retro-futuristic phantasmagoria about a mad scientist who steals kids’ dreams is a gorgeous amalgam of nineteenth- and twentieth-century fantasy. -newyorker, 1995

” Definitely Retro ”

01. Robert Miles – Fable (Dream version)
Dreamland (1996)
02. Animal Collective – In the Flowers
Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino, 2009)
03. Morgonjuice – Skjut Din Del Av Avtalet (web)
Med Dem EP (Morgonjuice , 2008)
04. The Bloody Beetroots – The Death Of Cornelius (Overture)
Cornelius EP (dim mak, 2008)
05. Hot Chip – Colours (Fred Falke Remix) (Fred Falke myspace)
(Fred Falke Remix, 2007)
06. Frank Martiniq – Chrome
The astropopshop 12″ (Kickboxer, 2008)
07. Metronomy - On The Motorway
Nights Out (Phantom Sound & Vision, 2008)

note : Jan ’09. Retro late 90′s electro. This list has very little lyrics and words, so it is a bit different for pop. It is not even danceable for pop electro list, but it is oddly fun. In a bag of mix candy sort of way. The rhythm is medium, pulsating bop and not hard, enough to redraw the memory or 90′s electro with folks remix texture here and there. Think Nintendo soundtrack, in acid folktronica beat. Slightly different, but familiar. And I’d say this electronic thing is here to stay. Might hit it big even. haaa haaa…

image: .robbie

Photo: Katie Lee.

1. Emiliana Torrini -  Jungle Drum
   Me & Armini (Rough Trade / 2008)
2. Here We Go Magic – Fangela
   Here we go magic (Western Vinyl / 2009)
3. Xylos – In the bedroom
   Bedrooms (web release / 2008)
4. Micachu – Golden Phone
   Jewelry (Accidental / 2009)
5. Le Volume Courbe – Freight train
   Freight Train (Trouble / 2007)

A small pop oriented playlist that I’ve been playing all  noon. The songs on it have some sort of colourful sonic ballsiness that sounds perfectly apt at daylight and might provide you some temporary shelter for the withering cold weather. Both the Michachu and Here We Go Magic albums are some of my favorite listens from this year so far and they’re really, really worth it. I wholeheartedly recommend you to lend them and ear when you have the chance.

note: ‘Freight Train’ will not stream correctly since it has a frequency rate higher than the other songs and playtagger has trouble playing files on a high freq but the song shouldn’t have any problems playing on any media player in your computer once you download it.

The motionless air expands like the breath of someone who might speak, then falls silent.
Each day is the same, the same voice not breaking the silence, hoarse and always the same stillness of memory.
The bright window accompanies, with its brief tremor, the calm of that time. Each gesture jolts the calm of that time.

- Cesare Pavese, La Voce.

1. Jazzhole – Enjoy the Silence
   Circle of the Sun (Beave / 2002)
2. Flying Lotus – Camel (Nosaj Thing remix)
   L.A. EP 2×3 (Warp / 2008)
3. Tayo – Wildlife Dub
   Wildlife Dub (777 / 2006)
4. Da Cruz – Sarah
   Nova Estação (Phantom Sound / 2008)
5. Thievery Corporation – La Femme Parallel
   Radio Retaliation (Eighteenth Street / 2008)
6. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Can’t Hear my Eyes
   Can’t hear my eyes 7″ (Mexican summer / 2009)

Thursday, January 8, 2009. Fire craves air and will leap leagues to find it.

Everybody was paying attention to your dellusional speech about anarchism that night, but I wasn’t convinced. Destruction is a continuous process, not one of finite duration to which the natural conclusion is creation.
How could you light up our way when you think the whole world should burn down in flames?

You drove us miles outside the city, looking for the perfect spot. You wouldn’t stay put until the last one of us was seduced by your words. You were very enthusiastic about ethanol and some techno artists from Tel Aviv while we drove there. You thought it was astounding the Israeli’s drive to dance when bombs were being blown a few blocks away from the clubs.
I’ve always found electronic music to share an aesthetic affinity with apocalypticism, so I didn’t find it very unusual or particulary poignant.

The last words you said in the car were ‘now let’s see if its true that water doesn’t put out ethanol fires’ before dissapearing into the night with a bottle in your hand and a crazed chuckling behind.

We never expected a house would look so lovely when its burning down.

Photos: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

We woke up in the morning to the heart-rending news, as I rushed to make Noor’s pediatrician appointment on time, my mind not quite here. Jan 07 ’09, Gaza.

” Beginning of 2009. Best of 2008. ”

01. Elbow - Mirrorball
The Seldom Seen Kid (2008)
02. Jenny Lewis – Pretty Bird
Acid Tongue (2008)
03. THE KILLS – Tape Song
Midnight Boom (Domino, 2008)
04. the Black Keys – Strange Times
Attack & Release (2008)
05. Foals – Big Big Love (Fig. 2)
Antidotes (Sub Pop, 2008)
06. The Gaslight Anthem – Here’s Looking At You, Kid
The ’59 Sound (Side One Dummy, 2008)
07. Deerhunter – Nothing Ever Happened
Microcastle (Kranky, 2008)
08. Okkervil River – On Tour With Zykos
The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar, 2008)
09. Sigur Rós – Góðan daginn
Með suð í eyrum við spilum end (2008)

note: In the past two years I made end of years & new year pair lists. One to remember the year, another to aim for what next. But I couldn’t build a list that I like this year. I have two that I don’t know what to make of it. So i’ll jsut post what I have. Here is one, base on Hypem 2008 best album group list. Originally I wanted it unemotional, cinematic and as a matter of factly noting what has happen, in detaches but beautiful way. But the list simply wouldn’t give up and voicing itself in strangely sweet almost melancholic melodies. Not somber or sad, beautiful in fact, but very measured. As if anticipating the new year cautiously upon looking back. Largely post-rock texture with tight pop-rock melody sit on top of it. Several singer songwriters from 2007, and of course the usual suspect of art rock. (shoegazers, slow-core, etc) Maybe this is the mood that I want to post? You’d be the judge. Any favorite musical impression you hear in 2008?

see also : Almost Elegant No.4c – 2007, Moka’s Top 10 Albums 2008, Bubbachups top 10 albums 2008,

image: Jil Sander F/W 2008

foto: Federico Erra

Solus – Now You’re Here
Rhizome (Upstairs / 2008)
Morgan Geist – The Shore
Double Night Time (Environ / 2008)
VEGA – All Too Vivid
All to vivid (Vogue College / 2008)
Sebastien Tellier – Kilometer (Donovan remix)
Unreleased
Kap10kurt – Mission Complete (Symbolone remix)
Mission Complete (Plant music / 2008)

also: Mil novecientos ochenta y tres.