Holloway mourns death of student - The Founder

The Founder | Monday 8 December 2008
E X T R A
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Music
2009 - A Preview
My Bloody Valentine
Loveless (2CD Remaster)
Loveless, the magnum opus of My
Bloody Valentine guitarist Kevin
Shields, is recognised as one of the
great albums of the 90s, and has
unfortunately languished in an inferior
CD version since its release
in 1991. The definitive Loveless remaster,
then, has been something of
a holy grail to MBV fans. Its original
release was slated for last year, but,
predictably, as a result of Shields’
perfectionism (and personal eccentricities)
the process has been delayed
for some time. Release seemed
imminent for most of the year, but
was delayed repeatedly at the last
moment thanks to a supposed need
for more ‘tinkering’. Hopefully the
end product will benefit from these
postponements and sound clearer
and sharper than ever, allowing the
brilliance of the musical tapestries
of the original recording to shine
through in a way they deserve. Release
expected: January 26th (don’t
hold your breath, though).
In Other News…
2009 will also see a raft of household
names competing to appease the
bleating masses. U2’s twelfth studio
album, No Line On The Horizon,
will undoubtedly continue their
hyper-profitable trend of bland stadium-filling
anthem-rock, although
the presence of both Daniel Lanois
and the venerable Brian Eno in a
production capacity might add a
certain something. Meanwhile, 80s
electro outfit, Depeche Mode (yes,
they’re still making music) plan to
commence a ‘Tour of the Universe’
with a studio album to follow. So
far, so anachronistic, but the first
single release from the new album,
“Wrong” will be worth keeping an
eye on – the music video is the brainchild
of Patrick Daughters, who you
may remember was responsible for
the award winning video for Feist’s
1234 (you know, from that ubiquitous
Apple TV ad a while back).
Intriguingly, Albert Hammond Jr,
guitarist with The Strokes, has given
an indication that work will soon
begin on the follow up to First Impressions
Of Earth, currently slated
for a 2009 release because, in AHJ’s
words, “If we don’t make a Strokes
record before that, people will think
that’s the end of us”. It’s nice to know
that the Strokes have lost none of
their artistic drive. You’ll also be
pleased to learn that leathery dadrock
superstar Rod Stewart is hoping
to reunite the Faces for a tour,
with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist
Flea in tow for some reason. This all
depends, of course, on how short a
leash Mick Jagger has Ronnie Wood
on. We can also expect overexposed
releases from Franz Ferdinand and
Coldplay boring us all to death before
the end of the year, but hopefully,
thanks to talented fellows like
the Animal Collective, The Decemberists,
etc, there’ll be more than
enough excellent music available to
distract us from it.
How to approach the sales
Columnist Alice Dunn guides you through the New Year
The other day something happened
to me, which can only be described
as an epiphany. In the week between
Christmas and New Year, I
did the inevitable: I went shopping.
I bravely hit the sales, ready to embrace
the fabulous fashion fayre on
(special) offer, eager to arm myself
with bountiful beautiful garments
slashed in price. I was hungry for
the couture I had been deprived
from for what felt like a lifetime, the
Christmas holiday calling for hostess-with-the-mostest
rather than a
fashion savvy fresher. So I had been
out of my retail comfort zone for a
week and was missing the shopping
experience terribly! I was desperate
to reaquaint myself with the sounds
of the beep beep ka-ching tills and
immersing myself between the rails.
I arrived at one of the upmarket
department stores and was immediately
shocked at the sheer number
of people. Still, I was not to be deterred.
I made my way over to a
packed clothes stack, (careful where
I was treading, avoiding a chiffon
blouse and a micro mini skirt already
on the floor) and began to
rummage. I felt like I was actually
doing a real work out at the gym,
all that stretching and untangling of
the hangers must have toned up my
extra layer I had built up over the
mince pies, mulled wine and boxes
of chocolates festivities. Pretty soon
I had seen an enticingly deep blue
two piece suit (perfect for any work
experience opportunities, I convinced
myself), but only found the
skirt-half in my size. Someone had
evidently just bought the jacket part,
thinking it might match something
else in their wardrobe. I can almost
guarantee they are struggling with
that one; for this was the most alluring
and unique hue of blue I had
ever seen. Frustrated, I put down the
lovely pencil skirt, sad that it would
probably go to some clueless dreamer,
believing that they would indeed
find a match, somewhere.
Fine. One piece gone, I thought,
still so many to find! I made my way
through the forest of fake fur gillets,
all mixed in with last year’s strappy
tops and Summer items, somehow
resurrected between tweed trousers
and thick cords. I frantically sorted
the display in to more manageable
chunks for myself, but other women
ruined my arrangement, injecting
their bony fingers between the satin/
silk/wool/denim/viscose divisions.
It was a battleground. “Enter at your
own risk!”, I shrieked. I stopped.
I couldn’t bear it. I was a girl possessed.
I asked myself: is it worth it?
I found myself glancing over to the
more relaxing side of the store: ‘Non
Sale’. New stock! Violety blues, flattering
shaped shorts with an accent
of pink. I glided over calmly, pausing
to appreciate what the Spring
season has to offer, elegantly glancing
back to the crowds of bargainhunters
and felt triumphant that I
had found a certain, intangible serenity.
And that portrays the true
power and hold that fashion has.
The ability to take you through the
motions of frustration and rage
and out the other side, peace and
“
It was a battleground.
“Enter at
your own risk!”, I
shrieked. I stopped.
I couldn’t bear it.
I was a girl possessed.
I asked myself:
is it worth it?
”
tranquillity, seduced and clutching
pieces belonging the new blossoming
Spring collection!