Latest releases reviewed

The Wall Sony

"Hammers figure prominently in this film," said an enigmatic review of this when it first came out in 1982. Watching it again - superbly transferred to DVD - you can understand the befuddled reaction to Roger Waters's angstfest. Bob Geldof (of all people) plays the "comfortably numb" rock star, holed up in a room, remembering his past and indulging in intense fantasies. Geldof holds himself up well, but you sense there was a bit of a battle between director Alan Parker and designer/animator Gerald Scarfe over how The Wall should be shot - with maybe a few too many compromises being made. It's a hugely ambitious work and, because the story was so personal to Waters, it was obviously difficult to transfer the scope and intensity of the music to film. Some moments soar, others are disjointed. Certainly not easy viewing, The Wall is almost the dictionary definition of "challenging". Floyd fans will love it, Scissors Sisters fans won't. And if you're a fan of hammers (I know I am) - you're well catered for here.

www.thewalldvd.com Brian Boyd

Trust Righteous Babe Records

Filmed before, during and after a performance at the 9.30 Club in Washington, DC last May, Ani Difranco's new DVD is short on visual dynamics but packs an occasional effective punch elsewhere. The gig is placed in context by dry-run rehearsals, low budget visual artwork and talking-head shots of people who view Difranco as an influential role model of earthy, organic and verbose wholesomeness. (Certainly, one Alanis Morissette was listening all those years ago.) The music/performance is a fusion of tough jazz/blues rock and beat poetry, staccato, simplistic and sporadically very good, but still falling within the damning phrase "acquired taste". That said, Trust - the title a pointer towards Difranco's relationship with her audience - serves as a reminder to the casual observer that the intense and passionate agit-musician is anything but an acquired taste to her legion of loyal politicised, mostly female fans.

www.righteousbabe.com Tony Clayton-Lea