Great new music – Worldcub

Cavorting sweetly between the dreamy psych-pop of Stereolab, the melodic brilliance of Hotel Shampoo era Gruff Rhys, and the hypnotic grooves of Can and Os Mutantes, Welsh four-piece, Worldcub, are my new favourite musical find.

Led by brothers Cynyr and Dion Hamer, the band began life as ‘CaStLeS’, drawing inspiration from 70s/80s Paul McCartney and the DIY ethos of William Onyeabor. From their home studio in the hills of Eryri, they blend surf guitar, kraut-rock grooves, and rich, hypnotic psych-tinged vocal harmonies to create their sound. And they’re an absolute must listen for fans of all things psychedelic and progressive (with a small ‘p’).

Their predominantly Welsh language debut album ‘Fforesteering’ came out in 2016, and as a newcomer to it earlier this week, I was bowled over. The reverb soaked harmonies and shape-shifting lo-fi grooves left me in a gentle daze on first listen, and I’ve gone back to it frequently since and found different nuggets every time.

Back in March the band released ‘Back To The Beginning‘, a song so smile-inducing it should come with a health warning. And just last month they followed it up with ‘One Small Mistake‘, another slice of head-nodding, earworm excellence that’s got me hoping a new album is on the horizon.

Check out all of Worldcub‘s releases to date on their Bandcamp page here.

D Double E – Lyrics Galore – new video

Corridor – Jump Cut – new video

Cracking tune and my favourite video of the year so far (by a distance)…

Crumb – The Bug – new video

Great new music – The Wesleys

Montreal’s garage-pop provocateurs, The Wesleys, have just released their excellent self-titled debut LP on Little Village Records. The album draws inspiration from iconic bands like, The Clean, Teenage Fanclub, The Pixies, and The Replacements, blending power pop, indie, and slacker rock across it’s nine tracks, and whilst I’ve not seen them live I imagine their shows are noisy and a lot of fun.

Girard, one of the band’s founding members, shared the backstory behind the band’s name, and the formative experiences that laid the foundation for The Wesleys‘ sound, “It’s a sad story to be completely honest with you. I had a friend named Wesley who passed away really young when he was 20 years old. And he was the one who actually got me into music in the first place. I didn’t come from a musical household or anything. Wesley got me into jamming for the first time, lent me a bass guitar, taught me some basic scales, and then I would go over to his place and he lived at this mansion. And at the time, there were I think like eight or nine people living there. It was in Killarney in Vancouver and the living room was just stacked up to the ceiling with amps. And we would jam there. It was like the best time I’d ever had in my life. And that’s what my friend Wesley did for me; he introduced me to my life.”

The band’s new animated video for “A Lot To Lose,” was crafted by Phil Osborn, a prop, video, and puppet artist based in Montreal. Check it out below:

Top Five – films about dreaming

Since the dawn of mankind, humanity has been captivated by dreams and dreaming. From the literary works of Chaucer and Shakespeare to modern masters like Haruki Murakami and Charlie Kaufman, the exploration of dreaming has inspired some of the world’s most profound art. Offering glimpses into the inner workings of the human mind, exploring themes of identity, desire, and the nature of existence itself. As filmmaker Christopher Nolan once remarked, “Dreams feel real while we’re in them. It’s only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.“

In our latest Top Five blog, we’ve immersed ourselves into the cinematic exploration of dreams, where visionary filmmakers seamlessly blur the boundaries between reality and imagination. But before we delve into our favourite five, let’s take a moment to acknowledge some honorable mentions that almost made our list – Federico Fellini‘s early 60’s surrealist masterwork, “8 1/2,” Michel Gondry‘s oddball love story, “The Science of Sleep,” Richard Linklater‘s rotoscope animated film, “Waking Life,” and Paul Verhoeven‘s 80’s sci-fi-action classic, “Total Recall.” Now onto our five faves…

Christopher Nolan‘s “Inception” from 2010 takes the Number Five spot on our list, dazzling audiences with its intricate narrative and groundbreaking visual effects. Set in a world where technology allows skilled individuals to enter and manipulate dreams, the film follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he navigates the subconscious realm. Through layers of dreams within dreams, “Inception” explores themes of memory, guilt, and the power of the mind. Nolan’s masterful direction and the film’s mind-bending plot make it a gripping exploration of the labyrinthine depths of the human psyche.

Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar‘s “Open Your Eyes” crashes in at Number Four on our list, offering a haunting journey that hovers and flips unsettlingly between dreams and reality. After a tragic accident leaves him disfigured, César (Eduardo Noriega) struggles to discern what is real and what is merely a figment of his imagination. As dreams and memories intertwine, “Open Your Eyes” delves into themes of identity, perception, and existential dread. The film’s so good it got an American remake (Cameron Crowe‘s entertaining but inferior, Vanilla Sky).

Satoshi Kon‘s stunning 2006 movie “Paprika” claims our Number Three spot, enchanting audiences with its stunning animation and dreamily chaotic narrative. Set in a future where a device allows therapists to enter patients’ dreams, the film follows Dr. Atsuko Chiba (voiced by Megumi Hayashibara). As dreams manifest into reality after the device is stolen by a dream terrorist, mayhem ensues, and Dr. Chiba is forced to enter the dream world as Paprika, a dream detective, to investigate and solve the case.

Our Number Two is one of the biggest films ever made and a timeless classic. Directed by Victor Fleming, “The Wizard of Oz“, follows young Dorothy (Judy Garland) as she is whisked away to the magical land of Oz. Through ridiculously catchy musical numbers and unforgettable characters, the film captures the wonder and whimsy of childhood dreams, exploring themes of courage, friendship, and the power of imagination (whilst making toddlers cry at witches and flying monkeys).

Dream obsessive David Lynch‘s Golden Globe nominated “Mulholland Drive” takes our Number One spot on our list with its haunting exploration of dreams, identity, and illusion. Set amidst the backdrop of Los Angeles, the film follows aspiring actress Betty (Naomi Watts) as she encounters an amnesiac woman (Laura Harring) with a mysterious past. As their lives become intertwined and reality fractures, “Mulholland Drive” blurs the lines between dreams and waking life, leading to a mesmerizing journey of self-discovery and surrealism. It took me two or three watches to truly appreciate it’s muti-layered madness, but I’m glad I put in the effort.

That’s our five, what are yours?

Beth Gibbons – Reaching Out – new video

Crumb – AMAMA – new video

Blokeacola – Lost Connection – new video

Last October Blokeacola released a 30 track double album called ‘Quasars and Fluff‘ filled to the brim with psych-pop excellence. ‘Lost Connection‘ is one of the album’s highlights and it’s now been released as a single. Check out ‘Quasars and Fluff’ over on Bandcamp and watch the video for the single below:

Top Five – visually groundbreaking films

Welcome to Slacker Shack‘s selection of five of the most visually groundbreaking films in cinematic history. Films that have reshaped the landscape of cinema and raised the bar for all those who’ve followed. Throughout the history of filmmaking, there have been pivotal moments where technological advancements and artistic ingenuity have converged, leading to revolutionary changes in how stories are told on the silver screen. From pioneering special effects to innovative cinematography techniques, these films have set new standards for visual storytelling and continue to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. Here’s our hallowed Five…

Kicking off our list at Number Five is Terry Gilliam’s dystopian masterpiece from 1985, “Brazil.” Set in an Orwellian, bureaucratic society, the film transports viewers to a surreal and bleak fantasy world filled with towering skyscrapers, labyrinthine bureaucracy, and bizarre dream sequences. What sets “Brazil” apart is its innovative blend of practical effects and imaginative production design. From the intricate mechanical contraptions to the elaborate costumes, every detail of the film’s nightmarish landscape feels meticulously crafted. Gilliam’s visionary direction, combined with the groundbreaking visual effects, makes “Brazil” a true feast for the eyes.

Our Number Four pick, Robert Zemeckis’ “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” is a groundbreaking blend of live-action and animation that pushed the boundaries of visual effects in filmmaking. And it’s a true one-off (God knows how the makers got the rights to the hundreds of famous cartoon characters all featured for starters). Set in a world where cartoons coexist with humans, the pre-CGI comedy-thriller seamlessly integrates animated characters into live-action settings, creating a vibrant, eye-widening world unlike anything seen before or since. What makes “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” truly groundbreaking is its innovative use of compositing techniques, allowing animated characters to interact convincingly with real-world objects and actors, and the absolutely phenomenal performances of Bob Hoskins and Christopher Lloyd, who turned what could’ve been a expensive mess into a masterpiece.

In at Number Three, Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” revolutionized the science fiction genre back in 1982 with its intricate world building and breathtaking depiction of a dystopian future. Set in a neon-soaked, rain-drenched Los Angeles, the film immerses viewers in a world populated by replicants, flying cars, and towering skyscrapers, and its groundbreaking use of miniatures, matte paintings, and practical effects combine to create a futuristic metropolis that feels both bleak and mesmerizing. The film’s iconic visual style, inspired by film noir and Japanese aesthetics, has influenced countless filmmakers and artists since, cementing its status as a timeless classic (even if it did flop when first released).

Our Number Two selection, Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” needs no introduction. Renowned for its groundbreaking cinematography and innovative use of lighting and composition the film revolutionised cinema and made Welles a superstar. Set against the backdrop of a newspaper tycoon’s rise and fall, the quasi-biographical film employs deep focus photography and dynamic camera movements to create a sense of depth and complexity completely unseen in cinema at the time. The film’s bold experimentation with camera techniques, from its iconic low-angle shots to its inventive use of chiaroscuro lighting was way ahead of it’s time, and Welles’ visionary direction and Gregg Toland’s pioneering cinematography have inspired generations of filmmakers since.

And our Number One pick… Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” stands as the pinnacle of visual excellence in filmmaking, pushing the boundaries of special effects and technical innovation to create a cinematic experience unlike any other – and one that still takes the breath away over fifty five years after it’s first release. Set against the backdrop of space exploration, the film dazzles viewers with its groundbreaking use of elaborate practical effects, intricate miniatures, and stunning visual design. The film’s unique depiction of space travel, from the iconic spacecraft and HAL, through to the mesmerizing stargate sequence and the slow, haunting way the story unravels, still leaves me in awe after countless viewings. Kubrick’s obsessive and meticulous attention to detail and pioneering use of FX earned the film critical acclaim in 1968 and in the years since it’s solidified its status as one the greatest films ever made, featuring in the top 10 of countless ‘Best of’ film lists time and time again.

So, that’s our five. There are countless others that could easily make the list too – what would make yours?