Sunday 28 August 2011

C.S. Lewis



To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping your heart intact you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safely in the casket of your selfishness. And in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will not change, it will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable and irredeemable. The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the dangers of love is hell.

C.S. Lewis  

Friday 26 August 2011

Fashion Fix #44 Atelier Mayer

If I had a spare £ 125.097 I'd totes buy stuff from Atelier Mayer and their amazing vintage collection. 






Wednesday 24 August 2011

Crush of the Week - Michael Cera

After my last bitter post, I have to go the exact opposite direction and write something loving and positive. That’s just how I roll, so crush of the week is returning right now. Woooo!


Michael Cera. What can I say - we all know I love nerds. I adore nerds and Michael is one. He’s smart, he’s geekily funny, he’s awkward, he’s cute. I love Michael Cera and I love him even more after I’ve watched ‘Paper Heart’

Here’s why Michael Cera rules:


He’s not been in a shit movie…like EVER...well maybe except for ‘Youth in Revolt’.

He’s not your typical Hollywood screw up, but just some dude from Toronto.


Awkward in a melt-my-heart way. 


Babyface and rucksack love. 


Paper Heart. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Juno. Arrested Development.

Do I need to say more?

Love you Michael! Nice sofa, too.


Monday 22 August 2011

Boys are stupid.


Right, blog lovers – the time has come for another moany angry post about boys. Boys are stupid. There I said it. Why are boys stupid? Because they never do the right thing, say the right thing or act the right way. And it really isn’t that hard to do the right thing. Be a gentleman, don’t only think with your dick, wash every now and then, get off the fucking X-box and don’t be callous. SIMPLES. I am not expecting flowers and a call every minute of the day, I am just expecting some sort of decency and appreciation that I chose to spend my time with you. Easy.
Anyway, I was now gonna go into a massively long list of what boys should and shouldn’t do, but seeing that boys are stupid, that makes no sense. So instead this one is for the ladies. It’s a little help to filter the good from the bad, the decent from the fuck-ups cause before you get emotionally attached, you wanna make sure they are at least 75% worth it. It’s a first date checklist. And this time it's not about whether he likes chicken or not.
If you’re getting something important off your chest and he’s yawning (and not even covering his mouth whilst doing so) get up and go. Not worth it. And no manners.
When he buys you a cupcake on the first date and wipes off the cream on top of your lip, which you didn’t notice, he’s a keeper. If you have to buy yourself a cupcake, he ain’t.

If he’s not a good friend in the first place – you don’t want to go out with him. Passion goes, friendship stays.
If he knows you like him and then goes on to kiss your friend, you need to get rid of him. Once shady, always shady and sadly not in a sexy Eminem way.
And finally, guys, don’t bullshit girls. We might come across all naïve and understanding, but to see through some facetious bullshit, really isn’t that hard.  


Friday 19 August 2011

Fashion Fix #43 Mark Adlington

This Fashion Fix has been compiled by my part-time boyfriend / super guru / general Londonist and full time poet Mark Adlington. Oh and he also takes fantastic photos. This is what gets him going fashion-wise.








Thursday 18 August 2011

Envy


I know I have already talked about Oya yesterday, but this is going to be a less lengthy post. Basically, Envy, the cutest little Hip Hop crew, who played at Oya prove why Norwegians are the happiest people in Europe. Their effortless cheerfulness, sense of community and non-existent pretense just makes my heart melt, but check them out for yourself. No stupid gangster clichés, only happy tunes.  

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Oya Festival 2011

I went to Oya festival again this year. It was great again. People were beautiful again, as was the music. Read the review I did for This Is Fake DIY here.




Oya festival is not only the largest music festival in Norway’s Oslo, but it’s also "Europe’s greenest festival". Amongst the stellar line-up of hip hop royalty like Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa and rock legends like Pulp and Sebadoh, this badge of honour is something that annually attracts over 15,000 people from Norway and abroad. Set in the beautiful landscape of Oslo’s picturesque port, Oya is the highlight of the Norwegian event calendar boasting impressive line-ups year on year. 2011 saw Kanye West headline the first day, followed by Aphex Twin and Pulp on the weekend, whilst James Blake, Lykke Li, Deathcrush and WU LYF completed the bill as stand-out acts.




Highlight of the first day certainly were Norway’s (more hardcore, more sultry) answer to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the explosive Deathcrush. Consisting of the two sonic sirens Åse Bredeli Røyset on bass and vocals, Linn Nystadnes on guitar and vocals along with Andreas Larssen on drums, they reinvigorate the visceral power of the guitar playing what can only be described as a mixture of Megadeth, Sonic Youth and Sleigh Bells, but way more sexy. Their reverbed, unyielding energy and fuzzed-out psych rock has the audience seduced within seconds. And I’m NOT only talking men here. Deathcrush are definitely my new crush. If you get the chance go see them, do it, you won’t know what’s hit you – in a good way! 


Moving on the exact opposite of Deathcrush’s noise-beat-fest, the gentle introvert melody master James Blake plays an emotively beautiful set to the setting sun on one of the main stages. Shyly shuffling onstage hiding behind his hood, this boy-man doesn’t look capable of producing the scenic, immense melodies which he commences to play just seconds later. His awkward presence forbids any real rapport with the crowd, but his moving tunes are appreciated with near-reverential silence and awe. The dubbed out, sampled syncopation of ‘Unluck’ is raw and emotionally brittle, but also breath-takingly stunning. Blake’s unexpected sound journeys come to life through his off-beat, delay-laden vast musicality that showcases why he’s music’s golden boy. Overwhelming set.


Hip Hop royalty and self-proclaimed superstar Kanye West is headlining the main stage with what can only be described as a perfectly executed set. More humble and less mouthy than expected Mr. West plays a highlight set consisting of themed ‘acts’. Starting with ‘Act One – The Revelation’ which Kanye performs elevated above the audience on a 10 meters high crane. Only taking a short break to slay the press and how he feels demonised by them, Kanye West moves on to ‘Act Two – The Autotune’ performing his most chart-friendly material like ‘Love Lockdown’ and the Rihanna and Jay Z collaboration ‘Run This Town’. Most recent single ‘Moster’ is a bass-a-licious affair that sees the audience party like there’s no tomorrow and ‘All of the Lights’ is the surefire highlight of the set despite the well-publicised tumble Kanye took on stage. Like Mr. West would say: “Imma let you finish James Blake, but I made the best autotuned album of all time.” 


Day two grants the audience another hip-hop winner with Wiz Khalifa opening the main stage in a brightly sunny Oslo. Despite the usual clichéd hip hop ‘money & bitches’ talk, Wiz puts on a sound performance full of energy and substance showcasing songs from his album ‘Rolling Papers’ as well as songs from earlier mixtapes. Wiz Khalfia’s sample of Empire of the Sun’s ‘Walking on a Dream’ is warmly received by hip-hop heads and indie fans alike and constitutes the highlight of his 40 minutes set.  





Norway’s dark electro pop diva Sandra Kolstad delivers the standout performance of day two. The sultry-voiced performer showcases songs from her debut ‘Crux’ winning the audience over with an ecstatic mix of sinister broody keyboards, Berlin warehouse rave style electro samples and emotive lyrics. Current single ‘Fire Burn, Blood Flow’ is an imaginatively dynamic dark-dance piece reminiscient of a more cheerful, upbeat Salem or a less German Kraftwerk.      


Friday starts off with a pleasant, but fairly non-descript Noah & The Whale, who play a set that seems to consist of all their most radio friendly songs. Unfortunately, all their most radio-friendly songs are all their most bland ones, too. Moving on to Leeds hardcore screamos Bring Me The Horizon who are a whole other kettle of fish. None of their songs can be described as radio-friendly, but at least they incite some sort of reaction and judging from the excitement of dedicated front rows of adoring fans, this reaction is extremely positive.  



Friday night’s battle of the headliners takes place between Britpop veterans Pulp and Swedish pop sensation Lykke Li and it’s a tough call. Pulp power up the crowd with a charming set of all their best songs and Jarvis does what he does best - play the charming, slightly nuts quirky popster. Sprinting over to the other stage to catch Lykke Li proves worth the effort as her magnetic personality and crystal clear intonation send shivers down the audience’s collective spines. ‘I Follow Rivers’ sees the biggest crowd singalong and old gems such as ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ and ‘Little Bit’ receive frenetic applause. Shifting between sparsely instrumented moody ballads and full-on techno-tastic pop numbers, Lykke lights up the stage throughout – a fantastic, captivating set from the Swedish siren.


The final day, Saturday, sees quirk noise rockers dominate. Experimental popsters WU LYF showcase a dramatic set marrying singer Ellery Robert’s tormented howl and nearly indecipherable lyrics with a reverb heavy shroud of tantalising melody. The opposing forces of jangling start-stop guitar riffs and the tightly precise rhythm section and Robert’s high drama doom-pop makes WU LYF a compelling, epic and yet baffling act to watch best described as beautiful insular idiosyncrasy. Next on quirk-noise heroes Sebadoh who might be lo-fi legends but there’s nothing nostalgic or sentimental about their energetic set. Full of verve and low on distraction they deliver goods from their numerous endearingly scruffy albums. Easily flitting between aggressive, punk songs and Barlow’s more tender, folk-flecked tracks, Sebadoh manifest why they have been an inspiration to countless bands since the 90s. Bring on Oya 2012.



*All amazing photos by Tracy Miles



Tuesday 16 August 2011

Beautiful #3

Feeling generally cheerful today. Happy days. So I thought I'd share some beautiful things that hopefully make you happy, too.








Tuesday 9 August 2011

Sunday 7 August 2011

Linda Likes....

I haven’t written about some good tunes for a while. Here are some good tunes. Big love.

Bluebell – Normal Heights

Ace song. Ace video. Generally great.


Drake – Headlines

What can I say? Drake is back in full force.
Sandra Kolstad - Fire Burn, Blood Flow

Love a bit of eerie witch-house inspired disco tunage with some freestyle dancing. And the lyrics are great, too.


Rizzle Kicks – Down with the Trumpets

Just because I love their swagger.


Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle

I’m sooooo in love with this. AND they filmed it in Berlin!!

Friday 5 August 2011

Fashion Fix #42 Charlotte Olympia

Got this idea stuck in my head that I am going to buy myself some filthily expensive shoes soon. It's an indescribable compulsion. I was going for the obvious choice - Louboutins! But then I had a chat with my friend and she (rightly) said that they are quite 'WAG' these days - you know a bit too pedestrian - literally. So she suggested Charlotte Olympia - and what can I say - I have fallen in love.