Grande Dame

The Holy Mountain

grandedameuk — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:26:35 +0000

ALEJANDRO JODOROWKY’S ‘THE HOLY MOUNTAIN’ - via Dangerous Minds last week. It’s one of those films I have never seen in its entirety. I’ve seen bits here and there and loops projected on walls playing at nightclubs, but that’s it. It’s billed as one of the trippiest films ever made, so right up my strausse! People have said my animation reminds them of Jodorowky’s films, so you’d think I’ve seen all his work, but no. I did see Santa Sangre, but that’s about it, and to be honest, it was years ago, so I should watch it again. This weekend, my plan is to watch this cinematic master piece by avant guard surrealist – Alejandro Jodorowky. So, if you like trippy cinema too, make yourself comfortable and watch! Enjoy! oxo

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1967 GTO Convertible – A Study

grandedameuk — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:36:27 +0000

I’m driving myself mad right now working on my latest animation project. It’s really a short film to go with my album for my track – The Trip. One of the stars in my film is the car – this 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible. It’s a total muscle car and if you wanted to buy one now, they will run you anywhere from $19,000 to $55,000! Whoa! This is all I have done thus far. And I have about 3 more car angles to get, and all the interior details, plus characters, and other bits and bobs. Ugh… Luckily my dear friend and collaborator ladypat has been working on the backgrounds, and has done considerably more than me. It doesn’t look like a lot, but all the detail is nuts and I wish I wasn’t so ocd about adding it. But my brain can’t help it, so for the next few months this is what I’m doing. It will take me until Sept at least, perhaps longer to complete, and in that time I will get really down. I always do, cos it’s so hard and it seems like I’ll never finish. Then something clicks and I can’t stop and I work until it’s done, forgoing proper sleep and meals. It’s kind of a manic process I suppose. Anyhoo, I won’t be showing it until next year, and this is the only sneak peak I’ll post. Back down into the bunker for now… oxo gd

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My Fave Psyche Album

grandedameuk — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:35:39 +0000

About 10 years ago I was visiting my mother back home in Georgia. The Library where she worked was getting rid of some records, and she let me look through to see if there was anything I wanted. Of course I had to wade through Howard Jones’ & Mitch Millers, but then I stumbled upon this gem. I never heard of Lite Storm before, so I had no idea what it was and wasn’t too sure. But then I read the back of the cover and it said – “We dedicate this sound, as well as all sound, and all things, always, to our beloved Divine Mother. In total devotion and love. Lite Storm!” – and I knew I had to get it. I also checked the year and it said 1973, and I knew I would prob be good, as most music in 1973 was good, across all genres. It was a magic year musically. And when I brought it home and played it, I was completely blown away! It’s so stylish and special! It’s psyche done on the cheap. Really lo fi. Quirky as hell, and each song changes into like 3 different tracks. My fave is the drum sounds, they’re tinny yet big at the same time, and the lead singer – Johnima Bahlu’s voice is hilarious. It’s so special and rare, and worth a bit of money too. I didn’t know anything about them, but was so glad I discovered them. It’s one of those albums I can listen to over and over and not get bored. A few years ago there was a wikipedia page on them and it said after their attempt at music they moved to South America and started a hippie commune that apparently is still going, but that page has mysteriously disappeared. They did another album called GOD IS LOVE after this, it was more eastern inspired and mellow. Anyhoo, here’s one of the tracks off their 1st album Warning. Enjoy! oxo gd

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Acid Mothers Temple

grandedameuk — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:14:53 +0000

Someone uploaded Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno – Anthem of the Space Album on youtube. Dunno how they feel about that, and it’s def not the same as hearin it proper on a full on hi fi system, but man this is some heavy shit! Makes me wanna smoke pot, and I never do that…Tune in, turn on, drop out man! This is BADASS! Enjoy! gd

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I Love Gypsy Moth!

grandedameuk — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:16:03 +0000

This is the soundtrack to my life and will be for sometime. I’m going through my psyche/ doom/ metal phase at the mo, and Gypsy Moth are the remedy for my cravings. I stumbled onto the vid below by accident & I was hooked. It sounds like fuzzy, feedback, mayhem! Like early 70′s experimental noise rock, pre Butthole Surfers. Only it’s not pre Butthole Surfers, it’s from 1993? WTF? Wow! Apparently this was a self produced demo of recordings from 85 – 92. They only pressed up 200 copies, so it’s ultra rare. And screen printed fabric cover! Yes! I only found one copy in the whole world for sale. I watched in on ebay for awhile, till I finally couldn’t take it and purchased it. Now it’s mine! All mine! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!! Seriously love this! Now I wanna do a psyche doom experimental album! So cool! Enjoy! oxo gd

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Got Gigs?

grandedameuk — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:54:54 +0000

Speaking of my totally amazing super band, we are now available for gigs and are taking bookings! So if you are in the mood to witness a mesmerizing show of roots rock & roll, honky tonk twang, voodoo rhythms, & swamp rock blues – do get in touch! We do not disappoint! Your ears will thank you! oxo gd

Photo by Honey Manko

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Almost & Maybes

grandedameuk — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:59:47 +0000

I thought I would temporarily share an album track. This is our most country of the lot. It’s kind of a “happy sad song” and my fave on the album. My drummer Ade Meehan did an amazing production job on it. It’s got so many different instruments – coconut shells, spoons, fiddle, and the most beautiful pedal steel guitar by Melvin Duffy. It sounds like angels crying. My buddy Clip from PFUNK and his friends did backing vocals & they sound like the 5 Blind Boys! I was really depressed when I wrote this song. It’s about how sometimes it seems like I get so close but then nothing ever works. I nearly get there, I nearly make it, but it all ends up falling apart in the end. All I have in my life is a bunch of Almost & Maybes. That’s how life feels sometimes, but you gotta keep working till you get a FOR SURE. More soon. oxo gd

ps – taking this down in a couple o weeks, so enjoy it now!

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Get Em Out!

grandedameuk — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:37:40 +0000

Time to recall this gang of thugs that are running this country into the ground. Cameron’s buddies Rebecca Brooks and her husband have just been charged with perverting the courts of justice. They were not mere acquaintances, they were BFF’s! They LOL’d and ROLF’d together. Just like the govt, News Of The World higher up’s believed they were above the law – and clearly they are not. Any day now Jeremy Hunt will have to step down when it is ever more revealed of his dealings with the Murdoch Empire. How he too is a big fat Liar. How can Cameron and Osborne come out of this unscathed? They fraternize with criminals, and make shady deals in the dark halls of their Chipping Norton cocktail parties. This govt is letting wealthy criminal empires & corporations base themselves off shore so they can get away with contributing the least (A system set up by Cameron’s father back in Thatcher times, and how they made their money!). While the poor and needy get more taken away from them. Just yesterday, Ian Duncan Smith announced cuts to disability benefits – “if you loose a limb, do not expect a payout!” WTF? Sure, there are plenty who abuse the system, but billions of pounds are being fritted away faster by the wealthiest people who don’t have to pay their share. Let’s not forget Ian Duncan Smith’s entire cleaning crew went on strike a few weeks back to demand a higher wage increase, as even his office was not paying London inflation rates. And good old biker Boris is back as Mayor, “But he’s good for business” they all say. Yeah, well where was he when the riots were going on? Hmm? Oh, that’s right, he was on vacation, and didn’t want to be bothered. He was really put out of joint having to cut it short and return to the burning embers of the yucky slums… I could go on and on how evil these people are… This govt only cares about money, and will bow down to whoever has it, doesn’t matter how they obtained it. Get em out I say! gd
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Altered States

grandedameuk — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:55:09 +0000

I had a dentist appointment yesterday. I have been having a root canal for the last 4 months. It is free, but man it takes a long time. I’m getting it done at a teaching hospital, that’s why it’s taking so long. But I have a really sweet girl working on me, and hopefully by the end of 2012, I’ll have all my problems sorted. They don’t give gas at this dentist and that’s a drag! In the states you can get gas to have your teeth cleaned for an extra $50. I always go for that option, if someone is going to be inside my mouth drilling, I wanna be high. Yesterday the music I was listening to helped transport me to another place. I listened to a few tracks from the album above by Daniel Higgs called Ancestral Songs. Are You the Body & Leontocephaline Rhapsody are the 2 tracks I start with. They send me off to this trance like state, the dentist drills seem to go with the music. Unfortch I could not find a vid or mp3 online of the tracks, but they are super amazing and heavy laden with jews harp sounds, and something about them totally relaxes me and sends me away with the clouds. The music kind of reminds me of Siberian Throat Singing, like the vid below… Might have to put this on my dentist playlist too! If you need to go to the dentist and need to relax, Daniel Higgs and throat singing is the answer! Try it!! more soon. oxo gd

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Yesterdays Find

grandedameuk — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:35:22 +0000

As I begin to anticipate the bulk of my show coming down and into my living room, I have been picking up little decorative bits and bobs around town in honor of it’s arrival. I really want to turn the lounge into my showroom and as I mentioned before, my house has been somewhat neglected. People are always asking to meet at my studio, but I always make excuses because my surroundings aren’t the way I would like. I’m not a hoarder or anything, it’s ok, just not perfect and I can sometimes be a perfectionist. Luckily my local Saturday market – The Waste – always has good decorating pieces. In fact alot of dealers go there early and by the afternoon they’re selling things in their shops for 3 times the price!! I picked this snazzy Chinese jardiniere stand up this sat. You can’t tell from the pick but it’s very intricately decorated with lots of carved dragons and flowers, most def a repro, but it looks nice with my lacquer screen. The bull fighting velvet painting will be coming down. Better pictures when it’s all done. More soon… oxo gd
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