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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 1 September 2018
Book explores weird, wonderful filmmaker David Lynch

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL author and Lynch friend you'll recognize that child-
Associated Press Kristine McKenna writes hood memory.)
"Room to Dream" by David from interviews and other At one point Lynch writes:
Lynch and Kristine McKen- research in one chapter "Almost everybody has a
na (Random House) while the filmmaker's own bunch of stuff swimming in
The simplest avenue for be- recollections of events fol- them, and I don't think most
ginning to understand film- low in the next. It's a unique people are aware of the
maker David Lynch might structure that's perfectly dark parts of themselves.
be found in a childhood suited for a cheery fellow People trick themselves
friend's observation: "Da- with dark fantasies. and we all think we're pret-
vid's always had a cheer- Lynch has always been ty much OK and that others
ful disposition and sunny drawn to art of some sort are at fault."
personality, but he's always — paint, film, video, music, McKenna doesn't omit un-
been attracted to dark sound design, photogra- flattering details — Lynch's
things. That's one of the phy, acting, even carpen- extramarital flings, for ex-
mysteries of David." try. Friends and colleagues ample, and the crumbling
Dark things abound in say he is smart, nice, gener- of the first three of his four
Lynch's signature films — ous and outgoing — and in- marriages. Actress Isabella
the grotesque infant in sist that he isn't weird. Well, Rossellini describes how
"Eraserhead" (1977), the how would you describe Lynch used a phone call to
disfigured adult in "The El- someone who dissects end their years-long rela-
ephant Man" (1980), the a mackerel, lays out the tionship, a subject on which
violent and perverse Frank parts, labels them for reas- Lynch contributes only si-
Booth in "Blue Velvet" sembly, then photographs lence.
(1986) — and in his first TV the display and calls it a Importantly for cinephiles
series, the offbeat murder Fish Kit? Oh, and a Chicken "Room to Dream" explores
mystery "Twin Peaks" (1990- Kit and a Duck Kit follow. such things as how "Mul-
91). When his cheerful and Curiously, Lynch's life lacks holland Drive" (2001) rose
sunny side shows itself, and the elements of evil and from the ashes of a failed
that's not often, the result is tragedy and the bizarre TV project to the cult film
"The Straight Story" (1999). found in his art. McKenna that the website BBC Cul-
Like a David Lynch film, the describes an all-Amer- This cover image released by Random House shows "Room to ture declared to be the
biography-memoir "Room ican 1950s boyhood in Dream," by David Lynch and Kristine McKenna. best movie of the 21st cen-
to Dream" is set in a world the Northwest. Taking his Associated Press tury. That backstory and so
we recognize but one with turn, Lynch recalls an idyl- many others provide a win-
a dreamy, compelling per- lic youth, too, but one with image — like the night a stumbled down his street. dow into the mysteries of
spective at its core. Co- the occasional disturbing nude and beaten woman (If you've seen "Blue Velvet" creativity.q

Troye Sivan totally flowers with the superb 'Bloom'

By MARK KENNEDY bourhood." That portrayed her vocals. "What a Heav-
Associated Press a young man coming to enly Way to Die," which
Troye Sivan, "Bloom" (Capi- grips with his sexuality and takes its name from The
tol Records) a new world of sensual ex- Smiths' "There Is a Light That
On Troye Sivan's debut al- periences. Never Goes Out," initially
bum in 2015, he admitted On the last album, he was sounds like a risky move
he was "just a lost boy/ asking to hold hands and but ends up quite beauti-
ready to be found." The just sleep next to his lover ful and perfectly executed.
Australian singer-songwriter ("but that's all I want to do The only real misstep on the
was often shy, anxious, al- right now"). Now he's offer- CD is the lyrics to "Plum,"
most quivering. When ask- ing a "trip into my garden," which has so many fruit-
ing his lover for a kiss, he a line that comes from the based references that it
begged him not to bite. title cut, a sly and sensual seems forced.
Sivan is back this year and, love song cleverly stuffed The album ends with the
wow, what a difference with double entendres. ("I slow-burning, turgid "Ani-
three years makes. bloom just for you.") mal," which may remind
A confident, in control and Nowhere is Sivan's matu- fans of "Wild" from his de-
very knowing Sivan returns rity more apparent than on but. Both songs — about
with the aptly titled "Bloom," "Dance to This," his fantas- lust — are curiously con-
an addictive 10-track col- tic, spacy duet with Ariana tained. There's a strange
lection of unrushed, synth- Grande that is perfectly coolness there, belied by
rich pop songs from a man This cover image released by Capitol Records shows "Bloom,' calibrated and features primal lyrics that include
now not afraid of love bites. the latest release by Troye Sivan. voices melding beautifully. "I am an animal with you."
"I got my tongue between Associated Press It goes down like an ice- It's wonderful, but here's
your teeth," he sings in "My cold glass of water on a hoping Sivan lets loose a
My My!," a euphoric flash- star reunites with some of — but the result is more hot night. Sivan also shows little on his third album. So
bang burst of freedom and his main songwriting part- adult, atmospheric and as- off his confidence and abil- far, he's bloomed into a
happiness. ners — Brett McLaughlin, sured than his impressive ity in a stripped down "Post- pop force to be reckoned
The actor-model-You Tube Bram Inscore and Allie X debut album "Blue Neigh- card," with Gordi offering with.q