#i love when rak plays in the rain

[gl-saveme]

You like playing in the rain, don't you?

Us EP 2 + EP 4

[bengiyo]

Love Sea Ep 3 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Tongrak and Mut started to have sex on the beach, but then Rak rushed them back to the hotel so he could write his thoughts out for his novel. Mut was understandably frustrated and went to take a shower, which of course ended in sex (but Fort showed ass!). Rak became possessive of Mut, and once again tried to use his money to lock Mut down. We had a great moment of Rak checking in about how out they can be, and the two shared insights into their histories. We learned that Rak sees his work as an outlet to express himself, and that Mut has worked his ass off to earn his place in this community as a respected leader. We ended on some trauma flashbacks underwater for Rak involving his father who abandoned them, and a friend who may have been pregnant. Meanwhile, Vie had Mook come over to clean up her house and eat with her in a flirting ritual that seemed to work for both of them.

Aya is really pretty.

This weird issue with the italicized subtitles not displaying on the TV apps is driving me insane. Why do I have to pull up the episode in two places now??

It rains a lot in Thailand, so I like when they incorporate it into the shows.

Chapter 3: Where the Sky Touches the Sea

It's nice to see that Rak is able to talk nicely with a friend. He and Vie feel like they've known each other for a while, and know what each is going through. I'm curious how deep we'll get into this tabloid drama Vie is facing.

Is Kwan Rak's sister? What's going on with their dad that they're scared about him showing up around the granddaughter? I thought he was out of the picture?

Wondering what Mut must be feeling after not seeing Rak for a few days now after that incident.

Mm, Rak reverting to be as rude as possible like it'll scare Mut away.

At least he apologized after relaxing for a little bit. I hope he opens up about what's got him so stressed.

Oh fuck yeah give me the lore. Rak's messed up because his mom poured all her money into a man who didn't love her back, and his and his sister's names are messages to him.

Let's bond over family problems.

Oh, I'm kinda into this "Try it while you're on the island" proposal.

Are they trying to mirror that with this fake girlfriend proposal?

I'm not keen on playing in the sea at night, but they do kiss well.

Why is he in that bed with a towel on?

Mut baiting Rak into being the big spoon is sending me.

Unsurprised that Mut is a conservationist.

I like that Mut acknowledged Rak getting up early to see the community meeting.

Oh they have Ja playing an actor who shoves his costar away immediately. How fun.

This joke about the length of novel titles feels like they're alluding to people missing the point of the novel because title is too cumbersome.

"I'm not bi." She and Lom should meet.

Mut seemed real nervous about Rak seeing how modest his home is.

Wow, Mut's dad sounds cruel.

Okay but Rak was even more turned on by the idea that the neighbors would hear them.

The timeline is a bit vague here.

I feel like we got here a little fast, but I kinda like the way Mut is chasing this feeling with Rak he wasn't expecting to feel.

I really like Mook.

I'm looking forward to seeing how both of these guys' issues with their families play out. I feel like.we.mkssed some things this week that didn't translate into the adaptation smoothly, but I like the idea of Mut reaching for something he didn't think he could have, and a cynic like Rak being taken by that earnestness. Also amused by Mook likely having a crush on Vie while missing that Vie has been flirting this whole time. I wonder what our Mut Exposition Fairy will do next week.

[pinkkop]

Week 3!!!! 🎉🎉

If you missed it last week, I made a post about my setup for compiling and formatting this post every week. It's a little nerdy but I'm really proud of it 😊

QL Recap for Week 3

The 13th of January to the 19th of January

Shows are place in the order of how much I'm enjoying them.

🇹🇭 ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat

Episode 6 of 13 || Watching on: Youtube, Friday

They just keep being the cutest! I love how sweet and young the romance feels with all the things unsaid between them but them still knowing for sure that they're feeling the same. They're so smitten and it's going to be so hard for them to act normal and stay apart in public. This show might just break my heart and heal it all over again in the future and I'm so ready for it!

🇹🇭 The Heart Killers

Episode 8 of 12 || Watching on: Youtube, Wednesday

This stays such a good show and it was so delicious to see Bison and Fadel's walls slowly start to crumble once again. What I'm really enjoying is the characterization of the characters because they're such clear characters and everything they do fits so perfectly to the character which is just really nice to watch. Like how Fadel was more resigned and with higher walls than Bison who might have come across a lot harder on Kant this episode but was also clearly the one who'd forgive the fastest. Just perfect characters played out so well by four great actors!

🇹🇭 Your Sky

Episode 10 of 12 || Watching on: iQiYi, Sunday

This show just keeps being my happy place! Fah and Rak are the cutest boyfriends and the other two couples are slowly inching the same way. The hurt Rak felt every time his parents assumed he would be dating a girl was so evident and painful to watch. I don't want to trust the preview so I'm assuming they're just defaulting to talking as if his future partner is a girl because they just haven't considered the possibility of it being a boy yet but that they will be happy and accepting when they find out Rak is dating the guy. Rak's parents have been so kind and loving so far, so please let the drama hinted at in the preview be about something other than Fah being a guy.

🇹🇭 Petrichor

Episode 8 of 10 || Watching on: iQiYi, Saturday

Tul's struggle with finding out the truth about her brother worked really well and felt real even if I had no doubt she'd come to her senses. Inaction always feels like the easy way out but Tul's sense of justice would not have let her do nothing even though she needed Run to speed up her decision. This show isn't in brain rot territory but I like it a bunch.

🇹🇭 The Boy Next World

Episode 3 of 10 || Watching on: iQiYi, Sunday

This is all so mysterious! I love that this world's Phu and Cir are into each other already even if Phu maybe doesn't realize it yet. What's certain is that there's something odd about Cir and I can't wait to figure out what it is! Is he from a parallel universe as we are let to believe? Or is he a robot??? 👀

🇹🇭 Perfect 10 Liners

Episode 13 of 24 || Watching on: Youtube, Sunday

Santa absolutely killed it this episode!! It was absolutely heartbreaking to see Gun hurt I'm so happy that he has Fai. Fai was really the MVP in this episode for saving Gun and I loved seeing Gun's friends rallying around him. I'm really glad that Yotha isn't giving up on Gun and even if the bed scene, where Gun thought he was dreaming, was very bittersweet, at least Yotha knows that Gun wants him close. Wa deserves better, that's all I have to say on them.

🇨🇳 I'll Turn Back This Time

Episode 2 of 6 || Watching on: Gagaoolala, Saturday

Damn this show is high drama! The rain, lightning and thunder!! It definitely feels over the top but it's not to the point where I hate it. It feels like the show is true to itself and the main actors are doing a great job and the plot is plotting so after this episode I'm fully on board with this show.

🇹🇭 Sangmin Dinneaw

Episode 4 of 8 || Watching on: iQiYi, Sunday

I'm bracing for an unhappy ending after all the hints about Sangmin having an unknown serious illness. This show keeps being the oddest because I really don't like anything with Pony and the third couple but I'm loving Dinneaw and Sangmin and I'm also invested in the second couple even if they on a rare occasion dips into the insanity that is Pony and the third couple.

🇯🇵 Futtara Doshaburi

Episode 2 of 7 || Watching on: Gagaoolala, Friday

I still can't quite figure out where this show is going but I'm intrigued. This week made me understand the male couple a little more but interestingly it just made me more frustrated because our lead agreed to a non-physical relationship with his partner but then keeps pressuring him to have sex with him. Not cool, my dude!! I do worry a little about where the show is going with him and his current relationship because it could end up saying something interesting about ace/aro things but it could also easily say something wrong or damning about the ace/aro character. Only time will tell! I really need to learn these characters' names, sorry!!

🇹🇼 Eternal Butler

Episode 6 of 12 || Watching on: Gagaoolala, Friday

Still not convinced about a robot being a part of a romantic pairing so I simply don't think this one is for me. I am however apparently invested enough in this show that I probably will keep watching it casually.

That's it for this week!!

For links and airing schedule check out World of BL (Only for BLs)

[iguessitsjustme]

Love Sea Ep 3 Thoughts

I just had the kind of day that makes you fall back in love with life a little bit. So what better time to watch Love Sea than right now? I will say I have been warned that certain parts of this episode will make me angry. So odds are, if you like the show, you won’t like my thoughts. But I’ll go in with an open mind. Episode 2 was fine. Right? Right. Anyway, just in case, if you click the read more and you don’t like what I say…that’s on you. You were warned. So let’s do this thing. Episode 3 time.

This time the movie I watched before this show didn’t have literally the best sound mixing I’ve ever heard in my entire life. So I think my ears are safe this time. It won’t be good but at least I’m not going from the best to…this.

IQIYI translate texts challenge 2k24. I said it last time and I’ll say it again. I am very skilled. I have many talents. Reading Thai is not one of them. What’s the point of paying for this streaming service if they’re only gonna half ass the subs? Anyway. Give the translators a raise and hire more of them. Or face my wrath in the form of one tiny little post under a read more on the internet that you will never see. But you should feel my scorn. Feel it!

Rak better keep his glasses. I swear if Rak loses his glasses….

It is raining in the show so I feel the need to tell y’all that I bought two umbrellas today! They were both on clearance. Isn’t that great? My collection grows.

Oh also IQIYI translate the fucking spoken words too challenge??? Girl what is going on.

I have no context for this line. Zero. Why are they talking about her boobs? What is happening in the rest of the conversation. Cause I also can’t speak Thai. I wish I could. That language is simply not in my wheelhouse.

I could be watching the Stray Kid’s cover of Sherlock for the millionth time but instead I’m listening to a Thai phone call that means nothing to me. All I know is she mentioned her boobs.

Noisy drunk street people go home challenge. Go home and stop conversatin right outside my apartment. Do that elsewhere. You have now left the bar cause it’s closed. My apartment is not open for business so I don’t know why you’re loitering outside it. Time to blast some kpop real quick. That typically works. Oh they left before I got to play any music. They must have a sixth sense.

Thank god I got this conversation fully subbed. The fuck is up with his dad? Actually. You know what? I don’t want to know. Whatever it is, it’s bad. And I don’t want that. I don’t trust MAME to do trauma actually. Well. I trust MAME will do trauma but I don’t trust her to do it well.

I STILL CAN’T READ THAI.

I did not gain that skill in the last 15 minutes. Why are they doing this to me specifically?

I am enjoying this song a whole lot.

Why are we getting flashbacks in every episode? MAME is a better writer than this. Why is she relying so heavily on flashbacks? I’m so confused.

Rak, do not go to a secondary location with that man. Dear Mut, what the fuck? He has said no. That is a complete sentence. And believe it or not, he does not need to explain it to you. He was being generous by telling you why he said no. But you are going to force him to go somewhere else? Have you considered I hate you and will kick you right in the balls?

The music is trying to convince me this is romantic but honestly I’m just confused.

THEY DIDN’T EVEN WEAR HELMETS. And then my soul was launched from my body straight into the sun and I feel nothing anymore.

Oh to be stargazing on a beach while laying next to a hot boy and having deep conversations about life. Oh if only that were me. Hey real quick, anyone want to go stargazing with me? I’ve never been stargazing and I think I should do it. 

I’ve only been watching this episode for 23 minutes. I thought it was almost over. This shit is dragging. The directing in this show needs significant work. There is not enough movement on screen in far too many scenes. Even when We Are had two characters (Tan and Fang) just standing and talking, it wasn’t difficult to watch because they were both constantly moving. Well, mostly Tan. But Fang did too. There was something for the eye to catch. Something to watch. With Love Sea, they have Rak and Mut just stand and talk, or sit and talk, or lay down and talk, and there is not nearly enough movement. They need to be doing something. I am moving more just sitting on my ass on my couch (shoveling cake in my mouth) while I watch than these two are doing on screen and that is a directorial problem. Imagine working with an established actor pair who are known partially for their chemistry together and just…having them lay there. I was prepared to go into this show mad at it for the typical MAME reasons but honestly, I’m mostly mad that the show elements are bad. The writing is not up to MAME’s usual standard and the directing is ass. The music is par for the course and I’m more objective about it this week at least.

FINALLY. Some movement. God that took forever.

It must be nice to be able to read Thai and know what the fuck is being said.

People stop reading over Rak’s shoulder. Let him have some privacy. The fuck?

If someone forcibly made me cover up like that on a hot day, I would pull a gun outta my ass and shoot them. It is HOT. I am SWEATY. Let me BREATHE.

MUT. NO DOES ME NO. BUT NOT WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO OVERRIDE SOMEONE’S AUTONOMY. LET RAK’S TITS BREATHE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. LET THEM BREATHE.

Save Mook. Seriously. Save her.

Horny boys.

This scene would have far more emotional impact if we had any more time with these characters. Literally we started the episode with Rak refusing to go somewhere with Mut and being forced to go. And now he’s willing to stay? Doesn’t he believe love is a figment of the imagination? Did that fucking change? Did we see that change? Was it in one of the texts I couldn’t read?

I’m not…angry at this show. I mean Mut is never gonna be my favorite and neither is Rak, but MAME has had far worse cough cough PrapaiSky cough cough This show’s problem is actually the worst problem a show can have: it’s boring. I’m bored. The writing is lazy, the directing is abysmal, and honestly the sound mixing thinks it’s doing something and utterly failing. Those are the only three things I feel I’m knowledgeable enough to comment on but I’m sure the rest isn’t great either. I’m upset that I can’t even be mad at the characters. Cause it’s all so boring. When did I go back in time to get a BL that was so poorly written as to be a joke? It’s 2024. I refuse to believe this is what they put together. For all its faults, LITA was at least entertaining. At least it didn’t ruin my lovely day. I am gonna go get ready for bed now because unfortunately, I have to work in the morning. Oh to have a summer off. Oh to go to the sea and stargaze at the beach. I can’t believe this show managed to make even that boring.

[khunfounded]

There’s Something Tragic About You, Something So Magic About You

[For khunbam week day one. Prompt: Hair]

“So, how short do you want it?” Khun asked, running his fingers through the length of Bam’s long hair.  

Bam hummed as he thought. He wasn’t sure. He hadn’t had any real choices in a long while, not even in his own name. So deciding something as important as this wasn’t easy. Because it wasn’t just his hair, was it? It was his identity. It was snipping Viole away.

“Can you,” He asked, turning around in his chair a little to glance up at Khun. His friend gave him a reassuring little smile as he continued to play with his hair. The feeling soothed something wild and terrified in Bam’s chest, “Can you make it how it was before?”

“Of course, anything you want, Bam”.

It was a weird thing, to be able to want now. He could want to see his friends, and change his name back, and cut his hair. There wasn't the ever looming threat of his loved ones’ deaths hanging over his head like a guillotine. Instead, there was playing video games with Wangnan and Ehwa, and sharing bananas with Rak, and letting Khun play with his hair as he talked about shinsu theory.

In a fit of inspiration, he had asked Khun to cut it, and the animal part of his heart was frightened. This was a big change. This was everything. But an even greater part of him felt full of joy. Because it was a big change. It was everything. It was a chaotic place, in Bam’s brain.

“You ready?”

No. Yes. Maybe.

“Yeah, please”.

“Alright, here I go,” Khun warned, and the first cut, the long, dark strands falling away, felt like freedom. A tear ran down Bam’s face. And then another, and another. And suddenly he was sobbing.

He heard a clatter that must have been Khun dropping the scissors as his friend raced around and kneeled in front of him. Bam looked into wide, concerned, blue eyes. Fingers found his face and frantically wiped at the tears that fell like shinsu rain.

“Are you alright? What’s wrong? Did you change your mind?” Came the rapid fire burst of questions, and Bam laughed.

“I’m fine,” He said to the confused and skeptical look on Khun’s face, “I promise. I’m just really, really…”

“Really what?”

“Happy, I think”.

Khun’s eyes searched his face and seemed to find what they were looking for, because he sighed and said, “I’m glad”.

Then Khun hugged him tightly, and Bam wept into the crook of his neck, letting go of everything that had weighed him down.

“Do you want me to keep going?” Khun asked.

“Yes, please”.

He felt a kiss against his temple before Khun pulled away, smiling softly at him.

“Alright”.

Khun leaned down and picked up the scissors, resuming his place behind Bam. This time his movements were slower and more cautious.

“Ready?” He asked again, a slight nervousness slipping into his voice.

“Yeah, I promise not to cry this time, Khun-ssi,” Bam giggled wetly as Khun started cutting.

“Well, tell me if you do,” Bam could feel his head become lighter as more and more of his hair fell to the ground.

“Why?”

“Because I want to be there for you, Bam. Whenever you need it”.

Bam smiled at that. He had missed this. This feeling of home, of being accepted completely. That feeling was inextricably tied to Khun, he thought to the rhythm of snipping scissors. From the first time they met, to when they were finally reunited, Khun had always looked out for him and cared about him in a way no one else had, not even Rachel

Khun kept cutting silently except when he mumbled under his breath about hair care, until Bam asked him to explain how pockets worked, because he knew that would get his friend talking. Khun went off, and Bam hummed along, simply reveling in the sound of his most precious friend’s voice.

Several minutes later, Khun announced that he was done. When Bam was turned towards the mirror he couldn’t keep himself from bawling again.

“Did I cut it wrong?” Khun’s worried face was reflected in the mirror.

“No,” Bam sniffled, “No, it’s perfect. It’s me again”.

He turned around and hugged Khun tightly. Khun rocked them both back and forth, humming a soft tune, combing fingers through his hair as Bam slowly calmed down.

“Thank you, Khun”.

“Thank you for trusting me, Bam”.

--------

“Do you remember,” Bam asked, playing with Khun’s hair, as his most precious person laid his head in his lap, “When you cut my hair? After the Workshop, I mean”.

Khun looked up, “Yeah, I definitely do. You started crying, twice, and I was terrified out of my mind that I had done something wrong”.

Bam chuckled, leaning down to kiss his forehead. Initiating physical affection was easier for him now, and there was a lot to make up for after Khun’s two year long coma. He kissed Khun’s nose, too, while he was down there. And, he noted, Khun’s smile was just as beautiful upside down as it was right side up.

“Why do you ask?”

“I was just thinking, I guess,” He shrugged, “That was the first time in years I had felt really safe”.

“Really?” Khun’s eyes were full of surprise. 

“Yeah, I knew I was in good hands”.

“You’re a real sap, you know that?”

“So are you, that was the first time you kissed me”.

“On the temple. You were crying, I was trying to calm you down”.

Bam grinned, “Well, it worked. But my point still stands”.

“Shut up,” Khun grumbled, pushing Bam’s face away with his hand. Bam caught it and kissed his palm.

“I love you,” Bam crooned.

Khun huffed, but still said, “I love you, too.”

Khun scooted up and sat in Bam’s lap, burying his face into Bam’s neck, and mumbled, “That was the first time for me too.”

“First time?”

“That I felt safe. That I felt at home. Because you chose to trust me, and you chose to understand me. Because we chose to love each other, I think.”

“You are my home, Aguero,” Bam buried his face in silver-blue locks and brought his arms around to cradle Khun, “I always feel safe when I’m with you”.

Khun smiled, and leaned up, giving Bam a soft kiss, smiling into it.

“You are my home, too, Bam. I love you.”

[mirhacreations]

A Drop Of Petrichor~Review Blog

Since the day, I’ve finished reading #ADOP, i was thinking of writing a long review post for this masterpiece. First i thought of making a thread on twitter (which i’ll surely do later now :-p ), then i thought of making a hand written review but again dropped the idea because i my hand writing sucks :-(. So finally after dropping like 122344456 ideas, here i am with a review blog for a book which is so special & so close to my heart, the master piece by Aimmy, “A Drop Of Petrichor”.

A Drop Of Petrichor: This is a little introduction for those who don’t know what  “ A Drop Of Petrichor” is. So, its a #wattpad, written by the amazingly talent Aiman aka Aims. A books which is so simple yet so beautiful & heart-warming. Read it for once & you can’t help but fall for the simplicity of this book. No exaggerating plots, no dramatic twists, no cheesy and filmy dialogues, no extraordinary romance, that’s what ADOP is. THE ONE & ONLY. <3 I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. <3

ME TO ADOP:

COVER:

So first of all, let me appreciate this so feelsy & aesthetically beautiful cover, made by the writer herself. The soft & soothing blue coloring  & the selection of such aesthetic pictures is what i call PERFECTION, and of course this is something only our very own writer can do.Aims is multi-talented ya’ll. <3 Claps Claps for Aims <3

Characters:

Rayyan Ahmed Khan(RAK): RAK,Someone who was happy living in his dark world, all alone.Allergic to words called “feelings”, “emotions”, “relationship” & above all “love”.  But then he met her, and she make him do things, feel things which he never ever even imagined. The fact that he changed for her, just because he fell in love with her, fell her, fell deeply and then his transformation from the cynic RAK to the selfless Rayyan Ahmed Khan is something i live for. <3 Rayyan Ahmed Khan has my entire heart & words are literally not enough to describe how much i love him. <3 no matter how many books i’d read or i would read in future, you’ll be my forever favorite Rayyan. I Love You <3

“Rain was the cause of everything bad. It had always been”~Rayyan Ahmed Khan.

Noor Fatimah:

Noor, my baby, my jaan😭🤧❤️. Noor Fatimah is probably one of the most strongest & brave character i’ve ever read on #wattpad. Despite of the cruel game, her fate played with her, she remained strong & firm. Not that she didn’t break down, but she picked up her broken pieces and mend herself without the involvement of any so called HERO, which happen in every other story. she was her own hero and that was her biggest strength. My noor is precious & of course i love her as much as i love Rayyan. <3

“Rain was the cure. It has always been.”~Noor Fatimah

Haseeb & Abeer: Apart from RayNoor, Haseeb & Abeer are two characters, whom i literally ship so hard. The bonding they share was just so pure and heartwarming. Their cute talks and sweet gestures has my heart. <3 The scene where haseeb was talking about love with Rayyan and imagine that all he could associate with the word love was Abeer’s face. Abeer’s confession, his rejection and then his decision of giving them space to think abou their relationship is what which makes me fall more and more for them specially Haseeb. I’ll forever be thankful to you for writing these two cute and precious characters Aims. My Adorable Munchkins <3

“I LOVE YOU. ALWAYS HAVE. ALWAYS WILL.”

Mr. & Mrs. Khan: To be very honest, no matter how good these two character were, i’d never be able to forget what they did with my baby Ray :-( He deserved 10000000000% of their efforts but they didn’t even make 1% of effort for him. He wanted to leave them, live alone and they just let him do that. His whole childhood was ruined just because they were silent, they didn’t do anything to make him understand that he was not alone, that he has a family and their ignorance is what make him the cynic RAK. So no soft corner for them and i am not sorry for this at all. That’s it. Izma & Maheen: Two miserable yet strong & such impactful characters. I love the way you portrayed izma’s character. you didn’t make her all weak and miserable but you didn’t show her like all strong & emotionless after whatever happened to her. Andddd what to say about maheen? she is cute, sweet,adorable and my jaan. I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HER. <3 

Rohail & Zirwa: Two cute, sweet and such entertaining characters. Zirwa’s equation with Noor & Rohail’s equation with his siblings was just so soothing and adorable. Individually, they were so understanding, and entertaining & together they were so LIT. All my love to these babies. <3

Umar: A true men, a sweetheart. His love and respect for izma and maheen has my heart. I love the way he proposed izma and then waited for her patiently instead of forcing her to accept because she needed someone in her life.They deserve nothing but all the happiness and love and with each other they’ll surely get it. <3

Sarmad & Asim & Regina:

inke liye meri taraf sy bohat saari gaaliyan khud he farz kar lein.

And a very special mention to that girl who was just a distraction for RAK. Damn! I LOVE HER. <3

REVIEW:

One Word Review: MASTERPIECE.

Now lets come to the details: 😜 To be very honest, words are truly not enough to describe how much i love this book, my RayNoor & Aims’s writing skills. Starting from the little introduction, one thing or should i say one line that caught my attention and make me read this books in one was this line, “sometimes all the parched valley of heart needs is a drop of petrichor”. What an impactful line.

Aimsss.. how are you even this good with words? I CAN’T EVEN....

woiiii! ok! back to the review now. so when i started reading ADOP i thought it would be a typical story post noor’s marriage to that jerk. what my imaginary plot was that she would bumped in to him, he’d rescue her and eventually they both will fall in love but noor will keep pushing him away despite of loving him just because of her past. And then after like alot of drama, and some filmy tragic scenes they would end up together. shocked? stunned? well this was the shit i’d thought coz i am not Aims not even close. 😝😂 But no doubt that ADOP was totally different from my imaginary plot. RayNoor’s first meeting, then Noor’s stay at Ray’s home, Ray-Regina fiasco. All this was just a treat to read, so entertaining, so spicy. 😋

And then there ways parted, obviously on not so happy note and after that started the Rayyan’s realization phase, which is truly the most beautiful phase of this story. The way you’ve penned down his emotions, his feelings, his heart break and specially that realization scene at his mom’s place, PERFECTION. That’s what i call it girl. You are just amazing. its just so hard to find words that could describe how talented you are Aims. your way with words is just something else. I AM SPEECHLESS. (still i am writing this lengthy blog 😝😝😌😌😂😂) One more thing i want to add here is that Rayyan’s realization phase in ADOP reminds me of salaar and i couldn’t help think about that ghazal salaar used to listen. it just fitted so perfectly for RayNoor obviously in this phase only :-p

He realized, he tried his best to find her but couldn’t and whenever he cried for her, i cried along :-( And then when he’d almost lost all hopes of seeing her ever again, he bumped into her and how beautiful that scene was. <3

AND I DIED HERE!

From here, their journey start towards each other and how beautiful that journey was. The slow and steady progress of their relationship, the way noor slowly started trusting him, and finding her solace and safe cocoon in him was just so heart-warming and beautiful and their first hug damn. again i am at short of words. <3

Ok! now i won’t get into the details because it seems like i am leaking out the whole story here :-( Sorry :-( but i loved each and every single scene, from Rayyan’s proposal, to Noor’s acceptance, then their wedding and their relationship progress post wedding. I HEART EACH AND EVERY SINGLE SCENE. <3 They are just too precious for words. & I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THEM SOOOOOO DAMN MUCH. <3

Their bonding post marriage was just simply goals, each and every moments just make me fell more and more for them. Be it their cute banters, sarcastic talks, their little romantic moments, those nose kisses and their support for each other, everything was GOALS. JUST PERFECT <3

And not to forgot those little, sweet and precious moments of confessions:

woiiiiiii! i am so done with all the tareefs so here come some of my favorite dialogues from the book.

And the list goes on but i am ending this review here. Honestly, i still have so much to say, like i want to comment on every single line but i surely can’t do this being the lazy af. so bear with this chotu si koshish plz.  FOR THE WRITER:  Aims! I’ve said this many times, and i’ll say this again and again tht  you are multi-talented. A single adjective is just not enough to describe or praise your talent. Stay same, stay happy and keep blessing us with your masterpieces. Sending lots of love & prayers for you <3 

[markwatkinsconsumerguide]

Consumer Guide / No.105 /  Platinum selling composer,  Stephen Hillier , talking Dubstar and more with Mark Watkins. 

MW : How old were you when you first dabbled at song writing, and what did you “compose"? 

SH : There was a piano in my parents’ house in Welling, South London. I took some lessons, loved playing but wasn’t interested in reading music. So I would make up little tunes so I had something to play. I was ten. Despite having taught songwriting at Universities since 2004 I still don’t like reading music. I get by, just don’t ask me to direct a light opera.

MW : When did you decide you could make song writing / playing keyboards a career? 

SH : That was an accident. I started writing songs as opposed to “tunes” around the age of twelve. I heard David Sylvian say that he’d simply ‘given it a go one day’ and discovered he could do it. I thought that sounded cool, I’ll try it. I found it easy, so I just started writing and wrote loads. I haven’t stopped since. I didn’t think much about songwriting until many years later. I assumed everyone wrote songs, because everyone I knew did! 

When I met Chris (Wilkie) in Newcastle at the end of 1991, I was looking for a bass player to accompany me singing my songs. And I intended to use my songs simply so the new act would have something to play. That approach went on for a while, but… it turned out that Chris was a much better guitarist than me so I stopped playing, and when I found Sarah in 1993 I realised she was a much better singer than me. So I stopped singing. That left writing, so I focussed on that. And have done so ever since. 

MW  : How were Dubstar formed, and why did you leave the group in 2013? 

SH : I met Chris in Walker’s nightclub in Newcastle towards the end of 1991. That was where I wrote ‘Anywhere’, and it’s closure in early 1992 inspired ‘Stars’. I was looking for a bass player to form a band with, he played guitar so that wasn’t going to work. But we got on well, and loved the same music (Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, Durutti Column). 

When we started out it was the two of us on guitar. Different guitars though. Otherwise that could have been awkward. I discovered Sarah in the summer of 1993 when her boyfriend, who was someone I knew on the Newcastle music scene, accidentally left a tape he had made of his “girlfriend” at my flat in Jesmond. That was Sarah singing his songs. I was stunned by how beautiful her voice was. She had an effortless purity that really moved me. I’m not sure her boyfriend was keen on us meeting, but I persisted. We got on well.

After that I got sidetracked by something else and forgot about Sarah until she rang me up reminding me that I said we should do something. I was a bit embarrassed to have been so flaky, so we got to work immediately. And that was that, Dubstar was born, although we were called The Joans at the time. I finished working with Chris and Sarah in January 2014. I’d written and recorded two as yet unreleased albums 

https://www.dubstar.com/unitedstatesofbeing

https://www.dubstar.com/unitedstatesofbeing2

and felt that by that point the act had run its course. As I wasn’t interested in playing the nostalgia circuits, I decided to move on. The 25th anniversary of the release of Disgraceful is a good time to revisit some of the memories though, which I've done largely by accident. I discuss it here: 

https://www.stevehillier.net/dubstar-25/2020/10/9/dubstar-lost-and-foundland

MW  : Pick one track each from Disgraceful, Goodbye and Make It Better and  share some memories of the making of...

SH : My strongest memory of making the Disgraceful album was hearing the mix of ‘Anywhere’ come back through the speakers at RAK Studios with Stephen Hague. It sounded INCREDIBLE, like a hit. I loved it. That was the first time I’d heard one of my songs properly recorded and produced. You can’t go back to working on a four track after that

In terms of Goodbye, I remember the process of rediscovering ‘No More Talk’. It was a song I’d written at school, and although we already had more than enough songs for the second album, I felt I should include it, at least propose it. It was a freezing cold January in Newcastle in our studio at the Arts Centre, with me all alone, hunched over this tiny hard disk recorder putting together an arrangement for a song I’d written ten years earlier. That’s show biz! 

Make It Better was made in a very different way from the other two Dubstar albums, largely because we were living in different cities by that point. Me in Brighton, Sarah in Manchester and Chris in Gateshead. But there are so many stories about the making of that album. 

My favourite was that when I was in the middle of doing the first load of demos, I got a call from the record company. Apparently The Corrs were interested in doing a cover of ‘Stars’ and do I fancy meeting them at their Brighton show next week? I thought…yes. So I met the act, who were lovely as you would imagine. We had dinner together and when I dropped into the Brighton Centre to catch their sound check they stopped playing their song and broke into ‘Stars’, it was quite something. My song never sounded better than in that moment. The Corrs didn’t cover ‘Stars’ in the end. 

There’s more to this story, a LOT more… you can read the stories behind the writing of every Dubstar song at 

https://www.dubstar.com/

MW : What projects are you currently involved with?

SH : Coming up, there will be a second DUBSTAR: Lost and Foundland collection released in December 2020. I’m finishing that off now. I also have a collection of Christmas piano pieces out 4th December, 2020. Then there is the second Dubstar Preludes collection in January, 2021. Currently, Dunstar Preludes, Vol.1 is available now : . 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7B7yeG9FRjBNssvUGUSrhd?si=3SpaeFADSyOnMXnTCiUJwg

And then I’m launching an entirely new act in late January 2021. More details to follow, but what I can say is that it’s a return to songs with proper singing on them, rather than the instrumental piano pieces I’ve been releasing during this past year. I’m very excited about this, and was intending to launch it this year except for the pandemic. It’s the first time I’ve started a new act since Dubstar! I’m working with an artist from 4AD records on their new album too, which is VERY exciting. You will be able to find details of all of these project here : 

 https://www.stevehillier.net/

MW : You live in Brighton, what do you enjoy seeing and doing in the City?

SH :  I moved here in 1997, it was a choice of London for my career or Brighton for my state of mind. I chose the latter and have never regretted it, not for a moment. I don’t think I could live anywhere else in the UK, certainly not in England. 

When we had nightlife (!), Brighton was the best city of anywhere I’ve lived. I love the architecture. Brighton has extraordinary contrasts, Georgian Crescents next to newly built student accommodation, Victorian Squares opposite modern structures such as the i360. 

You can spot the history in this city from the buildings. The corruption of the 1960s and 70s developments, the Pavilion of course. The new development on the Level. Even the road I live on has mad history… the developers ran out of money as they built the road, so the houses get smaller as you go up the street. That was in 1895. 

MW : Tell me about your experiences on the last bus ride, taxi ride and train journey you had? 

SH : The last bus ride I had was from our office in the centre of Brighton back home. Tried to scan the bus’s computer network using the USB socket they provide on every seat. I discovered… nothing. 

The last taxi ride was one weekend in November (2020). The Uber drivers ‘round here have a habit of taking your job, getting to pick you up but taking someone else off the street… then stating to Uber that they declined your fare because you didn’t have a face covering. We flagged a regular cab and spent the ten minute ride home exchanging anecdotes about how bad Uber is. For the record, I really like Uber. 

My last train journey was returning from Bath to Brighton after a gig last February (2020). It was mad, there was a storm. The train was packed, every service into Paddington was cancelled, so we had to get off at Didcot Parkway… four hundred people on a platform in the rain and wind wondering what the hell they were going to do. I realised we were going to be stuck here on the platform for hours so got back on the original train and returned to Bath. I was thinking I’d stay in a hotel for the night, but I was on a promise of Thai meal that night so decided to hire a car and drive instead. I made it to the Red Snapper in Brighton in time. Apparently the rest of the passengers were stuck at Didcot Parkway for three hours in the rain. Some are still there now. 

MW : Coronavirus - do you feel the government should give financial assistance as well as moral support to the music industry? 

SH : This is not a simple question to answer. I do think the music industry in the country should be supported through the pandemic because it’s a source of employment for thousands, and a valuable export for the UK. I think the industry should be supported better in general, but not in the way it’s being done now. I think this country should take a leaf out of the approach that the Scandinavians have, on just about everything frankly, including taxes and fiscal policy! Free higher education including in the Arts, and proper ongoing support for arts venues. I’m talking grants, in order that their crucial role in forming communities is recognised and bolstered. And yes, that means spending money on music and arts projects that aren’t otherwise financially viable. 

MW  : How have you fared personally during Lockdown? What have you learned about your own character? Other people/s? 

SH : Lockdown has been… interesting. The biggest change for me was not travelling (I’ve spent the last twenty years living between Spain and Brighton). So I had a lot more time on my hands. That was initially daunting, a bit scary, then incredibly liberating. It led to a fabulous creative period for me. I wrote ‘Inside Outlines’ over a matter of three days. I‘d seen people doing gigs in their kitchen and thought I’d give that a go… and quickly realised it wasn’t going to be interesting enough for even me to watch. So I wrote, and wrote and wrote. And started releasing music under my own name for the first time. Also, I started working on the piano versions of my old Dubstar songs during the last days of the lockdown. Someone had contacted me on Twitter to remind me that Stars had been released twenty five years ago on that day. I’d entirely forgotten about the anniversary, so quickly put together a piano version and wrote the story behind the song so I could mark the event in some way. My wife told me that was a great idea, why not do another twenty five, one for each year. She meant, “story behind the song”, I thought she meant to record another twenty five piano pieces so went off to my studio and stayed there for a month. That was how DUBSTAR: Lost and Foundland began. I’m currently working on volume three. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/18DQiZMPfIvb7HqRtukpA9?si=mgSnZK3URe--KcSSxFTP4Q

What I have learned about myself is I have benefitted greatly by staying in one place for more than a couple of weeks. I haven’t done that since 1995. 

MW : What are you looking forward to doing this Christmas, regardless of Lockdown? 

SH : We would normally spend the latter part of December in Copenhagen, which is the cosiest city I know. I lost a Danish friend to breast cancer in 2018 and it hit me hard, very hard. I make going back to Christianhavn  and Christiania a kind of pilgrimage to her memory. That doesn’t look like it’s going to be possible this year. So instead, I’m going to get a big Xmas tree and put it up in November. I normally have the tree up until Easter, which isn’t mad at all if you think about it, so this year it goes up early and stays up until the pandemic is over. 

© Mark Watkins / November 2020  

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 28th October 2018

Top 10

This will be the last episode on a Thursday for a while as it returns to weekends, in fact, there’s going to be a new episode tomorrow, most likely. Let’s get this week over first though, and we start with a bang as we have a new number-one – yep, “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper takes the top spot on its fourth week after a three-space increase. This becomes Lady Gaga’s fifth and Bradley Cooper’s first #1 on the UK Singles Chart.

This also means that “Promises” by Calvin Harris and Sam Smith is down a spot to number-two.

As is “Funky Friday” by Dave and Fredo pushed back to number-three.

Oh, as well as “Happier” by Marshmello and Bastille, also down a spot to number-four.

“Let You Love Me” by Rita Ora has entered the top five at number-five after a one-spot boost.

Little Mix’s “Woman Like Me” featuring Nicki Minaj fell a spot this week to number-six but the video will definitely keep it in the top 5 next week.

We actually have a debut at number-seven, as Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower”, the lead single from the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack. This is Post’s fifth top 10 hit and Swae Lee’s third (second as a solo artist).

“ZEZE” by Kodak Black, Travis Scott and Offset is up three spots to number-eight, to my surprise and dismay.

“Electricity” by Silk City and Dua Lipa is steady at number-nine.

Finally, “In My Mind” by Dynoro and Gigi D’Agostino is starting to fall out, down two spots to number-ten this week.

Climbers

We don’t have too many at all this week, in fact, it’s pretty much just a handful. Thanks to the release of the Suncity EP (#20 debut on the albums chart if you’re wondering), Khalid’s lead single “Better” is up four spots to #18, entering the top 20 and becoming Khalid’s sixth top 20 hit in the UK. Otherwise, however, there are just a few boosts for A Star is Born songs, with “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga up six positions to #25, whilst “I’ll Never Love Again” with Bradley Cooper is up seven spaces to #27.

Fallers

There are only a few of these as well, actually, with “MIA” by Bad Bunny and Drake falling off eight spots to #21, “Venom” by Eminem dropping five spaces to #28, “Thunderclouds” by LSD (Labrinth, Sia and Diplo) making its way out, falling five positions to #34, and thankfully, “Falling Down” by the late Lil Peep and XXXTENTACION is down seven to #40, and hopefully will be going soon.

Dropouts

My website that I use to easily get drop-out info is finally updated, and while I won’t correct myself on the weeks where I didn’t have it, this two-week hiatus has made me wonder about this source’s reliability, to be honest. Anyways, we actually have quite a lot of dropouts here, as “breathin” by Ariana Grande is out from #26, “Best Life” by Hardy Caprio and One Acen is out from #35, “Drip Too Hard” by Lil Baby and Gunna is out from #36, “Lucky You” by Eminem featuring Joyner Lucas is out from #37, and, finally, “Taste” by Tyga and Offset is out from #38. A lot of good songs here, most of which had quite a bit of longevity, so, yeah, big drop-out week.

No returning entries this week so it’s straight to the new arrivals.

NEW ARRIVALS

#39 – “I Want You to Freak” – Rak-Su

Rak-Su are an English R&B act and boy band who won the 14th series of The X Factor last year, and had a massive hit with “Dimelo” that featured Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy. All of the original songs they played throughout the run of their series were actually pretty damn good, with a lot of fun groove and songwriting chops present, so how do Rak-Su follow this up in their second top 40 hit? Well, it’s just one of the original songs in a studio version, and honestly, yeah, this was the worst one they sang, with the exhausted drum pattern present in reggaeton being drowned out by really ugly, disgusting buzzing synths, like, they just sound so freaking awful, how did this get past the executive producers? Anyways, the vocals are pretty fitting for this track, but no-one really shines, and the blatant interpolation of “Freak Like Me” by Adina Howard in the hook is just too much of a soulless hook grab for me to ignore its cheap inclusion – there’s not really any repurposing here at all. Yeah, sorry, boys, but that cluttered instrumental is borderline unlistenable, hence making this song pretty awful. Ditch your producers, guys, because Simon Cowell and Banx & Ranx clearly aren’t using your potential the way they should be.

#36 – “Kiss and Make Up” – Dua Lipa featuring BLACKPINK

Dua Lipa released a second deluxe edition (titled “Complete Edition”) to her self-titled debut album last week, and it included this new song that kind of blew up due to how big the featured artist, the K-pop girl group, BLACKPINK, are right now, and you know that when K-pop fans have new material they try and make it as big as possible, I mean, just look at BTS’s success. This is BLACKPINK’s first ever charting song in the UK, yet alone top 40 hit, which Dua Lipa now has 11 of, by the way, but does it live up to the hype? Well, sort of, yeah, actually, but can we just discuss the little intro vocal fragment because the manipulation makes it sound like the vocalists are saying “Beyblades”... which actually segues into the content of being in a constant spinning cycle of saying sorry, making up, and then breaking up again, maybe too perfectly. Oh, and I I love Dua Lipa’s performance here (as always), with the tropical vocal fragments throughout the verses popping up pretty sporadically being a nice little addition, whilst the skittering hi-hats may not have been as they just kind of don’t add to the energy of the song at all, which elevates with the pretty decent drop, may I add. I don’t know the names of the BLACKPINK girls and I’ve quite literally heard nothing from them before, but their performance here works with the beat effortlessly, so maybe I should check more out from them in the future. Good song.

#35 – “nASSty” – D-Block Europe (Young Adz and Dirtbike Lb) featuring Lil Pino

I have no bloody clue who any of these people are, so what I can say is that this is definitely the first top 40 hit for everyone involved. D-Block Europe is a collective lead by someone who’s way too enthusiastic about commercials and one of the strangest “riding” metaphors this side of “Body Like a Back Road”, and this particular song, featuring a dude who I’m sure named himself after those little novelty pine tree air fresheners you stick to a car, is their first to blow up, and I’m already having Vietnam flashbacks to Big Sean’s verse on “Mercy” based off the title alone, but is the song itself good? Well, I’ve been getting into more British trap and hip-hop recently, and while I haven’t heard that much, I can confirm this is probably not the best out there at all. The synths sound like stock loops, while the “nasty” vocalist that starts off the song loses any chance at being intimidating with the high-pitched, nasal autotuned voice, and cartoonish ad-libs. If you sound like kids, which they might as well be, you’re not going to exactly going to be very effective when you threaten to shoot me and take my girl. I love the ad-libs actually, they’re so energetic and easily the best part of this song, it reminds me of Desiigner’s hype man vibe actually. I would not be able to tell the difference between each one if Lil Pino didn’t state who he was in his incredibly short verse (seriously, it’s only a pathetic two bars). This is trash, but at least it’s amateur trash and not made by a major label, and instead just a couple kids having fun. I can forgive that.

#31 – “Ruin My Life” – Zara Larsson

Not this, though, and not because it’s all that bad, but become I feel like I’ve heard it before. Zara Larsson is a Swedish singer-songwriter who has made it pretty big for herself in Europe in recent years (with only some US crossover success). This is her eighth top 40 hit in the UK, and it is just as bland and cookie-cutter as everything else she’s ever released. Larsson sounds okay (especially in the hook, where the janky rapping flow actually works with the trap drums), but the airy synths are like clouds that never rain, as it’s not like what sound like incredibly fake handclaps are making anything interesting here. The chorus doesn’t have any pay-off until after the second chorus, where in the bridge, we actually see a pretty damn nice guitar riff return from the promising intro and immediately get abandoned in favour of the nothingness that the rest of the song consists of. What a snore.

#7 – “Sunflower” (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) – Post Malone and Swae Lee

Post Malone and Swae Lee – the more versatile half of rap duo Rae Sremmurd – have got big enough to start making soundtrack hits for big budget films, and I couldn’t be happier for the both of them, Post is an immensely talented songwriter and Swae’s a great vocalist, however they clearly don’t share the same traits, because Post’s unlistenable warbling is way too present, and his whining voice is something I just can’t dig, whilst Swae makes his songs way too long and often doesn’t have any worthwhile content. I feel like they’re polar opposites in a way, so this collaboration actually got me excited, especially with how much I’ve liked Swae’s input this year (not so much Post). I’m just as excited after listening because this is a fantastic freaking song. The record scratching over those snares, making it sound like static, just makes for such an interesting contrast when compared to the plinking and beeping synths, Swae’s smooth vocals and the dark, deep horn line – seriously, that instrumental is actually beautiful, with the vocal contributions from Swae adding a fun, catchy, melody in both the hook and verse, with his childlike naivety in his dynamics being incredibly charming. Then we have Post’s grittier, more mature voice that probably works even better on this production, especially when the beat cuts and we have that ticking in the background, and it’s pretty much just that and Post. Oh, God, that part’s amazing, and it ends on such a sweet guitar line. I’m not going to mince words, this is eligible for my best list and would easily be top 3 but since I think and hope this is going to stick around, I’m saving this for 2019 when I have more to say. One of the best pop songs to break into the top 40 this year, easily.

Conclusion

Well, what do you think? Of course, Post Malone and Swae Lee get Best of the Week for “Sunflower”, with Honourable Mention going to Dua Lipa and BLACKPINK for “Kiss and Make Up”. Worst of the Week should be obvious as well, Rak-Su get it for the awful “I Want You to Freak”, and Dishonourable Mention is going to D-Block Europe and Lil Pino for “nASSty”. See ya tomorrow, I guess.

[joshcroteau]

Duncan Browne - Duncan Browne (1973)

Duncan Browne’s style of guitar playing would be immediately categorized as remarkable even to someone who does not spend much time listening to music. Browne glides between a slew of impressive folk and classical style picking on his second album released by British label Rak Records in 1973. At times Duncan Browne catches you in prog-y spiderwebs before quickly sweeping you away through cozy, warm pieces about islands and hunkering down for the winter. Thank god, while showcasing a variety of styles, Browne’s second album is not a mishmashed attempt at proving he’s some sort of jack-of-all-trades chameleon. I find it incredibly trying when artists approach albums with more of a concern for showmanship than content; It has never impressed me. (Side note: I think it was a genius idea when The Rolling Stones put all the rock’n’roll songs on side A of Tattoo You and the moody, more R&B flavored songs on side B).

Duncan Browne keeps you on your toes. Lyrically a very enjoyable album full of short stories- the music almost always taking a backseat to allow you to easily decipher Browne’s tales. The album hasn’t been repressed since its early ‘70′s release so it goes for a good chunk of change if you can find a copy of it.

The album opens with some ominous, descending, plucked chords before sucking you into an acoustic prog whirlpool. I don’t know why Browne wanted to open the album like this, and I’m not sure why he ends the album in a similar manner. “Ragged Rain Life” just sets a strange tone that had me thinking this was going to be a spazzy, prog-folk record full of noodling and goofy lyrics, which it is not at all.

The piano-guided “Cast No Shadow” opens similarly to River by Joni Mitchell and turns into a wondeful Simon and Garfunkel-tinged cautionary tale from the perspective of a friend guiding a weary companion out of a depression. I was taken aback by just how beautiful this song is and didn’t really see it coming. Most people would never, ever put these songs on the same album. I don’t intend to make it sound like Browne unnecessarily stuffed the record to show just how much he can do (see paragraph 1) but he should have never included the first and last tracks.

“Country Song” sounds like a long-lost Paul McCartney song. This comparison came up again for me on track four “My Only Son” where Browne had me wondering “Did he actually pull this vocal melody from some Paul McCartney song I haven’t heard yet?” It is too good. The track is seemingly religious but not preachy or over the top- more God’s Childrenthan With Arms Wide Open.

Halfway through the album Browne starts to putter out a little with a Nilsson-like song that is pretty give or take but he rejuvenates things with “Journey”. With “Journey” I wondered for the first time how Duncan Browne would sound if he was backed by a full band and soon after the song starts there is a backdrop of drums, claps, synth and vocal accompaniment that fall in, giving the track a bit of a Beach Boys studio band treatment.

For me, Browne’s talents as a guitarist, storyteller, melodist and artist are made most apparent on “Over the Reef”. The pleasant, romantic, breezy track is a perfect late-night oceanic snapshot. I want to visit whichever tropical places Duncan Browne went to inspire him to write this track. “Over the Reef” is melancholy, unembellished and transcendent. The song is now one of my all-time favorites.

Duncan Browne begins with the not so pleasant up and down, folk/prog dynamics of “Ragged Rain Life” and closes with the similar up and down of “Last Man Around”. The siren-like chorus that comes out of left-field is such a terrible way to end an otherwise beautiful, balmy record. I loved this album, I have probably listened to it five or six times in the past two days while biking to work, at work and when returning home. But, a word to the wise: if you listen to this album, just skip the first and last songs.

Rating: 8/10

Favorites: Over the Reef, The Martlet, Country Song, Cast No Shadow

Listen: Duncan Browne - Over the reef

[lookingforthemagic]

Duncan Browne - Duncan Browne (1973)

Duncan Browne’s style of guitar playing would be immediately categorized as remarkable even to someone who does not spend much time listening to music. Browne glides between a slew of impressive folk and classical style picking on his second album released by British label Rak Records in 1973. At times Duncan Browne catches you in prog-y spiderwebs before quickly sweeping you away through cozy, warm pieces about islands and hunkering down for the winter. Thank god, while showcasing a variety of styles, Browne’s second album is not a mishmashed attempt at proving he's some sort of jack-of-all-trades chameleon. I find it incredibly trying when artists approach albums with more of a concern for showmanship than content; It has never impressed me. (Side note: I think it was a genius idea when The Rolling Stones put all the rock’n’roll songs on side A of Tattoo You and the moody, more R&B flavored songs on side B). 

Duncan Browne keeps you on your toes. Lyrically a very enjoyable album full of short stories- the music almost always taking a backseat to allow you to easily decipher Browne's tales. The album hasn’t been repressed since its early ‘70′s release so it goes for a good chunk of change if you can find a copy of it. 

The album opens with some ominous, descending, plucked chords before sucking you into an acoustic prog whirlpool. I don’t know why Browne wanted to open the album like this, and I’m not sure why he ends the album in a similar manner. “Ragged Rain Life” just sets a strange tone that had me thinking this was going to be a spazzy, prog-folk record full of noodling and goofy lyrics, which it is not at all. 

The piano-guided “Cast No Shadow” opens similarly to River by Joni Mitchell and turns into a wondeful Simon and Garfunkel-tinged cautionary tale from the perspective of a friend guiding a weary companion out of a depression. I was taken aback by just how beautiful this song is and didn't really see it coming. Most people would never, ever put these songs on the same album. I don’t intend to make it sound like Browne unnecessarily stuffed the record to show just how much he can do (see paragraph 1) but he should have never included the first and last tracks. 

“Country Song” sounds like a long-lost Paul McCartney song. This comparison came up again for me on track four “My Only Son” where Browne had me wondering “Did he actually pull this vocal melody from some Paul McCartney song I haven’t heard yet?” It is too good. The track is seemingly religious but not preachy or over the top- more God's Children than With Arms Wide Open. 

Halfway through the album Browne starts to putter out a little with a Nilsson-like song that is pretty give or take but he rejuvenates things with “Journey”. With “Journey” I wondered for the first time how Duncan Browne would sound if he was backed by a full band and soon after the song starts there is a backdrop of drums, claps, synth and vocal accompaniment that fall in, giving the track a bit of a Beach Boys studio band treatment.

For me, Browne's talents as a guitarist, storyteller, melodist and artist are made most apparent on “Over the Reef”. The pleasant, romantic, breezy track is a perfect late-night oceanic snapshot. I want to visit whichever tropical places Duncan Browne went to inspire him to write this track. “Over the Reef” is melancholy, unembellished and transcendent. The song is now one of my all-time favorites.

Duncan Browne begins with the not so pleasant up and down, folk/prog dynamics of “Ragged Rain Life” and closes with the similar up and down of “Last Man Around”. The siren-like chorus that comes out of left-field is such a terrible way to end an otherwise beautiful, balmy record. I loved this album, I have probably listened to it five or six times in the past two days while biking to work, at work and when returning home. But, a word to the wise: if you listen to this album, just skip the first and last songs. 

Rating: 8/10

Favorites: Over the Reef, The Martlet, Country Song, Cast No Shadow

[nemsabia-blog1]

1000 Palavras Mais Usadas em Inglês

http://tinyurl.com/kb44wkk A tabela completa está disposta da seguinte forma: # é a posição da palavra na ordem da mais usada (1) até a menos usada (1000), palavra, pronúncia (com áudio) e tradução. Confira:

# Palavra Pronúncia Tradução 1 the dhâ o, a, os, as 2 of âv de 3 to tuu para 4 and énd e 5 a â um, uma 6 in ên em, dentro 7 is ês é 8 it êt este 9 you yuu você 10 that dhét que, aquele 11 he rrii ele 12 was uós era, estava 13 for fór por, para 14 on ón em 15 are ar são, estão 16 with uêdh com 17 as és como, enquanto 18 I ai eu 19 his rrês seu 20 they dhei eles 21 be bii ser, estar 22 at ét em 23 one uân um 24 have rrév ter 25 this dhês este 26 from frâm de 27 or ór ou 28 had rréd tinha 29 by bai por, em 30 hot rrat quente 31 word uâd palavra 32 but bât mas 33 what uót o-que 34 some sâm algum 35 we uii nós 36 can kén pode, lata 37 out aut fora 38 other âdhâr outro 39 were uâr eram, esavam 40 all ól todo 41 there thér lá 42 when uen quando 43 up âp para-cima 44 use iuz usar 45 your yór seu 46 how rráu como, quão 47 said séd disse 48 an én um, uma 49 each iich cada 50 she shii ela 51 which uêtch qual 52 do duu fazer, mesmo 53 their thér seus 54 time taim tempo, hora 55 if êf se 56 will uêl vai, vontade 57 way uei caminho, jeito 58 about âbaut sobre, quase 59 many méni muitos 60 then dhên então 61 them dhêm deles 62 write rait escrever 63 would uôd deveria 64 like laik como, gostar 65 so sôu assim, tão 66 these dhiiz estes 67 her rrâr dela 68 long lóng longo 69 make meik fazer 70 thing thêng coisa 71 see sii ver 72 him rrêm dele 73 two tuu dois, duas 74 has rrés tem 75 look lôk olhar 76 more mór mais 77 day dei dia 78 could côd poderia 79 go gôu ir 80 come câm vir 81 did dêd fez, mesmo 82 number nâmbâr número 83 sound saund som 84 no nou não 85 most moust mais, maior 86 people piipâl pessoas, povo 87 my mai meu 88 over ouvâr sobre, acima-de 89 know nou saber 90 water uóttâr água 91 than dhén que 92 call cól chamar 93 first fârst primeiro 94 who rruu que 95 may mei maio, pode 96 down daun baixo 97 side said lado 98 been bên sido, estado 99 now nau agora 100 find faind encontrar 101 any éni qualquer 102 new nuu novo 103 work uârk trabalho 104 part part parte 105 take teik pegar 106 get ghét ficar 107 place pleis lugar 108 made meid feito 109 live lêv, laiv viver, vivo 110 where uér onde 111 after éftâr após 112 back bék atrás, costas 113 little lêttâl pequeno, pouco 114 only ounli somente 115 round raund redondo, rodada 116 man mén homem 117 year yiir ano 118 came keim chegado 119 show shou mostrar 120 every evri cada 121 good gôd bom 122 me mii me, eu 123 give ghêv dar 124 our ar nosso 125 under ândâr sob 126 name neim nome 127 very véri muito, absoluto 128 through thruu através-de 129 just jâst justo, só 130 form fórm forma, formulário 131 sentence sêntâns sentença 132 great greit ótimo, excelente, grande 133 think thênk pensar 134 say sei dizer 135 help rrêlp ajudar 136 low lou baixo 137 line lain linha, fila 138 differ dêfâr diferir 139 turn târn tornar, vez 140 cause cóz causa 141 much mâtch muito 142 mean miin meio, significar 143 before bêfór antes 144 move muuv movimento 145 right rait direito 146 boy bói garoto 147 old ould velho 148 too tuu também 149 same seim mesmo 150 tell têl contar 151 does dâz faz, mesmo 152 set sêt conjunto, fixar 153 three thrii três 154 want uânt querer 155 air ér ar 156 well uel bem, poço 157 also ólsou também 158 play plei peça, tocar 159 small smól pequeno 160 end ênd fim, finalizar 161 put pôt por 162 home rroum casa 163 read riid ler, lido 164 hand rrénd mão 165 port pórt porto 166 large larj grande 167 spell spêl soletrar, encanto 168 add éd adicionar 169 even iivân mesmo 170 land lénd terra 171 here rriir aqui 172 must mâst dever 173 big bêg grande 174 high rrai alto 175 such sâtch tal 176 follow falou seguir 177 act ékt ato, agir 178 why uai por-que 179 ask ésk pedir, perguntar 180 men mên homens 181 change tcheinj mudar 182 went uent foi 183 light lait leve, luz 184 kind kaind bom, tipo 185 off óf por, desligado 186 need niid precisar 187 house rraus casa 188 picture pêktchâr foto, filme 189 try trai tentar 190 us âs nos 191 again âghein de-novo 192 animal énâmâl animal 193 point point ponto 194 mother mâdhâr mãe 195 world uârld mundo 196 near niir perto 197 build bêld construir 198 self self próprio, ego 199 earth ârth terra 200 father fódhâr pai 201 head rred cabeça 202 stand sténd permanecer, de-pé, banca 203 own oun próprio 204 page peij página 205 should shôd deveria 206 country cântri país 207 found faund encontrado, fundar 208 answer énsâr resposta 209 school skool escola 210 grow grou crescer 211 study stâdi estudo 212 still stêl até, calmo 213 learn lârn aprender 214 plant plént planta, fábrica 215 cover câvâr cobrir 216 food fuud comida 217 sun sân sol 218 four fór quatro 219 between bituiin entre 220 state steit estado 221 keep kiip guardar 222 eye ai olho 223 never nevâr nunca 224 last lést último, durar 225 let let deixar 226 thought thót pensamento, pensado 227 city cêtti cidade 228 tree trii árvore 229 cross crós cruz, cruzar 230 farm farm fazenda 231 hard rrard duro 232 start start começar 233 might mait poder, poderia 234 story stóri estória, andar(prédio) 235 saw só viu, serra 236 far far longe 237 sea sii mar 238 draw dró arrastar, empate 239 left left esquerda, deixado 240 late leit tarde 241 run rân correr 242 don't dount não 243 while uail enquanto 244 press pres pressão, imprensa 245 close clous fechar 246 night nait noite 247 real riil real 248 life laif vida 249 few fiu alguns 250 north nórth norte 251 open oupân aberto 252 seem siim parecer 253 together tâghedhâr juntos 254 next next próximo 255 white uait branco 256 children tchêldrân crianças 257 begin bêghên começar 258 got gat ficado 259 walk uók andar 260 example igzémpâl exemplo 261 ease iiz facilitar 262 paper peipâr papel 263 group grup grupo 264 always óluêz sempre 265 music miuzêk música 266 those dhouz aqueles 267 both bouth ambos 268 mark mark marcar 269 often ófân muitas-vezes 270 letter lettâr letra, carta 271 until ântêl até 272 mile mail milha 273 river rêvâr rio 274 car car carro 275 feet fiit pés 276 care kér cuidado 277 second secând segundo 278 book bôk livro 279 carry kéri carregar 280 took tôk pego 281 science sains ciência 282 eat iit comer 283 room ruum cômodo, quarto 284 friend frend amigo 285 sight sait visão 286 began bêgén começado 287 idea aidiia idéia 288 fish fêsh peixe, pescar 289 mountain mauntân montanha 290 stop stap parar 291 once uâns uma-vez 292 base beis base 293 hear rriir ouvir 294 horse rrórs cavalo 295 cut cât cortar 296 sure shôr certo 297 watch uótch assistir, relógio 298 color câlâr cor, colorir 299 face feis rosto 300 wood uôd madeira 301 main mein principal 302 enough inâf bastante 303 plain plein plano, simples 304 girl gârl garota 305 usual iuzhuâl usual, comum 306 young yâng jovem 307 ready riidi pronto 308 above âbâv acima 309 ever evâr sempre, já 310 red red vermelho 311 list lêst lista 312 though thou apesar-de 313 feel fiiól sentir, sentimendo 314 talk tók conversar 315 bird bârd pássaro 316 soon suun logo 317 body baddi corpo 318 dog dóg cachorro 319 family fémâli família 320 direct dârekt direto 321 pose pouz posição 322 leave liiv deixar 323 song sóng canção 324 measure mejâr medida 325 door dór porta 326 product pradâkt produto 327 black blék negro 328 short shórt curto 329 numeral nuumârâl numeral 330 class clés classe 331 wind uênd vento 332 question quéschân questão, pergunta 333 happen rrépân acontecer 334 complete câmpliit completo 335 ship shêp navio, embarcar 336 area ériiâ área 337 half rréf metade 338 rock rak roque, rocha 339 order órdâr ordem, pedido 340 fire fair fogo, incêndio, despedir 341 south sauth sul 342 problem prablâm problema 343 piece piis peça, pedaço 344 told tould contado 345 knew nuu sabido 346 pass pés passar 347 since sêns desde 348 top tap topo, principal 349 whole rroul inteiro 350 king kêng rei 351 space speis espaço 352 heard rrârd ouvido 353 best best melhor 354 hour aur hora 355 better bettâr melhor 356 true truu verdadeiro 357 during duurêng durante 358 hundred rrândrâd cem 359 five faiv cinco 360 remember rimembâr lembrar 361 step step passo 362 early ârli cedo 363 hold rrould guardar 364 west uest oeste 365 ground graund terra, amolado 366 interest êntrâst interesse, juros 367 reach riitch alcançar 368 fast fést rápido 369 verb vârb verbo 370 sing sêng cantar 371 listen lêssân ouvir 372 six sêks seis 373 table teibâl mesa, tabela 374 travel trévâl viajar 375 less les menos 376 morning mórnên manhã 377 ten ten dez 378 simple sêmpâl simples 379 several sevrâl vários 380 vowel vaul vogal 381 toward tuuard para 382 war uar guerra 383 lay lei deitar, amador 384 against âghenst contra 385 pattern péttârn padrão 386 slow slou devagar 387 center centâr centro 388 love lâv amor, amar 389 person pârsân pessoa 390 money mâni dinheiro 391 serve sârv servir 392 appear âpiir aparecer 393 road roud estrada 394 map mép mapa 395 rain rein chuva 396 rule ruul régua, regra 397 govern gâvârn governar 398 pull pôl puxar 399 cold could frio 400 notice nottâs aviso 401 voice vois voz 402 unit iunât unidade 403 power pauâr poder, força 404 town taun municipal 405 fine fain bom, excelente 406 certain sârtân certo 407 fly flai voar, mosca 408 fall fól cair, queda, outono 409 lead liid levar, chumbo 410 cry crai choro, chorar 411 dark dark escuro 412 machine mâshiin máquina 413 note nout anotar 414 wait ueit esperar 415 plan plén plano 416 figure fêghiâr figura, imaginar 417 star star estrela 418 box baks caixa 419 noun naun substantivo 420 field fiild campo 421 rest rest resto, descanso 422 correct cârekt correto 423 able eibâl capaz 424 pound paund libra 425 done dân feito 426 beauty biutti beleza 427 drive draiv direção, dirigir 428 stood stud permanecido 429 contain cântein conter 430 front frânt frente 431 teach tiitch ensinar 432 week uiik semana 433 final fainâl final 434 gave gheiv dado 435 green griin verde 436 oh ou ó 437 quick quêk rápido 438 develop dêvelâp desenvolver 439 ocean oushân oceano 440 warm uórm quente 441 free frii livre, grátis 442 minute mênât minuto 443 strong stróng forte 444 special speshâl especial 445 mind maind mente, importar-se 446 behind bêrraind atrás 447 clear cliir claro 448 tail teil rabo 449 produce prâdus produção 450 fact fékt fato 451 street striit rua 452 inch êntch polegada 453 multiply mâltâplai multiplicar 454 nothing nâthêng nada 455 course córs curso 456 stay stei ficar 457 wheel uiil roda 458 full fôl cheio 459 force fórs força, forçar 460 blue bluu azul 461 object âbjêkt objeto 462 decide dêsaid decidir 463 surface sârfâs superficie 464 deep diip profundo 465 moon muun lua 466 island ailând ilha 467 foot fuut pé 468 system sêstâm sistema 469 busy bêzi ocupado 470 test test teste 471 record recârd recorde, gravar, registro 472 boat bout barco 473 common camân comum 474 gold gould ouro 475 possible pasâbâl possível 476 plane plein avião 477 stead sted local 478 dry drai seco 479 wonder uândâr admirar 480 laugh léf rir 481 thousand thauzând mil 482 ago âgou atrás 483 ran rén corrido 484 check tchek cheque, checagem 485 game gheim jogo 486 shape sheip forma 487 equate iiqueit equacionar 488 miss mês sentir, senhorita 489 brought brót trazido 490 heat rriit calor 491 snow snou neve 492 tire tair pneu, cansar 493 bring brêng trazer 494 yes yes sim 495 distant dêstânt distante 496 fill fêl encher 497 east iist leste 498 paint peint pintar 499 language lénguêj língua 500 among âmâng entre 501 grand grénd grandioso 502 ball ból bola 503 yet yet ainda, já 504 wave ueiv onda 505 drop drap gota 506 heart rrórt coração 507 am ém sou, estou 508 present prezânt presente 509 heavy rrevi pesado 510 dance déns dança 511 engine enjân motor 512 position pâzêshãn posição 513 arm arm braço 514 wide uaid amplo 515 sail seil vela(navio) 516 material mâtiiriâl material 517 size saiz tamanho 518 vary véri variar 519 settle settâl estabelecer 520 speak spiik falar 521 weight ueit peso 522 general jenral general, geral 523 ice ais gelo 524 matter méttâr matéria, importar-se 525 circle sârkâl círculo 526 pair pér par 527 include ênclud incluir 528 divide dêvaid dividir 529 syllable sêlâbâl sílaba 530 felt feólt sentido 531 perhaps pârhépps talvez 532 pick pêk escolher, apanhar 533 sudden sâdân imprevisto 534 count caunt contar, contagem, conde 535 square squér quadrado, praça 536 reason riizân razão 537 length lenth comprimento 538 represent reprêzent representar 539 art art arte 540 subject sâbjêkt sujeito, assunto 541 region riijân região 542 energy enârji energia 543 hunt rrânt caçar 544 probable prabâbâl provável 545 bed bed cama 546 brother brâdhâr irmão 547 egg eg ovo 548 ride raid passeio 549 cell ceól cela, célula 550 believe bêliiv acreditar 551 fraction frécshân fração 552 forest fórâst floresta 553 sit sêt sentar 554 race reis raça, corrida 555 window uêndou janela 556 store stór armazém 557 summer sâmâr verão 558 train trêin trem, treinar 559 sleep sliip dormir 560 prove pruuv provar 561 lone loun só 562 leg leg perna 563 exercise eksârsaiz exercício 564 wall uól parede 565 catch kétch pegar 566 mount maunt monte, montar 567 wish uêsh desejo 568 sky skai céu 569 board bórd quadro 570 joy jói alegria 571 winter uênttâr inverno 572 sat sét sentado 573 written rêtân escrito 574 wild uaild selvagem 575 instrument ênstrâmânt instrumento 576 kept kept guardado 577 glass glés vidro 578 grass grés grama 579 cow cau vaca 580 job jáb trabalho, jó 581 edge ej canto 582 sign sain sinal 583 visit vêzât visita 584 past pést passado 585 soft saft macio 586 fun fân alegria 587 bright brait claro 588 gas ghés gás, gasolina 589 weather uedhâr tempo 590 month mânt mês 591 million mêliân milhão 592 bear bér urso, carregar 593 finish fênish fim, finalizar 594 happy rrépi feliz 595 hope rroup esperança 596 flower flauâr flor 597 clothe cloudh vestir 598 strange streindj estranho 599 gone gón ido 600 jump jâmp pular 601 baby beibi bebê 602 eight eit oito 603 village vêlâj vila 604 meet miit encontrar 605 root ruut raiz 606 buy bai comprar 607 raise reiz levantar 608 solve soulv resolver 609 metal mettâl metal 610 whether uedhâr se 611 push pôsh empurrar, iniciativa 612 seven sevân sete 613 paragraph pérâgréf parágrafo 614 third thârd terceiro 615 shall shél vai 616 held rreld guardado 617 hair rrér cabelo 618 describe dêcraib descrever 619 cook côk cozinhar 620 floor flór chão, derrotar 621 either aidhâr um, ou outro, também 622 result rêzâlt resultado 623 burn bârn queimar 624 hill rrêl colina 625 safe seif seguro, cofre 626 cat két gato 627 century centri século 628 consider cânsêdâr considerar 629 type taip tipo, datilografar 630 law ló lei 631 bit bêt pouco, broca 632 coast coust costa, litoral 633 copy capi copiar 634 phrase freiz frase 635 silent sailânt silencio 636 tall tól alto(pessoa) 637 sand sénd areia 638 soil sóil solo 639 roll rôl giro, lista 640 temperature temprâchâr temperatura 641 finger fêngâr dedo 642 industry êndâstri indústria 643 value véliu valor 644 fight fait luta 645 lie lai deitar, mentir 646 beat biit bater 647 excite iksait instigar 648 natural nétchârâl natural 649 view viu vista 650 sense sens sentido 651 ear iir orelha, espiga 652 else els outro 653 quite quait muito 654 broke brouk quebrado 655 case keis caso, embalagem 656 middle mêdâl meio 657 kill kêl matar 658 son sân filho 659 lake leik lago 660 moment moumânt momento 661 scale skeil escada, escala, escama 662 loud laud alto(som) 663 spring sprêng primavera, mola 664 observe âbzârv observar 665 child tchaild criança 666 straight streit reto 667 consonant cansânânt consoante 668 nation neishân nação 669 dictionary dêkshânâri dicionário 670 milk mêlk leite 671 speed spiid velocidade 672 method méthâd método 673 organ órgân órgão 674 pay pei pagar 675 age eij idade 676 section sekshân seção 677 dress dres vestido 678 cloud claud nuvem 679 surprise sârpraiz surpresa 680 quiet quait quieto 681 stone stoun pedra 682 tiny taini minúsculo 683 climb claim escalar 684 cool cuul frio 685 design dêzain desenho 686 poor pôr pobre 687 lot lót muito, lote 688 experiment eksperâmânt experimento 689 bottom battâm baixo 690 key kii chave 691 iron airn ferro 692 single sêngâl só, solteiro 693 stick stêk vareta, fincar 694 flat flét achatado, plano 695 twenty tuenti vinte 696 skin skên pele 697 smile smail sorriso 698 crease criis ruga 699 hole rroul buraco 700 trade treid comércio 701 melody melâdi melodia 702 trip trêp viajar, passeio 703 office afâs escritório, função 704 receive riciiv receber 705 row rou remar, fila 706 mouth mauth boca 707 exact igzéct exato 708 symbol sêmbâl símbol 709 die dai morrer 710 least liist menos 711 trouble trâbâl preocupação 712 shout shaut gritar 713 except êkscept exceto 714 wrote rout escrito 715 seed siid semente 716 tone toun tom 717 join join juntar 718 suggest sâgjest sugerir 719 clean cliin limpo 720 break breik quebrar 721 lady leidi dama 722 yard yard jarda, quintal 723 rise raiz levantar 724 bad béd mal 725 blow blou assoprar 726 oil oil óleo, petróleo 727 blood blâd sangue 728 touch tâtch tocar 729 grew gruu crescido 730 cent cent centavo 731 mix mêks mistura 732 team tiim grupo 733 wire uair arame 734 cost cóst custo 735 lost lóst perdido 736 brown braun marrom 737 wear uér usar 738 garden gardân jardim 739 equal iiquâl igual 740 sent sent enviado 741 choose tchuuz escolher 742 fell fel caido 743 fit fêt ajustado 744 flow flou correr, corrente 745 fair fér feira, claro 746 bank bénk banco 747 collect câlect recolher, pagar 748 save seiv salvar 749 control cântroul controle 750 decimal dêsêmâl decimal 751 gentle jentâl gentil 752 woman uômân mulher 753 captain képtân capitão 754 practice précttâs prática 755 separate sepârât separado 756 difficult dêfêcâlt difícil 757 doctor dactâr doutor 758 please pliiz por-favor, agradar 759 protect prâtect proteger 760 noon nuun meio-dia 761 whose rruuz cujo 762 locate loukeit localizar 763 ring rêng anel, tocar 764 character kérêktâr caráter, personagem 765 insect ênsect inseto 766 caught cót pego 767 period pêriiâd período 768 indicate êndêkeit indicar 769 radio reidiiou rádio 770 spoke spouk falado, raio 771 atom étâm átomo 772 human rriumân humano 773 history rrêstâri história 774 effect êfect efeito 775 electric êlektrêk elétrico 776 expect ikspekt esperar 777 crop crap colheita 778 modern madârn moderno 779 element elêmânt elemento 780 hit rrêt acertar 781 student stuudânt estudante 782 corner córnâr esquina 783 party party partido, festa 784 supply sâplai suprir 785 bone boun osso 786 rail reil grade, trilho 787 imagine êmédjân imaginar 788 provide prâvaid fornecer 789 agree âgrii concordar 790 thus dhâs assim 791 capital képêtâl capital 792 won't uount não-vai 793 chair tchér cadeira 794 danger deindjâr perigo 795 fruit fruut fruta 796 rich rêtch rico 797 thick thêk grosso 798 soldier souldjãr soldado 799 process prouces processo 800 operate apâreit operar 801 guess ghes adivinhar 802 necessary nesâséri necessário 803 sharp sharp agudo, sustenido 804 wing uêng asa 805 create crieit criar 806 neighbor neibâr vizinho 807 wash uósh lavar 808 bat bét morcego, bastão 809 rather raadhâr de-preferência 810 crowd craud multidão 811 corn córn milho 812 compare câmpér comparar 813 poem pouêm poema 814 string strêng corda 815 bell beól sino 816 depend dêpend depender 817 meat miit carne 818 rub râb esfregar 819 tube tuub tubo, tv 820 famous feimâs famoso 821 stream striim corrente 822 fear fiir medo, temer 823 thin thên fino, magro 824 triangle traiéngâl triângulo 825 planet plénât planeta 826 hurry rrâri pressa 827 chief chiif chefe 828 clock clak relógio 829 mine main meu, mina 830 tie tai amarrar 831 enter enttâr entrar 832 major meidjâr maior, major 833 fresh fresh fresco 834 search sârtch buscar 835 send send enviar 836 yellow yelou amarelo 837 gun gân arma 838 rose rouz rosa, levantado 839 allow âlau permitir 840 print prênt imprimir 841 dead ded morto 842 spot spat ponto 843 desert dêzârt deserto 844 suit suut terno 845 current cârânt atual 846 lift lêft levantar 847 continue cântêniu continuar 848 block blak bloco 849 chart tchart gráfico 850 hat rrét chapéu 851 sell sel vender 852 success sâkses sucesso 853 company câmpâni companhia, empresa 854 subtract sâbtréct subtrair 855 event ivent evento 856 particular partêkiâlar especial 857 deal diil negócio 858 term târm termo, período 859 opposite apâzât oposto 860 wife uaif esposa 861 shoe shuu sapato 862 shoulder shouldâr ombro 863 spread spred espalhar 864 arrange âreindj arranjar 865 camp kémp campo 866 invent ênvent inventar 867 cotton catân algodão 868 born bórn nascido 869 determine dêtârmân determinar 870 quart quórt quarto(medida) 871 nine nain nove 872 truck trâk caminhão 873 noise nóiz barulho 874 level levâl nível 875 chance tchéns chance, acaso 876 gather ghédhâr juntar 877 shop shap loja 878 stretch stretch alcance 879 throw throu arremessar 880 shine shain brilhar 881 property prapâtti propriedade 882 column calâm coluna 883 molecule malêkiul molécula 884 select sêlect selecionar 885 wrong róng errado 886 gray grei cinza 887 repeat rêpiit repetir 888 require rêquair exigir 889 broad bród amplo 890 prepare prêpér preparar 891 salt sólt sal 892 nose nouz nariz 893 plural plôrâl plural 894 anger éngâr raiva 895 claim cleim clamar 896 continent cantânânt continente 897 oxygen aksêdjân oxigênio 898 sugar shuugâr açúcar 899 death deth morte 900 pretty prêti belo, muito 901 skill skêl habilidade 902 women uêmân mulheres 903 season seezân estação 904 solution sâlushân solução 905 magnet mégnât imã 906 silver sêlvãr prata 907 thank thénk agradecer 908 branch brénch galho 909 match métch competição, fósforo 910 suffix sâfêks sufixo 911 especially êspeshâli especialmente 912 fig fêg figo 913 afraid âfreid com-medo 914 huge rriudj grande, enorme 915 sister sêstâr irmã 916 steel stiil aço 917 discuss dêscâs discutir 918 dollar dalâr dólar 919 forward fóruârd adiante, passar adiante 920 similar sêmâlãr semelhante 921 guide gaid guia, guiar 922 experience êkspiiriâns experiência 923 score scór placar, duas-dezenas 924 apple épâl maçã 925 bought bót comprado 926 led led levado 927 colony calâni colonia 928 pitch pêtch piche, arremeço 929 coat cout casaco 930 mass més massa, missa 931 card card cartão 932 band bénd banda 933 rope roup corda 934 slip slêp escorregar 935 win uên ganhar 936 dream driim sonho 937 evening iivnêng noite 938 condition cândêshân condição 939 feed fiid alimentar 940 tool tuul ferramenta 941 total toutãl total 942 basic beisêk básico 943 smell smel cheiro 944 valley véli vale 945 nor nór nem 946 double dâbâl dobro 947 seat siit assento 948 arrive âraiv chegar 949 master méstâr mestre 950 track trék trilha 951 parent pérânt pais 952 shore shór praia 953 division dêvêzhân divisão 954 sheet shiit folha, lençol 955 substance sâbstâns substância 956 favor feivâr favor, favorecer 957 connect cânect conectar 958 post poast pós, posto 959 spend spend gastar 960 swim suêm nadar 961 chord córd acorde 962 fat fét gordo 963 glad gléd contente 964 original ârêdjânâl original 965 share shér parte 966 station steishân estação 967 dad déd papai 968 bread bréd pão 969 charge chardj carga, cobrança 970 proper prapâr próprio 971 bar bar bar, barra 972 offer afêr oferecer 973 segment segmânt segmento 974 slave sleiv escravo 975 duck dâk pato, mergulhar 976 instant ênstânt instante 977 market markât mercado 978 degree dêgrii grau 979 populate papiâleit povoar 980 chick tchêk pintinho 981 dear diir querido 982 enemy enâmi inimigo 983 reply rêplai resposta 984 drink drênk bebida 985 occur âcâr ocorrer 986 support sâpórt apoiar 987 speech spiitch discurso 988 nature neitchâr natureza 989 range reindj alcance, pastagem 990 steam stiim vapor 991 motion moushân movimento 992 path péth caminho 993 liquid lêquâd líquido 994 log lóg lenha, diário 995 meant ment significado 996 quotient quoshânt quociente 997 teeth tiith dentes 998 shell shel concha 999 neck nek pescoço 1000 dessert dêssârt sobremesa

[hierosgamos]

<b>Ikkan Art Gallery  and <a href="http://www.helutrans.com/artmove/?page_id=14" target="_blank">Artspace @ Helutrans</a>

14 - 24 May 2016</b>

Works, performances, readings, daily actions, thick descriptions, seances, possessions

An entanglement of iridescences, love and death-lines

with fundraising auction for soft/WALL/studs

Co-curated with <a href="http://kernlo.se" target="_blank">Kenneth Loe</a>

~

ONE. Exhibition TWO. Auction THREE. Vigils FOUR. Sounds and Screenings FIVE.  Closing Requiem

~

<b>ONE. Exhibition</b>.

You know that special kind of power a body has in a shiny nude coloured camisole That kind of power that slips either way makes shoulders glisten almost naked in the dim and in the bright albedo shine easy to imagine whole skin Termites on nuptial flights lay chitinous wings on my decolletage What game are you playing at some eyes seemed to say

the feeling when f-a-c-u-l-t-i-e-s labour against wayward rubatos unfurling like a tidal bore across the foundation between yr temples a bluebird sans telegraph line

i'll b e mirror to yr blush u b e scissor to my slush

the blue moon, thinly sliced, drizzles fructose on a cake of soap, froths of mascarpone in the strainer

I await your one-line emails

a strewn mummy raps: Come away with me at the seams

<b>TWO. Auction </b> Opening performance, //FL_|_PS//, is an auction of collateral materials from an earlier Christie's preview of Modernist masters in the very same space. The materials from the Christies preview resurface on the very same walls used for the preview in <a href="http://www.helutrans.com/artmove/?page_id=14" target="_blank">Artspace @ Helutrans</a> and become subject to deflation and speculation as visitors to the exhibition partake in the affair on the very same day the auction is to take place in London. The title refers to the act of "flipping a work", which means to buy and re-sell the work of an upcoming artist quickly to inflate its value. The performance negotiates les petit morts of these inflationary and deflationary mechanisms in the art world with the explicit hijacking of its infrastructure.

~

<b>THREE. VIGILS </b> READING between the "line that usually winds into a circle" as Stephanie J Burt narrates fragments from a text she wrote & DICTATION 1.2 with Weixin Chong meanders around the headstones, silent and scribing.

With invigilation from Kenneth Loe and Luca Lum.

~

<b>FOUR. HAN2 elopes on a l➿ p de l➿ p to a whiff of 'Perfumed Nightmare' (Performance followed by screening) </b> 25 May

<a href="http://wujunhan.bandcamp.com/releases" target="_blank">HAN2</a> elopes on a loop de loop, chain lift, chemtrails, oscillating, repeat, marbles tripping over feet, trick hill ensnares, mime over matter, hiss to hither, service provider, loop that loop, dive drop, zero-g roll, pretzel knot

with Luca playing interference.

'Perfumed Nightmare' (1977) ~ a jeepney driver from the Philippine countryside dreams of the American promise and idolises Wernher Von Braun. (Finished with a post-screening interlude with Sidd and Cain)

An extra-diegetic stain left by Svetlana

~~

<b>FIVE. Closing Performance: May u live 2 see the dawn ☠ a trial design of a postage stamp yet to be accepted 24 May 2016</b>

A curatorial conceit between Constance Loewe and Foxkid Luca, Bcc: Rak Shakalaka

Performed w/ graffiti, HDMI cables, art objects, objects supporting art objects, CCTVs, plinths, Ikkan Art Gallery, Helutrans infrastructure, audience, the lady who was junk mail

From: Kenneth Loe <kenneth@ikkan-art.com> Subject: V2V Date: 18 May 2016 12:28:38 am SGT To: Luca L <assistant@ikkan-art.com>

Dear Luca,

What does one do when coconut cream solidifies? Today I was awash with grave thoughts in the aftermath of last saturday night and it helped that you were around to sieve the waxy lyric(al)s out. What happens when one replaces tapioca with soap in a pudding?

He pursed his lips as he parsed string theories through lines of laundry, skeins of silk, cotton and wool entangling in the viscous tempest that threatens to blow the lid off his ashen teapot. Disappointment hung stale like a still elephant in the depths of effluvia at wit’s end; a perfumed nightmare elopes with a antelope to Guadeloupe. “Nice” complicity was not what undid the VVitch, it was felicity. Hannah decided to rub tiger balm on her joints so that she might better understand growing pains, these pressures fall soft as rain off her shoulders with a glisten of pleasure, light as a feather, stiff as a boarding school.

Can we speak of lateral inversions in place of literal hell? Your performance at the gallery vs you performing in the gallery vs the performability of the gallery - are you negotiating balance on a tightrope across the möbius strip, teasing snippets of glue from white walls? How do we then feel about this palpable anxiety of the meta register permeating the air of this material utopia? Do you smell fear, or rather, is pretension necessarily occluded within olfaction?

I await your one-line emails,

Kenneth Loe Asst. Gallery Manager

From: Svetlana <Svetlana@ˈiːθərnɛt.x*> Subject: Re: how much of vampiric is an aesthetic? Date: 23 May 2016 10:30:50 PM HST To: Kenneth Loe <kenneth@ikkan-art.com> Bcc: Luca L <assistant@ikkan-art.com> привет из ада! how much of vampiric is ANAESTHETIC ? Anaesthesia, ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from Greek anaisthētos ‘insensible’, related to anaisthēsia (see anaesthesia), + -ic.) How much vampirism numbs the skin, becomes something more akin, askin, asking, to excuse, to absent oneself, to be and not be, to be unseemly to unseem, to shine and then not… Is there a middle man draining your profit, get rid of them, it’s the information wage 1. Open your optical drive drawers 2. Obtain a disc of light 3. Scan the item(s) you wish to transmit to your chosen dead (me) onto the disc of light 4. Wait for all solids to dematerialise 5. As you would breathe in cigarette smoke, hold the dematerialised substances in your aching centre and think upon my face ... Do I believe in solidarity? [...] Are you asking if I apologise for mimicking the living, for miming their gestures, for saying I walk among them, for taking the mop out of the closet to see myself unpictured in the dim glaze of the CCTV? For seeking one-self-ness and affinity with what is otherwise a very distant moon? Or Brazil? I’ve never been and they say Hell is like Brazil, where it is a thick and hot night of life and death? ... Oh grave money! Oh windmills and water troughs!

~ +<< S VE T >> + ~

[khunfounded]

Show Me Your Darkest Heart

[tw panic attack and emetophobia]

There was an ache in Bam’s bones. A visceral pain in his arteries. He was being torn, rebuilt, and torn apart again, laying silently in his bed. Listening to Khun and Rak’s breathing, he had no idea if his heart was even beating at all. 

He was rotting, rotting, rotten. A decomposing body in the middle of the woods. He was having nights like this more and more often as time went on, and it was slowly chipping away at his sanity. All he could think of was how close he always was to losing everything he loved. One wrong step, one stupid mistake, and he would be in the cave again, alone.

He was terrified that what he had weren’t nightmares, but paths that he couldn’t escape from. When he watched his friends in the daylight, all he could see was their corpses staring right back at him, their bodies turned cold. So he didn’t look at them anymore. Instead, he trained until his knuckles bled and his knees gave out.

It was what he deserved.

If not for him, his friends wouldn’t have to suffer, drowning under the weight of his so-called destiny. They would be free. He should have let them go, but he was nothing if not selfish. So he was going to do everything in his power to keep them alive.

His thoughts wound their way around his neck, ripping out his vocal cords. They whispered all his sins, far too heinous for benediction. 

Rak was snoring and Khun was muttering battle plans in his sleep. Bam felt sick. He needed to get away, if only to stop suffocating. He tossed his blankets off and crept out of the room. His breath hitched when the door creaked, but luckily his friends stayed unconscious.

Once he was out of the room, he went from tiptoeing to sprinting to the nearest bathroom. He slammed open the door and rushed to the toilet. He fell to his knees, almost missing when he vomited. All that came out was bile. He couldn’t remember how long ago he had eaten. He heaved and heaved until finally nothing came out, and then he curled up on the bathroom floor, head pressing against the tiles.

He closed his eyes, breaths coming in gasps. His heart rate ricocheted and he dug his fingernails into his chest. Tears fell into the cracks of the bathroom tiles. He could barely see past his eyelashes.

He was so busy shaking he almost didn’t hear the door opening. Jolting, he looked up. Standing behind him were Khun and Rak, faces drawn tight.

“Turtle,” Rak said, voice barely a remnant of what it usually was.

“What are you doing here?” Bam croaked, harsher than intended. There he went again, tearing down the people he should be building up. He wondered why they called him their friend.

Khun sat down next to him.

“You’re falling apart,” his voice was quiet, but it echoed loudly throughout the room, taking up more space than it had any right to. Bam lowered his head, he couldn’t look at either of them.

“I know,” he said hoarsely, “I’m sorry”.

“What are you sorry for, Black Turtle?” Rak sat on Bam’s other side, effectively trapping him.

He couldn’t even begin to respond to that question, he had more answers than he knew what to do with. What wasn’t he sorry for? He was toxic waste, eroding everything in his path.

“Everything. Everything”.

Khun huffed, “You can’t claim responsibility for everything, Bam. That’s not how this works”.

“How what works?” Bam asked. He had no idea where Khun was going with this. He had to take responsibility. He poisoned everything around him.

“Life,” Khun responded, voice stern, “You can’t keep living like this”.

“You’re hurting, Black Turtle. Let us help”.

Bam shook his head, fingers tearing their way into his scalp. He couldn’t put his burdens on them. They were already tearing him apart, they would absolutely destroy his friends.

“You can’t help me,” Bam’s voice broke, “It’s too late”.

“It’s not,” Khun said firmly, “I refuse”.

A clawed hand landed on his shoulder and Bam trembled at the contact. He couldn’t remember the last time he let himself close enough to his loved ones to be touched. He hiccuped, coughed. Tears rained down his cheeks, leaving scars in their wake. 

“We both refuse. I’m not letting my prey go down this path,” Rak growled, claws digging into Bam’s skin. 

Bam let out a laugh, high pitched and hysterical. It was a sharp knife, cutting through the air and making it bleed. He put his hand over Rak’s, relishing in the warmth of it. There were few things that didn’t burn him these days.

“It’s too late,” He repeated desperately, “You can’t save me”.

Khun moved until they were shoulder to shoulder, and Bam leaned into him heavily, eyes falling shut. Rak moved to sit at his other side, pressed up against him. He hiccuped, tears overflowing. He hadn’t let Khun or Rak touch him in weeks, too terrified that their hands would be cold and rotting. 

“Maybe we can’t,” Khun said, taking Bam’s hand and playing with his fingers, the touch sending tingles down his spine, “But you can”.

“How?” Bam asked, sniffling. He rubbed at his eyes with his other hand. He had tried everything he could think of to stop this from happening. But he was still falling into an open grave, the terror and agony suffocating him like piles and piles of dirt.

“Talk to us. Walk away from the edge,” Khun’s thumb rubbed circles into the back of Bam’s hand. Bam couldn’t stop staring at where their hands met. That small touch, that infinitesimal connection, was dragging him back down, pulling him away from the railing.

“We’re here for you, Black Turtle,” Rak took his other hand in a fierce grip, “But you need to fight this yourself”.

Bam squeezed their hands tightly, clinging to their life. He wept, mourning something he didn’t quite understand. Maybe it was himself. The himself who wanted to be gone, to be lost in the shinsu rain. He choked on his own spit, felt his nose run into his mouth.  His tears fell like prayers from the lips of a sinner.

“Okay,” He whimpered, voice cracking, “Okay, I’ll try”.

Khun let go of his hand, and for a moment Bam felt inexplicable loss. But then, he wrapped his arms around him, pulling Bam into his lap and cradling his head against his collarbone. Bam clung to his shirt, wiping his nose against it, even though he knew in any other situation Khun would have hated that. Rak decompressed, and brought both of them into his arms, curling around them like a shelter, like safety. Like a home.

Bam wept.

“That’s all we can ask for,” Khun told him, petting his hand down Bam’s hair, “Thank you, Bam”.

Rak hugged them tighter, wrapped his arms and legs around them, “You’re gonna get better, Black Turtle”.

“I love you,” Bam said, maybe for the first time, maybe for the hundredth. He couldn’t remember. All he could think of was how grateful he was to have them in his life, to love and be loved in return. He wanted to heal for them, to live for them. Then, maybe later, maybe eventually, he’d be able to do it for himself.