Damn Island

Fleas and Dragons

Going to try to pick myself up a wee bicycle at the Dublin Flea Market today, and then on to the Lucky Dragons - seem they're only letting the first 65 people in, so must try to get there early! Woop for the last Sunday in January - be gone depressing month!

Crush No. 2 - John Lurie

Had a Jim Jarmusch day today, watched Down By Law, Stranger than Paradise and Permanent Vacation, respectively hilarious, empty and terrifying.

Here's a fun little clip from Down By Law, to remind us why we love overalls and lo-tops.

Greig's Piano Concerto...by Greig

It's a classic.

The Style Club

As a post exam treat (extrinsic motivation, if you will), I went for a chop chop hair cut in The Style Club this eve. While I was at it, I had got the old locks dyed, and am now sporting a head of browny-red hair...it's a little strange, but I think I like it! For my first ever dye job, it was less of a big deal than I expected...the guy who bestowed me with my new look, was very attentive and knowledgable about the process, and didn't scare me once, which is quite an achievement! The chit chat was fine, and sitting in the salon was like sitting inside a birthday cake - the decor is mental busy, even if the salon was not booming with custom.

I have only a little gripe - for the past 2 years I've gone to 5 different branches of Peter Marks and in every single one I have been given the Exact same haircut. Without Fail. Now, I'm well aware that if I want a different style I should say so, but does anyone remember the days when a hairdresser made suggestions for your look, what would suit you, how to change things up a little bit so you don't look exactly the same as the you you were two years ago...? When walking out of the hairdressers was like walking into your new life? Getting the same haircut every time is like getting 65% in every single exam...it's not terrible, it's just a bit...average. That said, the massage chairs are reason enough for me to make a return to The Style Club, I could do with one of those permanently in my life.

One last thing - tipping. I apologize to every hairdresser I have never tipped, but really, I don't know how. How do you tip without being patronizing ("here's a bit of pocket money, love!"), how much, when, where, tip the washer, tip the stylist, tip the blow-dryer...it's too confusing!

Come Thursday...

head's a mess..

image from today and tomorrow

The Time is Pnau!

Someone's Alone

Cheers P for introducing me to something else to break my heart over.

Outings

Well, I'll probably not be outing as my procrastination has left me with only a matter of days to learn enough to ace my exams, but the award-winning Somadrone is playing in Whelan's on Thursday at 8, for the very reasonable sum of 15 euro. Maybe going to this wouldn't be procrastination...



Lucky us, Lucky Dragons are playing in the Joy Gallery on the 25th of January, and joy of joy of joy, it's BYOB! Looking forward to visiting this place, I've heard only good things (and one bad thing - apparently it's some trick trying to locate the place - I've got my map prepared already!)

Time Keeping

Got me a metronome today...only 99 more to go.

Microsoft Locked in the Closet

Glow in the Dark Towels - are they serious?

Natural Sound

These ice instruments are all well and good, but what happens when your lips stick to the ice? I like and can relate to the idea that the 'big emotional moments' happen at small festivals as opposed to large festivals...and I'm curious as to why some ice sounds and other ice doesn't...must investigate.

Saturday Listening

Today while I should have been studying, I was:

1. Checking out Elektramusic's January playlist, to see what the folk from the CEC list get up to when they're not dueling with Kevin Austin over the hyphenation of electroacoustic/electro-acoustic.
2. Reading articles in the guardian about overconfident bints.
3. Listening to Champagne Diamond/The Brilliant Light's podcast at Caff/FLICK.
4. Playing with my new melodica and my new microphone (which I'm looking forward to taking for a walk after exam time.)
5. Lusting after things I can't really afford.
6. Drinking a nice beer and thinking about how I'm consciously lowering my grade to a 2.1 and not doing anything to stop myself. Damn.

Guess tomorrow I'll do some real work.
My, it's windy outside.

Rachel Unthank and the Winterset

Can't decide if I have the patience for them, but Rachel Unthank and the Winterset are playing in the Douglas Hyde Gallery on February 3rd.
The Douglas Hyde Gallery are also hosting a series of films on music entitled 'Some Musical Films', starting Feb 19th, featuring Norweigian, Turkish and Brazilian music. Speaking of the Turks, their adaption of the Wizard of Oz is nothing short of bizarre. Check out this little excerpt:

Interview of the Week

Arnold Schoenberg on Painting and Composition



And my lesson of the day - this Weihnachtsmusik is Christmas music...I've never listened to it as Christmas music so I don't care that it's not Christmas anymore, listen and enjoy, while I consider learning a bit of German.

Most Definitely, Penderecki

Wishlist

Two things I want:
a. A big brown leather satchel, boy style, with two pockets at the front, that will fit my laptop, a couple of books, and not make me look like a big man if I wear it to work. They had lovely ones in Urban Outfitters before Christmas, but now they're gone, and I can't seem to find one anywhere. Heartbreak.

b. A scarf/hood type item that i can wear around my shoulders for the Spring, something like the one in this sketch from Garance Doré. Does this exist in real life?

Coming to Town

Jamie Lidell - Andrew's Lane Theatre, March 13th - singing in the summer!


Benga - Crawdaddy, Feb 6th - night before my birthday, this could be messy :)


Max Tundra - Crawdaddy, Jan 21st (night before an exam, will definately not be messy)


Side note, I'm way more into 'Parallax Error Beheads You' now than I was before Christmas...guess it's a grower.

Acid Fire! Acid Fire!

Haven't see this since the good old days, but it's still a cracking video. God only knows why I was getting all hysterical in my dreams over an acid fire, I should take some laid back tips from LV.

Luke Vibert - I Love Acid

Allow me...

not to be the first to point this out, but the new Animal Collective is supreme!
Roll on March 27th/28th! Dublin/Belfast? With their record for turning up to Dublin gigs, I guess a ticket for both would be good insurance...I'll be damned if I miss them this time round.

Here are the wee pets themselves...

Gestalt Principles

Gestalt fur Orchester - Hamel

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3

Linguistics

I have brain-melt from learning about language development...
Ali G and Noam Chomsky breaking it down for me:

Two Smug Men

And sure why not?

Just look at Gonzales cross-legged at the piano...what is he like?

His Solo Piano album has been getting at least a weekly spin (on the ipod) since i came across it in 2005, and it really is a masterful work. The recording is flawed and warm, the mood is low and intense, and the music spans from nervous tic to overwhelming melencholy. The nicest thing about the album is it's inherent 'Frenchness' - you can feel Satie and Ravel's minimalism in practically every note.




And here he is playing around with Mr. Soul himself, J Lidell.



Enough of this procrastination, back to the books.

One Last Thing...

...before I go to sleep - my housemate is watching The Diving Bell and the Butterfly downstairs and it just reminded me that the theme Paul Cantelon wrote for this is beautiful.



Bon Nuit..

Jazz is People!

It's been a good night on the internet, from Aimard to R Wagner through that big old queen Bernstein, via Ives.



Some courting from Fred and Cyd while we're at it...

Crush No. 1 - Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Jordan & Aimard: Offstage at Barnes & Noble