NEW ORDER
“Temptation”

listen

Oh, you’ve got green eyes
Oh, you’ve got blue eyes
Oh, you’ve got grey eyes
And I’ve never seen anyone quite like you before
No, I’ve never met anyone quite like you before

Heaven, a gateway, a hope
Just like a feeling I need, it’s no joke
And though it hurts me to see you this way
Betrayed by words, I’d never heard, too hard to say
Up, down, turn around
Please don’t let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I’ll walk alone
I’ll find my soul as I go home

Each way I turn, I know I’ll always try
To break this circle that’s been placed around me
From time to time, I find I’ve lost some need
That was urgent to myself, I do believe
Oh, you’ve got green eyes
Oh, you’ve got blue eyes
Oh, you’ve got grey eyes
And I’ve never seen anyone quite like you before
No, I’ve never met anyone quite like you before
Bolts from above hurt the people down below
People in this world, we have no place to go
Oh, it’s the last time
Oh, I’ve never met anyone quite like you before
Oh no, I’ve never met anyone quite like you before

I finally got around to listening to my copy of the beautiful and haunting compilation Dark Was The Night.  Maybe I was waiting for just the right day to really appreciate it.  Buy your copy today, and all the revenue goes to AIDS charities.

James Jean’s portfolio site: www.jamesjean.com

James Jean’s blog: www.processrecess.com

Alice in Wonderland image pool on Flickr

Alice in Wonderland, Illustrations by Marjorie Torrey

My favorite new thing today is A Place to Bury Strangers.  They kind of sound like a harder and faster Jesus and Mary Chain, but that’s alright with me.

http://www.myspace.com/aplacetoburystrangers

Dance Mother, 2009

Brooklyn’s Telepathe is my favorite new band.  Bryan gave me the album this morning and I have been listening to it nonstop all day in the studio and in transit while I was running errands.  They are the perfect combination of synth and indie.  Some of the songs are very Shoegazer-esque, reminding me of the really good Lush songs.  They seem really young, so I hope they keep making more and more gorgeous music.

www.myspace.com/telepathe

www.telepathemusic.com

Download a Telepathe Mix Tape and Lauren Flax’s Telepathe remix here

I had a chance to view Coraline in true 3D at the most lovely movie theater in New York The Ziegfeld. Coraline is far better and darker than most children’s films.  The visuals were completely inspiring and I can’t wait to see it again and again.

from the original book by Neil Gaiman

Coraline and her kitty venture down the rabbit hole.

The mouse circus performance was my favorite part.

source

www.guerand.com

Bettie Page, Queen of Pinups, Dies at 85

Our beautiful pinup queen has passed away.  Photographer Unknown.

I just returned back from a weekend of deep listening in Boston. It was amazing to see my old Boston friends and meet some of my favorite musicians. I am thankful to Jon Whitney for putting this festival of strange and wonderful music.

The Brainwaves festival started on Friday sharply at 8pm with JG Thirlwell’s Manorexia project, a symphonic mix of strings and electronic sounds that sway from beautiful to haunting. Manorexia was the highlight of the Friday performances for me. JG Thirwell is a good friend of mine and I love the direction his music is going in these days. Each day Steven Stapleton of Nurse with Wound fame, played some songs in between acts. I was not sure why he did not perform in the festival but it was great to see him hanging around all weekend. I made it my mission to get to know him. I have been listening to the strange surreal music of Nurse with Wound for over 20 years. His is a kind and modest man. I learned that Stapleton is a shepherd living in the countryside of Ireland where he works on his music and art. When I asked him how many records he put out he said he had no idea. He may not know his own discography since 1979 but knows exactly how many sheep, chickens, and goats he has living on his farm.

The highlight for me was meeting Steven Stapleton/Nurse with Wound. Photo by Bryan

On Saturday I was most excited to see The Threshold HouseBoys Choir the new project of Peter Christopherson from Coil. His performance did not disappoint. I was super excited to meet him and shake his hand. Part of me wanted to go on and on about all how much I love his music, but I spared him what he already knows.

Threshold HouseBoys Choir

Little Annie AKA Annie Anxiety’s quirky cabaret performance of standards, was a nice break from all the experimental music. Little Annie has collaborated with Nurse with Wound, Marc Almond, Coil, and dozens of other people. She was like a gothic Edith Piaf on stage. Brainwaves ended on Sunday with a luscious dreamy performance by The Stars of the Lid. I saw them perform at a church in NYC a few months ago. Their Boston show was totally different but just as good.

Stars of the Lid

Lovely Video Projections at Brainwaves

Meat Beat Manifesto played a great set at Brainwaves but the whole time I was wondering of I was a decade too late on seeing them. Their sound might not have aged well but there were plenty of gorgeous video eye candy to keep me entertained.

Meat Beat Manifesto

A painting Dame Darcy made of us knitting each other’s hair,

My dearest friend and fellow good witch Dame Darcy had her art opening today at Sloan Fine art.  Tonight, I arrived right on time at her opening and I waited (with her best friend) for her to arrive.  We looked at her amazing illustrations and talked about how much we love Darcy.  I have adored her work since high school and since then we have become close friends.  After 40 minutes I went home and with a fresh copy of Gasoline in my arms.  I can’t wait to cuddle with her drawings and her story tonight.  I am so proud of her for finally publishing her book and I hope that she will have a brighter and better future once she moves out west.

Darcy, I know you are leaving New York with a broken heart but my heart will always be with you….

Gasoline original illustrations
Nov. 19th – Dec. 20th 2008
Sloan Fine Art
Gasoline art exhibition of original
illustrations from graphic novel and Gasoline painting series by Dame Darcy
128 Rivington st.
press release

Cities in Dust by Siouxie and the Banshees
Water was running; children were running
You were running out of time
Under the mountain, a golden fountain
Were you praying at the Lares shrine?

But oh your city lies in dust, my friend

We found you hiding we found you lying
Choking on the dirt and sand
Your former glories and all the stories
Dragged and washed with eager hands

But oh your city lies in dust, my friend

Hot and burning in your nostrils
Pouring down your gaping mouth
Your molten bodies blanket of cinders
Caught in the throes …….

And your city lies in dust

Vanessa Paradis (Mrs. Johnny Depp) for Miu Miu

I really want these shoes…

Photos by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

www.miumiu.com
Check out the beautiful music of Vanessa Paradis on her site

Here are some free song dowmloads from this great new comp Halloween of Bloody Nightmares.
Special thanks to AeroCCCP Recordings for letting me share these tunes and for helping to bring Messer Chups to my party Kiss & Tell last March.

End – Everything in Excess (Halloween Version)

Messer Chups – Inferno Image (First Version)

Happy Halloween and enjoy!

The best Halloween costume I ever had was when I was six, my mom sewed a Snow White costume for me.  While I wore it and it I truly believed I was the real Snow White.  I grew up in a large apartment building in Midtown Manhattan.  So we trick or treated by ringing all the doorbells on each floor and waited to see who opened their door.  Some people would give us candy and some slacker bachelors would give us small change.  The year I was Snow White someone gave me a red apple, just like the apple she was given to fall into a deep sleep in the fairy tale.  When I got home my mom peeled the apple to serve it to me.  Much to my mother’s horror she found a sewing needle in the apple!

Currently listening to Bob Dylan’s Halloween Theme Time Radio#26

I can’t wait to see this movie (watch the trailer).

© 2007 Prima Linea Productions / Pierre Di Sciullo 

© 2007 Prima Linea Productions / Charles Burns

© 2007 Prima Linea Productions / Richard McGuire