Erland and the Carnival

Just heard Erland and the Carnival performing a live session on Lauren Laverne's BBC 6Music show. They played this song called "My Name is Carnival" which is a bit Scott Walker crossed with Neil Hannon from Divine Comedy.

They play the Louisiana in Bristol in May and I'm trying to get a ticket before they sell out as they most definitely will. This is a great venue to see them.



They also played "Trouble in Mind" which has a very good promo film (some call it a video) to accompany it.

Like a Lilo Losing Air

Foals could be a band to watch out for this year. A melancholy song and video to remind us that unfortunately winter ain't over yet.

Un Flâneur

I prowl the streets,

a catcher of shadows,

in a box of tricks.

I am a stroller,

a wanderer,

a lounger.

I saunter,

then linger,

a slow swagger:

un Voyeur.

But preferring:

un Flâneur.

Poem by John Morgan

Here Comes the Bear

I bought Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear on the basis of a review in Uncut magazine. I loved the album with Southern Point the real highlight for me. However, this is a great tune too and a wonderfully original, freaky video. How amazing that colour can be used so disturbingly. I love this.....
"

North West Coastal Art

I've been interested in the art of the North West Coastal Indians (First Nations) of Canada since I visited British Columbia nearly 10 years ago. Whilst there, I bought several books and also a couple of prints from local Artists. Recently I built some garden furniture for my home and I was looking at ways of decorating a plywood table that I had made. I thought about mosaic tiles but my friend Wendy suggested I created a stencil of my favourite First Nations print and use that as an image for my table top. So I thought I'd give it a go and this is my table. The picture is of a mythological Thunderbird.

A Recent Treat

I recently had the opportunity to visit my good friends Howard and Laura and their kids Hector and Rosa in Devon. They moved (again) recently to a new abode in Abbotsham near Bideford. For people who have had more nice homes over the years than David Beckham, this really is a special place and I hope they are very happy there.

I had a great few days with them enjoying their company, being away from home and escaping the normal tedium that is my life these days. I managed to get my creative juices working again which was such a relief as I thought they'd abandoned me for someone more worthy.

I took some photographs while I was away. The main subjects were: the Homeblown surf board factory, my friends and their new family home, coastal landscapes and views along the Tarka trail following the River Torridge past Instow to Fremington Quay.

I used my old Leica M6 which was a joy to be reunited with, and my newly acquired iPhone which has a simple to use application on it called camerabag from Nevercenter. This is my new favourite app for the iPhone. Camerabag uses filters to apply affects which emulate some of my favourite cameras and processing methods. The main camera filters I used where Helga and Lolo which emulate Holga and Lomo cameras respectively. I also use the colorcross filter which emulates the cross processing method and saturates colours. Any combination of filters can be applied to give a range of effects. While this is not going to convert me back to using colour, it is a lot of fun to use and see what can be created.

The iPhone is a very clever machine. I don't think I'll be looking to replace it anytime soon.

Some results below:

Lolo and Colorcross = Lomo + Cross Processing

Colorcross (Cross Processing)

Helga (Holga)

The Acorn

Another up and coming band from Canada. You might like this band Howard as you're a big Sufjan Stevens fan.

Job Envy

I've taken to talking to pans.
They sit smug with job satisfaction.
Cooling after another long shift,
emitting noises of gentle contraction.

Job envy has many manifestations.....