So just a catch up for those who have been following along my life (whether that be a social media stalker or good friends that I have seemingly dropped off the planet for), over the last year and a bit I have been a bit busy. First of all finishing my Honours degree (which I got first class for baby! yeah!) but also beginning my PhD and all the trials and tribulations that come along with that.
If you do know a bit about what that is like, you will know that academia involves a lot of writing. So much writing. So I have been a bit busy, as you can imagine, doing this and that and having a few mental health crisis' etc. This blog has been a bit vacant, but hopefully as I get more time here and there I can update more regularly.
The writing fatigue takes it out of you though, it's hard to keep both creative and academic writing energy levels up and so I do generally tend to drop the ball on things here and there. So as a bit of a welcome back I thought I would leave you a cute little song that has been stuck in my head for the past few months. Firstly cos it's catchy, but also because the music video was shot in Fremantle - a place where I spent much of my childhood and adolescence. So it has a definite warm place in my heart.
Sugar - Peking Duk ft. Jack River
So this song has a real gorgeous 90s feel to it, and that same fun jovial style that we expect of Peking Duk. Bring in some AQUA-esque 90s pop sounds and you have one hell of a summer hit. It's winter right now in Perth, so maybe it doesn't have quite the same charm to it for my good friends back home. But right now, I am soaking up the sun (and some of the rain) in Copenhagen, so here is a fun summer hit for the northern hemisphere to enjoy.
Hey guys, although I just posted a hot minute ago, this is breaking news.
Whilst I was farting around on a new post, my one true musical bae, the beautiful and talented Grimes released this kick ass music video for 'Venus Fly' off of the album Art Angels a week ago. This music video features the gorgeous Janelle Monáe in a kick ass music video with the killer futuristic aesthetic that Grimes is known for. The song is definitely one of my favourites off the album. Which you can read more about in my post here.
Directed and edited by Grimes itself. The music video follows again in the same arc as the other Art Angels' videos. It continues the story of Grimes' angel through her downfall from grace. Absolutely incredible, it is worth the 7 minute watch. There is so much production value and art that has gone into this music video. It's got this distinct Grimes feel to it that makes you want to kick ass. The song has a killer bass, some fire violin solos, and an experimental electronic feel to it. It's a reminder that Grimes isn't afraid to challenge expectations; she isn't afraid to make music the way she wants to. You can hear this vibe throughout the whole Art Angels album, its incredible just how well the album tells a story and how even though each song has its individual sound, they mesh together perfectly. The electronic soundscape she creates goes beyond everything we had expected from her at that point. I am hoping and praying she takes this album on a global tour. What I would give to hear this song live.
So here is the music video, watch it and tell me just how much you love it as well.
Well, after a 4 month hiatus to get my life back on track in the final death throes of university, a new semester starts, with me as a post graduate. Ridiculous, right? I can't believe after 4 years I'm going back to do more. So, you know what that means? More blogging probably, as I procrastinate myself into oblivion, avoiding responsibilities forever more. I continue to maintain the illusion of productivity by putting pen to paper (fingers to keyboard, perhaps?)
Truth be told, I've been on the hunt for new music, something interesting but still freshly baked stuff I could introduce people to. I didn't want to be producing stale work, and as I was writing and looking for new music, the opportunity for the music to appear still 'new' passed and I was stuck cursing that I hadn't been quicker. I was also not listening to music as much, the much, for simply lack of time and lack of ability to concentrate on assignments when I had bangers playing in the background. But life is back on track again, and I have no found myself with an inordinate amount of spare time, and much like this blog post's song, I can't wait anymore.
Anymore - Goldfrapp
Oh man, how I've missed Goldfrapp and that delicious bass that seems to permeate your very core in every song. Goldfrapp is a London electronic duo that first appeared on the scene in 2000. Although their first albums did not chart well, it wasn't until the addition of a glitzy glam rock vibe in Supernature, their third album, did they start see success. 'Anymore' is the first track off their new album Silver Eye that is to be released some time this year. Although I haven't really heard much from Goldfrapp since their iconic 2006 album Supernature, I tried to approach this song with an open mind and heart, waiting for my soul to be filled once more with that amazing synth.
I'm going to be honest with you, I was really excited for this and I'm feeling kind of underwhelmed right now. Compared to the likes if 'Strict Machine' and 'Ooh La La' that we heard in Supernature, 'Anymore' has me feeling kind of flat. I just don't really understand this new direction that they're taking. It lacks soul, quite frankly its a bit boring. I would have preferred a faster beat, some more melodics, perhaps some more enthusiasm and love in that song. I don't know what I wanted to hear, maybe I wanted to revisit a reimagined 2006 Goldfrapp. If 'Anymore' is a taste of what we're going to expect for Silver Eye then I can totally understand why I haven't listened to Goldfrapp in 11 years.
The music video, although artsy and definitely trying to explore some avant garde film making styles, was quite cliche and white washed for my taste. The stunning back drop and the use of contemporary dance wasn't quite enough to save this song, I'm afraid. It was this pseudo artsy hipster bullshit that I started this blog for, and quite frankly I'm still happy there's enough of it around that I can write a critical blog every now and again like I used to do way back when I started.
Oh well, maybe Silver Eye will be better than I hope. Although, I'm not really counting on it.
So I dabbled, I had a go at another blogging platform, but guess I'm back here. Blogger is clunky and a bit outdated, I guess, but in that sense it is a lot like me. I have a fondness for outdated things, I was on blogger BEFORE and AFTER it was cool. I'm the ultimate hipster, right? Right guys????
So what have I been doing (apart from struggling to seem relevant)?
Short answer:
Wallowing in the pits of self loathing.
Long answer:
*deep breath*
I've been so entirely caught up with my assignments and uni work over the past couple of weeks, I kinda stopped knowing where one week ended and the other began. I've been caught in a fog of stress, which has also triggered my eczema, making me a very itchy, small ball of stress. Also, my knee has been giving me a bit of trouble from a running injury, so I haven't been able to work out a lot. Also, it's my final year so everything is pretty much do or die, so I've been putting so much pressure on myself. Additionally, I messed up entirely for the final submission for one of my last assignments so I was having a short mental breakdown over the last few days which involved a lot of staring blankly at the ceiling and contemplating my future job prospects. The thoughts of my GPA spiraling into the depths of hell kept me up at night. Would I ever be able to leave the supermarket I've worked at for the past 3 years? Would this be my eternity? Scanning grocery items? Truth be told, I've had a few grocery related nightmares, so perhaps this was an omen. Anyway, all the business about the assignment has almost cleared up now. Only time will really tell what's going to happen with this whole thing. But on the plus side, if everything goes to shit, at least I'll still have this blog right?
/end
Okay, so now you're caught up with my life. I hope you are doing well.
I've put together a short, 3 song playlist to pretty much encapsulate my mood over the past few days or so. So, listen and enjoy experiencing the week with me, and lets hope this all blows over soon and I can listen to boppy pop songs again.
Long & Lost - Florence & the Machine*
Well, for obvious reasons Florence is on this list. This song is on repeat because a) I am very sad and b) Florence is the only person whose music has such a calming effect on me. Seriously, tingles up my spine every single time. Anyway, I was listening to this mid despair, probably at the lowest and the saddest point of the whole debacle. I think what I loved about this song was entirely the simplicity of it, yet the ability for such a depth of emotion and vulnerability to be expressed through the lyrics. I sit here, a broken woman. Completely and utterly shattered from one of the hardest semesters of my entire academic career, and she manages to encapsulate it perfectly through her voice. Ah, who am I kidding. Listen to it, you'll figure out exactly what I mean.
Retrograde - James Blake
Seriously smooth, serious velvety. James Blake's sensual voice is like a warm fuzzy blanket for my tattered and broken spirit. An addition to the playlist because its sad melody and lyrics are like a soothing cup of tea for my soul. A strong beat and a catchy little tune that has worked wonders for feeding my very, very, very sad state of mind, but also improving on it slightly. So I started listening to this in a pretty much learning to cope stage of the overall state of my life and the path it has now careened down. I'm using James Blake as the velvety blanket that will hide me from the worries of the world.
Tiny Cities - Flume feat. Beck
And finally, acceptance. I actually, was trying to get into the new Flume album but was struggling to really like it. I found the songs a bit jagged without really reaching any sort of comfortable listening tempo. Like I couldn't concentrate or do anything at all whilst listening to the album, such a confusing experience. But this song. This song is it, the only thing holding me afloat in this sea of distress. Its a bit more upbeat, and I guess at this stage I am feeling a little more upbeat. But still, listening to the lyrics. You'll get the gist of how everything has turned out. "It was never perfect it was never meant to last". And is that an analogy of my good feelings towards my grades and overall performance at a tertiary level education? Perhaps it is, my friends. Perhaps it is.
Much love,
Kristen
* To my friends who keep on saying that my obsession with Florence & the Machine is bordering unhealthy, well, all I have to say to you is *fart noise*
Okay, I'll admit. I have been absent for a quite a few weeks now. Probably more than a month??? Who knows. The days have blurred, my regular posting schedule dispersing like pollen in the wind*
*you can take the girl out of biology, but not biology out of the girl apparently....
So, what have I been doing this month?
a) Dying
b) Drowning in stress
c) Crying
d) All of the above
If you chose d, you would be correct. Turns out working 2 jobs, full time university, and balancing a social life is harder than it looks. Coupled with the last couple of weeks being stress central in terms of assignments, let's just say blogging wasn't high on my priority list. Doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about you though. Even through the tears, I was remembering that I was really shit at blogging because the weeks were going by and I wasn't writing. Sure, I was listening to music, sure I had opinions - was I getting them on paper, though? No. Not at all. However, that's going to change today. I want to talk to you about the woman and the album that got me through this hellish journey through the valley of despair.
Grimes - Artangels
Honestly, album of the year.
When I'm trying to get assignments down, I will usually listen to something to fill in background noise. I like repetitive beats that don't cause my brain to get too distracted trying to work out what I'm listening to, in truth, I'm usually listening to some sounds capes or music without lyrics as I generally have the attention span of a gnat and am prone to singing and dancing to songs I like. However, this is the first album I have been able to listen to from start to finish, still focus on my work, and actually sing and dance whilst feeling productive. There are some really poppy/boppy songs in this album like California, Flesh Without Blood, and Kill V. Maim - all very popular songs and have gotten the recognition they deserve in the mainstream. However, what I have really genuinely loved about this album is the unique sounds that Grimes' collaborations with killer female artists like Taiwanese rapper Aristophanes, and American artist Janelle Monáe have created. You can see Grimes' roots in eclectic electro pop* coming through. There's surge of aggression in songs like SCREAM and Venus Fly (with an almost warehouse-y underground sound) juxtaposed with songs like Life in a Vivid Dream which show depths of sadness and vulnerability, this entire album can take you jumping from emotion to emotion in minutes. I'm sure I spent like 79 hours listening to this album over and over again, in the hopes it would keep me from drowning and give me will to life. And it did. There are plenty of moments in the last month where hiding under my desk and crying seemed like a good option, but Artangels gave me the focus and the will to not die. So thanks Grimes, you always have and always will have a place in my heart that no artist ever will.
* also not a real genre, but hey, I like to get creative
Okay, so I can't give you the entire album to listen to for the same therapeutic relief, I'm going to share with you one of my favourites from the album.
REALiTi
REALiTi was not meant to be on the album, instead released as a demo track initially. However, it was released on the deluxe version of the Artangels album that I own. The same song in the video isn't as polished as the final track that was released on the album, but use your imagination/go listen to the album version if you can. It's this hopeful pop beat and lyricism that kept me sane(ish). But it was so hard to just choose one song to show you guys, since I think the entire album is just the single greatest thing I've heard this month. It's definitely made it to my Top 5 Album list. Absolutely stunning, I'd 100000000000% recommend you all go out and listen to it in its entirety. You will not be disappointed.
So, good luck to all of you out there are dying from stress. Remember, you are not alone, and please keep stress management your highest priority (even if it means not updating your blog for a month). Love you all!
I think I'm getting to that stage now where I find it really strange to see younger people everywhere becoming more successful than I ever could be. For a long time, people younger than me were children, mere babes freshly out of the womb and exploring the world with wide eyed curiosity and lack of fine motor skills. Child prodigies aside, it's been weird over the last few years noticing kids that seem hardly out of diapers doing fantastic things.
Lorde is one of those said toddlers out on the rise, creating some amazing, unique music, and to be honest, I'm really jealous, but really proud as well. Who says our generation is full of talent-less hacks? They're wrong. We've got oodles of talent, and I'm quite content saying that someone younger than me is more talented when that person is Lorde.
Oh Lorde
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (Lorde for short) is only a year younger than me, and if I'm perfectly honest she is going to reach heights that I will never even closely accomplish. The talented Kiwi songstress is only 18, yet for the last few years her songs have topped charts globally and dominated my playlists. Her latest collaboration with the electronic duo Disclosure has been on my mind and my lips for the last few weeks.
Magnets by Disclosure featuring Lorde has been a real hit all over the airwaves since it's release. Despite the backlash coming from the music video depicting some mature scenes, I feel like this is the next best step for Lorde, she's growing up - why can't her music grow up too?
I love this song, and the music video. There's something magical about it. Plus, it contains some saucy video footage of Iddo Goldberg, my big crush from the Secret Diary of a Call Girl days. Regardless, I find the musical integrity of Lorde's unique style is never compromised in this particular track. The lyricism and the soulful purring that is the sound of her voice makes this sound like it's a Lorde track, not a Disclosure track. The only tell-tale sign of a collaboration is the electronic beat, and some of the repetitiveness. Although, to make any song popular in mainstream media, you're going to have to employ both those elements to reach that wide audience. Despite this, my favourite lyric so far has been the "pretty girls don't know the things that I know", that coupled with Ella's kooky dance style in the music video has endeared me to this song wholly.
I love Lorde for many reasons, for one, her hair is very similar to mine! I do admit, I've felt really quite inspired and have been leaving my thick, wavy, locks out in all their frizzy and voluminous glory as a sort of homage to Ella. She's young, she's talented, and to be honest, she is definitely our next "it" girl. All eyes are on Lorde now, she's definitely going to be creating many waves with her beautiful music over the next few years. I'm quite excited for what the future brings.
Well, those of us graced with living in the southern hemisphere are probably ready to peel the warm jumpers and jeans off our frozen bodies and thaw out with the spring sun. It's time to revamp, time to recuperate, and time to embrace the spring sun.
Well, why don't we do that with our music as well?
I find as the weather gets warmer I like to listen to songs that remind me of long summer drives and kicking back in the sunshine. I do a seasonal spring clean of my playlist as much as I do with my wardrobe, so here's a small playlist of songs that I'm bringing in to bring some sun into my life.
T-Shirt Weather by Circa Waves
Here's a fun little track that I've been loving recently. It's long summer car road trips to me, in all their burning glory. They're a British indie-rock band formed in Liverpool. Their debut album was released earlier this year in titled "Young Chasers". Definitely check it out, it's got that youthful British indie sound that we all know and love. Keep an eye out for these guys, people riding in my car will definitely hear a lot of Circa Waves over the next few months.
Rock It by Little Red
An oldy, but a goody. Rock It is a classic summer song that has been played many a time when I am craving sunshine and lazy afternoons. This song has been on my summer playlists for years, it's a boppy track that helps me keep the warmth in my heart when it's looks nice outside, but it's almost as though the weather needs a little pick me up track to get the heat going. This is the sun's pump up track, I'm sure. We all know Little Red; the Melbourne band rose to the Triple J fame in 2010. Unfortunately for us, Little Red split up three years ago. Doesn't stop this song keeping the warmth in my life during the winter-spring transition.
Bullit by Watermät
Okay, so you know those songs that you hear everywhere but never really know who sung them or what their names were? This song was one of those for me until I found it again a few weeks ago. HOLY MOLY. Summer anthem much? This song was so big a few years ago, and I think everyone knows why. It helps you forget that winter is a season that exists. Endless summer in my ears. Forever. Basically, just proving that the French do everything right when it comes to electronic music, producer and artist in every sense of the word Watermät (or Laurent Arriau) brings summer vibes that pretty much ruled all the music charts in 2014. Love it. Bring on summer.
Hope you are showing a little more skin and embracing the changing seasons!
Delayed blog post, so very sorry for all two of you that read it. You know who you are.
This week a lot of my time has been spent watching The Sopranos and toying at the idea of productivity. A lot of toying with the idea, believe me.
In coming weeks, I will predict several states of meltdown and some scattered crying sessions. But in the mean time, let's talk about the music. Which is what we are here for, after all.
This week, I struggled to find songs to review (in truth I was half way through Season 1 of The Sopranos and totally forgot I had to post a blog), so I'll be reviewing something that was recommended to me by a friend.
Certain musical genres have stood the test of time, you find them evolving and changing throughout the eras, but they have more or less stayed put as popular genres with characteristics known by all. Rap music, Pop music, Rock music all have characteristic sounds and feels. So when I heard this song, I pretty much was zapped right through a time machine to an era of 80s cop shows set in Miami (a genre unto itself, believe me).
Alfonso Muskedunder by Todd Terje
Honestly, I thought music like this had died out like handlebar mustaches and grown men wearing those tiny, tight shorts. Thankfully Todd Terje is bringing back all of the nostalgia, but none of the mental scarring.
The song is a nice eclectic mix of modern electronic beats and that classic television show theme music that we all know and love. It's got a real classic feel to it, that bass line throws back to all sorts of coolness and vintage suave. My experience of this song was sitting in a vintage convertible, driving around the streets of Miami and looking off into the distance dramatically every now and then to get some good focus pulls. I am a Miami Cop. I do have a handlebar mustache and aviators in this vision.
Although, I'm probably to weak and tiny to take down any bad guys, I feel as though Todd Terje really succeeds in making me feel like I could. This is the theme song for my non-existent career in law enforcement. Time to change my name to Alfonso Muskedunder and practice sliding over the bonnets of cars. This one is definitely making it on my driving playlist.
