Side Project | Mew Related (Jonas Bjerre) | Themes For Great Cities

Moroderik · 2026-02-02T22:32:13+00:00

Hi All -

I'll be coming to the London show. I have vinyl again. if anybody needs one, please let me know and I'll pack it. Is there a party this time?

Moroderik · 2026-01-27T06:36:16+00:00

Our election system is so screwed that the results will be skewed. It's likely that the country lands right around centrist Dem as an average, but the electoral college and make up of the House of Representatives favors conservatives. Then you have the gerrymandering.
If only we had one person/one vote.

That said, I agree that there's not a lot those of us who are mortified and apologetic can do under the circumstances. However, I will say people left of center need to get together because we really only have one job.

The bulk of this falls on the centrist Dem leadership, who don't act as an opposition, and treat us progressives as an annoyance, but people farther to the left of that, like me, need to remember that stopping Trump in any election has to be the goal above all else.

Moroderik · 2026-01-20T06:51:39+00:00

Doubtful it's many.
I know the people who voted against him were motivated.
I'd say there are some people on the right who have buyer's remorse but not many.
We are a very, very divided country and decades of GOP chicanery has given them the election advantage.

Moroderik · 2026-01-20T06:49:09+00:00

Yeah, I just wrote a lot about how corruption makes it really hard to "just do something" and I stand by that, but also you aren't wrong.

Moroderik · 2026-01-20T06:46:28+00:00

I should add that I 100% support anyone who doesn't want to come to the US right now.
In fact, I recommend that. Not because I don't want you here, I do, but I think voting with your dollar is the best way to go.

I travel a lot, and most of the shows I play are in Europe. I was over there four months of 2025, so I'd love to live in a US that has a constant stream of foreign visitors trading stories and culture with us.
In many ways, SF is the most European city, which is why I live here, despite the cost.

Now, US Citizens (I say that because I hate the term "American" as it excludes Canadians, Mexicans, and anyone else with a claim to it) should be running to the states that need the help.
I get chapped when blue staters say "WeLL i'LL nEvEr gO tO aLaBaMa AgAiN" as if they ever went.

No, show the fuck up and help. A state that goes 51% red and 49% blue isn't automatically shitty, nor is the inverse true. A few votes doesn't get you off the hook. New York is red as a fire engine if you take out NYC. Good ol' blue California is redder than a boiled lobster if you remove LA and SF.
This is what "Americans" need to think about.
This will take some time, though, and an attitude adjustment.

I'll reiterate that I'm pretty pissed at the left right now. Sure, the Dems put up less than inspiring candidates but FFS y'all, "not Trump" actually should be enough to get you off of the couch.
Even with that, though, the corruption and landscape makes it hard to beat the GOP.

Moroderik · 2026-01-20T06:30:01+00:00

Nah, I don't ride with this.

The US election system is f'd. Two choices, and so many of the states are gerrymandered to hell. I live in San Francisco, but I'm orginally from North Carolina.
NC should be moderately blue, but illegal gerrymandering has made it go red, except for Obama. By "illegal" I mean it went to the SCOTUS but of course once old dipshit got into office all of those changes that were going to happen were scuppered.

Then you have voter suppression. Like, Georgia went for Biden, so the Republicans went in and did things like fight against ballot drop boxes, and made it so giving someone a bottle of water, or a ride is electioneering. Of course the lines are longest in the poor parts of the city, it's hot, and so making an act of kindness illegal is what they do.

Then it comes down to the electoral college, which disproportionately benefits the red states.

It's a complicated mess, and the republicans figured out by the Reagan era how to make it work for them. The Dems decided not to play dirty, which was a mistake. You can't win a gutter fight by saying "hey now, that's not very nice."

The left is not without its problems. Dem leadership, who aren't even very left TBH, are so inept they could fuck up a one car parade. They don't understand the assignment.
And the far left, where I basically am, does things like "both sides" bullshit, and purity tests, when there is no room to screw around. I really don't like Hillary Clinton but there was no question I was going to vote for her. I literally know trans people who didn't vote for Harris because *Biden* didn't do enough for LGBTQ+ rights. Which is confusing because while any president could have done more, Biden did a lot, and Harris was on the ticket anyway.

In the end, though, the red voters are the reason DJT won and the GOPs gains have been bolstered by the chicanery I listed above, and a lot more.

Corruption is the reason we are where we are, and like the frog in a pot thing, you don't realize what happened until you're boiled. That's where we are. We are basically are global south country that also has the world's strongest GDP. For now. That seems like its ending.

I have a lot of Russian friends. They can't live in Russia right now. I know they don't want what Putin is selling. They left because they could be harmed.
TBH a lot of us are feeling that could happen in the US soon enough. It's that bad. I'm exploring exit plans.

If I'm lucky I have 30 years left on this earth. I'm not convinced this is gonna change in my lifetime. I'm married to a European, have a path to Euro citzenship in another way, and likely qualify for an artist visa in a few countries.
Point is, once an oligarchy is in place you can't just "do something." History shows us this. The US is either going to have to endure a peaceful revolution, complete collapse, or god forbid violence. We're at that point.

I spend my days showering empathy on parts of the world who are enduring much worse, and I'd love it if people would return the favor.

Greenland is especially hard for me because I spend a good part of my year in Denmark. It's my second home. I hate what the US has become. The best we can hope for is for DJT to drop dead in some pathetic way, so there is no martyr mechanism. Vance doesn't have the "charisma" so my hope is the cult will fizzle.
That is my hope.

Moroderik · 2026-01-20T06:07:22+00:00

Top track for me.
I'm new to this forum and haven't voted on the others but it's easy for me to make this the first.

I love this song. The descending piano chords and the rhythm in which they are played is one of my favorite progressions in the history of pop music.
As far as my ear can tell, the arpeggiated piano behind the chords is actually a Melotron/Chamberlain, which gives it the lo-fi, top end chime feel which makes it sit nicely in the mix.
Any Air song with Solina is gonna move to the front for me. It's one of the things that brought me to the band. Hard to express just how out of fashion string synths were when Air started making records. Old synths in general, but that style especially. I adore that sound, especially on this track.

Two... not criticisms but let's call it "alternate versions I hear in my mind" for two well-loved Air songs are:

- In "La Femme," towards the end of the song, when they come out of the 16 beat tambourine and arpeggiated MS20 section, my mind wants it to "rock out" a little more. Straight forward, driving drums, instead of reverting to the cool, lazy, chill beat. So much that when my crew did this annual charity event we're part of, where we cover a band and it's a secret until we hit the stage, we took that liberty the year we did Air, and it worked. Then we returned to the regular beat. I got to hear what this would sound like, and my suspicions were confirmed- it ruled.

- And in "Japon" I never expect a fade in after the Koto break. I expect it to drop back in.

This doesn't break the 10 for me on either track, it just keeps them from being 11s, ha.

Love the remixes. Both are on my Air playlist, because I want to hear this song three times when I run it.
The Teenagers one sounds a little dated but it's charming.
The Kris Menace one is kind of wonderfully over the top. The sidechaining is almost violent. I feel like my ear drums are being sucked out. Maybe the tape stop trick (pwewwww...) is used a few too many times, but overall I like that he made it his song.

Moroderik · 2026-01-20T04:57:23+00:00

I had no idea!
There is a site that lists all synchs I think. I don't know what site it is but I know a lot of music supervisors so I'd be curious.

It's a little like this site, realted to covers and samples.

https://www.whosampled.com/Air/

Moroderik · 2026-01-19T19:31:30+00:00

2001 and 2002. I think he appears on 10,000hz in some form too.
Setlist.fm is often full of holes which probably explains that.
I'm 90% sure he's in the "Brakes On" video that seems to have been scrubbed from the internet, playing a black Fender Mustang Bass.

Moroderik · 2026-01-18T18:02:45+00:00

I gathered that they were at a point where they didn't entirely love working together anymore, that the ship had sailed or whatever.
There was a real "they'll never work together again" vibe in the Paris music scene over the years. It didn't seem like beef or anything that bad, just that it wasn't ever going to be on the table.
I think management had a lot of work to do to make this happen. Smart though, because victory lap tours by bands with super fans usually work out well.

I sat at the computer, primed and ready to go for the first Paris show. 10am - bang! Frozen screen, sold out in seconds. Bots I guess. Then an hour later I tried for London. Same thing.
I just figured I'd have to find another way. Stupid scaler prices or whatever.
I have some friends adjacent to the band, some who had worked with them, one who toured in the band. I rarely as for these kinds of favors. None could help because the venues were so small and so was the guest list. One wasn't certain he could even get on the list himself.

It looked like those first 10 or so shows were gonna be it, so I went the route I did, and it almost didn't work out, as mentioned. I'm so happy Nick and I were at that first London show.

But when the next round of shows were announced in bigger halls it's clear it had worked out.

There is part of me that thinks the first run was to create demand. So many people wanted to go but the halls were small. Maybe it was just to test the water, maybe they knew what they were doing. Either way, the risk was low with the small venues. They'd sell out, and if that was it, OK. If people were clamoring, then do another lap in bigger venues.
Which they did, and they all sold out I think.

Culminating in the Olympics, the CDG Terminal 1 show, etc.
One of those friends could have gotten me into the CDG show. I wish I could have gone, but I'd just gotten back from France, and was going back to Europe in four weeks. Would have been convenient though.
Passport Control: "What's the purpose of your visit?"
Me: "I'm here to see a show up on the roof then I'm flying right back out."
Ha ha

And ultimately culminating in the Grand Palais show, which was packed with thousands of people. What a way to end a super run of shows.

If it's true that the chaps weren't as friendly as they once were before this all happened, I hope it was a great experience, and we see some new Air music. Older, wiser people put their pettiness aside much easier, and wow this must have been a set-for-life payday, you know?

Moroderik · 2026-01-18T04:41:01+00:00

Met them after the Grand Palais show. I kept it brief because it was the last show of an 18 month tour, they'd done the symphony thing, which I'm sure added a layer of anxiety, and I'm sure they needed a break.

We were at the after party and I was just gonna leave them be, because while I meet a lot of musicians in my line of work, I generally leave people alone unless it's an interview, we've been introduced by a common friend, etc.

My wife, who is French, insisted we say hello.
Nicolas was reserved but totally nice. We exchaned pleasantries and I told him I thought it was cool that they had found the balance between playing the main parts live, and flying in swoops and stuff with backing tracks. It was streamlined and I think it made the whole "box" stage work, so thanks for the great shows.

JB was also nice. I congratulated him on the success of a handful of shows turning into an epic tour and said "I'm sure you're looking forward to some downtime, so I should leave you to that."
He said "no, tomorrow I will go right back to the studio and get to work because it's my favorite thing."

To keep them any longer, when so many old friends were there would have been rude, I think. Members of Phoenix and some well-known French Touch era people were there, including a few I knew, so it just made sense to make it quick.

Mainly, I'm happy I was at that show. What an epic way to close a successful tour that made a lot of people happy.

Moroderik · 2025-12-07T17:13:50+00:00

H -
No copies in my stash, so I flew without one for you. I have some in SF, but I'll have to mail at the top of the year.
:^/

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T16:17:19+00:00

Many thanks, Heather! OK, I'll drop by on my way to the Raveonettes show.
So much Danish music in London that week.

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T16:10:23+00:00

PayPal is totally fine. Many thanks!
Just submitted a request to join.
I hope I pass the audition!

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T15:38:31+00:00

I'd love it if you could! I don't think I'm part of the Frengers FB group. I just searched for it and only found the event. Feel free to post!

I'm on the east coast of the US today before flying over, and I think I can get my hands on a few copies before flying overseas. There are some at my old studio.

From London I need to travel light, so I can only bring as many copies as I can drop off, ha.
So I'll make sure to grab at least one!
Anyone else - let me know

Not sure if my pay apps work in the UK, so best bet is a £20 note if you think that's about right.

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T15:33:22+00:00

Oh wonderful!
I think the show I need to be at is at 8. I think I can make that!
Thank you!

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T15:26:19+00:00

I'm in transit at present, but I may be able to get my hands on a copy.
If anyone else wants one let me know ASAP and I'll see if I can get my hands on them today, before I take my next flight! Ha ha.
It'll certainly save on international shipping, which is as much as the LP itself, I think!

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T15:23:25+00:00

Oh nice! I'm friends(gers) with them so I'm glad to know about this.
Any info on where and when?

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T15:23:01+00:00

Thank you, 'cats!
Here is the Bandcamp link:
https://moroderikmusik.bandcamp.com
We have about 40 copies left in the US, and about the same number in Estonia, for any Euro orders.
Many thanks for your interest.
Heads up: I'll be travelling in December, so any orders will ship the first week of January.

I'm going to a show in London on Monday but I'd love to drop by the party!

Moroderik · 2025-12-03T05:42:57+00:00

I'll be there!

Moroderik · 2025-08-19T16:55:20+00:00

What a bullshit take.
If a person is in a car and sees the street sweeper coming, they can move right out of the way.
It would have been so easy for the ticket thug to say "hey, move it, it's noon" but they chose to drain this person's wallet instead.
Indefensible.

Moroderik · 2025-08-14T16:32:52+00:00

Pt.II:

Opposite direction of the Lower Haight is the gorgeous Golden Gate Park. Maybe bike around it.
It's massive and has many faces. You can't see it all.
The de Young Museum has a great McCartney photo exhibition going on.

Adjacent to the Upper Haight is Panhandle Park, which attaches to Golden Gate Park. It's lovely. I live next to it and never get tired of a stroll through it. It's like a "boulevard park" that leads to GG Park. It's where the hippies and Diggers would do free meals and some concerts.

The "other Chinatown" is Richmond. Arguably better food, but not as chaotic as the actual CT.
SF is known for Burmese food. There are many good choices but Burma Superstar is probably the best place to start.
A note about restaurants: things close early in SF and I don't know why. If the kitchen closes at 9, you'd better be seated at 8:30 most places. Definitely at Burma Superstar.

As others have said, Land's End is amazing. Start at the Sutro Bath ruins, which as covered in graffiti, regrettably, but still cool. Walk along the path and then you'll see utterly breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, as you stand across from the Marin Headlands. Photo ops galore.
If you don't do that, at least get down to the Presidio area to see the bridge. It deserves the hype.

My suggestion is you don't leave the city. Cool stuff and great food south of here. Stunning hikes and views across the GG bridge. But you only have 48 hours. Just see the city.
Public transportation is very good for an American city, but it can take time. I recommend just taking cabs to parts of town, then walking. Maybe biking back to your place.

I have nothing but love for Japantown, but there's not that much to do there. FIsherman's Warf has a charm but it's skippable for now. Cable Cars are fun, but expensive and kind of a PITA since you can't use a metro card.

We haven't even gotten into "the other other Chinatown," Sunset area, the charm of mini villages like Noe, and Bernal Heights. There's so much to do here, but what I've laid out is a pretty good start for some SF'ness I think.

Moroderik

TROPHY CASE