Spirits, Oil and Paper Trails
Welcome
Hello Friends. Here's this month's recommendations.
From the Desk
A reminder that despite the demand for credentials and qualifications in our working lives, the creative impulse needs no qualification.
In the age of cloud storage what kind of trail are we leaving behind?
After suffering a cerebrovascular seizure that leaves him paralysed save only his left eyelid, Jean Dominique Bauby decides to do an extraordinary thing.
Bookshelf
- Sonke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes
If you're keen on building a storehouse or a garden of ideas this book is for you.
- Mark Fisher, Capitalist Realism
This one's been on my radar for a while. It's one of the more simpler books on Capitalism on the market today.
- Nicholas Carr, The Shallows
Ever felt in today's day and age that you just can't concentrate as good as you used to? Well there's a reason for that. Nicholas Carr calls it the shallows of distraction (in contrast to the depths of thought). Turns out there are many culprits (I'm looking at you, YouTube). And this book came out 11 years ago!
Playlist
- Slowdive, Slomo
I found this band by accident thanks to the YouTube algorithm. Love the blend of synth and reverb.
- Aurora, Churchyard
I love this quirky girl. My mother overheard me one time playing this song on my phone and asked if it was a Chinese song. As far as I know about traditional Chinese music (which isn't much) the harmonies are somewhat oriental. Well, whatever it is it's great. Hear for yourself.
- Tame Impala, Borderline
Kevin (the lead singer) made three versions of this song: the SNL version, the single version and the album version. I recommend the single version because the album version sounds overdone and the SNL version, while catchy, is more subdued -- not quite a summer banger.
Cinema
- Spirited Away
An anime classic. When Chihiro and her parents stumble into a spirit world and her parents are turned into pigs for accidently offending the local witch Chihiro must change them back and return home. I loved this film. Got a soft spot for the spirit No Face as well.
- There Will Be Blood
Daniel Day Lewis plays an oilman prospecting for oil in untapped California at the turn of the century. He clashes with a preacher who matches him in ambition and will. Day Lewis won the Best Actor Oscar for this but, alas, this film lost Best Film to the Coen Brothers' No Country For Old Men. Tough choice.
- Scarface
Though gratuitious and crude at times it's inspiring to watch Pacino's Tony Montana come from nothing and rise to the top, even if there's a lot of bullets involved. It flopped at the box office back in the eighties but later gained popularity and street cred among the Rap and Hip-Hop crowd. If you watch Better Call Saul on Netflix you'll recognise two of the actors from this.
All three of these films are on Netflix (for a limited time)
Until next time,
Stu