I'm off for a quick getaway with The Boo. See ya when I get back, take care til then, fellow mobbers!
There is a NEW image launched from Bjork.com. It's vibrant, it's crochetted and it has the album title transversed on it in FLAMES! Snakes on a plane! Flames on a Bjork! Whatev. I like it. And I'm giddy with excitement! :)
Someone on the Bjork 4um has already heard the album. WHAT! And he put together a brisk but very detailed review. Hmm, questionable? Righfully so, but it looks really legit right now. Click 'read more' to see all of it, but first an excerpt from the review!
>>>>>
"......01. Earth Intruders (4:30)
Obviously a Timbaland track. Think Nelly Furtado's Maneater - only COOLER and Björk-ified. REALLY cool song, excellent way to start the album, very upbeat. There are these brazilian-type beats and cool synths. Seriously, Maneater is your best point of reference. Lyrics: We are the earth intruders / We are the sharp shooters......"
SO EXCITED!
The Tracklist
VOLTA (48:52)
01. Earth Intruders (4:30)
02. Wanderlust (5:4Cool
03. Dull Flame (7:32)
04. Innocence (4:14)
05. I See Who You Are (4:22)
06. Vertabrae (5:0Cool
07. Pneumonia (5:14)
08. Hope (3:39)
09. Declare Independence (4:16)
10. My Juvenile (4:05)
the version I heard was 48 minutes and 52 seconds - I heard the mastered version of the album, but it's not the version that is going to be released; track order could still change, songs will fade into each other with sound effects (this is EXACTLY the info that is available at the record company) - there is NO official album cover at the (dutch) record company as of yet - LOTS and LOTS of brass and this bouzouki/harp/harpsichord-like instrument - the Timbaland tracks KICK ASS - NO STRINGS (NONE AT ALL) - 2 tracks with Antony (from Antony & the Johnsons)
Hmm, whatever happened to Norah Jones. I knew she has a wicked sense of humour, how else could you explain her calling her brand of tunes "a soft-cock rock kinda music", lol. But Norah as a punk rocker, hmm..curious & curiouser.
The link on the site doesn't quite work for me, not quite sure why but if it does load for you, tell me what she's doing & which song she is singing! LOL. "I knew this chick named Norah a lounge singer, a year later she a six Grammy award winner"
I know I'm late, but...but...Björk is releasing an album in TWO MONTHS!
The new LP titled, 'Volta' *isn't that cool* is partly inspired by her visit to Indonesia's tsunami-hit areas. Featuring ten original tracks, 'Volta' is written & produced by B, with three tracks co-produced with Mark Bell & TIMBALAND!
I've seen some lyrics & early reviews, it sounds *or feels* very raw, primordial & warrior-like. Strange, because most would also describe her past works the same way. But this is even more so, because she's mapping out an element in her, the ancient spirit, that is angry & restless at the state of our Earth - politically & environmentally. And honestly, at this time in our history, that ancient spirit is alive & simmering in all of us, isn't it? We are in the midst of something huge, but yet we can't put our finger on it. If you ask yourself honestly enough, you'd be face with all the questions, doubts & obvious mysteries. All those things we notice lining up, but can't decipher.
The main artwork will be done by M/M Paris & fellow Icelander, Gabriella Fridriksdottir. There's quite a bit of crochetted tribal masks & ornamentations, sort of like a modern-tribal thing. It's all terribly murky now, but being revealed in time. The skeleton is being plyed with flesh & blood as we speak!
The first single, "Earth Intruders" will be released electronically April 10th & "Volta" is out May 7th, 2007. May 6th is my birthday! Oh thank you, B!
Yay, I just read that french electronica duo, Air has in store a new album!
I've always loved their music, it's so simple, complex & iconic. But most of all, Air is one of the rare champions to take on electronic music & make it emotional. There's only few that qualifies to be in this special league of musicians. Bjork happens to be one of them. As well as Thom Yorke, as seen on his solo effort, The Eraser.
If someone would have predicted that in the later part of the last millenium, I will be
lulled & seduced by music generated by machines, I would have never believed it. But it's true! Sometimes, I even think those gleeps & beeps match perfectly our own body's music. A thump of the heart, a crick in the ear and the whistling rasp of a long drawn breath of air into lungs. Needless to say, I've fallen asleep many many times listening to Air. It's strange to visualise, but I really compare it to lying down on a bosom of this big musical creature you plug your earphones into & when you finally sync your life-rhythms with it, you just dissolve & fall into deep sleep.
The new Air site is gorgeous, it looks like Miranda Priestly's office at dusk. And there are some sample tracks on their site <www.pocket-symphony.com> And look below, a track with Pulp's Jarvis Cocker?! I shit you not. I'm so excited to hear Track 4: Napalm Love in completion. Tell me you can't love these guys!
The new Air album drops worldwide on March 5th, 2007.
Update! Update! - MySpace just sent me an email pointing me to a newly launched AIR page. All 12 tracks are available for sampling in full, and there is also a little video interview titled Inside Pocket Symphony, which gives new meaning to the phrase "a brief walkthrough", haha. It's cute & definitely reminded of the Vespertine universe. Pocket Symphony isn't that far from Micro Beats, if you really think about it. <More after the cut>
Bitch Rant Ahead. Sorry, I just need to vent.
A few weeks ago, when I went to send the portfolio book for printing, I loaded the soft copies up to my iPod. The Photoshop files were huge & the iPod was the only thing that had enough space. I also had some pics & all my music on it, naturally, just like any normal person would.
I told the printing guy to take the files & jokingly said not to wipe out all my music but that's exactly what he did! Well, something like that..I had over 700 tracks, now I'm only left with 137. I got suspicious when the iPod was skipping 10 tracks at a time & went to check. Yup, it's all gone..
Omigosh, I am so pissed. Pissed beyond words. It took YEARS collecting the music & it's not even about having to load it back up again because some of the music were
from CDs that were borrowed, scratched up & God knows where by now. And worst, since my laptop fizzed out mid last year, I'm on my dad's which doesnt even have a CD Drive!
I have no way to get my music back into my Mini. Everything from Radiohead, to Bjork to Peaches to Blondie - all gone! What am I going to listen on holiday? Or the journey there? The same 137 tracks over & over again? Yeah, I suppose I can do that. I can also drink acid & shit diamonds. Or bring out my Discman & lug around 30 CDs like a caveman with no technology. Shit!
I suppose it's a bit bratty, but I just need to get it out of my system. It just blind-
sighted me out of nowhere. It's like coming home & realising you've been robbed & they've left you with a chair, a sock, one broom & two strands of spaghetti. Like, thanks a lot, motherf*ckers.
ARRGGGHH! *shakes fist*
Hmm, Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone! Or in other words, Happiness & Prosperity for all. I just came back from a huge reunion dinner & I forgot how much food it takes to feed 4 whole generations of family members. A bit scary.
This is my year, since two zodiac cycles ago, a little piggie Minimoto was born. I have been hearing bad things coming for this year, and the best animals to come out alive is the Pig & few others. Dunno how I feel about that, actually. A bit morbid to think that all the other zodiac animals are just going to have bad luck all year round. Rubbish! I choose not to be superstitious lah, anyway it's pretty clear that, Your luck is what you make of it...wise words those are. Wait, wasn't it a leprechaun that said that?
Anyway, I just got new games for my tired *but trusty* ol' Moto. Hmm, lemme see: Castlevania, Doom RPG, Zelda, Sonic The Hedgehog, Pipes & Puzzle Bubble. Also working on this other installer for Warcraft. Imagine playing Warcraft on your phone...isn't that just...insane?! If they eventually crack Starcraft to play on phones, I will die. *nods head matter-of-factly* Here is a screenshot!>>>
These little gaming godsends will keep me entertained at the customary house-visitings, because there's only so many times you can be arsed to answer questions like: "Hey, Are you getting married this year?" "What car you driving?" "How's your job, can survive or not?" & the best one yet, "Haiyah, dunno when I will see my great-grandchildren from you..." LOL
Here's a peek at the submission for those curious to know what's inside, lol. Only 20 pages total - including covers! but hopefully it's enough to pass judging. There's ONE last round of tests next mth if I get called back. I've actually had a few holidays planned since the end of 06, but they'll have to wait for now. One particular trip has been cancelled twice already eek, but luckily my travelling buddy is understanding & supportive.
Anyway, Monday, I went to the campus to submit the thing & did a detour to the actual school I'll be studying in. It's pretty new, but the program is really good. A friend of mine, who used to be an Admissions Officer in America gave the stamp of approval. She personally knew 2nd-prof-in-line & the Dean is a modern artisan, in the true sense of it, with published books to his name. Looks good. Something else that looks good is the school's roof. It's completely made of grass, meeting the ground in 3 big graceful slopes. The only thing missing are some Teletubbies!
After school-sight-seeing, I went to look for the Student Services Centre, which was pretty nightmarish. One long uphill walk with pregnant clouds threatening to burst. Even so, I'm thankful for the clear directions given by a girl I stopped to ask for help. Without her, I'd probably still be there, finding my centre. :) Thankies!
Hey, what a nice suprise! Thanks Fizvic & Amoeba for telling me about the Hot Blog nod. I didn't even know what it was, haha. Haiz, so blur. But it's a nice suprise indeed. Can you spot my silly lil face somewhere in there? LOL Thank you, MTV! I'll keep it up :)
In other news, my portfolio has been printed & binded. I thought it would take 3 days, since it was alot of pages that needed to be cut post-printing, & I had no hook-ups for the binding process...but amazingly, it was done in just ONE afternoon! The printer guy was very nice & fast, so was the binding lady, it was pretty pricey but totally worth it, man. I got thick 250gm paper for all 20 pages, basic white ring binder & white frosted plastic covers..it looks very nice, like a tiny magazine or brochure or something. Needless to say, I am happy. But more than anything, relieved. Now I just have to send it in. I don't want to risk it getting manhandled in the mail so I'm going to deliver it myself. So paranoid, lol.
After printing, Booboo & I celebrated with some sushi & teppanyaki. Don't mind the collapsed mohawk, or my crazy eyes. No, I wasn't drunk on sake, just very excited! It's always a wonderful feeling working on something for so long & finally being able to hold it in your hands. No longer something intangible, it's finally real. So wish me luck, guys! It's all systems go & now, there's no looking back...
Woo hoo! I finally received my booty! I'm so happy :) I had almost come to terms with not receiving it, but I made a call as a last-ditch effort & voila! It was delivered in 2 days. A great big thanks to Marissa at MTV Singapore, she was so nice over the phone & took great effort to rush it out as soon as possible. I really really appreciated it, thank you so much!
I almost fainted when I saw the amount of Booty in the package. I had no idea the Work & Play set was this bountiful. Mom was also suprised & pretty excited too, haha. Something about receiving parcels & packages, I think? Anyway, I've given away some of the gifts: folder & mousepad to my sis, badges to a friend *she collects badges by the bags!* and also wrapped a seperate package for Booboo which includes: towel, notebook, magnetic post-it & luggage tag. He saw the Mobbed notebook & liked it, so I'm glad I could give to him his very own!
The rest of it, I'm keeping, lol. Stickers are on my moto: white on white. Sexy :D T-shirt is in the wash, I hope it shrinks to my size, cos it is HUGE! And the bag would be perfect for school. If I get in, lol. And my portfolio is done too! Only left the essay to be re-written & edited, the CD-burning process and the actual printing & binding. Below is part of the portfolio cover! *excited!* Gah!
