Sigur Ros ( ): Personal Track Names | SPOTLIGHT

So, Sigur Ros, one of my absolute favourite bands, released a very interesting concept album in 2002. They called the album '( )', and left every track name untitled. In some editions of the album, they even added in a blank booklet for you to draw the insert art. The whole album is sung in a made up language called Hopelandic, so the music itself is what will evoke these titles/drawings/emotions. I thought it would be interesting if, instead of doing what most do and just name the tracks by their numbers, I would actually name them what I feel they should be called. It is actually a really fun, immersive way to listen to music and I think by doing this, you can have a really profound experiences with the tracks that you otherwise may miss out on. I translated the names into Icelandic because, well, it IS Sigur Ros. For your convenience, I have linked a stream of the full album at the bottom of this post, to see what you can come up with!

[1] - Glæður (Embers)
As I sat listening to this song, I found myself having similar feelings of warmth that I do when watching flames dance. This probably has a lot to do with the fact the lyrics sound like 'you sat along the fire, you saw the light'. This track has a very calming, yet mesmerising sound, and to me that's what happens when you watch flames.

[2]- Gleymt Mistur (Forgotten Mist)
This song makes me feel as if I'm lost in a deep fog in the middle of some immense forest. Rather than fear, it evokes the feeling of the evening chill biting against my arms as I explore the forest looking for something.

[3] - Sameinuð (Reunited)
Now out of the mist, I have found something. I don't know what, but the track seems joyous as if I have found what I have been looking for, even if I didn't know exactly what that was yet. In my head, I've stumbled upon some beautiful structure in the forest; some hidden, secret wonder.

[4] - Endurspeglast Fiðrildi (Butterfly's Reflection)
This song made me imagine a crisp, clear landcape. A girl sits by a duck pond and tries to catch butterflies. It just reminds me of a summer day, and a lake so clear and still its almost a mirror.

[5] - Vegurinn (The Road)
This is the bleak half of the album. This reminds me of stumbling down a road on a hot day. Just the feeling of everything slowing down and complete isolation when you receive bad news. Beautiful, if not bleak track.

[6] - Ihvolf Trommur (Hollowed Drums)
 For some reason I saw someone going through an abandoned village, looking for someone. It just seems to completely understand the anxiety of looking through somewhere lost, and the eventual outburst of emotion after that.

[7] - Dauða Lagið (The Death Song)
This is probably the bleakest, but not in a terrifying, metal way. Instead, it reminds me of ghosts - old pictures, forgotten memories. I just imagined the same village, picking up a photograph of someone you knew. It really evoked a deep sense of bittersweet sadness.

[8] - Að Falla (The Fall)
Purely, this song makes me feel like I'm slowly falling, almost drifting away. It's melancholy, but not as bleak as the last few tracks. Whenever I close my eyes and listen to this with my headphones in, I feel like I'm falling off into peace. Beautifully atmospheric. 


Ultimately, this is purely my interpretation. I think everyone who loves this album should attempt to do this some time. Rather than just a mere gimick, this album from Sigur Ros wants to be understood. By trying to voice images you see, you begin an insular process that is quite astounding. I would truly recommend giving it a try.

The Colour Wheel of Music | Playlists You Never Knew You Wanted

Do titles of songs matter? I wonder this because, although many songs are named after a segment of lyrics or some catchy word in a chorus, I sometimes find the name of songs sometimes seep through into their meanings. A lot of lists like this have been done before, I know this. However, I tried to compile a list where the black is bleak, the brown rough, the yellow warm and the green calming. I wanted to see if, by compiling a playlist, I could create a 'colour wheel' of music. With this in mind, I wanted to make something where you could listen to it smoothly, whilst still experiencing a spectrum of emotions.

So, with that introduction in mind, let's see what we can do here.


1: Black Swan - Thom Yorke

2: Grey Cloudy Lies - George Harrison

3: A Pair of Brown Eyes - The Pogues

4: Fool's Gold - The Stone Roses

5: Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell

6: Orange Crush - REM

7: Brick is Red - The Pixies

8: Lilac Wine - Jeff Buckley

9: Blue Lips - Regina Spektor

10: Memories Of Green - Blade Runner Soundtrack

So, what starts of as dark and melancholy can swiftly transform into something more upbeat and warm, slowly fading back into calm, somber tunes. I remember hearing once that the best playlist is one you can fall asleep at the end to, and by following a colour wheel such as this, it could make the darkest moods seem brighter and then, perhaps, a little calmer.

Album Review | Amok - Atoms For Peace

Two members of Radiohead (edit: yes, I count Nigel Godrich as a member), the drummer from REM, a Brazilian and a Red Hot Chilli Pepper later, supergroup Atoms For Peace has released a new album and, well, you didn't expect it to be bad - did you?

The album has opened to mainly positive reviews, however, some criticism has been thrown towards it due to its similarity to Radiohead and Thom Yorke's previous solo project The Eraser. There is one glaringly obvious fact being overlooked here - this album is written and performed by Thom Yorke. It's not a blatant rip off of some classic band - its an artist putting his unique signature on some work he has done. Regardless of the general consensus, I found the album very different to The Eraser, and here's why.

Amok has the same jittery electronic beats that Radiohead are renowned for, however, this album has an overwhelming sense of urgency Yorke's work hasn't focused on before. While listening, I felt unsettled (in a good way, of course), with the sixth track, Stuck Together Pieces evoking an inner monologue during an anxiety attack. Yorke's smooth, melancholic vocals are layered above repetitive, jarring sounds to create an energetic worry. The tracks move from the hyperventilation of Default, to the intense yearning of Ingenue, right to the frantic motivation of Judge, Jury and Executioner. Whereas Radiohead is both sad and comforting - seeming to accept the troubles in this world and softly lament about them, Atoms For Peace evokes an in-the-moment panic not present in any previous works.

I also found it a lot more well rounded than The Eraser. Although there are similar themes (as can be expected from any work from the same artist), this improves on its predecessor due to pure scale. Amok is richer - a pair of headphones being a must to ensure the subtleties of the production aren't missed. The same loops and beats are used, allowing the 9 tracks to flow smoothly, yet the genius lies in the layering of the components. The album swells and pulses, with the frantic percussion perfectly combined with the silky guitar pieces. This creates a unique sound, filling the gaps in The Eraser.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful album that has merit on its own back. It may not be Radiohead, but it is a welcome addition to Yorke's catalogue, and I for one will give it many listens. Below is their single Ingenue.

Lyrics Decoded: Across the Universe

Words are flowing out like
Endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe.
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
Are drifting through my opened mind
Possessing and caressing me.
Jai Guru Deva. Om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Images of broken light, which
Dance before me like a million eyes,
They call me on and on across the universe.
Thoughts meander like a
Restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe.
Jai Guru Deva. Om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter, shades of life
Are ringing through my opened ears
Inciting and inviting me.
Limitless undying love, which
Shines around me like a million suns,
It calls me on and on across the universe
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

These are some of my favourite lyrics ever sung. Although my favourite Beatles song changes by the day, these have remained my favourite Beatles lyrics since I first heard the song on a rainy car journey. The way it is sung is so ethereal it seems to transport you out of yourself, and I would say that this is the song I turn to if I need to soothe my mind and think about something seriously.

The most important line in this song is: 'Pools of sorrow waves of joy/Are drifting through my opened mind/Possessing and caressing me.'  This is especially profound to someone anxious, as it shows a state of mind anyone with worries feels like they need to inhibit. Lennon here allows us to truly understand what he is thinking, and that is - nothing. He keeps his mind open, letting whatever thoughts he must have float through and leave as they see fit. His thoughts are there and he is aware of them, but he pays them no hedence. He locks them away and packages them inside a box to send away. He knows that all negativity is an illusion created by the mind - only real experiences matter.

Now, 'Jai Duru Deva Om' is supposed to roughly translate to 'praise to the victorious one' or  'glory to the guru' or something along those lines. However, this is merely just a mantra. What matters is the sound of the words, not what they actually mean. Purely, its what they mean to you that matters. Your mantra could be something as nonsensical as 'Buddha is a fluffy cushion' and it would be completely appropriate, because saying the very word - letting the syllables roll over your tongue over and over will occupy your mind so only the truest thoughts come through. Well, that is my theory anyway.

I personally listen to this song when I'm feeling hopeless. My mantra is 'nothings gonna change my world' because it gives me such comfort to think that no matter what happens, I will always be the same inherent person. Nothing can change your state of mind, the way you are. I like it because it gives me a sense of destiny. Yes this thing happened, but it was meant to. My world is supposed to go one way, and nothing can divert it from that track. 

So, in essence, this is a song to comfort you. To soothe your worries, and keep you feeling absolutely safe in your destiny.

Lyrics Decoded - Pyramid Song

This blog has always been about the feelings music instil in you. I have already looked at songs without singers - showing where music begins at words' ends - however, lyrics also provide a great poetry unrivaled by any other medium. I have decided to purely decode a song based on what I, personally, got from it - looking deeply into the background of why I see it in a certain way, and hopefully opening your minds to another view. Everyone's take on a song's lyrics are equally valid as I believe the listener has just as much weight on meaning as the artist does.

Pyramid Song - Radiohead

I jumped in the river and what did I see?
Black-eyed angels swam with me
A moon full of stars and astral cars
All the things I used to see
All my lovers were there with me
All my past and futures
And we all went to heaven in a little row boat
There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt

I jumped into the river
Black-eyed angels swam with me
A moon full of stars and astral cars
And all the things I used to see
All my lovers were there with me
All my past and futures
And we all went to heaven in a little row boat
There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt

There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt
There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt

I thought long and hard about what I would choose to decode first. I eventually chose this because it seems to hold more weight lyrically to me than any other song I have been pleasured with hearing. It doesn't just resonate with me on a physical level - instead it seems to encapsulate my religious and philosophical beliefs more than any organized religion or outdated philosopher ever has.

One aspect I got from this was musings on an afterlife. What is so beautiful about this, to me, is this afterlife doesn't exclude. Radiohead's words are ones of togetherness. 'all my lovers were with me/ all my past and futures/we all went to heaven in a little rowboat/and there was nothing to fear, nothing to doubt'. This song seems to bind together humanity in such a simple way. The imagery of a little rowboat is crucial - we have to move it. We all must come together to row this little boat in order to get to our destination. 'Heaven' here can be subjective. Is heaven actually an afterlife? Or is it an earthly bliss - a world of peace. Either way, it works wonders. We must come together in order to get to heaven. Everyone's personal heaven will be different, but the beauty here lies in togetherness. My personal view on this IS of an afterlife, but of one that transcends all religion. A sort of collective unconscious that pools together a shared knowledge - ultimate togetherness. I came to this conclusion after reading a lot of Carl Jung, who described this theory as: “The third level [of consciousness], the innermost core, is what we are now calling the superconscious mind... [it] houses our real identity, augmented by the subconscious which contains the memories of many….”. Once listening to this song after reading Jung's theories, I began to see the world in a whole new light.

I also found a sense of great comfort from this song. Most hear the drawling piano and decide this song is 'depressing', but this always saddens me. Here is a perfect example of how lyrics can transform a song. The melancholy vocals of this track have the juxtaposition of an isolating comfort. They seem to remove you from the 'real world', having a strange, disconnected sensation with every listen. However, they also seem to envelop you - I fidn myself not caring or feeling lonely in the isolation. Instead, I truly begin to believe 'there is nothing to fear/nothing to doubt'. I don't find this song depressing at all. Instead, I find it strongly comforting and bursting with hope. 

I do hope you enjoyed my viewpoint, and would love to hear any of your takes on the song. I reiterate - there are many ways to view this. This is just a personal discussion, that I think everyone must get involved in when listening to any song.

2012 - My Personal Year in Music

Some might say this past year has not been the best for music. With hits such as Gangnam Style's coordinated spasms, and Carly Rae Jepson's stalker sensation 'Call Me Maybe', these past twelve months seem to have been littered with musical mishaps more than they have marvels.

But for me personally, I will always remember 2012 to be the year music mattered to me. Don't get me wrong, before now I have of course called myself a music lover - I mean, who doesn't? But, this year was the year I actually discovered its merit. Before now, I used to be a straight-up rock girl (in a phase I would affectionately call the 'grunge monkey' days), turning up my nose at genre's such as country, folk or jazz. It was this year that my eyes (or more appropriately, ears) were opened. Mostly through my vinyl collection I have been slowly building since January, but some through the different musical individuals I have met over the course of this year. Whether it be a record store owner that puts on free gigs to whoever has the time to listen, the people that play there, or a duo of intelligent musicians who wanted to tell the story of a Blank Room - I have been shown what music means. And more than that, what music can do.

So yes, Muse has brought out a new album that I loved, Adele has written a Bond theme I actually like, and Gotye got me singing to the radio every so often with his hit 'Somebody I Used to Know'. However, I think these artists have had enough coverage, especially with the nostalgic new year reviews littering the television. No, I want to shed light on some of the independent artists I have come to enjoy this year.

Brandall/Tyrrell - Blank Room





Here are some personal friends of mine that have decided to try to bring something new to the musical spectrum - something that seems to hardly happen nowadays. A far cry from the pointless lyrics and robotic voices of this year's hits, Blank Room creates a complex picture of entrapment and solitude. Here, we can hear intelligent lyrics that still seem to hit your heart, and music that actually transform your surroundings. When listening to this EP, I find myself in that Blank Room. This is so transcendent, you feel in a state of being that is both solitary and comfortable, being helped along the way by the friendly vocals of the rapper. It's hard to define this genre as rap, as I find it a spoken word masterpiece that transcends any genre, and is rather worth a listen.

Since this EP has been announced to be only half of a full album (the rest supposedly coming some time next year), it is available for free download on Bandcamp, and streaming on soundcloud (both links below).

Soundcloud

Bandcamp

Jack Carty - Break Your Own Heart
 I am aware that acoustic singer-songwriters aren't scarce today - you can find one in your nearest Grill'd on a Saturday night. Jack Carty, however, speaks to me like poetry. His song given the most coverage, She's Got A Boyfriend, seems to have picked the most accessible out of the bunch - in this case showcasing the weakest song on the album. When I saw him back when I first started this blog, the simple guitar arrangement and honesty in the vocals affected me deeply. This wasn't just music - this was a man's feelings and poetry put forward in musical form.

The best song that expresses this seems to be Travelling Shoes. To me, it conveys an honesty that isn't found in the poppy styling of She's Got A Boyfriend. Below is Jack himself just singing it as I first heard it, live with just a guitar.

So, my year in music sure has been an interesting one. I would like to thank those who made me come to the realizations that I have this year, and also those who have stuck with this blog since the beginning. I hope in the next year to come, I will find many more interesting artists with something new to bring to the table.

Vinyl Spotlight: My Personal Collection

The reason I began this blog is because of my love of music. The one thing I haven't really touched on, however, is my love for records in particular. I have an ever expanding collection, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Gotye, and I must admit - I find it a better way to listen to music.

Most people would argue it is better because of the sound quality. Although I don't deny this might be true, I find a deeper reason for loving my turntable. It's the experience of music you don't get anywhere else. A lot more love and care is taken by placing the huge disk on its platform, placing the needle gently on its edge. I find that when I listen to a vinyl, its not just music to nod along to in the background. It overshadows the entire an atmosphere, almost like a grand fireplace.  For me, it makes me feel at home.

It is also great to highlight albums in particular. I must admit, I was the worst for picking highlight tracks and sticking with them, never bothering to listen to a full album as, in honesty, I could never be bothered. It was my worst habit as a listener, and through discovering vinyl I also discovered the merits of letting an album flow seamlessly through its story.

The vinyl that started this all off was The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (the super special red edition)

 

This is, by far, my favourite Flaming Lips LP. Now, usually, I would just listen to 'Do You Realize?' and perhaps 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 1' from time to time, without really giving the rest of the album a look in. However, when this was played to me on vinyl it was something else. The strange but happy beats filled the room, making everyone in it seem bouncier and that bit more vibrant a technicolour. This album taught me not to skip (well, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 2 might be an exception), and taught me the value of a full, untouched album. And for that, to the Flaming Lips, I would be forever grateful.