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Lime Garden Share New Song ‘Marbles’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Lime Garden Share New Song ‘Marbles’

Lime Garden have shared a new track called ‘Marbles’. Out now via So Young Records, the single follows previous outings ‘Sick & Tired’, ‘Pulp’, and ‘Clockwork’. Check it out below.

“‘Marbles’ is about the realisation that you’re not sharing the same lifestyle as those around you,” singer Chloe Howard explained in a statement. “It’s about overthinking that comparison to the point where you question your own sanity or direction in life. It tells the story of an individual on a journey of self-discovery that the listener is witnessing from afar but with access to their internal monologue. This wasn’t the easiest song to finish writing – we knew we had a strong chorus, but we just couldn’t seem to join the different sections or to get the detached feeling we wanted. In the studio Leila eventually detuned her guitar for the double track in the verses, this created the warped and dissonant feel we wanted.”

Phosphorescent Covers Randy Newman’s ‘Bad News From Home’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Phosphorescent Covers Randy Newman’s ‘Bad News From Home’

Phosphorescent has launched The Full Moon Project with a cover of Randy Newman’s 1988 ballad ‘Bad News From Home’. Listen to it below.

Talking about the new project on Instagram, Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck wrote:

I’ve been thinkin awhile now on how to release more music separate from the modern album release cycle and all its requirements and pressures etc.. Recently my tiny animal brain had an epiphany: ‘How dense are you, bub?’ it said. ‘This is easy. Record it. Then put it out there. Duh.’ And then, ‘Maybe the moon can help. Look to it.’

So starting here at the top of this year of 2022 and I suppose aiming for the rest of my natural life, I’m gonna release a song with every full moon. For now it’s going to be exclusively cover songs as there’s a mile-long list of songs that’ve meant the world to me and I’d like to try my hand at em.

They may be moon related (as the first one is) or they may have nothin to do with the moon at all I’m open to this thing evolving into whatever it wants to be (new songs, working demos, requests, mashups, ??) In honor of the year’s first full moon (The Wolf Moon!), the first track from this project will be released on Monday, Jan 17. I’m so excited.

Phosphorescent released his last album, C’est La Vie, in 2018. It arrived five years after its predecessor, 2013’s Muchacho. 

Manu Chao Joins Sofia Kourtesis on New Song ‘Estación Esperanza’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Manu Chao Joins Sofia Kourtesis on New Song ‘Estación Esperanza’

Sofia Kourtesis has shared a new single, ‘Estación Esperanza’, which features a guest appearance from Manu Chao. Out now via Ninja Tune, the track is dedicated to Sofia’s mother (whose face features on the single’s cover artwork) and samples chanting from a Peruvian protest against homophobia. Give it a listen below.

“‘Estación Esperanza’ is all about hope,” Kourtesis said in a press release. “I’m hopeful my mother will get better, I’m hopeful the world will begin to heal, I’m hopeful this song will bring you light on dark days. I first wrote this song after listening to Manu Chao. To me Manu Chao has always represented hope, his lyrics were like a bible to me growing up. This song is for him, my mother and all those activists working hard to make this world better.. never lose hope!”

Also today, Kourtesis has announced her debut UK headline shows, which include dates at London’s Electrowerks and Manchester’s YES Pink Room. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10am.

Sofia Kourtesis released her latest EP, Fresia Magdalena, last year.

Jon Lind, Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Dead at 73

Konstantinos Pappis
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Jon Lind, Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Dead at 73

Jon Lind, a Grammy-nominated songwriter who wrote hits for Earth, Wind & Fire, Madonna, Vanessa Williams, and others, has passed away. Billboard reports that Lind died Saturday after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 73.

Born in 1948, Lind grew up in Brooklyn and started out as a folk singer in the late 1960s, sharing the stage with the likes of Judy Collins and Harry Chapin as a teenager. He went on to attend New York City’s Mannes College of Music, where he formed the Fifth Avenue Band, which signed with Warner Bros. in 1969 and was managed by Bob Cavallo. After spending time in bands signed with A&M and Capitol, he switched to full-time songwriting at the suggestion of Cavallo, who by then was the manager of Earth, Wind & Fire. “I was in the waiting room in Bob Cavallo’s office, strumming my guitar, playing a new ‘fragment’ of music I’d written,” he told Songwriter Universe in 2012. “[Earth, Wind & Fire leader] Maurice White popped his head in and said, ‘What is that?’ He suggested I ‘lay it down’, and get it to him. I did so, and over the next three months and he turned it into ‘Sun Goddess.’”

The song was covered by Ramsey Lewis and later Earth, Wind & Fire, officially launching his professional songwriting career. Lind went on to write Earth Wind & Fire and the Emotions’ ‘Boogie Wonderland’ alongside Allee Willis, as well as ‘Save the Best for Last’ by Vanessa Williams and ‘Crazy for You’ by Madonna, both of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. ‘Save the Best for Last’, which Lind wrote with Wendy Waldman and Phil Galdston, also earned him a Grammy nomination in 1992. Among the other artists who have recorded Lind’s songs include Cher, Cheap Trick, Aaron Neville, Jennifer Holliday, Rick Astley, and Pete Townshend.

“The songwriting community lost a great songwriter and a beautiful soul in Jon Lind, who leaves a legacy of iconic songs both as a songwriter and supremely talented A&R man,” ASCAP said in a statement. “The ASCAP family mourns his loss but his humor, his music and his wonderfully generous spirit live in our hearts.”

Tindersticks Announce Best Of Compilation, Release New Song

Konstantinos Pappis
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Tindersticks Announce Best Of Compilation, Release New Song

Tindersticks have announced a new career-spanning compilation titled Past Imperfect – The Best of Tindersticks ’92 – ’21, which is set for release on March 25 via City Slang. Along with the news, they’ve shared the new song ‘Both Sides of the Blade’, which comes with a video starring Suzanne Osborne. The clip was directed by frontman Stuart A. Staples, who wrote the track for Claire Denis’ film Avec amour et acharnement. Check it out below.

“One of the greatest things I feel in approaching this milestone,” Stuart said of the band’s 30th anniversary, “is that all of the mistakes we’ve made are our mistakes. If there’s something wrong, there’s something wrong because we decided in the moment that this is what we should be and we physically made it that way. I’m kind of proud of that. We’re still here, we’re still connected, we’re still pushing and it’s been totally on our own terms. I can’t really think of many other bands that are in that situation.”

The first half of Past Imperfect features the original lineup of the band with Staples, drummer Al Macaulay, guitarist Neil Fraser, and multi-instrumentalists David Boulter and Dickon Hinchliffe. The second half includes work from the present-day lineup of Staples, Fraser, Boulter, drummer Earl Harvin, and multi-instrumentalist Dan McKinna.

Past Imperfect: The Best of Tindersticks ’92-’21 Cover Artwork:

Past Imperfect: The Best of Tindersticks ’92-’21 Tracklist:

1. City Sickness
2. Her (’92)
3. Tiny Tears
4. Travelling Light
5. My Sister
6. Rented Rooms
7. Can We Start Again
8. Dying Slowly
9. Sometimes It Hurts
10. My Oblivion
11. Harmony Around My Table
12. Show Me Everything
13. This Fire of Autumn
14. Medicine
15. What Are You Fighting For
16. How He Entered
17. Were We Once Lovers
18. Willow
19. Pinky in the Daylight
20. Both Sides of The Blade

Album Review: FKA twigs, ‘CAPRISONGS’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Album Review: FKA twigs, ‘CAPRISONGS’

In FKA twigs’ music, different shades of intimacy unravel with the kind of fluidity and resonance few artists can replicate. “I’ve got a love for desire/ I’ve got a pain for desire,” she sings on ‘meta angel’, which finds the British polymath reckoning with universal forces beyond her control more than any romantic interest. But as resplendent as it is, this song off her latest project doesn’t reach for the revelatory transcendence of 2019’s MAGDALENE, nor does it anchor in the vulnerability of heartbreak; it simply shows twigs in the presence of her own swirling thoughts, alone, searching for light in the face of uncertainty. As the title might suggest, she’s self-aware and wary of making things sound cloyingly ethereal. “That makes it sounds so easy/ A pretty picture with a quote,” she admits, “I get confused with what I really want.”

If CAPRISONGS is an attempt to let loose by utilizing the mixtape format, it’s a move that also allows twigs to center herself and her surroundings in a way she never has before; its carefree nature opens up a space for that confusion, for exploring different manifestations of that desire without undermining its force. The advance single ‘tears in the club’, which saw twigs teaming up with the Weeknd and seemed to hint at her most pop-centric effort to date, takes on new emotional weight in the context of a record that doesn’t quite fit that description – a sad banger about trying not to use others as a source of validation and belonging, in which the dance floor provides only a temporary escape. (The Weeknd’s verse might not be the most inventive – rhyming “motions” with “emotions,” followed by a plea to “let it out like therapy” – but it’s serviceable.) ‘honda’ strikes at a similar mood, but the more dynamic instrumental and infectious interplay between twigs and Pa Salieu really drives the point home: two people whose chemistry is so uniquely liberating that it’s the rest of the world that seems alien, yet theirs to conquer.

It’s refreshing to hear twigs embrace the chaos around her in a way that’s both lighthearted and occasionally unpredictable. The Shygirl collab ‘papi bones’ offers a euphoric take on dancehall, a reminder that part of the fun of this journey comes in trying out new sounds and ideas. For as many guests as there are on this album – including Daniel Caesar, Rema, Jorja Smith, plus production credits from Koreless, Mike Dean, Arca, Fred again…, and Sega Bodega – collaboration is as much about the thrill of discovery as it is about creating a space where the artist is most comfortable. Even when she knows what she wants, like on the memorable ‘oh my love’, the stars don’t always align; the glistening ‘lightbeamers’ highlights just how much of the project centers on the singer’s own aloneness, contorting her voice the more she dissociates: “Are you running from your life?/ Beat down ’cause there ain’t nobody on your side.” twigs has total command throughout, though her playfulness rarely undercuts the songs’ emotional backbone.

There are moments, however, where twigs and her co-executive producer El Guincho seem to ride a familiar formula ­­– more emotional than sonic, coasting on a kind of precious melancholy – without doing much to elevate it. This leads to underwhelming cuts like ‘jealousy’ and ‘careless’ on the second half of the record that might have been cut from a studio album and aren’t adventurous enough to justify their placement here. Interspersed across the tape are voice memos and soundbites that make for an all the more intimate listening experience, the kind that would only make full sense if you were part of that original exchange. As interludes, they fill out the space between the songs in ways that are sometimes enriching, particularly when they offer insight into the personal and creative process behind the project. “It’s like elevator music but you’re going to the fiftieth floor,” someone comments on the intro to ‘which way’, to which another responds, “Made me realize I have no thoughts though,” thus laying the ground for one of the most blissful and self-consciously unfocused tracks here.

But the decision to then close out the song on a much heavier note illustrates how some of CAPRISONGS’ biggest revelations aren’t always given the right space. As much as the spontaneous nature of the project is part of its appeal, it can also take away from some of its more emotionally significant moments. Ultimately, though, the mixtape is more about the anticipation of growth than the realization of it. You could say it’s about anticipation in general – an essential component of desire, which makes sense in a record where that feeling often remains hazy or unfulfilled. There’s even a bit where someone begs for twigs to release her much-awaited Dua Lipa collaboration ‘Why Don’t You Love Me’, which isn’t included on the album. What we do get is glitchy vocal effects that have drawn comparisons to another contemporary pop star, Charli XCX, though CAPRISONGS has more in common with the freewheeling spirit of her 2017 mixtapes than any emergent sound – and the promise of bigger things to come. twigs herself spends much of ‘ride the dragon’ waiting for a lover, “skipping through the city/ Feeling pretty with nobody to get on.” The moment might never arrive, she suggests, but skip around the record, and you’ll find plenty of reasons to revel in the freedom.

Photographer In You: What To Look For In A Camera Rental

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Photographer In You: What To Look For In A Camera Rental

It comes as no surprise that a lot of today’s cameras and photography gear cost way too much. It can be challenging to purchase such equipment, especially if you are on a budget. For some people, buying is way out of the window. But you do not have to despair with that thought. Why not save money until you have enough to purchase what you want? But in the meantime, there is another option that answers your camera needs. Let’s say you have a client who invites you to a gig, and they wish that you take care of the photoshoot. But you have no camera at the moment. So, what do you do? You look for a camera rental service that fits your client’s schedule and budget.

Looking for such a service is a walk in the park. However, it might not be the same once you rent. Let’s take a look.

Renting a camera will save you a lot of cash. It beats purchasing an expensive one that might not see day-to-day action. In addition, renting a camera allows you to play around with your creativity – as no two cameras shoot the same. You will also have to consider several factors as you look for gear to rent. 

The first thing you have to do is plan how things will go. It does not matter if you borrow gear from a physical store or an online one. It pays off a lot to plan and prepare. If you are working with a client, ask their overall specifications and budget as well. You will also consider the shooting schedule. Will your camera arrive before the shoot? Another note to keep in mind is the camera itself. Will it be up to the client’s needs? Is it something you can handle? Or perhaps it might be too complicated to use? It is a must that you answer these questions before getting into rental negotiations.

Once you settle all of that, it is time to look for a rental service. Where will you get the gear? Will you pay a visit to a local photography store? Or will you take things online?

When Visiting A Local Store

You do not have to do much when you go out to a local photography store. The only thing you have to do is ask for any cameras and gear that are available for rent. Take note that several outlets might only have older models up for rental. So you better let your client know about it. See if they have no issues with having such equipment for the project. Make sure that you have what it takes to use the model as well. 

After all, it is you who will deal with the photos, not the client. Once you secure what units are available, it is time to check the prices. Are the shop’s rental prices reasonable? Do they sound ideal for models that are a couple of years old? Will your client handle the rental fee? Better jot all of these questions down! The best part is that you can enjoy some time trying out the numerous cameras the shop has to offer. This concept lets you check for a fully-functioning device. Pick one that is easy to use and is on par with your photography skills and knowledge.

In addition, see to it that the outlet is easy to access. It can be a pain to travel for an hour or two to the rental store only to find out they are out of available items. This aspect will save you a great deal of time. It also allows you to prepare for the shoot even more.

For An Online Rental Service

Most online camera rental service platforms make the process way lighter and hassle-free. After negotiations and payment, the company will ship the gear directly to your doorstep. Of course, they will include a return label. Online rentals also have competitive prices and components that will make clients go wow. Not only that, but these sites will also include rental deals and tons of other discounts. What more can you ask? If you get lucky, a website will offer top-notch customer service. They will make sure you are complete and ready for the job. That means you have everything in your arsenal, including additional batteries, lens, lighting, and so on.

Not only that, but you have to immediately report any flaws or damages a camera might have. So you have to check for any before you start using it. Doing so will allow the company to send an immediate replacement so that your gig will run without any issues.

 The only drawback with online rentals is that you have no chance to try or test the gear before it gets to you. Better have an idea on how you can utilize a camera as you take it for rent. It might get awkward once you receive an item that you have no idea how to use at all.

The best part about online rentals is that there are thousands of websites, such as Expressway Cinema Rentals, that are all up for your perusal. It is not that difficult to look for one, and most of them offer around-the-clock service. 

After the photography session comes the returning process. By this time, your client has received your final output. You have the project payment in your wallet, and the only thing left to do is to return the gear to a company or outlet. You can bring back the item to its physical store before or during the return period. Or you can also ship the equipment back using the return label. Make sure you include all the components that come with the camera, such as lighting equipment, lens, stands, and so on. 

You might have to pay extra for shipping once you find out that you forgot to pack the heavy-duty tripod that came in with the camera. That also means you should also bring back the items in good condition. You cannot return a camera that has any damages or issues while on the job or not. The same goes for any parts and components that you might have used. That will also cost you extra. It might even land you a negative reputation for the rental company.

It will save you a neat amount of time and money to rent a camera instead. It allows you to save cash so you can get your hands on one that will become your property entirely. Photo projects are a dime a dozen. You do not have to utilize a camera every day unless your job dictates you to do so. So it will be best to consider a rental first.

Popular Artworks Depicting Gambling

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Popular Artworks Depicting Gambling

People don’t usually notice how gambling and art share a very distinct connection. Whether it’s a writer who takes gambling as a metaphor for life, a filmmaker who shows artistic preferences from casinos to every scene, or even visual artists who drive inspiration from casino games for their masterpieces – these things only prove that gambling may have also penetrated the creative minds of the artistic community.

When you go to casinos, try to look around and take notice of the displays. While it’s already given that most casinos really have a grandiose aura in them making gamblers comfortable to play, such as the chandelier and state-of-the-art interior, what makes it more beautiful are the paintings that are prominent in every corner of every gambling complex.

Maybe that’s among the many reasons why traditional visual artists also love to create art pieces with casino settings or games.

Here, we collected some of the most popular artworks depicting gambling:

Dogs Playing Poker

Perhaps the most popular is the 1984 Dogs Playing Poker by the American artist Cassius Marcellus Coolidge.

The Dogs Playing Poker shows Coolidge’s signature art style, depicting gambling anthropomorphic dogs or doing other human activities. Some people may raise a brow about his paintings and may see it as meaningless or shallow kitsch, but it actually speaks of a beautiful allegory about human life.

You might wonder if you see different versions if you look it up because it’s a series of 18 paintings in total. It refers collectively to a painting from 1984, a series of 16 paintings commissioned by Brown & Bigelow in 1903 to advertise cigars, and the artist’s 1910 painting.

The Cardsharps

The Cardsharps is among the most popular and the best-preserved works by the Italian Baroque artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

This painting is among the most celebrated and fine examples of the baroque genre, depicting a street life situation portrayed elegantly and realistically. The painting shows a young cardsharp (the one who cheats a card game to win) reaching for cards hidden underneath his belt and an older cardsharp looking at the victim’s card to signal his partner in crime. The dynamic composition of the painting simply made it exemplary, adding up the significant artistic feature of different human emotions, such as innocence, fear, and anger.

The masterpiece represents a significant milestone for Caravaggio as he painted it when he decided to have an independent career after he left the Cavaliere Giuseppe Cesari d’Arpino, where he painted for.

While Caravaggio may have painted different versions of the Cardsharps, the one acquired by the Kimbell Art Museum in 1987 was generally believed to be the original painting.

At the Roulette Table

At the Roulette Table is a painting by the Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch, who is popular for his 1893 painting The Scream.

Munch painted At the Roulette Table after visiting the Casino Monte Carlo during his visit at Niece, in southern France. He was inspired by the setting to paint the masterpiece as a recollection of the memories and the feelings he had while inside the casino.

He also took it as a way to experiment with different art styles including Degas, Gauguin, van Gogh, and as well as his own.

Argument Over a Card Game

Another popular painting depicting gambling is the 17th-century Argument Over a Card Game painting by the Dutch artist Jan Steen. While this painting may be less popular compared to the Cardsharps by Caravaggio, Argument Over a Card Game is still considered among the significant works for baroque style, and in the world of art in general.

The artist powerfully conveyed a range of emotions through this artwork, although it’s more of negative emotions peaking, such as the outrage and anger summoned probably by losing the game or cheating – which are common arguments, especially for informal gambling settings.

Card Players

The Card Players is a celebrated painting series by the artist Paul Cézanne. Each painting from this series may be generally similar but they come in different sizes.

Cézanne’s painting series depicts ordinary people’s everyday moments. However, the most popular is the one that shows two men playing cards at a bar table, which may be a reflection of French society’s everyday life of which Cézanne is famous.

The Card Players painting essentially shows Cézanne’s approach to art or his style.

That makes the list of some of the most popular works of art depicting gambling. These beautiful creations do not just show the extraordinary talents of the artists, they also prove how gambling can stir the minds of creative people by translating gambling situations into a beautiful display of human emotions, expressions, and other things.

These paintings aren’t just popular among the gambling population but certainly among art lovers and the general public around the world.

A look at the increase and impact of user-created content in the gaming industry

Abbie Wilson
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A look at the increase and impact of user-created content in the gaming industry

In the last few years, the amount of content produced in the gaming world has risen exponentially. In previous times, the content was created by games developers, but today we are seeing a wide range of media being created by the gamers themselves. Let’s explore this user-generated content and the impact it might have on the industry.

The evolution of gaming and the media

Shows about gaming and the wider industry are certainly not new. In the UK, Gamesmaster developed a cult following and was the first TV show to focus solely on the video games industry. Fans soon became creators and the evolution of streaming and video sharing platforms meant that any gamer could create original content.

The development of Twitch only increased this and added another level of professionalism. Gamers have come out of the shadows and are often covered in the media. Fans looking to stay informed with the Twitch streamer news and trends can find plenty of news coverage online. Gaming news sites allow their readers to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry and the lives of popular streamers.

The new celebrities

As time moved on, streamers quickly became minor celebrities and in some cases even household names. The most popular Twitch streamer is Ninja, who has amassed over 17 million followers. Alongside other users such as Auronplay and Tfue, streamers have started to shift the conversation to gaming culture. These new celebrities are from a variety of different countries and backgrounds, so regardless of where you’re from, you will probably find someone to whom you can relate. All of this adds to the popularity of the streamer and the passion of their fanbase.

What games are being streamed?

The most streamed video game is League of Legends. Since its release in 2009, the game has been at the forefront of the streaming revolution. In December 2021, around 128,000 people tuned in to watch League of Legends events on Twitch. Sports games such as FIFA are also featured heavily. The Ultimate Team game mode on FIFA has seen plenty of interest. Like many other games, some streamers talk tactics and strategy on their videos while others provide a story using the game’s action. ‘Road to Glory’ is a popular type of video for FIFA streamers to create, which comprises of a player taking a team from the lower levels of soccer to become champions.

Is this just a fad?

The range of games being covered by these streamers indicates that this isn’t a craze that will simply fizzle out. In addition to the gamers streaming their thoughts and gaming experiences on Twitch and Youtube, eSports has also taken off massively. In a similar way to the streaming world, they have taken the basic premise of playing a game and have added a level of professionalism. Combine the ongoing popularity of eSports with an insane amount of user-generated content, and you will start to see that the industry as a whole is evolving.

13 Powerful Stills from The Power of the Dog (2021)

Svetlana Sterlin
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13 Powerful Stills from The Power of the Dog (2021)

Jane Campion’s long-awaited return to feature directing, The Power of the Dog, is easily one of the best films of 2021. A slow-burning examination of toxic masculinity, the film follows an intriguing collection of characters: Benedict Cumberbatch’s menacing rancher Phil, Kirsten Dunst’s seemingly meek Rose, her effeminate son Peter played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, and her new husband played by Jesse Plemons (who is also her real-life partner).

Based on the novel by Thomas Savage, the screen adaptation was filmed in Campion’s home country of New Zealand, where the sweeping landscapes and formidable mountains provide a believable backdrop for the 1920s Montana-set story. When Rose marries George, Phil’s brother, they move in at Phil’s ranch, where he takes a particular interest in Peter and Rose. He tells Peter unsettling stories of the mountains while observing – and perhaps provoking – Rose’s slow downward spiral into alcoholism. Phil rarely washes or ventures out into more civilized areas, making his presence felt around the ranch by scaring Rose or pressuring Peter into accompanying him on hunting trips. As the mountains watch over all that happens below, Phil seems to understand more about Rose and her family than she’s comfortable with. In turn, Peter is the only one who’s able to unnerve Phil, recognizing something in him that he shares himself.

Australian cinematographer Ari Wegner captures the awe-inspiring magnitude of the isolated setting, the influence it has on the characters, and the darkness bearing down on both. Here are fourteen powerful stills from The Power of the Dog.

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