Beautiful Tango

I've figured out that there are certain advantages to having a flat tire. For instance you get to take a motorcycle taxi back home. It was the first time this whole monsoon that I got to really appreciate how beautiful Goa gets. Riding past the open fields and quaint bungalows I realised that Goa hasn't really moved since the 40's. Yes, there is the north but since I live closer to Panjim things seem like they've been caught in a time warp. 

Trawling through the soulkitchen archives I chanced upon Hindi Zahra a franco-moroccan singer with that perfect old school vibe. Sitting in one of the balconies at Venite looking out through the fairy lights onto the narrow street I knew that I had finally found my Goa song. 

Hindi Zahra presents Beautiful Tango:

I hear about this frog

You know sometimes for all the vast amount of cribbing I do I feel like I don’t deserve to find a song like this.

On the way to work today while I cribbed about hair fall haathi looked out of the window and said, “God I love Goa.”

Yes, the fields are now lakes, the sea is mucky brown but Goa is awake, its clean, fresh and beautiful. I thought about it a little and realized that I know no one that gets to ride through a forest and cross a river to get to work.

M83  presents Raconte-Moi Une Histoire. Ignore the video, close your eyes and listen to the lyrics.

Enjoy

Rain moments #1

This weekend was spent indoors. Two days of torrential downpour can lead to multiple cups of tea and hours spent watching Jane Eyre while feeling sorry for yourself; But it can also lead to Sanaa picking up my guitar and introducing me to one of the most beautiful Cat Power songs I've heard. With the rain lending its sound and the fairy lights it made for the perfect scene. 

I'm going to be bold and say I liked her version of it better but it is a beautiful song so I'm posting it anyway. Days of non-stop rain can be harrowing but there are somethings that can only happen when the weather is at its worst.

Cat power presents werewolf. Enjoy

Rain

"Dude, I can't stand the rain."

My first response to the Goa monsoon conversation met with waves of laughter and pointing in my direction. Nothing could ever prepare me for it. 

Its been only a week and my pillows are damp, every surface in my apartment is covered in wet clothes and tiny frogs have decided to make a home in my balcony/pond. Haathi very sweetly reminds me how it will only get worse and there will be weeks where it won't cease. So before my brain is waterlogged and I blend in to the swamp that will soon be my apartment I have decided to cram as much music into this blog as humanly possible.

Of course now that I've gotten the drama out of my system I have to admit that I have never seen Goa this beautiful. The forest road I take to work has been washed clean and I have never in all my life seen so many shades of green before. The misty drizzle is like wearing rose tinted glasses, everything looks alive, fresh and clean. The tourists have gone home and where I stay now finally feels like a regular town.

The vibe to life has changed, and with a change in vibe comes a shift in what I listen to. The latest discovery being Chet Faker (Nick Murphy). This 22 year old from Australia got famous doing a cover of the song No diggity by Blackstreet that went viral online but the song that I first stumbled upon was one of 

his own.

He likes to call his genre Motown meets minimalist house and though I'm not too sure what it actually means though when I think about it, it seems like they appropriate way to describe it. If you are into Alexi Murdoch, smooth jazz and Jose Gonzales you will like him. 

Isn't it just amazing when you stumble upon music when the mood is set and the time is right? Chet Faker presents terms and conditions, enjoy

Take me Elsewhere

Birthdays are sordid days, your facebook wall explodes, your phone starts ringing and all you want to do is find a hole and stick your head in it. Every one around you is beaming with happiness while you sit around and notice all the lines on your face and all the crap you've put your body through. Somehow every birthday I've had has been an awful series of unfortunate events. By the end of it I feel that it would probably be best if I left for someplace obscure and burnt my passport. Which is why most of my friends have decided that birthday celebrations are best held before or after.

Shkaplan, Holmes, Flower and I decided that this post birthday weekend would be held at a place known only as, elsewhere.It's funny how even living in Goa doesn't stop this burning urge to escape and by just the name of this place you know you are going to taste just a teensy bit of heaven. 

We arrived at night and crossed a bridge into what felt like neverland. Of course the true beauty of the place only hit me when I woke up walked out of our beautiful old bed and opened the doors to the ocean. Shkaplan and I had coffee on our porch(yes, our porch) after which we proceeded to have a fabulous breakfast with the others under a banyan tree. The old houses stood out against the grass, the sound of the sea in the background only confirmed that I was obviously dreaming.

I think its safe to say that all of us felt as if we were in a different world. The weekend was magical, good food, great company and a few random volleyball sessions are just what you need. Of course Holmes and I have now decided to sell all our assets and move into one of the old Goan houses for as long as it will buy us for this is honestly how everyone should live.

As we crossed the bridge back to reality, dogs and a stuffy car I couldn't help but feel a little bit of my heart had stayed back. Take me back, take me elsewhere.

Of monsters and men presents-little talks. This is a video worth watching. enjoy

Fabulous? obviously

I woke up today feeling fabulous.

My plants aren't dying, the roommate is happy and Goa is finally hot. Riding through streamers on my way to work I realised that the time I spent mooching took away from the fact that I really am in a happy place.

Shit will hit the fan at some point but sitting around waiting for it to happen is a little silly don't you think?

Lunch at Ritz awaits(One of Goa's oldest and most succulent restaurant, serves the most fantastic Hindu Goan food) and I shall bounce there with chopsticks in my hair.

How awfully posh.

Bouncy songs for bouncy days: The faded paper figures present, the persuaded

enjoy!

Finding Frank

A few days ago I went over to a friends place to listen to his newest addition to his record collection. An album called Frank by Amy Winehouse. I was never a big fan of her music and maybe that's because I never seemed to get passed the most popular tracks. Has it ever happened to you that when something is such a rage you instantly run in the opposite direction?

Finally after many failed plans and ditch attempts we managed to squeeze in some time between work and dinner. As I sat there allowing her boozy vocals wash over me I realised why people went nuts over this tiny woman with dramatic eye make up and weird bouffant. Her lazy scat, words melting effortlessly into a careless melody, it was fantastic! If I closed my eyes I could smell the cigerettes, stale alcohol and sweaty bars. Her voice is almost ambient, it surrounds you and takes you places.

Of course listening to it on record on a stuffy evening in Goa only made it that much more romantic. Listening to the entire record, no fast forwarding or choosing tracks  is something I haven't done in ages. Frank has been on loop for a while now and I can easily say that it is one of my favourite albums.

Attached are two tracks, the first is my favourite, Moody's mood for love and since the record man introduced me to this, his favourite; Fuck me pumps.

Honestly? Download the album, find some nice wine, a little loving and a balcony. Let the evening, music, booze and passion flow. I intend to try this as well.

Enjoy

Stranger things have happened, i know

The foggy mornings in Goa are putting me into some sort of weird head space. Life suddenly feels like something out of a Murakami novel. Everyday that I cross the bridge through fog a little bit of myself dissolves as I ride. It's sort of like when you stay out in the cold too long and your fingertips begin to go numb.

I woke up today trying to remember the past few weeks and all I could remember was a hazy amalgamation of colour and sound. It didn't help that I happened upon a fantastic acoustic version of Stranger things have happened by the Foo Fighters. So while the sun scorches Goa it's raining in my head.

On a lighter note I have decided that I will have awfully talented and fabulous mixed race babies with Dave Grohl. We will get to the 'how' of it in a bit but until then I will leave you with the song. The video is a little shady but this is best listened to with your eyes closed.

Enjoy

Goa living/loving

When moving to Goa one must realise that certain aspects of ones life are best handled drunk. 

Living in a place that is on one long holiday can be hard especially when you are attempting to be productive. It struck me over dinner with Haathi that living here requires any new comer to be at peace with certain things; Not only does this make life a whole lot easier it also does wonders for anger management.

1. Nothing in Goa is open on sunday. Any shopping must be done during the week.
2. Lunch breaks are from 1pm to 4pm, any self respecting Goan will close at 7pm sharp for drinks and dinner. This includes pharmacies.
3. There is only one plumber in Goa that actually fixes things on time, his name is Arvind. Leave a comment if you need a number.
4. Laundry will take 2-3 weeks for them to realise it exists after which if you're lucky it should take a few days more.
5. You will soon realise that being mad at a Goan is next to impossible. Shouting is met with a glassy eyed grin(incredibly cute) or a bewildered look that seems to say 'I can't believe you actually thought we would deliver in time'. It is best in times like these to find the nearest local bar and wallow until you calm down.
6. Local Goan food can only be found in the most obscure of places, since I now have Goan friends I will post great places to eat as and when they are discovered.
7. Give up trying to be vegetarian, food here is fantastic embrace it.
8. Make it a point to visit the beach over the weekends. Living in Goa knowing you're not far from sand and sea can make    you lazy. 
9. You don't get broadband here unless you are willing to brave bsnl. Catch up on your reading perhaps?
10. Liquor stores are open nearly all night, it is pretty much the best answer when distressed, cranky, upset, bleeding or just bored. 
11. Buy a good music system, it can do wonders for your soul.
12. You could look at living here in two ways. You could either be frustrated or simply entertained.On choosing the latter you will find that it is actually a fabulous place to live.

A few days spent away and I realised I miss this small defunct state. It's good to be back.

p.s: Has it ever happened to you when something becomes ridiculously popular and you had no idea until you saw the four page spread in the rolling stone? The black keys are a two man power house of raw blues energy. Its so great to listen to something so rugged and well unscrubbed. They also happen to have the song for the occasion. Black keys with everlasting light.

Enjoy