album reviews The April Edition

“The Red Blooded Years” -aKing

After looking at the packaging thoroughly and deciding that the artwork is astounding the inlay booklet offers an array of spectacular craftsmanship, really beautiful images and cutaway pages and intricate embossing. The album itself delivers melodic songs but yet there is a sense of reasonable logic as the lyrics cover the misfortune of everyday life, the relation between the band and listener easily building a connection. Laudo Liebenberg offers a range vox that compliments his fellow band mates Hennie Van Halen, Jaco ‘Snake’ Venter and newest member Andrew Davenport. It would be fair to comment that this album does show a fair amount of growth in their music and if this is the type of growth they are showcasing we can only expect the exceptional, “The Red Blooded Years” is a definitive portrayal of where aKing is headed in intellectual growth. The two songs that stuck out the most was ‘CUT-THROAT TONGUE & RAZOR’ which is just rock grit and roll, then “Weak man’s world’s” an invigorating song with lyrics that end with a thought of “so smile without a reason”.

Holiday Murray: Holiday Murray

Self titled Debut album from Capetonian band which has high a sense of pop-rock fused with folk rock yet a hint of ska. Deeply rooted in their ethnicity and vibrance throughout their single “Jirey” one must note that they are intense within their lyrical realm but ever near their musical realm following through to the notes that compliment the words. Holiday Murray is a band that has quite a set of instruments behind and the muso’s portraying those multiple talents are James Tuft – Vox, Guitar, Ellis Silvermann – Drums, Justin Davenport – Guitar, Vox and Chris Carter – Bass, Violin, Keys, Vox. So with such an eclectic array the fusion they bring forth is definitely something to look forward to. Find them here: http://www.facebook.com/holidaymurray

The Strokes: “Under the Cover Of Darkness”

The Strokes still seem comfortable in their old style that we have become accustomed to however there may be a tainted technical adherence to their advancement in the music itself. There seems almost an untimely progression yet an adulthood arising from their last album to this one. Can’t help but feel that this album was purely made for manufacturing reasons but on the plus side it’s still the Indie rock and Roll we learnt to love from The Strokes. If one is an avid follower of the Strokes then surely one will admire the tenacious loyalty to not copping from the originality they first introduced to us.

The Artist and Her Story...

If it Don't Make Sense... Reread.


It’s not an intention of mine to write about myself but people generally in some form or another unintentionally let slip some character traits. That’s why I have a passion for books, art, film, media and culture, in general there’s always character traits there no denying that,
So do you want to know a secret? Sure you do, we all do, nothing like conspiracy. I mean all conspiracies are built upon secrets, as are governments; that’s another novel; my secret is I’m not sure if these words/works are full of me. They could be, I guess? I merely suspect you getting an essence just an essence of me, why is that a secret? Well when people first meet one never knows their history, only with time. So behind each work there’s a story behind the story, a secret,

“I know that’s a secret, for its whispered everywhere”
William Congreve

Since I was a child I've for one, been me, I hope I achieved it but alas I carry the human flaw of insecurity, don’t we all. However I am me, a character of note; I have testimonials; but along the way I forgot to set goals, rather silly, vast knowledge in many a field. What do they say “jack of all trades, master of none”. I’ve studied a lot, many different qualifications, I’m one subject short of a degree (I do not agree to favoritism or authority, I voice my opinion yet another novel yet another secret). Often when I think of educational institutions George Orwell comes to mind. (However I would love to become a teacher, don’t ask). I think in a way I forgot to set goals because I was too busy being me. Then on the 27th of May 2000 I found out I was pregnant and it was no longer about me, on the 19th of September it was about me and her and now I am forced to set goals. And now it’s 2010 and now only am I ready to be me and accept me for who I am, what I've got and where I'm headed.

“I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me.
I take my spirit my spirit and crash my mirrors,
Now the whole world is here for me to see”
Jimi Hendrix

My persona that you may see is merely an illusion, A few get past the illusion but not many do, it’s odd though, you may.

“Da mihi castitatem et contintiam, sed noli modo.”
‘Give me chastity and continence, but not yet’
St Agatha of Hippo


Tommorrow I may wake up with different view point.

Image taken by my daughter and also just my thought for the day.