Mittwoch, 27. Februar 2013

Malcolm Morley


Because I'm off working this week, I had some time to surf some paintings in the web. And there I found again the works of Malcolm Morley. He was born in 1931 in London and now living in the United States. He often used a grid to transfer photographic images from a variety of sources to transfer to canvas as accurately as possible and became one of the most named photorealists. Laater his works turned more and more expressionist and joined collages into his works.

The day as the earth caught fire


Today it's 80 years ago in Berlin the Reichstag in Berlin was on fire. It was the parliament building of the German republic. The fire was based on arson. In the scene was arrested a man called Marinus van der Lubbe. Indeed, the circumstances and the culpability could not become perfectly proved and are discussed till this day controversially.

Next morning was nothing the same as the day before. The government  remit an order for the protection of empire and state. With it the fundamental rights of the Weimar Repuplik were completely cancelled practically and the way free-removed for the legalized pursuit and arrest of the political opponents of the NSDAP. Daily they took more and more people into prison and because there wasn't cells enough they founded the first concentration camps.

For the Nazis was everything clear: this must be organized by the communists! So they arrested a German member of the communist party and also three Bulgarian communists for instigation van der Lubbe to the arson. Therefor he was judged in advance and he was killed by guillotine later that year.


Although also I cannot prove it, I am persuaded that the arson was decided by Hitler and his henchmen themselves to switch off unpleasant competitiors and the choice, they in March, 1933 took place in your favour to influence. The end is well known all over the world. 

Dienstag, 26. Februar 2013

Bombing World Trade Center


Today it is 20 years ago the WTC was the first time attacked by an terrorist bomb attent. In the morning of February 26, 1993 a van blew up in the underground parking of the WTC. Six people died and more than 1.000 people were injured. Shortly after the bomb attack the Egyptian sheikh Umar Abd ar-Rahman was arrested and condemned some year later to custody for life.

After his arrest confessed the principal offender that was planned to use a larger amount by far of explosive, so that a tower will collapse and tear the other with in the deep. Besides, the terrorists have gone out from a number of 10,000 deaths who should die in this poster. How lucky that they hadn't so many explosive to get this final done.

I remember very well what I thought about, when I heard the news the first time. For me it was the ending of the way of life I was used to. All things happened afterwards in the name of or against al-Qaida started with this attack. Remember how easy it was to travel throughout the world, how joyful it could be travel to countries in near east and don't have to be afraid of your life. And this was also the starting signal for all the radical Muslims to go to conquer the world. We can't stop this machine we set running and the fury of them radicals will never stop.

So let's stop with black thoughts and have fun with our families and all the other things we love (as long as we can). This one is from the first Can record and with it's driving rhythm a classical tune.

Listen and have a good week people

Montag, 25. Februar 2013

The Dark Valley


Got an infection last weekend so I spent my days at home and found the time to read some novels. During the reading I have been dragged more and onto the story, so that I could not put aside the book any more. What begins as a simple home history in the Austrian mountains ends with the revenge and atonement of long past crime. The author combines the best of describing the people living in the valley with a very big touch of Sergio Leone. It remains a lot to Django coming in a small town towing his coffin behind him.

If you ever get the chance to read this in English - grab the book. It's worth reading. 

Donnerstag, 21. Februar 2013

Flaming Hearts

This week I was very busy talking to C. what happened during the last weeks and also watching the German team in the Champions League so that I hadn't enough time working on my block. It is now between dinner and going out with my brother in law that I write this post.

Today's music comes from a German musician who had great influence in electronic music. In his early days he was a co-member of Kraftwerk an a full-member of NEU! They made fantastic music to relax (lot of people used to smoke to this music in these days). Nowadays you can hear this kind of music in rotten versions all over the esoteric wave or in the supermarket. But the originals were never beaten. 

I read in wiki, that Michael Rother did some jams with Joe Frusicante from RHCP. If it's true - great respect to them.

Enjoy people and have a good week

Samstag, 16. Februar 2013

The curse of the Pharaoh


90 years ago the English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of Tutankhamun an Egyptian pharaoh. Carter was employed by Lord Carnarvon to supervise the excavations in the Kings Valley. After several time his excavation group found the steps to the tomb of  Tutankhamun. After breaking the seals of the burial chamber he surprised what he saw. Later he wrote this words:

At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the rooms emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold - everywhere the glint of gold.

It was sensational, because most of the tombs were robbed in former times. And now the mystery begins - it is known as the curse of the pharaoh.


At the day, they opened the burial chamber Horard Carters bird was bitten by a cobra. For the Egyptian workers a bird is a lucky symbol and a cobra was the symbol of the pharaoh. A couple of month later Lord Carnarvon was stung by a mosquito in Cairo. While using a razorblade for shaving he cut the stitch and first got infected and later he got pneumonia. In his febrile delirium he shouted many times 'A bird is scratching my face' and then he died. Exactly at the time he died all the lights went out in Cairo and his dog far away in England started to howl and fell dead to the ground.

Nice story but I don't believe in any kind of curses. So have a nice weekend and enjoy everything. Cheers
Gun Club - Run through the jungle

Freitag, 15. Februar 2013

Friday again


Thank god it's Friday and I can leave work behind me until next week. This week was very quiet on account of the fact that many colleagues have used the school holidays in the carnival time and have taken vacation. That's why I have used the opportunity to do duties which I already move over since weeks before myself. But finally it's done and I can enjoy weekend.

I am also glad, that carnival season is over right now. It is good for the eyes to have to see no more people who dress up partly infantile manner. And it is good for the ears not to have to hear simple-minded carnival music on every corner. In fact that I live in southern Germany I don't have to complain. If I would live in Cologne or Düsseldorf - this is the hell. I know what I am talking about. I had to stand this for ten years with my former wife.

Now I am in a sentimental mood, because C.'s coming back tomorrow and I listen to quiet tunes. Today's gift is a song from John Martyn - one of the best British folk/jazz singer over many decades. It's wonderful to hear him again after a long time.

So enjoy and have a great weekend
John Martyn - Fine lines

Donnerstag, 14. Februar 2013

Happy Valentine's Day


Love an peace to all you readers and lovers

You



It is just for C. Glad you come back from the lovely island. Let's make it true. Thank you for all. Ily my dear.
These words are just for you from Dexys/Kevin Rowland:

You know I thought I was lonely, I was wrong,
and you know I thought that I was needed, I was wrong,
I didn't know what needed means,
I know what lonely means now that I know you,
I'm so in love with you and I don't know what to do

Hey you know I thought that I was lusted, I was wrong,
Right now it's on a whole new level, don't you know,
I can only put that down to you,
but things are sane for me now that I know you,
All I think about it is YOU, and I've got to have YOU

Hey you know I thought that I knew women, I was wrong,
and you know I thought I knew about beauty, I was wrong,
don't talk to me about trivia, I'm not in the mood,
My hearts so numb from hurting the hurt is all for you,
and now I know what real love means,
I've got to find out those who try to usurp me,
I know that there will be many,
I've got to keep my eyes peeled, will you ever love me baby?

The only woman on earth I want is you,
I will never give my heart to anyone but you,
I love everything you do, and I've got to have you,
I would If I ever had you baby,
You know I told you that I was happy, well baby I was lying,
You're the only thing I care about and I'm sitting here and dying,
you're my dreams and thoughts and prayers, you're everything I want,
You're more than my idea of beauty but in an obsession,
and now I'm gonna wait all soul for me,you'll be so happy baby,
Just you wait and see, put all your trust in me,
I've got to get you onto me.


Dexy's - You

Mittwoch, 13. Februar 2013

We can be done, disappear, swim with the stream, our circles turn, do not come down any more, are weightless



The whole day long I wasn't able to the lyrics out of my head you can read on the title of this post. It is from a very popular song by The Toten Hosen nowadays. It's about digging the scene again like in former times. Of course, their sound is not new at all, but it has a hypnotic groove (for a German band). Maybe the lyrics grabbed me, because I did something alike a couple of weeks ago. Anyway - a good song from a band who is more than 30 years on stage now.

 
The Toten Hosen get famous in Germany with some sing along punk songs. They probably learned from their idols. One of the first songs like that I heard was 'Friggin in the rigging' from the Sex Pistols. I hope everyone understands the lyrics - otherwise grab your dictionary.

.
Enjoy and have fun - I go and watch the Champions League

Montag, 11. Februar 2013

Rebel Yell: Is he really coming back again???


I thought that this criminal has gone forever. But nowadays I read the more and more Italians will vote him again. What the hell is going wrong in Europe? Is it possible that a corrupt politician who was judged as a criminal can enter the political stage again? Do the Italians have no other opinion that an 87 year old man who's favorite interest are young woman and his football team (making money is due to him). I don't know what to say - just shaking my head and giving me one more drink. Therefore I found a hommage to the classical record from DAF - Tanz den Mussolini. You can see all that no need politicians round here.


Weekly Family Table


After a busy day at the job I joined my mates for a couple of beer. Talking about useless thing like football and politics. But it is all right, if I can get down. Got home real soon to relax with some music. I decided to listen to some old German music from the eighties. It is a band still acting and making records. In their time they were known as fun-pop band amongst the others of the so called New German Wave. But they were underrated and they are still a very good band playing pure rock.

Enjoy and have a good time.

Sonntag, 10. Februar 2013

Deliverance


Let's start the working week with a a soundtrack from classic movie I saw on Sunday. It is more than 40 years ago I saw it the first time and I'm still impressed about the story. Four guys from the city came to redneck county to ride the river in a boat. It would be a peaceful vacation if they don't get trouble with the natives. What is also famous and stood the test of time is the sequence where one of the guys started a competition between his guitar and the banjo of the local autist. 


Songs the Lord taught us, # 6




As already in different blogs posted My Bloody Valentine have published during these days after 21 years, finally, a new album. Because they are my heroes of the past, I have got myself a copy although I was not sure whether they could hold her class. But I didn't have to worry - they held their quality. It was on heavy rotation on my way to and from work. This was for me an occasion to look in my collection for music which is similar of those of MBV and which I have heard at that time in the same context. Then an album fell to me in the hands which has become a classic for me: The Jesus and the Mary Chain - Psycho Candy. I still love their fuzzy feedback sound combined with great harmonies. Here's a track that shows their genius.

Enjoy an have a good week people.

You trip me up

Mittwoch, 6. Februar 2013

Alles klar Herr Kommissar?



Today it is 15 years ago Falco died on a accident in the Domenican Republic. He was an Austrian singer and very famous in Germany in the early 80's. His song 'Der Kommissar' was covered by After the Fire and also very successfully. He combined in this times Rap, Funk and Soul with his cool and provoking lyrics. This song was nearly banned in German radio stations, because of the lyrics in witch he talks about a pedestrian kidnapping a young girl, raping and killing her. Very weird and still a highlight in German popular music.


Dienstag, 5. Februar 2013

Songs the Lord taught us # 5


Back in 2002 I was in a small club at the place I live and I heard the first release of LCD Soundsystem. I just stood there and listen to the beat and the words spoken. As I recognized that he told me of the whole history of modern music I felt really speachless. The next day I went to my local record store to get me this single. What happened was, that he didn't have the record right now. So I had to wait for several days to get it. I still remember that this little shit of music was on heavy rotation on my turntable. And it still have the magic, even if it ist more than ten years ago.

Enjoy and have a good week.

Reg Presley 1941 - 2013 RIP



Today Reg Presley, lead singer of The Troggs died on lung cancer. His real name wasn't Presley at all - he just borrowed the name from the king. He got famous by introducing the classical version of Wild Thing - and it is still a song you can hear any time. It is rude and with a lot of street credibility. What lot of folks don't realize is that he wrote and sung one of the best love songs ever. That is why I will remind him forever. Peace on you.

C: It is for you

Sonntag, 3. Februar 2013

Putting out fire with gasoline



It is just a Sunday with nothing to do than checking the letters I got during the week, pay some bills, relax and doing nothing till I go out to watch some game on telly. By doing this stuff I watched a movie along - Inglorious Basterds. For a movie, made by Quentin Tarrantino there was less song in the movie. But one of them I give you for Sunday.

It's made as title track for the 1982 movie with the same title. I think it is a co-production with Girorgio Moroder - a legendary producer in his time. For me it is David Bowie's last song, where he influenced musicians of the next generation. In this song he combines Goth themes with the deep voice that was well known some years later as the Sisters of Mercy.

Enjoy and have a good start into the next week

Samstag, 2. Februar 2013

I was inspired



Got up this morning with nothing special on my mind. During the breakfast I have had a look at the publications of my  favored blogs. Not for the first time I followed the words of Swiss Adam with a smile. I was impressed about to read in a small post about Fred Perry, The Teardrop Explodes, Wyndham Lewis and vorticism.

From somewhere in the deep of my brain I remembered Wyndham Lewis as a writer early last century in connection with other authors as for example Ezra Pound. Until now I didn't knew that he was also a famous painter creating a very own style called vorticism. Influenced by Cubism and combined with Futurism it was the big thing in these days. So the next hours I spent surfing around watching painted pictures in the web and listening to some music.

Now I go to my bookshelf and grab me a book that might be comparable to Mr. Lewis. In fact that I have no written word from him I'll get me next week something to explore.

Todays tracks are from Black Grape. The band was formed more than 30 years ago by the former member of the Happy Mondays Shaun Ryder.

Cheers, enjoy and have a good weekend

Reverend Black Grape

Kelly' Heroes