Boundaries

"The boundary of the mind is no greater than the boundary of the individual." Robert A. Wilson.

What is the mind one wonders? A word, a vessel, a notion, an excuse, a glorifier, a thing, an object, or a mirror? Plenty to chew on, in this space of spare time. Have been left relatively free-er than usual now that the mid-semester assignments have been handed up. Bob sits in the library attempting to finish my final essay on the media industries of China (due end of the month) early, but find that Bob's more keen to pick up books to distract himself from the objective.

Boundaries of the Mind - the individual in the fragile sciences by Robert A Wilson
The Birth and Death of Meaning by Ernest Becker
Apocalypse Theory and the ends of the world edited by Malcolm Bull.

Here we go :)

Skin - Still in love

This has got to be one of my all-time favourite ballads. By a Singapore duo called Skin -Yani and Wendy. Do check it out, and support Singapore musicians! When I first heard it in 2002 - it was so poignant with the way I felt at that time in my life, best of all, it was 'home-made'! Their band Playing in Traffic and E.P.I.C kinda started off on the local scene at the same time, and we had the pleasure of sharing a few stages with them. Go check out their music here.

Pitch Black (NZ) and Simple Pleasures

A few hours before we were due to go watch a gig by NZ dub/psy-trance duo Pitch Black - 3 hungry housemates scoured the neighbourhood for dinner (it was quite late, 9.15pm, too lazy to leave the house any earlier to look). Our first stop was just right outside our house, a little Indian joint called 'Love from India' that we initially dismissed as it didn't look promising. After a futile drive around looking for fish and chips, Chinese food, pizza and the like, amazingly we somehow ended up back at the same place. And boy was it good.




Boss was friendly, food was fragrant and fresh, and the ambience - homely. We had finally found a place we could call home outside of home (literally on the main road off where we stay!) Prices were a little on the steep side - but the Chicken Briyani, Naans and selection of Kormas were well worth the price. It cost about $11 each. But heck. Simple pleasures. :)

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Then we were off to watch the gig at Miss Libertine, just a few minutes walk from RMIT University in the city. Pitch Black were awesome live. Dedicated performers with a sweet stage presence, their brand of dub/psy/prog electronica was refreshing, smart and hynoptic. Must have burned quite a coupla' calories being led on a 1.5 hour workout! It was also interesting just looking around observing how the crowd interpreted dancing to dub layered with 4-on-the-floor - the verdict? Just do whatever you want and smile!

For more on them - go to http://www.pitchblack.co.nz/

New Drums

Presenting...Bob's swanky 'new' Tama Superstar Kit. :) Got it for only 1/3 RRP 2nd-hand from a student who's learning drums from me. Thanks to my brother and Kelly for being an integral part of making this happen.

My life is changing. And my array of snare drums. Wow. :) Blessed.

** Now to get another cymbal stand to mount my splash, and then a double bass drum pedal. And maybe, a proper drum throne.

Memories

E.P.I.C and friends at NUS Arts Fest, c. 2007

Miss performing!

And I miss - - -

Kachang Putih. Anyone recognise the legendary Kachang Putih uncle from Selegie? He's such a massive institution.

Kaki King

WOAH is all I had to say after attending Kaki King just a coupla minutes ago.

quite the one-woman army, she plays the guitar, lap steel guitar, drums and piano. all with quite an amazing control of speed, intensity, and jaw dropping technique, and plus a sampler too.

From wiki:
King's style combines fret-tapping with slap bass techniques, using the guitar for percussional beats, as well as sound layering and looping, which creates a percussive and complex sound.

to top it off...

In February 2006, King was named as a “Guitar God” by Rolling Stone Magazine, becoming the first ever female to make this list in the history of the publication.



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NOTE TO SELF
to attend more gigs to inspire bob to practise more.

I don't know.

Know much, many problems. Know little, little problems. Know nothing, no problems.

Keeping the Don't Know Mind, becoming one with the all.

...I think... Don't think so much man. =)

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It has been an intense week, assignments et al concerning Communications Policy. Man, such a dry subject. But it was through a greater understanding of how countries develop their cultural policies in the face of media and technological convergence today that one realises how inherently evil the media might be. Pretty certain staying away from working directly in the media will be a course of action for the future.