I know that there are better things

I told you love, I'd try

[Joan Nocito]

A Classic Education - We Can Always Run To Hawaii


A group of young things sat at a cafe on the beach front, two among their number, of about ten, thought of nothing but each other. They laughed along with the others and watched each other's reactions and still refused to look the other in the eye. It had been three weeks since they had broken it off and she was still the last thing he thought of before he fell asleep. Later, the group walked along the sea front, kicking water at each other and telling stories. The two of them ended up walking next to each other, dragged behind until they couldn't hear their friends. They talked about anything and everything but themselves and the sun was in her eyes and the wind blew her hair everywhere till she couldn't see, her eyes were blurry and wet. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She made her excuses and ran to catch up with her friends. He went and stood in the water, watched her walk away and tried to recapture some of her warmth in the sun.

[buy]

I promise, I'm on it

[here; via here]

They raced very fast on their bikes until the road ran out and then they stopped, gasping for breath at a barbed wire fence at the foot of, what looked like a hill 10 minutes ago, but which now more resembled a mountain. Ignoring the 'Do not trespass' sign, they gingerly pulled the fence apart for each other and slipped through. The sun was so hot the backs of their necks were burning as they put one boot in front of the other pulling themselves further to the summit. She tripped over some rocks, he picked her up, tucked her hair behind her ear and they continued. They talked and listened to a bird that was singing in a tree at what seemed like the very top. About half way up they stopped under a tree to shed jumpers and catch their breath. They sat on a log very close, their legs were full flush against each other and her perfume, their mingled sweat and the dry grass were all they could smell.

Deliver

Brian DeGraw from Gang Gang Dance

Avey Tare and Panda Bear from Animal Collective

Pieter Schoolwerth

I just spent a good hour and a bit looking through the fascinating, varied and beautiful work of Isabel Asha Penzilen. She takes the most wonderful photographs of artists, musicians and couples in their homes as well as contrasting landscapes, cityscapes, nature, misplaced objects and nameless people. She somehow, amazingly, manages to make her images both hazy and sharp, full of soft tones but clear with contrast - like soft, dreamy skin and dark, intent eyes.

I also loved the pictures of some of my favourite musicians in their practice spaces.

Thobias Fäldt

The amazing photography of Sweden's Thobias Fäldt.

Sorry for neglecting blog for so long I've been in the UK visiting relatives but I'm back now!

In the world

[Fleet Foxes, photosource: Stereogum]

[Vampire Weekend, photosource: Stereogum]

[Fuck Buttons, photosource: Stereogum]

Photos from Pitchfork fest in Chicago in July which I am fully aware is quite old news now. I love looking at pictures of my favourite musicians performing, there's something so dynamic about performance photos, I just can't get enough of them. Speaking of, Brisbanians should also look out for Yeasayer (3/10, The Zoo), Ladytron and Familjen (1/10, The Tivoli) and The New Pornographers (7/10, The Zoo) who are swinging by in the next couple of months, can't wait. MGMT (I know, I know) has also just upgraded venue size for the Sydney and Melbourne shows, might be able to get some tickets this time.

I might post some more festival pictures tomorrow, I have tonnes and this is fun.

***

Also:

Air France who released one of my favourites, No Way Down EP, this year has done a version of 'Sweetness' by Taken by Trees and it's really freaking great. Find it here.

Listen to and watch this lovely live version of my favourite song off Beach House's Devotion - 'Holy Dances':

Franziska von Stenglin

While trying to avoid writing a very condensed history of Germany (4-5 minutes) this weekend, I came across the photography of Franziska von Stenglin whose subject matter is German ancestry and social history. I adore these pictures, the nonchalance and nostalgic beauty that is captured in the old and new pictures are stunning. Made me that much more interested in my oral.