Braquo series 2

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did watch the second series of this very violent French detective drama, on bluray discs, and I am not sure my mind was improved by the watching. Large sections of this series could be taken directly from a horror film, particularly the numerous torture sequences. The plot revolves around numerous criminal gangs and police factions seeking gold and weaponry in Paris, is in parts ludicrous, and at all times extremely difficult to follow. This is not aided by most of the characters being similarly dark, greasy, unshaven, and wearing black leather jackets. And that is just the women. Buried in here somewhere is quite a good  story about a colonel seeking revenge on those who betrayed his soldiers in Angola. Any sympathy for him is countered by the tendency of his men to shoot any civilian bystander in the way. Compared to Spirals, the other recent French detective drama, the characters are here far less engaging, and the ambience is much more brutal, though the writing is better. Rather an ordeal than a pleasure then, though appealing to those who like this sort of thing, or wish to brush up on their French obscenities.

Ghost: Infestissumam

I have listened to this album quite a few times now. It is not as good as their first; in particular it makes excessive use of minor key semitone slides which gives it a congested tone when the songs are heard consecutively. A couple of tracks make passable singalongs, particularly "Monstrance clock". Creepiest lyrics and chorus I have heard for ages are on "Body and Blood".  Zombie Queen to me sounds cobbled together and Secular Haze plain silly. The problem with vocals and tunes that can actually be heard is that they have to be correspondingly good to attract a repeat listen, and I am not sure how much more this will spin. Acoustically sounds fine to me, at least on red vinyl; bass could be a bit louder, maybe.

Jex Silhouettes

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend the gig of Jex Toth and Dead Letter at The Black Heart in Camden, London, on 9 November 2013. The Dead Letter played a stripped down singer-guitar with light drums; pleasant, gloomy and slightly liturgical. The vocals sounded exceptionally clear, so congratulations to the sound desk. I did not actually see much of the Jex, since they do not much like lights, and there is not really an actual stage at that venue, though I caught glimpses of candles and incensing sticks. A soapbox would be a useful addition. The music did sound much heavier than on record, here and theno approaching true doom metal majesty, although the bass was at times painfully out of tune. They did not address the People, there in number and in black, doubtlessly rapt in seance. There is a dirge quality to the performance, even the encores, and a few more foot-stomping numbers would be greatly welcomed, by Melachi at any rate..