Another childhood icon bites the dust: Ray Harryhausen.

I know it’s a cliche to talk about hiding behind the couch in terror when you were a kid but I remember literally doing that during the skeleton fight scene in Jason & The Argonauts when it was on the telly at my Gran’s house one Christmas.

But the giant statue was my favourite bit, and I still think it’s impressive.

Download: Closest Thing To Heaven (12″ version) – The Kane Gang (mp3)

Remember that period in the mid-80s when lots of white British acts were trying to sound all retro soulful? Adding black backing singers and horn sections to their records, name-dropping Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, talking about passion all the time. Was that Paul Weller’s fault? Or the Levi’s 501 adverts?

Whoever started it, this was one of the best records to come out of that phase.

I know that strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government, and that supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony, but this does get me all misty-eyed and patriotically-roused every single time.

Given the recent news I tried to squeeze a Richard III joke into this post but came up blank.

I’ve never seen Privilege so I’m not sure what the significance of hot chocolate is, but out of context it does sound a bit silly and Python-esque and I keep imagining that Jean Shrimpton is thinking “Ooh, I love a man who drinks hot chocolate.”

Personally I’d rather have a cup of tea.

I loved this movie and am thrilled that finally — 14 years later! – writer/director Whit Stillman has another one coming out. If it’s half as good as this (and his other two) I’ll be a very happy bunny.

RIP Robert Sherman, the man who wrote the soundtrack of our childhoods.

Discovered at It’s Nice That, this trailer for the documentary “Sound It Out” about the last record shop on Teeside (“I tend to sell a lot of hard music, but it’s a hard area”) which has just come out on DVD. It looks wonderful and right up my alley, pity it’s only out in the UK though.

Last time I was in Brighton (many, many years ago) I was walking around with some mates when one of them said “Oh look, it’s the alley where Phil Daniels shagged Leslie Ash!” and there it was, the scene of Jimmy’s quick knee-trembler with Steph in Quadrophenia. We wandered down to take a look but, as there were no girls to hand, didn’t try to reenact the scene.

Apparently it’s quite the famous spot. There should be a plaque on the wall or something.

Download: Love, Reign O’er Me – The Who (mp3)