s so much going on there I won’t have time to be disappointed. 

I’ve also managed to get myself into another fine mess by declaring that I am going to take part in the notorious open mic night at the Sidewalk Cafe on Monday night, which the likes of Beck, Jeffrey Lewis, The Moldy Peaches and Regina Spektor have previously performed at. It could be a tough crowd, but I have one friend there, a man who calls himself Antifolk Chameleon (after the venue that Lach used before the Sidewalk) who has already offered me the loan of his guitar. And as he has been very supportive in the past of both my Tantrum Man and Swivel Chair musical projects, I can’t very well let the man down. 

So please wish us luck, let me know if you’ve been and if so what you recommend doing. Oh, and send me good vibes on Monday night!