spirare listens: one smart apple

These days, I'm really into Fiona Apple's music. I've been hopping back and forth among her albums, marvelling over the lyrics and music the same way I used to catch a bug and let it crawl all over my hands. Of course, I let the music crawl into my ears... and soak into my painfully under-used grey matter.... and obviously, it seeps out gradually - but it leaves a stain behind. No, not the nasty kind. The kind you get when you remove an old framed painting from a wall. Or, if you've worked in a laboratory, the millions of indescribable colours and damage embedded in the counters from generations of careless students. Giemsa stains. Hydrochloric acid. Malachite green. A burn from a spirit lamp/Bunsen burner.

So, here's music that has recently left a mark on my brain. 

(Click on the non-video links to go to the song.)

'Regret'- The Idler Wheel... (2012)

It's a miserable song. But I love it. Play it, let your anger out.

'Fiona Apple' - When the Pawn... (1999)

This song starts out kinda sweet, but then you get to the chorus:

Hunger hurts, but starving works, 
when it costs too much to love"

.... and the second stanza going all 

He said 'It's all in your head,' 
and I said, 'So's everything', but he didn't get it

It's got this undercurrent of longing, a quiet ache - just bubbling under the words.

'Not about love' - Extraordinary Machine (2005)

Here, Fiona adamantly states that she's not in love as the piano stomps and marches defensively.There's two versions of the album Extraordinary Machine -one previously leaked, one official that was re-worked with a different producers- so two versions of this song exist. I personally prefer the unreleased version.The official version is the one in the video here.

'Sullen girl' - Tidal (1996)

It's a sad song. But it leaves you tranquil, somewhat serene. As if whatever was troubling you has been put away, at least for the moment. It's calm under the waves, Fiona sings. 

'Hot Knife'- The Idler Wheel.. (2012)

Now this is a fun song to sing along to! It's playful and rather intense, and when Fiona belts out, 'He excites me, must be like the genesis of rhythm...' you can't help but tap your feet and sing along.

There's plenty more good songs, but these are the ones rotating in my mind these days. I find myself humming 'Hot Knife' constantly.

Later, folks!

spirare listens: defragment

Once in a while, there's something to listen to that wraps itself around you and you want to snuggle forever in its sonic arms. 'Defragment' by Ali Suhail is exquisitely intricate and warm,sort of bittersweet and beautiful, and...and... it's just really good, ok? I like how the guitar and vocals are like a spinal cord, and the rest of the sounds basically neurons branching out in layers. It's just a beautiful experience. Imagine sunlit afternoons spent alone or with friends, dappled sunshine as you drive under trees stretching their branches over the road, watching the sun sink out of sight, foggy gardens... just life, to be honest - with this album as the soundtrack. All isn't sunshine and roses, though. Listen to the lyrics, and you get a sense of how carefully the words have been rolled into the nooks and crannies of the music.

I find the lyrics interesting. There's sort of a darkness to them, I guess? I mean, like there's this:

'...Give me a hand, I'm not right

Not even close to what I am

Reassemble you with all that I have...'

-Nature

.....and then this:

"A breathing shrine for scabs where mirrors never had much to say.

There's big stitches holding me together

They're scaring you away."

-Enough

Anyway, go have a listen guys.This is good stuff.

Defragment, by Ali Suhail - In loving memory of  Sabeen Mahmud.