Please allow me to introduce myself , I’m a man of wealth and taste… Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones is one of my favourite songs. A personal top 10 ranking, definitely. Various sources state it was inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita, which I have just finished reading. Also – how smooth and wonderful does the video look? It’s the joy of real film.
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Currently on high repeat, Architecture in Helsinki – Contact High, video directed by Krozm:
Now that’s some Patrick Bateman shiz right there. The song is from the band’s third (awesome) album – Moment Bends. I would describe this album as a depressing beach holiday – melodramatic lonely hearts, grooving to tropicana flavoured synth at the resort’s disco. It’s a lot slower than their past efforts. For me, standouts on the album include Denial Style, That Beep (the beep from 2008′s EP of the same name) and B4 3D.
As always, I hope I get to catch them on tour soon! There’s nothing better than bopping to AiH at a live show.
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Down at my favourite watering hole under the stairs (the Wine Cellar), Hazel & Jack have been regularly cranking Toto on Tuesdays. Strictly the karaoke hits – Hold The Line, Rosanna and Africa. Let’s dance!
(My favourite!)
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Happy birthday, Code For Something! It started out 3 years with a post about Santigold… and conincidentally, she has just released a new album – which includes this lovely single Go, featuring Karen O.
May 5th is a new year of sorts for me (it’s also exactly 6 months until my birthday). It’s a great day on which to remember to keep thinking big and try new things… Watch this space! GO!
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle. Sometimes I think Bill Callahan’s Eid Ma Clack Shaw is the perfect song. The dry delivery, of the lyrics, the marching bass (reminiscent of Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads) – ”this song is a spell.”
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Just wanted to share with you this gorgeous poster designed by my dear friend Tessa Stubbing. It’s a simple poster made of found images, but it really works. I want a print of this beauty for my new house.
The gig itself sounds pretty swell too! D. Burmester is touring his new alt-country album “The World Of Beast”, with support from Lubin Rains (The Vietnam War) and Ms. Ivy Rossiter, aka Luckless.
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Hot and Heavy pumpkin pie
Chocolate candy Jesus Christ
Aint nothin please me more than you
Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is a brilliant tune. It’s the soundtrack of my summer – drinking jugs of beer with good friends, sheltered while summer rains beat down. The video is really lovely too.
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I was scrolling through acres of music I haven’t played in yonks, and came across Bossy. Sung by New York’s first lady of neo soul, Kelis (featuring Too Short), Bossy was one of my musical highlights of 2006. I was happy to dig it up – I think it’s definitely on par with Milkshake.
The video is pretty swell , with moments of genius – spotlighted octopus tentacles, flowing Veuve, a blue powder-puff poodle, and a unicorn ice sculpture. As one YouTube user noted, Kelis always looks classy, no matter what she’s writhing in. The Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix of Bossy is also top class; fast paced and bouncy – download it here.
If you like Kelis and Auckland-bound this summer, then you’re in luck; she’s playing at Splore-City in the lush new Aotea Square in February. It’s going to be a banging festival, with other great names like Mayer Hawthorne, Caribou and J-Star on the line up, along with a sprinkling of ambient work & performances.
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Now here’s a yuletide soundtrack that’s sure to be a favourite for years to come:
A Very Little Christmas is a non-traditional carol album, compiled by Auckland’s Little Monster Studio. It’s a diverse set of songs from a loosely affiliated group of local bands who were all given the freedom to make their own musical take on the festive season. Artists include Luckless, Tono and the Finance Company, Canadia, Great North and The Crawley Christmas Singers. My picks of the bunch are Chelsea Jade and James Duncan’s romantic French Kissmas, Hold Dear’s melodic Anthem for An Orphan (for those celebrating in a big lonely city), and The Gladeyes’ lo-fi Carols and Parties.
Snap your Mum’s scratched-up Feliz Navidad CD in half now, and download the AVLC album for FREE here.
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It’s been a fast road to fame since the album launched with his US chart topping single Watcha Say. Firstly, he changed the spelling of his name from Desrouleaux to the easier Derulo, and added two dots above the ‘u’ to make a smiley face.
Jason Derulo – adjusting the position of his personal brand with an umlaut.
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My local dive, Whammy Bar, has a great selection of rock n’ roll tunes; I seem to find myself dancing to this in the wee hours of every Friday night.
“If rock and roll had another name it would be Chuck Berry” – John Lennon
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My two secret musical passions – Katy Perry and Snoop – came together in what was one of the Northern Hemispheres’ singles of the summer. “California Gurls” is snappy, toe-tappy and has an unbelievably rotten video. I mean, it’s awesome. I wish I could embed it.
Last night I spent some quality time watching the Making Of “California Gurls” video. Excellent viewing – it offers insights into how the evil gummy bear army was animated, points out the Capitol Records pancake stack, and demonstrates that Snoop’s dice were made out of real sugar!
Despite those cool tidbits, the most intriguing part for me was discovering the work of the project’s aesthetic sugar daddy, Will Cotton. He’s a New York based artist who uses oil paint and sculpture to bring his candy-land visions to life:
APPENINE, 2009.
CANDY STICK FOREST, 2005.
PASTORAL, 2009.
COTTON CANDY KATY, 2010.
Dreamy. I’d love to frolic on a cloud, or at the very least, have one of Cotton’s sweet pieces hanging on my wall.
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New music for a Monday? Hold Dear, aka Chloë and Jonny, make lovely pop that’s a little bit achey. Kinda like fairy floss for your ears – sweet like clouds and leaves you wanting more. I like them a lot. Head to their Myspace page and listen to Electrons.
Rating: Going places/Very danceable.
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Hello! My name is Amber Parkin. I'm a New Zealander living in London. I'm a writer obsessed with fondue, chesterfield sofas, vintage dresses, foxes, and 35mm.
Here I like to talk about fashion, design, food, travel, writing & books, and culture. Everything else (including my photography) goes into my digital notebook.
If you'd like to email me the address is amber@codeforsomething.com
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