Music to come home to

So I've finally got round to writing again, amazing what an injury or two can do, I've had a death wish since returning home, 90MPH motorway car crash, weekend (sober) exuberance around the house leading to hours in A&E, fractured chest and two crutches later, I'm horizontal and spending one of the best time outs ever catching up on music, friends and my close companion the internet.

Since my world tour I have returned with fresh ears to savour the delights of the new school, or rather re-interpretation of the old (with a little bit of the new).  Moving slowly closer to the cusp of new music, yet perhaps a little self conscious of what I have to share with you.  So for now I'm coming at it from an angle of things I've missed and happy to hear from the last six months of being lost in Asia. (I guess I was busy living it up at the French Embassy in Burma with Aung San Suu Kyi, being the only white girl in town hanging with the Mayor and Chief of Police in Cambodia, hitchhiking on the back of rice trucks, that kind of thing).

Appreciative list of music I've been getting excited by...

Poliça

What can say about this band accept I've spent a unhealthy amount of time listening to the album Give you the Ghost on repeat, it's the crack I've been searching for.

From June 12, 2012

Peaking Lights

Am I allowed to say I hijacked this album from the Crack Contributors Group (a secret facebook group, invite only) where music aficionados flex their muscle and vie for the best album reviews and gigs, its heady stuff.  Anyway the new album entitled Lucifer is available for streaming, its pretty sexy, have a listen. Hmm it appears I actually have Peaking Lights 936, funny how that works. 

Thee Satisfaction

Sexed up Jill Scott philly soul inspired hotness, smooth sassy and addictive Sunday party tunes. Thank you to Joseph Hodgkinson for pointing me in the right direction.

Koreless

Ah man how do all these young boys do it! Yet another talented new garage/post dubstep producer, I loved 2 step the first time round, yet now its even more stripped down and beautifully arranged, looking forward to hearing him live this summer, still kicking myself about Field Day. Big up to Luc Le Corre, who reps this dude as much as me.

Wooden Shjips

New album West came out whilst I was away, they had fallen to the bottom of my playlist pile yet suddenly they seem so relevant and sexy, the yearning voice, the atmospheric garage guitars, I'm heading out on a journey, I may be a while.

Zak Matic

Via Kesh's blog, (her productivity is quite addictive, a great example of self promotion), he is the champion of Rap House, kinda like a modern version of booty bass, great for working to, clicks improve somewhat.

Nebulae (zAK-MATIC Remix)

Dancing in the dark.

Positivity can come from darkness, an opportunity to turn the lights off and focus, removing external distractions and stripping the self-conscience away. The omission of one sense forces us to enhance another, producing a relaxing acceptance of our surroundings. Sam Potter (Late of the Pier) and Eat Your Own Ears present an evening of darkness full of music. A venue devoid of light will become host to a healthy line up musicians and dj's carefully curated by the boys. Adding further anticipation the artists are planning to remain anonymous throughout. I would like to be in London for this show, at the very least to have my foot stamped on and get felt up in the dark. After the initial novelty has subsided a plateau might be attained in which to embrace a publicly sensory first, or maybe not, either way it will certainly be fun.

The night Blackout is the first of a series of music events from the collective and is supported by National Lottery via the Arts Council.

Bad diary keeping leads to fuzzy feeling inside...

A day late for one opening and a week early for another, a symptom of my flu like state bought on from five days of excess rolling into the three day week. A reminder that sometimes an early night is in order. I arrived at the second (perceived) opening with my first ever migraine, Ravi to the rescue, five minutes later I'm tucked up in his warehouse with water and pills. The royal wedding is playing out through the television speakers in the floor above. I shuffle upstairs in time for the procession, Diana, no sorry Kate, no I mean Kathryn, looks actually rather amazing. Phew we've pulled it off, I'm inwardly impressed that we got it right. For a minute their I thought it might be a stuffy number but the dress looks like a modern take on the princess fantasy every girl dreams of (when I say every girl, I don't really mean it, but if we did that's what it would look like). Dressed in a McQueen creation designed by Sarah Burton, it was only last year that Lee (Alexander McQueen) took his own life. It seems fittingly poetic that this was the British label/designer chosen for the task. The Chantilly lace every bit a Parisian bombshell of elegance, creating the modern coveted vintage feel, the shape is classic yet contemporary. With a slightly less exaggerated form, it provides a reference to the fairy tale without becoming a parody of it.



An excellent choice for a well executed day, I would have liked to have seen Harry with his big hair pulled into check, merely on the style stakes, he would have looked debonair next to his balding brother who was literally gushing with happiness.

Basically

The chaos has well and truly descended on my world, in a vain attempt to maintain order I have a pile for each category - traveling, charity, storage and shipping, this becomes confusing. Having to make decisions on sentimental items, clothing that I may or may not yearn for at a later date, fully aware that I will be kicking myself for the items eagerly sought and shed with haste. The bigger omnipresent mind engulfing sentiment is the unknown - what am I doing? why am I leaving my home behind, my world is good my head spinning with all the possible scenarios that await me down under. I guess I should be excited and I am, if only I could complete the packing then my life might feel a little clearer. Here is my room, perhaps a reflection of my current head space.




On the plus side I have spent the evening drinking red wine with a Melbourne/London friend talking through the finer points of life downunderover.

Back from the brink

Sorry for falling off the radar I have been momentarily out of action *(sickness related)./ But have no fear I'm back! This evening there are two openings of interest to report on...



My friend Vikrum who looks after the Apiary Studios on Hackney Road is hosting an exhibition entitled 'Come meet the strangers' a collection of works, live performance and installation by photographer Iulia Filipovscaia who explores the interplay between different mediums as a reflection of our increasingly technological based reality. With live photography, screenings and new developments in her 'o' project, the evening appears intriguing.


Iulia's images are from past works

39-39 open there doors this evening a fun shop with a concept store ethos, located 2-4 Old Street. The 'made in the uk' leather gloves featured on their blog look great. And I’m pleased to report I've made it onto their site in the style pages, good choice my friend. Must make sure I don't wear the same outfit tonight. With Gareth Pugh behind the decks there is sure to be some dancing involved.

New speak or recycled ideas? Saatchi Art Now...

We went to the private view for the new exhibition: Newspeak: British Art Now (part two) at the Saatchi Gallery, it was engaging, well some of it. Other works failed to grab my attention or if they did it was for the wrong reasons, obviously topical pieces, which seemed somewhat out of date, sensationalist art that had simply lost its effect due to overexposure. The venue is huge, three floors with an excellent, well stocked shop. There was however enough to make it worth the traipse from north east to south west, here are my highlights (I had half an hour, two glasses of wine and a tour guide for the adventure).


Tessa Farmer, brilliant name, great piece of art, intricately put together, with comical consideration.

Zoniel marvelling

We loved the quality of the painting, old school discipline with a modern subject matter.

Spot the difference

Good sense of depth, the print jumped out at you from across the room

Fairly tried and tested gathering of symbolic artifacts, yet on a massive scale, the piece raised contention as to the skill required to create said art.

Oozing hearts, pierced nipples, spots and all...

Eat your own heart out at Maiden was resounding success with people queuing down the road on the opening night and following days, alas its all over now, fingers crossed for next Halloween.

The launch was quite a racous affair with metal band The Defiled opening the shop, they smashed up a massive cake and hacked into a finger with a cleaver.

Oozing hearts by Lilli Vanilli

My pals, Matt and Natalie represent, loving the gifts on offer

The after party was held at Electricity Showrooms, gotta love the light up dance floor, (they filmed common people here, way back when).

Complimentary pre-tox potions (with added vodka) courtesy of Alibi, although unsure as to the effectiveness of the pre-tox, perhaps it was the tequila forced down my throat by Matt tipped me over the edge.

Love this bath boobie massacre sponge by Holly Andrews

Time for tea, now who would like a vagina cake?

Deep in the dungeon of Maiden the famed gift shop on Shoreditch High Street,
sits a room full of devilish sweet stuff waiting to be devoured.

Only if you are 18+ can you enter and experience the 666 sugar filled delights on offer.

Be quick though, the pop up store will be gone once the bewitching hour is through (Sunday 31st),
this may be the only chance to purchase the vagina cake of your dreams.





I was down at the venue last night and was blown away by the effort put into the decor, thick red plastic draping, similar to an abattoir, not that I’ve been to an abattoir and metal cages. A lot of love has been put into the shop fit, very excited about the launch this evening; it's going to be a fun party. I shall report back with photographs.

Fright Night!

Emma and I arrived at Staines train station under a pelting sky, with hailstones raining down on us, laughing we ran for cover. The bus pulls up and the disability ramp isn’t working, we have a celebrity disabled unable to embark, she was on Location, Location apparently (according to Emma), hers was the biggest budget they had to spend 1.5M, she did have a fancy electronic wheelchair so I didn’t question it. Much procrastination, 20 minutes later the expensive and rather heavy wheelchair is lifted on the bus just as another bus arrive and were off. Tickets in hand we sail in, joining the queue jump ticket queue, pole (front) position for Stealth, Nemesis and Saw fast track tickets in hand, we’re off.


Stealth 0-80mph in under 2 seconds

Emma post Stealth

Tidal Wave, we abstained from the water rides, boring I know


Style Spotting




Five rollercoaster’s, four horror mazes, two sneaky push ins, one burger king and half a tub of fizzy sweets later I feel amazing, it’s dark, there are chav’s everywhere, some with fake blood, I feel thirteen. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday, my insides and neck hurt but it was worth it. On route home we pause by the fruit and vegetable stall at Liverpool Street a vague attempt to undo the neglect we stock up on pears and pomegranates.


Grease - inspiration to many

The Sunday Air Fair doesn’t run on a Sunday,




located at P3 - the underground aircraft hanger linked to Westminster University - it features the work of 60 artists, from 20 young galleries from around the world. On at the same time as Freize it’s free to get in. I wandered around the vast vertical space absorbing all on offer, mostly quality accessible stuff, although a few were too obscure for my art school learnings. I delighted in the closeness of the works, each gallery bringing something new and fresh, Lemoncello, schleicher+lange, luettgenmeijer, were particularly exciting.












Man at work



With £50 artist made cocktails on offer....................................................

Make no bones about it late nights at the Tate are busy, but if you can zone out and focus on the work in front out you then it’s worth it. Art in the evening is a treat, beats going to the pub, in fact it fills the time between going home and going to the pub, which is better. We snacked at Wasabi and I tasted my first eel sushi, I don’t like eel, it scares me, the spicy salmon was rather good though.



Fortunately for me my friend had a Tate pass we waltzed to the front of the exhibition, no timed entry. 11 rooms dedicated to one man work, Paul Gauguin’s art reflects his dramatic life, bright colours, dark ladies, nudity and morbid fascination. Controversially ahead of the time, (1850’s to 1900’s) unabashed by preconceived notions of decency. He travelled extensively migrating over Europe with his family, whom he later ditched and his career as a banker to pursue his passion as a painter. This journey took him to distant places, Martinique, Tahiti, yet Gauguin was experienced at such jaunts having lived in Peru as a small boy. These environments play a huge role in the content and style of his work.



Gauguin returned to his homeland spending time in Brittany and Paris where he was inspired to paint idyllic Breton landscapes. Gauguin was reportedly involved in an argument, which leads to Van Gogh visiting a prostitute and famously chopping his ear off. A large exhibition, with an engaging back story, the appendices that contextualise Gauguin’s work are particularly strong. Photographs of exotic women barely clothed, diaries, maps charting his mammoth journeys and his research, sketches, which showed the development of an image into a million pound painting. He was known for his alcoholism, bouts of depression and fixation with the native women. Gauguin died penniless, syphilis ridden on route to prison, far away from his family.