Thursday, May 26, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

BILLY JOEL: THIS NIGHT

Posted: 26 May 2011 04:41 PM PDT


Billy Joel

I first heard this song in Nashville (1988) when I had a huge thing for a guy down there. The lyric was prophetic, and yet it still applies today. No one really plans to fall in love... it just happens... and it can be really moving and when it ends... really painful. No matter what happens it is good to know that emotions are still there no matter what age or time in your life.

I still love this song though it conjures up some sadness...

GUEST POST: MISS LEXY... HOWLIN DIABLOS NEW CD!

Posted: 26 May 2011 10:35 AM PDT


Tino Gross and Miss Linda Lexy

Here it is, Party People! The first single off the long-awaited and highly flammable new Howling Diablos' CD "Ultra Sonic Gas Can", called 'Mr. Right Now". CD Release Bash will be at the Park Bar, Detroit in July!! Leave your lighters & matches at home, cuz this party will be FIRE! WSG's HorseCave Trio, Staggolee, and MC Linda Lexy. Funky D in the HOUSE!!! Lexy XXOOK

Funky D Records

[New post] Doctor Who Big Finish- Dust Breeding

Doctor Who Big Finish- Dust Breeding

Dust Breeding


Story 21
Written by Mike Tucker
Released June 2001

Deuchamp 331, a planet where swirling dusts constantly whips throughout the landscape, the deafening howl of the wind broken only by a horrifying scream, is an unlikely location for an art gallery. Nevertheless the eccentric Madame Salvadori is engaging an exclusive art show where, according to the Doctor's diary, Edward Munch's the Scream went missing. Deep inside the TARDIS, the Doctor has the most deluxe gallery of 'lost' masterpieces, saved from the disasters of history. Seeking to 'rescue' another painting, the Doctor and Ace arrive to find that an old friend Bev Tarrent is already on Deuchamp 331 looking for a new outlet for her merchandise. Another old friend of the Doctor's is also on hand, but his intentions are both insidious and insane.

Dust Breeding is a clever and traditional-style adventure in the murder mystery turned mad scientist/monster style. I quite like the genre mix and have enjoyed the televised attempts at this kind of thing. Mike Tucker clearly understands the trapping of Classic Doctor Who as all the trappings are there; the strange setting of a screaming planet joined with the absurdly contemporary art snobs, the masked villain, the mysterious deaths, and of course a deadly ravenous monster.

The voice acting cast is superb and deliver an impressive job when faced with so many over the top characters I strained my eyes checking and re-checking that Caroline John (Liz Shaw from Doctor Who in 1970) as the cartoonish German accented Madame Salvadori. Of course the real star is Geoffrey Beavers as the mysterious masked man Mr. Seta.

Dust Breeding isn't a game-changing story or an over-ambitious adventure that challenges the restraints of what Doctor Who can do. In fact, it's actually a celebration of a typical Doctor Who story and is all the better for it. McCoy revels in his part once more as the charismatic traveler, long before he became the cosmic trickster. I appreciate the many facets of the 7th Doctor, one of the few (perhaps the only one, actually) of the classic Doctors to develop and change over his three-year period. But if given a choice, I prefer the more stripped down traveler/adventurer from McCoy's first two years on the program.

Mike Tucker's script is paced quite well and feels just like a traditional radio drama, utilizing the audio landscape well to tell a cohesive story without losing the audience. From time to time, the Big Finish audios can dissolve into screams and explosions, making it impossible for the listener to understand quite what is going on. Luckily, that's not the cae here. There are some dodgey moments as McCoy's stilted accent gets away from him and Aldred's voice cracks as she screams in shock and anger (something that sadly happened on screen from time to time). McCoy and Aldred are limited in their acting range, it has to be said, but that doesn't stop them from being vastly entertaining thanks to their genuine chemistry and personal quirks. The Seventh Doctor and Ace remain one of the best pairings in Doctor Who and they continue that relationship in the audio format.

Without giving too much away, Dust Breeding does challenge the canon of the established (if dubious) continuity with the 'surprise' return of a long departed foe. I'm unaware of the inconsistencies myself (I read the Virgin New Adventures when they first came out and stopped just short of New Frontier) and I'm just grateful for the return of a much loved character from the classic program. I hope that we get to see (hear?) him again.

Doctor Who – Dust Breeding can be purchased at local retailers such as Mike's Comics and online from Big Finish.

Read other Big Finish reviews at the Daily P.O.P. here.

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[New post] Doctor Who Big Finish- Invaders From Mars

Doctor Who Big Finish- Invaders From Mars

Invaders From Mars

"My mother taught me two important lessons in life; never wash taffeta with cotton and never put all my eggs in one basket. I must say that the latter has proven to be of most use to me."
Story 28
Written by Mark Gatiss
Released January 2002

For his first series, McGann traveled to the past and saved Charley Pollard from the doomed airship the R-101, battled with the Cybermen, saw the last days of Venice and even met the Brigadier. It struck me recently that the first two 'series' of McGann on Big Finish are generally similar to series 15 and 16 with the variations in genre, outlandish situations and witty dialog. It's a pleasant change from the grim NA McCoy era and also provide some much-needed depth and character to the Eighth Doctor who was only on screen for a portion of the 1996 TV Movie. A reckless romantic bubbling with intelligence, this new Doctor strikes me as just what the BBC Wales series attempted to portray in their 10th Doctor, an incarnation that never really worked for me. The second series opener for Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor is a fanciful and imaginative 'romp' in the comedic vein of the Graham Williams era.

Set on Halloween 1938, Invaders from Mars is a dyed in the wool radio science fiction yarn complete with dramatic explosions of horns braking up the scene transitions and fast-talking caricatures more at home in a Dick Tracy comic strip. A pair of two such characters are attempting to sell alien weaponry on the black market only to find that they have been rumbled by gumshoe JC Halliday. Halliday gets zapped for his troubles, leaving quite a mystery for the Doctor and Charley who stumble upon the crime scene. A search for clues leads the Doctor to Halliday's office where, after meeting a leggy blond with the unlikely name of Glory Bee, he takes on the role of hard-boiled detective. Glory Bee is desperate to find her uncle, an atomic scientist. The Doctor senses an adventure and is eager to take part. When he catches a radio broadcast of the War of the Worlds, all of the pieces start to fall together for him, and he couldn't be more pleased. As he performs the legendary broadcast, Orson Welles is unaware that his transmission contains secret coded signals and that a genuine alien arrival is underway.

Spaced stalwarts Jessica Stevenson and Simon Pegg are on hand and offer their charismatic vocal talents to perform Don Chaney and Glory Bee, a dubious femme fatale. The guest cast are quite good and the direction strong, but the mixture of drama and comedy along with the camp musical cues are a bit too much, interrupting the enjoyment of a strong series opener. Writer/actor Mark Gatiss has strong ties to pulp science fiction and the Hammer Horror franchise which shows in this story. I enjoy his material and still say that based on his acting ability in the League of Gentlemen and the short Doctor Who skit Web of Caves that he would make a perfect Doctor. Invaders from Mars thinks its funnier than it actually is, however and sometimes falls flat in the comedy department. The saving grace in this department is John Arthur as the traitorous Cosmo Devine, a character that peppers the four-parter with Oscar Wilde-like witticisms.

All the flaws aside, Invaders from Mars is a fun and light-hearted adventure with some very inspired ideas, a great cast and a thoroughly ideal setting - the 'faked' alien invasion scare of Halloween 1938. Some plot points continue to develop from this story based on the Doctor's rescue of Charley from the R-101, an action that could cause havoc in the web of time, yet the Doctor adamantly refuses to accept that he cannot save just one person. The series-long thread involving Shakespeare and the alterations in the timeline is well played. Russel T Davies and Steven Moffat could both learn a few lessons from this idea.

Doctor Who - Invaders from Mars can be ordered from local retailers like  Mike's Comics and  online from Big Finish.

Read other Big Finish reviews at the Daily P.O.P. here.


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[New post] Wonder Woman and Green Lantern team up with Batman in new Brave and the Bold episode

Wonder Woman and Green Lantern team up with Batman in new Brave and the Bold episode

'Scorn of the Star Sapphire'

Preview

This Friday, Wonder Woman makes her debut in Batman Brave and the Bold on Cartoon Network. The short pre-titles adventure is heavily influenced by the Linda Carter Wonder Woman TV series and even features her gent in danger, Steve Trevor and the familiar signature tune. One of the timeless icons of superhero mythology, Wonder Woman was nearly adapted for the TV screen again by Ally McBeal creator David Kelley, but luckily nothing came to pass there. From the 40's to the 70's and beyond, Wonder Woman is a symbol of independence and strength for children and adults and is one of the most instantly recognizable characters in comics.

Maybe Warner Bros. will figure how to best present her one of these days, but in the meantime this short clip is quite good.

In her satin tights, fighting for your rights...
watch?v=jeZnmwjTF2A

Also in this episode Batman and Hal Jordan work to take down Green Lantern's greatest enemy, Star Sapphire. With his big screen debut just a few weeks away, it's surprising that it has taken so long for Hal Jordan to make an appearance on the Brave and the Bold cartoon (he has been preceded by fellow Lanterns Guy Gardner and G'Nort), but maybe it's all in the timing.

watch?v=wfIwbmNjPps&playnext=1&list=PL56F3FCA04F2B4A52

Batman: The Brave and the Bold's new episode 'Scorn of the Star Sapphire' premieres tomorrow night on the Cartoon Network

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


Retro dressmaking course at Collette Costello in Manchester

Posted: 25 May 2011 11:58 AM PDT

Dress

Well, actually, that should be Manchester area, as the course takes place a short tram ride out of the centre at Salford Quays, but it is definitely a retro dressmaking course at Collette Costello.

It's one of three courses being run, the other being a skirt and a handbag course. But let's look at the dressmaking. All course run for a week, with a qualified fashion teacher at the helm, providing the pattern, cloth, equipment and (eventually) the skills to make the dress pictured above. Once you've made it, you should have the skills to convert any other pattern into a wearable dress for yourself or anyone.

The week-long course runs through summer and costs £175, with a hefty discount if you book as a pair.

Find out more at the Collette Costello website

New hip house finds over at WowHaus

Posted: 25 May 2011 09:28 AM PDT

White1

In case you've missed when we mentioned it previously, we've set up a new site dedicated to weird, wonderful, quirky and above all, cool houses. It's called WowHaus and it's updated pretty much everyday.

In the last week, we've featured what we think is a fine selection. Indeed, you've missed a 1960s townhouse in Twickenham, a 1970s modernist property in Bolton, a Bauhaus home in Hertfordshire, a fully-featured nuclear bunker in Scotland, a 1960s Leonard Manasseh property in East Sussex, a lighthouse near Milford Haven, the Haunted House of Horror near Preston, a 1970s modernist house in Bury (designed by the man who created George Best's '60s space age home) a '60s home by the sea near Exeter and much more besides.

The site is updated with new finds pretty much everyday, so feel free to follow via the site's Twitter, Facebook, feeds (details on the site)…or just pop by.

WowHaus website

eBay watch: 1970s Philips 5120 portable record player - mint and boxed

Posted: 25 May 2011 06:37 AM PDT

Philips

It's the format they've been trying to kill off for decades. Yet despite that, there's a lot of us out there who still love vinyl. So this Philips 5120 portable record player is well worth a look.

It's not a new player, it's from the 1970s. But it is 'new' old stock, sold with the original box and instructions, as well as being in 'mint' condition. Not a bad looking player too, not least in that very '70s orange.

Powered by mains and batteries, it plays 33 and 45rpm records in 7 or 12-inch size and has that clear lid finishing things off. Right now it's at £1.60 with no reserve.

Find out more at the eBay website

Painted Owl Wallpaper from Anthropologie

Posted: 25 May 2011 06:19 AM PDT

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Owl-inspred design ought to have become tired by now but there's something incredibly enduring about these birds and this Painted Owl Wallpaper from Anthroplogie is another gem.

The design alternates a diamond-pattern stripe with a repeat owl motif in both black and white and colour. The monochromatic background ensures that the coloured owls really pop; they have a kaleidoscopic quality in terms of both colour and pattern. The design is inspired by Russian Lubok printing; a popular folk art style.

The wallpaper costs £78 a roll which will cover 5m² and comes with SureStrip backing which means no messing around with wallpaper paste, simply wet the reverse and hang.

Find out more here.

Palmer Cash South Padre Vintage Tee

Posted: 25 May 2011 03:36 AM PDT

9190_Medium Summer dresses are all well and good but sometimes you just want to throw on a comfortable t-shirt. This Palmer Cash South Padre Vintage Tee from pretaportobello.com ticks all the right boxes.

Palmer Cash's vintage-look t-shirts hail from the U.S where their classic designs make them a favourite of musiscians and celebrites. Made of super-soft jersey, this t-shirt is a flattering shade of cornflower blue which will show off a tan to perfection. Pair with denim cut offs and sandals for relaxed summer style.

The t-shirt is 100% cotton and comes in three sizes: small (8UK), medium(10UK) and large(12UK). It costs £28 - find out more here.


Retro sofa from Bark Furniture

Posted: 25 May 2011 02:28 AM PDT

Bark sofa

A classic design that's hand-made from the materials of your choosing - if you're willing to pay a bit more than high street for your seating it would certainly be worth you checking out this retro sofa from Bark Furniture.

Bark furniture is the Cornwall based business of husband and wife team, Jonathan Walter and Lakshmi Bhaskaran. All their furniture is made by hand to order, so you get a say in the finished look. This mid-century style sofa, for example, is available as either a two- or three-seater number, both options sharing those angled lines and paired back look. You get a choice of four different hardwoods for your frame and a variety of upholstery options. 

Of course, this sofa comes with a price tag to match this relative freedom and the craftsmanship involved. Prices start at £1360 for a maple wood two-seater and, don't forget, you'll need to pay for your upholstery too. 

Find out more online

Game Over cup and saucer sets from The TeaShed

Posted: 25 May 2011 02:28 AM PDT

Game_Over__Invaders_in_B

These Game Over cup and saucer sets - from newly opened webstore The TeaShed - offer a fresh take on some of your favourite retro gaming icons.

At first glance, they look like delicate white porcelain cup and saucers - albeit with a bright pattern. Peer a bit closer and you'll realise the patterns come straight out of your favourite games. The Space Invaders cup and saucer is pictured but there's also designs that use the motifs of Tetris, Pac Man and, slightly more up-to-date, Snake. Each design is available in either a blue or red colour scheme. 

A fresh look at a favourite theme, a cup and saucer will set you back £15. 

See them online

Vintage Earthenware Crockery

Posted: 25 May 2011 01:35 AM PDT

Vintageteaset 
New in at Pedlars is a collection of Vintage Earthenware Crockery, which like many vintage products, has a unique history, making it just that extra bit more special.

This crockery was used on various P&O ships between the 1950 and 1970 before finally ending up on the RMS Windsor Castle. Pieces available to buy include various sized jugs, teapots and sugar bowls. Prices start from £14.40 for the bowl and go up to £39 for the large teapot.

Visit Pedlars to buy and read more about their heritage.

Shire Publications ‘The 1950s Kitchen’

Posted: 25 May 2011 01:35 AM PDT

9780747808275-th2 
Coincidentally just after mentioning the 'Too Many Gadgets' tea towel yesterday, I received details of retro-themed publisher Shire's latest publication, 'The 1950s Kitchen'.

The 1950s was the decade when the kitchen as we now know it came into being, with fitted units and those all important labour-saving appliances. The 64-page book looks at the idea of the kitchen as the heart of the home, as well as chapters on the fitted kitchen, colours and materials, appliances and gadgets and 1950s food.

Buy it directly from Shire, priced £6.99.

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...