#be queue be wild and be groovy

[spirestar]

w/ @dive2themellow , for fiona

Clubs are such a drag. Wave only ever goes to them for info, to mess with people, or get free shit. Usually she tries for all three at once just to be sure the trip isn't a waste of her time. She'd much rather be in her lab working on EG than dancing or drinking.

She got lucky--her stolen VIP entry pass was nodded at today rather than scanned, someone's getting fired if she's caught (she won't be), and it let her in to one of the fancier areas of Club Rouge. Wave doesn't really care about that stuff, though: She's just looking for any goss on hot shit to steal. She can sneak her way someplace else later if she needs to. For now, she just looks for a good corner of the bar to slot herself into. Being a pretty swallow has to count for something. Someone send the lady a drink, she thinks, rolling her eyes to herself before sitting on a suitably comfy barstool. The kind with tiny armrests. Sweeeet. When she's approached by a bored looking bartender, Wave almost feels more at ease. Being bored in a place like this, employee or not, seems like a less represented demographic just general.

"Hey," she says as she's slid a glass of water, nodding in as polite a greeting as she can typically manage. Wave wonders idly if anyone here has recognized her yet. Wouldn't that be a peach?

[spirestar]

Maybe a regular ghost--which Scourge isn't. He doesn't really like Shadow's tone either; Dude's so high and mighty, he probably can't stand up straight for how big his head is! Scourge wobbles a bit with his arms in midair before he catches himself. Super coolly, he'd say. He's straightening his glasses to show he's totally not fazed when Shadow warps back over to him.

"Eeek!" That's just rude. Chaos Control is sort of OP. It's been ages since he fought any version of Shadow. Probably should've remembered how bad it is when you're not prepared for it. He does kick and squirm, thank you very much, like a bug caught on fly paper. Chaos Energy doesn't have the same pull on him that it did in his own world, but this direct of a--basically??--hit is still more than enough to make him feel like his body is being crushed entirely. Trash compactor style. Shit!!

"Y'know!" He wheezes the words out, flailing so he can dig his fingers into Shadow's wrists. "This is----kinda a--ss!" C'mon big M.E., Scourge could use some help! Whether it's because he asked so nicely ,or the impossible energy making up his whole deal recharging while he's not using it, or just the Chaos Emerald being so close he could reach it, Scourge can feel a zap of lightning course through him. Ding ding ding! Just enough, it's just enough--! He grits his teeth into an awful grin and makes his fur and skin disappear again, skeleton slipping through Shadow's fingers and dragging the Chaos Energy with it so he can reconstitute himself on the floor. PHEW! He actually says it.

"PHEW!" Cue a really miserable start at crawling away from the Bultimate Buttform. Yeeesh. Okay--"Sooo, uh. Newwww game plan." He's definitely not saying this to Shadow. S'much as he hates them now, he's really missing having a gang like the Suppression Squad. It's good Fiona isn't here though, fucking god. He's almost breathless, shooting the words out a few at a time. Like a cartoon spitting out teeth after they're punched. "I'll come--take your shit--when you're not so--Aggro." If Shadow tries to grab at him again, he does his best to become intangible. God, it sucks. It's been so long since he could feel anything. A slap in the face for all his efforts. Whatever. He'll get it all back. Just not today. "Gotta rest sometime, Shadow--" How he manages to still be cheeky after shit like this is anyone's guess.

Shadow's hand gets knocked away; as Scourge flickers so does his energy, and thus he can't turn around in time to punch him or something when Scourge starts shaking his shoulders fiercely. Ghosts can't even die, Scourge claims--this is the wrong person to say something like that to. Shadow knows very well that ghosts can die. He kills them all the time.

After Scourge gets his fun of shaking him for a bit (trying to dislodge the green Emerald from his quills?) Shadow warps just out of reach so Scourge's hands collapse on nothing but air. "It doesn't seem like a waste to me." Should he try for the hand-to-face-and-zap move a third time? "I can feel your already pathetic power draining." Shadow smiles. "'Owie?'" This guy's a joke! How is he going to explain this to Rouge later?

Shadow sighs, shoulders dropping as he thinks about that for a brief second, and then duty calls--he Chaos Controls practically up underneath Scourge, hand aimed upwards under the speedster's chin, intending on letting him dangle and kick while Shadow tightens the noose that is a Chaos-infused hand around his jaw.

[absyntthe]

People you want to get to know tag game

Was tagged by @layalu :3

Last Song: I've been listening to a lot of video game soundtracks. I think the very last thing I listened to was Bismarck's theme from FFXIV. I think it's really neat that the boss themes in FFXIV aren't what you'd expect from boss music. Bismarck had no right to be that groovy btw. I don't know if that's the case across the rest of the Final Fantasy series as I've only played 14 & uhh Kingdom Hearts idk if that counts lol. I also have been listening to a Resident Evil Chill playlist on Spotify.

Favorite Color: You cannot ask an artist this. You just can't. I love all colors idk if that's a cop out LOL. It's probably easier for me to tell you the colors I don't like.

Last Movie/Show: I don't watch a whole lot of stuff. I think the last movie I watched was My Big Fat Greek Wedding with my one IRL. And the last show I watched was The Walking Dead with an internet friend. I kind of view watching shows and movies as a group activity I suppose? It's hard for me to sit down and watch something all the way through on my own, which is wild because I used to binge TV shows on my own when I was a teen. Plugging my Letterbox'd.

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Maybe I'm just an indecisive person because I can't answer this one either. I think right now I prefer savory or spicy more. I eat way too many sweets and I need to cut down on that but they're the only easily-grabbable snack foods we have in the house rn 😩

Relationship Status: In a relationship.

Last Thing I Googled: Urth's Fount boss guide. It's an FFXIV base game boss and I am queueing up for it atm (been waiting for AN HOUR because it's dead content). I need it for my Wondrous Tails quest book tho 😩 As I was writing this post one of the DPS's gave up waiting...I will never forget u queue friend

Current Obsession: FFXIV i dunno if you can tell... 👉👈 I'm still sporadically playing Palia (and running a blog for it) My Dragon Age playthrough with the bf is kind of on hold because we're obsessed with/playing different games atm

Last Book: I've been trying to read more this year because after college I just don't read books anymore :( I'm currently reading Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar. I'm not religious by any means but I've found myself scrolling through Fundiesnark content and researching fundamentalist religions and cults the past few years. (they're scary)

Looking Forward To: I started up my rock-tumbling hobby again, so I'm looking forward to Wednesday when I get to check them! They will more than likely need to go through stage 1 again but it's cool checking on them and recognizing the rocks through each cycle. Also looking forward to TWD: The Ones Who Live in February, and D&D kicking back up with my group on Saturday.

Tag nine people whose answers you are interested in!

I get so nervous about tagging people. If we're mutuals consider yourself tagged.

Totally forgot to add a blank, here it is:

Last Song:

Favorite Color:

Last Movie/Show:

Sweet/Spicy/Savory:

Relationship Status:

Last Thing I Googled:

Current Obsession:

Last Book:

Looking Forward To:

[treesandtunes]

Atom Heart Mother, Pink Floyd’s Acquired Taste

My friend Clayton but it best when describing this album,

“Atom Heart Mother is so cool. Very weird transitional album for Pink Floyd but it’s wild and has so much energy.”

I have to agree. The opening track, Atom Heart Mother, lasts around 23 minutes, is an oddly beautiful, chaotic and melodramatic piece. The orchestra is quite unique for a Floyd album, as is the choir, but that’s what gives this track it’s strange charm. French horns, melodic guitar, muted drums, groovy keys, and funky ass bass lines are what sells this piece for me. It took me several listense to hear all of these sounds on their own, even as I write this I’m hearing the keys pop out for the first time. This piece will definetly grow on you if you let it, turning into a stunning piece which makes you move your head and pound your heel. Interestingly enough, around the 18:00-18:20 mark, you can here the strange keys which haunt our ears at the beginning of Echoes.

The second side of the album features a solo track by each member of the Floyd. Defininetly the most calm collection of Floyd tracks, perhaps besides the latter tracks of the first side of Meddle.

If and Fat Old Sun are acoustic pieces which could feature in any coffee shop’s song queue. (Fun Fact: Fat Old Sun’s opening bells are the same on High Hopes on The Division Bell.) The Richard Wright track Summer of ‘68 is pretty funk, featuring brass horns which awaken you with their volume. The favorite track of my lover Melanie, Summer of ‘68 stands out amongst the other B side tracks with it’s energy and brass features. (On The Endless River, there is a track titled Autumn of ‘68)

Capping off the second side of AHM is the quite strange track Alan’s Psychadelic Breakfast. When I first heard of this track, I read it was  “17 minutes of some dude eating fucking breakfast”. Upon listening to it, I found it was much more. While yes, there are a lot of breakfast sounds, relaxing guitar reminiscent of A Pillow of Winds (which came after actually) flows between Alan’s acid-heightened breakfast. I find this song both calming and somewhat funny.

Listen to Atom Heart Mother on a rainy day (as I am currently) or on a midnight oil/ twilight drive. The obscurity of Side A and the calm tracks on Side B will float you along.

If I were to pick a tree to match this album, I would liken to Sasafrass (Sasafrass albidum). Sasafrass is a quirky broadleaf species which has a quite unique appearance. The leafs come in three distinct shapes and definetly stand out from the rest of the deciduous species of which it accompanies. Pick a twig and/or leaf and scratch it to discover the pleasant smell which is hidden within. Much like Atom Heart Mother, one must look past the quirky appearance and scratch beneath the surface to reveal it’s true beauty.

[juliaisabellphoto]

Music Journal #1: 2018 Albums of the Year

Thus far, I’ve dedicated this blog solely to my attempts at becoming a decent photographer, as well as some scattered descriptions of my travels. While I have no intention of making this blog absurdly personal or anything more than an artistic outlet, I’ve always had an itching to write about the music I find & listen to. So, without further ado, I’ll start with my favorite albums of the year (& a short summary of my thoughts on each)

1. Tash Sultana, Flow State

I stumbled upon this gem of a project late in 2018 when I was itching for an album to drown myself in. As soon as the first notes of “Seed (Intro)” blasted in my headphones, I knew I had chosen right. With a beautiful combination of melodic guitar riffs, biting electronic drum tracks, and silky, laid-back vocals, Sultana opens up a world for the listener to fall into. Listening to this album is startlingly similar to a dreamless night of sleep - one moment you feel as though you can discern the differences between tracks, and the next you’ve made it all the way to track eight without noticing. “Cigarettes” is certainly the vocal gem of the piece, with smooth R&B roots & a chorus that just won’t get out of your head. In stark contrast, “Blackbird” is a song of instrumental mastery. The vocals take a backdrop to the intense conversation (and at some points, argument) being had by Sultana’s competing guitar melodies. Sultana’s work on the guitar is often reminiscent of John Butler Trio & other acoustic greats, but the addition of their unique voice allows the album to take an entirely unique shape of its own. If I have one piece of advice for 2019, it’s to make time to sit and do nothing but listen to this album. 

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVDJ8O3lPBA

2. Ariana Grande, Sweetener

This was an obvious choice. Ari dropped the album we all needed to hear in 2018. With the artful ability to produce banging pop songs with real meaning, Grande has the makings of a star who will not stop shining for a long, long while. The album is brimming with girl power and independence while also being honest and genuine. The entrancing bass line and sexy confidence of “God is a woman” captured the attention of functionally everyone this year, and with good reason. The subsequent confessional “breathin” showed that even the most badass women have their struggles. Chronicling her fight with anxiety, the song provides a stunning anthem for holding your head up through hard times. If this album proves anything, it is that the new queen of pop has arrived and will be staying. 

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivwciGSLC-M

3. ASAP Rocky, TESTING

In this album, ASAP Rocky ascends to a whole new level of hip-hop greatness. When describing the project, he stated that it was ‘all about testing new sounds,” and that shows. The abrasive intro song, “Distorted Records,” sets the stage for a completely unique soundscape. This experimentation continues throughout the album with funky drum tracks and accompanying melodies, but ASAP Rocky’s clean vocal style provides a uniting constant. 

While most of this album is perfect for blasting on the highway with car windows down, one song stands out as an independent masterpiece. “Purity.” featuring Frank Ocean, stands in stark contrast to the air of invincibility found in the rest of the album. This song is vulnerable: an introspective discussion of intoxication-related demons laid over an artful sample of Lauryn Hill’s “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind.” This slow, heart-wrenching piece provides an end to the album that is completely antithetical to its beginning. The immense versatility shown in one album alone deserves to be at the top of any 2018 list.

4. Khruangbin, Con Todo El Mundo

If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that the best instrumental music has the ability to say more than any lyrics can. Khruangbin’s second album does just that: every song has a character and a storytelling emotion wrapped up in its funky bass lines. At times, the album floats along as life does (see “Como Me Quieres.) At others, for example in Maria Tambien, there is the feeling of being in the midst of some dramatic situation. The album instrumentally represents the  stages of individual thought (both active and passive) and it is completely enthralling. 

Fun fact: the track “August 10″ is the song “August 12″ from their first album, but played in reverse. They described it as a “connective tissue” between their first album and their second. Cool stuff!

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWLJeqLPfSU

5. Mitski, Be the Cowboy

I first listened to this album as I fell asleep on a plane ride, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The droning, climactic beauty of this album is best experienced on its own with nothing to distract but your own droopy eyes. The album starts off slow with “Geyser,” but quickly works its way up to the earth-shaking climax of “Pearl.” The album is filled with complex sonic peaks and valleys from there on out (try to find a melodic similarity between “Remember My Name” and “Come into the Water” - I date you.) The songs of this album feel like different chapters in a storybook, and that’s exactly how Mitski wanted it. When she described her intentions, she said that she wanted the album to feel like “the image of someone alone on a stage.” ‘Be the Cowboy’ cleverly achieves this - finishing the album feels like finishing a novel, including the disappointment at the lack of further content. 

6. Troye Sivan. Bloom

This pop album bursting with energy and emotion accesses the wonderful, terrible process of falling in and out of love. While I could talk for paragraphs upon paragraphs about the hours that I spent dancing in my kitchen to this album, that’s not the primary reason for this album’s place on my list. With ‘Bloom,’ Sivan produced one of the most emotionally versatile musical pieces of the year. When I discuss his songs with people, I am always struck by the differences in what they mean to each of us. Certainly, this variance in meaning is the nature of music - but Sivan pushes that to a new level. His songs are a vibrant and powerful normalization of gay expression, and provide the whole world with relatable songs to dance (and cry) to.

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xCMF7jsDJI

7. J. Balvin, Vibras

There is only one thing that this album makes you want to do: dance. It is absolutely guaranteed that your hips will be moving by the end of song number two. The beats on this new album are hot and infectious, as shown by the popularity of “Mi Gente” in clubs everywhere. Reggaeton as a genre has gained massive popularity globally, and Balvin has jumped into this with new variations of the traditional Columbian style. Noticeable throughout the album are infusions of popular trap beats as well as salsa and electronic dance music (see “Machika.”) The album is undeniably sexy, y despues de escuchar todas personas quieren mas ;)

8. LP, Heart to Mouth

I read somewhere that this album was a “full-length heartbreaker.” As I progressed through each song, this description was confirmed ten times over. There is not a single song on this album that didn’t make me feel something real. In no particular order, LP represents the whirlwind of emotions that come with the end of a relationship: regret, pain, missing someone, liberation, strength. The entire conflicting mess is all there. Listen to ‘Recovery’ if you need a cry, and ‘Girls Go Wild’ if you need a therapeutic dance party. All I can do is feel thankful to have received this raw, empowering confessional. And of course, her stunning vocals don’t hurt one bit. 

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACWS4ajWdww

9. Mac Miller, Swimming 

Listening to this album in the wake of Mac’s death is haunting. His words cut deep, and they cut deeper after knowing the full extent of how he struggled. The themes of growth and healing are wrapped up in overwhelming melodies and Mac’s beautiful voice. The first track of the album, “Come Back to Earth,” sets the stage for the emotional rollercoaster that each track is bound to be. After this song, he launches into the groovy “Hurt Feelings” and begins to describe the intricacies of his hardships. This album is something you could easily bop around your kitchen table to (queue “What’s the Use?”), but if you listen too closely you might end up in tears. In this contemplative and instrumentally complex record, Mac’s last work was his strongest. 

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrR_gm6RqCo

10. Liz Brasher, Outcast EP

I first heard this EP on an episode of NPR’s “All Songs Considered” in the middle of a long drive up California Highway 5 (one that would’ve been torturous without the discovery of new music.) The song “Body of Mine” immediately caught my ear, and I dove into the rest of Brasher’s music as deeply as I could. Uncut garage-band sound is the overwhelming theme of the EP - “Body of Mine,” “Come My Way,” and “Outcast” make this crystal clear. Despite the quick assumptions that can be made about her sound, Brasher pulls complexity into the EP with the heart-wrenching ballads “Feel Something” and “Remain.” These two songs showcase the raw strength of her voice and the emotion that she can convey with it. I am excited to see what her music develops into as she gains more acclaim in the new year. Thanks again, NPR!

11. Travis Scott, ASTROWORLD

I haven’t been a huge Travis Scott fan in the past. I would passively listen to his music, but I never understood all the buzz about him. This album completely changed my mind. ASTROWORLD is a masterpiece in so many ways, and the amount of depth present in the album is mindblowing. While “STARGAZING” and “SICKO MODE” stand out as obvious party bangers, it’s no surprise that many fans are hooked on calmer tracks like “YOSEMITE” and “COFFEE BEAN.” If I were to describe the different musical styles employed on this album, I would truly be describing every song. Scott enters a new realm of production genius, giving club DJs exactly what they want while also producing the perfect songs for a chill night in smoking. He includes the autotuned party business he employed in past albums while also mixing in pure, clean cuts of his own voice. It was a pleasant surprise to hear an album from a trap artist with both diversity and widespread quality. Officially a Travis Scott fan. 

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enYt3dKXWkE

12. Christine and the Queens, Chris

I was also introduced to this album late in the year, and I’m glad I was because its energy was exactly what I needed. This half poppy half funky explosion of energy is what anyone needs to listen to on a down day. This album was her rebranding as Chris, an “affirmation of desire as a force of chaos” as she described in an interview with NPR. In both the album artwork and the record’s descriptions of love and identity, she plays with the fluidity of gender and its meaning in our modern era. This phenomenal record is an exercise in both shifting representations of desire and making you dance, and I’m so here for it.

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjliweXTCYM

12. Kacey Musgraves. Golden Hour

This slow-rolling album is perfect for a slow day. When I initially saw this album on the top charts, I was confused - I had seen Musgraves live in 2014, I had heard “High Horse,” but what was SO special about her? It was only in taking a chunk of my day to sit and listen to this album that I caught the bug that everyone else seemed to already have. In this album, Musgraves develops into so much more of an artist than she has been in the past. She shifts from cookie-cutter radio country to a wonderfully sweet combination of cotton-candy pop and heartfelt Americana guitar riffs. Her message is positive, her lyrics are honest, and her sound is touching. I was most convinced by “Happy & Sad,” and I won’t deny that the song pulled tears out of my eyes. She conveys youthful happy energy while simultaneously acknowledging the uncertainty of that happiness, and we all needed it (even if we didn’t know it.) Plus, “High Horse” is a bop, and that’s that on that. 

13. BROCKHAMPTON, iridescence

After the expulsion of Ameer Vann from the group and the cancellation of a number of tour dates, many weren’t sure what to expect from Brockhampton in the coming weeks. The name of the upcoming album was changed, and presumably entirely new songs were recorded. Nevertheless, iridescence was received with intense anticipation from die-hard Brockhampton fans (myself among them.) The album fulfilled all hopes - with the first track, “NEW ORLEANS,” launching into an aggressive and high-energy beat, I couldn’t help but smile. Brockhampton did it yet again. The transitions between songs are seamless, and every song lends to the theatrics that they love to pull onstage. Much of the record feels like a high-speed formula one race, but the emotional “SAN MARCOS” pulls listeners into another dimension entirely. Hearing this song performed live was one of the more powerful moments of any concert I’ve ever seen - the outro was made to be passionately sung by a crowd, and it so was. And “TONYA” - wow. I could go on forever about this album.

14. Boygenius, boygenius

The cover art for this record is simple, and that simplicity shines through in its tracks. The collaboration of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus in this project is pure magic. The music is calm, melodic, and easy to become entranced by. Their voices could lull me to sleep any day, and every song feels like it could play during the part of a movie when the protagonist stares out a car window in deep thought. Each song builds to an emotionally charged climax in exactly the tortured way that a listener would expect from these three artists. At this point, I’d be deeply sad if these three didn’t continue making music as a group. They are a gift.

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS48Lp34Zic

15. Kali Uchis, Isolation

Kali Uchis blooms in a real way in Isolation. Busting at the seams with sexy confidence, her psychedelic-funky R&B traversal of genres on this record is just perfect. Her uniquely smooth voice pulled over left-of-center beats lends itself to an album full of hits. “After the Storm” featuring Tyler the Creator gained quick popularity, and it is a good representative of the vibe that the rest of the album gives off. A laid back, sexual, happy piece of musical experimentation, Kali Uchis is here to play ball. 

16. Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy

With Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B burst onto the popular rap scene with no regrets. Every song exudes her bad bitch energy and reclaims the rap music tropes typically employed exclusively by men. While an incredible ancestry of female rappers came before her, Cardi B has broken the musical glass ceiling in a big way. She is the first female rapper to reach number one on the Billboard top 200 in over 20 years, has the most Billboard top 100 entries of any female artist in history, and many more. She is a true ‘rags-to-riches’ success story, and she’s here to tell us all about it. I’m listening.  

Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LPVjHxXvJM

17. Ryan Beatty, Boy in Jeans

I just saw an article titled “Ryan Beatty writes really good pop songs about boys.” This was a quite simplistic summary of what’s going on here, but it’s not wrong. Despite his vocals on Brockhampton’s “Bleach” and his frequent collaboration with the popular group, Beatty didn’t break out individually in the music scene until now. He certainly did so with this album, and he did it well. His slightly left-of-center pop featuring a voice with the consistency of caramel is exactly what everyone wants to hear. It’s the perfect music for a scenic car ride, and I’m obsessed.

18. The Decemberists, I’ll Be Your Girl

I’ve been a fan of the Decemberists for a long time, and I saw them at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on their last tour. I would see them again in a heartbeat, and I will never get over the passion that goes into Colin Meloy’s vocal presentation. With the high-energy promotion of this album, I was expecting typical Decemberists greatness. What I got was something entirely different - greatness, but nothing typical. This electronically-infused record exposed a new side of the Decemberists that I am refreshed to hear. The addition of synth and an Arcade Fire type vibe suits them and the sort of rebranding they desired to achieve. With this album, the Decemberists evolved in a way they never have, and I applaud them for it. 

19. J. Cole, KOD

There are a number of people who love to hate on J. Cole, and I’ve never understood it. With this album in particular, J. Cole distinguished himself with both lyrics and production value. The album cover above depicts excessive drug use, and in fine print states “This album is in no way intended to glorify addiction.” This powerful message alone sets the stage for an album that means something. The subsequent subject matter of each of the record’s tracks follows this narrative - a description of being stuck in the ways of drug addiction. I have always appreciated J. Cole for his ability to tell a complete story through an album despite the lack of a chronological order or common plot in each song. The album shows the deterioration of a drug addict - from the high of “KOD” to  the contemplative pain of “Once an Addict (Interlude).” 

20. Kendrick Lamar, Black Panther the Album

Everything produced surrounding the Black Panther movie was a hit. The power of this movie and the contributors to this album is unparalleled. Aside from the clear message that this media sent, every song is phenomenal. “All the Stars” displays SZA’s ridiculous vocal prowess. “X” is the perfect hype song, displaying Kendrick’s sassy and innovative lyrical technique. In “The Ways,” Khalid’s sweet voice embodies the beauty of the powerful woman he describes. “I Am” by Jorja Smith absolutely knocks the album out of the park - this stunningly sexy track propelled her onto the music scene, and thank god it did. I’d listen forever if I could. I’d go on, but every song on this album is an iconic collaboration. 

Must watch: the movie.

21. Houndmouth, Golden Age

This album is so painfully underrated. If you want a pick me up, listen to Golden Age. Immediately. From the album’s floaty start to the explosive mood of the album’s namesake track, it’s all hits and no misses. Embracing a completely different musical tone from their last album, Houndmouth seizes a futuristic alt-rock cacophony as their new style. Taking nods from 80s Phil Collins numbers (the beginning of Strange Love... come on!), they take us back to a golden age of sorts while also propelling us to a fun future. I will never not dance my pants off to this album.

[spirestar]

Amy's Tea

Tea for Your Muse!

Tagged by @silver-heroes-rp ! tysm :D

Tagging: @unfortunatedarling, @dive2themellow (fiona or sally, @badnikbreaker (maria or sonia), and anyone else who wants a go :D

[coldlipsmag]

The story of 90s High Times in London, by Graham Bendel

Graham Bendel is a writer and filmmaker. Like many of us, he’s DJed, been in bands, and stayed out beyond the bedtimes of sanity. And it’s led to some brilliant, inspired work. Having the legend of a close family member who published Nabokov, Burroughs, Trocchi, Beckett, Henry Miller and Valerie Solanas is a good rumour to have floating around you with the dust of dawn, and in this case, brilliantly true. Bendel’s film on the legendary punk lyricist, Vic Godard of Subway Sect is called Derailed Sense, and is a brilliant masterpiece in slamming together a good punk story. Do seek it out. Here, he reflects on the good old days of 90s clubland, and the tunes that marched the sounds of the underground…

But I was looking for something else.

And then… Smashing stumbled drunkenly into my life. Or I into it.

Smashing was a night that took part in West End venues, such as old 60s haunt Bootleggers, The Gaslight, and most infamously, Eve’s Club on Regent St, which was home in-a-way to the Profumo Scandal. The night was run by the stylishly oddball collective of Matthew Glamorre, Martin Green, Adrian Webb and Michael Murphy; and the clientele were straight, gay, bi, drag queens, the odd mod, fashion freaks, popstars, indie kids, punks, divas, beatniks, eternal goths and glorious people who defied categorisation. The music policy was unashamedly retro but anarchic and fresh next to the customary glut of house, hip hop and funk. West End clubbers were in for a surprise – if they got in. Even Prince, as the rumour goes, was refused entry for insisting on a VIP enclosure.

My early memories of Smashing were watching excitable DJ Michael Murphy, after playing Sparks’ Beat The Clock, putting on another record only to see that people weren’t dancing with apt enthusiasm, so he’d take it off, smash it up, throw the broken record at the dancefloor and complain “You’re all cunts!” Not quite Fat Boy Slim. Dancing zealously to The Stooges – in just his underpants? –was also something of an eye-opener.

It’s fair to say that Punk had a fair amount of influence on the proceedings. One time, speaking loosely of anarchy: I lost half my tooth after a feverishly-executed game of Pass The Parcel. Or there was the time when we were all ‘Reborn’ in a bizarre ceremony hosted by flamboyant impresario Matthew Glamorre. And so many other things, half-forgotten, half-remembered.

Smashing was a high-camp, chaotic experience curated by endarkened people very familiar with the best of clubland past: The Batcave, Alice in Wonderland, Taboo, The Blitz; but it was entirely different from any of these. And yes, people did run around the club on speed, and pogo to Shirley Bassey records and throw incredible attention-seeking but unselfconscious shapes to Bowie /Moog records /X-Ray Spex, or a live performance from, say, Jayne County. Leigh Bowery – dressed as some kind of nocturnal Michelin Man – tripped the light fantastic next to Jarvis Cocker or Courtney Love; and women, unpestered by the usual club types, would be scantily clad and proudly so by the end or beginning of the night. It was decadent, bohemian, and extremely silly. No one was too cool to join the Conga (around the club or into the street) or high-kick it to the Bugsy Malone soundtrack. Martin Green, by the way, was probably one of the most influential DJs of the 90s, in my humble opinion, rating alongside more recognised pioneers such as Andrew Weatherall, Harvey or Gilles Peterson.

When he came on, your ears would be blessed with weird 60s film scores, Moog records, funky tracks off forgotten/unknown rock LPs, easy listening anthems, Roxy, Millie Jackson and punk rock. His selection was eclectic, funky and insanely lateral – in a time before the internet, general open-mindedness and random playlists.

There were other clubs too, and many of The Smashing regulars would frequent them. The weekend drill was this: Friday was Smashing (at Eve’s Club) and Saturday would be either Blow Up at the Laurel Tree pub in Camden, or maybe Magick at Wildes in Chinatown. You’d usually try and turn up to all three of them,

Blow Up was run by Paul Tunkin and featured himself, Ian Jackson and Andy Lewis(now Paul Weller’s bassist) on the decks upstairs, and often, in the midst of the jumping up down to The Who, Wire or bouncing around to a Northern soul gem – it felt like the ceiling would collapse, as it seemed to bend to the pressure of all those stomping feet. Downstairs were the Karminsky Experience who’d supply all the lounge, kitsch and exultant grooviness: Quincy Jones, Mancini, Big Jim Sullivan or maybe just some killer soul 45 no one had ever heard of. And Blur’s Graham Coxon could be found on the floor, by the bar, drunkenly writhing amongst attendees.

Magick was run by Adil and Saul, and was funkier, dirtier and rockier than Smashing or Blow Up – and on a good night, was the best club you’d EVER been to. Wildcat Will (from The Sandals/Tongue Kung Fu), Smashing’s Martin Green, Chris Sullivan, Paulo Hewitt and my good self would often guest. Music policy was anything goes: but Hendrix, Serge Gainsbourg, funk and Rare Earth were the essential, catalytic ingredients. And it was always crowded, cramped and stifling, but in a good way. Even Keanu Reeves had to queue.

Memories of that night are aptly quite hazy, though one thing always tickled me. There was a story, perhaps apocryphal, about an attractive lady who, mid-dance, suddenly but subtly ‘unloaded one’ onto the dancefloor. Not so much a gesture of criticism, I’m told, but most probably, a from-the-gut, spontaneous compliment – though I’m sure a “isn’t this a great night!” would have sufficed. But that’s drugs for you. Speaking of which, I did actually see Robert Downey and David Thewlis – not to be outdone by Coxon at Blow Up – both crashed out on the floor. And there was nudity, fights, and varying degrees of fear and loathing in the nights to follow.  [Editor of Cold Lips, Kirsty Allison, graced the decks at Smashing, one blurry, blurry teenage night…]

So there you have it, the 90s – yet another decade where you could let your hair down, your trousers down, and ultimately your self down.

…

This is a version of ‘Hightimes in the Nineties’, an article by Graham Bendel published exclusively in the sold out Cold Lips II. Support the ongoing work of Cold Lips by getting a copy now from our online store.

[ecotone99]

[RF] Stayin' alive

Tanmay pressed play on his iPod with headsets, as he left his apartment. With music & beats of guitar in sync with the drums started enriching his ears and mood. He jumped from beside the door to the front of it in a rhythmic fashion. He closes the door with a loud thud mimicking the symphonies sharp turn in the song…

As he took stairs and scaled them down in motion that lifted him higher after each step… he was jumping down the stairs while singing in sync with the music…

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

He continued dancing throughout his way out of apartment to the bus stop. He walked a bit towards right and then towards left as the music shifted beats. His grooving to songs while attaining his delightful routine of going office in such ease was about to switch to a deadly routine.

Out of breath while singing and jumping through his way out to the stop, he snapped his both fingers to the last few minutes of the song. His phone buzzed, it was a mail notification informing him, he had been mapped to a project called CPL. He had to attend the induction after 1 hour. He continued reading with disappointment to learn that project required all its resources on some client location compulsorily, for all its working hours…

A bus he usually took went by and he had to helplessly miss it. Since from now on he had to board a new bus to a new location which was hours and hours away than the usual destination. He finally took bus after 15 minutes and started listening to his old song collection of The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel…

Amidst the silence between two tracks, he overheard his passenger ranting “who uses an IPod in this day and age of smartphones? “ . He paid no attention to it. His journey ended at a brand new building with boards & hoardings of CPL – “Controlling future”.

He entered the single building which had 3 floors. At the entrance, the receptionist took tanmay’s details and smiled informing him he was the only one getting inducted today. From rich music to boring presentation of what a company aspires to do but never does, how this company creates a different environment for employee’s and blah blah…

As he entered the room at first floor where the induction was held he was stripped off his mobile phone due the client confidentiality policy. It was a huge room with ample of seats and systems. He took the first one in intention of getting off early…

The system asked him for his credentials and then prompted him to continue watching the presentation for 1 hour straight with no breaks and interruptions. It didn’t even allow him to pause the damn thing. At the end there was supposed to be one question he had to answer it correctly to get inducted. The video began with 3 white dudes telling him how and when CPL got formed…

Strangely there was no audio in this presentation. He found a headphone near the desk but it was of no use as it didn’t function. How lucky he thought to himself, as he searched his bag he found he had accidentally sneaked his iPod with a pair of his earphones. Tanmay had a choice to use the earphones for his presentation or listen to songs. Without any hesitation, he chooses the latter…

Meanwhile, the screen had starting flickering from 3 white dudes to a completely dark screen with three groovy lights reflecting some rhythm…

Suddenly, the sound had started imploding from speakers but tanmay was too busy with his music exploration. He found this amazing song by Redbone-Come and get your love.

He couldn’t stop playing it on loop. In no time, the induction video was complete. Now the screen displayed waves of three lights like sound wave… He’d mistaken it for some screensaver or something. The screen switched back from the glitches to a white page with a big question containing massive words like LIFE, CHANGE, FUTURE and COMMITMENT with just two options: –

Yes

No

Blindly, he ticked yes and he was allocated a cubicle in a room, the details were displayed on the screen…

He exited induction hall where he found his phone in a tray among the chargers and various wires with no security like prior. He took the liberty to take back his phone and continued towards the cubicle. As tanway hit next on his play list, the song came on which motivated him and he started marching with his knees rising higher and fists swinging back & forth in rhythmic motion as he sang to himself in an empty corridor…

“…

But I would walk 500 miles And I would walk 500 more

…”

The song was in fact another blast from past, “I’m gonna be” by The Proclaimers. It came out 11 years after Stayin’ Alive by Bee Gees. Soon, Tanmay reached his office and started searching his cubicle. As he completed his 500 steps towards his cubicle, he could see how everyone was working silently and were totally focussed, even a pin drop could disturb these workaholics. Tanmay was disappointed, in a world full of magic and music these life beings choose to work in such dull lifeless manner. He felt unbearable to tolerate such silence, as he was used to listening to music every second. It was only after he unplugged his earphones, he realised there was a soft strange music playing across the whole office floor. It echoed at every corner and reached every person’s ears. He hated it instantly…

He saw no one being bothered by it and it worried him even more. As he was the only one with such distaste for this melody. He was distracted from his train of thoughts as he saw a girl sitting beside her. She wore a yellow kurta and had long hair. Tanmay could definitely use a friend in this hell of a place. It took no time for his mind to jump from a friend to a constant companion for music, sharing a song via an audio jack splitter. He could almost imagine her snapping to the beats of the songs he would suggest her… They could be the only one’s grooving in the corridors of this office floor.

In an instant, he said” Hi, I am tanmay, I am new here and you are?”

She pointed robotically to a poster stuck at her cubicle with her name, Tania. The poster was captioned with branding of CPL “Working solemnly soulfully in solitude of CPL”. He had lost all his hope and it worsened when he switched on his system to find everything worked just fine. He found a same pair of headphones like the one induction hall and this time they worked. It played the same tune of soft music that tanmay hated. He looked out to watch for someone or something interesting, only to find bunch of excel files, word files, and other documents being worked by the overly enthusiastic employees. He was disgusted by the fact some had even headphones on…

He logged into his system to find a tutorial on ways to get started. His first day had devastated him. He was again faced with dilemma whether to listen to his own music or actually try to work. The music that was playing across the whole floor irritated him and annoyed his ears. It gave him a mild headache; it was almost like someone forcing him to do something. Finally, the music stopped but only to be followed by a loud beeping alarm kind of music…

The office people started rising up and started to head out. At first it was 10-20 people and then more and then some more. It was like a organised roll out of emptying the floor in case of some fire drill or something. His concerns became severe when he found people moving out with in a single line like an assembly or something. Soon the sequence of people had reached his row of people. He asked Tania “Where are we supposed to go some meeting?”

She took a minute and replied with her pretty yet pale face “FOOD”. She was emotionless and so was the queue moving in perfect co-ordination and sync. It was sharp 1:30 and he realized this their way of taking a lunch break. The sequence of people moving further synced more as they tried to smile one by one. It creeped out tanmay…

The music that played on floor before had stopped in this office room in favour of this loud alerting beep but it had transitioned into the corridor and that’s where people started moving. The people were actually following music…

He wondered whether this was some sick sort of prank on him but for this to be a prank how could it be on a level of official mails – official’s projects…he wasn’t that big of identity to be pranked at this extend.

Anyhow he moved out to see an empty vast floor. Even their footsteps their body movement aligned in such perfection that it had tanmay convinced this was not a mere prank. They were being controlled he thought. His horrifying thought was interrupted by the guard who took his phone before entering induction… He rushed towards tanmay screaming “Mayday… mayday… Not in control… 1/200 not in control…”

Tanmay turned the other way around and started running away as theories of what blizzard thing was happening started flooding his mind. It was not to wild to think that he bloody induction was what got these people off their minds and the music was what instructed them to work religiously all day!!!

He ran back into the office floor and ducked down under the nearest cubicle. He found a headphone on floor and gripped both the ear cups tightly, as the guard approached him to cease him … he drove the headband of the earphone between two legs of guard… Guard screamed in pain and grabbed his crotch to fall on the other side.

Tanmay stood up to rush out of this hell hole, while the guard cried “he should have been reported after induction… he was never controlled… he took back his phone… room 399…”

His hearted pounded while his mind wandered how could the thing that moved him every day could be used to control people against their will? He had to check room 399 and he rushed towards the 3rd floor. This time the stairs felt heavy as he climbed them. There was no rhythm this time, this time there was fear of unknown. He reached 3rd floor to find only a large single room numbered 399. He stormed inside to find the same 3 dudes wearing white lab coats like the one he had saw during start of induction. He was immediately drawn aback on what he had just witnessed. Large computers with modulators controlling the various aspects of sounds. Three of them rushed towards tanmay as he retreated again…

In the most dreadful voice and tone he heard one them singing as they chased him

“How can you?”

Followed by another equally disastrous voice

“Who are you?”

And finally followed by unison of three voices

“Why are you? you…”

These voices tried sounding like music. Perhaps this was the only time that music had thrown tanmay off his edge. This had appalled his mind. What the hell is happening he thought to himself as he rushed back from the same stairs he took. While the 3 odd people kept singing the same question again and again.

As he approached the second floor, he saw the same security guard limping with headphones on his head. His head was tilted towards right and then it tilted towards left as his smile spread across its face as wide as it revealed his teeth like a zombie. It was like a bad dancing zombie!

As we treaded down further in extreme fear he heard the thud of bodies following and the singing shifted from questions to a song of pain. “ Ahhhhhhh..” was being sang by all of them now.

He reached first floor where he could see a huge ground where all the employees ate food in co-ordination one bite after another. They even had same food and chewed in co-ordination. They were being monitored by another bunch of guards. As he heard the footsteps approaching again, he knew going down further would entrap him from both sides. So he decided to take the lift at first floor and travel back up…

Second floor was not a good choice because of the guard and 3 dudes there… so he had no option but to go to the third floor and so he did. He rushed to the only room 399 and found a video clip of receptionist who took her id at entrance playing.

In the video, she could be seen repeating the same again and again… “You are being inducted id please!”. She smiled and repeated this again and again on a loop. Tanmay was horrified by the thought that this place could be full of robots and no matter what there is nothing that could be done to throw these people out of their trances. Living or not he just had to stop this madness somehow… He saw 100 and 100s of button on the huge system which made this happen. He again heard someone singing and rushing in towards the room. The guard opened the door and jumped on tanmay to stop him, in the very second he pressed 2-3 buttons that were labelled: –

Truth

Tyranny

Trust

Suddenly and not surprisingly enough the whole building speakers burst into a mix of sounds being played by a guitar, flute and heavy bass drums. It almost made everyone’s ear bleed with the intensity of sound and growl in pain. At the corner of one screen he could see where all the employees where having lunch to throw their food in mid-air and start flexing… some started dancing, crying and exercising… as he put aside the guard who jumped him. He realized he was completely silent. Kind of like paused and blank. He stared into ceiling of the room with no reaction.

Not sure what had happened, tanmay stood up and move out of the room to find the three people with white coats murmuring something…

The first said “The truth is they control you… they mesmerise you…8 hours… 8 weeks… everyday”

The second one cried and lied down the first one ‘s lap and said” we trusted you…”

The third one started hitting them, both of them and said” you tyrants, you bastards, you said you wouldn’t control me…”

It was like a mental hospital where the doctors where the patients that needed the help most…

Tanmay had failed to stop this madness, while the music grew unbearable louder that he had cover his ears, he could sense the blood or some liquid rushing out of his ear drums…”

He rushed back in room for one last time, hoping to stop the loud music… He couldn’t find any controls to do so. He pressed more buttons only to worsened the sound far more…

There was a big microphone symbol on a button. Tanmay pressed it and the whole music stopped. People froze. It was dead silent or either tanmay had lost his sensibility to hear anything. He had stopped everyone but kind of switched them off at the same time.

He was convinced these being were robots… still he had some hope they weren’t, he thought that if a humane voice were to touch their ears then maybe just maybe they could act naturally…

So he sang on top of his lungs

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive”

And immediately after collapsed as he heard his own voice booming across the whole building

…

He woke up by the alarm tone of his phone the next day…

“Here comes the sun (doo doo doo) Here comes the sun, and I say It’s all right”

He rejoices as he still possesses the ability to listen such lovely music again. He goes back to sleep to rest…

He later wakes up to find himself in a hospital bed among the hundreds and hundreds of other employees who were being controlled in some way…

He finds a newspaper and some fruits kept across his bed. He picks up the newspaper and reads on about the “CPL controlling your future life”

“…a batch of 20-25 people were tortured into hypnotism with 1 hr of loopback music produced by three brothers (also founders of CPL). They intend to fully mind control them as they hated their employees wasting timing and working less efficiently …

They wanted to maximise productivity and reduce wastage of time while on company’s ground. So they rob their employees of free will as soon as they join by induction and controlled them for 8 hours of their work time with minimal breaks and food provided. They controlled everything how much they ate, drank and even when they went to washrooms… Controlling their habits, timings schedules’ and body. The induction is key to make this happen for everyone however there was one exception where one of the employee, tanmay choose to not listen to this loopy music of induction and do something else…

This music was further to be used to trigger emotions in the employees, and… the offbeat monotonous singing of one-person voice broke them out this hypnotism of being controlled…

“

Link: https://notyoureverydayblog258255348.wordpress.com/2019/11/03/stayin-alive/

All songs are linked in the story, please listen to them as you read along.

submitted by /u/karanm1997 [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/2JHCKVa

[baradvisor]

10 Best Nightclubs in Sydney by Bar Advisor

Controversial ‘lockout laws’ have definitely toned down Sydney’s nightlife and you shouldn’t expect to get in anywhere if you’re out past 2 AM. You can also count on last drinks at 3.30am, but don’t let it kill your mood- there are still plenty of places to go in the Harbor City. Sydney loves to party and our list of top 10 nightclubs in Sydney should help you out in finding a best place for your perfect night.

The World Bar

When you want to spend some relaxed time with best friend, The World Bar should be your place of choice. This nightclub remains one of the most exciting venues indie beats and electronic in Sydney, especially during weeknights. It’s the place for teenagers, students, and indie kids under 25, and probably best known for serving cocktails in teapots. It also offers a stage for up-and-coming DJs and indie bands, plus you can enjoy jazz and open music nights here. Just check the schedule.

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Soda Factory

When you say Soda Factory, you think of all night long parties, classic retro tunes, cheerful party vibes every single night during the week for teenagers and travelers, and cheap fun. It is one of Sydney’s most affordable dinners with movies on Mondays and one dollar hot dogs on Tuesdays. During weekends the early twenty-something guys and travelers come to this favorite place for the boogie to ’80s and ’90s tunes. You can’t even imagine how hectic the queues are. Come and see for yourself!

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The Nightclub Palms on Oxford

Nightclub Palms on Oxford is an underground haven and probably best space for dancing all night long. It provides daggy good time every night during the week. Count on a long line in the front of this popular venue from Friday to Saturday night. This undesirable-free zone looks like the bar in the series ‘Cheers’ a little bit, with all those hip people on the dance floor and unassuming music. Come and enjoy!

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Oxford Art Factory

If you are looking for live music, the nightclub Oxford Arts is one of the rare live music venues on Oxford Street which still exists. Guys there continue to make surprises with incredible gigs in pretty intimate space. You can expect international play here very often. Inspired by Warhol’s Factory in The Big Apple in the 1960s, the venue welcomes indie electronic producers, local acts, and DJs. All of them guarantee that you will spend a great night out.

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Marquee Nightclub

For those who have never visited Las Vegas, there is Marquee Sydney. This place is pretty close to a night out in the City of Entertainment. You can expect glamorous dancers, confetti, and top Australian DJs. Calvin Harris, Drake, Tiesto, Avicii, Armin Van Buuren, and Hardwell have already been here, and it seems that this place will continue to be a superstar nightclub for a long time. Spend one night enjoying the ripper sound system and the LED screens, and you will come back again!

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The Junction

It seems that the best place for party kids and local legends in Sydney is the Junction formerly called Jam Gallery in the suburb Bondi Junction. Maybe it is the last place in this city you would expect a decent club, but The Junction has become the venue of choice for the ‘new kids on the block’. It is the multi-purpose music venue designed to foster the international and local music scene, the bar where can fit 400 people and gallery space at the same time.

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The Ivy Pool Club

If you one of those guys who like daytime disco, then go to the open-air Ivy Pool Club. It is Sydney’s only rooftop pool bar which looks like the slice of LA-style luxury in the heart of the Australian city. You can enjoy in a pool full of crystalline water and drink at any time. This super-exclusive venue is famous for night dance parties on Saturdays. But, pay attention that it’s made for people with money. Sydney’s social elite come here to be seen with a glass of the best cocktails in hands.

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Frankie’s Pizza

Frankie’s Pizza is the city-center haunt which is the basement bar, a live-music venue, pizza cafe, and pinball museum under the same roof. It doesn’t fit into any conventional category, but it guarantees a good night out seven days a week. Don’t miss rock and roll parties on Fridays and during the weekend until 3 AM! You can expect old photos on the walls, candles in bottles, red and white tablecloths, and excellent pizzas. And, yes, this classic pizza restaurant in the business district is the best rock’n’roll venue Sydney has ever seen.

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Chinese Laundry Nightclub

Are you looking for your favorite international DJ in Sydney? Chinese Laundry is famous for superstars such as Baauer, James Holden, Hudson Mohawke, Gui Boratto, and DJ Slink who are hosted here. This large venue and the top-notch sound system attract bumper crowds in the Garden Bar and the Cave equally. During the summer, the outdoor dance floor is perfect for clubbing. After a hot night, wait for the sunshine and continue partying in the garden bar with some of the best international and Australian artists to get you going wild in the afternoon sun.

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Arq Nightclub

Arq is probably the most famous LGBTQI mega-club in Sydney and a perfect place for watching a floor show. Imagine Saturday nights when a huge crowd of groovy party-goers piles into this city’s queer hub with local entertainers, the cocktail bar, excellent lighting and ultimate sound system. Visit this spacious, masterly decked-out, the two-leveled club full of the A-guys and divas. Be sure, until you’ve been to Arq, you can’t say that you have experienced night scene in Sydney.

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[spirestar]

Ash immediately perks up, oblivious to any annoying quality to Mina's actions. He lets her wobble his head around a little and shifts an arm so he can push his glasses back up once she's done, laughing. "Oh--I don't know, I have to finish this so I can work on something for you guys..." Yeah, maybe he shouldn't have taken that extra shift at the drive-in over the weekend. But with the extra cash, he'll be able to buy a new guitar in no time and--

"But, uh, was there somewhere you've got in mind?" He beams at her. It's not that hard to distract him. Ash reaches up to smooth some of Mina's hair behind her headband so he can see how much of a haircut she needs. "I know it's been a while since we went out!" Touring never makes it easy, not that he's complaining. It's just hard having different schedules. He misses her.

She opens the door properly then leans against it once she has permission, noticing her boyfriend's posture and allowing herself a pout about it. He's working too hard again, and being too critical. Bad combo, and she'd know. She walks into the room and just about plops herself in his lap — playfully annoying — so that she can grab the sides of his head and give the noggin a shake.

"Your music's important, and no sorries," Mina says once Ash's head steadies. "You seem tense, hon. We could go somewhere, once my undercut's fixed. Get you some fresh inspiration!"

[spirestar]

Blink, blink. Okay. Well. Amy nods along as Fiona speaks, making suitable reactionary expressions all along. And they're absolutely genuine about it, too. They don't know Fiona very well but, in typical Amy fashion, they'd like to. It's not surprising that most Mobians are struggling; They've been lucky enough to be in the epicenter of so many of the world's recent events, that they've been, for lack of a better description, taken care of. They haven't had to worry about managing their money or keeping up with bills--They've been helping give them out to whoever they can in the Restoration. People helping people, even her. It's a privileged position, really. It hasn't been easy at all, but that doesn't give Amy any less of a perspective shift from listening to Fiona.

Lots of work to do still, it sounds like. Fiona seems like the working alone type, though. She probably won't agree to stay with the Restoration even if Amy asks. So, instead, she says, "That sucks." Unhelpful, but Amy likes conversations like this. She's chatty, but just as good at listening. "Vector's not the best at bookkeeping--I'll call Espio, though." The chameleon can be just as bad, but he's also very susceptible to being bothered when it's Amy nagging him. "You work at the makeup counter there?" She reaches for her own milkshake, hoping to prompt Fiona into complaining some more: "Do they still hide back-stock from floor staff?" Amy used to part-time in the homeware department there. Many an Amy vendetta can be sourced back to her time there.

Fiona is entertaining herself through Amy's annoying niceties by stabbing the ice cream with her straw. "Ugh."

"Well for one thing, those two-bit detectives never pay me enough--and they never pay on time, either. They're just lucky I'm damn good at my job." At least GUN always paid on time and usually for double the price! Bounty hunting back home really helped out Fiona's 'career'; relearning this world's nooks and crannies hadn't been so difficult once she learned which parts of her Zone had been expunged and which had somehow been lucky enough to exist beyond the Wave. There are lots of differences, but there are just as many similarities. So Fiona has a bit of an advantage compared to many of the people waltzing around this Mobius. "Next time you see Vector, tell him Fiona Fox wants her payment up front in cold-hard-cash."

She sticks the straw in her mouth, lips pursing around it for a moment, then takes a long sip. "And the department store's complainin' about sales. If you need a new eyeshadow, do a girl a favor and swing by the JC Penguin's on 31st, 'kay?" In short: not great, Amy!

[spirestar]

"Really...he said that, huh?" Amy shouldn't be surprised. Shadow is kind when he wants to be, never puts her down for the things she does that he doesn't agree with / would never do himself, and it's not like he's never complimented her. But wow--It feels different to hear someone else recount his words like that. Like a tree falling in a forest, or. Something. Amy beams once she registers everything Maria's said all in one go. Then she's grinning again, a light blush on her cheeks in both their steads.

"Oh! Well! Shadow likes to pretend he isn't taken in by my charms, but I get everyone in the end!" They giggle and strike a silly pose. Amy likes to think she's good with kids; They genuinely enjoy looking out for 'em, like learning from the ways that kids view the world and interact with it. Cream suddenly comes to mind as Maria's embarrassment registers, too. Maybe she should arrange a play date--

Amy wouldn't mind if Maria called her a girl, or felt more comfortable because she thought Amy was one. Most people do, anyway, and it's not something that makes them uncomfortable anymore. Luckily, ahehe! "You haven't met many hedgehogs like me yet! How could you have known, hehe!" She clears her throat and refocuses quick: "You're okay, right? They didn't bother you too much?"

Wait — she knows her? She knows her through Shadow — wait. Suddenly Maria is knocked out of head enough to really look at and process her rescuer; pink hedgehog, cute and very strong, giant hammer...oh, goodness. If she could blush, she would, and she feels deeply embarrassed that she'd somehow not put two and two together. Self - obsessed...she presses her hands to her cheeks and laughs nervously, self - deprecating, but still smiling. "Amy! It's so nice to meet you. Shadow told me about you, too — I'm so sorry I didn't realize who you were!"

And it seems that every kind thing Shadow told Maria about Amy has a mirror in a kind thing Shadow told Amy about Maria. That's just more embarrassing — the praise she'd heard on the ARK most often was that she was pretty, then that she was very sweet. Only the small handful of women scientists ever commented positively on her intellect; some of the men didn't approve of a girl taking such interest in science or engineering. She feels herself perk a little about the praise, let alone praise that isn't about her ability to perform Good Little Girl. "Oh, thank you! I, um — I liked studying, and it was something I could do even on the days I couldn't get out of bed, so I did it a lot." It's easier to perform less with Amy — maybe because she's a girl, too? Or maybe just because she's someone new. "Shadow said — um! — that you're super strong, and also one of the kindest people he knows!"

[spirestar]

Ethan drops his weight onto the bench more like falling--He's so much more exhausted than he realized. Blood loss isn't really helping. He holds a bit of the bandage to his head for a few seconds as his vision swims again from the pressure and then does start to wind some of it around his head. There's really no other way to be sure it'll stay in these conditions. "Wh--huh..?" Monster? Wasn't he in his car? Where'd it--? No, maybe not. There were crow corpses and there was water and. He shoves bloody fingers into his pocket and finds the plastic card he somehow knew would be there. For some reason, he can't will himself to look at it. What if it's not her picture? If it's just his license and she's--

"There are--what? Monsters?" Ethan's not an idiot. Did someone actually attack him? James is on high enough guard for him to believe it. He's really not cut out for this. He's less lightheaded now, though, with the bleeding staunched even slightly. "Why would..." Anyone do this to me? Redirect: If James says it's monsters, he's been having a hard enough time here as it is and likely doesn't know what happened to Ethan. If he could just remember. "What have you been fighting here James?"

"Ethan." James nods once, blunt edge, name slotting into place. They do look kind of similar, huh? Wow...weird. This specific blond man pushes through the fog up to a bench on the side of the street. Not the safest of environments, but...James is learning that nowhere in this town is exactly safe right now. If it ever has been.

"Oh..." James trails off and lowers himself mechanically onto the bench, eyes going sideways to look at Ethan as he joins him on the bench. "I don't know...it feels like forever, I guess. But I don't think that can be true." Right?

He opts to keep watch of what he can in the swirls of fog while Ethan wraps the bandages around his head or whatever he ends up doing, hands tightening around the bit of busted pipe he'd grabbed for self-defense earlier, jaw taut. "Are you okay? You never hit anything in your life, but that monster sure knew how to hit you. It looks like it hurts."

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Amy cozies up under the blanket, scooting a little so she can pull the soft yarn just below her chin and smile sleepily. The movement delays her response again--"Oh, hehhe," as they recognize the compliment, they poke at their own cheek happily. "Thank you!"

"Took me way longer 'cuz I had to take breaks..." She squints her eyes as she considers how many months she put in to the project. "'n I didn't buy enough yarn at first, so I had to look around for more of the matching colors..." She hums softly. "Think it took me six months, but. Other people coulda made it way faster. I mostly just worked on it before bed..." Amy pats the fabric and leans her head into the sofa cushions. "I like crafts, but it takes a lot of focus to make something. Huge. Sometimes I was too sleepy..." Like now! That makes her laugh a little--Ironic. She's sure Sonic will see how that's funny, too. "If you could have one--what colors would you want? Hehe..." They definitely won't make him one. Or anything. Ever. Aheheh....

It's comfortable — for them to touch him, to hear their jokes, the closeness. He feels quietly happy at just how comfortable it is; remembers, however dimly, back when any touch made him feel cornered, let alone from AMY. For now, he lets her get away with the patting and the playful insults with nothing but a laugh under his breath; he sets her on the couch, head elevated against the arm but still mostly laying down. She's not at any risk of passing out so long as he's here, he reckons. Once he's confident they're comfy, he actually checks for the blanket. Not on the couch...he finds it behind it, fallen to the floor, and lifts it up, both so that Amy can see it and to admire it himself.

"Wow, Ames, this is awesome." Even he can tell that it's well - made; the size, the way the colours go together; he's reminded of all the things his friends can do that he can't. He sits down on the remainder of the couch, by their feet, and lays the blanket so it covers his lap and most of them. Cozy! "How long's it take ya t'make somethin' like this?"

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Hmm... Maybe not quite yet. That's the thought Battler has in response to Robin's uncertainty about her position as a witch. Rules differ widely, of course, and he knows the game made for him was itself a unique case. An albatross--guilt and lifelong commitment. Being toyed with, though, Battler is long used to.

"You may have more say were you a witch," he supplies, a patient smile flitting across his face. Again he's reminded of his sister. Sometimes he can still feel the eyes of her dead piece piercing the back of his neck, can hear her voice breaking as she commanded him not to look. The terror of it all has worn down to something else now; Robin is fully immersed in it still. "The powers of a piece can vary as much as their creators may. Witches may play with each other, but they usually prefer to move their pieces against one another." Another case where he was often the exception. He hadn't always been a witch, but he wasn't meant to have to become one at all.

"I knew a piece who witch who became a witch, and then took up her role as a piece again. She was brave--If... I don't know your game board." Battler glances back to Robin, holding her gaze firmly. "But it's possible you're being used by a witch to tell the tale, that they're putting you into it each time it's rewritten or reformed... Beatrice's game for me included several different versions of the serial murders. Maybe you're meant to draw connections and are being told to forget when you don't find a solution. Not very fair!" He laughs suddenly, awkward and boyish, as he scratches at the back of his neck. "But that's a lot of guessing! I wish I could give you more than mystery-loving ideas--" He grits his teeth. An expression he hasn't taken as often since being saved from that room. "Witches play dirty."

"Naming ceremony?" Robin asked softly. She found her head tilting of its own accord, curiosity and confusion swirling within her mind. She hadn't been given any different name. No, she was just flung into these loops unceremoniously, scraping and clawing her way through them to find one happy end.

Nobody had treated her with respect in the meta world. They had all laughed, cackling, cruel little girls in frilly clothes. If she wasn't terrified, her rage would have left them bloody too.

"I do not know if I am even a Witch truly yet." The wolf woman squeezed at herself, a self-soothing hug. She kept her gaze down, watching her white socked feet trudge through the sand.

"If I were a Witch, I'd have more say in my game, wouldn't I? As it stands, I lose my memory of the ending of each game... I know only that my friends have killed one another or someone has murdered us all in the mountains. Like some demon."

She only knows one truth. That in order for them to all die, Rika dies first. She is the catalyst for the end of a loop.

"I wake up in the Sea of Fragments alone each time. Whoever gifted me this power, I cannot remember, nor have they returned to gloat. So far, I have met other witches from other games, but they seem intent only on entertaining themselves off our suffering."

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URGHH... "I TALK TO PLENTY OF PEOPLE!!!!" NO that's not what he meant to say! But--Antisocial?! Freak!?!?! Why would Silver want to race anyone?? "Fine!" Fine???? "I'll race you! Just shut up!" Under his breath he grumbles, "Legendary Wind Master..." Of course he always leaves when the future is fixed! He can't stay stuck in the past! Even if he's started to feel like that may be the only place he's even close to fitting in. Oh, he's really annoyed; He raises his voice again, glaring. "You've never raced anyone with psychokinesis have you?" If he were a more confident person he might laugh, but the smugness is still there beneath the irritation. Jet doesn't know what he's getting into! (Neither does Silver though really.)

Well Jet doesn't even have ears so Silver obviously missed the excellence of his burn.

"Are ya stupid or somethin'?! I'm obviously talkin' about how you hang out by yourself every time you're here! You say like two things to anyone that isn't Sonic and then you're gone. Antisocial. Freak. I mean come on, you got powers like that and you haven't even challenged me to a race?! Seriously, how are you not jumpin' at the opportunity--the privilege--to race me, the Legendary Wind Master?!"