07/09/2013

Playlist: Rock

Finally, some good rock, and just in time before the world got bored of waiting. This whole Indie thing is way past bloated, and has been for a while, band after band adhering to that same prescribed recipe of making sweet sounding pop tunes. It was fun for a while; We’re sure we all had a blast, got exited, had a jiggle and bounced up and down while semi-headbanging to the fast paced snares at one gig or another. But it’s actually refreshing to just hear some good old authentic rock at the moment. 2013 had been a good year in terms of music albums in general; some really great stuff has been released. But as far as Rock goes, it’s bloody great.

To illustrate this point, a small selection of songs to check out from recent releases. Firstly, “Do I Wanna Know?” by the Arctic Monkeys, released as a single from their upcoming fifth album AM, which will be released on September 9. So definitely look out for that. Then, “Welcome to Japan” from the latest album by one of the earliest and most influential Indie-Rock bands, the Strokes, followed by the opening track from the critically acclaimed debut album of Savages, Silence Yourself.


Next, “Love Illumination”, a great mood-boosting song from the new Franz Ferdinand album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action. And finally, a closing track to this selection which is also the closing song of the recent Vampire Weekend album, Modern Vampires of the City.



Andreas Stylianou 
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06/09/2013

Venice Film Festival 2013

As 69 times before, also this year the red carpet has been rolled out, the terraces overlooking the Adriatic set up and the golden lions polished, for yet another Mostra del Cinema in Venice. During the last days of August, the oldest film festival in the world has welcomed actors, directors, filmmakers, journalists and its public for the 70th time around. In fact, through the years Lido has seen personalities like Federico Fellini, Kirk Douglas, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, Michelangelo Antonioni, Wim Wenders, Jack Nicholson, Harrison Ford or Alberto Sordi stroll down its streets and stir excitement among its public. But, even though some exciting new features were presented this year and a handful of new stars have honored the city with their presence, it seems that the glory of the festival still survives thanks to its brilliant past and, possibly, the dreamy city that hosts it.




To prove that it still has what it takes, this year’s edition of the festival opened with Alonso Cuaròn’s Gravity. Starring the always charming George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, the movie is set in space, which required 4 and a half years of groundbreaking technology-aided work, and aims at becoming one of those titles we might hear at next year’s Oscars. On the other hand, the official competition includes some promising and a few less-promising features hoping to be awarded with the Golden Lion tomorrow, among which James Franco’s Child of God, Peter Landesman’s Parkland, Gianfranco Rossi’s Sacro GRA or nearly-booed Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin. Among other sections, Orizzonti stands out with its dedication to ‘the new tendencies of international cinematography’, offering the possibility to see those features that probably won’t be granted large distribution, while Out of competition section includes exceptional movies like Moebius by Kim Ki-Duk or Locke by Steven Knight.

Even though Venice certainly still detains some of its old charm, as the end of this year’s edition approaches, the director of the festival should ponder if instead of boosting the number of seating in Palazzo del Cinema, he should instead boost the quality of the festival’s selection.



Rujana Rebernjak 
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06/09/2013

The Story of a Classic: Heart of Glass

On a spring day of 1978 (7th of May), Blondie, a new wave band from New York featuring model-turned-lead singer Debbie Harry, were performing on the bill of a benefit gig held by New York punks, The Dead Boys, at the Lower East Side club CBGB. At the time, Blondie’s new single “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear” from the album Plastic Letters had just reached the Top 10 in the UK, but they were still relatively unknown back home. Shocking the club’s punk audience with their cover of Donna Summer’s blissful disco hit “I Feel Love”, the band managed to cause a bit of a stir that night.


With The Rolling Stones also just starting to dabble in the genre with hit song “Miss You”, it seemed that something was going on, but Blondie was the first band of the New York punk generation that embraced the new Disco sound with their own dance masterpiece, “Heart of Glass”, recorded three weeks later in Record Plant Studios.

Working on their third album Parallel Lines with producer Mike Chapman, who was getting desperate for a hit song in the US, the band unearthed a song they had written in 1975 called “The Disco Song”, which was later renamed “I Had a Love”. Although Chapman liked the song, he thought it needed to be brought up to date. Drawing on their Disco influences such as Kraftwerk, Chic and I Feel Love producer Giorgio Moroder, while using a Roland CR-78 drum machine the band had just bought, they recorded a uniquely melancholic, but upbeat disco hit.

Renamed again to “Heart of Glass”, and after making a video promo for the song at New York’s upmarket Studio 54 club, “Heart of Glass” jumped to number 1 in the UK when it was released as a single on January 3, 1979. Perhaps more importantly though, it also topped the charts in the US as producer Chapman craved for, making the band into global pop superstars almost overnight.

Following the song’s immense success, Pop artist Andy Warhol threw a celebratory party for the band at Studio 54. In 2011, his portrait of Debbie Harry sold for $5.9.

Andreas Stylianou – Photos Anthony Rue 
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31/08/2013

Tracks for the Weekend

Last moments of August have arrived, and we want to give you few music suggestions to stay a moment longer in the last summer month.

Vondelpark – Closer (FaltyDL Blueberry Remix)
FaltyDL fresh from his new label, Blueberry, comes up with Happa to remix a track of the young English trio: Vondelpark. “Closer” shows as a very future garage track that the lovers of the genre will surely appreciate. Listen here.

FKA twigs – Water Me
The Young Turk, label of the XX, puts its hands on that little treat of Twigs, which for the occasion changes moniker in: FKA Twigs. Her debut album, Ep2, will be released in September and will be co-produced by Arca, already seen and heard in Kanye West‘s Yeezus. Minimal and hypnotic track recommended to fans of the XX. Listen here.

Lil Silva – Salient Sarah (feat. Sampha)
Out for the radio transmission of Zane Lowe, the track is a sneak preview of the EP signed by the London producer Lil Silva: The Distance, released in the beginning of August. The track is enriched by the voice of Sampha, new phenomenon of the English post-dubstep scene.

CFCF – Jump Out Of The Train
This track is an anticipation, and we are talking about Michael Silver with his electronic project CFCF. The EP in question is Outside, which will be released on 21th October. “Jump Out Of The Train” is a 6 minutes pearl, very simple and full of synthesized voices.

Supreme Cuts – Envision (ft. Channy From Polica)
Already known for having produced tracks for Haleek Maul, this time to give voice to their base trance / house there is Leaneagh Channy of Polica.



Enrico Chinellato 
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30/08/2013

Pirate Radio in London

Constantly pushing the boundaries and breaking musical ground, as well as the law, pirate radio stations are somewhat of a phenomenon in London, if not a cultural tradition, as they have been broadcasting the freshest sounds in popular music for several decades now. Whether it was Rock’n'Roll in the 60’s, Acid House in the 80’s or Dubstep and Grime in the 00’s, that’s where you heard it first. But times are changing and many of the people involved seem to think that the era of pirate radio is coming to an end, with the internet being both the cause of its demise, as well as its successor.

The story of pirate radio begun in the 50’s on real pirate ships (thus the name) and sea forts in the English Channel, where pirate Dj’s broadcasted Rock’n'Roll to millions of people in the UK and around the world, as commercial radios were illegal in Europe at the time. Driven by a sense of social duty, pirate Dj’s of the time, much like today’s pirate Dj’s, considered “that it was the people’s right to have a radio station of their own, not run by governments”, as Tony Pine, an original pirate Dj of the Maunsell Sea Forts has said.

From the Maunsell Sea Forts to London tower blocks where the remaining pirate radio stations’ antennas are usually positioned, the purpose is the same, to broadcast the newest, most cutting-edge music, that is not being given the time of day on any of the official channels. And while the purpose remains the same, the hindrances they face are quite different. From actual pirates trying to take over their ships to the London police, pirate radio Dj’s always had some kind of opposition, although doing a seemingly harmless thing, playing records.


Perhaps that’s also what makes the phenomenon of pirate radio so interesting, the fact that it’s illegal without it necessarily being wrong, or doing any harm. Pirate Dj’s in London are treated akin to criminals and are just that in the eye of the law. Nevertheless, they keep on doing what they’ve always been doing, at whatever cost, without thinking about the consequences too much. In the words of Dan from Flex Fm Studio in South London, “we’re not actually causing anybody any harm, just putting up an aerial and playing some music at the end of the day”.

With around 80 pirate radio stations still broadcasting in London today, it’s not likely that this underground culture will cease to exist just yet, but it is certainly declining. And although it might be sad to think that an end of an era is imminent, the spirit of pirate radio will surely persevere online as the platforms change. Inevitably loosing something along the way, but hopefully gaining something else.

Andreas Stylianou – Images James Buck, Nico Hogg, Hossam el Hamalawy, Wayne Barry 
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26/08/2013

End of the Lazy Days

Three weeks have flown by and here we are, once again, back at our boiling work desks and hot cities, suddenly praying that cold autumn winds come really, really soon. Coming back to your daily routine after all those long lazy days spent at some remote beach, is surely stressful. This is why we hope this first week at work might be lightened up a little bit by some of our witty writing. 
As we, too, like to take it slow and sooth ourselves into our usual work-sleep-work habits, we will try to cherish that summer feelings for a little longer and offer you some tips to preserve your holiday spirit wherever you might be.

But autumn is also, inevitably, a moment of change which The Blogazine is wholeheartedly embracing this year. So don’t be surprised if, in the following weeks, you find some novel ideas because we are trying to give ourselves a fresh start too in this exciting new season.

Rujana Rebernjak – Image Tung Walsh 
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21/08/2013

Summer 2013: A Swedish Summer

There is something about the last days of summer. In Sweden the weather can be rather capricious so a sunny summer isn’t a guarantee. However there are a few things that are a must to conclude the summer, come rain or shine.

CUP OF JOE
Spending the afternoon at a Café is pretty much a norm in the Swedish way of life. The famous term fika [fee-ckah] is just another word for “coffee break” – the word actually originates from kaffi, an old Swedish word for coffee – however having an actual cup of coffee during a fikapaus is optional. The important thing is to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Be it alone or in a group, with something to eat or just a drink in your hand, it’s about being in the moment. In my hometown Lund I always come back to St Jakobs Stenugnsbageri and Patisseriet. At these two cafés chic but rustic environments are combined with delicious homemade pastries and a variety of coffee drinks.

A LITTLE CRAY CRAY
In Sweden it is almost mandatory to go to at least one crayfish party during the month of August. At a crayfish party people meet up in a private garden decorated with colorful lanterns and have a merry time. You eat crayfish cold with your fingers as well as bread, mature Västerbotten cheese, and sometimes a few pies have also found their way to the table. Naturally the crayfish are accompanied by one or two schnapps.

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC
An important element of really the whole Swedish summer is music. This is made apparent through all the diverse music festivals that are arranged all over Sweden. Some festivals are free but for some, tickets need to be purchased in advance. What they all have in common though is nice music and happy people. Way Out West is an upcoming festival in Gothenburg that has gained momentum during past years and this year artists like Alicia Keys and Johnossi are playing.

DOWN-TO-EARTH
The best things in life are free and even though I am a bona fide city girl, in the summer I love spending time outdoors. It can be out hiking in a nearby forest, having a picnic at the park or at a friend’s remote summer cabin picking wild berries. The days of summer are about enjoying the beautiful lush green nature Sweden has to offer, which according to me has its peak in the summertime. Just catching a sunset – like this one at Södergarn Lidingö in Stockholm – makes you realize it is nature’s art show.

Victoria Edman 
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14/08/2013

Summer 2013: Beach Party

During these steamy summer months, we’re probably all dreaming about beach and boat parties, if not already frequenting them. There just happens to be a small place, just 80 km off the coast of Valencia in Spain, where more beach and boat parties happen during the summer than pretty much anywhere else in the world: Ibiza, the summer destination of parties (on the beach, boats and otherwise), nightlife and electronic dance music.


Now, if you do happen to find yourself in Ibiza this summer, be sure not to miss one of the Dirtybird nights held every Thursday at Sankeys Ibiza. The record label’s first ever residency in Ibiza means a stellar line-up of the freshest DJs in the world, who will be rocking Sankeys Ibiza for the whole summer up until September 12. Big DJ names you can expect to see (or hear) there include the likes of Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, Eats Everything, Catz N’ Dogz, Shadow Child, Kink, Breach and so many more. This alone is enough of a reason to travel to the island for the summer.


Andreas Stylianou Images Tasya Menaker 
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08/08/2013

Summer 2013: Music Festivals

Amongst many great things about the summer we all so dearly wait for around the year, perhaps the greatest and certainly the most entertaining, is the festival life. Hundreds of thousands of people of varied ages, classes and social statuses flock every year to the dozens of music festivals held in Europe in the summer. What do these people have in common? Well, it’s either a great adoration for music or a great knack to party, in many instances both. And where can they do this? That is, adore music and party. Fortunately, the choices are numerous.

With many of the best major music festivals – such as Benicàssim in Spain, Roskilde in Denmark and Glastonbury in the UK – having already come to an end for this year, where does one go to adore music, or indeed party for the remaining summer weeks? Sziget festival in Budapest (5-12 August) is particularly known for its hard partying, it has a great line-up including the likes of Blur, Editors, Franz Ferdinand and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds on the Main stage, and it goes on for a week. Other festivals in the forthcoming weeks with particularly good line-ups music lovers and party animals alike might want to check out include: La Route Du Rock (14-17 August) in Saint-Malo, France, Green Man (15-18 August) in the Black Mountains, Wales, Pukkelpop (15-17 August) in Kiewit Hasselt, Belgium, Lowlands (16-18 August) in Biddinghuizen, Netherlands, Reading and Leads (23-25 August) in the respective UK locations and Electric Picnic (30 Aug- 1 Sep) in Stradbally, Ireland. The point being made here at large is that where ever you are in Europe at the moment, you are very likely to be close to a great music festival.

Having said that however, if you happen to find yourself anywhere in the South of England between September 5-8, find the nearest port and hop on the ferry to the Isle of White, where one of the best music festivals, as its name so conspicuously suggests, Bestival, takes place. Bestival seems to have an uncanny talent for curating music. The line-ups there are always beyond good, or great for that matter, blending the best of Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop and Electronica in a way that might be a bit peculiar at first glance, but just works. I mean having Elton John, the former Snoop Dog (now known as Snoop Lion), Fatboy Slim, M.I.A, Franz Ferdinand, The Flaming Lips, The Knife and the Wu-Tang-Clang headlining the event together, as they are this year, is so much more than good or great, it’s just awesome.

Andreas Stylianou – Images Stelios Kallinikou 
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07/08/2013

Summer 2013: Culture in NY

James Turrell at The Guggenheim

Anyone who can trick the public into standing in line for thirty minutes only to stare dully at a gray canvas in a dark room deserves a spot on this list. James Turrell has been playing with light and space for decades, and he’s developed the ability to find absurd humor in the nature of the universe along the way. There was quite a bit of that in Iltar, the 1976 piece in question, and a whole lot of natural grandiosity and wonder in the rest of the show. This is his first New York show since 1980 and part of a larger nationwide career retrospective (one is at The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the other at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art).

Because it’s hard to tell with Turrell whether you’re in a hallway or an exhibit, I unknowingly stumbled into one, a 1968 installation called Ronin, walked right up to the light and was promptly yelled at by a 250-pound security guard who had a voice like Captain Ahab. “What is this?” my friend asked in an effort at reconciliation. “An exhibit,” the guard deadpanned. He must get it all the time.

Turrell’s exhibit runs through September 25th. Pay the $22 just to see Aten Reign, a fantastical cosmic egg that recasts Guggenheim’s famous rotunda into a spectre of existential wonder.

Chuck Klosterman and Sloane Crosley in Conversation

Pop-culture philosopher Chuck Klosterman reads from his new book I Wear The Black Hat: Grappling With Villains (Real and Imagined) today. Klosterman, who now writes the Ethicist column for The New York Times and is a founding member of Grantland, defines a villain as “someone who knows the most but cares the least”. He’ll discuss his theory along with the nature of villainy in contemporary culture with Sloane Crowsley, the frequent Believer contributor and author of the memoir I Was Told There’d be Cake.

Chuck Klosterman and Sloane Crosley at Bryant Park today 7th August, 12:30PM EDT. Free.

Mac DeMarco @ The East River Waterfront

Mac DeMarco is 23 years old and writes better songs than guys twice his age. His second album, aptly titled 2, managed to stir up the blogosphere and wind up on many year-end lists. The praise is well-earned: the dude throws off dreamy slacker pop tunes like “Freaking Out The Neighborhood” and “Cooking Up Something Good” as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. He’s kinda like Kurt Vile, if Kurt Vile went surfing every day and still lived with his parents.

I could listen to “Ode to Viceroy” and “My Kind of Woman” and stare at the East River all summer long, but I’ll content listening to two free hours of stony slacker rock while the sun sets over Manhattan. His live shows are goofy and laced with irony. A recent gig found them playing a medley of Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. They also closed the show with a Neil Young cover, which should give you a better idea of where this dude is headed.

Mac Demarco at The East River Waterfront. 8/28, 7PM. Free.

Lane Koivu 
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