atomicules

Push propelled program tinkerer and picture maker.

Chali 2na, Krafty Kuts: Adventures Of a Reluctant Superhero

I’d heard some tracks, but did not realise there was going to be a whole album! Favourites:

  • Guard The Fort
  • Superhereos Anonymous
  • Black Vapor - For the bass.
  • Worth Fighting For - LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS. So much. Stand out track for me. Fail to see how you can hear this and not just stamp the whole album 10/10.
  • Waste No Time - For the ending.
  • Skillz - For the skillz.

My only complaint would be it ends a bit abruptly. Swapping the order of Hands High and Skillz would have worked better.

Oh, and no complaints about the skits. I think some people out there (with their less than favourable reviews) are taking it too seriously when it’s just seriously fun. These people probably hate Too Many Ts as well. OH MY FUCKING GOD there is a new Too Many Ts album out.

Dream State: Primose Path

Superb.

A short, but incredibly accurate review

[EDIT: 2019-10-26] I should have called it at the time (based on a “you know it if you hear it” approach), but I cheated because I was anticipating a Lucia album on Friday which turned out to be a single (very good, but not an album)… so instead I will say it now: Primose Path is my Album of the year.

The Tape Winds On Into Empty Space

"The tape winds on into empty space. Inside the headphones I hear the rise and fall, the surf beating in my lungs. Reach for the bottle. Watch the lights."

— The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway

My favourite passage is actually the end. And fortunately quoting it here also won’t spoil it.

As far as I can recall this was a random bookshop buy and I’m so glad I read it.

Sometimes Things Get Worse Before They Get Better

"Sometimes things get worse before they get better. Sometimes they just get worse. Sometimes all that happens is passing time."

— The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway

There are actually quite a few more positive sounding quotes from the book. I just haven’t picked them. I’m only picking a few.

Its Asking For Trouble To Listen To Music Alone

"It's asking for trouble to listen to music alone."

— The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway

Read this book in 2017 and for whatever reason forgot to pull any quotes from it. Re-read again recently so I could correct that. It’s a really good book, really unique.

Better Oblivion Community Center: Better Oblivion Community Center

Asides from spelling center incorrectly this could be my sleeper album of the year. I’m 100% in love with it.

I can’t remember where or when I first heard of Phoebe Bridgers, but it was probably 6music. I gave Stranger in the Alps a listen (I love it; It’s utterly depressing, but I love it) and then moved onto Better Oblivion Community Center. I probably didn’t like it as much on first listen, but the more I listen to it the more I love it.

My favourites are (most of it):

  • Didn’t Know What I Was in For - Sets the theme for the rest of the album. This is perfect Sunday evening listening and I mean that in the best possible way. If I was still a teenager I would have been all over this.
  • Dylan Thomas - Probably the most upbeat thing on there. But fits right in.
  • Service Road - “Whoooooo are youuu…”. Sing-a-long now. To the Phoebe Bridgers parts when you should be singing to Conor Oberst’s instead. Aren’t you glad you can’t hear me? This song has my heart.
  • Chesapeake - I always think it says cheapskate. It’s just so gentle.
  • My City - If there ever comes a point in my life I learn acoustic guitar I want to learn this album so I can sit and play and singalong. And smile.
  • Forest Lawn - Like a nursery rhyme for grown-ups.
  • Dominoes - No, this one has my heart.

Hands up who wants to stay up ‘til dawn, getting drunk and listening to music?

Yeah, I don’t really have anything to say about it despite liking it a lot, sorry. These aren’t album reviews though. These are feelings

Women Who Drink Champagne

"Women who drink champagne when there is nothing to celebrate can look like that: their straw hats with broken brims are often askew; they nod in public places; their shoes are undone."

— Beloved by Toni Morrison

To my shame I’d never heard of Toni Morrison until her recent passing so decided to read something of hers and Beloved was in the bookshop. Not knowing the background of the book (aside slavery) and that it was based on a true story made it all the better (because I didn’t know what was coming) so ignorance worked in my favour here; As a rule I skip forewards and any blurb until the end for this reason. On it’s own this quote is not at all representative of the rest of the book, but it stood out to me as I was reading it and it wasn’t until someway past this point in the book that I realised this was the pivotal moment.

Scathing. But absolutely true.

You can read news articles or watch the news, but there is something about speech set to music (Shamen: Re:Evolution springs to mind) that works well.

EP of the year: OK Button - Sepia Spectres

I’m still struggling with an album of the year this year despite there being lots of good ones so far, but this presented an ideal opportunity to do an EP of the year in the meantime; Although this is a little bit risky with one on the way from Lucia.

Sepia Spectres is sublime. My favourites being The Message, Beds and Grenade.

Discovered OK Button accidentally a few months ago when looking for gigs to go to; I’m hopefully still going. Wasn’t sure about the name initially, but glad I gave them a listen as they are really good. This is not some scrappy garage band - not that I have anything against those - as the production quality on these tracks is really high. The vocals are to die for.

Other People Were So Far Away

"Most liberating for him was the fact that other people were so far away."

— Perfume by Patrick Süskind

Belatedly posting a quote from this. I read it in January as a result of watching the Netflix series of the same name (and inspired by this book); That Netflix series is GOOD. Picking this quote since it’s relatable - which is also slightly disturbing.

I also read The Pigeon which is just bizarre.

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