Gozu

Finally got to see this the other night on Film 4, from Ichi director Takashi Miike, and it's absolutely effing nuts. Half porno Carry on Yakuza, half body-horror Twin Peaks, it also has one of the most sphincter-clenching death scenes I've ever experienced. Recommended.

San Francisco 1998

Beermats

For use with Hoffmeister, no doubt.

Let them eat crack...

Well no wonder kids are so hyperactive these days. Actually, they are quite tasty. Hope I'm not developing a habit. All together now: 'I'm living on coco rocks!'

Blue Soap

How's this for bargain of the year. Fourth Draw Down and Sulk, 2 of the best albums of the eighties in a box with loads of extra tracks for £6 in Fopp, or whatever it's called. I have both of these on vinyl, buthaven'tt listened to them for years. Completely forgotten how murky andclaustrophobicc they are, which I mean in a good way. I really dig The Glamour Chase as well, but the production is much more bright and shiny, while these sound like they were recorded in a partially flooded basement in winter. They sound damp and chilly, which I mean in a good way.

Interestingly I was listening to these last night in a herbal stupor while watching Shaolin Soccer with the sound turned down. It actually worked rather better than you might think. At one point a mass street-dancing scene was perfectly insynchc with Message Oblique Speech. Shaolin Soccer, by the way, is an absolutely great drugs movie.