Hexstatic, The Library & Amsterdam

[slycat]

After last week's LondonFur meet, I've been left a bit short on cash and so I've wanted to just try and do as little as possible.  However, that in itself is excruciatingly boring and so I went into Southampton with my bro for something to do.  Of course, you can't go to a city centre and not buy anything... so I bought Hexstatic's excellent new CD+DVD album - Master-View.  I didn't even know they had a new album out before reading in growf's LJ that he bought it.  What I didn't know however was that it was a CD & DVD album and it came with a pair of 3D specs :D.  Needless to say, once I got it home and played it through, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's quite different to Rewind in that there's less of the cut up samples type thing but it's still very Hexstatic and very listenable.  In watching the videos, I was suprised to see that one of the videos was by Jonti Weebl (as he's credited anyway) of Weebl and Bob fame.  You can view it in full on Weebl's site [here].  It's nice to see that Weebl managed to get in some of his little trademarks in even in the restrictions of the video theme.

Another video on the Hexstatic was by an animator (or animators as I don't know if it's an individual or not) who goes by the name of Cheeky Beef. Now I hadn't heard of them before but if they are deemed good enough to make videos for Hexstatic, they've got to be pretty good.  Incidentally, they also have the full Hexstatic video online which you can view [here].  Anyway, I was looking at the other videos on the site and I instantly fell in love with [this].  Not really for the video (which still has it's charm) but for the music itself by Cursor Miner (you can download a slightly better quality version of the song from the site).  It's a song about the virtues of the Library, set against sort of Spectrum game style music which features such lyrics as "The Library, The Library, it's a place where books are free".  I really must get my hands on the CD for this song!  Amazon have it for £4.99 but they say 4 - 6 weeks which means they have to order them in... and I expect it's possible that they aren't going to make any further copies.  Ah well, I've ordered it nonetheless, I should know in a month or so if they can really get hold of it.

On to other things, I'm off on holiday for 3 whole days to Amsterdam shortly after my birthday, on 4th November.  I'll be going with makali, nonezumi(Glis) and a number of Glis' friends, some of whom I've met and got on with previously.  Should be a great holiday as I've never been before and Glis knows his way about the place.  I expect much of the trip will be spent drinking alcohol which I already feel kinda guilty about (why fly hundreds of miles to get drunk when you can do it at home?) and possibly trying out some of the herbs the place has to offer.  I know Glis would like to see me stoned but I don't smoke at all.  I hear they have nice cakes and other stuff so it should be... interesting.  I expect I will tell my parents how I appreciated the archetecture and stuff ;).  I reminded myself to get travel insurance for the trip after what happened to Glis last time he visited.  I was gonna get annual worldwide cover as I plan to go to Anthrocon next summer but I was wisely talked out of it as it is cheaper to just get cover for the seperate trips.

Comments

[budlite.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Hexstatic, I was wondering if you'd heard of The Bays? One of the downloadable sets at their website was a combined effort with Hexstatic, and I must admit I rather enjoyed it. Haven't heard anything by Hexstatic alone, however.

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Can't say I have heard of The Bays but sinc eyour recommendation, I think I'll check them out :)

[trukkle.livejournal.com]

Cool, that album sounds like something I'd like to grab. Does the Library video have a much better sound quality than the flash? I've been after it for ages! Plus having a Weebl video on dvd would be good bonus geek points *nods*

Damn you and your constant leaving the country to have fun *shakes fist in your direction* Getting stoned is much like the black-out feeling you get when the blood rushes out of your head when you stand up too fast, except you don't black out. Tis rather wierd. But not entirely bad :P

[slycat.livejournal.com]

I'd imagine the video would have better quality sound but I expect the CD track will be even better ;). Fingers crossed Amazon can sell me one.

I'm hardly "constantly" leaving the country. Last time I left the country was in the summer of 2002 to go to Anthrocon! Anyway, it's nothing compared to you who has actually moved into another country ;).

[nonezumi.livejournal.com]

Heh :)

Yeah, I know what you mean about going a long way to drink. The only way I'll put it is that being drunk/stoned/whatever in Amsterdam is very other-worldly; it somehow doesn't feel real, but more like some form of strange fairytale. The bits I'll always remember most are the ones just wandering around outside, hearing the hustle and bustle, and just the sound of bells on bikes, trams, and churches around you.

I think you would enjoy trying it out, but when it comes down to it, don't feel obligated; if you want to, try it. If you don't, don't. I'm not in the profession of making anyone do something they don't! :)

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Hey, when in Rome... As I say, it should be "interesting", but I don't plan to make a habit out of it :)

[yagfox.livejournal.com]

Heh, it's your birthday, that'll make you 49 right? *heheh*

Have fun in Amsterdam, enjoy the tulips!

I'm surprised you found multi-trip insurance more expensive than two seperate policies, my Elephant policy is about £50, covers US, Canada and usefully Skiing and Scuba Diving as well, not sure if it covers getting ripped to the tits in Amsterdam though! *heheh*

[slycat.livejournal.com]

49?? What? Cheeky monkey! I'm 24 on 1st Nov... I still don't feel that old.

Tulips? Is that what people go to Amsterdam for?

The single trips weren't a huge difference in price. It was like abour £47 to pay seperately (Amsterdam trip and Anthrocon trip) or £67 for annual. As I'm a tad low on cash, I opted to go for the seperate trips so I'm only shelling out £13 in one go.

[orona-red.livejournal.com]

It's a place where books are free.