S.o.t.D. - Grey Unknown – Ambyion & Phelian

Grey Unknown – Ambyion & Phelian

Rainy day vibe.

S.o.t.D. - To Vanish – Mojoman

To Vanish – Mojoman

Another fairly recent discovery. Done right. Subtle, sweet elements, with smooth beaty bits.

The insanely gorgeous video is taken from footage produced for the 2011 Mexican centenary celebrations.

S.o.t.D. - Calling (Kori Remix) – Atlas In Motion

Calling (Kori Remix) – Atlas In Motion

Wistful.

S.o.t.D. - Abseil – Technimatic

Abseil – Technimatic

There’s no abseiling in this song called “Abseil”. Although the terrain featured in the video looks like the climbing and abseiling would be out of this world. From a film called “Between Heaven & Earth” by Henry Jun Wah Lee taken in Zhangjiajie, China. Thousands of jagged quartzite sandstone columns, several hundreds of meters tall rise above the landscape, and caves sit below it. Song’s decent, but the video is what grabbed my attention. 

S.o.t.D. - You Forgot Me So Easily – Honeyruin

You Forgot Me So Easily – Honeyruin

Atmospheric with some Matthew McConaughey bits from True Detective I think.

S.o.t.D. - Listen (ft. Tiffani Juno) – Hybrid Minds

Listen (ft. Tiffani Juno) – Hybrid Minds

Expansive.

S.o.t.D. - Soon (Andy Weatherall Mix) – My Bloody Valentine

Soon (Andy Weatherall Mix) – My Bloody Valentine

Loved the original, but this is good.

S.o.t.D. - One Touch (Technimatic Remix) – Macca & Los Contreras

One Touch (Technimatic Remix) – Macca & Los Contreras

Beats are a bit too hard and fast for my liking, but still a good tune. Everything else is smooth and lovely. That’s what the ladies call me too. Smooth and lovely. Yup.

Video is nice too.

S.o.t.D. - Up All Night – Beck

Up All Night – Beck

Another artist I’ve known about for a long time, but one I’ve shamefully not paid as much attention to as I should have.

Fun video and song.

S.o.t.D. - Paradise Lost – Doc Scott

Paradise Lost – Doc Scott

One of those artists who manages to capture both the hard and soft. A mellow intro to martial beats leading to a mellow outro.

S.o.t.D. - Being With You – Foul Play

Being With You – Foul Play

I never cease to marvel at how many artists from this genre and era I still have never featured here. And this artist I think I only really know as a remixer of an Omni Trio song. And for all I know, it’s merely a pseudonym of someone I am familiar with.

S.o.t.D. - Glue – Bicep

Glue – Bicep

Always consistently good stuff from Ninja Tune.

Signage: Doorbell Broken

In the transom of the door leading to an apartment above a store. Made me laugh. On Barton Street near Wentworth in Hamilton.

S.o.t.D. - Four – Insomnia

Four – Insomnia

Rifleman’s Ration

I don’t condone firearms use under the influence of alcohol. But after some time on the range, this is a delicious beverage to unwind with.

S.o.t.D. - Luna (Rhekluse Remix) – Phelian

Luna (Rhekluse Remix) – Phelian

S.o.t.D. - Depressed – Bloom

Depressed – Bloom

Apt title for this incredibly deep and moody piece.

S.o.t.D. - Chinz n Grinz – J Laze

Chinz n Grinz – J Laze

Surprised I’ve never featured J Laze. (I’ve had another jungle artist, J. Majik on here. Another fella I suspect is actually called Jason.) Certainly given how totally creamy the first two minutes of this are.

Military Occupation at Burlington Heights

There’s a fairly new sign outside Dundurn Castle, with a photo illustration detailing what the area would have looked like during the War of 1812 and some explanations. (Hopefully you can zoom in and read it okay if you’re interested. And please excuse any wonkiness in the image. It’s cobbled together from over a dozen photos.)

Pulaski

Having wielded a few in my day, I can say, “now THAT’s a pulaski!”

https://www.barebonesliving.com/store/products/garden-tools/pulaski-axe

S.o.t.D. - Maera – Azaleh x Sublab

Maera – Azaleh x Sublab

Hypnotizing.

Signage: Repairs

They may do repairs, but it looks like they also need some repairs.

S.o.t.D. - Constantinople – Kinetix

Constantinople – Kinetix

S.o.t.D. - Mindless – Insomnia

Mindless – Insomnia

Fantastically Fractalated Foodstuffs; or Crazily Crenellated Cruciforms

S.o.t.D. - Free Fall – Eze-G

Free Fall – Eze-G

Signage: Prosperity Auto Sales

Prosperity Auto Sales doesn’t look that prosperous, judging from the beleaguered state of their sign.

S.o.t.D. - Oz Noo Doo Daa – Organic Synthetic

Oz Noo Doo Daa – Organic Synthetic

Lazy comparison is to FSOL, it’s got a bit of that atmospheric electronica feel.

S.o.t.D. - Bankrobber – The Clash

Bankrobber – The Clash

The Clash are one of those bands that I’ve been familiar with forever, but haven’t really appreciated enough.

Listened to this the other night, and it gave me a renewed appreciation. Both in terms of their ability to broaden beyond any narrow confines, and in terms of how this sound would have hit people when it came out.

Bruce Trail Hike August 5

Went and explored a local section of the Bruce Trail, that for some inexplicable reason have only ever been on once. A long time ago. From Highway 6 towards Waterdown. Friends Michelle and Amanda came down from Toronto. Not too long of a hike, but time spent in the woods is always good in my books. And it was an opportunity to try out my new pack, the Squish’mups. Stay tuned for an update on it.

One side and the other of the underpass beneath Hwy. 6. Big improvement. Before you had the choice of trying to run across the highway and dodge traffic or make a long detour.

One of the first things you come across is the ruins of a homesteaders cabin. Not sure how old it is.

Some scenes in the woods.

A quarry has been turned into a managed wetland area.

Amanda and I in the underpass. (Photo by Michelle M.)

S.o.t.D. - Falling Up – Natus

Falling Up – Natus

Slick video that accompanies this.

Signage: Please Open And Close Easy

The wording makes me chuckle.

S.o.t.D. - When You – Sieren

When You – Sieren

Fun.

Mmmmm...Mangosteens

There is a legend about Queen Victoria offering a reward of 100 pounds sterling to anyone who could deliver to her the fresh fruit. Although this legend can be traced to a 1930 publication by the fruit explorer, David Fairchild, it is not substantiated by any known historical document, yet is probably responsible for the uncommon designation of mangosteen as the “Queen of Fruit.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_mangosteen

S.o.t.D. - Lonely Thoughts – Craset x Sibewest

Lonely Thoughts – Craset x Sibewest

Super good atmospheric vibes.

Patch’mups

The Patch’mups, a panel I made for all my Velcro backed embroidered patches. There is loop Velcro fabric available, but it’s pricey. I took four lengths of 4" loop Velcro and sewed it to a piece of 420 denier packcloth, folded it in half, inserted a piece of HDPE, sewed it together, and then put paracord with button knots on the end through the 1" tube sewn into the top. (And 85 of those patches, I sewed hook Velcro to. By hand. Ugh...) 

(Suspending it in the centre like that, still makes it bow. A rigid tube through the top will fix that, or suspending it from two hooks close to the ends, rather than one in the centre, will also make it hang better. That’s the option I’ll go with.) 

S.o.t.D. - Requiem – Sorrow x Vacant

Requiem – Sorrow x Vacant

Soundtrack.

Signage: No Dogs No Dumping

S.o.t.D. - I Wanna Go Back – Nare

I Wanna Go Back – Nare

Hip-hoppish beats as heard while swimming under the water of a sparkling tropical cove.

S.o.t.D. - Demon Seed – Exocet

Demon Seed – Exocet

Step into the void.

From back in 97, and I think this artist only did a few things. Shame. Could be just an anonymous guise for a known producer, but I don’t know.

S.o.t.D. - UXB – Decoder

UXB – Decoder

An ominous yet perky tune, that sounds like it could be soundtrack for cops cruising through a decaying rust belt industrial area in a dystopian future.

S.o.t.D. - Shine On – Scott & Leon

Shine On – Scott & Leon

The auto-tuning in this is pretty atrocious, but a fun tune nonetheless.

Signage: Typewriter Repairs

At 600 Upper James in Hamilton.

S.o.t.D. - I’m Leavin’ (Lost Radio Version) – Jonny L

I’m Leavin’ (Lost Radio Version) – Jonny L

Like the little melody that creeps in between the pulverizing drums.