beyond good and evil

We all need some. Not in the crude way. Softly and gently. So that it won’t trigger my migraine. Wouldn’t like to be the type wearing sunglasses day and night. So soft that the caramel looking color invites you to hallucinate over the shadows. Make up the story of the whitewashed wall behind. Not so depressive, please. Light brings hope. So said Daniel Johnston once: ‘Maybe hope can shine a light… Love can save you now’.
Then there goes Jacob Golden’s calling to mind: ‘My favorite Daniel Johnston song was recorded on a tape deck before you were born...’ Can’t truly figure which song is Jacob’s favorite. Not a big big deal anyway. I will just shine my lights on tonight.

Jacob Golden – Shine A Light

See Mr Yodelice (aka Maxim Nucci) wandering about woods. SUpposedly burning his toast, cutting his finger, spilling his beer… Blimey!

I put your stockings in my purple boots. What if I don’t get over you?

Even better is the improvised cover in natural medium. Bother to click on. It’s fun.

Very much beloved Jimmy LaValle is back with his magic stick in hand. That magic he is generously spreading through The Album Leaf is entitled ‘A Chorus of Storytellers‘ this time. Such poetry! Been almost 4 years since Into The Blue Again has turned us upside down. Imagine the thirst we Album Leafers have towards new stuff. 4 years, I mean! (However a new Tristeza release last year helped me to whine less but still The Album Leaf is no Tristeza… Right?)

Recorded by Ryan Hadlock in Seattle and mixed by Birgir Jon Birgisson of Sigur Ros in Reykjavik (Oh yes!); new album is released on 2nd February through Sub Pop family again. I love my Sub Pop more each day.


First impressions; I am fascinated. As usual. ‘There Is A Wind‘, ‘We Are‘, ‘Falling From the Sun‘ and ‘Stand Still‘ are promising to become new Album Leaf classics; recalling ‘On Your Way’, ‘Over the Pond’, ‘Eastern Glow’…etc.

The thing about this new album is that for the first time the whole live band have performed the songs together instead of LaValle playing them as he did for earlier releases before. LaValle is becoming more of an orchestra now sharing his spot behind the mixing desks and all that stuff. Bringing together the chorus of his precious touring team: Matthew Resovich, Drew Andrews, Luis Hermosillo…

Perro’s down to earth opening of the record is like giving a soft massage to one’s soul. Getting followed with bagpipe like sounding Blank Pages and more strings and horns attached soul breakers down the line.

I guess Within Dreams, Summer Fog and Until The Last are few songs that Jon Birgisson affect is felt most. The strings, soothing catastrophe getting you déjà vu the calmest moments you have cherished back from Takk days.

Most powerful and say charts-friendly tune Almost There and Thule-esque Tied Knots wrapping up this 11 piece of ethereal balance. Satisfaction. And beyond.

Downtempo, piano, violin, sheltering vocals (some from The Black Heart Procession’s Pall Jenkins)… Same old beauty in the haunting ambiance, LaValle and co. are digging deep that sleeping desolation in mankind.

Recorded by Ryan Hadlock in Seattle and mixed by Birgir Jon Birgisson in Reykjavik (Oh yes!); new album is due to release on 2nd February through Sub Pop family again.

pre-order here

And here is a little bonus nicked from The Album Leaf’s official website. Enjoy!

Mixing in Iceland from TheAlbumLeaf on Vimeo.

So controversies come  and controversies go; with a year delay Rock’n Coke has revisited the town through the arguments, agreements, pumpings, disagreements. As usual… But that’s another story. I’d just like to say what I say on a brief keen set group of paragraphs with no touch to an affair. I will leave that to others. Plus it is fun to read people dissolving giving a mouthful to the breakdowns of now 6 years old organization. Even funnier if you agree with the riots! teehee

So where was I… Monday, 19th July 2009. Killing hot and a long way to take untill the festival area which is known as F1 Istanbul Park. Yes, that F1 where racecars gun it up to the very loudest bit. Crossing the sea from European side to Anatolia and then taking the bus that is filled up with sticky people. Well, air conditioners can’t accomplish their missions if you fill the bus to triple capacity. Oh yeah, I said I was not gonna moan, right? Go on then… Busses, shuttles and bottles of water later; there we were eventually. In the festival area. The tired looking crowd at the entrance; those took shelter under some tunnel type of thing gave us a clue about the heat rolling over the area. But I still kept walking further in the most heroic way. Me vs. Heat! Heat was hitting under the belt using the asphalt-concrete advantage though. Not so cool. But hey, I was only a few minutes away from seeing my beloved Cold War Kids. I could deal with it. I did. I suppose.

Cold War Kids: 15.20. The sun edging in like an awfully glowing sword. A lady holding a hosepipe near the front; sprouting the water all around to see the miserable crowd wooing for more… Although some couldn’t help counting their blessings (!) to her that she was losing herself in the game of single-sided-water-fighting. Me on the other hand waiting with a divine patience for the Californian quartet that have made me a devoted fan from about 4 years ago. (we love la-underground!) Memories of me begging on forums for them to come and play Istanbul one day which seemed to be a distant dream at the time. Years of stalking any review on them, turning that amazing Robbers & Cowards CD to one “worn out from overplay” state… Putting them in my untouchables list of bands no matter what else they release afterwards. There they were at last! Nathan and Jonnie and Matt and Matt. The men who blessed my rock’n roll spraying the prudent blues on it.  Because the weather was torturing and I was disorganized and got numb to find a pen to write down the tunes played; I don’t remember the whole setlist in the correct order. But I do remember the upbeat opening with Mexican Dogs. It was a balanced set between Robbers & Cowards and Loyalty to Loyalty.  In no particular order it went like – Something Is Not Right With Me, I’ve Seen Enough, Relief, Dreams Old Men Dream, Hang Me Up To Dry, Tell Me In The Morning, Rubidoux, We Used To Vacation and Hospital Beds. Feel free to fill in the blanks if I have forgot any. They definitely didn’t do Passing the Hat and Saint John though. No matter how hard I screamed “Passing the Hat please” from down the front, it didn’t work. Yes I even said “please” and got ignored. Or even unheard. Oh well…

I will pass the bit for complaining about the sound problems as we Istanbulers are so used to this thing for years now and these years have tought me no matter how much you complain nothing will change. I am just saying it would have been so much greater if the guitar in I’ve Seen Enough could be heard rather clearly. Jonnie’s super awesome participation and Nathan’s top vocals covered it all though. Fulfillingly. Dreams Old Men Dream is one of my favorites from Loyalty to Loyalty and is apparently a top tune! But still wasn’t expecting this good of a live performance for such a lowdown tune!  The highlight of the show was Rubidoux with no confusion though.  The noise and harmony coming out of those four guys on the stage got me hypnotized. Jonnie was incredibly cool all along. He was standing very close to where I was watching so I could observe him better than the rest. It is like he plays and sings with his heart and soul jumping around with his guitar in his hands. Especially the tunes from Robbers & Cowards and Something Is Not Right With Me were heard to be the most fueling performances. Matt’s rhytmic bass beats clinging to the cantabile melodies of guitar in Hang Me Up To Dry was when the band got the best reaction from the almost-literally melted crowd. With the final couple tracks the contentment reached to the climax: We Used To Vacation – Hospital Beds. It was not only my voice I lost over singing aloud there but my senses too. As the Hospital Beds began rearing up through Nathans’s fingers on the keyboard I wondered if it was any possible to appreciate them more for writing such a beautiful beautiful song. Kept on singing aloud: Vietnam - Fishing Trips – Italian Operaaaaa…..

So despite early hours of the day, awfully high heat, partly numb crowd (it wasn’t crowded at all actually) and the relatively short set; Kids made their best. Some might see this as a subjective judgement but hell yes; Cold War Kids were the best act of the day; following me.

After CWK‘s line, there was two hours until We Have Band shows up in the alternative stage. So two hours long eating, drinking, fooling around and a bit of nostalgia thanks to Cartel. Never been a fan of them but it was really exciting. There shouldn’t be a single peep from my generation who don’t know their hit’s lyrics by heart. They had some impressive entrance and the reaction of the crowd (this time it was much more crowded yeah) was impeccable. Except the younger kids staying confused to see big bros rapping out all along to that distantly familiar melody. Yeah it was fun but rap has its limits in my life. So couldn’t stay for more than two songs. Got our drinks and found some place to sit under shadows until the time for We Have Band.

We Have Band: 18.10. Before all else, isn’t that a cool name for a band? Inviting, attracting, energetic… And this is also what you get once you start digging this jolie trio. They smell fun, moving and British. Well, they are. I have heard the story about this three coming together (getting sacked from EMI and forming a band…etc. Still unsigned…etc. etc. etc.) and had listened couple of their tunes in the near past but getting into them seriously was leaded by a precious recommendation from a precious precious friend Mr AndyWOS.  He urged me to get around to catch them live right after he saw them live in Glastobury this year. Apparently they were one of the best acts of the festival and the word seems to be have spreaded already. Further proof is that these peeps have won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition for 2009. They wouldn’t have let this award go anyone else if we had some similar type of competition in Rock’n Coke as well. I mean it. Performing at the alternative stage was a good start already. Nicely decorated background and shades! Keeping us away from boiling sun (which put a big fat block to CWK live pleasure!). Darren Bancroft, Dede WP and Thomas WP all dressed in white shining through the stage, playing and singing in the most harmonious way. Darren’s neverending energy was worth to see. He would dance, sing,  jump, drum, let the show go on no matter what. With naked feet and smiling face he looked like a born-to-perform. I caught some of the vocals coming from Dede were recorded samples but won’t have a go at that. Naturally I won’t. As that would be asking too much from a three piece that won’t stop moving even for a second. Plus she sounded great all along! Critics have a point introducing her as the new Nico! I can tell Istanbul loved these guys and I suppose we all expect to see them with a longer set in a smaller venue in the following months. Here here!…

After about one hour gambolful playing in the lead of We Have Band, we felt thirsty and tired. You only know how tired you feel once you sit on the grass and have a cold sip from your beer. There left about 20 minutes before Razorlight come up to the main stage. And we decided to wait untill just on time. Lucky thing we had a great spot on the grass where we also could see the stage and the giant screens on the side of the main stage.

Razorlight: 19.20 Actually I wasn’t all excited for Razorlight. And eventually we didn’t even bother to get up to find a closer spot in the crowd. All in peace, sitting on the grass with beers I watched their performance from afar. I was expecting some joyful acts so that we wouldn’t help ourselves but jump in the crowd to enjoy. But nothing was special about them. Nothing was inviting there. It was ok. Just ok.

Giant drink cue and even a gianter food cue later, it was time for Kaiser Chiefs on the main stage.

Kaiser Chiefs: 20.50 We were still feeling lazy to leave our comfy pillows, getting up and waiting in the crowd. This is something I never do at festivals. I always wait afoot no matter how long it takes. This time I was feeling lazy. Maybe because I am getting old. Or it was simply the sun effect crashed on our brains all day long. I am not considered to be a Kaiser Chiefs fan. I even barely listen to them. And let’s be honest, aren’t most of us have had a mock on them all these years? Haven’t we all made a little joke  using the words “I predict a riot” since the time it hit the charts? Me and my friends have at least. Why? Dunno. Just did. There was something not sincere about them. But, a huge but I want to insert here… with their non-stop energy and enthusiasm I have to tell Kaiser Chiefs have been one of the best acts of this music day. Their full throttle opening and reaction to the crowd eventually made us move our arses to join in the gang. I even sang along!!! Ricky Wilson is such a showman! He was full of action all along the show. Running side to side, climbing up the stage columns, making the big crowd participate oftenly. I was impressed. I have a different vision for Kaiser Chiefs from now on. I surrender!

Sticky, tired with pain on our legs searching for a place to rest; we were all content with the show Kaiser Chiefs performed. The headliner Linkin Park was on the line. So the crowd got even huger with mostly younger kids all wearing Linkin Park t-shirts and stuff. I don’t think I should have a say on Linkin Park performance as I am totally stranger to them. Hardcore fans around me seemed to be happy so I will pass annoying them. I mean I barely have heard a few tunes of theirs and to me all sounding the same. Good thing – if there has to be – kids seemed to be enjoying. Yeah. Another one haour and half to spend on the comfy pillows. I was content too.

Santigold: 00.10 Around midnight  it was time for the last artist for the day and festival: Santigold (yeah, she apparently changed her stage name playing with one letter. She is not called Santogold anymore. Tipsy moods, relaxed bodies and the festival ambiance took us to the alternative stage to call it day with Santigold. It was fun! Decent closing for a day full of music and joy. With robotoic dancers – back vocals ans shiny costumes it was nice piece of show. She said something about being ill at some point so maybe that explains why the set was shorter than usual. Or maybe that is what I though because it was so fun and fun things finish quick you know. Don’t really know Santigold songs in detail so I just enjoyed the moment. We were in a cheerful group of people from all around the world. All dancing off their feet. Even watching that merry crowd was something to enjoy.

So that’s it. I won’t again get into the details about way back home. The long cues…etc. Just hope it gets better each year. And because I couldn’t make it to the festival on Saturday I have nothing to say. But the word on the street is that The Twelves couldn’t make it either. So hallelujah as they were the main reason for me to go on Saturday. Coincidences are sometimes nice!

You know how it feels when your favorite bands release new stuff. There is this huge excitement , happiness with expectations high. Some sneaky suspicion bugging you inside on the versus side. What if it doesn’t catch up with the previous perfectnesses? And it was what I had in mind once I got to hear about the album #3 from The Stills (Tim Fletcher, Dave Hamelin, Olivier Corbeil, Liam O’Neil, Julien Blais). With their second LP – Without Feathers coming out you know how the funs got split into two. Post-punker based hardcore fans acquired from the debut Logic Will Break Your Heart were not happy with the new Americana-ish influenced sound where the rest was welcoming new experiments and Dave Hamelin’s moving forth up to guitar and more vocals from behind the drums. What it would gonna sound like this time, I was nervously thinking. Good thing happens when disappointment is far far away from what you get in the end and what even better is that the excitement you have keeps itself alive even though the release is not even “new” anymore.

After two long-lengths released through Vice Records, the Canadian quintet have moved to Arts & Crafts for the third album. And the producer stays the same who is non other than Gus Van Go. There comes a work of collaboration!
A darkly designed artwork with a skull on the cover of Oceans Will Rise had already implied some sinister would be going on through the record before you know. This omnious feeling even made its place rather permanent with the creepy videos coming out afterwards. See: Being Here, Don’t Talk Down, I’m With You…

The Stills know how to make a dynamic start to an album. If Lola Stars and Stripes and In The Beginning still haven’t made you figure this fact, Don’t Talk Down will definitely do the magic. Upbeat, energetic with sorta aggressive lyrics this opener is clearly taking us back to The Stills’ rather 80s sounding post-punk sound ornamented in The Specials influenced ska rhytms. The pleasure this tune is submitting is getting even deeper as yet another Canadian greatness Brendan Canning showing up in the creepy video (Christopher Mills). Head is moving side to side, temperatures rises and we hear the Devil outside.

Second track of the album Snow in California is one of my favorites by far. Partly new wave, partly shoegaze; penned by Tim Fletcher; this tune is full of good surprises. Moving beats, noisy guitars and Tim’s crystalized vocals rising towards climax of joy where I enjoy how the motionless lyrics turn up to end in the possible depressive way. This rang me some kind of dejavu we happened to have again with the rise of The Daysleepers’ Release the Kraken; some 80’s sound bringing The Cure and Cocteau Twins together. Double thumbs up and bows!

Don’t let the noise confuse you about how the rest of the record might be sounding though. The newgaze feeling is not to be felt oftenly again. Instead The Stills have worked on some varying sounds. Broadening the scoop, sailing towards some well pointed experimenting. The most obvious one being Snakecharming the Masses. An uneventful melody tiding through oriental rhytms again being dragged along Tim’s deep-in soul vocals. Clearly the Istanbul leg of their 2006 tour has inspired the band creating this tune. Tim’s lines going “Blind us with a calling to prayer, whirling dervish, dark black hair” seems to be an open proof for this proudful inspiration. I am so happy the time they spent around here have led them to write such a killer tune! Clearly one of the top tracks in the album!

Next up Being Here is also the first single came out ot Oceans Will Rise. I personally see no connection between the sound of Being Here and the The Stills so far. There is no LWBYH type of post-punk nor WF type Americana. Being Here; could be classified in a specific group along with I’m With You and Hands on Fire. All making a different new scene of The Stills with the heavily processed classic rock rhytms. Catchy and familiar just like The Smashing Pumpkins , U2, REM kind of rock’n roll or a bit of Dinosaur Jr maybe. Good songwriting, impressive singing. From this point of view it is not hard to understand why Being Here and I’m With You are selected to be singles. They sound to be kind of tunes that radios, charts and forums would like. I have to tell though that they don’t grab me as tight as the rest of the album. On the other hand both videos for Being Here (Teqtonik) and I’m With You (The Sanchez Brothers) are worth seeing. Creepiness is full back on track in shape of fire, mist, heads-off musicians… Good works.

The most crestfallen moment of this very upbeat record is being Everything I Build; served with perfect song writing in the incisive hands of Dave Hamelin. I guess it takes a huge heart to write some line like “I built it with all of the things that I’m not”… Another meltdown moment: Dinosaurs is considered as a filler tune by some. I will beg to differ to say it is rather like a peaceful – heart breaking breathe in between the moving chords shaping up Oceans Will Rise all along.

With the anxious and fearful lyrics comes Panic. Highly moving built on classy drum beats. The fierce drum solo just before the second verse is reminding us old school metal beats. Can’t help but give some thumb up to Julien Blais here. Transition between this loud part and the rest of the tune is something to praise for. Sensation shall last untill the end all through this piece.

Eastern Europe is another Fletcher penned tune with upgoing melody. Fitting vocals on immediate rises and ups have made this yet another favorite from the album. Surely the energy coming out of this song promises this to be an absolute crowd fueler for live gigs.

Inspired by an African drink and days spent in Turkey again; Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard is a top tune makes you want to move wherever you are. Sitting in the boat, metro, walking down the busiest street of the town; doesn’t make a difference. You at least find a finger on your hand air dancing to the noise coming out from your speakerphones. The rock’n roll at its best is finding an end in an aloud gazer way fading out to a familiar melody inherited from Without Feathers. See: In The End. Final notes sound to be a reference to that lovely tune. I say cool! Yes, this definitely should be seen live, something tells… Another point deserving a praise about this brilliant tune is that it is positioned perfectly in the track listing. Following a kinda classic melody I’m With You and smoothly leading to the mellow closer of the 12 track long trip; Statue of Sirens. Yes, this definitely should be seen live, something tells… In which you simply fall in love Tim’s vocals. More than ever.

Releasing three LPs, Oceans Will Rise eventually earned a Juno award to these Canuck five piece. Clearly this award, new label and touring with good friends Kings of Leon have brought them more publicity and recognition. Having experienced seeing them live once, I can tell how this band becomes an addiction once they get you in their web. Completely satisfied, delighted and rejoiced with the album number four and still can’t get this album out of my player; hoping to see these wonderful guys live again. Not only superb talented and fun they were on the stage but also one of the nicest – kindest musicians I have seen up to date. Based on the recently published blog post by the band, they have already started working for the next album and here is me hoping maybe Istanbul has more in the cache to inspire them for new songs. So why not making a late-tour over here again. Just saying. Tee hee