A surfer surfs the surf.
WHAT A DESCRIPTION!
Saw this at Maroubra. Thought it would make for a nice photo.
I hope you enjoy.
I was going to try and knock out a story or two this morning, but feeling it I am not.
I am preparing to stop, drop and roll my way to freedom, but the freedom I am looking for cannot be found, or something.
Perhaps it can be found and I am merely not looking as hard as I should.
This is something that I need to consider.
No, we’re not going down that train of thought again.
I shall look for the grass, I shall look for the sky, I shall look for something that opens itself wide to pleasantries.
Perhaps this is something within myself, or something.
I need to reach the wilds and roam the oceans and make my way through the unbound mysteries of which I seek.
I need to get to wherever it is that I am looking, close my eyes and then open myself to the experience that opposes that which I am allowing to hold myself back.
There will be the beauty of nature all around me and I am a small, insignificant person in the grand scheme of it all. I can only experience and record. I can do little else, for I am bound by my being, yet the nature itself is an expansive force that reaches far beyond what we could ever conceive and we are all merely powerless to its massiveness.
I am thinking far beyond what I normally would in a morning, but there are always other ways through a navigational plane that allow direction and misdirection, but then again if the birds are singing their mating songs and the rodents are reaching with their feet, then perhaps there is always some form of hope yet.
Perhaps there are ways of looking at the walls and seeing how they twist and turn and form new paths without taking up more space.
There is a way to find out and getting through them will lead to something greater than a meager experience, assuming that one has the knowledge to be able to divine the experience from the task.
I think that this shall be something that needs to be set forward in some way, and yet I am not sure as to how to proceed. My feet shake as I tremble. I look for the right action and yet all that comes to me is the flailing of the limbs.
All that comes in my moment of trying is the flailing of the limbs.
However, there is a form of steadiness that I can embrace and so long as I hold confidence, the mountain I am raising will be cleaved in two and forward I shall be able to move. I shall move forward and look toward what is set in front of me and I shall embrace it with all that I can.
I shall embrace it and into its vision I shall walk. I shall walk with confidence and step away from that which I will leave.
The time it took to write five-hundred words: 06:36:65
So I started off with a specific idea in mind and then I balked and then I went back into fiction, but something completely different.
It’s okay.
Written at work.
On their second album Kurushimi ask the question; What is Music?.
Hang on.
Kurushimi ask the question; What is chaos?
The question in question just so happens to be the title of their new album.
What is Chaos? sees focus shift somewhat from live improvisation to something that is more produced. The live performance is still at the heart of many songs but there’s much more editing and addition outside of the initial performances.
Furthermore, there’s more playing around with styles. In a sense this makes What is Chaos? less linear. However, there’s also less consistency.
There are a few sudden shifts between some songs that make for a jarring experience. Whilst thematically it is chaotic, in places the record is tonally uneven. Rather than feeling natural, the transition between a jazz song, dub song and a sudden burst of grindcore ends up feeling forced.
Speaking of which, there’s four very brief frenetic songs scattered throughout the record; three of which feature vocal sounds that are mostly at odds with those songs. Aside from the last one, the brief songs are ill-fitting for what they’re between as they forcibly jerk the listener around. Again, it makes sense from a thematic standpoint but it also makes the record feel messy and uneven.
A lot of attention went into how sounds work with each other. The keys, guitar and sax help to give “A Smile, A Wish” a strong sense of its own identity. The use of drone on tracks such as “What is Chaos?” and “Yuruyaka na shi no ma no kanbi naru mezame” carry an undercurrent of menace that doesn’t supercede everything else. Even when going for something nonstandard, the percussion will still be moving in a way that makes sense to a song.
The way that Kurushimi move and progress through songs is still a delight. They do a good job of expressing forms of both dissonance and harmony through improvisation whilst sounding really tight. The members feed off of each other really well, so when given the opportunity to push outward, it’s of no surprise of their ease in making various sections work.
Whilst the tone is uneven at times, the biggest issue with What is Chaos? is that whilst at times it is subtle, the editing can be too obvious. Some of the chaos, as well as some softer sections end up feeling forced. With that being said, it would have been foolish to follow up Kurushimi and The Return Series with more of the same, so in a sense What is Chaos? is a triumphant record. It explores the idea of chaos in interesting ways and it gives an idea of how Kurushimi could function as a studio entity. However, instead of going the whole hog the group as an improvisational unit is kept at the center of most of the songs.
When What is Chaos? allows more of the improvisational side to come through, Kurushimi sound absolutely amazing. However, there are still plenty of decent moments in sections with heavier editing.
So I’m sitting here and trying to think about how I can fill the space of which I have set out before me.
I’m thinking about what I’ve been doing with my life and the launch of the new thing that is taking Cool Try’s place. I’m thinking about my studies and how I need to finish off a large number of reviews. I’m thinking about thinking.
I’m at work and I just don’t want to be here today. There are other places where I’d rather be. Oh well. It cannot be helped at this moment. Money is needed to survive, which is a weird concept.
I want to be able to relax.
Well, I guess I can relax a bit later.
I think I’ve run out of juice for the time being. Maybe the quitting of the caffeine was not a good idea. Oh well. I broke that just before. There’s now turning back, but there is always beginning again.
Beginning once more, at the beginning of it all.
I was hoping to write something a bit more serious this morning, but I don’t think that my mind is willing to allow such a thing to happen. This may end up being rather dull, so I’m sorry if this post turns out to be. Still, it is an exercise and getting this out now will be a lot better than getting it out later as it means that I’ll be able to get something of above average quality out sooner.
Well, that is what I want to tell myself.
The weather outside is not the most pleasant, but that’s okay as it is still weather of a relaxing variety, as it were.
What am, I doing with my life?
I’m sitting in an office that I don’t enjoy being in anymore.
Actually, that is a half-truth. I still enjoy being here as the environment is surprisingly healthy. I just don’t enjoy the job anymore.
Still, it is debatable as to how much I enjoyed the job at any given time.
I need to get back to where I want to be. I need to get back to creating things.
I need to go make some more music. I need to write more reviews.
I need to do more photography.
I need to do something that is a fulfilling use of my time and this job just isn’t that anymore.
I think.
I need to think about what I am doing. I need to think about it quite a lot. I need to keep on moving forward to something that I want to do with my time.
Actually, that is what I’m doing at the moment, in a way.
Soon I shall once more play a gig and now I get to have more of a part on a site that allows me to put more of my unqualified views out there. Soon that will launch and I hope ot does well.
There will be more photography to do. There is always more photography to do and I think I’ve gotten a bit lazy, so I need to get back into the swing of things once more.
I need to do some editing this morning and afternoon.
I just kind of want to get away for a bit. I need to knuckle down and work hard, but I also need to do things that allow me to get away.
I need to stop rambling and find something that is a little more concise as this has al[ready gone on for far too long.
Sorry about the rambling.
Pig Destroyer don’t destroy any pigs on their new album. Sadly, there also is a distinct lack of the sound of cages being destroyed, although the title is likely metaphorical.
Head Cage is Pig Destroyer’s new album.
After the noisy opener of “Tunnel Under the Tracks”, Head Cage mostly sticks to a formula. Most of the songs focus on straightforward groove but occasionally a greater focus on grindcore will surface.
Head Cage is fairly consistent in sound. Noise is used well, the guitar and bass are usually moving around a fair bit. The drumming does a lot without overplaying and is quite tight, and the vocals sound abrasive and raw. Pig Destroyer function well together, the lyrics remain poetic and appropriate, and so on and so forth.
There are a few catchier moments, such as parts of “Army of Cops” and “Circle River”, which feel consciously designed for chorus singalongs. Anytime something like this appears, it feels appropriate to both the song as well as the album as a whole.
Overall the songs, whilst as direct as ever, are much more straightforward. There’s less room for intricacy or exploration and quite often the band sound like they’re playing it safe. That’s not to say that there isn’t any exploration; there are times where Pig Destroyer push outward and those moments really work well. However, many songs are “middle of the road” and stay firmly there, so to speak. At times this causes Head Cage to feel like it drags.
Combined with the poor mastering and Head Cage can become a tiring listen. There are points where the songs sound like they should jump forward, but they don’t as the whole record sounds uniformly flat. Many of the songs end up blending into each other which leads to them sounding muddy and indistinct..
Pig Destroyer have reigned themselves in a bit and the album is less out there than their usual fare. All of what makes Pig Destroyer Pig Destroyer is still there; plenty of complex riffing, complex drumming and well-written vocals delivered harshly. Noise builds on song structures. Everything delivered in a way that rejects showing off so the focus remains on the music, and it’s clear that Pig Destroyer are enthusiastic about what they’re doing. However, there’s not much to bite onto. Outside of a few listens the songs pass by with little impact. The talent and skill to craft a good song is all there and in no way are the songs on Head Cage bad. They are good and sometimes great songs, but the approach means that most of them don’t stand out.
Head Cage is audible here.
As seen at Maroubra Beach during low tide.
A few different textures and a nice display of earthy colours.
I like that the invertebrates in this photo do a fair bit to altering the appearance of the surface of the rock platform.
The sky appears flat and (mostly) uniform in colour which I think helps make this area of the coastline stand out more.
The geological structure and bleaching helps reinforce the beauty of nature, I think.
It’s not quite obvious, but this area also functions as a “Path” that leads around this part of the coastline. I’m not sure how far it goes.
This is my submission into the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge for this week.
This challenge is hosted by four people and cycles weekly:
Week 1 – Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com/
Week 2 – Ann-Christine aka Leya of https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/
Week 3 – Amy of https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/
Week 4 – Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/
This week is hosted by Tina and next week’s will be hosted by Patti.
I suggest following and considering participating, but also seeing how other people have responded to the photo challenge from The Daily Post ending.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
At this point toe have been around for a fair while.
Based on how things are going, they’ll outlast my “career” as a “critic”.
On Our Latest Number toe have crafted something that sounds resolutely familiar whilst also perhaps moving toward something different. What you hear is toe the whole way through, but the release seems to be a bit more low-key and softer than prior releases.
There’s a sense of playfulness and swing that permeates the release. Tender, twinkling guitar sounds intermingle with each other whilst the drums and bass play a soft, yet distinct groove. Occasional vocals make an appearance, but the focus remains steadfast on the progression of the songs.
There’s a good deal of space on Our Latest Number; more so than what you’d normally get with music of this ilk. There is a sparseness to the E.P., but rather than feel empty or barren everything stands out more and does better to hold attention. toe see the importance of not cluttering everything with as much as possible and it pays off. The songs don’t become muddy and are more memorable for it.
“F_A_R” stands out from the other tracks. Being predominantly piano-driven and more openly melancholic in sound, the song eventually begins building to a climax. Although it seems like the song will go down the standard route, it smartly cuts off before the expected release. A refrain of one of the earlier melodic patterns comes in after brief silence, then it too disappears. “F_A_R” is probably the most different track on Our Latest Number, but it works well with the other songs. “F_A_R” doesn’t go for the big ending; in cutting off it fittingly summarises the E.P.
There’s not anything bad to say about Our Latest Number. toe put out quality music and the E.P. serves to continue their consistency. It could have been longer and it could have been louder. Instead Our Latest Number remains quiet throughout its brief run time without sounding diminished. This, combined with many other elements leads to a release that doesn’t wear out its welcome.
If you would like to hear Our Latest Number, then you can find it here.
And move toward a destination that we may be sure of, but are not necessarily certain.
A long exposure of a train as it moves in whichever direction it happens to be heading.
I like the segmentation of the light as it allows for glimpses of the background and I also like that there’s a sense of depth to the photo.
I hope you enjoy.
There’s already too much noise in here and the day of work is yet to start.
Sometimes people do not get the hint that you don’t want to talk to them. I wonder as to why.
Sometimes they do get the hint. I wonder as to why.
I am looking for a thread to follow, but there is always the chance that the thread is following me as I unravel all over the place so that it can rebuild me so I don’t completely unravel, but then would I be the same person?
This is a question to ponder, but of course there are other things that I need to take care of. I would need to ponder it in my own time so I am not getting paid to ponder.
Being paid to ponder would certainly be nice, however.
Still, that is not what I am paid for. I am paid to take abuse from customers, as well as take kindness from customers.
I am paid to do a job and that is a job that I am losing interest in, but that is for many a reason and that is not something that I feel willing to discuss at this point in time, for I do not want to throw my organisation under a bus, despite how easy that would be to do at this present time.
Perhaps I have said too much, or perhaps I have said too little.
It is too early in the day to tell at this point in time. Perhaps at a later point in time I will be able to tell if I have said too much or said too little.
There is, of course, the very real possibility that I have said just the right amount of things to say and this is also something that needs to be considered.
There are a lot of things that need to be considered, and yet there is so little time on earth to consider all of the things. What a considerable situation of great consideration, or something.
I think I need more sleep. I think there needs to be more sleep in my life. It is something that is slowly slipping away and I am feeling it worse on some days than others. Perhaps my body is gearing up for daylight savings. I have thought this and I hope that it is the case. I hope that I am not losing sleep for little to no reason. Well, there would be a reason but it is a reason that I would not yet understand as I do not have the information at hand to be able to know what it is that is causing me to lose sleep… I think.
I think that this thought is something that I need to think about. I need to think about thinking about the losing of the sleep, among other things. However, there is a shortage on time, so I need to carefully chose my thoughts.
The time it took to write five-hundred words: 05:50:47
Happy with the speed. Happy with the simplicity of the text. Still need to work more on the flow and whatnot.
Water scattering as the wave breaks on rock.
A few different textures, a few different shades of blue in the photo.
I like the way the water is spreading out as it moves through the air.
I really like the patterns and texture formed by the water that is still firmly attached to the ocean.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is a violent photo, but I do think it has an intensity to it.
Leanne Cole recently has started a new photo challenge.
This is for the current challenge with the theme being “Water”.
I suggest checking out Leanne’s photography, as well as checking out what other people submit into the challenge.
You can find the challenges here.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
Stupidity Hole 