Crawl - Chris Brown.

So Chris Brown is still behaving like a two year old throwing a tantrum, but this is a damn good song. Can I ethically and morally support a song, even if I don't support the creator of the song?

What are your thoughts?

poll by twiigs.com

Threnodies

Been keeping a watchful eye out for what's been happening in Japan. Got me thinking about Threnodies.

thren·o·dy (thrn-d)

n. pl. thren·o·dies

A poem or song of mourning or lamentation.

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[Greek thrnidi : thrnos, lament + aoid, id, song; see ode.]

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thre·nodi·al (thr-nd-l), thre·nodic (-ndk) adj.

threno·dist n.

Our world is in a pretty crazy way at the moment. And yes, we are in need of songs of hope. But also humanity is in need of some space to sit, think and grieve. Here's a song I would listen to in the space.

Using Music Instead of Words

I happened to stumble upon this brilliant, charming little film a few weeks ago [Official Site - Trailer]. Its all hand-drawn, very reminiscent of Disney's older stuff (101 Dalmations). But what makes it really stand out is the fact that there is no dialogue whatsoever in the film carrying/delivering the story. The story takes place in Europe in the 1950s and is about two paths that cross. The Illusionist (main character) is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres, at garden parties and in bars and cafés. Then, while performing in a remote village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever.

A script for it was originally written by French comedy genius and cinema legend Jacques Tati as a love letter (in 1956) to his estranged daughter, but never was produced. Sylvain Chomet, the Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed creator of The Triplets of Belleville, adapted the script and brought it to life in his distinctive hand-drawn animated style.

“What distinguishes Tati’s films is the way he uses sound to amplify or contradict the images we see on the screen, adding another layer of detail which both adds to the charm and structural complexity. Most tellingly, dialogue is used not to convey information to the audience, but rather as if it was just like any other form of background noise. It is this curious aural mosaic of background sound, music and image that defines Tati’s uniqueness and that was something we had to get right, too. We had to go through a lot of testing to see what worked and what didn’t within this virtually silent character medium. But the fact there’s no dialogue makes the audience try to understand the characters even more. Because it’s not laid out for them they have to invest further and that’s the true value of this type of animation.”

Chomet adds “The film ends with a piano concerto lasting eight minutes. We lose the sound effects while it plays so the music becomes the emotional conclusion. So it was of vital importance to me - and the movie. I edited the picture to that music so it would be carried emotionally. Because there is no dialogue in the film I used the music as the inner voice of The Illusionist character and his emotional heart. It wasn’t just music I was composing; it was an extra layer of feeling”.

-Frey

Aphrodite

Local Natives | Who Knows Who Cares | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.


My brother just sent me the latest Take-Away-Show from La Blogotheque, shot in Paris... and it was of the band I introduced you to earlier... The Local Natives. These guys are picking up a lot of momentum. They sound phenomenal live. Everything around you just stops as their harmonies hit you. Its like that one person who makes your heart pound and stomach drop... you see them heading towards you down the hall, and as soon as you do, everything goes into slow motion and becomes hazy. You can hardly breathe and your heart starts to burn and pounds so hard it feels like its going to burst through your chest. They casually walk by (as though being kin to Aphrodite were no big deal) leaving a trail of intoxicating perfume... which lingers and haunts... leaving you dizzy... yearning for more. This is exactly what The Local Natives do to you with their music.

-Frey

M83 - Digital Shades Vol. 1

Glorious and sumptuous analogue synth soundscapes caress the ears and beckon one on a journey of highest heights; M83's 2007 release Digital Shades Vol. 1 is both peculiar and curiously indulgent. Featuring mostly two-track compositions and no drums, Anthony Gonzalez (M83's primary member), displays his genius with poignant precision. This album is not for the impatient but will reward the listener with each new texture revealed throughout the nearly 36 minute running time as each track seamlessly flows into the next in perfect juxtaposition to the last.

This album has been incredibly inspiring ever since it was passed on to me and continues to serve as my personal soundtrack to times of meditation, contemplation and rest. I recommend listening to this album all the way through as it was meant to be heard and on a decent stereo or pair of headphones. Setting the atmosphere with some dimmed lights or candles, or even just listening with your eyes closed will enhance the experience and bring you into the heavenly wold of this record.

Breathe deep, listen and drift away.

- Rufio

Standout tracks are "Sister, Pt. 2" and "By the Kiss".

Apricot by Ben Briand

One of the most amazing short films.

Great score by Basil Hogios.

Directed by Ben Briand

APRICOT — A Short Film by Ben Briand from Moonwalk Films on Vimeo.

- David

The Naked and Famous

I've really been enjoying the Naked and Famous. Their debut album, "Passive Me, Aggressive You", was released in September last year and has taken me quite a while to get to it...but so worth it. The album is full of indie electronic joy. Heaps of this record reminds me of the last M83 album. Real fresh melodies and great textures that are soon to appear in projects that a certain writer of a blog is involved in. These Kiwi's are much better than the last Kiwi band I had the misfortune to hear. (They were support to the artist with my choice of the best album of 2010)

Stand out tracks:

Young Blood

Punching in a Dream

The Sun

The Naked & Famous "Young Blood"

David

Of Vincent Moon

Speaking of Vincent Moon, my housemate and I recently held a movie screening/premier for a film by Vincent of a band from Denmark called "An Island." The band featured in it is called Efterklang and their style of music is in the folk/indie digital realm. I definitely recommend that you guys get a hand on this movie to see how Euros do creativity.

Check out this Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQXJ7HUhugc