Cinematic Oblivion

In this episode of "soundbites" Nick covers the cinematic origins of an American soul standard, from Chino state prison to Demi Moore's pottery wheel.

In this episode we discuss the 1982 cult classic Liquid Sky. A hip New Wave masterpiece, drenched in neon, pulsing to the sound of wild synth beats and ripe with social criticism, literary depth and aesthetic perfection.

Chapter 1: Me and My Rhythm Box (1:55)

Chapter 2: Infrared and Neon (10:00)

Chapter 3: Pleasure Victim (27:00)

Chapter 4: Napoleon in Rags (42:00)

In this mini episode of soundbites Harry discusses how David Lynch uses the music of Roy Orbison to great effect. Spoilers for Blue Velvet and Mulholland Dr.

Across the pond, to Ealing street, to discuss the little London studio that could. We explore vignette horror, whiskey parties, cockney pride, and the failed heist hijinks of young Alec Guinness.

Prologue/Chapter 1: Ealing Green (1:38)

Chapter 2: The Structure of the Universe (10:00)

Chapter 3: Rationing Sucks (31:36)

Chapter 4: Genuine Class (54:10)

In this episode we explore the first three films of revolutionary black filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, from his French period through his contentious Hollywood days and finally to his infamous portrayal of a mythical male prostitute on the run.

Chapter 1: Man in the Mirror (1:31)

Chapter 2: There Goes the Neighborhood (19:40)

Chapter 3: Name Your Weapons (34:53)

Chapter 4: Leroy (52:00)

We're launching a new inter-series feature called soundbites, in which Harry and I take turns making individual, essay-format episodes about music and sound curiosities from film history. We hope these tidbits tide you over between the big discussion episodes we produce monthly.

In this first episode of "soundbites" Nick discusses an odd rock knockoff that arose out of Sidney Poitier's famous detective film In the Heat of the Night (1967).

In this episode we head down south... to HELL! As we discuss Mexican Satanic Horror Movies. We discuss the campy holiday kids movie Santa Clause (1959), the horror b-movie disaster Curse of the Doll People (1961), 70's nunsploitation films Satanitco Pandemonium (1975) and Alucarda (1977), and modern day sexual satanic thriller Here Comes The Devil (2013), all in our quest to discover what makes Satan's grasp so damn appealing.

In celebration of winter we explore films of The Arctic, specifically those which portray the native peoples of that region, from Nanook of the North, through the unfortunately short career of Alaskan actor Ray Mala, to the films of Iñuk director Zacharias Kunuk.

Chapter 1: Allakariallak (7:39)

Chapter 2: Agnasquiac (23:26)

Chapter 3: Atanarjuat (45:45)

Chapter 4: Ethan (1:18:08)

A seminal Japanese punk film entertains and then annoys us, calling into question our strictly attentive approach to film-viewing. We investigate the film's component parts in a brief survey of experimental film, cyberpunk, and early music video aesthetics, and try to imagine scenarios and spaces where Burst City (1982) would best fit.

Chapter 1: How do you watch Experimental Film? (2:35)

Chapter 2: Cyberpunk vs. Japanese Cyberpunk (13:55)

Chapter 3: How do you watch Burst City? (20:11)

The third part of our three-part extensive history and analysis of the Slasher genre. In this episode we examine the mood of the eighties, spend a long night in the woods, have a few nightmares, and finally cull the good from the bad.

Chapter 1: What's Your Damage? (4:00)

Chapter 2: A Long Night at Camp Blood (16:38)

Chapter 3: Beyond the Wall of Sleep (1:18:20)

Chapter 4: The Good, the Bad, and the Ok (1:29:03)