Stuff I'm Tasting

Tasty overload!


Lets start with Noah and the Whale with wonderful Laura Marling doing backing vocals.

Shape of My Heart:



"And when I look to the shape of the sky,
I give thanks for this hollow chest of mine,
that I no longer feel, the great weight of ordeals,
that can make this life so unkind

If there's any love in me, don't let it show,
oh and if there's any love in me, don't let it grow"



Noah and the Whale minus Laura

...

The Delano Orchestra - Check out Kill Me Twice.


Get Well Soon - If This Hat Is Missing I've Gone Hunting:



Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

Make sure you scoot on over to their MySpace page and download this little gem of a song for FREE.

"I was following the pack
all swallowed in their coats
with scarves of red tied ’round their throats
to keep their little heads
from fallin’ in the snow
And I turned ’round and there you go
And, Michael, you would fall
and turn the white snow red as strawberries
in the summertime"


...

Crystal Stilts - Listen to Crippled Croon


Catfish Haven - Listen to Set in Stone. That voice. That beat. I wiggle like a jellyfish.


Catfish Haven



Young Rival - Listen to: Your Island. Short but powerful.



The dudes of Young Rival


Jasmina Maschina - Listen to Asleep (Minit Variation). This tune is so tender and reminds me of the main score for the extraordinary "Tell No One".

Almost manages to make me cry.

Again.

Almost.



Jasmina




And finally some more Swedish meatballs...


Melpo Mene

I Adore You:

This song is irresistible.

(mp3 via Stereogum)



Well, my taste buds can't handle any more. Gonna swallow and digest.

x

This Just In

I just got my hands (finger on touchpad) on the new M83 video for Kim & Jessie and I absolutely 100% love it.



You'll find me practising that routine at the nearest gymnasium.

Some Serious Research

I'm not sure if I ever introduced myself properly.

Mental image: Standing at the podium, slightly nervous but always charming: "My name is Edda and I'm an Icelandic screenwriter based in fair Edinburgh and this web log is my procrastinating tool of choice. Nice to meet you".

To fill you in on my latest endeavours, I have been working a crappy job this summer to support my craft but now I only have two more days of that. Hooray! Next weekend I'll be shooting material for a documentary I'm doing with my pals Laura and Andrew and after that I'll be working at the Edinburgh International Festival. Come September, I'll be screwed job wise, but lets not dwell on that.




Lately I've been working on a pilot for a supernatural drama series, which I'm really excited about, and yesterday I decided to do some informal research and watch a few pilots. Ack! That plan didn't really work as I had planned, as I halfheartedly watched the pilot for Gossip Girl out of pure curiosity. It was a tad too fluffy for my taste and had nothing to do with my project.




Bored by now I decided to see what was new on the market and opted for "Fringe", completely in the dark about the story line. So, nicely tucked under the covers ready for some late night TV to lull me to sleep while doing a bit of relaxed pilot research, casually noting down in my head how they introduce characters and all that hullabaloo, I began watching.

Well lull me it did not! "Fringe" quickly started off with a spine-chilling airplane scene that almost made my pupils disappear for good. Hmm, flesh eating virus? What was happening. Oooh.

I was really enjoying this, aside from maybe "Pacey Witter" trying to be suave saying "sweetheart" à la Humprey Bogart to Australian actress Anna Torv, who by the way looks just like Cate Blanchett, and has heaps more acting abilities than poor Witter (Joshua Jackson). I'm pretty sure Jackson is meant to be the token comic-relief character, against all the X-files themed icky slimy drama. Yikes!


The cast of "Fringe".

The show also features a cow and a mad scientist. First rate Sci-Fi.

OK, so The X-Files it will never be, although it does try, but any comparison to that pot of chemistry is also unjust. I'll take "Fringe" for what it is. Good entertainment.


Some unrelated rivia:
(My sources tell me that Pamela Anderson was approached for the role of Dana Scully when The X-Files were still in the early stages of development. What a frightening notion. Just add the Hoff and it would have been Baywatch Nights.)

Well enough is enough, here watch the trailer for "Fringe":



Oh did I not mention? The show is a J.J. Abrams production, which explains the blatant use of "Lost's" suspense sound effects. Plus it has that little cute, but bad, robot at the very end.


So I'll be watching. Probably when I should be writing. Oh, shush.

Who's Gonna Save My Soul?

New video from Gnarls Barkley, directed by Chris Milk:





You know. I know. We all know.

Sun + Body = After Sun

Another weekend came and went. Highlights: A pizza/beer picnic at the park with some lovelies and a sunny day at the beach with Andrew. Everything there in between is somewhat of a blur so let me just skip over that part.

Mental image: I keep forgetting to SPF (not wanting to be wasteful of the sun you see), which in turn has left me looking a little like burnt toast. Before I know it I'll have become one of those creepy leather people you see at the beach, or worse, an Oompa Loompa.

*Shudder*


The Oompa Loompa song (I'm the one on the right)


Now only four more days of hell job so let the countdown begin, 4, 3, 2, 1, and while you're at it have a listen to some Bodies of Water:

The song is called Gold, Tan, Peach and Grey.

And when I say listen, I mean listen to the whole song all the way through. Please, no cheating.



Bodies of Water - The nicest kind of after sun.

The Random Happy Clip

The Mighty Boosh - "Tundra Rap":



"Never take the tundra lightly, it'll drive a man insane..."


Always makes me smile. Every single time. Seriously.


Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding = The Mighty Boosh

Listen Up!

A Jerboan hearing aid


Seriously folks, what is with all the quality tunes coming out of Sweden?

The Knife, Kent, The Cardigans, Loney, Dear*, Jens Lekman, Peter Bjorn and John, Dungen, Pelle Carlberg...

and now... LYKKE LI


Lykke Li
(born Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson in 1986)


If you do just one thing today, let it be to download her wonderful song titled Tonight, FREE from her website. Find it under the Secret Chapter section.

If you can't be bothered to do that, at least see it live:

This song is like a nice hug. Firm, but not too tight.




Also, this bit of a dancer has been on my iPod replay list lately:

Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone


(Click here for the Black Kids remix)


...and, one more, just because I can...


Lykke Li - Little Bit



In other news:

Fair Edinburgh has been blessed with some excellent weather in the past few days. It's been sunny and warm with a gentle breeze sweeping through auld Reekie, which has been real nice break from the usual grey murkiness we're so used to complain about.



So lying in the lovely green grass, listening to Lykke Li whilst pretending to read one of my many screenwriting handbooks, I doze off. Half awake I look up at the sun, as it seemingly "steps down" towards me. "Kneeling", it asks for my hand in marriage. Not sure if I'm feeling confused by the heat, but I mumble a yes (although listening to Lykke, I would have said yes to just about anything).

So now my hand sparkles with a smoldering beam, signifying my commitment to the bright sphere above.



This may very well have been a dream but none the less, a warm summer day will always be my one true love.



Next on my horizon is to get my delicate doll hands on some Bodies of Water. I'll get back to you on that.




* be sure to check out their website, if only to see the beautiful photograph of the tree!

In Search Of A Midnight Kiss

From the film's official website:

"In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a rollicking comic ride and tender journey though love, sex, and modern romance in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. Wilson (Scoot McNairy), a twenty-nine-year old guy who has just had the worst year of his life, is new to Los Angeles, has no date, no concrete plans and every intention of locking the doors and forgetting the last year ever happened. That is until his best friend, Jacob (Brian McGuire), browbeats him into posting a personal ad on Craig’s List.

When Vivian (Sara Simmonds), a strong-willed woman hell bent on being with the right guy at the stroke of midnight responds, a chaotic, sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching journey through the black and white streets of L.A. begins. In the waning hours of the year, emotional vulnerability and bitterly honest humor seem to be waiting around every corner."



In Search Of A Midnight Kiss trailer:

I'm getting overly excited about this flick.

Plus, the soundtrack looks really good, featuring amongst others the lovely Okkervil River and Shearwater, who I've been meaning to check out for a while now.


Shearwater



The film is written and directed by Alex Holdridge and stars Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds. Oh, and I've just missed the last screening of it at the Filmhouse. Shoot.

Devendra Banhart

Look and listen.

It's DB's new Bollywood inspired music video, Carmensita, featuring actress (and Banhart's girlfriend) Natalie Portman:




Catchy Carmensita can be found on Banhart's most recent album, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon.





I really need to listen to this album more.

Jóhannes Kjarval by Björk

Björk


In 1977 Björk Guðmundsdóttir released her first solo album at the tender age of eleven. Simply titled Björk it featured ten songs, most of them cover songs but also an instrumental tune titled Jóhannes Kjarval, written and performed by Björk as a tribute to the skillful Icelandic painter.


Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval - Artist extraordinaire

As someone who knows, "taps finger on nose", I must say that for an eleven year old she really captured the old eccentric in her tribute. The song could easily have been Kjarval's personal theme tune, accompanied by the cold northern winds that moved through his scruffy hair as he stood painting in the mossy moonlike landscape of Iceland, looking much like the mythical creatures he captured on the canvas. I bet if he had lived to hear the song, he would have shyly grinned at the gesture.


Jóhannes Kjarval by Björk Guðmundsdóttir:



And if you're interested in hearing Björk's version of The Beatles's Fool on the Hill, click here. It's quite endearing and near the end you can hear where she's heading with her voice.

Crappy New Camera Phone

Gingerbread men, mussels, lunch with Andrew, Cork, late night walks, joy...


Now playing: nothing.


Now listening: to the faint sound of traffic, rain and my humming computer.


...

Sometimes it's alright to switch off and zone out.

Waking Up in Cork

After a fun evening out in fair Edinburgh I wake up in the Republic of Ireland, in the wee city of Cork.

I blame this solely on the vodka, but that might be a lie.


Cork - My secret getaway (reminds me of Reykjavík - home - in this pic).


Forgetting to bring my iPod (plus a whole lot of other things), I was at the mercy of others for music. Always a risk, but this was already a risky end to what was meant to be a quiet weekend so I'm thinking, when in Rome and all that.... And do you know who's the best artist to listen to while driving through Cork?


Apparently, this man:


Paul Weller


Worked for me. Actually the whole trip worked for me, but all good things must come to an end.



On the way back, after some delay (causing my usual fear of flying to build up), I was in my seat, 16D, 85 minutes away from Edinburgh and listening to Take That, courtesy of "DJ Pilot". They always play the cheesiest tunes while you wait to crash and die. Well, this boy band ballad summed up my whole trip and also brought me back to a state of TT loving nostalgia. I felt good. Schmaltzy, but good.

The song in question, titled Rule the World, also appropriately is featured in the film Stardust, that's based on one of my favorite Neil Gaiman books. See, it's all good.



Recommended read



Stardust trailer:






Now back to this.



And they say I'm as cold as ice, when really I'm utterly butter.

Catch of the Day

No, not the misfits...

...



..yes, Grizzly Bear and their hair raising* song While You Wait For The Others:

(They take a while to get started, so just skip ahead to the 23rd second if you're terribly impatient)


(This song twirls my body in a tornado of goosebumps. Blissed be.)





A grizzly bear hitches a ride with unsuspecting festival goers.

How very Gary Larson of me.




*à vous faire dresser les cheveux sur la tête.

More Mates of State and back to the 80's

Mates of State - Get Better



"Everything is gonna get lighter even if it never gets better".

Reminds me of the always entertaining Bat For Lashes video for What's a Girl To Do?:



"And my bat lightning heart, wants to fly away".


Both videos have that 80's Donnie Darko style that I just so happen to like. How can I best describe said style?

Well, it's something like this.

Of course it all boils down to some old fashioned nostalgia.



Donnie ponders the future, the past? Who knows, who cares?


Of course the music from Donnie Darko never fails to impress.

Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon


Tears for Fears - Head over Heels (genius).


Duran Duran - Notorious



Duran Duran - looking fierce



Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart


The Church - Under the Milky Way


Gary Jules - Mad World


Oingo Bongo - Stay


INXS - Never Tear Us Apart



Who could forget?


p.s. Also worth checking out: Prescilla by Bat for Lashes.

Late afternoon stroll in the wild

"Now playing: Bon Iver"


///====///


Listened to Dengue Fever during a refreshing hike/stroll today. The Cambodian semi rap and guitar riff of Sni Bong meshed well with the Scottish landscape, bunnies, crows, the above snail (boombox added after) and the very characteristic plant/flower, the thistle.




National pride.



Some day I might fly out to Cambodia and listen to some bagpipe music. Or just some Belle and Sebastian or Frightened Rabbit.

Speaking of rabbits. Here's one I met during my travels today.


Gimme! Stooopid human.



It's totally eyeing my iPod, just look at those veiny ears, they're yearning for some Khmer pop.



Dengue Fever - Sni Bong

Again DF's videos cheapen their tunes somewhat in my opinion. Just close your eyes and listen. Although, the bearded guy is kinda cool, reminds me of a mountain goat.


Trailing off...

The Random Album Song You SHOULD Like Post

Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)




Lyrics as Story:

You talk like Marlene Dietrich
And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
Your clothes are all made by Balmain
And there's diamonds and pearls in your hair

You live in a fancy appartement
Of the Boulevard of St. Michel
Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
And a friend of Sacha Distel

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head

I've seen all your qualifications
You got from the Sorbonne
And the painting you stole from Picasso
Your loveliness goes on and on, yes it does

When you go on your summer vacation
You go to Juan-les-Pines
With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
You get an even suntan, on your back and on your legs

When the snow falls you're found in St. Moritz
With the others of the jet-set
And you sip your Napoleon Brandy
But you never get your lips wet

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes I do

Your name is heard in high places
You know the Aga Khan
He sent you a racehorse for chistmas
And you keep it just for fun, for a laugh haha

They say that when you get married
It'll be to a millionaire
But they don't realize where you came from
And I wonder if they really care, they give a damn

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head

I remember the back streets of Naples
Two children begging in rags
Both touched with a burning ambition
To shake off their lowly brown tags, yes they try

So look into my face Marie-Claire
And remember just who you are
Then go and forget me forever
'Cause I know you still bear
the scar, deep inside, yes you do

I know where you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
I know the thoughts that surround you
'Cause I can look inside your head



Peter Sarstedt

In 2007, the song was used in Wes Anderson's short film Hotel Chevalier, a prologue to his movie The Darjeeling Limited, in which the song also appears.


The Darjeeling Limited - Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody & Jason Schwartzman


Start liking!

Lyrics as Poetry

The Arctic Monkeys - Only Ones Who Know

And I hope you're holding hands by new years eve,
They made it far too easy to believe,
That true romance cant be acheived these days,

And even if somebody could have shown you the place you wanted,
Well I sure you could have made it that bit better on your own,
You are the only ones who know



The Arctic Monkeys eat crisps in bed (like me).


I do have a fondness for this song and the lyrics (like Alex Turner has done with The Last Shadow Puppets) feel youthful and yet pondering. Smells like freshly cut grass on an early August morning, filling you with comfort, courage and candy hearts before stepping onto the train for Adultville, where lyrics look back instead of ahead to the unwritten future. Turner brings hope, love and a will for life.


AND from that to the lovely:





Plants and Animals - Faerie Dance

...then fell asleep under a tree
got woken up by birds and bees
they're hard at work, but they're hardly workin'
there might be rain, but not for certain

followed the trail to the wild flowers
I cut as many as I could handle
I was workin' hard, but hardly workin'
I heard the train, but not for certain

oh, we're living in the wild life
we're living in the wild life...

Plants and Animals - Faerie Dance live in Montreal:


Damn good version.

It would be nice to live in the wild life*, totally roughing it, shooting through life without a material worry. And this song has that sort of longing for a simpler existence. What else can you expect from a band who call themselves Plants and Animals eh?

Speaking of the wild life.


Wings!

I love Wings and I need my Wings fix. Now!








*Lie

[Ed. rant]: Yup I guess. If a couple can make it to new year's, still holding hands, happily ready to take on another year together, they're golden. If it feels weird, sad and awkward however, well then maybe it's time to find a different pair of hands to hold on to. Ponder.

Ghastly !

He hates his job too.



Lately I've been singing on the job (!), my substandard chant echoing the empty halls, only overheard by the dancing ghosts that live in my wing of the castle. And I reckon the song I'm singing is apt for the circumstance. It's Separate And Ever Deadly by The Last Shadow Puppets, and basically I've been looping the same line over and over...

...I'm the ghost in the wrong coat
Biting butter and crumbs



Casper and his huge head, happy together.


I guess my job has made me into a ghost; waking up as the city sleeps, putting on my "coat" (tacky uniform) so I can pay rent and well, bite on bread crumbs. Yes, these are tough times indeed. The Great Depression has returned and I feel its clutch on my designer stuff.

The chorus goes:

Won't let go
Won't let go
Won't let go

Thankfully I have let go and given notice. Off to better things and happy as can be. I'd be honored if the ghosts came along to my next destination, where the pen is mightier than the broom.

I have Dengue Fever

Cambodia - Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea

Motto: "Nation, Religion, King"

Official language: Khmer

Population: 13,995,904

Dengue Fever: Cambodian pop vs. psychedelic rock:


Dengue Fever - Seeing Hands

OK so this is not the worlds greatest music video, but the music speaks for itself.

At least it speaks to me, transports me across oceans, to some snug as a bug Cambodian lounge bar where I'm smoking lady cigars and sipping on rum with legs crossed and my top leg air dancing.



Dengue Fever with Cambodian lead singer Chhom Nimol







Very colourful indeed. Try it. It most definitely is unlike anything you're listening to at the mo'. I make that assumption without a hint of hesitation.

p.s. my deepest sympathies to those with actual dengue fever. Try some Chhom Nimil & co. It will ease the pain. I recommend Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (also a film now).

XO