Running away on a Sunday morning

After some days without writing, I've felt compelled to get back to it again. Today I want to share with you today one of my pleasurable hobbies: to run away from the city and escape to the mountains. I enjoy discovering paths of the more or less wild areas in my region, as far from civilization as I can be: taking the car early in the morning with some friends and spending the whole day out, trekking all around. Of course, there is no need to do so every week: if you feel like it, there are many fine options, or you may have, for example, a busy day.

In my case, I'm lucky to live in an area which, though being an urban city, is surrounded by nice places where you can go in almost the twinkle of an eye. And today, this is what I did: with one of my closest friends, we went up the hill and tried some new paths for a few hours. Why? It's difficult to sum up: to step upon the earth instead of cement, to be shrouded by trees instead of streelights and maybe some bicycles instead of cars. And also, the strange and nice conversations which grow in an environment like that. 

A musician who also likes mountains (among other things, I suppose) is Joan Colomo. He is a catalan songwriter who makes music that is quite difficult to describe. He has a strange voice that can go from being soft and whispered to strong and comical, lyrics that relate to people and society or compare falling out of love with a dead vegetable garden. Anyway, he has something in his music that I am addicted to, and I had a very nice time on Friday, when I had the chance to see him live (again).

So, I think he should be the best soundtrack for this post with a song called "El fong i el llangardaix" (The fungus and the lizard), a song that talks about all kind of life: life that appears everywhere, life that conforms to everything, even lives that pass away. And the video that accompanies it reflects this forest magic, being shot in the Montseny mountains, not too far from home. Enjoy!

I'm (not) only happy when it rains

Today has been a rainy day in Barcelona. Quite unusual, because for the last few weeks you could almost anticipate summer, but April wants to drives us mad, it seems.

Being a Tuesday, I had to work. And I, as lots of people (I guess), enjoy rainy days more being at home than when locked up in an office. Anyway, I tried my best to make the most of the grey sky and the wet weather by listening to music, something that my job, fortunately, allows me to do.

So I chose an album to accompany the weather, and even though the post's title comes from a Garbage song, my choice today was Coles Corner, an album by Richard Hawley which I discovered some weeks ago. I came across it following a streamed interview on a newspaper's website with the singer and songwriter of a spanish band called Sidonie (maybe another day I can introduce them to you...). Marc Ros, the band's leader, was explaining his musical recommendations to the audience, and I thought it was a good idea to create a Spotify list. Amongst the list was this album.

After playing guitar on tour with Pulp, Richard Hawley started his solo career in 2001. His voice sounds deep and velvety, and it can't help but make me feel nostalgic. I confess that I haven't heard any other of his albums, just this one, which came out in 2005, and I like the feeling of it: the strings and arrangements, the slow tempos. Today, when I was working at my table, I enjoyed imagining I was elsewhere, drinking something, with a low light, and of course, the rain falling outside. The combination of melancholy and happiness can be a great feeling, all the better if there is music on in the background and raindrops against the window.

Listen to Coles Corner on Spotify!