The Other Late-Period Masterpiece from Kurosawa

I've just watched Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha (The Double) for the nth time, and continue to be moved by a wonderful film. The central characters are the feared warlord Shingen, and the petty thief who, by virtue of his uncanny resemblance, is co-opted as a strategic double and ends up with the weight of an entire clan on his shoulders. A rich and thought-provoking work which may be many things to many people, it is to me above all a rumination on society's need for individuals, and individuals' need for society.


Kurosawa portrays superbly the brutality and cunning on which power has always depended - the struggle between Shingen, Ieyasu and Nobunaga (not to mention Shingen's son) provides a compelling milieu. Tatsuya Nakadai is marvellous as both Shingen and his hapless double, and shines in some truly unforgettable scenes. Music relies heavily on a single motif but is highly effective, if without the brilliance lent by Takemitsu to the soundtrack of Ran (a film that begs comparison with this one).

This is essential viewing for lovers of life, art and cinema.

I have the 2002 Region 2 DVD, which has a more than decent transfer of the film. The image is very stable (with some very minor artefacting), but there is a persistent lack of definition which makes the film look far older than its 30 years. Criterion have issued a Region A Blu Ray edition, and a Region 1 DVD, both of which are supposed to be typically excellent.

EDIT: Kagemusha shared the Palme d'Or with All That Jazz at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.

Downtown New York City Avant-Funk-Lounge-Rock-Surf-Jazz-Thrash

John Zorn’s band Naked City was what all the cool kids were listening to in the early 90’s, and myself in the late 90’s. Their album Radio is a great showcase for this marvellously entertaining, true fusion band., The quality of the playing is immense – huge talents executing with brio, and the kind of timing found on the best jazz records. No surprises there... Naked City contained some of New York's best jazz musicians! Remember though: the cutting edge is also the bleeding edge – some of the more avant-garde aspects of this record may not be for the faint of heart. Very highly recommended for adventurous listeners.

Cuban Music So Good It'll Send Shivers Down Your Spine

Don’t let the butt-ugly cover-design put you off. Eliades Ochoa's "The Lion is Loose!" is amongst the richest, most powerful recordings of Son Cubano, the style with which the Buena Vista Social Club swept the world off its feet. Ochoa leads a crack traditional group in this worthy updating of the Son, his guitar solos impressive showcases for his feel for this music and his technique, his rich, husky vocals very fine indeed. Ochoa is in fact guitarist for the Buena Vista group and this was recorded several years earlier than the famous BVSC release. This would be an excellent follow-up purchase. In fact, I’d very much recommend it first!


Next up, Duo Los Compadres! This group is one of the immortal ones, and these early 50’s recordings of Cuban Son capture a kind of perfection, a sound that feels as if it could be no other way. The disc features the two principals (Lorenzo Hierrezuelo, and Francisco Repilado) singing and playing mostly their own now-classic (and often achingly beautiful) compositions, always accompanied by two or three other musicians on bass and percussion. At some point you'll hear them exhorting each other towards greater musical heights: "Olé, Compay Primo!", "Olé, Compay Segundo..!" - YES, Francisco Repilado is none other than that much-loved musical ambassador who became a global phenomenon 40 years later!
This is _very much not_ a CD only for the historically inclined, but it is interesting to compare a few of these original versions with more recent recordings (e.g. Ochoa’s – see above) of the same songs.