Today I found myself on the beach in Worthing, and halfway through gathering up interesting bits and pieces that had washed up on the shore, realised I was completing a goal from The List!
005. Go beach-combing
I didn't go too far from the pier, but collected up an assortment of interesting seaweed, shells and even a chunk of driftwood!
There were also a few things that I didn't pick up...
For this week's selection of music, I took a virtual trip across the pond and listened to two French-Canadian acts, both of which I found out about through friends.
Coeur De Pirate
This singer-songwriter performs both in French and English, so I only understood some of the songs I listened to (I learnt French for a few years in school, but whilst I recognised some of the words, I didn't remember what they meant!) but despite that, the one I linked above - all in French - is my favourite so far! Coeur De Pirate's music videos are mostly straightforward yet with an arty edge, sometimes involving an element of dance. I enjoyed listening to her music and will definitely be listening to more in future. Coeur De Pirate Official Website
GOLD ZEBRA
Another act - this time a synthpop/electro group - that performs in both French and English. Their songs are dreamlike, with hypnotic music and languid vocals. As for their music videos, they have a wonderfully surreal quality and just the right amount of darkness, which is awesome! GOLD ZEBRA Facebook
Both acts I wrote about here have music on bandcamp, which you can find through the official pages I have linked. Do check them out, and if you like what you hear, consider buying some of their music!
At the weekend, a school friend and I went to a new
exhibition in Brighton, called The New Immortals.
The exhibition, held at the Phoenix Brighton gallery,
includes the work of ten artistswho
explore "ideas about immortality in
an age of scientific miracles".
I'm several weeks into this music goal on The List now, and unusually got this week's listening done over the weekend!
As a quick reminder, this is what the goal is about:
029. Listen to 2 new musical acts every week for 1 year
(That's acts that are new to me)
The artists I listened to this week not only had a great sound, but also interesting music videos!
Natacha Atlas
This was an artist suggested by my friend Sara. Natacha Atlas' music is a fusion of Western and Arabic sound, with an electronic twist. Her music is really catchy and her music videos often seem to have some kind of narrative to them. I quite liked the songs I've listened to so far, and will seek out more! Natacha Atlas Official Website
Merlin Moon
I guess the best way to describe this artist's music is 'psychedelic' or - to use a term once seen on last.fm - 'stoner rock'. The songs I found on YouTube had a really dreamy, spacey sound to them, with anthemy lyrics. The music videos are kind of trippy, too. Merlin Moon Official Website
That's it for another week, though my list of artists to listen to is still fairly long. Despite that, I am still looking for suggestions! :)
Whilst reviewing my progress on The List, I realised that I haven't posted about one of the new places I've eaten at!
The restaurant in question is Italian Kitchen, which is located in Churchill Square, Brighton. Mum and I stopped in there for lunch sometime before Christmas. My brain was in a Christmas Shopping Coma and I was exhausted and starving - those seasonal crowds are hard work! - I didn't think to take any pictures.
It bothers me to post this without pictures, so here is my 'artist's impression' of my food:
My art skills do not do the yumminess justice!
Imagine this:
A dish filled with piping-hot lasagna, the pasta perfectly soft, the meat tender, the sauce flavoursome. The dish is topped with melted mozzarella, all stretchy and delicious. And of course there is garlic bread.
To the side sits a huge cup of tea, steam curling gently upwards from its surface, brewed to just the right strength to revive and comfort.
Are you salivating yet?
Can you tell that I'm writing this at lunch time?
I felt really spoilt for choice at Italian Kitchen, as their menu offers everything from light bites to main meals, and also has a selection of cakes. Drink-wise, along with water, soft drinks and hot beverages, they also offer wine. Well, it is Italian.
My sole gripe is that the environment is quite noisy there, and being half-deaf I found it difficult to have a conversation. But the food more than made up for it, and conversation wasn't too high on our agenda--we were too busy eating!
Alright, so I'd really hoped to have had something else to blog about between music posts this week, but for the most part I've been inside, and my mood has been pretty low (boooo) so more music it is!
Maybe soon I will have Done Something soon, and can then blog about it here!
For the time being, here's some music.
This week, I ended up listening to two American indie folk bands...
Fleet Foxes
I think I heard about this band through Random Googling. Some of their music has a bit of a retro sound to it, and overall it calls up memories of long ccar journeys through the countryside. Their songs are pretty relaxing to listen to, and have nice lyrics.
Bon Iver
YouTube suggested this band to me when I was listening to Fleet Foxes, so I decided to check them out afterwards. One thing to note is the beautiful scenery in their videos. The lyrics aren't so clear - I had to crank the volume up - but the vocalist has a really calming voice! I can imagine listening to their music on one of those quiet spring days, when the rain is falling, and just chilling out to it.
Am noticing a lack of music from certain parts of the world on my 'listen to' list--Africa, Central/Latin/South America, the Middle East, and Asia (except for Japan and South Korea; have plenty of suggestions from those countries!)
So if anyone knows of acts from these places - any genre or era - please tell me so I can give them a listen!
Looking back over my last few posts, all I've written about recently is music! In fact, looking back over the past month I haven't really 'done' anything, have I?
At least listening to all these artists is working towards a goal from The List...
029. Listen to 2 new musical acts every week for 1 year
This week, I'm actually updating in time! So here are the acts I listened to for the first time this week...
aegnoir
Japanese Rock
I heard this band through First Down Records' Bandcamp, as their song last note features on the omnibus mini-album denki monologue 9. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything other than a short ad for their first single on YouTube, so if you want to get a good idea of how they sound, I'd suggest checking out the song on Bandcamp!
aegnoir (pronounced ig-no-a, apparently) sound like a combination of a few other Japanese rock bands I've heard. The music isn't entirely to my taste, though there's nothing wrong with it, and I'd say that if you like Japanese rock music, it's worth checking this act out! (If you head to the bandcamp page, I totally recommend Antikythera too, which is the project of aegnoir's guitarist) aegnoir Official Website
Then Comes Silence
Swedish Goth
Alright, so to call this band's music 'goth' is too limiting, really! Though there is a definite goth sound to their music, it comes with a bit of a psychedelic twist. Their music videos are made from the strangest dreams, the ones that border on nightmares. All in all they sound like a combination of the good goth bands of the past, with a modern, slightly metal twang lurking at the edges.
This act are also on Bandcamp and there are a fair few music videos on YouTube too. The one linked above, for the song Spinning Faster, is the first I watched, and a favourite. Then Comes Silence Facebook
So that's this week's two bands! I have a list of other acts to check out, but am always looking for more suggestions!
Last week I listened to more new music for goal #29, but forgot to blog about it before the weekend, whoops!
So this post is a few days late, but still here.
This time around I listened to bands that I would never have otherwise listened to!
LUMEN
Alternative Rock from Russia
This was recommended by Lilia (Paracosm of Lilies). I don't understand Russian, but found Lumen's music a comfortable listen. Their sound is pretty similar to that of American alt rock bands, I think!
The title of the song linked above is 'Лабиринт' (labirint), which means 'labyrinth'. LUMEN Official Website
Negură Bunget
Romanian Black Metal
Found this act when I was looking for acts according to home country! I know nothing about black metal, so all I can really say is that to me, they sound like other black metal bands--some awesome guitar work and drums along with death vocals. Death vocals aren't entirely my cup of tea but this is easy to have on in the background, and the video effects are cool.
The song linked above is 'Dacia hiperboreana' which translates as 'Dacia Hyperborean' Negură Bunget Official Website
I guess now I'll go listen to this week's new music!
It's that time of the week again where I share the new music I've listened to over the past seven days (so far so good for my year-long goal!)
This week's post is going to be a quickie, because time has run away with me somewhat!
Hozier
Indie Rock from Ireland
Recommended by my friend Sara! I've heard of Hozier before, but had never actively sought his music. I really should learn to pay more attention to what music is popular in my own country, because I enjoyed the few Hozier songs I listened to!
Don Huonot
Rock from Finland
This 90s band was recommended by another friend, Rina! Their music and the videos I watched reminded me of a combination of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I don't know what else? Haha. But they were interesting. I quite liked them!
That's it for this week! Wonder what I'll end up listening to for next week's music!
For the other music I've listened to for this goal, check out the relevant tag.
Now we're in January, it seems a good time to revisit the 36 books I read, and highlight the five that stuck out the most. These are my top recommendations!
