DRESSED IN RED

DRESSED IN RED - A WALK THROUGH THE CITY IN ENGLISH AND CZECH

I feel like mother after hard birth pangs. Maybe I haven’t survived, bled to death at the delivery room, left my body stained with blood lying somewhere at the corridors dark like night but the life I’ve given to that child shall not be stopped in bloom.

And now it comes into the world to get beaten and gain experience and rejoice and grow and I’ll just stay in the distance and pay attention like a careful parent at the playground.

It is always a strange feeling, something ended and something new begins. Two years of nothingness that were binding my hands and tongue and then emptiness and darkness, crisis, sadness and then again a hope with the first notes shouted out in the world.

Bloodflies. I was at the mountains of Slovakia in the neverending silence and there at the bridge over the stream intriquing for that terrible triplet rhythm and looking for words I would bark into the chorus, because one thing was clear since the first note, THIS was going to be a single, crop-full with dark energy, something that makes you stamp into the rhythm and shake your head. The beginning of a story that is a cliché same like comics itself and Lady Torment and suffering on a cross in a neverending orgasm and latex and black lines and vampires that suck out of you… everything.
And Starlover, that kinky lovesong for You which resisted for such a long time and a year and a half of waiting for that right chorus that has lifted it all into the clouds. And last winter in exile and an amplifier which fell down the stairs and nothing happened to it... and Vito in the end who took this song and converted it into a club hymn. In The Night Lies The Dawn, the last song made, I have never managed to stay on the ground ever before and make the song as simple as it deserves. Clean and clear, throbbing and alive. And one another lucky chance, when one chord changed and strings have crept in out of the blue to take the song and lift it somewhere above the clouds.

And singing in the night when Vanessa slept behind the door so that a strange crispiness sneaked into the voice and strange sadness and a shadow in this tired dream. And Mystic Highway, which had been waiting for almost four years for the right moment when I found the right attitude and the right end and Brian Eno giving instructions in my dreams – MORE space, just more space, I sublimed in the mist with this song and if you don’t know what’s suffering, please skip this track right away. And then here we got this raw and dirty cell in a long time ago abolished nuthouse where I was forgotten and my head vainly beats into that padded door. Nobody is opening. It’s just me and my demons of sadness. Accused, taken behind the city limits and killed with silent scream I end up here left alone. I run, before myself?

Do I wake up in the darkness, where maybe new lives are born, or am I going to be tried again? Am I a wandering soul who doesn’t know where it belongs? And here comes Brian Eno again, who after sixteen void versions helps to find the right one. One of the first and the simplest ones, how else... so give me a chance and I’ll try, I promise I’ll try...maybe next time. In the city, where rain always pours down from the sky and angels on the houses’ fronts are coming alive and are waving at you. It doesn’t matter that you are dead, so am I. And I’m a shadow that woke up alive just for that thought that You are. I can’t believe that You are... And here comes Lady Death, so beautiful and pure, take my hand because you know, that you’re like a feather doll and a sleep is a gentle friend to get along with. And this chorus will be haunting me for a long time after. How many versions. Ten? Maybe. And a guitar solo across half of the song? Why not. Everything once comes for the first time. And for this trip, you may set sail just once.

And it is time to say goodbye, because this bullet in my head is into pieces with every part of it yelling at me “It’s the end!” I don’t know what happens next, no titles, no happy endings, I do not travel anywhere, I just feel cold. The clock is broken and it no longer measures our time. Farewell. And then this strange guy who lives on the beach came in my dream and convinced me that it is still worth it to write, to dream and to sing, even though it seems that a hope is buried somewhere in the unmarked grave. Perhaps about that, that when those Tibetan monks finally manage to count all the stars in the sky, they all start to fade out, one by one. And that it will be You, who will silently whisper to my ear, that this is the last day of the world.

NEJSI TO TY, NEHLEDÍŠ SNAD NA MNE?
NENÍ TO SNAD STUDENÁ KREV NA KOEČCÍCH PRSTŮ CO LEPÍ SE NA MNE?
JESTLI JSEM SKUTEČNĚ ŠPATNOU CESTOU ŠEL
A VYPRŠEL MI VŠECHEN ČAS?

Jsem jako matka po těžkých porodních bolestech. Možná jsem to nepřežil, vykrvácel jsem na sále, nechal svoje krví zbrocený tělo ležet někde na chodbách temných jak noc ale ten život, který jsem dal tomu dítěti, už nikdo nezastaví v rozkvětu.

A teď jde do světa, kde se bude otloukat a otrkávat a narážet a radovat se a růst a žít a já jen z dálky ho budu sledovat a chránit a hlídat jako starostlivej rodič na pískovišti.

Je to vždycky tak zvláštní pocit, něco skončilo, něco začíná. Dva roky nicoty, který mě svazovaly ruce a jazyk a pak temno a prázdno, krize, smutek a pak zase naděje s prvníma notama vykřičenýma do světa. Bloodflies. Byl jsem ve slovenských horách v tichým nekonečnu a tam na mostě u potoka spřádal plány na ten děsivej trojkovej rytmus a hledal slova který budu štěkat do refrénu, protože od první noty bylo jasný, že TOHLE je singl, nacpanej temnou energií až k prasknutí, něco, co tě donutí dupat si do rytmu a házet hlavou. Začátek příběhu kterej je klišé jak comics samotnej a Lady Soužení a trýznění na kříži v nekonečným orgasmu a latex a černý linky a vampíři, který z tebe vysajou ...všechno. A Starlover, ten divnej lovesong pro Tebe co tak dlouho vzdoroval a rok a půl hledání a čekání na ten správnej refrén, kterej to celý zvednul do oblak. A minulá zima v exilu a zesilovač, kterej spadnul ze schodů a nic se mu nestalo..a nakonec Víťa, kterej si tenhle song vzal a tajně z něj udělal klubovou hymnu. In The Night Lies The Dawn, poslední dokončenej song, ještě nikdy se mi nepovedlo se uhlídat a nechat song tak jednoduchej, jak jen to jde. Čistej a průzračnej a tepající a živej. A zase jedna šťastná náhoda, když se jeden akord změnil a vloudily se stringy který přišly odnikud a odnesly song někam nad mraky.

A zpívání v noci když Vanessa za dveřma spala takže nepozorovaně se zvláštní křehkost vloudila do toho hlasu a divnej smutek a stín v tom unaveným snu. A mystická dálnice, která čtyři roky čekala na tu chvíli až najdu tu správnou polohu a správnej konec a Brian Eno, kterej mi ve snu dával rady – ještě VÍC prostoru, ještě víc, rozplynul jsem se v mlze s tímhle songem a kdo neví co je trápení, ať tenhle song rovnou přeskočí. A pak je tu syrová a špinavá cela v dávno zrušeným blázinci, kde na mě zapomněli a já marně biju hlavou o ty polstrovaný dveře. A nikdo neotevírá. Jsem tu jen já a démoni smutku. Obviněn, odveden za město a s tichým výkřikem tu sám a opuštěný skonám. Utíkám, sám před sebou?

A probouzím se v temnotě, kde snad nové životy se rodí, nebo budu zase souzen? Jsem snad bloudící duše, která neví, kam patří? A zase je tu Brian Eno, kterej po šestnácti marných verzích pomáhá najít tu pravou. Jednu z prvních a jednu z nejjednodušších, jak jinak...Tak dej mi šanci a já se budu snažit, určitě to zkusím...možná příště. Ve městě, kde pořád prší a andělé na domech ožívají a mávají na tebe. Nevadí, že jsi mrtvá, to já taky. A jsem stín, který obživl jen kvůli té myšlence, že Ty jsi. Nemůžu uvěřit tomu, že jsi... A přichází paní Smrt, tak krásná a čistá, vezmi mne za ruku protože víš, že jsi jak figurka z peří a spánek je přítel se kterým si rozumíš. A tenhle refrén mě bude strašit ještě dlouho. Kolik verzí, deset? Možná. A kytarový sólo přes půl songu? Proč ne. Všechno je jednou poprvý. A na tenhle výlet se můžeš vydat jen jednou.

A je čas se rozloučit, protože ta kulka v mý hlavě je na kusy a každou svojí částí křičí, že je konec. Nevím, co bude, žádný titulky, happyendy, nikam necestuju, jen mi je zima. Hodiny se rozbily a už neměří náš čas, sbohem. A pak přišel ve snu ten divnej chlapík co bydlí na pláži a přesvědčil mě, že má smysl psát, snít a zpívat, i když už se zdá, že naděje leží někde v neoznačeným hrobě. Třeba o tom, že když se těm tibetským mnichům podaří konečně spočítat, kolik je hvězd na obloze, začnou jedna po druhé zhasínat. A že to budeš Ty, kdo mi zašeptá do ucha, že tohle je poslední den světa.

Glimpses of red light

If not only for this strips of light made by the sunbeams going through the roller-blinds and this Blade Runner-esque atmosphere I'm enjoying staying at work until sunset. Today just few glimpses concerning our new red light release.

Paul Kendall made an excellent job on album mix. It sounds so good that I can't believe it myself.

Some of my thoughts regarding the album "storyline" have sneaked into the official press release, which is quite grateful. At least I feel now that the interpretation of the songs is much more in my hands than it was ever before. And I'll be willing to explain, because what I disliked about the last release was the misinterpretations of what I've written. I'm even ready to translate (or re-poeticize) the lyrics into Czech, so that everyone shall not miss the album atmosphere as a whole. And guess what, I'm thinking about some kind of walkthrough or 'behind scenes', stay tuned.

Most of the songs on the album end all of a sudden - they are driving on and suddenly it's the end, no fadeout, no afterpiece. So is life sometimes. It gets rolling, you're enjoying and at your best, but suddenly the end comes out of the blue. You never know when it comes. That silence one second after is deafening. Like a silent reproach. Something was here, and it is no more. Did you think that the song would last forever?

Jnn

red wine in the white room

Behind the glass of red wine, working on maybe 15th version of that damned song..made about 40 tracks, than reworked it from the start, than lost the data, so another couple of versions until now, when I'm getting to the point of deleting all the tracks and being back with "almost naked" version with just the piano and guitar motive from where it all started..

The ideas come and go and I can't get used to the fact that less sometimes means more. I wish how to add power and energy to the songs, for I've always wanted it. I wish to make a weird and atmospheric track I could be stunned by even myself. But how can I reach this when I hear this cluster of notes for maybe 500 times and over and over again? I don't have a clue. But I'm still secretly hoping that it is a good song. I remember listening to that guitar motive all over again at the start and I knew that there was something about it.

So there is a hope..even the song's lyrics are far from being optimistic. This song is gonna be near the end of the album, so it's quite obvious that "the clock is broken / it no longer keeps our time alive / it's cold here / and I can't see what lies beyond now" ; no, there ain't no happy endings, no titled ends, but with this album, who knows? ;)

Red wine's gone, farewell my baby..

Lyrics and news and things..

It's another rainy day outside my window and it's just about the right mood for some glimpses and splinters and holes to feed.

I'm reading through the fothcoming tracklist and lyrics of the new album and, to my surprise and unintentionally, there is a bit of a story from the beginning until the end. Starting with passion and blood and lust and ending with love, reconciliation, leave-taking and silence. I wished that when this album ended, you would have sat a while just thinking, what just happened and what that all should have meant. At the moment I would like to say that I'm so happy to have the lyrics finished and the way they look and the whole story inside and in between the lines gives me some hope that it was worth it.

I'm thinking of making the translantions of all my lyrics to my native language. I have to think it over a bit but I think it is a good idea. I will not explain my lyrics, just transform them into poems in Czech, so everyone may at least try to catch the sense even without knowledge of English. I remember once upon a time, Ivan Magor Jirous, the famous Czech poet translated one of my tracks when sitting drunk at the bar. Well, it wasn't just a translation, it was completely new and beautiful poem. Maybe I could catch him somewhere and ask him to poeticize my lyrics again. I'd be really curious how the lyrics worked in Czech and whether the sense would be kept. We'll see.

Two of the songs that were ready before, BLOODFLIES and STARLOVER were co-produced by Thomas Etien, with Vito getting highly involved in production stage of STARLOVER, which is a minor step for mankind but major step for LAKESIDE X ;) The rest of the album shall be mixed/co-produced by Mr PAUL KENDALL, who is a long-time mixing star of Mute Records and current collaborator of ALAN WILDER on his 'SELECTED' project. It is quite an honor for me to cooperate with such a legendary producer/sound-engineer, renowned mainly for his work for DEPECHE MODE, NITZER EBB, RECOIL, SONIC YOUTH, BIG BLACK ot BUTTHOLE SURFERS. We're in a good company I believe ;)

The BLOODFLIES video shoot took place at PHENOMEN music club. It was a whole-day-long experience, quite exhausting for everybody involved, but I think that at the end of the day we all enjoyed it very much. I'm really curious about the result. It is the most expensive production we've ever made and if not for the gothic sexy looking vampire girls, than for nothing else this video shall be worth seeing! ;)

Rain's over, let's head home ;)

CITY OF RED LIGHTS

Sitting inside the skyscraper and the sun goes down again, creating red and yellow flashes through the roller-blinds, here again, feeling like in the Tyrell Building. What is happening, is happening now, and it’s happening fast. Live fast die old, for it is so much to do. Death creeps around like a sinister shade and it seems it has never enough. I’m enjoying life and happily travel through the dark corners of my mind, thinking about those who are gone and travel alone in between worlds. Or in another worlds?
Tommorrow can be pretty different to what we see today. A constant change is the only certainty of life.

So for the glimpses, now for the news.
The new LX album shall be titled “CITY OF RED LIGHTS”. Feel free to go for any meaning it deserves.
“BLOODFLIES” are doing pretty well I guess and there has been some preparation works for the video shooting again with Dan and Igor and it’s quite promising. The video shall be out in autumn together with the album.
“STARLOVER”, a kinky lovesong for my beautiful girl is another new song that will be featured on the album and it was included in our setlist in Hard Rock Café past Wednesday.
As far as the production work goes, it is now quite clear that the new album will be a lot different to what we’ve ever done before. I hear a lot of backwards sounds, and a reverb. A lot of reverb. And maybe a Daniel Kessler’s ghost possessed my Epiphone Joe Pass.
Have a beautiful holiday ;)

J.

Notes I.

I wanted to place the story inside of the noir movie, like it was all a strange sinister dream performance in a theatre or a room with red curtains. It's maybe David Lynch, maybe comic book, maybe noir story from in-between-worlds of life and death. Many sounds are backwards, like you would wake up in a lucid dream on psychedelic drugs. It is a sort of a vampire cabaret of a modern age. It is sarcastic but not hopeless. There is still this dirty city outside the window, but you feel reconciliated with the fact that you are part of that dirt yourself.

There's this city, it's dark, in black and white. Except the red colour shines out of the shades. And there is always rain in the streets. Strings of water pouring down and the downtown mess touching your ears. Car horns, people arguing, somebody screams at each other. Do you feel love? It seems so distant. Pain. And loneliness. Waiting for redemption. Waiting for the rain to stop.

WHITE ROOM NEWS

Today, just few notes concerning my life, band, universe and everything.

We suffer from a terrible lack of time. However, one, (almost) non-alcoholic band meeting occurred. Pretty friendly atmosphere, burgers, wings and alcohol-free beer. There was a discussion about new look of our official web, which is in construction for almost one whole year can you believe it? We all certainly don't. Igor does. Seems we'll turn it back to the previous look just to avoid misleading questions about us being a beginning band or not.

Although there was a promising name in store to produce the tracks for our forthcoming album, DUSAN VOZARY seems not to make hay while the sun shines. Therefore we had to look after another collaborator, who is TOMAS SOCHUREK, a name well known mainly among a hiphop community. That is an interesting change and we are looking forward to the result, which shall be out soon.

IGOR is highly engaged in ALAN WILDER's project called "SELECTED EVENTS" as a visual director of the live projection staff of the former DEPECHE MODE sound magician and he also produces shooting of the live footage and documentary from the forthcoming show in Hamburg. We'll meet the Boss and his crew in Prague in April. It will be a terrific honour for me to share the stage. Dreams come true :) Our setlist will be a bit special for this event and we'll have couple of surprises for our fans in store.
MONIKA NACEVA and MICHAL PAVLICEK was my suggestion. And another terrible honour for me, as I remember myself being aghast from PAVLICEK's record with the band called STROMBOLI in the late 80's. Got to get it signed. And NACEVA, nowadays presenting fabulous trip-hop with ingenious lyrics will be another great experience. It's gonna be a really special evening.

Some of the material for the forthcoming record has been thrown into the trashbin and I have started over again from scratch. But the initial idea remains the same. We'll see.

White Room is now complete, reconstructed, made up and ready for new tennant ;)

DM with Alan on stage

I simply have to put this down. Rob and Igor attended a very special Depeche gig in the Royal Albert Hall yesterday and they witnessed ALAN WILDER on stage with MARTIN playing SOMEBODY (!!!). I think I am not alone who prays this was just a beginning :)

White Room News

I believe I have some really interesting news considering the band this time. Another band meeting occurred (can't remember the end of it due to beer & mary jane avalanche ;) as usual. I fell on the floor, but to be honest, not because I was drunk like hell but because I simply lost the balance..well, maybe I was drunk a bit, okay. I'm a rockstar, I can fall on the floor wherever I want ;)

So let's head for the news:

There will be a new Lakeside X single called "BLOODFLIES" out this spring.

It'll be co-produced by DUSAN VOZARY, a respected name on the Czech electronic music scene. Former member of the cult electronic band "Ocean" and producer of many recent electronic projects (Khoiba to name some). We believe it's an interesting connection and it will be appreciated both by our fans and the old Ocean fans who were hoping to hear something new from their camp. We're all looking forward to our cooperation.

DAN HARVAN, the video director responsible for the best LX videos so far (Follow Me, Sway) will be shooting the video for Bloodflies.

Lakeside X will be supporting ALAN WILDER (ex-Depeche Mode)and PAUL KENDALL at their event called "Selected". It will be a special evening dedicated to new release of Recoil "Selected" tracks and the first Alan's appearance on stage since 1995"Devotional Tour"! It's a real honour for us and we'll prepare a very special set for this very special evening containing new LX tracks plus some reworked versions of LX live classics.

see you on the other side ;)

..short freezing notes..

Just few short notes - we're back home at White Room, which is a relief after 2,5 months of exile. It's looking great, the wooden floor and new concept make a great condition for the soundscapes of new tracks. And for our parrot.

If only the amplifiers worked ;) at present time both of them are being repaired at strangeman's lair somewhere at vast suburb of Prague..hopefully they'll be ready soon.

Yesterday it was Vito's jesusy birthday. Time is relentless. Tonight it's party time and Vito the DJ's gonna hit the floor once again. Guys from the band will be there too. And plenty of weed. Love it.

Within sights are golden days - the band's meeting occurred and we have agreed some key features of the forthcoming LX project for this spring. LX single demo is currently at grasp of a producer - it's a really promising name and I believe that many CZ fans shall be pleased with such a combination. Once the deal is established, we'll be authorized to tell more.

I'm in love with Robert Smith. I simply love that guy. He's my neverending well of inspiration and example how to stay young and creative.

Looking forward to spring, this freezing weather makes me sick.

see ya l8r, party time tonite
J

In the studio

Interpol are in the studio working on their fourth release. Planned for spring 2010. That's definitely some good news! And, as they say, the sound of new album shall recall their well acclaimed debut, which is another great news. Well, looking forward to spring 2010, definitely.

Waiting for the boss to call up whether we have some producer. And guys from the band say that maybe we have a single ;) And maybe some LX videos on MTV Czech? That's a top of the cake ;)

see you soon on the other side

Away from home

First two nights out of my home. The horrible week of packing and moving is over. It was really a stressful event. I'm tired. Yesterday was a first day of White Room reconstruction. Everything's ruined and the place is a complete building site (pictures maybe later). Can it be law to kill your neighbor? I hope not this time but I'll try to avoid any assassination attempt.

Sunday evening was the last moving day. My Alesis amplifier didn't survive as it was dropped on the floor when moving to my brother-in-law's apartment :( sad news, but I still have my headphones and managed to set up a small 'studio-like' corner in our room. I have to finish the demo. At least for this one song that shall become a key thing for our planned reality show 'Looking For Producer'. It was once a Placebo-like track, then it turned into an acoustic slow version to end up like something between Thom Yorke shagging Brian from Placebo again somewhere in the electric power plant. And the other one, that has been written almost year ago, which, to my deep anger, has almost the same rhytm pattern like 'Uprising'. How the hell could that freak Bellamy hear what was coming out of my window this spring? And the other one, Igor's favourite, with Molko resemblance again, that could be fairly called "Cold 2" for its lyrics. And finally the one with working title "Coldplay" ;o) we'll see.

Anyway, Muse's latest album. I like it. But it's not that perfect as it could or should be, to be honest. First three tracks - absolutely great. Eurasia - total nightmare for me (I really dislike Queeen, sorry). Guiding Light - good piece, but too much sugar can make even the best tea undrinkable. Unnatural Selection - if it is about harder tracks, I prefer such as 'Assasin' for instance. This one is more like a SOAD or Tankian tribute. MK Ultra - can't even remember this track for how often I have skipped it. I Belong To You - is this Maroon 5 or what? Damned. And I was so so looking forward to this album. Luckily there's this great piece of art in the end that saves it all - Exogenesis. I once wrote that listening to it simply splits me into atoms. It was like I saw my own funeral with lots of people crying at the end of a post-apocalyptic movie. Simply great. It's a pity that the middle of the album is crap, the beginning and the end is magnificent.

Quick White Room News

Again some brief news from our camp.

LX meeting took place in our favourite French bistro and it's all covered with veil of alcohole and cigarette smoke. A very important call to our Boss Trava, who suggested some really nice and interesting names as a producers-to-be. Unfortunately, nothing is quite clear at the moment, but there are some really interesting and surprising names in store.

Almost all the lyrics for the forthcoming album are done.

Some demos are in quite advanced shape at the moment. Don't ask me about the sound, even I don't know how it all will look like in the end.

There is a two month full reconstruction ahead of the White Room. So we'll be living at my brother-in-law's apartment. We'll se whether I am able to produce something there at the field conditons.

Autumn news

Here it is, autumn slowly knocking on our door. Back from vacation. This time I had my comp with me, so I continued demoing. In the kitchen and in the bedroom as well. Surrounded by deep forests of Slovakia full of bears and wolfs and owls and whatever else.. it was promising. Check out pics on LX facebook page.
Right now I have found out that we're in desperate need of producer. Oh, a good one. Alan would do, of course. Or someone like that. Mark Stent perhaps ;) or William Orbit. Got to write someone, or I am afraid Lakeside X will not release anything at all in near future.
There is one gig planned for the beginning of November, where we shall perform some new tracks. That means about 3-4 songs are to be ready for live playing during October.
I think people will be surprised. So stay tuned and keep the fingers crossed.
More info coming soon.

360 in Berlin

Been to Berlin. Really impressive city. If I was to describe it with one word, it would probably be "wide". It was like this town spread its wide open arms and warmly welcome everyone who enters. I'm working on processing some photos so supposedly they'll be ready soon.
U2 gig - monstrosity in one word. Very impressive. Now I know why they haven't included Czech Republic to their itinerary. We simply don't have stadium that large to have capacity for such huge stage set. Something like a monstrous spider or octopus. When they start to play "Unforgettable Fire" it gave me creeps. They're bunch of old guys but they all appeal like humans, who simply have fun playing their songs and enjoying that they can afford such a giant production.
I was pleased. And the lighthouse in the end during 'With Or Without You' or the gorgeous intro for 'Where The Streets Have No Name' - it was really a moving experience.

White Room News again

right. after being cut off at work let's just say that I haven't been here too often. I'll be brief. Not quite much to write about lately. Or shall I write about a neverending artistic crisis? Better not. I am fighting hard and I strongly believe I will remain an artist. Although I feel I have not much to say. Sadly so. But wait. I have already promised to write songs about having nothing to say. We'll see.

But at the moment the status is as follows: I am trying to put together some ideas. The band performed few gigs but overall it seems there's not much happening around the band. IG has been on tour with Depeche Mode helping with their backstage video diary. Robert is pulling strings in the background and arranged a release party in newly rebuilt RockCafe in November. He has met Martin in an unnamed cocktail bar in Prague, unsurprisingly Martin recognized him and Rob received an apology from Martin's bodyguard.

The band has played cover of Moby's "Raining Again" on recent gigs. I don't like it, guys do. So it's probable we're gonna play it someday sometimes again.

We have almost reached a dreamed quota of having no audience at all at a concert. However, Ivan and his friend in Ceske Budejovice spoiled that ;) at least they had an interesting experience.

I visited Depeche Mode concert again. It was nice. I like them. It's like meeting a family that you haven't seen for a long time. But nothing more. Just a pleasant meeting. It's the first tour I see just one gig. Wait, maybe January again. My secret dream is to support them for one time.

Today I bought tickets for a U2 gig in Berlin.

Yesterday I bought tickets for Placebo Monday's show at Rock For People. The first time for me to visit this festival. Hmmm. And as a bonus - Bloc Party and Underworld. Looking forward to that.

I have ticket for Radiohead's August show already at home, last but not least.

I have registered to Twitter. Don't know why, as I have quite nothing to say recently ;)

Facebook here in Czech Republic seems to be more and more popular. That means, that morons who are often analphabetic in information environment (like politicians for example) started to discover this platform. And I feel it's no good. Too much discussion about how and why FB is or isn't good or bad pisses me off. Again, Czech republic discovers America. I read once an article about posh people leaving FB cause it was discovered by wide public. Maybe there's something about it.

Maybe too late, but I have discovered a band called WWW. They're subsumed under a 'hip-hop' box by media, but I believe that's too simple classification. It's strange and I feel art. It's sad, it's sinister and it's poetic. Check them out. http://www.myspace.com/neurobeat

That'll be it for now.

How sinister it is to live
And to breathe
And to see
All the things
Other can't even believe in.

White Room News ###

Today just few shouts - so what's new?

Czech Republic is no country for clever men. People here are stupid, week-minded and follow the wrong music, wrong idols and wrong politicians. Everything seems to be wrong here.

Have just bought new computer - it's name is The Cube. I'm really excited about it - my old ObiWan Kenobi was just about to collapse. So right now I'm re-installing back all the features I need for proper work. Demoing and preparing live versions. I'm in no press, we have lost the producer again (he's too busy with Sunshine and Scissorhands), never mind. These new songs will be really interesting as they're born. I hope I'll be able to bring some more detailed info soon but at this point it's really painful job. We'll see.

Rob and his bunch attended the warmup Depeche show in Luxembourg last week. He looked amused. We'll check that out in June. Mira Jordan appeared on the opening show of Placebo at Shepperd's Bush, London this Monday. They played some new songs and overall they all looked quite relaxed. We'll have to check that out on RFP festival. LX, like usual, won't perform there.

Yo, there will be some LX live performance in June, unfortunately not in Prague, though. Any suggestions for Moby cover? ;)

Another breaking news - I.G. is gonna spend 2 weeks in June on tour with Depeche in order to shoot their backstage video-diary. Xciting, isn't it? ;)

EMF released a statement in which they claim they won't ever be performing anymore. How sad. We were so close to see them live in CZ this year :(

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, not to end in a sad way, our protests were heared and Prague1 politicians agreed with RockCafe owners to perform some reconstruction work again and the club is gonna be open again in September. And without police hour! That's some great news. Hopefully it's gonna all be fulfilled. And make sure LX have already booked a gig date in late October! ;)

INSOMNIAC TWITTA

Strange Hours.

So pissed off and in state of so called zombie insomnia. Seems that we're stuck in a moment we can't get out of. Two gigs cancelled, one because of 'technical reasons', second because of our loved club Rock Cafe faces threat of its closure again. Politics and politicians sucks. And I have this strange feeling again, that some people shall be abridged of their voting and other rights to prevent them from causing evil.
Please sign the petition if you can, cos this is maybe the only chance how to move things the right way. More info on www.rockcafe.cz.

Alrite, so that's it. Rob is losing energy, so are we. We were born in a wrong country. Never mind. We'll be playing at least one festival during summer. Wank it.

However, good news is that few songs are getting shape. It's quite interesting and the sound is, how else, different to what we produced before. And the lyrics, yeah. Pretty different. Back to surrealism and decadence. And poetry of some kind. I am so much hoping that these new songs will come to life soon.

I feel like a vampire chronicly addicted on sucking music :) and I'll never stop, that's a promise.

My new discovery is called White Lies. Check out "To Lose My Life". It reminds me Bravery a bit, but this sounds pure and fresh. Btw. they'll be at Planet Festival.

I'm sorry to say that, but new Depeche album sucks. I like Wrong, Come Back, Corrupt and bit of Little Soul. That's miserably little for DM album :( when I listen to songs like Peace, In Sympathy or Fragile Tension, I can't believe my fucking ears. Something went wrong and I guess they need to switch producer quickly. If only all the holy angels came back to Earth and convinced Alan to return to the band...

Rotterdam trip was magnificent. Bit nervous, so it is with everything what you are so much looking forward to. But our host Tim was extremely nice and friendly, so was his friend Jolanda. We were having a really great time, nice five star hotel, beautiful modern city and cute gothic club with pleasant service and the slowest sound-engineer on planet Earth. The audience was pleased with our performance (I believe) and it's quite nice being a musician on tour I agree ;) Again, too bad we're from the eastern shitty part of Europe, down the one-way street. But it was quite a step for us.
Hopefully IG's gonna put some of the pics online and manages to update and finalize our new pages as well soon.

I have ordered another deluxe box set, this time from Placebo. If I find this laminate-pass confirming backstage appearance and dinner with the band, I promise to force Brian (even by violence) to bring us with them on tour, so we can once and for all say goodbye to this God-of-Music-forsaken country and realize our dreams :o)

UNPACKING THE ARTIFACT

We have the specialiest of all the special editions of "No Line On The Horizon" at home now. It's really beautiful. Real artifact. Seems that this is the way the record companies will reach our pockets in 21st century.

Well, still there's some added value you'll get together with the album. Like the movie, book, poster, whatever else. Something from the background. So you may feel closer to the band. It's more intimate. Like in the old days, when you unpacked the CD or tape, browse the booklet and read the lyrics when listening for the first time. I like this way of selling music. Who doesn't care for it may just download the record either legally or illegaly, doesn't matter. But this feeling of unpacking the new album and being closer to the artist will not be there.

So I'm looking forward cause this year's gonna be a harvest. At least new Depeche Mode and Placebo have their 'special editions' on their way.
I hope we'll be able to hit this road too, even probably in more humble way. But I guess it'll be worth trying. To do something more. Album's not enough and I would so much like to produce artifact. With story behind.

The question for one million is: will people in our country buy it?

WHITE ROOM NEWS

Again some headlines from LX camp.

Yesterday we attended The Prostitutes' gig. Crowded Roxy and a R2D2-ish kinda thingy on stage. New songs from the new album. It's not as wild as it was, people mostly reacted on the old material. But it's good. I like them.
I was there with Rob and my brother who has just arrived from the Emirates and during the gig I went so pissed that I cannot remember anything. Just some taxi rides around Prague. And that my wallet is empty.

Parrot Larry is getting cheekier as time goes. Spending most of his time on our heads trying to bite us. Sometimes it's nerve wreckin'. But we love him, whatever ;)
He loves me playing guitar. He's very curious. What he doesn't like is me singing. He constantly tries to shout me down. So his chirping can be likely heard in every demo.

Yes, demoing - something is happening. Soundcard is repaired and guitars prevail. Right now I am considering purchase of new one, a Fender Jaguar (Brian's bitch):) We'll see. Guitars are like chips. One's never enough. I'm gonna practice a bit so I hope I'll be able to make it on stage someday.

The idea of falling into the black hole hasn't left me yet. Although our intended spring single will be a lovesong (although not so typical lovesong), most of the lyrics circle around darkness again. I believe there's enough of it inside of me to write about. Some of the ideas appear to be a bit Thom Yorkish but I still reckon there'll be some powerful fast things to be good in concert.

In very near future we'll be in the studio with Mark Velvet, the producer. We'll see what will that bring. But even at the moment I'm able to say that I have a good feeling about it.

Good news - Rob managed to squeeze some money from OSA! (Authors guild) Un-fuckin-believable :) It's not much, but everything counts. Again, Robert aspires for the title "Fletcher of the year".

Our friend Tim is already heating the machines and we are all looking forward to our Rotterdam trip (mainly our misses) :o) We'll hit the road on friday morning, enjoy the Friday night in coffeshops and pubs and prepare for our Saturday's gig at Baroeg. Really looking forward to it. And for the five-star hotel we have booked. Hell yeah! On tour again!

J.