F/I/M²/P · Issue 03 · December 2012/January 2013

1

2

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

3

WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE

FASHION 50 OFF DUTY A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR SUPERHEROES ON LEAVE EMILY CREMONA & DANIEL A

10 FASHION AND FANTASY A TOUR AROUND THE COSTUME INSTITUTE AT THE METROPOLITANT MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK CITY

4

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ILLUSTRATION 15 RANA ZAHER EXHIBITING ILLUSTRATOR

67 WISSAM EID EXHIBITING ILLUSTRATOR

76 MARVEL V.S DC COMICS WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

5

MUSIC 45 GENERATION GAP BLEACHED GRAPH RABBIT ICONA POP TANLINES

64 PEACHES INTERVIEW

75 SAFAR BARLIK INTERVIEW

80 ALBUM REVIEWS DAVID BOWIE IGGY POP DANA GILLESPIE LOU REED + MORE

99 LIVE REVIEW RADIOHEAD

97 SOUNDTRACK REVIEW SCOTT PILGRIM V.S THE WORLD

104 LAST THOUGHT THE XX

6

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE

MOVIES 13 PANOS APRAHAMIAN INTERVIEW

87 MOVIE REVIEWS SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE PEOPLE THE INCREDIBLES X-MEN: THE LAST STAND SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW V FOR VENDETTA

7

WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE

PHOTOGRAPHY 33 PATRICK MAKHOUL EXHIBITING

8

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

OUR PEOPLE

N 03 WHERE ARE THE SUPERHEROES?

CREATIVE DIRECTORS / EDITORS IN CHIEF MOHAMAD ABDOUNI & RUDY SHAHEEN MANAGING PARTNER FATIMA M. EL MARINI RESPONSIBLE DIRECTOR LAMIS KHAWAJA SENIOR EDITOR KARL HITTI FASHION EDITOR CARINE LEMARIN PROOFREADER AND LIFE SAVER krystel kouyoumdjis EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHER patrick makhoul EXHIBITING ILLUSTRATORS rana zaher wissam eid CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS CLARA ABI NADER daniel a JINANE CHAAYA CYNTHIA CHEN BARBACHANO CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS RAPHAELLE MACARON MICHEL KARSOUNY FOUAD MEZHER benoit debbane rafic saab rami tannous alexandra warde EXHIBITING FASHION DESIGNER emily cremona CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SERGE KALDANY nour naccache charles haddad serena el haddad cynthia m HELENE ABI ASSI

BADARO, SAMI EL SOLH BLVD. LABBAN BLDG. 2ND FLOOR BEIRUT, LEBANON INFO@FIMP-MAG.COM +961 76 64 41 26 +961 (0)3 71 90 86 +961 (0)1 38 17 73

9

WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE

COVER STORY 28 DAVID BOWIE THE STORY OF ZIGGY STARDUST: THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SUPERHERO FROM MARS

10

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

T

his isn’t the first time that we are casually led to believe that we are about to witness the end of our (not-so) beloved world. December 2012 will soon fall in line with many failed doomsday prophecies; such as Y2K and Pat Robertson’s preach of Jesus’ second coming, back in the 80’s, to mention a couple. The issue lies in what follows: What if it doesn’t? What if we were to indeed perish collectively in a matter of days? What, or who would save us? Where are the superheroes?

We’ve set out to put this issue together in hopes of reminding ourselves of what superheroes meant to us and how safe they made us feel, even if they weren’t real.

Whether the earth were to truly go up in smoke or not, we can all agree that we are living in an increasingly corrupt world and that a desperate and urgent call for superheroes is our last hope. We’ve grown up with Marvel and DC Comics as well as a whole bunch of other publishers and animation studios that brought us some of our favorite crime fighters and mystery solvers; those, however, are not the only superheroes we believe in.

You see, superheroes don’t always need to have a ridiculously unrealistic super strength in order for us to love and idolize them. They don’t need to fly nor shoot burning ray beams out of their eyes. Yes, of course, it would make them much cooler, but what use are they to us mortals living outside of the rectangular limits of comic frames?

This issue is reminiscent of the superheroes that populated our childhood dreams as well as those we had wished existed. It puts forth the superheroes of today, those who speak their minds, are unapologetic and fight hard, with whatever tools they possess, for what they think is right.

It has become a habit that we, in this our editors’ letter, discuss all the things we would have loved to mention but for some reason (mostly time and trying to keep this issue from crossing over to the overpriced novelty books section) didn’t. So here we go, purely to get it out of our systems: Power Rangers, the Cartoon Network gang of witty crime fighters, Grendizer, Danger Girl, Robocop, Transformers, Space Ghost and a whole bunch of other super people.

Immerse yourself in visuals that might bring back some of your old memories and dreams of flying and breathing underwater. Get a quick look at Ziggy, the ultimate Rock ‘n’ Roll superhero from Mars if you haven’t already.

Check out some of the new talents in the world of Music and Movies but most of all; snuggle up with our lovely short comic, courtesy of Fouad Mezher, bringing to life our very own Lebanese superhero.

EDITORS’ LETTER A COMPLETELY RANDOM AND UTTERLY USELESS THOUGHT COURTESY OF THE CHILDISH MINDS OF MOHAMAD ABDOUNI & RUDY SHAHEEN

To Infinity... And Beyond! (Oh! Did we forget to mention Buzz Lightyear?)

11

12

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

FASHION ARTICLE: SUPERHEROES, FASHION & FANTASY

ARTICLE BY CHARLES HADDAD

COLLAGE BY ALEXANDRA WARDE

Does throwing on your vintage leather jacket and combat boots make you feel quite powerful – like you had super abilities? Or is it just me? How about some Balenciaga pumps paired with a perfectly tailored YSL dress? How would that make you feel ladies? World domination perhaps?

F

ashion is a form of transportation that lifts us out of this hectic world and takes us into a much more idealistic one that we singlehandedly create.

A world much like the one that might exist in a comic book. And this is where superheroes and fashion enthusiasts collide.

If one were to decipher the idealistic view of a superhero and its association to the fashion industry, one would find quite an extensive common ground. The symbolic and metaphorical relation between superheroism and fashion places superheroes as fashion’s ultimate muse with idealistic views of self-empowerment and physical transformation. Fashion creates a magical second skin that makes us feel like we can do the impossible. The late Isabella Blow was once asked why she always wore such outlandish headgear, her response was: “It is my own social canopy”. Isabella Blow would be considered a Fashion superhero.

One miss Daphne Guinness comes to mind as well in her brilliantly crafted couture masterpieces on her way to the grocery store. As do Lady Gaga, Bjork, Madonna, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Grace Jones and Freddy Mercury to name a few of the many real-life fashion superheroes.

Now back to our imaginary superheroes, whose stake in society goes far beyond their “save the day” attitude. They embody the issues that any average Jane and Joe may encounter, such as body and identity issues.

Thus, superheroes lead to this concept of transformation; becoming someone that you want to be; self-expression through clothing. The ideal image of a superhero is counterbalanced within the fashion world by the constant search for this perfect image.

The comparison of superheroes to fashion was first envisaged in the mind of Andrew Bolton, the curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Every year the Costume Institute puts together a themed fashion exhibit. In 2008 the exhibit was entitled ‘Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy’. This exhibit explored

the relationship between superheroes and fashion and how each was affected by the other.

A self proclaimed Spider-Man connoisseur, Bolton first thought up this concept in 2003 though he deemed it the wrong moment in fashion since the “look” of the time was much softer and lighter. However, the exhibit eventually sprung to life at a time when fashion was witnessing a significant move towards aggressive femininity and the return of the 1980s power bitch.

The curating of the exhibit matched Superman and Spiderman costumes along with the fashion that symbolized ‘the Graphic Body’. Superman’s ‘S’ logo represented designer logos and branding. Catwoman was a representation of “The Paradoxical Body” a juxtaposition of good and evil. The red, white, and blue of Wonder Woman’s ensemble epitomized “The Patriotic Body” and the fashion that complements this ideal.

The Hulk, a symbol of male force highlighted “the Virile Body” where one would find garments that magnified the male form.

When it came to High Tech Active-wear, the Flash took on the “Aerodynamic Body” with pieces from Nike and Speedo. Batman and Iron Man were perfect emissaries for “the Armored Body” where metal and chromium were portrayed in fashion. And last but not least The Punisher and Ghost Rider were used to represent “the Postmodern Body” in relation to the darker side of fashion and a mixture of diverse street styles.

The exhibit showcased real costumes straight off the movie set, along with the fashion they were inspired by, straight off the runway. For example, cobweb knits and web-embroidered ensembles pitted a Giorgio Armani 1990 evening gown made from silk threads and crystal beading alongside Spiderman’s bodysuit.

Alexander McQueen’s 2005 silk ensemble adorned with Football shoulder pads.

Dolce and Gabbana’s corseted mini dresses and their dominatrix inspired looks came across as fashion musts that Catwoman herself would quite possibly be spotted sauntering into their Madison Avenue boutique to try on.

Off to “The Armored Body” section of the exhibit, where futuristic technological extremes meet fashion and the superhero world. A world overseen by the ultimate visionary Thierry Mugler who adopted this concept as his own and took it to the next level. His use of unconventional materials and provocation of a woman’s body became his signature and transformed his creations into something quite fictional. Who can forget his molded plastic and metal bodysuit that created an alien-like armor revealing the female body’s vulnerable parts. Sadly, his conceptual themes that usually revolved around eroticism and esoteric creatures were not as appreciated at the time by buyers and the press as they were viewed to be more along the lines of costume design.

Last but not least, we come across the antiheroes within superhero culture. The 1970s and 80s gave rise to The Punisher and Ghost Rider; two characters symbolizing the darker side of the contemporary art world. This aesthetic meshed perfectly with designers such as Alexander McQueen, Thierry Mugler, Rick Owens, and Gareth Pugh to name a few that were highlighted in the exhibit.

From this exhibit one may note that Superman and Spider-Man have had the most significant influence on mainstream fashion. The Moschino gown with the ‘M’ logo brazenly located on the chest and which is adorned with a red cape complemented the spider web motif that spread across many designer creations from Mugler, Galliano, Julien Macdonald, Jean Paul Gaultier and Giorgio Armani. Mr. Armani, who was the sponsor of the exhibit, was enthralled by the capacity of the show and was very impressed by the astonishing pieces of work that were showcased; a far cry from the wearable clothing that he himself showcases.

All right now kids. What’s the motto of this story? Will dressing like Superman give you the ability to lift off? Well, not quite, but close enough.

13

14

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

INTERVIEW: PANOS APRAHAMIAN

INTERVIEW BY SERENA EL HADDAD

PHOTOGRAPH BY JINANE CHAAYA

So after watching your work, would it be safe to conclude that you and society don’t get along really well? Why is that?

and more accessible the flow of information becomes the more dependent on it we become.

Let’s say we do get along but not that well. The reason is that I don’t like the idea that I have to behave in a certain way and sacrifice certain things just to fit a norm that was set without my consent. I would say that I live by a “code” rather than a set of rules.

Inthe ending ofyour short film,your character is invaded by technology. You are criticizing technology, while actually using it to convey your message, it’s a bit contradictory don’t you think so?

What do you think would be the perfect way to mend this broken relationship?

I’m not criticizing technology as much as I’m depicting a present phenomenon. We are becoming more and more dependent on technology. It is actually fascinating cause we have somehow become these hybrids, who in order to fully function in their daily lives, do not only depend on their bodies but on machines and electronics. It’s like we’ve all become Inspector Gadget.

The way would be to create spaces where the rules and norms of traditional society are altered. These places do exist already. Like the little westernized bubble that you, the people reading this and I, live in. Though they tend to end up saturated and with their own set of oppressive rules. That’s when you know it’s time to create a new one. The title of my film Bashir Was To Them What Bowie Was To Me depicts our westernized bubble.

Your short film is divided between standard filming and stop motion. Why did you use these two mediums to portray your message?

In the first part, where I created a spoof of a television commercial, I wanted to use the same method of filming that is generally used in classic advertising. In the second part I wanted to give life to the objects and I wanted them to interact with the character, since the items populating the room are so important in the life and evolution of the character, which in its turn represents postmodern society.

And the best way to achieve that was through stop motion.

When working on a new project, what usually inspires you?

Other forms of art, specially music and also politics. Politics in the broader sense of the term, one that involves identity, society, economy and lately ecology. I think, for now at least, I can only make politically engaged films.

What is the purpose behind your short film?

My film depicts the evolution of pop culture and mass media in late capitalist society, which is 1945 onwards, and the technology that supports and distributes it. I also tried to show that the bigger

Are you aiming your philosophy at a specific generation?

I’m aiming it at my generation, because that’s the one I know and can communicate with the best. We have this amazing tool that is the Internet and I hope we use it it wisely, to share our knowledge and creations.

Were five minutes really enough for you to portray your message completely?

I guess not, but I’m not done working on this theme yet so maybe a couple more works can convey the full message.

Which David Bowie alter ego mirrors you the best?

I would like to say the alien rock star Ziggy Stardust, but I’m more like the astronaut who wandered very far and got lost, so it would be Major Tom. “Planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do”.

Which snapshot out would you choose out of it to summarize the whole work?

The one from the end of the film, where our main character’s face is fully covered in computer parts. It shows that the mutation is complete; he is now fully dependent on technology.

15

16

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ILLUSTRATOR

Could you sum up in a few words for us who you really are and what it is that you do?

What is the first song that pops to YOUR mind right this second?

I’m a designer and an illustrator who enjoys juggling both jobs of being managing assistant at an art gallery and freelancing every chance I get. As for what I’m doing here, it’s basically a tribute to the heroes of myth and mind. Cheers!

‘I’m Still Here’ for Jon Rzeznik (lead singer of Goo Goo Dolls). It’s the theme song of Disney’s Treasure Planet (one of my all-time favorite movies. “Steampunk, steampunk everywhere!), and it’s been stuck on my mind for the past week or so.

What inspired the series you chose to exhibit with F/I/M²/P?

Where do you mostly draw your inspiration from?

Two words: Joseph Campbell. The man is an absolute god to all who have a passion for fantasy and myth. Whoever doesn’t know him and is a fan of deconstructing heroes and mythological stuff, should check him out asap; whoever does, I salute you!

My head. Hard to explain. I just see things there and would want to put them down on paper. Sure, whenever there’s a historic reference involved, Google is very much my friend, but the base always starts from the noggin. And books.

If any deceased individual, famous or not, were to reincarnate themselves in your body, who would it be?

Professionally, what is the project you always wanted to engage in but haven’t gotten the chance to yet?

Can it be more than one? I’m sure to have Alfonse Mucha do so. He’s been my artistic idol since I was 12. J.R.R. Tolkien. I want to have his brilliant mind. Maybe also a bit of Voltaire. I love his humor in philosophy.

Cracks me up whenever I read his works.

My dream project? It has, of course, always been creating a full blown fantasy world.

Truthfully, I have it mapped out with a few characters and cities here and there and a shaky storyline. But I dream of one day accomplishing and publishing enough of it before I kick the bucket.

17

18

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

19

20

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

21

22

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

23

24

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

25

26

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

WRITTEN BY KARL HITTI

fanfiction texts from superheroes superhero stuff

27

fanfiction (Fanfiction.net/comic/DC-Superheroes)

S

o we have this friend…Timothy… This guy doesn’t have many friends; he’s the type of person that usually spends his time fapping to random girl profiles on Facebook. (Ladies, privacy settings… hello?!!) Timothy, though, has always been a huge fan of superheroes, and by “huge fan” we mean the wako type that speaks in actual Cyclops and Wolverine quotes.

Frankly, we have no idea how we ended up becoming friends; oh right, it might be the huge selection of narcotics in his bathroom closet. And well, you know us… we kinda are the type to take candy from strangers. One day Timothy introduced us to the magic of fan fiction. Basically, it’s when extremely awesome yet somewhat weird people write their own endings or sequels to various stories. There’s actually a website where they all post their stuff and it has a section specially dedicated to DC superheroes. Can you imagine?! A large group of strung-out writers reimagining the endings to every DC character out there! Some are bad – so bad it’s quite hilarious, but others blow your mind! Our favorites are those that fall into the autoerotic asphyxiation/porn category! Trust us you won’t regret paying this site a visit… Proceed with care though… fan art has turned many human beings to the geek side!

28

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

THE BLOGGER

texts from superheroes (textsfromsuperheroes.tumblr.com)

I

n this day and age almost everyone has a smartphone; your parents, your parents’ parents, the guy that makes your favorite chicken sandwich with extra garlic, heck, even those beggars that always hassle you on stop signs! So why should superheroes be any different? If you have ever wondered what goes on when superheroes are not busy saving the day, check out this hilarious Tumblr page. Does Mario ever get tired of Peach getting kidnapped twice a month? How does the Joker organize evil schemes to blow everyone to hell? What goes on when the x-men want to organize a softball game against the fantastic four? Well you’re in luck! Comedians Diana McCallum and Andrew Ivimey have panned out what it would be like to be a superhero abusing your iPhone, and we love them for it.

superhero stuff (superherostuff.com)

D

on’t ya miss ‘Pimp My Ride’? Man, those were the days; MTV still played some actual music, the Jackson family wasn’t on every sex offender list out there, ‘Cribs’ showed us what lots of money and little taste could do… Then Snooki comes along, gets knocked up at sixteen and BAM; Gone are the “Yo dawg, I heard you like…” days! But not all is lost. Superherostuff.com is the online equivalent of ‘Pimp My Ride’ but instead of street cred you get nerd cred and instead of cars it pimps out your whole life. Action figures, shirts, pants, accessories and even underwear; this site has everything. Embrace your inner nerd; it’s actually quite trendy now. Just get yourself any of their shirts, wear some washed out skinny jeans and, congratulations, you are now a hipster. Just remember to always tell everyone that you knew about this place before it was cool. We also suggest you push this idea on some of your friends so you get the group-shipping discount.

29

30

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ARTICLE AND ILLUSTRATION BY RUDY SHAHEEN & MOHAMAD ABDOUNI

31

32

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

COVER STORY: DAVID BOWIE - THE STORY OF ZIGGY STARDUST During the shadow of the Second World War, David ‘Jones’ Bowie and his Ziggy Stardust offered the world a creature of fantasy, come to save us. From that moment on, the music industry would never be the same again. The public, at the time, was not ready for superheroes playing Rock ‘N’ Roll.

I

n the shadow of the Second World War, David ‘Jones’ Bowie and his brainchild Ziggy Stardust offered the world a creature of fantasy come to save us. From that moment on, the music industry would never be the same again. The public, at the time, was not ready for Rock-‘n’-Roll-playing superheroes.

It had been a little over a decade since Bowie had ventured into the world of music; trying over and over again to reach stardom to no effect. It wasn’t until he released ‘Space Oddity’ in 1969 that he finally had a substantial hit, and he wasn’t going to settle into the hefty bag of 70’s one-hit wonders (relax Ms. Gaynor, no one’s talking to you).

David Bowie had always been interested in theater and performance and had been trained by Lindsay Kemp, a popular and inspirational teacher of dance/mime in the 70s. All of this would later on be the fuel for the creation of music’s most iconic persona: Ziggy Stardust.

In 1972, David Bowie unleashed his alter ego Ziggy Stardust on the world during his debut appearance on Top Of The Pops while singing ‘Starman’; the lead single off the album that would launch this frenzie of jaw-dropping theatricals and outrageous outfits: The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. The long hair was gone, replaced by the trademark bright red haircut. On that day in April of 1972, Ziggy was born and the whole of England watched his birth on national television. Ziggy, the doomed alien, took human form as a rockstar; wearing a multi-coloured jump-suit and camping it up with Mick Ronson (one third of The Spiders From Mars, Bowie’s backing band during the Ziggy era).

The album was recorded in Trident Studios in Soho, London, and was greatly inspired by Bowie’s encounters with Andy Warhol and The Factory Superstars in New York earlier on. It is the story of an alien Rock superstar called Ziggy Stardust who reaches fame just as the Earth enters the last five years of its existence. He ends up the victim of his own success and becomes a ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’. The music was influenced by the Rock ‘n’ Roll sounds of The Velvet Underground, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Iggy Pop and the Chanson of Jacques Brel. It wasn’t however the music alone that Bowie wanted to accomplish and perfect with Ziggy; he wanted a show, a story, a new superhero…

This is where the image came in and the world was introduced to the Glam Rock wave of bands that would ensue. He coupled his music with an androgynous look that wasn’t mirrored at the time and dressed himself in all kinds of colorful and theatrical outfits.

He even applied a similar treatment to the Spiders From Mars (who were hesitant at first), taking inspiration from The Droogs of Stanley Kubrik’s Clockwork Orange.

Following his buzz-worthy performance on Top Of The Pops (and a very memorable “I’m gay and always have been” statement

in the January 22, 1972 issue of Melody Maker), Ziggy took over the UK and then the US one sold-out show at a time. Ziggy Stardust, the Rock ‘n’ Roll alien/superhero from Mars was, at that point, as real and as flesh and bones as David Jones ever was. The Ziggy tour was the first Rock concert to mix theater, dance, lighting and mime.

Following this amazingly well received carnival of sound and visuals, Bowie jumped back into the studio with Mick Ronson, Mick Woodmansey and Trevor Bolder (The Spiders); this time asking Mike Garson to join in on keyboards. The result of the recording sessions was a much more exotic sound and Ziggy lived on throughout Aladdin Sane; released in April of 1973. David Bowie described the album as “Ziggy goes to America”, and it indeed plays as a box full of postcards sent back home while on the road in a glamorous yet mad and horrific America.

Mike Garson was to Aladdin Sane what Mick Ronson was to the Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust. Arming themselves with a keyboard and an electric guitar respectively, the two of them backed each of these two standout releases with unparalleled power and beast-like energy.

Ziggy took his show on the road once again, touring the UK in support of the new album. But trouble was brewing, not for Ziggy but for Bowie, who was no longer able to differentiate between reality and make-belief; David and Ziggy. His mental health was at a breaking point and he was borderline schizophrenic. It could not go on like this and it had to end. It was either him or Ziggy. One of them had to die.

During his last triumphant Ziggy tour date, a star-studded event at the Hammersmith (documented by DA Pennebaker), right before performing his last song, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’, Ziggy took to the microphone and announced: “Of all of the shows on this tour, this particular show will remain with us the longest because not only is it the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do”.

On July 3, 1973, a year after his appearance on Top Of The Pops for the first time, Ziggy was no more, just as Bowie had prophesied on ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’ (the last track on The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust).

Bowie’s speech that night was considered to be his retirement at the time, but what people didn’t know was that he was speaking as Ziggy, not as Bowie the entertainer. A week later, Bowie was recording again, subsequently releasing an astonishing collection of ground-breaking albums over the years.

The tentacles of Ziggy Stardust reach out to this day, still proving its power and influence over our current music scene.

Look closer at your new favorite Rock band. Can’t you tell they’re drenched in stardust?

33

34

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

PHOTOGRAPHER

Could you sum up in a few words for us who you really are and what it is that you do?

Where do you mostly draw your inspiration from?

I’m a Graphic Designer. My job is to make things look pretty while trying to give meaning to what it is I’m creating. I’m a daydreamer, a gamer, and I try to write every once in a while and I seem to have grown a soft spot for post-apocalyptic literature, movies, and videogames.

I draw inspiration from being a spectator and observing the people and environment around me. There has to be a natural balance between the object being photographed and the environment they’re in. Photographs where models are too posed feel extremely synthetic and if the model solely relies on how they look, then the photos will come out terrible.

What inspired the series you chose to exhibit with F/I/M²/P?

What is the first song that pops to YOUR mind right this second?

I prefer heroes with no costumes. If they do exist, they wouldn’t hide behind masks. They would look like the average individual going about their daily life, having a job, and living life normally. There would be a rational and scientific explanation to their powers.

Well I’m currently listening to ‘Kerosene’

by Crystal Castles, which is off their new album and is a pretty brilliant record if you’re into the whole electronic glitch chiptune genre.

If any deceased individual, famous or not, were to reincarnate themselves in your body, who would it be?

Professionally, what is the project you always wanted to engage in but haven’t gotten the chance to yet?

I would say Philip K. Dick. I really enjoy reading his books and one of his stories was used as an inspiration for one of my favorite movies, Blade Runner. I thoroughly enjoy the themes his books explore: questioning what is real and what is not.

I’ve always wanted to get into video game design. My dream is to create an adventure game inspired by classic Nintendo games like Metroid and the Legend of Zelda franchises.

35

36

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

37

38

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

39

40

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

41

42

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

43

44

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

A SHORT COMIC BY FOUAD MEZHER

I

t’s safe to say this comic comes across as difficult to decipher. So, the intent behind this writing is not to offer an apology for possibly shoddy craftsmanship but rather to elaborate on its context, the thoughts that went into putting it together and the hopes of where it could lead. Initially, when faced with the prospect of creating a local superhero in a short narrative, the aim was to try and displace the core myth of the superhero in such a way that related directly to Lebanon. To have a super-powered being battling drug lords from the Bekaa, or something along those lines, seemed like it would merely function as an assimilation of a mythology that was tailored to a very different environment. Therefore, I set out to examine a form of violence that, in light of recent events, was a growing concern for me.

After the recent bombing, it struck me as extremely disrespectful to the victims how their passing and the grief surrounding it was overshadowed by mindless violence that I perceive to be motivated by nothing more than a political power-play. In an attempt to create a hero that would deal with crime in a manner relevant to this country, it struck me that this hero should be born out of the grief; quite literally in the case of this story.

Five pages didn’t offer the possibility for a comprehensive examination of what such a hero could do, so my interests in this narrative were to try and establish a rudimentary understanding of what The Reaper is and in a sense, to use the medium to have fun with what she could do. More importantly, this narrative offered a chance to begin examining what it’s like to be this skeletal specter of a woman.

Many questions came up: Is she feeling the grief that she manifests? How does she reproduce it? Does she have feelings of her own? What’s it like feeling a million things at once? How would she deal with that? How would she deal with an awareness of herself?

How would her experiences in the world shape her reactions to the grief? How would she view herself in relation to the people she’s born of? What’s it like being born over and over again? How would forming her own experiences allow her to mature?

There’s a lot that was on my mind that never made it into the existing narrative (not as far as I’m aware anyway) and I’m nowhere near answering most of the questions that still linger. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to answer them all but the hope is to explore them further through continued work on this story.

Fouad Mezher

45

46

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ARTICLES BY KARL HITTI

ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAMI TANNOUS

47

GENERATION GAP

T

here’s something about famous sisters… They seem to follow a specific set of rules; look at any sister duo out there and you will find the same pattern every single time. On the one hand you have the popular one (we’re being nice… you know we mean slutty), obviously, 9 out of 10 times she’s not a butterface. She usually is the one whose name is said first when referring to the sisters (Paris and Nicki Hilton, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Beyonce and Solange Knowles etc.). On the other hand you will find the undersung sidekick, who is regarded as being unbelievably“underground”and talented, does not have a sex tape and will most certainly get pregnant sooner.

Unquestionably, one of her favorite hobbies is answering questions about what her popular sibling had for lunch. Jennifer and Jessica Calvin, founding members of the band Bleached – on the rise now – might be working together at the time being but early signs show that our theory will hold.

Bleached are not mind-blowingly original – they aren’t paving the way for a new style of music that is going to revolutionize the world – but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’re a fan of the post-punk sound that is making a comeback then these girls are

48

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

for you. Think Vivian girls with a whole lot of surf. Jennifer who plays the guitar and that other one who apparently is a bassist were part of the Riot grrrl group Mika Miko, which is when the bees started a-buzzing. The band broke up because the other members had“better”things to do, like enrolling in college (boring). Evidence of the girls ‘punk’n roll lifestyle can be found on their tumblr page (hellobleached.tumblr.com).They apparently like to strip men naked on stage (sassy!).

The ladies who,with the help of Sara Jean Stevens and Jonathan Safley,are keeping the insurgent lifestyle alive have already released six songs on three different 7-inch records (vintage). Bleached are now shipping out several demos to record labels in hopes that one of them will actually produce their coming-of-age album. We secretly hope that things work out and that Jessica (the pretty one) ends up putting out a solo pop record followed by a series of revealing home videos, while the other one ends up moving in with Cindy Lauper…

Just to prove our point.

DOWNLOAD: THINK OF YOU - DAZED WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

GENERATION GAP

T

he first time one of our colleagues walked into the office after listening to Graph Rabbit we thought he had doubled his dose of Xanax.You see, we are lucky enough to be on very good terms with the pharmacist across the street; we cover for him when his wife comes around asking where he’s been for the past three days. The man has a sex addiction; he tends to lay with anything that walks (yes, cats and stray dogs included). But we don’t judge, as our Catholic upbringing would have us do; we take advantage. What would Jesus do? Who knows? Who cares, actually? We’re out to manage our stress, not seek the ever after. Which is why when one of our favorite doe-eyed collaborators floated into our office with a nonchalant smile on his bright face we made several assumptions. They turned out to be quite untrue.

This Brooklyn based band actually started as a one-some.

Austin Donohue who, other than being a musician, is a composer and a filmmaker decided to singlehandedly give Hugh Heffner a run for his bunnies. Then experimental guitarist Shy Kedmi decided to bounce in and help him around on his mission to dethrone the iconic plastic Playboy rabbit. And thus a duo in

ambient heaven was formed. Snowblind was the title bestowed on their debut, which contained a serious amount of namedropping.

Allen Farmello, who has worked with the likes of Talk Normal and the Cinematic Orchestra, jumped on board as producer.

And on the mastering front you could find Valgeir Sigurðsson, who has been linked to Björk and Sigur Rós.Their music sounds exactly like the frolicking of two little white bunnies hopping around a snowy mountain on a sunny afternoon. The dominant color would be a washed out tinted orange, which latches on to the floating masses of clouds that are gliding around. These little bunnies would go on to hump (as bunnies are prone to) and make an endless number of babies that would eventually turn the world into a big mass of cuddly white love.

So the next time your entourage starts to hint that you daily Xanax consumption is alarmingly high, pop one of their tracks on and give your system a break. We assure you that you can rely on Graph Rabbit to silence that rumbling in your brain. Music for recreational purposes is now available and it doesn’t cost as much!

DOWNLOAD: BLACKWOOD TREE - WHITE BIRDS

49

GENERATION GAP

S

weden is a country that, for most of the time, is ignored by the general public because it is one of “those” European countries. You know the ones located in the north that don’t look like a shoe, didn’t give birth to painters turned dictators, don’t contain a big metal tower and don’t have one of their monuments featured in a Fergie song.Well, even though we may have absolutely no general knowledge of that country per say, we say shame! And why would anyone want to brave the snow for that forsaken place? Simply because Sweden is renown for ONE major thing (actually it is the one good thing we do know about the country): they have the best pop music scene.The Swedes have given us Agnes, Roxette, The Cardigans, Swedish House Mafia, Ace of Base, Neneh Cherry, Lykke Li, Axwell, Kleerup, Nicki & the Dove and most importantly Robyn. (Yes, we have conveniently decided to ignore the existence of Abba and Eric Prydz in order for you to take us seriously).

One act we hope will join these veterans in the Swedish musical hall of fame is Icona Pop. Here’s a bit of background info for ya: this female duo kicked off when DJs. Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt decided to bless the human race with their harmonious delights and

50

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

team up back in 2010. Aino and Caroline attracted a whole lot of international press interest, while based in London, after releasing two singles through two different Labels, Manners and Night Like This. Nothing compared to the media frenzy that followed the release of ‘I Love It’.

‘I Love It’ sums up Icona Pop’s musical style perfectly; it is house music that got punched in the face by an angry punk rocker while casually giving a hand job to a very promiscuous indie pop neighbor. Saying that these girls sing would be musical heresy; they yell. In fact, an appropriate expression to describe what comes out of their mouths would be: enraged melodic yelping.

The duo is currently touring the globe and yelling at random strangers and we would consider ourselves lucky to receive a good scolding. The Iconic EP is already in stores and their full-length debut album is currently scheduled for a 2013 release.

DOWNLOAD: I LOVE IT (FEAT. CHARLI XCX) - GOOD FOR YOU WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

GENERATION GAP

O

ne of the most annoying things inflicted on us by God and his posse,other than anal bleaching,is when Google decides to fail you. The first time we encountered this problem was when Friends (the band) first came out. We would spend hours in front of our computers begging Google to hook us up but the cyber guru would keep referring us to Jennifer Aniston’s naked pictures or some random quotes about friendship. And when Tanlines first came out, it was Groundhog Day all over again!

Google believed that skin cancer, Kim Kardashian, Carrots, Beyonce’s suspiciously milk tinted cappuccino skin color and the new L’Oreal cream for a golden tan were just our cup of tea. We were not amused.

After all shouldn’t the world’s most esteemed search engine be up to date with one of the most promising up-and-coming bands out there? Oh… No? Well fine then we hope you get skin cancer while staring at Kim Kardashian’s bulging behind.

of one band: Professor Murder. Actually, the two men first met when Emm produced a song for Professor Murder; it was guitar chords at first sight.

When the duo started working together, it was solely to remix songs from other artists. Notable collaborations include Au Revoir Simone and Telepathe (yeah, we spelled that right). After they got sick of making other people’s crap listenable, the boys decided to make their own music. Following in the Beatles/Yoko Ono footsteps, they each left their other bands. Thankfully, no legion of fans decided to jump off buildings in this case.

Their first full-length venture into the music world is quite the departure from their previous exploits. They steered away from post rock and delved into a more savory danceable sound inspired by the likes of Depeche Mode (but more islandy). Mixed Emotions saw the light of Tanlines’ history is as confusing as our online hunt for them. Jesse day in March 2012, and following the critical praise it received, Google Cohen and Eric Emm get around… if you know what we mean. Emm, finally stopped referring us to a tanning salon in Tampa whenever we with the help of his brother,has produced music for a whole lot of groups typed in their name. and been part of two other bands Don Caballero and Storm & Stress.

Jesse on the other hand is a little less jaded as he has only been part DOWNLOAD: NOT THE SAME - BROTHERS

51

OFF DUTY

A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR SUPERHEROES ON LEAVE DESIGNS BY EMILY CREMONA

ART DIRECTION & PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL A MASKS BY HANS HARLING

52

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

53

54

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

55

56

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

57

58

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

59

60

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

61

62

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

63

64

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

65

INTERVIEW: PEACHES

INTERVIEW BY THE BOYS BEHIND F/I/M2/P Let’s start off with other important subjects: you were one of the first performers to step up and jump to Pussy Riot’s defense. The results of your campaign were overwhelmingly positive. Do you think that the pressure from the general public will be enough to free the remaining members of the Russian Punk band?

We will never know unless we keep on trying.

On the topic of you being a Glam/Punk political superhero and all, is there anything that you believe can be done to stop the passing of the ‘Kill The Gays’ bill in Uganda?

It’s easy. Kill the bill ! 370,000 people have already signed the petition on change.org Not that we’re hinting at anything, but how do you plan on singlehandedly defeating ageism in today’s culture?

I’m doing it. I’m aging, I’m amazing! I’m unstoppable!

On to the fun stuff. Could you enlighten us about Peaches Does Herself? When will it be released for the General public’s viewing and what exactly will it offer our eyes and ears?

Well, Peaches Does Herself is a movie based on the stage production of my electro rock Opera fantasy biography. Huge dance numbers, full frontal tranny nudity, nipples on fire and great music!

Now, you have also recently released ‘Burst!’ which has been playing on repeat over here for the past month or so. Any new album in the process? Names you can drop?

Nada. Just the single. Gotta get on that album thing. Good idea You have already worked with the likes of p!nk, Christina Aguilera, LeTigre and Sia. Who would you love to have next on your checklist?

Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig and Sarah Silverman.

66

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

ILLUSTRATION BY RUDY SHAHEEN Are you planning on ever holding a concert in the Middle East to fuck with everyone’s head and make all of your fans extremely happy?

I have a friend who is teaching in Beirut right now and I keep asking him if I can come over there, show the film to his students and hang out.

You happen to be A fantastic entertainer, skilled wrapper, one hell of a Dee-jay and you’ve recently tried your hand at acting (and done marvelously so in Gonazales’ 2010 Ivory Tower). What is it that you’re looking to venture into next?

Need to take more dance lessons!

What in the world brought on the all-covers Disco EP Casablanca Reworks?

I grew up with Disco and when I was asked I thought it would be fun to do.

Would you say that you have found “your sound” or is it something that you don’t even bother thinking about? It feels like you’ve tried to expand your electronic palette a bit more. ‘Burst!’ has that classic Peaches vibe to it, but looking back, ‘Talk To Me’, for example, seemed to introduce a different possible direction towards a more Rock-influenced sound.

It’s whatever the song calls for.

Now in this issue, we talk about Bowie and his iconic star-status and credibility. Could you tell us what you think of his artistry and how it has influenced you personally and in your career (if any)? We would basically really like to know who David Bowie is to you. Could you also tell us which is your favorite Bowie album?

Bowie is one of the most prolific incredible boundary pushing intelligent musicians. He did it all. Ziggy Stardust top to bottom is a masterpiece. He was the first to talk about bisexuality in the spotlight. How can you not love and respect him? It’s impossible!

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

INTERVIEW: PEACHES

67

68

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ILLUSTRATOR

Could you sum up in a few words for us who you really are and what it is that you do?

Where do you mostly draw your inspiration from?

I am a living creature on planet earth. I enjoy the simple life and I like to express myself by creating things based on my personal encounters in life. This usually happens when I have time away from managing the strict family business.

Anything, really. I sometimes get inspired from weird things like chicken wings or hot water.

What inspired the series you chose to exhibit with F/I/M²/P?

What is the first song that pops to YOUR mind right this second?

My lack of belief in all kinds of superpowers within this world makes me want to push people to stop waiting for their superheroes and start solving their issues themselves.

The easiest way out is to do humanity a favour and KILL ALL THE SUPERHEROES!

Chopin Nocture in G major Op. 37 No. 2.

Professionally, what is the project you always wanted to engage in but haven’t gotten the chance to yet?

If any deceased individual, famous or not, were to reincarnate themselves in your body, who would it be?

A solo exhibition. I still didn’t have the chance to show my personal skills like I want to. I’m in a constant preparation mode for this event (it’s been two years), so when it blows you’d better be ready!

That’s creepy.

69

70

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

71

72

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

73

74

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

75

76

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

INTERVIEW: SAFAR BARLIK

BURGEONING FROM A PRE-WAR BEIRUT, SAFAR BARLIK IS AN AMBITIOUS NEW MUSICAL PROJECT WHOSE IDENTITY SO FAR IS PURPOUSLY SHROUDED IN MYSTERY. CYNTHIA M, FRIEND (AND COLLABORATOR ON ‘PASPOURMOI’) GIVES US AN INTIMATE PEEK AT WHO’S BEHIND BEIRUT’S NEW SOUND.

INTERVIEW BY CYNTHIA M

PHOTOGRAPH BY CYNTHIA CHEN BARBACHANO

You have always had an interest in playing music, but what inspired you to finally take the leap into composing and producing an EP? There comes a time when you just have to do what you’ve been yearning to do. I felt I had to make my own music to satisfy my own taste buds or eardrums; textures, sounds, melodies and lyrics that satisfy my desires.

In other words, I was fed up with what was out there.

You have a very particular, if almost obsessive process. When did you feel Safar Barlik was ready to meet the public?

After asking questions to and receiving criticism from a wide range of friends and editing and re-editing the tracks then doing that over and over again, it just felt right. Once I felt it had an entity of it’s own, and that I had reached what I set out to do and explored what I’d been wanting to explore, it just felt right for it to be exposed to the public.

Though the identity of Safar remains a secret, the songs are full of character. Can you describe him to us in a few words?

I think the music sheds enough of a light on SB; I don’t want my own views of what SB is to change what others see in it.

The songs on the album are quite passive, both in melody, tone, and lyrics. Is Safar reflecting upon a contemporary generation?

It could be interpreted in that way. Since I am a product of our generation, my output is most probably a manifestation of its way of being, criticisms, sensibilities and desires; at least within a certain kind of community.

The passivity is also similar to the pace of Nouvelle Vague films, where do you draw the similarities between the music Safar and this period of cinema?

In its roughness, juxtapositions and ambiguity. The nouvelle vague, among other things, was a reaction to what was out there; an exploration of the medium and the way it’s used. I guess SB is a reaction to the current. I don’t like that, here, we’re heavily “genres” oriented, e.g. “I play blues, I do hard rock, heavy metal, experimental ambient, rap or pop” not that I don’t appreciate and am not influenced by a lot of them, but sometimes, I think it’s more interesting to explore the unknown and forget the labels a bit, at least while you’re creating. These genres have been created to fill a gap specific to the place they were born in; “the place” can also mean period or community. Displacing it and using it without really questioning its form and what it expresses, without breaking it apart and putting it back together is like conforming to it instead of readapting it. Extremely predictable forms are boring; at least to me.

Safar maintains it’s chin above the golden waters of nostalgia, how do you keep that delicate balance between the past and the present?

It’s flattering to hear this, I think it might be a combination of coming to terms with the past and being resilient and optimistic in the present to work towards a better future; be it musically, emotionally or physically. The music itself is a facilitator in helping me apply the above.

SAFAR BARLIK’S DEBUT EP IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD OVER AT SAFARBARLIK.COM

77

78

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME: THE SUPERHEROES BATTLE

ARTICLE BY NOUR NACCACHE

I

f you’re a newbie in comics; meaning, if you think Hulk and Batman belong in the same camp, it’s okay… it is a little confusing because both are just so awesome. Just to clarify, though, they don’t… (Hulk=Marvel, Batman=DC). How should we compare these comics giants when both of them are major players in our life? Both of them gave rise to our favourite superheroes and both of them are such remarkable rivals that it’s ridiculous. Though you may never hear of Coke and Pepsi collaborating to create Cepsi or Poke… that’s mainly because they are endlessly less splendid than Marvel and DC who have collaborated, bringing together both sets of epic characters to create one huge bundle of F*** YEAH! Superheroes’ background story is what creates the connection, it is what draws us in… our trigger to buy more comics and see what’s going on with our beloved.

Let’s take Marvel for instance. Most characters start off like you and I; Peter Parker, the bullied, lost, high school kid who could never catch a break. And then the itsy bitsy crazy-ass spider sinks its teeth into that geeky skin of his and turns him into a magnificently charming superhero in a tight latex suit. You see what Marvel did there? It gave hope to people like us, we mean if a nobody like Peter Parker could turn into one of the greatest superheroes that has ever lived, why can’t we? Thanks Marvel,we still haven’t lost hope.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s everybody’s childhood hero flying up in the air and fighting to save the world. He’s the reason we tied capes to our backs and ‘wooshed’ while holding our G.I Joes in the flying position. DC made us feel safer. We surely could not trust a mediocre human being, let alone a teenager running around our city, to save us all for one reason and

ILLUSTRATION BY FOUAD MEZHER

one reason only… feelings. DC’s comic heroes have the element of experience on their side. Superman and Batman are both older, and have mostly always had their specific “talents” so we, as the audience, trust them a little more than we do people who have fallen prey to accidents that suddenly turn them into our only hope.

Sure DC storylines may not be as realistic and close to home as Marvel’s, but it helps to believe in something bigger; that somebody extraordinary is looking out for us, and that justice will be served the allAmerican way.

Marvel has always had the interesting, unpredictable storyline, whereas DC continuously followed the straight line.

Well, basically, up until competition started kicking their butts and they shifted their asses into gear, making their stories more original than before. DC were the ones who brought about the Silver Age; giving hope to all comic books to survive the World War II slump. They brought to the table some of the most talented writers and illustrators that have shaped the entire world of comics. DC gave us The Flash, one of the most valuable comics in the entire history of comic books. But Marvel, well Marvel took advantage of the Silver Age, and after witnessing the Justice League of America, they took to the floor with the Fantastic Four; probably the most famous company of characters in the comics world.

Well there you have it, both companies have moulded our comics’ lives so much that one cannot hold the torch over the other. DC has the iconic figures, the safety net, whereas Marvel brings hope for us to become these characters a little closer.

All in all, we can safely say that all of the characters are timeless, and we’re sure we’ll still be reading and watching them till our very last breath.

79

80

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

FOR THE MODERN DAY ARTIST & CULTURALLY INTRIGUED INDIVIDUAL 80 ALBUM REVIEWS

87 MOVIE REVIEWS

97 SOUNDTRACK REVIEW

99 LIVE REVIEW

103 THE MIXTAPE

PHOTOGRAPH BY CLARA ABI NADER

81

I

f ever there was an artist who completely embodies the word “mysterious” it’s got to be David Bowie. And anybody who tries to cover a song by the artist who has spent his career being completely different from the rest and putting his all into becoming the David Bowie, is ridiculously ambitious… or even downright stupid. The beauty of the good, and we stress on good not great, covers is the fact that they take Bowie’s lyrics but make the song their own. They don’t try to imitate the God of weird and we respected that… up until now.

Mind. Blown! Cover albums by multiple artists usually anger us. If we’d wanted to listen to an album by other artists, we’d have bought Now whatever number they’re up to these days, probably

82

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

10,009; quit already! But this one really caught our attention. It’s obvious that all the artists are in awe of David Bowie; aren’t we all? He’s an icon. Just uttering the word “rocket” mid conversation sends his voice into our heads.

Each artist keeps his quirks in the songs, the random whirring, the dramatic bashes; they put their own twists but never let the people listening forget who sung it to begin with. We have to be honest though, ‘Fame’, by All Leather, made us rush to our computer screen in confusion to check if we were screening a video of a screaming cat. That’s the only disappointing song on the album. The rest is top-notch mate!

Vivian Girls, Edward Sharpe, Chairlift, Mechanical Bride; we hadn’t expect these guys to make it on to the set list; and quite WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ALBUM OF THE ISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS - WE WERE SO TURNED ON

ARTICLE BY NOUR NACCACHE

ILLUSTRATION BY BENOIT DEBBANE

frankly, we thought we had all their songs already. But seeing as it’s for charity, we let it slide. Oh! Have we not mentioned that yet?

Yeah, ‘We Were So Turned On’, is the third installment in the War Child records, raising a little money and awareness for the kids.

What we respect is the fact that the lesser-known artists on this album will now be appreciated; their voices and talent exposed. We wish we could say that none of the classics were tainted, but Duran Duran let us down; the cover of ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ made us feel like we should be at Club Du Fromage in London doing a synchronized dance with clapping and overly smiling faces. Bruni, our beautiful Bruni, your voice always sends us on a journey to the land of slumber, yet we were stumped by this one. We’re unsure if it’s a good cover

or if we’re purely biased because we cannot get enough of her serene, sensual voice.

One kicker on the album, and one of our unexpected favorites, is Exitmusic’s ‘Space Oddity’. We wish it were longer, but we can truly listen to this as if it were their own. Sacre Bleu! Bowie, we’re sorry, we didn’t mean it, you’re awesome.

All in all, an album to get; worth the listen; worth surfing through to see if any of ‘em beats Nirvana’s ‘The Man Who Sold The World’. Plus, you get to save all those war kids. A win-win if ever there was one!

We were so turned on.

83

ALBUM REVIEW: DAVID BOWIE - HEROES ARTICLES BY SERGE KALDANY

S

omewhere along the road, “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” took a wrong turn. It went from a way of living to a way of bragging. Sure, all the gods of music were constantly high; no exception – Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones… But look at their songs: they had meaning in them. Now all the songs are about “sleeping with bitches”, “killing people”, and “getting stoned”. What happened to the golden era?

One of the big stars of that golden era was David Robert Jones, but you might know him better as David Bowie, the king of psychedelic folk. We like to nickname him “Spaceman”; he is after all obsessed with space. His first hit ‘Space Oddity’, in July of 69 mind you, took him from underground to celestial stardom.

He then went on to sing about a ‘Starman’ coming to save us, finding ‘Life on Mars’; he even made up an iconic character Ziggy Stardust. His impact on popular music is so immense that artists are still seeking his advice and collaboration. Name your favorite artist, there’s a big chance Bowie sang with them; he sang with all of the big ones.

Towards the end of the 70s, Bowie moved to Germany to focus on expanding his artistic ability. He began writing and painting

84

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

as well as continuing to tap into his musical genius. In the middle of the cold war, the new album Heroes emerged in protest to the divided capital. Again, Bowie uses unparalleled comparisons and exaggerations to bring across a simple message. We can all be heroes at least for a day, with miniscule actions, since these actions will remain written in history and live on for ever and ever. You don’t need superpowers; you can be a hero without them. Pretty much like with all his other albums, he forged this one from various noises that can only be referred to as otherworldly. The Spaceman shined once again to bring serenity to earth from the stars above.

In a way, this is his superpower, the ability to decode the stars and bring their code down to an oblivious earth.

With the collaboration of guitar giant Robert Fripp, the Heroes album was recorded entirely in Berlin, the heart of its inspiration, and hit the top charts throughout the entire world, bringing warmth to the cold war. ‘Heroes’ is arguably now Bowie’s most famous song, and featured in 4 of his albums. Of the many faces David Bowie wore during his proliferous career, this one is the most heroic, which is why it’s the one we chose for this issue. Your first heroic step towards turning into a superhero might come to you as you listen to this album, so hurry up: our planet’s fate might depend on it.

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ALBUM REVIEW: IGGY POP - BLAH BLAH BLAH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BENOIT DEBBANE

T

he skinny guy was back with yet another album release.

Iggy Pop’s new album, Blah Blah Blah, immediately went gold; and we think that it really brought across the artist’s explosive presence. The energy crazed American, well known for his unpredictable behavior on stage, managed once again to surprise his audience with yet another collaboration with Mr. Bowie; you could tell from the style of songs on the album.

man so high on drugs that he could be having epileptic and frantic traumas. Not that he normally doesn’t.

Any hardcore Bowie fan will instantly notice that this album is more David and less Iggy. In fact this is a subject that has been endlessly and fruitlessly debated by many. In any case, this is an amazing album that should be considered as one of the greats from the 80s era. Rolling Stones’ critics described the album’s singles as “a ripping fusion of classic Iggy rage, Bowie cabaret, and unexpected romantic vulnerability”; we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

When it comes to Pop, we don’t bother looking deeper into his lyrics, cause, no matter what they may portray, it’s always the beat that takes over and gives his song their particularity and identity.

Iggy has the rare gift of instilling human-like characteristics into inanimate songs. But if we do go deeper, and ask the performer about the title, he would simply answer: “It’s a way of saying that I disrespect the things that the media and the world in general are saying to me. It’s a very polite way of saying f*** you”. Polite reply indeed we have to admit, coming from him. They say that the highest form of flattery is imitation. In that case, Iggy Pop was flattered over and over, and most recently by Ke$ha, with her version of ‘Blah Blah Blah’, who has been star struck by the singer ever since her duet with him. To all potential cynicism and criticism, allow us to politely answer: Blah, blah, blah…

If it so happens that you do not know Iggy Pop, let us guide you through a brief but complete description of him and this album. It’s an out of tune accident of colors and sounds, clashing within the chords of guitars, the bows of saxophones, and the keys of pianos, which focuses its energy in your drumstick to relay the voice of a

The song that particularly caught our attention was of course the cover song ‘Blah Blah Blah’. It’s a mishmash of voices collated together in an outer-space mad jazzy piece of history. We challenge you to listen to that song without tapping your toes while clutching your body against an unstoppable urge to boogie.

85

ALBUM REVIEW: LOU REED - TRANSFORMER

I

n case it’s not already in there, it’s time to go out and get a new addition to your musical repertoire. Transformer is a genuine and worthy album to throw in the mix. The legend Lou Reed struck gold with this album by taking a more personal approach to rock. For this, his second solo release, Lou collaborated with David Bowie; a close friend of his.

It was the flagship of his transformation from being part of Velvet Underground to a solo career.

If someone tells you that Lou Reed is an oldie that should be archived and forgotten, just kick’em in the nuts. The ex Velvet Underground is among the few to have found the secret bond between ballads and rock, and his genius and talent still go unmatched. In just under 40 years, Lou Reed was able to churn out 32 albums, 20 of them as a solo act. Nowadays, this god of music lends his voice to many notorious bands like Gorillaz and Metric; putting his signature sounds on already fantastic new albums.

blue, needing to shout out in pain, or even feeling perky, happy and smiley, then this album is for you.

Lou Reed is one of the most personal songwriters to have ever contributed to the world of rock ‘n’ roll. Most of his songs are glimpses into his life; from his heartbreaks to his joys. Reed’s intention was always to share his experiences and have his audience relate to them. The song ‘Perfect Day’, for instance, is about his exwife. He sings it in a way that takes you deep into his soul; it’s sad, happy, beautiful, nostalgic, and full of hope and misery all at once.

No wonder it featured in the movie Trainspotting. It also went on to become Reed’s title for his compilation album. “Oh, it’s such a perfect day”; such a perfect album. You just want to keep listening to the songs over and over until you get goose bumps all over.

So come on; take a walk on the wild side …

Lou Reed had such an important and productive impact on music that you simply cannot label his pieces with a single style or genre. Or maybe you can; Lou Reed’s genre is Lou Reed. This newly proclaimed genre marks an imposing presence in every second of every song of the album Transformer. Whether you’re

86

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ALBUM REVIEW: DANA GILLEPSIE - WEREN’T BORN A MAN

S

how of hands; who here knows a song by miss Dana Gillespie? It’s okay! We can ex… wait... truth be told, we had no clue about her either a couple of months back.

However, the British actress and singer quickly managed to get her hands on the key to our heart with her genuine sensuality, and, well, the enormous amount of raw animal sex appeal that emanates from of her body. She’s the dame who has the biggest repute for carnal expression since Aphrodite. Her weapons of mass seduction are no secret: big round boobs and folky vocal chords. To the disappointment of many, we’ll just stick to her voice today. Trust us however; you won’t be disappointed… Weren’t Born a Man is but one of her many albums.

Like every good album out there, it has its upbeat happy songs, as well as its cut of the blues. Picture this: a desirable woman lying on a piano in the dark under a dim blue spot light, singing to the piano player, trying to grasp his attention, wooing him, desperate for a touch, a feel of the warmth of his skin… In the song ‘Weren’t Born a Man’, she sings to a woman; a crush maybe? She could be a close friend, or just a mysterious dark stranger. Her sensuality bursts out in all possible directions. Her attraction to this woman is not one that can be handled easily. This woman has all the perfect qualities she searches for in a lover: her looks, her charm, her love,

her friendship, her generosity, and her ability to give pleasure. She has one flaw nonetheless, as the album clearly states it: she wasn’t born a man. We can all relate to these emotions. Haven’t you ever had a friend you wished could be something more? This perfect creature for you, always at your side, but yet, so far from your reach? Of course you have; we all have. The only difference is that big-boobed Gillespie was able to bluntly put her feelings in writing so she could get some closure by singing her painful hungering for this person.

Sadly, Dana may not have had her chance with her lady jailor but, lucky for us, the illustrious woman ‘Weren’t Born a Man’, brought about the creation of a great album, and the union of 2 great performers. This album is produced by the iconic Ziggy Stardust; the one and only David Bowie, who once featured Dana as backup vocals. She also worked with other divine musicians, like Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. What is she up to now, almost 40 years after the release of Weren’t Born a Man? At 63 years of age, Dana is still singing with her London blues band.

So, we reiterate… Show of hands; who here doesn’t want to get to know at least one song by miss Dana Gillespie?

87

88

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

MOVIE OF THE ISSUE: SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN

Superman is the original superhero, and this movie’s the original Superman. That pretty much says it all. Let’s travel back in time… Join us in the year 1951 when the first ever Superman movie was shot: Superman And The Mole-Men.

A

ARTICLE BY SERGE KALDANY

ILLUSTRATION BY RAFIC SAAB

long with Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates), news reporter Clark Kent (George Reeves) is writing a story on a recordbreaking oil well. Its drill had been able to penetrate the earth so deeply, that it opened a passage to the land of small creatures that live underground.

Curious about the world above their burrows, these ‘mole-men’ surface and start roaming the streets of their top-side neighbors. At around the same time, the well’s watchman dies suspiciously of mysterious causes. Of course, this terrorizes the townies, and particularly Mr. Luke Benson (Jeff Corey) a crazed ruthless man who gathers an angry mob determined to kill off these furry creatures. This is a job for Superman! Aka Clark Kent but without the glasses… jeez do we need to tell you everything?!

on audio and video, we can’t even talk about the director, whose name happens to be Lee Sholem; that’s actually all we’ve got to say about him… his name. We even tried asking our grandparents about the movie: they either don’t remember it, or haven’t even seen it, shocker! So let’s concentrate on the iconic character instead. And yeah, we know, eyeglasses as disguise… seriously? No one could tell?

It is striking that, even 50 years in, this movie can still entertain and keep us in awe in spite of humble montages. Clearly, it has no visual effects to speak of; it doesn’t even have color. We found it difficult to review this movie; we don’t know the actors, we can’t comment

Playing the part of Superman is pretty heroic, and a great honor but not entirely a walk in the park. And here’s why… In the past, the part of Superman was riddled with a curse. The first ever Superman, and star of this movie, was George Reeves. He kicked off the saga of the man of steel with this movie, and then went on to star in the Superman series for over 100 episodes. After 6 years in the series, George Reeves was found shot in his Hollywood apartment. This man had created the image of Superman, and died as Superman. It sadly turned out, after all, that Superman wasn’t really bulletproof off-camera. Actor number 2 was named Christopher Reeve, without the ‘S’, believe it or not! No relation whatsoever to his predecessor; pure coincidence. In 1995, after having starred in 4 Superman movies, a horse-riding accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Ironic, isn’t it? The man who use to fly in the movies could no longer even walk. The two other Supermen were Dean Cain, in The New Superman Adventures series, and Brandon Routh, in the movie Superman Returns. Luckily, no unfortunate accident… so far…

How much more superheroic than Superman can you get? For f***’s sake, he has the word ‘super’ in his name. He is the inevitable reference for superheroes. Top of the list. He’s always up in the sky, flying from people in distress to masses locked in train-wreck disasters. Superman has saved people from evil beasts, aliens, Dinosaurs, Lex Luthor, and every unearthly creature wanting to dig its claws into this blue sphere we call home. In this movie, he sides with the helpless, misunderstood, and innocent mole-men and tries to save them from the grasp of the men who want them dead.

After all the unceasingly new Spidermans and Batmans, there’s finally a new Superman coming out soon, portrayed by Henry Cavill (The Tudors series). This one will not feature the hero’s name in the title: it will be called Man of Steel and is directed by Zack Snyder, the man who brought us the legendary film 300.

As for Superman and the Mole-Men, we’re just gonna bluntly come out and say it: we loved that movie. Unfortunately, we had to see it on YouTube, since we couldn’t find it anywhere else. If you happen to come across a torrent link, a DVD, hell, even an old tape of the movie, please let us know. This movie has been long forgotten, and that’s a shame. It’s up to us to remember it and give it the recognition it deserves; after all, it IS the original Superman.

89

MOVIE REVIEWS

DIRECTED BY BRAD BIRD

“Well, I finaly figured out who I am: I am your ward. IncrediBoy!

ARTICLES BY SERGE KALDANY

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHEL KARSOUNY

T

here is no greater power than family. The best movies are often ones that can entertain both adults and children. Enter animation: it unites the imagery that children adore with the emotions that adults seek; and on a personal note, it’s funny as shit! A particular one that relates to superheroes is 2004 Pixar’s The Incredibles. It’s a charming story about an unusual family going about its everyday life… Well, trying to at least.

After a series of ridiculous lawsuits, a group of superheroes is banned from practicing superheroism, and is forced to live normal petty lives like the common people of Metroville – cheesy city name, right? 15 years in, a more than nostalgic Mr. Incredible is aching to get back to his life-saving evil-fighting days. He gets his wish granted when secret government forces hire him for the simple task of retrieving a lost high-tech robot from a remote island. This rapidly transforms into a series of assignments. However, Mr. Incredible is a little out of shape. He goes back to training and gets a new suit that fits. He soon finds himself in over his head, and inadvertently is saved by his own family. Solo tasks become family efforts. The whole Incredibles family soon discovers that their bond and love for one another is their most valuable superpower, and embarks on a rescue mission like no other.

Enough banter: as is customary, here’s a list of our heroes and their superpowers, by order of appearance: * Code name: Mr. Incredible – Secret identity: Bob Parr – Voice of: Craig T. Nelson – Job description: Insurance salesman – Super power: Super strength – Character note: Midlife crisis. * Code name: Elastigirl – Secret identity: Helen Parr – Voice of: Holly Hunter – Job description: Stay at home mom – Super power: Elastic body – Character note: Awesome matriarch. * Code name: Frozone – Secret identity: Lucious Best – Voice of: Samuel L. Jackson (yes, he is in every movie with a badass black good-guy) – Job description: Undisclosed – Super power: Freezer – Character note: Goes on and on about his adventures, and won’t shut up about it. * Code name: Dash – Secret identity: Dashiell Parr – Voice of: Spencer Fox – Job description: Go to school without pulling prank on the teacher – Super power: Super speed – Character note:

90

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

Frustrated at the notion of not being able to use his superpowers for sports. * Code name: Invisible girl – Secret identity: Violet Parr – Voice of: Sarah Vowell – Job description: Stop being a stupid emo – Super power: Invisibility – Character note: Has a crush on a boy at school. * Code name: Baby – Secret identity: Jack Jack Parr – Voice of: various – Job description: Looking cute as hell – Super power: Undisclosed for the moment – Character note: Likes baby food and pooping his diapers. * Code name: Mirage – Secret identity: unknown – Voice of: Elizabeth Peña – Job description: Assistant – Super power: undisclosed - Character note: Enjoys long walks on the beach… we assume. * Code name: E – Secret identity: Edna Mode – Voice of: Brad Bird – Job description: Superhero fashion guru – Super power: Inexistent – Character note: Aversion to capes. * Code name: Syndrome – Secret identity: Buddy Pine – Voice of: Jason Lee – Job description: Weapons creator – Super power: Super bad guy – Character note: Can’t let go of childhood disappointments.

As you might have noticed, this issue’s movies are all about the wind element. Wind is an often forgotten element, seeing that it is invisible and impalpable. It doesn’t mean however that it’s not at least as strong as earth, fire, and water. In fact, in this particular film, wind is all about the new generation of heroes, the kid Incredibles. One of them runs like the wind, while the other can distort it. Even baby Incredible’s new-found power is related to wind, well, sort of…

In a nutshell, we strongly advise you not to miss this movie; it’s a hoot. Once again, Pixar managed to do what it does best: amuse both young and adults and bring families closer together. This time they did it by showing a model family, one to look up to - granted, without pointlessly trying to act like a hero. This is one perfect movie for family night. Basically, this movie is incredible.

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

91

MOVIE REVIEWS

DIRECTED BY KERRY CONRAN

“It’s only a movie, Mr. Paley. I’ll bring you some popcorn.

I

n today’s world, a whole lot of money is being invested into graphics. But with the current trend to cater to Imax, 3D, HD, and other numerous formats, the 7th art is slowly being ruined. We know that’s a bold statement, but hear us out. Unfortunately, we seem to have lost our sense of vision when it comes to movies, games and photography. The endless pursuit of the perfect image - making it bigger, sharper, better, more realistic, whatever – has left us blind to its purpose. Just look at the difference between old and new games or old and new animations. There was once a day when Disney would make movies with a message and moral to teach young ones about important aspects of life. Now, it’s all about wowing the audience with special effects and parlor tricks. This quest for perfection has transformed most directors into a herd of sheep copy pasting effects until all movies now look alike. All? Well, not exactly. But here’s a movie which, like us, is fed up with all this nonsense, and weirdly enough, though it uses effect, it does so to focus on the actual content of the story instead of just its picture and on the creativity of imaging in lieu of the effortless pursue of realism.

At the height of this special effects era, director Kerry Conran said “f*** it!” and though he shot an entire movie using a blue screen, which is like a green screen but blue, he used his footage to portray the future using a very retro approach; film noir. The movie achieves a unique image style that actually makes the actors look, well, for lack of a better way of putting it: fake.

So what actors would be stupid enough to agree to star in such a movie? Well, surprise surprise; they did manage to land Giovanni Ribisi (Friends’ Frank Jr.)… Oh! And Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, and Angelina Jolie. Damn… that is one sexy movie!

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore himself, Sir Michael Gambon, even joined the party. The movie also managed to resurrect a dead actor, Laurence Olivier, and cast him in this movie as the evil doctor. We’ll give you a moment to re-read that last sentence… yes a dead actor; ok they didn’t actually dig him up from his grave, but they were able to incorporate him by using CGI-manipulated archive footage.

Herbert Stothart (The Wizard of Oz, Man on the Moon, The Brady Bunch), who has written hundreds of works dedicated for the big screen and whose expertise is still being sought after for up-coming movies.

The year is 1939, and, somehow, we’re in the future. New York City is ravaged and attacked by giant flying robots, and a listfull of scientists go missing. An investigating reporter (Paltrow) teams up with the esteemed sky captain (Law) to track down the perpetrator behind these incidents, a mastermind (footage of Oliver) set on replacing the current world with another one. In order to get to him, they have to get the help of an aerial battleship led by the luscious commander Franky (Jolie).

Our superhero in this movie is the master of wind. With the help of his fighter plane, he’s more comfortable in the skies than on the ground; controlling the flow of breezes, agile as a dove. Sky captain glides gracefully between buildings, eluding his assailants, and annihilating them with a press of a button. Conran successfully adapted the comic book styling and atmosphere of superheroes into a movie worthy of the admiration of the greatest critics and faultfinders.

In today’s world, special effects are everything. In Conran’s world of tomorrow however, special effects suck but in a beautiful way. This movie is full of cool stuff, from dead actors to retrofuturistic settings, amazing cast and gripping music. It’s no brainteaser, lesson imparter, or stirrer of emotions; this is one of the rare movies that are simply fun to watch. And another thing, when you settle in to watch that movie, keep in mind that everything, apart from the leading actors, was drawn and generated on a computer.

The film score also takes us to the height of dramatic movies from the past. The artistic genius behind it is none other than

92

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

93

MOVIE REVIEWS

DIRECTED BY BRETT RATNER

N

“Did you think you were the only one of your kind, young lady?

othing says superhero like the X-men. Ok fine, maybe Superman, Batman, and the other bunch do… however; Marvel’s band of mutant misfits has always been the go to peeps for your save-the-day occasions.

Stan Lee’s creation is back for a third chapter, and, true to form, he makes a short cameo appearance in the reel.

Beast (Kelsey Grammer), a mutant who can only be described as some sort of blue gorilla man, discovers that a scientist has come up with a ‘cure’ to the mutant gene. Of course, the news spreads fast and inevitably stirs up a lot of commotion in this human and mutant inhabited world. As the mutant ambassador, Beast tries to restrain the effects of this ‘cure’ – mainly opposing its use as a weapon.

Seeking help, he goes to Professor X, Charles Xavier, played by the iconic Patrick Stewart. Xavier is considered to be the mutants’ father figure and is the founder of the school for young mutants. Xavier’s superpower, if you don’t already know, is psychic abilities. He can communicate by thoughts, read minds, manipulate memories, and even move objects with the power of his mind; which comes in handy given the fact that he’s in a wheel chair.

Another elder mutant is Magneto, who has unfortunately embraced his inner evil, and opposes Xavier’s pursuit of cohabitation. Magneto is determined to eradicate the ‘cure’, in addition to humankind, from the face of the earth. He’s a coldhearted creature whose radical doctrine pushed him to assemble a team of “villain” mutants. As stated by his name, he’s somewhat of a giant magnet that can control any metal.

While some can control metal, others are made of it. If the X-men were a band, then Wolverine would definitely be the lead guitarist. His bones are carved from adamantium; a fictional metal renowned for being indestructible. When Hugh Jackman draws his claws, the world quivers, for not only is he a natural-born fighter, but he also possesses the power to regenerate tissue. Simply put, he’s an immortal killing machine.

which makes his power more of a curse.

Mystique, a sexy blue slithering creature, is played by the gorgeous Rebecca Romijn. Magneto’s right hand woman, Mystique can distort her DNA to transform into any creature she sets eyes upon. In the middle of the feud, she takes a ‘cure dart’ to save the life of Magneto, thus turning back into a human being with nothing special or unique apart from sheer beauty.

While some mutants are appalled by the existence of the cure, Rogue (Ana Paquin) is delighted by it. She can finally get rid of her power; killing everything and anything that she comes in contact with. Her desire to get the cure comes mostly due to the fact that she yearns for the touch of her boyfriend Iceman.

Iceman (Shawn Ashmore), with his ability to shoot ice from his hands, is one of the leading fighters in the soldier team of mutants. In a classic battle between ice and fire, the movie pits him up against Pyro (Aaron Stanford), a hotheaded mutant who joins the force of Magneto to reduce the human race, along with the cure, to smoldering ashes.

The development of the cure for the mutant gene was brought about by a motivated scientist and businessman whose son was struck by an altering mutation that left him with huge wings. The flying mutant, Angel, is portrayed by the actor Ben Foster.

Macho man Vinnie Jones is also in the movie as Juggernaut, aka the unstoppable human bullet. He’s also the perpetrator of the funniest moment of the movie in which he utters: “Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Juggernaut, b****!”

We’ve saved our favorite for last: Storm, the mutant embodied by the sexy Halle Berry. The master of wind and weather takes on the responsibility of headmistress; picking up the baton to help young mutants deal with their powers, comprehend them and control their unique abilities.

Wolverine’s love interest is another mutant. A red haired force of nature, Jean (Famke Janssen) is a carbon copy of Professor Xavier pumped up on steroids. A controller of energy at the molecular level, she is arguably the most powerful mutant out there.

Brett Ratner, the director, is an off-screen kind of mutant. His rise to fame was brought about through the Rush Hour movies. His directing genius was then reaffirmed with Red Dragon; part of the epic Hannibal Lecter trilogy.

No good story is complete without emotional complications.

Enter the third member of the love triangle: James Marsden’s Cyclops. Cyclops has the ability to fire lasers from his eyes. The downside is that he is not capable of not firing lasers from his eyes;

Obviously, we’ve left out some mutants with incredible powers for you to discover on your own. Finally, the question the little nerd in all of us wants to ask: If you could have a mutant power, which one would you want?

94

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

95

MOVIE REVIEWS

DIRECTED BY JAMES MCTEIGUE

“REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER”

L

et us start off by saying that this (insert fake British accent) is a properly brilliant movie. There, we’re glad we got that out of our system. Now, let’s try to be as objective as possible… This is an awesome movie and anyone who says otherwise deserves to die a grueling death! Might have gotten carried away a bit there…

V for Vendetta (2005) is a game-changing movie that follows the unstoppable chain of events set off by a hero fighting for mankind; but not in the comic book sense. Our hero fights against very real people and organizations. Let’s have a look at what ‘V’ is all about…

Die-hard fans would kill us if we didn’t start off with the following chilling and memorable quote: “Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gun-powder treason should ever be forgot.” This saying references the original V; the historical Guy Fawkes who attempted the ‘gun-powder plot’ assassination of King James I at some point in 1605. For more information, please feel free to flip through the boring pages of a history book; we’re not here for that.

We’re here for V (Hugo Weaving, even though you never actually see his unique trademark face), who is fighting the totalitarian British government through terrorist means and weaponry – the good rebel forces kind, not the 9/11 planes in buildings one. The government, overseen by high chancellor Sutler (John Hurt), is a tight ship that gives an eerie depiction of a present day Stalin soviet Russia. In this un-utopic fantasy era of curfews, secret “finger men” police, gratuitous treason, and chancellors, a young girl by the name of Evey (Natalie Portman) is rescued by the man in the mask. Doubting this new alliance, Evey runs to her TV presenter boss (the illustrious Stephen Fry), a silent and inactive marcher against the current politicians and their regime. Concurrently, chief inspector Finch (Stephen Rea) is conducting an inquiry into V’s past, unveiling his origins and shedding a light on a very shocking truth that will eventually make him doubt his employers and their mission. As the movie unravels, we too get glimpses of V’s previous life and misfortunes. As it turns out, V is not the selfless knight in shining armor that he claims to be; he is following an agenda of his own. Then, of course, we get to the part where they shave Natalie Portman’s head, on purpose, unlike Britney Spears, and very much unlike Britney, Natalie still looks hot as hell. Want to know what happens next? Or what

96

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

happened in V’s life to make him that obstinate? Well, you’re just gonna have to watch the movie now, aren’t you…

James McTeigue is the director of this movie. In fact, it’s his first movie. But then again, he did happen to assist the directors of some not-too-shabby movies such as the Matrix trilogy, and Star Wars Episode II, so we knew he had the potential; but still, hats off for this solo debut. James has quickly mastered the multiple angles of subliminal messages. He filled ‘V’ with abundant yet subtle fives and Vs; like the notable monologue made up strictly of words starting with the letter V, the fact that V plays Beethoven’s ‘fifth’ symphony, or even the three dots “…”, Morse code for… yes, you guessed the letter…

V is a sort of super human modern-time ninja if you’d like. He runs like the wind and is as elusive as a ghost; sneaking up on his enemies and wiping them out mass after mass like an unstoppable hurricane.

This man seems to be immune to bullets, fire, and explosions. It’s no exaggeration when we say that V belongs without a doubt to the class of realistic superheroes; ones we need more of – ones that fight for the people and for society against evil governments. He’s a virtuous vagabond with void visibility visiting his vile victims, voraciously and vigorously vanquishing their viability, while voicing various very vague but verbal verses about violence, validating the ‘veni, vidi, vici’ verbalization. We thought we’d try our hand at the ‘V’ pattern heritage, however, we have to admit: the letter V though eloquent is quite hard to stick with…

V wears the famous Guy Fawkes mask, made even more popular after the release of the movie. You might remember it from Halloween parties, the ‘Anonymous’ Internet hackers and even random protestors. The mask and its meaning spread throughout the globe like a disease. It is an idea and ideas are immortal. The man behind the mask, the persona, became a gliding legend in modern time movies. Even after several viewings of the movie, V still eludes us. He remains a volatile character, full of mystery; blowing in the wind like an autumn leaf.

So remember, remember the 5th of November, but most of all, remember to watch this movie.

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

97

98

F/I/M²/P - DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

SOUNDTRACK REVIEW: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

- ROXY RICHTER Merriam Webster’s definition of epic is: “/’ep-ik/; extending beyond the usual or ordinary”. Take this “epicness”, mix it in a batter of epic extravaganza, then bake for 112 minutes and you’ll get “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”, the tale of a video game hero overcoming the obstacles of a new relationship.

ARTICLE BY HELENE ABI ASSI

ILLUSTRATION BY RAPHAELLE MACARON

I

n matters of love, we all wish we could start fresh with that new someone and leave the baggage at the door. Unfortunately, we all know that it’s BS. A person’s baggage is here to stay, and when you date them, you date all their past lovers… unless you can defeat them in battle. Scott Pilgrim, the hero of our video game, has to defeat all seven of Ramona’s, the girl with hot pink hair, evil exes.

by Metric (Oh yeah!). Scott defeats Todd by giving him coffee with real milk, passing as soy milk, and Todd gets arrested by the Vegan Police Academy for not honoring his diet. On to the T-Rex, a band that survived the extinction of dinosaurs to sing ‘Teenage Dream’. Whatever happened to that dream? Meeting someone, falling in love, living happily ever after until one of you cheats, leaves the country or just simply disappears?

Scott is part of a band called the Sex Bob-omb, which introduces the movie soundtrack by screaming,“We are Sex Bobomb!!! 1, 2, 3, 4!” The repertoire of our video game hero’s alleged band comprises of songs composed and written by Beck, with hits such as ‘Garbage truck’, ‘Threshold’ and ‘Summertime’.

Another song that stands out is ‘Scott Pilgrim’ by Plumtree whose single inspired the character of Scott Pilgrim and the storyline of the movie. The tone of the song carries the same tone as the movie: bittersweet, yet with a positive and funny twist.

The first of Ramona’s evil exes who Scott has to defeat attacks him during a battle of the bands with Crash and the Boys. During the mash-off, Crash’s music, which was written by Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, of Broken Social Scene, revealed a selection of songs that were quick, punk and fast, such as‘I’m sad, so very very sad’, a 13-second song whose entire lyrics are included in the title of the song, followed by “We hate you, please die”(pretty self explanatory).

The remainder of the soundtrack is an ad-libbed script added to the plot of the film.‘Sleazy Bed Track’ by the Bluetones is, as its name suggests, a sleazy track I would advise all of you to play when you’re trying to get your sexy on. No foreplay necessary, the lyrics of the song say it all. You’re welcome!

Skipping through the rest of the soundtrack, one can find tracks by The Rolling Stones, Broken Social Scene (who also wrote the songs for Crash and the Boys), Franck Black and Blood Red Shoes.The soundtrack makes you Fast-forward to Ramona’s third ex, feel as if you were playing a video game which the evil bass player for Clash at the gets intensely fast paced when you battle Demonhead, Todd Ingram, who is a against one of your lover’s exes then eases back vegan psychic that got his superpowers by to a softer, more dreamy pace when you and enrolling in the Vegan Academy. His band your lover travel through subspace. As if the Clash plays ‘Black Sheep’, a song composed movie wasn’t enough!

99

LIVE REVIEW: RADIOHEAD - BERCY, PARIS

100 F/I/M²/P

- DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

ARTICLE & PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLARA ABI NADER Emptiness and space.

Would you rather be alone?

Is it the kind of experience you’d like to have on your own?

I believe so.

Sharing it would be nice for the memories, but only if you get to feel it, deep in that soul of yours.

“Just to see what if, just to see what is” Have you ever heard of the parallel world?

The bastard who’s been shouting non-stop; begging; almost crying: “GET NAKED THOOOOM.” Seriously?! Get naked Thom?

Is he really asking Thom Yorke the one and only god of music, to get naked? On stage?

What the hell?

At the one moment where I was ready to just forget about all the mess that’s going on around me and set myself free… that bastard opens his trap and spews stupid shit like that. And there I am ready to commit murder… Images flash before my eyes…

But it’s not my life that I review…

It’s images of me turning around slowly…

Have you ever thought about it?

Have you ever witnessed it then?

I’m no longer the little girl who can barely see the stage…

“And now I’ll set you free, I’ll set you free” I’m a monster on the trail of blood…

Now that she’s gone, back on the plane.

Back to the sky where no one can blame.

Slowly I turn, take out my weapon and kill that vermin; that parasite.

Far from the ground,

Does anybody touch me afterwards? No.

Faster than sound,

Am I able to see Thom Yorke better? No.

Just close your eyes and let it in,

I go back to being that short little girl who showed up too late to stand at the front.

“Like a fish now, out of water” Just close your eyes and bite on your lips.

Was I able to enjoy the music again? Sure I did but not as much as I had wanted.

Slowly you’ll feel it, that rhythm in your veins.

Well, at least I could raise my hand and take some photos.

Constantly repeating,

On Thursday the 11th of October, I should have bought a T-shirt, I should have drunk more beer, I should have been standing in the front row.

After days and nights giving in, “In your arms don’t hurt me, in your arms don’t hurt me” Why would you forget about me?

“Why don’t you remember my name?”

At that moment. When you think you’re finally gonna get to enjoy your time, you’re gonna jump, you’re gonna scream. You’re gonna fly up to the sky and let go of all the anger inside you, a bastard from behind springs up.

But then again.

The show. The lights. The colors and his voice. I mean, who wouldn’t like having Radiohead singing live just for you?

Cause I was in a parallel world, a parallel universe with unique sounds and visuals, with indefinable feelings and shivers.

Regardless of how many bastards there were around.

101

102 F/I/M²/P

- DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

103

COMPILED BY THE PEOPLE BEHIND F/I/M²/P

104 F/I/M²/P

- DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

CAPTURES COURTESY OF A SUPERHERO TRYING TO FIT IN

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

01 ‘Flash’ Queen Taken from the soundtrack of the 1980 movie Flash Gordon, Freddie Mercurie duets beautifully with guitarist Brian May while trademark lines from the film dialogue act as interludes.

02 ‘Death Proof’ Kate Nash Britain’s little sweetheart has left her ‘foundations’ far behind her and released her latest EP in preperation for her third full lenght. We salute the dark & gloomy yet catchy new offering.

03 ‘Burst!’

Peaches The gritty electro sex-rapper is back with a hard-hitting stomper that will have you running that extra three minutes and fourty-eight seconds on the treadmill.

04 ‘Smash And Grab’ Juliette & The Licks Juliette Lewis decided to go solo after Four On The Floor, a decision we did not back up. All is well however as long as we still get to enjoy her screaming her lungs out on these old high energy cuts.

05 ‘Butch’ Saint Motel The American four piece band’s sound has been described as Dream Pop, Garage Glam and Indie Prog. This should say enough about “the good stuff” you should expect from these guys.

06 ‘Kids’ Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue Back in 2000, Australia and the UK joined forces to welcome the new millenium together with a big Pop bang.

If you think you don’t know this song, just wait for the chorus, it’ll ring a bell.

07 ‘Storm’ Django Django The Scottish Art-Rock band uses African sounds on this cut off their Mercury Prize nominated debut album. A true modern classic.

08 ‘Crime Pays’ Bear Hands Hailing from the Brooklyn Indie scene in 2006, Bear Hands concocted a drive-time anthem worthy of your afternoon drives back from work.

09 ‘Suffragette City’ David Bowie Track number ten off of Rock & Roll’s bible Ziggy Stardust... You should have the album memorized by now. If you don’t, we won’t even bother!

10 ‘Tides’ The xx Once four, now three, the members of the famous-over-night indie group “par excellence” released one of the best albums of the year. ‘Tides’, one of the standouts, show Jamie’s skills at work.

11 ‘Hero’ The Asteroids Galaxy Tour Taken from their first LP Fruit, ‘Hero’ takes a step back and plays like a spacy electro-tinged twenty-first century country ballad.

12 ‘Against The Grain’ Hudson Hudson is quite the peculiar band and is worth looking into their concept albums.

Each one tells a story that spans over different sub-genres of Folk Rock. This cut serves as a perfect first taste.

13 ‘So Strange’ Lucy & The Cloud Parade Lead singer Ane Trolle says it best when she describes the band’s sound as being reminiscent of traveling hippy bands from a time when music was fun and free.

15 ‘Heroes’ (David Bowie Cover) TV On The Radio You won’t find any drastic changes here, you can still sing along to it. What the Post-Punk boys from Brooklyn do however, is offer a slightly modernised and electrified version of the classic.

16 ‘Killers’ Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Owen Ashworth’s project (now dropped, after thirteen years) still boasts some of the most brutally honest aural pleasures to ever be recorded. Notice the swift Bowie sample towards the end!

17 ‘Strange Love’ Karen O We’re not used to this side of Karen but we seem to be getting a lot of it!

Expect something similar to her work on 2009’s Where The Wild Things Are soundtrack.

18 ‘Rabbit Song’ Boy & Bear Dave Hosking’s quintet complain about... things. We’re not even sure they’re complaining about anything, but they sure sound like they are. Disregard this and just have a listen, it’ll warm you up.

19 ‘Meet In The Dark’ Dark Dark Dark Speaking of things to warm you up, Dark Dark Dark should be everyone’s favourite band during the cold winter days. Nona Marie Invie’s vocals will be enough to keep you safe from the cruel weather.

20 ‘Superhero Style’ Eddi Front Newcomer Eddi Front (previously Eddi Lines) seems to be keeping a certain Ms. Del Rey’s seat warm with her eerie, dusty charm and a choking sense of sadness overwhelming her sound. One to watch!

14 ‘PasPourMoi’ Safar Barlik Feat. Cynthia M We might know who’s behind Beirut’s new yet nostalgic sound, but we won’t let the cat out just yet. Give this track a listen and you’ll find yourself playing it over and over again mindlessly.

DOWNLOAD THIS MIXTAPE FROM OUR SOUNDCLOUD PAGE FOR FREE WWW.SOUNDCLOUD.COM/FIMP-MAG

105

FINAL THOUGHT

A

strange yet magical thing happened right after we started playing The xx’s new album, Coexist. Our headphones broke down in such a way that, unless you tamper with the cord every couple of minutes, you can’t hear any vocals. Luckily for us, Coexist is an album that rides heavily on its stellar production, courtesy of The xx member Jamie xx Smith, whose recent solo work as a remix artist, DJ and producer has made the album what it is: Jamie xx’s album.

Of course, this is still The xx: the vocal performances are, for many songs, rather breathtaking, if not in technique, then at least in emotive value. The first single off the album ‘Angels’ comes to mind, with Romy Madley Croft’s slight, reverberating guitar setting a perfect tone for her drifting, dreamy vocals. Oliver and Romy’s tunes of a turbulent relationship and love lost will steal your heart without having to woo you in with massive hooks and power chords.

With Coexist, the listener needn’t wait for The xx to convince them they should care, but rather, the album plays out like a daily conversation with a loved friend.

ARTICLE BY RUDY SHAHEEN

ILLUSTRATION BY MOHAMAD ABDOUNI

Another great example of The xx’s vocal gifts would be ‘Tides’, which is basically our personal favorite song on the album. Croft and bassit/singer Oliver Sim sing a phenomenal duet for most of the song: Only once, at the very start of the song, do they break apart – the alienation presenting an intense back-andforth between the two with each one finishing the other’s phrases and thoughts. Though Croft and Sim are amazing singers and musicians, they are notheless overshadowed by Jamie’s formidable production/drunk machine skills. Even the amazing singing on ‘Tides’ loses its oomph when Jamie’s beat comes to the fore of the song. The simple beat is accented by waves of what seems to be treated hi-hats cresting on every fourth beat, giving each measure a surprisingly smooth texture.

It’s very clear that Jamie’s career as a post-Dubstep producer has pretty much influenced the entire album; given ‘Missing’, for instance, with its intricate and carefully planned dynamics. The band, however, did mention in some of their early comments on Coexist that the album would have a “clubbier” beat than the first.

Much like their first album, The xx’s Coexist is a full-on album.

To get the complete picture, you’ll need to listen to every track.

106 F/I/M²/P

- DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM

There’s a store, a wonderful store Full of goodies and candies galore Where fairies dance on a rainbow____And stars and glitter fall like snow____It’s a place for the young at heart____Where there are cameras that look like art____It’s magical, theatrical, and delightful____Crazy, funny, and wonderful____There’s tons of candy from yesteryears____And bags, toys, books and bunny ears____(Oh! There’s even a black box to make you blush!____But don’t tell anyone! It’s a secret! Hush!)

Saifi Village +961 1 973 603 find us on

and follow us on

@SuperCaliBrand

Now in ABC Achrafieh Department Store L2 I Toys section and soon in ABC Dbayeh.

Exclusive distributor

107

108 F/I/M²/P

- DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

WWW.FIMP-MAG.COM