No Music No Life 02/2008

itunes: Goldfrapp, Seventh Tree (2008)

When it comes to music, this year is going to be the Divas' year, Janet (Feb), Mariah (Apr), Madonna (Apr) and now Whitney Houston!! (end of the year). Hurray...

The list of CDs that I have bought in the first month of 2008:


Erykah Badu, New Amerykah Part One (2008)
The album in 4 years. This time she is back with new sound, her most hip hop album to date, heavy in beats, kind of futuristic and experimental. It came as a surprise to me particularly when I get so used to her groovy neo-soul genre in the last 3 albums. Frankly speaking, it's really hard to accept at the first hearing, but even now I may not really enjoy as much as I enjoyed her previous ones, I'm still glad to see the Erykah's new re-invention.


Goldfrapp, Black Cherry (2003)
I found out this duo debut album Felt Mountain by accident and even now it remains one of my beloved album. I went on to get their third album Supernature becos of the mesmerising dance single Ooh La La. With the new album Seventh Tree coming, I was thinking I should buy this album to complete their discography. True enough, they never fail to disappoint, the music direction of this album is a dramatically change from Felt Mountain, turning towards a lush electronic sound from the previous romantic, errie and groomy album.


Goldfrapp, Seventh Tree (2008)
New sound direction for Goldfrapp in 2008, after the 2 dancing Black Cherry and Supernature, they slow down the tempo and throw in the acoustic guitars, displaying a more warmer and personal sounding, without reducing to mere Unplugged album. I would say this is the most down-to-earth and beautiful Goldfrapp album to date. Really satisfying and pleasing to my ears.


Original Soundtrack, Juno (2008)
I love this sweet and smart indie comedy and this indie folksy soundtrack best fits and is a perfect background for this film. If you love this movie, I'm sure you love this soundtrack too. Absolutely refreshing!!

Childhood Nostalgia

itunes: Whitney Houston, The Greatest Hits (2000)

I realised something recently.
When one start recalling and feeling nostalgic about the past more and more frequently, it's a sign of aging. Looks like no matter how much anti-aging cosmetics that can be splashed onto a face, there is still no substance meant for the anti-aging for the heart and mind. Even though when some optimists may reckon age is just a number, one still cant beat the biological aging right?

Therefore, the logic is why spent money on anti-aging beauty products? Just age graciously, that's the most beautiful of all, is not it? Just look at Audrey Hepburn and Robert Redford. Tsk tsk this blog is out of point now.....hehe


This is heartwarming. I found this old school 70s -80s playground at Dover this morning. Never expect to see this anymore after most of the playground has been upgraded by plastic ones in the early 2000s.


As a kid, I loved to sit on the arches, as if I'm already on top of the world.


The sandy compound. I always remembered once I found a dead bird under the tree, and I brought it to the sand and buried it. A few days later, out of curiosity, I went back to the site and unearth the bird, saw muggots crawling on its body. I never went back to the same site anymore. How silly! haha I guess as a child, there is no such thing called fear, just only curiosity. There is no way I'm going to touch any dead animals now.


The swing. One of my favourite childhood outdoor toy.




In those days, the swing is made of iron chain and a cut tyre.

The only 2 items that absent here were the concrete slides and the metal merry-go-round. That will be my perfect childhood nostalgia.

Lunar New Year

itunes: Roberta Flack, Softly With These Songs (1993)

Today is the last day of the Lunar New Year. Two weeks of celebration just come and go at a brink of an eye. At this modern time, by the 3rd day, most of us are back at work despite the festive mood is still linger on.

Talking about the traditional house visiting. I have not been following my parents for relatives visitation since I was a teenager. I always find it a chore and bloody waste of time. But in the recent years, I did have a change of mindset which I do not even know why. Still, I find it a chore and time consuming. I have in fact volunteered to go with my surprised parents. Guess I'm more mature now and should be doing what I ought to do, paying respects to the elders.

Well well well, same old questions will still be asked by the seniors whose memory still fixed on the last impression which I was still a school boy then. Yes, I have questions asking me when am I graduating.....by virture of such a happy occasion, I shall forgive all for this time lag error. For those who are less senile, the pressing question will be when am I getting married since I'm getting 'not young' anymore. Over the years my answers to this difficult question has slowly evolved tremendously so much so that some smart elders have stopped asking it altogether. You see, Charles Dawin's theory applies here, life will find it way out. HAHAHA. All I need to say is "next year!"

However, recent years' visitation has made me realise that that my uncles and aunts have aged more each time I see them, let alone my parents. I was sitting at a quiet corner, observing their conversation, to think how much they adore me when I was a kid. On the other hand, there is another group of younger cousins chatting merrily some whom I dun even remember their names after all these years. Guess I have lost in time space so long that I recognise no one and no one knows me when I re-appeared. Particularly this year, it really pained me when I saw my second aunt, looking frail and suffering from the pain of arthritis, and at that instant I realise I love and respect them as much as I love my parents. After all, they still adore me the same old way. They are always there for their nephew, it just that I slip away the past years, it's really a shame indeed.

As one age, one learns to treasure more as time is running out.....
I'm back to catch up with the time lost cos I dun wan to have regrets in life.

Lat 65° N Dream 1

itunes: OST Brokeback Mountain (2005)

The moment I confirmed the bookings onboard Singapore Airlines A380 9 May to London and Iceland Air 10 May to Reykjavik, I'm one step closer to the Lat 65° N Dream. 2 full weeks on this land of fire and ice! It is going to be the longest holiday I have since 1995 when I spent 1 week in Scotland.

The planning stage is tedious as there are a lot of read up and research to be done since we are going to venture driving around the island ourselves. It is like a great escapade from pollution and concrete.



Tentatively this will be route taken, considering of the sights we want to see:

Surtshellir/Stefanshellir Lava Tubes
Hindisvik Seal Colony
Hvitserkur Sea Stack
Husavik Whale Watching (Minke Whales, White-beaked Dolphins, Harbour Porpoises, Humpback Whales and Puffin Birds)
Hljodaklettar Echoing Rocks
Hafragilsfoss Waterfall
Dettifoss Waterfall
Selfoss Waterfall
Myvatn Lake
Storagja Water Fissures
Hverfell Volcano
Skutustaoagigar Pseudocraters
Leirhnjukur Crater
Kisilgurverksmioja Diatomite Plant
Hverarond Geothermal Field
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lake
Breioarion Glacial Lagoon
Skaftafellsjokull Glacier
Svartifoss Waterfall
Skeioararsandur Desert
Strokkur Hot Spring
Pingvellir Plain Valley
Blue Lagoon

There is also a place that I want to visit as well. The Westman Islands, 15 islands plus numerous rocks, were formed by submarine volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. The youngest one, Surtsey, was formed in an eruption which lasted from 1963 to 1967. This archipelago is named as the 'Galapagos of the North'. Well, got to see how the final schedule goes to fit this place in. And hopefully the Midnight Sun, Northern Lights and Bjork, even though I know chances are slim at this time of the year.

Listen To This: Without Prejudice

itunes: ウーア UA, Golden Green (2007)

If you like Sarah McLachlan, then you will LOVE this song!
It's soooooooooooooooooo beautiful.





Make a guess who sings this song, you might be surprised.
Let me know. Nope, it's not Jewel.