Chick Habit April March

A Tarantino soundtrack is always a great thing to have even if you don't like his movies, they throw up some unknown gems - this is one of the flagship songs off his movie Deathproof - it's on the movie in French and English language versions. Originally a song written by my songwriting hero Serge Gainsbourg. This version has been put to sequences from Russ Meyer's 'Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill!' which was obviously part of the inspiration behind this amazing high octane car movie. A cool idea. Other songs off the soundtrack to come...apparently for one scene they put QT's own jukebox on set and pressed random. Love it. Below is the original 1965 France Gall version from 1965 Laisse Tomber Les Filles Am I not good to you?

Laisse Tomber Les Filles

Deathproof 'Down In Mexico'

Kids went to see a special screening of this movie - the latest from Quentin Tarantino - had a Q&A session with the man himself - this sequence has the Coasters' 'Down In Mexico' (see below) in the background so you HAVE to watch it.

Battle of Eylau - le Colonel Chabert

This battle fought in the early months of 1807 as depicted in the Gerard Depardieu movie 'Le Colonel Chabert'. Not an action movie it has this one sequence shot in Poland and is part of a flashback sequence.
This is a reasonable depiction of a charge by French cuirassiers, obviously influenced by Bondarchuk though not really historically accurate in terms of tactics; rarely would heavy cavalry go into race horse mode on the battlefield but instead moved around in dense formations in a much slower, though less spectacular fashion. See a US based cuirassier reenactor regiment here. Dutch one here. Looks frighteningly expensive.
I supose bicentennial wise things are a bit quiet now in the Napoleonic wars - next significant event I suppose is the invasion of Spain in 1808.
le Colonel Chabert

Lizard

We took this picture of a common viviparous lizard the other day as it basked on our patio. We love them and are always thrilled when we see one. We didn't handle this one for fear of it losing its tail tip but we thought we'd snap it instead.
We are always careful when gardening as we have lots of slow worms, toads and such - we never use strimmers or lawn mowers or any chemicals for fear killing our wildlife.
Avon Reptile and Amphibian Group Report

Napoleonic reenacting

Borodino Photos from last weekend here
Quite a few people come onto this page looking for information on this subject and I guess that they are maybe people who have watched Sharpe and thought 'I could do that - that looks fun' - but the trouble is - I personally can't find any decent redcoat groups out there in the UK - all the ones I see are about 6 muskets and about 9 officers and supernumeraries. With the exception of the 68th Durham Light Infantry I think they are all pretty poor. The King's Hussars are great if you like horses. You get the impression that the best days of this period have gone by in this country - presumably it was at its height when Sharpe was on ITV in the 90s. But I am a French sympathiser and I would if I was to do it again join a French group, possibly the 9eme Legere they have 60 plus members. However it IS a great hobby - especially the big continental events - they are always a great time to meet new friends from places like Eastern Europe or even further afield than that. Read an English language report on Rivoli, Italy to see what sort of thing to expect.

Recently was the annual reenactment of the Battle of Borodino from Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia. It looks great - see more pictures here - below is a collection of images from 2005. Wonderful. Why can't we do it like this in the UK?

The Coasters 50 Coastin' classics

One of the big problems with a band like the Coasters is you tend to hear the 15 or so big hits a lot, to the point where they lose their appeal but the more obscurer tracks which are generally more interesting are hard to get hold of. This compilation of 50 sides is not cheap and you will no doubt have Down In Mexico et al so you are probably going to pay a fair bit of money for the the ones you don't have, but to have a song by Will 'Dub' Jones that you haven't played to death may well be worth it. The above page on Amazon gives you a break down of what you will get and you can hear samples to see what is what. I had not heard 'the Slime' (on disc 2) before but you can bet I have been playing it about 10 times a day since I got it. It seems unnecessary to charge so much for something so old - maybe you can download individual tracks somewhere - (I don't know anything about legal downloading). If that's the case get Besame Mucho if you've not heard that - it's part of a run of classic covers the Coasters did alongside Zing! Went the Strings and Brazil. Basically all the Coasters songs are pure brilliance - songwriting, session musicians, vocals are all the best in music at the time and what you are hearing is the best you are ever going to hear - you'll never hear sax better than King Curtis, or hear better lines than those written by Leiber and Stoller and so on. Maybe some of the subject matter may seem a bit like stereotyping black people but it's no different than what people like 50 cent does now - criminal behaviour is popular with the public unless it involves them! So until someone uploads that clip of the Coasters singing What is the Secret of Your Success? we won't have any clips to watch but until then - drive your family nuts and buy this compilation and play it to death. It's pure herringbone.
All music guideThe Coasters

A pitchfork murder

If you find murder mysteries about the English countryside fascinating you might enjoy reading this BBC article on a tale of real life rural crime in Lower Quinton in 1945 - a bit like Midsomer Murders or the Wicker Man. Creepy.

Waterloo Crop Circles

Interesting? On the16th June too - two days before the anniversary.

http://www.cropcirclewaterloo.be/

Mongol - the movie (2007)

Another trailer from a new Russian epic - out this month - this time about the great Genghis Khan - 2nd trailer here. Official site here. Imdb facts. Directed by Sergei Bodrov this looks likely to be a hit.

Bubble cars

In celebration of the new Bad Detectives song 'Bubble Car' (see below) I thought I'd link to the Wiki on these slices of 'Luftwaffe technology' - I rode in one once around Frome - pretty scary but exhilarating - wouldn't it be great if everyone drove them? Pictured is a Messerschmitt. I want one. There's a 1963 Heinkel Trojan on ebay for about 3,000 pounds - anyone want to buy me one?

There's a bubble car museum - maybe the BDs ought to send them their cd.

I suppose the American equivalent might be the Davis three wheeler - that's a pretty whacky vehicle... lovely cartoon here. Wiki on Micro cars

Bad Detectives 'B Movie Beat'

This is the second album from this West Country rock and roll band and it is, quite simply a cracker. My first thoughts were how appropriate it was that they were named after a Coasters song because all the BDs songs are like the classic Leiber and Stoller songs in that they are like little movies - three minutes long but full of humour and insights into the diverse interests of the groups' songwriters. First up is 'B-Movie Scientist' which explores the world of the cinematic boffin so beloved of the 50s flicks that obviously form part of the bands collective psyche. Next up is the delightfully catchy tune 'Bubble Car' which celebrates the funny little two seater cars that were a craze in the 60s. Following this is the pounding rock and roll of 'I'm In Love with the Mole Man's Girl' which is a beautifully crafted short story of being chased through caverns by moley henchmen for stealing a kiss from the pale female of the title. Another slice of pop craziness is 'Who Cut Your Hair' with all the humour of real life put into a rocking rhythm. 'Sacred and Profane' explores the link between the Devil's music and the Church which was so common in the golden age of American music, whereas 'Surf the Skies' tells the story of an outwardly boring man astrally flying in his sleep with references to silver umbilical chords and so on.
The subject matter of these witty songs are so varied as to defy categorisation - Ralph the Diving Pig is about a sideshow attraction so beloved in the US, whereas 'Doubleneck Guitar' tells the story of someone given one of those hefty behemoths by his girlfriend and the embarassment that followed it. Not sure whether these songs are autobiographical - has anyone in the band got a girlfriend who has a degree in ancient history and is obsessed by burial mounds? (Hubba Hubba) or has one of them ever owned a 59 Ford Popular? ('59 pop) - probably not, but the songs tell their stories well with cult references and a wink and a nod to those who share their trash culture obsessions. The lyrics are all printed in the accompanying booklet so you can appreciate their unique songwriting skills - the music goes from rockabilly, surf, country and pop with pedal steel and harp seasoning the sound which goes from Canvey to Kentucky in its range. So to conclude - a great album with well written songs destined to raise a smile among the discerning rock and roll fan as well as setting their toes a-tapping.

Animals and Men 'No Faces' live in our living room

Well this is about as DIY as it gets I reckon. What happened was we were supposed to be playing on our front patio as part of a day of family fun - sort of a block party for us load of hicks but it being England of course it rained. So not to spoil the kit we decided to play in our house - this was great for us - nobody could see anyone apart from Susan who stood in the doorway - the sound for us was spot on too though outside it probably sounded terrible. People danced in the drizzle and we shot it all for your delectation and delight. This one is an oldie from about 1980, 'No Faces' lyrics here. You may be the first to watch it. If you think our hovel is dark and gloomy that's actually how we like it.

Guitar Wolf 'Sex Napoleon' live

I think I first encountered legendary Japanese rockers Guitar Wolf on Adam and Joe Go Tokyo - a programme that showed some of the best new wave talent from the land of the rising blah blah. How would you describe their sound? Link Wray after being tortured? They have a great movie 'Wild Zero' which is worth watching. Bea loves them and Susan pointed out they were a bit like an even more manic Hives, but of course they've been around since 1987 but it's a good point.
Guitar Wolf

Bombardment of Copenhagen

This week in 1807 was an important and dark time in the history of Denmark - the bombardment of Copenhagen - by the British -there's all sorts of events and reenactments on - this week - looks great - site is in English too.
Picture archive

Hilly Kristal

If one was looking for a physical birthplace of punk it would be inarguably CBGB's, the club in the Bowery that for so many years was the catalyst for a music scene that swept the world. Its owner sadly passing on the same year as his club goes into mythology seems strangely fitting. Here's the Ramones at CBGB's in 1977 - did I tell you Yo La Tengo played one of our songs Evil Going On at CBGB's? Oh I did... sorry

Happenings ten years ago

So where were you when you heard the news of Diana's demise? It's like she's become this nation's JFK so I thought I would ask. I was running a French and Indian war event at Chatsworth House as part of their Country Fayre - it's on this weekend if you are looking for something fun - it's what US reenactor's call a Dog and Pony show - mass bands, dog agility, horse jumping all in an arena, surrounded by the panoply of country sideshows, hot air balloons, hurdle-making etc. Anyway the Sunday morning we got the news but the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire who were close relatives still rightly decided the show must go on after a minute's silence. Arena displays are a bit of a nightmare for reenactors - no period atmosphere, no bushes or trees to run around - with even large numbers of 'troops' it can still look and feel really naff and I had been worried about it for weeks. So on we marched, our banners draped with black ribbons and the commanders wearing black armbands. Then, from out of nowhere the sky became as black as night - we all looked nervously at each other - what's going on? Then a bolt of lighning and a deluge and when I say deluge it was the most heavy downpour I have ever experienced - soon the muzzle flashes from the muskets which had been for a while illuminating the gloom like fireworks ceased due to the wet and we had to concede defeat and march off through what was by then ankle deep water in the arena. Within minutes people at the Fayre including my son were literally swimming in lakes two feet deep - it was phenomenal.
That night as the last of the punters' cars had been dragged through the mud Stewart, our French commander played host in his marquee to a drinking session and we digested the days events. I remember glancing down to a corner of his tent where there was a copy of the previous day's Sun newspaper, hitherto hidden away from the public. On the front page it had candid photos of Dodi Fayed and Diana on Jetskis with a pretty hostile text about her relationship, with, if I remember, implications that she was being disgraceful - she was going to be hounded about this affair there was no doubt. Strange how the media's tone changed in such a short time after the crash. I remember feeling strangely sad about the whole affair - unusual as I'm not a monarchist or tabloid reader, Diana fan or anything but it just seemed so typical for someone to be crushed by the media and then used to sell even more bloody papers after the dirty deed - it seemed so hypocritical and wrong. Oversentimental? Maybe - cars crash and people die in those accidents every day and it doesn't make the news unless it's someone famous - if you want a conspiracy that could be it - hiding the death toll on our roads - killing more than handguns by a long way. Drive safely gentle readers - and I mean that sincerely.

Black Pearl Black Pearl don't lie to me

12 year old boy rumbles attempt to pass off a touring ship originally created for 1960s Mutiny on the Bounty as the PotC ship Black Pearl. Well done!

H G Wells' Things to Come (1936)

This British science fiction film from '36 was on the telly this weekend and though I'd seen it before, this time I was deeply impressed by it and recommend you watch it. It's public domain in the US which is why it's on Google in its entirety. It starts in 1940 when war breaks out with a terrible air bombardment (pretty spot on) but the war drags on into barbarism with warlord Ralph Richardson fighting the Hill people by 1960. Soon a technologically advanced group 'Wings over the World' restore peace with the help of some great futuristic airships and clothing. Looks like the inspiration behind many later futuristic sci-fi organisations like Spectrum. Fast Forward to 2046 and everyone is living in underground cities. Fascinating and visually stunning this is worth the time spent watching it - why not watch it in chunks. If I was a US resident and in a band I'd project this onto a screen as its public domain - make a great backdrop. This is the best bargain you will get today unless you're a really lucky person...
Things to Come

'Nother Animals and Men song

We've uploaded a fifth new song onto our myspace...check it out - it's called Sugartown (You're dragging me down). We're doing a gig on sunday on our patio for our neighbours and friends. Hope it goes alright otherwise we'll have to move.

Sovereign's Servant Battle of Poltava Part 3

Maybe I was a little too quick to celebrate this film - call it the 'Last of the Mohicans/Sharpe' effect - people who know little about the period (like me) are going to love it but if you have a deep knowledge of the history, tactics, clothing you are not going to like it. This clip starts off the with the type of hand to hand fighting that only happens in movie battles. Though I do like the overall look of this movie I am probably being patronising, liking it because its not Hollywood but it probably is more Patriot than Barry Lyndon. Anyway soon I will have a copy to watch though it's not available in the West as a subtitled version I shall have to guess what they're saying. Check out the battle scene anyway. Parts 1 and 2 are also up.

Strobe Lighting

What's that all about? Maybe I'm getting old but strobe lighting at gigs - who wants it? I really find it annoying - am I the only one? Its supposed to induce a trance-like state presumably but I say if I want to have a trance like state I will get into one but not at the whim of some mental lighting engineer. I usually get a headache.

Gene Vincent & the Shouts 'You are my sunshine'

This is a great rocking though tender version of the old song - give it a listen and see if you like it - I'm a real GV fan and I wish I could have seen him live, but I was a little too young. Of course Gene was big in Britain and France long after his popularity had wained in the US and he was on Peely's Dandelion label. I like the stuff he recorded in the 60s more than I like the classic rockabilly sides - I know that's possibly sacreligious but the Challenge sessions are great with Ain't that too much being one of my alltime favourite Vincent songs. He was an icon to rockers in Britain in the 60s with his black leather but there was a fragile beauty to his singing that was coming out in these later recordings.

Ralphadeus

Well as this page is approaching 10,000 hits I thought it might be a good time to talk about the blog and give some kind of insight into the things I write about. At the moment I get about 20 hits a day - half of them could be categorised as friends and family and the other half is through search engine queries that draw people onto the site. I know most regular visitors aren't that interested in some of the things I write about but they tend to be the things that draw people in from afar, so to speak.
Do I wargame, reenact or make models? Not these days but I feel qualified to write about these things and writing about them seems a reasonable contribution to the subject. If I can attract people with the opening sentences that occur on search pages the hopefully their curiosity will be aroused to look and look further. For this reason I try to group subjects so if someone is looking for something the other items are linked in some way. I don't promote the site really - I get less hits than say this time last year but I am not too bothered after all if I wanted loads of hits I could write about Big Brother or celebrities' sex lives or even Sharpe but then where's the challenge in that? I feel quite pleased when I write about something and it is about the only non commercial piece on it on the internet in the English language - then I feel pretty good - so I am naturally after the obscurer items of interest, creating a niche if you like.
Anyway enough rambling. Thank you for reading if you are a regular and if you're an irregular visitor sorry about the stuff that is of no interest - whatever that may be!

New Animals and Men songs

We've uploaded 4 songs onto a new Myspace - 3 new songs and one a redone song from the old days. All the songs are recorded live with no overdubs.

Swedish Reenactment links

I've been browsing the various Swedish groups seeing which ones do the Great Northern War - why? seeing the clip from the Sovereign's Servant (see below) affected me enough to search out more on the 'Karoliner' - the Swedish soldier of the reign of Charles XII. Trouble is I don't speak Swedish and the online translators are a bit clumsy. I mainly mention all this so you can see how my mind works - I see a great epic movie and then I want to reenact it. This has been the way since I was a child and watched films like the Alamo at the Gaumont and then go and refight it afterwards in the cattle market buildings behind. But I digress. It's hard to separate the mythology from fact with regards the Karoliner but certainly legend has them as furiously aggressive on the battlefield in contrast to the norm of the time which was defensive relying on firepower rather than shock.
Check out the Links to see what is going on in Swedens historical scene.
Another battle scene from Sovereign's Servant - prelude to the clip below showing the Karoliners forming up.
Pic from the Swedish Army Museum

Adam and Joe on the radio

Comedy duo A & J are on Radio 6 7am to 10am this week and next. It's pretty good - witty without being cynical and worth listening to. Music's a bit lame but the chat is good like their old tv show which we miss greatly. Listen to it online if you miss it. Adam and Joe fansite

Adverts Live at the Roxy in 1977

I got Sue to look at all the Adverts clips on Youtube and pick the best and she chose this one with them performing two songs 'On the roof' and 'New Day Dawning'. Her reason 'You can see the audience'. It is interesting to note the apparel of the fans - it's quite easy to imagine punks in 77 to look less normal but in those days people didn't often look that weird. Anyway there's quite a few classic moments to choose from - on OGWT doing 'Bored Teenagers' and of course on Totp doing the great Gary Gilmore's Eyes. I didn't know TV Smith and Gaye Advert came from Bideford, Devon, though.

Bad Detectives

My sister came round for a surprise visit on her birthday - havent seen her for yonks - I gave her a copy of the Bad Detectives album (not the new one B Movie Beat, the old one). I forgot to mention that you can download their radio show from Frome FM with loads of their fave songs on it. Shame I don't have a video to show you...when's the promo surfacing chaps?

The Monks

New documentary on the Monks - legendary 60s beat pioneers.
the Monks

Holger Erickson

Whilst in the Great Northern War period I thought I'd mention Swedish figure sculptor 'HE' - he worked in the 50s using mainly wood to create very elegant and semi-flat figures that have a period charm that suits the subject well. Aesthetically pleasing they lack detail but have a feel for the horse that is quite superb. 40mm moulds can be bought from Prince August - or 30mm castings can be acquired from Spencer Smith Miniatures.

Holger Eriksson Collector Society, C/O Lou Sandbote, lou.sandbote@charter.net

Swedish v Russian Great Northern War battle scene

This literally blew me away. What is this? Watch it and tell me that you are not impressed. It's a battle scene from a movie - Poltava by the look of it - very well shot - extremely high budget -
the Swedes are doing the Gå På thing....I need to know more about it!! OK I have found out - it's a movie Слуга государев
http://www.slugagosudarev.com/ - set in 1709 - English title The Sovereign's Servant and it's a tale of two Frenchmen who are sent into the camps of Peter the Great and Charles XII. Imdb says 'Worthy of a look for those interested in battle scenes and historical accuracy'. We're there dude. Prop musket for sale - wonder if there are any more props on the market?
Trailer

White Mountain 1618 photos from 2005

We've had a bit of a Cossacks revival on the pc at our house and enjoying historical battles like Narva (see below) and White Mountain (Bila Hora - outside Prague) which was the opening battle of the 30 Years War which ended in 1648. These photos are amazing - taken by one of the participating units - I had no idea that this period was being so well done in that part of the world. A lot more colourful than our rather dour English Civil War that was a bit later - this reminds me of The Flashing Blade (see earlier posting). Get in touch if you want an online bashing on Cossacks btw.

New Animals and men page

New snazzily 'designed by Bea page'...http://www.animalsandmen.co.uk/

Badgers and the British in Basra

This story in this month's Fortean Times raised our interest - badgers have been attacking cattle and people in the Basra region causing the rumour mill to reckon the British army have been introducing them to destabilise the population. "Of course we categorically deny that we have released badgers into Basra," said Maj. Mike Shearer. Apprently they have been returning to the region but conflict with humans is rare. I could tell you many stories about badgers attacking humans - read about the conspiracy of badgers here.

Gå På!

Narva - the siege of the Great Northern War was reenacted by Russian and Swedish reenactors at the weekend. Period formations were enacted as well as an exciting battle. And they had strongbow in the castle bar! In case you're wondering Ga Pa means 'fall on' and was part of the Swedish attack with musket in one hand and sword in the other. I think it's about time some UK reenactors got into the GNW - Poltava in 09 I imagine would be an ideal target. Live Journal/Blog for the period here including video footage.

Fulda photos and calendar

'Time travel to the 1700s' is the English translation - Fulda the home of the Hessian history museum is the venue - it's the site of the premier 18thc event in Europe held every year at the Schloss Fasanerie. Here's the photos from last weekend from Kersten Kircher - you may be one of the first to see them. I get invited every year - maybe next year? Buy a calendar here

Austrian Seven Years War reenactors

I must admit I feel a bit guilty in that I have probably been more interested in the goings on in America during the Age of Reason and haven't really got involved with the continental side but as we're in the middle of the 250th anniversary allow me to put some links up of some great Austrian regiments active in the Czech republic. Being English speaking often with the influence of Hollywood it's easier to find the sources more accessible and somehow more alluring.

IR Salm-Salm and Regiment Wied are the two groups pictured and they look great so get in touch if you are thinking of getting into recreating the SYW. If we ever move to central Europe as I sometimes fantasise doing I will organise a Hungarian unit. The Grenzers below impressed me but I would want to get away from talking to old ladies about how to fire a musket and get skirmishing out in the woods. See also Czech French and Indian war reenactors

Elvis Crawfish

This has to be my all time favourite Elvis moment - a brilliant Leiber and Stoller song beautifully delivered with a minimal backing - over shots of New Orleans - what more do you need to celebrate the life of the man taken from us 30 years ago. I'd love to cover this song but I would be in the worrying space of whether to anglicise it as crayfish thus losing the Elvisian syllable 'aw'. I actually feel a fair bit of guilt towards Crayfish - I used to hunt them down Vallis Vale and now everytime I go there I find none so I feel somewhat responsible. I also feel guilt over the Great Crested newt population of Broadway pond and the stone loach and gudgeon life at Feltham pond. But we didn't have game systems or the internet in those days - catching some rare pond life was about as good as it got for a ten year old in Frome.

Bad Detectives new album out

More rock and roll, surf and humour from unstoppable Frome trash culture recyclers the Bad Detectives on Western Star records. Also available to download. They have one of the new tracks The Weymouth Flyer on their myspace Weymouth being a seaside destination reachable by train from Frome.

animals and men at the lyrics project

we've been filling in some of our lyrics on this - does that make us sad?

Duke of Earl Gene Chandler

We were watching Hairspray (the original not the unnecessary remake) and it's amazing how many records of that era were based on a cha cha beat. See Sha Na Na do it

Velimir Vuksic - illustrator

I thought before leaving the era of border warfare in the Seven Years War it might be useful to see if there's anyone who is the eastern European version of Gerry Embleton (see below) - someone capturing the fringes of partisan warfare but in the European theatre. This artist has certainly done some great studies of Croats and their enemies - check out his page for some great artwork. This figure shows what was the Prussian response to the Grenzers (see below) with the Hussar Mirliton being the main addition to the Hungarian style of the rest of the uniform. If you are wondering what was the British equivalent to the Pandour or Croat it was the Highlander - they maintained elements of their national dress, were hardy uplanders and were capable of fierce hand to hand fighting when necessary. Petite Guerre was dirty work and being outside the national 'image' also helped them accomplish what was essentially guerrilla warfare.

Grenzers!

Grenzinfanterie Reg. Karlstädter-Szluiner (Kroatische Grenzinfanterie) I am very impressed by this Czech group recreating the famous border infantry of the
Austrian Empire in the Age of Reason. These ferocious petite guerre experts were the envy of all Europe and it does my heart good to see them recreated so well. Members of the Dreispitz group - see photos of Kolin and other Seven Years War 250th events there. It makes me want to get involved in the anniversary events coming up - anyone out there want to do Austrian infantry?

Cast your own legion

Excellent idea - well done Prince August - click on the link to watch the youtube video on how to cast your own 28mm Roman legion in white metal from moulds. They have a blog too! Something for the winter maybe?

'Danger: Diabolik' (1968) trailer

Out now on remastered DVD this Italian comic based movie is worth getting if you are a fan of 60s kitsch like Barbarella. Watch the trailer to see what I mean.

Sad death of Tony Wilson

Plastic Underground

This is an interesting venture - someone producing 1/32 historical plastic figures as a cottage industry doing them on demand. This enables a niche period to be covered that wouldn't normally be done for commercial reasons. As an unfulfilled sculptor I am impressed by his work in particular the '45 Jacobite Rebellion figs and his Spartans. I have long fancied producing plastic figs in this scale - it's great to see someone actually doing it.

Kelmarsh History Festival

A World War One trench system and aerial dogfight are among the highlights of this event.

Narva Festival

This weekend in Estonia there is the excellent Narva festival which has all manner of activities relating to the siege during the Great Northern War. This is one of the world's premier 18th century events, with reenactors coming from all over the Baltic. I wish I could go, but which side would I be on? Certainly there were Scottish mercenaries fighting for both the Swedes and Russians so maybe I would offer my services to the highest bidder. Reenactors here. Until then I'll have to content myself with playing Cossacks the Art of War instead..

The Fall 'Reformation Post TLC' video

We haven't had much MES recently and I wouldn't want you thinking I've gone soft or something. Enjoy...that's an order!

Redcoats in the forest

Gerry Embleton is one of the world's premier military uniform and equipment specialists recreating mannequins in stunningly lifelike poses and classic illustrations of troops in situ such as this camp scene. One of his favourite subject is the British redcoat of the Seven Years War and the Revolution in North America and this site brings together much of his work to date, and quite brilliant it is too. Highly recommended. www.redcoatsintheforest.com

Russian Indian Hobbyists

These photos are amazing - these people are obviously very dedicated to their hobby I salute their high standards. It's interesting to note how similar the flora and fauna of Northern Europe is to North America so it all looks very appropriate.
www.memorandum.ru/Photos/PW2007/Life/ www.memorandum.ru/Photos/PW2007/Image/ www.memorandum.ru/Photos/PW2007/Item/
www.memorandum.ru/Photos/PW2007/Dance/
www.memorandum.ru/Photos/PW2007/Portret/

Hey! Elastica 'Eat Your Heart Out'

Can't find out much on the web about this band but finding this clip has been something of a pleasant surprise. They are from the early-mid 80s and I think they were Scottish possibly from Glasgow. Sounds pretty dated now though. I think this clip is from the Oxford Roadshow. They didn't really hit the big time but we liked them and bought their records and I've occassionally looked for this clip unsuccessfully so whoever taped it deserves a medal. What I want now is to see Danny and the Nogoodniks when they were on telly -and also the Cortinas when they were on Points West doing 'Television Families' The singer Jeremy Valentine was interviewed after playing 'We also do a song called Fascist dictator; it's a love song', if my memory serves me correctly.

Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster

Susan and daughter Bea went to the Thekla to see this Brighton band last night. They loved it and thought they were better than ever. Susan shot this footage...how cool is that? Have a look and check out their raw energy.

Austerlitz in 1/72

If you're a Napoleon fan (and I think you know by now that I am) you aren't so interested in the battle of Waterloo which is obviously the low point of his reign but your interests lie in the earlier more successful part of his career. Trouble is the uniforms are quite different, and most figures for the period deal with Waterloo. Recently several companies have started producing models for the Austerlitz period and this latest set from Italeri is a welcome edition to help the junior general refight the great battles of the beginning of the Napoleonic wars. Hat industries have done wonders for this era recently producing one of their best sets of Napoleonic 1805 soldiers in greatcoats. Also they have been producing the not so glamorous Russians in their 1805 uniform.
Looking at the new Italeri set at Soldatini Online I think they've sculpted the bicorns too big but what the hell the poses are excellent. I might this winter start a project that's been in the back of my mind since I was about 12, that is recreating the armies of Austerlitz and the other great battles in this time in the history of warfare.

Thinking further the 1798-1805 period has lots going for it in terms of style - the attrition of the Napoleonic wars later on caused for a more practical look to be worn by the armies as they trudged through the mud of Europe. This era was the last time military fashions followed the civilian fashions in terms of things like hat and cut of the coat - an elegant swallow tailed look. Anyway Austerlitz is depicted in War and Peace and it being a battle of three (count 'em) Emperors it sort of defines the age nicely. Besides the British weren't in the battle and I find British Napoleonics a bit of a bore. Having said that the campaigns in the West Indies in the 1790s have always been something that has interested me - basically the armies there mostly died of yellow fever but that's warfare. So the snows of Austerlitz or the slave armies and forlorn disease ridden European troops fighting in Santo Domingo - I'll probably not do any of it but you never know...

PSR French Infantry

Chuck Berry 'Promised Land'

I also like the Johnnie Allen cajunified version of this great song and you can do an 'air accordion solo' which I might do for the camera sometime soon - but until then you'll have to imagine it. This version is from 65 and shows Chuck's famous leg directions to his band - CB always used local musicians for cheapness and used his right leg to signify stops and changes. The lyrics are sublime; Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin' And the poor boys on the line

Thoughts on Mickey and Sylvia

So are they any good? Well I am still listening to them - it might only be to hear the spicey biting guitar fills and solos by Mickey Baker but where's the harm in that? Maybe that makes me a bit of guitar nerd and for this reason I try not to inflict M&S on other people but I also like the cheesey songs too - they're quite dreamy and full of innocent joys like the one where they talk about a picnic in the park and taking along their portable radio tuned to their favourite rock and roll station. Of course you can't do that in our much vaunted National Parks or fly a kite but I digress. Male/female vocal harmonies seem a bit of a taboo in popular music - does it represent some kind of yuk factor? Anyway if you can get over that then these songs are like 50s Americana in musical form.

Buzzard on the roof

This was a pleasant start to the day - a juvenile Buzzard landed on our roof. We snapped it and filmed it fly off uttering its characteristic mew. They're fairly common 'round here but it still gives us a thrill. We live on the edge of town so our humdrum life is occasionally punctuated by spotting a stoat or roe deer, but it's rare to actually film something. You can hear Susan worrying that this Buzzard was after our fave ferret Napoleon - now that would have been a Youtube moment... Buzzard versus Ferret....

Animals and Men 'Driving Stupid'

Here's us rehearsing at the Handsome Llama the song 'Driving Stupid' which will be part of an ep which we're going to release on vinyl soon. We've got our new member Rachel Macleay on electric violin and bassist Paul Boswell who coincidentally painted the mural behind Geoff.

'Flashing Blades' title sequence

How many of you remember this theme song from this French-dubbed-into-English TV show from 1969? I loved this series and this song in particular - I'd love to do a version of it - have to have Mark E Smith singing it though. What was the series all about? The war between France and Spain in 1630 presumably - it was a great swashbuckler though I don't remember much in the actual show that really matched up to these epic images at the beginning. If you haven't watched the series check out this sequence - when TV was actually good...

Malcolm McLaren 'Deep in Vogue'

The 1989 Waltz Darling album has made a return to the decks chez nous recently - we used to play it a lot back in the late 80s when it came out and we dug it out to see if it was as good as we remembered and it was. It mixes the Bootzilla orchestra with Viennese Waltzes and is a great summery record. This track 'Deep In Vogue' sounds like it was the inspiration for Madonna's awful 'Vogue' - watch this video and see if you prefer Talcy Malcy's take on Vogueing...we do! The album Fans, which mixed rap with Opera, was also a great LP. Check out the wiki on this great British pop alchemist. Sad to see him on the latest ITV reality show the Baron... where 3rd rate celebrities stay in a remote Scottish village in an attempt to get elected 'Baron'. To save you the trouble of watching it apparently McLaren angers the locals, says 'God is a sausage' and gets thumped and leaves...coming soon - can you wait? Watch the embarassing run up to the scene here

Boudicca rides again, and again and again

'Who's that then' asked Geoff as we passed the statue of Boudicca on our last trip to London - so I filled him in. She was a British queen who led an almost successsful rebellion against Rome. Actually this fine art nouveau statue by Thorneycroft was actually cast in Frome so I am always happy to talk about this warrior woman, also partly because I have done a tv programme (Warrior Women) on the subject and I have always considered that it should really be given the epic treatment. Now I discover Mel Gibson is producing a movie Warrior directed by Gavin O'Connor about this lady - the movie already being called 'Braveheart in a bra'. I'm more optimistic - in an interview here the writers seem to have done their research. Out in 2008. Looking further into it I discover there are no less than 4 works in production on this lady - a DreamWorks project called Queen Fury (writer Walon Green), Paramount's Warrior Queen and another called My Country by Martha Little.

Actually Hammer did an awful film in the mid 60s 'The Viking Queen' based on the Iceni leader. Not sure who's playing her in these latest movies? I think she is documented as having red hair.

The Deserter (2003)

As a fan of the Revolutionary War I am a little bit shocked I havent heard of this movie before. It's a silent comedy by Eric Bruno Bergman.
Official site and buy it here
The blurb says
The Deserter, a 75 minute film, is about a British Revolutionary War drummer who accidently deserts from his regiment and is hunted down for execution.Years in the making, Borgman carefully tried to make the battle scenes as realistic as possible. Hundreds of extras were used to create a major engagement of the American Revolution."Although the film is ostensibly a comedy, the battle scenes were shot seriously," said Borgman. Being influenced by Laurel and Hardy and Buster Keaton, Borgman uses the elements of silent comedy to tell his story, using the great music of Rick Benjamin's Paragon Ragtime Orchestra to help the comedy along.The Deserter has the largest battle scenes, on American soil, in a silent comedy, since Buster Keaton's The General!

They fought for their Motherland

More epic Russian cinema from the great Bondarchuk, this time set in 1942.

Shangri-Las 'Out in the Streets'

The greatest girl group of all time. I was going to post my top ten historical films and saw this instead. 'He don't hang around with the gang no more'. Brilliant.

War And Peace (1968)

You may recognise this clip from an 80s beer advert - it was redubbed to have them singing an amusing lyric about wearing a silly hat. Anyway...I got the dvd of this the other day to reeplace my old VHS set and I can honestly say that it is the greatest historical film ever made. It has elements that remind me of silent cinema in particular epic films like Abel Gance's Napoleon. It's so not Hollywood. In a good way. My son just remarked that it doesn't have the 60s 'look' like say Richardson's 'Charge of the Light Brigade' released the same year but instead War and Peace really looks like a historical painting brought to life. With the power of the state providing the 150,000 plus extras this is cinema that will never be done again - never more will epics be made on this scale - with digital effects you can get away with about 100 extras step and repeated to use an old print term. So if you are one of these people with a huge flat screen tv or something similar and you want something to do it justice invest in this dvd - you screen will never see its like again.War and Peace Series of films showing the production being made with the Red Army etc

Tales from Earthsea

A new animation from Studio Ghibli is always worth celebrating. This one looks interesting.

The Utopia Experiment

Susan is fascinated by the weather. She is also interested in the future - whereas I am firmly rooted in the past. There is a sense of necessity in preparing for the future and so this Utopia Experiment by the interesting Dr Dylan Evans is right up her street. 'The utopia experiment is 'an attempt to figure out how life in Britain will be affected by climate change and the end of cheap oil during the next few decades'. The site is well worth a look as it contains an interesting future scenario with a solution that we all live in yurts. I like that idea. Article from the Independent Technology has made life easier not happier

Adam to do London show

ADAM ANT is to play an acoustic set in London to launch the publication of the paperback edition of his autobiography 'Stand & Deliver'. The set will be punctuated by him reading extracts from the book and will take place on September 24th at the Bloomsbury Theatre.

Hot Fuzz almost got filmed in Frome

If you think some of the weirdness is a bit familiar the Wiki on Hot Fuzz states that Simon Pegg commented "We're both from the West Country so it just seemed like it was the perfect and logical thing to drag those kind of ideas and those genres and those clichés back to our beginnings to where we grew up, so you could see high-octane balls-to-the-wall action in Frome". WOW...

Hot Fuzz

I finally got round to watching this cop comedy now out on DVD starring Simon Pegg and a host of new comic talent, including comedy favourites like Steve Coogan Adam Buxton as well as Paddy Considine and Jim Broadbent. Set in the fictitious West Country village of Sandford it's actually filmed in Wells, a place just up the road so that was probably the root of my trepidation - would the jokes about rural people be a bit offensive? But no - it was genuinely funny and pretty accurate - a lot of the accents were well done and the local flavour pretty spot on. The soundtrack is pretty good too. So if you live in the US and you haven't seen this - track it down - its made by the Shaun of the Dead team - and its West Country life to a tee. Apart from the guns perhaps...

The demise of the record shop?

A couple of weeks ago, Fopp the chain of music, books and dvd retailers closed their doors and news recently suggest that HMV is considering buying the brand and about 50 pc of the stores where that compliments their portfolio of stores (source) - which means probably a further nail in the coffin of the concept of a record shop offering a range of music in order to tempt the buyer to take a walk on the musical wild side. What a shame, but downloading has now become by far the easiest way to get music taking about an hour to find any particular song however obscure. I can't remember the last time I went into a store with the idea of buying something - why would you? The record shop had become so bland it wasn't a pleasant experience. Unfortunately there was a social element with buying a product in the old days which will disappear - I met quite a few people while mulling over the racks in decent record shops. What does the future hold? Obviously in places like London there will be decent stores like Rough Trade who seem to have got the formula right (see below) but out here in the wilderness are we no longer going to have places for buying music? Maybe the future will have a coffee shop and a computer where they play music and upload it to your mp3 player if you like it. It would be a shame to think that people who like music will have nowhere to hang out during the day and browse sounds.
News story about Rough Trade opening new premises in London fighting the 'downturn'

Pure Pwnage

My son went up to London to see the launch of the next series of this hilarious internet comedy phenomenon all about 'pwning noobs'. He got mugged and saw Vanessa Feltz (unconnected incidents) but seeing Jeremy and Kyle from this cult hit was enough to make it worth his while. Watch all the episodes on the website. I am apparently a bit like FPS Doug - he is certainly my favourite character. Oh well back to RL...

World War One FPS?

If you have got bored with Thompsons and MP-40s and fancy going all old-school maybe this title announced recently 'To End All Wars' oot next summer, will be more your cup of tea. 'Set in the war-torn trenches of World War I Europe, “To End All Wars” will deliver unrivalled atmosphere and realism, bringing the mud strewn horror of this most desperate of conflicts to the PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360TM formats using Epic’s Unreal® Engine 3 technology.' Ghostlight site
There's also The Trenches, a Half-Life modification if that's your bag. Looks interesting. We've now had American Civil War - what's next The Alamo? If you don't know what an FPS is then look here.

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee

There's a tv commercial on rotation at the moment with this great duo doing I think this song 'Hootin' the Blues'...watch the clip and see if you recognise it. Sonny Terry's style is quite individual and very easy on the ear and seems quite a different animal than a lot of harp players in the r'n'b idiom. They were quite an influence on the skiffle scene in this country. Watch him play it with Pete Seeger here

The Stones 'World's Greatest Skiffle Band'?

Whilst looking at Stones clips I found this one of them doing their take on Buddy Holly doing Bo Diddley. It's a strange chuggy sounding record - rather like Manfred Mann's 5-4-3-2-1 - not really Blues based but more of an electricised skiffle sound - what do you think? skiffle wiki

Rock Biopics

I have a love-hate relationship with rock biopics. I hate them though I still watch them so it is a kind of self-imposed torture. Today I watched 'Stoned', the film by Stephen Woolley on the life and death of Brian Jones. There were lots of anachronisms and musically it was pretty lame - no actual Stones music and what was there was pretty inappropriate (though there was a smattering of Robert Johnson they failed to connect the fact they were both members of the 27 club) but I carried on watching it as I like seeing history being served up as entertainment and titillation. So what makes a good rock biopic? Recently we have had a Ray Charles pic getting critical appraisal - also Oliver Stone's The Doors getting more than its fair share of good reviews. Bad biopics go straight onto daytime tv - like 'Daydream Believer' the Monkees story - or the Karen Carpenter Story (now up on tv links). My personal favourites include 'And the Beat Goes On; the Sonny and Cher story' and of course the Beach Boys one on the other day. They usually have a cheesey subtitle - just off the top of my head something like 'Purple Haze; the Jimi Hendrix story' - actually I am gobsmacked noone's done that one. The one I hate most is 'Tina; What's Love got to do with it' - as an Ike Turner fan I feel completely let down by that film.
If I ever get the money I will do a rock biopic - who needs doing? Maybe there needs to be some discussion on the subject - someone, preferably dead would do - if the music is readily available even better - how about the 'Something Else' the Eddie Cochran story? They usually start at the end and work backwards so Scene 1 Bristol Hippodrome - EC gets into a taxi - 'C'mon Gene get in - I want to get to London fast''but the weather Eddie..and these English roads...' - the rest you can imagine. How about 'London Calling - the Clash story'? 'Stone the crows guv - them 101ers are far out'. Feel free to suggest suitable stories and titles. How about this one, my last word on the subject '20th century boy...the Marc Bolan story....''C'mon Grace you drive, I feel like I am going to live forever'
List of Biopics

Quiet flows the Don

This epic about Cossacks around the time of the Great War, Revolution and Russian Civil War was Bondarchuk's last project being posthumously finished by his son .A good deal of controversy surrounded this film which some of which surrounded the casting of Rupert Everett delayed its release by 15 years...I think from the photography on this clip which shows cossack cavalry charge entrenched Austrian artillery and machine guns it looks well worth tracking down. Another clip here

Bad Detectives on the radio

I really enjoyed this show on Frome FM - some great songs I'd never heard before and some relaxed chit-chat from the band. A web-cam allows you to watch them age before your very eyes. Surprisingly comforting to hear Ivan and co's voices on my computer... It's on from 10-11.30pm each night this week - log in online and give them a shock by sending them a text from somewhere distant. If you miss it you can always download it to listen to at leisure and maybe try and copy the Frome accent. http://www.baddetectives.co.uk/

The Great Mickey and Sylvia debate

We're having a debate chez nous as to whether Mickey and Sylvia were any good - were they just rehashing the same ideas and are they too cheesey for modern tastes? We all know and love 'Love Is Strange' but are the rest worth recommending? I like them but I also have a taste for things that are kitsch.... When they do the ' Oh Mickey? Yes Sylvia' thing for the umpteenth time do you feel nauseous or does it give you a fuzzy feeling? Listen to these song samples on Amazon and tell us - Are Mickey and Sylvia something other than a novelty to modern ears? Photo and label shots of M&S here

Bad Detectives on the radio!

All this week as part of the Frome festival from 10-11.30pm the BDs are presenting their own show 'Cutting Edge' on Frome FM... listen online, text in and and see if you can understand the local Somerset accent.

War and Peace (Voyna i mir 1968) Battle Scene and the Kubrick connection

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Peace_(1968_film)

I was talking about this spectacular Russian epic by the great Sergei Bondarchuk the other day - apparently Kubrick was all set to make his own epic movie about Napoleon but because of this movie becoming available in the West and the poor box office that Waterloo ( almost W&P's sequel) had received, made Barry Lyndon instead, set 50 years earlier. But the Kubrick script is available to read online so you can imagine what it would have been. He talked about the precision of the troops on the battlefield and this clip kind of shows you what I think he would have had in mind. I can see the influence of this clip in the battle scene in Barry Lyndon but then there is also something of Spartacus in War and Peace so all's square in love and war pictures. Certainly I recommend you all to watch this - it shows the power of the fife and drum in the battlefields of the era well and it really captures the essence of Napoleonic warfare - in ways that the dreadful Sharpe never did - so make my day and watch it. It is supposed to be the battle of Schongraben. Interestingly Barry Lyndon influenced the Duellists which was a Napoleonic film of note but avoided the huge set piece battle scenes in favour of inn scenes and misty landscapes. Clip here War and Peace is only something like 8 hours long - none of your digital rubbish either - they are all real extras ... 120,000 of them for Borodino alone. Probably the most expensive film ever made - without the markets that Hollywood had too how much did it expect to make? Sort of the filmic equivalent of the space race - outdoing Hollywood. Maybe you can rent it from Amazon? Sad to see that Waterloo was originally planned to have Burton and O'Toole in the main roles of Napoleon and Wellington but their schedule wouldn't coincide. Clip of the finished movie here Maybe it's time for a Bondarchuk reappraisal... Bondarchuk wiki

Brian Jones

I was talking to Susan about Brian Jones last night (prompted by the Dirtbombs cover of 'No Expectations')so I thought I would post something about the late lamented musical genius and it turned out he died on 3 July! Spooky... anyway read the wiki on him - did you know this Rice Krispies song was the only official Jones composition? I think it's great and I do remember being excited about this tune as a child. The movie Stoned was about Mr Shampoo - haven't seen it - clip here

Frome Festival

Nearly the time for the Frome Festival. It's full of artistic and musical delights so check out the above link if you are in the South of England or looking for something different. Frome's historic buildings are well worth a look - the Rook Lane chapel is having its 300th anniversary and is now an art gallery or so I have been told. The musical calendar features the Bad Detectives (14th Griffin Inn (a micro brewery)) and the UK Stiffs (13th) as well as the Stranglers. I saw a great music video the Bad Detectives made of their track B-movie Scientist - I think they should show it at their gig...

Planxty 'The Little Drummer'

As it's the anniversary today of the defeat in 1798 at Vinegar Hill it's a good excuse to put up some Irish music. I am not a folk fan much but I love Planxty - there's something in their approach that makes me love 'em. Give it a go - you might just like it. I've turned a good few people into PLanxty fans over the years...maybe you're next...? If you like it then you also must watch them playing 'A Blacksmith courted me' - wait for the uileean pipe solo at the end - brilliant... more on the song and lyrics here

Polysics at the Croft 'Best gig ever'

Last night was an outing to the Croft in Bristol to see my eldest daughter's favourite band the Polysics. They hail from Tokyo Japan and last time in Bristol she was away so she was very keen to enjoy it this time. She got herself up a replica red jumpsuit as worn by the band and fought her way to the front. Her devotion to the band was rewarded when the singer/guitarist during a particularly manic solo handed her the pick and let her do some twanging. Talk about thrilled. 'Best gig ever' she declared - it was certainly brilliant and energetic. I got drenched in sweat and loved it like the old days of punk. Why aren't they bigger in this country? Anyway if you get the chance I recommend you check them out, but beware - it's a lively and manic set! Photo by Susan

Metal Urbain

MU made some great innovative records in the late 70s but were largely ignored by the English music press as they were French. They were ahead of their time methinks - check this clip out. I never found out anything about what they were singing about but it sounded good anyway - I hear the odd word like anarchy and subversion popping up so that'll do me - I wish I could see them live - their Mypace linked above has some of their new recordings which I think are produced by Jello Biafra and their tour dates - unfortunately Dublin is as near as they get to the UK - do they have something against us? Official 76-78 site.

Zvezda Janissaries reviewed

Ferrets and trouser legs

Susan has insisted I post this apology to her on the subject of ferrets and trouser legs. I have long mocked her for her taping her flares in order to prevent incursions by ferrets - telling her that it was a myth that these lovable creatures dart up these confined spaces. Well it happened. They were straight drainpipe trousers too - one of the nursing female mothers, Barbarella. probably the last ferret you would want in yer kecks, especially while hormonal, dashed up there and sank her teeth into the flesh on the way up. She only got as far as the knee and then arched her back to take up the slack, making it difficult to remove her. So it isn't a myth and I'm sorry I mocked Susan's precautions. I am also sorry I didn't have a camcorder on me at the time too.

Throw it on me

If you've been wondering what became of Swedish rock and rollers the Hives they are about to be blasted around the world with this collaboration with Timbaland.

It came from Detroit Teaser trailer

Definitely one of the best live bands I have seen in recent years the Dirtbombs rock out 'I can't stop thinking about it'.

Zvezda Russian Infantry of Peter the Great

I wonder what my Russian friend thinks of these? I like them - these and their Swedish infantry are the best 18thc figures in 1/72.

Von Sundenfed

Impressive collaboration between MES and German duo Mouse on Mars. Check out their Myspace and see if you like it too. The Observer magazine sums it up 'In the aftermath of John Peel's death, Mark E Smith has found himself installed as de facto spiritual leader - a kind of Salfordian Dalai Lama - of those left bereft by the passing of his most eminent establishment patron.' (Ben Thompson) - I always thought of the Fall like that anyway. I really like this album - it's actually quite catchy and also humourous in places. Recommended.

Samurai Reenactment footage from 2007

The Battle Of Kawanakajima - really impressive footage - well worth a look - I can imagine this really taking off - some more links of other impressive samurai things on Youtube.

Alphaville (1965)

Probably the most underrated movie of all time this movie by Jean-Luc Godard depicts a future that is chillingly accurate - a classic

Napoleon the father

Talking about being proud - Napoleon (who had his first birthday recently) is the proud father of a litter of ferret babies - the first of many to come this summer - get in touch if you fancy owning a ferret. You know you want to...

The Konks

This Boston band are brilliant - check out this clip of garage rock and roll mayhem as the Strangeloves 'Night time' gets the treatment. Brilliant. Did I tell you this band does a cover of our 'I Never Worry'. I am so proud.

Animals and Men at Ant Pride Live

Last week we played our first gig in London for about 27 years - we went down a storm. It was quite an event with people saying they really felt the years drop away as we gave it to them old school style.

Almanza 1707 reenactment footage

Interesting film featuring a number of European groups coming together to celebrate the 300th anniversary of this battle.

Plan B mag issue 20 out

This is pretty exciting for us - our band Animals and Men get a mention and even a photo in this wonderful music and culture mag. All part of a feature on the Messthetics label. We even get a mention in the editorial! Buy it from Fopp or Smiths. In the US Barnes & Noble and FYE stores.