natalie&doris

I have been contemplating how all things woolly are increasingly weaving their way into music subculture. I’m talking about knitting and crocheting here, which I’m finding a lot more 20 somethings are turning to instead of HARD DRUGS.

Back in 2004, Michel Gondry directed the video for New Zealand band Steriogram’s single Walkie Talkie man. In true Gondry’esque form, the artscape in this video gives the viewer the impression that it was created in a retro high school art laboratory. (God I wish I attended that high school). But in this instance instead of lego, Gondry has decided upon the medium of wool. Actually correct me if I am wrong but I think Gondry actually appears in this video too, as the studio cameraman…

However I don’t think the video received as much coverage as expected as Applemac peeps soon hijacked the song for their ipod/itunes advertisement in the same year.

A Quebec based band called Tricot machine released a rather beautiful song called ‘Les peaux des lievres’ and brought it to life by depicting the love story on what I imagine to be a knitted dish cloth. (Tricot actually means knitting in French.) Here is the video which was posted onto utube by the Portable Film Festival.

The Young Knives released ‘Dyed in the Wool’ in September just gone. (I think it was supposed to have an earlier release date but was pushed back.) It does make me chuckle when bass player Thomas “The House of Lords” Dartnall (who in the video has become John Salmon for the day and speaks of himself in 3rd person) says, “John Salmon always has to pick up wool, and it’s his least favourite job.” They also drink a lot of tea in this 10 minute episode, which actually includes the performance of their song too.

A universal indicator that someone is into an alternative music scene of some sort, whether it be folk, electronic, indie, rock, is if they own a pair of converse. So in the rock ‘n’ wool frenzy that is hitting our streets, it was only a matter of time before these showed up.

Punk knits is a site set up by ex punk rockers who have diverted some of their abundant energy to yarn. You can even buy skull knitting needles from their site.

OF ALL THE THINGS I HAVE COVERED, WHAT I EASILY ENJOYED THE MOST WAS THE short quick time film posted by the world famous crochet museum which is situated in the small town of Joshua Tree in California. It really is quite precious. I believe two little crocheted animals called Bunny and Buddy are the Museum’s mascots, and in this clip (just click on the world famous crochet museum link) they honor Van Morrison’s diddy “do ye woant a Danish” from his ‘Contractual obligation’ CD. It’s funny, tho I’m Norn Irish, I really don’t have time for Van Morrison… so I can’t tell you enough that if you yourself are not a lover of Van, still watch it! Also, get a load of the Crochet Museum, never seen a more beautifully shaped museum in my life!

Now there has been some truly awful rock ‘n’ wool out there. For instance, the “totally naked hands totally knitting” song preluding to naked hand knitting porn! (Although it is awful, it still makes me laugh)

And its at this point that I can only mention the Disco Knitter, which is truly awful and doesn’t make me laugh.

So despite disco knitter, I am a lover of the new rock ‘n’ wool scene, which is here… I know…because I’ve FELT it.

Natalie

* anyway I have since heard back and hopefully have secured my first zine article for the end of this year, Woo hoo F@&k*n rock n’ wool!