"Loch Lomond"

In 2007, in Botanique (Brussels), I have seen "the Decemberist's" playing with "My Brightest Diamond" and "My Brightest Diamond" was dreadfully painful. The good news is that "Decemberist" found "Loch Lomond" afterwards because they toured with "the Decemberists" in late 2008.

Well, Loch Lomond describes its music as "sounding like birds, bears, blood banks, ticks, volcanoes, mountains, scabs, and lots of singing", which i find a description to be as close to reality as possible. A video of them for you to decide yourself "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuAWPLdV3H8".

Their latest album is yet to come next month in February.

True Panther Sounds

Glasser's sound of the second album does not really match the feeling its name, True Panther Sounds, suggests. Rather the beat is closer to being more monotone. Though the vocals have capturing twists in some parts. It suits me well when I have to focus on work I tend to avoid for some time, the monotone beat gets me to concentrate while the unexpected vocals keep me awake. "Apply" is somewhat ambitious, and is my favorite in the album, has versions for people who likes to listen to variations.

biutiful...

the most dramatic story I have watched in quite a long time. Makes you wonder what else could go wrong in Uxbal's life... (spoiler!) experiences death of the refugees, gets close to his father's corpse at the time he knows he will experience the same soon. still he does not want to leave behind his life, his son and daughter are the only strings that attach him to life, but they are so strong he still has a case to fight in his life. Inarritu has not been this tragic and has not shown the poverty in such a naked way in other movies. And no need to say Bardem displays a great act in this movie.

the only recommendation I would give would be, go and see the movie when you feel you can take up some misery on yourself..

los abrazos rotos

here is the father complex, all the antiarchitypes of fathers. a son being gay is cast out from his father, although he is also gay.the lover of this father gets involved with the second father who does not know that he also is a father. so his son also grows up thinking he does not know his father although he spends every day with him.And there is the loved father who is suffering a deadly cancer, the only father being close to an architype - at least he has a daughter who even goes back to being a prostitute to help him.

another story with all the apparent features of almodovar, however is not satisfactory as his old movies.

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear goes down to fun corners of small experimentalization with its 3rd Album Veckatimest. Although, Two Weeks reminds me of a car commercial showing a sporty shiny car gradually going by the cliffs and although it made me check whether the song is used in a car commercial or not, it does have a moving sound with jumping piano chords and contemplating vocals.

The album stands a step ahead of others in adding a bit of crisp electro beats and genre mixtures to it. Definitely makes their music more tasteful..

François and the Atlas Mountains

françois. discovered the "one voice in the noise". the progressive piano melodies supported by Arcade Fire-like rhythms. definitely one to watch for.

http://www.myspace.com/francoisinbristol

Chagall in Pera

Chagall stands out with his imagination and the love he genuinely spreads onto his each canvas. He refuses to join any movement in particular, especially not to the Surrealist, not totally abondoning them either. Therefore his work shows realistic scenes with surrealist touches. Technically, he enjoyed the mixture of many tools; oil, ink, water.. all join to make up the bright and colorful paintings. He says himself that he "works in whatever medium likes (him) at the moment." He is not bounded by only paintings but has many works in book illustrations,such as for LaFontaine, and church glassworks as well.As seen from this painting, he is fond of using symbols such as a rooster, a sign of fertility.

The exhibition in Pera is not satisfying fully as textures in black ink make up most of the space. Only a small number of his colorful works are on display.

"In our life there is a single color which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love" he says and he makes this emotion clear with his pretty faces he draws and the colors he uses.