Good afternoon ladies and gentle readers, I hope I find you well on this fine summer day. Speaking of summer that also means we're in the midst of festival season which includes Glastonbury. I don't know if I've mentioned on the blog before but I'm a huge Paul Weller (in ALL of his incarnations) fan and was a tad disappointed with the set he played during Glastonbury which can be seen here;
White Sky
The Changing Man
From the Floorboards Up
I'm Where I Should Be
Long Time
Thats Entertainment
Above the Clouds
Saturns Pattern
Going My Way
Friday Street
Porcelain Gods
Broken Stones
You Do Something To Me
Start
Peacock Suit
Whirlpools End
Town Called Malice
Now personally I say if your playing a main stage at Glastonbury it has to be a "best of" set with all the hits. Theres to much of his solo stuff in that set and quite a lot that isn't well known to a casual audience - which is a killer when playing Glastonbury. So I've put together my ideal Paul Weller set list. With caveat that its mostly hits and stuff that goes down well live, I hope you enjoy;
Speak Like A Child
The Changing Man
Out of the Sinking
Thats Entertainment
A Solid Bond in Your Heart
My Ever Changing Moods
Long Hot Summer
Stanley Road
Wild Wood
You Do Something To Me
Your the Best Thing
Broken Stones
Start
This is the Modern World
Going Underground
Walls Come Tumbling Down
Shout to the Top
Town Called Malice
Wednesday, 8 July 2015
Saturday, 27 June 2015
Why Three's Latest Advert Annoys The Living Crap Out of Me
Picture the scene ladies and gentle reader, there I was flicking through the channels one evening and during an advert break I hear the opening chimes of 'Alright' by East 17. Curiosity suitable piqued I watched the titular advert and after it finished threw my phone at the TV and yelled abuse at it for fifteen seconds. Here's the advert in question;
A Muppet walks through the streets depressed and has his umbrella torn to pieces by a dog whilst the opening chimes of 'Alright' play. Now walking through the rain a car splashes him in a puddle and he gets soaked by aforementioned rain. We then get a flashback to him leaving home where his father tells him 'make it right son.'
Whoa whoa whoa whoa!!!! Make what right? If he's wet walking about in the rain go into a cafe and have a cup of tea, go home, buy another umbrella DO NOT BUY A MOBILE PHONE! No doubt a sales man can give you a good text and minutes bundle but your still going to get wet!
He then raises his fist in a lane (don't worry its not THAT kind of an advert) and has the tempo speeds up declares 'ITS GONNA BE ALRIGHT!'
A little girl then drops her ice cream and starts crying, the Muppet walks up and instead of buying her another ice cream pats her on the back and tells her 'its gonna be alright.'
A cheer leader falls off her friends shoulders and instead of administering first aid or calling for an ambulance he goes on singing!
Then we get a couple in a car perched over a gorge in danger of falling over. Not only does the Muppet not help, not call for help but continues singing ON THE FUCKING BONNET! NOT ONLY IS HE NOT HELPING, NOT MAKING IT 'ALRIGHT,' HE'S IN DANGER OF BLOODY KILLING SOMEONE!
The finale is the Muppet singing 'Alright' in a crowd of people singing and dancing along with him. No mention is made of the couple he killed or if he's purchased another umbrella.
In all seriousness whoever came up with this advert needs their marketing degree stuffed up their backside, get demoted back to telesales and never let near the advertising industry again!
YOURS BLOOMING LIVID INNOCUOUS BYSTANDER
A Muppet walks through the streets depressed and has his umbrella torn to pieces by a dog whilst the opening chimes of 'Alright' play. Now walking through the rain a car splashes him in a puddle and he gets soaked by aforementioned rain. We then get a flashback to him leaving home where his father tells him 'make it right son.'
Whoa whoa whoa whoa!!!! Make what right? If he's wet walking about in the rain go into a cafe and have a cup of tea, go home, buy another umbrella DO NOT BUY A MOBILE PHONE! No doubt a sales man can give you a good text and minutes bundle but your still going to get wet!
He then raises his fist in a lane (don't worry its not THAT kind of an advert) and has the tempo speeds up declares 'ITS GONNA BE ALRIGHT!'
A little girl then drops her ice cream and starts crying, the Muppet walks up and instead of buying her another ice cream pats her on the back and tells her 'its gonna be alright.'
A cheer leader falls off her friends shoulders and instead of administering first aid or calling for an ambulance he goes on singing!
Then we get a couple in a car perched over a gorge in danger of falling over. Not only does the Muppet not help, not call for help but continues singing ON THE FUCKING BONNET! NOT ONLY IS HE NOT HELPING, NOT MAKING IT 'ALRIGHT,' HE'S IN DANGER OF BLOODY KILLING SOMEONE!
The finale is the Muppet singing 'Alright' in a crowd of people singing and dancing along with him. No mention is made of the couple he killed or if he's purchased another umbrella.
In all seriousness whoever came up with this advert needs their marketing degree stuffed up their backside, get demoted back to telesales and never let near the advertising industry again!
YOURS BLOOMING LIVID INNOCUOUS BYSTANDER
Saturday, 13 June 2015
The Big Finish Catch Up: May 2015
For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;
We start off this month in the main range with The 8th Doctor, Charley and C'rizz. This is a fantastic story with a first episode rather reminiscent of "The Space Museum" and has a rather unique feeling to the production. Its very much a moody and what I'd refer to as a "plot" story, thankfully its one that doesn't dip off when answers are revealed and rewards the listener when we get to the end. On finishing I was pleased to see Steve Lyons was the writer as despite being one of my favourite authors I hadn't really enjoyed an audio as much as others until "Blood of the Daleks." I found this a more instant story, intriguing, multi layered and after a first listen I gladly give it 9/10. Of note it was nice to hear Tracey Childs (who also appeared in one of Lyons earlier plays) among the guest cast.
Also on listening a few things here and there raised my suspicions and on the reading the writers notes in the sleeve they were confirmed: this story is inspired by working in a (bank) call centre. Characters disappearing from the story are obviously workers released without warning, Vannet and Revnon virtually spend the whole play worried about idle time, Kestorian is the team leader whose powers only go so far and while ruling over entry level staff is powerless in the face of the managers, Zanith is the guy who nobody is sure exactly what he does and seems to have found a hole for himself without actually doing anything and The Figurehead is the Call Centre Manager. On top of that there are a few little nods like workers moving to a different floor or site and never seeing their colleagues again. All together its a wonderfully dark take on a seemingly every day practise which Doctor Who has a track record of doing very well.
Next up is the 6th Doctor and Mel in a release featuring two stories "The Wishing Beast" being a three part story followed by the one part "The Vanity Box." I'd actually heard this before having got it on discount about five or six years ago and decided not to include it in the catch up as a long time had gone by without me hearing it. Paul Magrs is the writer and it feels like Magrs by numbers, one of the memories from my first listen was working out who the writer was very early on. Sadly its not one of Magrs better stories, its lacking a bit of oomph and despite being a three instead of a four part story "The Wishing Beast" feels padded. "The Vanity Box" is by far the more fun story and a good little piece of fluff. I try very hard not to slip into fan producer but this is a release crying out to be fixed, both stories feel lightly sketched out and the earlier story definitely needs some bite added. I'm tempted to suggest make both stories two parts but I don't think it would improve "Vanity Box." Oh and Jean Marsh plays a very good mad sister but this story comes down to the format and it lets the release down. In short rather decent if unsatisfactory and needed another edit before it was recorded.
We start off this month in the main range with The 8th Doctor, Charley and C'rizz. This is a fantastic story with a first episode rather reminiscent of "The Space Museum" and has a rather unique feeling to the production. Its very much a moody and what I'd refer to as a "plot" story, thankfully its one that doesn't dip off when answers are revealed and rewards the listener when we get to the end. On finishing I was pleased to see Steve Lyons was the writer as despite being one of my favourite authors I hadn't really enjoyed an audio as much as others until "Blood of the Daleks." I found this a more instant story, intriguing, multi layered and after a first listen I gladly give it 9/10. Of note it was nice to hear Tracey Childs (who also appeared in one of Lyons earlier plays) among the guest cast.
Also on listening a few things here and there raised my suspicions and on the reading the writers notes in the sleeve they were confirmed: this story is inspired by working in a (bank) call centre. Characters disappearing from the story are obviously workers released without warning, Vannet and Revnon virtually spend the whole play worried about idle time, Kestorian is the team leader whose powers only go so far and while ruling over entry level staff is powerless in the face of the managers, Zanith is the guy who nobody is sure exactly what he does and seems to have found a hole for himself without actually doing anything and The Figurehead is the Call Centre Manager. On top of that there are a few little nods like workers moving to a different floor or site and never seeing their colleagues again. All together its a wonderfully dark take on a seemingly every day practise which Doctor Who has a track record of doing very well.
Next up is the 6th Doctor and Mel in a release featuring two stories "The Wishing Beast" being a three part story followed by the one part "The Vanity Box." I'd actually heard this before having got it on discount about five or six years ago and decided not to include it in the catch up as a long time had gone by without me hearing it. Paul Magrs is the writer and it feels like Magrs by numbers, one of the memories from my first listen was working out who the writer was very early on. Sadly its not one of Magrs better stories, its lacking a bit of oomph and despite being a three instead of a four part story "The Wishing Beast" feels padded. "The Vanity Box" is by far the more fun story and a good little piece of fluff. I try very hard not to slip into fan producer but this is a release crying out to be fixed, both stories feel lightly sketched out and the earlier story definitely needs some bite added. I'm tempted to suggest make both stories two parts but I don't think it would improve "Vanity Box." Oh and Jean Marsh plays a very good mad sister but this story comes down to the format and it lets the release down. In short rather decent if unsatisfactory and needed another edit before it was recorded.
Sunday, 31 May 2015
The DVD Archives: Blakes 7 Season 2
So ladies and gentle readers, after finishing off season 1 off Blakes 7 I've finally got around to season 2 and here's my thoughts episode by episode:
Redemption
Continuing the tradition of the first season this first episode is completely a-typical, its also very hard scifi. Without many guest characters the Liberator crew are brought to the forefront and for much of the episode they are in a situation which is beyond them. The cliffhanger to the previous season is dealt with nicely and its a good solid episode (albeit with little plot) that is raised by the quality of the regulars. 9/10
Shadow
We're back to having a plot this week centred around Blake trying to recruit a criminal organisation as allies. Added to this the titular drug the organisation is dealing in and rather good subplot featuring Cally and Orac it continues the rather good start to the season. 9/10
Weapon
A very interesting episode bringing back Servalan and a recast Travis. Its very Liberator lite and I think it would be improved by removing every scene set on the Liberator and centering firmly on the villains. 5/10
Horizon
Everything good about this episode can be summed up in one word, one name and one character; Avon. The rest is very pedestrian. 5/10
Pressure Point
Ooooh, the first death of a regular. Its fairly obvious something is going to happen to Gan as David Jackson actually looks interested. Good episode though and Blake is looking more desperate and vulnerable to Avon by the end of it. 6/10
Trial
Its good that Blakes 7 isn't the kind of show where someone dies and it gets skirted over. The Liberator crew are upset and I genuinely buy that they could have walked out on Blake. All in all a very good dual story episode. 7/10
Killer
I do enjoy this episode, Blakes 7 doing what it does best within its means giving us a cracking episode with a few twists. Avon blackmailing his way into somewhere to steal something and Blake trying to save innocents while knowing they're loyal to the enemy. Its like a coda for the show. 10/10
Hostage
More fun with Blake and Avon but the rest of the episode is rather uninteresting. 3/10
Countdown
Another rather fun episode with a good solid plot and a good slice of action. We also find out a bit more about Avon's past and he's not a complete ruthless so and so. I'm a sucker for anything with a good tense countdown on it. 10/10
Voice From the Past
Absolute muck. 0/10
Gambit
I really like the idea of this episode but the script is to far beyond the means of the production. It feels like a series of unconnected scenes with very little pay off and none of them get the amount of time they deserve. 5/10
The Keeper
It tries to be good camp fun bollocks but it falls rather short and feels like the cast larking about forgetting the viewers would like some fun as well. 3/10
Star One
Has a good end of season feel about it and has big things happening affecting the status-quo of the the series and theres a feeling that at the end of the episode the series has permanently changed. All through the season theres been the plot line of can Blake and Avon trust each other which ends rather sweetly with Blake being taken to the sick bay with Avon taking temporary command of the ship as the series ends on a rather good cliff hanger. Really good stuff. 8/10
Overall View
I highly recommended this DVD, theres a view duff episodes but overall its rather good with a good ongoing story memorable characters and good snappy dialogue. The Blake / Avon rivalry feels like something out of Dallas and makes the show even more watchable. It is of its time and at the time had a limited budget but if you know that going in it wont detract from the show. 7/10
Redemption
Continuing the tradition of the first season this first episode is completely a-typical, its also very hard scifi. Without many guest characters the Liberator crew are brought to the forefront and for much of the episode they are in a situation which is beyond them. The cliffhanger to the previous season is dealt with nicely and its a good solid episode (albeit with little plot) that is raised by the quality of the regulars. 9/10
Shadow
We're back to having a plot this week centred around Blake trying to recruit a criminal organisation as allies. Added to this the titular drug the organisation is dealing in and rather good subplot featuring Cally and Orac it continues the rather good start to the season. 9/10
Weapon
A very interesting episode bringing back Servalan and a recast Travis. Its very Liberator lite and I think it would be improved by removing every scene set on the Liberator and centering firmly on the villains. 5/10
Horizon
Everything good about this episode can be summed up in one word, one name and one character; Avon. The rest is very pedestrian. 5/10
Pressure Point
Ooooh, the first death of a regular. Its fairly obvious something is going to happen to Gan as David Jackson actually looks interested. Good episode though and Blake is looking more desperate and vulnerable to Avon by the end of it. 6/10
Trial
Its good that Blakes 7 isn't the kind of show where someone dies and it gets skirted over. The Liberator crew are upset and I genuinely buy that they could have walked out on Blake. All in all a very good dual story episode. 7/10
Killer
I do enjoy this episode, Blakes 7 doing what it does best within its means giving us a cracking episode with a few twists. Avon blackmailing his way into somewhere to steal something and Blake trying to save innocents while knowing they're loyal to the enemy. Its like a coda for the show. 10/10
Hostage
More fun with Blake and Avon but the rest of the episode is rather uninteresting. 3/10
Countdown
Another rather fun episode with a good solid plot and a good slice of action. We also find out a bit more about Avon's past and he's not a complete ruthless so and so. I'm a sucker for anything with a good tense countdown on it. 10/10
Voice From the Past
Absolute muck. 0/10
Gambit
I really like the idea of this episode but the script is to far beyond the means of the production. It feels like a series of unconnected scenes with very little pay off and none of them get the amount of time they deserve. 5/10
The Keeper
It tries to be good camp fun bollocks but it falls rather short and feels like the cast larking about forgetting the viewers would like some fun as well. 3/10
Star One
Has a good end of season feel about it and has big things happening affecting the status-quo of the the series and theres a feeling that at the end of the episode the series has permanently changed. All through the season theres been the plot line of can Blake and Avon trust each other which ends rather sweetly with Blake being taken to the sick bay with Avon taking temporary command of the ship as the series ends on a rather good cliff hanger. Really good stuff. 8/10
Overall View
I highly recommended this DVD, theres a view duff episodes but overall its rather good with a good ongoing story memorable characters and good snappy dialogue. The Blake / Avon rivalry feels like something out of Dallas and makes the show even more watchable. It is of its time and at the time had a limited budget but if you know that going in it wont detract from the show. 7/10
Thursday, 14 May 2015
The Big Finish Catch Up: April 2015
For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;
We wonder back into the Lost Story range with The Guardians of Prophecy featuring the 6th Doctor and Peri. A rather fun romp that gets exciting and tense in certain parts. Written by Johnny Byrne who wrote The Keeper of Traken (and adapted by Jonathan Morris) this story also features The Melkur and Traken Union. Theres a lot to enjoy in this story and there is little connecting this to The Keeper of Traken and can be enjoyed on its own merits. Of note is a good guest cast including Graham Cole (I spent the entire story trying to recognise his voice), Stephen Thorne (who played Omega, Azal and Eldrad in the TV series) and Simon Williams of Upstairs/Downstairs fame and Remembrance of the Daleks. Never less than enjoyable and at times attention grabbing its a firm recommendation from me.
The second story this month is The Settling featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex played by Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Philip Olivier. Written by Simon Guerrier and takes place during Cromwell's campaign in Ireland. I can't really review this sadly for one reason, as often said in this section of the blog I listen to these stories knowing nothing about them picking them off the top of a pile and playing the discs. However when I pulled this story off the top of the pile I could feel that it was different and that it had three discs. I assumed it was going to be like Zagreus and The Next Life in that it was going to be longer than the usual stories. As such I'm listening to the story looking for subtle clues (which weren't there) as to where the story could spin off and all of a sudden when I was expecting a cliff hanger the story ended when I was braced for another hour. The 3rd disc was actually a promo disc for Big Finishes other ranges. I'm going to have to put this under the category "give it another listen" although what I heard was very good technically I don't think its fair to review the story. Clive Mantle was in top form and I like that they put Hex centre stage for this story.
We wonder back into the Lost Story range with The Guardians of Prophecy featuring the 6th Doctor and Peri. A rather fun romp that gets exciting and tense in certain parts. Written by Johnny Byrne who wrote The Keeper of Traken (and adapted by Jonathan Morris) this story also features The Melkur and Traken Union. Theres a lot to enjoy in this story and there is little connecting this to The Keeper of Traken and can be enjoyed on its own merits. Of note is a good guest cast including Graham Cole (I spent the entire story trying to recognise his voice), Stephen Thorne (who played Omega, Azal and Eldrad in the TV series) and Simon Williams of Upstairs/Downstairs fame and Remembrance of the Daleks. Never less than enjoyable and at times attention grabbing its a firm recommendation from me.
The second story this month is The Settling featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex played by Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Philip Olivier. Written by Simon Guerrier and takes place during Cromwell's campaign in Ireland. I can't really review this sadly for one reason, as often said in this section of the blog I listen to these stories knowing nothing about them picking them off the top of a pile and playing the discs. However when I pulled this story off the top of the pile I could feel that it was different and that it had three discs. I assumed it was going to be like Zagreus and The Next Life in that it was going to be longer than the usual stories. As such I'm listening to the story looking for subtle clues (which weren't there) as to where the story could spin off and all of a sudden when I was expecting a cliff hanger the story ended when I was braced for another hour. The 3rd disc was actually a promo disc for Big Finishes other ranges. I'm going to have to put this under the category "give it another listen" although what I heard was very good technically I don't think its fair to review the story. Clive Mantle was in top form and I like that they put Hex centre stage for this story.
Saturday, 25 April 2015
Thoughts going into the General Election
It can't have escaped your attention ladies and gentle readers that we're on the verge of another General Election here in the UK. After five or so years of the Conservative and Liberal Democrats coalition running the country its time for us all to cast our votes and decide who we want for the next five years. I'll be honest, I'm rather disillusioned going into this election and thought I put my thoughts on the parties vying for my vote down on the blog;
Conservatives
I don't trust them, they are weak have no empathy and appear to not understand the country they represent. I grew up in the 80's and my earliest political memories are my parents struggling to make ends meet during Thatchers reign. The country is in a mess, David Cameron is a puppet leader and is incapable of original thought, reads endless spin that is put in front of him by marketing people. More importantly they have no plan and appear to be in denial about the state of the country.
Greens
I've ummed and arred about voting Green for the past three years, for every policy they come up with I like they come up with another that's bat shit crazy.
Labour
For the last few years in Gordon Browns premiership they were awful and they've under performed in opposition against a weak coalition. I don't trust this generation of Labour MP's and bar about 30% I think they are as inept as the Tories. Also living in a safe Labour area I think my MP has under performed and Aberavon has suffered, it feels like it could be time to change my vote.
Liberal Democrats
They are now untrustable, they have failed to moderate the Tories and have become enablers. Everything they've come out with the last few weeks seems to be ignoring the last five years and I seriously think they could lose a lot of seats.
Plaid Cymru
I have no interest in Wales going it alone and don't even consider Plaid a Welsh party, rather a North Welsh party.
UK Independence Party
A bunch of Tory extremists who have few if any policies I'm interested in, say nothing to me and have failed to represent the UK at MEP level.
So there you have it, my thoughts in brief and I'm rather undecided about where to cast my vote.
Conservatives
I don't trust them, they are weak have no empathy and appear to not understand the country they represent. I grew up in the 80's and my earliest political memories are my parents struggling to make ends meet during Thatchers reign. The country is in a mess, David Cameron is a puppet leader and is incapable of original thought, reads endless spin that is put in front of him by marketing people. More importantly they have no plan and appear to be in denial about the state of the country.
Greens
I've ummed and arred about voting Green for the past three years, for every policy they come up with I like they come up with another that's bat shit crazy.
Labour
For the last few years in Gordon Browns premiership they were awful and they've under performed in opposition against a weak coalition. I don't trust this generation of Labour MP's and bar about 30% I think they are as inept as the Tories. Also living in a safe Labour area I think my MP has under performed and Aberavon has suffered, it feels like it could be time to change my vote.
Liberal Democrats
They are now untrustable, they have failed to moderate the Tories and have become enablers. Everything they've come out with the last few weeks seems to be ignoring the last five years and I seriously think they could lose a lot of seats.
Plaid Cymru
I have no interest in Wales going it alone and don't even consider Plaid a Welsh party, rather a North Welsh party.
UK Independence Party
A bunch of Tory extremists who have few if any policies I'm interested in, say nothing to me and have failed to represent the UK at MEP level.
So there you have it, my thoughts in brief and I'm rather undecided about where to cast my vote.
Saturday, 11 April 2015
The Big Finish Catch Up: March 2015
For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started getting the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;
Its back into the 8th Doctor range with the 8th Doctor and Lucie with Immortal Beloved. Of note is an appearance by Ian McNeice who would go onto play Winston Churchill on the TV series, apart from this I'm struggling to think of anything to say - its all very forgettable. I think this story suffers from the single episode format. It feels like theres a central idea to this story but apart from a rather good set piece at the start and some half glimpses we don't see a lot of what is a very interesting setting. On top of that the pacing is a bit off the story moves along nicely and then stops. I'm left feeling rather indifferent, theres a lot to lure the listener in and very little to fault however I'm left with a feeling of ambivalence.
Next up in the range for the 8th Doctor and Lucie is Phobos. Rather like the previous story this is also a single parter with a lot on going on and its paced and played brilliantly. On the cast front we have TV stalwart Timothy West and former Liver bird Nerys Hughes (also of note played Todd in highly acclaimed Peter Davison era story Kinda). Various members of the guest have their own story lines going on and as a result the characters feel very rich, we'll probably never hear of these characters again yet I feel more for them than some recurring characters. Set on Phobos the moon of Mars the story is set in and around an artificial dome taken over by squatters and has become an extreme sports haven, also homing a share of various hippies and people wanting to disappear. This is a story I strongly recommend, there are various set pieces through out the story, lovely character scenes and possibly the best set up gag at the end I've heard in ages.
Over to the main range as we go further into 2006 with the 5th Doctor, Peri and Erimem in The Kingmaker. I have to be honest when I was taking the wrapping off I caught a glimpse of the robot on the cover and thought it was the one in the background in 'The Celestial Toymaker' fortunately he's nowhere to be found in this story. I'd like to paint the scene when I listen to these audios I lay down and let the story wash over me with my imagination providing visuals. All the way through this I found myself getting up to press rewind so I could re listen to a joke, a cracking piece of dialogue or double check a plot point - this rarely happens I was completely drawn in and hooked. Arthur Smith has one of my favourite voices so it was lovely to hear him as well as Jon Culshaw of the late 90's Radio 1 afternoon show doing some acting as well as a Tom Baker impression. This is the third story I've heard by Nev Fountain and he's become a favourite, I must gloat I worked out the cliff hanger in part three but nothing else. 'Omega' and 'The Revolution' are also puzzle stories its a brilliant aspect of all of his stories. Not only do I recommend this story I find myself placing it a firm favourite not only in this range but Doctor Who's entire cannon, it may battle a certain long standing story as one of my favourites.
That's it for March but a bit of admin regarding the next entries in this section, I've noticed that 'The Kingmaker' was release number 81. Anyone looking forward to 'The Reaping' and 'The Gathering' I've already heard them (due to them being on offer) certainly 'Gathering' was done before I started doing these blogs 'Reaping' may be in an earlier entry although I'm pretty sure I reached it just before I started. Theres one or two other ones I've heard out of order but I'll mention them when we get to them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)