The name Faithless needs little introduction. Back in my stupid teenage years, I snickered over earlier hits of theirs such as ‘Insomnia’ and ‘God Is A DJ’. It would be a while till I saw the error of my ways and realised that Faithless are seriously good musicians, after their album Outrospective was released.
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It appears that all this time everything we thought we knew about Wonderland and that girl called Alice is about to be completely flipped onto its head. Curiouser and curiouser indeed! Frank Beddor, best known for producing films whose credits include There’s Something About Mary, has begun a somewhat arduous task – to tell the world the truth about Wonderland. Doesn’t that sound odd?
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I wasn’t very happy with the last article I tried to write, hence a delay in this one’s appearance. Inspiration was at a bit of a low, due to my dismay over my previous article’s poor conception. Thank goodness for television. There I was, moping with my laptop, and Dr. 90210 comes on in the background. It’s a series, part reality show, part documentary (yes, there is a difference) and typically follows the day in a life of a cosmetics surgeon, as well as one of his patients — the location being Beverly Hills, California, USA.
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“The beginning is simple, almost comic – just a pulse … like a rusty squeeze box – and then suddenly, high above it … a single note hanging there, unwavering … sweetened … into a phrase of such delight…”
Although this quote is taken from the film Amadeus and is uttered by Salieri in reference to Mozart’s ‘Gran Partita’ Serenade for winds K 361, it is an equally fitting description of the beginning of Kurtág’s Kafka fragmente (‘Kafka fragments’), for soprano (Juliane Banse) and violin (András Keller). The violin begins with a folk-like opening as if to set the beat or lull the listener. The soprano comes in, singing lyrics of marching, of steps, of dancing.
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I have this dreadful habit and hope my admitting it will mean you won’t judge me too harshly. When I am depressed (that being clinically depressed, as opposed to just feeling really sad), I am seized by the desire to buy lots of…’pretty things’. Topping that list would be lipgloss.
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A while back I wrote about how you can tell a lot about a person by their bathroom etiquette (in case you missed it, click here though it’s not essential to this post). Of course, the same could be said of what one has in one’s shower cubicle or bath. I don’t dare to list the entire contents of my actual cabinet — we’d be here forever and I doubt anyone would appreciate reading that.
This is a list of what is in my shower/bathtub in the order of usage.
Dermalogica special cleansing gel
This is for the face and gets rid of all the dirt and oils that build up throughout the day. It’s also very gentle, more so than regular soap intended for the body.
Stila Petal infusions retexturising scrub
Again, for the face, this combined with a good diet (and good genes, if we’re lucky!), helps to minimise pore blockage, as these can go on to form blemishes. It also aids in the removal of dead skin cells to reveal clearer, smoother looking skin (gosh, I sound like an advert!).
Scrubs, sometimes referred to as exfoliants, also help the fading of scars and marks. This particular one is called a microfoliant, meaning it is gentle enough for everyday usage (I’m too lazy for that — I use mine 2-4 times a week depending on how my skin feels).
Kusco-Murphy O-ssential Wash
This is a shampoo I’d never tried before, from a brilliant Australian brand. My scalp was in awful condition recently so I thought I’d try this because it contains no sodium laureth sulphate. SLSs are generally responsible for the lathering effect in bath products and detergents.
The trouble is they can be pretty harsh on our skin (especially when it is the first or second ingredient listed — ingredients being listed in order of quantity, largest to smallest). I’m happy to report my scalp is no longer itchy and flaky — sweet relief, because it wasn’t exactly pretty.
Alchemy macadamia and wheat conditioner
Squeeze out all the excess moisture, then massage this through your tresses and you too can look as gorgeous as a Tolkien elfin princess. Well, back when my hair was actually past my butt (and real, if you needed to ask!) I so wish I had used this! It makes your hair feel like silk.
The Alchemy brand is also very special in that their products contain no sulphates, parabens, petrochemicals, byproducts thereof, or silicones. It gets better too: ingredients are all organic, vegan, and animal cruelty-free. Now tell me, what is not to like? I might just grow my hair again.
Philosophy ‘3 in 1s’ in Hot cocoa, and vanilla cupcake
What is meant by ‘3-in-1s’, you might ask? It means you can use this product as a shampoo, a shower gel, and as bubble bath. I only use it as a shower gel but as shampoo too when I’m traveling. Again, it’s fab for sensitive skin. I’ve tried so many of these as they come in dozens of scents.
The hot cocoa one smells exactly like the real thing and is my absolute favourite for winter. They also have recipes for whatever it is they are supposed to smell like. Mmm, yum. Now I want marshmallows (with my hot cocoa).
Lush ‘Flying Fox’ bath & shower gel
From looking at the bottle, you can see just how much honey they’ve put into this indulgent shower gel! Add jasmine and angelica, and it’s a recipe for heaven — and apparently chosen because they help to elevate your mood if you’re depressed (it’s worked for me!).
Some investigation led to discovering that my brother was also enamoured of this. He said he wanted to try it because it claimed to help banish PMS. No, I don’t understand that either, but hey, if it makes him smell nice and less likely to grunt when spoken to, I’m all for it.
So hopefully this list has indulged some beauty addict’s voyeuristic urges (I personally love reading lists of what beauty delights others are using. That doesn’t include celebrities; that’s blah). If you feel inclined to share your lists, please feel free to do so below in comments.
Oh, and pay a little attention to what exactly goes into your toiletries and personal hygiene products. Try to find out about what those ingredients are there for, and what they do in the product — bearing in mind that natural products, in certain forms, can be just as bad for us as synthetic ones, and vice versa.
This article first appeared on Blogcritics at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/08/20/170559.php viewable here.
“Imagine a place where you’ve wanted to go, but never could find. A place like no other. And when you get there, you can only look down upon the stairway to heaven.”
Australian-based ’60s-inspired psychedelic rock band BeOmega’s with their full-length release Outer Edge of MusiVerse will apparently take you to just such a place. I must confess, when people claim such things, my inner snark prepares to poke fun or roll my eyes. I still recall the attempt of a high school classmate to convince a few of us that rave or trance music was — I cringe to remember it — “A journey to the stars… an experience for the mind.” Obviously, she was trying to prove to us that she was so much cooler than us concert band nerds. I’m not entirely sure that BeOmega’s album achieves its aim — it most certainly didn’t take me anywhere cosmic, for reasons that are detailed below.
The album is just over an hour long and has fourteen tracks with some names that play on words like “Dis-Aster” (”aster” referring to the stars) and “Phi-nd Your Blisss” and even one that sounds like some religious-cult chant “Ni Ni Nun Na Ne” (in brackets listing “May You Rise”). There are three members in the group — in their own words there is “blazing starburst drumming” by Taina, with “booming spacoid basslines” from sister Cheruki and lastly we have “cosmic orgasmic guitar wizardry and etheric otherworldly vocals” by Prashant Trivedi on guitar and vocals, also responsible for writing their musical material.
My initial response when listening to the album was that it sounded like Japanese psychedelic rock designed to brainwash people. It really does sound like music straight out of the ’60s — I almost feel like I’m there. Parts of it are very drone-like because of the melodic and rhythmic uniformity when all three members are singing (the first thing that came to mind was the folk of Hy Brasil chanting — and sinking — on their blissful island in the hilarious film Eric the Viking, led by Terry Jones). Each member does his or her job satisfactorily, but as a whole the chemistry isn’t quite right — but this is something that can improve.
For example, the repetitive nature of many of the tracks sound chaotic rather than espousing harmony and accord — the complete opposite of the philosophies the group promotes in the sleeve notes. Perhaps because it sounds like three individuals performing the same thing, rather than a band jamming? This isn’t a pleasurable astral journey at all — although it is more accurately representative of a bad drug trip (I hear). It could be personal preference and though I came to this work with as open a mind as possible, the repetition does not strike me as being effective or engaging to the listener.
It’s completely fine when the production of certain albums aren’t polished and sound raw or rough in particular spots — that’s one of the great things about popular music (as opposed to Western art music or what most of us call “classical” music) — but because this group, and recording, need to work on other crucial aspects of music-making, such production values do nothing to enhance the recording. It’s unbalanced, brash and unrelenting. There’s too many other weaknesses that need to be worked on for this to sound raw in that cool, rock way.
I’m not the ideal audience for this sort of music, admittedly, and am not very familiar with ’60s popular culture. BeOmega’s offering isn’t awful and they could perhaps focus more on live performance and building a fan base, as well as developing their personal sound — because at present they don’t sound like a band whose intentions are focused enough. It will come with experience and playing together as much as possible. Based on what I’ve heard, their music oscillates from either bland to messy but there are definite hints of promise and that indefinable quality that makes musical acts appealing to listeners.
I understand BeOmega have been received with some enthusiasm in New York and London so they definitely have their ideal and appreciative audience, but for now it cannot be said that Outer Edge of MusiVerse is an example of them at their finest. They’ve only been a group since 2003, which isn’t all that long. It will be interesting to see how they progress as a band, and they should do lots of gigs while they are based in Australia. Flaws aside, there will always be a handful of people in the major cities and towns looking to see what eclectic bands like BeOmega have on offer.
This article first appeared on Blogcritics at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/08/18/022718.php viewable here.
I like to think of myself as an educated woman: finishing high school was mandatory in my mind, and attending university afterwards was definitely the goal. Despite it being much maligned in some circles, I got a BA. To study the humanities is to learn how people think, what makes society what it is today. To explore the various aspects of existence.
One would assume that a person who has this sort of academic background would know better than to be sucked into marketing hype over the next brand spanking new limited edition lipgloss – especially when it resembles at least a dozen other lipglosses I own…
Wrong. I am not immune.
Despite reading those cultural theorists harp on about Marxism and the oppression of the working classes, or poststructuralism politely informing us grace à Jean Baudrillard that everything has been done before and that the ‘original’ of an object no longer exists rah rah rah, you dangle bath products that resemble sweets, or lip products in the most adorable packaging with a cute yet saucy name and bang! All such learning is blissfully tossed out the window and I’m pulled towards these pretty yet unnecessary things as if by a tractor beam. (You know, like on the classic arcade game Galaga?)
Pretty sad, isn’t it? I figure as long as I’m not in debt and my so-called poison of choice isn’t bad for my health in the way recreational drugs or smoking tobacco etc. is, it’s all peachy… right?
Of course, I wasn’t always a mindless drone in regards to beauty - admittedly I’m exaggerating ever so slightly. My high school years were truly miserable, because my mother was fairly strict and concerned that an interest in anything even hinting at burgeoning sexuality would end up with me sullying the family name.
Beautification, for me, was therefore largely associated with shame and fear, not something to embrace or celebrate. What was the point of bettering one’s appearance at a time when I should have been focussing on my studies? Besides, all that nice girl stuff cost money and I was apparently expensive and wasteful enough, Western-born ingrate that I was.
My blissful transformation began with a little trip back to my birthplace – London – in 2002. I stayed with a family we’d known for as long as I could remember, in Croydon. I became closest to the lady, a woman my mother’s age, and her youngest son. Our bonding was significantly helped by shopping – both browsing and purchasing.
It turned out that my new little brother loved shopping, and not just for himself. It was so much fun going clothes shopping, finding all these nice things that fit me properly, and having the benefit of his opinion. He was extremely patient and had a good eye for this stuff. This was getting to be very… infectious.
It got better – or worse, perhaps? I’d be accompanying my adopted mother into town and one day I stumbled upon my future holy grail: behold… the lipgloss.
I still remember it – it was BeneFit’s ‘She Shells’, a white compact made to look like a seashell. You flipped the top open to reveal the gloss and on the other side a (fake) black pearl.
“Wow…Nanay, come see this!” I showed her my new find (‘Nanay’ being the Filipino/Tagalog word for ‘mother’). “Look at that packaging, it’s amazing!!!” At least, I’d never seen anything like it.
“D’you want it?”
“Er…no, I was just – “
“No no no, let me get it for you – “
“Um, but really I don’t need it I was just – “
“Be quiet child, you can try it, alright?”
It was out of my hands and you can’t argue with these diminutive Asian mothers – best just to shut up and do as you’re told. I could hear my mother’s disapproval in my mind though she was in a different hemisphere. Secretly… I was ecstatic! From that moment on, trips into Croydon town became a happy occurrence, as did the acquiring of similar such indulgences.
It gradually became clear to me that wearing makeup or paying attention to one’s appearance didn’t necessarily make you vain or shallow – it was another method of self-expression, just like when I played my musical instruments or wrote my silly poetry. It is nice to look good, or feel that you look “passable” but what I fill my brain with will always be of primary importance.
Thus, I come to the aim of this column: a “brainy” person’s guide to beauty. It isn’t going to just be discussion on products, but other issues too like the testing of ingredients and/or products on animals (which I personally abhor), what to avoid if you value your health or have sensitive skin, and so on.
I suspect, however, that there will be a good deal of gushing on the best lipglosses ever, or bath salts. Like I said at the beginning, I’m not immune to the marketing ploys of the industry, and I’m willing to admit it. That dratted arts degree was wasted on me after all.
This article first appeared on Blogcritics at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/08/13/061303.php viewable here.
It was only very recently that I’d come across the name Imaad Wasif and admittedly, it was him being somehow connected to the band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs that piqued my interest. However, seeing as I was going to be attending a show where Wasif and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were billed to play in my home city (Melbourne, Australia), it seemed prudent to do a bit of research.
From my initial searching online, Wasif only just released a self-titled album that came out in April of this year. He has been a member of a few groups prior to this – lowercase, alaska! and The New Folk Implosion, and has a decent discography to reflect this, according to the Kill Rock Stars website, which is the label that both him and most of those acts are signed to.
Thanks to a few tracks on Wasif’s MySpace page, I was able to get a bit of a feel for his work. There were three tracks: ‘Into the Static’, ‘Coil’ and ‘Without’. Well, that was the case a few days ago. I’ve just been there again as I resume writing this and while ‘Coil’ and ‘Without’ are still there, there are two other ones: ‘Out in the Black’ and ‘Tomorrow Is Ours’ (though you can also preview ‘Out in the Black’ on Wasif’s Kill Rock Stars profile page). ‘Into the Static’ is not there at present, so perhaps they get rotated periodically.
My first impressions are that the songs are melodic and folk-like, and the guitar accompaniment adds to their intimacy. I find them very easy to listen to, and they invite introspection – the sort of music I like listening to in solitude so I can focus on the words and the stories they tell. They also seem pretty short and I’m curious to see how these poignant vignettes will be received in a venue like the Forum, which is large, but could be set up to appear cosier.
The day arrives and though I’m unwell, I’m at the Forum. It’s been set up so that there is padded bench-like seating way at the back, a bar on either side, and the front is just empty, for the standing patrons. While I’d love to be closer to the stage, I’ll stick to the seating, thanks. Five-foot-nothing me doesn’t stand a chance in the mosh pit. The hall is not even half-full, but a man dressed in black with some gravity-defying hair walks onto the stage with a guitar. I assume this is Imaad; he doesn’t introduce himself but says hello quietly to the audience and launches into his first song. The crowd is getting noisier as the venue begins to fill. This seems to be reflected in the first song. It sounds shaky and timid.
By stark contrast, he goes straight into the second song which I recognise as ‘Out in the Black’ and wow! Everyone is now quiet, and listening attentively. You can hear and almost feel the change in the air. That must sound incredibly wanky, but having a past as a stage fright-stricken performer myself, you become attuned to these things. Fear – it’s a character builder. Weirdly, I feel nervous for the performer: singing and playing a guitar in front of a crowd waiting for a kick-arse rock band sounds a tad daunting.
Just as quickly as he’s grabbed the attention of the restless crowd, it’s lost in the third song – largely due to an awful intonation problem in a lower string. I’m trying to ignore it (and my rigid classical music training which seems grossly out of context here) but it keeps dropping, and taking the vocalist’s voice with it. Mind you, it seemed to happen at the same time some horribly glacial breeze whistled through the building as more people began to arrive.
All good performers will experience some sort of hiccup like that – it’s inevitable. The rest of the set goes smoothly and sounds much more confident. The other songs played were ‘Isolation’, ‘Spell’ (the title of which was confirmed after a bit of banter with the audience which most likely involved comparing the Australian and Canadian/North American accents), a sixth track (the title of which was not audible to me from where I was, though it was announced), and the last track which I suspect was ‘Without’ as I definitely recall listening to it online.
Though the set had its issues, like the floozy I am for a good old heartfelt song, I was won over largely because of the gutsy performance of ‘Out in the Black’. I find myself listening to it a fair bit after the gig. He doesn’t seem to be another nameless bloke singing sappy songs while he plays on a guitar, but I can’t quite figure out what sets him apart from such persons. It might be those resonant, sustained/pedal-point notes that sound a little eastern, or lots of little hints at other musical influences. It’s intriguing enough to warrant repeat listenings, definitely. Imaad Wasif is very clearly not just some tag-along member of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I’ll be keeping an eye out for his self-titled album on my next CD binge (yeah, I still buy them, get over it…).
Of course, I’m no fool – I sure as hell stayed for the rest of the concert. I was curious to see how an acoustic guitarist/singer-songwriter would be placed in a freaking awesome (er…non-acoustic…) band like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Once Imaad appeared on stage in a bright red jumpsuit, and strutted his stuff on keyboard as well as the faithful acoustic, it was pretty bloody obvious. Only in rock ‘n’ roll can there be magic in a hairdo and a bright, retro jumpsuit.
This article first appeared on Blogcritics at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/27/094816.php viewable here.
For the past seven years, I’ve been chronically depressed, and oh the trials and tribulations I’ve encountered. Some horrendous, but others as I’m about to explain, not so bad. In fact, if it weren’t for being sick, some (selected) wonders would have remained completely unknown to me. Weird how that happens.
Some boring background first: it was coming onto my third year of being sick. A struggling, (mainly) self-supporting university undergraduate, I was forced to accept defeat and crawl home to the parental fold. This left me with some money to play with, for the first time in a very long time. Not for food, or prescribed texts, or sheet music, or rent.
So armed with some cash and determined to find a non-pharmaceutical way to alleviate my many depressive symptoms, I decided a good way to go was by trialling various bath products. I’d decided that I was going to give regular bathing for relaxation purposes a bit of a revival. Would it work?
Ah, the humble tub! Why the hell had I ignored it for so long? I came from England, where the bathtub was all there was. No shower cubicles, or shower heads (many fangled shower-like attachments now exist, but not 20 or so years ago). Before you ask, yes, we were in the habit of bathing more than once a week, despite living in England, so none of those jokes.
When my family first moved to Australia, the notion of a bathroom having both a tub and a shower cubicle seemed like pure genius to me. I was only eight at the time: to a kid straight out of Thatcher’s England, the bath-shower combination seemed excessive and opulent, in a cheesy Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous kind of way. Oh those 80s.