I had a blast taking photos with my friend and very talented musician Safety Scissors. We had six costume changes, a few dranks, and a whole barrel of laughs.
He has a new record coming out on Bpitch Control called In A Manner Of Sleeping. You can preview it here on www.xlr8r.com
I made a very sappy mix called “Sentimental Journey” for my dear friend Jane Lerner’s CD club. There are 12 members in the CD Club and each person is designated a specific month to make a mix, create a cover, and mail it to the 11 others across the country. My month was February, of course I got it off on the very last day, which leap year made it the 29th. I wanted to share it digitally. So feel free to download it and have a listen. Here are some photos of the hand painted covers.
DARK GLOBE
Oh where are you now
pussy willow that smiled on this leaf?
When I was alone you promised the stone from your heart
my head kissed the ground
I was half the way down, treading the sand
please, please, lift a hand
I’m only a person whose arm bands beats
on his hands, hang tall
won’t you miss me?
Wouldn’t you miss me at all?
The poppy birds way
swing twigs coffee brands around,
brandish her wand with a feathery tongue
my head kissed the ground
I was half the way down, treading the sand
please, please, please lift the hand
I’m only a person with Eskimo chain
I tattooed my brain all the way…
Won’t you miss me?
Wouldn’t you miss me at all?
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 can’t stop listening to “Says Elliott” by Sibylle Baier from her album “Colour Green” which was recorded in Germany 1970-1973.
Says Elliot by Sibylle Baier
I grow old I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled says Elliot
I grow old I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled says Elliot
days keep growing short, nights too
let us go then, you and I
and try to unlearn, says Elliot
he seeks for return and burns ancient love letters
let us go then you and I and lie by marble stone says Elliot
and put a record on the gramophone
Lie down dear
on the weed
Don’t weep dear
gayly clad
sadness is a radical quantity says Elliot
sadness is a long brown ribbon, says he
sadness is beautiful
I grow old I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled says Elliot
I grow old I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled says Elliot
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.
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.
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 …….
Horizons 2008: Perspectives on Psychedelics lectures audio is available for listening online here. I especially recommend listening to one of my favorite author’s Daniel Pinchbeck’s talk.
In 2007 I designed the Horizons Web Site take a look at it to see more information on this amazing yearly conference.
Last night I was one the lucky few to see a special solo performance by Michael Gira at The Stone, a tiny little venue in the lower east side. It was just Micahel Gira and a guitar, which in my opinion is the most intimate way to experience someone’s music. The highlight of the show was when he played Blind, one of my favorite Swans songs ever. It was a real treat to hear his stripped down version. If you are unfamiliar with the magical sound of The Swans, Love of Life is a good record to start with.
Blind
written by The Swans on Drainland
Now some of us are weak, and some endure
And some people live their lives, with a violence that’s pure and clean
But I saw a man cry once, down on his knees
In the corner of a darkened cell, and his pain meant nothing to me
But I was younger then, and young men never die
When I walked out in the sun, I was strong, clear minded,
and blind
And please don’t ask me a question, you’ll just be misunderstood
And if you could step inside me, you’d feel what hatred brings
And if you could see with my eyes, you’d see what self-deception means
I was younger once, and I created a lie
And though my body was strong, I was self-deluded, confident,
and blind
Now show some pity, for the weak of will
Because when we’re drinking, we can never be filled
And show some undentanding, for the lonely fool
Because when l’m drinking, l’m out of control
No I was never young, and nothing has transpired
And when I look in the mirror, I feel dead, I feel cold,
I am blind.Â
When Reves Mechaniques (2005) by The Hacker came out I think I listened to it everyday for about 6 months and to this day I am still not sick the album. So I am really excited to finally see him perform tonight with another one of my all time favorites Miss Kittin.
