Inspiration Icon: Lana Del Rey

   Recalling the first time I’ve heard of Lana Del Rey about a year ago non of her-bee-stung-lips-impressions are striking through my thoughts. It was love from the first sight. But love with the kind of music she produces. I can even say that it was love with her inner world, as much as it can be felt through her creative work. If I’d heard some of her early recordings like “Sirens” (signed with nom de plumes – May Jailer) before Lana became famous I’d definitely like it and write about it. But it was between 2005- 2006 and I knew nothing about it back then. Now Lana Del Rey is a star and well-known all over the world. Lots of people heard her single-songs like Video Games, Born to Die, Blue Jeans and lately released Ride, but why still so many of them blame her for changing her face (lips extensions, e.t.c.) when she looks pretty? Does it really matter if that was what she needed to make her image compete? I think No, at least not for me.

  Lana’s music inspires, lures, gets under your skin. She’s gifted singer and songwriter. Her lyrics are girlish and autobiographic, but there’s a style and there’s deepness that I like the most. Not to talk of her voice that is a pure honey. And of course she’s such a beauty. Undoubtedly there always something can be found to criticize anyone, but that’s not what I’m writing about.

Heavy Metal Machine

  Last Friday (October 19th 2012) my friend Uliana Serova asked me out to a concert of heavy-metal band from Finland - "Domination Black". I couldn't refuse it - just said "yes", even without preparing myself for the gig as I often do. Normally, I'd listen to at least a couple of songs or better an album to get the idea of what the music is about. This time it has started with sight for me. And it was damn good.

  Guys came to Saint-Petersburg, Russia for the first time (with a gig) from Kotka, Finland where the band was formed in 2003. Journalists determine their music as "thrash" with lots of heavy-metal, spiced-up with horror lyrics. Musicians themselves said to be grown up listening to such bands as: Halloween, Judas Priest, Jethro Tull, Queen, Rush, AC/DC, W.A.S.P., Anthrax, Kiss, Motley Crue, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Type-O-Negative, e.t.c. By now "Domination Black" released three albums and one mini-album: 2005's "Fearbringer" on Poison Arrow Records, 2006's "Dark Legacy" released on the same label, 2008's mini-cd "Hunting" on Violent Journey Records and 2012's "Dimension:Death" released on Kanki Rekords/Playground Music.

  Lately some changes affected "Domination Black" - new vocalist Matias Palm' s joined the band. Needless to sell  these changes were all for good. Matias has very powerful voice. But in their music they still faithful to themselves. Now "Doninatiom Black" is: Matias Palm on vocals, Lauri Eerola on bass, Wille Wiren on lead and rhythm guitars, Teppo Heiskanen also responsible for guitars, Juuso Elminen on keyboards and Juha Beck on drums.

  Well, now when we're a little acquainted with the band, let's get back to the gig. The ticket said that the show begins at 6 pm, but actually it has started later. When we arrived, the club was almost empty. Only the band checking & tuning the sound, organizers of the gig and a few fans. We've walked into the hall and occupied a little table near the bar. Still no-one was around except of a bartender and waitress. We just thought it's because of everyone are being late. A kind of a tradition in Russia: Artists are often late for an hour or more, fans know it and do not hurry. Anyway, that was a little strange. Then guys took their instruments and began to play. Regardless of anything. With their long hair hidden in ponytails. That wasn't even the beginning as we thought at the moment. It was a sort of rehearsal or something. After a couple of songs were played, musicians escaped behind the scenes. We were left to ourselves..joking and giggling as we always do, wandering around the bar, trying to feel the atmosphere and kill the time. But then a man, perhaps the organizer, came onto the stage and told everyone that the show will start at 8 pm, coz the opening band - "Skoraya Pomosch" is ill. Ta-da.

  An hour later, finally, everybody is on their places. "Domination Black" is on stage. With their long hair hanging down... The sound spreading through the hall and reaching the hearts and the ears of the listeners. With the chords of the first song from the set list - "Legacy Of Fears" people are waking-up. The energy and fuel is pouring from the stage. Everybody felt it, I'm sure. Despite the fact that there weren't lots of people who came to the gig, it was such a good vibe! Super-friendly atmosphere definitely worth it.

Set-List:

 Legacy of Fears

 Evilizer

 Porter At The Gates Go Hell

 The Hellbound

 Haunted Hell House

 Deja Vu (Iron Maiden cover)

 Cold Touch

 Passage Of The Death

 Final Sigh

 House Of 100 Eyes

Traitor Within

P.S. Hope this heavy-metal machine called "Black Domination" will come back someday and there will be more people to feel that energy and profesionalism.

Puro Instinct

JUst yesterday one very good man showed me a new smashing band from west coast, called Puro Instinct. I predict them a long live in my iPod which is - as the matter of fact  - an uncommon thing for my always-moving-changing world. Young, Promising, Talented  Kaplan sisters - Skylar (16) and Piper (23) - are playing hazed, dreamy, melodic, light and moving music that is worth your attention if you're into dream-pop and shoegaze aesthetics.


Puro Instinct feat. Ariel Pink 'Stilyagi' from Marcus Herring on Vimeo.

Beady Eye live @ GlavClub, Saint-Petersburg

  So long ago since i last visited any live gigs. So long ago since i last wrote an article for my blog. Yes, life on Mars 've been kinda difficult-thing since my exams in university has started. I must admit i've been a reckless girl. Should have prepared better. But the summer has started and my head is somewhere higher than the clouds. Hope you, guys, haven't thought that i've completely left the Milky-Way galaxy. No, i'm still here with you.  Sometimes i even become social.:)
  This time i wanted to tell you about my Beady Eye live gig experience. If you are interested..and even if' you're not.  Here we are. I wasn't even suspecting of them to come here, but a friend of mine told me so i've decided to go. I've heard that Liam is a bad boy, just wanted to assure myself. Never was a big Oasis fan, but at least i used to hear all of their albums, some of them even more than once. They really were the spitit of 90's. And i do really love the 90's, espesially the music. Fantastic! But Oasis've never been touring even close to these places.

All the Pictures used in this article are taken by a great photographer from Saint-Petersburg - Maria Mitrofanova. Hope she don't mind me using her shoots.

Welcome To my CaSTLE

my own pin ups

Breathtaking...MADONNA

"My Death" performed by David Bowie in 1973

originally written and performed by Jacques Brel

then brilliantly performed in english by Scott Walker

then..performed by David Bowie..and no more words

Playing in my head..

 

The Walker Brothers - Nite Flights

"A Man Who Fell To Earth" on Blu-Ray

  I seem to watch it once..Also i remember that i liked the film though it caused quite unexplainable feelings. Strangely enough, but details of the plot has drown in the ocean of my recollection. Maybe my mind was hazed..a little on that glorious morning. Does it really matter?
  Anyways, what I wanted to tell you, my dear readers, is that you better watch it yourself. And you are pretty lucky cause it's going to be released on Blu-Ray on April 4th. In a greater quality! Mmm, i think now i'm sure about one of the top-positions in my 2011 Birthday wish-list (murmuring).
  Today i was surfing NME mag's web-site..from where i stole the info & something "for a dessert". Look through and ENJOY!

	Behind the scenes on David Bowie's The Man Who Fell To Earth A digitally restored version of the classic sci-fi film The Man Who Fell To Earth, starring David Bowie, is released on blu-ray for the first time on April 4. To mark the occasion we're taking an exclusive look behind the scenes on the set.
	The film was based on a 1963 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, who also wrote The Hustler. The plot concerns an alien who crash lands on earth, seeking to get water back to his planet which is in the throes of a severe drought. Here's a shot of Bowie in hair and make up for the film.
	It was Bowie’s first film role. Director Nic Roeg realised Bowie was perfect for the lead role when he happened to catch the singer’s edgy appearance in tour documentary Cracked Actor. Here’s a shot of a Bowie with the clapperboard from the set.
	Roeg praised Bowie in an interview with Creem saying: "I think a lot of rock stars think they can just transfer the art of their personality to film. David is quite an exception to the rule". Here’s Bowie with Roeg and co-star Candy Clark.
	Filming took place in the latter half of 1975. In between shooting Bowie read, wrote short stories and practiced filming on a 16mm newsreel camera he was given by Roeg. Here’s a shot of Bowie and Larry Sanders Show co-star Rip Thorn being given direction from Roeg.
	Bowie also wrote some songs which were intended for the film soundtrack. One of these tracks was 'Subterraneans' which ended up on 'Low'. Roeg decided against using Bowie songs for the film, instead opting to go with Stomu Yamashta’s score. Here’s a shot of Bowie reading a biography of Buster Keaton, in preparation for a planned biopic.
	Bowie’s sessions for the soundtrack took place in late '75, following the recording of 'Station To Station'. Speaking in 2007, arranger Paul Buckmaster, who was involved in the sessions, said he didn’t think the music produced was "really what Roeg was looking for". In '77 Bowie sent a copy of 'Low' to Roeg with a note attached which said: 'This is what I wanted to do for the film'.
	In an on-set interview with Creem Bowie said: "Working with Nic is nice because we get on well, we understand one another. There’s a marvelous chemistry between us. He’s very sensitive to everything that’s going on. He’s brilliant." Here’s a shot of Roeg, Bowie and son Duncan Jones.
	Filming did not go smoothly. Cameras were jammed for no reason, rowdy Hell’s Angels interrupted filming of a scene on an old Aztec burial ground and Bowie was ill for two days after drinking contaminated milk. Here’s Bowie in full 'alien' costume.
	Jim Lovell, the Spacecraft Commander of the dramatic Apollo 13 flight, made an appearance in the film as himself. In one scene he congratulates Bowie’s character. Here’s shot of Lovell with Bowie on-set.
	American Graffiti actress Candy Clark played the cheerfully coarse chambermaid Mary-Lou. Clark, who was dating Roeg at the time, is pictured here on set with Bowie.
	In 1999, Roeg said: "With The Man Who Fell To Earth I wanted to get rid of any sense of time, because it's surprising how often we mention it in our lives." Here he is with Bowie and Candy Clark.

All the information has been taken from HERE

• Photo: Canal+ Image UK Ltd
• Added: Mar 30, 2011