The Graveyard And The Ballroom (Fact 16c)

Factory Records Day!!! I have just bought the 'complete graphic collection, of factory records' & the Factory Records music box set. Whilst listening to the amazing tunes, i have been flicking through the book. I have stumbled across this great cassette tape packaging! This is the PVC packaging for the LP 'The Graveyard And The Ballroom', by A Certain Ration. This packaging and design is done by the great Peter Saville. This LP is designed as a clutch bag or strapless purse, in reference to the word 'ballroom' in the title.

The Video, is the brilliant song 'Shack up' by A Certain Ratio.

Teddy boys

I have always had a weak spot for old school rock n roll. I especially love the old Teddy Boy hairstyle and fashion. You should watch how amazingly styled this guy gets his hair styled in the salon. Also ive added another video of Teddy Boys dancing, with a brilliant soundtrack. I cant believe this is Cliff Richards and The Shadows, i bloody hate Cliff Richard, but this song is amazing. 'Chopin n changing'

The Queen is Dead.....Dungeness..... and Derek Jarman

Derek Jarman was a artist, musician, but best known for his directing. As a child I used to go visit a place called Dungeness, which is on the south east coast of England. At Dungeness their is a active Nuclear Power station and a amazing nature reserve. Everytime i used to visit we used to go pass this amazing house with a spectacular, colourful seaside stone garden, and i used to ask who lives their? And i was told, a famous director. Well i did'nt relise it was the late Derek Jarman, untill i stumbled across an article recently about his house. So if your ever on the south east coast of england, go visit Derek Jarmans house, its worth a look.

I love this video...... this is what got me into Jarmans work. And It probably helps that i frickin love The Smiths to!

Here is a film with a collection of videos which Jarman has done for The Smiths.
1. The Queen is Dead
2. There is a Light that Never Goes out
3. Panic

I would run up any hill for K.B

Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill.

This has got to be one of my favourite songs and video's by Kate Bush.
Brilliant dance choreography, and well shot.
This video was banned from being played on MTV on its release, and a
live performance was played instead, this was because this they thought
it was to 'sexually charging' and Kate didnt try to lip sync to the
words through-out the whole video.

Wings of Desire....w/Nick Cave.

Wings of Desire is a 1987 film by the German director Wim Wenders. It's set in Berlin near the end of the cold war. I watched this a couple of weekends ago, on a hungover sunday, which wasn't the bets state to view this film in. But what i saw i was amazing, especially the performance of Nick Cave in some dingy club.

First video is the original 1987 trailer to film. The second is a performance of Nick Cave, definitely worth a watch.

Its a Blue Monday.

I watched this video for the first time in ages, the other day and found it really inspiring, because the use of hand drawn animation with a mix of well layed-out sketches of shots. This video came out in 1988, a re-release and remix by Quincy Jones. I love the hand drawn animation, by Robert Breer, with some scene sketches by William Wegman, staring his famous Weimaraner dog named Fay Ray doing balancing acts.

Shadowplay

A late night post. I cant Get over how good this song is.
Joy Division - Shadowplay, on Granada television.

Devo - Whip It (Dir. Gerald V. Casale)

When a problems comes along, you'd should whip it!

Bjorn Copeland (Black Dice)

Some very eye catching work, which complements his music nicely.

Klaus Nomi....'The Nomi Song'

I was shown this video of Klaus Nomi by a friend and ever since that
day i have become strangely fascinated with this nightmarish character.
I really don't know how i feel about this video, it's a bit to much and
reminds me of suicide but i cant help myself becoming addicted.

From what i gather, Klaus was a German artist that moved to
New York and became part of the scene that was happening
around Greenwich. He became quite publicised and was
associated with the likes of Keith Haring and David Bowie.
Unfortunately Klaus died of aids in the 80's and this a film
that has just been made about him.