TODAY’S FILM

Alice by Jan Švankmajer (1988)

Following yesterday’s one, here’s another Czechoslovak recommendation: a brutal and utterly compelling version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland handled by stop-motion virtuoso Jan Švankmajer. The Lewis Carroll novel seems to be a neverending source of inspiration for artists because of its powerful imagery and the depth of its themes. Its oblique nature, based on the subconscious, renders itself perfect for multiple interpretations, but out of all of the adaptations I have seen, none managed to embrace the anarchy, amorality and sheer violence of the material like this one. Švankmajer’s Alice foregoes the fairy tale aspect of the story, rendering it as a fever dream definitely intended for adult audiences. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

TODAY’S RECORD

Mexico by GusGus (2014)

GusGus is an Iceland group who has made a career out of an humorous, off-kilter approach to pop and later transitioned to more techno-based compositions. This album finds them bridging the gap between those two styles, creating some of their most sensual material as a result. “Obnoxiously Sexual” opens the proceedings with a clear statement of intent, and songs like “Sustain”, “Crossfade” and “Airwaves” ooze with libido – seemingly tailor-made for the most debauched dancefloors. On the opposite end, closer “This Is What You Get When You Mess with Love” and album highlight “Another Life” show GusGus’s vulnerable side without forgetting that the party must go on. Listen to it on YouTube.