Hedonism appeals

the idea that one can live a life based on pleasure is appealing, especially to someone like me who is an optimist :: which might sound strange from someone so into gothic music and culture, but the dark and powerful elements of goth are also uplifting …

just look at gothic architecture, those imposing and inspiring churches and cathedrals that can leave you in awe of their majesty … and yet invite you to understand and follow their message.

and i probably err on the side of quality rather than quantity when it comes to sex and passion, altho a new flame can provide hours and days and weeks of quantity alongside the quality :: so new frontiers and boundaries interest me, whether musical or sexual, and the alternative lifestyle provides the best of opportunities.

a photoshoot by a friend

pleasure can be experienced in many ways, of course, and having the main aim of life to be gathering pleasure is both liberating and exciting :: because ultimately the philosphy leads to a belief in freedom, for me and everyone else – a stark contrast to most church teachings.

my life can be portrayed in complementary duality
- the beautiful warmth of the sun is ‘true’ happiness – giving light and warmth to everyone and everything
- the brilliance of a new moon is ‘true’ passion – brightness surrounded by mystery and the unseen

Nightwish

beginning in 1996 in Finland, the band had 9 years of rising fame, in large part due to the vocals of Tarja Turunen :: Nightwish are considered a major force in the growth of symphonic metal and have been flying the flag really well.

their albums Oceanborn (1998) and Wishmaster (2000) put them on the world stage and by 2004 they were regulars on MTV in the States, with Wish I Had an Angel gaining lots of attention from three film soundtracks.

ripples across the metal ocean were spread wide when vocalist Tarja Turunen was asked to leave the band, but you probably already know all that.

the next major event in the band’s history was May 2007 when Anette Olzon from Sweden (formerly in Alyson Avenue) was revealed as Turunen’s replacement :: the new album with Anette is Dark Passion Play.

Serebro

Serebro follow in the footsteps of t.A.T.u and finished third in Eurovision in 2007 with Song #1 :: the group was formed in 2006 by Maxim (Max) Fadeev (prominent Russian producer) :: one of the most popular Russian bands in 2007 and Serebro are currently preparing their first album.

Sirusho

Sirusho Harutyunyan is from Armenia and first appeared in front of an audience in Canada when she was seven years old :: she received an award for her song Lusabats at age 9 :: music schools followed and she currently studies diplomacy in Yerevan State University :: Sirusho is the daughter of the famous Armenian singer Susan Margaryan, so is continuing the talent of that set of genes

Ruslana

currently touring her Amazon tour and what a perfect name for a musical force of nature

Ruslana is a whirlwind in performance

http://www.ruslana.ua/en/index.php

Kerli

eastern europe is a fantastic source of great music – following in the footsteps of great athletes, great gymnasts, great tennis players, etc.

Kerli is from Estonia and great songs like Love Is Dead (also the album title) are worth a listen.

Walking On Air was a free Single of the Week on iTunes in July in the US of A :: what a contrast to the free dross on iTunes in UK, with tracks from people like Jesca Hoop (yes, the current inhabitants of the UK have lost the use of basic english as a language).