KIMBRA...

The first time I saw Kimbra I was more distracted by the scribbles, floating around on the wall behind her, than her music. And when Settle Down came along on C4, with the burning dolls and the suspect wife as child perspective, I never made the giant leap from that video to Simply On My Lips until someone pointed it out.

I think the quality of Settle Down as a NZ On Air project is the thing that first made me curious. She was this different, the art and production values were so good, and she was kiwi and the video was NZ made?

Alas no, it was Aussie made, and she was based in Melbourne, Australia. Well, at least she chose a cool city. So when researching on how much of a KIWI HERO she was, I came across the “Live at Sing Sing Studios” recordings and in particular Good Intent and Two Way Street and become transfixed, mostly by Good Intent, look read these lyrics:

“You heard the crickets at the early evening

Lurk around the opening in twos and threes

Clementine told you not to move with the breeze

It’ll take you down to places where we dare not speak”

If that doesn’t work for you, you need to hear her sing them. And she made intuitive spasm dancing look so natural. Something like Tom York and Chris Martin on a good day. With out a doubt she has an amazing voice and her vocal gymnastics are fantastic. The aggressive sound of the band she works with in those videos is just a perfect match. And she was KIWI.

Sooooooo… what is going on with this new polished plastic contained angle that all her new singles have? Who’s in control? What’s going on? … Where is Sam Phillips at? Er… at least you can be certain of a supersonic live performance. Apparently she was the high light of Splendour in the Grass. She’s playing at one of the NZFW shows in Auckland in September, her only 2011 NZ show. If I could be in Auckland I would be getting along. Free show too. If you will be there, would that I could be there with you but my two counterparts at work ARE BOTH OVERSEAS THAT WEEK. These are the type that book their holidays the year before. Who does that? How can I compete that?

Also, for your information, her album’s due to be released this Monday. (I don’t know if I can recommend it though, might be all plastic!). AANNDD I spoke with one of the producers at work and (so far yes) we may be interviewing her on the show Thursday – Friday first week of September. Mohammad and all. :D

One other thing listen to how great her voice sounds after the whiny singing of Gotye ;P

FINE BLACK CLIC BIC

This pen (the Fine Black Clic by Bic) is the holy grail of the sly office pen swap. Perfect for doodling with its silky smooth action, fine point and over-abundance of sticky black ink. I went on a crusade this afternoon looking for a box; Whitcoulls, The Warehouse and New World, bad choices unfortunately (by the way The Warehouse advertised them on it’s website?), should have tried The Stationary Warehouse or something. Somehow this seems to prove the goodness of these pens though. The legend, to me, is only rivalled by the Montblanc, though it has this against it: The “sturdy pocket clips” break too easily, you know if you really use them, like clipped in you pocket. Or when flicking them absent-mindedly. And when you try to fix them with tape it kind of blocks up the clip. And you know how annoying a pen with a broken clip is. Scratches your hand. And looks unfortunate and unready. They should reinforce them, an extra spine perhaps? The ink flow which makes them so special, definite and paint brush like, also works against them a little. Making their lifespan, ink-wise, shorter than your average ball-point. Other than that though a very important part of mental stability. Swap one from a desk today. (Only attempt if your sleight of hand is level 60 or higher).

SWEENEY IS THE NARK

Cherie Kurarangi Sweeney - Image: Stuff

Cherie Kurarangi-Sweeney is a grass roots anti child abuse campaigner. After her next-door neighbour’s child died as the result of abuse, she decided that somthing needed to be done. During the aftermath of that incident she came to the decision that she would be the person to do it, a decision that would not be welcomed by some in her neighbourhood. Ironically she had escaped to the area to heal after difficulties; she felt the place had a lot of mana.

“Mana” has to be one of the top ten misused Maori words, seriously. It means prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma and history. Figure it out. Cherie was on the show a few weeks ago and I have to say it must have been the first time in my life I have witnessed mana. It’s not just a word! It took a while to appreciate the risk she is taking “narking” on abuse and setting up a support network for others willing to take the risk.  The hairs on my arms started to prickle as I listened to her speak. It was refreshing to hear such talk amongst the clumsy innuendo, mysticism, congratulations and pseudo-science that generally baited the show. It made me feel quite emotional. The control room afterwards agreed that she was both lovely and brave. She doesn’t own a computer or have internet access at home. She uses the local library’s computer to operate her Facebook page which currently has over 10,000 followers. A real life champion. I'm thinking culture change rather than law change if you care.

AUCKLAND POWER

The Crystal Pyramids of Crystal Moutian

Second to last shot just before I step into a underwater hole and camera dies

 

If you’re ever a tourist in West Auckland you MUST visit Crystal Mountain. Even if you’re not into crystals it’s definitely worth it on curiosity alone. To be sure, at the time, our group didn’t consist of crystal people (I think) but when you’re heading out to Bethells Beach and there stands a random yet official brown NZ Roading sign saying “Crystal Mountain” and you’re on holiday, and there are a number of curious people in that group, strange things happen. For me it was a weird moment that was actually almost “A MOMENT”. A moment of connection. Hmmm… The horse float and house-truck looking trucks in the parking lot should have given it away but we just walked in oblivious.

After the human sized crystal formations at the “mountain” entrance the next indication of differentness was the “Jesus Is Lord” placards that hung from the walls. I think they were for sale too. Stepping inside the museum/shop proper I was passed by a women who had just made a purchase of a few of the many life restoring stones available. There were quite a few people inside considering the back road location. Anyway, as the women passed me she plunged her hand into a tray of discounted crystals that stood against the wall, and a moment of ecstasy/indulgence/comfort/power crossed her face. I later thought there was a good chance she was faking the power part as the discounted crystals looked well handled and I had overheard another crystal women, particular about her expensive purchase, say she needed to test all the crystals she was considering behind the secure glass door because a lot of them would have their power drained if too many people had touched them. Was this merely a ruse to channel them herself? If so she wasn’t being very Christian. And hadn’t absorbed any of the 80’s vintage Pentecostal songs playing over the sound system. Stonewise the Lapis Lazuli was definitely a best seller. There was only one left in the pick’n’mix section. Though they looked kind of plastic, I respected them for their history. There were also these clear crystals that looked like they had formed around charcoal stick like crystals, how did this happen? In one questionable section they had stones attached to every cheap tourist trinket imaginable. Yes anyway, I don’t know if it was the shared strangeness or the crystal power, either way, by the end of the Crystal Mountain tour I felt CONNECTED to the group.

By the way I initially was going to write about Bethells Beach and how I DROWNED my camera when I stepped into this hole while we were exploring these sea caves but thankfully realised it was really not that interesting so I have saved you from that boredom. It would be like writing about how easy it is to break the clip on your average ball point pen… though I think a certain ball point pen would make a good post topic… De nada. Don’t mention it. I apologise for the grammar also.

Conundrum. Gated entrance to an island covered in bush (Bethells Beach)

Lifeless shell of a C-Lux 2. R.I.P.

Two of my favourite pictures taken with the late C-Lux 2

Having found nothing I loved, I wish to spit out everything I ever tasted