Catching up...
Recently I have watched 'London' and 'Robinson In Space', two movies by Patrick Keiller. 'London' is unlike any other film I've seen. There are no actors, nothing much in the way of plot, and the only voice heard is that of the narrator Paul Scofield. The film is a philosophical exploration of the nature of life in this city, and of why London fails its citizens. Visually, it is more like walking through an art gallery than a conventional film; most scenes are single shots held for several minutes each. I fell asleep in the middle but rewound the video when I woke up and watched the remainder. I liked it.

'Robinson In Space' was architect and film-maker Patrick Keiller's second feature and is once again a semi-documentary odyssey concerning the un-named narrator and his friend Robinson. The pair have been commissioned to undertake a series of journeys to investigate 'the problem of England' starting in Reading and ending in Newcastle. The tone and style is a continuation of Keiller's previous film 'London' (with echoes of Daniel Defoe and Nicholas Pevsner). Like the first film the content is never less than totally absorbing and with a very dry, sharp sense of wit and a similar general absence of human activity and camera movement. As a film it is almost hypnotic, its detatched and at times desolate imagery lingering on the screen like unturned pages. I fell asleep in the middle but rewound the video when I woke up and watched the remainder. I liked it.

Can't stop playing 'Statues' by Moloko. I love it. I'd tell you my favorite song, but I honestly can't choose. Oh that voice! Those strings! The disco-ness of it all!
*drifts off dreamin'....Roisin and me dancing to '100%' at Studio 54 in '78 while Andy takes polaroids*

Fast catching 'Statues' up is 'So Much For The City' by The Thrills. Think The Byrds, Mercury Rev, The Beach Boys, think of big open spaces in Wyoming, hairy assed cowboys, grits and pancakes, romantic drives on never ending Texas roads, sex in the back of a pick-up, good-will shopping, Budweiser for breakfast and a thousand other redneck/Grandaddy/Lambchop cliches.
But the best bit is The Thrills are from Dublin.

Went for a long walk yesterday. More about that once my stumps have healed.