Dear Friends, my superpowers are still at a lowish ebb, despite recharging with a pizza dinner and full-on pillowfight avec Les Enfants. Though I can't actually see that cussed Black Dog at the moment, the lingering doggy smell leads me to surmise he is still nigh. My immediate problem is bone-weariness, prevasive fatigue, and brain drain; I feel like a pithed frog, a somnambulist, a zombie.
What to do? In a post yesterday on his fine blog, Coxon Le Woof mentioned en passant his preference for using music to reflect, rather than change, his mood. I decided to take the opposite tack and try to cajole myself out of my daze by overdosing on shiny, happy music. But alas, it was the wrong prescription. So today the car stereo cranked out powerful doses of ye-ye, Celia Cruz, 80s pop, and even Deee-Lite, but alas, my immune system refused to respond. Doctor, doctor, can't you see I'm burning, burning??
This evening I mused that maybe Coxon was right. Indeed, upon further thought I suspected that he might actually be an unwitting bodhisattva. Instead of denying the feelings, I stood still, stepped aside, watched them, and examined them. As it were, I hugged my inner zombie and got mindful. Quel profondeur!! Except that instead of getting all lotus-like and quiet, I did so to a soundtrack that matched my weary, edgy (and I don't mean hip), scratchy, benumbed, nervy mood. OK, not quite how Gautama Buddha would've done it, but it's starting to work for me. I'll be back on my way soon...
Alien Sex Fiend - Now I'm Feeling Zombified (buy here)
Nik Fiend and Mrs Fiend are the Pearly King and Queen of the electro-industrial goth scene. Longtime denizens of London's legendary Batcave club.
Bailterspace - Grader Spader (buy here)
I have no idea what a Grader Spader is, but it rumbles, grumbles, and rocks like a mutha. Hailing from New Zealand, Bailterspace have carved out some arresting soundscapes in their time.
Alternative TV - Life (buy here)
ATV frontman Mark Perry founded the punk ur-fanzine Sniffin' Glue before forming the band in 1976. "Life's about as wonderful as a cold / Life's about as wonderful as growing old." Later dallied with Genesis P-Orridge and Psychic TV.
Edith Nylon - Tank (when available, buy here)
Blondie meets Gary Numan in some dodgy banlieu of Paris. After two records singer Mylene thought better of it all and retired to Singapore.
Add N To (X) - King Wasp (buy here)
Stomping synth-blues overlaid with the squeals of machinery going horribly wrong. This London art-noize troupe released several records on Mute before imploding in 2003. Challenging stuff.
Fatima Mansions - Blues for Ceaucescu (buy here for only $.0.24!!)
Oh my, spawned by the genius that is Cathal Coughlan. Roars, rants, & raves.
And then there's this little ditty from the quirky, arty indie/new wave/comedy (hey, it says so on their myspace page) Duloks, which I picked up from the marvellous 20 Jazz Funk Greats blog. It's been stuck in my head on auto-rotate, which explains why I've been going around muttering "Red Wizard needs food badly" of late. Remember the Wizard from the video arcade game Gauntlet??
Duloks - Red Wizard Needs Food Badly
Oh, dash it! What are you doing here listening to my self-indulgent mewling?? Go have fun with Colleen Crumbcake, the Doyenne of All That Is Delish, over here and make sure you check out the Grand National track. Brush up on your Portuguese at Capas de Culto. Read some inspired creative scribblings and find out all about gay rugby (go on you Knights!!) at Diary of a Contemporary Dandy. You still here?? Go already, go!!
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8 comments:
Can one actually be a 'Bodhisattva' if one cannot actually pronounce it?
Nice to see some Add N To X - didn't realise they'd split, just thought they were being lazy. Just goes to show, you really do learn something new everyday.
Cher Fil
Pour Edith Nylon, ils étaient loin de venir de "some dodgy banlieu of Paris", ils etaient plutôt issus des beaux quartiers (16eme arrondissement si tu connais Paris). Quant à Mylène en fait de retrait, elle a monté une compagnie de charter entre Thailande et Singapour.
A part ca ils furent un très bon groupe. Sur leur dernier (ou avant-dernier) album il y a même Mick Jones des Clash qui fit les choeurs sur un de leur titre.
Sinon, plein de musique "spéciale" ce soir chez toi!
Read you soon
Thank you, Dear Civil Servant, for educating us on Edith Nylon!
For the non-francophones, the group hailed from the very upscale 16th arrondissement of Paris, and not a dodgy suburb as my description of their sound suggested. While she retired from music, Mylène actually realised big business is very wise (apologies, Monsieur Lydon) and founded a charter company operating between Thailand and Singapore. Finally, Mick Jones of the Clash (and later Big Audio Dynamite) sang on either their last or second-to-last album.
Goodness, we are becoming a learned bunch!
FiL
Colin,
I've not heard the Chameleons track. Given your exquisite taste, I'm sure I would enjoy it and look forward to hearing it in due course!
FiL
FiL,
did you see Birtwistle's comments reported in the Times on Friday?? For those that dont partake of the Thunderer good old Sir Harrison, at the Ivor Novello Awards when he accepted his award asked..."why is your music so effing loud? You must all be brain-dead. Maybe you are. I didn't know so many cliches existed until the last half hour. Have fun. Goodbye.
Well, he had just listened to the Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall, X-Factor winner (like the pop idol show winner) and James Blunt!
T
Thanks, Dearest T. No, I hadn't seen the comment. I'm most pleased for the atonal Sir Harrison; it must be so comforting to dwell in a tower built of absolute certainty and aesthetic rectitude.
Perhaps I should invite him over for a pint & and a groove to some Add N to (X)??
FiL
ha!
neil scored a 'try' today and had to run naked down the field after the game...something they call a 'zulu'.
all this rugby stuff is new to me!
Bryce, you must be sooo proud! I see the Knights won their match today against the Dutch boys - well done!!
And yes, rugby is full of arcane rituals, such as the "zulu"...
FiL
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