Thursday, April 7, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

SRC/SCOT RICHARD CASE REUNION CONCERT!

Posted: 07 Apr 2011 09:36 AM PDT


SRC

The SRC (Scot Richard Case) are reuniting for their first performance in 40 years! The lineup will feature Scott Richardson (lead vocals), Glenn Quackenbush (keyboard), Gary Quackenbush (guitar), Steve Lyman (guitar) and Ray Goodman (guitar).


Iggy Pop and Scott Richardson (Leni Sinclair)

SRC will be playing the Magic Bag in Ferndale for their first show. Stay tuned to Retrokimmer for news of MORE SRC gigs...

For fans of classic Detroit/Ann Arbor rock & roll this is a dream come true! Doors open at 8pm and tickets are $25 (SRO).



ADVANCE TICKETS HERE

[New post] Doctor Who Big Finish- The Sirens of Time

Doctor Who Big Finish- The Sirens of Time

The Sirens of Time

"You have accurately identified some of my defining traits; compassion and a capacity for self-sacrifice. But you've made the mistake of bringing together three incarnations of the same personality. Each time I regenerate, the balance of those traits alters. I have always been pragmatic in all my lives, as I am in this regeneration. But... moreso."

Story 01 Written by Nicholas Briggs
Released July 1999

Doctor Who started as an educational family-oriented program designed to fill a time-slot between Match of the Day and Jukebox Jury. During its 26 year-long lifespan on the airwaves, it developed into something wholly other, sometimes a national institution and at other times a cult program loved by a select few. When Doctor Who was finally canceled in 1989, its popularity had waned somewhat. A failed comeback in 1996, however, reinforced the notion that the concept had legs.

After years of pursuing the license, in 1999, Big Finish Productions began their long association with Doctor Who as a series of audio programs. Their first release would be an ambitious tour de fource, uniting three Doctors in one adventure, no small feat! A multi-Doctor story is always popular with fans, and something that had not been accomplished since 1985's The Two Doctors. Sure, Dimensions in Time starred Doctors 3-7, but it was hardly a success. Sirens of Time is in essence a proof of concept on behalf of Big Finish, showing off not only the possibilities of revitalizing Doctor Who as an audio program with special effects and music that evoked memories of the classic BBC series but also that the actors that had made Doctor Who so successful had not lost their knack in playing the heroic Time Lord.

Starting their series with an anthology-style adventure starring three separate Doctors may seem like the wrong way to begin a new project and to be honest it does have a lot of problems, but by throwing Doctors 5, 6 and 7 together their distinct personalities immediately become clear. The sullen and intellectual Davison jars uncomfortably with the flamboyant Baker while McCoy plays the all-knowing clown to the trio.

The 1980's was a period of change for Doctor Who. While producer John Nathan-Turner oversaw the entire decade on screen, the 80's saw three actors play the lead role in drastically divergent ways, each with his own personality. Big Finish was able to work with all three actors, granting them a rare opportunity to expand on their legacy as the Doctor, unhindered by budgetary restraints and corporate interference from the BBC.

Despite all of the excitement and praise, The Sirens of Time's failing lies in the story which is a convoluted mess.

Told in three parts, it begins on an unknown planet where the 7th Doctor meets a lady in distress named Elenya while the planet itself is under attack. As the Doctor begins to unravel the mystery of the planet's sole inhabitants, a sadistic jailer and an aged war criminal, the High Council of Time Lords desperately attempt to contact him for help. Gallifrey is under attack by a powerful enemy that is overwhelming the planet's defenses. Before this story can find resolution, it meets an explosive cliffhanger and the narrative shifts to 1915 aboard a British Naval vessel.

The 5th incarnation of the Doctor is stick outside of the TARDIS and again contacted by the Gallifreyan High Council for help. Before the Doctor can gain entry back into his craft, the vessel is struck by a U-Boat and sunk. With only a surly Liverpudlian named Helen for company, the Doctor attempts to outwit his German captors and get back to his ship, the situation seems dire. A German officer is taken over by the Time Lords whose message remains unclear and distorted. Helen fires on the officer, saving the Doctor's life. Trapped in the crossfire of British and German crafts, the second cliffhanger arrives.

The third part opens with the 6th Doctor on a futuristic pleasure liner orbiting a cosmic anomaly. Befriending a stewardess named Ellie, the Doctor finds himself amongst the few survivors of a time quake emerging from the anomaly. From deep within the anomaly, a voice cries out for help. Again the Time Lords try to reach the Doctor by possessing the form of the ship's android, but Ellie perceives the approach as hostile and kills it in the Doctor's defense. Starting to see a pattern to events, the 6th Doctor perhaps begins to sense the experiences of his other selves. The Doctor realizes that at the heart of the anomaly is a creature called a Temperon, a mythical being from Gallifreyan lore, trapped and in extreme pain. By freeing the Temperon, however, the Doctor and his TARDIS are enveloped in a massive explosion that envelops them both.

After this series of confusingly disjointed events, the Doctor awakens on Gallifrey to find that he is both alone and in good company. Three incarnations have arrived at once in the Panopticon. The Doctor attempts to unravel the many mysteries such as who has attacked the Time Lords and why, how the events that his separate selves are connected and what role he plays in the mad scheme of the Sirens of Time... and it's all a bit muddy from there.

The concept of Sirens of Time is actually quite inspired as the Doctor's very nature is his undoing. In each instance he misread the situation and came to the aid of a person he believed to be in jeopardy. I enjoyed that element immensely, but unfortunately it is so mired in technobabble and exposition that it nearly missed me entirely. The sound effects and music are outstanding and really put the listener in the middle of the action, as it were. Davison, Baker and McCoy are all in top form and left me wanting more (fortunately there are over 150 additional releases), but in general Sirens of Time is a puzzle to me. It is so wrapped up in its own terminology and mythology that it can only appeal to die-hard fans of the program. As the first in a new line of stories, I cannot imagine why Big Finish chose to start this way.

Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable story and much better material was not far away. The more that I listen to the Big Finish series the more I adore it. Intelligently written, wonderfully acted and featuring sharp dialog, it is everything that new Doctor Who should be and acts as an ideal continuation of the classic program.

Many thanks to Jason LaBonte for helping me find these gems!

Doctor Who - The Sirens of Time can be purchased at local retailers and online from Big Finish.

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


eBay watch: 1960s Danish hanging light

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 11:23 AM PDT

Danish

A nice midcentury design for a reasonable amount of money (at least, at the moment) - this 1960s Danish hanging light.

Not one lamp, but three lamps, all made of brushed aluminium, with an orange-coloured inner, able to be positioned at varying levels. Decent condition, with no big scratches, dents or misshaping apparently.

Price? Right now it's just £2 for the lot.

Find out more at the eBay website

Bow Shift Dress from River Island

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 10:36 AM PDT

Coralshift

Thanks to the recent love affair with sexier sixties styles from across the pond, there's been fewer nods to the era's youthful British fashion of late. With summer's return, that's about to change with pieces like this Bow Shift Dress from River Island showing inspiration from girlish mid-sixties chic.

The simple shift design has a sharp cut and great angles, with an exaggerated a-line skirt and fitted upper. The addition of a bow at the high neckline ensures the style is kept young while also creating the minimised bust that was popular at the time. Finished in a block coral pink, it's perfect for pairing with your dolly shoes and white tights.

It's available now from River Island for £39.99.

Find out more from the website

Azalea Wedge Shoes from Monsoon

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

Azaleawedge

With the promise of dry and sunny days for the coming months, it's about time to start shoe shopping in earnest. If you're a fan of seventies footwear there's a myriad of choice currently available on the high street, like these fabulous Azalea Wedges from Monsoon.

This pair don't shy away from going all out in the pursuit of retro style, with a stacked platform and wedge heel that'll give you plenty of height. The peep toe slingback is a classic upper, with the addition of a floral vamp detail giving something unique. Finished in a rich cream these are ideal for poolside posing in your kaftan.

Get them now from Monsoon for £60.

Find out more from the website

Dupenny Antique Burlesque Chairs

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 10:01 AM PDT

Burlesque-chairs-full2 
 
If your longing for Dupenny's burlesque print wasn't satisfied by their wallpaper, teatowels or ceramics, then perhaps the latest addition to the range will do the trick.

The Antique Burlesque Chairs are vintage wooden chairs that have been expertly upholstered in the slightly risqué burlesque fabric. There are two types of chair available; Him which has arms and Her which is without arms. Both cost £695.

Buy the chairs as a pair or individually online at the Dupenny website.

Hideaway Dressing Table

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 09:52 AM PDT

400-110016 
The Hideaway Dressing Table from Dwell looks like something you would find in a 1920s boudoir, but given a mid-century makeover.

It is a self-contained unit with a chair and mirror that tuck neatly away when not use – ideal for modern homes that are short on space. Whilst the idea itself looks older, the unit's curved front and walnut exterior, give it a decidedly mid-century look.

The Hideaway Dressing Table can be yours for just under £600 from Dwell.

A Collection a Day Book

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 08:42 AM PDT

Collection-cover-500
A Collection a Day is the result of a year long project undertaken by artist and serial hoarder Lisa Congdon.

Lisa decided to post a photograph of a different one of her many collections of old and unusual items on her blog every day for a year. The project ran throughout 2010 and featured a huge range of eclectic objects, from paper ephemera to vintage fishing lures and Yugoslavian enamel ladles. Some entries were imagined collections, drawn or painted by Lisa, but most are beautifully composed and phographed groupings of the minutiae of everyday life.

The book features full colour photographs of all 365 blog entries in chronological order, has over 400 pages and is more than an inch thick.

It costs $35.00 and comes in a collector's tin - you can buy a copy signed by Lisa herself here

Alice in Wonderland Kids Tea Party Dress

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 06:43 AM PDT

  Rabbit product 10 Vintage Kit is the perfect shop for vintage-loving parents. All of their clothes are made from washable, breathable fabrics that kids can be comfortable in yet still look stylish. Designs are based around the classic, romantic notions of childhood - long summer days spent building sandcastles on the beach and playing in the woods.

Made of 100% Cotton Poplin, the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party Dress is part of a range that features authentic Disney prints on cute but very wearable clothes. It costs £36.99 and you can buy it for girls aged 1-6 years.

There are clothes for boys and babies too, from 0-11 - check out the Vintage Kit website for more info here.

 

Visit London greeting cards by Hello! Lucky

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 05:59 AM PDT

Visit London
Okay, we've featured a lot of retro-styled London designs recently, but this Visit London greeting card by Hello! Lucky has got to be one of the most charming.

The letterpress design shows the capital looking idyllic, complete with neat townhouses, cute scooters and plush cars, alongside sights such as the Eros statue and Tower Bridge, all executed in a striking black, red and white colour scheme. Hello!Lucky have offices in both London and San Francisco and this card has been designed for them by San Francisco team Lab Partners (you may remember them from their Ode to Pears print), which may account for the tourist's view of the city as show on the cards. 

A set of six cards costs £10.20. 

Buy them online

Scarves by Nicky Albrechtsen and Fola Solanke

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 05:54 AM PDT

Scarves
If you were interested in the Ascher pop up studio we featured earlier in the year, this new book on Scarves by Nicky Albrechtsen and Fola Solanke should provide plenty of fashionable inspiration. 

Published by Thames and Hudson, the book looks at 250 examples of women's scarves designed and produced over the course of the twentieth-century, especially when scarves reached the height of their popularity in the Forties and Sixties. The 304 page book contains pieces by huge fashion names ranging from Paul Poiret and Elsa Schiaparelli to Gucci, Zandra Rhodes and Hermes. Through its colourful photographs, the illustrates a slightly different take on fashion in the last century. 

The book is currently on sale for £19.75 from Amazon.

Puma Originals vintage-style bag range

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 05:02 AM PDT

Puma1

Puma has gone back to basics (and to the past) with its new Puma Originals bag range.

Out of the Puma archive come four designs, the Reporter bag above, with the Portable Bag, Grip Bag and Flight Bag all pictured over the page. All pretty much follow the same formula of a two-way zip, adjustable handle, various pockets and that 'used print' logo (which might not be to everyone's taste.

There's a choice of three colour options for each, the blue we have pictured, plus green and black and black and white options. Available directly from Puma, prices start at £25.

Find out more at the Puma website

Puma2

Puma3

Puma4

Linea midcentury-style Harry sofa at House of Fraser

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 04:07 AM PDT

Harry_sofa

At the back end of last year, we featured the rather stylish Harry armchair. But now we've discovered its big brother - the Linea Harry sofa at House of Fraser. Best of all? This midcentury-inspired gem is heavily-discounted right now.

Available as a two-seater or a three-seater (pictured above), the Harry sofa has bags of 1950s charm, from its curved arms and back through to its angled conical legs, not to mention the stylish buttoned back. There's also a wood frame, traditional webbed seating and a finish in Vence lime green fabric.

It's only available online and as we said earlier, it's discounted heavily. The two-seater is £399 (from a previous price of £699) and the three-seater is £499, down from £899. Presumably that is while stocks last.

Find out more at the House of Fraser website

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...