Reviews

What’s New Pussycat?

Definitively 'zany' '60s farce, written by Woody Allen, with Peter O'Toole as a Paris fashion editor inundated with willing, eager ladies. This sends him to mad shrink Peter Sellers, who's jealous. Meanwhile, Allen longs for O'Toole's fiancée. Basically an excuse for thousands of hit-and-miss jokes, strippers, much daft over-acting and Ursula Andress. Fantastic.

Sparks – Li’L Beethoven: Live In Stockholm

Recorded in March, this is the same stylish stage show that Sparks brought to London earlier this year. Built around the Li'l Beethoven set, you also get a big helping of bonus tracks from that beguiling back catalogue, including the scarily prescient "The Calm Before The Storm". The motorik medley of "The Number One Song In Heaven" and "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" takes some beating.

Les Dames Du Bois De Boulogne

This dark treasure from 1945 was Robert Bresson's second feature. Scripted by Cocteau, it's erotic longing and revenge, as spurned spider woman Maria Casares seeks the downfall of her ex and his lover. In contrast with the grey, static textures of Bresson's celebrated work, there's near-noirish lustre, but the intriguing, deceptive narrative bareness, the sense of forces moving beneath the surface, are his alone.

David Hemmings – David Hemmings Happens

The late thespian's MGM curio from September '67

Various Artists – Philadelphia Roots 2

Another tasteful Soul Jazz series rolls on

Antony And The Johnsons

Lou Reed's favourite trans-gender chamber-pop troupe's debut

The Grain Parade

Howe Gelb's peripatetic lifestyle captured on record

Donovan – Beat Café

Return after eight years' silence from '60s legend

Black Pearls

Glittering twin set from revitalised godfather of gloom

Melanie – Paled By Dimmer Light

Self-styled Chauncey Gardiner of cute implies a lot but says little
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