Tim's reviews

Welcome to Tim's reviews page, where I review what's hip and happening in the world of fun. I have enlisted the help of that guru of pop culture Sir Harry Secombe, star of television's 'Highway', to help me in my taxing task.

The Super Furry Animals
The Divine Comedy

Super Furry Animals

Sir Harry Says - "Warning. This contains some rude words."

The latest release by top Welsh popsters Super Furry Animals features a sample from a Steely Dan track, and also the word F*** repeated 50 times. This, I imagine is what prevented any radio play, which is a real shame because it is an absolutely great song - lot of people think it is the best song SFA have ever recorded, and I am inclined to agree with them. As a bonus it includes two dance remixes, one of which is ostensibly by famous welsh drugs smuggler, Howard Marks. When recently queried, however, he said that is only contribution was 'to supply the drugs'. Still, it's a bangin' tune. Anyway - Sir Harry?

Sir Harry Says - "Um. Not really my cup of tea. The first song would have been alright, but you kept talking over it. I couldn't make out some of the words. Still, if the kids like it, I suppose it's alright. I give it 5 out of 10."

Have a listen!

The Divine Comedy. As anyone with a classical education, such as Sir Harry Secombe, will know, the title of a book by Dante, describing... Well, a comedy, I imagine. With gods in. Care to shed any light, Sir Harry?

Sir Harry Says - "Taking two threads of a story that everybody knows and loves, Dante combined them into a great allegory of the soul's search for God. He makes it swift topical and exciting, lavishing -"

Hold on there, Sir Harry. You've just stolen that off the back of the Penguin edition of The Divine Comedy, translated (with introduction) by Dorothy L. Sayers, haven't you.

Sir Harry Says - "Well, yes, but as I am not, in fact the real Sir Harry Secombe, but a sophisticated AI program, called Sir Hal, as Ada Lovelace once said, I can only do what I have been programmed to."

Now that you have blown your cover, I suppose I can reveal that Arthur C. Clarke did in fact base the character of his revolutionary computer, HAL 9000 on the character of Harry Secombe, didn't he, in an attempt to win funding from Prince Charles, who was, of course, a big fan of the Goon show.

"That's true. The problem was, no-one noticed. That is why, in the sequel, 2010: Odessy two, Arthur C. Clarke added a few tell-tale scenes. A lot of people were bemused when, on being re-awoken by his creator, HAL said 'Eccles for king, folks.' The reason, of course, being that this is a direct quotation from Harry Secombe. It is rumoured that Arthur C. Clarke was imprisoned in the Tower of London for 'taking the piss.' That is why Gentry Lee wrote his later novels. So, it is the fault of the British royal family that all Arthur C. Clarke's recent novels have been crap. String 'em up, thats what I say. It's the only language they understand. Apart from German."

I'm sure I didn't program Sir Hal to think up conspiracy theories. Still, pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, that's enough stuff for now. I'll update it in a while, but I've got exams to do, you know. Coming soon - George Formby and the 'other' Roswell incident.