Feb 20: Another everyday masterpiece: 'Small Prophets'

Monday last week saw the appearance on iPlayer (and BBC One) of the new offering from Mackenzie Crook. He had already cast his magic with 'Detectorists' and an updating of 'Worzel Gummidge' and this is his latest series: "Small Prophets".

I devoured it...

It's a magic realist wonder. 

It's a quotidian masterpiece.

It's built from small observations of suburban lives, and people's lives intersecting (or not).

It's nostalgic and sad - built around memories, and people who have disappeared. Unanswered questions, and a chance to have them answered.

Set aside 3 hours and immerse yourself in it...

Image copyright: BBC 

The music was as always an important element of building the melancholic air of the piece.

The theme tune 'The Wise Man's Song' is from a musician called Cinder Well.

Cinder Well is the musical project of Los Angeles–based songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Amelia Baker. Her starkly emotive vocals and surrealistic lyrics are framed by cinematic arrangements drawing from traditional and experimental music. There is weight and resonance to Cinder Well — heavy in ways that do not rely on volume or distortion, but on the depth of songwriting and the unhurried space it holds.

This follows the previous wonder of 'Detectorists', which benefitted from a wonderful theme song from Johnny Flynn. 

Much more to come on that in a post to come next month.