SEX SICK

SEX SICK from CAROLINESPINE on 8tracks Radio.

UNDERWORLD KINGDOM

So I guess everyone is still into this bohemian mermaid look for winter and Solestruck has featured this mystical, ethereal look in their new vintage lookbook. I like it. It has a South American surrealist vibe to it à la Alejandro Jodorowsky's avant-garde films from the seventies and eighties. I predict with see this evolve into a space witch look with Barbarella influences. But you will always find me during these winter months wrapped in as many black capes as I can find (at once) being a Viking witch in my goat boots and bone jewelry. Fuck making it rain, I bring the blizzard. The Underworld Kingdom.

DEAD BEAT

The past few weeks have been my teenage wet dream, a whirlwind running around from show to amazing show. SWANS, Morrissey, and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult all in the same week was a wonderful homage to my angst ridden youth and seeing all these bands in New York in the beginning of a new decade in my life was nothing less than majorly significant. But the highlight were newcomersSlug Guts. Hailing from the desolate tundras of Brisbane, Australia, these post-punk no wavers are taking over where The Birthday Party left off on 1983. Dirty, sludgy and slightly maniacal, this is what I imagine playing during a shot out during a bar brawl somewhere in the desert. It's absolutely everything I could ask for and more. This is a video captured from their show live in the Wierd last week. The official video from the track SCUM off of their latest record, Keeping in Time with the Dead Beat, out on Sacred Bones Records earlier this year. Another highlight from Dead Beat includes a powerful PiL cover of Order of Death.

GIALLO FEVER

Literally translated from Italian, giallo means yellow. Referring to the genre of film and literature focusing on themes of crime, mystery, horror and eroticism. Film pioneers such as Mario Bava and Dario Argento adapted these thrillers starting in the 1960's from a series of cheap paperback mystery novels that featured yellow covers. A fan of Argento movies for many moons, my interest was renewed in this genre last week when the Anthology Film Archives featured the giallo festival, showing such gems as Deep Red, The Bird with Crystal Plumage, The Girl Who Knew Too Much and Blood and Black Lace.

I got to see a couple of these films on the big screen and Bava's Blood and Black Lace(1964) was absolutely the star of the show. Also known as six women for the murderer, it is regarded as one of the original and most influential giallo films. The plot revolves around the stalking and gruesome murders of models at a premier fashion house by a masked killer. Concerned with recovering the first victim's diary, the women are brutally murdered one by one in exaggerated and often comical ways. Below is the trailer featuring a few noteworthy scenes.

PALE ON PALE

Maybe it's the change of season, the only explanation that seems even remotely probable for all of these moods upon moods upon moods. Everything at once and nothing at all, I suppose I could liken it to the eye of a storm. Chaos ensues far and wide, but my feet are planted firmly on the ground. I often experience this emotion during live shows and seeing Chelsea Wolfe last month was almost like a baptism that I can only assume was the trigger for my current state. She's basically a gother PJ Harvey that will test your heart's capacity to endure. Her debut album The Grime and the Glow as well as her sophomore effort Ἀποκάλυψις are perfect soundtracks to fall, both on Pendu Sound Recordings. She is also about to release a collection of acoustic tracks called Unknown Rooms out next month on Sargent House, becoming label mates with the Chicago experimental post-metal bandRussian Circles whom she just wrapped supporting their US tour dates.

WITH SYMPATHY

WITH SYMPATHY from CAROLINESPINE on 8tracks Radio.

WEIRD SCIENCE

Pretty much any babe in boots and booty shorts that pops into your local coffee shop for a caffeine fix before she hits the racks at the closest salvation army in full blown huntress mode will tell you that her favorite guilty pleasure is Nasty Gal. An LA based online destination for fashion forward hipsters, Nasty Gal started as an eBay vintage shop in 2006. Growing exponentially in only a few short years, the site now offers not only vintage, but affordable trend pieces including accessories. This fall they offer up their first collection inspired by the In Living Color's original Fly Girl's dance troupe. Oh, and they have a killer blog.

Check out the Weird Science Collection Lookbook.

GENESIS

One of my favorite things about Grimes is the way that her body moves. The tiny 24 year old Canadian has an ethereal yet dangerous presence, and so does her music. Signed to 4AD Records early this year, her music is a natural evolution to the label's original aesthetic, standing up against such legendary artists as Cocteau Twins, The Birthday Party and Pixies. In this pre show interview in San Francisco while on tour supporting her album Visions, Grimes talks about growing up in Vancouver in the wake of the Skinny Puppy legacy as well as moving to Montreal and getting involved in the noise scene. All though subtle and probably imperceptible to anyone unfamiliar with those genres, the influence and undertones are definitely present. Adding director to her resume, Grimes also starred in her new video for the track Genesis that was released last week. It's a pretty epic scenario when an Escalade full of club kids with swords rolls out through the desert. Reminiscent of the old school rave days when everyone donned a minimum of 6 inch platforms and danced at Limelight every night, Grimes is officially the queen of the nineties revival and the Tank Girl of the 21st century.

BUSTDOWN MODERN

For the crème de la crème of designer vintage, BUSTDOWN MODERN is an amazing resource. With a beautiful representation of each decade dating back to the 20's, this husband and wife duo have an absolutely stunning collection. Whether you are looking for a leather and beaded Moschino bustier circa 1989 or baby blue lambskin leather body con mini dress, they've got you covered. Featuring mostly complete ensembles in impeccable condition, you will also find a nice selection of accessories to complete your look. Featured below are some to die for looks from the 70's through 90's, obviously my favorite decades.

Don't forget to check out their island getaway resort inspired LOOKBOOK to celebrate the end of summer.

WANDER LUST

WANDER LUST from CAROLINESPINE on 8tracks.

GRINDR

So obviously one of the only reasons I lived in the East Village was because so did Kembra Pfahler. And of course the possibility that I might see her sitting on the patio of Ray's pizza on Saint Mark's at 4 in the afternoon on a Tuesday was my ultimate teen dream. She has always defined New York to me in the way that I fell in love with the city. Her, Richard Kern and No Wave, basically. So this is a great article with her from the New York Times blog that features themes of honoring the dead, traveling, future feminism, choking victim posters and going on Grindr just to see who is five feet away.

FREEDOM

Obviously the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. An entire day dedicated to celebrating one's freedom and independence by blowing shit up, eating meet and drinking beer all while wearing booty shorts? Yes, please! With the full moon yesterday, there is an amazing electricity in the air this year. And even though I'm stuck in New York and dreaming of my woods, there is something magical about celebrating this day in a place with so much history, passion and pride. God bless America.

TUMBLE

Lately I've been reigniting my love affair with tumblr. I've found myself starting my days by getting sucked into the internet void and losing perception of time over my morning espresso while tumbling away. It's easy to do. But as opposed to other social networking sites where people are preoccupied with telling the world what they're doing every second, I prefer to spend my time on a site that promotes inspiration and creativity. Over the past two years of having a tumblr account, I've come across some pretty amazing blogs. Whether it's personal photography or just re blogged photographs of style inspiration, there are some beautiful photos up there. Recently, I've been updating my own style inspiration blog, MOONCHILD. You'll feel a voodoo witchcraft, desert gypsy, undead cowboy vibe with a little 50's house wife and 90's chola thrown in for femininity. Here are a few of my current favorites that I've come across. *All images found on various tumblr blogs. None of these images belong to me.*

LEGIONS OF THE DAMNED

Whenever I feel an existential crisis episode coming on, I try to do as many "Car" things as I can in a futile attempt to ground myself. One of the staple activities for this is to have horror movie marathons. Ordinarily my preferences lie in 70s and 80s slasher gore fest films, but I'm always up for a good serial killer thriller or satanic cult theme. A couple nights ago I investigated what's popped up on netflix instant in this category lately and picked out this gem from 1977 called The Sentinel. The movie stars Cristina Raines as Alison Parker, a successful, yet suicidal fashion model - always a winning combination. After a couple of failed attempts at taking her life, she moves into a brownstone in Brooklyn where her only neighbor is a blind priest, who lives upstairs and spends his days "watching" out his window. She begins to hallucinate and experience strange pains and ultimately learns that the house is a gateway to hell, ruled by a group of excommunicated priest's that wish to absolve her from her sins by making her the next sentinel. There is a great climax scene where the demons are coming out of the woodwork in attempts to drag her over to the dark side. The ultimately achieve their goal and the end scene is Raines as a blind nun, watching out her top floor window in the resurrected building after the demolition of the original brownstone. It's definitely worth a watch and has a good amount of notable actors, Christopher Walken even makes an appearance in his role as a Detective Rizzo. Next up, Slumber Party Massacre!

BAGGAGE

I really don't know what's worse, packing or unpacking. Finally settling in and enjoying the calm after the storm. But amidst all the chaos, I could at least steal a few moments away to dance around all the boxes filling up my tiny studio apartment to this amazing soundtrack, DEATH DISCO. You really can't ever go wrong with dark, synth wave and there are some great current bands reviving the genre that actually nail the old school 80's vibe. Some highlights on this mix include Solitude FX from Würzburg, Germany as well as Nina Belief and Principe Valiente. Also completely obsessed with this track by Berlin based duo, Sixth June. SIXTH JUNE - Back for a day

Untitled Love Song

Untitled Love Song from CAROLINESPINE on 8tracks.

REVOLUTION

I will never stop singing the praises of one of my favorite fashion blogs, Twisted Lamb, where I consistently discover amazing designers, photographers, models, etc. My most recent obsession that I stumbled upon there is India based fashion photographer and fine artist, Manoj Jadhav. Featured below are a few of the amazing images that capture the tribal essence that not only is aesthetically appealing, but embodies an entire cultural spirit. Here's to the Revolution.

MAYHEM

Just officially got licensed to drive by the state of New York and I am ready for a road trip. Of course this year's Maryland Deathfest is number one on my list of destination spots. Amazing lineup congregating along the Eastern Shore this year over an extended weekend at the end of May.

Speaking of metal festival's, as Roadburn wrapped up this past weekend in Holland, plans for 2013 were announced and it looks like Jus Osborn of Electric Wizard will be curating next year. You can read the article on Brooklyn Vegan, but apparently it's going to be a full on "ELECTRIC ACID ORGY" featuring their horror film fixation and psychedelic tendencies. PARTY!

SOLESTRUCK

So I'm pretty much completely obsessed with lookbooks right now. Maybe it's because the weather has been so schizophrenic that I'm completely clueless as to which season to actually dress for and keep looking for new inspiration. And of course, it always revolves around the shoes. My newest, favorite source is the Portland, Oregon based company SOLESTRUCK. Featuring an amazing variety of cutting edge designers such as Acne, Lasskaa, and obviously Jeffrey Campbell, this is the ultimate one stop resource for the fierce footwear fetishist. Summer always invokes feelings of freedom. The sun comes up and we shed all of the layers that we've been hiding under all winter and get a little closer to Mother Nature. The 'ON THE ROAD' concept for this lookbook embodies this exact spirit and I am of course loving the gypsy desert elements.

DAPHNE DESCENDS

Stumbled upon this amazing lookbook for Daphne Descends, an arts & crafts brand specializing in jewelry utilizing earth elements such as dried beehive fragments and gold dust shot by the all analogue London based photographer, Ellen Rogers. Beautiful and haunting images that capture the sinister yet celestial side of femininity while showcasing the spring summer jewelry line. View a few stand out shots below and the entire ethereal collection here.

LEGENDS

Artist on Artist. Amazing interview of the notorious Diamanda Galas by power electronics pioneer Mark Solotroff. Questions and answers that could only be conceived by these two minds. Includes discussions on experimentation with multiple microphones, funeral music & Prince. LEGENDS

SISTERS OF THE BLACK MOON

I've been totally in love with these girls from Texas for a couple of years now, buying vintage pieces from their eBay shop here and there when I need something unique for a special occasion. Specializing in psychedelic gypsy dresses, leathers and furs, each girl featuring her own individual treasures, you will consistently find at least one "to die for" piece. They also style editorial shoots and have expanded to offer original designs in apparel and accessories as well as apothecary items such as essential oils. You will find all of the necessary items to satisfy the "eccentricities for the shadows of your soul" on their website, SISTERS OF THE BLACK MOON.

SEWER TRANSMISSION

Ever since I saw DEATHPILE live at Pyramid for the Spring Power Electronics Festival back in 2001, I've been a huge fan of Jonathan Canady's work, including the severe graphic art that he started focusing on in 2007. I stumbled across this mix he recently compiled for Soldier's Disease, which is an excellent noise blog updated by the mastermind behind the "psychedelic industrial death noise" label Chondritic Sound out of Detroit. Featuring some great projects, I've specifically been into the New York psychedelic dark wave band RØSENKØPF as well as Josh Hydeman's solo stuff (formally of Boston's TWODEADSLUTS ONEGOODFUCK). Available to listen and download below.

SEWER TRANSMISSION

POWDERED PIGMENTS

Maybe I've been influenced by the springtime weather in January that has taken over NYC lately, but I've been finding myself completely obsessed with pastels lately, specifically blues and greens. Obviously this is a huge deviation from my preoccupation with all things black, but I've also found myself attracted to more feminine colors, fabrics and prints and love using these shades to add a softer element to my ensemble. Here are some of my favorite inspiration pieces utilizing these colors for spring.