Tag Archives: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

“No longing for the moonlight, no longing for the sun. No longer will I curse the bad I’ve done.”

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If you feel like you belong in this world, that you were born at the right time then you are so lucky. If you don’t feel empty when you see what your generation are into, then you are lucky. If you can relate, then man..how do you do it? Reality shows are fake and pointless. Books are being turned into devices. Record stores are closing. And I don’t understand why people use Instagram. Why do people take photos of their food? If I wanted to know what you ate, I probably would’ve asked if you wanted to go for dinner. I don’t get it. I don’t hate everything around me; far from it. I just don’t really hold much hope, love or like even towards modern life. I hate that I was born when I was, and grew up to see cultures turn cold and reliant on things that can break instantly.

Some bands are hell-bent on recreating a sound that was done in the 70s/80s. Some do it really well without making it obvious. However some just look silly. It’s like that time everyone thought neon paint and “bringing back” the 80s was a good idea. I guess current times are so shit, we must stay in the past. Again, I don’t get it.

I don’t really understand people who claim to only listen to music that isn’t current you know? Do you have ANY idea what you’re missing out on? From 2:54 to Crocodiles to King Dude to Warpaint and all in-between. There’s so much good music that you’re missing out on. I know, I know we will never have an album as powerful as Psychocandy or as creepy as Seventeen Seconds or as wonderful as Viva Hate. It’s okay. Trust me, it’s alright.

But modern life (aside from some music) is a drag. It’s a chore to get up and carry on, I know. I fully understand. If I didn’t force myself to go to the gym every morning I’d probably stay in my room and not go out. Not because modern life is toss, but for many other reasons. You have to force yourself to carry on and do what you can. You just have to. The alternative isn’t exactly something that appeals.

You twist, you turn. You fight with yourself, you fight with anyone who will listen. You declare you’re not good enough. You know why? Because your surroundings make you believe that you’re worth nothing. Thing is, we’re all worth something. Maybe not to ourselves but to one person for sure. I know I should pay attention to what I write; but I just can’t. I don’t think I could ever fully believe in myself and not carry some self-doubt you know. I just think, if I ever thought I was good at something I would never do it again. If I thought I was a decent Music Writer, I’d stop. I’m not looking for a pat on the back or for someone to say I’m any good. Far from it. This is my venting my frustrations at life and how we are becoming more numb to all we see, and all we are. People are caring less and less. My problem is that I probably care too much. I don’t care what people think about me because 1 or 2 people truly know me. As you get older, you realise what matters. You slowly see that people are as cruel as school kids in the playground. They will stab you in the back, and through the heart too. Whilst trying to fuck with your mind. People aren’t as loving as they once were.

Where I live everyone looks the same. I try not to look up when I leave the house. If I look up and around, my self-hate will go through the roof. Eye contact just doesn’t happen. The pavement is my friend. The cracks are the tales of fury. They cracked because they couldn’t take it anymore. I fully understand.

I hate where I am, and the harder I try to get out; the further I am knocked back.

So I play music as loud as I can in my ears. Just to drown out everything, and everyone. It’s working. I’ll get out, even if I have to fucking crawl.

I’m using music to drag me through.

Ariel Pink.

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If Soul music collided with chill-wave, would it work? Would it sound horrendous or would it just be the most stunning and relaxing thing you’ve ever exposed your ears too? Well, I’ve found something that combines the two and it works. You’re obviously free to make your own mind up, but trust me- if you combine the two it goes extremely well together.

Ariel Pink (aka Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti) isn’t really chill-wave to be honest. His sound is part psychedelic, part dream-pop with a hint of folk. It’s chilled out music at its best. I know that summer has been and gone. Well let’s be honest, did it ever really arrive? It depends where you live. In England, as ever, it passed us all by. There was this weekend in July though….

Anyway, I’m not a weather reporter. I’m just some fool who adores who music, so I’ll carry on with that.

Last year’s release, Before Today was so underrated. I know a lot of spectacular albums came out last year. Yes, I am going to mention it- Warpaint’s album was THE album of last year. Thing is, there is a link with Warpaint, well Emily Kokal and Ariel Pink.

This afternoon I was looking for a Warpaint interview, and I found an interview Emily did with Ariel. I’m not jus saying this because I absolutely love Warpaint with all I have, but it was truly one of the best interviews I have ever read. I think to have been in the same room as Emily and Ariel as the interview was being conducted, it just would’ve been a glorious experience. It went beyond music; it was just a brilliant read.

Before Today is such a floaty kind of album. It makes you feel weightless and that nothing matters- just like Warpaint’s album. It must be that beautiful LA feel, right?

It’s just the perfect summer sound, and I suppose with the dark evenings looming in- a sound like this is needed more than ever.

Can’t Feel My Eyes is my favourite off the album. I’m guilty of not giving this album the attention that it well and truly deserves. I think it’s because I was so into a certain band’s album that came out in October I just ignored everything (see, didn’t mention their name this time!) But it is a wonderful piece of art.

It’s an album to sit and watch the wave’s crash to, maybe hug someone whilst sitting on the beach. Or just sit on your own with your thoughts- either option works.

I know I say it a lot, but I firmly believe that music is about escapism. If a piece of music can get you to escape reality and place you in a different frame of mind, and to even put you in a better place- then you’re onto something truly remarkable. I listen to a lot of music that makes me feel this way, it’s sometimes an issue when I’m listening to a piece of music and I’m about to cross a road- I look both ways, but I take nothing but the music in. I guess I am well and truly obsessed with music. There are worse things I could care this much about.

Ariel Pink makes you feel so fucking alive. I’m not sorry for swearing, but it’s needed for once. It just does something to your soul. His voice and sound are euphorically soulful. That’s the only way to describe it. I’d love it if he collaborated with Adam Green, it’d be the strangest sound EVER. It’d work though. I’ve never done drugs, nor do I want to- but if they did a song together I imagine it’d feel like some spacey acid trip? Who knows?

Ariel Pink posses a sound that I’ve not heard before yet at the same time has that LA vibe to it. So many may dismiss it and wish to part themselves from it. I fully understand. However with Ariel Pink, you hope he doesn’t leave it behind because he’s taken a familiar sound and made it his own. There’s not many that can do that and do it well. He’s a true artist, in ever sense of the word.