affinity

Tipping the Velvet
$29.99
"Tipping the Velvet" is an engrossing three-part Sapphic melodrama set in Victorian England. Kitty (Rachael Stirling,who looks like her famous mother Diana Rigg) dreams of a life beyond that of an oyster girl. She goes to the theater,and finds a male impersonator,Nan (Keeley Hawes) Kitty goes from being Nan's fan to being Nan's lover. Their romance has the exuberance of first love. When Kitty goes home to be with her family, she is heartbroken when her sister rejects her for loving Nan. To make matters worse, she finds Nan in a marriage of convenience to the ironically named Mr. Bliss. Kitty pretends to be a male rent boy to earn her keep. She is found by the ruthless Lady Diana (Anna Chancellor) They have a tainted love.

The Lady Diana segment serves as a bridge. Kitty finds herself in the lesbian demimonde that seems to fit all the negative stereotypes of the LGBT community. Kitty considers herself Lady Diana's love slave, until she's liberated by having wild sex with a servant (Sally Hawkins,also from "Fingersmith") during an orgy.

Destitute, a social worker Florence (Jodhi May) saves her from a life on the streets. Florence also introduces Kitty to socialism. Kitty is torn between Nan--who wants an extramarital affair--and the devoted Florence. Who does Kitty choose?

"Tipping the Velvet" is a colorful,fast-moving melodrama. Kitty is a sympathetic character.It has a strong cast and strong writing. Come, jump over the velvet rope....

Affinity
$19.95
When I first heard this CD it blew me away, and it still does today. This one and only album from 1970 is a true masterpiece, and the music is just truly wonderful. Vocalist Linda Hoyle has one of the best voices I've ever heard, but unfortunately there's not much more available on her except a solo LP she had out in 1971 called "Pieces Of Me," which I strongly and highly recommend. I totally agree with the other reviewer and the comments made about this CD and the music. The Bonus tracks are just as good, if not better, than some of the songs from the original album! Definitely get the Angel Air CD with all the bonus tracks, you will not be disappointed. There's also another Affinity CD out with unreleased material that was intended to come out as an album, but never happened, and now it's available on CD, and it's from 1971-1972 with a different female vocalist that's quite good too, but maybe not as strong or powerful a voice as Linda Hoyle's, but still very good, and her name was Vivien McAuliffe. Sadly, Vivien is no longer with us, as she passed away in 1998 at just the age of 50. I also recommend that CD as well, the music is outstanding, and you won't be disappointed in Vivien's singing, she really did have a great voice. Glenn Signal Hill,CA USA

Affinity
$29.98
"Affinity" is a surprisingly good thriller set in a women's prison during Victorian times. Margaret Prior (Anne Madeley) is devastated by her father's death;to make matters worse, her former lover Helen is now wed to her brother. She decides to be a lady visitor at a women's prison. In a sense,it symbolizes women's imprisonment at the time. Margaret is expected to marry&bear children--but she keeps her secret "locked tightly inside her." Selina Dawes (Zoe Tapper) is literally imprisoned, apparently for an accident that happened during a seance. The conventions of the time are confining. Anna Massey,a classic British actress,stars as a prison matron.

Margaret finds herself falling in love with Selina. Their union is primarily platonic (unlike other Sarah Waters movies)--there are only a few chaste kisses at the end. Margaret finds herself haunted by spirits. Her locket carrying Helen's hair vanishes; she mysteriously receives flowers. She finally has the strength to break her engagement with Theophilus.

"Affinity" is an engrossing movie. The cast is uniformly excellent. Like Sarah Waters' previous movie "Fingersmith",con games are important to the plot. The final plot twist is heartbreaking,and surprised even me. Despite its use of overused tropes (women in prison, suicidal lesbians, same-sex relationships basically doomed to tragic ends),it succeeds as a thriller.

Affinity
$6.99
When I first heard this CD it blew me away, and it still does today. This one and only album from 1970 is a true masterpiece, and the music is just truly wonderful. Vocalist Linda Hoyle has one of the best voices I've ever heard, but unfortunately there's not much more available on her except a solo LP she had out in 1971 called "Pieces Of Me," which I strongly and highly recommend. I totally agree with the other reviewer and the comments made about this CD and the music. The Bonus tracks are just as good, if not better, than some of the songs from the original album! Definitely get the Angel Air CD with all the bonus tracks, you will not be disappointed. There's also another Affinity CD out with unreleased material that was intended to come out as an album, but never happened, and now it's available on CD, and it's from 1971-1972 with a different female vocalist that's quite good too, but maybe not as strong or powerful a voice as Linda Hoyle's, but still very good, and her name was Vivien McAuliffe. Sadly, Vivien is no longer with us, as she passed away in 1998 at just the age of 50. I also recommend that CD as well, the music is outstanding, and you won't be disappointed in Vivien's singing, she really did have a great voice. Glenn Signal Hill,CA USA