Sunday 30 November 2014

spirare listens: a peek at my playlist

So, I haven't entirely forgotten this blog. I just didn't have much motivation to write. The state of my drafts folder on this blog is quite pitiful - I've been working on the same damn post - which is still not complete - for weeks! University started miserably, and it wasn't until I gave a molecular biology test that went pretty well -I despise this subject actually- that things began to look more positive. The sunshine feels warmer, and I'm thinking of actually penning down those short stories rattling in my head. And socializing, of course. I feel like going out and actually talking to people. The saddest thing about my cellphone gallery these days is that since uni started, its been filled with blurry pictures of cats instead of people. Being an introvert in a new place really, really sucks. I spend a lot of time listening to music and staring at nothing. Which leads me to the point of this post - the music I have classified as 'generally epicness'. Epic for the moment, at least.

Jinora's light


 
It's definitely some of the most beautiful music ever.... I feel if I should ever hike up a mountain, I should play this. It's part of the soundtrack to The Legend of Korra. It's not officially out yet, but this was posted on composer Jeremy Zuckerman's soundcloud.


Joga - Björk




I don't remember when I heard this song.... but I'm glad I did. I ended up digging around and listening to the entire album it is from,  Homogenic. The song features a classical string arrangement over volcanic eruptions - I mean volcanic sounding beats. Not only is the song incredible, I love the video too. I love the camera angles, the way we are being guided over Bjork's supine body - eyes closed and clad in and enormous parka, wow - to rocky shores, ice-capped peaks, a meandering river in a lush green landscape and finally spirals over the splitting rocky ground and into Bjork's 'heart' where the island resides. 

Breath of Life - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Breath Of Life by Lord Of The Rings Soundtrack on Grooveshark

I wasn't a lord of the rings fan before, but a few months ago I watched all three movies in rapid succession and ended up liking them very much, and consequently listened to its beautiful soundtrack. The soundtrack is complex - so many themes in many variations! The Shire theme, the fellowship's theme, a theme for that wretched Ring, for Lothlorien, for Arwen and Aragorn, for the orcs, for Rivendell, so on and so forth. This track from the soundtrack for The Two Towers stood out for me. The gorgeously ethereal vocals by Sheila Chandra lead us in the track, light and as a feather and fade out as the music gets faster, rising up to Aragorn's theme. 



Pagan Poetry - Bjork




Pagan Poetry by Björk on Grooveshark

(Go here if the song doesn't play.)



Ok, so Bjork made it to this list for the second time... I couldn't help myself. Pagan Poetry is from her album Vespertine. When I plodded my way through her discography and came upon Vespertine, it was the winter of 2012. Somewhere on the internet, I read a random comment that this album was perfect for winter. And by the time spring rolled around, I definitely agreed. I listened to Vespertine, for the first time in my life, in the tracklist order. Vespertine reminded me of many things. Ice crystals, sunshine on a meadow, leaves with frosty tips, howling winds, dark caves with echoes, hot springs... I could go on. The lovely harp played by Zeena Parkins is like a spiderweb weaving around all these things. Add in the 'microbeats', music boxes and the other instruments, and you got Vespertine! The highlight of Pagan Poetry is the stunning bassline... it seems to pull at your neurons. The lyrics are enigmatic yet you understand, that they are about intimacy. At the end, as she cries, "And he makes me want to hand myself over" you can't help but shiver a little. I recommend listening to it in the dark.Or better yet, listen to it when there's a power outage and fade away.


Pandora - Cocteau twins


Pandora (For Cindy) by Cocteau Twins on Grooveshark

(Go here if the song won't play)

The song features dreamy, floaty (illegible) vocals by Liz Fraser as the music gently swirls around. When you hear this song you wonder how ever could it be reproduced live? Well.... here's how...



and here's another live version from 1984:




I can't explain how atmospheric this song (or the whole album, Treasure) is for me. It fits remarkably in several situations and moods - whether you're feeling blue, daydreaming or staring off into space. It's feelings made into music. How do you describe a feeling?


-spirare




Saturday 1 November 2014

Slow down

Hiya guys

So I wanted to say that since classes at university have started, I've been busy and things have slowed down a bit. No worries though, I hope to keep trucking on as usual. 

Have a good weekend!

-spirare

2017, 2017

Yo fellow humans, how you doin'.  It's been a year since I updated this blog last... I guess I haven't really accomplishe...