For a while I’ve been making a mental list of “Robot Detection Songs”; songs you could play for a suspected robot and, if they didn’t have an emotional response, you’d know that they were impersonating a human. Spirit of the West’s “If Venice is Sinking” is on that list. I don’t remotely agree with the religious nature of the lyrics but John Mann’s vocals are so beautiful and the arrangement is so joyous, even a robot might react.
If there’s a better song that’s been released in the past 2 years, I’ve not heard it.
I don’t give a shit about the subject matter and I’m not sure if I’ve heard Sharon Van Etten before, but this LCD Soundsystem cover is fantastic. Love that it was re-imagined as part of Proms, the most famous classical music concert series, at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall and broadcast by the BBC. Cool!
FYI this is the song I want played at my funeral (on repeat, obvs).
Since May I’ve been working on an experimental theatre project called ‘Fundamental’ with director Jennifer Tang and many talented people. Here’s a nice video that summarises the project.
What Shall We Do Now? – Pink Floyd
What shall we use to fill the empty spaces
Where waves of hunger roar?
Shall we set out across the sea of faces
In search of more and more applause?
Shall we buy a new guitar?
Shall we drive a more powerful car?
Shall we work straight through the night?
Shall we get into fights?
Leave the lights on?
Drop bombs?
Do tours of the east?
Contract diseases?
Bury bones?
Break up homes?
Send flowers by phone?
Take to drink?
Go to shrinks?
Give up meat?
Rarely sleep?
Keep people as pets?
Train dogs?
Race rats?
Fill the attic with cash?
Bury treasure?
Store up leisure?
But never relax at all
With our backs to the wall.
It’s tempting to be dismissive or “take the moral high ground" today as the country I’m very proud to be from remains safe, stable and socialist after enduring 10 years of a Conservative, sociopathic leader. (Ignoring, for a minute, what’s happening in the country I live in!)
Instead I’ll quote the greatest living songwriter of my generation and the leader of America’s best band: “there’s no blood on my hands, I just do as I am told.”
Surely, a sentiment held by many Trump voters today.
I gave up on them years ago but “Midnight” by Coldplay could be the most beautiful song I heard in 2014.
If I had one of those MP3 alarm clocks, this might be my morning jam.
A very special performance.
We Are The City’s Violent might be my favourite album of 2013. This video is incredible and speaks to their ingenuity as a band. Well done, boys.