Editors In this light and on this evening
Review by Annie Mullen
Editors are back with their third album, which is no doubt one of this year’s top indie rock releases. The opening track ‘In this light and on this evening’ is an opening indeed; dark, layered, bubbling lava that explodes into heavy drum beats and a powerful driving melody. It is not often these days that a song’s lyrics perfectly match the melody and tempo of the song, however this track’s lyrics and sound compliment each other’s sentiment perfectly. This is the perfect opening to what is more impressive than expected, and a welcomed addition to the Editors discography. This album is alive and pulsating British indie rock, with twists of almost Smiths-like lyrics and the occasional electro-rock beats. With a voice similar to that of Interpol’s Paul Banks, Editors front-man Tom Smith is brooding. Smith smoothly lets out lyrics questioning and asserting various beliefs, love, life and strength.
Don’t miss Editors at Falls Festival this year and/or check this album out. You will hear why Spin Magazine listed this album in their ‘23 Upcoming Albums That Matter Most’, this matters.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Ricky Swallow: Bricoleur
ART: Ricky Swallow Exhibition
Do yourself a favour, and put aside two hours of your weekend and ten dollars of your wage to see Ricky Swallow's latest exhibition, Ricky Swallow: Bricoleur.
The Australian-born Swallow indeed fits the description of a ‘bricoleur': he makes his living collecting, using and tinkering with objects he finds in the world around him. Yet he creates much more than your typical ‘found object' art. His work extends to a talented use of watercolours, bronze sculpture and wood carvings. Swallow expresses themes of death, life, the passing of time and love with subtle symbolism of memorials, birds, lemons and skeletons.
This exhibition is small but mighty. Each piece stands on its own with strength. It grabs your undivided attention and speaks to you in an unashamed voice about oblique images and themes.
It is a struggle to choose highlights within this incredible collection. Music lovers will certainly appreciate the ‘One Nation Underground' vibrant watercolours of 1960s rock and folk musicians, which includes a powerful depiction of Rolling Stones' Brian Jones. Make sure you take the time to appreciate the paintings entitled A sad but very discreet recollection of beloved things and beloved beings. These watercolours are of skeletons from the catacombs in Palermo. This may sound macabre, and they are to some degree, but these dark images are not frightening or ghoulish. Instead, they are honest and tender. The image of the skeleton reappears in several other of his works, including the fantastic sculpture Tusk which depicts two perfectly detailed skeletal arms with hands clasped in an ‘eternal union', creating the shape of a heart.
Swallow's precision, truth and dignity make each of the works in this collection something not to be missed. Unique, powerful, superb and inspirational, you'll be drawn back again and again.
Ricky Swallow: Bricoleur is now viewing at The Ian Potter Centre, NGV (Federation Square) until the 28th February 2010.
check this out at:
http://www.xandymagazine.com.au/x/articles/24/4/29/2009-11-07/ART:-Ricky-Swallow-Exhibition/
Do yourself a favour, and put aside two hours of your weekend and ten dollars of your wage to see Ricky Swallow's latest exhibition, Ricky Swallow: Bricoleur.
The Australian-born Swallow indeed fits the description of a ‘bricoleur': he makes his living collecting, using and tinkering with objects he finds in the world around him. Yet he creates much more than your typical ‘found object' art. His work extends to a talented use of watercolours, bronze sculpture and wood carvings. Swallow expresses themes of death, life, the passing of time and love with subtle symbolism of memorials, birds, lemons and skeletons.
This exhibition is small but mighty. Each piece stands on its own with strength. It grabs your undivided attention and speaks to you in an unashamed voice about oblique images and themes.
It is a struggle to choose highlights within this incredible collection. Music lovers will certainly appreciate the ‘One Nation Underground' vibrant watercolours of 1960s rock and folk musicians, which includes a powerful depiction of Rolling Stones' Brian Jones. Make sure you take the time to appreciate the paintings entitled A sad but very discreet recollection of beloved things and beloved beings. These watercolours are of skeletons from the catacombs in Palermo. This may sound macabre, and they are to some degree, but these dark images are not frightening or ghoulish. Instead, they are honest and tender. The image of the skeleton reappears in several other of his works, including the fantastic sculpture Tusk which depicts two perfectly detailed skeletal arms with hands clasped in an ‘eternal union', creating the shape of a heart.
Swallow's precision, truth and dignity make each of the works in this collection something not to be missed. Unique, powerful, superb and inspirational, you'll be drawn back again and again.
Ricky Swallow: Bricoleur is now viewing at The Ian Potter Centre, NGV (Federation Square) until the 28th February 2010.
check this out at:
http://www.xandymagazine.com.au/x/articles/24/4/29/2009-11-07/ART:-Ricky-Swallow-Exhibition/
Friday, November 13, 2009
J and P by Annie Mullen
J and P
1.
He is a martyr, she told me that.
She speaks as if I have never met him.
I witnessed him, he was moving slowly,
always amongst the grey,
signalling a gun to his head
(“better off dead”)
with his old crinkle-cut Irish hands.
I wrote you both a generic postcard,
but she says you’re now in rehab.
Did you want to go? I feel a frown.
I thought you wanted it all to be done,
let the ground soak you up, let the soil
own your frail body. No? Who owns it?
I sent the postcard, in bad faith,
for I doubt you’ll read it.
The cataracts won’t let you down.
2.
You’re back at home, in your favourite chair.
Threads fall and disappear,
but it’s ok because you taped Coronation Street.
She loved you with all your moans, quirks
and stories of when you went to war
for a country that was not the country you lived in,
but will be the country you died in.
You got the postcard.
The story of the American with too much food
is definitely one of my favourites.
It seems relevant to how things have always been.
I feel you cover your light, which is fine,
but now her light, you smother it under your grey.
1.
He is a martyr, she told me that.
She speaks as if I have never met him.
I witnessed him, he was moving slowly,
always amongst the grey,
signalling a gun to his head
(“better off dead”)
with his old crinkle-cut Irish hands.
I wrote you both a generic postcard,
but she says you’re now in rehab.
Did you want to go? I feel a frown.
I thought you wanted it all to be done,
let the ground soak you up, let the soil
own your frail body. No? Who owns it?
I sent the postcard, in bad faith,
for I doubt you’ll read it.
The cataracts won’t let you down.
2.
You’re back at home, in your favourite chair.
Threads fall and disappear,
but it’s ok because you taped Coronation Street.
She loved you with all your moans, quirks
and stories of when you went to war
for a country that was not the country you lived in,
but will be the country you died in.
You got the postcard.
The story of the American with too much food
is definitely one of my favourites.
It seems relevant to how things have always been.
I feel you cover your light, which is fine,
but now her light, you smother it under your grey.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Its up!
X and Y Magazine had a fabulous launch party last night at the Trak Centre and the website is now up, and looking great! Fashion, Lifestyle, Entertainment....
http://www.xandymagazine.com.au/x/articles/24/4/29/2009-11-07/ART:-Ricky-Swallow-Exhibition/
http://www.xandymagazine.com.au/x/articles/24/4/29/2009-11-07/ART:-Ricky-Swallow-Exhibition/
Monday, November 9, 2009
new sound
Some of the new sounds I am digging right now:
Julian Casablancas, sounding like a fun mix of Phoenix and The Strokes with his new track 'Left&Right in the Dark'....
The UV Race... brilliant emerging Melbourne-based band, playing Ding Dong Lounge this Saturday! (the 14th)
http://www.myspace.com/the_uv_race
Bridezilla are finally releasing a debut album, cannot wait to get my hands on it! Love these girls, and guy! The album launch is November 20th at Northcote Social Club
http://www.myspace.com/bridezillaa
Atlas Sound's album 'Logos' is definitely worth a listen. This is the 2nd solo-project album from Bradford Cox! It is getting plenty of airtime on Triple R, and I can understand why.
http://www.myspace.com/atlassound
Julian Casablancas, sounding like a fun mix of Phoenix and The Strokes with his new track 'Left&Right in the Dark'....
The UV Race... brilliant emerging Melbourne-based band, playing Ding Dong Lounge this Saturday! (the 14th)
http://www.myspace.com/the_uv_race
Bridezilla are finally releasing a debut album, cannot wait to get my hands on it! Love these girls, and guy! The album launch is November 20th at Northcote Social Club
http://www.myspace.com/bridezillaa
Atlas Sound's album 'Logos' is definitely worth a listen. This is the 2nd solo-project album from Bradford Cox! It is getting plenty of airtime on Triple R, and I can understand why.
http://www.myspace.com/atlassound
Friday, November 6, 2009
new mag launching!
http://www.xandymagazine.com.au/
will launch on Tuesday! very exciting new aussie mag with art, music and book news...including some reviews by me! i suggest you check it out!
xx
will launch on Tuesday! very exciting new aussie mag with art, music and book news...including some reviews by me! i suggest you check it out!
xx
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