Visual&MentalAssault: Mysterious Skin

Mysterious Skin

Screenplay and Direction by Gregg Araki
Book by Scott Heim

Watched Mysterious Skin two days ago. Somehow I didn't have the compulsion to write anything about it, like I usually would when I have watched a (good or bad) film. It was because I was reeling from the disturbing effects the film had on me even after two days.

"The summer I was eight years old, five hours disappeared from my life"? so runs the catchy opening to the adapted film. The boy grows up believeing that he was abducted by strange aliens the five hours he was lost. The other grows up to be a gay hustler until he has a tragic and violent encounter. The material wasn't groundbreaking; it talks about paedophilic gay child abuse and the effects it had on the two boys involved in it long after it was over. However, it was the realism portrayed by the leads Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock From The Sun) and Brady Corbet that really shook me inside. It also revealed the stereotypical American gay society in the 80's and early 90's. The two little known actors and the supporting cast of Jeff Licon and Michelle Trachtenberg who play Levitt's best friends also lent great depth to the movie.

I really loved the scene where the snow fell and God was heard. Watch it for yourself, but it's not for the faint-hearted. (A)

AuralAssault: Röyksopp and Télépopmusik

Royksopp
This Understanding (2-CD Limited Edition)

Royksopp returns with their sophormore album The Understanding. If you are looking for the theatrics their debut, look elsewhere.

The group has retained their knack for strong beats and catchy rhythms but have also expanded to included more vocals and greater danceability to their songs. On the opener, Triumphant, the group picks up from where they left off on Melody except with greater gusto and tempo than before. The excellent first single with its fierce electronic beats makes it headed straight for that great dancefloor. 49 Percent revels in great early 90's funk with a slight Prince-soundalike arrangement. Sombre Detune adds a hard bassline to a solid electronic-backed track. Other great tracks like What Else Is There and the emotive closer Dead To The World brings you back to where the guys first came from.

The five bonus tracks on Disc 2 are more like icing on the cake. Not strong enough to appear on the main album but still serves up some great hooks for fans. (A-)

Recommended tracks: Only This Moment, 49 Percent, Sombre Detune, What Else Is There


Telepopmusik
Angel Milk

The group best known for 2001's dreamy hit Breathe returns with a spectacular followup to their debut Genetic World. Angel's Milk is everything Genetic World is and more. Continuing to mesmerize with dreamy melodies and breathy vocals, the group also infuses their songs with string elements and even creates some old world Broadway-like charm on the gorgeous Love's Almighty. Not surprisingly, it's also hemled by vocalist Angela McCluskey who continues to weave magic into Telepop's songs.

The album also sees collaboration with Deborah Anderson and Mau. On the first single, Into Everything, Anderson provides the fluffy dream-like vocals to the Breathe-sequel with aplomb but it's really vocalist Mau who steals the show with a deep lush voice on tracks like Anyway, Last Train To Wherever and Hollywood on My Toothpaste, especially the rap on the latter two tracks are dripping with great sensuousness.

A bonfide sequel worthy of its prdecessor. (B+)

Recommended Tracks: Into Everything, Anything, Last Train To Wherever, Love's Almighty.


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