Monday, January 25, 2010

and boeing jets, in the sunset make glowing twins.



I keep finding myself in dark places. Alleyways, gazing out onto midnight streets in the city. Walking past alcohol-fuelled rage and fights down near Spencer Street. Waiting for the last tram home in the pouring rain. A kiss on an unlit doorstep. Awake at four in the morning, a beautiful boy sleeping peacefully next to me. Navigating through blacked-out streets in the furthest suburbs of Melbourne, just trying to find my way home through pools of streetlight and the calls of cicadas, ringing through the air. It's where I feel most comfortable.

So I made a mix for it, and now it's up on dirtyRadio for you to enjoy. Iconastasia, episode 1: the city is a whore tonight.

In other news: the new Massive Attack tracks I've been hearing are outstanding. In particular, I've had 'Atlas Air' on repeat for an untold number of days. Robert del Naja's half-whispered, half-sung vocals are captivating and hypnotic; tense and threatening and utterly beautiful. Listen here. His words speak subtly of some of the most atrocious things we as a sociey have done to each other: "I know the drill. Got cells to burn. I'm dressed to kill." The whole album, thus far, seems very cohesive in that sense: a look at the darker side of politics and war in the new decade. A fantastic lineup of guest stars (Guy Garvey of Elbow, Martina Topley-Bird, Damon Albarn, Horace Andy, Hope Sandoval, and more) and Massive Attack's usual originality and flair for beats and sounds. Extremely excited for the proper release.

And they're in Melbourne in March, too - oh, this is going to be a wonderful year for me and music.

Monday, January 18, 2010

mmm, skyscraper. i love you.

I had one of the most beautiful experiences of my life on Saturday evening. Chemicals, beats, some of my favourite people, old and new.

At one point, out of nowhere, I had a Bloc Party lyric stuck in my head: "We're all scared of the future." Everything seemed overwhelming, and I kept wondering: what if this is it? What if it all goes downhill from here? What if my life falls to pieces, what if my future isn't as bright and beautiful as I want it to be? At one point, I almost started crying because I was afraid to verbalise this, because I thought it would make it real.

Then somebody put on a new song, there was a gentle hug from a boy I've grown so close to. And I came to realise that no, the future is entirely in my control. I am going to take charge, I am going to meet a whole slew of wonderful people along the way, keep the wonderful creatures I call my friends right now, and I'm going to do amazing things. I just have this funny feeling, building up inside me.

And we all danced 'til sunrise, we laughed, shouted, span, and I screamed the lyrics to 'Moaner' by Underworld so loudly I thought I was Karl Hyde. We shook our arses and moved our bodies, laid on the floor, mind filled with beats and basslines and let myself fall away from reality into some perfect dream.

Thank you: this, this and this. Thank you, Luke and your generous spirit, thank you James and your big heart, thank you to everyone else for sharing the dream.

I'm useless, but not for long - my future is comin' on.