A Softer World

After wandering around the internet, I stumbled upon A Softer World. I then proceeded to spend a solid hour clicking through their archives because they are awesome. (Also, I really wanted to say "browsing through", rather than "clicking through" but really, browsing is very associated with books, isn't it? I still feel like a loser for saying "clicking" though.)

Anyway, these were some of my favourites (click to enlarge... oh dear, "click," as a verb, is taking over my life...)







So yeah. A Softer World. Radness ensues.

x Esther

Naked. Famous. Florence. Win, right?

Last Thursday I flew to Auckland for Florence + The Machine. It was, to put it mildly, a bit of a whirl-wind trip. There was overpriced wine and smuggled bottles of smirnoff. There were lost mobile phones. There were free tiny chocolates. There was 2 hours of sleep in an airport before the flight back to Wellington.

Anyway. I have previously typed numerous words of gurgling admiration for Florence. Honestly, that chick is so cool. And remains cool. Fuck, better than cool really: her rich, expansive voice, twirling and skipping, laughing and talking with the crowd makes me love her. She just has so much good energy.


Photo nicked from here. My camera died months ago.

I realise I'm (again) gushing here, and will move on to actually talking about something new: The Naked and Famous. They supported Florence. And they were great.

I'd heard their single "Young Blood" a bit on Kiwi FM, and apparently it's getting a bit of airplay on TripleJ right now too which is awesome. Like Florence, they connected well with the crowd, and, unlike most support acts, the crowd didn't just suffer them, waiting for the main show.

Also, The Naked and Famous have got a wicked sense of humour, if the photos on their official facebook page are anything to go by:







Their album hasn't been released yet, but there's a bit of a taster to be had with the single The Sun also buzzing in the interweb, like a fly trapped by a spider (it's 11pm here. Excuse the awful simile).

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that The Naked and Famous are rad. They sound a bit like Passion Pit. And a bit like Phoenix. A bit like they're awesome. Check them out.

x Esther

Film Festival Fun

It's that time of year again.

Right now, Wellington can either be stunningly beautiful, channelling Tennyson's "all in the blue, unclouded weather," or unapologetically foul, as the Cook Strait is rained, blown and spewed upon the streets, houses and hills.

Basically it's this one day:

And something like this the next:

The state of the weather is a little bit off-topic, but my point is that each year, mid-to-late July heralds the New Zealand International Film Festival, and, for the the third year in a row, I plan to traipse around the city in inappropriate footwear, visiting the gorgeous cinemas, hunting down interesting new films. (The inappropriate footwear being little suede ballet flats. They don't hold up to the city's hills, and they certainly don't survive a full southerly thunderstorm.)

Anyway, this year, I've got a lot of films I want to see. Unfortunately, due to other people being a lot more organised than me (ie, they booked tickets), I've missed out on seeing the Czech "Kawasaki's Rose" - a film inspired that explores the communist state surviellence that Czech's live with daily. Not surprisingly, this film is said to be inspired by "The Lives of Others."

However, not all is lost.

There's still Polanski's "The Ghost Writer" (starring the very attractive Ewan McGregor). There's the kiwi film "The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell." There's the intriguing (and beautiful looking) Brazilian film "I Travel Because I Have To, I Come Back Because I Love You." And finally, with a nod to my Australian Gangster heritage, there's "Animal Kingdom."

Should be good times.

xx Esther

Fake Advertising Is Awesome

So I spent some time doing some non glamorous things like sitting exams. Fortunately, this was followed by a much more glamourous week spent skiing. Which has since been followed by a less glamorous week of work, and sandwiches for dinner. Life is cycle isn't it?

However, skiing and sandwiches aside, via a friend, I have come across something AWESOME. Or at least an awesome person. Or a person who can produce awesome art. Whatever.

Think Alex Varanese.

Think 1977. Think sweet wood panels. Think warm reds, yellows and browns. Then think groovy 70s print advertising. And then think again that the advertising was for ipods, laptops and mobiles. That's right. Imagine if the 70s had our technology. And some sweet graphic designers. Go nuts imagining that.

Have fun

xx Esther

To Market To Market!

Okay, so no-one likes the biting winter cold. Waking up freezing and debating whether to get up and brace the cold, or just stay in bed! But Winter does have its charms. For me, there is nothing better to warm me up than a delicious soup, stew, risotto, or any other veggie-laden Winter dish. Surely, this is the season when a day spent indoors cooking up a storm is entirely justified.

All those apple are only $2.50 a kilo, bargain!

With this interest in mind, each Saturday I brace the cold and head out the the Canberra Region Framers Markets, out at Exhibition Park. And I'm not alone! Between 8 and 11am every Saturday the epic centre is a buzz with people buying and selling delicious, local produce. Fruit and vegetable abound - it is very difficult to pick which stall to visit. On top of this, there are loads of different food stands - Asian food, fudge and cake, tea, fresh honey, homemade chutneys and dips - so you can do most of your weekly food shop there. For you fellow caffeine addicts out there, there are two coffee Batista's (which is really the most important thing when you're up that early.)

I bought these to make Esther's grilled vegetable couscous salad

http://petalsmarkedwithspots.blogspot.com/2010/01/grilled-vegetable-couscous-salad.html

The best thing? Well there are two - the price is generally cheaper than supermarkets, and the quality of the fruit and veg cannot be better. You will never buy a supermarket apple again after tasting the one's at the Farmers Markets. And another plus - buying produce at farmers markets - no matter where you live - supports the local industry. So really, its all win-win.

For more info on the markets, check out the website: http://www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au/

Now to make some delicious soup!

Gracie

xx

Violet Songs

It is about this time of year when the you just want to stay indoors, rug up and relax. For fellow uni students, it is also the time of year when a little distraction is just what the doctor ordered. A few weeks ago someone special introduced me to The National's new album 'High Violet', which has proved the perfect winter album.

The American indie rock band has eclipsed their success with this wonderful album. Their 2007 album 'Boxer' a few years ago received critical acclaim, with 'High Violet' the band's much anticipated follow up record. Fans will not be disappointed by the calming yet sombre album the National released last month.

'High Violet' moves in perfect sequence from track to track, taking you on an acoustic journey. Opening with the melancholy 'Terrible Love' and 'Sorrow', the album draws you in to the tales of heartache, fear and sorrow that fill the tracks. My favourite is 'Afraid of Everyone', with its haunting backing vocals making for one beautifully sad song. 'High Violet' is one of those rare albums that compels you to listen to the very end, with each track complementing and seeming inseparable from the whole (I wish more albums were make like this). While a few upbeat tracks are included in the album, the darkness of the work pervades. The band's fifth studio album is one of maturity, both musically and emotionally. The hauntingly distinct vocals of front man Matt Berninger bring the intense tracks to life. The melancholy sound of the album is perfect for those grey Wintry days when you just don't feel like heading outdoors, and need a little distraction.

If you've never listened to The National before, then 'High Violet' is a great place to start.

Gracie

xx

Winter is... cool.

(Snow covered sheep. Hilarious.)

I am a fan of winter. This may have something to do with the fact that summer is not really that great for skiing. But really, I think it's more than this. Here are some of the reasons why I think winter is... cool:

- Legitimately hibernating inside.
- Ice-kingdom frosts on the lawn in the morning.
- Skiing (ok, it was an important reason).
- Deciduous tees look beautiful (in a gothic kind of way) bare-leaved against grey skies
- Clean, sharp tasting air (and, as a bonus you can pretend you're a dragon when you breathe out) (though, currently I get this effect in every room of my house...)
- People start baking (honestly, who wants to bake on a 37 degree February day?)
- Men look sexy in scarves.

Any other reasons for why you think winter is great?

Esther xx