Archive for May 11, 2012

Leica M Monochrom Available In July

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , on May 11, 2012 by johnbuckley100

Leica M8, old Nocti (f/1).

We love the fact that the new member of Leica’s M family was codenamed “Henri” prior to the announcement yesterday in Berlin. For surely the spirit of Henri Cartier-Bresson is evoked in a digital M with a black & white sensor.  We anxiously await the Leica M10, and for now will avoid the temptation to buy the M Monochrom, as unlike Cartier-Bresson, we think in color, not black & white.  But hats off to Leica, which in the past few years has been completely revived, both as a brand and a business, by Dr. Andreas Kauffman and his colleagues and employees.

For a nice look at what this camera can do, check out Jono Slack’s report from China, where he was able to take it along for the ride.

Leave a comment »

Spiritualized At The 930 Club, May 10, 2012

Posted in Music with tags , , on May 11, 2012 by johnbuckley100

The band’s leader, for years bedeviled by drug and health issues, stands off to the side, with evident disdain either for playing frontman or for the crowd.  Brian Jonestown Massacre circa 2009?  No, Spiritualized last night.

It was a badly paced set — we could have done without the long transition between “Rated X” and “Electric Mainline” — but when they were on, ladies and gentlemen, we were rocket-launched through space.  With the exception of “Hey Jane,” which opened, and was filled with air and space so that its tight motorik tempo allowed the engine to breath, the great songs from Sweet Heart Sweet Light reminded us that the five-piece band, plus singers, could have used the further emollient of horns.  But the arrangements were fantastic — we were completely fooled by the intro to “Heading For The Top,” thinking Pierce had gone all the way back to Lazer Guided Melodies to play “If I Were With Her Now.”

Jason Pierce seemed strong, for someone who’s medical records have played out on the pages of music magazines for years.  He’s a big guy, with a head the size of Helmut Kohl’s, and one wished his generous volubility with interviewers would have accommodated more than a single “thank you” as they left the stage.  But when we heard “She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)” followed by “Come Together,” all was forgiven.

Leave a comment »