Posted in Paper Chase

Vladimir Nabokov – Lolita

Posted on by Michael

“Just like the old man in that book by Nabokov” goes the lyrics to The Police’s hit song, “Don’t Stand So Close To Me”.  One of the most famous and controversial books of the last century, Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 book Lolita is often hailed as a literary classic. The plot follows Humbert Humbert as he crosses the Atlantic to America after a failed first marriage. He becomes a tenant in a house owned by Charlotte with a young daughter Delores who catches Humbert’s eye, and lust, who he then refers to as “Lolita”. After a doomed marriage to Charlotte, he runs off with Lolita staying in motels across the US as he lives out his sexual fantasies with the 12-year-old girl.

In reviews of the book, morality is put the side as high-minded readers marvel at the stylistic prose of Nabakov who writes the story through the eyes of Humbert. The lurid material is shocking at times as one wonders how he could not act as a protector of his step child. At other times, the storytelling is amusing, in a cocksure Morrissey kind of way. A challenging book that continues to divide opinion, one that I did find hard to put down as it continued though I’m not sure I ever truly enjoyed it. Read at your own discretion .

7/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Pink Floyd – More (1969)

Posted on by Michael

The More soundtrack is the third studio album from Pink Floyd. The quickly recorded, semi-improvised disc feature several instrumentals with David Gilmour handling all vocal duties on the other tracks. Of the instrumentals, opener “Cirrus Minor” stands out.  Starting with birds chirping, the Richard Wright farfisa organ gives it a pastoral feel. “Main Theme” has a sci-fi feel and sounds a bit like the band’s past work. “Up The Khyber” gets some sped up jazzy drumming courtesy of Nick Mason, a few of the other instrumentals are more geared towards incidental movie music.

Two tracks take on a proto-meal guitar crunch with “The Nile Song” being the pick, Gilmour’s vocals stretching to much the riffing. Taking writing credits for most of side one, two of Roger Water’s best tracks on More are found in the middle of the album. “Green Is The Colour” has some acoustic guitar and great piano playing in the outro, a really nice tune. Best is the atmospheric “Cymbaline”.  More great keys and the simple chorus hook of “.. and it’s high time…”.  A deep, hidden gem in the catalogue.

7/10

Posted in Album Reviews

David Bowie – Re:Call 3 (2017)

Posted on by Michael

Re:Call 3 appears in the David Bowie box set A New Career In A New Town (1977-1982) released in 2017. Like it’s Re:Call predecessors, it mops up various single versions, EP tracks and rarities. This period covers some of Bowie’s greatest works which means this collection is a treasure trove of some of his greatest hits starting with one of his best singles, “Heroes” and followed by an extended version of “Beauty And The Beast”. Not to be outdone, singles from Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) appear including the single version of “Ashes To Ashes” and the title track.

“Space Oddity” appears in a 1979 version, not as spacey as the original, it is far more raw. A great addition to the set is the “Under Pressure” single recorded with Queen that came about when Bowie stopped by the studio one day. This is then followed by tracks from Baal’s EP released in 1980, based on songs from playwright Bertolt Brecht.  The five theatrical songs do not fit with the other tracks found on this compilation and would have been better on its own disc. That quibble aside, Re:Call 3 contains some of Bowie’s most legendary 70s moments.

8/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Buffalo Springfield – Last Time Around (1968)

Posted on by Michael

Buffalo Springfield was broken-up by the time their final album, Last Time Around, was released in 1968.  Made up of previous recordings, the album was a contractual obligation put together by Jim Messina and Richie Furay.  Just two Neil Young compositions appear. Sung by Furay, “On The Way Home” is a terrific song, complete with horns for added pleasure. Towards the end of the record, the easy going Young sung “I Am A Child” appears.

Almost half the tracks are Stephen Stills songs with the best being the dreamy ballad, “Pretty Girl Why”. “Four Days Gone” tells the tale of a draft dodger returning home to see his baby and “Special Care” gets some organ added and much guitar riffing.  Two Richie Furay tracks appear towards the end including “Merry-Go-Round” and the excellent country rock ballad, “Kind Woman”. The last album in the Buffalo Springfield cannon does not have the strengths of their previous recordings but still a few worthwhile tracks to hear.

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

The Last Dinner Party – From The Pyre (2025)

Posted on by Michael

Last October, London band, The Last Dinner Party, returned with their second album – From The Pyre. The initial recordings got derailed when producer James Ford was diagnosed with leukemia who’s hopefully doing better after a tough 2025. The band then worked with another big name producer in Markus Drays. The album manages to avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx with several terrific songs including the soft rock opener “Agnus Dei” that manages to rhyme “Ohio” with “Disembowelled” plus the driving thunder chorus of “Second Best”.

The album shares similarities with their debut in that the five ladies are theatrical in nature, mixing 70s soft rock with harder edges. Single, “This Is The Killer Speaking” is jaunty, with a flash of style. The album closes with a few strong tracks including the slower “Sail Away” that sees singer Abigail Morris sing defiantly that “I would take my ship/Have no one else on it” before “The Scythe” picks up the pace. From The Pyre does an excellent job of picking up where the debut left off and offering up a better distillation of their sound.

8/10