Kim Barlow...tsk tsk

When K.B. comes to visit she sure makes a splash, ha ha ha...anyways, I finally managed to flip this video off its side so people won't get a crick in their neck when watching it, so voila...

For Rosie...

Hey look, it's Rosie cycling away from the Siegessäule y'all. The truth in all it's glory...

Apfel time at the zoo

Yay! We're not sick anymore! And it's a beautiful day so as soon as Anders awakens from his morning nap we're going out to a park by gosh.

On Saturday Veda, Anders and I joined Manfred, Amanda and their friends Markus, Kristiana, Becky and Emiliano for a day of apfel pflucken in Potsdam, about forty minutes drive outside of Berlin. Manfred rented a nine passenger van for the journey and was basically der fuhrer of the road, safely navigating us through the foggy landscape to Hofladen farm where, after some time getting organized, we headed into the orchard. The trees were conveniently low, approximately eight foot, but I still had to climb to the top to get the best ones. There were three choices of apfel but I opted to stick to the Ralinda, (I think that was the name of them) which are crisp and tart and will eventually be made into crumble.



Afterwards we ate a nice lunch of soup in the farmhouse cafe and bought some meats and wines for later. All in all a super day that bled into...

...later that evening, when I dropped by Manfred and Amanda's to borrow some thread so as to finish sewing the hem of my jeans and stayed for a delicious mushroom risotto dinner. Their friend Brooke was also there and we relaxed in the living room listening to music and drinking wine until I was summoned home. Marriage...

Anders & I are sick again damnit!

So, I've been listening to these albums,

The Flaming Lips-Embryonic- It's like they used to sound before the amazing Soft Bulletin. Back then I thought they were shitty and careening. I still do actually. However, this album is rocking and dark and now they know how to sculpt the rock. OMG The Flaming Lips are the sculptors of the rock community...

Vic Chesnutt-North Star Deserter-He has a more recent album called In The Cut recorded with the same Montreal Constellation crew but I think I prefer this release (excepting the two typical Godspeed start soft, get loud, sound boring moments) What does it sound like? Fucking Vic Chesnutt, that's what. He writes really good folky, country songs that are believable, what more do you want?

The Very Best-Warm Heart of Africa-The team of Radioclit and Esau Mwamwaya are The Very Best and they make awesome Afric-Brit music. Last year they released an album of other artists songs, remixing them and adding vocals by Esau, then released it for free on the interweb. This is their new album of originals with guest vocals by M.I.A. and Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend. So far, so good.

The XX-S/T- The debut full length from this new British band who play mid-tempo dance music with shimmery guitars, sweet beats and male/female vocal trading. I've read some comparisons to Young Marble Giants but I think that's a stretch. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I think it's not adventurous enough, lyrically or musically and I've yet to listen to the whole album beginning to end without distraction, on the other hand I'm always happy when it comes up in the mix. Miles of style can be obfuscating, but time will out. Saoirse said it's boring. She could be right. Their show in Berlin is sold out.

Taken By Trees-East of Eden-Second album from Swedish singer Victoria Bergsmann (formerly of the Concretes, recognizable as the female lead on Peter Bjorn and John's hit song Young Folks). The stereotype of female singers from Sweden is that there is a tendency towards vocals soft and sweet and Victoria holds true to this, but like many musicians lately she's added an international flavour to her folky folk as well as some more upbeat tempos. From what I've read she recorded the album in Pakistan and it shows. Sometimes a little too directly but I forgive her.

Karl Blau-Zebra-Basically, every album from Karl gets better and better as he explores the various inspirations and influences of dub and african, melding them to his positive west coast washington state vibrations. Dig it. I do.

Animal Collective-Merriweather Post Pavilion-This is a near perfect album and if they would have let me edit out Daily Routine and Guy's Eyes it would be perfect. But that's just my opinion. What I can say without a doubt is that this is the first album of theirs since Sung Tongs where the songs are stuck in my head for days and that means something.

Wax Mannequin-Saxon-At first I wasn't into this album like Chris' previous releases and I'm not sure why. It certainly isn't for lack of great songs, or the production, or the playing, all of which are consistently excellent. I guess that in the past there was a bit of pushing things over the top to represent and now it seems he's comfortable and confident with making great records. Now I love it like my brother. Lucky for him.

This is why it's important to remember that opinions are not the truth. This happened to me with Martin Tielli's first solo album, We Didn't Even Suspect That He Was The Poppy Salesman. Initially I blew it off as I was used to a certain immediacy from his songs and it took a while for the album to reveal itself to me, or maybe for me to open myself to it. Either way it's one of my favourite albums and I return to it again and again. So should you.

Man Man-Rabbit Habbits-I've had this album for a while but not gotten around to listening to it much. Now I can say it's worth picking up and if you hear anyone say, yah it's sooo good, you'll have me to back them up. They're great musicians and play eclectic rock music with a lot of variety to keep you excited. Yay! Excitement!

As an aside, when No Kids were on tour with Dirty Projectors we arrived in Philadelphia and the DP's were playing a sold out show with Man Man for the release of Rabbit Habbits while we played across town to no one at Johnny Brenda's with a band I recall being named Fresh Cut Salad...

Speaking of Dirty Projectors, with the release of Bitte Orca, they have not only made THE album of 2009 but have seriously made me re-consider the point of making music at all. I just wrote three paragraphs of gushy goop lauding this album and then erased it. I will only say that I love love love it and that's that.

Mount Eerie-Wind's Poem-My favourite Mount Eerie album yet, from top to bottom and side to side.

Pink Mountaintops-Outside Love-I took a chance and bought this even though I hadn't heard it which is rare these days. I wasn't so into the last album Axis of Evol, too dirgy for my headspace. This rocks like the first PM album, with a nice blend of The Stooges, Black Sabbath and a dash of love, (the feeling not the band).

Erykah Badu-New Amerykah Part 1-I never really got into the neo soul movement that she was lumped into so until this album I have ignored Erykah Badu. Not anymore, this album is pure and stark and simple and feels like she has taken leave of her senses in favour of taking the reins of her creativity, for the better of all of us.

Bill Callahan's new release Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle is the first album I've ever bought from an artist that has been releasing critically praised albums since the late 80's but I've never quite gotten it like others have. For me this is the one. From the beginning to the end of this beautifully arranged album I believe him.

Thee Oh Sees-Help!-Perfect garage rock album from past label mates of ours. I highly recommend seeing them live as they are meant to be. Also, they put a shitload of effort into their artwork, the vinyl comes in bubblegum pink!

Cryptacize-Mythomania-I'm always so happy when the people I know make great music, and they are just getting better with each release. Poppy, folky, freaky. Whoo hoo.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-S/T-Sounds like late 80's early 90's shoegazer, Yo La Tengo wannabe's. I want to dislike it but it's so fucking good. Kudos.

Though I don't think it stands as tall as Writer's Block, I recommend picking up Living Thing by Peter Bjorn and John. I love pop music, they make great pop music, it's a Swedish thing...

Fever Ray-S/T-Sounds like The Knife. It's Karin of The Knife. If you enjoy listening to The Knife like I do then you'll like Fever Ray. It's pretty easy.

Lastly, Camera Obscura's new album My Maudlin Career boasts arrangements by Bjorn Yttling of PB&J, though I think they probably could have come up with them on their own. On the other hand this is the only album I've bought of theirs so maybe I'm wrong. Girl group pop music delivered Scottish style by bored and icy voiced Tracyanne Campbell. Almost as good as Gigi...

Danmark part 2

So I wrote this on the train back from Kobenhavn and our whirlwind time went something like this...

Jacob and Rosanna picked us up from Liseleje and we drove the scenic route back to Kobenhavn along the coastline, Sweden in the distance. We arrived at Jacob and Jetta's flat which was located on the fifth floor of a renovated building in a nice area not far from "The Lakes", which are three lakes separated by bridges into five basins, a super nice stretch that parents rule with their strollers, oh, also joggers in tight, tight gear. The next morning Jacob, Rosie and I walked down to the harbour where the little mermaid is stationed and to our surprise, she was wearing a Swedish football jersey! Hooligans! Afterwards, we casually made our way to the palace fur hatted guards sternly patrolled the entrance. The weather wasn't particularly cold temperature-wise, but the wind was bitter and managed to make its way into every nook and cranny of one's coat so eventually we were forced to purchase some warm items or suffer, so I purchased a much needed scarf at Noa Noa and Veda bought Anders a lil' Nisse hat.

So cute.

At some point I borrowed Jacob's bike and cycled around the city when Veda and Rosie were out and about. I found some very good record stores but didn't buy anything as records are really expensive, about fifteen to twenty dollars more than the same records in Canada, or Germany for that matter. On the other hand, the selection was the best I've seen anywhere I've traveled so far, particularly of U.K. and Swedish pop music. It almost seemed as if they bought copies of certain records and hoarded them until they became out of print.

Generally, we had very poor sleeps due to one Anders Hille Kellam and on at least one occasion I walked around in the rain for three hours from 7:30 in the morning to keep from waking the household. Due to this sleeping situation Veda and I didn’t manage to see each other much with all the trading off, although we did finally have a lovely long walk along the lakes, eventually making our way around outside Rigshospitalet, the setting for Danish director Lars Von Trier’s television series The Kingdom (not so spooky, where are the ghosts?)

On the last night Jacob and Jetta put together an amazing traditional Danish herring feast in which it was revealed that I have limited table manners (who doesn’t eat off of their knife?) and we watched a somewhat beige game of soccer between Danmark and Sweden. The Danish scum (those of you who have seen The Kingdom will know what I mean by that remark) were victorious over the sanctimonious Swedes by one goal, knocking Sweden out of the running for FIFA world cup qualification in South Africa next year. The flat was full to the max as Jacob’s sons Frederik and Gustav were there as well as Jetta’s kids Jonathon and Josefia so kudos to them for finding a place for us. (Tak to Jonathon for giving up his room.)

It was so very worth going to Danmark and meeting Veda’s relatives as well as watching Rosie revert to a Dane. I’m looking forward to going for a longer time in the future because there is too much to see in Kobenhavn, believe me, you need time…we all need time.

We're in Danmark!

We took the ICE train out of Hauptbahnhof (I first wrote Anhalter Bahnhof, an altogether different bahnhof with a spotty history, if you know what I mean) northwest to Hamburg then transferred trains and headed north to the ferry at Puttgarden. Veda read magazines whiIe I listened to headphones with Anders asleep on my chest. I stared out the window watching the Deutsch landscape blur as we sped past. The trees were of course turning in autumn’s hand but slower that I expected and there was still a great deal of greenery. I made a point of listening to Scandinavian artists to get in the mood; Bjork, The Knife, Frida Hyvonen, Stina Nordenstam*… I didn’t think of much during the journey (in fact, thoughts tends to be non-existent unless I’m actively engaged in something specific) though I did wonder how the train crosses the channel to Danmark. On tour with No Kids we had a vehicle, a lemon yellow Volkswagen van that Phil christened “the jeep”. Ensconsed in the jeep, we had driven onto the ferry from Danmark to Deutschland and I vaguely remember there were two crossing points, though the names have escaped me. I couldn’t imagine the train driving onto the ferry but when we arrived at the ferry dock we did exactly that and drove directly onto tracks set into the deck of the ferry. Unglaublich! Once in Danmark we passed many small Danish towns and crossed many a waterway until we arrived in Kobenhavn, whereupon we were greeted by a Canadian flag waving Dane! Indeed, it was Veda’s cousin Jacob, who escorted us up to the elaborate and beautifully renovated train station above, and as it was getting late we set off immediately to spend three days at Jacob’s summer house in the little village of Liseleje situated on the Kattegat Sea.

*What, no Aqua? –ed.

When we arrived in Liseleje it was dark and the grocery store was already closed but Jacob had brought wine and moussaka to get us through the night. I attempted to make a fire in the stove but it took Jacob to really get it going which very quickly removed the chill from the air. He stayed for dinner, drinks and conversation (all of which were excellent) and then headed back to Kobenhavn, leaving us to our fate. We must have been pretty exhausted because an excellent night’s sleep was had by all which these days is a rarity. The morning was exciting as we got our first look at the outside world which introduced itself first with a crash and a thud as a medium sized bird smacked headfirst into the window and died immediately and is now peacefully buried under a nearby tree, unless the slightly reddish squirrel next door gets after it. After this incident and a good breakfast this is what we saw, the house is located on a tidy property that contains a little sleeping house and a large trampoline, which Anders was alternately excited and nervous to bounce on. It is situated next to a farm who’s owner plowed up and planted over a road that has existed since the middle ages. When the locals who use the road complained to the authorities, the farmer was informed that although the road was on his property it was not actually his to remove so until he replaces it people just cut across his field trampling his crops, which is what Jacob instructed us to do in order to get to the sea. So we did. We walked to the Kattegat Sea which is clean and clear with a sandy beach and has tasty Danish sand which Anders kept eating despite the many times we said nein, nein, nein mein sohn. The peace and quiet of Liseleje is very much like being on Gabriola Island, sleeping, eating, drinking, watching the fire or the ocean and generally thinking an awful lot. We managed to go for a nice long cycle further down the shoreline one day when it was really windy and the waves were incredibly high. You know, drama waves…

Anyway, we basically slept, ate, drank and read to our hearts content (you can read into that what you will...) until Jacob and Rosanna came to pick us up and return us to Kobenhavn.

To be continued…

Der Riesen und der Komische Oper.

Yesterday Veda, Anders, Rosanna and I made our way to the Lustgarten to see Day 1 of Royal Deluxe, Der Riesen Kommen, (the giants are coming). Royal Deluxe is a french marionette company that operate giant marionettes through the streets of various cities around the world in different situations and costumes and here in Berlin the little girl is reuniting with her uncle after being separated for many years. He emerges from the Spree river in an old school diving suit while she travels along the streets and at various times walks, cycles and rides in a boat. After wandering about the zentrum of Berlin eventually the two will meet up at Brandenburg Gate. I believe she has some letters in a satchel to deliver to him but don't quote me on that. There was a band following her on a travelling platform playing bluesy rock music with some turntable scratching and vocals every so often and at first I told Veda I wanted that job but soon changed my mind as the music kind of sucked badly and I would be embarrassed to have to play it. It's bewildering as it seems so much time and effort is put into the marionettes and their slow lifelike movements that they would put so little into the accompanying music. Better to have none at all I think...

I miss my band. They're awesome, and as I write they are on a long tour in the United States with Mount Eerie, Tara Jane O' Neil and Karl Blau. The last show we played together was at the Commodore Ballroom with Peter Bjorn & John just before we flew to Berlin and I must admit it felt very powerful, I felt on top of the world as they say, but now it seems a long time ago and Nick and Julia are very distant. Certainly as this is the first time they have gone on tour as No Kids without me (with Phil of Mount Eerie sitting in on drums) and I must admit I'm envious. It's not as if I'm unaware of how one's sense of self is intrinsically linked to the work they do or the art they create so it makes sense that I would be feeling this way as I'm not carpenting or playing music. Where am I going with this? Veda and I went to see Der Komische Oper production of Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate with our new pals Manfred and Amanda (super awesome fun fun people), and after the show I was reminded of times in New York that No Kids went to see theatre productions with our friend Mo. I think you would have enjoyed it Nick and Julia, it was very o.t.t. How o.t.t.? Many a glitter costume to spare and a twenty seven piece orchestra stage right that was really something. They were wearing fez's! Even if I didn't enjoy the show (which I did, for the record) it was worth attending for Cole Porter in German and the super band (and of course the post show pretzel. Ha Ha...)

Maybe I just need a day out on my own.