July 30, 2014The very good news of the week is that Rage – the greatest program ever created, and possibly why I returned to the southern hemisphere – is available on ABC iView, meaning for those not geo-blocked you never have to be without at least three weeks worth on the television. And as a result of constant hit-and-miss videos going on in…
July 28, 2014Some documentaries are sold on the story they tell, and for the most part as soon as you mention ‘conspiracy’ everything following is often taken a bit lighter. Throw in ‘America’, ‘government’ and ‘UFO’ and it’s practically early morning back-channel viewing. Mirage Men is set to change all that. Having already started by picking up acclaimed champions and critical praise from…
July 22, 2014So much in love with this project; the fact that the music so good is almost an added bonus. Okay, that may be taking it too far, as at it’s core is amazing composition, but you can’t ignore how well it ties in to a brilliant concept beautifully executed from recording to delivery. Theo Brown and The Folklore Of Dartmoor is…
June 23, 2014Just seen the details around this exhibition, had to share it as it looks amazing. Earlier this month, Return of the Rudeboy kicked off its ten-week residency at Somerset House, celebrating ‘rudie‘ style culture in proper form. Birthed in Jamaica, Rudeboy (note the capital ‘R’) culture was integrated in to London during the ’70s and ’80s, defined by attitude, and identified through…
June 14, 2014For the London based, make sure you get down to this today at 2pm. As part of the ‘African Odysseys‘ programme run this month, BFI Southbank are playing back-to-back two pieces of essential viewing about reggae and soundsystem culture. You’ve even got one of the director’s in attendance, all for £6.50 a ticket: http://bit.ly/1myVuqq Released last year, I Am The Gorgon:…
June 13, 2014Regrettable to be reporting on the recent passing of Count Suckle, an originator of UK sound system culture, credited with introducing ska to Britain, and perhaps even more importantly was a foundation for creating social sound in the UK. It was 1954 when he stowed away on a boat from Jamaica, accompanied with the late-great Duke Vin aka The Tickler,…
June 2, 2014It was soon after she was announced as the first female artist on the Stones Throw roster that I encountered Georgia Anne Muldrow. Given a day to absorb the album before interviewing over the phone, I still remember clearly how much those early few listens of her music moved me. Calling friends, playing it to them down the phone, it…
May 22, 2014Whether or not you’ve clocked the youtube videos of the dance phenomenon known as passinho or are yet to be initiated, here’s a documentary definitely worth checking when it rolls in to town. I know we’ve said this a million times, but the mark of a really good documentary is when you’re incredibly invested from start to finish without any…
May 7, 2014One of the top sports documentaries I’ve seen in time, finally got around to clocking this brilliant feature-length from Bobbito Garcia and French cinematographer Kevin Couliau. Doin’ It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, New York City – to use it’s full-name – is narrated by Bobbito, his uniquely friendly Puerto Rican street-accent, breaking down his co-production as it evolves deeper…
April 27, 2014Here’s a story worth telling. Just as incredible as the music that Sahel Sounds releases as a label are some of the journeys that emerge when bringing them to us. And here’s an opportunity to help spread the message even wider. Back in 2009 Christopher Kirkley started posting field-recordings and popular traditional and contemporary music from the Sahel region of Africa,…