Anonymous Wisdom

Anonymous on hipsters music taste:

What I take from that is a very good point which basically states that you can pretty much do whatever you fucking want and thats fine and cool, but as soon as you stop doing something because you enjoy it/want to do it, and start doing it because it can be seen as being edgy or obscure, or you are doing it because people who you THINK are edgy and obscure would do it then you are a retard.


Anonymous on Macs:


(click images to read them, blogger has molested the image quality)

Pretty much speak for themselves. Macs are overpriced, can't be upgraded, and very often need dual booting with Windows XP for 100% user functionality. You see them everywhere at uni, all the arty/out there people who are all about individualism think that somehow having the same computer as everyone else out there like them, a computer which CANNOT be modified or individualised, will lead them to being recognised for this.

R-e-t-a-r-d-e-d.

yo QUT, I'm really happy for you and i'm going to let you finish but...

So you think I need to learn economics do you QUT? Think it will help me in my career as a surveyor?

Well if I ever need to know if my market competition is an Oligopoly, I'll fucking pay someone to tell me.

Nanny State

IF YOU LIVE IN QUEENSLAND YOU SHOULD BE VERY PISSED OFF AT YOUR SHITTY FUCKING GOVERNMENT.

New laws have been dreamt up to MAKE EVERYTHING SAFE YAYYYY!!!! At a huge cost to the general community and to personal choice/liberty/rights and skaters.

"Dear Rachel Nolan

I am writing to say that I think the new wheeled recreation device laws are ridiculous, for several reasons which I would like to draw to your attention.

Firstly, you say that these laws are not anti-fun, but pro-safe. This in my opinion is a dense statement. If it is too dangerous for someone on a wheeled recreational device to be on a suburban street after dark (one without a median line, as the previous law states), then it should also be too dangerous for someone to walk on a road or street after dark.

I see no difference to a bicycle being ridden, a pedestrian walking, or someone using a WRD. If lack of visibility is a safety concern, then implement laws requiring pedestrians and WRD users to wear high visibility garments/flashing lights, as cyclists are required to do. Banning them outright is simply ridiculous.

I believe your statement claiming that rollerblades and skateboards cannot be fitted with flashing lights and reflective equipment is outright stupid. There is more than enough room on any WRD to fit a flashing light, and there is certainly enough room on a human body to fit a flashing light or reflector. I think it would be far wiser to create a law making helmet wearing mandatory for WRD users. This would a), increase the SAFETY of users, and b) provide the possibility for users to place flashing lights and reflectors on them, to increase their visibility and SAFETY.

If the QLD government claims to be trying to do things to better the general health of the community, and the current health care system shows that unhealthy people are a huge burden on the state, then why are such laws restricting people from exercising after dark being implemented?

The QLD government also claims to be trying to do things to increase traffic congestion, and deal with global warming by encouraging public transport use and alternative Green transport options. Removing the ability for a normal working adult to travel after dark using a WRD is both hypocritical and morally questionable.

I happen to agree that WRD should not be ridden on roads with a speed limit of more than 50km/h, and coupled with restrictions on roads with a median line, and a general increase in community safety and awareness in relation to WRD – this should be more than sufficient to ensure the safety of all road users – without impeding on the rights of Queensland citizens to exercise and travel in an environmentally friendly way.

There is a huge public outcry to these laws, and if you are truly a government of the people then they should be amended at once, as they stand to better the community in no conceivable way. Yours Concerned citizen"

send to:

email:

rachel.nolan@queenslandlabor.org

transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au

GPO Box 2644, BRISBANE QLD 4001

UPDATE:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25257468-952,00.html

Our beloved transport minister is also a lead footed driver.

What these people are doing is fucked. Some of my best times have been had out skating the 'burbs on a summer night, I'm just happy its only a $40 fine, would pay that for a night skating, you'd pay more than that for a night out in the Valley.

These are not good signs.

NSW is trying to ban energy drinks because some year 7 girls drank them and felt dizzy. Holy fucking shit, nice going guys.

Ban fucking scissors because someone cut themselves once. Ban fucking chairs because if you are fat from not being able to skate it may break and you might get hurt. Ban FUCKING water because you might choke and die.

Ban everything; ban personal liberties and rights. The concept of personal responsibility?Not important. Concept of parents making sure their kids don't drink 7 V drinks and die? Parents can't be trusted. ALL HAIL THE ALP AND LIBERAL PARTY, YOU KNOW BEST FOR EVERYONE.

Welcome to the future, everything is rosey fucked.

Duotone Moonbeam (Squarepusher - Just A Souvenir)

(thomas pugh photograph, all rights reserved)

Still playing Just A Souvenir by Squarepusher to death. It really is a fucking insane album. Each track needs to be played and played and dissected and left for a bit, and then plunged back into - understanding a bit more. Getting a bit more out of it than just crazy jazz noise.

Its like playing someone something from Zappa's Grand Wazoo, and wondering why they have this strange disapproving look on their face when you are sitting there casually, enjoying the music. To a degree, its music that needs to be familiarised with before you can really enjoy it, because to the new listener, its just insane.

First time I played through Just A Souvenir I was sitting in the uni library killing time, and suddenly when the first track started playing I had this stupid grin on my face - it took me back to being 13 and discovering some outrageous Zappa jazz composition, like Theme From Lumpy Gravy or something... and being so euphoric and also having the feeling that there's a lot more to it, and a lot more to come.

And thats been the story of this album for me, the more and more I listen to it, the more I get out of it - and that for me is what makes a brilliant record, and what makes a brilliant record timeless.

Now to start tracking down and listening to the rest of Squarepushers discog, and hopefully find some of it on vinyl.

Album Reviews

I'm going to start posting regular to semi-regular album reviews and recommended listening on here.

My knowledge of musical theory and technical aspects of music is limited to a primary school level and all the extra things you pick up being a passionate and avid listener/follower/collector of music... so pretty piss poor in other words.

Therefore my reviews/opinions will be based purely on sounds, feelings and moods - and technical comments will be made only where I feel I can pull it off without sounding like someone who's talking shit and trying way too hard. These things, when it comes down to it, seem to be the more important anyway.

One thing I can't often stand is negative album reviews. You don't tend to see it in music blogs which is great, mainly because the writer is picking to review material which they want to review, not because someone has sent it to them for that purpose. This is how it will work; if I get an album and don't like it, I certainly won't be listening to it again, but at the same time I'm not going to tell you in great detail why I didn't like it, because that would involve me dissecting something I don't like, which is just plain painful. And the point of this will be to tell whoever is reading what I think is an album worthy of their acquisition, and for what reasons this is based on - not what not to listen to and why not - seems pointless.

Anywho, thats about it. Should be updating soon. First up for review will either be brokenCYDEs new record, or maybe Waking The Cadavers. (lul) Or maybe a top 500 tracks of the decade before the decades even over... but with really horrible tracks (mostly) instead of deserving tracks - oh wait, some idiots have already done that. Dayum.

Evan Bluetech

Bluetech (Evan Bartholomew) has been for a while one of my favourite electronic artists. His music jumps around from ambient to trance to psy to IDM to dub - and has a distinctive, very nice sound - always very melodic.

Sometime this year (can't find a date hah) he has released on his website for free download a new EP called Call Of The Wild. The ZIP contains 5 tracks and 3 bits of album art work. The tracks are great, as you would expect of Evan. Track 2, Abandon All Cities is one of the standouts for me, despite being fairly downtempo, its got some great almost funky drums which make your noggin bop and a very trance feel.

Anyway, one of the important points of this post is to show you the message in the album art:


(check out the full ress if you cant read it)

Basically he's saying that he's sick of playing the music industry game, and that he just cant do it any more.

"My reason for creating music is to get the message out: we are what we have been waiting for, heaven is not waiting for us at the end, the kingdom is “at hand”, we either create a beautiful world or we create a hell. If you feel me, if you hear me, if you enjoy this music and feel like supporting me, donations are deeply appreciated."

I really do hope this trend continues. Artists should be able to live off of their art by being paid by the people who like their stuff, and who can support them without giving a ridiculous cut to a greedy middle man. I had no delays in offering financial support. Because when it comes down to it, it is great music, its something which has been created for the enjoyment of people without expecting anything for it, an amazing gesture, its cost HIM money, and the money donated is going to the artist not a cashed up record company.

IMO more people would pay for their music downloads, or donate what they think it is worth in a monetary value, if they knew the money was only going into the artists pocket. Anyway, I hope this trend continues.

If you are getting any of his stuff, I recommend Elementary Particles, with my fav track being Elementary Particles (re-edit) as well as this new EP.

OML (oh my lawd)

"OML HOW EFFING HAWT IS IT LAWL OML OML OML ITS SO HAWT AND ITS WINTER OML! OML OML IM PRETTY SURE IF I TELL EVERYONE WITHIN EARSHOT HOW HAWT IT IS IT WILL MAGICALLY FIX IT OML OML OML WHINGING TOTZ HALPZ OML AS IF YOU WOULD JUST NOT THINK ABOUT IT AND DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE THERES JACK SHIT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT LAWL OML TOO LONG DONT READ WHINGING IS DA BEST LAWL"

- Everyone

Yes it is winter, yet it is too hot to be winter. If you can't deal with it, then don't deal with it without telling everyone else you can't deal with it. kthanxbye

A Moon Full Of Stars

Planet Earth, Mars... Yellow... Planet Disco...

Last Friday night Maddy, Chris, Oliver and myself went to the Top Floor Art Gallery on Elizabeth Street in Brissy to see a few local indie bands as well as the more widely known band Richard in Your Mind.

Easily the best $10 I've spent in long time. BYO is (Y) too.



The first band was Maddy's sister Vanessa's band, Sweet Fawn. They play awesome folky/poppy/acoustic awesomeness with just the guitar, cello and violin. Wonderful sounds and Vanessas quirky and fun lyrics (and interpretive dance times) and her wonderful voice are
wonderful. Check them out at: http://www.myspace.com/sweetfawnaustralia

The next band to play was http://www.myspace.com/mtaugustus, who we only watched for a little bit before getting food. Sounded great though.

(Chris)

When we got back we had a chill, drank some beer and watched as a lovely little lady in red stockings set up for her set.

This was McKisko, and she was amazing. She had an acoustic guitar, a keyboard and a glokenspeel, and was accompanied by a drummer; but I think she could have just used her voice and kept the crowd in awe. Her voice was gorgeous, so emotionial without being fake and corny, which I hate.

She used her keyboard to set loops of tracks and in some tracks kept building up these layers of sounds, with her voice piercing the room over the top of these.

On the final track she got up from the keyboard and picked up her glokenspeel and stood at the front of the stage striking the keys as the rest of the sounds were slowly wound back down by the sound mixer dude. So good!

Check her out: http://www.myspace.com/mckisko

After McKisko it was time for more beer and wine.

The atmosphere in this place was warm and fantastic. Probably only 30 or so people in there at one time, with an assortment of old lamps around the outside of the room providing ambient light. There were couches and cushions, but most people were just sitting on the floor.

(some unknown people)

(Me having a chill on Maddy's lap)

(Maddy just being gogeous and stuff)

(Oliver)

The final act of the night was of course Richard in Your Mind (http://www.myspace.com/richardinyourmind), who I knew a bit from hearing them on 4ZZZ. But holy crap, did they put on a good show. Richard was either drunk or stoned or a combination of both... and was funny as hell. He stumbled and put on a strange accent and tripped out at the sparkly roof, the yellow light and the disco ball (hence this blogs title) and generally was just rad. Their sound is psychedelic and loud and fun, and by the end of the set everyone was up stomping to his satan inspired chant featuring the rest of the band in the crowd with percussion instruments, and him singing with a megaphone and his mojo stick. So awesome. Here's a some pics from the set:

(people having a groove)

(Richard with the mojo stick)

And there you have it. Awesome night :)



(All photos copyright Thomas Pugh 2009)

4 - 05 -09

New Photographs:

(click for full res)

Sunrise - Shelly Beach Caloundra

Moffats Beach - Sunrise

Mt Ngun Ngun - Late Afternoon


Musics:

Downloaded Loveless by My Bloody Valentine on Saturday and listened to it on the train ride home yesterday. I got to about track 3 and fell asleep, which is actually a good sign. I always say that a good album for me is one I can fall asleep to.

I know its somewhat of a classic, but I only just got around to getting it. Been giving it a bit of a flogging and really like it.


Benjie Hughes - A Love Extreme to me sounds a lot like a wierd kind of mix between Beck, The Flaming Lips and even some Sufjan Stevens. Fun upbeat pop rock tracks with cool yrics.

"Do You Think That They Would Tell You" and "All You've Got To Do Is Fall In Love" are favs so far.

Other Stuff:

7 months today <3
Love you baby

Vitamin Water

What a fantastic product. Its bright and shiney and is really good for you.

It just screams, 'hey everyone look at me with my Vitamin Water, look how cool and health conscious I am. Shame on you with your soft drink."

Someone who is not a retard interprets this as saying: "I am a fucking idiot, look how stupid I am."

The modern Australian, certainly, any Australian who can afford to drink Vitamin Water because regular ol' water isn't good enough for them, on average consumes the standard, or more than the standard recommendations for vitamins and minerals everyday.

So to be told that by drinking this stuff they will become healthier because they are getting all the nutritional goodies that they otherwise would be neglecting - is crap.

This stuff is weak cordial with only just less sugar than a bottle of Coke.

A non-profit consumer advocacy group has filed class law suites against Coke (who make the stuff), saying that:

"The idea that you can improve your immunity by drinking one of these Vitaminwater drinks is nonsense," David Schardt, a senior nutritionist for the non-profit group.

Also:

"Coke markets Vitaminwater as a healthful alternative to soda and said the company makes a wide range of assertions, including claims that the drinks variously reduce the risk of chronic disease and support immune function."

And:

"The levels of sugar in the drinks promote obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. "

Aren't people just the cleverest.