Live In Bonn - Barclay James Harvest

The Butterfly Sneeze

Advantages: Four very good tracks
Disadvantages: Last BJH album where pros may outweigh cons

Barclay James Harvest sought success through a mixture of progressive pomp and pastoral melodies. Their investment in tours with a full orchestra and the mystifying lack of success had meant a gradual shift of styles in search of a hit. The band even recorded a single under a pseudonym but anyone who heard the B side would have known whodunit. By the time XII came along the band were clearly at a crossroads. Their search for success meant a move towards recording shorter, punchier songs. This was the last record featuring keyboard maestro Woolly Wolstenholme.His departure changed the musical outlook of the group, and led to a hybrid of pomp and disco which gave them some success in Germany and other parts of the continent but made their old fans groan with dismay. The album kicks off with "Loving Is Easy". It's a promising ...

JoePoirot 19.12.2005 · Read full review
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Review of XII - Barclay James Harvest

Living In Oblivion review

Advantages: Well acted, keeps you engaged throughout
Disadvantages: None

Living In Oblivion is a low budget independent film written and directed by Tom DiCillo and starring Steve Buscemi and Dermot Mulroney. Sure, these aren't A-list stars, but that lends itself to the story. If it was a film about the making of a film and you had George Clooney and Brad Pitt pretending to be small time actors you wouldn't believe it. That's why it was better to use less well known actors, it pulls you more into the story. The film takes place during one day on set of a low budget movie, and documents all the problems that the director, Nick (Buscemi), and everyone else can encounter, from equipment malfunctioning to office politics to actors forgetting their lines. It's almost like a documentary, it is very realistic and gives you the complete story as to what it's like trying to get a film made. There are a few ...

Walter_Kovacs 30.01.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Living in Oblivion DVD

Eat, drink and suffer in comfy Bonn surroundings

Advantages: Nice internal surroundings, friendly staff, good food, reasonable prices
Disadvantages: In the middle of nowhere unless you need the airport

Just before the end of 2000, a friend and I took a whistle-stop tour to Cologne to visit the Christmas markets, actually the coach trip was probably longer than the stay, but for what we paid you wouldn't really fault it. I can recommend the Christmas markets, but be prepared to be crushed and cold, ensure you have your credit and get yourself a good pair of comfortable walking shoes before you leave, as believe me you will need them. Included in the trip (£79 each) was two nights in the Holiday Inn at Bonn/Cologne Airport, situated on a busy dual carriageway, totally inaccessible by foot. The reception area was remnant of many four star hotels in the UK, and the seating areas, public facilities and corridors were modern, clean and well signposted (in a couple of languages including English), everything, as I have come to ...

sue.51 26.03.2001 (26.12.2003) · Read full review
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Review of Holiday Inn Cologne-Bonn Airport, Cologne