In a few weeks, the Australian synth-rock veterans Cut Copy will follow up 2017’s Haiku From Zero with a new album called Freeze, Melt. Frontman Dan Whitford, now living in Copenhagen, wrote most of the new album, and he returned to Australia before the pandemic to record it with his bandmates.
THERE IS AN URGENCY to life here in the UK, that we didn't find in Spain and it seems to be directly dependent on the weather. It's an urgency that's not only sensible, but necessary to help manage the disappointment that will inevitably come during the course of a British summer ...
JUST FINISHED reading "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng and didn't really like it. After finishing Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, which was beautifully written, Little Fires seemed much more utilitarian in its writing style, which is fine if things hadn't ended so abruptly and with so many things unresolved.
AT THE END of last week we went to Scotland to visit P’s grandmother for the first time in months due to the lockdown. It was wonderful to see her again, as well as neighbours who popped in, but we all continued to keep two meters apart and wore masks to every shop we visited ...
THIS PAST SUNDAY we booked in for lunch at our favourite pub for the first time in many months. There is a rose garden with socially distanced tables set up and a very efficient system in place that made us feel comfortable and safe venturing out into the world again after so many weeks of lockdown.
James Blake has released a new track called “Are You Even Real?” Blake told Apple Music the track came out of initial sessions with the accomplished US writer and Mad Decent-affiliated artist Starrah. The cut, which was also written with help from Ali Tamposi, was completed at Electric Lady Studios in New York, Pulse Studios and Conway in the Los Angeles area and Blake’s home studio in LA.
IT HAS BECOME one of these typical British summers, with the weather suddenly turning chilly and rainy and even blustery and stormy at times. We had about three glorious days of summertime last week and made the most of it by spending as much time outside as possible, knowing that it couldn't last.
Tourist says of the new single, “'Last' to me, is a reflection on grief. I started this track with James a few years ago, and while writing it we noticed that we were hearing the lyric differently, I was hearing “you know you’re lost” whereas James was hearing “you know you last”. The duality of that truth resonated with me, as both meanings are applicable when someone leaves us. It has struck a more personal chord recently, as recently one of my dearest friends passed away very suddenly.”
WE MISSED LAST week's links completely, for the first time in a very long time, if ever. The site was down for a couple of days due to technical difficulties, and the rest of the time we were having difficulty focusing on work or anything really, while the world was out en force, protesting the gruesome murder of George Floyd two weeks ago. It's difficult to put inspiration out into the world when you're feeling sad and overwhelmed ...
The Weeknd has unveiled a new remix of his After Hours track, “In Your Eyes,” which features Doja Cat. The singer, aka Abel Tesfaye, released the cut at midnight on Wednesday. Despite the song’s buoyant, synth-tipped melodies, the lyrics hint at the doubts and fears that can transpire when expressing vulnerable feelings within a relationship
French artist Oklou debuts her new single, “SGSY.” The track’s name stems from the main hook “she’s gonna slaughter you” and there’s an overwhelming feeling she means it. Signaling toward an ultimate breakup song or supporting a friend through a tough relationship, the track’s message is climactic and haunting with its soft-spoken delivery.
IT’S FINALLY BEGINNING to feel like summer is on the way, and already, there are roses in bloom all around town. With all the bright sunshine comes a feeling of hope, and daydreams of road trips to see castles and visits to quaint village pubs and trips to new places we’ve never been ...
THE WEATHER HAS been all over the place lately, warm and spring-like on some days; overcast, windy and "unseasonably cool" on others. The days are getting longer and tonight, it was still light until around 9:30, with no where to go, P remarked.
Things are rarely easy for the actor who choses to dabble in pop. For every Donald Glover, apparently able to flit at will between the film set and the recording studio, pausing only to bask in the superlatives that garland both sides of his work, there are umpteen Russell Crowes or Johnny Depps, their dreams of polymath stardom crushed by a reception that ranges from suspicion to bemusement to outright hostility.