"Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk

Today is the first anniversary of the death of musical genius Mark Hollis, lead singer and songwriter of the post-rock band Talk Talk. And I am listening to the phenomenal "Life's What You Make It," released in 1986 on their "The Colour of Spring" album...and this song sounds as powerful and fresh today. The tumbling, abrupt drums, the otherworldly organ, the blisteringly grave guitar, and the unchained earnest vocals singing such unadorned yet crucial lyrics all meld to make this a timeless--and genreless--song. While I have posted this gem before, the band's Youtube channel recently posted this official video from the time which features a slightly different version: Hollis' vocals sound like they might be a different take and the animal sounds at the top and end are unique to the video.

Baby, life's what you make it
Can't escape it
Baby, yesterday's favourite
Don't you hate it?

(Everything's all right)
Life's what you make it
(Everything's all right)

Baby, life's what you make it
Don't backdate it
Baby, don't try to shade it
Beauty's naked

(Everything's all right)
Life's what you make it
(Everything's all right)
What you make it

Baby, life's what you make it
Celebrate it, anticipate it
Yesterday's faded, nothing can change it
Life's what you make it

(Everything's all right)
Life's what you make it

If you are unfamiliar with their catalog, aside from this and their other hit "It's My LIfe," I urge you to do yourself a huge favor and listen to not only "The Colour of Spring" but also the incredible sonic masterpieces "Spirit of Eden" and "Laughing Stock."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_Talk

Find A Way Through, Around, Or Over

These are the lyrics to a live version of the song "Simultaneous" by Puscifer.

Seems timely.

Please read:

We in the modern age operate under the dangerous misconception regarding our heritage. If one should ask the average citizen whether or not they believe humans are more evolved than our ancient ancestors they will more often than not express the belief that we are indeed far, far superior.

Surely we are more sophisticated and more capable of reason than the hunter gatherers of 13,000 BC. More civilized than the marauding Vikings of 1,000 years ago. We imagine these peoples as ignorant, primitive, barbaric. We are not those peoples.

In fact Homo sapiens--modern humans--share an inherited gene pool with the earliest hominids like Australopithecus who lived 2.5 million years ago. We possess no significant physiological differences than Cro-Magnon or the Neanderthals. Nor does evidence suggest our tendencies toward the barbaric have lessened over time.

On the contrary, present day humans are capable of the same self destructive behavior, the same crimes against humanity, the same violent power struggles as our ancestors. We appear to be doomed by our DNA to repeat the same destructive behaviors our forebearers have repeated for millennia. If anything, our problem solving skills have actually diminished with the advent of technology and our ubiquitous modern conveniences.

And yet, despite our predisposition toward fear-driven hostility, toward what we anachronistically term 'primitive' behavior another instinct is just as firmly encoded in our makeup. We are capable--as our ancestors were--of incredible, breathtaking acts of kindness.

Every hour of every day a man risks his life at a moment's notice to save another. Forget for a moment the belligerent, benevolent billionaires who grant the unfortunate a crumb of cost-free cake.

I speak of pure acts of selflessness. The mother who rushes into the street to save a child from a speeding vehicle. The person who runs into a burning building to reach a family trapped on an upper story. The man who can barely swim who dives into a lake to rescue a drowning stranger.

Such actions, such moments, such unconscious selfless decisions define what it is to be human.

Should the oceans rise,
Should the sky come falling down,
Should the islands tremble beneath us,
See our better nature blossom.

Should the sun rain fire,
Should Hell on Earth freeze over,
And our inner beast wake hungry,
See our better nature feed them.

Should the sun rain fire,
Should Hell on Earth freeze over,
And our inner beast wait hungry,
See our better nature feed and calm them.

Find a way through, around, or over.

https://puscifer.com/

"Burning (For A New Start)" by Josin

I am so glad I now know of the music of Josin (previously here). A bit of Sigur Ros, a bit of Radiohead, but all her.

This is "Burning (For A New Start)." Stunning, arresting lyrics. And an equally arresting sound...I love how it shifts into another realm at the 3:20 mark. Wow.

We're ashes just beholding the past, falling apart
But we wanted this bitter taste
All, all eyes on what lies upon
Slow motion, I escape your eye
In a next life, I will listen to what you say
All, all eyes on what lies upon
Will I soar towards the core?
Burning
Will I soar?
Why is it turning towards the core?
Burning
Why is it churning?

http://josinmusic.com/

"Crash" by Högni

What a fascinating track: "Crash" by Icelandic singer-songwriter Högni (he was in my beloved Gus Gus for a while). It's by turns a bit abstract post-rock, a bit chamber music, a bit electronic...

...and it doesn't hurt that he's so gorgeous, with that beautiful blond mane and his frozen beard.

https://www.erasedtapes.com/artist/hogni
https://www.facebook.com/HogniEgilssonMusic/

Currently listening to...

...the phenomenal "Life's What You Make It" by post-rock band Talk Talk. Although released in 1986 on their "The Colour of Spring" album, this song sounds powerful and fresh today. The tumbling, abrupt drums, the otherworldly organ, the blisteringly grave guitar, and the unchained earnest vocals singing such unadorned yet crucial lyrics all meld to make this a timeless--and genreless--song.

Baby, life's what you make it
Can't escape it
Baby, yesterday's favourite
Don't you hate it?

(Everything's all right)
Life's what you make it
(Everything's all right)

Baby, life's what you make it
Don't backdate it
Baby, don't try to shade it
Beauty is naked

(Everything's all right)
Life's what you make it
(Everything's all right)
What you make it

Baby, life's what you make it
Celebrate it
Anticipate it
Yesterday's faded
Nothing can change it
Life's what you make it

(Everything's all right)
Life's what you make it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_Talk