Younger Brother

I've been listening to this album a lot. Last Days of Gravity by Younger Brother. It's a project album of SimonPosford (AKA Shpongle and Hallucinogen) and Benji Vaughan (AKA Prometheus). Both of these guys make good psytrance...but this album is much more. It's not so much one sound. It's hard to pin down stylistically...all I know is I love it.

This album was a happy accident - we received it by mistake in an online order...and man am I glad we did. It's a great, unique album. The tracks "Happy Pills" and particularly"All I want" have been in my head for days...brilliant. Have a listen. The whole album is more downtempo electronica...not ambient, just nice. This is for...oh...doing whatever (like oh, say, lab work).

Not much to say lately...just working, practicing my bellydance and trying to keep warm...

Go Speedracer Go!

I'm not sure what all the "oh it's not gonna be good" backlash was about around the Wachowski Brother's Speed Racer film...it seemed it was another case of people deciding they didn't like something when it hadn't even been out yet. And this by people who knew nothing about the film or the original show...I decided to ignore the local blehs and go.

All I know is, I went to see it on opening day and I loved it.
It had a surreal supercoloured stylish world (think Edward Scissorhands only brighter) and the characters were well acted - they seemed deeper and more real to me than a lot of films I've seen. And the racing...man. Everything was done so very well and stylishly. It was funny at times (good humour, quirky and odd at times) and great over the top characters. I've never seen the original Speedracer cartoons, so I have nothing to compare it too, but the occasional cheers and grins form the 30-something comic book/anime crawd in the theatre when I went to see it seems to show the film had a fans approval. It was a good film. I left happy and excited (and excited to someday have a segway...and maybe a monkey too...). It made me forget being sick for a few hours. I'd really reccomend it. It was like a happy alternate world full of techinicolour...and fast cars.

It didn't hurt that after we'd picked up our tickets before the show we went for a walk...and SpeedRacer drove by (no I wasn't medicated yet then). A white convertable old car with the number on the side was being driven by a man in a white leather jacket, white helmet and yellow gloves (and red socks no doubt). Never saw him again...but he was there.

Go Speedracer. Go.

Friday Favoties Vol.8 - The Dream, by The Orb

After a TRULY horrid day I'm feeling much better...and thought I would post a long delayed new friday favourite. This album is new...it just came out late last year in the UK actually - I had to snag it through ebay to get it here at any reasonable sor tof price, but it was indeed worth it.
I've beena long time Orb fan...they often have hits and misses, but their first Ultraworld album is my favourite of all time.

Their new album, The Dream
is nothing less than fantastic. It has a real reggae dub influence, with a few good dance tracks and a few good ambient ones and everything in between. The whole album is solid and I've enjoyed listening to it many times over. It has fast become a favourite of mine. Alex Patterson has been working again withh Thomas Felmann and it shows...there is a solid bass reggae influence and a smooth flow to the tracks that makes it, by far, their best overall alnum in a while. Tracks 2 and 8 are particular favourites. The album rises and falls, ending in some nice ambientness.
Seeing as they aren't on any major label I don't know how easy this album will be to track down, but if you see it, grab it.
As for me..I'm off to tape Galactica and more Arrowroot cookies and gingerale. J is on his last night (yay) and perhaps I won't be sick much longer (I hope I hope).
Ta.

Casshern

If you love anime, and Japanese films, may I suggest the movie Casshern to you...vigorously, while hopping up and down wearing a chicken hat. You might guess that I really loved this film. And no I don't have a chicken hat...but it I could convince you to watch this film I'd wear one. The website for the film is linked above...watch the trailer. You'll see what I mean :)



Casshern is a beautiful film set in the future, after 50 years of war...It's a difficult movie to explain, but I stumbled across a trailer years ago and have been aching to see it ever since. It is like an anime film, only it is*real*...and stunningly filmed and artistically rendered. It was shot entirely on a digital backlot, giving the director unlimited ability to create the world in which the story takes place. It's based on a 1973 anime film called Neo-Human Casshern, which I haven't seen.
*ahem*
Plot summary (kindly avert your eyes if you are the anti-spoiler type...please skip the next paragraph if you are)

The future, where robot armies have fought and devistated society, brings about a terrible challenge for a medical scientist, Dr. Azuma. In his quest to cure disease and ultimately cure his dying wife, an object that falls from the sky accelerates his Neocell research into curing injury and disease. He finds that he can heal with it...that it can even bring the dead back to life...with superior strength. He designs a suit able to harness the strength of a reborn superhuman, to keep them from tearing themselves apart with their untrained, unchecked new strength...just in case...you know. After some of the war dead are accidentally brought back to life, the government tries to irradicate them all out of fear. The surviving reborn superhumans escape and retreat. They find unused war supplies and decide to use them to fight back at the inferior humans that try to irradicate them. The scientist's son, Tetsuya, who has is brought back to life after dying in battle, relives the horrible futility of war, and tries to stop the advancing cyborg menaces as the only one who can possibly stop them, to save his family, and his love. In his final efforts, he takes on the name of the mythical godess Casshern, to try and make things right again.

This film is incredible visually, and although I'm sure something is lost in translation, if you are a lover of Japanese animated films and anime films, I really must recommend this film to you. I *loved* it. It took years to make it to a rental house here, but I highly recommend it. It was beautiful and a somewhat steampunk in style.
Check it out.
Or don't.
Y'know...

Ah yes...

I just had to say that the new Hellboy movie looks obscenely good.
I have made little sqeuaky sounds while watching the trailers.
So um...yeah. That is all really...

Reaching for that thing

I've been watching a lot of Harvey Birdman lately.
I borrowed season 3 from a friend and I'm once again walking about with quotes like "To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream. Aye, there's the rub. Ha ha!...rub" in my head.
I just discovered they're making a Harvey Birdman game for the Playstation and Wii. I have no idea what it could possibly be about, and unfortunately Steven Colbert is the only person not voicing their character in the game (probably tired of people asking him to go "Haha!" all the time). Still... I could do with trying it out. If it's anywhere half as wierd as the show, I'm in.
(maybe you get to steal the crrrrrrrest on Birdman's helmet?)
I have to say though..."Ha! HA! *insert random word here* on dowels!" still makes me crack up in a fit of giggles...it never gets old.
If you've never seen an episode...it's by the great people at Adult Swim who brought out the Brak Show and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Check it out.
Or not.
Y'know.

Friday Favorites - My Life In the Bush Of Ghosts

Holy freaking cow.



this album
What can I even begin to say about this album. It was made in 1979. NINETEEN SEVENTY NINE PEOPLE!
And know what?
It sounds BETTER than most of the electronic music I listen to now...it's as though Brian Eno and David Byrne said "hey! this is what electronic ambient music with ethnic influences will sound like in 25 years...lets make it early." It is one of the albums that inspired the Orb to form and do their thing.

This album is one I've just heard.
And seriously...instant favorite. I have a love of Brian Eno...all he touches turns to gold, and some of his solo stuff is brilliant.
This album however exceeds all manner of good things and simply must be heard. It is some of the first occurrences of sampling. They took vocal clips from various places and synced them up with music. Amazing percussion...and altho quite experimental, very good. It is the music I love NOW...only from 25 years ago. Track 2 is my favourite. The releleased version has a few tracks that are rather experimental added on, but the insert that comes with it is full of a lot of information about the album being made and how they came to decide to do this kind of music...which in 1979 was just not done really. It took them a while before they could actually release the album in the early 80s because they had to get all the copyright releases from all the samples as people were a bit leery...as it just wasn't done back then. And they did it all with analog tech and tape loops. Perhaps that is what amazes me so much about this album...it's like it is out of time...and better in production quality and originality than a lot of electronic stuff produced now.

Get Mr. Eno and Mr. Talking Heads together...and wow.
They have warped my fragile little mind!

Sweeny Todd

OH...and by the way...go see Sweeny Todd.
It's Tim Burtony and full of great acting and it's a musical...that's rated R for gore and violence. That doesn't happen often kiddies. The music (with a few exceptions) should've been Mr. Elfman...but I guess when you start with a musical already written you go with what is there. Too bad - I bet he'd have done better. I love musicals so it was an extra morbid treat for me...the scene of them on a beach in turn of the century swimwear and the song about who to turn into pies first were my favorite bits.

Speaking of odd...

On a roll with the odd things.
I was giggling this morning thinking about a small show called Tim and Eric's Awesome Show Great Job...it's a low low budget sketch show. Not all of it is that funny, but I admire it because some of it is so incredibly...well...wierd. *that* is what cracks me up about it...the strangeness. And it *is* strange.
So I present to you...a few of my favorite bits from this show I could find on the net.
AND one of their Christmas songs to get you ...um..in the festive mood? Or something...

Ta! :)

Monday monday, sometimes it just turns out that way

It was a nice bonfire on saturday night...just J, me and our friend Heather. We toasted marshmallows and relaxed by the fire - it was great. Sunday was more vegging - I feel positively refilled with energy and ready for the week.

I'm excited - I'm going to make some Christmas beer with my brother this week...hopefully it'll be done by the holidays. Our last batch was a bit yeasty as we didn't really know what we were doing, but this time I'm sure it'll be poifect.

I wish I had brilliant words of wisdom to spread, but I'm just very mellow, listening to Maybe Smith and drinking some Coffee. And, I just have to take minute to make a little plug for Maybe Smith. If you want some great Canadian music - Maybe Smith is somethig to check out. Maybe Smith is a local guy, Colin...I know him through his volunteer show down at CFCR. His music is all by him, and every album he's gotten better. I've liked a few songs of his here and there, but I must say I really like his latest album Animals and Architects. The music is mature and full, with lots of nice little odd noises here and there. He's put together a band for touring this album and I wish him well. He's a great guy and deserves some luck with it - I predict very soon he'll be more than a local favourite.

Well, I'm just putting off the inevitable. I'm off to bundle up for another chilly day of picketing.
Cao.

Dining out With Geo: Vol.3 - Fresh Bistro on Early Dr.

Although we were originally headed out to another place, it was closed for holidays and so my husband took me out for a birthday supper to his alternate choice - Fresh Bistro on Early Drive.

I'm so very glad he did. Fresh Bistro is a cozy little place tucked away in a less busy part of town, run by a husband and wife chef team. It was nice, but not too formal, and as it was a Tuesday night with a political debate on the tele, we had the place to ourselves - nice and romantic. My husband knows the chef a bit and he and the server chatted with us a bit as we ate, and we enjoyed a nice bottle of Australian chardonnay (on their recommendation) along with a fabulous meal.
Now, I have to say I'm a fussy customer. We don't eat out a lot, as I am (if I may be so bold) a fairly formidable cook, and so when we eat out, I like to go somewhere we can sit and savour our food - where the meal is an experience.
I was not disappointed. We had "mushroom toasties" while we waited for our main course - fresh mushrooms sauteed in butter, a dash of cream and fresh garlic andherbs, served on fresh toasted french bread, baked with a hint of parmesan and shallots. OH MY. I'm now on a quest to figure out how to make these...I would have been content having just them for supper, but the main course came and I was impressed even further: I had angel hair pasta tossed with marinated tomatoes, fresh basil pesto, lemon, parmesan and grilled prawns. J had homemade Italian sausage and asagio ravioli with tomato basil sauce and some foccacia bread. We ate slowly , savouring every bite. I really was impressed...everything was done to perfection...even the texture of the hommade pasta was...well...I wouldn't have changed a thing. Subtle blended flavours that were a true dining experience. And for dessert? We shared a delicious slice of lemon meringue cake...mmmmm. Lovely "cakey" cake, with layers of meringue, lemon curd and whip cream. Yum.
So if you want a fabulous meal, in a casual, but elegant restaurant, with excellent service and at a very reasonable cost- look no further than Fresh Bistro at on Early Drive. You won't regret it! I know we'll definitely be back again...there weremany other yummy looking things on the menu I'm dying to try...

Hilarious House of Frightenstein

Friday is here and I'm very glad to see it.

Time for vegging and yardy stuff and muffins and all those things I've put off all week. Plus J is done nightshift today so I get to see him again - very nice.

Main plan - well my brother gave me his present for my birthday early and I plan on watching a LOT of it over the weekend. The whole set of the Hilarious House of Frightenstein on DVD. It was a cheesy kids TV show I absolutely LOVED when I was a very little person and haven't seen in ages.
Can't wait. I mean Vincent Price was in it - that counts for something right? It was just him and pretty much just one other guy Billy Van who did most of the other characters in costumes. And there was a Pet Vet who talked about animals, A librarian who told spooky stories, a vampire (Count Frightenstein himself), a superhero hippy, a witch who made potions, The Professor (he was a scientist!), a safari animal guy, Igor the sidekick, and psychadelic music interludes from the Wolfman himself. The count was always trying to get his monster to come to life and I remember it being very wierd and cheesy and I can't wait to check it out again.
If you ever have time to kill and can find it on an old channel have a watch. It's a little clue as to why i turned out the way I did...

Ooooooh...that's scaaaaaaaaarrry stuff!

Tonight I"m off to a scary movie fest...I love old B movies and scary films... the cheesier the better.

For some reason thinking of scaaaary movies has me thinking of Monster Chiller Horror Theatre sketches with Count Floyd from SCTV so veeeery long ago. I loved SCTV. The humour was original and wierd and it was really a first of it's kind, from a time when sketch comedy was done well live and other shows like Saturday Night Live were making me laugh as well. There were some truly odd characters on the show, and my favourites were Ed Grimly, Mr. Science, Edith Prickly, the MacKenzie Brothers and, the best - Count Floyd.

Count Floyd...he was so pathetic, with his unscary films...he just wanted so badly to scare us...and kept failing. How could he *not* with such film classics as Dr. Tongue's House of Stewardesses, The 3D House of Beef, Dr. Tongues 3D House of Pancakes and Slinky: the Evil Toy! making me giggle until I hurt as a pouchling. And the smellovision option he tried to sell on a few episodes...it was hilarious. Other classics like Blood-Sucking Monkeys from West Mifflin Pennsylvania still make me laugh when I think about them.

I'm off to be scaaaaared! Be good kiddies!
Ah! Ah! Ah!
AAooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!

Friday Favourites Vol. 3

Not much time today but I had to pop in quick to do a favourites...my most favouritist album of all I think.
The Orb: Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld


It is hard to believe that this album came out in 1994...I didn't discover it until about 8 years ago. Despite it's age it is still an incredible CD. In fact, this CD actually just had a 15 anniversary rerelease, remastered with an extra CD of remixes (which are all very good...one in fact which I prefer to the original mix). This CD is amazing...someone ambient, mostly electronic and still, after many years, my most favourite CD. The music starts out in Arizona...and moves out into space, past the moon, our universe and finally into the Ultraworld, where the Giant Pulsating Brain at the centre of the universe lives. There's dub with sounds samples and great music. 2 CDs of great listening...
Please listen to it. I can't even try to do it justice in words.
Have a great weekend all :)

Stardust

J and I went to see Stardust last night.
I highly reccommend it - if I had more time I'd go into greater detail, but I am crazy busy, so my short review is: wonderful - like a good fantasy novel. It might not be in theatres long, so I want to encourage all of you to head out and see this film. It was original, intelligently funny, entertaining, beautiful and imaginitive: A tale of a fallen star, evil sorceresses, a magic land with a dying king, a young man who journeys beyond his own world, and even a flying pirate ship.
It was a wonderful fantasy for adults.
Go and see it.
I'm off to finish work and then it is off to the lake for the weekend...be back later!

I'd like to be your hero - I am a mighty little man

My favorite "making pancakes on a lazy Saturday" album has to be Songs for Dustmites by Steve Burns.
It's a nice happy album about science and love and full of things I might have thought or said or done. Sure the guy made it into the world music and such writing music/being on the Blues Clues children's program (which I admit I've never seen so can't comment on), but his first "real" album is still one of my favorites. We came across it at the community radio station and from the first listen, I was very impressed.
Apparently he's influenced by Flaming Lips...which can only be a good thing in my mind. According to what I've heard, Burns was at a party when someone played the Flaming Lips album "The Soft Bulletin." Story goes that he got very excited and immediately bought the album, and began working on his own music, leaving behind Blues Clues for something else. He even convinced the Flaming Lips' Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins to be in on the work. I've heard the album described as "indie rock" and " having a slightly folksy bent to the songs, as if folk were played on a spaceship". It's been called a concept album, but to me it's just a collection of intelligent thoughts about things put to music I happen to really enjoy...I suppose I'd call him a musical godlet.

Go have a listen.
Here's a few of my favorite lyrics from the album...I listened to the album this morning on my way to work and it's made me happy. *grin*

Mighty Little Man
-Steve Burns-

A tired man in his chair
doesn't move he only stares
at the machine across the room
there's nothing there; it's not getting through
he shakes his head, finally stands up
throws his hands up in the air
a blinding flash across the room
a sudden crash, a sonic boom changes everything he knew
it's everything he's never seen
the biggest deal there's ever been
described in light upon the screen
(it said)
nobody else is stronger than I am
yesterday I moved a mountain
I'd like to be your hero
I am a mighty little man

from way up here you can't look down
as of now there is no ground
the microscope is turned around
don't be alarmed, don't make a fuss
he's still like you; he's one of us
and he'll come back before too long

he takes a breath and clears his mind
grabs his coat and steps outside
an empty street, there's no one there
he lifts himself into the air
a billion thoughts expressed as one
etched in words across the sun
(it said)
nobody else is stronger than I am
yesterday I moved a mountain
I'd like to be your hero
I am a mighty little man

Songs For Dustmites

Nano you and nano me
Living beside the micron sea
Will the stars spin around the earth again
I don't know it's up to them
They'll get to it later
The biggest baddest world you've ever seen
Is smaller than a tear
Where all the kids have robot hearts
And dustmites fight with micro gears

When the earth was still and the universe spun round
Biggest baddest world you've ever seen
Is smaller than a tear
Where all the kids have robot hearts
And dustmites fight with micro gears

Hey Everyone It's Bob & David

Mr. Show with Bob & David is one of my favorite comedy shows.
It was on HBO for a few years and it has some of the funniest humour (well, off the wall humor I happen to click with) since Kids in the Hall. In a lot of their shows one sketch would blend one into the next and often sketches at the end of the show would refer to ones at the start. There were a few reoccuring characters, but most of the time Mr. Show just made me laugh harder than I have at anything else. And a great many comedy people were on the show including Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, and many others. Incidentally, a lot of these people are helping out Sarah Silverman with her new show...which I've been watching lately and really enjoying. (My husband has a thing for Sarah Silverman and I can't deny it - she's smart, funny and pretty...gotta keep tabs on the competition :) )
But anyways, back on topic. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross both did their own stand up routines and for a few years were involved in their own sketch improv night and even had a show togather for a while...and MR.Show itself got better every year. Unfortunately HBO moved it to a slot of death on Monday at midnight, and it got cut due to ratings, but I managed to track it down on DVD and catch them all in the end. It would be hard to pick favorite sketches, but I've snooped YouTube and found a few good ones. Unfortunately many of my favorites aren't there...

Kiss the Pan

Shake the Crime Stick

Job Interview

Story of Everest

Call in Show

Titannica



Thrill World