My good friend Chris, who I’ve known since school, loves his music and he came up with a tough challenge last year. What would my Desert Island Disc choices be if I were stranded in isolation, surrounded by sea, on a beach with no rescue in sight? Not only that, could a few scribbles be put with each track to illuminate why certain tracks made the cut.

He mentioned this at the start of 2011 and set a deadline of the final day of the year. So I did a lot of mulling and of course left it til the last minute to nail my colours to the mast. Wow, it was a hard thing to do but the journey was great fun.

Having to commit to only 8 tracks was unbelievably difficult. So tough that I’ve listed some back-ups at the end of this post, just in case my original CD gets lost on the island.

In the end I picked as if sifting through my musical memory. Which tracks had stood out for me since I first discovered the joy of music?

Sweet Thing by Van Morrison (1968)
Rock On by David Essex (1973)
Take Five by Dave Brubeck (1959)
Secret World by Peter Gabriel (1992)
Seashell by Skylab (1994)
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) by Talking Heads (1983)
Spooky by Dusty Springfield (1970)
Tomorrow Morning by The Blue Nile (1996)

Van Morrison “Sweet Thing” off Astral Weeks (1968)
After reading many glowing reviews I was really looking forward to hearing Astral Weeks. First listen and I hated it, what a load of rubbish, garbled, conceptual, rough. But never one to give up on a good thing I kept going and loved it after a year, now ten years on, it’s probably my favourite album of all time.

David Essex “Rock On” his first single (1973)
I’ve included this as I was a massive David Essex fan growing up, complete with teenage crush. Claire (H my best friend at school) was always a Donny Osmond girl so we had endless talks on who was best. Weird thing is, both David and Donny are still going strong decades later. Bet we aren’t saying that about Matt Cardle down the line. As for the song, I still think it is superb, just a terrific pop single, way ahead of it’s time, as proved by the number of times it’s been sampled in the digital age.

Dave Brubeck “take five” (1959)
Always reminds me of my Dad. He was Beach Boys, Rolling Stones and jazz whilst Mum was Bee Gees, Glen Campbell, Stevie Wonder and Leo Sayer. A great bit of music, superb emotional playing by all concerned. Timeless.

Peter Gabriel “Secret World” off Us (1992)
PG is someone I admire tremendously. He has used his time and position for so many good things, his voice is a thing of beauty and though not perfect it always sounds heartfelt and full of soul. He’s written many great tracks and never produces work without a great deal of thought, a forest could grow in the gap between his albums. But it is always worth the wait.  This track is typical Gabriel; emotional delivery, heartfelt lyrics and has been known to make me cry.  A neck tingler of the highest order.

Skylab “Seashell” off skylab No1 (1994)
From the very first moment I heard this I loved it. Dreamy beats, very atmospheric, I’m right there on the beach. Well on the desert island this will be perfect. Very visual for me with lots of lovely scenes and places I’ve visited popping into my head.

Talking Heads This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) off Speaking in Tongues (1983)
Captures the isolation and loneliness of being away from home. One of my all time favourite bands. I think I will find it supportive to listen to this whilst on the island. Makes me think of the people and environments that make a home a good place to be. David Byrne is such a talent, great writer and lyricist. A big regret is I never got to see them live.

Dusty Springfield “Spooky” a B-side from single How Can I Be Sure (1970)
If I ever get married, this will be my choice for first dance. It’s just so happy and lovely. What a delicate and distinctive vocal from Dusty. So cool. Great sax solo. The only female vocalist to make my DID list. What can I say, seems I’m a baritone kind of girl!

Blue Nile “Tomorrow Morning” off Peace at Last (1996)
Probably my favourite vocalist ever is Paul Buchanan. Tough choice to pick which song to represent the Blue Nile. I went for this as despite the melancholia it is hopeful, maybe the rescue ship will arrive tomorrow. Minor keys, romance, regret, atmosphere, stories. It’ll all here.

Back-Up Disc in case Disc One gets lost.
Peter Gabriel “Zaar” off Passion (1989)
Richard Thompson “Mystery Wind” off Rumour & Sigh (1991)
The Beatles “Come Together” off Abbey Road (1969)
Martha Wainwright “Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole” off Martha Wainwright (2004)
The Smiths “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” off The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Fleet Foxes “White Winter Hymnal” off Fleet Foxes (2008)
M “Pop Muzik” single (1979)
Georgie Fame “In the Meantime” single (1965)

9/10 Blue Valentine

Dir: Derek Cianfrance  (USA)
Actors: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams

Plot: The story of a young, blue-collar couple living in smalltown America which cuts back and forth between the start of their relationship and their troubled present.

My thoughts: Realistic, Quirky, Moving, Slow. Nice Filming. Great Acting. The unfolding story is engaging and in contrast with the majority of Hollywood films the central relationship feels natural, boosted by real charisma between the two leads.

8.5/10  Snowtown

Dir: Justin Kurzel  (Australia)
Actors: Craig Coyne, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris, Lucas Pittaway

Plot: A charismatic drifter brings horror to an Australian suburb in this shocking take on a notorious real-life crime.

My thoughts: An exceptionally difficult watch, not sure I’d recommend to everyone, but v glad I saw it as it adds real insight into a horrid topic which one probably would not take time to read about.  Powerful stuff, very atmospheric NOT the side of Australia you usually see, deprived, no hope, dysfunctional families and society.  The acting is brilliant and uncomfortably real, probably due to the fact that only the lead is a professional actor. Lasts long in the memory and with much to think over. Outstanding film-making from a debut Director.

8.5/10  The Skin That I Live In

Dir: Pedro Almodovar (Spain)
Actors: Antonia Banderas, Elena Anaya.

Plot: Almodovar in dazzlingly idiosyncratic form; a sexual melodrama on gender issues and human identity. Features the visual austerity of his more recent work with elements of sheer Almodovarian entertainment.

My thoughts: Gothic, horror and humour make for a weird mix but one I hugely enjoyed.  Thoughtful and distinctive, a true auteur Almodovar makes films for himself with no compromise.

8.5/10  We Need To Talk About Kevin

Dir: Lynne Ramsay
Actors: Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller, John C Reilly,

Plot:The mother of a troubled teenage boy tries to deal with her feelings of responsibility for her child’s actions, based on Lionel Shriver’s award-winning 2003 novel.

My thoughts: Dealing with blame, guilt, gender roles, society pressures and stereotypes, this is a provocative and often bleak film with no easy answers but stimulating in its approach. A superb adaptation, extremely visual and bold which enhances the narrative.

Lynne Ramsey’s first film since 1992 Morvern Caller it marks her out once again as a powerful director with an individual vision. Deliberately confusing in parts and featuring many crimson-tinged flashbacks, the ride is not smooth, but it forces the audience to think. A chilling and powerful antithesis to the “happy family” Hollywood blockbusters we usually get presented with. The novel and film provides a voice for thoughts, feelings and discussions which are seldom heard and for that alone it deserves a place in my Top 6. Never mind the powerful and nuanced performance of Tilda Swinton who totally convinces in a difficult and complex role. She effortlessly reveals the contrasting layers of emotion such a horrific scenario must provoke.

8/10 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Dir: Tomas Alfredson (France | UK | Germany)
Actors: Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Colin Firth, Ciaran Hinds, David Dencik, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong.

Plot: A flawless cast and stylish direction creates a masterful new rendering of le Carre’s classic spy thriller.

My thoughts: Slow but engrossing and complex, woven beautifully together by “Let The Right One In” director Tomas Alfredson.  Gorgeous muted colour palette, attention to detail and sharp framing entertain the eye.  Each role is perfectly cast and every actor is flawless, especially Oldman who gives Smiley an intense mesmeric centre ensuring we are totally drawn into this Cold War chess.

8/10  127 Hours

Dir: Danny Boyle (USA | UK)
Actors: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn.

Plot: A mountain climber becomes trapped while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive. Based on a true story.

My thoughts: Danny Boyle’s best film since “Trainspotting”. He brings this story to life and keeps the audience gripped with stylish direction and superb editing. The bulk of the film is set in one location and in the hands of a less-skilled director it could easily have become laboured. Boyle uses lots of tricks and techniques to allow the tale to unfold whilst the tension racks up. The clever script allows plenty of scope for the emotions of the narrative to be shared with the audience.  James Franco imbues the role with charisma and physicality, creating a courageous and strong-willed character with a huge will to live. Engrossing and inspirational.

And the Rest:

7.5/10    The Kings Speech

7/10        True Grit,   The Guard,   Drive,    Hugo 3D

6 ¾/10    The American,    Contagion,

6.5/10     Submarine,   Senna,   Jane Eyre,   Ides of March

6/10        The Way Back,   The Fighter,   The Big Picture

5.5/10    How I Ended This Summer,   Sarah’s Key

5/10       Black Swan

4.5/10   Wuthering Heights (such a massive disappointment as I loved the Directors last film “Fish Tank” which was my Best Film for 2009)

 
 

My Best Music Tracks of 2011:

In no particular order, I’ve enjoyed listening to these over the year. If you click on a track you can hear the song in full.

Iron & Wine – Tree By The River

John Grant – I Wanna Go To Marz

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Bats In The Attic

Warpaint – Undertow

My Morning Jacket – Holdin On To Black Metal

James Vincent McMorrow – This Old Dark Machine

Wild Beasts – Lions Share

Nathaniel Rateliff – Early Spring Till

The Knocks – Dancing With The DJ

Little Dragon – Ritual Union

Cloud Control – Ghost Story

Adele – Rolling In The Deep

Lana Del Rey – Video Games

Braids – Glass Deers

The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow

Richard Swift – Lady Luck

The Boxer Rebellion – No Harm

 
 
This is a good chance to see two interesting photography exhibitions at the same time, both free @ Cube Gallery, Manchester.  These shows previewed last night and are well worth popping in for.  Cube Gallery is on Portland Street and a lovely space for exhibiting.  But be quick as the final day is this coming Saturday 18th June 2011.  I particularly enjoyed the work of the two photographers below:  

©Colin Jarvis  www.colinjarvis.co.uk from “Touching Space” exhibition

©Pat Moss   www.patmoss.co.uk from “Touching Space” exhibition

The peregrine pair, who have nested in Manchester since 2005, have returned to the city to raise a family once again.  The two birds have decided to use the original nest box built for them in 2008, at a secret (but tall) building right in the heart of the city centre.  This chosen box luckily has a new video camera pointing right at the nest. It’s a joint operation between Manchester Digital Development Agency and the RSPB and allows live streaming of the nest for anyone who has internet access. The adult female laid the first egg on 22 March 2011, one soon became four and they all safely hatched on 30 April 2011.  Two male and two female.

Since then the little chicks have gained confidence, weight and endured the full range of Manchester weather from heatwave to downpours to gales.  All chicks are still growing and they have had rings fitted for safe tracking by trained RSPB handlers.

I have watched the live stream on the webcam when I can and I do seem to always see the same (yes, the smallest) chick timidly staying at the back of the bunch.  I do hope this wee thing discovers that it is survival of the fittest; it MUST become more assertive or maybe Mum and Dad give it a sneaky extra snack.  I hope so.

Estimates for possible fledging are around mid-June 2011.

Friendly RSPB staff and volunteers have a viewing telescope set up every day during the nesting, the team can be found outside the Triangle Shopping Centre in Exchange Square, Manchester from 11am to 6pm.  To be 100% sure the RSPB team will be there;  you can give them a call on 01484 861148.

The One Show did a short feature in 2008 which is available via YouTube, on the Manchester Peregrines with urban birder David Lindo, it is around 5 minutes long and well worth a watch.

Oh and I nearly forgot, the birds are on Twitter too: @mcrperegrines

Flickr photostream here with photos and video footage.

For my previous blog post and comments from 2010 nesting please click here.

LATEST: Wed 25th May 2011.  Just looking on the live stream and three of the birds are off on a walkabout out of the nest and onto the rooftop surrounding the box.  Hope they come back to be fed!

LATEST: Fri 17th June 2011.  All birds successfully fledged, high chance of spotting them if you look into the Manchester skies.  Popular perch spots on the Arndale and also the Premier Inn.  RSPB and telescopes are there in Exchange Square for closer viewing opportunities of the birds.

Due to popular demand, here are all the fine beards (and a few ‘taches’) which made it through to be featured in the Beards of Manchester charity calendar. I shot all twelve images within a tight 3 week timeframe in order to hit the deadline for printing of the calendar prior to the launch last month. We went out and shot amongst Manchester’s finest urban nooks and crannies and braved whatever the weather could throw at us.

Can I thank once again everyone involved; Sam and Chris for having the vision to bring BoM to life and who dreamt up such a brilliant idea, Common Bar for the support and exhibition and to all the magnificent hairy faces featured in the calendar and on the website. The fantastic coverage and interest is all down to you.

We are hoping for plenty of sales now Christmas is fast approaching, it’ll make a cracking stocking-filler, a guarenteed smile fest! All the money raised goes to Lifeshare a fantastic local charity helping the homeless in Manchester and Salford.

You can buy the charity calendar in 20+ places all over Manchester, the full list is over on the Beards of Manchester website. Massive thanks to all those stocking it for their support. For those not living close to Manchester, you can buy it online, as Fred Aldous is kindly selling the calendar at the shop and on their website.

More information on the project and the launch can be found in an earlier post here and of course there is loads more info on the Beards of Manchester site.

UPDATE: The calendar completely sold out and raised over £2,000 for the charity Lifeshare.  Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word, sold or bought a calendar, a terrific effort for a great cause.