A Doll's House #3 - The MGMT Issue

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The MGMT Issue


Congratulations!

That our salutation is the name of the sophomore album from the MGMT-boys might be

When we handpicked nine

well-known by now, but that is

talented photographers and

not the only thing we can offer

illustrators to interpret one

you with our fanzine #3. You

song each from the fantastic

are in fact in for even more

new album, we could not have

treats, dear reader, as we very

asked for nine more varied,

proudly can present you with

amazing and truly original

loads of visual goodness to

pieces of music

be enjoyed with the sounds of

interpretations. The result is

Congratulations.

the exhibition Interpretations of Congratulations, and you can enjoy the pictures in full in this digital issue of A Doll’s House.


Apart from the visual work, we can also offer some wisdom (in)directly from the mouths of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden, an interview with Low Brow pioneer and artist behind the

To say it (nearly) with the

Congratulations album art,

poster boy for the psychedelic

Anthony Ausgang, and a guide

60’s, Timothy Leary:

to the eclectic fashionistas of

Turn on, tune in, ENJOY!

the music industry. Best wishes,

Hilde & Astri


3


Contributing artists Anja Stang pudder.org Esra Røise esraroise.com Saga Sigurdardottir A Doll’s House is

theneverendingstory.blogspot.com

Hilde Holta-Lysell - Editor

Hilde Holta-Lysell

Astri Barbala - Feature Editor

adollshouse.no/hilde

Esra Røise - Editorial design

Tove Sivertsen

Jan Schjetne - Graphic design

tovesivertsen.com Silje Feiring

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Danielle DeWitt

Henriette K. Johansen

cargocollective.com/EHFO Louise Damgaard

SPECIAL THANKS TO

louisedamgaard.com

Canon

Julie Pike juliepike.no

Freudian Kicks Sony Music Entertainment

adollshouse.no


CONT COSMIC DANCERS, 08

by Astri Davies-Barbala

Out of the mouths of MGMT, 13

by Henriette K. Johansen

It’s Working, 20

by Danielle DeWitt

Song For Dan Treacy, 24

by Louise Damgaard

Someone's Missing, 28

by Silje Feiring

Flash Delirium, 32

by Hilde Holta-Lysell


ENTS 36, I Found A Whistle by Esra Røise

40, Siberian Breaks

by Tove Sivertsen

44, Brian Eno

by Anja Stang

50, Lady Dada's Nightmare

by Saga Sigurdardottir

54, Congratulations

by Julie Pike

58, ART ACCORDING TO AUSGANG

by Astri Davies-Barbala


s o C mi


dan

ic

cers

New wave hippies, psychedelic indie, glamour gypsies – many names have surrounded these hot young things that make the music business a more stylish place to be in 2010.

Mixing 60’s hippie chic with some 70’s glittery flamboyancy and a dash of 80‘s post-punk weirdness, we present to you five artists who are hailed for their eclectic fashion sense as well as for their music. by Astri Davies-Barbala


Cosmic

dan

cers

MGMT Move over Lady Gaga, these young men don’t need no telephones on their heads to show you weird but wonderful dressing. It sure is a huge achievement itself to have

Par example: Gucci’s creative

made multi-coloured tie-dye

director, Frida Giannini,

dresses and headbands hip

dedicated an entire menswear

for the male population, but

collection to the band in 2008;

Ben and Andrew’s passionate

they’ve lent their faces to

affair with the fashion world

a Converse campaign; and

don’t stop here. In fact, the

the trendy twosome are now

Brooklyn-boys have had the

grazing the cover of the May

fashion world drooling over

issue of style bible BlackBook.

them since the first images of

Not bad for a band that started

them emerged 3 years ago.

out as an art-college joke.


Bat for Lashes Singer-songwriter Natasha Khan’s hauntingly beautiful

Patrick Wolf

indie-folk-electronica is for

“Do I follow the star or the gypsy

many fashion insiders totally

king?“ the 27-year-old multi-

overshadowed by her amazing,

instrumentalist sings on “The

experimental sense of style. This

Gypsy King” from his 2005 album

30-year-old can look just as

Wind in the Wires.

mesmerizing in ripped denim as in sequinned 20‘s flapper dresses

Judging by the London-native’s

or full-on peacock costumes.

somewhat schizophrenic dressing, one can conclude that he seems to

Khan is one of very few who can

have chosen to follow both gypsy

sport hairy armpits and blue

and (several) star(s).

stick-on stars on her forehead as fashion statements, something

His mishmash style mix of preppy,

the late Alexander McQueen must

disco, street wear and boho chic

have thought impressive too, as

works, however, and was without

he chose to collaborate with her

doubt one of the reasons why he

on a few pieces for his McQ label.

was hand-picked by Christopher Bailey to appear alongside

Undoubtedly a style icon for

Agyness Dean for a Burberry

the future.

campaign in 2007.


Goldfrapp Alison Goldfrapp is 44 this year

Empire of the Sun At first glance, you can be forgiven for thinking this band to be two fanatic Star Wars-geeks on very strong psychedelic drugs. But there is more to Aussie lads Luke Steele and Nick Little than their love of dressing like futuristic space magicians. They actually make really cool electro-pop music, as presented on 2008’s Walking on a Dream, an album which has proved hugely popular amongst fashion week DJs. We predict that it won’t be long until designers are sending models dressed as cosmic crusaders out on the catwalk, too.

- who would have thought? - and probably cannot be classified as a “hot young thing” anymore. However, this style-chameleon deserves a lot of praise for the fact that she’s constantly revamping and transforming her image, which has inspired fashionistas and musicians alike. Never one to rely on fashion fads, Ms Goldfrapp has managed to stay “alternative” while still enjoying commercial success, with styles ranging from treehugging hippie (with 2008’s Seventh Tree) to sexy retro-diva (with 2003’s Black Cherry) and futuristic cool electro-babe (with 2000’s debut album Felt Mountain and this year’s Head First). In other words, a true queen of eclectic style.


Out of the mouths of Why talk to them in person when they’ve already said it all?

and partner-inrhyme Ben Goldwasser.

Through the magnificent Internet

Here’s an A(ndrew) B(en)

and works of other people we

C(ongratulations) of what

serve you a copy-paste-meeting with Andrew VanWyngarden

the MGMT have to say. by Henriette K. Johansen


Out of the mouths of

Art

A I think, overall, it’s less pseudo-mystical-weird-vaguely-

B We wanna pay attention to

sorcerer lyrics and more to do

visual details and stuff, but i

with real things, whether that´s

don’t think we’re really that arty.

relationships or friends what

A We like art, but we don’t really

we´ve met or drugs or whatever”

know too much about it.

A I don’t think this album will be

B Our biggest moment was when

as popular as the first album, I

we realized we could play with

don´t see how it could, so all the

stuffed animals for two hours. We

music that is coming from us is

were so happy.

honest and from the soul. Also

www.press2play.tv/rekommenderat/26/

we´re older, and it´s harder to

Mgmt-vi-fIck-alla-att-lamna-konserten-2

write songs about electric eels now, for better for worse! ADOLLSHOUSE.NO/MGMT-IN-NME.JPG

‘Congratulations’ - Our first album wasn’t sincere. This one is.

Dreams & Wishes

strikegently.com/?p=42663

- We want to play a show exclusively for dogs at some

A We´re excited because a lot of

point. We aren’t a joke band,

people will see it as a pat on the

but we think it would be really

back to ourselves and really it´s

amazing if there was a stadium

a bit more sinister and sarcastic

full of dogs...

than that. But the music I don´t

caughtinthecrossfIre.com/music/

think is as sinister or ironic.

interviews/5490


IndIe - We don’t wanna be an indie-

DRUGS A We realized when we smoke pot we’re more relaxed, we got into the music a little more and just kind of laidback. So we started smoking pot before we play. - So do you have pot on your raider? A We do, but it doesn’t always come through. - What do you do then? B We ask around. youtube.com/watch?v=vB5IRg_1WEQ

band, because you realize then you would maybe not be able to get a castle and do weird rituals on an indie-label, you know. - Cause that’s like one of our ultimate goals. To have a big castle or a ranch or something. Like Led Zeppelin. - We want people to be a little bit confused when they listen to our music, we don’t want it to be easy to get, but we want it to be accessible to everybody, we don’t wanna exclude anybody and say you’re not cool enough to listen to MGMT. grandcrew.com/editorial/mgmt-interview-

FASHION

brain-magazine-video-new-york

B We like dressing up in weird clothes. I’m not really sure what we have could be called a fashion sense. ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=19038

B We love being associated with fashion people and models. Was that believable? caughtinthecrossfIre.com/music/ interviews/5490

INSPIRATION - We idolize a lot of musicians from the 70’s, from that time when there were people on major labels who were doing crazy, weird things. Like David Bowie, who was just totally out of his mind, doing all this crazy stuff,


Music (general) B It makes life less boring. A It gives you happiness. B Music is a kind of silly business. Making sounds and people go being really creative with a lot

like “wooow”. A lot of times

of people listening to his music.

when i was feeling down and out,

youtube.com/watch?v=nmlidya91rs

music really picked me up of the ground. And that’s important.

A We’ve always been attracted to

A Music can move you. Both

what we call “creepball music“,

emotionally and physically. (…)

which is just really strange music.

I think I was obsessed with Neil

Some people would call it bad,

Young for a year. His still my

but we call it good.

favourite artist, but I think I was obsessed with him for a year.

A I guess we like it if it’s pretty,

Last.fm at Lollapalooza 4. February 2008

but really strange. We like Chrome, Spiritualized and Spacemen. B We are also inspired by the fans who bring us lots of free drugs at the shows.

Music (THEIR OWN) B We’re in the idea of affecting people with our music. youtube.com/watch?v=nmlidya91rs

caughtinthecrossfIre.com/music/ interviews/5490

A We want to make music that a 20-year-old kid could interpret

Lyrics A I wanna, like, make up, like,

as a call for revolution, but not blatant revolution. accessinterviews.com/interviews/view/927

weird stories and talk about aliens and smoking crack in the

B Our goal was to sell out as

subway.

quickly as possible. We thought it

grandcrew.com/editorial/mgmt-interview-

would never really happen and

brain-magazine-video-new-york

then it kinda did! caughtinthecrossfIre.com/music/ interviews/5490


- Then another show...We B I think there’s elements of the

got into the series of wearing

past, present and future. We get

jumpsuits and drinking a lot of

down with a lot of shitty sounds.

red wine. We were exploring these

popwreckoning.com/2008/10/30/interview-

tunnels underneath the dorms

with-mgmt/

that were really far and I don’t think kids were supposed to be in

A If I worked in a record

there. We found this little room

store, I’d put it in the ‘Rock/

that was like a bomb shelter and

Pop’ section.

it had supplies from the 60’s, like crackers and this giant barrel. We tried to eat the crackers, but

‘Oracular Spectacular‘ B We literally just wrote

they were disgusting. caughtinthecrossfIre.com/music/ interviews/5490

whatever came to us. caughtinthecrossfIre.com/music/ interviews/5490

THEMSELVES B: I don’t think that we’re… We’re not hipsters.

SHOWS - We used to perform at naked

A: Yeah, we’re not. popwreckoning.com/2008/10/30/interviewwith-mgmt/

parties. We both dressed up like hippies once and, at that show,

- Are you hot?

we were both on mushrooms, and

B Yes.

we had this huge battle with these

youtube.com/watch?v=Qt5t-__nopc

spray-painted tree branches. We had a little tent on stage once, and sat inside it smoking pot with six people watching us. citylife.co.uk/music/news/948_mgmt___hip_ hippies_of_dancefloor

Out of the mouths of



To celebrate the launch of the new MGMT album ‘Congratulations’ we asked 9 artists to interprete one song each from the new album. On the following pages are the results. Enjoy!


i



by DANIELLE DEWITT Artist and illustrator Future plans

Move to Norway, get married, and open a restaurant! I think MGMT

... is DELICIOUS!



ii



by Louise Damgaard Photographer, image maker, magazine collector Future plans

Live, breath, love, explore - LIFE! I think MGMT

... makes me wanna dance



iii



by SILJE FEIRING Graphic designer Future plans

Live longer, create more... I think MGMT

... are psychedelic, strange, but interesting.



iv


by Hilde Holta-Lysell

I think MGMT

Mother, photographer,

... are HOT and should play

feminist fatale, editor of

at the Slottsfjell festival this

A Doll’s House

summer! I also hope they appreciate our celebration of

Future plans

their new album and that

Take over the world with the

I one day will be able to

world’s best fanzine

photograph them.


credits: Stylist: Anja Stang Hair/makeup: Agnes Marie Guldbrandsen Model: Hege Golf Cinematographer: Morten Magnus Dress: Nina Jarebrink Collar: Miu Miu



v



by Esra Røise Illustrator, cake fanatic and shoe collector Future plans

More fun times I think MGMT

... should continue wearing short-shorts like they did when they played Hove two years ago



vi


by Tove Sivertsen Photographer, dreamer Future plans

Too many plans, too little time I think MGMT

... should play in the woods on Tromøya again




vii



by Anja Stang Fashion journalist & stylist, summer lover, mother-to-be Future plans

To pop out the world’s most beautiful, bright and brilliant baby in June I think MGMT

... rock & definitely deserve this tribute!





viii


by Saga Sigurdardottir photographer, student, fashion-lover, blogger Future plans

Be happy! I think MGMT

... are hotboys!



Fashion:

Nasir Mazhar


ix



by Julie Pike Photographer Future plans

Learn how to do gardening, well basic stuff that is. I think MGMT

... should ask me to take their next photo ;)


credits: Styling + make up: Kjersti andreassen (kjerstiandreassen.com) Model: Vik


d r o c c a Art

AUSG


o t g din

GANG A pioneer of the Low Brow art movement and the man behind the Congratulations cover art, Anthony Ausgang talks cats, art and drawing on pizza boxes for MGMT. Words and interview by Astri Davies-Barbala


o t g n i d r rt acco

A

AUSGANG Born to a Dutch mother and a Welsh father in Trinidad

in one of said subcultures, and

and Tobago in 1959, Anthony

the surfing cat(s) on the cover of

Ausgang was early exposed to the

Congratulations is no exception.

subjects he later would cover in

Ausgang met MGMT through the

his paintings. As a result of his

album’s producer, Pete ”Sonic

father’s custom car enthusiasm

Boom” Kember, who has used

and his mother’s interest in

several Ausgang paintings on

operas and art museums, young

E.A.R. releases in the past.

Anthony would soon incorporate

He’s heading to Italy in

both ”high” and ”low” culture

September, where two new

into his artworks.

paintings will be on display at

The Low Brow movement arose

two different shows, respectively

in Los Angeles in the late 1970’s,

the Urban Superstar Festival

with its origins in various

at the MADRE Contemporary

subcultures such as punk rock,

Art Museum in Naples and

the underground comix world

the Antonio Colombo Gallery

and hot rod and surf culture.

in Milan. Between working

As one of the original Low Brow

on getting paintings done and

artists, Ausgang’s surrealistic

building custom electric guitars,

and colourful narratives often

Ausgang took a moment to reflect

feature cartoon cats partaking

on cats, art and MGMT.


What is this weird thing you

Andrew likes cats so right

have for cats? Judging from

there I was doing something he

your work, it seems like you’re

understood! But more important

pretty besotted by these feline

was the fact that I got along with

creatures.

the band and didn’t put on any

Other than calling their pet’s

pressure to get something out

name and a few commands, most

of them; at their level of fame

humans have lifelong non-verbal

I think it’s not easy for them to

relationships with their pets;

find people who can just chill

even so, people tend to consider

out and act naturally around

their pets only slightly less than

them. I went up a few times to the

human. In my paintings I prefer

mansion in Malibu where they

to use animals for this reason;

were recording and did drawings

also, I’m tired of the use of the

on some pieces of paper and pizza

human figure in art. I chose

boxes that were just scattered

cats because their history has

around. I forgot about them

paralleled that of human race

completely until Josh Cheuse,

for thousands of years; they have

the art director at Sony, sent

suffered alongside of us and

me scans of them and said that

also because of us. So cats make

he wanted some similar things.

pretty good replacements for

I guess the fact that I had hung

humans in figurative art.

out with MGMT in Malibu sort

Why do you think MGMT chose

of involved me in a very tiny way

you to do the cover art for their

in the whole process that led to

new album?

Congratulations.


Do you have any favourite tracks? I like them all, but my fave is ”Song For Dan Treacy” because

from 1969 to 1975 and sometimes

it made me find out more about

the low fidelity of the analogue

him. Not many songs send me to

recordings is quite beautiful,

Wikipedia to study up a subject.

almost as good as perfect digital

What other music

sound.

do you listen to?

You have been connected to

I listen to all sorts of music but

both so-called ”high art” as

when I work in my studio it’s

well as always being true to the

mostly heavy dub and ambient.

Low Brow movement. In which

Those kinds of music make

environment do you feel most

time disappear which is very

comfortable?

helpful because I start to go mad

Neither, I prefer the company

after five or six hours painting.

of musicians to visual artists.

Sometimes I psychotically listen to

For me there is still a mystery

the same CD over and over again

in how a group of people can

until the music vanishes and

create an organized sound that

weird sounds begin to come out

is able to transfix a crowd. I

of the speakers. I collect bootleg

don’t feel that sort of wonder at

recordings of the Rolling Stones

visual art anymore; I’ve seen and learned too much. There is a lot of meaningless visual art out there that somehow gets touted as


being important contributions to contemporary culture; in reality it’s just weak masturbation. Is Low Brow art going to become more included in the world of fine art, you think? Low Brow art goes completely

The origins of Low Brow

against the ”Conceptual Art”

Art are in the 1960s and 70s

favoured by the fine art world,

youth culture movements like

and for that reason is excluded

Kustom Kulture, surfing and

from most museums. Still, there

skateboarding. The young “New

are a few artists like Robert

Brow” artists of today have

Williams and Robert Crumb

entirely different influences;

that have managed to get

video and computer games and

official recognition from the art

graffiti are their starting point.

power brokers. As with most art

I have always tried to keep up

movements, there will be a few

with contemporary culture; that

artists who get museum shows

is why the audience has mostly

but most Low Brow artists will

approved the cover art I did for

continue to sell to collectors who

“Congratulations”.

like the work for what it is and

Where can we find you in 10

don’t buy it as an investment.

years time? Sleeping with my girlfriend on the beach of my own private island with about five thousand cats…


A DOLLS HOUSE


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