#two ohm hop

[twogamesjoined]

Secant Prime's "Dominion / Tool 'n' Die" double single / EP out now on Ohm Resistance, featuring mashup mixes of the two tracks, including Parallaxing Mix by Two Games Joined!

The TGJ Parallaxing Mix is a mechanical, trippy overture that goes over 7 minutes long and is reminiscent of demoscene classics. You'll hear metal clanging, guns cocking, alien creatures screaming over a relentless and heavy trip-hop beat, with some chiptune flair.

Here's a quote from Secant Prime about this release:

"In the simplest terms I am that which you are not. If you are not there, we exist and flourish within that absence. There is no air and no light and stunning beauty all the same. Learn to exist in the dark without fear and you will begin to understand. The precision of Fibonacci is written within you. The perfect ratios of your cochlea allow me to share my message. Let us begin.

Universal language is math. Universal understanding is music. The seed we left within your earth some millenia ago have become deeply anchored within your psyches and culture. Engrained within your very cells. The next phase has already begun.

I am pleased you have advanced in both. We have provided some abstract communications based on the equations presented, listed under Ambients and Wavelets. Theta was less abstract, based on many of the sounds you have on earth. This was to bridge the gap between your musical language and mine. We will continue to send you transmissions, hopefully it will advance your knowledge. The next is a series of primes expressed in equations you have already identified."

#two games joined #music #industrial #industrial music #ebm #trip hop #remix #secant prime #ohm resistance #Bandcamp

[bengiyo]

I Feel You Linger in the Air Ep 7 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Jom and Yai began their romance officially, and we saw further evidence that Jom's drawings are connected to the time travel or dimension hopping experience. Yai took Jom to a gay speakeasy, where James came out and expressed his attraction to Jom. Yai got jealous and turned a bit petty with Jom for a bit. However, the two had a beautiful moment where they agreed to try this. I really hope James doesn't betray us, because I liked him encouraging Yai to step up for Jom. We also confirmed that Euangphueng and Maey intentionally brought Fong Kaew to the house to distract Robert, and that Robert may be involved in the fire that killed Fong Kaew's dad and scarred her mother.

I am glad I saw a post earlier giving context that the poor women being murdered here are based on real people. Tee always has something to say about the real dangers queer people face in their lives, and it's a tense warning at the beginning of this relationship between Jom and Yai.

Unsurprisingly, the parents are anti-gay as their two queer kids suffer in front of them.

I already know this party is going to involve pairing Yai with a girl as a way to further secure the dad's power.

At least Jom has some sense.

Yai basically described what Fong Kaew is going through with this short story.

There goes Lamyai clocking them, and she's a gossip.

I have thoughts about them introducing Nuey last week, who cannot hide themselves, and Yai now being unable to do so now that he's connected with someone.

It's a good thing that Jom stood up for Prik. He has an ally who also cares about Yai to tell Lamyai to hush.

I find myself worrying about windows and sightlines a lot this episode. Euangphueng and Maey are having a moment and I'm worried that someone will see or hear.

I suspected that Maey has survived some horrible things, and this is as horrible as some of the things I imagined.

One of the things this show is getting right about existing under homophobic is the constant sense of surveillance hovering over you. Robert represents that so clearly.

Oh, sensual oils. This is promising.

This use of both mirrors with Jom out of focus is driving me insane.

Big fan of the little bit of stubble they keep showing on Yai.

Jom was loyal to Ohm. It's probably been a while since he was intimate with someone.

Intercutting the massage with Jom masturbating is one of the most erotic things I've seen that wasn't overly sex since ITSAY episode 3. The way this was shot and scored clearly indicates that they both came, or at least Yai was close.

As much as I like seeing Nonkul and Bright do sensual things as their characters, we gotta get Jom out of here. He comes from an era where he isn't a slave.

Guide is absolutely crushing this role as Ming. He has built incredible chemistry with Nonkul.

There's something private about the way Nonkul smiles that draws me in every time. Bright has a similar thing with his brows.

Yai is running around making mistakes while Lamyai is running around righteous.

And now Uncle Dech caught them, and immediately went to Yai's dad.

Even Ming, the fan favorite, is struggling with his friend being queer.

Oh, Ming, don't confess when you're drunk.

And there's the pairing Yai with a girl part of the party I expected.

Now why the hell are Euangphueng and Maey running off now? I'm gonna need all of the gays to get it together.

Absolutely obsessed with the possibility that there is a picture of Jom that survived to the modern era.

Yai, my dude, you cannot abandon the heteronormative rituals so publicly like this if you want to protect Jom.

Thinking about O'Shae Sibley, who was killed for voguing as these two dance outside.

I am not immune to BL fantasy sequences involving dances.

Why...are we rapping?? What in the Marty McFly is happening?

I am not immune to boys making out in the rain.

Okay, that horny want in Yai's face, and Jom nodding yes? They are about to fuck for sure. This is about to go south so quickly.

Yep, gay turmoil begins next week, but we may get some nice love scenes first.

That was a fantastic episode. They really balanced the danger of being outed with the inherent need to connect that bubbles over in all of us. I felt the fear for everyone's safety, but I actually really like how badly everyone was hiding this week. That's basically the point. You can't win. The only way to be safe in the closet is to be perfectly quiet and alone. You cannot have anyone if you want to be undiscovered. Two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead. Like Nuey last week, Yai and Jom cannot hide. There's no amount of careful that can hide the warm feelings between two people. This was perfectly executed.

#i feel you linger in the air #IFYLITA meta #thai bl #bl series #Ben watches

[waitmyturtles]

Hi Turtles! To follow up on another IFYLITA anon, do you think there are any intentions in having so much parallels between Ohm/Jom and Yai/Jom scenes? We've seen both parallel-ish scenes whether it is the breakup or their loving scenes. I wonder if you think the director & writers have something they wanted to tell from this

Lovey dovey parallels: https://x.com/charlidos/status/1719055971186602065?s=20

Breakup scene: https://x.com/gxminist/status/1714313653523198051?s=20

@clairedaring, hello! Oooh yes, I think there’s intention. I’m reading it very surface-level, but I think it’s just a story of Jom’s growth.

Jom waited two years for Ohm to come back to him, only to be dumped. He got drunk, hopped into a car, and flew over a bridge — quite intense.

He was about to lose Yai in an extremely similar way, to another woman. However, as opposed to having been separated for two years prior to the break-up, Jom still had Yai near him, and was able to fight for Yai. Jom had also been contemplating two sets of rights that he hadn’t needed to beforehand in his present day — his safety as an out gay man, and the lack of equality for the house servant population that he and his friends belonged to.

So I think all of that context kind of gave Jom some oomph to seek out a better fate for himself vis à vis equality and intention. Ohm looms over Jom, while Jom meets Yai at eye level. Jom maybe learned not to let power loom over him as long as he could seek it for his own fate.

I hope this answered your question! Jom’s growth story is just chef’s kiss.

#i feel you linger in the air #ifylita #god i love talking about this show #thanks for the ask!

[absolutebl]

Oh! My Sunshine Night

Binge watch.

Okay so I am hopped up on cold meds and jet lagged and I decided to try to watch this soapy mess because why tf not?

Ep 1

Oh no, it’s good. Like: this is a good opening. And I do love OhmFluke, but you know who I really love? Noh (orig. Nitiman). Gah.

For the first time in a long while two boys in a BL make for actually believable brothers. Whacha know?

Fluke’s hair is AWFUL.

And suddenly the whole thing goes v odd. I’m not sure if that’s the captions, or if the show itself is trying to be existential. What an odd meet cute and what strange dialogue.

I’m so confused.

It’s like it’s trying to be both BL and transcendental poetry.

I like spunky Fluke tho.

Linguistic corner: these two are using chan/nai for I/you - v formal.

Poor Noh, they always make him play sports when it’s clear he just... doesn’t.

How much do I love the whipping boy side couple?

SO MUCH!!!!

Ep 2

Is the thing with the apples just to make Fluke cry?

I like the conflicted poor little rich kids family dynamic.

But there’s a lot of establishing scenes, it’s moving pretty slowly.

Sorry this one isn’t whipping me into a verbal frenzy. I’d drink, but not on top of cold meds. You know those warnings on med labels? They’re for me. I’m the one that shouldn’t operate machinery, not even a computer.

Wait. What? Why didn’t we get to SEE this bit?

Ep 3

So this is about classical music and no one is actually playing and no one is singing, so I’m absolutely fine with it.

The fencers with the unrequited crushes are boring to me. But there is a kind of Midsummer Night’s Dream aspect to these relationship dynamics.

GAH! The apple collecting thing was so cute and so romantic.

Not a lot of BL tropes so far in this show, but I like it’s brand of sappy.

I love how utterly incapable of flirting Kim is.

The opening the car door thing did, in fact, make me hoot with laughter.

Fluke’s pretty darn good at being a bossy bitch and Ohm does exasperation well. Honestly, I’m liking this show a lot more than I thought I would.

Oh yay! We  get to see Rain sleeping in his boys room. Lovely. I do enjoy whipping boy trope, v kinky.

*sits back and smiles in dominant smug*

I ALSO love the little brat in-crush with Rugby Rain. It’s all very delish.

It’s thanksgiving all over again, I’m all about the side dishes.

Okay, the end of this episode was so confusing. Are they play acting a couple break up for the girl? Are they actually arguing? What are they arguing about? Were they dating? What happened? What’d I miss? Why the dramatic soap opera music? Why the overacting?

What is going on?

Ep 4

Oh I forgot about the fencers.

And finally a BL trope, crash into me. (At least it wasn’t a pratfall kiss.)

Oh I do like a gay fencer sword pun.

Very nice. 

Also, a shower scene already? Are these two the PokeTongue’s of this show?

Who let Star Hunter in the house?

Rain + Sun and the insults was great. Very funny. These two are kinda of alike, actually. Fun fun. I like these characters.

Bounce bounce.

Why didn’t anyone tell me this was such a goofy show?

I’m getting a tiny bleed of Japanese slapstick absurdist leaking in and I’m not mad about it. The weird apples and arbitrary mood swings should have tipped me off.

This show has almost a panto play going on.

Rain IDing his brother’s bf and being like, welcome to the fam, I leave him in you care was such a Dom move.

Oh, baby is a floppy drunk! Finally some BL tropes are dropping. And another crash into me. And a wet towel sponge bath. Tropes coming thick & fast now (speaking of thick & fast.... wait, no, bad cold meds, don’t go there)...

Okay, we are back in familiar territory. I thought this one was going to be original. Silly me! This is BL!

Not sure if I am disappointed or not.

Ep 5

Bathroom drama.

Fencing sword boys drama. Why so mean? Honestly, if I were Kim I’d be out too.

Ooo Rain with the consent, even if it’s just a hook up. Also... boys. Bunk beds? Everyone is gonna know. Like EVERYONE.

This show is going places I really did not expect.

Oh! It was all a fake out. *pout*

Okay baby boy, you get down with those fantasies. I’m with you. He hot.

What’s with Sun and the magical Ikea box?

Also, they’ve know each other since childhood trope? Really?

*whines” I don’t want to add another one to that trope list.

Ep 6

I like the plot of butler dad kinda finding out his son is involved with the heir. Good dramatic twisting. Also, evil homophobic jerk nozzle, turns out.

I remain engaged.

Did the stretching part make me grin?

Yes t did. Boys rolling around on mats together never fails to please.

There are a lot of faen fatals and fatales. Like this show is lousy with them. I see why everyone called it a soap opera.

I am so happy that there is no singing I don’t even mind that no one can play an instrument in that whole band (orchestra).

Honestly, the band leader (conductor) looks like First’s (of JaFirst) older brother. It’s wigging me out. 

Ep 7

Look, I admit, I am not even half way through and I am flagging a bit. This is a long arse show.

Speaking of arses...

Another shower scene?

(Anyone else notice that it’s always the same shower? No? Just me. Can’t be helped. Unforgotten Night has made me overly concerned with Thai pluming in BL ... not a euphemism.) 

Boy this series has a supper voyeuristic lens. Not that I’m complaining, never that.

(Bops over to see if the director is gay.... MDL = no info on subject. Well, okay then.)

Returns to shower scene, arses, pluming, and supposition.

Oh! Wound tending!

Ooo, rejected fencing cutie makes move on Sun! Kim is not pleased. you snooze you loose, big boy.

Coils within coils, this is such a soap. I love it. Did I mention I was raised on bread, water & East Enders?

Okay maybe not raised.

Definitely watched too much of it tho.

Oooo, that was a very Light On Me moment.

PAUSE TO REFUEL

Okay I have consumed Korean soft tofu stew and more loopy-making cold meds, and will work on a pomegranate while I continue to watch.

Ep 8

Mostly worked on the pomegranate.

Meds took effect.

Stuff happened int he show but I forgot to make notes. Pomegranate distraction.

Oddly, I’m missing the swordsmen.

Ep 9

Oh, hair drying. Cute. I kinda have come around to this trope over the years I’ve had it shoved in my face... erm... flopped on my head.

MORE SHOWER

Oh! My Showering Night more like it.

I declare this BL official winner of this trope. 

Meanwhile beach frolic. AND a woods frolic.

Ep 10

Finally I’m half way through!

Oooo we have a magic heart rebooting BOOP! to go with the magic apples.

Oooo more shower scene, this time with added bonus sexitimes. Also neck kisses! My favorite.

I’m sorry but I just keep imagining what if we had gotten to this level with Nitman?

Oh, what could have been.

Nice kisses! But also no sex on the beach boys, no one enjoys that.

Meanwhile, the fencers can’t figure their shit out, because they keep fighting with the wrong swords.

And our main couple is being quite tame with a shoulder lean, side hug, water watching triple trope strike on the beach.

Okay weird dream helicopter thing.

Look, Mean Rich Paw, I’d kick him out of the house for wearing that outfit alone.

No other reasons needed.

Disown the fucker.

Band shirt/vest/thingy, no inheritance for you!

Man the fashion this year in BL has been brutal.

Ep 11

I don’t know If I can finish this tonight.

Invited up to the Sun’s room is he? (occasional flashes of DeanPharm).

Okay, wait, the premise of Sun’s illness is SO STRANGE. He has to eat apples and stay away from his parents to save his heart?

What the hell is going on?

The whipping boy always has to run, identity separation is part of the trope. Because his identity is too tied to the spoiled prince, he has to try to make it on his own to realize he can’t.

I like the twist of butler dad encouraging him to leave, tho. (Usually whipping boy is abandoned or an orphan.)

Ep 12

OMG who eats shrimp when they are allergic to shellfish? for fuck’s sake.

Another white towel sponge bath? I take back what I said about lack of tropes.

I do love the tug and cuddle my human bolster pillow. It’s very sleepy entitled.

I am v bored by the parents buying the estate plot-line. I can’t decide if doctor lady is running a con or father and son are running a reverse con on her?

OOOO DRAMA!!!

The parents have died! Rain is missing! The doctor lady is indeed evil! Ohm has to act!

Oh fuck me not the amnesia trope.

I HATE THAT TROPE.

Okay, I gotta go to bed. I really tried. Had this been a normal length Thai BL I would have made it. But the rise of the amnesia trope did me in.

Tomorrow~

Ep 13 

I am glad Dad Butler is evil enough to recognize Dr. lady is also Evil. And we have a textbook soap opera definition hostile takeover. The evils go up against each other. 

We are in true Heirs level soap opera territory now. 

Someone is definitely going to be kidnapped soon. 

Ep 14 

This is my surprised face, the man allergic to shellfish, who still eats shrimp, goes wandering off into the forest with no survival skills when he has a brain injury. 

Fantastic. 

A time-lapse 3 months. 

Finally, the attack of the amnesia trope! 

I am so unhappy about this.

Ep 15 

We are moving into Bold & Beautiful level soap. 

The guys in the woods are still looking for Rain, still wearing exactly the same clothes that they’ve been wearing for 3 months. 

Apple boy, still eating apples and still talking to completely whacked out mother. I hate her. While Kim turns into a forgetful depressed rich recluse in the mountains. Now I understand why people got frustrated with this show. 

I feel like I read this as a really bad 70s romance novel, or maybe it’s meant to be like a Jane Eyre remake? 

Anyway, finally, our boys are reunited, but of course, amnesia trope. We hates it precious. All the friends have arrived. Or to be more precise all the incestuous faen fatals have arrived. 

Ep 16

After 3 months, one would have hoped the fencing boys had figured out their shit. I guess not. More evil fashion. 

I just can’t even. At least they took it off him fast. Wish it had gotten ripped in the process. 

Fencing boys now figuring everything out in the best way possible. 

This show keep surprising me with how high heat it is. 

Ep 17 

Magical, candy-colored comets. I just can’t with this show. Also… new crumbs. 

The refractory period on these rebound couples is as fast as the show is slow. Some weird monogamy mathematical principle must be in play. 

And it’s finally revealed that they are childhood sweethearts. 

OhmFluke do give good kiss. Fluke dose submission v well. 

In fact * waves hands airily about* good kisses all around. Well done cast! 

Also, and I am only admitting this to you people, but I totally have a fetish for CMNM and we NEVER get to see it, so thank you for this one, OMSN. 

Ep 18 

Good sex, bad plot. 

That’s my ultimate review of this show. (Which makes this kinda a runner up to KP to be honest) 

Look, I get that BL has rules that must be obeyed: 

boys must damsel off into the woods alone. 

boys must talk to their not-quite boyfriend while said bf is asleep, but he is never actually asleep. 

not one drop of rain is ever allowed to touch your boyfriend’s head because DOOM AWAITS 

Clear? OK. No I don’t understand why these rules exist either. I don’t make them, the BL gods do. 

Anyway OMSN is all over rule #1. 

Anyway, back to this damn show. Attempted kidnapping, and Kim has to save his boyfriend with a bow & arrow plus some arbitrary somersaulting in, what is this now? The Hunger Games BL? 

*ooo, wait a moment - KOREA make that happen! - where was i?* 

WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? 

THIS SHOW IS TOTALLY ON CRACK IN A WAY THAT, FRANKLY, EVEN YYY COULDN’T EMULATE. 

Look, my dumb new dictation software made that into all caps and I’m leaving it because it’s entirely appropriate.

Meanwhile, you can not do a close-up of a gun if it doesn’t have a trigger. I understand there are weird regulations in place but just do a further away shot OK? 

Oh look, it’s ABL’s Angels. 

Want to start a detective agency, pretty boys? I’ll be your voice in the box. You can have all the shower scenes you want. We could invite MaxTul? I’m sure they’d be game. (Frankly Manner of Death had a more cohesive plot than this.) 

We basically end on a pastiche of troops that the show didn’t manage to hit earlier: boys on bridges, a forehead kiss, back hugs, put a robe on him, and... 

How do I sum this up? 

I am left with mostly a profound feeling of confusion. Where did Dad Butler go? And yet I am also curiously satisfied. I mean, all the sex scenes were good. I don’t know how to rate this. Less annoying than LITA, not as boring as it could’ve been? Except that I was really quick on the fast forward button and skipped a ton of establishing shots. This was probably agony to get through if you watched it week-by-week, but it’s OK as a high-speed binge. 

What the hell?

7/10

Quick Pitch: 

Kim, a tsundere musician meets Sun, a sunshine transfer student with a weak heart. Also there’s a hot older brother + their household servant, and a couple of fencers for good measure. Initially this pretends to be a normal university BL, then it slips on wet tiles and falls right on trough multiple shower scenes into ludicrous soap opera territory leaving one with a sensation rather like trying to hold onto soap in a communal shower. Ultimately, everyone seems pretty happy they bent over, but no one actually got clean. 

Or should I say soap dishes? 

(source)

#oh my sunshine night #thai bl #watch along #ohm thitiwat #ohmfluke #noh phouluang #nitiman #no singing! #sword puns #honor the crumbs #gay fencers #PokeTongue #Star Hunter Studio #East Enders #Such a soap opera #Nitman #DeanPharm #KimSun

[mdhwrites]

Do you think Amphibia's dedication to its themes was too much in certain aspects? I'll try to explain:

Sasha was the first commander of the resistance, but it was Anne and Sprig who brought the newts and toads to their side, and it was ultimately Anne who made them all work together. Amphibia wants Anne to be, in simple terms, "the most important person" in the show, but it leaves me wondering what exactly were Sasha and Grime doing for most of the resistance's progress to happen after Anne returns.

On the topic of change: Isn't it a bit weird that neither the ending nor Marcy's journal showed the girls potentially dealing with trauma after they return from Amphibia? I understand that they want to portray change as inevitable and a part of life you have to accept, but I can't help but feel they missed on a bit of nuance in the process. It could have been due to lack of time or space tho.

Best wishes!

The latter one of these two I actually find more interesting, even if it's slightly more infuriating too for reasons I'll get into, but let's get the first out of the way.

Mostly that... What? Anne takes a HARD backseat in S3B. It is about Amphibia and its people and while she has a couple episodes where she gets to be the one helping out, a lot of them are about the frogs themselves. Hell, Sasha is doing about as much as Anne is except that Anne can leave to promote the resistance and act as a fighter because Sasha is busy with the full time duty of a commander. There's a reason stories focus on a general's top soldier, not the general himself. That's just storytelling conventions and Anne still doesn't overshadow Sasha much. Hell, the Olms are MUCH more brought in by the Plantars and Sasha than anything Anne does. More Hop Pop above the rest even, not just Sprig.

As for getting them all to work together... Do you not remember that episode? Anne fails for 80% of it before she LOSES IT and makes them all realize that even if they hate each other, they hate Andrias more. Hell, she only leads them because she has mediation experience and again, she fucks it up for the most part. It's still Sasha who technically brought them all to one place. I will admit that Anne gets an episode with Tritonio but I've already talked about how Sasha was the leader for bringing in the Ohms. Sprig helps bring in the toads specifically because he pisses them off so much as to end up in a dual where he needs to expand his own way of thinking and looking at others in order to win.

None of this glorifies any of them. Anne just points out rightfully through empathy that Tritonio does care about his people. Sasha pushes the Olms hard enough to force them to listen to her and give them a chance. Sprig is bigoted but in fixing that, he starts to let go of it. None of this is glorifying anyone, especially with how hard each of them has to fight to get these people to budge enough to even bother working together to save their world, something the show depicts... Because the show DOES acknowledge change is difficult and something people push back again.

Anne spends literally an ENTIRE season breaking her old habits and changing into a more mature person. She spends the first season constantly wanting to default to how things used to be for her, or how she wants them to be for her before learning to appreciate the new world she lives in, both literally and figuratively. Even then, Anne is still Anne. Two seasons later, she still devotes herself to pleasing her best friend during Sprig's birthday because old shackles haven't broken. They've loosened but change takes time.

Amphibia itself reflects this. Quick change DESTROYS IT. Forced change destroys it. The entire world is wrecked by someone trying to make it become something it is not and to bend to his will. Its people though do not simply forget their grudges because of this though because letting those things go, the humiliations, the traumas, etc. inflicted by each other (especially on the frogs) is something they cannot drop. It takes a literal world ending threat to BARELY make them work together. It actually presents a lot of interesting potential for what in fact does happen to the world afterwards.

But if you NEED it to be about trauma... What the fuck did you miss about Sasha's arc? Losing to Anne almost KILLS HER. In fact, she is willing to die because of utterly defeated she is, especially by the fact that in that moment, she has to acknowledge that Anne is a better person than her, not just a fighter. This causes her to lash out so badly that she spends ALL of S2 in denial until she finds a way to possibly put herself on even footing with Anne. When she has to acknowledge the actual pain this caused though, everything that she's held onto that is now ripped away from her, it puts her in a spiral of self doubt until she figures out a new direction to go.

But Sasha is still Sasha, even changed like this because, well... It's almost impossible to entirely change a person or people. She still wants to be leading. She still gets grossed out the nastier parts of Amphibia. All that changed was that now instead of being self serving in her desires, she understands what leadership actually means and the true value of other people. Even then, she still is struggling with accepting all of this which is why she wants an out when it comes to Marcy. To not have to deal with something so hard.

THIS is part of why I am SOOOOO tired of trauma talk in cartoon fandoms. Anything remotely dark happens and people seem to entirely forget what actually is on screen and cry out for therapy. Remember: Amphibia is a fantasy, slice of life, comedy that eventually gets more of an adventure edge in S3B. They still however make comments on bigotry, the long term damage due to that bigotry, trauma and our responses to it, the change that that can sometimes require and the lengths we'll go to to avoid addressing that, etc. etc.

But because we never get an entire season dedicated to Anne sobbing about Marcy, no one actually cares because it's not as blunt as Barrel's Hammer. Everyone seemed to miss that Anne was so overwhelmed by what happened in True Colors that she couldn't even recap it all without frying herself and that was WITHOUT acknowledging her friend's death. That she works herself to the bone until people convince her that destroying herself won't fix those mistakes faster, it'll just make more mistakes. I LOVE how Amphibia deals with actually acknowledging some of this stuff while managing to still recognizably BE AMPHIBIA.

Heck, the fandom explicitly DOESN'T want the deeper discussions the epilogue implies. That all three of them went through so much shit for and BECAUSE of one another that staying friends would be hard. Other people won't remind them of getting stabbed, scarred, betrayed, etc. but the trio WILL. And so they needed time in order to properly cope with it all. They didn't disconnect but they gave each other space until they were ready to properly handle what their relationship could be now.

Or, you know, just because they were forced to work together for the sake of other people they cared about, they should totally be blood sisters for the rest of eternity. Let's not talk about how two of them literally had to let go of the third to let her DIE for the sake of those they cared about. How do you cope with that? Does that torture Marcy because she can't protect Anne after moving? Is she thankful to have an excuse to disconnect because it means she'll care less if Anne ever dies again? And that's just ONE of the BILLION questions you have to ask about what Marcy does when she finally gets a chance to breathe.

The season the fandom wants about trauma is NOT what they would get. Fandom trauma is where you have a character angst, cry, get a hug and a cookie and then everything is okay. It's an excuse to have big emotions that lead to stronger bonds. It still romantices it into something that can only be for the best for a person and not actually that hard to get over. Trauma doesn't work like that. PEOPLE don't work like that.

Just as a personal example, and sorry this goes for so long: In October I had a session with my therapist specifically about getting into trauma inflicted by my brother pretending to be mentally disabled, something I actually am, and betrayal/bigotry shown to me by a TOH Discord group. These scars were over a year old. Over two years for when my brother started his shit. I had technically talked about these issues with other therapists before but now it was to specifically talk about them with the context of me having worsened my Avoidant Personality Disorder.

It destroyed me.

I went from taking random walks and having a potentially positive, excess energy in me STRAIGHT to complete lethargy, non functionality and, of course, though not as blunt because Tumblr doesn't have a spoiler text option I can find, dangerous thoughts that even scared me more than usual on some nights. It took me over a week to function again. To get back to about where I had before. And mind you, this wasn't a session about FIXING these issues. This was just me talking about them to let my current therapist know what was on my mind and what had happened. It made such not progress that I'm actively scared about how many sessions it will take to actually make me progress on these issues.

Meanwhile, I am not some cinnamon roll who needs pets because of these issues. I get REAL upset when people treat me like a ticking time bomb who is about to start sobbing any second now. The main effect it has had on me is that I am TERRIFIED of publishing my own work. I had my experiences invalidated and my personhood made less and so my deepest expressions of those stand on extremely shaky ground where despite knowing I'm a good writer, nothing sounds good enough to my brain and it just causes more anxiety the harder I push. It's a large part of why I haven't written a lot this year and published nothing original that wasn't written LAST YEAR.

Now translate all of that complexity, and all that boredom that comes with it, to a full season of Amphibia about the girls processing the end of their journey and saying goodbye to their families. Even just a couple episodes about it. How entertaining is that? Is that ANYTHING like what you enjoy about Amphibia in the first place? Is that ACTUALLY what you want?

Because you know what? I made a story about depression, anxiety, trauma etc. and while people like the fanfic version, it's not my most popular fanfic and the published, original version of that story has mostly gone entirely overlooked, almost like those topics actually REALLY suck to read about and have explored properly rather than just being an excuse to have your ships hold each other a little tighter. Most people who read the fanfic were there to see Lumity angst that led to them getting together and were then shocked and pleasantly surprised how there were actual therapy techniques they could take with them and the like in it because they were there to see a couple they liked suffer so their bond could grow stronger.

And I want to be clear real quick: I do not begrudge anyone for enjoying Crises Girlfriends like that. I am actually just happy you enjoyed it at all and in a way that was healthy for you (and I've had people talk about needing to put it down because it fucked them up so badly). There are games I am SCARED to play because I fear what my emotional reaction will be to their themes. Celeste is one of those games. I don't like when my media wrecks me like that but that is a part of actually tackling these very serious subjects that ruin people's lives like trauma or depression or the like.

And... I just don't think most people actually want that. Let alone want that from their silly frog cartoon. it's just what people keep telling them to want because 'trauma' is the big buzzword of the day. The thing that makes it not like other kid's cartoons.

I don't want trauma regarded like that though. Nothing so serious should just be a token signifier to others that your story is 'deep', let alone when the story actually does show responses to trauma and how people handle that like Amphibia does.

======+++++======

For funsies, have an old blog that's admittedly about TOH but also applies to fantasy trauma in Amphibia as well because the genre is EXTREMELY awkward about trauma due to its fantastical nature. I think Amphibia does fantasy trauma better but, well... The Plantar's trauma about herons still applies to one of the types I describe.

Also, best wishes to you asker. Sorry for ending up using your ask to unload some frustrations I have about the topic.

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

#amphibia #amphibia critical

[icloudbanana]

Can you still buy creative suite 6

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We try to make it sound like it has been recorded with a ton of analog gear. By understanding the why behind every mixing decision you’ll be able to really grow as a mixer.įirst step: Make each track sound like you wish it had been recorded if the band had a major label budget In this production, the sounds are very clean, no fancy equipment was used. Watching Youtube tutorials and learning new techniques is great, but it can become confusing and overwhelming if you’re missing a plan, a strategy to approach your mixes. In 2012, Phil won a Grammy for Adele's "Someone Like You." Starting out as Warren Huart’s intern at the age of 19, Phil has had a steep career: He became head engineer of "Harmony Studios" and later on "Spitfire Studios" where he worked with high profile producers and writers like Fraser T Smith, Dan Wilson & Jack Douglas and engineered songs for Daniel Powter, Adele, Aerosmith, P!nk and Miley Cyrus. Phil Allen is a producer, engineer, multi instrumentalist. ➡️FULL COURSE: Mixing Colbie Caillat's "Goldmine" with Marc Daniel Nelson: 🤍 ➡️Mixing Singer/Songwriter - Hybrid MIXING with Warren Huart: 🤍 ➡️Mixing In The Box with Warren Huart!: 🤍 ➡️Recording & Producing Drums with Matt Starr: 🤍 ➡️Recording & Producing Bass with Tony Franklin: 🤍 ➡️➡️Check out the other courses we've given away below:

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➡️➡️Click here to download the multitracks: 🤍 In this masterclass, Grammy-winning producer Scott Jacoby (Coldplay, John Legend, Jason Mraz) approaches the same song twice from two production extremes: a vintage-sounding rock mix and a radio-friendly pop/hip hop mix. 💸 Save money on DistroKid if you sign up through my custom link - 🤍

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Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro 250 Ohm I am using the stems in this video because I wanted to try my hand at the mix too.ĭAW: FL Studio 20 (all DAWs have similar function)įree Plugins: TDR Kotelnikov, Nova Dynamic EQ, Molotok Compressor and Slick EQ The final mix was done by Andy Toy (🤍andytoymusic), a brilliant engineer and mixer. Listen to the final mix here on YouTube: 🤍 ►The song is called "You" by The Workday Release.

CAN YOU STILL BUY CREATIVE SUITE 6 FREE

Feel free to ask me any questions about these methods in the comments below. These techniques can be applied when mixing many types of music. I use an approach called "Top-Down Mixing" where I start by setting a static mix before adding effects and automating. In this video, I turned the camera on while mixing to show you the steps I took to get a balanced mix. Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate (this is the BEST bundle you can buy): 🤍 Novation LaunchPad X (also compatible with Logic Pro X): 🤍 Komplete Kontrol S88 (the BEST MIDI keyboard the link is the newer generation): 🤍Īudio Technica ATH-M40X (headphones - I have 2 pairs): 🤍 Presonus Eris E5 (monitors you'll need to buy a pair): 🤍 Lacie External Drive (storing sample libraries): 🤍 You will never see me recommend buying pro audio gear from AmazonĬheck out Sweetwater: /MPRz3 The reason I trust Sweetwater is because they have the BEST customer support I have ever seen, two year warranty, free shipping, and they have they best reputation in the industry. I personally purchase my gear from Sweetwater and have for over 12 years these are affiliate links, meaning you can support my channel by using Sweetwater. Mailing address if ya wanna send me something! I'm explaining why you should stop watching mixing videos and what to focus on instead. WAY too many home studio musicians spend all their time watching mixing videos when mixing is only a SMALL percentage of what it takes to create amazing productions. 💥 To join the Ultimate Online Music Production Program OR Watch my Free One Hour Workshop on the 7 Keys to Pro Home Productions: 🤍

#Can you still buy creative suite 6

[mejomonster]

i’m down the rabbit hole a bit, ran into an interview. this one is really interesting for the more in depth discussion about acting

#ohm #nanon #video #acting #bad buddy #............................................................................... #as u may know i tend to prefer when actors get to talk about their acting process/what work they put into it etc #these interviewers did very down to earth questions #its also an interesting perspective since these two have been acting from quite young #unrelated but liu yuning discussing acting is something i'd love to read up or listen on #since liu yuning's a big example of like. someone in cdramaland who did Not study acting in college #and whos band was basically a 'i love my band' kind of work until they made it bigger #so he very much like. field hopped into his current acting. and is still really big in music #also killer and healer's jiang yuelou actor did an interview on his process for characters and picking projects #but yeah this interview was fascinating. i realize i kind of act like ohm if that makes sense #i dont feel i get 'lost' #in a character. but i do feel after i've done one that i bring some of their traits into me and grow #also curious to hear what method acting can genuinely be like. since like when u hear sensationalist stories about method acting its not the #same.

[patandpran]

The New Routine

I wrote this a few days ago and I am not sure where it came from. I am still going to credit @yangkoogan @earthfluuke @gaysarawat and even @brightwin (Jelly’s song is so fantastic - go listen!!) for putting these two as a pairing in my head.

I fondly refer to this one as ‘the one where they don’t realize until too late that they’re already dating’.

The gang was down to two. Phuak had left on his education exchange and Tine was attached to the hip with Sarawat or at cheerleading practice. This left Ohm and Fong without much direction, neither of them had ever been at the helm of making social plans so they often found themselves half heartedly doing the same things they had done with Phuak and Tine around: going to bad restaurants, bar hopping and playing too many hours of videos games.

All Fong knew was that he still wanted to spend time with Ohm but something felt off about how they were spending their time together. It didn’t exactly feel wrong as it didn’t necessarily matter what they were doing, it just seemed like they were going through the motions of how they used to spend time with Phuak and Tine instead of making their own way. Fong hoped that this reality wouldn’t get in the way of them continuing to spend time together as there was something very grounding about spending time with Ohm that kept Fong sane.

One day, Ohm showed up on Fong’s doorstep with what appeared to be a picnic basket and a flicker of adventure in his eyes.

“Ready?” Ohm asked and Fong was rendered speechless. Upon noticing this, a flicker of apprehension crossed Ohm’s face before he continued, “I decided we needed to mix it up. Do something spontaneous.”

“S-sure.” Fong’s confusion suddenly turned into amusement but he held back his chuckles by biting his lip. “Where are we going exactly?”

“Adventure means mystery.” Ohm exclaimed, pulling out a pair of car keys and dangling them in front of Fong’s eyes. “We are going to drive until we feel like we need to stop.”

“Need to stop?” Fong questioned. “Do you mean like we’ll sort of just listen to our hearts and see when our intuition tells us to we’re where we need to be?”

Ohm nodded so earnestly in response that it almost broke Fong’s heart. He instantly recognized that his friend was going out of his comfort zone to try something new to redefine their new normal without their other two friends - to prove that they could make a new way of things without Tine and Phuak’s influence.

“Exactly.” Ohm answered. “So get your ass into gear and let’s hit the road.”

Fong slipped on a pair of shoes and was out the door in a matter of seconds. He had no idea what the day ahead held in store but the fact that Ohm was going out of his way to plan something different made Fong excited and nervous at the same time. It was so unlike their norm that it made Fong’s head reel with anticipation. He wondered what had inspired Ohm’s whirlwind suggestion for an adventure but decided not to overthink it too much lest he ruin the experience by over analyzing his friends intentions.

“Ready.” Fong shared as he locked his dorm room behind him and smiled at Ohm.

“Let’s do this.” Ohm declared excitedly before grabbing Fong’s hand and taking off in a run toward the parking garage.

The whole scene must have looked so ridiculous to an outsider but Fong was already having so much fun with Ohm that he didn’t care if they looked completely insane. They got to the car and Ohm let Fong’s hand go before opening the passenger door for his friend.

The action made Fong smirk as he climbed into the car and put on his seatbelt. “I guess chivalry isn’t dead.”

Ohm laughed lightly at the response before placing the basket into the trunk and slipping into the driver’s seat. He rested his hands on the steering wheel after starting the ignition. He backed up and pulled on the main road of their university before asking, “Okay - so, North or South?”

“You seriously have no idea where we’re going?” Fong asked in surprise. “I figured the spontaneity thing was an act and you had a meticulous plan in place.”

“That would be how you would plan it.” Ohm responded and while it could have seen as an accusation if anyone else had said it, Fong knew that Fong meant no judgement with his words. He was just stating the facts because he knew Fong so well. “I, however, am choosing to surrender today’s destiny to the universe and see where fate takes us.”

“I feel like you have been reading too many self-help books. Or actually, knowing you, it was a self-help reddit chain.” Fong shook his head in amusement before chewing on his lip in contemplation. “Let’s go… somewhere with water.”

“You can’t be that specific!” Ohm cried out in protest. “North or South? We’ll see if water is what happens. And yes, maybe I have been down a few ‘make your own way’ threads on the internet lately but, hey, I’m choosing to make this a reality through action!”

“Okay… North!” Fong answered loudly, matching Ohm’s slightly manic energy. He knew his friend was excited about the prospect of paving their own way so he would lean into that as much as possible. This was already the most exciting thing they had done in months and they had barely even left campus yet.

“North it is.” Ohm agreed and turned onto the ramp that led North and merged onto the highway.

They settled into a comfortable silence for a while, unsure of how they were going to decide when exactly the right moment was to stop but both Ohm and Fong were simply enjoying their shared time together, especially with no specific criteria on their plans for the day aside from a picnic and a drive.

“I… made a playlist.” Ohm announced about ten minutes into their drive and looked surprisingly embarrassed by the admission.

Ohm had never shown much interest in music so Fong was pleasantly amused by the fact that his friend had gone out of his way to curate a playlist for their mini road trip. It made Fong realize that Ohm had actually put a lot of thought into their plans for the day despite wanting it to see like a ‘spontaneous’ proposition.

“Put it on.” Fong encouraged his friend and Ohm quickly connected his phone to the car’s speaker system.

As the first song began, Ohm turned his attention back to the road and started humming along with the first song which happened to be one by Scrubb. Fong watched Ohm start to bob his head along with the music through his peripheral vision and the sight made something in his chest ache and wish he had seen more of this side of Ohm before. This unguarded, completely in the moment and open to whatever possibility came their way version of his best friend fascinated Fong and he couldn’t wait to see where it took them.

The next song on the playlist was by CtrlS and Fong couldn’t help but be shocked. Ohm had never been particularly on board with the Tine and Sarawat situation, mostly because Ohm was so protective of Tine. Fong had been forced to do some major convincing to get Ohm to tolerate Sarawat’s presence so he was shocked to hear a song by Sarawat’s band on the playlist.

“Don’t even start.” Ohm blurted out before Fong could call his friend out on his hypocrisy. Ohm continued over Fong’s laughter, “Just because I like his music does not mean I like him.”

Fong rolled his eyes at how stubborn Ohm was. He knew that it came from a place of fierce protectiveness for his friend and it made Fong realize just how much Ohm cared for the people around him, despite how much he tried to downplay the emotions that he let others see.

“Fair enough.” Fong responded before spotting what looked like a green space of off the highway. “Hey! What if we stop here?”

“See? Told you it would just happen.” Ohm’s eyes lit up immediately and all the negativity that came with Sarawat being brought up melted from his expression.

Fong couldn’t help but feel a wave of fondness flow over him as he watched his friend relax into his usual positive demeanour. He turned off of the highway and found a parking spot near their destination. He hoped there was some sort of body of water to wade into considering the sun was beating down so intensely that his forehead had a fresh layer of sweat on it despite the car’s air conditioning.

“Here.” Ohm reached over after he shut off the car and pressed a handkerchief to Fong’s forehead before Fong even registered what was happening. Fong’s breath hitched at the close proximity and suddenly noticed the array of colours that were housed in Ohm’s eyes.

Ohm pulled away the handkerchief  and gave Fong a funny look, “Do I have something on my face?”

“N-no.” Fong’s cheeks burned at the question. “Thanks for that. Let’s try to find the water.”

Ohm pocketed the handkerchief before he shrugged and jumped out of the car. Fong collected himself and got out of the car as Ohm grabbed the basket from the trunk. Fong spotted the water in the distance and he raced toward, whether to escape the conflicted feeling he was experiencing or just because he loved the water so much, he wasn’t sure.

Fong heard Ohm trying to keep up with him as he reached the shoreline. Fong was thankful for the breeze as it helped calm down the blush that was presently on his face. He needed the momentary distance to recover from whatever the hell was going on between him and Ohm. The foreign feeling had popped out of nowhere and he felt himself struggling to navigate it.

“Are you going to go in?” Ohm asked and threw an arm over Fong’s shoulder.

The contact that usually felt platonic and casual suddenly was charged with something that Fong couldn’t quite place but he didn’t dare to separate himself from Ohm in fear that Ohm might read it as Fong being uncomfortable with the choice of outing.

“I don’t think so. I’m happy to just dip my feet in.” Fong murmured and looked toward his friend. The sun was dancing across Ohm’s face and Fong was taken aback by how serene the image was. His mouth felt dry and he was struggling to put words together but finally he managed to blurt out, “Should we find a spot to eat something?”

“That sounds great.” Ohm nodded firmly and moved his hand to grasp Fong’s again as if the gesture was something they did on a regular basis instead of it being a new occurrence. Fong was surprised to find himself relaxing into it and even finding comfort in the connection.

Ohm led them to a grassy spot in the shade of a tree and let go of Fong’s hand before opening up the basket. Fong watched as Ohm pulled out a blanket and draped it across the ground. A fleeting thought of just how romantic the whole scene was appeared in Fong’s mind and he was back to square one with a new layer of sweat spreading across his forehead, this time inspired by how nervous he suddenly felt. He obviously was overthinking this whole thing and Ohm was just trying to do something fun and different for his friend without thinking about the specific parameters of how date-like the whole setup was.

“I didn’t know exactly what you would like in terms of sandwiches so I made a tuna salad one and a peanut butter and jelly.” Ohm explained as he pulled out a few containers as he sat down on the blanket. “I also have a bunch of fruit and some drinks if you want one.”

Fong had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning widely at how adorable the whole situation was. Ohm looked at Fong expectantly and patted the empty space beside him on the blanket as an invitation for Fong to join him. Fong sat down and answered, “I think I’ll go for the peanut butter and jelly.”

“I figured that would be the case.” Ohm shared, seemingly pleased with himself as he handed Fong the container with the sandwich.

Fong opened up it up and began to munch of his sandwich as Ohm opened up the rest of the containers, humming absentmindedly as he went about the work. Ohm reached into the basket again and pulled out a container which appeared to be filled with lemonade.

“I’m so tired of those chewie drinks we have all the time.” Ohm shared, “So I made some lemonade from scratch!”

Fong was quite overwhelmed with the time and effort that Ohm had put into all of this - he wasn’t quite sure how he was going to make up for this the next time they went out together. Without thinking, he muttered, “I don’t think I’ve put this much effort into an outing even if it was for an actual date.”

Ohm suddenly froze and Fong immediately realized the implications of what he just said. Fong began to flounder for how to possibly retract the words or somehow play it off as a joke but the silence that stretched between he and Ohm made Fong feel like he was drowning. It wasn’t exactly awkward, it was just… heavy.

Shockingly, Fong didn’t find himself particularly afraid of the weight behind his words, he was more worried that he had made Ohm overthink his actions as much as Fong overthought his own. Ohm was the definition of carefree so the fact that he seemed to be absorbed in thought meant that he was seriously considering the words that Fong’s filter hadn’t quite caught.

“I…” Ohm began to speak and stopped himself before starting up again after he looked directly into Fong’s eyes, his gaze quite serious. “Would it be okay if it was an actual date?”

Fong felt his heart leap into his throat at the question. He knew that something had shifted between them since they started to spend time just the two of them but he had never been brave enough to admit that their relationship had started to lean toward something more than just friendship. It was somewhat of a relief for Fong to realize what had changed and in a moment of blind courage, he reached across and took Ohm’s hand in his.

“Yah.” Fong assured Ohm who looked as if he was terrified to hear how Fong was about to respond. “I think that would be more than okay. It’ll be like our new… routine.”

“How can you still be so rational at a time like this?” Ohm burst out laughing, throwing his head back before collecting himself. “But that’s what I think this works so well…”

Ohm squeezed Fong’s hand reassuringly and Fong’s mind was flooded with possibilities of what was next for them. He sighed deeply and Ohm pulled him closer so that Fong’s head could rest on Ohm’s shoulder. When the close proximity had made him panic before, it now made Fong completely relax into…

Their new normal. Their new routine.

Because sometimes you just have to try something new to uncover something that was already there.

#ohmfong #ohm x fong #2gether #2gether the series #my writing #thai bl #gmmtv #sarwatine #still 2gether #I am still not over these two and I dont know if I ever will be

[melonbread96]

Please enjoy my final bbs one-shot for the fandom. It’s a revival of an old fic I did in the past, though some changes has been made. This is a Ohmtoonz hide and seek themed story. 

~Melon

~~~

It was a dull night at a friend's house, when one of them suggested playing a game. It wasn't really that unusual, since most of them were bored out of their minds and looking for something to do during their summer break. At least they didn't have to worry about classes and college work during this time. This however meant that they had to find ways to stay productive, and not cooped up indoors all the time. They were all video game nerds, so when their leader suggested something they would also listen, not that some of them wouldn't complain. At least at first some of them did. All of them were however curious, since they all heard the rumors. There was this weird ritual they heard about in a nearby town, in the middle of nowhere, since that's how these spooky tales ended up. They would all gather up into two cars and play this weird game that required ten people to play.

It was just a simple game of tag, at least that's what Ohm assumed. Some reason he still had a bad feeling about this.

They stopped at a gas station first, mostly because Nogla was complaining the entire time about being claustrophobic. This however sounded more like quas-ter-phobic, that had Tyler teasing him endlessly in the same seat. Ohm wasn't sure how he ended up with these two, but Delirious begged him to let them in their ride, so that he didn't have to deal it. He could understand why the constant bickering in the back seat would get on anyone's nerves. At least he had Squirrel to help mitigate and be a positive voice in all of this. All of them were hungry and agitated from the long ride, as everyone hopped out and got inside the building. Ohm decided to be the responsible one and get gas for their vehicle first. He wasn't sure why he agreed on driving them, but then he felt a sense of responsibility to keep their friends safe. The guys might goof off and get in a car accident or something. He went in immediately to the cashier to pay.

It didn't really take long, since there was no other cars around. All their friends were grabbing whatever drinks and food they wanted. Ohm was filling up and noticed that Evan was doing the same thing with his car. His vehicle was huge compared to his and could fit six people, since he made exponentially more than the rest. Ohm didn't really understand why Evan still hung out with them, other than his love for video games. The guy was already making good money, while working at his family's company. A lot of the guys were envious and lead to a lot of teasing, and talks about Evan finally being a grown up out of the group. Ohm decided to look away, unless he wanted some unwanted conversation. It wasn't like he had known much about him, they were just not very close. Their friend Delirious was the only reason they played games together, along with some of the others. Ohm would sometimes just play with his friends, when he didn't feel up to bringing up fake smiles and trying to get of his comfort zone.

"Hey Ohm, are you doin' alright?" asked Cartoonz, who came out with arm full of bag that was reeking full of food. It wasn't a surprise to see Delirious not that far from with his arms full of drinks.

"Oh yeah, I uh can't wait to get out there and you know," said Ohm casually, though it sounded unsure even in his own ears.

"Well I noticed you were kinda spaced out, maybe some food will do you some good," Cartoonz pointed out, as he bumped him with his arm playfully, and then left to get inside of the cars.

"Yeah maybe," muttered Ohm softly to himself, as he lingered a little bit, until he was done will filling up the car.

It didn't take long for the rest of them to get back inside one of the vehicles. They all agreed to turn off near the creepy building and eat outside the place. Ohm noticed it wasn't very far and he pulled over into the run down parking lot, that had faded lines and a lot of space to roam around. He was again wondering if this was a bad idea, but he didn't want to look scared or chicken out. The guys would make fun of him for the rest of their college years, if he was the only one to decide to bail. Some reason he doubted anyone else was going to leave, not when they got this far and went through all the trouble. He just hoped he wouldn't regret his decision. His eyes meet with Squirrel, and it was almost like they were speaking telepathically. Despite a mask and bunny ears hoodie that covered almost all of his face from everyone. Delirious also had his face covered, however with a mask and hoodie of his own, though his friend choose something that covered his entire face. Unlike Ohm who only covered the top of his head and his mouth area.

It was mostly because Ohm had problems with seeing sometimes, and even wore glasses to this occasion. Only a few people knew he had to wear them, which some of the guys to stare at him in surprise at first. Ohm just ignored it and the guys eventually stopped. The engine was turned off and everyone went to the front of the building to eat their food on top of the large staircase up front. This place was made of mostly solid brick and concrete, and looked so old and rundown. Maybe Evan picked this place, so that if anything got broken, nobody would get into trouble for it. A few of the guys were known to get in all sorts of trouble, especially when they were teenagers. When Ohm stood there and looked around the place. It was Cartoonz who walked up to him, then handed him a hot dog and soda. It was what him and Delirious were carrying earlier from the gas station. He contemplated eating in front of the rest of the guys, but then decided against it.

Ohm instead went inside the building himself and reluctantly took off his mask to eat. He asked Cartoonz to watch the doorway for him, since he trusted him enough to do it. His friend had already seen his face and he knew he would keep it a secret. Delirious even joined him and took off his mask inside as they ate. Other than Gorilla, these were the only few people that saw his face. "I wish we stopped for burgers," pouted Delirious, though his Slurpee seemed enough to curb his cravings for his favorite greasy food. Ohm could see Cartoonz roll his eyes, when he peered inside and looked like wanted to say something, but then decided against it. Those two would bicker all day if they really wanted to do it. Once they finished eating and placed their masks back on, they noticed the guys still gathered up front of the building. It was their leader who interrupted everyone and decided to get everything started.

"Alright! Let's get this shit show on the move," rallied Evan, as he started getting everyone headed towards the place they were currently inside.

#ohmtoonz #h2o vanoss #vanlirious

[igazikutya]

Zajok a nappaliból – Grande Traxelektor 2020 – „SENSE”

Kétezerhúsz összegzéseinek utolsó fejezetéhez, a „Sense” nevet viselő downtempo, ambient, dub, experimental, trip-hop és ki-tudja-még-mi-más műfajú, egyben a legsokszínűbb Traxelektor válogatáshoz értünk, 101 felvételből összeállítva. Hogy mitől soxínűbb? Egyszerű a matek: Egy nagyobb szobában sokkal kreatívabban tudod ugyanazt a bútor mennyiséget elhelyezni. Ühüm. Aha! De mi van akkor, ha a bútor is kevesebb? Üljünk le, kávé, cigi, brit tudósokért kiáltó paradoxonhoz értünk. Elnézést kérek a kedves olvasótól, nem gondolom, hogy ez valami zenei feng-shui, pláne nem ikeabana volna, de tény, az itt hallható művekre leginkább igaz, hogy van bennük bőven csend is, hogy terük is van, nem stadionnyi (anno görög, mára magyar mértékegység), hanem akár galaxisnyi méretben. És persze ne felejtsük el, hogy a tetriszhez is kell beesési tér, még ha a vége egy tömör valami is. Szorri, kezd ez az írás is elszabadulni, és a neves költöztető és fuvarozó, Simon “Django” László vallomásává alakulni. Idézem: „ Az emberek alapvető tévedése, hogy igyekeznek minél több dologgal feltölteni a meglévő dolgok közötti, még megmaradt részt (rést)” - írja Simon, a Kisteherem, a mozgó/fekvő tetrisz - a költöztetés metafizikája címü esszéjében. A műben ezt a jelenséget elcsetreszesedésnek nevezi. (Kisteherem pedig nem egy iráni település, csak az autója) Szóval no more csetresz, let there be space! ...and time! Szóval a tér, a tér, ott jártunk. Environment. Ambience, Milieu és Entourage a négy térőr. Biztos neked is megvan az az élményed, hogy állsz mondjuk egy domb vagy hely tetején és hallgatod a kilométerekre haladó autók vagy vonat hangját, amint szétterül a tájon és összekeveredik az ugató kutyák és egyéb közeli történések hangjával, mondjuk hirtelen becsapódik egy ajtó. Ma már ennek műfaja van, field recordings-nek hívják, még kiadó is van ilyen néven. Ezek az arcok füllel fotóznak, mert a zaj is zene. Igazából mindig is zene volt, az egész világ zene, és bármilyen részéből fotóznál ki egy szeletet a füleddel, az is ebbe a kategóriába kerülne. (Mitka - Mедитация) Lényegre térve... Az egyébként is mindig aktív ASC (James Clements) idén 4 felvétellel is bekerült, ebből kettőt párosban abszolvált Sam KDC (Samuel Wood) társaságában. Üde színfoltok az év végén hajrázó C.P.I., Hugo Capablanca és Marc Piñol erősen pszichedelikus párosa két felvétellel is, HAAi-től a Head Above The Parakeets, a Teleplasmiste mágikus mélységű An Unexpected Visit-je, Jimi Tenor-tól a Kiss Me After The Acid Rain. Klasszikus galaxisépítőink közül is többen aktívak voltak, a The Grid Floatation-jének a Special Request (Paul Woolford) készített olyan remixet, mely a kilencvenesek klasszik ambientjét idézi, a Higher Intelligence Agency Discatron EP-jével jelentkezett szólásra, a The Future Sound of London folytatta a múlt jövőbe történő expanzív teleportálását, idén az 1994-es Lifeforms ambientdupla nyitótrackjét, a Cascade-et bontották tizenhárom dimenzióba. Robert Henke Monolake-je is két felvétellel igazolja, a rutin nem zárja ki a megújulást és kreativitást. A covidra való legfrappánsabb reakciót Le temps isolé címmel élhettük meg Mouchoir Étanche (Marc Richter) jóvoltából. A külvilág messze van, homályos, a lélek pedig mozdulatlan lebeg. Slágerünk is van, mégpedig egy slágerírótól: az egykori Air egyik felétől Nicolas Godin-tól a  The Border. Nekem slágerszámba ment a brit testvérduó uh-tól (Dominic és Fionnuala Kennedy) a Seasick In Salts is. Rødhåd (Mike Bierbach, aki berlini, német, és nem viking) Mood albumáról két felvétellel került be, Vril-lel közösen (Out Of Place Artefacts) pedig eggyel. Jay Glass Dubs Soma albumán közreműködve osont be a ciprusi görög Maria Spivak az underground színtérre, hogy aztán szerzői albumával (Μετά Το Ρέιβ – a fordító szerint ez „A rave után”-t takar) ott is ragadjon, két felvétellel klubtag. Amúgy meg, talán már említettem év közben is, hogy az oroszok nem hogy a spájzban, de a nappaliban vannak, a Traxelektor minden kategóriájában, eltérő műfajokban fel-feltűnnek ifjú orosz muzsikusok, mint például Yenisei (Ilya Burtsev Szentpétervárról) vagy a ФАКТУРА kiadó Ural Cult válogatását is említhetném. Hazánk a „Sense” kategóriában is képviselve van, a horhos (Gugyella Zoltán és Győrffy Ákos) duójának személyében, a Mana Manánál megjelent 7 darab címet viselő lemezről egy track-kel, Mike Nylons (Borsos Janó) Eneme trilógiájának első részéről a Maelströmmel (a Farbwechsel gondozásában) és persze tigrics (Bereznyei Róbert) két kedvességgel, kiemelten a Iowe-val.

Spotify playlist

(79/101, 8h04m/9h51m)

Acid Pauli - Propagating Flip Flops [Mod, Ouie] African Head Charge - Dervish Dub [Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi, On-U-Sound] African Head Charge - Peace and Happiness [Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi, On-U-Sound] Alternative Particle Choir - Magic Feet [Black Hole Diaries , -wdo- Collaborations] Alva Noto - Xerrox Kirlian [Xerrox Vol. 4, Raster-Noton] An Gleann Dubh - Valley Falls Deep (Remix) [Fd 004, Full Dose] Anatoly Grinberg & Mark Spybey - It Started to Move Towards Me [The Failure of Language, Ant-Zen] Anna Homler & Alessio Capovilla ‎- De'la Cocce [Vasi Comunicanti, Gang Of Ducks] Anti Drone Squad - Self-Surveillance [Pax Digitalis, Sin Hilo] Aril Brikha - Everything Was Here First [Dance Of A Trillion Stars, Mule Musiq] ASC - Particle Fields [Colours Fade, Volume Five, Auxiliary Transmissions] ASC - Permafrost [Pattern Recognition - Second Sequence, Auxiliary] ASC & Sam KDC - A Lasting Impression [A Restless Mind, Auxiliary] ASC & Sam KDC - Delusions [A Restless Mind, Auxiliary] Atom™ - R3V [<3, Raster] Automat - Ankaten (Patrick Pulsinger Remix) [Modul Remixes #1, Compost] Ben Bondy - Proraso [Sibling, Experiences Ltd.] Bochum Welt - Color Me (Telefon Tel Aviv Remix) [Seafire Remixes, Central Processing Unit] Burial x Four Tet x Thom Yorke - His Rope [Her Revolution / His Rope, XL] CAO - Flesh Luminescence [Flesh Luminescence, Club Chai] Carmen Villain - Observable Future (D.K. Remix)[Both Lines Will Be Blue Remixed, Smalltown Supersound] Chris Liebing feat. Gary Numan - Polished Chrome (The Friend Pt. 1)(Remixed by Chris Carter) Commodo - Procession [Procession, Deep Medi Musik] CPI – Islaalsl [Alianza, Hivern Discs] CPI - Templo De Agua [Alianza, Hivern Discs] Cremation Lily - November Sails (Demo)[Oceanic Debris, Self-released] Dadub - Infinite Regresses [Hypersynchron, Ohm Resistance] Dadub - Of Simulacra [Hypersynchron, Ohm Resistance] Deadbeat & Paul St. Hilaire - War Games [Four Quarters Of Love And Modern Lash, Another Moon] Deadbeat & The Mole - Rollin Heavy In The Spielplaz [Deadbeat Meets The Mole, BLKRTZ] dgoHn - Electryon [Undesignated Proximate, Love Love] Die Wilde Jagd - Gondel [Haut, Bureau B] Dimensional Holofonic Sound - Seeing Is Believing (Remix) [Seeing Is Believing, Holofonic] Dom and Roland - The Expanse [Lost In The Moment, Dom & Roland Productions] Elder Island - Stranger Exchange (Jay Glass Dubs Remix) [The Omnitone Collection Remixed Pt. 1, Elder Island] E-Saggila- Replica [Corporate Cross, Hospital] Fluxion - Distance [Perspectives, Vibrant Music] Forest Drive West - Invisible [Mantis 01, Delsin] Forest On Stasys - Ùtero [Ataraxia, Accents] Future Sound Of London, The - Cascade Part 7 [Cascade 2020, fsoldigital.com] Future Sound Of London, The - What Falls Away is Always [Cascade 2020, fsoldigital.com] Ground feat. Sinkishi & Kabamix - Wakusei Y [Wakusei, ESP Institute] HAAi - Head Above The Parakeets [Put Your Head Above The Parakeets, Mute] Happa - One Three Five [Blue 07, Whities] Hermes X - My Perception [Mutual Aid 2020 by Boheh Allstars, Mutual Aid] Higher Intelligence Agency - 3P [Discatron, Self-Released] Higher Intelligence Agency - Discatron [Discatron, Self-Released] horhos - Metropolitan Avenue-Coney Island [7 Darab, Mana Mana] Hoshina Anniversary - Shinju [Go Shichi Go Shichi Shichi, Youth] Jay Glass Dubs - Hyperacousis (for Miles) [Rijia, not on label] Jay Glass Dubs - Indolent [Rijia, not on label] Jimi Tenor - Kiss Me After The Acid Rain [Metamorpha, BubbleTease Communications] Jóhann Jóhannsson & Yair Elazar Glotman ‎- A Minor Astronomical Event [Last And First Men (OST), Deutsche Grammophon] Jon Hassell - Timeless [Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two), Ndeya] Jonathan Fitoussi - Soleil de Minuit [Plein Soleil, Obliques] Kanthor - Apologie du Nom [Mathème, Shaded Explorations] KAZUHO - 紫鳥線テンダー (SHICHO-LINE TENDER) [Blitz, 99CTS] LF58 - Evocazione, Contatto, Risveglio [Alterazione,  Astral Industries] Loscil - Faults [Faults, Coasts, Lines, Self-Released] Lucrecia Dalt - Disuelta [No Era Solida, Rvng Intl.] Mantris - Augustine Tower [Souvenirs from Imaginary Cities, Souvenirs from Imaginary Cities] Marco Shuttle - Ritmo Elegante [Ritmo Elegante, Spazio Disponibile] Metal - Point Vacancies [Point Vacancies, ESP Institute] Mike Nylons - Maelström [Eneme I, Farbwechsel] Mitka - Mедитация [VA - Ural Cult, ФАКТУРА] Monolake - Phaenon Ono [Archaeopteryx, Monolake - Imbalance Computer Music] Monolake - Plateaux Orthogonal [Archaeopteryx, Monolake - Imbalance Computer Music] Mouchoir Étanche - Le temps isolé [Une Fille Pétrifiée, Cellule 75] Nathan Fake - Ezekiel [Blizzards, Cambria Instruments] Negativland - Don't Don't Get Freaked Out [The World Will Decide, Seeland] Negativland - The World Will Decide [The World Will Decide, Seeland] Nicolas Godin - The Border [Concrete And Glass, Because Music] Nummer Music - Sea Junkies [Night Confidence, Nummer Music] Regis - Blood Tide [DN Tapes, Downwards] Rer Repeter - Principles Unknown [Mutual Aid 2020 by Boheh Allstars, Mutual Aid] Rødhåd - Like Sleepwalkers Ghosting Through A Dreamscape [Mood, WSNWG] Rødhåd - No Forms To Fill Out, No Instant Check, No Waiting Period [Mood, WSNWG] Roedelius - Ebenfalls [Selbstportrait - Wahre Liebe, Bureau B] Roger Robinson - Forward [Mutual Aid 2020 by Boheh Allstars, Mutual Aid] Sabaturin - Direnker [Kenemglev, Holuzam] Significant Other - Mike's Gone Back To Manchester [Club Aura, Oscilla Sound] Soreab - Flowers [Kraepelin Avenue, Baroque Sunburst] Spivak - Enough Throwbacks [Μετά Το Ρέιβ, Ecstatic] Spivak with H4S- Σχεδόν Σίγουρα [Μετά Το Ρέιβ, Ecstatic] Surgeon - Europa Code [Europa Code, Ilian Tape] Teleplasmiste - An Unexpected Visit [To Kiss Earth Goodbye, House of Mythology] The Black Dog - Cup Noodle (Unemployed Youth Version) [Further Fragments, Dust Science] The Grid - Floatation (Special Request Remix) [Floatation (Special Request Remix), Chemical Alley] tigrics - Kerns [Dimensionless, Self-released] tigrics - lowe [Dimensionless, Self-released] Tomaga - Osiris' Theme [Extended Play 2, Self-released] uh - Seasick In Salts [Seasick In Salts, PRAH] UVB76 - Anya [Iwa Gaaden, Random Numbers] Varuna - Ratu [Mantis 04, Delsin] Vril & Rødhåd - Nazca [Out Of Place Artefacts, WSNWG] Wata Igarashi - Reflections [WIP02, WIP] XQST - HRBA [eXquisite CORpsE presents XQST - AE, Isla] Yenisei - Insomnia [Melancholy Of Decay, TESTFM] Yenisei - Swirl [Melancholy Of Decay, TESTFM] Yui Onodera - Ray 1 [Ray, Serein]

#traxelektor #grande #2020 #intelligent #dance #music #underground #electronics #leftfield #zene #zeneajánló

[drewschermickblindone]

Drew Schermick Reviews:

Louis Gibbor & DJ JahBluez- The Supernatural Progression of the Boom Bap

  I have had the pleasure of being in the studio to witness the magic my two friends St.Louis Gibbor & DJ JahBluez can create.

After watching and listening to them do their thing, I can profess that they are indeed the real deal.  Gibbor is among not only one of Arizona's most passionate and creative MCs but a true force in all of underground West Coast hip-hop.

His lyrical style and song writing is, dare I say, avant garde in his delivery of raw and left field approach to rap.

Jah is one of the most seasoned and invested producers in all of hip-hop; his approach to beat making and song crafting is second to none.

His production keeps evolving and as I take notice of the vast list of artists he has collaborated with. His catalogue is intimidating.

When my friend asked me to have a listen and offer some critique of their new project, I was excited from the start.

So now we have for you:

The Supernatural Progression of the Boom Bap-

  Movement-

           The opening track Movement begins with some ethereal synths.

Gibbor enters the track with some smooth vocals speaking of and on the weight of the world and its effect on him and those closest to him.

The hook is Gibbor repeating "the movement" with a nice reverb/delay with Jah inserting a nice soulful sample that pairs with St. Louis's hook.

Jah's kick and snare plus hihats mingle well with his synth based melody, which complements gibbor and medusa's lyrics and vocals nicely.

Medusa, the undisputed goddess queen of underground hip-hop, is so elegant and her contribution to this track only strengthens its resolve of subject matter and musical vision.

Gibbor ends the track with some abstract poetry about WOMEN, race, melanin, sex, love, and man's conflict with female interactions.

Jah brings in an interesting distorted clapping type sample at the end that wraps up the track with some mesmerizing production.

A truly beautiful track and a perfect way to kick off the record.

 Homesick-

           Jah's whirly strings and heavy snare begin the track, with Gibbor coming to give the DJ his props before talking about going back home to his people back in Cali. Gibbor proceeds to flow faster and demonstrate his lyrical velocity by telling a road trip story which flows into the lovely chorus where he pays homage to Albert Hammond's It Never Rains...

           While Jah brings in a beautiful female vocal sample, Gibbor raises his singing range as Jah brings in some dope biggie scratches.

           818 213 indeed.

  Scorpions' Kiss-          The vinyl crackle at the beginning of this track shifts my attention from Cali to the Middle East. Jah's production here is fine art.

                       The clarinet (woodwinds), flute, and boom bap drums emulate a type of Egyptian Noir drama score where the gods Gibbor, OHM & Myka9 come with so much heat

                       I feel as if I am in the desert on a tour to solve an ancient mystery.  Gibbor and Myka's styles mesh so well and Ohm's verse at first feels out of place and replicable, but on a second listen, I feel as if his contribution balances out their more singsong approach with his AOTAesque hard raps that complement the scene and cinematic style.

           The takeaway message of this track seems to be about cherishing the moments in time that make up our narrative and legend, overcoming our fears, and enduring.

           This is like an extraordinary film in music/song form, an epic track that deserves much attention and acclaim.

 Darling Carla-

 The strings and synths make one feel as if something is lurking around the corner.

Gibbor comes in stripped down speaking poetically about a woman/wife.

Gibbor seems to get personal and to speak tragically and romantically about a magical love and time lost.  

           I can relate and sympathize with track on a personal level, as I have had similar failed relationships that I can attribute to my brokenness.

           Hurt people hurt people; this cliché explains the last verse of the track where he opens up with a vulnerability rarely seen/scene in hip-hop.

             I am captivated and deeply touched by this one.

  This That-

Jah's sped up cuts that open and come in and out of this track are dope and fun laying the foundation for this banger.

Tomeicko kicks off the first verse with some interesting cadence and delivery. Her content is a bit dry. Some battle /semi-conscious raps work for this more straightforward track.

Volume 10 second verse is what we all would expect, respect, and admire from the West Coast legend. Gibbor's final verse, in my humble opinion, eclipses the first two verses.

I am most enthralled and into the beat and production on this track. Jah creates something fresh yet oddly reminiscent of the 1990s; it works and this song acts as a nice reprieve after the serious and heartbreaking feel of Darling Carla, thus moving the album forward in a cohesive placement.

  Play times over-

Play times is a haunting tune where Gibbor explores some horrorcore and social-political type verses.  

Despite his dark delivery and subject, his vocal stylings are very polished and he is clearly preaching what he truly believes, questioning our exploitations and personal beliefs that shape our society.

He delves into some religious rhetoric and critique which may be triggering for some, or for those with open minds, a lot of content to digest and ask yourself about; your own values and idealizations come into question.

Overall, a very deep, debating, thought provoking, and brave track that is a possible nod to Revelations?

  PSA12-

 Named by JahBluez. Public Service Announcement 12. The 12 has multiple meanings to him but he is primarily speaking on the Technic 1200 turntable.

My roommates The Adepts shine on this dope cut.

Dapper Dan kicks things off rhyming about graff and the failings of society.

Midknight comes straight in after Dap with some more social commentary followed by a nice vocal sample that transitions the track to Gibbor's world, where he continues to touch on the state of the nation with a shout-out out to his higher power; his delivery here is exceptional.

OHM follows, dropping more knowledge followed by a sick turntable demonstration by Blesd1.

Ohm comes back in again giving props to the Shapeshifters and co.

Overall, it’s a decent track that keeps the album flowing, and hearing my close homies get some shine on such an exceptional record brings me a smile.

  Give it your all-

 Gibbor goes all in speaking his truth over a dope beat with a nice conga bleed into the programmed drums complimented by a slick sample give it your all.

This song is inspiring and begs the listener to give 100% to all their endeavors

 The perfect insurgents-

Another track with Dapper Dan & ohm illuminating conspiracies and finding our purpose in the madness.

The production is solid but feels less inspired than the other songs on this album.

OHM comes with more social-political hip-hop. Ohm’s delivery on this verse is ill and noteworthy.

Gibbor’s chorus is for real and epic. Dan spits some misogyny/spiritual bars, almost contracting himself, but reeling himself back with an enlightened style that is cool as ice.

Gibbor's last verse comes also with more worldview commentary but starts to feel redundant after the last two tracks.

I'm trying to find more connection to the title referencing the insurgency and becoming radicalized and forging alliances against the evils of the world, but I think I can hear it subtly in this one.

  The Fraternity-

 Jah lays down some military type production with the drumline type beat and the trumpet sample. Jah's cuts between verses are really dope and adds dimension.

Mista Crane, my friend NOK, Embrae, and Gibbor all hold their weight on this gargantuan track. Nod your head to this banger where these heavyweight MCs illuminate the hypocrisy and failed political system, the negative forces that threaten our vision and drive us as artists and men bringing the fire to this standout track.

Gibbor’s finishes off the track with one of his finest verses on the album touching on spiritual revolution and those who are asleep at the wheel.  This one bangs and commands RESPECT.

  The Ghost-

 We are now at the final closing track titled "The Ghost"

Piano and horns float as Gibbor's poetic stylings have me in a trance.

He delves into the existential, self, and ego. Then, out of nowhere, he comes in with this Myka9esque hook featuring soulful, wild, quick, and exhilarating singing that finishes off the album on a poignant note.

A gorgeous whirlwind of a song and a perfect ending with Jah bringing in the wind. I love it.

 8/10

()()()()4/5 mics

 Drew Schermick 2021

[cirvat]

Week 2- Creatober

Prompts: Awareness, Pressure, Fight, Sunrise, Burn, Bruise (I couldn’t seem to fit Intrigue in here!)

Kagura pressed her fist to her mouth to cover the yawn that betrayed just how tired she was. Beside her Leo was leaning over his fiancé’s shoulders, eyes closed and groaning into Shin’s neck. Shin was petting his hair as they scanned the line of guards that bracketed them.

The walkway was lit with the glare of streetlamps as a soft glow on the horizon carried the promise of a sunrise. The carriage that they stood in front of was an ornate thing, golden and giant with little dragons sewn into the drapery. It looked like those show boxes royalty would put pretty trinkets in.

Princess Ursula was anything but a pretty trinket.

Not to say that she isn’t pretty, she floundered in her own head. Her Highness is very beautiful! She's just not a trinket!

Achieving Runic mastership at the age of twenty was almost unheard of. The variety of properties behind each and every rune made the field notorious for its complexity. Kagura had to research some of the more common runes during her medical classes and it was like pulling teeth trying to understand them.

She really hoped she would get to see more of the Princess’s abilities in action. 

“When are they gonna get here?” Leo groaned. “I could have gotten more sleep if all we’re gonna do is stand here for an hour!”

“It’s ceremonial, Leo.” Shin swept another hand through his hair. “Her Highness needs to be dressed in traditional clothing for her travels through the outer rings.”

“Also, she and Kavan need to talk mission details.” Kagura poked Leo’s side.

“But sleep!” Leo pressed into his fiancé even more.

“Leo.” Shin shrugged him off their shoulder. “You’re going to be riding on top of the thing anyways. Chill out.”

The ginger groaned and moved to lean on them again just as the guards parted. Kagura and Shin elbowed him up straight as Kavan led both the Princess and Empress Sakura forward. The three sunk into deep bows at their approach.

“Rise.” The Empress’s clear voice seemed to set pressure down on Kagura’s spine, forcing her to obey. “Dear guildsfolk, I entrust to you my daughter. Protect her and care for her.”

“We will, Your Excellency.” Kavan bowed, showing her the respect he would usually only show to the Vulcos Grandmaster.

“Ursula, my daughter.” Sakura turned to the Princess, her lips pursed in what could only be worry. “I wish you safe travels. Return to me swiftly.”

“Of course, Mother.” Ursula bowed her head, her face covered by the veil she wore. She turned to the carriage and her beautiful formal robes drifted across the ground as she walked. 

Kagura was sure that her eyes were burning against the Princess’s back as she climbed the steps into the carriage. She just couldn’t help herself. The grace that her Highness moved with swayed the fish beaded into the fabric so that they almost looked alive. 

Ursula settled into the carriage as her newly appointed guards took their positions. Shin took up the horses’ reins as Leo climbed up to perch on the guard post beside the sunroof window. Kagura and Kavan moved to their rear guard positions. 

Their travel through the palace grounds and out into the Upper Ring was uneventful. Kagura spent her time checking her gloves and doing her fourth pocket pat down of the morning. 

Once they cleared the palace walls it was another story entirely.

Whispers traced their path through the city.

Kagura hadn’t noticed it at first. She’d been caught up in staring at the tops of the monolithic buildings that towered over the streets when a small exchange caught her ear. 

“Demon’s out to play again.”

Her eyes snapped down in time to see some lordly asshole bend over to whisper in another’s ear.

“I don’t know how Her Excellency can stand it. That thing living in her walls.”

“If it lived in my home you know I’d…” The voices became indistinct as they moved further away. 

After that she was aware of every cupped mouth and averted glare. Her shoulders rose higher and higher and she cut a glance at Kavan only to see him shake his head. His hand nearest to her flipped palm out for a moment before moving back.

Don’t. Not worth it.

Her eyes flicked up to meet Leo’s and she let her head tilt forward. 

Leo grimaced and tapped twice on the carriage roof.

Shin flicked the reins, cuing the horses to speed up.

They moved through the Upper Ring as fast as possible. 

The gate between the Upper and Lower Rings was gaudy and unnecessarily golden. There were guards posted every yard along the wall. The ones closest to the carriage bowed as they passed, backing up as they did.

The Lower Ring was only marginally better.

The working class didn’t bother with whispering those foolish remarks, not ready to face the possible jail time for insulting royalty. They did, however, turn away from the carriage and clutch their children close.

The closer they got to the edge of the Lower Ring the less people seemed to care. By the time they reached the Parting Gate, the cityfolk barely batted an eye at the Princess’s carriage.

The guards of the Parting Gate didn’t bow. Instead, each one gave a nod, arms crossed and faces stoic. Kagura startled a bit when she saw Princess Ursula’s hand slide out of one of the windows and give them all a wave.

Beyond the Parting Gate, the mood around the carriage took a dramatic turn. 

Along the Palace City walls were camps and small slums of those forbidden from entering. Instead of whispered words and averted eyes were people trailing behind them. Children ran alongside the carriage, calling out to the ‘pretty ma’am’ to play with them.

A sudden low whistle sounded from Leo causing the carriage to slow to a halt. 

Requested stop. Kagura frowned, peeking around the side of the vehicle.

The Princess was leaning out of the window, veil trailing in the breeze.

“Hello, my friends.” She Whispered causing the clamoring children to quiet down. “How have you been?”

“Good!” The tallest girl chirped. “Our carrots are ready to harvest!”

“That’s good to hear.” Ursula’s voice was soft.

“How is your sister?” A small boy asked.

Which one? Kagura wondered with a small snort.

“She is well, thank you.” Ursula retreated for a moment. “I must be going, my friends.” Her hand reached out again, holding a coin purse and a small sack. “Please tell your parents of my absence.”

“Ok.” The children chorused as the tall girl took the bags. 

“Please be safe, miss!” A few of them rushed to say. 

“You as well.” Ursula gave them a parting wave. Leo tapped the carriage roof twice and they were off once more.

Kagura kept her eyes on the slumfolk as they made their way out and found herself smiling as they waved toward them.

Once they reached the slum limits the carriage paused to let Kagura and Kavan hop on their rear guard perches and then they were off. They moved at a fast clip over the merchant roads and Kagura marveled at the smoothness of their ride.

Time seemed to pass more slowly than usual. As Kagura scanned the horizon, she began to take more notice of the wild flowers that dotted their way. 

About midday they stopped by a river to give the horses a break. Kagura and Shin busied themselves by unhooking the horses. By the time they had finished watering and feeding the animals they returned to the carriage to find Leo in the depths of storytelling.

“- and Kagura, she’s super scary sometimes, looked him right in the eye and told him to f- um… I mean, flick off! So he got mad, like super mad, and went to punch her so I-!” Leo was rocking back and forth on his perch, grinning like a loon. 

“Leo!” Kagura yelped. “Are you telling her Highness about a bar brawl?!”

“She asked about what we do!” He grinned down at her. 

“So tell her about one of our missions! Don’t tell her about punching out some ass-,” she stopped herself, “ahem, uncouth civilian. You’re making us out to be crooks!”

“There is no need to worry, Ms. Ohm.” Kagura flushed when her eyes met the Princess’s own through her veil. “It is refreshing. I do think the man deserved whatever he got.”

“A header through the table?” Shin whispered as they passed behind Kagura. 

She bit her tongue to stop the snort trying to punch through her. Kavan, of course, did nothing to stop his own.

The two finished hooking the horse back in, but as they moved to return to their places Kavan suddenly let out a short, shrill whistle.

Danger.

Kagura froze and let her aura explode out from her. The energy traced through every nook and cranny of the space, stretching out wider and wider as she scanned. 

When the taste of metal flooded her mouth she snapped back into her own head.

“Thirty!” She yelled and gripped her seat as Shin leapt to their chair. A snap of the reins sent them forward at a full gallop.

“Cover!” Kavan roared and Shin ran them through the brush and into the treeline.

Kagura heard Leo yelp and watched an arrow sail past him. 

“Switch!” Kagura cried and reached up to grab the hand Leo was holding down to her. She clambered up to the roof and guided Leo down safely before nocking her bow. 

She crouched on the roof of the carriage and looked back at the way she had sensed their pursuers. Black shapes rocketed toward them across the field, much faster than they should have been able to move. 

“Mages incoming!” She felt her energy pool into her fingers as she pulled back her first arrow. Purple magic zipped along the wood just in time for her to loose it. The arrow flew true and speared one of the shapes right through. She watched with satisfaction as it toppled to the ground. “Twenty nine!”

“Shin!” Kavan was suddenly beside her. “We need to stand our ground!”

“Yes, sir!” They called and let out a cough before letting the reins go. They stomped down on the release mechanism and watched the horses leave them behind for a moment before turning. 

“Ooooo! This is just what I needed!” Leo growled, his voice incredibly lower than it had been before. Kagura refocused in time to see him launch off of the guard perch, his blade already glowing. 

“Damn it, Leo!” Shin jumped from the carriage. They flung off their cloak to reveal the contract marks all over their body. As they pressed their hand to one on their shoulder Kagura dropped down into the carriage. 

“Your Highness, I need you to listen to me.” She moved to watch through the window closest to the action. “If they enter the carriage, please entrust me to defend us.”

“I cannot promise that, Ms. Ohm.” Kagura turned in time to see the Princess loosen her belts. 

“U-uh! What-?” She flustered until she saw the hardened leather armor beneath the silken robes. On her hips gleamed two blackened silver daggers. 

“I am not as delicate as I have led you to believe.” Ursula tugged away her veil and the wig she wore along with it. Her hair underneath was silky, black and twisted into a crown braid. Her blood red eyes, the trait that every single thirteenth child shared, seemed to stare right through her. 

Kagura cleared her throat. “Good.”

The two women stepped out of the carriage and straight into the throws of the battle around them. 

Kagura lost herself to the violence. She watched Shin launch their elemental magics as she stabbed their enemies with poison tipped arrows. She saw Leo cackle in the crazed manner of berserkers as she slammed her bow into weak points. She witnessed Kavan throw their enemies clear through the air, ducking underneath some to loose arrows at others. 

The person that held her attention the most, though, was her Highness.

Ursula whipped her way through the battlefield, blood splattering over her armor, as the daggers in her hands ended the lives of those that sought to kill her. 

Soon, there was no one left to fight, bodies piled on the ground around them.

Kagura let out a sigh and winced when her ribs protested. Probably bruised.

“Thank you.” Ursula murmured as they all collected themselves. “I apologize for any injuries you have sustained protecting me.”

“Ha!” Leo laughed as he collapsed on the ground, beckoning Kagura over to look at his dislocated shoulder. “There’s no need for such formal language anymore, your Highness! We’re siblings in arms now!”

Ursula’s eyes widened. “Wh-what?”

“He’s right.” Shin glanced over at her from where they were staunching Kavan’s bleeding forehead wound. “We are your guards now, your Highness. We will fight alongside you until our contract ends. That is the promise we made.”

“I…” Ursula stumbled over her words for a moment. Her red eyes darted around to each of them. “Thank you.”

“No worries.” Leo waved his hand. “We welcome you.”

Kagura took that moment to set his shoulder back into place. She smiled when his high pitched squeak caused a shy, little smile to crawl across Ursula’s face.

She had a good feeling about this.

#ursula #kagura #shin #leo #kavan #creatober #gtpatcreatober

[bengiyo]

609 Bedtime Story Ep 3 Stray Thoughts

I really love Ohm and Fluke, and like that they chose to do another supernatural/sci-fi story. Last week we learned some of the rules of the universe hopping, which included Mum being invisible to other people, and also being two weeks behind Dew. We left off with Mum falling to his death. Likely he'll wake up back in his world.

I'm glad to be right. I didn't want to see Ohm die.

The water pressure in that shower did not look great.

I'm a big fan of the open affection Games displays for Vee. It doesn't demand reciprocity, and it feels patient with whatever personal reservation is holding Vee back.

I do like when people miss each other around elevators.

I know Mum's dick game better be good if he has women over with his place sloppy like this.

So glad that Dew exists in Mum's world. Even more fascinated that he's a close friend of Mint.

I like the idea of people being genre aware about time loops and trying to use that knowledge advantageously.

I'm so glad to see Nat, and to see him working with Plustor again. I liked the work they did together with Jojo in Friendzone: Dangerous Area.

This scene was fantastic. Games is of course going to play along with any plans that makes him Vee's boyfriend, and I have to know how he feels about that kiss. A (Nat) also threw such a believable punch. Nat brings such understated intensity to his characters that I know some unhinged shit is gonna happen later.

Ohm is kinda showing in these boxers. A win for the girlies.

I just really like Games. Plustor is really giving Potae room to shine in their interactions.

Oh, good. This Dew has Fluke's regular hair. I prefer his bangs down way more.

Blue Hawaii is a solid drink. I'm with Mint.

Golf Tanwarin chooses their cliffhangers well.

#609 bedtime story #thai bl #bl series #ql series #Ben watches

[waitmyturtles]

Well -- OKAY THEN. In THIS edition of “everyone is a bitch-ass hypocrite” -- Double Savage, episode 8 thoughts:

1) Win intimately reconciles with (a clearly messed-up, clearly vengeful, do not go near her) Rung, even though Rung categorizes herself as a criminal, as Win says he’ll love her no matter what,

2) At the same time, Win CONTINUES to condemn Korn for HIS being a “criminal,” weak ass, 

3) Win CONTINUES to think that he’ll be able to “put the bad people away” without using his HEAD (until the very end of the episode, thank gawd) as to who exactly the bad people are (which we can surmise at this point that Rung knows, too),

4) The PO-POs continue to be hypocrites for turning a blind eye to Ah’s operation because of RANKS (?!) and moolah (more on this in a sec)*,

5) Let me argue for a sec that Korn himself is also being a touch hypocritical, in that he’s being portrayed as someone who knows the way of the world, and still wants his tight circle to not get involved in his business, which like, homey, impossible at this point, because you kept/keep showing up to places and seeing all your old people, and

6) Rung herself is a hypocrite for blaming Korn’s family for her fate, because, GURL, DID YOU FORGET THAT YOU WERE THE ONE TO HOP IN THE OG DRUG VAN? ACCOUNTABILITY!!! And now you’re selling drugs to Pea/Satang! Good lord!

PHEW. In other words, very many people are being bitch-asses in this show at this point. Sounds very New Siwaj-y, if you’ll let me project. 

All that being said. I found out an answer to a question that I’ve long had, which is that Li doesn’t work, and was always expected to live at home, which I think is still a fascinating slice of Thai/Thai-Chinese culture that I need to know more about. And the way in which the patriarchal expectations of Win fall on his shoulders as he wonders if he can support the family without the store, and the dad having saved money to make it happen. 

Win doesn’t have a gray area. I think he’s the only character that doesn’t have it. And he didn’t need it -- because when he was growing up, he didn’t need survival techniques.

For all the time that Rung spent with BOTH brothers in their childhood -- Rung knew/knows this, and now knows how to take advantage of Win and his hypocrisy, because she knows that he was never a critical, survivalist thinker. Which likely explains, to an extent, her continued attraction to Korn, as she’s now figuring out a way to survive.

(Let me pause to say that I CONTINUE TO LOVE FILM, I love her leather-and-eyeliner-and-pouts-and-gold-chain-era, and by my count, she’s now kissed Nanon, Ohm, AND Perth in shows, and JUST GET ‘EM GURL, GET ‘EM, KEEP IT UP, HONEY.)

So with Win’s lack of a gray area -- man, he gets played all around him. The police are messy. Ah’s operation is messy. Korn’s loyalties are messy. Rung’s HEADSTATE is messy. Li now knows about Ah and the roles he’s played in the community, and recognizes that just condemning Ah is not so easy and is messy.

The only one still looking for black-and-white is Win. His whole life had been black and white, because he was the golden child. @shortpplfedup noted so succinctly in my last Double Savage post that that golden child mindset has messed Win up SO MUCH, because HIS frame was that Korn was ultimately a LOSER (because he indirectly absorbed that from his dad -- and never fought his dad on that point), and should NOT be the focus of Rung’s attention.

And Rung has learned so much from her time away to know that she can take advantage of Win’s dualistic perspective, which she’s doing, because she’s (wrongly, imo) revengeful towards Korn’s family. 

@miscellar is reading my thoughts exactly on this show -- that it’s becoming more and more of a soapy mess. But I think what I appreciated about the last two episodes -- because I’m me, a sucker for family trauma -- is that the show has been brought BACK to the center of the family trauma, and is reminding us that all of this is because the dad fucked things up so hard. We’ll see in the last week of the series next week that Korn will consider ponying up to help his dad. The dad created all of these fucking nasty dualities that just SNARED EVERYONE in. The person operating outside of all of this family drama/trauma was Ah, who knew how the world worked from the start. 

And at least Li is the one (maybe besides Korn, but again, Korn is being a hypocrite here too, for not reading everything as deeply as I think he can) who’s recognizing on the family side that shit’s complicated enough to think about it and to ask how it all ended up this way. How could people think of Ah as a good person? Her wheels are turning, and I wonder if that’ll have an impact next week. I hope so -- although next week looks seriously messy, and I wonder how the show’s going to get itself out of it.

*I forgot to add that some folks on Twitter seem to think the Captain is one of the guys who ran Ah off on the road -- I’m open to the idea.

#double savage #double savage the series #double savage meta #korn x rung #rung x korn #rung x win?! #win x rung!? #ohm pawat #perth tanapon #film rachanun #they have got a lot of shit to sort out before next week's finale y'all

[shapeshiftinterest]

The Sheriff's Department Prepares to Celebrate Winterfest at the Request of One (1) Adorabat

mao mao heroes of pure heart Christmas gift exchange

for @redstreakfox

wish list: When Adorabat announces she made a Christmas decoration during crafts at school featuring the three of them, BC and Mao reveal they haven’t celebrated Christmas in a long time due to traveling so much before Pure Heart Valley. Adorabat really wants to celebrate with them and so they set out to Farmer Buns farm to find the perfect tree for Sheriff HQ. 

________________________________________________________________

story under the read more

The Sheriff's Department Prepares to Celebrate Winterfest at the Request of One (1) Adorabat (also on AO3)

"mmmaoo... mmmaooo... mmm so legendary heheheh... " Mao mumbled stretching out a little before curling back into a ball on top of Badgerclops’ stomach, rising and falling with every breath of his cohero.

The sun was shining, the outside was snowing, and the two were napping comfortably on the couch after their most recent tussle with the skypirates. perfect conditions for a relaxing afternoon.

*BANG!*

Until the front door slammed open.

"SUP Y’ALL I’M BACK!" Adorabat screeched, scuttling into the room. Badgerclops jolted, accidentally shoving a flailing Mao onto the floor.

"Hwuh? – oh hey ‘dorabat," he yawned "how was skewl?"

Adorabat closed the door behind her and flew over to sit on the couch arm near Badgerclops’ head.

"It was great! We made winterfest ornaments. This one’s mine, see?’ she said, shoving a popsicle framed picture into his face. Badgerclops took the ornament and sat up, scooching over to make room for Mao. It was a simple crayon drawing of the 3 of them holding hands with Adorabat in the middle.

"Wonderful work Adorabat" said Mao. She beamed and flapped her wings to settle on Badgerclops’ shoulder.

"so when are we gonna hang it on the tree?" Adorabat asked, bouncing in place excitedly. Badgerclops and Mao shared an awkward look.

"Oh, uh, hhmmm. I don’t think I’ve celebrated winterfest in like, a while. Me n the Thicket Thieves weren’t really all that close y’know?"

Mao touched his chin, contemplating. "Now that you mention it, I haven’t celebrated it much either. Not since...’ [bao bao flashback]. He shook his head.

"Didn’t yall ever celebrate it together?"

"I guess we were traveling so much before coming to pureheart valley that we forgot." Badgerclops rubbed the back of his head. "But we’ll definitely celebrate it with you starting this year!" he reassured.

"Ye-yeah!" Mao chimed in, ruffling her head "We can’t let all your hard work go to waste now can we? haha"

Mao stood up, hands on his hips. "First things first, we should get a tree so we can hang your ornament Adorabat"

                                                      __________

"Dude, do we really have to get one of THESE trees?"

"Of course!" Mao exclaimed, sizing up the surrounding pines before heading for the tallest one "Bigger is better when it comes to Winterfest trees after all"

"Ok but I’M the one who has to carry it back, besides," Badgerclops scanned the tree his friend was getting ready to cut down "this one’s too big, it won’t fit in the house"

"Nonsense Badgerclops,’ Mao said, felling the massive pine with one swipe of Geraldine "it's the perfect size"

"But-"

"We’re not even that far from HQ," Mao made his way to the base of the tree, digging his claws into the wood and pulling. "Now come on and *grunt* help me drag this bad boy *HHHHRRRAAAAAHHH* to the aerocycle"

"Actually, my dear sheriff- oof!" Mao whirled around, only to run into a solid chest and get a face full of impeccably groomed fur.

"QUINTON!!" Mao suddenly found himself standing next to his deputies.

"Mmmwhere was I? Ah yes~ unfortunately for you, my dear sheriff, only pureheart valley farmers have jurisdiction to cut pine trees during Winterfest season"

"Wha-"

"So we’ll be confiscating this one, ah-ha~. QUINTON!!" the king yelled.

"Wait, your grace-"

"Ta ta~‘ The king winked and blew a kiss to the sheriff’s department as he and quinton disappeared into the underground tunnels, taking the tree with them.

Mao, Badgerclops and Adorabat stared at the spot in disbelief.

"Soooooo, Farmer Buns?‘ Adorabat piped from Badgerclops’ shoulder

‘yeah ok‘

Badgerclops picked up a stunned Mao and the trio made their way over to the aerocycle.

                                                      __________

"heheheheheheh!"

"PINKY YOU SLIPPERY BASTARD GET BACK HE- WHOA!", Mao slipped on a patch of ice, crashing into some of the ready cut winterfest trees as a mayonnaise covered pinky literally slipped out of his grasp.

"nyeh nyeh can't catch me hahahaha"

"What the heck Pinky, WE were gonna get that tree‘ Badgerclops said, rounding a corner and shooting nets from his robo arm rapid fire. Pinky continued to dodge them as he made his way to Farmer Bun, tree tag number in hand.

"Finders keepers losers weep- GAH!" Pinky yelled, getting a face full of smoke.

"Smoke bomb! smoke bomb!"

Mao swiped the number from Pinkys oily grasp "HA HA got it! Ok Yall lets go buy our tree" he said, already marching over, friends in tow and money in paw.

                                                      __________

…

‘WE FORGOT THE TREE!!‘ Adorabat screeched.

‘HANG ON YALL’ Mao made a sharp U-turn as Adorabat slammed the turbo boost button, the 3 of them screaming all the way back to the farm.

                                                      __________

Badgerclops poked his head out of the kitchen, spatula hand switching back to normal as he walked into the living room where Mao and Adorabat were making more ornaments.

"Hey guys, snacks are done" Badgerclops said, careful not to crush any of the drawings or origami decorations that littered the floor before sitting down next to Mao and putting the plate on the table.

"COOKIES!!" Adorabat let go of a jar of glitter and hopped onto the table, taking 2 of the still hot cookies and shoving one into her mouth "Ohm nom nom nom nom nom"

"Adorabat be careful, you could burn yourself"

"Here ya go lil dude" Badgerclops reeled his robo arm in, holding a tray with 3 cups of milk and sliding one of them towards Adorabat.

"Thabnk ou!' said Adorabat, cheeks puffed.

"And one for m‘ Mao Mao"

Mao tossed the finished origami star into the large pile at his right before accepting his lucky ducky mug.

"Thanks Badgerclops. I think we're almost done with the rest of the decorations," Mao bit into a cookie, looking at the tree in the corner of the room with Adorabat’s skewl ornament sitting proudly in the top branches "we can probably put them up in the morning, or maybe after second patrol. What do you think Adorabat?"

"Afternoon please! I wanna take my time and make sure it looks nice"

"Afternoon it is"

"Yall wanna watch the new soap opera episode? It's a winterfest themed one~" Badgerclops asked, already turning the TV on and channel surfing.

"Oh yeah!!" Adorabat circled the air above his head before landing on the middle cushion. Mao stood up and stretched, cracking what sounded like every bone in his body. Moving to sit on her right, he unfolded the large blanket from the back of the couch before putting it on their laps.

2 hours later the whole sheriff’s department was asleep.

Mao’s head was resting on Badgerclops’ shoulder, and Adorabat had somehow wiggled her way onto Mao mao’s lap, her head pillowed by Badgerclops’ thigh. The blanket was starting to fall to the floor as a Winterfest jingle played from the TV.

#my words #shapeshiftinterest #my fanfic #gift exchange #theme event #cartoons #mao mao heroes of pure heart #mmhoph #mao mao #badgerclops #adorabat #king snugglemagne #quinton #pinky #farmer bun #cats #badgers #bats #lions #pigeons #birds #rhinoceros #rabbits #animals #can be seen as friends or badgermao if you squint #that one really short vaguely snugglemao moment #friends #LGBTQA #badgermao #snugglemao

[newmusickarl]

It has been another absolutely huge week for new music, with plenty of great albums and tracks to discover. So like last week no Album of the Week, instead here's my roundup of everything worth checking out if you haven't already.

Albums

Orca by Gus Dapperton If I was to have an Album of the Week, it would probably be the incredible sophomore effort from New York based singer-songwriter Brendan Rice, aka Gus Dapperton. Coming just over a year after his impressive debut, Rice has already come on leaps and bounds as a songwriter, with Orca offering an engaging mix of playful, observational lyricism and heartfelt stories of self-destruction, addiction and navigating the highs and lows of tour life. His signature slacker-pop sound has also never sounded fresher too, with Orca packed front-to-back with infectious melodies and dreamy grooves.

In all honesty any one of these 10 tracks could be classed as a highlight, with the record never once dipping into the unnecessary or uninspiring. If I was to pick just a few it would be the angsty, hard-hitting lament of First Aid, the glistening guitars and earworm chorus of Post-Humorous and banjo-driven ballad Medicine, a song that Rice has called the best thing he has ever written - on that one, it's hard to disagree.

All in all, this is one of the best albums I've heard all year, with Rice hitting his stride both lyrically and sonically. A really wonderful record that you will want to keep revisiting.

Everywhen by Sunship Balloon Earlier this year, Murph from The Wombats released his fantastic debut solo effort under his Love Fame Tragedy guise. Now it's the turn of bassist Tord and drummer Dan to explore a world outside The Wombats, with the debut album from their Sunship Balloon project having now arrived.

Despite opening on an atmospheric, instrumental electronica number (1982) and featuring several more throughout, the pair mostly stick to the indie pop sound that made them. However that's not a bad thing at all as there are plenty of stellar moments here, such as the psychedelic, mesmeric reverb of A4 Life and the gentle pensiveness of 1000 conversations.

Why Do We Shake In The Cold? by Elderbrook We seem to have been spoilt for great electronic records this year, and now Elderbrook has arrived to add his debut to the collection. Featuring often minimalistic and atmospheric beats that offer a suitable backdrop to his own soft, textured vocals, Why Do We Shake In The Cold? is the perfect end of summer soundtrack.

Although there are plenty of highlights including the radiant piano-led groove of the title track and the stripped-back pulse of Numb, Rudimental collaboration and would-be-festival-anthem Something About You still stands out. If you haven't seen the video for this song yet, check it out above - much like the record it comes from, it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Untitled (Rise) by Sault No-one really knows much about Sault - even after several releases now their identity is still a mystery. However one thing we do know is the fact they make incredible, timely music that makes for essential listening. Untitled (Rise) is no different, a record that celebrates black excellence arriving in a year where the voice for racial equality has never been louder.

Bringing together various elements of house, soul, disco, R&B and afrobeats, Sault have crafted a powerful statement through the pure majesty of their music. This is an album that will have you dancing one minute, then standing up and paying attention to the world around you the next. Unsurprisingly many music outlets are already calling this the album of the year, and deservedly so - if music really can change the world, then Sault are leading the way.

Tracks

Child of the Flatlands by Maximo Park The return of Geordie indie legends Maximo Park, back with a dreamy, psychedelic number and Paul Smith's signature observartional lyricism.

Realiti by Maricka Hackman Maricka Hackman covers a Grimes classic, stripping it back and giving it a vibrant new voice.

Pretend by nothing, nowhere Joe Mulherin doesn't know how to make a bad song - Pretend is his signature blend of emo and hip hop, bolstered by a big singalong chorus.

Nothing for Free/Driver by Pendulum Remember drum-and-bass pioneers Pendulum? Well they are back with their first new music in 10 years in the form of two huge new singles, with Nothing for Free in particular showing they still have something left in the tank.

Genesis by Deftones The second taste of Deftones' forthcoming record is raucous opener Genesis, a track that helps to raise anticipation for Ohms sky high.

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Matt Bellamy Awful on paper, beautiful in execution - Muse's Matt Bellamy covers the Simon & Garfunkel classic, a song that couldn't be more appropriate for the times.

#something about you #elderbrook #why do we shake in the cold #gus dapperton #orca #sunship balloon #sault #maximo park #maricka hackman #grimes #nothing nowhere #pendulum #deftones #matt bellamy #muse #new music #best new music