Steve in Taiwan

The Decemberists: ‘The King Is Dead’

2011-01-14T00:37:00.002+08:00

The previous two offerings from The Decemberists; ‘The Crane Wife’ and ‘The Hazards of Love’ proved that this Oregon five-piece were capable of greatness. Colin Meloy seems to posses the extraordinary ability to produce music which is both musically and lyrically dense. Add to that the albums are underscored by a concept and listening to The Decemberists is not too dissimilar to reading a great fantasy fiction novel. It was, therefore, with much anticipation that I approached their sixth studio album ‘The King is Dead’

Their latest offering, however, is entirely different from its predecessors. If ‘The Hazards of Love’ was their homage to Brit-Folk; then ‘The King is Dead’ is their salute to Americana. The underlining framework for this album is predominately folk music, but it is heavily cloaked in country music. Indeed, Neil Young was cited as an influence for this album along with R.E.M. Peter Buck even plays guitar and mandolin on three of the tracks. They have also dispensed with an overall concept and it’s a much simpler affair than the other albums in musical terms if not lyrical content. According to Moley, writing and touring ‘The Hazards of Love’ proved an exhausting experience and they wanted to get back-to-basics for their next effort and that is exactly what we get with ‘The King Is Dead’.

When one is use to having a dictionary at hand for the lyrics, recurring characters, a map to guide your way through the dense musical layers, and ever-changing time signatures, such simplicity almost feels a bit of a letdown. It’s generally Middle-of-the-Road music, perfect for summer drives along the coast or a happy sing-along around the campfire. That’s not, however, to relinquish this to mediocrity. The Decemberists are, after all, great song writers no matter how the songs may be packaged.

The album demonstrates its intent straight away with opener ‘Don’t Carry It All’ and its harmonica introduction leading us into the album. I was just waiting for the distorted guitars to flourish and the forest queen to emerge from her slumber. This was not to be the case. The whole album is a solid country-folk album peppered with acoustic guitars, fiddles and harmonica. The heaviest it gets is with a pedal steel guitar! The album generally flits between simple guitar driven ballads (January Hymn) to more up-tempo numbers (Rox in a Box). ‘Down By the Water’ is undoubtedly the best song from the whole album. This is largely due to the great vocal harmonies of Moley and guest vocalist Gillian Welch who also lends her excellent vocal talents to other songs on the album. The vocal interplay is reminiscent of some of the great male/female country duos of old.

Colin Meloy’s nasal vocals as well as the re-emerging harmonica and fiddle solos do tend to grate a little after a few songs. ITt was the depth to their music which always made the Decemberists so interesting to listen to. In saying this, ‘The King Is Dead’ can certainly sit proudly among their other body of work. In fact, for many other bands this could well be considered a great album. However, when you have set the bar so high, as The Decemberists have, this is always going to come across as a bit of a letdown. It may well have been inspired by Neil Young but lacks that rock edge that Young always married so well with folk music. These are ten simple, yet very pleasant, folk songs. ‘The King Is Dead’ surely won’t be seen as a career highlight. With a band capable of greatness, ‘The King Is Dead’ may very well be an intermediary for yet another great work of fiction in the future, or once can hope at least.

Rating:6/10

England retain the Ashes for the first time in 24 years

2011-01-08T18:57:00.003+08:00

England thrash the Aussies 3-1 and have retained the Ashes for the first time in 24 years.

ENGLAND

Andrew Strauss - 9

If the series started in the worst possible fashion for Strauss - out in the first over of the first session of the first Test for a duck - it has ended at the opposite end of the spectrum, only the third English captain in history to win the Ashes both home and away. His batting was solid - an average in the low 40s is historically very good for an England opener in Australia - but it was his captaincy that was inspired. A model of calm and control in the field, he led his side with authority, imagination and class, bringing the
absolute best from almost every one of his players.

Alastair Cook -10

This is one mark that we'll surely all agree on. Arriving in Australia as a supposed weak link at the top of the chain, Cook left it as an indomitable run-machine, breaking records with such unhurried ease that it seems impossible he had an average over eight innings last summer of just 13. His 235 not out saved the game in Brisbane; his big centuries in Adelaide and Sydney set up historic English victories. Only Wally Hammond has scored more runs in a single Test series for his country, and that was in an era of timeless Tests. Man of the series.

Jonathan Trott - 9

In any other Ashes series down under, an England batsman who averaged almost 90 would be the hero of the day. That Trott's achievements have been overshadowed by those of his team-mate one place up the order will bother him not one bit. His century in Melbourne was the pick, a study in ferocious concentration and application, but throughout he was a rock in Australia's path to purgatory. England's best number three in a decade.

Kevin Pietersen - 7

This should be a no-brainer. Pietersen's 237 in Adelaide was the most complete innings of his career, as disciplined as it was destructive, the display Australians had feared from the very start. At the same time, there will be those who think Pietersen let himself down with the bat, wasting good starts and losing his wicket to impetuous shots at inopportune moments, as in the second innings in Perth and first dig in Sydney. In reality, we may be wasting our time expecting one without the other.

Paul Collingwood - 5

If his valedictory series was a poor one with the bat, Collingwood will still leave the Test arena with his head held high. His fielding set the benchmark to which all his team-mates aspire, his attitude energised the team and his bowling was an unheralded factor in allowing England to pick just four front-line bowlers. The catch to remove Ricky Ponting on the first morning in Perth will remain one of the highlights of the series. Colly, thanks for the hard work and memories.

Ian Bell - 8

Four years ago the Sherminator, this time the Terminator. Bell was the most aesthetically pleasing batsman in the series, contributing on almost every occasion despite batting too often with the tail and, through the excellence of those above him, getting far less time at the crease than anyone could have imagined. His maiden Test century against Australia at his 31st attempt was a fitting way to seal an excellent series.

Matt Prior - 8

Along with James Anderson, Prior is one of England's most improved players over the past three years. His glovework was excellent throughout the series, his foot movement sharp and his hands quick both standing back to the quick and up for Graeme Swann. Dismissed for a golden duck in his first innings of the series, he ended it with a thumping century as England compiled their highest ever Test total on Australian soil. Is there currently a better wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket?

Stuart Broad - 7

Two wickets from 70 overs across two matches doesn't sound like a great return, especially with not a single run from the bat to add into the mix. In this case, statistics fail to tell the story. Broad's control in Adelaide - he went at just 2.3 runs an over in his truncated series - built the pressure that led to wickets at the other end. He even made his debut as a TMS expert summariser in Perth, which gets him a bonus BBC mark.

Graeme Swann - 7

The Aussies were so scared of his spin wizardry, they prepared green-tinged wickets to thwart him but Swann still took 15 wickets in the series, his best 5-91 coming at Adelaide. He showed his nous to operate within his limitations if there was no spin, performing a great enabling role and tying an end of up many occasions. Not as swashbuckling with the bat as he has been, but he didn't need to be, and special praise for bringing the "sprinkler" dance to the world's attention.

Steve Finn - 8

14 wickets at 33 in your first Ashes series, at the tender age of 21, is a marvellous return for someone still at the very start of his Test career. Finn was expensive at times, and struggled with his length on the unfamiliar Waca surface. Events in Melbourne proved that England were right to bring in Tim Bresnan. But that takes nothing away from the man he replaced.

James Anderson - 9

Tonked all over various ovals four years ago, Anderson shocked the Australian players and public alike with his transformation into a bowler capable of dismissing any batsman at any time. If his line and length were exemplary, his ability to move the new ball and reverse-swing the old one wrought havoc in the Aussie ranks. If his best moment was getting rid of Ricky Ponting for that golden duck in the first over in Adelaide, he was a consistent threat on every surface. The unquestioned leader of England's attack.

Chris Tremlett - 8

Surprise package #1. Some wondered why he had been picked in the squad in the first place; others said he was the wrong man to come in for the injured Stuart Broad. All were proved wrong. Tremlett ended the series a key man in the four-man bowling assault, frightening batsmen with steep bounce and finding movement off the seam at the Waca, MCG and SCG. Built like an ogre, he performed like a prince.

Tim Bresnan - 8

Surprise package #2. He wasn't supposed to have the weapons to succeed at the highest level, but that brilliant spell at the MCG of three wickets for two runs in 18 balls after tea on the third day, including the prize wickets of Ponting and Hussey, proved the doubters wrong. Continued to pose a threat in the fifth Test, finding movement off the seam and keeping a wonderfully tight line, and gives the England attack tremendous strength in depth.

Andy Flower - 10

Appointed amid the ruins of the Pietersen-Moores regime, Flower has gradually remoulded this England team into the fittest, best-prepared and most unified side in memory. The batsmen delivered, the bowling plans worked and the fielding excelled. The squad selection was proved faultless, and the changes in personnel made during the series all came off a treat. Neither will he stop here: he has already set his targets on the World Cup and then the number one spot in the Test rankings. He may yet achieve both.

AUSTRALIA

Shane Watson - 6

435 runs is a fine return for an opening batsman, particularly in a team that's as consistently under the pump as this Australian side has been. Watson should be content. What will leave him unsatisfied is that he failed to play any innings that had a decisive effect on a match, and failed to build on so many good starts. He was also involved in three run-outs, all three of them utterly needless, and his bowling - 3-233 across the five matches - lacked any sort of menace.

Simon Katich - 5

If this was the end for Katich - and he refuses to throw in the towel, despite his advancing years - it was no sort of farewell. In the four innings before his Achilles problem ruled him out of the rest of the series he was averaging just 24, run out in that dramatic first over in Adelaide and sitting alone in the stands, far from his team-mates, for the rest of the day. If he was three years younger he would probably be Australia's next captain.

Ricky Ponting - 2

Could this Ashes series have been any worse for Ricky Ponting? Not in his most fevered nightmares could he have conjured up a total of just 113 runs, at an average of just 13. As the trot developed he looked a little unlucky to be getting out - nicking behind off his hip in Brisbane, seen off by one of the great slip catches in Perth by Paul Collingwood - but gradually the awful truth dawned: one the best batsmen of all time was on the slide. He wants to come back, and he wants to come back as captain; you'd say he had little chance, but who else is there?

Michael Clarke - 3

At his best a wonderful, free-flowing batsman, Clarke endured a miserable series. An average of just 21 would be bad enough for a number seven, let alone a number four and vice-captain, but it was the manner of many of his dismissals - wafting or pushing hard outside off - that was almost as bad. Given the captaincy after Ponting's finger injury to widespread dismay in the Aussie public, his young side was taken to the cleaners at the SCG. If he wasn't skipper, would his form be enough to keep him in the side?

Michael Hussey - 8

Australia's sole genuine success story. Had Hussey been dropped before the first Test, as so nearly happened, Australia could have lost this series 5-0. That might sound like an exaggeration, but remove his runs from the scorecards in Brisbane and Perth and then see what you think. Played beautifully in the first three Tests, showing excellent judgement outside off and driving and cutting beautifully; his relative failures in the final two Tests were the final nail in his country's coffin.

Marcus North - 2

Never popular with Australian supporters outside Western Australia, North managed just 49 runs at 16 in the first two Tests and found himself jettisoned after the thrashing in Adelaide. In some ways the timing was unfortunate - he prospers at the Waca, and at 31 years old and his state's captain he could have been an outside bet for national skipper. Steve Smith was also no improvement at six. Instead, he finds himself on the international scrapheap.

Brad Haddin - 7

Always a strong batsman, Haddin impressed with great self-control in his huge stand with Hussey at the Gabba and with attacking brio at times elsewhere. Played loose shots to get out in Melbourne and Sydney, but on both occasions he had been left in the lurch by his top order. Not the tidiest gloveman, but kept going throughout a monstrous 800 overs behind the timbers as his bowlers toiled.

Mitchell Johnson - 4

First the good news for Mitchell: he took 15 wickets, including a match-winning haul of eight on the hard bounce of the Waca, to end the series as Australia's leading wicket-taker. Now the bad news: those scalps cost him 554 runs. Everywhere but the Waca he was innocuous at best and, at worst, a liability. Scored twice as many half-centuries as his skipper Ponting, which was saying a lot less than it once was, and completed his final spell of the Ashes being mercilessly taunted by half the ground.

Xavier Doherty - 1

Brought in to be the left-armed spinner who would see off Kevin Pietersen, Doherty instead found himself another unfortunate entry on one of the longest lists in Australian cricket: spinners who have failed to replace Shane Warne. If it was bad in Brisbane, it was awful in Adelaide - a double ton for Pietersen, spell after barren spell and not a sniff of control. His Test figures? 3-306. Was he really better than Nathan Hauritz?

Peter Siddle - 6

Began with that sensational hat-trick on his birthday in Brisbane and bagged another six-for on his home ground at the MCG. In between it wasn't quite so pretty - he took just two other wickets - but at least he tried his heart out. Would he have got near an Australian side of old? Probably not. But when the cupboard is almost bare, a cheese sandwich sometimes has to suffice.

Ben Hilfenhaus - 3

Such a danger in English conditions during the Ashes of 2009, Hilfenhaus began the series with the prize scalp of the English skipper in his very first over. That was about as good as it got. Took just six more wickets in the rest of the series for an overall average of 59 and was probably relieved to have missed the mayhem in Adelaide. No English batsman feared facing him.

Ryan Harris - 7

Whole-hearted and dangerous in the right conditions, Harris was Australia's best bowler in Adelaide. That's a little like saying that Siobhan was the best singer in Bananarama, but still. Bowled beautifully during England's second innings in Perth, picking up 6-47 to blow a huge chunk in the top order, but then broke down with a stress fracture of the left ankle in Melbourne. Deserves another bite at Test cricket.

Doug Bollinger - 2

Australia's most effective bowler over the previous year, Bollinger never recovered full fitness nor momentum after being injured on the tour of India in October. Overlooked for Brisbane, he took the England skipper's wicket in his first over at Adelaide and then, in his captain's words, "hit the wall". His 1-130 ensured he would not get another chance in the series.

Phillip Hughes - 1

Picked when horribly out of form, Hughes convinced no-one in his six innings. 97 runs at an average 16 spells it out: his technique is still too flawed for him to succeed at Test level. Looked most settled in the second innings at Melbourne, only to be run out, but needs a major overhaul.

Steve Smith - 2

One day Smith might make a Test player, but not yet. Woefully out of his depth at number six, neither did he pose enough of a threat with his occasional leg-spin to be picked as a bowler, going 0-138 in the two matches where he was tossed the ball.

Usman Khawaja - 5

Brought in for his Test debut in difficult circumstances, he did enough in the first innings to suggest he has a Test future. Undone by clever bowling and field placement in the first innings, he found Anderson's swing too much in the second, fooled by a great out-swinger after a series of in-swingers. Give him time.

Michael Beer - 2

He was better than Xavier Doherty, but that's hardly praise. Went 1-112 on debut, having been denied Cook's wicket on just 46 by his own no-ball, after being left out in Perth and Melbourne despite the selectors initially insisting he would be picked. Will get another chance despite his lack of impact here.

Tim Nielsen - 3

Australia's players, with one notable exception, batted feebly. They bowled with less discipline and success and dropped more chances. The players originally selected struggled; those brought in to replace them generally did worse. Not all of this is the coach's fault. He can only work with the material he's given. But what he did do brought few results.

New Starbucks logo

2011-01-06T22:29:00.000+08:00

Dropping the name so they can branch out into other products.

100 Things We Didn't Know From 2010

2011-01-05T20:35:00.001+08:00

To kick off 2011, here's an almanac of the best from the past year.

1. The G-spot nearly came to be known as the Whipple Tickle.

2. You can assault someone without touching them.

3. Animal heaven is called Rainbow Bridge.

4. It's OK to own military medals you haven't earned, but it's illegal to wear them and pretend they are yours.

5. The first international cricket match was in the US.

6. The two most common pronunciations of Van Gogh are wrong.

7. The last remaining Royal Mail ship goes back and forth to St Helena.

8. Men's waistbands are at their highest point when men reach the age of 57, just seven inches below their armpit.

9. Swans divorce.

10. Haggis has been banned in the US since 1989.

11. Face blindness - difficulty in remembering faces - is called prosopagnosia.

12. Glass attacks in bars and pubs cause 87,000 injuries a year in England and Wales.

13. You can pay for university tuition with Tesco Clubcard points.

14. The Frisbee was originally called the Pluto Platter.

15. Parents in Japan swear by KitKats when their children are taking exams.

16. Goldie Hawn runs schools.

17. The Barbie doll has had 125 careers since 1959.

18. Australia has never had a saint. Until now.

19. There are people in the UK called Justin Case, Barb Dwyer and Stan Still.

20. Elephants growl.

21. The types of lasers that remove tattoos can also be used to clean up works of art.

22. Some chickens are half-male and half-female.

23. Fifty percent of a jumbo jet can be recycled.

24. Soldiers in Afghanistan use concrete mixers to wash their clothes.

25. The mafia use Facebook.

26. Straightening irons outsell hairdryers.

27. Fried tarantula tastes like liver.

28. The name "scrumpy" comes from a word meaning small and shrivelled.

29. In The Wizard of Oz, Toto was played by a dog called Terry.

30. Marriage over the telephone is valid under Islamic law.

31. Bebo stands for blog early, blog often.

32. MPs' parliamentary gym memberships are cancelled during the election campaign.

33. Insect museums are called insectariums.

34. British servicemen and women have had their own brand of tea since 1921.

35. Doctor Who regenerations were modelled on bad LSD trips.

36. Sir Cliff Richard split up with his first serious girlfriend by letter.

37. The Turin Shroud is woven in a herringbone pattern.

38. In the US, 30% of teenagers send more than 100 texts a day.

39. US President George Washington failed to return a library book. It's now racked up a $300,000 fine (£193,000)

40. There are vending machines that sell hot chips.

41. There are surgeons who specialise in restoring virginity.

42. Storks can be blue.

43. Downing Street's famous black front door was once green.

44. China smokes one third of the world's cigarettes.

45. Florence Nightingale used the pseudonym "Miss Smith" to evade the media.

46. A million people a month are refused a drink in a pub.

47. American and British sign language is different.

48. The European Cup was stolen in 1982 when Aston Villa players took it to a pub in the West Midlands.

49. Ken Dodd sang the third biggest-selling single of the 1960s.

50. When one police diver is under water, another four remain on dry land.

51. Wonder Woman was originally an Amazon.

52. Withdrawn banknotes are shredded and sometimes used in compost.

53. Hamburger-related injuries are on the rise in Taiwan.

54. The common octopus is the most intelligent invertebrate.

55. Gorillas play tag.

56. Having a big head may protect against dementia.

57. International athletes coming to London for the 1948 Olympics had to bring their own towels.

58. One of the world's most ancient living creatures are a breed of shrimp which live in south-west Scotland.

59. Dogs mimic their owners.

60. Buttocks are hardest to tan.

61. Pea plants can grow inside a human lung.

62. Some hardened sauna users can stand temperatures of up to 160C.

63. Honeybees are cleverer at certain times of the day.

64. The average person spends around 15 hours 45 minutes every day awake.

65. Children with squints are less likely to be invited to birthday parties.

66. Urine could be a source of renewable energy.

67. Milk used to be watered down, then coloured yellow with toxic lead chromate to make it look creamy.

68. Traffic jams can last nine days.

69. It's possible to watch 28,000 films in a lifetime.

70. Apples originated in Kazakhstan.

71. It is illegal to dry clothes in various parks in Whitstable, Kent.

72. Geoff Capes was a champion budgerigar breeder.

73. When people fall in love they lose on average two close friends.

74. Subbuteo has a rugby version.

75. The Pope's aircraft is known as "Shepherd One".

76. Elgar wrote one of the first football songs.

77. In French, the words for "inflation" and "fellatio" are very similar.

78. Squirrels can be black.

79. Chimpanzees can become addicted to smoking.

80. Men sweat more efficiently than women.

81. Noise affects taste.

82. Getting drunk quickly is genetic.

83. King penguins flirt with other penguins of the same gender but tend not to settle down with them.

84. Sparrows eavesdrop on fighting birds.

85. Crows go to school.

86. Flamingos use make-up.

87. John and Margaret were the most popular British baby names for 30 years.

88. More than half of Americans dress up for Halloween

89. Some 7.2 million British people get by without a wristwatch.

90. Tea parties were invented in the 1830s.

91. Which means that the 1773 Boston Tea Party wasn't known by that name until more than 60 years after the event. At the time it was referred to as "the destruction of the tea".

92. Having fewer brothers and sisters can be good for your education.

93. It's not just in comedy films that babies can fall from tall buildings, bounce on awnings and be caught by a passer-by.

94. Nazis coined the verb coventrierung (literally, to coventrate) to describe total annihilation of a city - Coventry - through aerial bombardment.

95. One in five people only clean their homes at weekends.

96. Aerial massed acrobatics performed by starlings at this time of year are called "murmurations".

97. David Cameron slept on the Mall the night before Prince Charles married Lady Diana.

98. German shoes are wider than Italian.

99. Badgers still occupy setts known since the Domesday Book.

100. Donald Trump's hair is real.

Sudan to split in two?

2011-01-05T20:26:00.000+08:00

Sudan - Africa's biggest country - seems to be on the verge of splitting in two. Southerners will vote on Sunday whether or not to leave the north. These maps show the extent to which Sudan is already two nations - a richer, Arabic-speaking, Muslim north and a poorer south devastated by years of conflict and neglect.

The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. Southern Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.

My Top 20 Albums of 2010

2011-01-02T01:04:00.000+08:00

1. Janelle Monae: ‘The ArchAndroid’

Given that this is Janelle Monae’s first album and her young age, this album is of staggering proportions. The ArchAndroid is loosely based around the 1927 film Metropolis. She adopts the alter ego of Cindi Mayweather, an android sent back in time from the 28^th century, with the directive to liberate a fictitious community from a society of oppressors. It’s long and baffling at times, but quite astounding. It straddles every genre from Broadway, neo-classical, jazz, big-band, funk, soul and hip-hop. Reading this would probably scare off the casual music listener but this would be a mistake as it is one of the most accessible albums this year. This is not to be missed, prepared to be wowed.

Essential Tracks: ‘Tightrope’, ‘Cold War’, ‘Sir Greendown’

2. The Black Keys: ‘Brothers’

Very rarely am I captivated by an album from start to end; even rarer does this occur with a blues rock album. The Black Keys have, however, managed just that with ‘Brothers’. This album combines the classic elements of blues, R&B, and soul with contemporary elements to firmly place this in 2010. It’s also great to see a band that seemed so lost in direction just a few years ago hit back with something so accomplished and progressive that now they are the ones setting trends for others. The raw funk grooves, deep rhythm riffs, and falsetto; combined with interesting choices of instruments for this genre of music (harpsichord and sleigh bells) make this a must have album of 2010. There is not a duff track in sight!

Essential Tracks: ‘Too Afraid to Love you’, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, ‘Tighten Up’

3. Gorillaz: ‘Plastic Beach’

Start with a dose of Bobby Womack, add a dash of Snoop Dog and the Lebanese National Orchestra, next a generous portion of Mark E.Smith, a pinch of Lou Reed and Mos Def, and top off with The Clash and Daman Albarn, mix together and what do we have? A recipe for disaster! However, in the capable hands of the genius that is Daman Albarn, the result not only works but is sublime. Whether he is battling for Britpop supremacy, creating Mandarin operas, or operating under the guise of a band that doesn’t exist, Albarn always seems to deliver. Plastic Beach is daring and innovative; muddled yet magnificent. The album flits between hip-hop, Shinto Bollywood, pure pop, trashy Casio beats, 80 synths, soul and rap. That’s three legendary albums in row for Gorillaz now.

Essential Tracks: ‘Stylo’, ‘Melancholy Hill’, ‘White Flag’

4. Robert Plant: ‘Band of Joy’

As if being part of one of the greatest bands ever to have graced the music world wasn’t enough; Robert Plant has done the impossible yet again and produced a classic with Band of Joy to sit proudly alongside his others (‘Mighty Rearranger’ and ‘Raising Sands’). This guy can do no wrong. He has the ability to pick the right musicians, producers, and songs and the rest appear to just come naturally and effortlessly. Unlike most hexagenarians, Plant is not content to rest on his amazing back catalogue and reveal in the pantheon of rock royalty. He has managed to pluck obscure songs like Richard Thompson’s ‘House of Cards’ and Los Lobos’ ‘Angel Dance’ and make them seem like modern classics. Underpinning the album is certainly a country vibe, yet this if often disguised with strong vocals, tremolo-drenched guitar, and feedback. Robert Plant always looks to the future when he is expected to look back on the past; that is what makes this artist so special.

Essential Tracks: ‘Angel Dance’, ‘House of Cards’, ‘Monkey’

5. Goldfrapp: ‘Head First’

If there was ever any doubt that Goldfrapp are indeed one of the greatest talents Britain has produced in their generation then this finally puts it to rest. Goldfrapp have disrobed their pagan gowns of 2007s’ ‘Seventh Tree’ and Alison has raided the wardrobe for Spandex and shoulder pads, premed her hair, and headed for the roller disco. Head First is an all out 80s synth-pop affair and it’s great. At 38 minutes it’s short, but everything here works. With disconnected melodies, dramatic key shifts and synths pouring out of everywhere, this album can be summed up in one word; fun! The wonderful vocals are the icing on the cake here. It’s as if Giorgio Moroder and ABBA have shared production duties here. Goldfrapp are back and as good as ever, they are one of the greatest duos of the 21^st century.

Essential Tracks: ‘Rocket’, ‘Believer’, ‘Dreaming’

6. Mark Ronson: ‘Record Collection’

This is undoubtedly the biggest surprise of the year. Although Mark Ronson is a great producer, it seems he found his niche in the music industry creating retro Motown hits for the likes of Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen and reworking pop tracks into a big-band mould. Quite frankly, I was expecting something very similar with ‘Record Collection’ which, although may still have been good, would have been rather repetitive. However; gone are the horns and quirky beats and in are the raps, synths, electronics, and pop. It’s very catchy pop music. ‘Somebody to Love’ is probably the greatest single of 2010 aided by the perfect choice of Boy George to pour his heart out on this number.

Essential Tracks: ‘Somebody To Love Me’, ‘Record Collection’, ‘You Gave Me Nothing’ ‘Lose it in the End’

7. Kanye West: ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’

If you had told me at the start of the year that a mainstream hip-hop album would make my top ten list I would have found it rather hard to believe. Tell me then that the artist would be Kanye West and I would have slapped some sense into you. Quite unbelievably an artist I have very little time for from a genre I rarely listen to has created something quite stunning. West has experimented with elements such as hard rock and Moby to create an excellent and cohesive album. There are also great uses of samples along the way. The lyrics prove that he is just as arrogant and deluded as ever; nonetheless, the music clearly works. Proof that all genres of music are good if done well!

Essential Tracks: ‘Dark Fantasy’, ‘Devil In A New Dress’, ‘Runaway’

8. Hot Chip: ‘One Life Stand’

Hot Chip finally produce a classic upbeat dancefloor album. It is pure electronic pop perfection. This album has it all fantastic melodies, smart arrangements, memorable hooks, intelligent lyrics, all melded into one infectious sound. The vocals of Taylor interplay perfectly with the harmonies created by Goddard to create the best classic house-inspired dance album of 2010. This is an album to cheer you up when you’re down; getting ready for a night on the town or even a great workout album for the gym.. This is Hot Chip’s best album to date so far.

Essential Tracks: ‘Hand Me Down Your Love’, ‘One Life Stand’, ‘I Feel Better’

9. Groove Armada: ‘Black Light’

The chameleons of pop music are back with probably their strongest album to date. Given past efforts, I expected a frustrating listen from the duo flitting between dance and chill out songs. Instead they have not only re-invented themselves into an electro-pop outfit but provided us with a consistently good album. Black Light is all about synths, electro bass and big choruses. The lyrical content is darker than previous outings but is underlined by their solid production and songwriting skills as well as their wise selections of guest vocals, especially Bryan Ferry and Will Young. One can only imagine what guise they will adopt for their next offering.

Essential Tracks: ‘Shameless’, ‘History’, ‘Paper Romance’, ‘I Won’t Kneel’

10. Midlake: ‘The Courage of Others’

Dull, boring, melodies which go nowhere, let down of the year. These are just some of the comments I have read from music critics of this album. I’m not sure what they were listening to as it surely couldn’t have been this! Maybe this is because this is the first album of this group I have listened to so I don’t have any preconceptions but this album is beautiful. The rich harmonies, trilling flutes and pastoral acoustic guitars almost feel that we are listening to a band from Tudor England serenading the royal courts of Henry VIII circa 1540. It is like a cross between Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull; and yes, that is a good thing. The Courage of Others doesn’t belong in 2010 but it is by far the best folk-rock album of the year.

Essential Tracks: ‘Acts of Man’, ‘’, ‘Small Mountain’, ‘Core of Nature’

11. Antony and the Johnsons: ‘Swanlights’

Antony and the Johnsons are back again with their fourth release proving yet again he is a great songwriter, arranger and singer. The sparse arrangements are augmented with luscious string arrangements and a chamber orchestra. Lyrically it is rather obscure with a tendency to use vocals to play with melodies. There are certainly many classical folk and rock influences but all blended together to produce Antony’s own unique form of art pop. Certainly not for everyone but this guy is one gifted artist, and that voice. Wow!

12. The National: ‘High Violet’

If nothing else this band wins hands down from the most depressing album of the year. The monotone baritone vocals, melodies and themes will surely have the happiest person searching for the nearest razorblade. However, let that not detract from this wonderfully beautiful album. This album certainly rewards repeated listens and demands the listener’s full attention. Delve into those rich textures and be taken on a journey with this. Wonderfully produced, not a bad song in sight, this is exactly how indie music should be made.

13. Vampire Weekend: ‘Contra’

The New York city boys are back with their intelligent word play and broad musical palette of African, reggae, ska, pop, calypso and rockabilly all fused together to produce ’Contra’. Not many bands can successfully use the Nicaraguan Counter-Revolutionary movement as a metaphor for a failed relationship. It’s a mixed package but when it works it really works! Diplomat’s Son, White Sky and Cousins are clear examples of this.

14. Joanna Newsom: Have One On Me

At three discs and over two hours in length this is a massive offering from Joanna, so much so that it is rightly a little overwhelming for most. That is a shame as this is a fantastic album touching on Appalachian folk via pop, country, soul, gospel and oriental melodies. Add to that the, at times, otherworldly finely polished lyrics as she interchanges between piano and harp perfectly and we have a classic here. It’s so dense that one always finds something new to listen to on every listen. That’s two stunning albums in a row from this lady now.

15. David Byrne and Fatboy Slim: Here Lies Love

This is undoubtedly one of the most unique offerings from one of the strangest collaborations of 2010. ‘Here Lies Love’ is a concept album tracing the life of the former first lady of The Philippines, Imelda Marcos, from her impoverished beginnings to keptocracy and eventual demise and exile. Somehow the ambition is realized by Byrne and Cook who, with the help of guest vocals including Cyndi Lauper, Florence Welch and Marta Wainwright to name a few, help make this rather fun. The styles of the day dominate the album; from disco, Afro-pop, Broadway and soul. Certainly one of the most fun releases of the year.

16. Charlotte Gainsbourg: ‘IRM’

Gainsbourg’s life threatening accident of 2007 provides the backdrop to this album embracing the physical and spiritual. Yet it somehow is not depressing, in fact it is optimistic and uplifting. The main reason this works is down to one man; Beck who produced and composed the material here however Charlotte is certainly not his muse here, it is her putting her stamp on this as well. The album ranges from a cappella to full on psychedelic rock. This is fine adult pop proving that Charlotte can not only act but be treated as a musical artist too.

17. These New Puritans: ‘Hidden’

It’s great to see an Essex band producing such great quality music. These New Puritans have evolved from a post-punk band on their debut album to, well, I’m not really sure what this is. I suppose art rock is the best description. The opening track would be a fitting soundtrack for a montage of photos from a visit to a former concentration camp. After that everything appears to be thrown into the mix pitting brass and woodwind against digital, hip-hop and dancehall beats. It’s ambitious, complex and innovative. I only wish I had more time to take in everything from this album as it certainly has more potential to be much higher on this list.

18. Anais Mitchell: ‘Hadestown’

Get this; a folk opera retelling the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice transported to Depression-era New Orleans. If that doesn’t incite awfulness and revulsion in equal measure then I don’t know what does. Rather surprisingly, however, it is a fantastic album. The interplay between Orpheus, Eurydice, Persephone and the lord of the underworld is fantastic. It’s all the more better due to its relevance in 2010’s economic downfall, a very clever album.

19. Laura Marling: ‘I Speak Because I Can’

I have one word to describe this album; emotional. Marling can evoke joy one minute and tears the next both with her lyrics and vocal talents. With purely her vocals, acoustic guitar and understated accompaniment she sings of betrayal, flaws and breakups all at the age of 20. It’s elegant, the production, the songwriting, in fact near enough everything is quite brilliant.

20. Sleigh Bells: ‘Treats’

Krauss and Miller couldn’t be further away on the musical spectrum with his hard rock and punk beginnings and her pop band roots. However, that is precisely what seems to make this duo work. I’m not even sure how to classify this genre of music, it would appear they have fused many together and smashed it around into one new devastating hybrid. At times, with the distorted synths and guitars, angular rifss and chugging electronic beats its so loud and brash that’s is almost too much. However, there are moments of subtle beauty on this album too. They seem to be capable of anything. It’s raw, at times shocking, but most of all fun!

Pet Shop Boys

2010-07-30T23:29:00.002+08:00

Thursday night was the Pet Shop Boys' turn to entertain. They certainly lived up to and even surpassed expectations with this truly brilliant concert. Amazing in every way, these old timers can certainly show some of the young ones how its really done!

Massive Attack

2010-07-30T22:54:00.004+08:00

Wednesday night was massive attack night. Overall, as expected, creating a soundscape with the odd hit intertwined. I'm glad I got to hear some of the best tracks from the new album as well as some classics along the way. The rather annoying Martina Topley-Bird opened as well as being present for the majority of the main act as well which was not so good, apart from that, a good concert.

Janelle Monae: 'The ArchAndroid'

2010-07-25T20:49:00.002+08:00

The term classic album is thrown around all too much these days. However, there is finally an album which truly deserves this tag. The artist in question is a 24-year-old American, Janelle Moane. She first came to the attention of Outkast’s Big Boi and featured on their 2006 album Idlewild. In 2007 after releasing her first EP ‘Metropolis Suite I (The Chase)’ she was signed up to Sean Comb’s record company (aka Puff Daddy? No wait, P.Diddy, wrong again! Just Diddy now isn’t it? Ah, who cares?) Finally we are treated to her first full length album entitled ‘The ArchAndroid’, parts two and three of her intended four part suite.

Underpinning the whole album is a story based around the 1927 movie Metropolis. Janelle Monae adopts the alter ego of Cindi Mayweather, an android sent back to the present day from the 28^th century with the directive to liberate a fictitious community from a society of oppressors. Lost already? You’re not the only one. At 70 minutes long and 18 tracks in all, it’s a giant of an album harking back to the prog rock epics of the 1970s. The first suite deals with self realization and identity; the third suite deals with love. Having listened to this a few times I still can’t fully comprehend this tremendously audacious and eclectic album. The genres switch every track from neo-classical, Broadway, screeching punk, jazz, big band, soul, and hip-hop to name just a few. It’s literally a kaleidoscope of sounds.

So up until now it seems like a highly pretentious, pompous if you will, attempt from a young person trying to sound self-important. This is also reinforced when she starts talking about each song being a soundscape of different colors. What does that even mean? However, this album somehow remains accessible throughout as well as playful. Forget the rather complex narration and just enjoy the great music which is on offer.

It’s rather tempting to just cast her as the next Beyonce, or Erykah Badu, Lauryen Hill, or Grace Jones. The truth is, she’s not really the new anyone. She is truly an original artist, clearly with strong influences but has used them to create something truly unique. So who are these influences? They range from the classical; Tchaikovsky, Debussy to the modern, Outkast and everything in-between; Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Funkadellic.

Big Boi (a true musical genius in his own right) was probably the best choice of producer on this album and he even uest stars on vocals along with Saul Williams and Of Montral. However, the guest artists are merely the underlayers to Monaes commading presence. There is no querswitoning who is in charge here, except for probably on one track ‘Make The Bus’ which although is a great high camp track, not to dissimilar to an R&B Lady GaGa, is only one which feels out of place on this album.

Vocally, Monae seems capable of anything. She can do smooth midrange soul, understated balladry, staccato licks, and punk growls with ease. However, rather than this album showcasing her range, it never appears over the top. There is versatile but everything appears to be done for a reason. All of this is supported by what is quite a stunning band in itself and varied instrumentation to fit the talented leading lady.

Suite two starts with some neo-classical piece rather fitting to the start of a ballet performance before we are thrown into the first of a strange combination which shouldn’t’ work but does, ‘Dance or Die’ which pitches rap vocals over tribal drumming and Daft Punk style guitars hocked up to vocoder, innovative and impressive! Next is the wonderful Faster which brilliantly uses a a 1920s jazz style but is undoubtedly modern in its sound. ‘Locked Inside’ is homage to Michael Jackson’s ‘Rock with you’ and is just as impressive also. After that we get something truly innovative;’ Sir Greendown’ with its 1950s Hoolywood movie melody and downbeat synth drenched backing which is one of the albums highlights.

All this before, we get to the two monster tracks; ‘Cold War’ and ‘Tightrope’. The first is the best song Outkast never made and the second is the best James Brown song he never made fit with punching brass and energetic vocals.

Most of these songs are upbeat, however she clearly delivers on the slower tracks such as ‘Oh Maker’ and ‘57821’ which seem like medieval English folk songs. In fact she just delivers on everything. The synth pop ‘Wondaland’ is stunning, as is the punk belter ‘Come Alive’ The album closes on two songs which clearly showcase the vocal abilities of Monae, ‘Say You’ll Go’ and ‘BaPopByeYa’ which is a sprawling nine minute smoky jazz club infused odyssey which wouldn’t be out of place on a James Bond Soundtrack.

This should be a mess, the constant genre hopping, the vocal gymnastics, the cryptic story. It reads as an artist clearly overreaching herself. Yet somehow it works and flows. It’s futuristic yet retro, complex yet accessible, it shouldn’t work but it does. It’s a modern day classic, a genre defining masterpiece. At 24 years old, she has made what many artists can only dream of making in their lifetime. It’s different and certainly the best release of 2010 so far and in many a years, be prepared to be wowed!

Rating:10/10

Busy Saturday Night.

2010-07-19T22:19:00.002+08:00

As I had no classes on Friday for Kindergarten, I took the chance to catch up on some sleep on Friday morning and early afternoon. Then it was off to work and then to Ximen after to watch Inception. It was certainly a great movie and will go down as a classic. It's very involved and I can't say i really caught everything the first time round. I seriously need to watch this again soon.

On Saturday we chilled at home for most of the day before meeting up with Steve and Hamish at 101 area for dinner. After a near two hour wait for Chilis we had dinner and then went our separate ways. We then met Noah, Elvin, and Anji at Alleycats at Hua San for a few drinks. Then it was off to Roxy Roots to meet Cha and Mike and drink away until the early hours of the morning. A great evening.

Sunday was spent just lazing around after an all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet.

Early July

2010-07-13T22:14:00.002+08:00

The weather has continued to be relentless although it does seem to have dropped to a more bearable level of around the low 30s or now. Last weekend we chilled at home on Friday evening and then on Saturday I met up with Kyle, Daisy and Evan at DaLiDa for some drinks where we spent the majority of the evening. George joined later as he was working for the last night of the Film Festival.

Things look to be sorted for our trip to England as well, we got covered on insurance today and it's only a few more weeks to go! Wohoo!

Wash out weekend

2010-06-29T20:34:00.003+08:00

The past couple of weeks it has become uncomfortably hot and humid. Along with that is the daily downpours which render any plans vulnerable. On the weekend, I took the chance to chill out at home in the morning and afternoon and George was working for the Film Festival. By mid afternoon it began pouring down. So I lazed around most of the day listening to music. In the evening I headed over to Dorian and Sharon's for a BBQ. At around 11 I met up with George and the guys he is hosting (Zada and Amy) in Bistro O. We drank the night away to tasty Mojitos! Sunday was another washout day so was spent relaxing at home as well. Not the most eventful of weekends!

Taiwan and China sign landmark trade agreement.

2010-06-29T20:32:00.000+08:00

The agreement will do away with tariffs on hundreds of products

China and Taiwan have signed a historic trade pact, seen as the most significant agreement since civil war split the two governments 60 years ago.

The Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement (ECFA) removes tariffs on hundreds of products.

It could boost bilateral trade that already totals $110bn (£73bn) a year.

Correspondents say that, economically, the deal favours Taiwan but that Beijing hopes for political gains in its long-standing unification campaign.

The deal is seen as the culmination of efforts by Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou, elected two years ago with a vow to reduce tension with the mainland.

Service sectors

The deal was signed in the mainland city of Chongqing and was carried live on state television.

ANALYSIS

Chris Hogg,
BBC News, Shanghai

Taiwanese officials have described this new trade deal as one of the most important developments in six decades of often testy relations.

For the Chinese it's an opportunity to move beyond the threatening rhetoric used frequently against the previous Taiwanese administration which lost power two years ago. Relations between Beijing and Taipei have improved markedly since then.

Some analysts regard the deal as an effort to bind Taiwan closer to China - to achieve by economic means what Beijing has long failed to do militarily. But Taiwan's government says the alternative to the deal was continued economic isolation. And the island's president has insisted the agreement won't lead Taiwan to drop its guard.

Taiwan's envoy Chiang Pin-kung said the agreement was "a critical moment in the development of long-term relations".

His Beijing counterpart, Chen Yunlin, said the pact was an agreement of "equal consultation and mutual benefits".

The pair exchanged gifts and joined in a toast at the ceremony.

The deal is seen as being most economically beneficial to export-reliant Taiwan.

At the moment $80bn in goods flows to China, and $30bn to Taiwan.

Almost $14bn worth of Taiwanese goods exported to China will have their tariffs reduced or removed.

Taiwanese companies will also gain access to a number of mainland service sectors, including banking and insurance.

Chinese exports worth just under $3bn will see their tariffs lowered.

The BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei says this is clearly a good economic deal for Taiwan but there remains genuine concern among many that the agreement will make Taiwan too economically dependent on China and therefore politically vulnerable.

There have been some street protests in Taiwan against the deal but opinion polls suggest the majority on the island are in favour.

Taiwanese critics say the deal could leave the island's economy open to a flood of cheap imports.

They also worry about China's motives, arguing that Beijing is hoping to use it to win the political support of big business on the island for its own agenda.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has previously said that his country "can give up our profits because Taiwanese compatriots are our brothers".

For decades, relations between the two sides have been strained.

Taiwan and China have been governed separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

The site of the signing, Chongqing, has historical resonance. Communist leader Mao Zedong and Nationalist President Chiang Kai-shek tried but failed to sign a truce there.

Chiang was forced to Taiwan in 1949
.

Jekyll and Hyde

2010-06-22T20:18:00.002+08:00

Last weekend we went to see the musical Jekyll and Hyde at the National Theatre. It was really good and the best part was we had pretty decent seats for a cheap price! Not bad at all.

Last two weekends

2010-05-18T22:13:00.002+08:00

The weekend before last was South Africa day! So in the early afternoon we firstly headed to B&Q to buy the flooring for the rooftop, the foundations are now laid for an awesome rooftop! After that we headed to the cultural village to meet up with Willie and the other Dajia gang. We hang out drinking wine and relaxing and downing some jagger shots also. Then we met up with some of George's classmates, including Angelina, at Mr Onion. The food was pretty good! Then we went to a bar near ZhongXiao DongHua where we met Dick and had quite possibly the worst Mojito ever made. Sunday was mostly spent relaxing.

Last weekend we met up with Steve and Hamish for a game of bowling, I seemed to be on top form as I beat off the competition comfortably. Then we headed to the Brass Monkey to drink, play pool and chill. A nice relaxing weekend.

Next week is going to be open day, a busy and hectic week therefore beckons. However, some respite is near. The weather was really hot around 34oC, a sign that summer is on its way and nearly time to head back to England for a visit, wohoo!!

David Byrne & Fatboy Slim ‘Here Lies Love’

2010-05-11T22:31:00.002+08:00

Whether David Byrne is in the guise as an artist, director, actor, singer, multi-instrumentalist, discoverer of new world music, collaborating with legends, or fronting critically adored New Wave Band ‘Talking Heads’ there is no denying David Byrne lacks creativity or ideas; and with an Oscar and Grammy under his belt he seems to know what he is doing also. So who better to apply such boundless vision to one of the most unique offerings pop music has had bestowed upon it this year.

‘Here Lies Love’ is a concept album by David Byrne, in collaboration with Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) of the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos. It traces her life from impoverished beginnings, to keptocaracy, and the eventual demise and forced exile to Hawaii.

Imelda Marcos is certainly an interesting and intriguing character. The ‘Iron Butterfly’ as she was known, had the Beatles hounded out of her country for refusing lunch with her, danced with Andy Warhol in studio 54 and even gave speech to the UN over a philosophy combining beauty and Pacman. Probably what she is most famous for is her 2,700 strong collection of shoes. However, it’s not all light hearted. While she luxuriated in a life of decadence, her loyal subjects were destitute. Her and her husband embezzled millions of dollars and their repressive regime murdered countless dissidents.

Therefore under less guided souls, this album could have ended up a whole bunch of clichés and perfect material for a pantomime. However, under the stunning guidance of Byrne who possess the vision, perspective and creativity to carry this project, these pitfalls are avoided. Byrne draws out Imelda’s contradicting personalities and it is cleverly counterbalanced by Estrella Cumpas, the woman who raised Imelda from birth but was cast aside when she gained power and placed under house arrest.

Byrne’s research is thorough as he uses direct quotes in the songs from Imelda herself. If that wasn’t enough there is a 120 page booklet explaining the CD further still. There is no narrative on the album, consisting solely of 22 songs each sung by a guest vocalist. However, there is clearly a story being told by Byrne and they come mainly from the clouded perspective of Imelda focusing upon her frequentation of disco’s during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly of Studio 54. For this Byrne opted the help of Fatboy Slim who helps to lay the various musical styles of the day ranging from disco, Afro-Latin, Broadway and soul.

The guest vocalists are predominately female, with the exception of Steve Earle, and come from the world of country, soul pop, and folk such as Florence Welch, Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos, Martha Wainwright, and Natalie Merchant to name but a few. Some of the songs are great. Florence Welch’s anthemic opener ‘Here Lies Love’ is fantastic with its over the top style and orchestral flourishes. Similarly, Theresa Anderson’s ‘Ladies in Blue’ could have come straight out of studio 54. It is not only the upbeat numbers which work. Natalie Merchant’s politically tinged ‘Order 1081’ is majestic, as is Shara Warden’s duet with Byrne on ‘Seven Years’.

However, it doesn’t all work; at 90 minutes long it is almost inevitable that some of the songs don’t quite hit the mark. Even worse, some of them merely fade into the background. This probably is more due to Fatboy Slim than Byrne. The choice of a once overrated DJ for a time in the 1990s was always a strange one. Although, this is the sound Fatboy Slim specializes in, he doesn’t really have the ability to sustain the quality for an entire album; especially one in excess of 90 minutes. It’s certainly a case of hit and miss. In addition, with a plethora of quest vocalists channeling just a few characters renders the whole affair rather confusing and hard to follow.

However, even it doesn’t quite hit the mark there is no taking away from the ambition of this album, it is certainly impressive! Imelda Marcos herself would probably approve many of these songs herself. If nothing else, in the age of downloaded singles, a concept album commanding attention from start to finish is commendable.

Taiwan conducts rare executions

2010-05-02T00:58:00.001+08:00

Taiwan has put four men to death, the island's first executions since 2005. They had been convicted of a range of "grave offences such as fatal kidnappings and murders", the justice ministry said. Correspondents say the new justice minister, Tseng Yung-fu, had been under pressure from victims' families to resume executions.

Capital punishment is a sensitive political issue in Taiwan, and is widely supported by the public. A Taiwanese human rights group, the Foundation for Judicial Reform, condemned the executions, saying the ministry had deliberately hastened the process. They were shot by firing squad, officials said.

The former justice minister stood down in March after refusing to sign death warrants for 44 prisoners. The last executions in Taiwan were of two people in 2005. A total of 49 people were put to death between 2000 and 2005.

Special 101

2010-04-29T22:17:00.003+08:00

The other week 101 was illuminated in all white for some reason. A rather special sight.

House Party

2010-04-29T22:05:00.003+08:00

Last weekend we finally got round to having our house party. On Friday evening I prepared some of the stuff and then we went to Carrefour on Saturday morning to get the rest of the stuff. Then it was back home to tidy-up and get ready. We managed to be ready by around 5 and after borrowing the BBQ and some chairs from Dorion and Sharon we prepared.

I made a salad and around 6 Maria turned up. We drank, George tried to master the elusive Mojito while we snacked on salad, cheese and bread and some chips and awaited the arrival of others. Finally everyone began to arrive and so the BBQ was started, pasta was made and the music was cranked up. Thankfully a disaster was avoided when Dorion arrived to save the BBQ from burning a massive hole in the old washing machine and Jack took over BBQ duties.

Lots of food was eaten, many beverages consumed and music was listened to. At around 1ish the last had left and we all went over to Jack's. Unfortunately, I was worse for wear and passed out not long after. Sunday was a slow day but at least the party was a success. Good times!!

How to roast a dragon.... or chicken.

2010-04-18T22:03:00.001+08:00

We had a relatively quiet weekend this week. On Friday after work we did some shopping then headed home for a night in. On Saturday we got up latish and headed out to do some shopping for the house, some herbs and the throw-over sheets for the chair and closet. Things are virtually complete now. Then on Saturday evening I attempted to make roast chicken and roast potatoes. I wasn’t expecting much but it turned out really good actually. The rest of the night was spent relaxing. On Sunday we headed to Ximen to see another Film Festival movie called Breathless and then saw How to Train Your Dragon which was pretty good. A nice quiet weekend, next weekend will be the house warming party!

Annie's Birthday

2010-04-18T21:55:00.002+08:00

A little over the top for a three year old's birthday but 10 out of 10 for originality. A Barbie cake!!

What the hell?

2010-04-18T21:52:00.002+08:00

Wait a minute. Now who would actually use the toilet then proceed to stand on the toilet and then flush it? Is it aimed at trained chimps? unbelievable!

First attempt at roasting chicken (and stuffed peppers during the week)

2010-04-18T21:18:00.004+08:00

Goldfrapp: 'Head First'

2010-04-15T23:59:00.000+08:00

Goldfrapp had three options available to them after releasing their fourth album ’Seventh Tree’. They could have continued on the same path of this down tempo, ambient-folk inspired album; verged off onto yet another new path; or do a U-turn and return to the dance floor which gave them such prominence on the fantastic album ‘Supernature’. For their fifth offering, Goldfrapp decided on the latter path, proving they couldn’t stay away from the dance floor for too long.

This was no surprise as this is what made them so popular in the first instance. Similarly, ‘Seventh Tree’, however brilliant it may be, was such an about turn that it’s hard to see how they didn’t alienate a large portion of their fan base with such an artistic change in direction.

‘Head First’ may very well be a dance album, but the sound is certainly different from its predecessors. Whereas before they dabbled with glam rock on ‘Black Cherry’ and electronic dance on ‘Supernature’, ‘Head First’ is an all out pure 1980’s pop affair. It comes equipped with shoulder pads, sequined leggings, and big perms all heading towards you on roller skates in the vein of Cliff Richard Wired for Sound era. The synths are out in force accompanied by disconnected melodies and dramatic key shifts. We are firmly in 1980s territory.

Not only are we dealing with a 1980s album in sound but also in length and structure. Clocking in at just over 38 minutes and starting off with three huge singles ‘Rocket’ ‘Believe’ and ‘Alive’ harks back to great albums such as Dire Strait’s ‘Bothers in Arms’. This album is a firm example of quality over quantity. Yet again, the majority of the production falls to Will Gregory, who produces the vital Goldfrapp sound. However from listening one would be forgiven for thinking Giorgio Moroder, ELO and ABBA raided the studios here. The production is as glossy as the front cover of Vogue magazine.

When all this is combined with Alison’s voice, which remains as stunning as ever, the result is nothing short of perfection. With her gentle ethereal voice ebbing and flowing over you in waves, it’s hard not to be transfixed by such beauty and taken along for the ride. The lyrics will win no prizes for being deep and meaningful; it’s an all out pop affair with simple couplets and matters of the heart.

The driving leading track ‘Rocket’ with its minor key verse and massive chorus; and the succeeding turbo charged ‘Believer’ are as infectious as anything I’ve heard and up there with the best Golfrapp have ever produced. ‘Alive’ is similarly catchy but is nothing compared to the amazing ‘Dreaming’ which channels some form of downbeat techno to stunning effects. It is not until halfway through when the ballads enter and a more experimental vocal element is included in ‘Voicething’ and ‘Hunt’. However we are treated to one more up-tempo number before the end with ‘I Wanna Life’ which feels as though Ace of Base have returned to making music.

If there legacy was in any doubt before this album then Head First consolidates Goldfrapp’s position as one of the best British duos of the early 21t century. It will disappoint and alienate some fans just as ‘Seventh Tree’ did. Goldfrapp have the confidence to abandon a sound that works and venture into new territory. Come out of the forest, disrobe from the pagan attire and head to the back of the wardrobe for the lycra and head to the nearest club. Goldfrapp are back and as good as ever!

Update...

2010-04-15T23:51:00.003+08:00

The past few weeks have been really hectic but finally things appear to be settling down and returning to some sort of normality. After a long and arduous process of packing up everything in the old place and moving it to the new house we have finally arrived. Luckily we got a delivery company to move most of the stuff which was a fantastic idea. The thought of dragging tons of books, CDs and furniture up 6 flights of stairs was hell!

We moved in on Friday 2nd April and luckily the weekend was a long one due to Tomb Sweeping Day falling on Monday. So the whole three days was spent unloading the stuff and arranging the new house. After hours of work and a few trips to Ikea and other furniture stores we now have a open space bedroom, living room and dining area which is quite nice. We have also set-up an outdoor kitchen area. Pictures to come later.

The past week has been a major hassle at school preparing things for the end of semester play which has begun already. We have also been busy with the mini film festival which started on 9th April and runs for two weeks. The majority of movies will be reviewed later but basically most are Polanski movies with some Rocky Horror thrown in for good measure.

The weather has been pretty terrible this April so far with basically non-stop rain most days with the occasional intermittent sunny spell to cheer everyone up for a few hours now and again. Other than that, life goes on...

Weekend of Packing and Relaxing!

2010-03-29T22:56:00.002+08:00

This is the last weekend we will spend in the old apartment. Therefore i decided to try and spend some time getting some things sorted to pack away for the dreaded move sometime in the week. Hopefully we will have the key by Wednesday and can begin moving things in from then onwards. After a late lunch at the little restaurant in the area (Jack's House) we headed home to pack. In the evening we headed to a little place on Keelung Road which did very expensive drinks, more than 400NT for a cocktail. We decided to stick to the cheap ones (just 200NT) and some pizza and nibbles. It was very tasty. We were met later by Jack and his Russian friend, Sam. We also got a shisha for around 500NT which was cherry flavored. It was actually quite nice. As we talked, ate and smoked the evening flew by. Sam went off to Luxy and the rest of us ended the night at Watersheds.

Next report should be from the new apartment, I can't wait!

Groove Armada: 'Black Light'

2010-03-17T11:43:00.002+08:00

Groove Armada, a duo consisting of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay, were a firm fixture of all chill out compilations of the early 21st century. With their laid back hits such as ‘At The River’ their songs also proved a staple of numerous adverts and movies. They also offered the odd house / dance track to counterbalance, such as the fantastic ‘If Everybody Looked the Same’ and ‘I See You Baby’. They proved that they were not just about the after party comedown. They were also the main dance event as well.

All their previous albums offered something different. Their relaxed debut was followed by dance songs only to be followed with funk and rock inspired albums. They are certainly not a band that rest on their laurels. True to form, they have done exactly the same with their sixth and latest studio release ‘Black Light’. Following in the latest trend of 1980s retro acts, Groove Armada have offered an unapologetic electro-pop album full of synths, electro bass and big choruses. It’s quite a change for the duo but one that appears to have paid off handsomely. It has made them relevant in today’s music scene.

One criticism often directed at Groove Armada is that their releases have been so musically diverse there is nothing to connect the songs to a Groove Armada sound. Granted, that most of the best bands around do have a recognizable sound, whether that be the music or vocals. Groove Armada opts for neither of these two options. Instead of churning out variations of ‘At the River’ with an occasional intermittent delve into house music; they have continued to transform themselves each time. There strength lies with this constant evolution ensuring they have not faded into obscurity some time ago. Also, whereas before Groove Armada had always been about big singles rather than an album act, they have produced a consistently cohesive album and not just a couple of standout tracks.

‘Black Light’ is strongly influenced by the 1980s pop scene and reads like a list of who’s who of the time. There are certainly flourishes of Gary Newman, The Human League and New Order, and even Bryan Ferry sings guest vocals on one track, ‘Shameless’.

As the name suggests, ‘Black Light’ is supposed to represent the bands darker side and a shift away from the upbeat sounds of past releases. Whereas before they have found satisfaction by looping single-lined vocals over and over, they now attach serious messages and emotions to their lyrics rather than mere sound bites. Groove Armada have always boasted solid production and songwriting as well as wise selections when it comes to guest vocals. Vocal duties here are shared by (Empire of the Sun’s) Nick Littlemore, Saint Saviour and Jess Larrabee; and one track each for Bryan Ferry and Will Young.

Larrabee’s two offerings are strong and contribute fully to this album with the propulsive opener, of ‘Look Me In The Eye Sister’ and equally impressive, and Fleetwood Mac influenced, ‘Just for Tonight’. Saint Saviour also proves a good choice for this 1980s feel lending a softer edge to some of the coldness of synths and electro bass of ‘I Kneel Down’ and the catchy disco sing-a-long ‘Paper Romance’. Littlemore can come across as rather annoying and grating to listen to. He is tolerable on ‘Fall Silent’ but on ‘Not Forgotten’, ironically, he is better off forgotten. It’s truly awful. It is the two singers with just one a piece (Bryan Ferry and Will Young) where the true enjoyment lies. ‘Shameless’ is an instant classic from the French narrative at the start to the faded conclusion. The slow electro burn compliments Ferry’s vocals perfectly and proves to be one of the great singles of the year so far. On History, Will Young’s vocals have been transformed into a haunting affair, so much so that his voice is rendered unrecognizable to this simple yet stunning song.

Groove Armada’s constant evolution means that they have longevity into the second decade of the 21st century. They have finally produced a consistently good album which is sure to be one of the best electro-pop albums of the year. It is which much expectation we wait to see which direction Groove Armada will take next.

My 29th Birthday.

2010-03-16T19:40:00.004+08:00

This is my last year as a twenty-something-year-old. This year I decided to celebrate my birthday in the Red Theatre area of Ximen. However, due to adverse weather, ie constant downpours, I relocated to Watersheds. Jack got there early to save a table and we were joined by Noah, Eddie, Richard, Erin, Steve, Matt, Adam, and Maria. As usual Watershed provided its usual great yet deadly drinks. After a few hours and few drinks later we all headed to Luxy. Fortunately we didn't have to pay due to some maria contacts of Maria. The rest of the night was spent dancing away to the early hours of the morning. (Pictures to be found on Facebook) Next year is the big 30!!

On Monday, George's mum came to Taipei and we went out for Japanese food with Angelina (which cost a fortune) and then off to Riverside to catch some live bands.

Marina and the Diamonds: 'The Family Jewels'

2010-03-09T19:21:00.001+08:00

“I know exactly who I want and who I want to be” shrieks Marina Lambrini Diamandis on ‘Oh No!’, a song from her highly anticipated debut ‘The Family Jewels’. Her intention though appears to be the antithesis of what this part-Welsh-part-Greek newcomer has produced. Marina has certainly come along at the right time given last year’s surge of quasi-synth female singer-songwriters who made an impact in 2009; such as Little Boots, La Roux, and fellow newcomer Ellie Goulding. However, it is Florence and the Machine to whom most comparisons should be firmly drawn.

As with Florence Welch, Marina shares a unique name, adopted a band which doesn’t formally exist, is hotly tipped in their respective year of release and possess a fondness for eclecticism in their music. Yet where Florence generally succeeded, Marina fails to pull of the same impressive feat.

Marina has been compared to a whole array of artists both past and present including; Pink, Gwen Stefani, Regina Spektor, Tori Amos, Kate Nash, Sparks, and Siouxsie Soux to name just a few. The reason for such comparisons is that ‘The Family Jewels’ reads like am all-encompassing roller-coaster ride. There are flourishes of Ska, piano ballads, electro-pop, and power disco all set to a predominately upbeat feel. Yet the result is that it’s so in-your-face that is becomes exhausting just listening to this album. It should come with a health warning attached cautioning mandatory breaks in-between songs for fear of serious detrimental effects to one’s health.

Many of these tracks, ‘Shampain’, ‘Hollywood’, and ‘Are you satisfied?’ for example, prove that Marina can write a fairly decent pop song but they are produced to within an inch of their lives that it becomes overbearing. She just tries too hard and there are far too many ideas going on. The electro hooks and choruses literally bombard you. She doesn’t so much just throw everything including the kitchen sink at you; she includes next doors conservatory and loft conversion for good measure!

All this before we even turn to the vocals. Another comparison Marina has been associated with is Kate Bush for her eccentric vocal play. The reality is that Marina is not even close to the living genius Bush is. Marina employs a whole range of vocal styles (and I use that term loosely) such as vibrato, animal noises, shrieks, mimicking robots, and, worst of all, terrible overkill of enunciating every other syllable that she sings. Oh, I nearly forgot the screaming profanities as well. The whole affair is just simply annoying for the most part.

It’s also frustrating. The over production and inane vocal gymnastics mask some genuinely good songs. When the pace is slowed down and it’s just Marina and the piano her real talent shines through, such as ‘Obsessions’ and ‘I’m not a Robot’. Additionally she certainly has the charisma to become successful although constant references to her future success in her debut release certainly scream a large ego.

There is certainly potential here, a diamond in the rough at the moment if you will. The whole album is far too ambitious and lacks coherence. Her next release should be toned down and more focused. The biggest irony of all is that in her attempt to be different from anyone else she has made a massively commercial pop album.

Peter Gabriel: 'Scratch My Back'

2010-03-03T23:57:00.002+08:00

With some noticeable exceptions aside (such as the late Johnny Cash’s American series and Nouvelle Vague) cover albums are rarely anything to get excited about. Either we are dealing with the latest X Factor / American idol contestant; or it is a sign that the artist in question has finally reached the end of their creative peak.

However, the artist in question, Peter Gabriel, is no ordinary artist. He has always been one for embracing experimentation and new ideas musically; whether that be
pioneering digital distribution methods, setting up World Music concerts, or flamboyantly fronting a prog-rock group. Whatever he does it is certainly not done by halves.

Gabriel’s latest release ‘Scratch My Back’, incidentally his first in seven years, is a “swap shop of songs”. He has taken twelve songs from artists which are either; friends, admirers or personal favorites of his own, stripped them bare, and reinterpreted them into orchestrated arrangements with the sole emphasis placed upon vocals. In return, the artists Gabriel covered will return the favour by covering a track of his on a later album this year aptly titled ‘I’ll Scratch Yours’. In addition each single (containing both tracks) will be released on each full moon. If all else fail, Peter Gabriel now has the distinct pleasure of having his own songs interpreted by the likes of David Bowie, Talking Heads, Radiohead, and Lou Reed to name a few.

One listen to Gabriel’s recent cover of Vampire Weekends ‘’ along with Hot Chip demonstrate how carefully he chooses his music. The album splits between old artists such as Paul Simon, David Bowie and Lou Reed; to the more contemporary; Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, and Elbow. To cover such artists alone is a brave move. To focus solely upon vocals seems almost madness

In all honesty, it is probably best to spend a few days before listening to this release to fully re-visit (or visit for the first time in some cases) the original songs before fully immersing oneself into this album and even then it is not going to be an easy listen.

As mentioned the vocals are at the forefront accompanied by an orchestra predominately focusing upon strings and piano. The hope was to focus on emotions and reveal the lyrical content of the songs and to force creativity under such restrictions. Therefore much of whether one likes this album will rest upon whether you like Gabriel’s voice or not. There is no doubt he has the voice to carry off such an album on this somber and sorrowful album. The vocals range from fragile to powerful and the arrangements almost give the impression these songs are scored for a movie.

The best word to describe this album is interesting. It could be great background music yet it demands attention to be fully appreciated. The trouble is, it’s rather demanding to get through this album in one sitting. Probably the best song on here is the cover of Paul Simon’s ‘Boy in the Bubble’ which takes the African inspired pop song and reveals the emotion contained within not conveyed by Simon himself. Covers such as Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ and Radiohead’s ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’ are certainly intriguing but add nothing new to the originals. As a broad generalisation, Gabriel fairs better with the new material than the old.

Gabriel has certainly released something to invest time listening to, yet it will probably receive polarizing opinions. As a music fan to hear a great artist cover other great artists is always a pleasure to here. I just wonder how well the public will respond to such an offering.

Hot Chip: 'One Life Stand'

2010-03-01T21:08:00.002+08:00

In regards to their latest release, Alexis Taylor stated that their intent was to create a “more mid-tempo and disco influenced” album than their previous offerings. The product appears to only half realised. Disco, it most certainly is, but mid-tempo it surely isn’t. What Hot Chip have created here is not only a set of classic upbeat dance-floor albums, but also their best album to date. In short this album is pure electronic pop perfection.

Since this London quintet formed in 2000, Hot Chip gained a reputation for witty lyrics and experimentation. Although this produced flashes of genius, they were always trying to do too much and resulted in fragmented albums. With their fourth release ‘One Life Stand’ they have concentrated upon polishing their sound and committed to creating straightforward (house induced) love songs. It’s ‘back to basics’.

It’s hard not to like this album as it contains everything required to make good electro-pop music; from fantastic melodies and smart arrangements, to memorable hooks and intelligent lyrics, all merged to create an infectious sound. It has an overall feel quite similar to that of Daft Punk’s classic album ‘Discovery’ in the sense that it produces amazingly catchy classic dance songs.

Underpinning these great songs is a shift in the lyrical content. By disregarding their witty lyrics and embracing a broader emotional range they have created classic dance love songs. They are far more open now in talking about love and relationships and do so without ever sounding sentimental. Add to that the amazing vocals of Taylor and the sublime harmonies contributed by Goddard and the result is one of heavenly bliss.

‘One Life Stand’ starts off upbeat in both mood and tempo and remains that way virtually all the way to the end. The opening three tracks; ‘Thieves in the Night’, ‘Hand me Down My Love’, and ‘I Feel Better’ are instant classics. The latter of which was apparently inspired by watching Susan Boyle sing! (Inspiration truly can come from the strangest of places). The majority of the songs start off relatively sparse but gradually build into catchy and euphoric choruses. There are some slower numbers here such as the brilliant ‘Brothers’, the bizarre ‘Slush’ (demonstrating they haven’t totally ditched their experimental edge) and ‘Keep Quiet’. However, it is the fast beat sounds, in particular the title track ‘One Life Stand’ and ‘Alley Cats’ which stand out and show the pure genius of this band.

Hot Chip have created an amazing album, and certainly the first great album of 2010 that I have heard so far. By focusing on what they do best, pure electro-pop and by not being afraid to tackle the theme of love they have hit jackpot.

BRIT Winners 2010

2010-02-28T15:33:00.002+08:00

British male solo artist: Winner: Dizzee Rascal
British female solo artist: Lily Allen
British breakthrough act: JLS
British group: Kasabian
British album: Florence & the Machine - Lungs
British single: JLS, Beat Again
BRITs performance of 30 years: Spice Girls - Wannabe/Who Do You Think You Are (1997)
International male solo artist: Jay-Z
International female solo artist: Lady GaGa
International breakthrough act: Lady GaGa
International album: Lady GaGa The Fame
BRITs album of 30 Years: Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
British producer: Paul Epworth
Critics Choice: Ellie Goulding
Outstanding contribution to music: Robbie Williams

Chinese New Year 2010 (Feb 13th - 21st)

2010-02-23T20:15:00.005+08:00

Chinese New Year In A Nutshell...

Friday: Finished work at 4:30 and went to see the latest Jim Carey movie, ‘I Love You Phillip Morris’. It was actually much better than anticipated. In the evening we went to G Star with Eddie and Richard.

Saturday: New Years Eve. Went to 101 to get lunch then headed to George’s brothers house in YongHe for dinner.

Sunday: Met with Shannon and saw the latest Disney installment ‘The Princess and the Frog’. After we went to the Thai restaurant in Neo19 which was great, fantastic Mojitos too. Then we headed back home for some drinking to be joined by Matt and Adam and Jack as well.

Monday: Train to Kaoshiung in the afternoon and met with Angelina and George’s mum. We headed to Love River to take a walk. The weather was quite pleasant, perfect for walking. After some coffee we headed back to rest.

Tuesday: Started off the day with the worst breakfast ever then started a long day of shopping at the mall and Ikea. Then a train back to ChiaYi.

Wednesday: Breakfast followed by a big hot pot for lunch which was nice as the weather was freezing. Headed home to watch ‘The Reader’ and ‘Casablanca’

Thursday: Went out to buy a DVD player and look around town. Went back home to watch ‘The Exorcist’ and a Chinese movie.

Friday: Back to Taipei after lunch, had to wait two hours for the HSR.

Saturday: Went to Chilis with Shannon and then to the White House and onto the Watershed for more drinking.

Sunday: Slept in till 5pm, had lunch at the diner and then home to prepare for work!

Sade: 'Soldier of Love'

2010-02-15T12:40:00.002+08:00

She’s reclusive, releases albums about once a decade, never gives interviews, and has been around for 26 years with next to nothing known about her. Yet, she has had success and influenced artists on both sides of the Atlantic; and her image, voice, and sound are as unmistakable as they are timeless. Not only this, but she has sold in excess of 50 million albums worldwide. She is silky, she is smooth, she is Helen Folasade Adu, better known simply as Sade.

Whether you see her as the forefront of soul which set the standard for the 1980s and 1990s or dreary late night background music, she’s back with intent. I say ‘she’, but that should really be ‘they’ as Sade refers to a collective rather than just the lead singer. Since their debut, ‘Diamond Life’, 26 years ago, Sade have had countless hits which have hit the airwaves and never left. Just as Woody Allen has always gone done better in the UK than he has in his native country, the reverse is true of Sade. Their success is even more remarkable given that they have only released six albums in that time frame. It is this exercise of quality control which gives them an air of sophistication. Added to this is the fact that Sade never tries to be cool or follow trends resulting in their music aging rather well.

It’s been 10 years since their last release, ‘Lovers Rock’ and it was interesting to see which direction they would take. Should they stick faithfully to their tried and tested sound and risk being labeled as unoriginal and repetitive? Or should they change their sound and alienate their large fan base? The result is ‘Soldier of Love’ and it adheres to the sound which made them successful. Like a lot of good single genre bands, they have homed in on their sound; fine tuned and perfected it and consequently become masters of their craft. They are true followers of the theory that If it’s not broken why fix it! It’s full of soul, slow beats, and an overarching mournfulness totally dominates this album.

As usual, they demonstrate restraint both musically and vocally which gives the impression that they are lazy in their approach. Yet listening to the voice it is clear to see she is full of emotion and melancholy, it is just delivered with effortlessness. The themes are also similar; that of love. On a number of tracks she seems heartbroken to the point of being totally wounded.

The album commences with two stunning tracks; ‘The Moon and the Sky’ and ‘Soldier of Love’. The first is built around sustained strings and a fantastic guitar hook. The title track is far different to anything Sade has released before. Set to military drumming ‘Solider of Love’ is moody and aggressive. Depicting love as a battlefield I would certainly not want to cross this soldier in a dark alley. These two are as good as anything Sade has ever produced. If the whole album was this good it would have to go down as a classic. Not to say things go downhill from here, but the standard Sade sound sets in. Many of the songs would not feel out of place on any of the six previous albums. There are some slight diversions; an odd reggae number ‘Babyfather’ which appears out of place both in tone and lyrics on this love torn album. There are also ventures into country with ‘Be That Easy’. Some of the songs are stripped bare instrumentally and let Sade’s voice tower above the tracks such as ‘The Safest Place’, ‘Morning Bird’, and ‘Long Hard Road’, the latter of which being the best of this bunch.

In conclusion, unless they radically changed their sound it is hard to see how Sade could have gone wrong. They stuck to the sound which made them successful in the first place. This release will certainly not win over any new fans but neither will it disappoint loyal fans who hang on her every word. ‘Solider of Love’ will certainly not win any album of the year awards but I, for one, am pleased they are back.

Charlotte Gainsbourg: 'IRM'

2010-02-09T21:11:00.003+08:00

After watching Charlottes Gainsbourg’s performance in the disturbing Lars von Trier’s movie, ‘Antichrist’, I had mixed feelings about approaching the third album from this part time actress, part time singer. However, being the daughter of modern French pop (Serge Gainsbourg) endured me to this release.

‘IRM’ was written in response to her life-threatening waterskiing accident in 2007 and subsequent brain hemorrhage and MRI scans. Therefore death is the backdrop to this album. It embraces the physical and the spiritual in equal measures. It could have been a depressing album yet it is not; she almost shrugs off the near death experience and clearly doesn’t invite self pity. She is deeply reflective yet questioningly optimistic; it’s unsettling yet uplifting.

It’s obvious from the outset that Beck is the producer of this album. His sound is all over this release and this is a good thing. Not only is he producer but also composer, co-writer, and virtuoso of the vast majority of instruments. Therefore this could well have been just a chance for Beck to exert his sound through a muse. This would also fit as Beck is no stranger to writing songs about death. However, the results are rather pleasing. Charlotte is certainly no puppet of Beck here. She is firmly in control and directing us through a whole range of styles. Similarly, she demonstrates versatility and depth and makes good use of her rather limited vocals from whispery pillow talk to robotic monotones.

Musically, it ranges from the instrumentally sparse to the point of a cappella such as ‘Vanities’ and ‘In the End’; to grand and complex arrangements such as ‘GMT’ and ‘Looking Glass Blues’. Overall it starts of simply and becomes more complex and explorative as the album progresses. The album starts off with ‘Master’s Hands’ which sets heavy bass against minimal guitar and vocals drenched in reverb. We then progress to the psychedelic rock track ‘Trick Pony’. One fantastic treat is ‘Le Chat Du Café Des Artistes’ which is certainly in the style of her father. ‘Heaven Can Wait’ is a fantastic duet with Beck along to vamping pianos and a 1960s pop feel. Another two standout tracks are ‘Dandelion’ which takes a standard 12 bar blues riff and makes it into something quite sophisticated, and the straightforward pop number ‘Time Of The Assassins’.

A special mention should also be made to the percussion which is often complex and mixes elements of African rhythms. This, no doubt, adds to the psychedelic tracks on the latter half of the album and is a trump card which Beck plays.

Charlotte will inevitably always be compared to her father and it’s unfair to do so, albeit inevitable. There is no doubt that Charlotte Gainsbourg is a talented actress as well as musician who has crafted a fantastic piece of adult pop. This could well be a highlight of the year.

2010-02-08T21:13:00.002+08:00

Last weekend flew by. Mostly due to the fact that Saturday was a working day due to the upcoming Chinese New Year. By working Saturday we get the Friday of next week off too so in all it's a nine day affair this year, I can't wait!

On Saturday we headed to Ximen after work to watch the new Taiwanese movie Monga. It was pretty good from what I could make out, although no English subtitles so I will certainly have to watch it again to get the most out of it. After that we headed home and just relaxed.

On Sunday we got lunch and relaxed at home with a movie before heading to Ximen to meet George's dad as it is his 73rd birthday. We went to a newly opened Cantonese restaurant which was pretty good.

This week George is in JiaYi to spend time with family prior to Chinese New Year and as for me it's a nice easy week as there are no Elementary classes going out this week. Therefore it gives me time to relax and sort things out. Nice!

Massive Attack: 'Heligoland'

2010-02-04T22:27:00.002+08:00

The anticipation surrounding the expected release of the progenitors of trip-hop, Massive Attack, has finally come to an end. After a seven year hiatus, they have returned with their new studio album, ‘Heligoland’. Since their creation in 1988, they went on to produce three masterpieces in the 1990s; ‘Blue Lines’, ‘Protection’, and ‘Mezzanine’ and rightly earned the title as the forefathers of trip-hop.

However, as with all success this could not last forever. In the 2000s, Massive Attack only managed to release one studio album, ‘100th Window’, to largely muted reception. Therefore, a lot was riding on this release. Not only did they have to prove they were still relevant; they had to compete with a similar band from their genre, Portishead, who like Massive Attack, made a comeback after a long break to critical acclaim. On top of that, they have to deliver something as astonishing as their early output.

Before even listening to the album things look promising. The usual plethora of guest vocalists looks exciting and well-chosen. The guest line-up includes Daman Albarn, Guy Gurney, from Elbow, and Tunde Adebimpe, from TV on the Radio. They should help to make this album very ‘now’ which is exactly what a band whose creative peak was twenty years ago need.

In regards to the sound, there are no surprises; a minimalist approach with deep rhythmic drums, and subtle, simmering undercurrents mixing organic with synthesized sounds. Although it has the ambient suspense expected, it cannot be purely classified as chill-out which tends to leave it confined to no man’s land. This in itself is not a problem but there is certainly no sense of urgency in the sound; in fact it remains so relaxed it becomes lethargic. Also, there are no stand-out tracks such as ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ or ‘Protection’. Possibly the worst part is the inclusion of two tracks with vocals provided by Martina Topley-Bird; ‘Psyche’ and ‘Babel’. If including a vocalist who has been confined to obscurity was not enough, her failure to produce anything of any substance throughout her career should have given a hint of what was to come. In saying that, ‘Splitting the Atom’ wins the title of worst track on this album, it’s just plain awful.

However, the entire album is not a letdown; there are some good parts worthy of praise. There are certainly flourishes of the Massive Attack of old and the genius which they possess. These include the fantastic ‘Paradise Circus’ which is similar to the equally amazing ‘Protection’ from the album of the same name. Other highlights include ‘Flat of the Blade’ and ‘Saturday Come Slow’. ‘Rush Minute’ and ‘Pray for Rain’ are also perfectly listenable songs.

In conclusion, this album would have to have been nothing short of extraordinary to have been rated highly. They are victims of their own success. It simply doesn’t compare to their first three releases and it’s not even as good as Portishead’s ‘Third’. This once-in-a-generation band appears to have reached the end of their creative streak. However, the flashes of genius contained within reveal a glimmer of hope that they could yet still return to form and deliver another great album. That is as long as we don’t have to wait another seven years for one.

History of Deadly Earthqaukes

2010-02-03T22:56:00.000+08:00

12 January 2010
Tens of thousands die in and around the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, as a 7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes the city.
6 April 2009
An earthquake hits the historic Italian city of L'Aquila, killing about 300 people.
29 October 2008
Up to 300 people are killed in the Pakistani province of Balochistan after an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude struck 70km (45 miles) north of Quetta.
12 May 2008:
Up to 87,000 people are killed or missing and as many as 370,000 injured by an earthquake in just one county in China's south-western Sichuan province.
The tremor, measuring 7.8, struck 92km (57 miles) from the provincial capital Chengdu during the early afternoon.
15 August 2007:
At least 519 people are killed in Peru's coastal province of Ica, as a 7.90-magnitude undersea earthquake strikes about 145km (90 miles) south-east of the capital, Lima.
17 July 2006:
A 7.7 magnitude undersea earthquake triggers a tsunami that strikes a 200km (125-mile) stretch of the southern coast of Java, killing more than 650 people on the Indonesian island.
27 May 2006:
More than 5,700 people die when a magnitude 6.2 quake hits the Indonesian island of Java, devastating the city of Yogyakarta and surrounding areas.
1 April 2006:
Seventy people are killed and some 1,200 injured when an earthquake measuring 6.0 strikes a remote region of western Iran.
8 October 2005:
An earthquake measuring 7.6 strikes northern Pakistan and the disputed Kashmir region, killing more than 73,000 people and leaving millions homeless.
28 March 2005:
About 1,300 people are killed in an 8.7 magnitude quake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Nias, west of Sumatra.
22 February 2005:
Hundreds die in a 6.4 magnitude quake centred in a remote area near Zarand in Iran's Kerman province.
26 December 2004:
Hundreds of thousands are killed across Asia when an earthquake measuring 9.2 triggers sea surges that spread across the region.
24 February 2004:
At least 500 people die in an earthquake which strikes towns on Morocco's Mediterranean coast.
26 December 2003:
More than 26,000 people are killed when an earthquake destroys the historic city of Bam in southern Iran.
21 May 2003:
Algeria suffers its worst earthquake in more than two decades. More than 2,000 people die and more than 8,000 are injured in a quake felt across the sea in Spain.
1 May 2003:
More than 160 people are killed, including 83 children in a collapsed dormitory, in south-eastern Turkey.
24 February 2003:
More than 260 people die and almost 10,000 homes are destroyed in Xinjiang region, in western China.
31 October 2002:
Italy is traumatised by the loss of an entire class of children, killed in the southern village of San Giuliano di Puglia when their school building collapses on them.
26 January 2001:
An earthquake measuring magnitude 7.9 devastates much of Gujarat state in north-western India, killing nearly 20,000 people and making more than a million homeless. Bhuj and Ahmedabad are among the towns worst hit.
12 November 1999:
Around 400 people die when an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale strikes Ducze, in north-west Turkey.
21 September 1999:
Taiwan is hit by a quake measuring 7.6 that kills nearly 2,500 people and causes damage to every town on the island.
17 August 1999:
An magnitude 7.4 earthquake rocks the Turkish cities of Izmit and Istanbul, leaving more than 17,000 dead and many more injured.
30 May 1998:
Northern Afghanistan is hit by a major earthquake, killing 4,000 people.
May 1997:
More than 1,600 killed in Birjand, eastern Iran, in an earthquake of magnitude 7.1.
27 May 1995:
The far eastern island of Sakhalin is hit by a massive earthquake, measuring 7.5, which claims the lives of 1,989 Russians.
17 January 1995:
The Hyogo quake hits the city of Kobe in Japan, killing 6,430 people.
30 September 1993:
About 10,000 villagers are killed in western and southern India.
21 June 1990:
Around 40,000 people die in a tremor in the northern Iranian province of Gilan.
7 December 1988:
An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale devastates north-west Armenia, killing 25,000 people.
19 September 1985:
Mexico City is shaken by a huge earthquake which razes buildings and kills 10,000 people.
28 July 1976:
The Chinese city of Tangshan is reduced to rubble in a quake that claims at least 250,000 lives.
23 December 1972:
Up to 10,000 people are killed in the Nicaraguan capital Managua by an earthquake that measures 6.5 on the Richter scale. The devastation caused by the earthquake was blamed on badly built high-rise buildings that easily collapsed.
31 May 1970:
An earthquake high in the Peruvian Andes triggers a landslide burying the town of Yungay and killing 66,000 people.
26 July 1963:
An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale strikes the Macedonian capital of Skopje killing 1,000 and leaving 100,000 homeless.
22 May 1960:
The world's strongest recorded earthquake devastates Chile, with a reading of 9.5 on the Richter scale. A tsunami 30ft (10m) high eliminates entire villages in Chile and kills 61 hundreds of miles away in Hawaii.
1 September 1923:
The Great Kanto earthquake, with its epicentre just outside Tokyo, claims the lives of 142,800 people in the Japanese capital.
18 April 1906:
San Francisco is hit by a series of violent shocks which last up to a minute. Between 700 and 3,000 people die either from collapsing buildings or in the subsequent fire.

BRIT Nominations 2010

2010-02-03T22:39:00.002+08:00

British Female Solo Artist: Nominees: Bat for Lashes, Florence & the Machine, Leona Lewis, Lily Allen, Pixie Lott

British Male Solo Artist: Nominees: Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, Mika, Paolo Nutini, Robbie Williams

British Breakthrough Act: Nominees: Florence & the Machine, Friendly Fires, JLS, La Roux, Pixie Lott

British Group: Nominees: Doves, Friendly Fires, JLS, Kasabian, Muse

MasterCard British Album: Nominees: Dizzee Rascal - Tongue n'Cheek, Florence & the Machine - Lungs, Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You, Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up

British Single: Nominees: Alesha Dixon - Breathe Slow, Alexandra Burke Ft Flo Rida - Bad Boys, Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love, Joe McElderry - The Climb, JLS - Beat Again, La Roux - In For The Kill, Lily Allen - The Fear, Pixie Lott - Mama Do, Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart, Tinchy Stryder Ft N-Dubz - Number 1

Critics' Choice: Nominees: Ellie Goulding, Delphic, Marina and the Diamonds

BRITs Album of 30 Years: Nominees: Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head, Dido - No Angel, Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms, Duffy - Rockferry, Keane - Hopes & Fears, Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Phil Collins - No Jacket Required, Sade - Diamond Life, The Verve - Urban Hymns, Travis - The Man Who

International Female Solo Artist: Nominees: Lady Gaga, Ladyhawke, Norah Jones, Rihanna, Shakira

International Male Solo Artist: Nominees: Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Jay-Z, Michael Bublé, Seasick Steve

International Album: Nominees: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion, Black Eyed Peas - The End, Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream, Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3, Lady Gaga - The Fame

International Breakthrough Act: Nominees: Animal Collective, Daniel Merriweather, Empire of the Sun, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift

2 weeks of weekends rounded up.

2010-02-03T22:29:00.003+08:00

The weekend before last we met up with Noah, Eddie, Richard and CS in the afternoon at the art village near Giraffe School for some coffee and a catch-up before we headed back to Noahs and then off to Shi Da to meet some of George's friends in Bistro O. We then went to Watersheds which was incredibly crowded.

Last weekend we went to the book exhibition at the WTC with Noah and then we went to see the new Terry Gilliam movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It was surprisingly much better than I thought. We also saw Invictus a couple of weeks ago which was a great movie also.

Vampire Weekend: 'Contra'

2010-02-01T22:10:00.000+08:00

There is something disconcerting about listening to an array of songs perfect for luxuriating on a beach in summer in the middle of January. Vampire Weekend have now done this twice as the New York City natives release their sophomore release in response to their hugely successful eponymous debut two years ago. As with its predecessor ‘Contra’ is produced by the bands keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij. However, whereas their first release combined Afro-pop with an indie sound, their new offering attempts to be even more ambitious by broadening their musical palette to include; reggae, ska, synth pop, calypso and even rockabilly. What results is a rather complicated affair and yields a mix bag of songs. However, the overall feel is sufficiently cohesive as an album.

Mixing African elements into mainstream western music is nothing new, Peter Gabriel has made a living out of it, Paul Simon did it amazingly well with ’Graceland’, and more recently Daman Albarn has done the same. Therefore this is not a groundbreaking album. However, with ‘Contra’ there is enough difference to signal progression away from just African elements but does that make it any better?

Tracks such as ‘Diplomat’s Son’ signal a resounding yes, here they demonstrate their ability by mixing an M.I.A sample into a soft laidback Calypso number. Also, ‘White Sky’ is similar to something one would find on ‘Graceland’ but with a more modern take on it. Other highlights are the dance-floor inspired ‘Taxi Cab’ and synth heavy ‘Rain’. ‘Cousins’ with its frantic rockabilly tempo is also a great demonstration of their abilities. Nonetheless, probably the most worthy of praise is ‘I Think UR a Contra’ which somehow uses a Nicaraguan Counter-revolutionary movement as a metaphor for a failed relationship.

However, other songs such as ‘California English’ and its use of vocal auto tune just feel dated. Even worse is ‘Holiday’ which is bordering annoying. I always find it hard to take ska seriously without first devouring half a bottle of vodka. There is also the impression that the band is rather pretentious. There lyrics are not very accessible and anyone who rhymes Horchata with balaclava is just showing off. They are intelligent and they want you to know it which may render them being seen as elitist. There is nothing wrong with intelligent music but when it comes off as trying to hard there could be complications. Also, despite the array of genres and instruments some of the songs feel vapid.

Therefore, this is not a great album but it is certainly half a good album at least and clearly demonstrates potential for better things to come. It’s hard to see where the band goes from here but greatness may very well impose itself on them in the future.

Delphic: 'Acolyte'

2010-01-30T00:27:00.000+08:00

Manchester has always boasted a vibrant musical scene, from ‘Madchester’ during the late 1980s and early 1990s and continuing through to Brit Pop. Bands which have blossomed from this setting have been The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Oasis, and New Order to name just a few. Now it would appear that Delphic, with their debut offering ‘Acolyte’, could well be placed to join the others in the pantheon of greatness. It is the last band in particular in the aforementioned list which holds the most relevance here. Delphic not only hail from Manchester, but are also being described as the new ‘New Order’.

As with New Order, Delphic marry dance floor electronics with indie rock. Countless bands have ventured into this messy fusion with disastrous effects. Fortunately, however, a few bands got it right and New Order were masters of this art. Thankfully, Delphic appear to be following in their footsteps. Better still, they have adopted New Orders sound and transferred it firmly into the twenty-first century.

The reason for their success is twofold. The first is simplicity. Indie bands who have tried to add an element of sophistication into their repertoire by adding synths and dance elements often try to be too sagacious and have failed miserably. It is no coincidence that the most successful products have been by dance acts, such as The Chemical Brothers, Orbital, and Underworld. By adding elements of the Indie genre into their acts they have ultimately succeeded purely because they have kept things simple and Delphic follow in the same mold as the latter.

Secondly, success is down to German producer, Ewan Pearson. This talented individual possesses great control of dance floor dynamics and understands how to build euphoric dance beats, releasing their full potential by the chorus. Acolyte starts on a high and the pace never really diminishes for the entire duration. The rush and melancholy contained within all good anthems are present here along with anodyne lyrics, tight harmonies, infectious tunes, glittering synths, scattering percussion and indie guitar rhythms. Most impressive of all is that vocals tend to take a back seat and beats and rhythms take centre stage.

It’s hard to keep an electronic album engaging for an entire LP however Delphic have managed to produce something that doesn’t drift into ‘background music’ territory. Highlights are ‘Doubt’ which is as pop as they really get; as well as the awesome ‘Red Light’ and title track ‘Acolyte’. It’s not the most adventurous album one will hear but they are not claiming to be so and despite the endless comparisons, they deserve to be classed as a good band in their own right.

Gay China

2010-01-27T22:57:00.003+08:00

Being gay in China: Your stories

A week ago China's first gay pageant was cancelled, on orders from the police.
The event had been hailed as a new chapter of openness towards the gay community in China, where homosexuality was illegal until 1997 and defined as mental disorder until 2001. Here three gay men in China describe the pressures they have to live with and the compromises they have to make.

Michael Tsai, 23, restaurant manager, Beijing
I was going to be the host for the gay pageant Mr Gay China, but unfortunately the government has once again oppressed its people silently. It would have been a wonderful step but there is much more fear than understanding. Although I wouldn't call it discrimination, there's definitely a pressure to conformity in Chinese society. The goal is to to marry and produce male offspring. Since the Chinese are allowed to have only one child there is even more pressure to conform. Thankfully I come from a family of two boys and the need to carry on the family name has already been fulfilled. I am out to all my family, my friends and colleagues.

Although I do feel that the country as a whole has become a lot more tolerant, it isn't necessarily more understanding. My family feels that if something is not spoken about then it either doesn't exist or it will be forgotten. Even though they know I'm gay they still say things like "When you find your wife..." I'm sure my parents are not thrilled by my sexual orientation but they seem to be dealing with it through denial and that's perfectly fine with me. China has become a get-rich-fast society, a society where you build up power and forget about everyone else. There are more things to worry about than who's attracted to who. Most of the older Chinese feel that being gay is just a phase and that eventually it will work itself out. I don't feel that there are any problems in China that I've come across. If we aren't too loud and proud about it then the subject doesn't even cross anyone's mind. Although I do feel that the country as a whole has become a lot more tolerant, it isn't necessarily more understanding.

Anonymous man, Guangzhou
I'm 35, I work as an environment researcher and I am married with two children. I am also gay. Organisers hoped the pageant would mark a step towards greater awareness
I come from the countryside, where most people don't even know what gay means.
Several years ago, I came out to my three closest friends. I haven't, and will never, come out to my parents, wife and children.
There's a strong tradition in China you can't go against - to get married. I think most of the gay people in China are married. There's a lot of pressure from the family to do that. The Chinese family is very traditional and it's not based on so-called love. My wife and I have a good relationship, we love each other like a brother and sister. I am happy in my family, we are the true family.

I don't need freedom. I need to keep this secret, so that I can live normally
We need to keep to that, but I also have the freedom to make friends outside. Me and my gay friends have our own meetings, we go to a badminton club and have dinner together. That's all I need. Happiness is not about desiring things you cannot have, but enjoying the things you have. I have two children, one three-year old boy and an eight-year old girl. I would never come out to them - I don't want them to know that I am gay. I hope that my children can have a normal life and I think to be gay is not normal because it's different from everybody else. I've accepted what I am because I cannot change. I support our government's decision to cancel the gay pageant. Freedom is perhaps the most important thing in the Western world, but for us Chinese people, the most important thing is harmony. I don't need freedom. I need to keep this secret, so that I can live normally. There has been a change of attitude lately towards homosexuality, there's more acceptance and understanding. There's still lots of prejudice but I think it will take time for that to be eliminated.

Miles, 30, Shenyang
I was born in a small village in Liaoning Province in north-east China. Currently I work for a China-based multinational in Dubai, but I go back to China every four months. Last year, China's first gay pride festival was praised in the state media
I have been in a relationship with a guy since I started working in Shenyang in 2001. We now live apart because of my current job. I've never come out to my colleagues, family and friends. In my opinion, keeping a low profile is the real way of life, especially when your sexual preference is not the mainstream one. Both my father and sister met my boyfriend, which is kind of dangerous. I am afraid one day they might discover that I am gay. I won't come out to them, as I don't want to hurt them.
In my opinion, the younger generations are more open to homosexuality than the older ones. There is one problem all gay people face in China - that's marriage. I wish to stay abroad, so that I can escape the fate of having to start a family
This tradition is deeply rooted in most Chinese people's minds. The pressure is particularly strong on those born in a one-child family as they have to fulfil their God-given mission to maintain the family continuity. I am trying to stay far away from marriage. While I am in Dubai, I don't sense the pressure from my family for the time being. But that day will come if I return to China. I wish to stay abroad, so that I can escape the fate of having to start a family. With the young generations growing into adults, I believe Chinese society will become more tolerant towards homosexuality. I have young friends who don't care at all. Even though homosexuality is legal, large-scale events are still not possible. But in our everyday life gay people are, in most cases, accepted by their close peers and colleagues because most gay people are friendly and have good personalities. We have many gay websites, we have gay night clubs in the big cities and we have a professor of a top Chinese university, named Li Yinhe, who is an advocate of gay rights. China is changing to accept new ideas and develop in many different areas and so I believe that one day gay marriage will become legal.

Thailand

2010-01-24T16:32:00.001+08:00

From January 9th to the 17th George and I went to Thailand. After an evening flight on Saturday we arrived in Thailand just shy of midnight and got a taxi to Shukumvit to the hotel Miami. Luckily, as we hadn’t booked anything, they had free rooms. We dropped our stuff and headed out onto the boisterous streets. We spent the next two days in Bangkok visiting the Grand Palace and various temples as well as stopping off at the department store to shop and watch a movie, Brothers. Then on Tuesday we took a flight to Phuket and stayed on Kamala Beach. It was fantastically relaxed and great to spend a few days relaxing by the beach, sunning, swimming, eating and drinking. Then we headed back to Bangkok on the Saturday and spent the rest of the day shopping before heading back to Taipei on Sunday. It was great holiday.

Eye infection officially over

2010-01-24T16:26:00.003+08:00

Finally, my eye infection is clear. After four long months i can wear my contacts the whole day without having to revert to glasses for any period of time. I hope it never comes back!!

Cadbury Takeover and the Quakers

2010-01-20T23:07:00.003+08:00

Cadbury, which has been sold to US firm Kraft, is one of several great British firms founded by Quakers. But how did they gain such a stranglehold on the chocolate industry and why were they so successful in business?

For a religious sect more interested in championing social reform than industry, the Quakers have established an impressive roll call of household business names.
Barclays and Lloyds banks, Clarks shoes, Bryant & May matches and the biscuit firms Huntley & Palmers and Carrs are just a few of the companies founded by members of the pacifist group. But when it comes to confectionery, there has been a virtual monopoly for more than a century, led by Cadbury of Birmingham, Fry's of Bristol and Rowntree's and Terrys of York.

Society of Friends founded in England in 1650s by George Fox.
Pacifist religious sect values all people equally and believes there's something of God in us all. Name derives either from founder telling magistrate to tremble - quake - at God's name, or from shaking associated with religious experience
About 17,000 Quakers in Britain today, and 210,000 worldwide. This achievement is all the more remarkable given the tiny numbers of Quakers. In 1851 they only accounted for about one in 1,400 of the population of 21 million in England, Scotland and Wales - less than 0.1%. The move into chocolate began with cocoa drinks in the 19th Century as a reaction against the perceived misery and deprivation caused by alcohol, says Quaker historian Helen Rowlands. "Quakers and other non-conformists at the time were concerned about levels of alcohol misuse in the population at large, they were part of the temperance movement. "Cocoa was a way of providing cheap and available drink. It was healthy because you had to boil the water to make it when they didn't have good water supplies." There was a friendly rivalry between the manufacturers, many of whom started out as general grocers, but also a fraternity.

Quaker gatherings for worship take place in meeting houses, not churches
"There were certainly strong networks between them. They knew one another from their church-based life, and because of the way they had been excluded and persecuted on the edge of society, there was a strong sense they should help each other out," says Ms Rowlands. "So they developed strong business networks as well as personal ones."
As they moved into producing chocolate bars, several of the Victorian Quaker firms bought new cutting-edge machinery and established a competitive edge over other producers. The other advantage was their reputation for honesty and reliability running parallel with their quest for justice, equality and social reform.

"They were amongst the first to set a firm price for goods. There was a lot of bartering before, but the Quakers said 'no, we'll state the price for goods and a fair price'," says Ms Rowlands. "People appreciated that, they knew where they stood with Quaker businessmen - they were in it to make a livelihood but not at the expense of customers or employees."

The workers' pool in Bournville
This ethical approach gave Quaker retailers a competitive advantage over their resentful rivals because their customers knew they were not being ripped off and did not have to haggle to get a fair price. Cadbury, which built the village of Bournville for its workers complete with schools, leisure facilities and parks, was amongst the first firms to make pension provisions and provide a canteen.
It also knew a healthy workforce was a productive workforce, and employed doctors and dentists at a time when there was still child labour in Britain. Ms Rowlands says evidence shows the new ethical stance led to a successful business, but it was unclear how other firms viewed it at the time. "[The Quakers] were not the only people doing that kind of thing but they were in the vanguard of it. The connection between faith-based motivation and business was very clear and perhaps less overt amongst others." The Quakers were formed as a protest against the established Church and, crucially, members were excluded from universities and debarred from many public and civic offices along with other non-conformists. So professions such as medicine or the law were not open to them, which explains why so many gravitated towards business and commerce. "During the 18th and early 19th Centuries, non-conformists were barred from universities. You had to be a practicing Anglican to take a degree," Ms Rowlands says.

"Lots of the middle classes who might have taken the intellectual route went into trade and industry, and their talents were well used there."
There was an inventive streak and an interest in science among Quakers, typified by the Darbys of Coalbrookdale, who founded the British iron industry, and the Hanburys who brought tinplate to Wales. Their pacifist stance also created new markets. Unlike their competitors, the Darbys refused to make cannon during the Napoleonic wars and instead concentrated on domestic ironware, which proved a more lucrative industry than weapons. In the 1820s, the Peases ran the first train from Stockton to Darlington on what became known as the Quaker Line, and the Quakers influenced pharmacy (Allen and Hanbury), chemicals (Albright & Wilson and Sturge) and engineering (Ransomes of Ipswich).

But they were also people of their own era, forcing women to leave work once they married and employing slaves on West Indian sugar plantations despite later starting Britain's campaign against the slave trade. Jobs for the girls... but only until marriage. Academic Sarah Moss, who wrote Chocolate: A Global History (Edible), says conditions on Quakers' slave plantations may have been better than others, "but it was still slavery without any doubt". Quaker confectioners were seen as trustworthy, she says, with good and safe factory conditions - bucking the trend at the time.
"Contamination of sweets was a big issue in the 19th Century. Red lead was a common colouring for sweets, which was poisonous, and brick dust was added to chocolate to make it go further," she explains. She also thinks aspects of the Quakers' religious ethos and self-reliance make them natural capitalists.

A caricature of wealthy Quaker banker Samuel Gurney published in 1823. "Non-conformists put the burden of responsibility for salvation on the individual. Quakerism doesn't have any kind of priesthood. That approach to life is the prototype of successful capitalism - you just get on, it's just you and the system and no welfare state." By the 1870s, Oxford and Cambridge universities began accepting Quakers, opening up new professions and opportunities. Paul Whitehouse, treasurer of Quakers and Business, says this helps explain why there are fewer Quaker firms today.
"People went into a large selection of different walks of life. There was no longer this concentration of people in business. [Once] the best and brightest went into business, now they were spread across so they didn't stand out." After World War II, Quaker-owned family businesses began to disappear - Cadbury merged with Schweppes in 1969 and Rowntree's was bought by Swiss multinational Nestle in 1988.

Quaker Oats in name alone, and now owned by PepsiCo. Ms Rowlands says there was a sense among Quaker bosses that holding on to their companies as wholly family enterprises would made them competitively vulnerable. Quakers and Business tries to apply the same ethical values of yesteryear to today's society, and the Quaker brand remains a powerful, trusted and at times exploited one. The US company Quaker Oats, founded in the late 19th Century, still uses the image of a traditionally dressed Quaker on its cereal boxes - despite never having any connection to the group.

My Movies of 2009

2010-01-05T19:38:00.001+08:00

1. ‘In The Loop’ (Armando Iannucci)
This incredible witty movie is a great extension from the TV series ‘The Thick of It’. The genius script and the brilliant acting crosses the line between satire and real-life so well that it is almost scary to watch at times. Without doubt, one of the best political comedies of all time.

2. The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke)
This dark and melancholy film is set in a small village in Protestant Germany on the eve of World War I. The focus of the movie is a set of mysterious accidents and who is behind them. When the truth is revealed it raises many disturbing questions about society in general, a fantastic movie!

3. Anvil! The Story of Anvil (Sacha Gervasi)
This movie is as emotional as it is humorous. The heavy metal band who should have had it all but never made it big for some reason. In spite of all this they are still going strong, playing to anyone who will listen to them. A true underdog story.

4. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)
A great revisionist view on the Second World War and it’s close. Expect the usual long dialogues and epic length but, also, as usual, it is done expertly well. The acting, soundtrack and pace of story are all first class, in a word; brilliant!

5. The Hangover (Todd Phillips)
The best comedy of the year comes from a group of guys on a stag party in Las Vegas. On paper it seemed like a recipe for disaster. However, the script is fantastic and the story is engaging throughout. It had me fully involved from beginning to end.

6. Moon (Duncan Jones)
I’m not usually a big fan of Sci-Fi movies but this one was certainly a cut above the rest. The acting is clearly a highlight as we are dealing with a one man show from beginning to end. The story raised many poignant questions about our near future.

7. About Elly (Asghar Farhadi)
If this is what Iranian movies is all about then count me in for a whole lot more. A middle class family ventures to their holiday retreat in Northern Iran only to have a tragedy strike them. The story is not complicated but it engages you from the very start.

8. Cannot Live Without You / Bu neng mei you ni (Leon Dai)
A touching Taiwanese movie about a father’s quest to keep his young daughter at all cost. It is well written and gives a great view of the less fortunate side of Taiwanese society. A great all-round movie.

9. The Boat That Rocked (Richard Curtis)
A great movie about the start of commercial radio back in the 1960’s. It is part fictional but largely based around true characters and events. It was great to get an insight into this exciting time in music. The damn preventing music of all genres flooding into the country (the government controlled airwaves) were giving way for the first time and this is a story about the very start of that. Great viewing for anyone interested in music for the soundtrack alone and, as usual, Curtis doesn’t let us down with the script either.

10. District 9 (Neill Blomkamp)
As far as alien movies are concerned I am not a fan by any stretch of the imagination. However, this was great and different to the usual storyline of aliens coming to earth, aliens destroy earth, and Americans save the day! Really well acted and great references to general life in society.

New Years Weekend

2010-01-05T18:37:00.003+08:00

Last weekend was a long one as New Years fell on a Friday. Therefore it was a very unusual three days off. On Thursday we just relaxed at home and Steve cam over. We drank a few bottles of wine and vodka and waited until 12 for the fireworks show. They were actually better than last year. Then after a while we headed out to meet up with Hamish, i don't remember much about what happened as I was way to drunk but still good fun anyway.

Friday was mainly reserved for recovering. We didn't get up until 2 and then went for lunch/dinner. Then we waited to watch Sherlock Holmes. It was okay but I still think Guy Ritchie opted to deliberately dumb down the character a bit too much. Still, it was a little better than i believed it to be. I would give it 2.5/5 stars.

On Saturday we headed to Ximen in the evening to have a few drinks at DaLiDa, although the weather was bad it was still fine to sit out and relax. On Sunday we continued the theme of taking it easy. It is surprising how long a weekend can be when you have just one extra day. I wish all weekends were three days long!

Back to work this week but it's not so bad. We booked our tickets to Thailand on Saturday!! So the countdown begins, just 4 days until our holiday!!

Statistics: Music 2000-2009

2010-01-03T19:38:00.002+08:00

Source: BBC News

The millennium bug didn't strike as predicted on 1 January, 2000, but the record industry probably wishes it had. Napster, the first file-sharing service to achieve mainstream success, launched in June 1999 and, by the time it was shut down in 2001, the genie was out of the bottle. MP3s could now be distributed widely and freely online and, armed with their iPods, a generation grew up thinking they could, and should, get music for free. Consequently, sales of recorded music fell steadily throughout the decade - not helped by the record labels' hesitance over the internet. Instead of embracing downloads, they spent years suing the likes of Kazaa, allofmp3.com and Pirate Bay; and slapping restrictive "digital locks" on music sold online. As the industry prevaricated, sales collapsed - with a knock-on effect on the likes of Smash Hits, Melody Maker, Top Of The Pops, Virgin Megastores, Tower Records and Woolworths - all of whom waved goodbye in the 2000s.

Artistically, however, the noughties were a time of innovation. In 2000, Radiohead threw out the rulebook with the wilfully obtuse, musically accomplished Kid A and became the first UK-signed act to score a US number one for nearly three years. Jay-Z made history as the first rapper to headline Glastonbury in 2008. Eminem reinvigorated rap music (stalker fantasy Stan attracted praise from Irish poet Seamus Heaney) while inadvertently launching Dido's career. And Prince was in the papers - literally and figuratively - when he gave away an entire album of new recordings with the Mail on Sunday in 2007. Others to investigate new avenues of music distribution included Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead, who allowed fans to set their own price for the critically acclaimed In Rainbows album.

Shows like American Idol and X Factor were the monolith against which "proper" musicians railed against throughout the noughties - but they also produced the sassy, intelligent hits of Girls Aloud, Will Young's sincere balladry, and Kelly Clarkson's immense pop/rock crossover Since U Been Gone. Interestingly, while top 10 singles of the decade are dominated by reality show winners in the UK, there is not one single American Idol graduate on the US list, which is populated by Mariah Carey, Usher and the Black Eyed Peas.

R&B was undoubtedly the genre that defined the decade, with super-producers Timbaland and The Neptunes experiencing long-running hot streaks. It also produced two bona-fide superstars - Beyonce and Justin Timberlake - with a third, Rihanna, waiting in the wings.

On the live circuit, Madonna and U2 continued to set the standards by which other shows would be judged. Meanwhile, The Police, The Specials, The Pixies, Take That and... er, Kajagoogoo all reformed in the name of music. Towering above them all were Led Zeppelin, who got back together for a ear-splitting, one-off charity gig in honour of Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun. Meanwhile, Coldplay, Muse and Radiohead all graduated to stadium level, but Oasis faltered, splitting in August 2009 after an alleged backstage altercation in France.

Others who stumbled on the rocky road of pop included Pete Doherty, Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse, whose tabloid misadventures overshadowed their songs. And the world of music mourned in June 2009 when, just two weeks before his 50-date comeback at London's O2 arena, the king of pop, Michael Jackson, died unexpectedly.

BEST-SELLING SINGLES OF THE DECADE
UK US
1. Will Young
Anything Is Possible / Evergreen Mariah Carey / We Belong Together
2. Gareth Gates
Unchained Melody Usher ft Lil Jon & Ludacris / Yeah!
3.Tony Christie ft Peter Kay
Is This The Way To Amarillo? Flo Rida ft T-Pain / Low
4. Shaggy ft RikRok
It Wasn't Me Nickelback / How You Remind Me
5. Alexandra Burke
Hallelujah Black Eyed Peas / I Gotta Feeling
6. Band Aid 20
Do They Know It's Christmas? Alicia Keys / No-One
7. Kylie Minogue
Can't Get You Out Of My Head Black Eyed Peas / Boom Boom Pow
8. Shayne Ward
That's My Goal Mario / Let Me Love You
9. Hear'Say
Pure and Simple Kanye West ft Jamie Foxx / Gold Digger
10. Bob The Builder
Can We Fix It? Timbaland ft OneRepublic / Apologize

Source: Official UK Charts Company (UK), Billboard (US)

BEST-SELLING ALBUMS OF THE DECADE

1. James Blunt
Back To Bedlam
'N Sync (US)
No Strings Attached
2. Dido
No Angel
Usher (US)
Confessions
3. Amy Winehouse
Back To Black
Eminem (US)
The Eminem Show
4. Leona Lewis
Spirit
Norah Jones (US)
Come Away With Me
5. David Gray
White Ladder
Creed (US)
Human Clay
6. The Beatles
1
Britney Spears (US)
Ooops!... I Did It Again
7. Dido
Life For Rent
Eminem (US)
The Marshall Mathers LP
8. Coldplay
A Rush of Blood to the Head
The Beatles (US)
1
9. Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Santana (US)
Supernatural
10. Take That
Beautiful World
Nelly (US)
Country Grammar

Source: Official UK Charts Company (UK), Billboard (US)

UK BEST-SELLERS BY YEAR
YEAR SINGLE and ALBUM
2009 Lady GaGa
Poker Face
Susan Boyle
I Dreamed A Dream
2008 Alexandra Burke
Hallelujah
Duffy
Rockferry
2007 Leona Lewis
Bleeding Love
Amy Winehouse
Back To Black
2006 Gnarls Barkley
Crazy
Snow Patrol
Eyes Open
2005 Tony Christie ft Peter Kay
Is This The Way To Amarillo?
James Blunt
Back To Bedlam
2004 Band Aid 20
Do They Know It's Christmas?
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
2003 Black Eyed Peas
Where Is The Love?
Dido
Life For Rent
2002 Will Young
Anything Is Possible / Evergreen
Robbie Williams
Escapology
2001 Shaggy ft RikRok
It Wasn't Me
Dido
No Angel
2000 Bob The Builder
Can We Fix It?
The Beatles
1

Source: Official UK Charts Company

BEST ALBUM AWARDS
YEAR BRITS / GRAMMYS / MERCURY
2009 Duffy Rockferry / Robert Plant & Alison Krauss / Raising Sand / Speech Debelle Speech Therapy
2008 Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare / Herbie Hancock River: The Joni Letters / Elbow The Seldom Seen Kid
2007 Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not / Dixie Chicks
Taking The Long Way / Klaxons Myths Of The Near Future
2006 Coldplay X&Y / U2 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb / Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
2005 Keane Hopes And Fears / Ray Charles Genius Loves Company / Antony And The Johnsons I Am A Bird Now
2004 The Darkness Permission To Land / Outkast Speakerboxxx / The Love Below / Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand
2003 Coldplay A Rush Of Blood To The Head / Norah Jones Come Away With Me / Dizzee Rascal Boy In Da Corner
2002 Dido No Angel / Various Artists O Brother, Where Art Thou? / Ms Dynamite A Little Deeper
2001 Coldplay Parachutes / Steely Dan Two Against Nature / PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
2000 Travis The Man Who / Santana Supernatural / Badly Drawn Boy The Hour of Bewilderbeast

Sounds of 2010

2009-12-28T23:22:00.002+08:00

Daisy Dares You
Sixteen-year-old Daisy Coburn makes bubblegum punk, teen pop about friendship and families and fancying boys. Although this could be another Avril Lavigne in the making the fact that she cites Karen O and Kurt Cobain as her idols is promising, along with record companies fighting over her, there does seem to be talent here. The jury’s still out on this one.

Delphic
Indie guitars and euphoric electronica have rarely gone together well, but this Manchester group make them a natural fit. Hypnotic songs are driven by pulsating beats as frontman James Cook sings infectious hooks. The fact that they have supported Kasabian and Orbital is a great plus working in their favor too.

Devlin
The next big rapper emerges from East London? Pretty big on the underground scene, time will tell if he has what it takes to emerge into the mainstream. It looks promising.

The Drums
One of the most talked about new guitar bands of next year. Hailing from Florida, via New York, they mix surf pop of the Beach Boys with The Cure and can even sound like Lou Reed/Iggy Pop covering 1960 girl groups. If nothing else, it will be an interesting debut album.

Everything Everything
Will this Manchester band bring the indie scene back to life? With Radiohead and the Beatles as their influence this may be their biggest asset or greatest downfall!

Giggs
Another South London rapper who has spent time in jail is similar in style to Dizze Rascal and Chipmunk and has even worked with The Streets. Everything looks good for this guy so far.

Gold Panda
Real name, Derwin, makes instrumental soundtracks to those dreamy summer days. He takes distorted samples and wraps them in minimal beats. It should be great! Also, with a strong Japanese influence it could add an extra dynamic.

Ellie Goulding
One of the greatest promises of 2010 Ellie Goulding is a solo female singer-songwriter with a strong personality and a cutting-edge style, 21-year-old. Her distinctive high-wire voice carries passionate lyrics, occasionally being cut and spliced with club-friendly electro results.

Hurts
A moody and exceedingly stylish duo from Manchester, Hurts inhabit an enigmatic, cinematic black & white world where they construct melancholic 1980s-inspired electro-pop. They resemble Tears For Fears.

Joy Orbison
Twenty-two-year-old Pete O'Grady from Croydon, who goes by the name Joy Orbison, is one of the hottest dance producers around. O'Grady has been DJing since the age of 12 and meshes late-night house and UK garage, with soft bass, hypnotic home-made percussion and distant chopped-up vocals.

Marina and the Diamonds
Another very promising outlook for 2010 is the quirky and flamboyant Marina Diamand who is gaining a following for her inventive songwriting, theatrical stage shows and dazzling style. She creates overblown pop and gets her inspiration from Britney DVDs and Gwen Stefani!

Owl City
Adam Young, 23, is inspired by the boredom of his home town and the twinkling laptop-made beats and soft, innocent vocals evoke faraway fantasies and innocent daydreams. He appears to be coming from nowhere and getting quite a large following in the process also.

Rox
Roxanne Tataei is a half Iranian, half Jamaican Londoner who makes nourishing soul music and counts Lauryn Hill and Sade as her biggest inspirations. She has a jazzy voice which will no doubt get comparisons to Amy Winehouse.

Stornoway
This 5-piece-band craft hearty folk using banjos, violins and brass. 2010s Mumford and Suns maybe?

Two Door Cinema Club
Hailing from Northern Ilsand, this upbeat art-pop comprise three guitars, some jaunty keyboards and no drummer until recently. Should be a band to look out for.

Local Natives
They gain their influences from post punk to afro beats to create their own form of indie rock. Could be a bad to really be excited about for 2010

Jack Splash
He won a Grammy in 2009 for producing music on Jennifer Hudson’s debut album plus production credits for the likes of Jamie Foxx, Estelle, Missy Elliot and Britney Spears; now it’s time for him to make his own mark on the music scene.

Little Comets
They have a happy indie pop beat suitable for the dance floor but surprisingly enough they are not from Manchester, but Newcastle. They boast catchy hooks, a fun attitude and whole range of indie influences.

Music Go Music
Epic rock pop with a distinctly retro 70s glam sound is what Music Go Music bring to the table. They have been compared as much to Abba and Blondie as much to The Clash and The Ramones. It should be very interesting.

Erik Hassle
Looks like La Roux but sounds quite different, being more influenced by soul with a Euro dance beat.

Nneka
With a beautifully soulful voice Nigerian born and Germany based Nneka is a singer-songwriter who has seen her gospel style morph into hip hop with occasional dance hall undertones.

Chase and Status
They may already have released their debut album but it wasn’t until Chase & Status released soundtrack single “End Credits”, remixed Jay Z to The Prodigy and collaborated with Rihanna and Snoop Dogg that the duo finally started getting recognition for their versatility.

Dinosaur Pile-Up
Leeds-based trio Dinosaur Pile-Up hope to take their rock to new levels in 2010 with the rather modestly titled The Most Powerful EP in the Universe sure to see them following up on their success across Germany and France.

Sound of Guns
Shrugging off the music associations with their hometown, Liverpool lads Sound of Guns are firing on all cylinders with diverse influences driving anthemic power chords, jangly guitars and group vocals. Influenced by: Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors.

Eliza Doolittle
London born Eliza Doolittle believes in music and fun which is probably why she creates happy bubblegum pop. Her softly sweet voice belies the thoughtful lyrics but don’t expect hyper dance beats--Eliza’s music relaxes just like running through fields of daisies on a summer’s day. Maybe Lily Allen is passing the baton onto Eliza for 2010.

Best Albums Of 2009

2009-12-28T22:35:00.002+08:00

1. Bat for Lashes: ‘Two Suns’ The second album from Natasha Khan and co explores the theme of dichotomies. Rich with imagery, melodramatic vocals, along with grand complex arrangements and lyrics. It appears highly pretentious but this album is genius without ever trying to be.

Essential Tracks: ‘Daniel’, ‘Pearl’s Dream’, ‘The Big Sleep’

2. The Decemberists: ‘The Hazards of Love’ An unapologetic prog-rock album based around the 1960’s Brit-folk rival. It’s an epic 17 track hour long affair including minstrel laments, medieval vibes, choirs, heavy metal, guitars, rock opera and folk elements. The story is so audacious that it’s baffling. The story of Margaret ravaged by a shape shifting animal, her lover, a forest queen and a cold blooded lascivious rake! It has to be heard to be believed.

Essential Tracks: It would be like recommending chapters of a book to read. You have to listen to the whole album.

3. Pet Shop Boys: ‘Yes’ Not many great bands of the 1980s are still going strong today. This album is a success thanks partly to the great production and other part to the band themselves. The Pet Shop Boys hark back to their old sound which made them so popular in the 1980s. They certainly hit jackpot with this release; fantastic arrangements, the usual intelligent and witty lyrics, and catchy, if somewhat camp, tunes. In a word, amazing!

Essential Tracks: ‘Love Etc.’, ‘All Over The World’, ‘More Than A Dream’

4. Muse: ‘The Resistance’ This overblown album sees Muse in their most comfortable territory. The arrangements are so ‘out there’ that it borders the line between genius and ridiculous. Thankfully they stay clear of ridicule as they deal with topics ranging from love to state control. Expect to hear rock, guitars, harmonies, falsetto and classical offerings in between. They have raised the bar so high it’s hard to see where they go from here!

Essential Tracks: ‘United States of Eurasia’, ‘Uprising’, ‘Exogenesis Symphonies parts I-III’

5. Florence and the Machine: ‘Lungs’ She was so hyped up that it was always going to be hard to live up to. Fortunately, the hype was justified. With her instantly recognizable vocals, an array of musical styles, and great lyrics this album delivers on all fronts. It’s clever, it’s witty and most importantly of all, it leaves you wanting more. The future looks bright for this new artist.

Essential Tracks: ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’, ‘You’ve Got The Love’, ‘ Blinding’

6. Antony and the Johnsons: ‘The Crying Light’ One of music’s true original artists offers his third full length album full of cabaret/chamber pop and it’s just as staggering as its predecessors. This time Antony opts for a more intimate feel yet the arrangements are often grander than on previous albums thanks to the introduction of a full orchestra. The topics range from nature, birth, death and humanity. A must hear of the year, it’s like nothing else out there.

Essential Tracks: ‘Epilepsy is dancing’, ‘Another World’, ‘One Dove’

7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: ‘It’s Blitz’ Karen O and the gang have certainly progressed from their raw sounding debut to this foray into dance music. However, it is so much more than just an album full of pleasant dance tunes. Karen’s vocals are as vital as ever as the band still bases their sound around the simple chord structures. I loved their raw sound when I first heard them and their natural progression into bigger and better things is both a pleasure to see and hear.

Essential Tracks: ‘Zero’, ‘Heads Will Roll’, ‘Hysteric’

8. The Swell Season: ‘Strict Joy’ The combination of Glen Hansard’s loud, hoarse and dominating vocals along with Marketa Irglova’s fail, fragile voice is a winning combination. Both are essential to making this album work. The first album was more both of them offering singles independently; whereas here they are working firmly as a team which is ironic considering this album is about the end of their relationship. This album is full of heartbreak and struggle but is beautiful in its delivery. There are great acoustic songs melding piano, guitar, and strings to create simple folk-pop songs.

Essential Tracks: ‘Two Tongues’. ‘Low Rising’, ‘High Horses’

9. Royksopp: ‘Junior’ The Norwegian dance duo deliver yet again by fusing the best elements from both of their previous releases. By fusing house and electro they have produced something uplifting and fun. This album is heavy on vocals from guest stars and is therefore the most accessible than all their previous albums to date. One if highly anticipating the release of ‘Senior’ in 2010.

Essential Tracks: ‘Girl and the Robot’, ‘This Must Be It’, ‘Happy Up There’

10. Little Boots: ‘Hands’ and La Roux: ‘La Roux‘ La Roux represents everything that was good about the 1980s; androgynous features, outrageous hair, cold emotions and firmly brought their retro sound firmly into the 21st century. Little Boots does the same although her image couldn’t be farther from that of La Roux. This sexy, highly produced album; Hands, offers strong synths, catchy melodies and most importantly of all, talent! Combine both to get the best 1980’s infused pop album of the year.

Essential Tracks: ‘Stuck On Repeat’, ‘Symmetry’, ‘Meddle’, ‘Quicksand’, ‘In For The Kill’, ‘Bulletproof’

11. Leonard Cohen: ‘Live in London’ Leonard releases, quite literally, the best album of any 75-year-old. In fact, it’s one of the best live albums I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. This force of nature showed everyone how it is done.

12. The XX: ‘XX’ This was probably one of the biggest surprises of the year, and in a good way. Combining elements of electronic and R+B to create minimalist pop at its best and bring reverb guitars back to the forefront of music. Something we haven’t had the pleasure of since Chris Isaac’s ‘Wicked Game’. Sadly, this may be the only release from this now partially disbanded outfit.

13. Mumford and Sons: ‘Sigh No More’ They seem to effortlessly combine rock, folk, and bluegrass into something quite stunning. The changes of rhythm and pace and passionate lyrics make this release a breath of fresh air. They have also managed, along with Steve Martin of all people, to bring the banjo back into fashion, which is no easy feat!

14. Lily Allen: ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’. She proves, against my own belief, that she is not just a one album wonder. Not only that, she has surpassed her previous album to create something fantastic. Her announcement that she may never release another album is not just sad but also a great loss to the industry!

15. Lady Gaga: ‘The Fame Monster’ Love her or hate her, there is no denying that this girl has made it massive this year thanks to her outlandish stage performances, awfully catchy melodies and sheer determination. Dare I say it, she actually has musical ability! Not content on releasing one critically acclaimed album this year, she follows it up with another acclaimed EP. Madonna may have finally found someone to pass on the crown to.

16. Jarvis: ‘Further Complications’ Thank the Lord that Jarvis came out of retirement of the French countryside to do what he does best. He’s middle-aged now but he’s certainly not showing it. It’s a mix of Brit rock, elcetro-pop and soul. Welcome back Cocker!

17. Fanfarlo: ‘Reservoir’ The melancholy tone set can be a little off putting at first but what lies underneath is an array of beautifully layered instruments, great vocals and understated offerings. It gets better with each and every listen.

18. Yusuf Islam: ‘The Roadsinger’ After 28 years in the pop wilderness, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, made long overdue return to music. His previous effort had some great songs but was not quite up to par overall. This, however, is a different story. Fantastic from beginning to end.

19. God Help the Girl: ‘God Help the Girl’ A great offering and especially good vocals from Catherine Ireton. It’s very ‘Belle and Sebastian’ in tone and reads like a soundtrack to a movie. Strong 1960’s girl band influences as well as some classic pop.

20. Various Artists: ‘Dark was the Night’ This reads like a who’s who of contemporary indie rock. We are treated to interesting duets, great covers and original material which equates to an awesome album.

It's Christmas!!

2009-12-28T22:04:00.002+08:00

Friday was Christmas Day, unfortunately it also meant work! However, the morning was not so bad as it was games organized by us for the entire two hours, better than teaching that's for sure. All the kids got a visit from Santa at the end of the morning which kept them mildly amused for a while. The, afternoon went quite fast too and then it was off to the German restaurant near our place for Christmas dinner. George had the meatloaf and i had the ribs, both were pretty good. Then it was home to relax for the evening.

On Saturday we went for Christmas dinner at Carnegie's, it was good to have a traditional Christmas dinner! Then we spent most of the day at home taking it easy. On Sunday we went for lunch at the diner and then hung out around 101 for the evening. A nice quiet, relaxing weekend as no doubt New Year's will be fairly hectic. And the best part, New Years falls on a Friday so it's a long weekend, great stuff!!

China and Taiwan agree deals on trade

2009-12-22T21:03:00.001+08:00

Chiang Pin-kung (R) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Chen Yunlin (L)
Chen Yunlin (left) is on a four-day trip to Taiwan. China and Taiwan have signed the latest in a series of economic deals, amid some disquiet on the island at their ever-closer relationship. Chen Yunlin, China's top Taiwan envoy, agreed the deals with his Taiwanese counterpart on the second day of his four-day visit to the island.

His trip comes as Taiwan debates how close a relationship it wants with its former rival, China. President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan has led a rapprochement with China since he took over last year, and the two governments hope to sign a free-trade pact by early next year. The Taipei government says Taiwan will be marginalised by China in global trade if it does not sign the agreement. But critics fear a free-trade pact will flood Taiwan with cheap Chinese products, cause massive job losses and undermine the island's sovereignty by making it too economically dependent on China.

Chen Yunlin arrived in Taiwan on Monday, for four days of talks on the proposed Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement (ECFA). Mr Chen hailed improving cross-strait ties, but said he respected people's right to protest against his visit. Mr Ma's pro-China stance at one time had a lot of support from the Taiwanese people, but his mishandling of the response to a devastating typhoon in August and other accusations of mistaken policies have dented his popularity.

Analysts say more people are now beginning to doubt his argument that closer economic ties with China will aid Taiwanese prosperity. Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party - which supports formal independence from China - made huge gains in recent local elections.

George Finishes the Army!!

2009-12-22T19:24:00.004+08:00

George finally finished the army this weekend! Well, he has actually been home since last Tuesday on leave and only had to go back on Saturday to collect the certificate. On Thursday evening we headed to Ximen to see Avator. It was visually spectacular but the story line was fairly weak, nothing new. On Friday we just relaxed at home. On Saturday afternoon we met up with Eddie, Noah and Rich for lunch in ShiDa. It was so cold this weekend, well into single figures! So lots of coffee and warm meals was the call for the day. After lunch we headed to City Hall to look around. I bought a new book: 'Living Biblically for a Year' and it seems like it's gonna be a great read!

Then George headed back to the army while i went home to write some Christmas cards, thought I'd make the effort this year! Then in the evening we went to Chilli's with Steve and Hamish where we experienced the biggest earthquake i have experienced in my life, it was reported 6.4 in Hualien but was not as strong in Taipei, but still scary stuff! Then we went for drinks at Roxy Roots and Watersheds with them and the guys we had lunch with to celebrate the end of army life for George. On Sunday we just went for lunch and spent most of it inside as it was too cold to go out.

2009-12-22T18:54:00.002+08:00

Although I may be counting my chickens before they have hatched i believe my eye infection may be on its way out after 10 weeks!! Here is all the medication i have taken over the course of the past 2 and a half months. Let's hope it never comes back!

Powerful Earthquake Rocks Taiwan

2009-12-20T13:34:00.002+08:00

A powerful earthquake rattled the nation last night, shaking buildings throughout the country and causing minor damage. The temblor struck at 9:02pm on the 19th December and measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said. The epicenter was 25.5km off the coast of southeast Hualien County at a depth of 45.9km, the CWB said.

The earthquake was felt nationwide with an intensity of seven in Hualien, Taitung and Yilan, five in Yunlin and Chiayi, and four in Taipei, Hsinchu and Taoyuan. High-speed rail services and Taipei’s MRT were temporarily stopped while TV news reports said four car accidents occurred in Taipei as a result of the tremor. Local cable TV reports said that a building had collapsed in Taipei County’s Tucheng (土城), although it couldn’t be confirmed as of press time.

BBC Poll of the Decade

2009-12-15T19:38:00.003+08:00

Is it really possible to sum up a decade?

We asked readers to help us to create a portrait of the decade. Each day last week we focused on a different theme - words , people , news stories , objects and culture
An expert picked 20 of each

With the help of thousands of readers, maybe it is. Last week, we asked readers to send in their suggestions for the words, people, events, objects and cultural highlights which they thought defined the Noughties. Our panel of five independent experts considered all the suggestions and each has drawn up a list of 20.

The results below give a snapshot of who and what has shaped the last 10 years. Technology, celebrity culture and environmentalism are dominant themes.

Words:
9/11
24/7
Bling
Blog
Credit crunch
Chav
Facebooking
Fairtrade
Footprint
i-
lol
Meh
Obamamania
Pandemic
Slumdog
Sustainability
Truthiness
Tweet
WAG
War on terror

People:
David Beckham
L/Corp Johnson Beharry
Osama Bin Laden
Tony Blair
George W Bush
Shami Chakrabarti
Simon Cowell
Roger Federer
Norman Foster
Stephen Fry
Bill Gates
Jade Goody
Brian Haw
Rupert Murdoch
Barack Obama
Jamie Oliver
Larry Page and Sergey Brin
David Tennant
Jane Tomlinson
Jimmy Wales

News:
Danish cartoons controversy
Death of Dr David Kelly
Death of Michael Jackson
Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
England win the Ashes 2005
Final Harry Potter book
Fuel strikes 2000
Human Genome Project
Indian Ocean tsunami
Iraq War
John Darwin, missing canoeist
Launch of Big Brother
Launch of Wikipedia
London bombings 2005
MPs' expenses scandal
Northern Ireland power-sharing
Run on Northern Rock
September 11th 2001
Smoking ban
Usain Bolt at Beijing Olympics

Objects:
Bag for life
BlackBerry
Bling jewellery
Bluetooth earpiece
Credit card
Flat-screen TVs
Gherkin (London's Swiss Re building)
Hair straighteners
High-visibility vest
Hoody
iPod
Organic vegetable box
Oystercard
Playstation3
Sat-nav
Sky+ box
Toyota Prius
Ugg boots
Wheelie bin
Wind turbine

Culture:
Black Watch (play)
Box sets
Curb your Enthusiasm
Live opera beamed into cinemas
Liverpool as European Capital Of Culture
Lord of the Rings trilogy
From Dome to O2 Arena
Rise of music festivals
Return of Doctor Who
Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra at the Proms
Spotify
St Pancras station reopening
Strictly Come Dancing
Sultan's Elephant
Television on-demand
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
The Office
The Thick of It
The Wire
YouTube

What cultural higlights best define the decade?

2009-12-15T18:54:00.002+08:00

Big Brother, X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Jerry Springer Opera, YouTube, MySpace, iTunes, Spotify, summer festivals, podcast, iPlayer, The Office, Little Britain, The Ricky Gervais Show, social networking, freesheet, celebrity confessions, memoirs of childhood trauma, CGI??

Which objects define the deacde?

2009-12-15T18:51:00.002+08:00

Which objects best define the decade?

It bags, giant flat screen TV's, iPod and iPhone, recycling bin, credit cards, disposable coffee cups, Eden Project, The Gherkin, gossip magazines
rectangular glasses, skinny jeans, egg chair??

1) Kate Bush: 'Aerial'

2009-12-14T22:41:00.002+08:00

Prior to the release of Aerial, the last time Kate Bush released a record was in 1993 when Britopop was sweeping the nation and acts such as Ace of Base, Boyz II Men Meatloaf were dominating the airwaves. A twelve year hiatus in the music industry is virtually suicide for one’s career. However, Kate Bush is no ordinary artist; in fact she is one of the best musicians to have ever come out of the United Kingdom, a true legend and genius. At 40, sense and precedence decree that she should no longer be relevant; however nothing could be further from the truth.

Since she appeared on the music scene, thanks to Dave Gilmour, as a young teenager waving her arms and screeching her way through an Emily Bronte novel, she captivated the world with her unique approach to music. Simply because she has decided to shun the celebrity lifestyle that’s part and parcel of being a famous musician, people have referred to her as an eccentric recluse. In fact, for the past decade Bush has done nothing more eccentric than raise a son and be a housewife.

When Aerial was released in 2005 this did not have the air of someone who had not released anything for more than a decade, there was still a buzz and excitement about the release months before the scheduled release date and the hype was well worth it. Aerial is an album made in isolation from anything else out there. Kate is still relevant because she has never tried to be relevant. All her albums could be released in any decade and not sound out of place, she is simply incomparable to anyone else out there.

Aerial is a madly ambitious double album and comes in two parts; A Sea of Honey and A Sky of Honey. The sprawling, yet focused, first part deals with chores, children, Joan of Arc and the beauty of numbers to name just a few. The second part is a day in the life of light from dawn through afternoon and dusk to the monochrome glaze of moonlight. Musically she delves into folk, renaissance, classical, reggae, flamenco and pop.

The first part, A Sea of Honey, is a suite of personal reveries. The opener was first conceived by Bush fifteen years earlier and is a prime example of her timeless quality. ‘King of the Mountain’ is one of Kate’s best efforts to date. It is a contemplation of unbridled celebrity and isolation with references to, and an impersonation of, Elvis and Citizen Kane. Bush's synthesizer, sequencer, and voice weigh in ethereally from the margins before a full-on rock band playing edgy and funky reggae enters on the second verse. The next song is ‘π’ which is something only Kate Bush would do, in fact; she is the only artist to get away with this. She sings Pi to the 137th decimal place. It’s a truly mad but beautiful song demonstrating the beauty of numbers and the strange fascination people have of devoting their lives to finding out small piece of information to things that have no end. Next is ‘Bertie’ with its Harpsichord and strings, it would easily fit nicely into the Royal courts of Henry VIII as it does in the 21st century. Here, Bush serenades the love of her son. Viols are bowed and arcane strings are struck as Bush delivers yet another mind blowing song. ‘Mrs. Bartolozzi’ which is an ode to household chores and a beautiful piano ballad. Only Kate Bush could transform household chores into erotic wonder. Then there is ‘How To Be Invisible’ featuring a spell for a chorus, precisely what you would expect from this artist. It is a funked up piece of rock-pop and absolutely awesome! Next is ‘Joanni’, a hymn to Joan of Arc. An interesting choice to say the least but as with Kate Bush the song takes on epic proportions here. Finally there is ‘A Coral Room’ which is one of the most moving pieces Kate Bush has ever written. Although it is just piano and voice the classical overtones and changes in tempo accentuate this moving piece about the death of her mother.

The second CD is devoted to a concept piece and is nothing short of stunning. She uses metaphors of the turning of the day and the flight of birds; she orchestrates a meditation on the cycles of life. ‘Prelude’ is a short atmospheric piece with sounds of birds singing and her son. This leads beautifully into ‘Prologue’ where the piano enters along with chanted viol accompanied by Bush crooning to romantic love, the joy of marriage and nature over some asserting drums. ‘An Architects Dream’ see’s Bush meet a street painter, it seems ordinary but the loops, fretless bass and drifiting keyboards give this relaxed piece an amazing feel. ‘The Painter’s Link’ is amazing for its inclusion of Rolf Harris alone! However, it is ‘Sunset’ where things really take off. The song combines a languid, jazzy arrangement with stunningly vivid imagery. The flamenco interlude is genius and dynamic. A short duet with birds follows with ‘Ariel Tal’ before we are treated to something equally as enthralling with ‘Somewhere in Between’ which is perfect in every way. Kate Bush also dabbles with drum and bass also on this number. It is Kate Bush at her very best. Bush starts to bring things to a close with ‘Nocturne’ where the rhythms assert themselves over electric guitars and layers of keyboards. Finally we end with ‘Aerial’ which see’s Bush dabble with dance music as she celebrates the coming of dawn. She sounds almost deranged shouting out the lines to the beats but it’s a stunning end as Kate’s voice slowly fade and becomes one with the birds.

This album is a clear example of perfection from one of the greatest artists of all time. Kate is by no means the most prolific artist around. However, if they are this good I am willing to wait another decade for the next, although I hope it’s not that long a wait! Here at number one, my album of the decade is Kate Bush: ‘Aerial’

What key events best describe the decade?

2009-12-09T21:44:00.003+08:00

What events best describe this decade?

Attacks on the World Trade Centre, collapse of Lehman Brothers, Indian Ocean Tsunami, Cyclone Nargis, Bam earthquake, assassination of Benazir Bhutto, independence of East Timor, retirement of Fidel Castro, Cyprus joining the EU, 7 wins of Lance Armstrong in the Tour De France, end of Concorde, Led Zeppelin reunion, Harry Potter books, death of Michael Jackson, global warming, elections of Bush and Obama, Large Hadron Collider, Copenhagen Climate Summit, 2008 Olympics, launch of Wikipedia, other global communication launches such as facebook, twitter, YouTube and blogs??

Which people define this decade?

2009-12-09T21:39:00.002+08:00

Which people define this decade?

McCann's, George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Tony Blair, Rupert Murdoch, Steve Jobs, Shawn Fanning, Simon Cowell, Jade Goody, Barack Obama, David Beckham, J K Rowling, Dave Peltzer, Jamie Oliver, Sir Fred Goodwin??

Words which sum up this decade.

2009-12-09T21:32:00.001+08:00

Which words best sum up the decade?

Noughties, 9/11, axis of evil, moral crusade, sexing up dossiers, great recession, toxic debt, quantitative easing, bling, nonebrity, Twitter, Tweet, Twitts,poking, Facebook, chav, chavi, tsunami, green, carbon footprint, eco-towns, swine flu, globesity, iPod generation, Asbo, WMD, Blarism, Jade effect????

Taiwan, Lowest Birth Rate In The World!

2009-12-09T21:18:00.002+08:00

Source: Time Magazine

At a community center in Taipei, a church bulletin board displays family pictures with children showing off drawings of pink lotus flowers, lush trees, ponds and imaginary bears from a drawing contest at the Botanical Gardens. Catherine Wu, a newcomer to the church, noticed something unusual on the board that any outsider might overlook: each family had two or more children. "Are people encouraged to have children around here?" she asked.

In many societies, photos of four-member families wouldn't be much to stop and take notice of. But as of this year, Taiwan has the lowest birthrate in the world, with just one baby born per woman. According to the Population Reference Bureau's 2009 annual report, Taiwan has now surpassed both Macau and Hong Kong, which have held the lowest spots on the world chart for the past five years.

"This is a tragic society," Taiwan's Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang proclaimed in a Nov. 28 speech at the National Science and Technology Museum. He warned that if the island continues on this track, the population would experience a future labor shortage and that the next generation of children would have significant difficulty covering the health costs of their aging parents. That intense financial pressure, he said, could raise the future suicide rate. The Education Minister, in a separate statement, predicted that one-third of Taiwan's colleges will close in just 12 years if the trend continues.

In a society where the cost of living is high, the notion that kids are an unwelcome burden — taboo in many cultures — has become an accepted idea. Take the title of a recent panel discussion put on by Taiwan's Human Social Sciences Foundation: 'Having Children! Does It Hurt That Much?' "The hurt," explains the foundation's president, professor Liu Pei-yi, "refers to financial loss." In a research poll administered by Kun Shan University in 2007, students interviewed 100 residents of Taiwan between the ages of 20 and 40 about their family plans. One-third didn't plan to have any children for fear of losing two precious things: money and freedom.

Balancing work and family life has proven to be a challenge for both men and women in Taiwan. According to the Swiss-based International Institute of Management Development, Taiwanese work some of the longest hours in the world, averaging nearly 44 hours a week, and Taiwan's women are very career-oriented. "Most women are afraid of losing their jobs" by taking time out to have a child, says Liu. He says Taiwan should follow the lead of European countries like Germany, where women are entitled to up to three years of maternity leave by law. Taiwan has been making progress in this area; in 2002, the government passed a law requiring companies to allow their employees two-year parental leaves without pay. This year, a policy came out that enables parents to take six months of parental leave while receiving 60% of their salary. But many say these changes only look good on paper, as most bosses discourage people from taking the time off.

Underneath these logistical issues, however, may be a fundamental shift in values. Two-thirds of working women in Taiwan are university-educated, and fewer of them are jumping into tying the knot early. "I'm not pursuing marriage," says Hsu Yu-hua, a 30-something accountant in Taipei. "Not with today's divorce rate [38% in Taiwan]. I'm financially independent, and it's more convenient to be single." Only a third of Taiwan's women are married by age 30, in contrast to 20 years ago, when the average age for marriage for women was 26. Many more men have also been marrying women from other Asian countries like China and Vietnam, both countries where women are statistically inclined to have more children. China, even with the government's one-child policy, still has a birthrate of 1.6, compared with Taiwan's 1.0 (Vietnam's is 2.1). Today, 1 in 8 babies in Taiwan is born to a non-Taiwanese mother.

The chief of Taiwan's Child Welfare Bureau, Chen Kung-huang, says lowering housing prices for families with children and other related goals — like helping singles date and mate — are all items on the government's to-do list to try to boost the number of babies being born in Taiwan's delivery rooms. But underlying factors behind the low birthrate may be beyond the grasp of government policy. When asked if she wanted to have children, happily married broadcast journalist Huang Shih-han replied, "I like reading and, well, you can't read if there are children wailing." Why does she think Taiwan's birthrate is so low? "I think our generation is more selfish," she says. "When you have children, you have to sacrifice a lot, and I don't want to do that."

The Aliens have landed!

2009-12-08T18:28:00.000+08:00

On Friday evening I was feeling exhausted. George was having his farewell dinner with friends so I headed home, via Toasteria, to chill out until George arrived home with some wine. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing in front of the TV.

On Saturday we went to see two great movies. The first was 500 Days of Summer. It was actually a really great movie placing a new spin on the traditional love story movies. It was far more real to life and poignant, in places, than most of the dire boy meets girl efforts. Next we saw District9 which I have to say is probably one of the best Alien based movies I have ever seen and for the same reasons as the previous movie, because it was different. Based in South Africa, the first part focuses upon the logistical nightmare of relocating over a million aliens from urban to rural life with a documentary approach. The second half takes on a more typical form with the lead character slowly transforming into an alien and transform the movie into a race against time. It was gripping from beginning to end and highly entertaining.

On Sunday we headed to Carnegies for lunch and then met up with George’s dad in the evening for dinner. On the way home we stopped off at Coldstone’s for dessert. George had the new Bailey’s flavored concoction whilst I opted for the more traditional chocolate one.

2) Radiohead: 'Hail To The Thief'

2009-12-08T18:24:00.002+08:00

I fear I am cheating a little here, when I began this list I only intended to include one album from one artist only. However, Radiohead have to break the mould as they simply are the best band of the past twenty years. I was torn between two albums. Kid A is quite simply a stunning album which was way ahead of its time. It really should be on this list, however, not to include three albums from the same band I forced myself to make a decision. The album which holds more sway and memory for me is the shockingly underrated Hail to the Thief. For any other band this would be their crowning glory; for Radiohead, however, who have set the bar so high for themselves with past releases, this was widely seen as an average album by their standards. It is far from it!

Radiohead's Hail to the Thief bridges the gulf between their early epic progressive rock and their latter skittering electronic theatrics, borrowing equally from each. This is not an album full of optimism, it is a product of the time it was written in 2002. The songs are filled with anger and dissent and clearly reflect the feelings people were feeling at the time, the war on terror, the pending war in Iraq, and heaven forbid, the prospect of a full 8 years of George Bush! Radiohead opt for eloquent metaphors and complicated arrangements to express their fear, uncertainty in the post 9-11 world.

We start with the fantastic prog-rock opener 2+2=5 lifted fittingly straight from Orwell’s 1984. Society have idly sat back and let governments take over and ruin the world. The song starts off with a simple guitar backing Yorke’s vocals which lead into the dreamy mid section before transforming into a manic screaming frenzy repeating the same line over and over in a fit of rage. Next is ‘Sit Down, Stand Up’ starts off in a lesson of vocal harmonies over a drum machine glocks and piano and slowly builds into a heavy drum and bass piece, which is odd even for Radiohead’s standards but works! ‘Sail to the Moon’ is one of the most beautiful ballads Yorke has ever written, appealing to the younger generations to not make the same mistakes the present generation are making. The vocals are perfect, the arrangement intersperses piano and guitar to amazing special effect. Next is ‘Backdrifts’ with its pulsating drum machines and synths driving this number along. ‘Go To Sleep’ is a more accessible number of upbeat acoustic guitar, a great single. Then we have the stunning ‘Where I End and You Again’ which combine sci-fi effects with a traditional rock track. Then there appears to be an attack upon the music industry and the reality TV singers beginning to be turned out by Simon Cowell et al. with ‘We Suck Young Blood’. Following this is the experimental ‘The Gloaming’ which combines odd effects with time signatures, not exactly easy on the ears but stunning musically. ‘There There’ is a laid back drum led piece and is quite phenomenal. ‘I Will’ is a short piece which leads into my favorite track on the album ‘A Punch Up At A Wedding’. This jazz laden track is Radiohead at their best. ‘Myxomatosis’ is the one song on the album I really never connected with, a rather odd inclusion I feel. However, this side step is recovered with the fantastic ‘Scatterbrain’. Finally we have ‘A Wolf At The Door’ with fantastic arpeggiated chord and drums accompanied by Yorke’s confusing lyrical rant. A fantastic end to a much underrated album. Here at number 2 is Radiohead with ‘Hail To The Thief’.

3) Amy Winehouse: 'Back To Black'

2009-12-01T19:56:00.002+08:00

Amy Winehouse’s debut in 2003, Frank, was both commercially successful and critically acclaimed laying down tracks infused with jazz and ska. However, nothing could have prepared us for the astonishing follow-up in 2006 with ‘Back to Black’. On this album she changed direction and what resulted is a retro masterpiece.
Unfortunately, as much has been said of Amy Winehouse’s music as to her rather colorful private life. The boozing, the brawling, the drug abuse, her rather unstable relationship and overall self-destructive nature. Yet there is no denying this girl is a raw talent and puts most other artists to shame when it actually comes down to what really matters, musical abilities.

The first stroke of genius is the production which is second to none. For this Winehouse enlisted the aid of the great Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, who have managed to fuse elements of hip-hop, soul, gospel, and R&B into something quite amazing. The overwhelming influence is that of1960s Motown, in particular the Phil Spector Girl groups of that period, and what results is some exuberant neo-Motown swing. However, despite the retro sound, the album is certainly rooted in the present and the soul stylings suite Amy’s voice perfectly to create a 21st century soul classic album.

In saying this, no matter how good the production is, it is the singer which is the star of this album. She is quite simply awesome. When this 22 year old opens her mouth she is somehow transformed into a middle-aged 1950s jazz club singer, reminiscent of some of the great black female artists of that time. Yet what is different is the content which she is talking about. The constant obscenities, infidelity, drug use, love life and relationships are all contained in this classic collection of songs. In a nutshell, she is talking about life in contemporary London.

Opener, ‘Rehab’, is already a classic song, and is a massive single to lead with. It’s sassy, brassy and reads as a gospel-tinged stomp creating something which is pure class. ‘You Know I’m No Good’ is yet another formidable song with the big drums and bar room tale of infidelity. ‘Me and Mr. Jones’ clearly demonstrates its nod to the past with its stardust doo-wop sound but the lyrics are anything but old. This track is a clear example of why this album is so much more than just a tribute to the sounds of past. ‘Just Friends’ sees Amy back into territory she visited on her debut album, that of ska, and it fits perfectly onto this album. The title track ‘Back to Black’ highlights the Phil Spector girl group sound more than any other track with its melodrama-dripping wall of sound. The echoed drums, the rhythmic piano, the chimes, the saxophone and close harmonies makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. We are then treated to an amazing series of soul songs with ‘Love is a Losing Game’, a bitter, broken-hearted anthem, as poetic as it is exquisite, ‘Tears Dry on Their Own’, which is beautiful, evocative and oozing with passion and then with ‘Wake up Alone’ and ‘Some Unholy War’. Then we are treated to the more upbeat ‘He can Only Hold Her’. We are left, finally, with ‘Addicted’ which could be a Supremes anthem until the lyrics bring you crashing back down to earth. This can be no one other than Amy Winehouse.

Quite simply this album represents perfection on many levels. Perfect production, perfect lyrics, perfect styling, perfect voice and overall, a perfect album. Here at number three is Amy Winehouse with ‘Back to Black’ .

The Weekend on a Shoestring.

2009-11-30T20:05:00.003+08:00

It's the end of the month and after buying an iPhone, paying out nearly 5000 for scooter repairs and the continuing saga of my eye infection, I have had to pay a lot this month. So it was a quiet weekend for us. We got some food Friday night and relaxed at home. The theme was continued throughout the entire weekend. It was mainly eating and watching movies. We watched some great movies; The White Ribbon, Still Standing, Thirst and Fish Tank. The big change of the weekend was that George got to stay home on Sunday night, for almost the first time this year. The end of the army is coming into sight fantastic!

4) Antony and the Johnsons: 'I Am A Bird'

2009-11-25T22:53:00.002+08:00

There aren’t many albums that can make me people overcome with emotion; Antony and the Johnson’s second release ‘I am a Bird’ is one that will affect you one way or another, there is no sitting on the fence with this album.

Antony is unique in more ways than one. His big, bulky frame suggest anything but the octave-straddling voice that comes from him. It is a majestic soaring vibrato reminiscent of Nina Simone, Billie Holiday or even Jeff Buckley. His warbling tenor can range from falsetto highs to rumbling soulful lows. He has the uncanny ability to take a standard blues progression and give it authority, making you empathize with every single syllable that he sings.

The music itself, is a mixture of chamber pop and bluesy parlor room music. Much has been said of the ‘gender-bending’ topics contained on this album but the themes dealt with are universal, ranging from gender issues, abuse, loneliness, death, a sense of belonging, companionship, love, and loss. His lyrics range from the profoundly personal to the somewhat ambiguous. You feel extreme sympathy for him with these lyrics but at the same time great appreciation for the music as well.

Antony’s band, the Johnsons, are a talented group of musicians who do excellent work backing up their amazing leading man. However we are also treated to a stellar line up of special guests such as Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, Boy George and Devendra Banhart. When one combines all of these aspects together , the result is nothing short of exhilarating albeit disquieting at times.
The album takes us on a journey. Antony’s voice is like a caged bird held prisoner and its hard to be effected by the feeling of his trappings within his own body. However this album is about one of transformation and metamorphosis. That bird is set free by the end of the album and serves as a metaphor for Antony himself.

The opening track ‘Hope There’s Someone’ is nothing short of mesmerizing. The trembling voice is haunting and heartbroken accompanied by a simple piano line. The layered vocals are ghastly and beautiful in equal measures before the song ends with a chaotic crashing of spiraling piano crescendos and operatic chorus harmonies. Next is ‘My Lady’s Story’ which is a soft, smooth flavored waltz with added viola. This leads nicely into ‘For Today I Am A Boy’ yet another ambiguous song in nature but quite simply amazing. The emotion one man can impose purely from singing accompanied to a piano is truly awesome. ‘Man Is The Baby’ continues the cabaret offering before we are hurled into the astonishing duet between Antony and Boy George, ‘You Are My Sister’. Both put in amazing performances and is even more profound when one realizes that the man singing with Antony was the inspiration to live the way he does and to do what he does so well, sing. ‘What Can I Do?’ is one of my favorite tracks of all time, Rufus is a stunning choice of lead vocals, a languid meditation of death which sounds like it’s being sung from a smoke filled room. It’s all to brief, but stunning! ‘A Fistful of love’ is the gospel-tinged number featuring Lou Reed. We are treated to a horn section as well in this ode to domestic abuse. ‘Spiraling’ features Devendra Banhart with her disturbing incantations at the start of this staggering effort. Finally Antony is set free with ‘Free At Last’ and ‘Bird Girl’ marking the end of this stunning album, the songbird finally gets to fly, free at last.

I can understand this album not being to everyone’s taste however, for anyone who truly appreciates music this is quite literally one fo the most amazing albums made of any given time period, it’s different, it’s timeless and it will be regarded as a classic for many years to come. Here at number four is Antony and the Johnsons, ‘I Am A Bird Now’

conjunctivitis returns yet again!!

2009-11-24T19:37:00.002+08:00

My conjunctivitis is back for yet another terrorizing of my eyes!! After slowly introducing my eyes to contacts again, i thought, after 3 days of no problems, that they were fine but unfortunately not. Last night when i took out my lenses they were as bad as ever and i am back to square one again. One more week of glasses and antibiotics! Unbelievable. On top of that my side is really hurting from last weeks accident although its beginning to feel a bit better today. This week is all about just getting through!

Victim

2009-11-22T23:39:00.002+08:00

Prominent lawyer, Melville Farr, goes after a blackmailer who threatens the exposure of gay men (homosexuality being illegal at this time). The thing is the lawyer, supposedly happily married, is gay himself. Farr has to deal with the collapse of his marriage and career to bring about justice. Although the film looks pretty dated, it was amazing, given the prevalent views at the time, that this movie was even made in the first place. It gives a great feel of what it was like to be gay at this time and how far, in some ways, we have come since then. A classic movie. 5/5 stars

L'épine dans le coeur

2009-11-22T23:32:00.004+08:00

The Thorn In The Heart is a great documentary which follows the the directors aunt, Suzette, and her career as a teacher and her relationship with her son. It was a very interesting movie. The woman did not live an exceptional life, it was just an ordinary story, it could well have been about any old lady's recollection of life. However, because it is just an ordinary family, the themes touched upon are common to all and one can really empathize with the people in the documentary. A fabulous effort and exquisitely made. 4.5/5 stars

Life During Wartime

2009-11-22T23:24:00.002+08:00

I loved this film. Despite the very serious topics it delves into it retained a lighter side with its dark humour throughout. It is the ultimate dysfunctional family story; the struggle for love, forgiveness, the hope for a 'normal' life to name a few. The acting is exceptional, in particular the mom, and although the story is slow at times, i think it fitted the overall feel of the movie very well. A great movie, 4.5/5 stars

35 Shots of Rum

2009-11-22T23:18:00.002+08:00

Set in modern day Paris, the story revolves mainly around a single father and daughters close relationship and how that is complicated by the arrival of a new love. The movie is wonderfully paced and the story is very well told. People have raved about this movie, I wouldn't necessarily consider it a must see although it was full of emotion throughout and is certainly worth seeing.

Last Week of the Golden Horse

2009-11-22T23:03:00.003+08:00

On Friday we headed to Ximen to watch 35 Shots of Rum. Then it was home to prepare for the movie marathon on Saturday. We got up fairly early and headed to Ximen to watch two movies back to back; 'Life During Wartime' and 'The Thorn in my Heart' both of which were pretty good. Then we headed back to XinYi for the last movie of the film festival, Victim. After that we headed home and chilled at home with some beers. On Sunday we had a lie in before getting up in the afternoon for lunch at the diner. Then i went to get my scooter fixed. Basically the whole damn thing had to be replaced at the cost of $4800!! However, it works perfectly again now, glad to have it back in good working order.

Mixed Week So Far

2009-11-18T23:15:00.002+08:00

This week has proved both good and bad so far. Firstly it would appear my eye infection has finally gone and I'm able to wear my contacts again. My eyes still get a little sore and red but they no longer hurt.

Unfortunately that's the only good thing that happened this week. The weather has gotten really cold, even enough to think about getting out the heater! Hope it warms up a little bit as its only about 15oC at the moment.

Another bad story, I had a fall on my scooter today. Some idiot pulled out of nowhere on Civic Boulevard. Luckily, as it was raining, i was driving slowly and when i came off my scooter i just took a light fall on my left side. Although the asshole drove off i was able to sort myself out quickly and sustained no injury to myself or the scooter, so I was lucky!

So a mixed week so far, hope the remainder of the week is better than the first!

5) Radiohead 'In Rainbows'

2009-11-18T23:12:00.002+08:00

Finally we come to my favorite band of all time. Initially when I thought of compiling this list my intentions were to include just one album for each band only. However, when it comes to Radiohead I find it next to impossible to comply with this rule. I really want to include Kid A as one of my all time favorite albums but if I were torn between making a choice I believe the release of their seventh studio album, In Rainbows, should be more highly regarded.

Amid speculation that the band were directionless, frustrated and on the verge of splitting up, they released this gem from nowhere and it was the release itself which got people talking before even a note of music was heard. Not only did they release In Rainbows as a download only, they also introduced the pay-any-price-you-will policy. It showed a realization of the inevitability of today’s means of acquiring music and appealing to people’s consciences to actually pay for music. If nothing else, it was a triumph of marketing.

Surely after five critically acclaimed albums they couldn’t repeat the same feat again and make it six? Yet again, they proved they are master musicians and did make it six. This album certainly doesn’t sound like a band contemplating their direction. Radiohead sound complete and confident, a band at the peak of their powers no less. Incoorporating both avant-garde electronics and more straightforward guitar rock with the usual political undertones throughout it feels the band have liberated themselves from their self-imposed pressure to innovate. Given the fact Thom Yorke was given the opportunity to vent his more experimental tendancies on his solo album, it showcases just how good the band are when they are actually doing what they do best, play music. A special mention to Phil Selway whose drumming which is firmly back.

However, it also shows an exploration into an area which is never touched upon by Radiohead, that of emotions, romance, and love. It’s a gentle and even subtle affair using the full musical and emotional spectra to conjure breathtaking beauty.
The multifaceted opener, ‘15 steps’, is a great introduction and harks back to a more experimental sound we have become familiar with from the band; clattering beats, dub-style bass but also with a relaxed guitar based sound kicking in through. More importantly, it uses the much underused 5/8 time signature to create, overall, a rather interesting piece. ‘Bodysnatchers’ is a great rock number with aggressive outbursts from Yorke as a propulsive distorted bass riff. If there were any doubts Radiohead couldn’t rock anymore, this lays them firmly to rest. Next up is the long overdue ‘Nude’ which has been lingering around in their live shows for almost a decade and has finally been committed to an album. It’s simplicity is the key here, simple drums, undistorted guitars, a modest bassline reminiscent of an organ, and the well known Yorke warbling throughout. ‘Weird Fishes/Arpeggi’ brandishes drums behind its drain-circling arpeggios and we are treated to some amazing Yorke metaphors which make the band so lyrically satisfying. Next is "All I Need", which dresses up what begins as a skeletal rhythm section in cavernous swaths of glockenspiel, synths, pianos, and white noise. ‘Faust Arp’ is a simple yet effective piece using just finger-picked guitar and strings throughout. Next up is the stunning ‘Reckoner’ with Yorke’s falsetto playing off brilliantly with clanging percussion and meandering guitar lines and ranks up there with some of the best work the band have created. ‘House of Cards’ pounds along with a rather unsettling pulse, chipped guitar chords and waves of reverbed feedback. ‘Jigsaw Falling Into Place’ rides a propulsive bass and drum part coupled with moaning from Yorke before we are lead into a great song but admittedly feels rather pedestrian at times. Finally, we are treated to the almost funeral march quality of ‘Videotape’ but it is more dreamy than dreary. Overall, a great album by a great band, here at number 5 is Radiohead with ‘In Rainbows’.

iPhone

2009-11-18T23:04:00.003+08:00

I decided to buy a new phone last weekend and I thought why not splash out a bit and get an iphone! So here it is, the latest addition to my aresenal of gadgets. I'm having great fun playing around with this.

Darbareye Elly

2009-11-18T13:04:00.000+08:00

Three Iranian families travel to the North of the country in order to introduce a teacher of one of the families’ children to a recently divorced member of the family. Everything looks to be going well until Elly suddenly disappears. Is she alive, is she dead? As the story unfolds details about the characters unravel as the truth lays itself bear for everyone to see. The movie is powerful and gripping throughout and the slow unraveling of the plot is fantastic. If this is a snippet of what Iranian movies are all about I will certainly be coming back for more. 5/5 stars

Monty Python's Holy Grail

2009-11-18T13:02:00.002+08:00

The Monty Python classic is still as good now as it was when it was first released in the 1970s, an all time classic and a master class in what a good comedy should be. King Arthur sets out to find worthy knights to join him in the quest for the Holy Grail. This movie has everything; the history satires, coconuts instead of horses, killer rabbits, song and dance interludes, the dreaded knights who say ‘ni’, memorable characters and lines, as well as great versatile acting. I cannot fault it, amazing from beginning to end. 5/5 stars

Patrik 1.5

2009-11-18T12:59:00.002+08:00

A Swedish gay couple, Goran and Sven, have been cleared to adopt a child. They can hardly contain their excitement at the news that they will adopt Patrik, a one and a half year old boy. However, due to a clerical error what they get is a homophobic teenager with a criminal record who throws their lives into chaos. The movie was actually very entertaining and retains a light hearted feel throughout despite many of the serious topics it tackles. My only criticism is that it tries to cover too many issues without ever exploring or developing the situation further. Also some of the parts are almost cringe worthy. When the husband drives away leaving the other heartbroken only to return two minutes later to declare his undying love for him is a clear example. However, taken for what it is, it was well acted, intelligent and entertaining, all-round a good movie. 4/5 stars

Film Festival Week 2

2009-11-18T12:48:00.002+08:00

This weekend saw the continuation of the Film Festival. On Friday i grabbed a quick bite to eat at Burger King as George had already eaten after he left the base to join his colleagues for a birthday dinner. Then we saw Patrik 1,5. On Saturday we spent most of it relaxing at home as the weather was pretty bad. In the evening we headed to Ximen to watch The Holy Grail which was as fantastic as ever. On Sunday we headed back to Ximen to watch About Elly which was surprisingly good. Then I decided to get a new phone as my old one is on its way out. So I decided on the iPhone. I've been having lots of fun trying out all the applications!

6) Daft Punk: 'Discovery'

2009-11-10T20:00:00.002+08:00

Consisting of two French musicians; Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, Daft Punk are musical geniuses of their genre, that of electronic music. They gained prominence in the late 90s French house scene and have released albums that are widely considered essential to the genre. Their debut release ‘Homework’ was stunning and introduced the world to their amazing talent via the single ‘Around the World’. They are not only famous for their music but also for their visual style and live performances. They never make appearances which reveal their faces, preferring to disguise themselves under layers of robot suits and masks. This air of illusion only serves to add to the overall affect.

Discovery was released in 2001 and is easily on of the greatest albums ever made. It is unbelievably beautiful from start to end and contains few flaws, if any. IT’s an album that can be listened to again and again and never get bored with. It is a towering tour de force covering many bases; catchy pop, driving trance, electro house and somber electronic.

The album begins with the irresistibly catchy ‘One More Time’. It’s addictive, its infectious and grows on you in such a way that every time you hear it you simply have to dance. ‘Aerodynamic’ is a great electro-metal piece with really amazing guitar effects which transform the instrument into a keyboard and ends in a crazy blend of stomping bass and hyped up harmonics. Next is ‘Digital Love’ which evokes images of 80’s synth pop, it’s a great fun song despite its monosyllabic lyrics throughout. ‘Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger’ is a gem of a song and a resounding standout. I can’t believe I am actually saying this given that Cher completely destroyed any credibility the Vocoder had, but Daft Punk’s use of the Vocoder is simply stunning; they are masters of their work! ‘Crescendolls’ is one of my favorite songs, I understand the repeated sampling of the same line again and again may be irritating for many, but Daft Punk are the only band that can do this and not bore me. Their gigantic beats and pinpoint precision always keep it interesting and is a highly sophisticated song despite its apparent simplicity ‘NightVision’ brings the tempo down to some somber mood, short but exceptionally put together under laid with the pounding heartbeat throughout the piece. ‘Superheroes’ is another upbeat genius g-beat songs. Again, minimal sampling but done in a way that is truly amazing. ‘High Life’ harks back to the disco era and is one of the most danceable songs I have heard in a long time. This leads us nicely into the next more down tempo song ‘Something about Us’ with its mellow groves and soothing vocals. ‘Voyager’ is an interesting piece and some great bass work to match. ‘Verdis Quo’ starts of slow but builds upon layer on layer to create something truly awe inspiring. It reminds me somewhat of Jean Michelle Jarre but is great nonetheless. ‘Short Circuit’ is the only let down on this album, the ‘what were you thinking’? moment if you will. It’s best to skip this track and pretend it was never on the track listing. ‘Face to Face’ is one of the best songs on the album, I cannot even begin to praise this song enough, my only criticism is that it’s only 3 minutes long when it should be some 8 minute epic. Finally we finish with ‘Too Long’ which at first appears a joke when the track clocks in at 10 minute precisely. It’s different to the other tracks on here but it, again, is terrifically made and really adds to make this album as great as it is.

This album is an essential for any music lover, you cannot even begin to start a record collection and omit this classic. One of my favorite albums of all time, here at number 6 is Daft Punk with ‘Discovery’

20 years since the Berlin Wall fell

2009-11-10T19:09:00.003+08:00

Celebrations to mark the fall of Berlin Wall on November 9th 1989 have been held this week. As a climax to the celebrations a symbolic wall, built with dominoes from contributors all over the world, was toppled.

The Red Shoes

2009-11-10T19:05:00.000+08:00

The Red Shoes is a restored classic from 1948. Centering on the authoritarian ballet company director, Boris Lermontov, we see the addition of two great talents to the company; composer, Julian Craster, and Victoria Page, a promising new dancer who has major potential. The success of their ballet, The Red Shoes, leads to more ballets and ever growing success until Lermontov finds out about the love interest between Craster and Page. Feeling Jealous, Lermontov dismisses Craster and the problems begin. After convincing her to dance one more time, tragic consequences are the result of this fantastic piece. 4/5 stars.

Moon

2009-11-10T19:04:00.002+08:00

Moon is the first movie by David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones. Set in the near future, we follow the life of astronaut Sam Bell who has spent the past three years isolated, except for GERTY to talking computer, on the far side of the moon producing Helium-3 to return to Earth which apparently has become the main source of energy. However, just as it is time to leave the station and return to his beloved wife and daughter, his health drastically deteriorates and he finds himself crashing his lunar module. Things take an interesting turn when he is saved by a younger version of himself who is there to serve another three years after he has gone. As the harsh reality, that they are just clones, sinks in they set about trying to rectify the situation and find a way to get back to Earth. 5/5 stars, a must see of 2009.

Enter the Void

2009-11-10T19:04:00.001+08:00

Based around a group of expats in Tokyo, the story follows Oscar and his sister Linda. One night Oscar, who is a small time drug dealer, gets caught up with the police and killed as a result. However, he is determined to keep his promise to his sister that he would never leave her. Therefore the film focuses upon the world through the spirit of Oscar and is told in a rather distorted and psychedelic fashion. We get to see how each character is affected by the death of Oscar all based around the underlining theme of life after death. A truly original piece and well worth seeing albeit at nearly three hours long it is a little long. It’s certainly not for everyone but I enjoyed it nonetheless. 4/5 stars.

Police, Adjective

2009-11-10T18:59:00.001+08:00

Set in present day Romania this movie focuses around Cristi, a police detective, investigating youths suspected of smoking cannabis and the moral dilemma he faces over his conscience to convict them of something that appears very trivial to him. The premise sounds fine but the movie was tragic. It was just a self-indulgent bore fest. I could see what the director was trying to do as well as depict the dreariness of everyday Romanian life but I just couldn’t concentrate on this. Endless walking scenes, shots of houses where nothing happens for ten minutes, it was beyond frustrating. I found myself focusing more upon the small hole in the upholstery on the seat in front and trying to find a way to fix it rather than the movie itself. Shocking! 1/5 stars purely for two entertaining scenes involving a rather annoying song and what seemed a 30 minute sketch looking up words in a dictionary.

The Golden Horse Film Festival Begins.

2009-11-10T18:57:00.001+08:00

The Golden Horse Film Festival started last Thursday, 5th November, so we are fully booked for movies for the remainder of November. We wasted no time getting started so, on Friday I drove straight to Ximen to meet George from work and we also met up with Maria as we were watching a Romanian movie, Police Adjective. We had some Japanese food and then relaxed in Starbucks for a while before heading to the movie. After the movie George realized he had lost his bad, fortunately it only contained dirty laundry from the army so it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. On Saturday we were up early to watch a morning movie at Vieshow, Enter the Void and then off to Ximen to try and locate the missing bag but to no avail. So we met up with George’s dad for Thai food and then headed home to rest for a while. Then we headed to Gordon Biersch for dinner with some of George’s old classmates. We then headed to Viewshow to see Moon. After that we went for Coldstone and then home to relax. Sunday saw yet another early start to see the movie The Red Shoes. Unfortunately my eye infection came back with a vengeance so I was suffering considerably. Therefore George went to Ximen to see the afternoon movie while I rested at home. I can’t believe my eyes are bad again; it’s been more than a month already! On Monday I went back to the hospital to get more eye drops. So I’ve started yet another weekly course of medication. This time it better work!