- Arbol Japan Tour March 2007 -

This just in:

-ARBOL JAPAN TOUR IN MARCH 2007-
Arbol is goin' on a "1 month" adventure tour around Japan starting on the 11th of March in Osaka. Miguel Marin aka Arbol has been lately working on soundtracks for films and music for the dance company "Erre que Erre".
Arbol is working on his 3rd and new album "you travelled my heart Inside Out" (with the help of musician Jordi Saludes) which will be released under
lejosdiscos/emiliirecords on 29th Sept 2007 and sees collaboration from Suzy Mangion,Haruna Komatsu and Fernando Lagreca among others.

Osaka 11march "Avan Music Festival" (arbol,jackieomotherfucker,merzbow)
Tokyo 17march Arbol/Eri Makino at AOI HEYA Shibuya.
Tokyo 23march Arbol/mito at O-nest Shibuya.
Tokyo 24march Arbol CMFLG party at Bul let's Roppongi.
more info

Punk is not dead!

Just like the scene from "Gegen die Wand" (Head On) dir. Fatih Akin...

Case in point -- this was recently on the Boston Globe's website:

kids today: They're narcissistic // Archives 2/13: They're hooking up // Message Board: Are they getting worse?

perhaps there's hope after all.

UPDATE: Mark Morford weighs in on this non -issue.

UPDATE: Mark Morford on innocence

Does it make a story?

re: FESTIVAL DAYS

Those are from a longer work I wrote years ago. There is a definite story there but I don't think its finished yet. Or it needs to be reworked. Maybe I could explain it to you and you could suggest things. I think some parts of it are really good and others need to be put in the bin. How does it make you feel?

The Orchids : Good To Be A Stranger

There must be something in the water in Glasgow, it has always been the home to some of the most brilliant pop bands the world has to offer and The Orchids are no exception. After a series of excellent releases on Sarah Records (discussed in full here) which ranged from sugary sweet pop to psychedelic hymns, they quietly disappeared in the Mid-90s. Now they are back with another blissful album. Listening to “Good To Be A Stranger” it immediately occurs to me that they have literally picked up from where they left off. They are still heavily influenced by good Sixties pop tunes. This album feels like a lazy summer day, hanging out on a sunny hillside with friends reminiscing of happy times. The album immediately gets underway with the title track, two minutes of a fast guitar driven warmth bearing the message: “Its good to be back.” Indeed it is. Many of the songs evoke moods inspired by the different aspects of a relationship including love, longing, and departure. Apart from the title track, the songs that really stand out to me at the moment are: “Another Saturday Night”—a chronicle of heading out on the weekend and dancing {Alas, every Saturday night should have this as its soundtrack}, “Down to the Ocean”—about a trip to the seashore, and the closing track “You Could Do Something To Me”—about the resolution of an argument, all perfect subjects for songs as compelling and sunkissed as these. “Good To Be A Stranger” proves the Orchids have not lost their touch for pure jangly pop goodness.

Track Listing:
1. Good To Be A Stranger
2. Take My Hand
3. Xylophone Song
4. I Need You To Believe In Me
5. The Last Thing (On Your Mind)
6. Another Saturday Night
7. Down To The Ocean
8. Feel The Magic
9. Do It For Yourself
10. You Could Do Something TO Me

Due for release on Siesta Records in Early March.

Another Excerpt.

(From "Festival Days")

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about. Look, I’ll sleep on the couch tonight if it’s all the same to you.” She said, ignoring me.
“Oh no. You’re not getting away so easily this time. Believe me, if you keep this sort of thing up, I’ll never let you go back there again. You should take more care of yourself.” Jurgen said trying to be as blunt as possible.
“No one cares what happens to me, Jurgen. You must know that—especially them. All they want is my money anyway.” J--- was not making any sense now. It became apparent to Jurgen she hadn’t heard a word he said. He stared at her for a minute trying to calm her down. She knelt beside him. She looked away toward a far corner of the room as her face contorted in agony. She began to cry. Jurgen lay there slightly upright, slightly lengthwise, watching her. He knew it was better not to touch her in this situation. She had to decide what she wanted to do. The flow of her tears increased and her sobs grew louder. Jurgen’s eyes tried to hold back any kind of response—he didn’t want her to know how he really felt. Finally, she stopped crying. She wiped her wet face with the sleeve of her shirt, sniffled a bit, and looked at him. Her tear ducts were empty. He already reached his emotional limit and momentarily felt nothing. She felt she could sense a great deal behind the stillness of his eyes. This time, this particular moment, when she finally opened her eyes to look at him, seemed to last forever in her mind. The glow of his retinas, the dilation of his pupils was burned into her skull. She looked down at the floor and parted her lips slightly. He thought she might say something but knew better. He extended his hand and guided her to the bed.

Jurgen didn’t dream that night. J----’s ordeal was too draining for him. J----, however, in the midst of lying silently under the covers, traveled amidst the stars. She was in the upper rooms of a grand old house looking at herself naked in a full length mirror. Some kind of large occasion was happening in the lower levels of the estate. It was still early. The soft carpet caressed the soles of her feet as she hunted for an appropriate pair of underwear to complement the evening’s festivities. Her bedroom was gigantic. She thought it must be the largest bedroom she’d ever been in. She sprayed her body with perfume and let the smell linger under her nose awhile. The sun peeked in through the lace curtains to her left. It too created a sensation on her body. The freshness of the waning light brought hope to her eyes. The heat of the light turned from warm to mildly cool. She wore the silk of her underwear like a second skin. Its texture made her into the most precious of flowers. She winked at herself in approval and proceeded to get properly dressed. Her mind raced ahead as she heard cars arriving along the gravel driveway that led up to the grounds of the estate. She heard the parking of cars and the sound of gravel crushed under the heels of expensive shoes. She felt confident, alert and aware. She extended her arms and began to dance around her room—singing to herself. The song echoed and felt tinny. It should have helped her—the song should have saved her. But something was missing. She turned, now fully dressed, and focused on the door to her room. She remembered the color and texture of the wood, the detailing around the handle and the particular sound her door made—whether it was closed gently or slammed shut. The smell and movement of such a door brought a full, almost sensual smile to her lips. Her hand and skin became confused. She felt along the old wallpaper but could not find the door—it simply was not there. She felt at once very safe and alone. Her head was consumed with thoughts of absolute joy and sadness—she wanted something to hold. J----’s body jerked slightly as she banged her head against the edge of Jurgen’s bed.
She awoke, rubbing her head. The dream vanished. Jurgen had not moved. She laid her head back on the pillow and fell fast asleep.

This is something deliberate and unforgivable. It comes over us like a vulture, waiting for our bodies final spasms.

You've heard it before.

{another excerpt from FESTIVAL DAYS}

You’ve heard it before. It was taken to the limit of creation. My foundation shook in disbelief. Do I feel anything anymore? Too much repetition. The patio doors were carelessly left open.
“I desire no one but her.” Jurgen said, very clearly.
I don’t remember who I am anymore. My identity has been bought to distraction. I thought you were on vacation. This kind of activity takes hold. She smiled in disbelief. I could not let such futility prosper. What do you know of it? Why prevent something so easy? Perhaps brighter sunshine. The lace curtains by the doors to the veranda swayed gently in the breeze. Along with all the promises of a new age—difficult reports. Challenges outside the complex. The early days were filled with periods of joy and awakening.




The corridors end here past the threshold. There are cold, dry, dirt floors and then steps leading away from the terrace. Step back, and you’ll see the casual, almost neo-classical, organic infusion of Art Nouveau architecture at work. The whole atmosphere of the surrounding buildings in the square lent more towards a Delvaux than de Chirico—complete with skeletons and little girls. Suffice it to say, I could only wander in awe and discontent. The sky was in a perpetual crepuscular haze. My eyes adjusted to the stasis with difficulty. Each room along the corridor with its old wallpaper—had its own sound and smell—as one can imagine such places might. Some were musty with creaky floorboards, others vilely antiseptic with abrasive cushion-like sounds. But my room, my own special room, my most favorite room of all, smelled subtly of citrus—and it sounded like the warmest of string quartets. I challenged it to do more, to be more than it ever could and, the room would respond without fail—never ceasing to surprise me. Its windows looked out over the garden and beyond, to the city below. This is my forever place, I thought. It is composed of all the best parts of my childhood, all the occasions I nearly took for granted, moments which perpetuate and support my life. As the architecture of the city below corresponded to the stem leaves and petals of my favorite flowers. So that you might understand the challenges around me--so that you might learn about the flow of ideas. This isn’t about relationships. It is about a relationship: a boy and a girl. FIN. The only story left to feel—eradicated from space and time.

radio news - re: "Off the Cuff" (NCP 1) WZBC

I won't be on the air again until early March. Tomorrow night a hockey game will be broadcast, after that my friend Chris takes over.

But don't worry, I'll be back soon enough with much fun and excitement.

Until then.

Playlist - Friday February 9, 2007 - NCP

Fri Feb 9th 2007 7.00pm–10.00pm

Ovil Bianca “RaiDIO” from Gravity = Love CD ALBUM ((K-RAA-K)3 2001)
Coti “sea level” from [metamoria\> (vibrant music 2001)
SFT “SLOPE” from TRAVELCARD CD ALBUM (Sulfur 2000)
Bernard Szajner “Welcome (To Heathrow)” from So Young But So Cold (Tigersushi)
Telefax “MouDJahidin Portative” from des courbes de choses invisibles CD ALBUM (doradorovitch 2003)
Felix Kubin “Too Technical” from Matki Wandalki CD ALBUM (a-musik 2004)
Gyorgy Ligeti “Glissandi” from Cologne WDR
Nobukazu Takemura “wizard in circus” from child & magic CD ALBUM (warner japan 2002)
Emak Bakia “Jane's Memory” from Jane CD ALBUM (Acuarela 1999)
At Swim Two Birds “giggling fits” from returning to the scene of the crime... (Green UFOs 2007)
The Durutti Column “Homage to Catalonia” from Vini Reilly (Factory)
Eric Random “Dow Chemical Co” from Subliminal 1980-1982 (LTM 1982)
David Kristian + Ryosuke Aioke “my bones of iron” from ghost storeys (Cocosolidciti 2006)
Pascal Comelade “Sequence 6” from Back to Schizo (1975-1983)
Tuxedomoon “In the name of talent (Italian Western II)” from Ten Years in One Night (live) (play-boy 1989)
Hazard “Flutter” from I.D.E.A.L. CD COMP (Le Disques Du Lieu Unique 2003)
Steven Brown “Audiences and Stages” from Decade ( 2002)
John Foxx “meranym” from cathedral oceans III CD ALBUM (fullfill 2005)
At Swim Two Birds “in bed with your best friend” from returning to the scene of the crime... (Green UFOs 2007)
Francois De Roubaix “La Scoumoune” from Anthologie Vol. 1 CD ALBUM (Play-Time 1999)
Nine Horses “The Librarian” from snow borne sorrow (samadhisound 2005)
Moondog “Lament 1 "Bird's Lament"” from The Viking Of Sixth Avenue CD COMP (Honest Jons 2006)
Jimi Tenor “my mind” from organism CD ALBUM (warp music)
Tuxedomoon “The Laboratory (parts 1 and 2)” from The Ghost Sonata (LTM 1991)
Pelle Carlberg “Oh, No! Its happening again!” from Everything, Now!
The Village “childhood” from "the Village" (Elefant)
Jay Jay Johanson “rocks in pockets” from the long term physical effects are not yet known
July Skies “countryside of 1939” from The English Cold CD ALBUM (MakeMineMusic 2004)
Coti “Beben G.” from Lido/Lato CD ALBUM (Poeta Negra 2004)
Mika Vainio “Yksinaisyys, suru, katkeruus [Loneliness, Sorrow, Bitterness” from Revitty CD ALBUM (wavetrap 2007)

Honeymoon Killers

Excellent Belgian band that recorded on Crammed Discs.

Back on the air

I'll be on the air tonight [WZBC 90.3fm] from 1900 to 2200. It certainly feels like its been awhile, but fear not, I've been busy and expect to have a bit of fun tonight. At the very least you can expect recent tunes from Pelle Carlberg amongst others.

UPDATE: "at swim two birds: returning to the scene of the crime" just arrived! You can expect this as well. Its got the new version of 'in bed with your best friend'! More details here.

Red Road directed by Andrea Arnold

I saw the new Scottish film "Red Road" last night. It was really good. It felt like a cross between Hitchcock's "Rear Window" and the Dardenne brothers' "Rosetta". The film concerns a woman who works monitoring a closed-circuit televisions for the police in Glasgow. She notices something on one of the screens and very quickly becomes involved in it-- partially motivated by curiosity and revenge. It was quite raw and exhilarating. (It also ended with some kind of slow piano driven cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart", which was amusing to me anyway.) It is a rather mature work for a first feature film.

The Guardian UK's Peter Bradshaw's review.

Official site: Red Road