Antonio Vega - Oceáno de Sol

Antonio Vega started writing on the late 70s and joined the popular 80s spanish band 'Nacha Pop'. In 1988 when the band split Antonio decided to start a solo career recording his first album 'No me ire mañana'[I wont go tomorrow]. In 1994 Phil Manzaneda produced 'Oceano de Sol' [Ocean sun] which is the song from the video above. Antonio has a special ability to write lyrics he is a very talented song writer. His song 'Lucha de gigantes' was included in the film 'Amores Perros [Love is a bitch] soundtrack.
He had health problems since the 80's, mostly due to his well known heroin addiction. With the rumours of his death on the mid 90's he even had a tribute album by popular spanish singers and bands, a tribute he obviously didn't like as it was like if they were killing him already.

In 2006 Antonio Vega is still alive and kicking, touring and playing live intimate shows all around Spain. He belongs to another time from the past and he is a part of my memories of the 80s.

I really hope you stay longer with us Antonio.

Riera D'Arbucies [El Montseny]

Arbucies is a very small village near the Montseny natural reserve, just about an hour from Barcelona.

The Natural park of 'El Montseny' occupies a massive area of 30,120 hectares, spread between eighteen municipalities belonging to three local government areas (Osona, La Selva and El Vallès Oriental).

Arbucies church

It is made up of three different geographical units: Turó de L'Home - Les Agudes (which with 1,706 and 1,703 m. respectively are the maximum heights of the park), El Matagalls and Pla de la Calma.

You can find a great biological richness in the park.

From deep forests with the characteristic Mediterranean plant formations like Oaks, holm oaks, cork oaks and pinewoods to beech woods, groves of fir, thickets and high meadows.

Its also a perfect place to look for Mushrooms too. There are hundreds of different ones, although you have to be carefully to not to pick the wrong ones.

You only have to ask to the local people.

In the holm oaks there are wild boars, the fox, the genet cat and the dormouse, among the best-known mammals; also lots of birds like the goshawk, jay, and robin, and there are various species of amphibians, reptiles and fish too.

Thats handy for a 1st floor!

Its a biosphere reserve. Arbucies village is in the Montseny.

Thats a Mehari!, havent seen one of this for ages

My friend Enri has bought a house there about two years ago. For the price of tiny 1 bedroom flat in any big city you can buy an old catalan type 3 floors house.

Arbucies is a beautiful small village.

Arbucies its also known because its healthy clean waters. I guess those houses are owned by the old catalan families owners of the Bottled water companies.

Enri. Just wondering...

Arbucies had some strong demographic changes on the last few years.

There is been a lot of inmigration from other places. Mainly from European Eastern countries, african or Arabic.

Riera in summer

Jordi

Catalunya had always lots of inmigration on its history. But we have been always a clear example of integration.

From the greeks to the romans, in the textile industries in Barcelona around the XIX century and also in the mid 60s and 70s about 1 million people came from all over Spain to work in the Catalan industries.

There are about 5000 people living in Arbucies. My friend Enri says he could count people from about 20 different nationalities from Russia to Africa.

People easily integrates in our culture and the language in a perfect armony.

It feels great to hear on the streets the wee african kids talking in local Catalan accent. The people in Arbucies speaks a very curious, and funny at the same time Catalan accent, at least its what It seems to me being from Barcelona where we speak, arguably a more neutral one.

Arbucies Church

Arbucies

Riera in Autumm

Me and my friends Jordi, Robert, Guillermo, Cesar and Mario we like to go and visit our friend Enri inArbucies the odd weekend or Bank Holiday.

Trees in October

Trees in March

The proximity to the Costa Brava in the Mediterranean ocean makes The Montseny the perfect place to find 'rieras' which are small rivers with lots of humid vegetation. There is one in Arbucies. We do walks and excursions there.

Mario and his dog Leila

A walk to the river. There is a strong and pleasant at the same time change of colours for every season.

There are two girls living in this old Catalan farm house [Mas] in the Montseny mountains. The place is called 'La Torre del vent' [The windy house'. Its in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes they are stuck in winter for days because the snow. I think this girls are both very brave.

One of girls, Erica, did an outdoors b-day party the other day. It was fun.
There was djs and people was dancing around the bonfires. The perfect location for a rave.

La torre del vent

I was given 3 dozens of delicious eggs as a present. They look and taste much better than the ones I get in the supermarket, without a doubt.

If you like to do walks in the mountains, The Montseny is a highly recommended place to go.

And last but not least, the local food is delicious!. We will talk about this another day.


http://www.turisme-montseny.com/

Pedro Vila

Music To Close your eyes to.

Sometimes music doesnt needs lyrics. Too explicit. Why dont let your imagination go?

Thats what Hammock music is for.

'I shut my eyes in order to see'-Paul Gauguin

If you liked Robin Guthrie, Mono, 7% Solution, Boards of Canada, Manual, Ulrich Schnauss, Sigur Ros, Malory, Slowdive, Bowery Electric etc....you are going to enjoy this.

http://www.hammockmusic.com

Dream about your own imaginary landscapes.

I don't care if its labeled as the so called 'post rock' or ambient or whatever, I like it. Sometimes you just dont want to be told. Love or politics. Fuck that. For that you have Rage against the Machine or Bob Dylan.

Have a nice trip.

Pedro

Thanks to my friend Sean for the tip

A quick weekend in Lincoln, England-The Night [part 2]

Coconut DF Live @Jolly Brewer, Lincoln 28th October 2006

Another great show delivered by Coconut DF on saturday night.

The Jolly Brewer, an outdoors venue pub garden, was packed. There is everytime more and more people attending to the gigs, which is good considering the lack of promotion on this band.

I guess is all made by the 'word to mouth', which is without a doubt the best of the promotions.

The show kicked off about 9 pm by a supporting act [DJ Diltsy] who was also lined up at the Brewerfest. Techno Beats energy. A good warm up along with some pints.

Coconut DF started the set about 9:45.

It was the full band, Ralph Harris drums&Keyboards, Paul 'Didge', Dave Fielding with his space rock guitar riffs and an also an extra percussionist.

I am not sure about the sound compared with other previous shows, but I was on the front and stage sides taking some photos, so I guess its not the best place for acoustics.

The whole show was video taped with 3 cameras and also recorded on the sound desk, so that hints the probably upcoming release of a live DVD.

I cant wait for that. It was again a full real pleasure to listen Dave Fielding unique Microfret ebow trippy effects .

Their guitar&techno-Trance beats made everybody dance away. Paul was stunning with his didge so was Ralph on the drums. There was a couple of new tracks played at the end of the set. Dave and Paul rehearsed them the very same morning at Dave's home recording studio in Lincoln. I am aware they were meeting the next days to play and jam new songs.

Dave displayed pure Melancholy in The Reegs song 'Bosnia'. Its the only track with lyrics on the Coconut DF set. Sad song about the loss of a friend, someone you trusted, but all without self pity.

We want a full album lads!

Beautiful.

On the middle of an ecstatic guitar solo he dropped in a short but great riff of The Chameleons song 'Pleasure and Pain'!!

What a nice surprise!

Dave said he didnt know how but it just suddenly came to him. Its the first time I see him playing anything Chameleons related in all dozen times or so I have seen him live with The Reegs or any of his other solo projects.

It was commented after the show and everybody seemed very pleased about. It was a short but very nice trip back on time.

Dave took over the toms on the encore.

Coconut DF cosmic trance alliance taking off.

A journey to mysterious sonic lands.

That night we had an intense visitation of energy.
Deep beats and big epic spaced out melodies dominate.

And all this wall to wall with a beautiful church behind! This brought the perfect spiritual atmosphere to the place.

It wasnt easy to get focused taking photos after 'a few' local bitter pints!

The lights and fog machine were again hosted by my friend Gaz and it was a really oustanding job I have to say, as good as it was in the 'Brewer Fest' this last summer, if not better, it was really supportive to the whole show.

Thanks for making that happen mate.

I have no idea wich form or direction this band will get on the future but I really hope they play more gigs even if it is from time to time.

Coconut DF result is a trippy journey, the platform which provides a balanced fusion of Daves unique guitar sound and some psychedelic trance with a didgeridoo on full turbo mode.

A new musical perspective and a fantastic live experience.

Cheers.

You can see some other photos here [same text]:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=45812453&blogID=187492714&MyToken=698f08da-68fe-4aea-b1c8-dd3811580913

Pedro Vila, Somewhere in Arguelles Madrid 1st December 2006.