With influences by: Sharon Jones, Lee Fields, The Mohawks, The Dap-Kings, Bobby Byrd, Fontella Bass, The Beginning of the End, Daptone, Jazzman, Funk 45, Keb Darge, Shadow, Madame Jo-Jos, Timmion, Tim Buckley, Stevie Wonder, BGP, Soulfire, K7, Roy Ayers, Grand Slam Magazine, Jazz Cafe, London, Texas.
Dogtown and Z Boys
Stacey Peralta
Veteran Z boy, Stacey Peralta and Legendary skate photographer, Craig Stecyk, team together to reveal the history of style within skateboarding. The film is a deep insight into how skateboarding saw a fall and rise with fashions, until a group of local urbanites belonging to Dogtown, pushed boundaries to create new moves and to understand there is no limit. Nurtured from the streets by two local surf shop owners the Z boys were confidently able to enter their first competition at which they all displayed an aggression released, to form a style that had never been seen before on a skateboard. This confused many. It also excited big company skate firms into sponsoring and paying the skaters to demo all over the world. This really is the beginning of a now and only recently, world recognised sport. You don't have to skate to enjoy this documentary, but, without sounding too cheesy, recognising skating as an art form will help. Although by looking through the eyes or lense of Craig Stecyk, this can be achieved.
This is currently available as part of the Cinematic Orchestra album of the same name. Dziga Vertov takes a snapshot of life during 1929, the year of the Wall Street crash. He captures the daily grind of modern life during a time of great economic hardship in Russia and involves the audience with some stunning experimental work. It is intriguing, I would imagine, on its own, however it is cemented with a backing track from one of our favourites. The Cinematic Orchestra's score sits perfectly, reflecting the emotions evoked by the ground-breaking, documentary style, silent film with a real feel for the personalities and scenes provided by Mr. Vertov. If only he could be around to see it.
The 'real' history of surfing. Some amazing unseen footage and great commentary from the masters such as Greg Noll and Jeff Clark. Really well put together.
This DVD is a real AV feast. Part of Funci Porcini's 4th album, 'Fast Asleep', the DVD exploits the rolling upright bass, sleazy beats and thumping bass drum hits with great attention to detail. Team Alcohol, the force behind the visuals, are creative and genuinely innovative, using some well produced ideas in order to create the look and feel for Funki Porcini's music. The DVD does not contain all the tracks on the album but applies the cream (and the sugar on top) to the ones it does. Get on and buy it. It will pay off in those lazy moments when all you want to do is daydream.
The Ninja stable get together and produce this DVD. Artists such as Funki Porcini, Amon Tobin, Coldcut, Bonobo and The Herbaliser aswell as many others have their tunes put to some great visuals. Perfect as something to have on in the background rather than staring at Eastenders!
