The Hearth Of Sebastian

Porcelain Raft - Strange Weekend

2012-01-23T00:12:00.000Z

I was sent forward this album (by the lovely and kind Debbie at CreateSpark) before xmas as a travel soundtrack for my journey to and from Ireland. I often travel alone and therefore a recommended album is always a welcome travel companion. It did not disappoint. From the offset, this album washes over you and envelopes you like a warm blanket just off the radiator. There are touches of the Cocteau Twins mixed with an, at times, Marc Bolanesque vocal and that is always a bonus in my ears. It's released on 24th January, so make sure you grab a copy. Here is a taster for you to wallow in.

Put Me To Sleep by Porcelain Raft

Kate Bush - Cloudbusting Remix

2012-01-21T00:08:00.000Z

It seems Mighty Mouse has been working his magic again (check out his ABBA rework), this time Kate Bush's 'Cloudbusting' gets a beautiful drenching in a shower of xylophones. Magical!

Kate Bush - Cloudbusting (Mighty Mouse Re Work) by Mighty Mouse

Start As You Mean To Go On

2012-01-19T12:03:00.001Z

Welcome to the new look. It is a Blogger template and I think it reflects the blog more than my previous layout. I suppose you could say my blog has always been a kind of virtual scrapbook. I have never stuck to a particular theme within my postings. It's always been a mish-mash of things that I want to share, preserve or just get off my chest. And, I think I'll continue that way. Although I've always been quite private about myself and my work, I think it is high time I started posting and sharing my work.

So, as a starter, let me tell you a bit about myself. I am an ex Health Professional who became disillusioned with it all 7 years ago. Don't get me wrong, I loved my job and whats more, I loved tending to and healing the human race (in my humble little way). It was the politics and the bureaucracy that I couldn't cope with. I've always had a creative itch and once I left the health profession, I decided to give it a good scratch. Biggest risk I've ever had to take but it has all been worth it.

I went back to university and trained in Documentary filmmaking (and all the theory). I have since made quite a few films, although my shyness at calling myself an artist or filmmaker hindered any kind of self-praise. I felt like a phoney, becoming a filmmaker in just 3 years. I won awards and had my films screened in festivals, but still, that didn't give me the confidence to declare myself a filmmaker. Aside from making my own films, I have been involved in some really amazing high-profile projects (exhibitions and installations) and it is only now that I am about to complete my Masters in Creative Media Practice (and hopefully continue to do a PhD) that I feel at ease with it all. My friends say I'm a bit of a perfectionist and therefore I'm my own worst critic, which makes sense as to why I'm reluctant to release most of my work. I don't make films to win accolades. My films are always very personal projects. I invest a lot in them and with the people who participate in them. But now, I think I should stop being so precious about it all and put them out there.

So, as well as my usual mutterings and ramblings, I will be posting my own visual work too.

Hold tight, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Happy New Year everyone!

Time For A Revamp

2012-01-19T01:47:00.000Z

And it is long over due. Now that I have some time between projects, I ought to do a bit of pre-Spring cleaning and tidy up this blog. Watch out!

Titanium

2012-01-18T08:36:00.001Z

This song has been my favourite get ready song for months now. It kind of has a dual purpose in that it makes me dance (well the Alesso remix does, the original is a bit too clubby club for me) and it has also been my 'Fuck You' song to all the haters, leeches, users and dementors that float around my existence. But that's been taken care of and I've started 2012 with an uncluttered mind. Start as you mean to go on, I say.
So, this is for all the ugly-souled humans that are now a part of my past.

The Magnetic Fields - Andrew in Drag

2012-01-11T21:12:00.001Z

They're back! New album 'Love at the Bottom of the Sea' is out on 6th of March. Just in time for Spring.

The Magnetic Fields - Andrew in Drag by MergeRecords

Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish

2012-01-01T21:01:00.001Z

In the latter part of 2011, I repeatedly heard the sayings '2012 can't come soon enough' and 'I'll be glad when this year is over'. There is no denying that 2011 was an annus horribilis with the economy, fake wars, governments still pedalling the notion that they know what they're doing (lining their pockets by investing in security companies set to take over everything in the name of peace), escalating unemployment, etc. The news-list is endless. What is funny, is that some feel that come January 1st 2012, the previous year and all its happenings will suddenly vanish from history. Try as you may, but running away from it or wishing it deleted won't do any good. Isn't it better to learn from it? See why it was horrible and try to ensure it won't be repeated. Simple. Running away from things doesn't solve problems.
Happy New Year!

Here I Go Again.

2011-11-08T21:23:00.000Z

Filmmaking time again and that usually means an absence of posts. I'll try to peep in now and again just to get out of film-head mode and jot down my usual rants. This time I'm taking on 4 films at once, all short thankfully but quite exciting none-the-less. Back soon!

Active Child - You Are All I See

2011-10-27T18:04:00.001+01:00

This album helped me through a bit of a bumpy time earlier this summer and now it is set for a Deluxe Edition release on the 1st November with 4 extra tracks; Diamond Heart (New), Body Heat (New), Playing House (Chad Valley Remix) and Hanging On (Live at WFUV). If you haven't got it yet and need a gorgeous soundtrack to the coming chilly months, then is the perfect accompaniment to a snug night in. Here is a sampler that The Hype Machine have offered up. Bliss!

Kate Bush - Wild Man

2011-10-15T17:38:00.000+01:00

Here it is, the first single and also a taster from her new album '50 Words For Snow' which is released on 21st of November. Excited, me!

Kate Bush - Wild Man by antirecords

Ólafur Arnalds

2011-10-15T17:26:00.000+01:00

Once again, Mr Arnalds delivers the goods. Heaven!

You can check it all out here, plus free download of the tracks.

Under Your Spell

2011-10-11T00:06:00.000+01:00

I can't stop listening to this. The 'Drive' soundtrack is actually quite something. I wonder if I would have liked it so much, had I not watched the film. Hmmm???

The Boy Who Takes Sugar in His Tea

2011-10-10T23:52:00.000+01:00

I wasn't in the mood....

It was one of those whiskey-laden nights,

when all the freezing mist played havoc with my hair-

sending droplets of ice down the crack between my neck and shirt collar.

Oh why were you there?

A mirrored night of last May,

when I talked with Italian boys before the drunken charade of levitating your reflection-

and that night smacked of purple and bruised blue.

My life buckled momentarily....

Was it a hug or an embrace?

You weren't supposed to be there-

but love's folly forced a hand and you were by my side.

Where did the night go?

The peated Connemara oozing and Androgen musk,

that surely puppeteered my head, bowing to your chest-

with stories of islands, broken speakers and roads.

A spoonful, no just half....

my heart holding tightly as church-goers had long past.

Soon there was peace, as voices, yours and mine,

performed a symphony that soothed and made us understand.

(Anonymous)

Obscurities - Stephin Merritt

2011-08-23T00:30:00.004+01:00

Released today, a collection of previously unreleased and rare songs from, probably one of the greatest unsung songwriters of today, Stephin Merrit.

Track listing:
1. Forever and a Day (previously unreleased)
2. Rats in the Garbage of the Western World (The Magnetic Fields)
3. I Don't Believe You (The Magnetic Fields)
4. Plant White Roses (Buffalo Rome)
5. Rot in the Sun (the 6ths)
6. The Sun and the Sea and the Sky (previously unreleased)
7. Yet Another Girl (the 6ths)
8. Scream (Till you Make the Scene) (previously unreleased)
9. The Song from Venus (previously unreleased)
10. Beach-A-Boop-Boop (The Magnetic Fields)
11. When I'm Not Looking, You're Not There (The Magnetic Fields)
12. Take Ecstasy with Me (The Magnetic Fields)
13. When You're Young and In Love (previously unreleased)
14. You Are Not My Mother and I Want to Go Home (The Gothic Archies)

Here is an alternative version of one of my Magnetic Fields favourites 'Take Ecstasy With Me' with vocals by Susan Anway. A Classic!

IamAmIWhoAmI - Clump

2011-08-20T16:37:00.001+01:00

And so we have part 2 of the toilet roll bed. 'Clump' is the follow up to 'John' and the video takes over from where its predecessor left off. No sign of white underpants man in this video, instead we have a new character in the form of Cousin It's offspring, a childlike and ghostly figure. The mind boggles, but no doubt we can expect more from the next releases and hopefully this multimedia outfit will produce (one of the first???) concept pieces that consist entirely of, and run as one long-playing video. I'm excited if it is. Enjoy!

Polysemous

2011-08-17T02:04:00.000+01:00

"Stupid and crafty, inept or successful, comic or threatening, these hesitations and ambiguities anticipate the polysemous nineteenth-century dandy."

(Domna C. Stanton, The Aristocrat As Art)

James Fenimore Cooper, Jr

2011-08-16T16:50:00.000+01:00

To A Friend

Thy voice, as tender as the light

That shivers low at eve -

Thy hair, where myriad flashes bright

Do in and outward weave -

Thy charms in their diversity

Half frighten and astonish me.

Thine eyes, that hold a mirth subdued

Like deep pools scattering fire -

Mine dare not meet them in their mood,

For fear of my desire,

Lest thou that secret do descry

Which evermore I must deny.

Hard is the world that does not give

To every love a place;

Hard is the power that bids us live

A life bereft of grace -

Hard, hard to lose thy figure, dear,

My star and my religion here!

(JFC 1789-1851)

Bop Til Ya Drop

2011-08-06T13:32:00.003+01:00

Some more delicious tracks for you to shake your shimmy to.

George Michael's 'Faith' gets a reworking from Aeroplane. At first I wasn't keen, due to the slowness of it but on second listen, it really grows on you and becomes a cheeky little groover.

Munk is next up with 'Violent Love' getting a Testarossa hi-nrg-esque remix. Just try getting ready to go out with this playing in the background.

Next up for some ass-shaking shenanigans is Edwin Van Cleef's 'Don't Stop'. It has that Fern Kinney 'Baby Let Me Kiss You' bassy rhythm simmering (bpm'd up a few notches) underneath it all. Swoon!

Broken Records

2011-08-01T23:13:00.000+01:00

It seems that there is trouble over at the DataNest camp, the online file storage site that I use to link to the music in my MixPod player. Don't know what's happened to the site and there seems little to nothing indicating if it has folded etc. Tried linking the urls through 4Sharded but they don't seem to work either. I suppose the best thing for me to do is just link the songs via their site. Here goes! I'll start with the last batch that I added.

Lover Lover - Freebirds (Tronik Youth Remix)

Yusek - On A Train (The Magician Remix)

Mason - Little Angel (Rex The Dog Mix)

Popular Peoples Front - Party Over Here (Gigamesh Rework)

Munk - Mis Labois (Black Van Remix)

Noah and the Whale - Tonight's The Kind Of Night (RAC Remix)

Today's Thought.

2011-07-22T14:10:00.000+01:00

Picture Source: TopMan.co.uk

Whilst having a break from doing some research in London, I decided to go to Oxford Street to nosey around some clothing shops. Being well aware that the majority of the population are taking austerity measures, I couldn't help but notice how expensive clothes have become. Over the past year or so, regular items; jeans, t-shirts, jumpers etc seem to have doubled in price. Yes that old devil inflation is at hand. But something in particular struck me whilst browsing through the rails of Topman, H&M, etc. The average price of a jumper is around £30 (€44, $60), reasonable you might think and yes, it is, if you have a job and a disposable income. On the other hand, who are the prime shoppers at these places? Well it is obvious that the youth market are the main target. Now, let's look at the current statistics for employment in the UK. It has been revealed that the highest unemployment figures lie in the 17-24 year old bracket and this figure is set to increase, dramatically. I do not claim to be an economist nor a mathematician, but even I can predict a crash here. How will any 17-24 year old afford to buy clothes from any of these retailers? It appears that the cogs in the machine are well and truly buckled. I imagine all those who work within the Stock Market running around like headless chickens and not having the slightest idea about what to do. Cracks are appearing in the ivory towers and glass ceilings the world over. Talk about the blind leading the blind.

...and they all fell down.

2011-07-18T23:42:00.004+01:00

Isn't it fascinating to witness something we thought almost impossible, the fall of an empire. The recent phone-hacking scandal surrounding News International has me gripped to both print and digital media. Everyday my jaw drops at the revelations that are being unveiled. Somewhere in our minds we have always known of corruptions and deceitful behaviour amidst powerful companies, but to witness them all come to the fore is somewhat shocking none the less. I am sure I am not alone in feeling a tinge of glee in watching the mighty fall (on the other hand, also saddened that so many innocent employees are losing their jobs). I was told often enough as a child "the truth will out", liars and cheats will always be exposed. Fear and deception eat the soul from carrying the burden of your badness. Eventually it will cripple you and destroy you. Honesty is the best policy and it is a brave man who admits his wrongs and faces the consequences of his actions. I seriously doubt that we will witness any such admittance from all of those involved in this current mess. But, let's just sit back and watch how this story unfolds. My guess is, that this is just the tip of a festering iceberg and soon other stories of corruption will follow and not just in the world of media. I reckon we are about to put the Chaos Theory to test.

A Sign of Things to Come

2011-07-07T15:45:00.000+01:00

It was not so long ago that we complained about our high streets becoming overrun with too many banks and cafes. Later that dismay was replaced with an abundance of mobile phone shops and 'Local' and 'Express' branches of supermarket chains. Walking through my local high street recently, I was smacked right in the face by the amount of 'To Let' and 'For Sale' signs. The high street shopping experience has quickly turned from what was once a magical walk through wonderland to a 'something tells me we're not in Kansas any more' grim nightmare. Rows upon rows of these ghastly banners, on both sides of the street remind us that our glory days of shop til you drop are all but gone and our high streets are holding a poker hand where the next card turned screams 'bust'. Of course all the blame will run around in circles. We don't drink in pubs any more because it is cheaper to buy our alcohol from supermarkets. We don't shop outdoors any more because it is cheaper to buy online, we don't buy books because we read everything virtually.

We don't buy because we haven't got the money. When we do buy it is no longer because we have a disposable income, it is out of habit and mostly to treat ourselves to something nice, to remind ourselves that it's not all that bad. It is. How many times have we heard 'it's just a blip', 'green shoots have been detected' or 'keep calm and carry on'. Why are we hearing this? Because no-one, not even the greatest think tanks, the wisest politician (did I just say that?) nor the world-leading experts have the foggiest idea of what is going on, what the outcome will be or how to fix it. 'Keep Calm' it's all in good hands and 'Carry On' whilst we try and figure out how to get out of this mess, that's what it means. We aren't descending into a blip, it's a great big bottomless chasm. There is no way out. As we grapple with moving one set of assets to another, reinvest in this and buy, sell and resell all the shit that this world produces we are tumbling deeper and deeper into the abyss. Why don't we just scrap everything and start again.

Cyndi Lauper - The Dome, Brighton

2011-06-30T22:35:00.000+01:00

I'm not going to bother writing a review of this gig. Words fail me in trying to sum up something so awesome and magical.

New Tunes

2011-06-29T22:49:00.001+01:00

It's been ages, but finally I've gotten round to loading some new tracks onto the music player. Enjoy!

Lover Lover - Freebirds (Tronik Youth Remix)

Yusek - On A Train (The Magician Remix)

Mason - Little Angel (Rex The Dog Mix)

Popular Peoples Front - Party Over Here (Gigamesh Rework)

Munk - Mis Labois (Black Van Remix)

Noah and the Whale - Tonight's The Kind Of Night (RAC Remix)

Carmel

2011-06-27T18:09:00.002+01:00

Back in the 80s, this young lady was quite popular but seems to have been forgotten within the annals of that era. She had such an amazing voice and quite an impressive catalogue of hits. She is rumoured to be planning a comeback. Hurry up dear, that voice is sorely missed!

Here are a few of her best tracks.

I'm Over You

Bad Day

You Can Have Him

Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend Video

2011-06-23T08:20:00.000+01:00

I love Robyn. She makes music that has a glorious pop aesthetic. Here's the official video for the recently released 'Call You Girlfriend'. I'm really impressed with this video. Done all in one take, no grandeur, gimmicks (except the great lighting of course) or edit techniques. Just Robyn dancing around (I had no idea this girl could jingle her junk so well). I just love that strobe and synth break around 2.30 point, just makes me wanna jump in there with her. Excellent!

Memory Tapes

2011-06-18T00:28:00.000+01:00

This video is weirdly beautiful.

Memory Tapes "Yes I Know" from Najork on Vimeo.

IAmAmIWhoAmI

2011-05-28T00:31:00.001+01:00

IAmAmIWhoAmI, is on the loose again. After last years fantastic multimedia feast that was B.O.U.N.T.Y comes this little beauty 'John' which I'm sure, knowing the previous virtual antics of the enigmatic Jonna Lee, will hail yet another set of amazingly avant garde videos, electronics and the best use of digital/social media since the Cadbury's Gorilla. Watch the video for a taste of things to come (that weird toilet roll bed???) and the brilliant song. For those not familiar with their work and want to get straight to the song, skip the long intro (2.46mins) and wind your ears around this gem.

Haito Göpfrich

2011-05-26T11:35:00.000+01:00

There appears to be little to no info regarding Haito Göpfrich, or perhaps I haven't surfed enough to find out. German producer/musician/DJ is all I can find. Here, I'll let the music speak for itself. I've been listening to this catchy little number on repeat lately. Pity there is no video for it (yet?). The track appears on the sampler cd of 'Listen To Berlin' highlighting the city's numerous artists. Worth checking out as there are multiple genres present. Here is my standout track. Enjoy!

Caught With Your Trousers Down

2011-05-22T10:35:00.001+01:00

With all this recent media coverage about 'superinjunctions', it is rightly so that a person's right to privacy should be protected. It becomes cloudy when issues of 'freedom of speech' and 'press freedoms' come into the equation. This is all interesting stuff now that the digital age has taken hold and all the old rules get tossed out of the window. Yet amid all of this confusion, legal battles and hoo-ha, lies something that is being overlooked. The 'act' that has lead to all the fuss in the first place. It is here that my views tend to waver. Take the recent example of celebrity footballer and his extramarital sexploits. It is his actual act of adultery that has been overlooked amidst all the uproar over superinjunctions. The press's argument that it is 'in the public interest' holds a strong case (although sales are their main reasons for exposition) that such acts of infidelity should be reported. This is where I tread on murky territory. BUT it is the act that I want to highlight and place judgement on. The fact that someone, a public figure and someone whom many look up to and idolise, intentionally sets out to have an affair is the thing that needs to be brought to the public's attention. This is were we the public get to test our moral judgements. On the one hand we could see that we are all flawed and everyone of us lapse and fall prey to moments of weakness, 'we're only human'. On the other hand, if someone stands in front of their friends and family and makes vows to 'honour and obey, love and cherish' but then seeks some frivolous titillation in someone else's bed then they deserve to be humiliated in public. Did this 'family man' and upstanding citizen take his wife and children into consideration when he set out to destroy their lives? I don't think so. So in my self-righteous opinion, bringing stuff like this out and reporting on it is beneficial. I get to question/strengthen my morals. I get to cast a stone in this modern public flogging. Some might disagree with my views and I, theirs. But what ultimately happens is that dialogue is opened up and communication takes place regardless. That can only be a good thing.

When Saints Go Machine

2011-05-18T23:12:00.000+01:00

I first posted When Saints Go Machine a while ago when I uploaded the Nicholas Jaar remix of 'Fail Forever' to my music player. Now they have posted a new song on their website called 'Kelly'. I must say, this is pure Summer-time shimmy. As much as I am loathe to make comparisons, Arthur Russell and Paul Simon spring to mind (or if I were to push my imagination a little to the left side of dark, Tracey Thorn if she was a man). This track is one for the headphones, that way you get an earful of all those delicious little melodic bits that tend to get lost on certain hi-fi's and most certainly in MP3 format. Have a listen and try not to smile/toe-tap/shoulder-shimmy.

Kelly by When Saints Go Machine

Subtle Benders

2011-05-15T17:59:00.001+01:00

It is a rare occasion but one that I love. It is spontaneous and usually entails bizarre occurrences, funny little moments where you find yourself doing quite mundane things but at the time seem quite prominent. Why would buying a pineapple at 9am on a Sunday morning appear out of the ordinary? Well, if you bought a pineapple at 9am on a Sunday morning, not after, but still during an all night drinking session, that's where the event takes a twist. The pineapple is bought on a whim because I so happen to pass the Sunday market on my way (accompanied of course by whomever is on the bender with me) to the next drinking post. By this time of the morning, it is usually after all the bars and clubs have closed, a bottle or two are bought and its all back to mine for more drinking and talking and cavorting.

I don't do all-nighters very often, in fact they are so few and far between that it makes them all the more special. It usually evolves around meeting someone new. Someone enthralling, on your wavelength and talking is all part of the agenda. It is not about getting drunk for the sake of drinking, that is only an adage that makes the all-nighter even more special, an added dimension. It is all about communication and interaction. It's almost as though you feel that you want to impart everything you know or need to say for fear that you will not ever get the chance or time to do it again. Like being on holiday as a child, you want to eat up every second because you know that the time for going home is soon approaching.

My benders never involve me drinking myself into a stupor. I've always been a sensible drinker and know how to pace myself. The drinking plays the part of adding something else to the oxygen intake that, as it passes through the vocal chords, creates a different cocktail, another way of speaking.

My favourite part is when you realise that it is now 4pm and you have to go home. Usually having to walk through town, still in the clothes you went out in, no idea of how your hair looks, no concept if you are actually wearing your jacket inside out or the right way round. You walk, slightly giddy and feeling a little naughty but even more so, you feel like there is a layer of dirt and grime encasing your whole body, like you've been rolling about in the mud and if you were to jump suddenly the entire casing would crack and shatter to the ground in a thousand pieces.

As I walked home this afternoon, this beautiful Cure song was the soundtrack in my head.

Get Off The Rails!

2011-05-12T16:29:00.001+01:00

I'm sure that I am not alone in my fuming. If there is one thing that really sets my blood pressure on an upward thrust, blasting a fountain of mercury beads through the top of a sphygmomanometer, is females in a menswear section. Ladies, I (and I'm sure I speak for many's a man) am fairly capable of shopping for clothes all by myself. I developed this ability at a young age. At first it was daunting but with time the art of picking the right garment became second nature. This is something that all men need to accustom themselves with, like shaving. It is a rite of passage. So what if we get it wrong! What's the big deal if we leave a shop with mismatching colours or ill-fitting attire. We screw up from time to time but we need to practice until we get it right, find our own individual style or simply purchase the same t-shirt and jeans combo repeatedly.

When I go out shopping for clothes, I want to feel that freedom to peruse. It's our turf, girls. You have treble the amount of floor space, usually 2 or 3 floors worth and always accessible, whilst us men have to climb the top of the building to do our thing. So why is it, that without fail, there seem to be more girls in the menswear section than there appear to be in the ladies department? I like to take my time and lose myself in a clothes shop. I want to examine and experiment. What I don't want, and it is always the case, is to be constantly interrupted by, made aware and conscious of the fact that there are girls hovering around my domain. Would females feel comfortable having men present in the knickers and bra section? I don't think so. Well, it's the same for me.

And what exactly is it that they are doing in the menswear department? Picking out clothes for their man because they have outgrown the need to play dress-ups with their dolls, they now have a real-life dolly in the form of their boyfriend/husband/fiance. Good job ladies! Baby him even more than his mother did. He's useless at shopping for clothes because you won't let him. I see it when I'm about to go into a changing room to try something on. I see those glares that say 'Well, my David would never wear navy with black', of course he wouldn't because you won't fucking allow him. You are the reason that most men look like shit. You are the reason that they give up and wear that jeans/t-shirt combo like a second skin until if falls off them. Leave us alone. Give us peace and time to breathe in our section. I want to rummage through the rails uninterrupted without cackles from you ladies pawing through the same rail I'm on and offering a running commentary on every item. To add insult to injury, when it comes to paying for our clothes, us men like to do it at the speed of light, money down, in the bag, out! But no, we have to stand in a queue ten-fold for what seems like an eternity because the queue consists of two disgruntled men and the rest are female. Grrrr!

At Last

2011-05-11T00:12:00.000+01:00

So, my latest film is complete and now I can get back to blogging after being locked away in an editing suite for the past several weeks. I have a few posts drafted from a couple of weeks ago, so I shall finalise those and then get back to putting the world to right. Hold tight!

Tyson

2011-04-14T00:24:00.000+01:00

I've had Tyson's 'Die On The Dancefloor' on my ipod for a few months now. Can't remember exactly, how I came to possess it, but I was under the impression that it was probably a track from one of my old compilation albums of Italo/EuroDance/Hi-NRG/Disco. Imagine my surprise to discover that he is not a pseudonym of Sylvester or anything to do with Patrick Cowley. He is in fact a bit of a mystery that sprouts from these very shores in the UK and actually quite current. Check him out for some glam-time wig-out wonderment. I do love a bit of intrigue and mystique when it comes to artists.

Just listen to these tracks from his SoundCloud page and try sitting still. Hard isn't it?

Ran For Love by TYSON

Die On The Dancefloor by TYSON

Lucky In Love?

2011-04-14T00:12:00.000+01:00

I've often thought about this crazy game that we call love. Particularly the pursuit of it. Do we, as humans, allow the pursuit of love to preoccupy our every waking moment, and our subconscious mind figures out the mechanics whilst we sleep? This search for The One can seem like a cruel trick especially when it comes to geography. As a single person, the options are there for us to explore; some resort to lonely hearts columns, others frequent bars and clubs, most develop crushes on work colleagues etc and hope that something blossoms. These options seem to stem from where we are located. How are we certain that Mister or Miss Right is the guy/girl next door, the man on the train, in the club? What if our true soulmate lives halfway across the world? What if both paths never cross? Is the person we end up with just a 'make do with'? I'm treading in philosophical waters here so I'd better go and dry my feet.

Where Art Thou...?

2011-04-05T01:49:00.000+01:00

Certainly not in the UK now that the government has made huge cuts to all forms of Arts funding.

A Vote of No Confidence

2011-04-05T01:45:00.000+01:00

Source: The Guardian

And so Britain is on its knees. Last May, I said to myself "Well, it's downhill all the way now". Not that I was alluding to the notion of putting ones feet up and enjoying the ride. Not blooming likely. I felt it in the pits of my gut, we're screwed under David Cameron. Almost a year later and we are, slowly and painfully. When I listen to him on Prime Ministers Questions, I feel like I'm watching a giant baby and his uselessness at debating is as infantile as a posh boy squabbling in a playground. This man has no backbone whatsoever. How can anyone take him seriously? Every serious question is retorted with "We're clearing up the mess left by the last government", over and over and over for 11 months. He has patronised the UK, peddling the same spiel time and again. David, we are not stupid, we know there was a mess, but when are you going to clear it up? What's that you say? Oh right, you don't know how to because you don't know which think tank to listen to. Can you believe that this man's supposed background is in PR? and still not a jot of him realising that the public are listening and observing his every word. He is failing miserably and already being touted as the worst PM ever. Not very good PR for yourself David. Admit defeat, cash in now and hit the road.

By The Book

2011-04-05T01:23:00.000+01:00

I remember overhearing a yummy mummy tell her friend, that putting her 3 month old baby in front of the television was good for the infant. She went on to state that it helped with this, that and the other (and lots of other ridiculous nonsense). Her friend quizzed the yummy mummy about how she had come to know all this. "I read it in a book" was the response. I had to walk away at the speed of light for fear of my outrage getting the better of me and little television baby suddenly becoming an orphan.

Imagine my further horror at hearing the recent news of a French couple, who received a hefty prison sentence as a result of negligence. Their poor child having died through the stupidity of the parents. The parents had become vegan (I know, don't get me started) and as a result, tried to raise the child as a vegan BUT only feeding it on breast milk. I'm yelling a four-letter word, beginning with F, very loudly in my head. The parents, during the court case, stated that they were following guidelines from A BOOK. Quite probably under the pathetic title of 'How To Raise your Child The Vegan Way' or some similar piece of crap.

I am not a parent, but if I was, my child would be raised on instinct, the way children have been raised naturally for thousands of years. If there happened to be a problem concerning the child, then my gumption would be to consult my relatives, a mid-wife or a health visitor. NOT A BOOK!

What is the world coming to when silly people like this, turn to books and take the word as gospel. Yes, there are experts out there that can provide beneficial knowledge about certain things, but just because you read it, doesn't make you an expert too.

Grumble over.

Kate Bush - This Woman's Work (Remix)

2011-03-12T00:26:00.000Z

Just happened to stumble across this remix that seems to be doing the rounds lately. I know all the fans, myself included, are all swallowing up the rumours of a new album sometime this year. That along with re-issues of 4 albums. And, as far as remixing Kate's music goes (sacrilege in most of our eyes), this Echoes remix is probably one of the finest I've heard. Have a listen and see what you think.

Kate Bush - This Woman's Work (Echoes Remix) by Echoes Music

When Saints Go Machine

2011-03-02T22:59:00.000Z

Came across this little gem on my travels through cyberville. Beautiful! Makes me crave for The Knife. Long overdue a new album.

When Saints Go Machine- Fail Forever (Nicolas Jaar Remix) by !K7 Records

A Right Old Bun Fight

2011-03-01T22:54:00.001Z

Is it just me, or did some advertising troll sneak in whilst I was asleep, and eradicate all existence of the traditional 'Fairy Cake'? Not just the Fairy Cake, but almost all types of bun and suddenly everything in a Baker's window is called a 'CupCake'. I'm grumpy enough when I wake up most mornings (a bad riser in the Autumn/Winter, *note my use of Autumn and not 'Fall', people), so please change it back. This MacDonaldisation of the UK is not funny anymore. I blame Joss Stone.

New Tracks

2011-02-24T00:02:00.000Z

I've finally gotten round to changing the music on the MixPod player.

First up is the gorgeous Vitalic remix of Amadou & Mariam's 'Sabili'. A lovely uplifting little tune to help you through these dreary end of Winter days. Next up is the equally lovely, Lykke Li's new track 'I Follow Rivers' given The Magicians remix and finally Solange's 'Would Have Been The One', worked over by Edwin Van Cleef who has been getting my attention in the world of remixes lately.

Note to self - please reinvest your interest in music again!

Adele

2011-02-19T23:56:00.000Z

As if this album really needs any plugging. 4 weeks at number 1 in the UK album charts, her first album 19, at number 4. Two Top 5 hits in the singles charts. Apparently the first to do so since The Beatles in the 60s, and deservedly so. Adele's 21 is a masterpiece (stick that up your sphincter cool kids). If you fail to be moved by the utter heartache that belies each of the tracks, then might I suggest relocating to your nearest cemetery because you are clearly 1. dead as a doornail or 2. have a heart as cold as a granite headstone.

I haven't witnessed an artist move so many people since Sinéad O' Connor floored us with 'Nothing Compares 2 U'.

A voice that is timeless, songs that all of us can relate to, what more do you need.

Here's her performance at this years Brit Awards if you haven't already witnessed it.

Back Again!

2011-01-26T21:45:00.000Z

For those that visit regularly, it's been a hectic time of late. Started my Masters last October and it has been pretty intense coming up with a creative piece every week for 10 weeks. That is the main reason for lack of posts along with the fact that nothing new has surfaced that tickles my fancy or riles me enough to let rip about. Hopefully that'll all change now that I've gotten a grasp of what's required of me, academically. I'll be posting left, right and off-centre from now on. Watch out!

Here are some hilarious pix that I found on an old hard drive of mine.

Thought I'd share them with you.
Ah, the days when men were men.

The Year That Was...

2010-12-29T14:00:00.000Z

In short, 2010 was a year many of us will not look back on fondly. It has been a really crap year. The 'ash cloud' chaos, the worsening recession, politics showing its true corrupt face, the weather, the wars, the phenomenal amount of deaths. The 'bad things' list far outweighs the 'good things' list. I'm sure for each of us, we have had our own personal highlights. Mine being, (miraculously) getting Arts funding and being able to start my Masters degree.

As the year comes to a close, the prospects of a better and new decade, seem far from prosperous. I know there is more goodness in the world than evil and I pray for this next decade that goodness will prevail and outshine all the bleakness that has been swamping our lives lately. We deserve it.

I haven't been posting much this year really. I think one of the main reasons is due to cultural bankruptcy. My apathy to almost everything is at its maximum dose. One could easily claim that this is a personal circumstance, this is half true but how can I nourish my interests when the morsels are measly. Take the music industry as a prime example. What great things happened musically this year? Sweet FA is my answer. Of course the Music Blogs will try their damnedest to convince us otherwise with their years-end spiel of the 'best of 2010' list that should be circulating as I type. No doubt we will pick our favourites from within these lists, but are they classics? I think not. All I've seen this year, musically, are covers of cover versions, artist covering songs that are still in current circulation. What is the point of that? Why would you want to hear 5 other artists version of Lady GaGa's Bad Romance? It is pointless.

Other cultural forms have been equally fruitless; the art, film, literature industries are awash with the same old shit being rehashed in a different colour, extended editions and 3D format. Who gives a toss? Where is the creativity? Time to rewrite the phrase 'money makes the world go round'. It doesn't, it makes it grind to a shuddering halt. The only currency that really matters is our humanity and at present, even that is becoming maxed out. Time to bring the system down, pull it apart and sit amongst its pieces and reflect before making any attempt to piece it together again in a new and wholesome way.
Happy 2011 everyone!
Here's hoping for changes.

The Human League - Night People

2010-11-25T22:53:00.001Z

Ahhh and not before time. A gigantic return from the League. What took them so bloody long? This is them back on form. Splendid!

Hurts - Stay

2010-11-23T20:55:00.001Z

Another release going for the festive feel. Hurts released Stay, the 3rd track from LP 'Happiness'. Personally, it's not my favourite track on the album. I liked it initially, but after several listens, it tends to grate on my skin. All that big choral washing goes on too long and leaves me cold. The video for this begins with a lot of potential, beautiful cinematography and the promise of something different. But alas, it falls straight into cliché hell as the narrative snips your attention at the bud. It's just too literal. We know the song is about someone wanting someone to 'stay', so why make the visuals so obvious. Having the band perform the song in a shack is just plain absurd. A complete wasted opportunity with this video really, it could have pulled the song in a totally new direction, but failed from the offset.

Active Child - In Your Church At Night

2010-11-23T20:31:00.000Z

I know it's still a bit early to get festive but this beautiful track needs to be heard. The video is quite bizarre in a gorgeous sense. Check it out!

THE BARR: PAC-MAN MOLESKINE!

2010-11-03T20:16:00.000Z

THE BARR: PAC-MAN MOLESKINE!

Whiplash Wig Out

2010-11-02T22:02:00.000Z

The world of hairdressing must be as dried up with ideas as the current fashion industry. Talk about creative bankruptcy. I haven't seen anything inspiring or jaw-droppingly inventive in fashion for some years now. It's all rehash and remix. As for hairstyles, they are so naff at the moment, I find myself yearning to take a pair of scissors to every Bieber Sweep that crosses my path (and that is usually ten to the dozen). It's everywhere! Whats more, it isn't even a nice look, just a younger version of the bald man comb-over and a revamp of the Donny Osmond 'do'. Quite ridiculous if you ask me.

Still, I can't help but giggle to myself at the sight of all these Bieber buffoons trawling the streets. They have a certain way of walking that resembles the zombies from Night of the Living Dead. The neck is tilted slightly to whatever side the sweep falls, the head held perfectly still so as not to disrupt the flow of the fringe and this petrified/frozen facial expression that is silently screaming "Please wind, go away, don't ruin my flick". There must be so many stiff necks around from all that bad posturing, I can imagine the agony of trying to straighten up once the next trend kicks in (right about next summer). Never mind the scissors, perhaps I should carry a wind machine around with me.
So cruel, I know.

Here's how Donny Osmond did it back in the 70s.

Whooooohhhh

2010-10-30T15:02:00.000+01:00

A little Halloween treat for you all. This has to be one of the funniest things I've seen in a long, long time. Laugh out loud hilarity. Click to play and Enjoy!

THE BARR: BRIGHTON PHOTO FRINGE: CLOSER

2010-10-20T21:23:00.000+01:00

THE BARR: BRIGHTON PHOTO FRINGE: CLOSER: "Closer, the exhibition by photographer Stuart Griffiths, is at the Phoenix Gallery until 14th Nov, 2010. He began takin..."

Everyday Is Like Sunday

2010-09-29T11:50:00.000+01:00

Remastered and re-released this week, one of my favourite Morrissey songs 'Everyday is like Sunday'. This precedes the 20th Anniversary Edition of Bona Drag, coming soon.

Suited & Booted

2010-09-28T18:04:00.000+01:00

I've been scouring some fashion magazines lately (purely for leisure of course, it's not like I'm intending to follow the pack) and I've noticed a current debate surrounding the staple in many a man's wardrobe, the 'classic' suit. It would seem that fashion journos are debating the necessity of the suit and whether it has any relevance in the 21st century.

Well, its about friggin' time! I have long held the view that this ghastly garment should be retired to the knackers yard. I mean, come on! How many ways are there to revamp the suit? You can widen the shoulders, taper the lapels, round the collars, dart the waist, flare the trousers. But it will always look like a suit and therefore always look tired and exhausted. Modern menswear designers should be banned from trying to reconfigure, deconstruct or reinvent the suit. A complete waste of time.

Realistically speaking, who wears a suit these days? More to the point, why? The suit no longer denotes social status regardless of how bespoke. For me, it screams 'I work' or in some cases 'I'm off to find work'. A man can buy a suit in the hope of emulating Don Draper, but to me, he will no more resemble Mad Men than a chav standing outside a call centre in Debenhams finest. He will always look like a left over from last century. As a matter of fact (shallow as it may seem) one of the reasons I refuse to get married is out of the fear of having to wear a suit.

Dear God, if I coup over tomorrow and they lay me to rest in a suit, I will come back and haunt the lot of them. Amen.

Herman Hesse

2010-09-21T16:43:00.000+01:00

Stages

As every flower fades and as all youth
Departs, so life at every stage,
So every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
Blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at every age
Be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavor,
Be ready bravely and without remorse
To find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
For guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
And let no sentiments of home detain us.

The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
But lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
Familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
Or else remain the slave of permanence.
Even the hour of our death may send
Us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
And life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without end.

Hurts

2010-09-10T16:45:00.000+01:00

I've come across Hurts purely by accident and I'm really loving their album. My soundtrack to the approaching Autumn.

The New Clones

2010-09-01T16:43:00.000+01:00

The Old Clone

One trend that is now becoming so tiresome and seemingly taking over the world, is that of the New Clone (not the official title, but one that I can't help but refer to as). Stubble, stubble and more stubble. I can't escape it. The sight of all these boys and men roaming the streets looking like they've not slept for days and are on the verge of a breakdown, is too much. Buy a razor you scuffy sods. The unshaven look is over. Please stop it now. Buy a razor, let your skin breathe! Enough said.

The New Clone

OOOPS!

2010-08-15T23:09:00.000+01:00

Sorry for lack of posts lately. Decided I needed to take a well earned break and do some preparation work for my Masters degree along with some very exciting film projects (all will be revealed soon). I have a few posts written in draft from some weeks back so should really get my arse into gear and post them once edited.
Be back soon!
X

Ólafur Arnalds Exclusive

2010-07-28T22:26:00.001+01:00

I've had an amazing opportunity to meet up with and speak to Ólafur Arnalds. After his critically received performance at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, he took some time out and came to London to talk to a few blogs, The Hearth of Sebastian being one of them. The short clip below has Ólafur speaking about the creative process that he employs when working on his music. Ólafur also treated us to a private performance in one of the back rooms of Union Chapel. Here he plays Erlá's Waltz beautifully and unaccompanied, despite what he called 'a really crap piano'.
I got to film quite a bit, but thought I'd keep my piece short and sweet. I have more footage which I intend to use at a later date, but for those who want a more in-depth interview take a look at the pieces I did for music OMH's blog. Not sure if they have it up yet, will post link later, if they don't.
Hope you enjoy this unique young man's talents and go purchase his albums.

Ólafur Arnalds from Peter A S Harte on Vimeo.

COMING SOON!

2010-07-02T17:41:00.003+01:00

Interview and piano performance by Ólafur Arnalds exclusively for The Hearth of Sebastian.
WATCH THIS SPACE!

Bye-Bye BB!

2010-07-02T00:13:00.001+01:00

So, this is the last ever Big Brother in the UK for Channel4. Despite not having a television for over 3 years now, I still tune in to certain things online and BB11, I must say has always been something I like to switch on from time to time. It's amazing to see how much it has changed since its inception all those years ago. I'm from the camp that states it is no longer a social experiment and more a 'let's see who will end up in rehab/sectioned' experiment. Whether it still has relevance today is up for debate.

Here is my take on this years contestants.

Rachael - felt sorry for her, didn't have enough time to shine but the bitching thing was her downfall. If your gonna be a bitch, its better to establish yourself first.

Govan - the most despicable housemate this year. If your not sure (or in denial) about your sexuality, don't go on national television. A very broken fellow who simply hide behind his bitchfests.

Sunshine - felt sorry for her initially, a total show-off but for all the wrong reasons. How on earth is she ever gonna be taken seriously if she (ever) becomes a doctor. Foolish move.

Ben - a total twat. If he is straight, then I'm a baboon's granny. A liar, a cheat and the most selfish housemate. He loves to hear himself speak, which is mostly condescending/patronising bullshit. AND what the hell is going on with that hair? Its like a Sloane Ranger reincarnation.

Dave - put simply, he is a cunt (sorry but its a word I rarely use and only when really angry). This poor excuse for a man gets my blood boiling. You should know by now how I feel about people who spurt on about God, particularly those that say they have been chosen to spread his message. Nut job.

Mario - liked him when he was the mole. Makes me cringe now, with his incessant fawning over Ben. Can't believe he is a Fashion Designer, with that dress sense? Mathew Williams can sleep easy.

John James - I like him and his cocky Aussie swagger. I can forgive his anger and tantrums because I know grief and believe he is still coming to terms with his dad dying suddenly. That aside, he does present some funny moments.

Steve - I like him, he's a sweet daddy figure but now the novelty has worn off. He hasn't done a thing. But in terms of social experiments, he probably has the most to contribute in terms of social analysis. He fills the disability quota, a debate that often gets brushed aside when it comes to representation and visibility of the disabled within media. This debate is just not happening and neither is the 'our boys' issue. A totally lost opportunity.

Nathan - hiding in the kitchen is a smart BB move. Let all the big egos burn out and breakdown and then this is where someone like Nathan can come to the fore. A likable chappy and I look forward to seeing him start to shine.

Ife - another dark horse. She has stayed in the fringes and not really shone much, but like Nathan, I think there is more to come. I like her so far.

Josie - adorable and a potential contender for the throne. Knows how to work it without being overly in your face. Says some hilarious things and I think she is much more witty than Ben likes to think he is. Has a real natural charm and I could listen to her accent all night.

Caoimhe - love her, but then being Irish, I'm totally biased, but screw that. Love the whole lesbian crush thing going on and how she is handling it. Very grounded young woman who could do the distance once Shabby backs off and allows her to shine.

Shabby - so love her style. A good and alternative representation of lesbianism. The crush thing is totally watchable, annoying, cute and interesting all at the same time. Shabby is an easy love to hate figure and is not really doing herself any favours by being constantly in the firing line. She needs to quieten down a little if she is to survive another eviction. Here's hoping.

Corin - and so to my fave housemate this year. What a character. That Manc accent is so addictive to listen to and some of the things she says has me in fits of laughter, her Tree of Temptation task has been the highlight so far (colonic instigation hahaha!). But the best line ever, when she and Ben were talking about sandwiches, Ben asked her what her favourite sandwich was and she said 'bread'. Classic! A definite winner and has to date had all the best bits.

New Boybands

2010-06-29T00:07:00.000+01:00

Here are 3 new boybands that I have discovered online.

Watch out, they are gonna be HUGE!!!!

No.1 is The Metrosexuals

Made up of 2 sets of brothers, the blondes and the brunettes and their childhood friend. Their music is a cross between R'n'B and Pop. They love their fans and were discovered crying out he back of their failed X Factor audition, by a wealthy music mogul who saw real potential. Their first single 'Finally Made It' is out on Monday.

No.2 is Frat Party

Just a bunch of regular guys who met up, before dropping out, of university. Their music is pure unadulterated FUN FUN FUN. Think poor man's Blink 182 mixed with a dash of Milli Vanilli (if that's at all possible). These guys know how to have a good time and their debut release 'Girl You Know I Wanna Get With You (But Tonight Is Homie Time)' is out now.

No. 3 is Animal Boys In High Heels

Four Art School graduates with a passion for fashion, poetry and Foucault. Tired of the London scene and after spending a year in Berlin, ABIHH are ready to unleash their indie-electro vibes on an unsuspecting public. After the slow ascent of the previous EP 'Hirsute Hesse in Hibernation' comes their new single 'The Naked and The Nude' a tribute to the Kuchar Brothers and the title of one of their obscure early releases from 1957.

Losing Your i-Dentity

2010-06-28T23:12:00.000+01:00

i-D magazine was always a staple of my magazine diet (along with Blitz and The Face), back when I was a mere teenager. Hell, I even appeared in its 10th anniversary edition called 10Up where photographers from all over the globe presented their interpretations of what was street fashion from LA to London. Individuals with a sense of style were plucked from the pavement and posed for the camera. I happened to be one of those mere mortals.

That was back in the day when i-D had relevance. Its journalists and photographers always seemed to be miles ahead of everyone else in terms of trend predictions or simply reporting on the far left-field to the downright oddball. You knew when you bought the magazine that your eyes would gorge on the never-before-seen. When you read the articles, you got a sense of the passion and pain that went into the research.

I stopped reading i-D several years ago after telling myself for months to give it a chance, maybe it'll be better next issue. The final straw came when the issue's theme was Blue, I read one of the quips (although they claimed it as fact) that were dispersed throughout the magazine and all in relation to the colour blue that New Order's Blue Monday 1988 is the biggest selling 12" of all time. I wanted to rip the mag to shreds. Why? Well if you're going to quote something as fact, at least get the fucking fact right. It was 1983 (not 1988) that Blue Monday was released and became the biggest 12" seller. It was in fact re-released in 1988 as a remix.

So why should something so simple annoy the hell out of me? That is just the tip of the iceberg. i-D for some time and still to this day having browsed through a friend's copy recently has lost all its flare. It is lazy, uninspiring, totally up its own little London bubble-arse and has a bunch of 'contributors' that know jack-shit about jack-shit simply. i-D has become to the magazine world what Wikipedia is to a final year student's dissertation. Ill informed and redundant.

Kevin Sharkey

2010-06-24T22:25:00.000+01:00

I'm so loving this picture by Kevin Sharkey currently causing a bit of controversy.

Music Monday

2010-06-21T16:17:00.000+01:00

Yes, I know, I've been hiding away from the hearth for a while, but if you look carefully you will see that I have published some posts that I had saved in draft form over the last few weeks and finally got round to putting them up. Whoopy-doo!

So, without further ado, here are some tracks for the music player for you to wind your ears around.
There is a Summer Chill-out feel to this set of tracks I've selected, hope you agree! Enjoy!

1. Kylie - All The Lovers (DJ Oskar Edit)

2. Light Pollution - Good Feelings (CSLSX Remix)

3. Young Galaxy - Queen Drum (Graham Lessard Remix)

4. Efdemin - Acid Bells (Martyn's Bittersweet Remix)

5. Korallreven - The Truest Faith (Ghostape Remix)

Poem for today

2010-06-17T14:30:00.001+01:00

GENNADY TRIFONOV

(Untitled)

For three swift days

You gave me solace

And on the fourth day

Your shadow vanished.

I didn't mind

That you accidentally

Broke my wing

when you said you loved me.

You were good for me

Like snow is good for winter.

You were obedient to me

Like growing grass to springtime.

And may God forgive me

That I, lacking the strength

Have already forgotten you

The way the earth forgot peace.

Thus, all my life,

I'm not with him I love,

About whom I'm silent all night

And keep the candle burning

Superstar DJ, Here We Go!

2010-06-14T13:33:00.001+01:00

The days of the Superstar DJ have well and truly become a thing of the past, as we all know. There was a time when Cox, Oakenfold, Tiga and co could fill a stadium and give the big bands/artists a run for their money. Tens of thousands of club kids would merrily dance their asses off until the wee hours and then some. DJ's would be flown around the globe and paid a substantial amount of dollar for a 3 hour set. On the back of this came the superclub. Venues sprung up to cater for those masses of party people who wanted a piece of collectivity on a regular basis. But alas, the super club was soon to follow the superstar pied pipers and fall off the edge of the cultural map. Not a great insight on the part of the investors and owners. Now it seems that even the average club is beginning to suffer. Regardless of size, from the 500 to the 100 capacity, venues are struggling to attract the punters despite promotions, discounts and whatever offers can entice them through the doors.

Gone are the days of 'If you're name's not down, you're not getting in'. (honey, if my name's not down, it simply means I wouldn't be caught dead there, obviously!). Guest and cheap lists don't cut it anymore. The bouncer boyfriend, the promoter's mate, the me and the DJ are best friends just don't hold any clout these days. But there are bigger questions to be asked as to why club culture is dying. Of course we can blame the economy, longer pub opening times, cheap supermarket booze, private parties. The list is as long as my arm, but those answers don't suffice. There is a bigger picture to be viewed. Our world has become a fad. We are fed numerous new products and trends, almost on a daily basis. We are so bloated by choice and pumped full to the brim with an all you can consume culture that apathy will surely follow. What happens to the kid in the sweet shop once he/she tires of the feast? We may still be surfing the wave that is the 'culture of me' but the wave is slowly becoming a mere ripple. We are slowing down and with that stillness, the silence is deafening. We will begin to realise that surrounding ourselves with all this stuff, does not bring us any closer to self discovery because our inner voices become drowned in consumed things. The culture of me is taking a turn. It is no longer concerned with the exhibitionist and now wants some introversion and this is something that the capitalist puppet masters cannot fathom. Clubs will breathe again, because as long as we feel the compulsion to dance, we will need a venue. But when we return to the dancefloor, we'll be more comfortable and content with who we are and what we want.

The Blitz Kids

2010-06-10T12:01:00.002+01:00

Revisiting cultural icons - The Blitz Kids

These fab photos and more can be found on www.theblitzkids.com check it out, well worth a look!

Hang Tight!

2010-06-03T21:19:00.000+01:00

Have quite a lot on at present, hence the lack of posts, but hold tight. Once I get some time, The Hearth shall be brimming with tit-bits and oddities as per.
X

Wherefore art thou, Ólafur?

2010-06-01T14:47:00.002+01:00

As you may be aware, I have been championing this guy from day dot. I'm refusing to write anything about the album until he comes to the UK to play for us (and not as part of a collaboration piece eg. Dyad 1909). Of course, that is not to say that you shouldn't check out the latest album, go get it, NOW! Just don't expect me to tell you about it just yet, because I am throwing all my toys out of my pram until I (if ever) get to see him live.

Plushgun

2010-05-20T16:13:00.019+01:00

Here is another band that popped up on my random play setting on my mp3 player. Poptastic!!!

Check out Plushgun below.

Music, Go Music

2010-05-18T11:59:00.026+01:00

Wow! I had decided to put my mp3 player on random today whilst I was giving my home a good old Spring clean. The beauty of random setting is that it can throw out tracks that you had totally forgotten about. So, there I was, scrubbing away at the dirt that had piled up over our long harsh Winter, when Boom! This track that I had no recollection of, let alone the band or the album, came blaring out of the speakers. The track in question is 'Warm In The Shadows' by Music, Go Music from their album 'Expressions'. I've been playing the whole album nonstop since. Well worth checking them out.

Cold Wave and Minimal Electronics Vol. 1

2010-05-14T11:54:00.000+01:00

This album was released earlier this year and I've been meaning to post about it for some time. If you like your music a bit leftfield and like me, are a sucker for analogue synths, then this is worth checking out. It has a collection of rare gems from the age when Europe was considered a stark and cold reality. This is the soundtrack to that era.

Skinny Boys

2010-05-08T17:54:00.000+01:00

First came the cries that a nation was too obese, and so, the wheels were set in motion to whip the guilty into shape. Bans on junk food adverts during kid's TV and endless promotions of healthy eating ensued. The Nanny State had laid down the law. Now, researchers are crying out loud 'our boys are too skinny' or so it would seem if the rubbish surrounding the outrage at Rootstein, a mannequin manufacturer, are to be taken seriously.

Rootstein's latest male mannequins for their Young and Restless collection have a 27 inch waist. Lord save us and preserve us from the fires of body fascist hell! The reason for all this hoo-ha, is down to the FACT that the average British male waist is 38 inches. So, to put the stamp on the researchers proposals to tally these figures and equate to male bulimia and anorexia is all too transparent. A solid conclusion before the research even gets off the ground. I could do that in my sleep for half the money. A complete waist of time and cash.

To assume that a male mannequin with a 27 inch waist is the harbinger of ill-health among young men is blowing everything out of context.

Anorexia/bulimia in gay men has existed for quite some time, but heaven help us that it should spread to their hetero brothers. Very little was done about it when it was a gay issue but just watch what escalates now that it has reached the hetero masses. So what measures will the moral panickers take to combat this slim-waisted onslaught; free burgers for a year with the purchase of every pair of skinny jeans with a waist under 30 inches? We have a saying back in Ireland, "You can't fatten a greyhound/thoroughbred". Some people are genetically skinny, some people are unfortunate in that they may become obese due to whatever circumstances and some people fluctuate in size throughout their lives. Laying blame for male eating disorders on a skinny mannequin is lazy. A true researcher would delve deeper and the result of that would be much more enlightening than screaming for all men to be average.

Hanging From The Rafters

2010-05-07T17:54:00.004+01:00

The UK have a 'Hung Parliament'. Surprise Surprise! Now all the country needs to do is sit back and watch as all the political big-wigs grovel, plead and sell their souls. First in line will be David Cameron. This sorry excuse of a man will stop at nothing to get to the top. This may well denote a strong characteristic in a person but not when his sole motive is power and leadership for all the wrong reasons. This man does not have what it takes to lead. His goal is to be seen as the cream of the crop not as a political bruiser who can pull the country back from the brink. A leopard does not change its spots and neither do the Conservative party. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they decide to rule as a minority government. Foolish if you ask me. A Rainbow Coalition is what the country is calling for and needs at the minute. The results of the election clearly reveal that people no longer pander to political promises. Get them all in it together with the goal of getting this country back on its feet. If Cameron is at the forefront the UK will become a laughing stock in the same way the US did under Bush. My suggestion is a coalition of Labour, Lib Dems, with the backing of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The cherry on the cake would be David Miliband as leader. Now you couldn't get better than that.

Better the devil you know....

2010-04-28T16:51:00.000+01:00

So the General Election is looming here in the UK and I am a bit fearful to say the least. Whereas the USA was ready for a change, the same cannot be said for here and this is where the general pubic are being mislead. They are quick to forget that this country has been changing since the Labour Party came to power and rose like a phoenix from the ashes. Having been burnt out under the strains of Tory government, the people of this country are quick to forget whose hands they are safe in. Heaven help us all, as I have been keeping an ear to the ground this past while and I'm beginning to loose what little faith I had in the people of this country. I overheard a couple of girls saying 'oh I think Nick Clegg looks nice so I'm going to vote Lib Dems'. I despair at the state of the nation. Yikes!

Slash Fiction

2010-04-26T16:21:00.001+01:00

One of my favourite pieces of Slash Fiction are the Spock/Kirk storylines, one of the first and still the best pairings. Here is some Slash Fiction for the digital age. This has been around for a few years but it is still a classic and so well put together.

J.C. Leyendecker

2010-04-22T13:35:00.002+01:00

One of the greatest illustrators of the early Twentieth century, J.C.Leyendecker was a master of embedding a homoerotic message within his works. Some would suggest a sense of the homosocial bonding between the males depicted in his art illustrations, but to a gay sensibility, this was a more boisterous and daring depiction of male desire. The suggestiveness of what was really being said through the interactions of his male subjects (particularly his advertisement illustrations) were all too blatant for the queer eye of that era to pick up on and thus feel a sense of not being alone. In a time when male sexuality went under the guise of 'a love that dare not speak its name', encoding texts with an unspoken language gave hope to many that there were more like you out there.

Leyendecker, although his sexuality has been disputed among many biographers and historians, spent a considerable part of his unmarried life living with Charles Beach (it is often quoted that they were 'together' for 50 years). Whereas Leyendecker's sexuality may have been ambiguous, Beach was ever present in his art works and considered to be the ideal man, a kind of cultural hero in the advertising world. Of course, as with most American iconography, the idea that homosexuality dwells deep within its essence will always be disputed.

Pulp Fiction

2010-04-20T21:40:00.002+01:00

Her are some funny pulp fiction book covers that I bought quite a few years ago in the form of postcards. You couldn't get away with anything like this these days.

This is from a postcard that an old friend gave to me from a collection by Eric Stanton called Straddlers on Request 1978. If you can't read the caption, it says -

"No man had yet proved strong enough to outlast Superba. Her muscular thighs and crotch always emerged victorious. This test of strength proved no different. With her victim firmly smothered in her embrace, Superba enjoyed a cigarette while punishing this upstart".

Hilarious!

I have loads more of these and shall scan and upload them over the coming weeks.

Italo Disco

2010-04-17T17:48:00.001+01:00

Music time again. This time I'm going with some classic Italo Disco tracks. There is something about Italo that makes me come over all summery and instantly puts a smile on my face. The melodies are so catchy and although most of the lyrics are a bit absurd (especially the older tracks, when Pidgin English was de rigueur), you can't help but get swept up in the magic of Italo. Here are a few of my favourites.
Enjoy!
PS. I've changed the settings on the music player so that it doesn't start playing automatically, so if you want to hear the songs, press 'play' (sssshhh but songs are also available to DL, at least until I get told otherwise)

Denise & Baby's Gang - Disco Maniac (1988)

Daydream - In The Night (1986)

Valerie Dore - The Night (1984)

Fun Fun - Colour My Love (Extended) (1984)

Sally Shapiro - I'll Be By Your Side (2006)

The Sport of Kings

2010-04-16T14:40:00.001+01:00

Another gripe I've had lately came after I saw a Facebook group that demanded the banning of the Grand National horse-racing event. Animal Activism is fine for those that hate to see cruelty towards animals (myself included), I drawn the line when it comes to extremism. The ban on fox-hunting is a small victory but to move on and suggest that horse-racing should be banned, borders on the ridiculous. There is a debate at hand here. Those that suggest that racing a horse is cruel and those that believe that the horse actually loves to race. I tend to sway with the latter. Having been horse-riding since I was a boy, I always felt that the horse enjoyed the act more than myself. I never got any sense that the animal felt it was been made to do something cruel against its will. Racing horses may well be seen as a sport that is purely for the satisfaction of humans, but being around horses long enough has led me to believe that the animal can come to love the attention and thrill of the race just as much. All this leads me to one of my favourite poems by Philip Larkin that speaks from the point of view of a retired race-horse recalling memories of its glory days at the races. Enjoy!

At Grass

The eye can hardly pick them out
From the cold shade they shelter in,
Till wind distresses tail and main;
Then one crops grass, and moves about
- The other seeming to look on -
And stands anonymous again

Yet fifteen years ago, perhaps
Two dozen distances sufficed
To fable them: faint afternoons
Of Cups and Stakes and Handicaps,
Whereby their names were artificed
To inlay faded, classic Junes -

Silks at the start: against the sky
Numbers and parasols: outside,
Squadrons of empty cars, and heat,
And littered grass : then the long cry
Hanging unhushed till it subside
To stop-press columns on the street.

Do memories plague their ears like flies?
They shake their heads. Dusk brims the shadows.
Summer by summer all stole away,
The starting-gates, the crowd and cries -
All but the unmolesting meadows.
Almanacked, their names live; they

Have slipped their names, and stand at ease,
Or gallop for what must be joy,
And not a fieldglass sees them home,
Or curious stop-watch prophesies:
Only the grooms, and the grooms boy,
With bridles in the evening come.

By Philip Larkin, taken from The Less Deceived (1955)

Yummy Mummy

2010-04-14T21:36:00.003+01:00

I've realised that I haven't had a bit of a rant in a while, so hold tight. A few things have been bugging my arse lately and I will get around to spewing my venom over the next few posts. Here is my first gripe . A friend was telling me recently about going to have lunch with some girlfriends who had taken along their children, one of which was still an infant. When it came to ordering the food, the mothers began to ponder all the food available and quizzed as to whether the food was suitable for each child. Every item was scrutinized according to what diet the mother had put their child on. Then came the statement that the infant who was present was being 'raised as a vegan'. I mean WTF??? Making the decision to feed an infant only vegan foods really bothers me. I mean, what chapter of the 'How To Raise Your Child' does that come under? Being a vegan is fine in my book, but raising a child as a vegan is not. To me it all smacks of pretense on the part of the parent. Breastfeeding is one of the most natural forms of child-rearing and has been done since before we were able to stand on two legs. Does a mother breastfeed her vegan child? If veganism is abstaining from consuming animal products then breast milk is off the menu. We are animals ourselves after all and raising a child as a vegan is cruelty in my book. Let the child savour all the good and bad that there is to eat and then make the decisions about their own diet when they are old enough to do so.

Death To The Throne

2010-04-10T17:33:00.000+01:00

He's gone and done it again. Actually, as I have probably said before, everything Death To The Throne has produced to date has been top notch when it comes to remixing. This time round, he has worked his magic on Santigold's 'L.E.S Artistes'. Like all his slowly building catalogue of remixes; MIA, Daft Punk, Lykke Li, The XX, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Shannon, etc. this mix is guaranteed to get your feet gagging for the floor. Check out the new track as well as a few choice mixes on his MySpaz page. Keep them coming DTTT!

The Fall Of Rome

2010-04-05T19:33:00.000+01:00

The piers are pummelled by the waves;
In a lonely field the rain
Lashes an abandoned train;
Outlaws fill the mountain caves.

Fantastic grow the evening gowns;
Agents of the Fisc pursue
Absconding tax-defaulters through
The sewers of provincial towns.

Private rites of magic send
The temple prostitutes to sleep;
All the literati keep
An imaginary friend.

Cerebrotonic Cato may
Extol the Ancient Disciplines,
But the muscle-bound Marines
Mutiny for food and pay.

Caesar's double-bed is warm
As an unimportant clerk
Writes I DO NOT LIKE MY WORK
On a pink official form.

Unendowed with wealth or pity,
Little birds with scarlet legs,
Sitting on their speckled eggs,
Eye each flu-infected city.

Altogether elsewhere, vast
Herds of reindeer move across
Miles and miles of golden moss,
Silently and very fast.

(For Cyril Connolly)

W.H. Auden

How apt a poem amid the current Vatican crisis.

2010-04-02T00:57:00.000+01:00

The More Loving One

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

W.H. Auden (1957)

Disco Diva

2010-03-29T15:45:00.000+01:00

Time for some more music on the old player. This time I'm going with some disco classics. These 5 songs are way up there in my disco top ten, Viola Wills being my all time fave disco song, as I have mentioned before. All are quite old apart from the Quartzlock track which is a more recent classic. Hope you enjoy!

American Fade - I'm Alive (Let's Move On)

Viola Wills - If You Could Read My Mind (Disconet Mix)

Quartzlock - No Regrets (Musclebound Remix)

Belle Epoque - Black is Black

Chilly - For Your Love

The Gossip - Pop Goes The World

2010-03-27T00:08:00.000Z

Here's the brand new video for The Gossip's latest release 'Pop Goes The World'. I must say that Beth is looking mighty fine in it. See what you think!

Fight The Real Enemy

2010-03-23T23:02:00.000Z

In 1992 , Sinéad O' Connor performed Bob Marley's song 'War' on US show Saturday Night Live. Towards the end of the performance she produced a picture of the then pontiff John Paul II and tore it up with the words "Fight The Real Enemy". The media had a field day calling her evil and a devil woman. Churches went haywire and congregations were encouraged to burn and destroy all her work. Sinéad was heavily chastised and proclamations were made about her sanity. Almost 18 years later, we are hearing the same story about the abuses of the Catholic church but this time from the same media who called Sinéad 'nuts' for her allegations against the Vatican. SHE WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG (not that I ever doubted her), but has any of the media mentioned Sinéad O' Connor and offered a public apology to her. Perhaps something could have been done 18 years ago if they had listened to her and how many more children suffered at the hands of the Vatican because people would rather believe that Sinéad was crazy than believe the message she was trying to convey. Sinéad has recently conveyed another message regarding recent revelations about the Vatican (read it here). I hope people actually pay more attention to what she says from now on.

Here's a reminder of how great Sinéad O' Connor is.

Matsuo Basho

2010-03-20T21:58:00.000Z

Basho is considered as Japan's most revered and renowned writers and a genius with words. His Haiku poetry has been hailed as second to none. Using the Renga strategy of writing stanzas of three lines alternating with two line stanzas, written by two or more writers in alternation. Basho was a teacher of Haiku and is believed to have been almost obsessive when hosting Renga parties. Every word is believed to have been long pondered over and the precision of each word was painstakingly articulated to produce the most beautiful pieces of poetry. As they are all quite short I shall be posting some of my favourites over the coming months.

a clear moon

the red fox frightens

the boy-lover's friend

the voice of reeds

sounds like the autumn wind

from another mouth

The Hidden Cameras, Live @ St Leonard's Church, London

2010-03-19T21:25:00.000Z

After last nights gig in Brighton, I was very much looking forward to this performance housed in the splendid St Leonard's Church or Shoreditch Church which it is commonly called. The night was a charity event in order to raise awareness and funds for the Albert Kennedy Trust, that helps and offers support for homeless LGBT youths. One would be extremely mistaken for believing that familial toleration of queer kids would be a long gone cultural memory by now. What makes for an odd contradictory set of circumstances is the nature of such a charity and this setting, in a church of all places. The main perpetrator of such anti-tolerance towards the kids who have suffered at their pulpits has been the subject of many recent revelations. These same institutes were the groundings of my own spiritual abuse. Through being informed as a child that I would be going to hell for something I had no control over its origins, my sexuality, and that I had to live with the horrific notion that my siblings, parents and all those other heterosexuals whom I loved would be taking the stairway to heaven whilst I would be pulled into the deepest depths of hell for a lesser evil. Sure you can be forgiven for theft, adultery etc but how dare you kiss another boy. Not funny, but the irony lies in the fact that there I sat, last night, in a church filled with a queer majority watching queer performers. And quite possibly the first time in many years that this place had a full congregation. Is this what they call fighting the enemy from within? I jest.

The much touted Gay Church Music tagline that has been attached to every written introduction of The Hidden Cameras could not have been more apt here. What was special about this gig was that the set was stripped of its original incarnation and replaced with an orchestral reworking. Each song filled the rafters with beautiful arrangements and of course Joel Gibb appeared in his element. The preacher at the pulpit, his voice lilting and keening, from which I am adamant is the bottom of a Celtic soul. Like the Children of Lir, (see photo of their statue below) whose evil stepmother turned them into swans so that only she would receive the love of her husband the king, but the songs that the swans/children produced were the most beautiful ever heard, even though they came from a sad place, the loss of their father's love. In a Liresque way, Joel Gibb epitomizes that mournful and haunting sound of a wounded soul, the whereabouts of those wounds are non of our business, they belong to him alone. He is a master of his own voice, every movement of his mouth, the exact amount of CO2 passing through his vocal chords and the length and veracity of each sound is projected for us, the observer, to catch and put to our own personal uses. The intention is musical but the conjecture is emotional.

In summary, this was what and where The Hidden Cameras do best, music to inspire, soothe and as I've said in the previous post, it's all about the music but for me personally, last night was a little salvation and a two-fingered gesture to religious institutions.
Please excuse the crap photos, they say beer before wine makes you feel fine, in my case it was wine before beer makes you feel queer, hence my inability to capture a clear and steady image.

The Hidden Cameras Live @ Audio, Brighton

2010-03-17T16:20:00.119Z

This was the opening night of The Hidden Cameras UK tour and I was somewhat apprehensive as to the setting in which the gig was housed. Audio in Brighton is a club venue that also hosts many bands. But having frequented this place on many an occasion over the years, as well as having attended quite a few Hidden Cameras gigs, something sat uneasy with me regarding the meeting of the two. A bad judgment on the part of the tour operator or just unfortunate timing (falling on St Patrick's Day when revelers may have had other plans) made the origins of this tour somewhat orphaned in terms of attendance. Hopefully not an omen for forthcoming gigs.

Despite the crap venue, sparse attendance and the inability to display the full performance potential a la standard HC gigs, Joel and co proved that it is the music that matters and they were here to deliver. This was a new kind of Cameras performance for me to witness and I soon found it all quite intimate, like a personal party were artists turn up to play in your living room. All the disgruntlement I initially had soon evaporated as songs I had not heard live before had me engulfed in awe. 'He Is The Boss Of Me' being one such number being pulled out of the archives and given a beautiful dusting down. The new album was there too and the handful of tracks played, demonstrated that even though the recorded versions may be awash with an orchestral arrangement, the 7-piece live band could deliver an equally compelling sound. There is no such thing as a bad Hidden Cameras performance despite my reservations about them playing at Audio. No matter where they turn up and what they perform, one will always leave feeling that the new music may well be orphaned in it's origins but it has truly been adopted in our souls along with all the other HC songs.

MySpace Vs Facebook

2010-03-16T16:56:00.001Z

I've just read an interesting article in The Guardian's Media supplement about how MySpace are determined to win back their ever-declining fans. 'Fans' is hardly a word I would use to describe people who join a social networking site, an indication perhaps to how out of touch such bigwigs are, or a bad description on the part of the journalist. The article reports that MySpace users have fallen to 3.64 million users (Twitter has 3.68m), whereas Facebook has risen to 23.42m in the UK. It seems the new head honchos at MySpace (one from MTV and the other from AOL, ahem!) have a few tricks up their sleeves. Well unless one of those tricks is to send Rupert Murdoch on a one-way flight to Mars, such a feat is impossible. Their predecessors failed miserably and the two new heads will no doubt follow suit. Already MySpace has copied Facebook's News Feed and Chat facilities to entice networkers. They can add the most exciting features, have a huge image make-over or even give the user full control over content, but no matter what they do, how much they invest in research or who they bring on board to re-jiggy, there is one question that they should be asking that may seem absurd but holds a lot of might. Would you come back to MySpace if Rupert Murdoch didn't own it? HELL YES!!!!

If there was an opinion poll on Murdoch and his News Corp group, there would be some astounding findings. Trust plays a large part in many things when it comes to the consumer and trust is not a word that can be seen on the same line as such a dark overlord. Myspace is dead! It died in 2005 when it no longer became the property of its users and thus not worthy of the title 'My'.

Music

2010-03-13T00:22:00.000Z

I've updated the music player with some 80s blasts de la past. For your delights:

Toni Basil - You Gotta Problem, a standout track from her album 'Word of Mouth'.

Pat Benatar - We Live For Love.

The GoGos - Are Lips Are Sealed (Hot Tracks Mix).

Stephen 'TinTin' Duffy - Kiss Me (JJ Jeczalik Single Mix) .

Bill Wyman - (Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star.

Enjoy!

The Art Of Forgetting

2010-03-11T16:52:00.000Z

I've just watched a fascinating documentary from the makers of The Celluloid Closet called Paragraph 175. The title refers to a section of the German Criminal Code (1871 to1994) in which homosexual acts between males became criminalized. Many amendments were made to the paragraph over the years particularly by the Nazi regime who as a result captured an estimated 10,000 homosexual men, giving them a pink triangle to wear and thus transporting them to concentration camps. The documentary claims that a possible 40% of these prisoners survived, 10 of which have come forward to tell this story. What if none had survived? Would history have presented such a truth or would these figures have been assimilated into the present statistics? So many questions are churning about in my head. Watch this film if you ever get the chance.

David Eagleman - Sum

2010-03-09T23:13:00.000Z

If you haven't yet read David Eagleman's book Sum, I highly recommend it. There are 40 brief tales averaging about two pages each, spanned over its short 105 pages. What makes it such a delight is how inventive each tale is. Some will have you pondering your own existence, others will have you baffled as to their author's imagination and most will have you laughing quietly to yourself as though sharing a secret joke. One could probably read it in one sitting, but rather than gorge on such a sumptuous feast, I savoured a tale a day just to make it last longer.

Lady GaGa - The Brainwasher?

2010-03-07T16:45:00.047Z

It has taken me a while to pay a visit to the Haus of GaGa, but then again I'm either fashionably late for the party or I've already moved on to something more interesting before the other guests arrive. In fact, I can honestly say that I spent last year, when she was making her mark, avoiding any contact with all things GaGa. Like most of the crap that is being peddled by the mainstream, I have trained myself to deflect any penetrative attempts to consume what is being force-fed. It's not that I wasn't aware of Lady GaGa, of course I knew of her existence, but I had strapped on my virtual blinkers and never paid any heed. I had never heard Poker Face or Love Game even though half the population where merrily humming it, they could've been whistling Dixie for all I was aware. Such are the benefits of not listening to commercial radio and not having a TV, you bypass all the crap. It allows you to seek out things for yourself, on your own terms and by your own means.

And so, I entered into the Haus of GaGa all on my own. I'm glad I've waited until now to listen to her music. I can now understand and appreciate the phenomenon.

My conclusion is that she has been long overdue in arriving on the scene. A welcome breath of fresh air. As I have said here many times before, there are too many music acts that don't make an effort when it comes to presentation. Dressing down like a complete scruff-bag has killed of the idea of the Pop Star/Icon. Our music stars should offer us a sense of mystique, an alter ego that we can hail as an inspiration. Not someone who airs their dirty laundry, let's us see what they had for breakfast and what colour their knickers are. Pop Stars should be put on pedestals and seem unattainable or untouchable. Lady GaGa does all of this, and then some. She has brought Pop back and injected the Star qualities that have been lacking over the years. Where have all our Pop Stars gone? Where are the Boy Georges, Cyndi's, David Bowie's, early Madonna's, Marilyn Manson's? Time to bring on the new generation of Pop Icons and GaGa is heading the parade.

With such an icon as Lady GaGa, of course, the freak league have to rear their heads and cry foul. Those people who don't understand talent and the phenomenon. As we speak, such a cultural icon is now being the subject of many a university thesis, psychological profiling, moral critiquing and marketing analysis. They come hand in hand with pop sensations. The same scrutinizing happened to Madonna in the early days, and possibly still continuing. Yet for every beneficial observance there has to be the weird bunch who see the icon as a threat. Hard work and perseverance aren't acknowledged in an icon's climb to fame, there has to be some darker forces at hand behind this, like selling your soul to the devil. I came across this steaming pile of bullshit on my GaGa travels. Have a look at this RUBBISH and witness how fucked up some people really are. But I guess, with great fame comes even greater fear, by the moral morons.

Viva La GaGa and long may she reign!

Goldfrapp - Rocket

2010-03-07T16:44:00.000Z

When I first heard Rocket, the new song by Goldfrapp, I wasn't entirely convinced. The opening synth riff had me envisaging Van Halen's Jump and then the following lyrics switched my mind to Journey's Don't Stop Believing. As much as I am loathed to making comparisons, the song tricked me into it. This was back in January when I first had a listen. I gave it no more thought and had felt a little apprehensive about the direction of their new album. Was it going to be the first time I had to pass on a Goldfrapp album? I've loved all of their work since day one. My fears were soon obliterated when the video of Rocket surfaced. The song made perfect sense and now it is whirring about in my head from the moment I wake up. I love songs that worm their way into your brain. Alison Goldfrapp has always had a knack of making something almost pastiche but at the same time current. Taking something familiar and giving it a good old twist. A kind of tongue-in-cheek that demands to be taken seriously and given her musical prowess, that isn't hard for her to achieve. I've heard another track, Believer, from the new album Head First (released 22nd of March) and I'm adamant that this, like the other albums, is a definite purchase. Can't wait! Check out the video below.

Be Right Back!

2010-02-25T20:31:00.001Z

Taking some timeout to revamp the blog at the minute, hopefully returning with a new layout, music player and whatever other fancy widgets I come across. Hold tight!

The Brits (Awards) are Tits

2010-02-16T00:17:00.004Z

So, here we go again. 30 years on and probably, still, the most useless award ceremony I've ever had to endure. The Brits 2010 are taking place tonight and no doubt the results will be as trite as the industry folk that select the nominees. For a country that has been one of the trendsetters in modern music, you would think after 30 years they would reinvent this pitiful ceremony to reflect the diversity that exists in the UK's music scenes. The Brits are renowned for nominating artists that haven't even made a record for several years rather than reflecting those that have impacted during the previous year. The categories are out of date and do not even include areas of the industry that deserve recognition. It's all about sales and that is the great shame of what could be a truly magnificent occasion.