This blog…

Dear reader,

Even though it is still online, I will not continue updating this blog. I however have another blog (as may well know) called CW Verses & Art Blog, which is an extension of CW Verses & Art Website (click banner below to have a look).

CW Verses & Art Website

 Of course, whatever you could read here, you’ll be able to read there.

I have no more time to maintain both blogs, therefore I fused them into one… the one hosted on my domain.

Thank you so much for your understanding,
I hope to read you there ^_^
Be well.
/Claire

Read for free…

 

Read “A New Season” online for free:
Support the author and buy printed version:
A New Season (Paperback, Perfect bound)

 

Lire “Une Nouvelle Saison” gratuitement en ligne.
Supportez l’auteur et achetez la version papier:
Une Nouvelle Saison (Paperback, Perfect Bound)

Music: Europe, Last Look at Eden (album)

Europe’s new studio album “Last Look at Eden” was released today in Scandinavia… and if, like me, you are lucky enough to have come by this disc… you might have reacted just as I did: “uh? what? cool… wow!”

Granted, this is not much of a review and I am about to explain myself…  Well, John Levèn said about “Last Look at Eden” (on the band’s official website): [...] “an album that shows that Europe are still getting better and better.” Mic Michaeli says something interesting too: “The 70’s meets the millennium.“

After listening to the music many times, and pondering about how the band feels about it… I finally decided that I liked… loved it. More importantly, I think I can for once explain better why.

It took me a few years to have “Start from the dark” growing in me and it had become probably my favourite album… I liked “Secret Society” at once, but it was over-shone by its predecessor… I know, weird… Today, I know I will not be able to say that anymore about “Start from the dark“…

“Last Look at Eden” took its place. Referring to what Mic said, I do agree… I heard on this album, many old Europe sounds (from before the split up). For instance, I heard a little bit of “Yesterday’s News” on track 11: “Run with Angels“ ; a bit of  “A long time coming” & “Government Man” on track 3: “Gonna Get Ready” ; a bit of “Prisoners in Paradise” as an overall old lingering sound. Keep in mind though that these are very light touches of “old Europe” that I hear (you may not agree!)  The difference today is that the music is richer and the lyrics… well, let’s say that they suit me way better today.

 So, when Europe came back, they threw everything that made them different from how they used to be (and play) as musicians. It took them two albums to explore only their new musical possibilities. “Last Look at Eden” brings back the Europe spirit that we all know and mixes it with their musical and human growth. To quote John Levèn again: “Europe are still getting better and better.” Finally, when one listens to “Last Look at Eden“, one could say sometimes: “that riff could have come from a Deep Purple or a Richtie Blackmore’s album”, hence probably the quote from Mic: “The 70’s meet the millenium“.

Still on the band’s official website, Joey Tempest is talking about John Norum’s bluesy feeling when he is playing the guitar… though to tell you the truth, I had never noticed that aspect (no offence John)… On “Last Look at Eden“, John is playing with more feelings and bluesy touch (on some tracks) that I have ever heard him play before. That was one of the hugest and greatest surprises I had from the album.

Another surprise hit me as I played on though… curious as I was, I followed the progress of the album making on Europe’s blog… However, I had forgotten all about the Czech national symphony orchestra (which they use on four tracks)!!! That was a fantastic surprise to my ears, not only because of the orchestra and not because I noticed the orchestra at once (I actually did not). I grunted like in the beginning of this review when I first heard track 8: “No stone unturned” (I here a little bit of Ritchie Blackmore there or Rainbow) ; the melody is one that I had not been accustomed to with Europe despite the influences I hear in it. They all play marvelously, though I must say Mic’s keyboard playing made me listen even more closely. In short, one of their best creations if you ask me.

Of course, they serve us very well indeed with the powerful and emotional ballad “In my Time” that ends the album majestically. Just like “The Prelude” followed by the title track “Last Look at Eden” just make us want more, which the rest of the album gives without a glitch.

What can I say except that Europe outdid themselves with “Last Look at Eden“… there are absolutely “no stone left unturned“. It is musically brilliant, where old and new spirit of the five musicians combine perfectly. Highly anticipated album for which the expectations are, no doubt,  just as high all over the world… “Last Look at Eden” is no surprise, yet it has probably become one of the best surprises of the 2009 rock scene.

Europe mp3 store (non-Scandinavian customers might have to wait though).

/Claire

One more thing… this is hell of an album to work out with at the gym!

The last one is gone…

♥ Goodbye Otis ♥

Friday was a sad day in my family… out of the three gorgeous boxers and more importantly the three four-legged family members that my parents had, one remained. Unfortunately, they had to put him to sleep on Friday because of a cancer in his stomach (cancer of the rat (?)), just like his mother had.

He was not suffering per say, though he could not eat due to the pressure in his tomy caused by hemorrhages. He could not get up much either… so now, Otis has joined his brother Omaley (who passed away earlier this year) and their mother Mirka (who passed away in 2007 and for whom I had made the slideshow below).

I cannot say I am not sad, but this time I was aware of the situation another way… so I have not shed any tears yet… but trust me they are not very far. It is hard to live so far away in these situations.  I know my parents could have used some comfort from me, and I from them. But we do what we can in these situation, and they know I am there for them even though I am miles away.

I saw this big guy for the first time… well he was a few seconds old ^_^… Otis became a big dog though… and when his mom and brother were still around, well let us say that my parents had their hands full. He gave somewhat a hard time to his brother, but all in all they were inseparable. He was such a sweetie… a gentle “giant” who acted so careful around small children. He had a big head and it always was a pleasure to have him put it on ones lap… and when he closed his eyes with his head there… well, all of you who have those delightful creatures as companion, know what I am talking about. 

♥ Goodbye “Bidouille” Otis… I’ll surely miss you even more than I did before… ♥

Time for a little nap

Movie: Nothing but the truth

Journalistic freedom… to protect a source. This it the main theme of that surprisingly good movie. Inspired by true events, the characters are however entirely fictional.  Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale) is a reporter who uncovers the identity of a female CIA agent thanks to a mysterious source. Prosecuted by Patton Dubois (Matt Dillon) for compromising “Homeland Security”, she sacrifices everything she has, including her marriage, to protect her source. The movie is the story of her struggle against the hardships she has to face to remain true to her principles.

Though everything is against her; and the prosecutor seems to be THE bad guy… it is more complicated than that. As a viewer, it is very difficult to choose a side as every point made throughout the movie makes sense.

It is an important movie that cannot be missed. As a journalist, Rachel has one goal: tell the truth as she believes too many secrets are going on and being covered by her government. By doing so, she compromised the security of the CIA agent she puts in the spotlights. As a consequence, events unfold against her. According to Patton, she endangered the security of the country and for that she is imprisoned until she agrees to yield and reveal the name of the “traitor” who gave her such a vital information. The movie goes beyond right and wrong… until the end, the viewer is kept wondering about the source… one cannot help feeling compassionate for Rachel… her stubbornness is often very frustrating as one sees her family falling apart because of her decision.

The movie shows that the freedom of the press is nothing but an illusion… abuse of such freedom by the media has been seen so often. The consequences can be harsch for those concerned by what is revealed. The truth at any cost… how good can it be? Though without truth, how can a people trust its leaders? There is such a fine line in the world of information. We are never told the entire truth, between sensorship and journalistic interpretation, news are but subjective for the purpose of those who spread them.

Truth… secrecy… integrity of such a controversial profession… Nothing but the truth did not give me any answer… it did not leave me bitter either. Truth is a responsibility to take on as a whole, with consequences sometimes unforeseen. In the end, one must do ones best to follow the guidelines one set for ones life… though nobody said it was easy.

Anime Series: xxxHoliC

Last year, I have discovered a Japanese anime inspired by a manga called xxxHoliC. Now, I do not read mangas… I do not read comic books in general, however this one might become an exception whenever I have time. I usually enjoy a good Japanese anime, so I looked up the net and found a very good website that reviews anime, manga and even games: AnimeNewsNetwork. There I read how great xxxHoliC was which lead me to watch it and it is great.

It is the story… no, I will not tell you this, you can well-read it on xxxHoliC’s page. As most Japanese anime, there is a lot of hysterical screaming that translate most of the time a character’s frustration, or his/her joy. That is an aspect that I overlook easily as the themes treated in each episode is very well thought out.

The introduction of the series starts like this. “Mysterious things are everywhere, so bizarre… As often as you hear of them… without witness… with sight unseen… without a care… It is simply a phenomenon. Merely not of concern. In this world, mankind itself has its own fantastic wonders…“

Deeply rooted in Japanese folklore, it is however more than that. With every step one takes in life, with every encounter, one creates bonds with others that cannot be severed, even if an encounter might happen just once in ones life. Every little thing, such as a small lie to others, or to oneself, affects everything around. “There are no coincidences, only fate.“… Scary thought! Even though one does not believe it, it makes one wonder… a simple thing such as a wish, even unspoken, if it were to come true “unexpected changes will emerge in its wake… undesired outcomes are free to arise.” We are free to make decisions that concern only ourselves (or so we think), though they will ultimately affect the ones around us. This is but the tip of the iceberg (so to speak).

Mankind is a part of a whole… connected to everything on Earth, to keep the balance, lies… deceit… crimes… happiness… there will always be an opposite event to even the scale, whether one is aware of it or not. More than folklore, the Japanese philosophy leads the way of the characters. The occult is but a way to tell the stories and share the creators’ thought on life.

No matter how much we believe or not what is told to us, it is impossible not to give it a thought… it is impossible not to question oneself… it is impossible not to get inspired and curious. The result of watching this series is that I would like to know more about Japanese culture and history… I eventually will.

I could go on and on talking about this, because the philosophy fascinates me. In the end, xxxHoliC is more than just entertainment to me, and for the goals I set for my life, I know it has already helped me deepen my thoughts… weird but fun!

Summer post…

I have not posted anything in a while and probably won’t for some time still… looking for a job is a full time job and yet I could post now and then but for what really…

All I know it this: summer is here and I kinda love it (except in the evenings since there are so many mosquitoes and I have had bad reactions to their blood sucking venom in the past).

As everyone in the world, I have been deeply touched by Michael Jackson’s death. In truth, whatever happened, it still feels unreal… whatever happened, I don’t get it and thinking he is not physically part of this world anymore… it is just wrong. I never cared much for his music, yet I grew up with it. My brother was a fan and was an aspiring dancer for a while thanks to MJ.
Whatever he did, good or bad… whatever he brought to us as an artist will be forever engraved in our heart and souls. He left his children too soon and that is the worse that can happen to any family. He was the king of pop and thus the entire world mourn him and sympathize with the Jackson family… Farewell Michael Jackson, what a legacy you leave to the world!

On a more cheerful not, I am looking forward to the new Harry Potter’s premiere, which will eventually lead to a review (no promises here).

In other words, I wish you all a wonderful summer and I’ll resume my post around september (unless I found a job, which will make my posts even more scarce).

Love one another,
Be well.
/Claire