Into Thin Air recounts the details of an ascent on the main summit of Mt.Everest back in 1996 which ultimately lead to the deaths of a number of amateur climbers and their expedition leaders. Krakauer, the author, was one of the party who happened to be there on the scene of the tragedy (in contrast [...]
Archive for January, 2012
“Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer
Posted in Literature on January 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Sydney’s Downtown Lights
Posted in Popular Music, tagged 1980s, The Blue Nile on January 23, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
The neons and the cigarettes Rented rooms and rented cars The crowded streets, the empty bars Chimney tops and trumpets The golden lights, the loving prayers The coloured shoes, the empty trains I’m tired of crying on the stairs
Future Islands – Give us the wind
Posted in Music clips, Popular Music on January 22, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Future Islands are a Baltimore band. They are what I imagine Joy Division would have gone on to sound like if Ian Curtis hadn’t tragically topped himself. They do melancholy electro beautifully, also adding a danceable beat and a sonic richness to the whole dealio. This track is off their 2011 album, On the Water. [...]
Music & series tv: Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Sopranos
Posted in Popular Music, TV, tagged 1970s, 1980s, British TV on January 18, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
The last couple of weeks I have managed to devour five seasons of series television: both seasons of the BBC’s Life on Mars? and all three of the sequel, Ashes to Ashes. To watch episode after episode in the evening hours brings a certain rhythm to one’s holidays which is both nicely relaxing and fosters [...]
Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains beyond Mountains)
Posted in Music clips on January 14, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
This is the best Arcade clip since their first album landed. Interesting, evocative and beautiful.
Ryan Gosling in Drive (2011)
Posted in Film, tagged 2010s, American cinema, new films, Ryan Gosling on January 13, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Drive is an extended advertisement for a particular form of masculinity; a product from another time and place. The mysterious hero, named only Driver, is a character mashup – he is Charlie Bronson’s vengeful fist blended with Sam Peckinpah’s bloodied and tragic anti-heroes. Ryan Gosling shows his acting versatility once again. He is gallant and [...]
