Wednesday 30 September 2015

Romania: The Babadag Mosque


Was told that the only reason why our Polish tour party stopped off in Babadag (where we saw the mosque above) was that the town is mentioned in some obscure Polish novel.

Still, the mosque looked interesting from the outside:


And it certainly had an eye-catching, wooden ceiling:


And in the mosque grounds, there were some interesting-looking, smaller buildings:


And some beautiful flowers:


Inside the mosque, it was the lights on the ceiling which mainly caught my eye:


And like the other few mosques I've visited, most notably the big ones in Istanbul (Constantinople), this one had a plush-looking carpet:


Don't visit many mosques, but when the local Muhammadans are friendly enough, I don't passover the opportunity to have a look round inside.

Just read that the Babadag mosque here was built in the 16th century, although restoration work had to be done after a fire damaged it in the late 19th century, and some things have been modified since then.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Besalma Village (Gagauzia): The Orthodox Church


Just a few shots of the Eastern Orthodox church that lies at the side of the National Gagauz Museum in Besalma village in the semi-autonomous region of Gagauzia in Moldova.

Really like the church door below for its craftsmanship:


And the church itself has a kind of majesty standing at the heart of the village:


Love the ornate design below which I think was on the church gate or railings, but I'm not 100% sure:


Monday 28 September 2015

Sunday 27 September 2015

'Tess of the D'Urbervilles': The May Dance Scene


Read 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' many years ago (in the early 1980s to be precise).  Had first read 'The Return of the Native' and  'Far from the Madding Crowd', and then a good friend bought me 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' for my 18th birthday.

A few years ago, I also got to see the 2008 BBC serial production of 'Tess' in which Gemma Arterton plays an incredible starring role (just how my mind's eye has always imagined Tess).  This allowed me to revisualise things and reflect on the deeper meanings of the novel again.

Found these great pictures of the 'May Dance' scene from the BBC 2008 production on the Internet.  Just read that in Victorian times, the May Dance was mainly associated with maidenhood and purity, while in pagan times, the emphasis was more on the excitement of upcoming sexual activity and fertility (of course, regarding the latter things, poor Tess suffers a terribly cruel fate/destiny).


Hence, in Hardy's portrayal of a genuinely pure and noble woman of humble origins, I think that the May Dance scene presents Tess' innocence and naivete tinged with a strong instinct for future romantic/sexual adventure.  For me, this is the kind of thing that makes Thomas Hardy as a 3rd person, omniscient-type narrator great:  it's the way he sets out and presents the subtlety; beauty; sentience; and tragedy of human emotion and experience.  That even with all this profundity, wrapped up in their destinies, people are bound and programmed to fail due to the more powerful conditions and forces that they encounter around them.

Really must fulfil my obligation to do a pilgrimage to Hardy's Wessex (Dorset) soon to pay homage to this great writer:


Below, somebody has wonderfully juxtaposed Kate Rusby's 'I Am Stretched on Your Grave' (a 17th century Irish poem) with some of the later scenes from 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles', so now, whenever I think of Tess and her cruel fate, this incredibly moving tune enters my head:


And below, you can listen to Ann Briggs' 'The Snows They Melt the Soonest' with fast-moving scenes from the BBC 2008 production:


The last shot of Angel Clare looking down towards the city to see the black flag confirming Tess' death by hanging still hits me badly in the spleen, no matter how many times I see it.


Saturday 26 September 2015

Brasow (Romania): St. Nicholas' Cathedral/Church


Flash back to Romania and St. Nicholas' cathedral/church in Brasow here. 

Have read conflicting accounts as to whether St. Nicholas' is a church or cathedral, but I think it's the latter, and the outside of the building is covered in interesting-looking, old frescoes:


The one below, which looks to be a lot more modern, seems to be of St. Nicholas himself:


But the artwork I liked best was the gateway leading through to the graveyard part of the cathedral/church grounds:


But the old frescoes were still incredibly ipressive:


Just read on the internet that St. Nicholas' was originally built as a wooden structure in the 12th/13th centuries, but was later rebuilt as a stone building in the late 15th century.


This fresco which seems to be of the Assumption would have to be my favourite one on the cathedral/church walls:


And the front of the church building is incredibly statuesque:


And to put the icing on the cake, this beautiful cathedral/church is surrounded by beautiful, steep, green hills:


Thursday 24 September 2015

Janosch Moldau Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 20th September 2015


Few pictures from Janosch Moldau supporting Die Krupps (plus The Red Paintings) at Warsaw Klub Progresja from the past weekend here:

Wasn't familiar with Janosch Moldau at all, but could see that his form of electronica music was aligned with some kind of born-again Christian message.  Below, Janosch's hands seem to be held in prayer:


Found it quite brave for someone to come out with a born-again Christian message on stage, especially in an age when the scourge of political-'correctness' pours scorn on Christianity in general.


However, Janosch wasn't really my kind of music, and his message, no matter how noble it was, didn't seem to really work on stage, but, of course, this may just be me:


Monday 21 September 2015

The Red Paintings Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 20th September 2015


Every now and again, a gig comes around that is pure magic, it makes you feel uplifted and happier with the world.  And this was one of them, an honour to attend.


Have only got to know The Red Paintings over the last few months after checking them out on Youtube, but their quirky but equally beautiful music has quickly grown on me, I view it as music made from the heart.

And frontman Trash McSweeney is a king of the one-liners on stage:


Absolutely loved it when he checked out the microphone before starting the set by inviting America to go forth and multiply (but in more direct terms, of course).

As seems to be often the case with The Red Paintings, both the female bassist


and female violin player were dressed in eye-catching, geisha outfits:


The band really are a full-on musical and visual experience.  My favourite tunes of the night?  Well, they'd have to be 'Wasps' and 'Streets Fell into My Window' from the wonderful 'The Revolution Is Never Coming' album which I haven't stopped playing (my signed copy) today.


And of course, there was the great cover version of Tears For Fears' 'Mad World'.

And Trash McSweeney's one-liners continued between songs, sometimes about serious things (e.g. the mistreatment of animals); but other times ironic comments about the current tour set-up that had the crowd in stitches:



Yeah, this was a truly memorable evening with a band that was playing from the heart, making a massive effort to entertain people (like me) who need such enchantment.

And to cap the evening off, I met Trash McSweeney and the wonderful bass player at the merchandise stall so I managed to have a short, amiable chat and get a signed copy of 'The Revolution Is Never Coming'.  Found both of the band members charming and down-to-earth, just happy to chat with a middle-aged man who has recently discovered and come to really like their music.

Sunday 20 September 2015

Synaesthesia Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 19th September 2015


And here's some shots of Synaesthesia (one of three bands) supporting Spock's Beard at Warsaw Klub Progresja on 19th September 2015:






Was running late last night so I only expected to catch Spock's Beard, but through the schedule at the Klub Progresja also running behind time, I was also able to catch Synaesthesia who were great.  Had only previously heard a few of the band's tunes on Youtube. 

Spock's Beard Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 19th September 2015

Here's a few shots from the Spock's Beard gig at Warsaw Klub Progresja last night:








Was introduced to Spock's Beard in the early 2000s by some characters I know called the gumbies.  Back then, the band just went a bit above my head, to be honest. 

But through listening to the last but one album, 'Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep', quite recently and liking it, I decided to go and see the band last night.  And the new stuff from 'The Oblivion Particle' also sounded good.

Friday 18 September 2015

God Is An Astronaut Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 17th September 2015


Finally got round to seeing Irish band, God Is An Astronaut, last night and wasn't disappointed:


Really love the guitar work in this band, they just seem to create their own very special sound:


And of course, we should never forget the rhythm section that underpins everything:


And the transcendental parts of the set?  Well, for me, they'd have to be second song in, 'Echoes' and  encore 'Suicide By Star' (two truly beautiful tracks):


Once heard the guys from God Is An Astronaut being interviewed and them saying that they didn't feel the need for a vocalist, as the music itself can convey more meaning, and last night it was clear to see what they meant.