Pink Mountaintops.

And A Few Of My Favourite Things.

I was never one for fashion magazines. Although if someone produced a Vintage/Thrift fashion magazine I would no doubt be a fan. The only exception might be the Irish magazine Prudence which is not only aimed at people who are broke, but it doesn't have a ridiculous price tag like most fashion mags do. I like that!
This may be why I love places like Etsy and ebay. But of course that takes time to browse, something I don't have an awful lot of. Which is why magazines are great, I guess!

I do go through phases of buying Interiors magazines when I need inspiration, my favourites being Homes and Antiques, and Living Etc.

But my absolute, all-time-favourite, can't-live-without magazines have to be my monthly music regulars Uncut and Mojo. I just love to hide away with these and a cup of coffee for an hour or so and devour every word I can. It's never enough, but there is a month's worth of reading in them and by the time the next one is out I have just about finished it. And you get a free cd each month too.
My favourite pages are the music review pages, which is where I find all sorts of jewels, both new and old, new bands, new singers, new albums, rereleases. It's all there. And if I like the sound of it I'll take myself off to Spotify to check them out. (Although sometimes you have to wait a couple of weeks for a new album to be available to listen to.)

One thing I have discovered from reading these two magazines is the record label Jagjaguwar, which is host to some of my all-time favourite bands like Bon Iver and Volcano Choir. This months Uncut included a cd of songs from bands on this label, some of which I have heard of, some I haven't. And I wanted to share the one that jumped out for me, the one I am listening to on loop.

From British Columbia, Pink Mountaintops.



Their sound reminds me somewhat of Mazzy Star gone somewhat gospel, and someone else I can't put my finger on. Last year's album 'Outside Love' is just gorgeous. Have a listen here. (The title track in particular is sublime).

So, let the middle of the week just slide right on by us. I am focused on the weekend, with the right kind of laidback sounds to keep me company. And plenty of reading material, which I've no doubt will furnish a number of posts here on ~Carnival~.

Hope your week is going swimmingly for you too. And what might you be listening to?

July Flame.

I have been entranced. Yet again.

On loop in my kitchen, in my car, is 'July Flame', the new album from the lovely Laura Veirs. A number of years back my sister, Emma, gave me a copy of 'Carbon Glacier' which she had picked up in the US. I loved it. From the first listen. And the following year went straight out and bought her follow up album 'Year of Meteors'.

When she played in Whelan's the week before Emma went back to the states for good, we went to see her, sat right up the front, and I cried at least twice. She was amazing. And yes, I was emotional about saying goodbye to Emma. But Laura Veirs rocked. In a sweet sort of way.

So, when I read the reviews in my favourite music magazines, Mojo and Uncut, and words like enchanted, suffused, and mysticism were used, I just had to check it out. And it didn't disappoint me. As I said. I have been entranced. And the inclusion of the likes of Laura Gibson and the mighty Jim James of My Morning Jacket just sends me into raptures! There is hardly a wrong note on the whole thing.

Laura is on tour at the moment, though I was very sad to read they won't be coming to Dublin this time. But seeing as Laura is very pregnant I figured it wouldn't be fair to make a fuss!

Do check out her blog over on her website. And while there you can have a look at some of their other videos too. You can also listen and buy her (six) other albums, as well as a recording of a young French choir who recorded nine of her songs, the result of which is a strangely moving experience.

If you think you might be interested you can also listen to more from Laura Veirs here. And read reviews or download songs here.

I so wish I could post the track called 'Little Deschutes' here for you to listen to. I am listening to it as I write, with goosebumps. It truly is sublime. But the album is so new I haven't found it anywhere that can post here. So have a listen if you come across it.

'I wanted to make something sweet,

The blood inside the maple tree,

the sunlight trapped inside the wood,

make something good.'

Vintage Finds~Madrid Style.

Nothing like a weekend away, is there?

As I mentioned over on Milkmoon, myself and Jay managed to escape for a long weekend to visit some friends, Marta and Sam, in Madrid. And as everyone knows, there is nothing better than having someone who knows the city for finding the best of everything!
So, there was endless wanderings around the streets of Madrid, and on Saturday myself and Marta took ourselves off  and we found a number of vintage shops which I was very excited about. And let me say, the prices were amazing.

This sweet dress was €18, and it's in mint condition.

I am loving tweed and plaid at the moment, and I couldn't resist
this rather school~mistressy kilt for €10! It's 100% wool and so warm, which was
just what I needed as we traipsed about in the snow.

And this gorgeous leather bag which we both admired in the window, Marta bought,
and then gave to me (sweet thing that she is!) was
€5.95!!
I love it so much!

I could have filled an entire suitcase with fabulous finds, but as we were restricted both financially and in terms of baggage I had to limit myself, sadly. But I am already planning my next trip, hopefully in June for Finn's 12th birthday. I promised her a Mum~and~me trip somewhere, and I think it might just be Madrid!

With two empty suitcases...

Quietude And Hush Amidst The Ice.

A little tranquility from the lovely Laura Gibson.

Something quiet I have been listening to on these frosted, hushed days, as our world continues it's restful pause. All to soon the clatter and chatter will return. But in the meantime we wrap ourselves up in a coccoon of sweet sounds that carry me through the everyday.

I hope you like it too.

 

Winter Winds.

Now that the previously enjoyed Christmas music has suddenly lost it's luster, (funny that, isn't it?) we've been enjoying a number of new albums that have done much to lift our spirits as the winter winds continue to blow, without any hope of snow.

Mumford and Sons has been my musical tipple of choice of late, and a more uplifting bunch of songs I couldn't hope to have found. These chaps are from West London, and their music takes what I love about folk music and cranks it up, filling it up til it's bursting with an enthusiasm and fervor that almost rivals the likes of Arcade Fire. It is heartfelt, and lovely, and perfectly put on their bio: They create a gutsy, old-time sound that marries the magic of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with the might of Kings Of Leon, and their incredible energy draws us in quickly to their circle of songs, to the warmth of their stories, and to their magical community of misty-eyed men.



Misty-eyed men... sigh...

Call me an old romantic why don't you.

Let The White Stuff In.

So, while out in the madness of the Christmas shops this afternoon, I found myself in an outdoors clothing shop and I unexpectedly came across a new clothing label I'd never heard of. It seemed an odd place to have had these particular clothes, in amongst the likes of Ripcurl and Roxy (which I am partial to on occasion), but I came straight home and googled them. I think White Stuff is UK based, given the prices are in GBP, but there's not much else info on their site.

I love this sweet dress. It's called the 'Happy Culture' dress, and I think I love it a tiny bit more than the 'Sleepy Hollow' dress. But only a tiny bit.

And the skirts, oh my. Yes, I am a skirt girl, through and through. Skirts and dresses. And how to make a choice.

So, the Wishing On A Star skirt?

Or the Tranquility skirt?

And don't get me started on the knitwear!

How sweet is this tank top?

Yes, skirts,  and dresses and knitwear. I think I'll be back after Christmas to spend some money on myself. Kit myself out for the new year!

Yes, that sounds like a plan.

A Magical Man.

For the last three years, once Christmas starts to roll around, there is only one album I want to hear. Sufjan Stevens is one of those artists who, every time I find myself re-listening to his music, I am literally stopped in my tracks. He amazes me every time.

There is a magical quality to his music which I love, and a purity that just seeps under my skin. I cannot think of anyone else who creates music like this.

But it is also, at times, tongue in cheek, and often humorous with song titles such as 'They Are Night Zombies! They Are Neighbors! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhhh!'

In 2006 he released Songs for Christmas, a 5 cd box set of Christmas Carols and original compositions recorded between 2001 and 2006. And it is this that has made Christmas for me over the last three years.
A stunning collection that I am still getting to know, even after repeated listenings.

And once I start listening to it I find myself getting my Sufjan Crush all over again and I cannot stop listening to his other music too.

Until the kids ask me to stop...

My poor, long suffering friends on Facebook have been quietly putting up with my Christmas Countdown with Sufjan' that I've been doing each day since the 1st of December. A song a day. My kind of advent countdown!

I wanted to include a favourite song here, but it's been incredibly difficult to choose just one. But I think, given the time of year I will share one with you from the above album.



This was recorded in Dublin a few years back. I remember it well because I didn't get tickets to it and was sorely peeved about that! I heard after it was amazing.

And I love that they are all wearing wings!