Author Archives: graemelawrence

A First visit to the 80’s. A difficult choice of films had to be made: A Short Film About Killing. Akira. Beetlejuice. The Last Temptation of Christ. Bloodsport. And even more difficult choice of albums has been whittled down to the final five: Green – REM. Surfer Rosa – Pixies. Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman.Continue reading “Week 9: 1988.”

January: The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being The first Carrefour opens in Annecy, France Bobby Fischer wins the United States Chess Championship aged 14 Battle of Hayes Pond: armed Lumbee Native Americans confront a gathering of Ku Klux Klan members in Maxton, North Carolina Godtfred Kirk Christensen files a patent for the plasticContinue reading “The News of 1958.”

The Atomic Mr. Basie. Probably the grandest sounding jazz record I’ve listened to, Count Basie and his orchestra produce brilliantly composed ordered chaos that conjures images of guys and dames swing dancing in a crowded ballroom. Champagne is flowing for the privileged guests of the function, while the segregated members of the band smoke andContinue reading “The Sound of 1958.”

The Seventh Seal. The 14th Century. Knight Antonius Block, and his squire Jöns, return to Sweden following the Crusades to find that the Black Plague has devastated the land. Antonius awakes on the shore to discover that Death is before him. Antonius strikes a deal with Death. They are to play a game of chess;Continue reading “The Cinema of 1958.”

The earliest year so far this week, 1958. Expect plenty of black and white films as we travel to a simpler time: Wild Strawberries. The Seventh Seal. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Touch of Evil. Vertigo. And a fair share from the genre that defined the 50s, jazz: Blue Train – John Coltrane. MilestonesContinue reading “Week 8: 1958.”

January: UK assumes presidency of G8 February: American scientists use a 3D printer to create a living lab-grown ear from collagen and animal ear cell cultures, it is hoped that in the future a similar technique can be used for transplantation on human patients Benedict XVI resigns as pope, the first to do so sinceContinue reading “The News of 2013.”

Philomena. Martin Sixsmith is an Oxford educated former Labour Party spin doctor who is slightly depressed having been sacked in typical political scapegoat fashion. Seeking a new job and having, wisely, decided against writing a book on Russian history, Martin returns to journalism when he is told of a potential human interest story in Philomena,Continue reading “The Cinema of 2013.”

Tomorrow’s Harvest. Fifteen years and two albums after their debut, Music Has the Right to Children, Boards of Canada return with their fourth record, Tomorrow’s Harvest. The difference between these two albums is stark; while MHTRTC is nostalgic and feel good, Tomorrow’s Harvest is the soundtrack to a dark dystopian future where the British proletariatContinue reading “The Sound of 2013.”

Welcome to the 21st century. Finally. An opportunity for some recent artistic culture. This was also the year that I started university, so I was only partially conscious to what was happening in the world. The films this week are: A Field in England. Snowpiercer. Blue is the Warmest Colour. Philomena. Frances Ha. The albums:Continue reading “Week 7: 2013.”

January: Terry Venables announces he will resign as England manager after UEFA Euro 96 France undertakes it’s last nuclear weapons test February: An IRA ceasefire ends with the Docklands bombing in London’s Canary Wharf District, killing two and causing £85 million worth of damage First two train operating companies, South West Trains and Great WesternContinue reading “The News of 1996.”