Must sleep tonight. No pressure.
Wednesday 9 May 2012
The following day
Think I'm going to try & write something on this blog more often. Maybe every day would be overally optimistic, ... but with the help of this handy app, not out of the question.
Suppose the main issue would be why I feel the need to write something everyday. I guess that my job involves so much writing, sometimes it feels like I should use my voice more often. Really must get my guitar out this weekend too. Never been particularly fussed about getting an iPad, ... but the idea of being able to record my own music on it really appeals at the moment. Problem with trying to write something on the guitar is that it will be pretty basic. Really need a keyboard and some form of multi-track recording system. I've always preferred a denser sound.
Perhaps that'll be my objective for the summer. Write a concept album about a girl who falls off a swing. Oh yeah, the swing was on the moon ... the lack of gravity wasn't an issue for complex reasons that don't really matter presently. She finds love as a result of a chance encounter with a sausage roll that can read minds. The rest just writes itself.
Tuesday 8 May 2012
Mild insomnia
Kinda tired, ... but not sleepy. Seen as I've already read one book today (After Dark, great novel by Haruki Murakami ... will have to write a blog entry about his work sometime), guess I'll just watch something for a while. Think I'm done with the blogger, ... for at least a couple of months given past experience.
Work may be painful tomorrow. Perhaps I should use this time more productively, um ... yeah, that's going to happen.
Work may be painful tomorrow. Perhaps I should use this time more productively, um ... yeah, that's going to happen.
Deflated
This weekend has been exhausting ... though pretty cool, mostly. Among other things, I
Today I had to attend my Godfather's funeral. My parents are in Egypt, alas. It was a nice service. His widow stood and spoke to every member of the congregation as they left the church. Incredible. When she looked at me and I leaned over to give her a hug, she immediately mentioned the 'lovely' message I wrote in the condolence card I sent last week (as well as the usual I'm so glad he was part of my life, I also wrote an anecdote about been asked to travel up from Wales with him once to make sure he didn't fall asleep ... I pointed out that it was a pretty stressful role for a nine year old). Hmm, that was tough. For a second I thought I was going to burst into tears when she looked at me. When you see the family in such situations, it's hard to imagine what they're feeling. You're sad that this person has gone, ... but compared to their grief it's nothing. Plus, I find it hard to remember my own times of grief. Although the person is missed, those feelings of pain don't have the same impact when merely remembered. I'm totally not comfortable consoling people. Can you imagine what nursing staff go though. Still, glad that I made the effort to be there. She seemed to appreciate it.
So that was my bank holiday weekend. And tomorrow, I carry on working. Think I'll need to make an early start too. Is it the weekend yet?!
By the way, if you've never seen Dr Horrible ... you must find it. Find it and watch it now! Here's a trailer:
It's only 45 minutes long (divided into three acts), so there's no excuse. From the mind of Joss Whedon, who you may know as the genius behind such entertainment products as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly/Serenity and recently the Avengers Assemble. It was produced during the writer's strike in 2008, as an internet mini-series. If you're still not sure, ... here's a taster (though don't blame me for ruining anything if you decide to watch it):
That's a clip from towards the end of the second act. I actually fell off my sofa I was laughing so hard the first time I saw that line. The delivery is just so perfect. This is the song that follows it, to give you an idea:
Some of the lines are genius ('shiny new Australia', in particular). I've shown this to so many people. They all love it! Well, there was one person. Without spoiling anything, the third act is quite different in tone from the first two acts. My ex-girlfriend got really upset, asked whether I was showing her this just to upset her and spent the rest of the day not really talking to me. Make of that what you will.
You've got to love Nathan Fillion, as Captain Hammer or really in everything he's been in. He does indeed make everything at least 27 per cent better (see this Empire magazine blog for an explanation).
- got a haircut, spent some time with my Grandad, watched the FA Cup final, ate steak & kidney pie and chips with gravy and saw the new Marvel Avengers film (very enjoyable, by the way) on Saturday;
- travelled up to see Manchester United play Swansea at Old Trafford (although the atmosphere was a little deflated after the loss to City on Monday, as well as their win at Newcastle earlier in the day ... the lap of honour for the final home game of the season was perfunctory at best, still ... it is possible we could win the title next weekend, though unlikely), participated in a pub quiz at the Flying Horse (we got a fairly respectable 33 out of 55, plus I managed to deduce that Widnes play at the Stobart Stadium ... I was pretty surprised too) and watched Dr Horrible's sing-along-blog with two friends on Sunday; and
- worked a half-day, cooked for three other people and watched Quantum of Solace & Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol on Monday.
Today I had to attend my Godfather's funeral. My parents are in Egypt, alas. It was a nice service. His widow stood and spoke to every member of the congregation as they left the church. Incredible. When she looked at me and I leaned over to give her a hug, she immediately mentioned the 'lovely' message I wrote in the condolence card I sent last week (as well as the usual I'm so glad he was part of my life, I also wrote an anecdote about been asked to travel up from Wales with him once to make sure he didn't fall asleep ... I pointed out that it was a pretty stressful role for a nine year old). Hmm, that was tough. For a second I thought I was going to burst into tears when she looked at me. When you see the family in such situations, it's hard to imagine what they're feeling. You're sad that this person has gone, ... but compared to their grief it's nothing. Plus, I find it hard to remember my own times of grief. Although the person is missed, those feelings of pain don't have the same impact when merely remembered. I'm totally not comfortable consoling people. Can you imagine what nursing staff go though. Still, glad that I made the effort to be there. She seemed to appreciate it.
So that was my bank holiday weekend. And tomorrow, I carry on working. Think I'll need to make an early start too. Is it the weekend yet?!
By the way, if you've never seen Dr Horrible ... you must find it. Find it and watch it now! Here's a trailer:
It's only 45 minutes long (divided into three acts), so there's no excuse. From the mind of Joss Whedon, who you may know as the genius behind such entertainment products as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly/Serenity and recently the Avengers Assemble. It was produced during the writer's strike in 2008, as an internet mini-series. If you're still not sure, ... here's a taster (though don't blame me for ruining anything if you decide to watch it):
That's a clip from towards the end of the second act. I actually fell off my sofa I was laughing so hard the first time I saw that line. The delivery is just so perfect. This is the song that follows it, to give you an idea:
Some of the lines are genius ('shiny new Australia', in particular). I've shown this to so many people. They all love it! Well, there was one person. Without spoiling anything, the third act is quite different in tone from the first two acts. My ex-girlfriend got really upset, asked whether I was showing her this just to upset her and spent the rest of the day not really talking to me. Make of that what you will.
You've got to love Nathan Fillion, as Captain Hammer or really in everything he's been in. He does indeed make everything at least 27 per cent better (see this Empire magazine blog for an explanation).
Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima
Speaking of noise, I can still remember the first time I listened to Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. It would have been during a music lesson in Year 7/8 at Churnet View Middle School. I was around 11/12 years old. It's such a haunting yet beautiful piece of music. So expressive. The Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki wrote the piece in his twenties. It was first performed in the early sixties. I love the inventive use of the 52 string instruments to create the desired effect. The finale is a pure cacophony of noise. If you haven't heard it, I would definitely recommend checking it out.
I attended a concert at the Barbican in March. The following pieces performed by the AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy:
It was a pretty magical evening. The Penderecki pieces were phenomenal. Really enjoyed the performance and the visuals. To be honest, I also really rate Popcorn Superhet Receiver. Interestingly excerpts form the basis of the soundtrack for There Will Be Blood. It definitely stood alongside the two Penderecki pieces. You can see the influence that Penderecki has had on Greenwood as a fledgling composer. 48 Responses to Polymorphia, a piece commissioned specifically for this collaboration (that originally took place at the European Culture Congress in Wrocław on 9 September 2011), was a little disappointing. There were some good ideas, but it did meander somewhat.
A recording of the four pieces by the AUKSO Chamber Orchestra has been released on CD.
I attended a concert at the Barbican in March. The following pieces performed by the AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy:
- Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima - Krzysztof Penderecki (1960-61)
- Popcorn Superhet Receiver - Jonny Greenwood (2005)
- Polymorphia - Krzysztof Penderecki (1961)
- 48 Responses to Polymorphia - Jonny Greenwood (2011)
It was a pretty magical evening. The Penderecki pieces were phenomenal. Really enjoyed the performance and the visuals. To be honest, I also really rate Popcorn Superhet Receiver. Interestingly excerpts form the basis of the soundtrack for There Will Be Blood. It definitely stood alongside the two Penderecki pieces. You can see the influence that Penderecki has had on Greenwood as a fledgling composer. 48 Responses to Polymorphia, a piece commissioned specifically for this collaboration (that originally took place at the European Culture Congress in Wrocław on 9 September 2011), was a little disappointing. There were some good ideas, but it did meander somewhat.
A recording of the four pieces by the AUKSO Chamber Orchestra has been released on CD.
We Don't Care About Music Anyway
Saw this film at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, as part of the Zipangu Film Festival, back in November:
Been meaning to write something about it for ages. A documentary about the avant-garde music scene in Tokyo, ... We Don't Care About Music Anyway is obviously going to be huge.
It was really great, actually. Went into the cinema with such a bad headache, ... and completely forgot about it until the film had finished. I often find that loud, agressive music blows the pain straight out of my head. Infinitely better than paracetemol, ... I won't dwell on the fact that it is probably more that my attention is diverted.
The film was really engaging. That can be a problem with some documentaries, if it's a load of people talking about a topic in an academic way (either with statements or responses to questions) ... things can become very dry, very quickly. Every artist provided some narration to their own music, but even the roundtable discussions that split up these segments were pretty interesting. It would be hoped that a number of talented musicians placed in the same room would have something interesting to say.
Perhaps the best way to make a documentary is to let the subject speak for itself. Senna is a really good example. It's composed entirely from clips and interviews produced at the time the events were happening.
Back to We Don't Care About Music Anyway. Not all of the music contained in the film was to my taste. One guy (Fuyuki Yamakawa) particularly tested my nerves. The music was pretty poor and he was extremely pretentious, though I'd imagine it'd be pretty difficult for everything in this film to please everyone.
So, my favourite...
...definitely Umi no Yeah!! It roughly translates as Beach House, apparently. According to their website:
Following the entrance, the wailing guitar and the strip-tease (of part one above) ... the music gets even better (in part two below). Some classic guitar smashing too. Listen to that feedback. The crowd totally aren't getting into this as much as they should be, ... but perhaps that's just me:
Totally need to see this band play live. Apparently they played at Cafe Oto in East London during March 2011, as part of a three-day festival promoting the film. So disappointed I didn't attend.
Ah, well basically ... I just love this band! Tomoko Shimazaki is a true rock star!!
Musically, mention should be made of Sakamoto Hiromichi. An experimental cellist. This guy is totally awesome. The axle grinder on the cello, whilst playing loops through effects pedals, is a pretty nice way to finish off this performance:
So, skipping to the conclusion ... if you ever get the chance (and you have any interest whatsoever in 'alternative' music), just watch this film. Unlikely perhaps, as I'd imagine it will never get a proper UK release ... but totally worth it! Definitely for fans of noise everywhere.
Been meaning to write something about it for ages. A documentary about the avant-garde music scene in Tokyo, ... We Don't Care About Music Anyway is obviously going to be huge.
It was really great, actually. Went into the cinema with such a bad headache, ... and completely forgot about it until the film had finished. I often find that loud, agressive music blows the pain straight out of my head. Infinitely better than paracetemol, ... I won't dwell on the fact that it is probably more that my attention is diverted.
The film was really engaging. That can be a problem with some documentaries, if it's a load of people talking about a topic in an academic way (either with statements or responses to questions) ... things can become very dry, very quickly. Every artist provided some narration to their own music, but even the roundtable discussions that split up these segments were pretty interesting. It would be hoped that a number of talented musicians placed in the same room would have something interesting to say.
Perhaps the best way to make a documentary is to let the subject speak for itself. Senna is a really good example. It's composed entirely from clips and interviews produced at the time the events were happening.
Back to We Don't Care About Music Anyway. Not all of the music contained in the film was to my taste. One guy (Fuyuki Yamakawa) particularly tested my nerves. The music was pretty poor and he was extremely pretentious, though I'd imagine it'd be pretty difficult for everything in this film to please everyone.
So, my favourite...
...definitely Umi no Yeah!! It roughly translates as Beach House, apparently. According to their website:
- The two met in Yutsubo marine park in Kanagawa prefecture. Got along. Formed the band.
- Their motto is to have a good business and a tropical sound. Their Curry rice is neither disgusting nor delicious. A profoundly mysterious beach hut. We don’t have boats to let.
- Umi no Yeah's members are [Aloha] Takehisa Ken and the actress [Bikini] Tomoko Shimazaki. It’s a Tropical noise unit! Recently they've been joined by a part-time participant Syrup-san (aka Compuma) and Mojah-sensei (aka Kujun). 24/7, 365 day. All year around. Non-stop open business!
Following the entrance, the wailing guitar and the strip-tease (of part one above) ... the music gets even better (in part two below). Some classic guitar smashing too. Listen to that feedback. The crowd totally aren't getting into this as much as they should be, ... but perhaps that's just me:
Totally need to see this band play live. Apparently they played at Cafe Oto in East London during March 2011, as part of a three-day festival promoting the film. So disappointed I didn't attend.
Ah, well basically ... I just love this band! Tomoko Shimazaki is a true rock star!!
Musically, mention should be made of Sakamoto Hiromichi. An experimental cellist. This guy is totally awesome. The axle grinder on the cello, whilst playing loops through effects pedals, is a pretty nice way to finish off this performance:
So, skipping to the conclusion ... if you ever get the chance (and you have any interest whatsoever in 'alternative' music), just watch this film. Unlikely perhaps, as I'd imagine it will never get a proper UK release ... but totally worth it! Definitely for fans of noise everywhere.
Another train-based anecdote (or the Origins of the Zombie London Mayoral System)
Overheard a conversation between a group of girls on the train between London Euston and Stoke-on-Trent last Friday. Apparently the London mayoral election is conducted using proportional representation (rather than the supplementary vote system, as I previously understood). I can only assume this means that once the votes have been counted, chunks are hacked from each of the candidates based on the percentage of votes they have accumulated and stitched together to make a Mayor. Sounds awesome, right?! ZOMBIE MAYOR!!
My train journey
A man gets onto a train. He's tall. Well dressed. [...] The man sits opposite a woman. Takes out his iPad. Strikes up conservation. [...] The woman is using an iPad too. [...] The man informs the woman that he went for the white version, despite reservations. Some believe that the white version is more 'feminine'. The woman thinks the white version is sleeker. The man agrees. [...] The man asks questions. Is yours the 64 GB version? Does it have 4G connectivity? Alas, price was an issue for the woman. She has the basic model. [...] The conversation dies away. [...] The man checks something on his iPhone. Makes a phone call. [...] Apparently their common interest doesn't lead to discussion of others. [...] Jamie sits quietly. Listening to music on his phone. Two books lie on the table in front of him. One finished. A bookmark indicates the other is half read. [...] Jamie dwells on how inconsequential modern life is. To be fair, ... he is listening to Radiohead.
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