YESTERDAY... AND TODAY.

Yesterday I had seldom (if ever) heard of The Field. I might maybe have a remix of a Foals' song, but that's it. So I basically didn't know the band. And today, I guess I know a little more about them (at least I'm not as ignorant as I used to be).

My Field experience goes back to Nov. 19, so this post isn't really following up on my agenda, but still, I wanted to share my pictures with you.

The Field is a Swedish artist from Stockholm, Sweden (I know... I'm into Scandinavians lately). I guess we can define his/their genre (btw, they always speak about The Field using the "third person", although they were 4 on stage - but I guess he's the artist, and the others just add some musical touch to his samples and beats), anyway, back to the genre, which is classified as "minimal techno", beats me, but I guess that's the closest it gets to.

The picture above really translates the mood of their show: soft, often romantic but experimental. Like an artist painting a live canvas, he creates his music live for his audience. In an interview I read online for Pitchfork, he stated that the process of his musical creation "starts when I hear there's a song I want to make something else of". He samples it, looks for bits and pieces that he really likes and tries to rearrange them. "It could go backward, forwards, sideways, everywhere". He doubles it, loops some new things, new instruments but of course the beat. Then he mixes it live. Always.

"That's why sometimes you hear this loud burst of stuff. And it sounds like a mistake. That's just me mixing everything. I mix all the elements live to two channels. I have no return. I can't get it back... or I'd have to rearrange the whole song in a way."

What really hit me was the complete lack of vocals (I'm a huge vocals fan since I'm mainly into rock and indie bands with your traditional guitar/bass/drum players and, of course, the lead singer), but I still like electronic music as well... electronic music with vocals (or any kind of speech/text/spoken message). I'm not saying some chick should be singing some lousy lyrics on some "dancesque/bassesque" music, but still, when there's no vocals, I tend to get bored pretty quickly.

The mood & atmosphere of their show was therefore pretty mellow. Which I tend to like once in a while (not to mention that on this particular day it felt perfect). There wasn't a big crowd (maybe the weekday effect?), but everyone seemed to be exhilarated by his (his real name is Alex Willner - the guy with the fisherman beanie on the pictures) way of sampling sections of songs into simple elements. In the end, the hypnotic repetition of his lo-fi samples left us hanging (or should I stay, standing) in a vibrant atmosphere of surprising emotion.

Here's a sample of a cover version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Something" originally from The Korgis (UK/1980) but covered by many artists and musicians. It was the first song they played at their show (and the only song with vocals). One of the 4 guys (the other guy standing next to Alex) came to the mic and introduced the song by singing/saying the sentence "Change your heart, look around you" only once. THAT'S IT. NOW ENJOY.

MEET ME AT LONDON'S DORCHESTER HOTEL

Last week I went to see The Sounds play live in Lausanne, at Les Docks.

Like Gossip (see post below), I've always been a big fan of their music and style. For those of you who have never heard of The Sounds, shame on you - especially you Swiss people! I was kind of disappointed (and happy) to see their show wasn't sold out. And why was I also happy? Simply because I got to be in the front row during the whole concert.

Okay, so let's start with some basic facts:

The Sounds are a Swedish "new wave" band founded 10 years ago (just like Gossip), in 1999. Their debut album "Living in America" was released in 2002 and has great songs on it like "Dance With Me", "Living in America", "Hit Me", "Rock'n Roll" or "Like a Lady".

Their second album "Dying to Say This to You" was released 4 years later, in 2006, and features amazing songs like: "Song With a Mission", "Queen of Apology", "Tony the Beat", "Painted by Numbers" or the more calmer song of "Night After Night".

Speaking of the album, the girl on the left of the cover (see below) is none other than DJ Leigh Lezark of the NYC-based DJ trio "The Misshapes". She also appeared in The Sounds' "Tony the Beat" music video and is also an international model (H&M and Gap ad campaigns, Henry Holland runway walk at the 2007 London Fashion Week, etc.). The other girl on the cover (right side) is a friend of Leigh's called Alexis Page.

Their third and most recent album "Crossing the Rubicon" was released in June, 2009. And I have to admit it: I first listened to their new songs on my iPhone on the way to the concert (gawsh I guess my final exams this summer did indeed cut me off from the real world). But I still had an amazing and great time. They played some of my favorite songs, Maja was amazing (she really interacts with her public: likes to touch them, look them straight in the eyes, and even give them the mic - btw if you ever read this, thanks for giving me and my friend Sarah the opportunity to sing some Lalala's for you).

After a lot of shoe touching, necklace grabbing, winks, sing-alongs, screams and laughter, the concert was finished. And I'm happy I finally got to see them live.

Since I didn't have enough pictures to make a full album, I decided I'd post them all on the blog. For the info, I wasn't allowed to bring my big camera, so I used a small Nikon Coolpix, and although it's not my usual style, I kind of like how the pictures turned out! I even got to take some videos, in very poor quality, I have to admit, but still, it gives a good idea of what the gig was like.

The Sounds - Painted By Numbers

The Sounds - Home Is Where The Heart Is

The acoustic version of "Home Is Where The Heart Is" was my favorite song of the show. A duo composed of Maja and her pianist Jesper. That simple: her voice, his piano. Nothing more. Nothing less. And seriously, it gave me the shivers. And I loved how she had to lit up a cigarette for this song and only smoked it once the song was over. I've always been a big fan of Maja's. Her voice, her style, her beauty. EVERYTHING. Her voice is one of my favorite in female vocals, her style is 100% rock'n'roll and her beauty, simply swedish (i'm a blonde myself so this is just blonde-pride).

POP, POP, POP, GOES THE WORLD...

...NEW SALVATION!

I've decided I was going to write this post in English... Simply because it's more appropriate.

I've always been a big Gossip fan. I have all their albums, from their first self-titled EP, when Beth was only... hum... 18 (and part of those weird kids nobody talks to that ends up meeting other weird kids and making an amazing band) to their new "Music For Men" album that I just can't get enough of.

I was first introduced to Gossip when I heard their song "Jason's Basement" from their second album "Movement". That was 6 years ago. In a snowboard DVD. I don't exactly remember which one it was (an all-girls snowboard movie I guess) but it was playing in Vicky Miller's part (a rad snowboarder from the UK). And gawsh, it was an adrenaline-pumping song to snowboard on.

Then came "Standing in the Way of Control" with their new drummer Hannah Billie. I consider it to be one of their best albums since new elements of dance-punk were incorporated to their raw and urgent sound.

With a few Live albums in between, their long awaited album "Music for Men" was released in 2009. And it was worth the wait! Oh thee, beware the "tour de force"! With this album they simply proved that their anthem "Standing in the Way of Control", wasn't going to be a one-hit-wonder. I have to admit though that I'm not a big fan of the proportions their "Heavy Cross" song took all over the planet - especially here in Switzerland. I was bummed to hear it on my local radio station, especially the cheesy-hit-music-only-one that everyone listens to. But I guess that had to happen, eventually. The alternative becomes mainstream. Anyway. ENOUGH SAID.

On November 24, I got to see them for the 3rd time live, in Switzerland at the Fri-Son of Fribourg (first time being at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2008 and then at the Melt! Festival this summer in Germany). And gawsh did I have the time of my life. First because I got to take some pictures with all the other photographers (you know... way up front). Which means you can only shoot the first 3 songs... and I have to admit it wasn't that easy, especially since I was shooting my FIRST big concert. You really have to be concentrated and press the button at the right moment. So many factors can mess up your pictures and send them straight to the trash. First there's the lighting (which was kinda weird, I have to admit). And then there's Beth. Who can't seem to stay still *laughs*. That's what I admire about her too, she knows how to move on stage. And it's a pleasure to see so much energy (not to mention she has a great sense of humor as well).

I guess the funniest moment of the concert was when someone threw an 5-XL classic brief type panty (you know those big underwear made for your grandma, but that are a little sexier). Anyway, Beth caught it in its flight towards her and wore it till the end of the show. She even said that it was the first time in her 10-year-career that someone had thrown her that on stage (and it fitted her perfectly).

MAYER, WILL YOU MARRY ME?

Je sais que je suis un peu en retard avec le suivi des posts, mais pardonnez-moi, j'ai énormément à faire à côté de The Flashdiggers.

Bref, oui... qui ne peut pas tomber sous le charme de Mayer Hawthorne? Rien que son vinyl en forme de coeur en ferait craquer plus d'une. Et sa présence sur scène? N'en parlons pas... Il sait parler aux femmes, que ce soit par sa voix, son regard ou sa gestuelle.

Le 12 novembre dernier j'ai donc pu assister à son concert à Zürich et grâce à une amie, photographier le concert aux premières loges (merci J.). Le concert se déroulait au club Mascotte, qui au premier abord semblait intéressant, mais pas en complète harmonie avec le style Mayer Hawthorne. Ca s'est rapidement révélé être le cas (malheureusement). J'étais donc rapidement déçue de ne pas pouvoir photographier les gens et l'ambiance comme je le fais d'habitude. Le résultat: pas assez de clichés pour faire un album complet sur theflashdiggers.com. Je me suis donc limitée au concert et me suis laissée complètement emporter par sa voix.

D'ailleurs pour l'anecdote, j'ai eu l'occasion de les recroiser au Romandie, à Lausanne et en discutant avec Mayer, il m'a confirmé qu'en effet, le public à Zürich n'était pas en harmonie avec son show. "They were there to go clubbing, and not listen to me". Dommage. En tout cas, nous on a kiffé!

CELEBRATION OF PRISM

Vendredi dernier le label Prism fêtait ses 3 ans à La Dépendance, à Renens. Pour ceux qui n'avaient pas capté (comme moi d'ailleurs), c'était également l'occasion de fêter l'anniversaire du fondateur de la marque, Fabien Baudin. Deux raisons donc pour doublement faire la fête!

Pour ceux qui ne connaîtraient pas La Dépendance, c'est une maison non-habitée à l'ouest de Lausanne surplombant les rails et entourrée de milliers de bouteilles en verre (d'ailleurs l'entrée aux toilettes est à vos risques et périls).

L'ambiance y est donc assez brute et trash: murs taggés, canapés déchirés, vieilles herbes... bref, de quoi émoustiller nos papilles photographiques.

L'intérieur avait complètement été décoré par l'équipe de Prism... 1 semaine de boulot! Mais le résultat était vraiment bien et en parfaite harmonie avec le lieu. Plusieurs salles avaient donc spécialement été préparées pour l'occasion:

Sagex et néons pour une ambiance glaciale (ça ne vous rappelle pas un certain film?)

Paillettes et sa bite de taureau (ça fait carrément amuse-bouche)

Vieux pneus et lumières-strobs pour une ambiance 100% paranoiac

La salle principale des festivités: concert et DJs avec boule de disco

Et après être arrivé à la fin du labyrinthe (tout ceci sans renverser sa bière svp), le salle du bar avec son mur de t-shirts Prism (qui ont tous d'ailleurs été "calmement" distribués pendant la soirée)

"Je l'ai eu, je l'ai eu!", ces mots résonnent encore dans ma tête lorsque cette fille brandit le t-shirt qu'elle avait tant souhaité recevoir.

En résumé, cette soirée était en parfaite harmonie avec le lieu, la déco, la zik et les gens présents. Pour notre part, c'était un plaisir de pouvoir y photographier, et je crois que les photos ci-dessous parlent pour elles-mêmes: