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.

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

Thin White Duke is having fun on reahersal (1976)

Can't help, but laughing. This video has made my day.

Sadden glissando strings..

The most beautiful and mysterious lyrics.

I turn this tune quietly

I dance and play

I whirl and I pretend 

I am someone else

In and Out of this World

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane

Watching him dash away, swinging an old bouquet - dead roses
Sake and strange divine Uh-hu-hu-uh-hu-hu you'll make it
Passionate bright young things, takes him away to war - don't fake it
Sadden glissando strings
Uh-hu-hu-uh-hu-hu - you'll make it

Who'll love Aladdin Sane
Battle cries and champagne just in time for sunrise
Who'll love Aladdin Sane

Motor sensational, Paris or maybe hell - (I'm waiting)
Clutches of sad remains
Waits for Aladdin Sane - you'll make it

Oooh Who'll love Aladdin Sane
Millions weep a fountain, just in case of sunrise
Oooh Who'll love Aladdin Sane

We'll love Aladdin Sane
Love Aladdin Sane

Oooh Who'll love Aladdin Sane
Millions weep a fountain, just in case of sunrise
Oooh Who'll love Aladdin Sane

We'll love Aladdin Sane
We'll love Aladdin Sane

Oooh Who'll love Aladdin Sane
Millions weep a fountain, just in case of sunrise
Oooh Who'll love Aladdin Sane

We'll love Aladdin Sane
Who'll love Aladdin Sane

See the lights shine oh so bright on Broadway

David Bowie

It's not a secret that Bowie has always been the great source of my inspirations. I tell you even more - he's the one i wore on my self-styled t-shirt though i never wore musicians on my clothes, i'm fine with them playing out of my record player. One more example of person/artist who's perfect at anytime. My parents were listening to his music, some younger musician were inspired by Bowie and now so am i. There is no time between us, really. By the way..he's not only a great musician, ..but a great showman and actor as well. Mmm, Ziggy Stardust, even you were young and green back in the days..
David Bowie- Heroes

Let's watch him through the flow of time..

P.S. What about your favourite Bowie?)

i get so inspired and excited when...

... i hear & see them singing together, especially this live version of "Hurt" mesmerizes me.

Song to a Siren...

I have a long lasting love-affair with a song. The song is called "A song to the siren" performed by This Mortal Coil. It was a long long time ago when i was 11 year-old kid, collecting records and interesting films, that were phohibited to me by my parents. And one day i went to that market near my appartments and bought Lynch's "Lost Highway" (though it was a bit heavy for my mind back then..). While watching the film it was like "Bang" and i've heard the song, i was hypnotized by that voice. I've remembered each word. I went to the store again to buy a soundtrack. But i didn't found the song on the official OST. And i got very very sad cause i even didn't know the name of the band or anything that could help me in finding it. At the same time i was lurning to play guitar with an amazing teacher. Once he brought me a casette with Cocteau Twins "Blue Bell Know" and "Four Calendar Cafe" on it. I fell in love with the band. At that time i had no internet in here. And it was impossible to buy and download music with i-net. 7 years later. I got to the Cd store to buy some records and found a Mp3 Cd of Cocteau Twins (the bonus was This Mortal Coil's album). I was increadibly happy to listen to their other albums. And you know what when i've heard that song again i almost felt unconscious. That's how i finally found it.)))

Later i've decided to translate it into russian, for people who maybe can't understand the original language..here it is..

В бескрайнем и диком океане
Я не мог уловить улыбки на губах,
Пока твои поющие глаза и нежные пальцы
Ни заманили меня своими чарами..
И ты пела "плыви сюда, плыви ко мне,
позволь мне заполнить тебя"
И вот он я, падаю в эту бездну..
Мечтал ли я, что ты мечтаешь обо мне?
Была ли ты рядом, когда я плавал вслепую?
Теперь моя обманутая лодка поймала крен, любовь разбилась о твои камни..
Ты поешь "не прикасайся, приходи завтра.."
И мое сердце разрывается от тоски..
Я озадачен как младенец, опутан твоими чарами,
Вспенен как океан, как волны..
Должен ли я бороться с судьбой разбившихся
или отдаться в твои руки.
Услышь как я пою "плыви ко мне, плыви ко мне, заполни меня.
И вот он я, готов поддаться твоим чарам."

Regina Spector

Pasternaks "February" sounds magic in Reginas song "Apres Moi".

 Достать чернил и плакать! 
Писать о феврале навзрыд, 
Пока грохочащая слякоть 
Весною черною горит. 

Достать пролетку. За шесть гривен 
Чрез благовест, чрез клик колес 
Перенестись туда, где ливень 
Еще шумней чернил и слез. 

Где, как обугленные груши, 
С деревьев тысячи грачей 
Сорвутся в лужи и обрушат 
Сухую грусть на дно очей. 

Под ней проталины чернеют, 
И ветер криками изрыт, 
И чем случайней, тем вернее 
Слагаются стихи навзрыд. 

Life On Mars: January Mixtape

Winter Mixtape by Valerie Von Doll

Explosive forces of Courtney

Florence & the Machine: Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)

Florence Welch (Florence & the Machine) - one of my favourite female singers along with Kate Bush, Bat for Lashes, Bjork, Tori Amos, Jewel, Regina Spector & Elizabeth Fraser. Her stories always takes you into a strange, beautiful, immaginary world. Her voice lets you live them through her heart. Her music is pure magic. Her music videos are breathtaking. Here are some pictures from her "Rabbit Heart" video directed by Tom Beard & Tabitha (of Queens of Noize). 

 Photographs by Alex Lake

(i found them on AUTHORITYDESIGN)

02 Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) by NBiszantz

 

XHOANA

Singer, songwriter, dancer, performer, beautiful lady and REBEL from City of Angels is defenitely worth checking out and falling in love with!
Ercy Mirage Presents Xhoana - Blow My Mind (Original Mix) by Seven Sun Recordings

Official site, Twitter, MySpace,YouTube

Music Philosophy

Inspires me

First written by Tommy James and Shondells and brilliantly covered by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts "Crimson & Clover" song makes my heart beats a little faster. Yeah, i know, it's simple, it's straight, but meaningful too..Like Crimson & Clover could be some secret lovers or a beautiful symbol, but anyway it's more than a flower crimson clover devided with "&". Catching. Singing again and again. Joan Jett filled it with something very special, something very delicate against the background of her toughness. Btw, i finally watched the film "Runaways". I must say it's good. It shares a moment. Floria Sigismondi did a great job. So did the actors. Would like to read "Neon Angel" now.

A little about song meaning.. not as poetic as i've imagined, but you know, inner meanings are always up to you.

Ah and I don't hardly know her
But I think I could love her
Crimson and clover

Ah, when will she come walking over
Now I've been waiting to show her
Crimson and clover
Over and over

Yeah
My mind's such a sweet thing
I want to do everything
What a beautiful feeling
Crimson and clover
Over and over
Crimson and clover
Over and over
Crimson and clover
Over and over...

Summer Retro Mixtape