• ARS Electronica in Linz, Austria
• Sónar in Barcelona, Spain
• SXSW in Austin, Texas, USA
• Glastonbury in the UK
• Airwaves, in Reykjavik, Iceland
• Coachella Music and Arts festival, in Indio, California, USA
• The Eden Sessions, Cornwall, UK
• Burning Man, Nevada, USA

I returned from a 5 day visit to the wonderful country of Lithuania yesterday where I was visiting Vilnius, and more interestingly, the alternative post-folk and contemporary heathen culture festival Menuo Juodaragis (Black Horned Moon) in Zarasai.

First of all, Vilnius is a lovely little town with a ridiculous amount of churches. Religion is rather prominent in the city I would say. Having switched from Pagan to Catholicism, back to Pagan, to Russian Orthodox, with some more steps in between, they built a lot of churches.

Lithuanians are a nice bunch of people, they’re very friendly and helpful. Most young people speak English, but it was still a bit of a culture shock to be in a country where you don’t understand a single word (last time I had that was in Ghana). Lithuanian girls a very pretty: tall, long hair, deep blue or green eyes. Lithuanian women (35+) kind of lose that, how does that work?

Zarasai is about 150 km northeast of Vilnius, though it took 3,5 hours to get there. Somehow roads in eastern Europe are always under construction. The countryside consists mainly of forest, moors, and lakes. Very serene. The festival itself took place on an island in a big lake.

But enough babbling, just take a look at my pictures!

Ačhū!

It was nice and sunny (but very cold) this sunday and went for a bike tour to the harbor area on the north-east side of Copenhagen. Also includes the new theater (which will open in a few weeks). Looks pretty awesome! Check out the pictures here!

Ever since I was a kid, I have been drawn to this piece of art. And now it’s hanging in my living room!

I went to see the documentary Helvetica yesterday. It’s amazing how a simple typeface has infiltrated our world! When I biked home yesterday, there was almost no sign that did not use Helvetica. When you have a chance, I suggest you watch this doc, it rocks! Helvetica also rocks, selvfølgelig…

Together with a good friend I went to visit a castle this sunday in Hillerød. I think I’ll take anyone who’s visiting me to this castle from now on! Check the pictures here.

Never before have I been so looking forward to a book being delivered: The collected works of J. Slauerhoff, my favorite dutch poet/writer (and ship-surgeon). 2 kilo, 1672 pages, I CAN’T WAIT!

I’d share some writing, but unfortunately it has never been translated to English…

I started collecting records again after a short break. But I did tell myself to focus on some genres. Otherwise I would walk out with 10 records every time Soooo, I’m going to focus on Minimalistic Electro/IDM, Avant-Garde, Psych Folk, and Post Rock.

Some new records:

• Murcof – Cosmos
• Crippled Black Phoenix – A love of Shared Disasters
• Jan Jelinek – Loop Finding Jazz Records
• The Exposures (Jan Jelinek) – Lost Recordings 2000-2004
• The Higher Intelligence Agency – Freefloater
• Múm – Please Smile My Noise Bleed
• Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
• Fridge – The Sun

I’d be amazed if you guys would even know these bands/persons! Ok, who knows more than 2?

My new favorite store: Sound Station!

Oh, and I went to see Roísín Murphy this sunday in Vega. My my, that was an amazing concert! And yes, I like her tight sweater too. It surely fits her body. (She must be so tired by hearing that now… then again, that’s her own fault!)

Did I mention I’m addicted to music? I think I am…

I biked to the museum of modern art Arken today. What a wonderful museum that is! Too bad half of it is closed for rebuilding. But there still was a nice exhibition called Mad Love with pieces from Danish collectors. I think I’ve found myself a new favourite artist in David Shrigley.

I went to see Stravinsky’s Sacre de Printemps ballet yesterday in the opera building. My my, the building already looks impressive from the outside but the inside is even better. It just looks like this giant wooden acorn (think Ice Age) inside a steel and glass skin.

The first part of the evening (L’homme de Bois) I found boring, too sweet, old-fashioned, and uninspiring. The second part (the real Sacre) was seriously amazing though; mostly the music (quite dark, contemporary too), but the light/projection design was noteworthy too. The ballet was interesting, but even amateur-me has seen more interesting choreographies.