Reviews

Michael Chiklis often grabs the plaudits for his portrayal of detective Vic Mackey, controlling the dealers and gang-bangers of LA's fictional Farmington with his renegade Strike Team, but this DVD release of The Shield's first series is a jolting reminder of how creator Shawn Ryan conceived it as a complex ensemble piece steeped in moral ambiguity. Ryan exposes the politics and brutality that underpin police work, while the handheld photography makes gunfights, rape and murder hideously real. Brilliant.

Three intense '60s masterpieces from Polanski in one box set, plus his Oscar-garlanded WWII ghetto drama from 2002

PiL bassist's latest genetic experiments on music from planet dub

Funky bedroom-recorded "diary" covers a gamut of musical styles

Eclectic New Yorkers triumph over the punk-funk hype

Probably the year's sexiest record. Mellow, who made it, are half-French and have links with Air. As if that wasn't enough crazy cosmic links, it's from top video director (Strokes, Moby) Roman (Sofia's brother) Coppola's debut, a cross between Barbarella and Breathless. This slinks and purrs like a baby tiger trying to work out if drowning in baby oil is an acceptable pastime. Hung up on '60s cheesiness and Gallic guile, it's like Moon Safari on a mission to Mars. Only it keeps getting caught in the bedroom. With Modesty Blaise. And a young Anna Karina. I'm projecting now. Anyway, stupendous.

Space-punk brilliance

Two-CD, twenty-seven track, best-of from his seven Creation albums, 1987-93

Greatest hits of the big beat pioneers, weighed down by famous friends

Darkly bizarre Gallic cartoon is sophisticated delight