I found this movie to be a puzzle. Pieces of Brian Wilson’s life are flying back and forth, in a frantic sequence of events. Lapidary dialogue scenes and expanded musical parts alternate abruptly. And so it was Brian’s phrenetic existence till then, as the movie reveals. Despite his musical brilliance, he is torn apart by Read More …
The Bearpit Brothers offered me the honour to listen in advance the songs of their new EP. Their last EP I’ve listened was whimsically presented on OldiesMusicBlog. 🙂 The Bearpit Brothers have moved on a few years since the first EP – now we are in the early 1960s. Probably a tiny bit more pop Read More …
Flowers in the hair, hippies running naked, VW buses and hash brownies… are all to be found in this Ang Lee movie, reminiscent of the ’69 summer of love. “Perspective shuts out the universe, it keeps the love out”, as one the characters states. The film presents two stories that mingle on the way: Elliot’s Read More …
“Call the Midwife” is a British drama series that revives the family life of 1950’s East End London. Children’s laughter, mothers’ gossip, lovers’ whispers and the smooth sound of vinyls are all to be found in this enchanting series. The urban wounds of the war are slowly but surely replaced with the colourful times of swing Read More …
I thank Bill Medley after finishing the last page of his memoir. For letting me gain a little more self-confidence, ambition and determination. For sharing his lifelong experience with simplicity and sincerity. For being genuinely kind by writing in his preface:“Thanks for investing a piece of your life in learning about mine”. No, I thank Read More …
Their name is whimsical. Their music is whimsical. Even their EP cover is whimsical. Whimsically enough, their EP is mastered at Abbey Road for superb fidelity by Steve Rooke. So meet The Bearpit Brothers and their new 4-track EP – timeless and magic-full! The Bearpit Brothers are influenced by 50′s and 60′s sounds, such as Read More …
“People started realizing that if you can play the guitar and sing your ass off, you could be better than Superman. And that was a strong feeling for a black man in the ’50s”. “Cadillac Records” (2008) explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential Read More …
On a cloudy Sunday, a gorgeously graceful documentary is the greatest gift one could get. Bitter-sweet and highly emotional, „Standing in the Shadows of Motown” presents the one and only Funk Brothers, the unrecognized and uncredited musical backbone who played on Motown‘s recordings from 1959 up to 1972 that had far more number 1 hits Read More …
1966. New York, ordinary night, ordinary pub. Everybody does the Hanky Panky. 2013. Bucharest, ordinary night, ordinary pub. Suddenly, “Hanky Panky” fills up the room. Less than two hours later, in another ordinary hipster club, “Mony Mony” vividly starts and takes me by surprise. I smiled to the DJ and said to my friends: “This Read More …
I was familiar with Mauri Kunnas’ work long before. Kunnas is, in fact, the bestselling Finnish author and illustrator. Coincidentally, I worked for the publishing house that locally promoted his children’s books. His skilful art, his fabulous sense of humour and delightful stories turned him quickly into one of my favourite authors. Thanks to Otava Read More …
