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Droppin’ Knowledge: In Chi-Town, Rashid Hadee Is On The Beat. And The Mic, Too.
In hip hop, a sample can sometimes lead you on an unexpected journey. Rashid Hadee’s first box of vinyl records came from his uncle. The Chicago rapper and producer discovered the box in a closet, and decided to listen to the LPs, one by one, and create beats from what he found. Hadee’s uncle was …
To The Outside Of Everything : Various Artists Post Punk Compilation
Compiled by the team behind other Cherry Red box sets (Scared To Get Happy, Still In A Dream, Millions Like Us, Action Time Vision, etc.), this 5 CD box set titled from Shot By Both sides the classic Magazine song explores the roots of Post Punk and the labels behind it. For most true Punk …
Film Festival Preview: Celluloid Screams 2017
Celluloid Screams has cemented itself as a major player in the UK horror calendar. Renowned for its strong selection of independent and worldwide horror films, it’s strength lays within the diversity and breadth of features and shorts on offer. This year, the festival organisers have outdone themselves. Not only have they secured their strongest line-up …
Blu-Ray Review: The Mourning Forest (Masters of Cinema)
The Japanese have a unique relationship with spirituality, death and nature. In a society grounded in ritual and traditions, a mortal’s passing to the other side is shrouded is mysticism and lore. Even in Aokigahara, also known as Suicide Forest, there’s an oddly regimented and ceremonial way of ending your life. In The Mourning Forest, …
Blu-Ray Review: Pulse
For a period around the turn of the last century, Japan dominated the market when it came to the art of fear. This fertile patch produced some of the most iconic and terrifying works of horror cinema. Ringu, Audition, Ju-on: The Grudge and Dark Water set the tone for modern movies. A generation of new …
Sheffield Doc/Fest Review: The Departure
Whilst there’s still a distinct gender imbalance in cinema, particularly behind the camera in big budget movies, things are slightly more balanced in documentary film-making. Indeed, the likes of Laura Poitras, Louise Osmond, Barbara Kopple and Amy Berg are amongst the best in the industry. Lana Wilson is a rapidly rising star. Her (co) directorial …
Film Review: Tokyo Tribe
Shion Sono is not what you’d call an unadventurous director. Suicide Club, Noriko’s Dinner Table and Strange Circus built him a cult following with horror aficionados. He then stunned the world with Love Exposure, a film which is as mind-boggling as it is long. He’s one of the most innovative Japanese film makers and, coming …
DVD Review: Greatful Dead
Japanese cinema has brought us many mentally unhinged protagonists over the last few decades. Whilst Nao Ômori became iconic as Ichi The Killer, and director Takashi Miike has continued to be fascinated by sociopaths and psychopaths, it’s often female characters who have a longer-lasting effect. Leading ladies and female killers have been a prevalent since …