(18) Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes #nowplaying

It's been a busy weekend rushing off to work, trying to spend quality time because it's finally starting to hit quite badly that it's officially going to be a month before I leave home. So many things are coming in place, and yet I feel this sense of relief with another level of tension and loss stuck like a ball of gum in my throat, I can't seem to really explain it.

Either way, this song seems to come in place and fit into my absolutely random mood well. Came across Flying Lotus randomly and I actually started to like it so I decided to put it up here.

In case you didn't know, Flying Lotus is the stage name of Steven Ellison, an experimental multi-genre music producer, laptop musician and rapper from LA, California. He also raps under another persona, Captain Murphy. His songs have this odd holding vibe which I really like, and very trippy as well. I'm sure most of you who have a few DJs you love can add this onto your list.

This one above is actually a short film for Until The Quiet Comes. I think this really relates with the life for people with more undesirable family backgrounds. It's seriously well-shot though and focuses also on how fragile life is, as well as some coverage on how rampant violence is.

You may check out more of Flying Lotus here and give a listen to all his four studio albums (definitely worth it) and let me know what you think of it!


Anyway before I go, a HUGE THANK YOU for joining and supporting this collaboration between POCKETTO and PLUS MINUS! Thanks for reading about the PLUS MINUS story and letting us know about how you love us, and areas for us to improve on. Winners of A WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY are now out!

Congratulations to:

Atiqah Zulkifli for winning yourself a copy of oh comely magazine (issue 12) and

Tasneem Petrova for winning yourself a POKETO x Furni watch!

Do drop me a PM on Facebook or an e-mail at astrylnaut@gmail.com to confirm your personal details.

Have a great week ahead!

Film: A Clockwork Orange

Original cover of A Clockwork Orange published by Penguin Books

An epicly written novel by Anthony Burgess, that gets your mind twisted at the most unexpected intervals; I present to you, A Clockwork Orange. This novel was then directed into a movie by the extremely talented, Stanley Kubrick. His take on the film made it a hit, and has transcended through time. It has received critical acclaim time and time again and has generated controversy on the portrayal and "glorification" on sex and violence. This year, we celebrate A Clockwork Orange's 40th anniversary with limited edition releases and its debut on Facebook.

The band of droogs at the Korova Milk Bar, where the drinks are doped and described as knives (that dictate his mind like liquid courage) by Alex

I know this movie has been around for ages but I finally caught on it and realized how warped certain theories about the modern society were already formulated back in the older days, and how they actually turned out to be true. The protaganist, Alex Delarge is classified as an anti-hero, a wasted youth with ultra violent tendencies. I can't tell if it was supposed to be a mental illness or some sorts but either way, the story really has its ways of making karma look like it exists. 

Alex with his signature lower eyelash look

Alex goes to prison after getting sabotaged by his own "droogs" (aka friends/men) after a heated small discussion which looked like a rebellion of some sort so that he would step down as leader. I'm not going to go into detail of everything that happens but it's going to be messing with your mind for the two hours you're sitting in your sofa or bed trying to digest every bit of it. Themes of freedom, choice, the good vs evil and other somewhat vulgar acts of murder and rape are being portrayed throughout this film.

The story also shows his struggle to have an early release from prison by being subjected to tests that are about to mechanically alter his reactions to violence so he would not cause harm to society as he did before. Alex then gets rejected by the people in his life and find karma hitting him right in the face.

Alex is saved by a victim that he crippled two years ago, and the victim finally discovers his identity

Alex subjected to a demonstration of the anti-violent reaction test before his release

The usage of classical music definitely heightens the whole experience you're getting (Alex has an obsession with his dearest Ludwig Van, better known as Beethoven himself). It's seriously mindblowing how Kubrick made it look so convincing and together considering this film was produced in the early 70s when it was really hard to use computer graphics to sub for some of the somewhat disturbing scenes in the movie itself (especially when Alex was subjected to a test where his eyes were kept opened by metal lids that were definitely torturous).

I've tried reading the novel and only made it halfway because of Burgess' usage of the Nadsat (language) which was heavily influenced by the Russian language. I'm making an effort to re-read the book and hopefully re-evaluate what I think about it now that I've watched the film. Definitely something for you to catch on if you haven't because it's so crazy on realistic themes. It's amazing how this film has remained current despite its time of release.

Fun fact: the film did not finish up on the 21st chapter's ending of the book (the actual last chapter) as it was omitted in the American series so that it will end on a darker note. Burgess however, intended for it to be how good is able to prevail the evil with time and patience.

And before I go, here's a trailer of A Clockwork Orange if you will:

Enjoy and have a great week ahead!

Film: Moonrise Kingdom

I've been waiting for the release of this film for quite awhile! But I actually missed it so I guess I'll have to settle for a copy of the dvd or something. I love how it actually reminds me of Pierrot Le Fou. Wes Anderson has a way of working his charm on a film like that, but I suppose there was a lot of (awesome) references and music in place for this one. Young love is always the sweetest (and greatest). We all know it.

I caught a snippet of the film (I can't actually link it here because sharing was not enabled but check it out on Youtube here) and now I feel like I could actually do with a portable record player now to go hand-in-hand with my set of records collecting dust at Calvin's. This shall not be the end. I will work very hard (or I'd like to think so) to make things happen. Hopefully I will actually have a store and I wouldn't need a portable player but I'll have an insane selection of records and be a whizz at handling records.

Anyway, just so you know (for the girlies!), our affiliate, ModCloth is holding a little competition inspired by this wonderful film!

All you have to do is create a retro-adventurous outfit with the Polyvore mini editor loaded up with ModCloth's outdoorsy, 60s-inspired styles like those in the film and you can stand a chance to win a $100 ModCloth gift certificate and a blu-ray edition of the movie itself. Click away on the image or via here to the competition page.

* International readers are welcome to join this competition and be entitled to the gift certificates but only US-based participants may receive the blu-ray edition of the movie

I can't wait to watch Moonrise Kingdom after I'm done with this hoard of revision and papers to deal with. I think I'm about to be pushed into another long period of hiatus with nothing to write about (I don't have plenty on hand but I am trying to work on it) and I don't know if it's appropriate to say please forgive me? I don't think so though. But hey, thank you for reading this space if you do!

Louis Vuitton: The Art Of Packing

This really shows how looking good can definitely go beyond surfaces. Neat, smart, lovely, uber rich and luxurious. Just when you thought Louis Vuitton was going to stay the same for awhile... This really took me by surprise. I'm absolutely in love with the art direction and the video itself!

Gotta thank my classmate, Syimmy for this. Extremely captivated by the whole look of it!

Anyway I'm not sure if most of you are audiophiles (I'm guessing you probably insist on some quality music with no sound issues) and I know records are not the rage anymore but I'm having a fury of ideas churning in my mind like a washing machine... Maybe I'll find time to address them. Soon enough. But if you've got some (records or ideas I'm all in!), I'm definitely all ears (even if it's just music, or your homemade videos/music or just a simple idea)! Just holla over them over via comment or Facebook, I'll be glad to hear them out!

pocket daily

I feel this insane surge of happiness rushing through my body. Right at this very moment.

It's 3:37am. It's late (to also be cutting random strands of hair at this hour). But I have to write down this whirlwind of emotions down. Something's tugging at me to get this done. I shall.


Sidetrack, I just (just, being at 12.30am prior to my sudden urge to write all of this down) caught Submarine. Yes it's a year late, I know but who cares it's one of the best films I watched. I love movies like that. Even though it's a tad bit typical but I know there's a fair number of people who will agree with me about it. Shall not swoon about it (ok fine I included a still from the film up there) but I think I will when I have time to.

School's been a bore. I haven't been paying attention. At the least I caught the lecturer talking about averages and things that do not matter or correspond to my life. I feel stupid. But at the same time, sorry for these people who took plane rides that cost thousands of dollars to educate people who are disinterested. I'm not speaking for the majority but well, for myself, at least or even a minority who might share the same point of view as I do.


Right now, I just feel extremely motivated (AND HAPPY). But I can't seem to put a finger on what it is... Honestly, I haven't figured out what it is but the idea of getting something in place is a rather good start to this mundane period in my life.

Then again, maybe it's a temporary form of escape as I tell myself "something good can work".

Read a book by Paul Arden titled "Whatever you think, think the opposite". I think it's quite a good statement to live by. According to it, we need to understand that living within the rules and the norms isn't going to help us progress or make things better. It's what restricts us. We need to find our catalyst and make sparks fly with the right twitch.

Arden also mentioned that ambitions and aspirations coupled with determination will change the outcomes if we work towards it. And true enough, Obama became president, just as James Saatchi became the first to put an "ad" on the other side of the Berlin wall and eventually set up the now well-sought after ad agency, Saatchi and Saatchi.

I actually envision this space to become something more... More than just a space. I can't say for sure that things are going to happen but in time to come, it might. It just might.

Goodnight.

Pierrot Le Fou

Pierrot Le Fou was a film I caught a long long time ago. I didn't think much of it at first and took a rather long time to understand what it truly meant because I am not French but that's besides the point. I loved the style it was shot and the characters and the randomness of it, because it was barely predictable as most movies are these days...

So the story shows a warped love story between Ferdinand and his baby sitter, Marianne, who elopes and went on a run from gangsters, only to realize that he was betrayed by the one closest to him. I'll stop here so I won't end up spoiling the movie but trust me you will not regret this a single bit. 

I'm pretty sure this is the movie for anyone that loves French cinema, Amelie or just Anna Karina (too beautiful to miss!) Besides, you can't go wrong with Jean Luc Godard's films. They usually are screaming for thumbs up(s). Trailer's just below so bombs away!

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Anyway, it's been a wonderful weekend! Spent my Friday soaking up the love at Jason Mraz and then for Flight Facilities with my wonderful friends <3

And my Sunday was spent lazing around in bed and heading out for a nice afternoon cycle and meal with Calvin. We made a (cycle) trip down to Greenwich mall and had Quiznos for lunch/tea, plus cupcake and ice cream from Awfully Chocolate. Mmmmmmmmm.

Other than that we got caught in the rain and I was shivering like mad. My freshly dyed hair was leaking buckets of colored water from the rain. I think my hair kindda filtered the water to be a purple mess. Definitely not what I intended but it just happen so...

Ok my apologies, didn't mean to scare anyone out there but epic 7-11 plastic bag for cover... Calvin tied it up for me so thus. I know I know, wtf is this picture doing here? Am I out of my mind it's so out of place in this space. But I apparently am, so I give up.

On a completely unrelated note, it is the last week of my (productive, apparently) holidays. School better not be a bore.

Bye x