Moving is over!

After a looooong wait, the moving truck finally arrived (it must have been 22:30) and parked a block away from home. In an episode that could make it to an Almodovar movie, a local guy proposed we stopped the traffic at Gran Via so that the truck could reverse (my area is a maze of one-way narrow streets).
It eventually made to our door, completely blocking the street and almost hitting on the balconies...amazing.

A big, BIG thank-you to Pepo, Servan and Chema for their help in taking the bokes to our third-floor appartment, I think I whould have ended up in hospital without them. Guys, I owe you a beer (or ten!)

Underrated

If there was any justice in this world, this record would be considered one of the best of the 90's. Those of you who like My Bloody Valentine will appreciate it.
I got the vinyl in London in 1992, and my wages at the time (£2.17 an hour) ment that I had to pack t-shirts for more than four hours to buy it. Compare that to 2005, when we download music for free...
When lessons started again, I made a big colour copy of the sleeve and covered my portfolio with it. I loved the look on my classmates' faces when they saw it. :-)

Röyksopp : "The Understanding"

This record, my friends, is probably the best of 2005. The two norwegians have surpassed their excellent "Melody A.M." and proved that the second album should not be difficult when you've got genuine talent.
This is a much more electronic and dancey record than their debut, but remains quite eclectic, with tunes that will becume club anthems (Only this moment) and others that remind to Jean-Michel Jarre (Alpha Male) or Air (Someone like me).
A fucking masterpiece, man!

Moving news

It seems like my things will finally arrive next Tuesday, three weeks later than agreed. Now let's see how do I take these damn 30 Kg boxes (28 of them) to a third floor (no elevator, of course..it would spoil all the fun...)

I'm going to regret not having burned my books when these nice guys from the Nazi party came over...

Marketing estilo madrileño

I bet you don't have anything near this imaginative in Brussels, London or Frisco (CO)

Calle Hortaleza, just around the corner from my place.

Saul Williams

I've been listening all day to this guy. Poetry meets rap, at its best


I want my money back. I'm down here drowning in your fat. You got me on my knees praying for everything you lack. I ain't afraid of you. I'm just a victim of your fears. You cower in your tower praying that I'll disappear, I got another plan, one that requires me to stand. On the stage or in the street, don't need no microphone or beat. And when you hear this song, if you ain't dead then sing along. Bang and strum to these here drums til you get where you belong.

I got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands. I ball my fist and you're gonna know where I stand. We're living hand to mouth! You wanna be somebody? See somebody? Try and free somebody? I gotta list of demands written on the palm of my hands. I ball my fist and you're gonna know where I stand. We're living hand to mouth! Hand to mouth!

List of Demands (reparations)

Pictures of my neighbourhood

I took these pics yesterday, it was a beautiful cold sunny day. Who says Barcelona is more beautiful??? :-)


You can view them ( and more) on my Flickr page.

Pornochacha is back!

After a few days of frantic CV-sending, living room painting and even a meet-the-parents experience (for Virginia it was more like Meet the Fockers), I've decided to get my lazy ass to Blogger and post something.

Check out the new links on the right-hand side of the blog: The Arcade Fire website and The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Repent you sinners!!!

On my iPod today

TV on the Radio,"Desperate youth, blood thirsty babes"

An excellent album by this band from Brooklyn, (another one reccomended by Yvan). Check out "Staring at the sun", and please avoid "Ambulance"

A greek tragedy.

Yesterday we saw Woody Allen's latest, "Match Point". And guess what, this time it's different. Sure, the caracters are still upper-class and beautiful, but there are some elements that make this movie not quite what we're used to see from Woody.
It is set in London, not in Manhattan, and there is not a trace of comedy in it. It's difficult to find the director reflected in one of the characters, as we have so often seen.
This is a film that is closer to his great dramas, notably "Crimes and Misdemeanors" than anything else he's made in years. It doesn't look like a Woody Allen film, and it feels good.

With friends like this....

This is my friend Jorge, or should I say, "Vicky". Respectable lawyer for a major firm by day, a life of sex and depravation as "Vicky la cachonda" by night. Valladolid can be very hot when she's in town...

On my iPod today

Super Furry Animals, "Love Kraft"

The Furries are back!!
Still not at the level of their first three albums, but good nonetheless.

On my iPod today

Stina Nordenstam, "This is Stina Nordenstam"

On my iPod today

Teenage Fanclub "Man made"

This was also one of the concerts I had on my must-see list, I have to say it was up to my expectations.
Some, like the Pixies', were made true this summer (merci encore, Yvan).For some others, it's going to be a bit more difficult, unless the Smiths or the Sex Pistols decide to reunite.

ese oscuro objeto de deseo

Who would have tought that this stupid little black box would be the key to Internet happiness?
After a few weeks of dealing with retarded Telefónica customer service (ha!) assistants over the phone, it really is.

On my iPod today

The Bravery, "The Bravery"

Merci, Yvan :-)

Shop, calle Fuencarral

Black cat blues

I'm not the only one feeling stressed about moving to Madrid. Today Pepe spent the whole day under our bed. The poor guy had to spend almost six hours in his cage to come here...if a flight is difficult enough for humans, imagine being trapped in a litle box under a seat.

Day one in Madrid

On this first day of my new life in Madrid I was surprised to see that our old Brussels' joke, "there are no Belgians in Belgium" could very well be applicable to the capital of the Kingdom: few Spaniards at my local supermarket (employees and customers), lots of tourists on my short walk to the post office...where have all the locals gone?