Control freak

A few days ago, I went to our local art-house (Athens Ciné) and caught Anton Corbijn's "Control" on big screen. I'm still awed by the performance of the lead actors, Sam Riley (as Ian Curtis) and Samantha Morton (as Debbie Curtis). Riley in particular does an excellent job in portraying Curtis from a Bowie fan, stolen pill-popping teenager to married man to rock star, his struggles with fame, family life and fits of epilepsy. His natural was just amazing. All the live Joy Division songs of the movie were actually performed by the actors: commendable choice that made the experience even more enjoyable. The image was also splendid, Corbijn did well to shoot in color before a transfer to black and white. The last shot of the black smoke coming out of the crematorium was a perfect ending.
Of course, it was a bit difficult not to compare the movie to "24 hour party people", which also partly describes the period Warsaw-Joy Division: same period, same characters, same anecdotes. There was even a cross-reference: in "Control", in a scene taking place after the Bury gig riot, Tony Wilson tries to cheer-up Curtis by telling him that after all, he's not the band leader of the Fall: Riley played Mark E. Smith in "24 hour party people". The respective goals of the two films were quite different, "Control" focusing on Curtis, when "24 hour party people" dealt with Factory Records. Both are great movies, "Control" is more subdued and feels deeper emotionally.

On a personal note I wonder whether the hypnosis scene was really necessary. And Alexandra Maria Lara, who plays Annick, the Belgian mistress, really reminded me of an old flame of mine, which was a bit melancholy. But you probably don't care, and that's quite OK with me.





(Photo (C) by Dean Rogers)

With a little help of my friends...

Some random news, mostly plugging friends.

The Lolligags are playing a free(?) french-colored show at Go Bar on Saturday, Jan. 19th. Opening will be Andy from Denver, the new "band" of Andy G., of M(arshmallow) Coast fame. "Band", because Andy plays solo, guitar, keyboards and sequencer. The show will be another Budding Helping Buddies production, which already brought us the Lodger, Spring Tigers, Black Kids, and "Control".

Mike W. from Deadly Designs posted pictures of the last PCC/Casper show (cf previous post).

Hillary B., half of the famous Team Brown, posted some videos of yesterday's Yo La Tengo show (this one, that one, and that later one).

"Return to Horse Mountain", the new track of the Buddy System, kicks ass, as the audience of their Saturday Jan. 12th show at the Georgia Theater could witness. It starts western, it ends kung-fu, there are evil horses and their dark overlord, I'm a fan. Lauren, marry me.

Update 01/17/2008:
Well, turns out that the Buddy System just posted the clip of "Return to Horse Mountain" on Youtube. Check their myspace page as well to listen to their new song, "Watermarx". Thanks guys !




(Flyer artwork by Eric H.)

Oms by the Dozen

Instead of Yo La Tengo (cf previous post), I attended a projection of "La Planète Sauvage", by Topor and Laloux, music of Goraguer, at Flicker. On a planet far, far away populated by giant blue humanoids, the Draags, humans are pe(s)ts, but adapt and overcome their condition. Harmony ensues.

Words are lacking, as the charm of the movie relies mostly in its drawings and its soundtrack, more than in its dialogs (some neologism-filled techno-babble, that indeed sets the atmosphere but is painful to listen to). Knowledge sets you free, and acceptance is the only way to survival. The violent universe is beautifully depicted by Topor's illustrations, and combined to the soundtrack makes for a very touching psychedelic experience. The kids loved it.

The movie was followed by another short of Topor and Laloux, "les Escargots" (1965). A farmer realizes that tears are the only way to make his salads grow. After using tricks such as onions, meaningful poetry and torture devices, he does succeed in growing the larger salads of the region. An infestation of snails destroys his harvest, and the near-by town as a bonus. It would be difficult to imagine a more acid yet engaging critic of the dangerous side effects of unbridled capitalism. The sexual innuendo of the snails eyes is particularly endearing.

A few artists performed after the projections: Dan Hole Pond and his live-programmed loops on tiny keyboard and tapes, not so unreminiscent of Boards of Canada, and Jason Ajemian's "Playing You to Sleep" from Chicago, on straight bass. Quite impressive both of them, quite suiting to the evening, but Sofie and Jude are calling me back...

No la tengo

The ridiculous pun in the title is of course a tribute to Yo La Tengo, playing a semi-acoustic show tonight at the Melting Point, with Kurt Wagner of Lambchop. The purchase of expensive tickets was briefly considered around Christmas time, but, eventually, nah. In any case, expect posts on some other famous Athens blogs.

However, I celebrated my own little way by re-watching Hal Hartley's "Surviving Desire". I was aware of this movie in the very early 90es, in the hay days of Hartley's fame on the indie circuit, having seen "Simple Men", "Trust", "The Unbelievable Truth", but never had a chance to actually watch it before last summer.

You know the plot: Jude (Martin Donovan) is a literature professor trying to find answers in books, one paragraph of Dostoevsky's the Brothers Karamazov in particular (Book 2, Chapter 4). He falls for Sofie (Mary B Ward), one of his students, they have a (very) short affair, she dumps him. 60 minutes of pure Hartley's charm: witty, overplayed dialogs that drift in the absurd, choreographies, indie rock, the boroughs, what else can you ask for ?

Retrospectively, I'm glad that the 20-year-old hipster from the early-90es missed the film, as he most likely wouldn't have connected as strongly with the character of Jude. Observing yourself falling in love with somebody far too young for you, half-heartedly resisting the crush, knowing far too well that the story will end up in tears (yours), but going for it nevertheless full blast, to end up dancing with strangers after the first kiss, is something that has to be actually experienced to be truly enjoyed.

"Never be frightened at your own faint-heartedness in attaining love... But active love is labour and fortitude, and for some people too, perhaps, a complete science."

Jude: Listen pal, you can't just waltz in here, use my toaster and spout universal truths without qualification!
(Henry smells something.)
Henry: What's that?
Jude: What?
Henry: You smell that?
Jude: Oh yeah.
Henry: (Sniffs) She's left her fragrance here.
Jude: That's it. Get out!
Henry: What about my toast?
Jude: Get out!

Pub notes #2

Last Tuesday, I accompanied a friend to a famous DIY venue downtown, to catch Everybody Everybody, the new project of Nate CCBB Mitchell (on bass) and Laura Swindall from Christopher's Liver (on drums), and a third member whose name eludes me for the moment. Interesting rhythmic section, heavily influenced by Pylon, but disappointing show overall. Some ideas deserve a longer cooking time.

Maybe I'm getting old, but I'm certainly getting weary of the kids gathering over the keg and not really giving any hear to what's playing. The tiredness lowered my patience level as well, and I spent a good part of Wednesday ruminating.

However, that Wednesday saw an awesome gig at Caledonia: Poison Control Center were opening for Casper and the Cookies, which brought me back faith in humanity (or at least indie pop).

So it was a Wednesday, the total attendance was less than 30 people (among them, Vanessa B-H. and Michael L. from Pylon, and Bryan P. from the Late BP Helium and that other band, you see what I mean, whose new haircut a la Robyn Hitchcock was the subject of a 15-minute conversation). The name-dropping isn't entirely gratuitous, as it should help you get a feel of the atmosphere: far more mature than the day before, connoisseurs (I hate this word), in one word, the indie family.

PCC is a quartet (Patrick, Devin, Joe and Don) from Ames, IO. It was my second? third? show with the full band. They played Athens Popfest regularly, last year being a notable exception, but they were here to promote "A Collage of Impressions", their latest album released last September on Afternoon Records. Their live is an experience, just pure rock energy, guitar acrobatics, ripped pants, and usually a lot of people on stage for their now classical encore, "Magic Circle Symphony". Remember the Bunnygrunt cover last Popfest ? Voila.

The Cookies show was pretty amazing. Three brand new songs made their premiere, along classics from the Optimist Club, "Marcel Marsalis", and many more (14 songs total). The songs fitted really well: the upcoming album they are currently composing and recording should be awesome. No I'm not partial.

With evenings like that, I'm not ready to give up the scene. Thanks guys.

"Love, love is the answer, until you get cancer, then you're lying, dying, dead..."

(Props to Daytrotter for the PCC MP3)

Introducing twoth

A few months ago, Leslie "Lollyhag" DS dropped the following comment:

""Oh, don't be so twoth"

The word stuck, and we decided to make 2008 the year of twoth.


First, some etymology.

Twoth is a portmanteau based on "twee" and "goth". Therefore, it is pronounced \'twoth\. It has nothing to do with a bad neologism for "second" (two-th).


Then, some brief (and thus not especially accurate) background.

The goth subculture emerged from post-punk in the early 1980es, with bands such as Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sisters of Mercy and many, many, (far too) many more. Besides the music, the scene was usually characterized (with a teensy bit of caricature) by victorian-inspired black clothes, heavy make-up, morbid imagery, and a overwhelming sense of self-importance that left little place to humor. Try to (pretend to) think about death on a 24/7 basis, we'll see whether you'll want to smile.

The twee (understood here as a synonym to indie-pop) subculture is also an heir of postpunk, albeit slightly younger by a few years. As no special equipment is needed (anoraks and dufflecoats were not even really mandatory in the late 1980es), the scene tends to be more diverse. Or is it just an illusion ?


In any case, the concept of twoth comes as the conjuction of those two subcultures. It's too cutesy or not angsty enough to be goth, it's too dark to be twee, it's basically whatever you want. Yeah, that pomo.

Some examples:

• Lolligags : twoth. The designs are indubitably twee, the concept is goth.

• The Buddy System's Clap paws: twoth, for exactly the same reasons. I mean, a depressed/asocial monster which loathes flowers and fishes ? So goth. Check the videoclip, you'll understand.

• Miyazaki's kodama : twoth. It could be goth, but it's far too cute. A Hello Kitty dressed in black achieves the same effect.
• 
• 
  

• The guy in the picture: twoth. The "665.5 Twee As Satan" HHBTM's shirt, the Abigail tatoo, no problem, this guy listened a lot of Bauhaus during his younger years. Er, yes, that's me.

• Georgette, the goth waitress from the latest Tullycraft album Every Scene Needs A Center: twoth. She tries to be goth, got the complete outfit, but completely misses the point.
  

• Till we are on Tullycraft: they are a twee band, and their latest album has a lot of references to goth/pseudo-goth: that's twoth.
  

Anyho.

Now that the concept has been set, we will play around that all year long. Stay tuned !

Flagpole best local albums 2007

Ohoh, this time of the year again... Time of balances, best-ofs, worst-ofs, whatever. Our local institution, Flagpole magazine, just released the list of their 10 favorite local albums of 2007. By local, understand Athens, GA based, of course. And albums is to be understood in the wider sense of "release", as they also counted EPs.

I'm quite happy that two of my personal favorites made it: The Lolligags and Titans of Filth. Not only these bands are both excellent in their genre, the respective lead singers are also close, sibling-like friends.

The Lolligags were born in 2006 from the collaboration between high-school friends Leslie DS (Athens) and Ryan B. (based in Nashville, TN). They play what could be simply referred to as electro-pop: picture Siouxsie singing the Pet Shop Boys, and you would have a generic idea. Leslie comes with ideas of melodies and lyrics, she phones Ryan who comes up with something, he calls Leslie back, and after several back-and-worth, a song is born. Their first EP was released on HHBTM at the end of the spring, a second is in the pipes, with several songs written already but not yet properly recorded. You can find some of their new songs ("My Mascara", "A Spanner in the Works") on their myspace page. So far, the Lolligags played three gigs only, at Caledonia with CCBB on 11/02/2007 for Leslie's Bday, at the Star Bar and at Flicker with the Black Kids on 11/15 and 11/16. The shows were really good, with a lot of pre-recorded loops that gave Leslie the opportunity to harmonize with herself, and Ryan to play guitar. Oh, and you should check their scene set, with the huge lollipops. Spring 2008 should see a second EP, perhaps some remixes, and hopefully more shows. Get the Lolligag reflex.

I met Sam from the Titans of Filth for the first time in July 2006, during AthFest. He was distributing free copies of "Best Behavior", the first EP they had just finished recording a month before. I didn't pick up immediately, but waited a few weeks before catching them live at the Caledonia. I've been a huge fan since. If their music was to be described in one word, that would be twee, without a doubt. Simple yet catchy melodies, funny, smart and touching lyrics dealing with teenagehood in a Christian environment, depression, how to fit in the crowd, pretty much a Blue Ridge, GA hillbilly version of the early Belle and Sebastian. Note that Best Behavior was also re-distributed by HHBTM as part of their CDR club. "Feats of Strengths", their second EP, was recorded in June 2007, just in time for the NYC Popfest where they had a slot (and where they invited me as part buffer, part tour manager, part mascot). The production is more rounded than on the first EP, the sound is fuller, with even a dance-like tune ("Swinging Lovers", about the dating pool in a small collegetown of Georgia), and a very heart-felt ballad ("Fifth Year") written by their violonist Ann. All in all, I'm very, very proud of all of them... Let's hope that 2008 will see another release, the sooner, the better...

Oh, incidentally, the three EPs I mentioned were recorded by Jason "Casper and the Cookies" NeSmith at his BelAir Studio. Talk about a small world or an incestuous family, eh ?


(Respects to Hillary from Team Brown for the movies and Mike W. for the photo).