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A girlfriend and I were having a quiet Sunday in. Well, as quiet as can be expected around this part of the world, in this stage of our lives. We were both fairly fragile from the night before, so we had settled on getting DVD’s and eating pizza, smoking far too many cigarettes and having a giggle. Anyway, you need to know that, because it will give you an indication of why we hired This Is England, a critically acclaimed movie, produced (at least in part) by Warp Records. Because there is very few things as enjoyable as a remakably confrontational, disturbing or messed up film to make one feel far less fagile.
Shane Meadows directs this beautifully shot look inside the Thatcher-era small town rise of the National Front white power movement, with the central charachter being a little boy who’s father had died in the Falklands War. Its cute, rough, ugly and bright all at the same time but the bit that made me melt into a warm, gooey mess was a scene at the beginning of the film, where the little boy was getting montaged about bullying or something like that, and the guitar from Gravenhurst’s “Nicole” slide in. And as we get emotioned away by the fantastic collection of shots of the English towns of the 80’s, I start breathing the words ” Oh, Nicole! From the moment we met we let it get out of control”
Gravenhurst is really special. His first album on Warp was a tweaked collection of gorgeous accoustic songs – well, gorgeous until you actually hear what he has to say. And then it hits you – this man has the most amazing sense of impending doom! A spine and heart shattering finality to his psyche. But sung in such a lullaby way that you just cant help but drift happily to sleep. Adding band members, and amplifiers, for Fire In Distant Buildings, the sprawling, addictive morbidity and loathing gets swept along by truimphant guitars, rolicking drums and really driving passionate music. So it was great pleasure to find out that a new Gravenhurst album has come out. I’d suggest you go and listen to it right now (and buy it if you want). As that is what I will be doing all week.
