The Skirt Cape

I remember reading once, a while back in a short lived zine, an interview with Joyce Johnston (Jack Kerouac's girlfriend). And for the life of me I can't remember what the article or the zine was called, but after reading The Dharma Bums I was surprised to learn of Johnston's rendering of Kerouac; an introverted scriber that witnessed rather than participated in the beat happenings around him, acting as an adovcat between experience and text.

And I suppose this may be one of the reasons for this blog: to poorly communicate the admirable works of friends and acquaintances I have encountered. I mean a few words is better than nothing right? If I don't who will?!

This is Lauren Pires advert for her 1970s influenced dissertation project 'Nostalgic State of Mind', promoting one of her products from her Stone Fox collection - 'The Skirt Cape'.

The Skirt Cape from Lauren Michelle Pires on Vimeo.

Song: Minnie Riperton - 'Every Time He Comes Around'.

Mixed up Aussies

So ModularPeople used to be a favourite site to download a good pre-outing podcast about 3 years ago. Well despite nu rave and fluorescent sticks being phased out, I think to myself in the aftermath of Christmas Day - why not? Lets see whether the Aussie Modcasts can mix-mend some of the fluffy electro bands they have signed on their label. I'll be back to blog.
http://www.modularpeople.com/modcast/

An Example:
I was okay with this track below until roughly 2 minutes in. Why go lighter when you could've gone darker? I'm not a full on lo-fi or dub lover . . . maybe I just like a bit of bass who knows!


TEED does it well:

Swedish Film x 2

Being at home for the seasonal holidays I found this dvd in my cabinet and remembered how much I love this film. Multiple story lines orientating around a thematic of the dysfunctional family unit, this Swedish production has great dark humoured moments.
TRAILER BELOW:
Trailer 1 zu Daybreak - Sprache: en - Format: Flash

And this one is just classic.

Sandy Skoglund

'8Toaster' from series 'Reflections In A Mobile Home', (1977)

'Radioactive Cats' (1980)

'Revenge of the Goldfish' (1981)

"We look at a dog and the dog looks back at us. During that moment we know that we are not the only consciousness at work in the universe. The world of earth is an inhabited place, full of many living entities that do not and cannot see reality in the same way that we do. This form of multi-consciousness has always been disturbing to me, as it introduces a world of chaos that we actually cannot see ourselves. Reality itself, then, is chaos that has been made presentable by the limitations of human perception. So, in my work, I am trying to show reality as it actually is, as a rupture through the fabric of our human consciousness."

- Sandy Skoglund in an interview with Luca Parreno at the Betta Frigieri Arte Contemporanea, Modena, Italy , 02/08/08.

The Nocturnal Suite

I found this album, released Nov. 2009 I know I'm late for the boat. However appealing to my Junior Boys days, I really enjoyed this album from its earlier indie sounds to its later minimal synth explorations. Listen to the entirety of its preview tracks on Amazon for sure (although I'm not under the assumption you'll love it, screw track 13 for me, but I think there could be something for anyone):
http://www.amazon.com/The-Nocturnal-Suite/dp/B002SH5030

This is a live video from one of the bands on the album:

Exhibiting Friends in November

So I'm going to back home to London tomorrow . . . hooray!
On Thursday 18th I will be checking out my friend's Mister lego's exhibition at CAMP, Old Street

Heres the facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=events#!/profile.php?id=1002738136/
AND heres the mans official page:
http://www.eat-pencil.com/p/misterlego.html/

And please check out this Leeds based band
Loose Talk Cost Lives.
Despite the name, they sound nothing like the BeeGees,
this track emulating a sound that better recalls Fool's Gold.

http://www.myspace.com/loosetalkcostslivesuk/

Halloween

Leeds Love: Sketches

Last Friday, I had a midnight deadline for an essay on Conceptual Art. My housemates pre-empting my freedom had already cracked open a bottle and were giggling in the livingroom. Little did I know in the last minutes of bibliography bashing that perhaps it wasn't the sounds of liquid intoxication, but the presence of our friend Felix and his guest Luke, the lead vocalist of Sketches . . .

The next evening I went to see him play at The Brudenell Social and frankly I was embarassed. They were so amazingly polished off as an act, that I was ashamed soberness did not previal on my part the previous night. Primarily for me as a complete music review novice and chancer, it was the vocalist's siren-like clarity to coarser tones and the kickass energy of the drummer that sold it (although this could be completely biased as later I met John and he was equally a pleasant chap too). Lovelorn alternative rock, flashback to my teens.

Next show on the 20th November at No Bones night, Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
http://www.myspace.com/sketchesband/

And I hope that the band themselves will never read this, ever.

Find me in my Gypsy Bowtop Caravan

Welcome to the best anniversary/birthday/christmas present! A weekend in a yurt, gypsy caravan or treehouse: http://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/

Missing the Sunshine . . .

But ready for the Night . . .

The School that pushes the Botton

In between procrastinating and writing an essay, I switched on the tv to find one of my favourite living men, Alain de Botton, presenting a slot on the Culture Show. Questioning the pursuit of knowledge to an individual's happiness, Botton marketed courses at The School of Life in London. With titles such as 'How to Make Love Last', 'How to be Cool' and 'How to Face Death', I was somewhat intrigued after my intial amusement as the institute itself was formulated, and is run by, a few notable writers. £30 seems a small fee to waste a few hours of your life alternatively (rather than buying that crop top you saw last week in that vintage store), get the chance to meet some open-minded people and perhaps retain an objective perspective on what truly motivates and fulfils your existence if you didn't realise yet (even if it does so happen only for a minute) . . . when we're next in London - who knows!
http://www.theschooloflife.com/


Oh and check out the free iMinds app at the moment, which is virtually a verbal wikipedia that you can grab snippets of generalised knowledge whilst on the go.
http://www.iminds.com/pages/about-us

The Deptford Project

Regenerating Deptford with an artsy space for bobos,The Deptford Project makes use of the railway arches adjacent to its revamped train cafe to conduct events such as the hip Barn Dance (02/10/10). Heres a video from said day, made by my friend Jack Otis Barker:

The Deptford Project - Barn Dance from Jack Barker on Vimeo.

Lost in Soundtrack

Oh Lost in Translation soundtrack - we love you.

Preview at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Translation-Various/dp/B0001I1K32

Yet just remember what wikipedia teaches us ... as copied and pasted by myself below:

Missing songs
Several songs featured in the film did not appear on the soundtrack. They are as follows:

"Minuetto" – Dominic Sands
"Love Gun" – Rick James
"Torn Into" – Mount Sims
"She Gets Around" - TV Eyes
"Tomei Tengu BGM" - Takeo Watanabe
"Gumi/Yume-ari" (listed as "Muyu") – Des-Row Union
"The State We're In" – The Chemical Brothers
"Fuck the Pain Away" – Peaches
"Feeling I Get" – The Mary Butterworth Group
"Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66" – Frédéric Chopin
"When Doves Cry" – Patti Smith

Javelin

Whilst in New York I went to Brooklyn Bowl to see Javelin. Covers of hip hop tunes as well as they're own produced favourites, this terrible twosome were Amazing to watch live.

Javelin: C-Town from Jerry Habraken on Vimeo.

Trotting around Apps

I am not sure whether I'm late for the boat on this one, but I have recently been enjoying the free sessions of old and new music as provided by the DAYTROTTER APP! Check out the website if this does so interest you too:
http://www.daytrotter.com/

SO I WENT TO NEW YORK. THIS IS HOW I FELT.

Duck Sauce "Barbra Streisand" from Mr Goldbar on Vimeo.

LIKE
Huge portions, roads, buildings; Babies, yoga freaks, sunkissed beauties hauting Central Park; 24 hr subway. Early September weather! The friendliness of strangers and for people to just to bounce to a bar/club on their own. Mover and shaker vibe - most people seemed to be involved with a band/dj set/blog/producing art. FOOD with the calories pointed out on the menu even in the worst deep fried corners of NY (bagels and cupcakes are immense!). Wasnt as dirty as I thought it'd be . . .

PERHAPS NOT SO MUCH LOVE FOR
Tipping and assumed expectations of tipping from someone with a British accent. Health consciousness that stops one from partaking in the joys of intoxication - I mean I saw drunk at the few clubs we went to, but not the nice merrily tipsy . . . smoking is not viewed as romantically European. WHERE WAS THE HARDCORE DANCERS FOR ELECTRO/DISCO/INDIE?!

Note: any negatives could solely due to the fact we didn't know a genuine New Yorker in the know (of our kind) to show us around - HSBC ads pointed it out and I should've known - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE! Network before one goes.