Help the Aged: Wyatt Riot

Robert Wyatt released a new album last year, and I wanted use him as an example of a musician who has continued to stay interesting and essential despite the ageing process. His new album, Comicopera, is a beautiful, dreamy jazz influenced experimental, but still pop, work, and I would highly recommend you get it. Tremendous stuff.

Robert Wyatt - A.W.O.L

Albums Of The Year 2007

So here it is, the gospel according to Jamesinbrasil. After a year of painstaking research, which has led to a list not that dissimilar to other blogs and publications, these are my favourite records of the year:

1) LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
2) MIA - Kala
3) Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
4) Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
5) Battles - Mirrored

And in my usual, "here's everything I thought was any good and in no particular order" way are the rest:

Modeselektor - Happy Birthday
Justice - †
DJ Medhi - Lucky Boy
Bjork - Volta
PJ Harvey - White Chalk
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Devandra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Mountain
Feist - The Reminder
White Stripes - Icky Thump
Yoko Ono - Yes I'm A Witch
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
Boyz Noize - Oi Oi Oi
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release
Tinariwen - Aman Inam: Water is Life
Grinderman - Grinderman
Dizzee Rascal - Maths and English
Burial - Untrue
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Dirty Projectors - Rise Above
Liars - Liars
Fiery Furnaces - Widow City
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Ricardo Villalobos - Fabric 36
Marnie Stern - In Advance of the Broken Arm
Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
!!! - Myth Takes
CocoRosie - The Adventures of Ghosthorse & Stillborn
Supermayer - Save The World
Horrors - Strange House
V/a - Brasil 70
Bonde Do Role - With Lasers
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
Bangers & Cash - EP
Digitalism - Idealism
Thurston Moore - Trees Outside The Academy
Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
Deerhunter - Cyptograms
Grizzly Bear - Friend EP
LCD Soundsystem - Fabric 36
Okkervil River - The Stage Names
Menomena - Friend and Foe
Hot Chip - DJ Kicks
Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound
Lupe Fiasco - Cool
Wu Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
Roisin Murphy - Overpowered
Italians Do It Better
Om - Pilgrimage
Patrick Watson - Close To Paradise
Ghostface - The Big Doe Rehab
Alela Diane - The Pirate's Gospel
Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
Holy Fuck - Holy Fuck
Matthew Dear - Asa Breed
Ruarri Joseph - Tales of Grime & Grit
Von Sudenfed - Tromatic Reflexxions
Akron/Family - Love Is Simple
Chromatics - Night Drive
V/a - What's Happening In Pernambuco?

There's 63 albums there, so it must have been a fantastic year. Those top 5 are all superb albums, brimming with originality and tremendous songs, which is what it's all about really. So what do you think I missed? And what were your favourites? Comment away...

Christmas in Brazil 2007: Natal in Natal

This year we spent Christmas in the north east of Brazil, in the city of Natal. Coincidentally, natal is also the Portuguese word for Christmas. How apt. The city itself is quite pleasant, but the main attractions are the beaches, which are breathtaking (and I'm not a beach person). It's hot all the time, but there is also a constant breeze, so it feels like you are carrying an air conditioning unit around with you. Perfect, in other words.

Below are a collection of photos, taken by myself and Bruna, with explanations where required.


Bruna on the balcony, 24/12/07:


I discovered this TV show which has live games of Proevo, with commentary. And they say Brazilians are obsessed with football. Natal, 24/12/07:

Forte dos Reis Magos, 24/12/07:

The worlds biggest cashew tree (over 7000 square metres), Pirangi Do Norte, 24/12/07:



My feet in the wet sand, Barra do Cunhaú, 25/12/07:

Digging for crabs, Barra do Cunhaú, 25/12/07:

Barra do Cunhaú, 25/12/07:

Barra do Cunhaú, 25/12/07:

Barra do Cunhaú, 25/12/07:

Barra do Cunhaú, 25/12/07:

My delicious Christmas dinner (fish in tomato and coconut milk sauce, farofa, rice). Barra do Cunhaú, 25/12/07:

Feet, Baía Formosa, 26/12/07:


Me attempting, and failing, to remove some sand from my face. Baía Formosa, 26/12/07:

Baía Formosa, 26/12/07:

The amazing Coca Cola lagoon. The water is filtered through trees to give it an identical colour to Coke. Baía Formosa, 26/12/07:

The border of Rio Grande do Norte and Paraiba states, Praia Sagi, 26/12/07:

The locals, Baía Formosa, 26/12/07:

Baía Formosa, 26/12/07:

Baía Formosa, 26/12/07:

Buggies are key to Natal, they are huge part of the tourist industry. We took a 120 km trip north of Natal, which was incredible. Here, buggies have to take rafts to cross the river. Genipabu, 28/12/07:

Along this part of the coast, there are huge sand dunes, reminiscent of the Sahara. Genipabu, 28/12/07:




And in the middle of this desert, there is an oasis, where people are plunged into the water below. Then they are pulled up the dune by this bizarre piece of machinery, seemingly made from old car parts. Genipabu, 28/12/07:





Sandy cliffs, Pipa, 29/12/07:


Happy new year.