Theatre Review: Jack Charles V The Crown at Auckland Arts Fest

Last night I went to see Jack Charles V The Crown at the Auckland Arts Festival. Jack Charles is an Australian legend. He has traveled from movie sets to state prisons in Australia and run the full gamut of life as child of the stolen generation as well as a gifted Indigenous Australian actor, potterContinue reading “Theatre Review: Jack Charles V The Crown at Auckland Arts Fest”

Every Picture Tells a Story: Nico in Paris 1960

This photograph was taken by Mark Shaw for LIFE Magazine in 1960. It features elegant couture, art and decadent modernist Parisian interiors. Nico is posing with a pair of dachshunds in the apartment of legendary Parisian interior designer Henry Samuel. Nico was a young model before she became famous. She went on to be theContinue reading “Every Picture Tells a Story: Nico in Paris 1960”

Words and Music: Dave Clarke’s World Service & Shanghai

I wrote this poem because I came across an album I hadn’t heard in years, it reminded me so much of Shanghai where I lived briefly as a teenager that I had this all rush into my head and I needed to get it out. So here is a memory purge of my time inContinue reading “Words and Music: Dave Clarke’s World Service & Shanghai”

Emerging Genius: North Atlantic Drift, Departures Vol.1

North Atlantic Drift is the experimental from Toronto-based ambient and electronic duo of Brad Deschamps and Mike Abercrombie. North Atlantic Drift were formed in the summer of 2011. The band sound uncannily reminiscent of their name, with a glacial, hynotic, pleasant drone and ambient meanderings into music. This is expansive, atmospheric ambient in the sameContinue reading “Emerging Genius: North Atlantic Drift, Departures Vol.1”

Asmrion the online generator of positive feelings

Asmrion is an elegant and beautiful ambient sound simulator that’s best enjoyed with headphones. It’s completely interactive and has a very natural, organic and soothing user experience with subtle buttons to shift up and down volume. It’s possible to attune yourself with these app tools to varying states of consciousness, all pleasant, reassuring and relaxingContinue reading “Asmrion the online generator of positive feelings”

Hiroshi Yoshimura – Soundscape 1 Surround

Over the coming weeks I will share an eclectic lucky dip of music that I discovered and loved via subreddit /r/listentothis, Here is no.5 on the jukebox, Japanese ambient/new age producer Hiroshi Yoshimura’s floaty album Soundscape 1 Surround from 1986.  There is something eerily familiar about Hiroshi Yoshimura’s 1986 album Soundscape 1 Surround. It’s soContinue reading “Hiroshi Yoshimura – Soundscape 1 Surround”

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

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 versionContinue reading “<3 The Internet: Get music, book, art and film recommendations”

Flying Nun Records: The Chills

Haling from Dunedin, The Chills are a 80’s and 90’s band with aural stories that recall childlike wonder and a free-wheeling and expansive youth in the South Island of New Zealand. There’s a happy-go-lucky psychadelic pop and folk sound that (possibly) found its way into the sound of Split Enz and Crowded House later on. TheContinue reading “Flying Nun Records: The Chills”

Emerging Genius: Görkem Şen – Yaybahar

The Yaybahar is an electric-free, totally acoustic instrument designed by Gorkem Sen. The vibrations from the strings are transmitted via the coiled springs to the frame drums. These vibrations are turned into sound by the membranes which echo back and forth on the coiled springs. This results in an unique listening experience with an hypnoticContinue reading “Emerging Genius: Görkem Şen – Yaybahar”

Emerging genius: Tengger Cavalry – Warhorse

Over the coming weeks I will share an eclectic lucky dip of music that I discovered and loved via subreddit /r/listentothis, Here is no.10 on the jukebox, a dark metal gem from Mongolian metal band Tengger Cavalry.  Warhorse by Tengger Cavalry is an exciting aural assault that embodies the nomadic warrior spirit of the MongolianContinue reading “Emerging genius: Tengger Cavalry – Warhorse”