Sharing is good.
★ I suck at posting on LJ of late. I will try and post more, and more often.
★ Haven't done this for a while, but a few weeks ago I ended up seeing a series of really, really brilliant bands, so I decided to share some music! DL links and (probably overly long) explanations under the cut.
Cold, Hailey, Rainy Night - The Imagined Village. The Imagined Village are a sort of uber-folk supergroup. They combine various forms of traditional music, from different cultural backgrounds, as a way of making folk music that represents modern Britain. This song, which is one of their most famous, shows that really well - the lyrics are traditional English folk, and the instruments used on this include the fiddle, the sitar, the theremin and the dhol. Anyway, even if you don't listen to anything else I post, LISTEN TO THIS. IT IS AWESOME. Bloody brilliant live band, as well.
The Testimony of Patience Kershaw - The Unthanks. This is based on the words of a real person - a 17-year-old girl who had worked down the coalmines her whole life. Her testimony, and those of others like her, were presented to Parliament in 1842 and resulted in the Mines Act, which prohibited the employment of women and of boys under thirteen in mining. (The more you know.) Point is, when I saw the Unthanks a few weeks ago they played this and I bawled my fucking eyes out.
Here's the Tender Coming - The Unthanks. This has such a pretty, sweet and tender melody, then you listen to the lyrics and it's about impressment and how it basically ruined a lot of lives. Fantastic.
(These are two of their more upbeat songs, what with not being about dead babies. In short - The Unthanks are the most depressing band ever. I fucking love them.)
Cailin Deas Cruite Na Mbo - Hannah Peel. Hannah Peel plays with the Unthanks (see above), but she also performs solo and she did so as part of their support. This is a traditional Irish song, which is meant to be the unluckiest in Ireland. :D What's most awesome is that - while Hannah Peel plays lots of instruments - this one is played on a musical box, the sort where you punch holes in paper and wind it through. The venue for this gig was a church, and the atmosphere was incredible - sweet and pretty and creepy all at once.
Handshakes - Rayon Breed. These also supported the Unthanks. I was impressed by them: they are two female vocalists, a cello, and a variety of percussion thingies including, at one point, a stapler. Bought their demo; this is my favourite.
Ride On - Christy Moore. I topped off my week of folky goodness with Christy Moore, a legend of Celtic folk. He was awesome. Here is one of my favourite of his songs. That is all.
★ Also! While I'm here, I want to share with you two of the presents I got for my birthday, because they are so damn awesome. (This is not to disparage the other awesome presents I also got! But these two were the absolute best.)
Nikki got me these epic Doctor Who knitting patterns from about 1985. LOOK AT THEM. JUST FUCKING LOOK AT THEM. LOOK AT THE AMAZING HAIR ON THE MODELS. *dies from awesome*
I am currently working my ass off knitting a million bootees and cardigans for all the upcoming babies, but as soon as I'm done with those? I am SO knitting myself a baggy, salmon-pink William Hartnell jumper.
Meanwhile - and stay on your motherfucking toes because it is about to go DOWN - o_deanna sent me the following. I have no words.
LINK IS A HORSE. YOUR ARGUMENT IS INVALID.
Seriously. This little guy is AMAZING. I cannot even put into words how much I love him. The detail is incredible - all the little straps and leathery bits and even his hair are there. (You'll have to take my word for it, as I had to take this picture on my phone - I can't find the charger for my proper camera. The one I just spent £60 getting fixed. /o\ )
★ I've... just reserved a bike. I haven't ridden one for about 15 years so I am scared as hell, BUT I am starting to get really unfit (I used to walk to my old job, and I ride in the car to this one), so.
★ Oh! And one other update. I got my dissertation result. Fuck knows how, but I got a distinction. :O :O :O So, yeah, I guess, all else being well, that I have an MSc now. IS THIS REAL LIFE
★ Haven't done this for a while, but a few weeks ago I ended up seeing a series of really, really brilliant bands, so I decided to share some music! DL links and (probably overly long) explanations under the cut.
Cold, Hailey, Rainy Night - The Imagined Village. The Imagined Village are a sort of uber-folk supergroup. They combine various forms of traditional music, from different cultural backgrounds, as a way of making folk music that represents modern Britain. This song, which is one of their most famous, shows that really well - the lyrics are traditional English folk, and the instruments used on this include the fiddle, the sitar, the theremin and the dhol. Anyway, even if you don't listen to anything else I post, LISTEN TO THIS. IT IS AWESOME. Bloody brilliant live band, as well.
The Testimony of Patience Kershaw - The Unthanks. This is based on the words of a real person - a 17-year-old girl who had worked down the coalmines her whole life. Her testimony, and those of others like her, were presented to Parliament in 1842 and resulted in the Mines Act, which prohibited the employment of women and of boys under thirteen in mining. (The more you know.) Point is, when I saw the Unthanks a few weeks ago they played this and I bawled my fucking eyes out.
Here's the Tender Coming - The Unthanks. This has such a pretty, sweet and tender melody, then you listen to the lyrics and it's about impressment and how it basically ruined a lot of lives. Fantastic.
(These are two of their more upbeat songs, what with not being about dead babies. In short - The Unthanks are the most depressing band ever. I fucking love them.)
Cailin Deas Cruite Na Mbo - Hannah Peel. Hannah Peel plays with the Unthanks (see above), but she also performs solo and she did so as part of their support. This is a traditional Irish song, which is meant to be the unluckiest in Ireland. :D What's most awesome is that - while Hannah Peel plays lots of instruments - this one is played on a musical box, the sort where you punch holes in paper and wind it through. The venue for this gig was a church, and the atmosphere was incredible - sweet and pretty and creepy all at once.
Handshakes - Rayon Breed. These also supported the Unthanks. I was impressed by them: they are two female vocalists, a cello, and a variety of percussion thingies including, at one point, a stapler. Bought their demo; this is my favourite.
Ride On - Christy Moore. I topped off my week of folky goodness with Christy Moore, a legend of Celtic folk. He was awesome. Here is one of my favourite of his songs. That is all.
★ Also! While I'm here, I want to share with you two of the presents I got for my birthday, because they are so damn awesome. (This is not to disparage the other awesome presents I also got! But these two were the absolute best.)
Nikki got me these epic Doctor Who knitting patterns from about 1985. LOOK AT THEM. JUST FUCKING LOOK AT THEM. LOOK AT THE AMAZING HAIR ON THE MODELS. *dies from awesome*
I am currently working my ass off knitting a million bootees and cardigans for all the upcoming babies, but as soon as I'm done with those? I am SO knitting myself a baggy, salmon-pink William Hartnell jumper.
Meanwhile - and stay on your motherfucking toes because it is about to go DOWN - o_deanna sent me the following. I have no words.
LINK IS A HORSE. YOUR ARGUMENT IS INVALID.
Seriously. This little guy is AMAZING. I cannot even put into words how much I love him. The detail is incredible - all the little straps and leathery bits and even his hair are there. (You'll have to take my word for it, as I had to take this picture on my phone - I can't find the charger for my proper camera. The one I just spent £60 getting fixed. /o\ )
★ I've... just reserved a bike. I haven't ridden one for about 15 years so I am scared as hell, BUT I am starting to get really unfit (I used to walk to my old job, and I ride in the car to this one), so.
★ Oh! And one other update. I got my dissertation result. Fuck knows how, but I got a distinction. :O :O :O So, yeah, I guess, all else being well, that I have an MSc now. IS THIS REAL LIFE