Innerspace NYE Special

This compilation is dedicated to my beautiful girlfriend who without her, I wouldn't be inspired to create this series and any other projects. Love you so much baby.

Wow. I bet you never thought you would see another post from me this year? Well, truthfully, neither did I. That's until my Innerspace partner in crime Daniel suggested just after posting the Christmas compilation that we do a New Years compilation. Of course! It makes sense! So after slapping myself in the face repeatedly, I regained composure and plucked into the depths of my brain... and my itunes library. We wanted this compilation to be the grooviest, funkiest jumpin' collection of jams. Stuff that will well and truly make you want to shake, shake, shake, shake your booty. It doesn't matter if you are having a lonely celebration, a small gathering or a grandiose party... these fine cuts of disco... beef (???) will definitely help you all from the start of the party, all the way to the early hours of the new year.

Just like the Christmas compilation (did you enjoy your sun filled Christmas party?) we want the music to do the talking so y'all can just concentrate on having a good time. So what are you getting on this New Years feast I hear you ask?

1. Linkwood Family- Who La La (D)
2. Hamilton Bohammon- South African Man (P)
3. Locksmith- Far Beyond (U- Turn Edit) (D)
4. The Clash- Dirty Harry (Speed Mix) (P)
5. Bootsy Collins- Psychoticbumpschool (P)
6. Sequence- And You Know That (D)
7. Aquarian Dream- You're A Star (D)
8. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson- Racetrack In France (P)
9. Kool & The Gang- Spirit Of The Boogie (P)
10. Howard Johnson- Keeping Love New (D)
11. Anorak- 100MPH (P)
12. BB & Q Band- Imagination (D)

Ouch! My feet are hurting already! Hopefully these tracks will help finish your year and greet a new one in. A real treat for you, your friends... and if so... the cats you are spinning for. Trying to compile a 12 track compilation was tough. Thank goodness Daniel has to suffer too... although, it's all good. Innerspace started out as an alias for my "music" and seeing it grow to a monthly compilation is great. Even though it's still in it's infancy, the response we have had with this is really rewarding. What is truly rewarding however is being able to work alongside cats like Daniel and essentially just compile a nice selection of songs for people to hear. The whole process is in itself is rewarding. I get to spend time once a month rummaging through my library, hear some great choices from Dan... some new, some old favourites. Music is a powerful art form and has been with us from the dawn of time in one way or another. So before I end up sounding like the old fart on the chair delving deep inside and filling the room with words of wisdom, I want to thank each and everyone of you guys who have read these posts, downloaded the comps and took time out of your lives to listen to some great music and enjoy the work Dan and I have put together. I would also like to thank Dan for being my soul brother and partner in crime. If it wasn't for you Dan this wouldn't be as fun as it is. I would also like to thank again, my beautiful girlfriend Jeanny who has made this latter half of the year amazing for me.

So let's raise our glasses, put on our dancing shoes and see out another year and let in a prosperous new one. Have a safe one guys and see you next time for some Innerspace goodness.

Peace and love x

Innerspace Volume 3: Festive Spice

Hello everyone... oh wait, I need to pop on my Santa hat and do this properly. Seasons greetings readers, lovers, disco deviants... whatever or whoever you are. Thank you for stopping by. I hope everyone's festivities are in full swing and you and your own are having a jolly good shin dig. Ok, enough of the festive cheer, I'm too much of a Scrooge... but I do have a heart of gold because it's time for more Innerspace goodness. Again, Daniel and I have compiled some fantastic tunes for you all. This time however, in the true theme of Christmas we are treating you that little bit more by compiling a few more tracks than usual. See, I'm not all bad!

So what is this months theme? Christmas songs? Alternative Christmas songs? No!? Not even covers of Christmas songs!? Nope, Daniel and I... actually no, Daniel deserves the credit for this months theme. We are not going to give you a krautrock renditions of classic Christmas carols (although... I seriously hope such things exist) or a smooth, R'n'B renditions of Christmas classics. Not anywhere close people. For this month we are seriously treating you with some nice, hot musical treats. We are warming up your feet, swapping your eggnog with a cocktail or some rum. We are taking you on a trip to warmer pastures where the hectic Christmas shopping is being replaced with the laid back vibes of the dance hall.

In the third installment of Innerspace you are going to be treated to some nice African, Latin, North American vibes. You see that snow covering your car? That's now beach towel on the golden sands of the Ivory Coast. You see those overly excited children tugging at your loved ones sleeve? That's the sultry, Latina barmaid bringing you some tropical delights. I think you get the picture now? Are you sitting back yet? Good. The music is going to speak for itself so I am going to stop yapping and let you enjoy this next hour or so. We aren't even going to talk about the songs because hey, it's Christmas... the best thing is the surprise right?

1. Gene Harris- Listen Here (Dan)
2. Deodato- Latin Flute (Pete)
3. Black Uhuru- Utterance (Dan)
4. Antonio Carlos E Jocafi- Simbarer (Pete)
5. Jackie Mittoo- Evening Time (Dan)
6. Carlos Garnett- Chana (Pete)
7. Archie Bell & The Drells- Tighten Up (Dan)
8. Lee Perry & The Upsetters-  One Armed Boxer (Dan)
9. Eko- Manyaka (Pete)
10. Hugh Masekela- Ashiko (Pete)
11. Joni Haastrup- Greetings (Pete)
12. Milton Henry- Good Old Days (Dan)
13. Chakachas- Stories (Pete)
14. Mikey Dread- Zodiac Sound (John Peel Session) (Pete)
15. Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley- Nega (Dan)
16. Ahmad Jamal- Peace At Last (Dan

Well, there you have it. Like I said, no descriptions on the songs because we really want you to discover these gems for yourself. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas... I know, rich coming from Scrooge here.... and I hope you all enjoy these tracks Daniel and I lovingly put together for you.

Pete and Daniel x

Innerspace Volume 3

Born Innocent 1974 Review

 Hello readers once again. Today we have another for you. If you haven't already guessed we are reviewing a film called Born Innocent (I hate when people say smart arse things like that) starring the fantastic Linda Blair amongst some other great talent but notably Joanna Miles, Richard Jaeckal and Kim Hunter. There are some other names in there that you might recognise. The film is a T.V film directed by a guy called Donald Wrye who made a lot of T.V films and documentaries. He also was nominated for 2 Oscars so you are in good hands with this one and I know for a fact that I will be checking out more of his work as I don't think I have seen any of his other work (slap my wrist now) and after seeing this... Wow! Like all of my reviews I don't want to retell you the film and give away most of what happens but this will be slightly more information compared to my video review (embedded down below if you haven't seen it). So I will stop rambling and get on with it.

 I first became aware of this fantastic T.V film whilst searching for VHS covers for a Youtube project. I was just blown away with how kick ass it was and knew I would HAVE to seek this film out. I did and boy was I happy. However, I went in to this with the wrong impression. The image at the start of this review was the first real image I saw before watching and made me think I would be seeing some nice W.I.P exploitation sleaze. It only hit me about 10 minutes in when I realised my sick, depraved thoughts about potential Linda Blair hotness in this film was quashed when I worked out Linda was around 15 when she made this. Yes I need help, don't judge. I have to say that I'm happy that the film turned out the way it did.

 Essentially, this is a film about Linda Balir's character who is a runaway. She starts off spending the night in the cells with adults until she is taken to court the next day to find out she's being sent to a girl's reformation centre. Upon her arrival she has to go through the procedure of being searched and showered where we realize that she runs away from for good reason. After a rather powerful scene where Chris breaks down we are introduced to some of her fellow inmates. What I will say about this film before I go on is that there is slight elements of the W.I.P genre in this film. We have the innocent character going in, the questionable warden characters and the sharp, potty mouthed inmate characters and of course the themes of lesbianism. This is done however, in a more straight and toned down way than let's say a Roger Corman W.I.P flick. The first real moment in the film is of course another W.I.P trait, the rape scene. All I will say for this is that there is a hard to watch rape scene which involves Chris being held down and the use of a broom handle. This again, is tastefully done and is genuinely shocking and you really do feel for Linda Blair's character.

 Aside from the horrible characters we also have the sympathetic teacher played by Joanna Miles who takes a shining towards Chris and starts to forge an almost motherly relationship. This is obvious after Chris tries to escape because of the rape and is thrown in isolation. We have a genuinely touching moment where Chris and the teacher talk and Chris breaks down crying (Linda Blair is fantastic in this film by the way) and crying for her mother. I'd like to see all you manly men hold back the tears for this scene. Chris decides she wants to see her parents so the allow her a 4 day visit. We are introduced to her mother and father played by Richard Jaeckel and Kim Hunter. It all starts off nice and you find yourself happy for Chris. That is until after scenes of her father hitting her mother and hitting Chris. Chris decides to run away again. This time to her older brother. One thing that really got me before she left was the exchange with Chris and her mother where we learn Chris's mother involved the police to save Chris from her father. Again these scenes could have been trashy and exploitative but no, they are done straight and once again in a very powerful way. Once Chris meets her brother it again feels like something good is going to happen but no. Her brother calls the police before they meet and Chris is once again taken back and put into isolation.

 From this point in the film another common trait of the W.I.P genre comes into play, the good girl turning bad. Who can blame her? The amount of stuff Chris has gone through so far would be enough for anybody. Chris develops a relationship with a fellow inmate who is pregnant (again, not in a seedy way but a touching way) which helps her keep her cool. That is until there is a situation in the dining hall which results Chris and her new friend being once again, thrown into isolation. Something terrible happens however which I won't reveal but oh boy has Chris had enough. This switch in mentality and attitude is portrayed brilliantly by Linda Blair. One final notable thing that happens in this film is something that I won't even talk about because quite frankly, I didn't see it coming and again, I don't want to spoil the surprise for you but I will say that the payoff is fantastic. Chris has changed from being the victim to a strong willed girl who doesn't take shit from anybody. Trust me, the ending to this film is fantastic!

 Overall, this is a brilliant little film. The story is great. The characters are great. Linda Blair is just fantastic in this film and is one of her strongest roles. I definitely want to see more of her performances from her younger days because she was a terrific little actress. The evolution of her character is done brilliantly and again full credit goes to Linda. As I stated earlier this is not a sleaze fest like her later W.I.P films. There is however touches of the genre and in some places it does feel like a good old fashioned exploitation piece. I think you have to be a fan of exploitation cinema to truly appreciate this. It might not have been what I was expecting but I'm glad because this is just a genuinely strong, powerful drama that seriously had me at points. I cannot stress how great this film is and again the best part is Linda Blair. I have missed a few things out but you will appreciate it when you watch it. You can pick this up in a region 1 release from the States but you can however watch the whole thing on Youtube. Just check this one out guys, I could have just said that but yeah HAD to at least talk about it!

PDx

The full film:

My Youtube review:
SOON!