What a year...

Hello folks! I cannot believe 2018 is already drawing to a close! It was amazing to meet so many kindred spirits. I very often feel alone and alienated in a world I do not appreciate. But you guys cheered me up. You brought me exquisite experiences filled with love and utmost respect.

I got to meet some of you in the flesh during gigs. I was lucky to hear that my concerns  can resonate and can be shared by others. It felt so empowering! From the bottom of my heart, thank you to every single one of you. You came to my shows, you booked me as an artist, you shared the stage with me, you took time to listen and to give me feedback. Thanks for being so great. Live picture by Blauerosen while playing at CHAOS THEORY (September 2018.)

Live video credits: Chaos Theory, Kunal Singhal on static cams, Simon Kallas Photography on handheld footage and Peter Junge - Record Mixing for video editing and sound mixing. Additional thanks to RIFF.Underground for lending their recording gear for the night (September 2018.)

A Fly as a Pet- Music by Riotmiloo & Dirk Ivens, executive production, mixing, additional music and video by Eva|3
From the album Riotmiloo & Friends: La Pierre Soudée (Ant-Zen ACT325)
CD: mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/2627
Digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/la-pierre-soud-e

I also got to work again with the talented photographer Sev Denis. We explored tunnels in London. My favourite was Leake Street Tunnel, a space created by Banksy that celebrates urban Art. I learned a lot from this photo shoot, the shown and the hidden, light and darkness, it all goes together. ;)

I didn't listen to enough new music or didn't go out enough to gigs as I was ill a lot. But here are a few albums I thoroughly enjoyed this year:



Michael Idehall- prophecies of the storm
This album is a true gem! It threatens, it soothes, it takes you on a journey shining through with poetry depicting gloom and desolation with a unique twist.





Moodie Black- Lucas Acid
This album grabbed me so intensively when it came out. I think I listened to it maybe three or four times in a row and was still overwhelmed by its emotions. The singer K has come to terms with being trans and spits it all out with despair and raw tortured melodies. The wall of sound and industrial hip hop support the moods exposed very well.






Hide- Castration Anxiety
Hide's opus is raw and intense. It is pounding. It hurts. Its intensity is matched by the haunting vocals of Heather Gabel. The pulse  is set very high,  the percussion goes straight to your head. It is savage.











Salt- invisible
I find it difficult to pinpoint all the elements that create its ensemble, there are so many of them! There is an upbeat infectious groove, some triturated pop, Japanese screams and melodies, noise and even more. All of them join up and make room for an altered state of consciousness. Am I living? Am I dreaming? Where am I drifting? But it works. It works so well that I keep on coming back, asking for more "Japanese green tea infusion." 




Tangerine Cat- Many Kettles
Tangerinecat was formed in Ukraine and now lives in England. Sonically, Eugene and Paul explore atmospheric cinematic electronic sounds with the addition of a lead moving hurdy-gurdy and ethereal flutes. This beautifully crafted album deals with themes such as abuse, neglect and poverty. Emotions are raw. They are rich too. This album is a tribute to those who overcome oppression and resist. Life can be tough but life can be good too. According to a Moroccan proverb, the first glass of tea is as gentle as life, the second one is as strong as love, the third - as bitter as death. There are even more flavours in "Many Kettles."

I hope you will enjoy listening to my favourite albums released this year. Do not hesitate to let me know what you think. ;)

I would also like to share with you a few videos I enjoyed this year:

Bakibal- O Giblan Abakibal (animated by Giles Rossire)

Jo Quail- Mandrel Cantus from Exsolve (Filmed by Simon Kallas and Michael Fletcher)

And finally:  Dive- Let me in  (Directed by E Gabriel Edvy, second camera Stuart Heaney)