Although Auster wrote these three separate stories independently in the early 80′s, there is no doubt in my mind that they were meant to be published together in this way. I suppose one might call these novellas detective stories, but to see them this way would be only recognizing the skeleton of the stories. Each tale features a protagonist hired to find someone. But in a sense the person that he seeks is himself. The stories take place in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and we follow each protagonist on a walking tour New York city, seeing places we might have missed- or at least looking at them in a way we never have before. Driven more by characters than plot, “The New York Trilogy” combines philosophy, fiction and self discovery into an exhilarating package as compelling Raymond Chandler and as soul searching as Hemmingway.

Director : John Sayles
With : Federico Luppi

With every John Sayles film, I appreciate him more and more. He is the consummate independent filmmaker- writing, editing and directing all of his films, with producer credits usually going to his wife and financial prospects low his list of criteria. He is a wonderful storyteller, who makes movies the way he best thinks the “stories” deserve to be told.

In the case of “Men With Guns,” Sayles decided to have the film cast with little known Spanish speakers, and sub-titled in English. Although this probably kills any chance of having a decent box office run, it gains a tremendous amount in terms of texture and authenticity.

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Label: Astralwerks

I’ve been saying for a few years now how I rarely see the creativity in much of today’s electronic music. But the more I say that, the more I realize the it is usually the preface for a justification for the merits of a solid new electronic record. Adam F is a British DJ who blends disco, funk and drum & bass into a funky playfully diverse album of melancholy ethereal rock and bouncy dance music. At times Adam F spins hard and sharp drum and bass beats including “Circles” which is remixed on “Colours” by current d&b guru Roni Size. But just when you think you’re beginning to figure out the formula of the record it suddenly changes. On “Tree Knows Everything” Everything But The Girl’s Tracey Thorn weaves her sultry brand of ethereal vocals into beautifully a orchestrated song that could have just as easily been cut by anyone from the ultra sexy Bristol music scene.

The more I listen to “electronic” music the more I realize that all that the moniker really means is that the music is not merely guitar driven rock or pop. Electronic music, like that performed by Adam F, is really a collage of styles rearranged and reconstructed with the help of dials and computers instead of an onslaught of overdubbed guitars. Beginning with a swirling 70′s jazz-funk romp and ending in a textural modern paradise, in the netherworld of computer music, “Colours” is really a tribute to a unique range of musical possibilities. This record belongs on the highest rung of dance/electronic albums because of its broad reaching intentions and vast musical scope. Most of what Astralwerks chooses to put out is often very good, but this one is among the best.