March 20th's Wheeee! Sugar High Vspot

by B Condon 8:46 PM

Between tonight's episode of The Voice and a box of Sno Caps, I give you this...

C'est Tra La La Tres... What's the French Word for Awesome?

It doesn't matter about French words... well not completely... unless they are sung by Sarah Belle and backed by Tammy Ealom (yeah... that Tammy Ealom of Dressy Bessy) on the ... wait for it... DRUMS! I cannot love that woman any harder than I already do! Based out of Denver, Colorado, the trio (including bassist Dave Reeves) are making something that sounds like early 90's April March went a little Riot Grrl. I cannot wait to hear them on KRUI's "L'Heure Francaise!!" Find them on their facebook and if you are in the area of which they play... I hate you a little (not really).

Eva and the Heartmaker Reveal
More "Traces ..." 

Husband and wife team Eva Whel Skram (Norge Idol runner-up) and Thomas Sternersen have taken over a year between the single "Traces of You" to the same titled album. Now we (or rather me in this case) can finally breathe a sigh of relief for they have put out a new video for a strangely 80's reminiscent "Joanna" featuring an adorable little girl. Dare we think Whel Skram and Sternersen will have more than just album babies in the future? We'll see and hope because you can clearly see Eva glowing while dancing with the little actress.

**Warning: the song will get stuck in your head**

Minnie-Oh is Back!

If you have gotten completely sick of just hearing Minnie-Oh's contribution to 2012's Norway's Melodi Grand Prix "You and I," fear not, she's back. At least in a teasing way as her single "Step Up" is only that, a single Damn it, Minnie-Oh, your perfect Scandi-electro-pop slays me and I want to hear more! Two songs do not suffice although I adore you so much!

"There is a New Rock Group in The House; Their Name is..." Dwelling Fruit

I watch way too much Beyond the Valley of the Dolls...

Anyway, yes, there is a new band in town and they are kind of awesome. Since Skye Carrasco has already made a name for herself as a solo artist and violinist around Iowa City, her move back seemed appropriate to start a band with K. Arthur Miller and other string-minded friends. Dwelling Fruit exists somewhere between Zoe Keating-like looping and the spontaneousness of ambient local act The Main Sequence, so much so I intend on attending as many of their concerts as possible.

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwellinyourself?fref=ts

soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dwellinyourself

New Favorite Movie:

Eric Rohmer's "The Romance of Astrea and Celadon"

I have not had a movie blow me away like Eric Rohmer's 2007 last hurrah in awhile since watching "The Robe" over Easter. 

In a time of nymphs and Druids, sheep herders Astrea and Celadon have carried on an illicit romance despite their families hating each other Romeo and Juliet style. Celadon, also a poet, does everything Astrea asks; to pretend they are not in love and keeping all of her oaths to prove how in love he really is (although shallowly at first). But when he finally gives up, realizing Astrea doesn't trust him, he attempts to drown himself but finds himself in the "immortal world" with beautiful topless nymphs and a Druid Uncle as he proves that he is not just a shallow romantic underneath all his actions. 

It's understandable how the movie could be grating for people who are not Romantics, but Rohmer presents a B storyline involving Celadon's brother and a cynical womanizer philosophizing about love and relationships from two different perspectives. Those scenes alone are sheer perfection as they seem to read the internal dialogue of how jaded humans really are. The other understandable grating factor is how much our two leads are incredibly shallow and blind but towards the end it almost seems justified. I'll say this much: when Celadon finds a way to see her without Astrea knowing its him; their chemistry is far more electric than at the beginning of the movie since absence makes the heart grow... well horny in their case.

My only grating factor is based on my own Celtic beliefs that I will not go into too deeply on this blog. This blog is shallowly profound (profoundly shallow?) When one of the nymph's Druid Uncle Adamas takes Celadon to the Oak Grove, he gives a speech that borders on Christianity to the point that I'm concerned about the research of the screenwriter especially considering the range of historicity that dwells in "Celadon and Astrea." Some of the cinematography does become erratic, ranging from the 1700's costume, beautiful Celtic backdrop of The Auvergne in France but those factors are overlooked when it really does boil down to two stubborn awful people who tear each other apart but isn't that the point of love?