Walt Panorama

New Alexander Girard book from AMMO.

2011-12-08T07:58:00.000+11:00

The Art of Siesta Records - www.siesta.es

2011-12-07T07:45:00.000+11:00

They Might Be Giants (Film - 1971)

2011-12-04T07:25:00.000+11:00

We watched this superb movie last night. They Might Be Giants is about a delusional paranoid called Justin Playfair who thinks he is Sherlock Holmes - or is he? You certainly want him to be. It's just this type fantasy that propels the film and it's easy to understand why many of the other characters get swept up in the fun charade.

Released in 1971 and way ahead of its time TMBG has an excellent quotable script, great use of New York City locations and cast of oddballs just the right side of crazy; apart from the core players, look out for Munster Al Lewis and Golden Girl Rue McClanahan.

Dr Mildred Watson: You're just like Don Quixote. You think that everything is always something else.
Justin Playfair (Holmes?): Well, he had a point. 'Course he carried it a bit too far. He thought that every windmill was a giant. That's insane. But, thinking that they might be, well... All the best minds used to think the world was flat. But what if it isn't? It might be round. And bread mold might be medicine. If we never looked at things and thought of what might be, why we'd all still be out there in the tall grass with the apes.

Moon Wiring Club ~ Spellcasting Summat

2011-11-25T06:58:00.000+11:00

Lovely new pop arcana from Moon Wiring Club.

Royal Melbourne Show 2011

2011-10-02T17:27:00.000+11:00

The Corridor People

2011-09-18T18:18:00.001+10:00

Another one from Network DVD, this is super-odd. Filmed on video in 1966. It's a high-concept and super-stylish Detective series starring Elizabeth Shepherd (the almost-Emma Peel).

On the back cover of the DVD it's described as "the Twin Peaks of its day" which is a reasonable comparison, despite the obvious budgetary differences. The Corridor People appears to have been filmed on the cheap, it certainly looks like it, and possibly all done in one take, maybe even live - but these limitations are also a great asset, as what results is very creative. Boom microphones often appear in shot and even if they're not visible, their shadow often is. However, it doesn't really detract from the goings-on as the production is already so bizarre, in a strange way it just fits in. The actors perform in a way that's part interpretive dance, part acting and about 75% camp. It's great.

Anyway - this blogger has already written about it in great depth, enjoy.

DVD - Dim Dam Dom

2011-05-21T15:37:00.000+10:00

The grey market DVD companies often turn up some fine oddities. I recently purchased Dim Dam Dom from modcinema* - which features 4 episodes of a late '60s French pop programme.

Apart from the roster of great French stars including Jacques Dutronc, Claude François, Marie Laforêt, Sylvie Vartan, Françoise Hardy, France Gall and Serge Gainsbourg there's also performances from The Easybeats, Manfred Mann and "Les Bee Gees."

Most clips also feature the Dim Dam Dom dancers and the whole thing is a pretty incredible showcase of what can be done with some creativity - most songs are simply filmed against a white or static studio background and some in a single shot, or with only a few edits. The cavalcade of mod fashion and fun choreography is wild, and the picture quality is pretty decent, generally better than I was expecting with some clips showing signs of age or deterioration, but ultimately it really doesn't matter. The only down side is the 'Melody Variete' bug that remains constant throughout the disc, but even that is eclipsed by the on screen fun.

If you're after a bit of '60s pop escapism, this is a good place to go. And a sideline - I was also pleased to learn how to pronounce France Gall's name correctly (it's Fronce Garl apparently, not Fronce Gawl as I had thought).

Shadows

2011-02-20T16:13:00.001+11:00

Shadows is a TV program from ITV in the UK that I saw, at most, a few times as a kid around 1975-1976 (so I was age 9 or 10). I loved, and still love, shows dealing with supernatural themes, although it's different seeing them as a child as your world view and experience is, well, different. I can really only recall 1 episode of Shadows, and actually only 1 moment of it, a black and white image of a school and some schoolchildren and some spookiness going on. I know, it's not much, but sometimes even a small memory like that can hold a strong resonance. I also recall the quivering letters used to title the show. And my memory of it is all in black and white and grainy, which would have been the TV set we had at the time, but appropriate for this show.

I was thrilled to learn that the great Network DVD company from the UK has released a volume of Shadows. I'm also a little relieved to find it still exists as so many of the programs from that time were sadly wiped. Anyone interested in cult TV shows from the UK should check out the ever expanding Network catalogue - this link is to the "Cult Kids" page, but there's plenty more to check out including many of my favourite spy shows from the '60s & '70s.

I ordered a copy of Shadows which arrived recently. The first thing I noticed is that the series was made in colour, which was a surprise, and I also found the episode I had hazy memories of. It concerns two Welsh schoolboys who are waiting alone in the school careers room for their Sportsmaster/Careers teacher (played by Blake from Blakes 7 - Gareth Thomas) after their detention. Their teacher doesn't turn up, but something else does (no spoilers now).

I've since watched 2 more episodes, one about a nurse in Victorian times being haunted by a ghost - from the future - and the an odd one about a haunted tree and a young girl possesed by witchcraft. I'm pleased to say that Shadows more than lived up to my expectations; better than really. Interesting story, good child actors and quite spooky in its way, production values are also much better than you might expect for a '70s made for TV and made for kids show.The production is largely filmed on sets, but the sets are often quite elaborate.

These type of kids supernatural shows - The Tomorrow People, Doctor Who, Children Of The Stones, The Owl Service, Sky etc... - are probably a little too low-key in style to be made for contemporary audiences, and that's a shame. Some of the current day versions do a good job at updating the same feeling - The Sarah Jane Adventures comes to mind, but I haven't seen any recent kids shows that have a comparable eerie atmosphere as this; an indefinable otherworldy-ness. Being scared by afternoon TV programs was always such fun to me as as child, I'm not sure today's children get to experience that.

Eurythmics - In The Garden (1981)

2010-12-19T08:13:00.000+11:00

Eurythmics 1981 album 'In the Garden' is a fascinating and generally forgotten record. Recorded with Kraftwerk producer Conny Plank and featuring Blondie's Clem Burke and Holger Czukay (Can) ITG was the first record they recorded after the demise of The Tourists and before they had major commercial success. ITG failed to chart (which seems amazing given their later, and earlier, success) and it remains largely ignored to this day - although the 2005 CD re-issue may have helped to improve that situation.

ITG is new wave, no wave, psychedelic, experimental and totally pop, if pop comes from outer space (and it's good when it does). Themes include dreamy reverie (English Summer), Kraftwerkian love songs (Take Me To Your Heart), desperate housewives who behave like calculators (She's Invisible Now - the 10 to 1 countdown mixed with the sound of adding machines is brilliant), female body image (Caveman Head), and, that's just for starters. Annie sings in French on the bizarre and catchy 'Sing Sing' and most tracks are punctuated with all manner of sound effects, animal impersonations, trains, crickets and sirens. Vocals are processed, mixed up, mixed down, sound like they were recorded underwater, surrounded by cushions, or beamed in from another galaxy, or era, or mental state.

The album produced 2 singles - Never Gonna Cry Again and Belinda.

What Belinda is about is up for interpretation, but features Annie's offer to never leave or deceive the song's subject. It's again sonically amazing, like so much of the album, especially in the vocal treatment/harmonies and the mid-song refrain. Never Gonna Cry Again is memorable for Annie's restrained vocal performance, singing in a manner that makes the subject sound, to me anyway, completely numb as if immersed to immobility in thought, pain, or perhaps revenge. I prefer Annie singing in this way rather than the endlessly emotional way she usually sings these days. On ITG her voice acts more as an instrument and it's amazing.

'Your Time Will Come' closes out the first (LP) side, with another catchy chorus and feeling of unease mixed with a jubilant chorus. It's quite a trick to pull off, but it works. There's also a psychedelic moment as Annie name checks the album's title in a spooky way that defies print description.

'All the Young People Of Today' which plods weirdly as it praises, fears, reveres, ridicules those included in the song title. One of the less successful tracks, but sticks with you after a few listens.

I have to return to 'Sing Sing' which never fails to please as Annie's playtime melody about "Touts les betes du la citee" and how they arrive by train, car, bicycle, work day by day, get tired, and go home. Amazing percussion, sound effects, tape manipulation and instrumentation round out this incredible track. 'Revenge' finishes the album - a hint at a theme they would revisit in 1986 with more ITG weirdness.

ITG is a great example of the sound of a band experimenting with an Everest of ideas. They wisely stop short of overloading the album though, as it could have been a complete mess. I've been finding new things in this album every time I hear it, and that is an awful lot of times. From here came Sweet Dreams and later, it must be said, a general move away from experimental pop towards a generally more commercial direction (which is where I become a little less excited about their music).

Why Don't You....

2010-11-14T08:18:00.001+11:00

...Watch Playtime?

2010-09-14T13:46:00.000+10:00

Ladies and Gentlemen - the Pans People dancers and "The Persuaders"...

Essendon Record Fair

2010-09-12T17:15:00.000+10:00

The smells, the crowds, the dust. Got to love a record fair. Spent little got a lot. Here's some of the highlights, or the ones I could find images of:

The Little Tony album has the back cover as well b/c it's great, the kids one from Poland looks like a nutty folk record. Linda George sings Shoobedoobedoodahday or something (it's good if unspellable) but what an awful album cover - sort of basic brown colour scheme - unlike Ramon Duval's which is worth framing. I also found a single by Noel Ferrier which makes up for again not finding the album by Abigail (there's one out there somewhere with my name on it). I can't find a scan of the Noel EP ("Unfurled") and the scanner's not working so you'll have to imagine (imagination is what we had before Google came along). Noel is draped in a Union jack, on a throne, with a trident and helmet and sings "All You Need Is Love". Gold.

Dolly Mixture - Everything And More

2010-07-21T18:26:00.001+10:00

This is exciting. A Dolly Mixture 3 CD box set of, as the title says, everything and more. CD 1 is the Demonstration tapes album (briefly released some time ago on Saint Etienne's Royal Mint label), CD 2 is all the singles, A & B sides, and CD 3 is the "...And More" - live tracks and rarities. And what about the great sleeve art?

I loved this band before I'd even heard a note of their music after reading about them in the NME or something, probably a less than complimentary article as seemed to usually be the way with their press, but I was keen and no bitter journalist was going to rain on this parade (you could apply the same to Talulah Gosh and Heavenly as well who I always thought were great despite the continuous press slagging they endured). Anyway, over the years I managed to acquire a vinyl copy of their "Baby It's You" single and the Demonstration Tapes double LP. I bought the latter in the Gaslight Records bargain bin for $4 and according to Bob Stanley's liner notes is now quite a collectible achieving 3 figure sums on Ebay. I wish I'd known that when I bought my copy nestled amongst around oh, 40 or so more copies for $4 each. I could have bought around oh, 40 or so more copies... and retired.

If the Dolly's recorded output history is anything to go by this treasure might not be around long so if you're inclined I suggest you place an order asap. I got mine from Rough trade UK but it's also available through the Dolly Mixture website.

TV Quiz

2010-06-14T08:58:00.001+10:00

Do you snack while watching TV?

Yes, if hungry.

What is your favourite TV show?
Of all time - The Twilight Zone. Currently - Being Human, True Blood, United States of Tara, Doctor Who.

What TV show makes you run to change channels?
Sport. Hey Hey It's Saturday.

How do you view your TV guide: online, on-screen, newspaper, magazine, other?
The Age Green Guide, FOXTEL mag and web guide (which has remote booking for the iQ - superb), yourtv.com.au, TV tonight blog. Yes that's right - TV addict.

Have you ever been surveyed for your TV-viewing habits or do you know anyone who has been?
I wish.

Do you watch TV news and/or current affairs regularly?
No.

Do you watch any TV “soaps”? (Truth please, even if it is embarrassing.)
Not the DOOL variety. I like dramas like Skins, Hung and comedy-dramas like Ugly Betty. I've been enjoying my DVD of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman which is a '70s soap-ish show (but so much more). I find soaps too slow generally. Twin Peaks?

What other series shows do you try not to miss?
The ones I've mentioned and The Dish, Chelsea Lately, The Playlist, Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List, Doctor Who, many more...

Any previous series or shows you really liked?
So many. Just scratching the surface with what comes to mind - Daria, Dr Katz: Professional Therapist, UFO, Night Stalker, dinnerladies, Jam & Jerusalem, Nighty Night, Jason King and and and...

Do you have pay TV or are the digital channels enough?
Got to have FOXTEL. I get it free which is a bonus but I would pay for it.

Do you only watch certain TV shows online?
I don't watch anything online except youtube.

Do you regularly use services like ABC catch-up or other online replays?
Never.

Do you ever pay any attention to the adverts?
If they are funny. I certainly did in Japan. Japanese ads are fantastic, and most are only 10 seconds long. They love a jingle and the visuals are so POP.

Do you multi-task while watching TV & if so what else are you doing?
Depends how interested I am in the show, Sometimes read or draw. Crosswords.

Is there a TV show that makes you laugh out loud?
The Dish (Style Network) and My Life On the D-List.

Have you ever said no to a social invitation to stay at home and watch TV? (Truth again please.) Mind telling us what the show was?
No, I have recording facilities. However what are these "social invitation"s of which you speak?

Do you record TV shows & if so why and how (VCR, DVD recorder, TIVO, laptop, etc.)?
FOXTEL iQ. Like a fiend.

Least favourite TV personality/actor/character?
Anyone beige. Many are bores they have on the commericial channels. As in life I prefer the misfits.

Most popular TV personalities/actors/character?
Anyone interesting.

Have you ever seen anything really memorable on TV (not news/events – made for TV drama, etc.)?
There was show I saw as a kid, a ghost show. British, 1970s and I could never remember what it was called until I recently saw it mentioned by Ian Hodgson of Moon Wiring Club. It's simply called Shadows and my memory of it was that is was atmospheric and spooky (in the days when it was ok to scare kids. I miss that). It's not out on DVD as yet but I hope it will be so I can relive it. A lot of the TV I watched as a kid is memorable to me - horror shows, Tomorrow People, Doctor Who, Krofft TV shows, Irwin Allen shows, Monkey, Tales Of the Unexpected etc... Of recent years I found the episode of Six Feet Under (series 4) where David Fisher is abducted by an insane man to be one of the most powerful pieces of TV I've seen. Having said that I wouldn't want to see it again. Twin Peaks was indelibly memorable.

Do you prefer TV series or stand-alone shows?
I like both. Although sometimes a special can leave you wanting more and a series can leave you wanting less.

Is there a specific show you find yourself recommending over and over?
I drive people mad with my recommendations. Current shows - True Blood, Psychoville, United States of Tara, The Hotel Inspector, Tim & Eric's Awesome Show. Great Job! and more... on DVD - Oh! Mikey, The League of Gentelmen, Jam & Jerusalem, lots more...

All Hail The King!

2010-04-11T17:43:00.000+10:00

This is marvellous, Jack Kent's clever comic strip King Aroo compiled into a huge volume. Apparently there's a second volume on the way too! I'm trying the Amazon affiliates thingo for the first time for this post. I believe I could make literally cents on click throughs! Click away Panoramiacs, click away!

Cafe Rodney

2010-04-10T16:14:00.001+10:00

A few images from Rodney Greenblat's Cafe Rodney which used to exist in Harajuku, Japan. Sadly no longer there.

Julia Guther

2010-04-10T08:31:00.002+10:00

If you've seen any releases on Morr Music you'll be familiar with the work of German artist Julia Guther. This is her website for a gallery of her beautiful minimal work. http://www.juliaguther.de/

Moon Wiring Club - The Wire Interview links

2010-01-29T06:13:00.003+11:00

These are the clips referenced in the Moon Wiring Club interview in the latest edition of The Wire. Ian Hodgson (MWC) says you (aesthetically) mix these videos up and you have a MWC track.

Robin Of Sherwood titles (music by Clannad)

Theme to Whicker's World (by Graham DeWilde)

Solistice by Brian Bennett

The opening theme to Ace of Wands

The theme to the '80s children's TV show The Book Tower

Music for the SNES game Castlevania 4

"Ring Of Ice" by Jennifer Rush

An episode of "Automan" featuring Laura Branigan

To hear/see the results of this - Youtube Moon Wiring Club videos.

RAGE Retro

2010-01-25T18:45:00.003+11:00

I love this time of year, not for the hot weather, no I don't even want to think about that thanks, but for the Saturday night delight that is RAGE Retro, or "Goes retro" or whatever they call it. The old stuff. Countdown, Rock Arena, Flashez and other bits and pieces they choose to throw in.

This week had a whole Flashez episode and a Flashez interview with Air Supply, but sadly not the episode my name was said in. Yes, I was part of this program, albeit a tiny part. I entered their general giveaway competition and my boat came in the day the Silver Studs were on the show. I won albums by The Silver Studs (can't remember the title but it had "Dance With the Dolly with The Hole In Her Stocking" on it), Paul Simon ("Still Crazy After All These Years"), Skyhooks ("Straight In a Gay World"), another one I've forgotten, an autographed Ray Burgess 7" single of "Hot Cookie" ("...I wanna do some home economics with you..." Saucy) and sundry stickers that I wish I still had but they proudly adorned my school folder that year and have since become landfill. AND I got to hear my name on TV which is super-jazzy when you're 10. I no longer have any of the albums I won. Most were given away, and the autographed Silver Studs album I gave to Debbie Nettlingham who possibly still has it in her seaside palace of pop cultural wonder. I thought I still had the Ray Burgess single, but alas, that too seems to have gone. Sorry Ray. No home economics for us.

Anyway, RAGE retro, this week also featured an angry young Ignatius Jones using Countdown to vent his spleen about commercial music and then going on to perform his single 'Whispering Your Name' which isn't terribly innovative really. A bit like the poor cousin to the excellent "Like A Ghost" single he released. Anyway, the Countdown-made clip had Iggy pretending to be a 9-5'er - oh how deliciously droll . You sardonic minx you, and two Gothic gals looking suitably bored with his office-goings on. Or they were actually bored. It's hard to tell. They mustered enough enthusiasm to mime the backing vocals though. My favourite but was Molly's mock-shock in Humdrum when he joked about Iggy's subversive nature "I hope he doesn't swear at me." Touche Mr Meldrum.

There were also two Jimmy & the Boys clips afterward. The Countdown-made 'They Won't Let My Girlfriend Talk To Me' which was quite brilliant (the song, not the clip so much - was it written by Neil Finn? I think so. David, you'll know) and a live performance miming to 'Products Of Your Mind' where Ignatius did that slightly disturbing ankles-behind-the-head thing. Well, everyone needs a party trick.

But, but, but, the best was yet to come with the clip to 'I Eat Cannibals' by Toto Coelo. If you were wondering if there was a prototype Spice Girls, this was it. Lacey, Sheena and three others (I think I'm doing well to remember name for 2 of them) in multi-coloured plastic bag dresses (alright, if we must - bin liners) dancing up a storm and delivering a shameless barrage of puns about food and eating - although it rates much lower on the pun-o-meter than the follow up 'Dracula's Tango' - that one is OTT. Anyway - it's fab. This was written by Barry 'Dancing On A Saturday Night' Blue. They had great chorry too, especially the bit where the Baby Spice one does a half-split. Incredible. I recently heard this song in Ben Sherman so I guess Toto Coelo are back on the boil. Or at least a gentle simmer.

Anyway - Rage Retro. One more week to go I think. Do yourself a favour.

The Beatles

2009-09-15T18:34:00.006+10:00

The Beatles remasters released recently have given me pause for thought on the way people born more than 30 decades ago (as I was) listened to music when growing up.

Until last week I'd never bought any Beatles records, apart from a single of A Day In the Life that I got in the 1980s, but having older siblings, radio and a life long absorbtion of pop culture I thought I knew the material pretty well. I didn't.

What I've realised is that most of the music I listened to as a youth was from what are now considered pretty poor sources - TV, AM radio, tinny dansettes and portable cassette players. My experience of Abbey Road, for example, was formed around a poor quality cassette taped by my brother-in-law that had probably lived in a hot car at some stage. It's only now that I'm realising how much you miss only hearing music in that way (but, I hasten to add, the nostalgic value of those sound sources also provide fond memories, I loved sitting on the front lawn as a kid listening to 'Can The Can' on my sister's portable mono tape recorder).

The other problem I have always had with The Beatles is overhearing their music. But, revisiting this material on better equipment, from better source material (the remastered CDs) I'm finding them to be far more interesting and experimental than I had thought (the drum patterns in "Something", for example, came as a surprise, and that's just one of many discoveries I've made) and their psychedelic material in particular I'm getting a lot out of.

Having not been much of a fan of the band some of the songs I also knew better, or only, through cover versions than the originals. 'Flying' from Sgt. Pepper's was closer to The Residents cover version than I had expected - I assumed they had warped it right out of shape, but the original is actually a bit Resident-y.

I'm pleased to make this discovery as I think I'm now seeing what others see in The Beatles, although, having said that, it's far from a blanket cheer for their music. I could happily never heard 'Let It Be' again, and the general fondness for a lot of their sing-songy, dare I say, a bit twee tracks still leaves me bewildered (Ob-La-Di, Yellow Submarine, All Together Now, and most of their early music holds less interest for me). I'm also quite sure I will always prefer Wings to The Beatles, but it's nice to find an avenue in to their work.

Essendon Record Fair

2009-09-13T18:18:00.004+10:00

Here's some of what I bought:

Music: Dr. Ballard's Presents Variations on the Ballard Beat

2009-06-20T10:22:00.002+10:00

Great record sleeve. More info.

Eurovision 2009, First Semi-Final recap

2009-05-19T18:06:00.004+10:00

Probably my favourite annual TV event, well, more than probably. Eurovision 2009 did not disappoint for the amazing and often trashy spectacle we know and love.

The intro piece to the 1st semi-final this year was a strange fairytale about magic flowers, horses, birds and dragons. All a bit Bjorky, but quite boring for the main part. The Russian entrants for the last kiddy Eurovision flew in on a giant rainbow bird. I would have liked it more if it had been more Sid & Marty Krofft, I mean, all the elements were there.

And then to the hosts... the EV hosts of recent years have almost invariably been a differing Euro version of Will & Grace seemingly on happy pills, but the Russians broke the tradition with a model and some TV bozo. Possibly the worst hosts ever, which is saying a lot. Thank goodness they changed them for the final, but more about that later.

On the plus-hosting side, Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang provided a great commentary for all three nights and made the loss of Terry Wogan just a little less painful (however, having said that I would have loved SBS to rescreen the finals with the Graham Norton finals commentary). There was a stage (in the finals I think) where Julia and Sam appeared in t-shirts that said (t-shirt 1) "Terry Wogan isn't doing it this year." and (t-shirt 2), "Yes, we miss him too." Funny, but they did a great job all round.

To the Acts in the First Semi-Final in order of appearance.

1 - Montenegro - Not a great start, lots of dirty dancing, glitter and a guy striking John Travolta Saturday Night Fever poses. See you in the finals? Alas not.

2 - Czech Republic - There were capes, which is always good, and a crazy moustache and brylcreem, but fell victim to the "wacky" curse of Eurovision (see last year's Irish puppet turkey DJ for further eveidence of this affliction).

3 - Belgium - It's Elvis Hiselvis! With '50s rock, hip swiveling and pink & red draggy back-up singers. No idea why this blast of pop craziness didn't make it through.

4 - Belarus - I just love saying that, Belarus. Anyway, another I assumed was a shoe-in by EV standards, but maybe the blonde windswept Bert Newton in a wig thing isn't in this year (a surprise to me). Song was like Ultravox in their stadium rock period and the girl in wind blown chiffon (lots of wind machines this year) with projections on her was one of the oddest EV sights.

5 - Sweden - 'Popera', as they kept saying which is a fair enough description. Lead by a tan-tastic diva snow queen with bedroom hair backed by 5 Karen Walkers (Will & Grace had to pop up somewhere) in suits and later with bewjeweled masks. Quite good.

6 - Armenia - Costumes! Amazing - look on line, I can't do them justice. A Turkish meets Aguilera sound and the evening's 1st key change! Hurrah!

7 - Andorra - A girl group in the Go-Go's tradition. Lead singer looked a bit like Geri Halliwell, or Varla Jean Merman or both. Chorus a bit of a bust though "I I I I I I I I I I I I" etc... The Spice Girls wouldn't have settled for that ladies.

8 - Switzerland - "Lovebugs" was the group name which was about the only good thing about it. Sounded like U2 with an indie-pop singer. Asking the audience to clap their hands. Bah, I mean, if you have to ask...

9 - Turkey - We're back in Shakira-land (did we ever leave? So many of these types of songs at EV in the last few years). More audience invitations for clapping, a little belly dancing, certain amount of yawning (from me). They did wear Turkish style cullotes which may be some sort of first.

10 - Irael - Two lead singers, one looked A LOT like Gretel Killeen (from Logies to EV?) but with a few genes from Paul Capsis, I know, scary, right. Like a fairytale witch with her own hair and make up people. There was lots of emotion and pleading, a little symbolic fingertip touching, but effectively one big wail.

11 - Bulgaria - Like a amateur theatre performing a play about Blakes 7. Lots of bosoms, more capes, big hair and stilt dancers (not just walkers, dancers!). Add to that flames, the ever-present wind machine, crazed wailing and a bit of male falsetto. Bonkers but fun.

12 - Iceland - Where have the mad Iceland entires of yesteryear gone? This was pretty, but bland (or the reverse) and all blue and ice and fog. I also spotted a Viola and there was another key change!

13 FYR Macedonia - Hair rock! Twins! Clap your hands audience and a key change you could set the clock by. Is it over yet?

14 - Romania - Faeries in shredded blue/green costumes. Tune was a but unmemorable. Made it to the finals though so someone must have remembered it, or had a thing for faeries.

15 - Finland - "Waldo's People". Finnish rap, fire stick juggling and a female chorus provided a good pop element. Waldo the rapper I could have done without. Liked the "People" though.

16 - Portugal - Gypsy styling and gorgeous staging with a candy coloured rainbow LSD carousel. Accordian, acoutic guitar, flute and long long hair ribbons. What's not to love?

17 - Malta - Ballad, snore... An unexpected bit of "girlfriend!" head wobbling mid-way through though and finished well with a little trumpet flourish, but overall, not for me.

18 - Bosnia / Herzogovina - I liked this, people with drums all in white American Civil War styled costumes. Lead singer a bit "True Blood" vampiric with crazy hair do (which was modified a little for the final - details, that's what you pay me for). Best bit was the frozen tableaux in the middle of the song. A lot of unexpected elements elevated this one.

Coming soon - Semi-Final #2...

Tweenbots

2009-04-17T17:55:00.002+10:00

http://www.tweenbots.com/

This is fantastic. Happy little cardboard robots people help to cross Central Park.

Music: Gelg

2009-03-22T15:17:00.007+11:00

What a great name. Gelg is a sort of made up band that provided the fine music used in the equally fine TV show Look Around You.

A spot on parody of British '70s educational shows made for schoolchildren, Look Around You hasn't seen much airplay in Australia (only on UKTV, briefly) and deserves a wider audience.

Back to Gelg - I love the music they made which has a great Library Music-ish quality about it, it captures the style so well.

You can download the tracks from the BBC website's Look Around You page, or grab them here in a convenient zip file, if you prefer.

Thants.

PS: Look Around You creator Peter Serafinowicz is also on Twitter.

Song: Camino Del Sol

2009-03-14T06:55:00.004+11:00

One of my favourites, if not my favourite, Antena song is a gorgeous electro-bossa track called Camino Del Sol (Way of the Sun). It's one of the smoothest pieces they ever recorded, with sparse atmospheric electronics. I've always wanted to learn the lyrics, but my French is poor and I could only work out small parts of it. Numerous Internet searches have proved futile, it seems to be the only thing NOT on the Internet, and I'd all but given up, until I had a chance Internet encounter with the singer herself, Isabelle Antena (nee Powaga).

I have a scan of the Camino Del Sol record on our Flickr page and I was contacted by Isabelle herself just to say thanks for the picture (which I must add here that this is like for some people being contacted by Cher, I was amazed and thrilled to hear from her). She told me her scan of the cover wasn't very good and she's been using the one I had . A few emails of gracious and heartfelt fandom from yours truly and I asked her if she would have the lyrics to Camino Del Sol handy, and they were kindly and radpidly provided, thus ending my long search for them.

As they don't seem to exist anywhere on the Internet I'm adding them here for anyone else who might be looking for them (very literal English translation in brackets - corrections welcome). Thanks Isabelle!

Camino del sol (Way of the Sun)

Camino del sol
Hotel
Palm beach
Air florida

Station balnéaire (seaside resort)
Climat tropical (tropical climate)
décalage horaire (jetlag)
ambiance amicale (friendly)

Elle: cadre agréable, (Her: pleasant)
sauna , bains de vapeurs, (sauna, steam bath)
chambre confortable (comfortable room)
et TV couleurs (and colour TV)

Lui: Tennis, Bowling, (Him: Tennis, Bowling)
piscine olympique, (Olympic swimming pool)
jaggar au parking (the Jagger terminal-?)
pour soirées typiques. (for typical evenings)

Soirée animée (Lively evening)
Et slows langoureux (and slow languorous)
Regards amoureux (regards lovers)
Jeux organisés (games held)

Matin difficile (Difficult morning)
Et vapeur d'alcool (andf steam alcohol)
Pour vacances tranquilles (for holiday)
Camino del sol (the way of the Sun)

Camino del sol
Hotel
Palm beach
Air florida

Camino del sol
Hotel
Palm beach
Air florida

Music: Pinky & the Killers

2009-02-08T07:30:00.003+11:00

The bowler-hatted pop sensation Pinky & The Killers from 60's Japan. So great and an inspiration to Pizzicato 5.

My Favourite Record Covers: Mathematiques Modernes - Les Visiteurs Du Soir

2009-02-07T18:24:00.003+11:00

A little-known French 80's electro duo that created a super alt-lounge style album that in 1981 was both contemporary, and somewhat ahead of its time. Co-produced, written and played by Claude Arto with lyrics and vocals provided by French actress, and the subject of the first ever Pierre et Gilles portrait, Edwige Braun-Belmore.

The cover shows the band in stoic profile with a collapsed Eiffel Tower in the background. The album would be hard to find now, but there are downloads floating around mon cher.

My Favourite Records Covers: Nancy & Lee

2009-02-01T19:10:00.004+11:00

Some suitably fine cover art for an iconic album. I always think they look like they are sitting on a motorcycle, or a Vespa, yes, a Vespa. Ah, Phaedra is thy name.

Patches

2009-01-26T08:45:00.000+11:00

Some cute iron-on patches from my ephemera collection.

Design: Flensted Mobiles

2009-01-25T17:03:00.004+11:00

What great things these are. Simple, modern mobiles designed in Denmark by Mr & Mrs. Flensted.

I bought "Expecting Fish":

And I've got a hankering for "Mr Bowlerman and Miss Charleston":

To view the full fun range their website is here

You can find them at designery shops (like AERO, Great Dane Furniture etc... in Melbourne and similar shops all over the globe I imagine.

2009-01-17T17:37:00.000+11:00

See previous entry, some more scarf tips!

Vocational Guidance

2009-01-10T17:32:00.001+11:00

This is from the excellent (but now sadly gone) SPY magazine. I had a photocopy of this on my desk at work for years, I feel it helped others in a myriad of ways, what can I say, I'm a giver. Tips 6 & 7 are my favourites.

Food: Kernel-Fresh Nuts

2009-01-08T17:28:00.000+11:00

What great packaging, and inside were hot cashews, almonds or whichever mix you preferred. The MYER nut counter is still around (it has moved from the ground floor up to the third), but they no longer use these cool bags.

Ice Cream: Royal Choc Fudge

2009-01-06T17:25:00.000+11:00

These were delish and, as far as I know, only available around the Lorne area of Victoria, so I don;t get to have one very often. Last count - once... Great packaging though. I wish I had a wrapper of the Wink ice cream I used to enjoy when I was a kid.

Toys: John Sands Brochure

2009-01-04T17:16:00.004+11:00

I found this brochure in a board game I bought a few years ago. It shows all the games in the John Sands line up at the time. Click on the images for a better look at the desirable array.

Music: columbia*readymade

2008-12-29T17:21:00.004+11:00

I feel I owe so much to Japanese maestro and all-round fab-taste guy Konishi Yasuharu. As if it wasn't enough he gave the world Pizzicato Five, and also the Readymade label (and that's just for starters), he's recently worked with Columbia Japan to release this fantastic series of CD reissues of 1960's soul/jazz/lounge/easy albums.

I've tracked most of them down on ebay (only 2 to go) and they are just swell. It's hard to pick favourites, but Keitaro Miho's bizarre Sound Posey Sachio is hard to beat with it's jazzy numbers on side one complete with overlays of race cars and Japanese racing announcements(!).

All of the CDs come in beautiful card mini-album sleeves which just serve to make them even more desirable.

Art: Eastlink Freeway

2008-12-28T18:48:00.008+11:00

The new Eastlink Freeway has some fun artwork included which make the journey less monotonous and also cute, and a tad creepy.

My two favourites are:

Public Art Strategy by Emily Floyd

A giant (and it is HUGE) blackbird looking at a geometric worm, little more to say really, but it's great - this is the cute one.

The creepy (in a good way) sculpture is Hotel by Callum Morton

It's a small scale hotel (probably equivalent to a real 2 or 3 storey building), but in a shrunken, Lilliputian style. You can see a metal staircase inside, but presumably there are no actual rooms (it's hard to tell, but I'd love to be able to go in and find out). The dark skies in this photo make it a bit more David Lynchian, and like all art it's in the eye of the beholder - some might find it amusing, but I found it to be attractively spooky and quite brilliant.

Soap: Pop Ink - Clean & Slobber

2008-12-28T07:36:00.003+11:00

I bought this soap at the Metropolis sale yesterday. Nice retro graphics from the Charles Anderson archives.

Record: 20 Solid Hits Volume II

2008-12-26T19:05:00.005+11:00

This album, the Majestic compilation '20 Solid Hits Volume II' transports me straight back to being a kid when this was one of the small amount of records I owned* (how times have changed...).

There are some great tracks on here including Freda Payne's Band of Gold, Lonely Days by The Bee Gees, Jimmy Cliff's Wild World, Lynn Anderson with Rose Garden, The Osmonds One Bad Apple and Lally Stott's bubblegum classic Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. I wasn't as keen on Reg Lindsay's Armstrong and Black & Blue by Chain, but you don't care when you're a kid, you just take it all in - well, that was in the days of vinyl, these days the young'uns might not be so forgiving as it's easier to skip a track on a CD. Oh, it's also got Elton John doing Your song and Bobby Sherman (on the cover sitting in a crazy hand-chair) and his hit-0-rama Julie, Do Ya Love Me?

Featured as well on the cover is Lynn Anderson all bedroom eyes and a blonde mane, Freda Payne with her slightly quizzical head tilt, floral top and choker and the band Flake (nothing to do with the chocolate bar or fish that I'm aware of) sitting on some ugly chairs holding two fencing swords. They also have an ottoman, a ye-olde oil lamp and a stuffed dog toy that is made to look half asleep (one eye open) who also has a daisy on its head. Under the title is an geometric circluar pattern (possibly made to resemble a target) and the whole thing is textured which I used to find quite fascinating. What can I say, when you're young you have the time to really go into the detail of these covers...

Also on the back cover is an ad for the Record Selector - "the new space age device for storing and selecting your favourite records" (this prescence, and the K-Tel logo down the bottom, suggest that Majestic was either a front or sub-label/franchise of K-Tel) - I have a Record Selector by the way, a modern marvel, but they do tend to destroy the bottom of the record sleeve. There's also an encouragement for the music lover to purchase 25 Polka Greats which is "NOW ON SALE" in case you were in any doubt - a sales pitch my family, at least, resisted.

*Well... technically it belonged to one of my sisters, but it became mine.

Farewell to "The most exciting woman in the world"

2008-12-26T17:20:00.004+11:00

Sad news to report - Eartha Kitt has passed away. The cause was colon cancer. She was 81.

Some years ago I met Eartha Kitt at a signing here at the MYER deprtment store in Melbourne, Australia. She signed this postcard for me and I also presented her with my copy of "The Fabulous Eartha Kitt & The Maurice Levine Orchestra". She accidentally dropped her gold texta marker whilst preparing to sign the record, and after collecting it and checking it hadn't left a mark on her outfit she looked me in the eye and said "You excite me young man."

Merry Christmas from Walt Panorama

2008-12-24T18:38:00.004+11:00

Music: Vanilla Beans

2008-12-16T19:13:00.004+11:00

Some pop perfection and a genius video, Japanese pop cuties Vanilla Beans with "Nicola". Great choreography and butterflies too. Prepare for multiple plays!

Music: Pizzicato Five's Inspirations

2008-12-13T16:35:00.005+11:00

I found these on the net - they're a great look into some of the record sleeve inspirations of the now defunkt ever-great Japanese pop band Pizzicato Five. Enjoy.

Music: The Gloo Girls

2008-12-03T19:43:00.003+11:00

I'd forgotten all about the Gloo Girls. I saw them in a fanzine a long time ago and thought I should try and find their records (I was never able to, but I think I've just managed it thanks to the Internet).

Check them out - they're great!

Artist: Juan Calogero

2008-11-01T17:38:00.003+11:00

I haven't been able to find out much info about the artist Juan Calogero, or even much of his art, but I love the print shown in Jonathan Adler's book and when I went looking for it I managed to find this one instead, which is also great.

My Favourite Album Covers: Slow Children

2008-10-22T16:44:00.000+11:00

Nice cover from Slow Children, sort of Fritz Lang meets New Wave...

Record Fair: Camberwell

2008-10-19T15:44:00.000+11:00

I did nicely, thanks for asking.

Bargains galore, Marc & the Mambas "Untitled" for $3 is hard to beat, but I also found 2 Century 21 records for $5 each ("Marina Speaks" & "A Trip To Marineland").

Some other purchases were -

Dean Martin - The Silencers

The Charlie Byrd Quartet - Let Go

Jonathan & Darlene Edwards - Sing Along With

The Sandpipers (S/T)

Billy Vaughan - the Windmills of Your Mind (who can resist any version of that song?)

Bobby Sherman - A Portrait of Bobby

and Shelly Manne & His Friends - Contemporary (which I bought mostly for this cover)

Movie: The Ambushers (1967)

2008-10-12T17:51:00.007+11:00

Making it quite clear that Austin Powers was a (first movie at least, and rather clever) composite of ideas plundered from 60's spy movies here's The Ambushers, one of the (I think, 4) Matt Helm spy-taculars. This one is brimming with Carry-on worthy double-entendres and lame (read that tragically funny) sex jokes with leathery, over-tanned and probably drunk Dino incomprehensibly irresistible to the hordes of bikini-clad babes a third of his age. There is a notable absence of any attractive males in the film, which might have been deliberate to make Dino the alpha-stud - I'm just saying...

Anyway, Austin Powers - ok, just two examples - there's a bra that fires bullets (although this actually was potentially copied from the 1965 film La Decima Vittima where Ursula Andress is likewise attired with such a firing garment).

The dialogue for its introduction:

Linda: It's not a gun, Mr. Helm. It's the new weapon they gave me, developed right here in our labs.

Matt Helm: Developed pretty well, too!

Linda: May I point out...

Matt Helm: You already do!

Linda: ...that that's why you're here. To become familiar with our latest equipment.

Matt Helm: You right. An agent should always keep *abreast* of the times!

You get the idea, and if you don't immediately repeat 12 "Oh I Saaay!"-s to Kenneth Williams, the great god of the double-entendre. For more Austin-isms I submit the name Lovey Kravzit, which surely must have lead the way for Meyer's more graphic Allota Fagina.

The Ambushers is FUN, with a great soundtrack (which I would love to track down) and the go-go theme sung by Boyce & Hart and all the music by the superb Hugo Montenegro. What also helps this one along are the two lead females - Sheila Sommers, played by Janice Rule and Francesca Madeiros played by Senta Berger. Both leads add much-needed female strength to the film and don't spend their time throwing themselves at Helm like most of the women in the film, and apparently the entire planet, do. Both are also surprisingly complex characters for a film of this ilk, Madeiros as the femme fatale and Sommers as his Emma Peel - and both prove an equal, if not better, to Helm.

Dino seems to saunter his way through the film, even in the action scenes, as if the next martini is just out of the frame. With wise-cracking cool even when staring down the barrel of a gun his Helm is the stuff of storybooks, and makes the movie even more fun. Oh, and there's a mincing- stereotype hairdresser. I know some of my people get upset about stuff like that, but I find it pathetically funny.

My Favourite Record Covers: LiLiPuT

2008-10-06T18:49:00.004+11:00

They did so many good sleeves. This one has a little clay community in a desert setting, and who can ever get enough of that?

My Favourite Record Covers: Belle & Sebastian - Jonathan David

2008-10-06T18:43:00.003+11:00

A bit 60's, a bit Roman Empire and totally great cover (and single). Most of B+S's covers are crushworthy and also iconic on a Smiths level, but this is my favourite.

My Favourite Record Covers: Unrest - Perfect Teeth

2008-10-04T04:39:00.006+10:00

More portraiture, this time an monochromatic uncluttered photo of British journalist/musician/singer/indie goddess Cath Carroll (taken by Robert Mapplethorpe) with Unrest written in a graphic '70s style font. The hat dates this photo a little, but in a good way. Spookily, her eyes follow you around the room.

My Favourite Record Covers: Grenadine - Goya

2008-10-03T19:47:00.006+10:00

This is the first post in a series of my favourite album covers, starting with Goya by Grenadine (Shimmy Disc 1992). I love the classic portraiture - meets advertising - meets high school prom - meets quasi-religiousness - of it all. I've never tried anything from the GOYA range of products they are so lovingly displaying, but this album makes me want to!

Grendine was an indie super group comprised of Mark Robinson (Unrest), Jenny Toomey (Tsunami) and Rob Christiansen (Eggs) and it's is also a superb album full of great and often quite weird-pop songs ("Fillings" for example, which draws a parallel between romance and Dentistry) . I prefered this album to the follow up (Nopalitos) but I really should reassess it now as it's been years since I last played it. It also had a nice cover in a similar style - but it wasn't quite Goya.

MTA Service Specialists

2008-09-28T14:37:00.002+10:00

These 4 New York gals have taken it upon themselves to improve the Public Transport experience by becoming MTA Service Specialists and randomly appear on subway trains providing customer assistance. One of their prime motivations is to teach transport courtesy, encouraging riders to take responsibility for their behaviour and reminding travellers of basic courtesy tips - feet off the seats, giving seats to the elderly, etc... Oh, and they do it in their home made retro stewardess styled outfits. These women are not paid or employed by NY transport, they give up their own time in order to help improve the transport experience.

I wish we could have them here in Melbourne. Perhaps then we could see the end of odorous takeaway and much-too-loud mobile phone calls on PT.

Visit their website at www.mtaservice.org/

Record: Methods of Dance

2008-08-20T04:43:00.005+10:00

Methods of Dance (and M.O.D. Vol 2) were two compilations released by Virgin in 1981 and 1982 respectively. The first one especially was like gold to me back then, and it still sounds great today. It included somewhat remixed, or just great sounding versions, of songs by B.E.F. (Groove Thang), Devo (Going Under), D.A.F. (Der Mussolini), Magazine (The Great Man's Secret), Japan (The Art of Parties 12"), Simple Minds (Love Song) and others. It was also notable for the "special edit" of The Human League's Do Or Die Dub which I'm pretty sure was unavailable otherwise at that time. There's also some entertaining sleeve notes by Paul Morley and as a compilation to sum up the times it's hard to better.

I was less excited about Volume 2 due to the inclusion of a bunch of bands I didn't care as much for (I-Level, Culture Club, China Crisis, Rip, Rig & Panic), but it still has DAF (Kebab Traume), Simple Minds (Soundtrack For Every Heaven), The Men (AKA - The Human League, with I Don't Depend On You) and British Electric Foundation doing Bowie's 'Secret Life of Arabia' - with guest vocalist, the excellent Billy Mackenzie.

A compiled CD has just surfaced in the UK, which features most of the tracks - but according to Amazon UK, DAF & Fingerprintz from the first album miss out, as do DAF and I-Level from Vol 2; instead there's some extras that were not on the original releases - Richard Strange (International Language), Devo (Speed Racer) and Allez Allez (with the rather lovely Flesh & Blood). I've read that the Paul Morley sleeve notes are also not included and it's good this is out, although a shame that the albums couldn't be preserved in their original formats (especially the DAF tracks which will be a big loss), but I guess that's music rights for you. Nice job on the cover though.

Designer: Jonathan Adler

2008-08-10T18:09:00.003+10:00

I've banged on before about Johnathan Adler (in ye olde Toolybird blog), but I want to go there again, not just because he's fantastic, but because there's a new reality show on Arena called Welcome To The Parker. The Parker is a ritzy hotel in Palm Beach USA which was designed reception desk to pool by J.A. I recognised some of the suites from pictures in his style-bible - My Prescription For Anti-Depressive Living (which I picked up on Amazon for a paltry amount, something mad like $4 or thereabouts).

Anyway, if you've got Arena on your TV you could do worse than check it out. In one of the episodes J.A. comes to stay at The Parker, so that should be fun. He brings his dog, Liberace, seen here looking adorable as always.

Scopitone: Nino Tempo & April Stevens

2008-08-08T06:57:00.004+10:00

This is great fun, some suave easy-pop from this cool duo (and siblings). April reminds me of Pizzicato 5's Nomiya Maki in this clip.

Zine: Craphound 7

2008-08-07T18:30:00.003+10:00

I found Issue 7 of Sean Tejaratchi's clip-art zine CRAP HOUND at Sticky Institute today. I love this thing, it's clearly a great labour (and "of love") to put it together as he tracks down masses of graphics (I refuse to call it clip art, lest you get the same slightly sick feeling I get from that term) on a particular theme and painstakingly arranges them into brilliant layouts; layouts that must take as much work as finding the images in the first place.

Issue 7's theme is CHURCH AND STATE PART ONE and it's the first edition in, I believe, 9 years.

There's one copy left at Sticky.

On your marks.

Get set.

GO!

TV: Adventure Island

2008-08-04T18:48:00.003+10:00

I've been reading a book about British Cult Children's TV shows and it got me thinking about Adventure Island here in Australia. I used to watch this regularly, I think, I mean, I was a very tender age when it was on, and to be honest I can really only remember a few bits and pieces from the show - Nancy Cato, or more likely Sue Donovan, reading the story, the village with the Pandas, Flowerpot and Clown. Oh, and of course Miser Meanie . It's not a lot of a memory really, but I know that my little-tacker self was quite besotted with this show (and Andy Pandy, but that's another post).

Anyways, best I can do at the moment is offer a few pictures. I do have a record album and book of the show which I'll endeavour to dig up and scan. If I get really modern and find some spare time I'll see if I can convert some the album to mp3 for some "sharing" as the kids call it. Then we can be modern together.

Oh, and there's a new version of Adventure Island which holds no appeal at all for me. Proceed with caution.

Eurovision: Second Semi-Final

2008-05-25T10:36:00.003+10:00

First up - mystery solved - the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France & Serbia will premiere their songs in the final - so there will be some new material. The commentators explained that they automatically qualify for the finals as the first 4 bank roll the contest and Serbia were the previous winners. Seems a bit dodgy, but there you go. I can’t wait to see Sebastien Tellier’s song for France, and how will the UK top the camp-o-rama of Skooch from last year. Let's hope they don't wear silver, there's so much of it this year.

Well, there was a suitably odd opening including a half-man/half-horse emcee and some blue/green painted people before this year's Will & Grace hosts appeared to usher us into the exciting round 2.

The songs:

Iceland – I always expect big things from Iceland due to the fact that a) it’s a bizarre place and b) they gave us Björk. However, I wasn’t expecting an Erasure techno-anthem. I think there’s a good chance this one could win, but I would have liked something more outré.

Sweden – Again, the home of ABBA, so they’ve got a lot to live up to. Was a bit disappointing although I liked that they used a microphone. Tony asked “Have I heard this before?” “A thousand times” I responded. Stephen Fry eat your heart out.

Turkey – A disappointing Bon Jovi-ish stadium rock but there was some serious arched eyebrow work from the singer.

Ukraine – This was good. A glittery Taylor Dane styled singer backed up by 4 dancers who started the song in Perspex boxes. Great staging, a less formulaic song (which is a noticeable problem this year) and fun electronic noises at the end of each verse line that they worked into the choreography. Deserves top 5, if not the win.

Lithuania – Where to start? The hair. The Leather pants. The painfully off-key voice. The hand jewelry. Make it stop. Worst song in the contest so far.

Albania – A tawdry ballad sung by a 16 year old singer with a great name – Olta Boka. We talked through most of it which should tell you something.

Switzerland – The first half was a piano based ballad that morphs into a better song mid-way through, although overshadowed by the unpleasant lead vocals, which were overshadowed by the great backing vocalists, some of which were working huge Toyah type hair-do’s. You decide what to make of it.

Czech Republic – More silver cossies (I neglected to note the others, but it is like an epidemic this year), tres Spice Girls-y as the energetic, sun-sational (read that – over-tanned) quintet struggled to keep some sort of vocal control over the cluttered backing track and completely unnecessary interjections from the “dj” at the back. A mess.

Belarus – ‘Hasta La Vista’ – a Ricky Martin title for a Ricky Martin style song. More silver mini-dresses, more leather pants and this time some star-studded orbs to dance on and around. Hasta La Vista indeed.

Latvia – Pirates of the Sea, singing a disco shanty called ‘Wolves of the Sea’. Dressed as pirates. Is the song most likely to stick in my head this year though (not a good thing) – much like the dreadful ‘We Are the Winners of Eurovision’ from 2007 which still haunts me at a low ebb. Horrid. Unbelievably, this got through to the final.

Croatia – Cabaret with some old blokes, a Spanish-ish dancer and accordions. Was a respite after the relentlessly hysterical songs until it turned into one at the end.

Bulgaria – Back to the power-pop – strobes, a break-dancer and a super-long instrumental introduction had me thinking there might not be vocals on this one. Not so, as it turned into a catchy pop song and then sort of combined the different intro bit. Strange but alright. They had turntables with fire on them which was probably symbolic of, well, I’ve no idea really.

Denmark – Predictable song and lyrics anyone could have written. Includes yet another “please make this song interesting” chord change. The singer really sold this fluff though.

Georgia – ‘Peace Will Come’. The singer is blind and looked a little like Elaine from Seinfeld. I liked the outrageous sunglasses she was wearing. Best thing about the song was the incredibly swift costume change from their black post-apocalyptic fashions to white ‘peace’ attire. I’m still not sure how they did it so fast. They’re in the final, so look out for the giant parachute/sheet that waves over them for the split-second costume change.

Hungary – Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Malta – I think I was running out of stamina at this stage, all I recall is lots of dancing and 16-story notes. Called ‘Vodka’, I probably could have used one by then.

Cyprus – Some serious scalloped collar work going on and another quick change. This song was a bit of a missed opportunity, after the ok intro it turned into a 60’s spy/cabaret thing with some great choreography and staging, but then took some musical turns to its detriment.

F.Y.R. Macedonia – Rap and a screeching diva. None for me thanks (although points for the use of crazy false eyelashes and male knee socks).

Portugal – I found this somewhat tune-impaired, overly dramatic and completely un-involving – it got through though, so it’s me against the voters again it seems.

The winner of the first Eurovision appeared to announce the call to start voting. Was a bit strange as she (seriously) asked the audience to give her a standing ovation (which they didn’t) and when the time came to start the voting she didn’t seem to know what was going on. Weird.

So – tonight’s the big one. Get the Kettle crisps ready.

Eurovision: First Semi-Final

2008-05-24T15:55:00.005+10:00

It seems to come around faster every year, but really people, could it ever come fast enough. I've said it before, but it's our Grand Final and some of the best fun you can have with a TV show.

Last night was the first semi-final; this year there are so many entries that there are two semi-finals, and the winners from the semis go into the grand final on Sunday night (Australian TV delayed time). Although I love the idea of three big Eurotastic nights, it does deflate the excitement of seeing a whole batch of unseen entries in the final, I'm not sure if there will be any new contestants in the final (like last year where about half were). If so, hopefully the organisers will pull something out to make sure that the opening and voting time entertainment is spectacular.

This year's Eurotainment is book-ended by Julia Zemiro who seems like a great choice for the task. I only hope her Eurovision character Brovna makes an appearance (SBS might be saving her up for the final).

So, on to the show...

- The brief, black and white swingle-singers-ish, opening was somewhat arresting in a comical/sixties way. This lead into the opening number that started off with a grand display of the amazing video backdrop and catwalks, but then lead into an unspectacular opening number with a slightly off-key brass band who provided strange versions of Congratulations, Waterloo and Volare. I found the blue and red people a bit unsettling.

- Hosts - where do they find them? Once again a male female combo resembling Will & Grace. Is it in a contract somewhere? Great accents and the usual level of delirious enthusiasm. All in all - great.

The songs:

Montengro - A bland start.
Israel - Emotive boy-bandy, best left alone.
Estonia - Comical, sorry "comical" with three guys in primary colour suits being ker-azy. A couple of barely clad beauties managed the oversized props and were no doubt there as some sort of distraction. Not terrible, but not good.
Moldova - Apologies to the good people of Moldova (and I know you'll be reading this), but I've found it hard to forgive you for the "Granny Plays The Drums" entry a few years back - until now. Their 2008 entry is a nice bossanova piece with smooth vocals - very pleasing and a nice change of pace. The only let-down was the poor staging - the sofa and the teddy bear didn't do anything for the song.
San Marino - Have they been in it before? I can't recall. A bit overblown.
Belgium - O Villisy, or something - apparently in a made-up language, so I don’t care if the title is wrong. It was cute and the back up singers looked like air hostesses.
Azerbaijan - Spectacularly bonkers, sort of a heaven vs hell/angels vs demons thing, and all up a bit like a Marilyn Manson tribute at a theatre restaurant. At one stage the (then) black-clad demon guy pours a glass of red liquid over a female dancer, all I could think was - who will have to clean that up?
Slovenia - I think they were showing a woman oppressed by the patriarchy, or possibly by her dress, but you'll be pleased to know she turns it all around and oppresses the patriarchy back in a lime green skirt, purple waistcoat and kicky heels. Very Italo-disco.
Norway - Female version of a boy-band, if that makes any sense at all (meaning, they were more Boyzone than Girls Aloud). An unexciting pop number though.
Poland - The singer, who I believe is American, looked like Dontella Versace with plastic looking super-white teeth. Awful diva anthem song, I went to brush my teeth at this stage.
Ireland. Oh god. Not enjoyable on any level with a rapping puppet turkey on lead vocals and a cast of crazy hams in boas. What were they thinking?
Andorra - Everything you expect Eurovision to be - glitzy outfits, pop music, mad headgear and a key change (if memory serves). Thanks ladies.
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Had a lot of elements that could have made it a shocker - it's wacky for a start (always bad), costumes like L'il Abner meets a Russian Wedding and all manner of face-pulling - but.. it's an interesting track, and my favourite of the night. If you close your eyes and ignore the Bob Downe-alike singer it was almost Brit-pop.
Armenia - Off-key in a fringey frock.
The Netherlands - Poptastic like Andorra, maybe it was they who had the key change?
Finland - Haven't we been here before? Finnish Heavy metal. Will probably win.
Romania - Awful, Renee and Renata type ballad, my most hated style off music, well, except for Football songs.
Russia - Dull,but creative use of the stage, overhead shots etc...). The sort of ballad they seem to love in Asia, hideous, but fun to see an ice skater on the Eurovision stage.
Greece - Clunky, sounded like it was written by a machine.

I'll be back tomorrow with the second semi-final recap...

TV Music: Ren & Stimpy Production Music

2008-05-17T10:39:00.003+10:00

This is unbelieveable.

Courtesy of Kirk Demarais' excellent Secret Fun Blog you can download for free over 100 pieces of excellent mid-century and mid-century-ish music used in the Ren & Stimpy cartoons.

It's a brilliant collection and even comes with specially designed cover.

I chose to use the Sendspace download (see link on the blog page) to get them all in one big zip file. Enjoy!

Movie: The 10th Victim

2008-04-28T19:10:00.001+10:00

I found this by accident and what a treat it is - and Mike Meyers, you got some 'splainin' to do! You'll see a lot of Austin Powers 'influence' in this trippy Italian spy craziness. Stars Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni having a ball in a cat and mouse game of seduction and sabotage. It's like Bond on LSD.

TV Show: Honey West

2008-04-20T09:42:00.003+10:00

I found the complete DVD set of Honey West at amazon.co.uk for about $24 Australian and my, what a treat it is. I'd not seen this before, so it was a bit of a punt, but judged on the reviews which mentioned The Avengers, mod outfits, judo and that she was a PI with a pet ocelot, well, it was pretty likely it would find an appreciative audience at chez Bird. And it has. We've only watched the first episode at this stage - The Swinging Mrs Jones - and we're already hooked.

West is played by actress Anne Francis who is best known for her role in Forbidden Planet. She has an Honor Blackman/Cathy Gale air about her and I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if the creators of Veronica Mars had a memory of this show. Her detecting partner, Sam Bolt (John Ericson) sets up a frisson of romantic will-they-won't-they but I'm reliably assured her only true love is her pet ocelot, Bruce.

This is marvellous fun that fans of campy crime shows should seek out. We watched it off the back of an especially pants episode of Nancy Drew (Nancy Drew's Love Match) which only served to highlight how good Honey was.

TV: Look Around You

2008-04-19T18:24:00.005+10:00

This British comedy program finally turned up on TV in Australia about a month ago on UKTV. It's jolly fun as it spoofs those 70's educational shows those of a certain age (me) watched at school and at home (programs like The Curiosity Show as seen in Australia). Despite taking the themes (Ghosts, Music, Helath, Sport etc...) to ludicrous ends, they've obviously a great affection for the original style of these programs. The music by 'Gelg' is another highlight. There's a website here and if you'd like to sample the music of Gelg it can be heard under the title Synthesised Music here.

Thanks Ants. Thants.

Art: Matte Stepehen (with pictures)

2008-03-19T18:11:00.003+11:00

Ah, the uploader is working, here's some Matte pictures.

Art: Matte Stephens

2008-03-10T13:25:00.004+11:00

I wanted to show you some pictures from Matte Stephen's excellent gallery of work, but the Blogger uploader is letting me down. Perhaps you might like to visit his website without an enticing graphic of his brilliant mid-century-esque work to tempt?

Bike: Dahon Speed P8

2008-03-02T07:50:00.003+11:00

I bought a bicycle. It's a folding bike from the good people at Dahon. Great design, fun to ride and folds up to half it's size (something I still find a little mind-boggling, although I guess it's ultimately it's just cleverly placed hinges).

Look out for me on the streets of Melbourne. I'm planning on getting one of those Sergeant Schultz style bike helmets as I'm not as keen on the electric coloured cyber rivet ones that you generally see.

Album: Bill Nelson - Quit Dreaming And Get On the Beam

2008-02-11T18:07:00.001+11:00

This is nuts, and I should know as I played it constantly in my younger days. This was a find from the Shepparton store Fairleys in their Record department in a bargain bin. Fairleys was like Harris Scarf or any other department store I guess, but funnily enough it HAS now become a Harris Scarf store - so the circle is complete.

Anyway, back to nutty old Bill Nelson. He was in Be Bop Deluxe who I have never heard and don't expect to any time soon. His post BBD albums seem to have elements of rock and electro which is often pleasing, sometimes awful but usually interesting. QDAGOTB is more poppy than some of his records. Do You Dream in Colour was the alterna hit, or should have been, with its bonkers synthy boing boing bit and typewriter ching when Bill hits the musical punch-line "Do you dream at alllll..." *ching*). There's titles like Banal, Living in My Limosine (as in, "there's something living in..." - isn't that David Lynchy?) and the lyrics to Vertical Games go "I like to make love, when the music goes strange" which is trippy and creepy all in one. Youth of Nation On Fire (no, I don't know why they are on fire), is bouncy like electro-reggae and the title track is spookily ambient in an attractive way. I could listen to this album all day and still never work out why I actually wanted to in the first place.

I got all my Bill Nelson vinyl from bargain bins so I thought it only proper I should splash out on the LTM CD reissue of this album which comes with extra tracks such as his crazy/great single Rooms With Brittle Views -which I also got many years ago from a record store throw out bin. Again the circle is complete.

Artist: Ryohei Yanagihara

2008-02-01T18:39:00.000+11:00

Brilliant Japanese artist Ryohei Yanagihara, most famous for his illustrations for Tory's alcohol. I found 2 books of his work in Japan.

Record: Share My Lettuce

2008-01-16T06:12:00.000+11:00

I found this in my pictures folio, I think it might be an image I found on eBay. Don't know anything about this record except it looks fantastic and those bunnies sure look happy. I would totally share my lettuce with them.

And then...thanks to the Internet, I now know something about this record.

Exhibition: Replay Christian Marclay

2008-01-12T17:17:00.000+11:00

This is a treat - the latest exhibition at ACMI in Federation Square. I went today and it's all excellent, but my favourite part was the Video Quartet film - a brilliant melding of audio/visual snippets where there is some sort of noise, and it can be anything from tap dancing, slamming doors, playing music, singing, screaming, gunshots etc... Four different images play across 4 screens at once and has been put together so skillfully that it forms this incredible piece of sound art.

It's 14 minutes long (feels like much less) and I had to watch it twice to get a handle on the brilliance of the piece. It's also fun playing spot the film/tv show/concert - I noticed Psycho, Barbarella, A Passage for Trumpet (Twilight Zone episode), West Side Story and others I've forgotten, there's also the Marx Bros, Meryl Streep, Jimi Hendrix, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and loads of hard to define images.

You can see some of it on You Tube but if you can, do go to the exhibition (Federation Sq, Melbourne).

Card: Inner Weekly Travelcard

2008-01-10T05:42:00.000+11:00

I found this in my files of ephemera. Probably won't mean much to anyone not from Melbourne, but to a resident there's something nostalgic and nicely uncomplicated about this 1988 travelcard.

This is pre-magnetic strip travelcards and the days of conductors on trams.

Shop: Karel Capek

2008-01-06T18:16:00.000+11:00

Karel Capek is a Japanese brand that sells tea and related goods. The cute packaging is superb and comprises of beautiful illustrations and desirable products.

We stumbled across their store in Kichijoji (in Tokyo, Japan) when we went to have lunch at one of the few vegetarian cafes in Tokyo. It was fortuitous because the Capek shop was right under the veg cafe on the ground floor (or 1st floor as they call it in Japan).

The shop was smaller than the average Australian lounge room and had 4 staff, one of which gave us free tea to sample. The stock was unbelievable and you want everything. They also produce free catalogues that are like fantastic mini books. I assumed you'd have to pay for them, but they were complimentary.

Also within the store was a pop culture collectables store-ette called Beep! Beep! which I was aware of from the Dream Pets book I got in

Osaka. Again, couldn't have found this one if I was looking for it (didn't have an address) but there it was.

By the way, the Karel Capek brand has nothing to do with Karel Čapek, the Czech author, apart from nicking his name.

Check out the brand website here, and marvel!

Postcard: Squirrel

2008-01-05T08:41:00.000+11:00

As I love squirels and postcards this is a dream combo really. The colours are pretty great in this one too, it looks a little hand painted.

Card: Christmas

2008-01-03T06:33:00.000+11:00

I painted a whole swag of these cheerful snowman Christmas cards one year - mid-nineties I think, to send to family and friends. It was surprisingly easy and good fun.

Toy: Smoking Doggie

2008-01-01T16:27:00.001+11:00

It's not often you see a dog smoking a cigar, well probably, let's hope not. I'm not sure where he got it, he looks way to young, although in Japan you can buy cigarettes from vending machines so the age thing is irrelevant it seems (the machines often place the coin slots conveniently at kiddy height too, thoughtful).

But enough of the crazy kids and on to Monsieur Dog, I can't remember where I found him, but was probably at the Chapel St Bazaar or an Op Shop, but more likely the former. His blue cape says something I can't decipher, but it looks a bit like 'Cully'. The cigar is a bit saggy, but it is a cigar, it even has a red 'lit' end. He looks a little startled.

Badge: HELLO my name is

2007-12-31T08:26:00.000+11:00

These are great and scarily friendly items to wear. What could be more perky than announcing your name to the world, and to what ends, who knows? I expect they're worn for social events mostly but could be fun for a day around town to see what sort of a response you get. Be careful of spelling though, I recall a sales rep from my old place of work whose name was Sig (as in Sigmund) but spent an entire conference with a name tag that said 'Fig'.

Postcard / TV: arena

2007-12-30T18:40:00.000+11:00

The Cable channel ARENA (or arena, as it was then) used to be this great mix of sci fi, mystery, art house, b-movies, kitsch and schlock. Their tagline was 'the art of television' and it was my dream channel.

arena produced a number of shows that were uniformly excellent, including The Hub - a funny pop culture critique hosted by Amanda Keller (who was later to recreate this show on the ABC under the name Mondo Thingo), Inside The arena was a weekly look at TV in a Talk Soup-y kind of way (hosted by Tony can'trememberhissurname who went on to host The Fat on the ABC) and Fridays were The Graveyard Shift, hosted by Tabitha (Clutterbuck) who brought a sassy and intelligent twist to the horror host(ess) game. The Graveyard Shift featured movies by Ed Wood, Val Lewton, Dario Argento and loads of classic horror and sci-fi. Tabitha was not only a great host but was also a scholar of these films which showed in her hosting.

These promotional postcards give an idea of the flavour of content. In 2000 the channel morphed into a new-agey, chatty, sitcom structure which wasn't to my taste, but has since changed again into something somewhere between to two (with shows such as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Will & Grace etc...).

I'll always miss the Friday Night Graveyard Shift (where are you now Tabitha?).

Card: Wonderful Australia Series

2007-12-29T07:44:00.000+11:00

These cards come from the "Wonderful Australia Series" made in 1984 by Galah Greetings - C217 and C209 respectively.

Australia, where every Westinghouse freezer has an (unharmed) emu popping out and you can cuddle a roo by Ayres Rock.

Record: Pinky & the Killers

2007-12-28T09:28:00.000+11:00

It's Pinky & the Killers - 60's, Japanese, stylish pop-in-bowlers. Fab.

This single was given to me by Dougee Dimensional and I've since tracked down a few more (including 2 in Japan recently). I also found a CD collection of their hits in the RECOfan in Shinjuku. They are all great.

I ask you, how could you not love this band?

Postcard: New Orleans

2007-12-27T19:23:00.000+11:00

I can't remember where I found this postcard, but I bought it in the mid-80's, and probably at an Op Shop.

It's of a motel in New Orleans (or so the pool tells me) and I think it looks unbelievably fantastic in that 60's motel-y kind of way.

I hope to stay there one day. If I do I'll send a postcard.