Content Catnip

Emerging Genius: Raveen are delicate, dreamy floral art-pop for your reflective moods

Raveen are a Montreal based band described as offering “dark, yet earnest pop-electronic with some serious R&B undertones”. Their ambient jazzy and chilled beats along with sparse singing style bring a distinctly Canadian glacial sound to their music, which to me sounds like open spaces and an atmospheric outdoor amphitheatre of emotions.

Raveen released their self-titled breakthrough EP in February 2014. This was followed by the AB side “Softly to Air” later that year. Always is their new album and it’s slated for release on the 24th of July.

The first track off the album, called Always, is a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come. It’s expansive, expressive and deeply emotional. It draws on the bands influences from pop, electroacoustic, electronica and jazz, with a smattering of choral and orchestral influences. The preview track ‘Always’ from the album of the same name is mesmerising in a breathless and dreamy way and brings to mind that classic noughties track ‘What’s a Girl to do?’ by Bat for Lashes. It’s the perfect tonic for a grey, wintery Auckland weekend. I have been listening to it on repeat on can’t wait to hear the whole album. For now I have pre-ordered a digital copy.

From the band’s media release

Our debut LP Always is our attempt to tell a story with an ambition and scope greater than any of our previous work. It marks our foray into more subdued and lush songwriting anchored by vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics presented as a cohesive whole.

We’d love if you’d listen to the first single/title track from the record on Soundcloud.

This track came together immediately after our singer/producer Eric took a long and introspective trip to Europe. There’s a lot of love in this song. Thematically, it serves as a good summary of the of rest of the record; themes of loss as it relates lost love but also grief, and the perceived loss of something magic in the early stages of adulthood.

This is also the most collaborative 3 minutes we’ve ever worked on. It features the three of us, plus contributions from ten or more vocalists and four or five string players – some of our best friends among them.

Buy the new album on Bandcamp

Listen on Soundcloud

Every picture tells a story: Observe yourself and time gets longer

Every picture tells a story: When you observe, time gets longer

Love After Love

The time will come

when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Derek Walcott

Art by Orbojunglist

Hawaii’s volcanic spectacle and Pele the Fire Goddess

This sky-level satellite image above shows how most of Puna is covered in a lush green canopy, with some visible lava flows in the District of Puna.

Puna is one of the smaller islands in the American states of Hawaii. At around 1,300km² Puna is slightly smaller than the island of Kaua.

It’s subtropical climate and volcanic national park has made it a major environmental attraction to visitors and it’s the only producer of papaya fruits within the Hawaiian islands.

I’ve always found the volatile nature of volcanic areas in the Pacific Ring of Fire to have a particularly unique and strange beauty. In Puna, there have been continual volcanic eruptions on the island since 1983. As a place that’s constantly under siege by fire, people must have a very real sense of their own mortality, and a respect for the landscape and nature.

In October 2015, the local authorities warned of an impending destruction to towns on the island of Puna.

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was initially constructed a few decades ago but public access to the national park was all but obliterated in 1986, when lava flows destroyed roads and reshaped the formation entire park.

Hawaii's Volcanic spectacle and Pele the Fire Goddess — A view inside of a Hawaiian caldera

Curious tourists wanting to glimpse and capture the volcanoes in action are warned that the lava constantly changes directions and sometimes with no warning will ooze into new territories. Those experimenting with GoPros and expensive equipment find that radiant heat will overcome their expensive gear from quite a distance away from the lava.

There is something darkly pleasurable about watching the raw power of the earth overcome the neat order put in place by people and their flimsy, temporary residences. Although it’s terrible I enjoy watching the lava ruin safety plans, watching the Mother taking back and reasserting herself as the one true goddess.

Pele: The Hawaiian Goddess of Fire

Pele is the Hawaiian Fire Goddess. Pronounced peh-leh or pel-lə, she’s one of the most revered and powerful goddesses in Hawaiian mythology. She’ also known affectionately as Madame Pele or Tutu Pele.

Her poetic name is Ka wahine `ai honua means ‘the woman who devours the land’. She dances and fights with elements of lightning, fire, wind, volcanoes and brings great violence and transformation upon the land and sea.

Pele has a volatile temper and throws molten fountains into the air, and spumes of lava into the blackened sky. She created the ever-changing Hawaiian islands and continues to craft them over time with a ruthless knife.

No Kahiki mai ka wahine `o Pele,
Mai ka `aina mai o Polapola,
Mai ka punohu a Kane,
Mai ke ao lapa i ka lani.The woman Pele comes from Kahiki,

From the land of Polapola,
From the rising mist of Kane,
From the clouds that move in the sky.

<3 The Internet: Get music, book, art and film recommendations

A pictorial history of electronic music mapped to the circuitboard of a theremin

Marek Gibney is the creator of the Music Map, the Film Map, the Tech Gadget Map, the Art Map and the Book Map. These ingenious web based apps allow you to get recommendations on books, music, films and art by typing in your favourite artists.

It’s sort of like a cooler and less annoying version of Spotify which you dont have to pay for. The apps displays your recommendations in a plain text format. The closer two artists are located to the centre and to each other – the more similar they are and the more likely they are to suit your music/art/book/film taste.

david bowie — Here when I searched for David Bowie the app gives me similar artists close in style to him (but still no match for him)

It’s the sort of cool algorithm that could make a lot of money in the right context and is a lot of fun to play with and to gain insights into new, often overlooked artists who may otherwise not come onto your radar.

To see more, visit Marek’s site.

A global network of discovery

Let’s use the latest technological advances to make us all discover more and better things

The Music-Map

The Literature-Map

The Movie-Map

The Artist Map

The Tech Gadget Map

Every Picture Tells A Story: New York’s Cinema Marquees

There is something magical, glittering, exhilerating and even at times slightly menacing about theatre and film posters and theatre districts around the world. These are places where people go to be vacuously entertained and transported to another realm they ordinarily can’t reach.

Posters and signs call out to patrons, beckoning them and cajoling them to come inside and to partake in the velventeen splendour. There’s something borderline obscene and pantingly sexual about some of these signs, as they at once invite in seductively as well as repel people. They are a fascinating relic of an age when Hollywood ruled people’s hearts and minds. An era before the internet with its two-way dialogue was even dreamt about. This was a time when people kept their own private thoughts to themselves and didn’t share everything publicly, and when the stories, narratives and cultural norms of people’s lives were dished out from a high pedestal of the cult of cinema. Were people more naive then or are people more naive now as a result of the internet?

It would be easy to look back with fondness at how things were then, you went to the cinema and you watched something and from this you gained another perspective on the world. This instead of now and the multiplied ways to perceive everything from a million different perspectives, avenues and channels. But is it easier or harder, more simple or more complex. I would say that sadly it’s harder and more complex to be a living being right now and to consume media than it ever has been before.

See more Movie Marquees on Tumblr

Predator film poster – 1980s

Times Square 1950s

Boys walking on Broadway, NYC late 70’s

Frankenstein – movie marquees from London, 1931.

Every picture tells a story: hear your own voice

Mountains tremble

Volcanoes fizz and spew

Skies implode and shatter

Then the dawn breaks again

All is well

Old thoughts clatter

The dawn sweeps away fear

And culminates in a mango coloured morning

Hear your own voice

It’s inside

Although quiet, it endures

A dark onyx and opal nugget
Polar Orbojunglist

Art by Orbojunglist

Every Picture Tells a Story: A Surreal Midnight Dream

This etching by a Reddit artist called JDrift01 reminds me of the Google Deep Dream generator which ran amok on the internet about 2 years ago. Suddenly the online world was jammed with ten eyed dogs and sushi that had faces on it. Infact this art reminds me of a post from a few years ago about the Deep Dream surrealist art that I created using some seemingly innocuous photos of an individual eating sushi.

This illustration by Reddit user JDrift01 has the same deep dream vibe, except it’s all cleverly and painstakenly drawn by him or her. Sadly I couldn’t really discover more information about the artist including a link to his or her website. If I do find out I will endeavour to update this post.

Found on Reddit and drawn by user JDrift01

Every picture tells a story: Your inner sanctum

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and
purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

Naomi Shihab Nye

By Orbojunglist

Travel: Five Brilliant Off the Beaten Track Restaurants Around Edinburgh

Scotland's Momentous Decision on September 18th

From writing for several years for the Edinburgh Food and Drink Guide I have gathered together some personal favourites of the Athens of the North. Here are a selection of Edinburgh restaurants that require some pounding of pavement often through beautiful scenery to get there.

These eateries are worthy of recommendation because of their beautiful ambience, character-filled interiors and endless plates of foodie bliss. Perfect for visitors to the Scottish capital for the Fringe Festival, here are some of Edinburgh’s best kept foodie secrets that you possibly haven’t heard about!

Toast

146 Marchmont Rd, Edinburgh. Midlothian EH9 1AQ
Telephone: 0131 446 9873

A stroll through the Meadows during the festival is always a pleasure. On the opposite side of the lush greenery is a famed brunch venue Toast in Marchmont. It’s now under new ownership and has reinvented itself as a terrific evening venue. Toast is a popular brunch spot for ladies who lunch, and local dog walkers. Although the name is deceptive, as the dinner menu is equally as impressive. The pan seared sea bass was iridescent and gleaming on a bed of seasonal vegetables that were bursting with summer flavours. A naughty dessert of Cointreau and orange bread and butter pudding rounded out a fine meal. This one is only about 20 minutes walk from the Royal Mile, and well worth the walk.

Nobles

44a Constitution St, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh EH6 6RS
0131 629 7215

Nobles is an exceptional gem in the shore area of Leith. A pub that retains all of its charming Victorian fittings, like stained glass windows and rich mahogany wood furnishings. It’s brought into 21^st Century with quirky art work, laid back staff, locally sourced fresh produce and an exciting array of local bands who play there six nights a week. On tap is an excellent selection of cask ales from Scottish and international brewers. All in all it’s a recipe for success and generations of Leithers have called it their beloved local. It’s tempting to order a three course meal and sit there for hours and watch the world pass you by. It’s far enough from the city centre to be peaceful during the Festival as well.

The Sheep’s Heid Inn

43-45 The Causeway, Edinburgh. Midlothian EH15 3QA
Telephone: 0131 661 7974

This is an amazing pub nestled behind the iconic Arthur’s Seat, in the ancient and quaint Duddingston Village. The grand old dame of Sheep’s Heid is around 650 years old, and holds the mantle of the oldest pub in Scotland! There’s a skittles alley, a charming beer garden, and interiors of dark oak and stone. Try the slow cooked pork belly and seared king scallops. Those on a health kick should try a salad fit for Mary Queen of Scots – the Summer green salad with lobster tail, soya beans and minted yoghurt dressing. The pub is about eight minutes by cab from the Royal Mile. Alternately, take a meandering 40 minute walk from the high street, through the breathtakingly beautiful Holyrood Park and into Duddingston Village.

Pho

3 Grove St Edinburgh. Midlothian. EH3 8AF
Telephone: 0131 228 3383

A mere slip of a Vietnamese restaurant, akin to a tiny doll house. There’s seating for only about 12 people, and an industrious and bustling take away trade each evening. The local patrons are so loyal, that visitors are recommended to make bookings. It’s located in the West End in Haymarket, about 20 minutes walk from the Royal Mile. Family owned and run, the owners’ love and passion for food and service is palpable. Try the namesake dish, a fortifying rice noodle soup that can be tailored with herbs, spices, meats, vegetables and other heavenly additions. There’s plenty of other Asian restaurants in Edinburgh, but only this one has authentic Vietnamese food.

Mrs. Forman’s Bar and Kitchen

2 Ravensheugh Rd, Musselburgh. East Lothian EH21 7PP
Telephone: 0131 665 0430

Located at the verge of the windswept Musselburgh golf course is Mrs. Forman’s Bar and Kitchen. A pretty little button of a pub that appears like any other old pub on the outside. On the inside however it’s wall to wall refined, cosy interiors and equally posh nosh. It’s been servicing Musselburgh locals since 1822. A rotating menu of seasonal produce is on offer such as the Belhaven Smoked Trout pate for starter, which was superb. For main try the grilled sea bass with mussels, parsley, a light garlic butter sauce and delectable new potatoes. Located around 25 minutes by car from the Royal Mile, it’s the type of place that’s worth venturing out of the city for.

If you’re visiting the grand old city of Edinburgh during the festival, then look further afield and be seduced by restaurants and pubs that only locals know about!

Film Review: Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey (2016) Terrence Malick

The other night Terrence Malick’s new film Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey screened at the New Zealand International Film Festival Autumn events in Auckland.

Although I’ve found Malick’s films a little too long and ponderous, this one I enjoyed more than his others because of its sparseness and its lack of human narrative and human characters.

Voyage of Time is an epic and transspecies, transplanetary journey from the birth of the stars, through to the initial dividing of prokaryotic cells and the slow and triumphal march of life from primeval soups of billions of years ago. Malick takes you on a seamless fly-on-the-wall journey through the Permian era with its unique lifeforms that died out during the Permian extinction event. The dinosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Then the eruption of mammalian lifeforms afterwards.

The invention of agriculture and technological discoveries all occur in the blink of an eye – one frame of a field of wheat and then we land in a bustling Asian city. He throws out a lot of red flags here about our current and uncertain Anthropocene era -he more than hints at our immiment destruction.

That’s the quite disturbing part that stayed with me afterwards. Look at all of us in here with popcorn on our laps and wine in our glasses. Our neatly bought and sold consumable items in our hands and on our backs. When right here we are happily consuming the end of the world. We have witnessed the impossibly complex likelihood of our existence here and how easily we can all be dust tomorrow. And yet we’re, as individuals, powerless to do anything about it all.

Despite the unadulterated and stunning beauty of this film, with its translucent and floaty seas filled with jellyfish of many colours, this colourful confusing spectacle of life depicted on film is a mirror to our own insignificance and our own mortality and the true immortality of nature.

That’s what it’s all about. Yet my small human ego can’t let go of the idea of why I’m here and if I infact matter at all. Probably not.

A little bit of end of the world music