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Monday, December 28, 2009: 
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Kemi and I set out for the Museumsinsel. But as it turned out, the lines were huge not only for the recently reopened Neues Museum - but for all museums. And at below zero temperatures we opted instead for a contemporary art fix at the Hamburger Bahnhof - whose permanent collection had been completely remodelled since my last visit. After heavily indoctrinating Kemi with the genius of Anselm Kiefer, we walked back to join Birgitte for dinner at April.
Saturday, December 26, 2009: [Link to this | Comments]
Our friend Kemi from London joined us in Berlin, where he'll be staying at our flat for a couple of days. Welcomed him to Berlin by going out for drinks at Slumberland - strangely, my first visit to this very nice bar just across the street from the flat. And sometime that evening, I suddenly turned 49.
Monday, December 21, 2009: [Link to this | Comments]
Flew off to Berlin where we'll be celebrating both Christmas and New Year's - as well as entertaining a certain very special guest...
Monday, December 7, 2009: [Link to this | Comments]
A surprise phone call from a friend suddenly provided me with tickets for the long-sold out Pet Shop Boys gig. And yes, it was the same show I saw at Roskilde and actually wanted to see again. And once again, I was blown away by the completely reworked hits and non-hits and the inventive and humorous use of visuals and performers.
Why is it I like this band so much? I may be weird, but I actually think I find their particular brand of detachment moving. I'm often put off by the kind of highly strong crooners that try to force their emotions down your throat (and is it just me, or is there a lot of this going on these days?).
With Chris Lowe's cool synth constructions and Neil Tennant's reserved delivery of the songs, there is no manipulation or seduction going on. Instead, the listener is free to discover the simple beauty of the melodies and the broad spectrum of human experience described in the lyrics: Love (of course), guilt, materialism, jealousy, aging...
But, like when listening to a Bach fugue, what emotions you feel seem to be your own - though they are of course subtly guided by the moods hinted at in the calmly understated songs.
I realize that this is what makes some listeners write the Pet Shop Boys off as robotic and superficial. But I truly enjoy a musicial experience that doesn't force itself on me.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009: [Link to this | Comments]
An invitation from a friend who's leaving for Tokyo (perhaps permanently) sparked Birgitte's and my first visit to R Vinbar (recommended) and a return to the authentic Japanese cuisine of Sakura. A fine time was had by all.
