22 September, 2013

Music // PICK 6 Love Songs




Hi guys! I saw on Feedburner that I now have 2 subscribers: hello! Thanks for getting involved, I hope you enjoy this little post!

I was listening to FEELS by Animal Collective earlier, one of the tracks is a real favorite in terms of it's depiction of an amorous relationship, so I thought I would do a round up of 6 compelling love songs. You can listen to the tracks below the list, enjoy!

  1. Breathing - Kate Bush: A dramatic piano led melody that wavers between major and minor, Kate Bush's phenomenal vocals move grippingly towards a crescendo of fear and anger. It's dark and rolling, like the best kind of storm clouds. The sound of some one on the brink, it's a song of despair & obsession, with a hint of a twisted relationship: 'Breathing my mother in / Breathing my beloved in / Breathing / Breathing her nicotine / Breathing / Breathing the fall-out in / Out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in ...' For me, this is a song about love and desire as addiction, about the vulnerability of loving.  
  2. Blue Ocean Floor - Justin Timberlake: This is pure poetry with a slick and masterful production. It never fails to choke me up. A song about survival, us against the world, Justing promises to find his love, against all odds, following her heartbeat to the blue ocean floor 'Where they'll find us no more' .
  3. Purple Bottle - Animal Collective: Now for something more UPBEAT. I think the reason this song is so perfect is it's insistence on love as both friendship and something that has a holy, god like quality "Sometimes you're quiet and sometimes I'm quiet/ Hallelujah! / Sometimes I'm talkative and sometimes you're not talk
  4. ative, I know / Sometimes you hear me when others they can't hear me / Hallelujah!" Purple Bottle does not have the melo-drama of the two previous tracks, it succinctly captures the need and desire of sharing & home-building in love "Could we live together and agree on the same wares / A trapeze is a bird cage and even if its empty it definitely fits the room / And we would too" Essentially  it encapsulates fancying someone, not just in the choice of words but the bursting puppy-like rhythms and playful, anarchic vocals. It's great.
  5. West Coat - Coconut Records: Being apart, it can really suck - "I miss you / I'm going back home to the West Coast / I wish you woulda put yourself in my suitcase". It's plaintive but bolstered by a big chorus in the final act, the hope of reunion.
  6. Warning Sign - Coldplay: I'm a big fan of Coldplay's 1st two albums (Parachutes & Rush of Blood to the Head) and I could easily have put Amsterdam here instead, but I think this list has enough despair. This track for me is really about trust, trusting that things will take their course, trusting your thoughts onto someone else, it's about the difficulty but necessity of leaning on someone. It has Coldplay's signature anthematic style, mismatched melancholy layers, and Chris Martin's falsetto. Hearing this live was an absurdly fulfilling experience. 
  7. Digital Love - Daft Punk: A brilliant explosive number, the ideal finish to this odd list. It's disco sunshine, dance floor attraction. Electric zest and epic scale.
Here they are for your sampling pleasure. What are your Pick 6 Love Songs? And what other Pick 6 would you like me to do? 

Don't forget to subscribe & share if you are enjoying my posts!

Have a lovely Sunday evening :)

Kate x












20 September, 2013

Follow // STREAKS

Hi!

I wanted to let you know the various ways you can stay up to date with STREAKS. I really want keep posting regularly so here is how you can make sure you stay tuned:


  • Follow by Email: just enter you email address into the box on the left sidebar and you will be notified whenever a new post is up!
  • Follow by RSS: if you follow many a blog then you will be familiar with RSS feeds, just click Subscribe in a Reader in the sidebar and you will be taken to Feedburner, where you can select your preferred reader to follow STREAKS. If your reader is not shown in the drop-down box, simply copy and past the feedburner url into your reader! Done! 
  • My reader of choice is Feedly. I like to read feeds on my mobile and the Feedly mobile interface is sexy as hell. In fact I might review it... Stay tuned.
  • Follow on Twitter: get involved with my handle @katelightning, I always tweet when new posts are up, as well as other prolific nonsense...


I hope you choose to follow by one or all of the above! It's a pleasure to know that some one is reading and hopefully enjoying the blog. Let me know!

Happy Friday :)

Kate x

18 September, 2013

Music // Wednesday Omnibus 1



  1. Frank Ocean- nostalia/ultra: a feast of samples ranging from Coldplay's 'Strawberry Swing' to Radiohead via dialogue from Stanley Kubrick's EYES WIDE SHUT. This eclectic samples jukebox is delectably meshed with Frank's toffee-sweet silk voice. And it's sexy TO BOOT.
  2. Saint Pepsi - Saint Pepsi: speaking of samples, holy shit. This album is a banger, if it doesn't get you moving you should check your pulse. It also has a fantastic sense of humor that shines through the well chosen dialogue samples from Woody Allen's EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU. Goddamn buy it here for £0.32/$0.50, I MEAN REALLY JUST DO IT.
  3. Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid: this album is absurdly good. The scale here is huge and the stakes are high. Orchestral instrumental sections, hip hop, dance, folk, collaborations with a variety of compelling artists (Of Montreal & Big Boi, for instance), Monáe oozes talent and a big vision. This is cinematic.
  4. Talking Heads - Remain in Light: this album has one of my all time favorite Talking Heads' tracks: Once in a Lifetime. Uplifting and golden.
  5. Grizzly Bear - Shields: What a treat. Recently rediscovered after seeing them at the fantastic End of the Road festival last year (2012). Melancholy and plaintive, dramatic and complex, each track demands your attention and in return graces you with a meaty layering of guitars, percussion, piano and Edward Droste's fine-ass vocals.Unexpected, jolting layers, bound beautifully by the vocal harmonies. It's thick and textured: it's just great. 
  6. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House: I'm only recently strong enough to listen to this fella again, I find it has this soulful misery that is not healthy for black days. However, on a re-listen tracks like The Knife combine that home-sick, sea-leg sorrow with an unexpectedly uplifting rise: 'Can't you feel the knife?'. An intuitive poetry not for the faint of heart.
  7. Miami Nights 1984 - Turbulence: It is what it says on the tin, a glittering, neon-nights instrumental album. Turbulence takes you on a bitchin disco cruise from start to finish, punchy, fun, and kitch in parts, it rocks the synth, what more can you want?
  8. Kanye West - Yeezus: this is what a fist fight to the death sounds like. Dark, aggressive, utterly addictive sounds. My personal favorite track is Black Skinhead, dat crow screech, and the PANTING and the baaasssssssss. It's bleak, but it's beautiful, compelling, an angry confession in parts and uproarious battle cry in others. Ideal shower music.
  9. Django Django - Django Django: like a Western on crack. On each track guitar riffs that are fit to burst get all up in your balls, it's catchy, it's keen and it makes you want to tear across a desert on horse back with a mother fucking pistol. Great.

Any one familiar with any of the above? What have you guys been listening to this week?

Kate x


Style // Ain’t Them Bodies Saints


Aint-Them-Bodies-Saints-Poster from hey you guys
I saw this film a few days ago and despite an underlying sense of absence softly leaking from the unfulfilled characters and plot, I was struck by the dry, rural textures and palette. Sunlight, dust and dirt inspire outfits born in a practical mind and yet retain a feminine, gentle touch: flowing dresses, big adventure boots, loose groomed hair, sharp but highly natural make-up. It’s a shame this was not out earlier in the year, I’ll have to tuck this inspiration away for the warm weather of 2014. Lastly: beautiful Ben Foster.

Any one else catch this? What did you think?

Kate x

Ain't them bodies from youtube Universal HD trailers

aint-them-bodies-saints-rooney-mara from cinema vine

ben-foster-aint-them-bodies-saints indie wire

21 August, 2013

Music // Autre Ne Veut - ANXIETY


Above is the full album stream for the Autre Ne Veut's latest.

I suggest you start streaming it right, now.

This album is a compelling amalgamation of kitsch and shallow beats that haunt night clubs every where, the sparkling electronic details, guitar solos and soulful vocals of PRINCE with sacred tones created by a heavenly backing choir.

It’s metallic, ethereal and steeped in drama. The sounds shimmer, rebounding over Arthur Ashin’s deep copper vocals. Echoing choral voices are the back drop to delicate layers of strings and electronic hues. Stadium filling guitar solos & duos rise up, unleashing a palpable drama.

Tracks like ‘Don’t Ever Look Back’ show off alien electric tones, bubbles popping, reminiscent of the strange sounds of METRONOMY, whilst others like ‘Warning’ ache with despair and anger embodied by a leading guitar and Ashin’s paradoxical voice, both frail and explosive. The church organ in ‘Gonna Die’ is romantic and larger than life.

The resulting record is catchy, riveting and summons your emotions to palpitating attention.

There is a lot at stake here, what more could you want?

Here is a very simple look I styled inspired by the LP as a whole:


Autre Ne Veut - Anxiety
 
Are you loving this record, or does it make your ears bleed?
 
Kate x










14 August, 2013

JIMMY // Osterly Park










I have some very well dressed friends, introducing Jimmy. On our day out to the stately home at OSTERLY PARK, she channeled 90's Teen Dream, Bohemian Flair and New Romantic Chivalry.

(I might make an Osterly-Jim board to extrapolate the look, stay posted!)

Kate x


12 August, 2013

Style // END OF THE ROAD

End of The Road 1



End of the Road 2



Only a few weeks now until escaping to the END OF THE ROAD festival, pretty damn keen. Big Sad Eyes that my fancyman won't be able to join the escape plans this time, my wonky little tent won't be the same without him trapping me against the canvas in his sleep. (Will miss this for real)

Still! 

Here are two fancyful outfits//palettes I've had fun putting together, to get me into the festival-styling mood. End of The Road is characterised by an intimate bohemian feel, it's a festival full of colours and secret spots, and peacocks. Not to mention cracking music//comedy//food//film.

So without further ado: two collages that combine wish list & items I own. Pay no heed to the pricing on these if you check them out on Ployvore (the wonderfully versatile site I used to put them together). As in my 'About' section, I cannot afford the price tag on these.

Think of them as a montage of colour and texture that will inspire and form the little bag of clothes I'll be taking with me :)

In EotR 1: I own similar shorts & denim shirt, however I'm such a sucker for that cloud swimsuit, I am really pinning after it right now, it's a Mr Gu & Miss Go design, I first saw it at Little Deer (where it's now unavailable). AH IT'S SO LOVELY

The lipstick is Lime Crime, (obviously, the bloggosphere's one true lipstick love, geez). I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and really fancy this shade, it's simultaneously "Why yes, I am a Princess" & "Don't touch - too hot", hopefully it'll look as smashing on my face when it arrives! [The shade is Great Pink Planet]

The lace crown is from Regal Rose, I first heard about these guys on Leanne Lim Walker's blog and this crown looks so beautiful, would love to lay my hands on it, or perhaps fashion one of my own!

Dry shampoo with GLITTER and factor 50 travel size sun cream are festival musts (if a little hopeful for the latter). Also will be shooting on 35mm, either on disposable camera or take my OM10 or PENTAX, can't decide!

Tights and faux fur, also musts: the success to comfortable festivalling: LAYERS BITCHES. I had a great faux fur bolero that was melted shortly after last year's edition (longstoryguys), but I'm bidding for a new one on ebay (auction god please look kindly upon me).

EotR 2: All basically items that I own (well variations thereof). Can't beat a Pirate Ruffle Shirt and some golden accessories. Really keen to get this look on! The floral crown is from Crown and Glory, another that I'd love to have funds for!

Any one else heading to End of the Road? What are your festival must haves? Own any of the above, let's see them on!


Kate x

05 August, 2013

Style + NFL // GREENBAY GIRLFRIEND

PACKER ZEST

PACKER ZEST by streaksstyle featuring a cross body





Brain is fried, but will attempt intelligent copy.

I <3 GB

Recently Dave Damesheck instigated THE GREATEST UNIFORM OF ALL TIME poll, the result of which still baffles me, but another thought for another time.

It really got me thinking about the variety of unusual colour schemes that are used on uniforms in the League.  The bold block colors, symbols of power, designed to instill fear into the heart of the opposition and set every fan's heart racing. Granted some teams struggle to put this into effect more than others (note the Seahawk's rash-inducing neon strips with grey detailing. GREY AND NEON. Sigh.)

So without further ado: a merger of two worlds - NFL Uniform inspired outfits. 

Naturally I had to start with the Greenbay Packers: the big fuck you to pastels. Their bright yellow and forest green home colours scream COME AT ME BRO. I wanted to keep the brightness and virility of this delicious uniform whilst rendering it into a feminine style. 

I love to jump my look between manly and girly, so it felt like an exciting & natural segway.

Personally, I'm keen for this and really thinking about styling the other great uniforms, including throwbacks?

I hope you enjoy & find it interesting, what do we think, more?

Any one follow the NFL? What teams do you support?

Kate x




Style // BABES ON THE HEATH






Yesterday's outfit for some escapades and swimming at the Hampstead Heath Ponds.

04 August, 2013

Style // ON THE DECKS







Leggings: Kuccia via Asos 
Shoes: London Rebel via Asos
Everything else: Charity & Vintage shops!

Just returned from a very successful trip to the East End Thrift Store's POUNDSHOP.
Picked up this delicious jacket among other things. Love this outfit, makes me feel ready for some Sea-Faring. Good clothes were made to have adventures in, Boom.

I love my desert boots more than life itself. Hyperbole, maybe, but they are great, I'm on the lookout for some big chunky black shoes though so I don't annihilate these through everyday wear, any suggestions?

Streaks x