Here is a quick video catching a glimpse of the process for each of her wonderful ‘characters..’

Each are signed Poppxi and hand thrown and sculpted by Sarah Crouch. Just beautifully eccentric and wonderful – they strike me as reminescent of Tiki carvings and mythology, or Incan art inspired by proto-Cubist forms such as in Guernica by Picasso. Each piece is unique and a one-off.  I was sad to see a few of my favorites go.  Keep your eyes out for these!

Totally unexpected and pleasantly surprised that this was nominated in the top five for the Mojo Music Honours List 2011 for Best Compilation Award.  I picked a few tracks on here and provided all the illustrations for the album artwork. Kyle Lonsdale and Simon Russell put loads of work in to compile the music.. check it out!

Just completely in love with this- soothes the soul..

Gerry Rafferty struggled with drinking problems and recently passed away from liver failure on 4 January 2011. He was best known for his solo hits Baker Street, Stuck in the Middle, and Right Down the Line, and with the band Stealers Wheel.

www.alexjako.com

Come and visit me there!

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Think I’m in dire need of refining my style in this medium.. but for now, here is one of my warm-up practice sessions. It is Rick.. in Gagnef – ‘backstage’ at the beautiful festival in the countryside of Sweden, warming up before the gig..

Met this guy recently who is VED from Malmo, and discovered one more reason to be going up north to Gagnef, Sweden to the Skankaloss Festival aka “The Birthday Party”. Not only one of the most beautiful places- held in a Folk Park, or ‘People’s Park’, secluded by trees with the river Dalalven running through it; but some of the most clued up and nicest people organize it. They know how to keep those positive vibrations vibrating..

Did a poster for this party (tonight!) which I am really excited about.

Saw Rocketnumbernine play a few months ago and was blown away by their Krauty tribal rhythms and elevating electronic journey into the abyss, in disbelief that more of the public have not yet discovered them.

http://www.myspace.com/rocketnumbernine

Also really been enjoying the VOTST shows lately (they are at their most powerful, heavy and psychedelic so far!), and with the knowledge that their time together is limited as a one album project, I encourage all of you out there who have missed them to try and catch them when you have the opportunity!

http://www.myspace.com/voiceofthesevenwoods

I have been obsessed with pictures of the Dust Bowl era (also known as ‘the Dirty Thirties’) during the Great Depression, ever since I read musician Woody Guthrie‘s autobiography “Bound for Glory” and listened over and over again to his album Dust Bowl Ballads, admiring his political slogan-scrawled geetar’ which boldly stated: “this machine kills fascists”.

For those who aren’t familiar with Woody Guthrie: he was a musical hero, clearly, a figurehead in the folk movement and influencing the likes of Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. But throughout his life he was a victim of much hardship, misfortune and torment.

My curiosity of the Dust Bowl soon led me to discover many of my favorite images, especially those of Dorothea Lange,

who was one of the many artists realised, as a result of the documentation of this stretch of misfortune and economic crisis intensified by this natural disaster catastrophe.

Onward continues my romantic obsession with the beauty and darkness of these Black Blizzards

this time and place on the earth, unfolding into the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma.. a dark and twisted tale of despair and depression. There is something hugely magnetic about all those old, haunting images.. capturing a sort of post-apocalyptic quality and serenity in destruction which I feel I am hunting for when I look for beauty.

I find myself, over the years, never failing to gather inspiration from them, going back to them.. over and over again..

VOTST drum skin

Okay, so I painted Mook’s (aka Chris Walmsley‘s) drum skin for the Trad, Gras och Stenar show (which was, for all you unfortunates who missed it- AMAZING!) I also got limited posters printed and will be posting those on here, and in my shop on my official website shortly (coming soon..)

I am grateful to have been able to chat for quite some time to TorBjorn, the bass player, about loads of things and he also rather happily told me stories about those first 5 years of the Parsons Sound, Harvester, etc. I bought what looks like (I haven’t watched it yet) a fantastic DVD set in 1968, all actors playing themselves, addressing the politics of youth, angst, rebellion, activism and how Swedish society rejected and institutionalized those who were involved. Very topical at the time, ofcourse, and all sounding very punk if you ask me! ..All to a beautiful soundtrack they made specially for the film at the time.

The gig blew me out of the water with its beauty and level of enlightenment and hynotic psychedelic mastery like no other band I’ve had a chance to see of the same ilk. Actually in moments I sat there noticing what an amazing guitar player Reine Fiske was- couldn’t be a more perfect substitute (and he kind of looks like him!) for their original member BoAnders Persson who, from what I gather, now suffers from Tinnitus and cannot perform live.

Rick found a few of their LP’s years back (Sov Gott Rose-Marie is on quite often in this household). Our visits to Sweden over the past few years have also paid off with loads good memories, and Bo Hansson (RIP) as well as Hansson and Karlsson wax finds.. and more! If you haven’t peaked into the Swedish 60′s and 70′s then you’ve missed a whole load of amazing music!

In much anticipation I await the limited LP box set release..