Reviews

The Essential Clash

The Clash imploded just as promo videos became the norm, which is a shame, as their "Rock The Casbah" short, shot on an oil derrick, is more timely than ever in the wake of the current Iraq conflict. But the really great thing about this collection is the numerous incandescent live performances culled from throughout their meteoric career.

The Duellists

After an almost imperceptible slight to his honour, gruff Napoleonic soldier Harvey Keitel challenges effete cavalryman Keith Carradine to a duel. The duel is fought, the outcome is inconclusive, and thus begins 16 long years of sporadic but all-consuming bouts between these two barely acquainted foes. An ambitious 1977 Cannes Award-winning debut from Ridley Scott, The Duellists is visually sumptuous, and is nicely underplayed by both Keitel and the endearingly camp Carradine. Yet it's a film defined by the brevity of its source material, a 'short' short story by Joseph Conrad.

Spirit – Blues From The Soul

Archive trawlers find more unreleased examples of Randy California's muse

Chungking – We Travel Fast

Nu-soul, UK style

Loop Guru

Dazzling third solo album on border of post-rock and electronica from ex-Fridge magnate Kieran Hebden

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind – BMG

No self-disrespecting finger-snapping swinger should be without the music to Clooney's clever directorial debut. Suave as the fella himself, it kicks off with a song written by the movie's hero, Chuck Barris—or at least he claims he wrote it. Of course, he claims a lot of things. His shining pop moment, "Palisades Park" by Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon, is as kitsch as the night is long.

Speech – Spiritual People

Early-'90s flavour-of-year follows up multi-million-selling solo debut

Ice Cube

First four albums by "crazy motherfucker" turned film star remastered and reissued

Jo Ann Kelly – Black Rat Swing

Career overview of Britain's most famous white female blues singer (1944-1990)

Various – All Tomorrow’s Parties 3.0

Annual indie works outing annexed by electronica massive
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