2014 // Music

It took a surprisingly long time to wade through the songs that not only provided that soundtrack to my year but also came out this year. I tend to find it hard to keep with music of my time and gravitate towards romanticised notions of the past. While there's nothing wrong with appreciating what has come before, I don't want to be a person so stuck in the past that they miss the present.

This playlist of twenty tracks has a lot of the things I've felt and thought this year infused into it. It's a playlist of growth and change, of realisation of how lucky I am - for the love of those around me me, for the comforts I take for granted, the opportunities many never will have and for the potential yet realised and possibly unlimited.

There's also a lot of women in this playlist, as well as some undiluted, unapologetic pop. It shows the growth of someone in their understanding of their personal relationship to feminism and their realisation that liking what you like is something to be celebrated. The song you dance to might not be the song that makes you realise that everything will eventually be okay - but that's fine. Everything has it's place in this world. I'm old enough to embrace even the less cool parts of me. Which, ironically, I think are pretty damn cool in their own way. Being an obscure music-loving automaton has to become monotonous. And music should be anything but. And the ladies? They're my ongoing mission to put more female creators in my life. In art history, they're often willfully forgotten. In many other contemporary fields they're often given less serious consideration. And in the music that marked the beginning of my aural love affair, they were rarely visibly present. After years of listening almost exclusively to men's voices, I wanted to even the playing field.

Lykke Li and Sharon Van Etten managed to break and reform my heart this year while S made me smile through painful teenaged injuries still present deep down. Keaton Henson and Asgeir soothed me with the pure beauty of their music. Meg Myers and Yasmine Hamdan made me blush. Florrie, Marina, Iggy and Ariana made me dance. Perfume Genius made me full-on weep. The artists on here have all affected my life in one way or another and I think that's all an artist can really hope for, that in such an over-saturated world, you make someone pause and listen.

2014 was a beautiful year in many, many ways - let's hope for an even more moving 2015.

Hope you all had a safe and mostly happy year! What jams got to you?

Gift Guide 2014 - Records

In this year's series of gift guides, I've tried to give a bit more variation of kinds of presents and also multi-tasking items. Up this time are ten records I recommend from this year. The links may be one particular format or another but, in most cases, it's the record itself and not the format that I'm suggesting.

There are three soundtracks on the list. The first is Hans Zimmer's soundtrack for Interstellar. The movies was enjoyable, well-made and beautiful to look at (if a little too well-rounded in the plot department) but the real star of the show was the soundtrack. Atmospheric, epic and emotional - exactly what you would expect of Zimmer. This record would be a good idea for Zimmer fans, Nolan fans, fans of the movie or anyone interested in soundtracks. Another fantastic score is Dev Hynes' work for Palo Alto, directed by Gia Coppola and based on a book by James Franco. I have yet to actually see the movie but the score is perfection. Dreamy teenage melancholy and restlessness. Again suitable for people of multiple fandoms or someone who wants some seriously chill listening. The final soundtrack is the Awesome Mix Vol I from Guardians of the Galaxy which is jam-packed with eighties and seventies gold. Very much an awesome mix - one of those collections of songs that has you saying, "Aw, damn, I forgot how much I love this song!"

The next record is a bit of a cheat as it was actually released at the end of 2013 but I've been vibing on it so much, I had to include it. It's the second appearance of Dev Hynes on this list, this time as part of his musical project, Blood Orange, and the album Cupid Deluxe. This is one of those albums so jammed with perfect, danceable songs that you could easily listen to on a loop. I can't actually count the amount of times someone has walked in on me dancing like a lunatic to this album - the utter shame. But it's that good. A little R&B + a lotta electronica = goodness.

Funnily enough, Iceland's really hot right now, isn't it? The beer, the scenery, the aesthetic...and the music. Asgeir (Trausti) is one of those exceptionally young, exceptionally gifted humans that makes you feel bad about yourself but you forgive him with releases like his deluxe edition of In The Silence. The folksy, electronic, singer-songwriter blend in both English and his native tongue produces a record with great emotional swells, atmospheric noise and catchy pop songs all wonderfully placed together.

Keaton Henson's Romantic Works with Ren Ford is an entirely instrumental departure for the artist, but a genius one. It seems he can make anything and everything work. This album is lovely, makes creative use of sounds and drags me into the author's own pining for a time and romanticism long lost to us.

Four of the records are from female creators that I worship and whose releases I was blown away by this year. The first is the uber-limited physical cassette E.P. by Irish Feminist garage rock band, Sissy (who are fantastic live, by the by) not only are the songs witty, funny and pointed but they're damn catchy too. I actually have number one of a hundred run of the cassettes which can be purchased online and come with a download code. Cannot recommend more for anyone with a person in their life who likes Irish music, feminism and abortion-related, Enya-sampling songs. Similar in a lot of ways is S' Cool Choices but with a little more in the way of numbers of tracks. It's poignant at times, exuberant at others, music unafraid of voicing an opinion and exceptionally beautiful. I can't remember how I stumbled across it during the summer but it's an album I obsessed over and listened to on a loop for probably a solid week - which isn't something I do much anymore. A good choice for someone looking for new music as most are unlikely to have heard of this little gem. Plus, it's a cool choice (geddit?)

The Lykke Li and Sharon Van Etten records are two that profoundly affected me this year. They put a lot of my thoughts and feelings into words and music in a rather cathartic way. Both are similar in lots of ways - emotional, full of loss and love and questions. Li and Van Etten's voices and words will shatter your heart in the best possible way and both albums are true works of art. These are for the romantics in your life, the people that are a wee bit maudlin but okay with that. Also, those covers.

So, those are my picks - what do y'all think? Any 2014 favourites of your own in there?

Favourites du Moment.

Here's the things I've been into of late!

Flipped.

This movie is achingly sweet. It makes me sad for modern dating and wish that times were simpler. Also, it's got a killer soundtrack.

This is the End.

I was thoroughly entertained throughout. Sure, it has it's issues but who/what doesn't? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone etc. etc. etc. Plus, James Franco. Hello.

Oh, You Pretty Things!

 A webseries via The Platform on youtube which I enjoyed. The ending left me wanting more and that's always good. Yes, it's a bit of a soap opera but, hey, sometimes I want mindless shows with pretty people in it. Is that a crime? Bonus: some great original songs.

Tumblr.

I'm late to the party, I know, but I've only just really gotten into Tumblr. Bye, Life. Facebook has taken a major backseat. PS My tumblr is rad - follow meeee!

Nutella.

We've rekindled our love affair. It's a beautiful thing.

Cherries.

Finally I found some in Dublin. Why was it so difficult?

This tee.

Chloé Eau de Parfum.

Douse me in it, plz.

Sharon van Etten.

Sure, she breaks my heart but who needs a whole one when the alternative sounds like this? So gorgeous.

Dev Hynes.

An actual genius. The Palo Alto soundtrack is perf.

Frengers by Mew.

One of my all-time favourite bands and albums. If you like this too, we will surely be pals. Or soulmates. Their gig in Dublin in 2009 is still the best I've ever been to.

Cleo by Hilary O'Kelly. 

 I was already obsessed with Cleo but this book has made it worse. Informative and fascinating and so easy to read! I usually lose the will to read for pleasure when researching which tells you how good this is.

That's all for now! What have you guys been loving?

Wide-Eyed and Blind Playlist XVI

I'm not nearly established/followed enough to do this but, screw it, I feel weird addressing vaguely the same group of people namelessly all the time. So, I'm naming you, dearest readers. I hope you don't mind. How do you all feel about the Lilettes (sounds like a razor/sixties girlband)? I feel this name is kinda cute but how do you feel? Speak out! Let me hear your voices! I long to.

Damn, I'm in a weird mood.

But that's kinda the place this particular playlist is coming from.

Most of my recent playlists have been dancey and happy and upbeat. But I'm a maudlin feck a lot of the time and this week, I've been majorly stressed about life and the future while trying to research a dissertation. Research lends itself to being alone a lot and, while I love being by myself, it's not always necessarily the best thing for me. I tend to go into an overthinking overdrive where I convince myself I'll amount to nothing, never get an adult job and die unloved. Killing your buzz yet?

So, this playlist is the last of me indulging my sadness. One last wallow...and what better way to wallow than to great music? My favourite way to do it is to turn my lights off, light some candles, lie on the floor and, hopefully, by the time I get up I'll have gotten over myself.

Here's hoping.

And if anyone is feeling this way too, have some positivity from one of the wisest, best, most wonderful people I know, Sarah: "Everyone is special." Now get your grump on and know tomorrow's a new day.

Favourites du moment.

.

So, here's some of the stuff I've been majorly feeling lately....all gathered on my vanity table. Now how did that happen? 

There are a couple repeats from my last favourites post. I'm still loving the Surya Brasil Sapien Women Body Moisturiser and accompanying shower gel (not pictured) - they just smell so nice! And the Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic has been a real saviour during hormonal breakouts lately. 

New is the Macadamia Oil Extract Hair Treatment I picked up (in the Euro shop - obvs). My only criticism of an otherwise solid product is that it doesn't have a dropper and trying to get the 4-5 drops only that they recommend for long hair is a pain. I usually end up washing a lot of excess off and wasting product. But I do notice my hair is extra silky when I use it!

For lips I've been switching out my regular Dr Bronner organic balm for one of the many Baby Lips I bought over Christmas. I felt I really should use them...and the Intense Care has been great. Again, it's the scent that's swaying me but I like the colour combo on the packaging a lot too! I'm a terrible sucker for cute packaging. My nails have been getting more attention than normal recently and I'm really liking the colour combo of Jessica's Starfish Glow - a bright pink shade - with Mavala's The Elle Orange - a reddish orange. People keep complimenting it stating they'd never put pink and red together normally but that it looks cool. Silly old fashion rules...pink and red can totes work when done right!

With jewellery I'm adoring these Cos earrings I got at the new store opening in Dublin a few weeks back. I haven't worn them much as they are kind of a pain to put on but I will crack them out for the next fancy thing  go to! And I've been wearing my Tatty Devine cat ring again lately. So cute.

I've been reading Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane - not as much as I'd like as I always find it difficult to commit to a book when researching but it's Neil Gaiman! And so far so good!

Lastly, I'm listening to plenty of Girls as I picked up their Broken Dreams Club in a charity shop for €1.50 and Sharon Van Etten's new stuff purely because it's AMAZING. I'll leave you with the new single. Enjoy x

PS. What have you guys been loving? I'd love to know!