Reviews

Enjoyable debut by 'female Dizzee'

Three years ago, Skyscraper National Park heralded the arrival of Hayden Desser as heir to the mumbling miserablism of Smog's Bill Callahan. Like the latter, Toronto-born Hayden's nagging melodies and deadpan delivery occupy their own peculiar kingdom. His fourth LP finds him applying sonic bluster to the usual sad-slow creep. "Hollywood Ending", for example, is a raucous tale of being caught up in a blockbuster outside his front door.

Norwegian newcomers'magical debut

Big names in puny thriller

Made in 1993 and directed by Ray Müller, this three-hour documentary features extensive interviews with Hitler's favourite director (then a sprightly 90), responsible for such brilliant but pernicious propaganda as 1934's Triumph Of The Will. Wonderful, horrible stuff, especially watching her squirm at Müller's inquisitions regarding her enthusiasm for Nazism.

When her daughter's kidnapped by murderous types in this odd, grisly gothic western, frontierswoman Cate Blanchett saddles up and gives chase, accompanied by estranged father Tommy Lee Jones. A tiresomely grim offering from Ron Howard, whose fussy, pointlessly tricksy direction is a consistently irritating distraction. Very poor.

Using dodgy reconstructions, minimal footage and recently released FBI files, conspiracy theorist Alex Constantine suggests that Hendrix may have been taken down to Brian Jones' swimming pool and force-fed red wine by Elvis till he croaked. No, not really, but the theories aired in this sensationalist barrel-scraping pile of docu-dross are no less preposterous.

SF heroes' 1990 cassette-only release makes it onto CD

Twenty-five international cuts of late-'60s underground mod beat

Limited edition box (500 only) from Manhattan's anti-folk king