Skip to main content

Love At First Listen

 
   Sometimes you fall completely in love with music on first listen. It can be a dazzling guitar solo, the exemplary vocal harmonies, the powerful lyrics, or the amazing orchestral backing tracks. And, before you know it, you're in love with the song, the artist, the entire album.

   The general public may not recognize these two ladies, but to indie music fans worldwide, BOY, composed of Swiss singer Valeska Steiner and German bassist Sonja Glass, are bona fide superstars. The two met years ago at a music camp in Hamburg, and the friendship that prevailed over the years has produced Mutual Friends — the duo's debut album.

   I remember staying for a bit more at the bar, the first time I heard Drive Darling. I was immediately hooked. From the in-wall speakers behind me it came; a song I can describe only as pure, unadulterated music. I had never seen BOY perform before but I admired them instantly. And I loved that I didn’t know anything about them even more.


And when we arrive
The hardest of goodbyes
You will dry my eyes
Somehow you're always by my side
The one who holds my kite
And watches over all my flights


   BOY writes and sings catchy, straightforward pop-folk songs about life and relationships. There's one about a waitress, one about waiting by the phone, and another about moving to a big city. I am swept by their song's lyrical integrity, their austerity, the organic sound of real instruments, along with the delicate unraveling of the splendid musical arrangements.


   Drive Darling is not just a song. It's a story, a beautiful yet sad story.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

'Star Wars' cutaway illustrations by Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore

These illustrations by Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore explore the inner workings of some of the most famous Star Wars vehicles, from the AT-AT walker to the Millennium Falcon. The interesting part about these images is that they're completely hand drawn, with no help from a computer whatsoever. Prepare to marvel at these wonderful examples of sci-fi art!  [h/t: Galactic Academy ]

Unseen Beauty

The winners of the Nikon Small World photo contest have been announced , showcasing truly breathtaking talent under the lens. For over fifty years, this competition has masterfully blended scientific technique with artistry, giving us an unparalleled view into the hidden biome around us. These aren't just macro photos; they are stunning, hyper-detailed portraits that transform ordinary, overlooked specks—from microscopic invertebrates to plant architecture—into monumental subjects. They prove that the greatest jungles often exist in the smallest spaces. This year’s top prize goes to Zhang You from China. His winning image is a perfectly timed and illuminated shot of a rice weevil perched on a grain. With its wings fully extended, the humble insect looks less like a pest and more like an armored shuttle preparing for an epic interplanetary battle. Below are some of my favorites. After seeing these phenomenal close-ups, you'll never look at a speck of dust or a houseplant the sam...

'The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling' is a book every LEGO enthusiast should have

If you're a LEGO enthusiast, this book is an absolute delight. If you know nothing about those colorful interlocking plastic bricks, this book will save you from ignorance. Compiled by LEGO modelers Dennis Glaasker and Dennis Bosman, The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling "displays amazing, fan-built LEGO recreations of real-life vehicles, showing off every amazing detail with high-quality photographs." The models featured on the 204-page hardcover are truly astounding. There's a four-foot-long ship constructed from more than 20,000 LEGO elements; a Caterpillar bulldozer complete with two motors; a U.S. military aircraft; F1 race cars; trains and other mechanical wonders rendered perfectly in bricks. The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling  will be available in bookstores everywhere this month and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com . [h/t: Car and Driver ]