Picture books, paper goods & pretty things.
A little extra music on here this week. I often listen to Desert Island Discs podcasts as I walk or am on the train. I had forgotten this song but have had it on a loop since Michael Buble chose it as one of his songs. Gentle and wistful. Everyone should have a love like Paul and Linda.
Our moon will be the closest it has been to earth since 1948 tonight. It will appear to be the brightest we have seen it for 68 years. To celebrate I am listening to moon songs including the magical Harvest Moon by Neil Young. Click on the smiling moon below to hear a lovely live version of this beautiful tune.
A bit of soul from Stevie for a Sunday : )
"I just know that something good is going to happen..."
An extra song this weekend as sometimes a piece of music plays at exactly the right moment. This was played on BBC 6 Music during Mary Anne Hobbs' breakfast show. I hadn't heard it for ages and just sat still and listened. Something about the marching beat, strings and echoes of 'yeah yeah yeah oh' feels tenacious, determined and strangely powerful.
Confession. I hadn't heard of Jamie Lidell until this week when he was interviewed by Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC 6 Music. His voice has a really gorgeous Stevie Wonder warmth about it. I love the simplicity of this video, it's kind of hypnotic and perfect for a lazy Sunday morning.
"I love the Smiths."
I love how those four words say so much in this movie. It's a turning point for Tom. You can practically hear his heart falling for Summer in the first scene in the video below. 500 Days Of Summer is such an elegant portrayal of the arc of love while also being totally endearing and clever. And the soundtrack is just gorgeous.
A little gem by Marlena Shaw to life the spirits as the days get shorter. The opening to this song makes me want to go on a road trip.
A gentle song for a Sunday. White Winter Trees by The Staves. Their voices and harmonies are beautifully whimsical and the animation by Aardman Animations is just magical. Notice how the sun and moon are stage lights which is such a lovely touch.
Sometimes The Quiet Life is just all about the little bit of joy that a song can bring. This was the first song on my birthday playlist on Spotify. I invited as many friends as I could fit in my flat and we drank champagne and ate cake and cheese (random I know but it's what I wanted!) and danced around the room.
So stop whatever you are doing and have a little dance to this : )
Sometimes you need a 'go to' artist who is like a comfort blanket. For me, that artist is Ryan Adams. An ex-boyfriend introduced me to his first solo album Heartbreaker about 16 years ago and I've seen him play live at least ten times since then. I can't actually describe what his voice is like when you hear it live. I once saw him play an acoustic set at the Royal Festival Hall and I nearly passed out from not breathing. Just stunning. Let me know who your 'go to' artist is in the comments below. Who takes your breath away?
