[Howard]

Thanks for this Jung. I just registered with Goulet Pens. Awesome web site and I have already watched the video, ‘Fountain Pen 101’ and look forward to educating myself further through more of their videos.

Jacki, you’ll be pleased to know they have an extensive range of fountain pens in an extensive range of beautiful colours.

Of course whatever fountain pen/s I purchase will be for special purposes and I will continue to rely on my also quite awesome MLT pens for everyday use and MLT marketing purposes.

[Howard]

Thanks for the clarification Rudi. I am bit of a technological hillbilly. The Beatles’ performance was from one of their movies, so hence the good quality. I particularly liked how they managed to isolate the audience hysteria so you could hear them clearly. Goodness knows how they managed to play when they couldn’t even hear themselves. The close ups were excellent too. Maybe the black and white film helped with the clarity. The sheer joy on their faces while performing is something I see in the passion and enthusiasm of Mona and Lisa in their live performances, especially their 2007 concert, but also in the Californian Dreaming videos.

The other YouTube video I was watching featured an early live Rolling Stones blues number, with several live performances overdubbed with a studio recording. Rather well put together I thought. The audio is brilliant (helps listening with headphones), although the film is rather grainy. Shows a young Mick Jagger in fine form.

It makes me wonder how you managed to produce the Californian Dreaming EP when, as I understand, the videos were shot in California before the songs were recorded back in your Austrian studio. Brilliant work from the twins as well as yourself. Don’t know how you managed that.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing the Beatles/Stones video links here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV_PGs0m34U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kszx10iyoVM

[Howard]

You have good taste Tomás. You’ve done very well in purchasing your J200 #24 of 90! Thanks for sharing your story.

[Howard]

Thank you so much for this Rudi. I’ve been up way too late and was getting a little lazy with the keyboard. It’s after 1am here in Aus and I know that’s nothing for musicians, but that’s not me! As well as the MLT I got lost watching some excellent Beatles and Rolling Stones live performances from the mid sixties. It’s amazing just how well some people are managing to reconstruct some of those old film and TV recordings on YouTube, considering the relatively primitive recording and filming technology of the day!

 

[Howard]

Of course you would choose purple Jacki. I wouldn’t worry about spilling ink as they come with replacement cartridges for clumsy souls like us. I’m having trouble purchasing mine as they only seem to be available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, countries that share a common language strangely enough. I have emailed them requesting more information on how their products can be purchased from the dark side of the moon, LOL!  I’ll let you know if I receive a reply to my email request to them.

I did try their official search (as follows), but drew a blank.
“Official LAMY online shop for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For shipping to other countries, please use our retailer search.”

However, I did manage to find a product from an Australian Amazon web site as follows:
Lamy Unisex Safari Steel Nib Plastic Fountain Pen – Black – Medium Nib
Price: $36.95  Size: Medium
The grip is shaped in such a way that increases comfort giving you maximum control. It is detailed with Lamy branding that can be seen through the stylish curved clip. Superbly crafted from plastic and includes a metal curved clip, ergonomic grip and is fitted with a polished steel nib. Compatible with the Lamy giant ink cartridge and Z 24 converter. Coming complete in a Lamy gift box it would make the perfect present. 3 new from $36.95 + $4.95 Delivery

Alternatively, your very bright fellow Canadian from the pacific coast might be able to provide more information.

[Howard]

Thanks for sharing this Jung. The pen looks awesome and I particularly like the ergonomic design. But so many lovely colours to choose from! I might just have to purchase two, my own MLT pens in yellow and red!

[Howard]

I’ve just watched the video “Ink – Written by Hand (#INKdoc)” again. You have exquisite tastes Jung (duh! what else can we expect from a MonaLisa Twins fan). Not only a beautiful video, beautiful music to match. There was a time in my life when I was so depressed that not even my favourite sixties music could cheer me up. Mozart was the only music I could listen to in order to sooth my tortured mind, along with some Vivaldi. Of course in those days we didn’t have the benefit of the MLT!

[Howard]

I’m aware of your fountain pen collection Jung. Sounds awesome! You have tempted me into writing again for the first time in many, many years. I took to the keyboard prodigiously with the advent of computers as my handwriting was so poor. Also, computers allowed for much more efficient correspondence, editing and filing etcetera.

For a novice who is considering his first new fountain pen in decades, is there one, or perhaps two particular types/brands you can recommend. I think you have already posted a photo of one of your pens. I also seem to remember that the Twins shared some art work drawn with one of your pens (am I correct?) and I know I am getting off topic here, but a photo of some of  your favourite pens would be a nice touch.

Perhaps it would best be included under your Topic: “Your favorite MLT merch”.

[Howard]

Lisa, you are so wicked, but I do detect some similarities in your Mona depiction!

[Howard]

Okay, I’m on board with more Rudi piano in the next album but would also like to see the Twins experimenting with more exotic instruments. Flute and cello, as we’ve seen in the past for example and surely there’s an opportunity for Michaela to shine on something like the oboe and saxophone, as Brian Jones did for the Rolling Stones’ ‘Dandelion’. I wonder if Lisa has attempted the guitar-sitar yet? That would truly go down well with another psychedelic number in the ‘Once UponA Time’ vein.

[Howard]

Nicely composed David. The Twins are definitely amazing and definitely two of a kind. I wonder what it would take to get a ‘Duo Session’ performance of this from them for Club members. Sung tongue-in-cheek of course!

[Howard]

Good one Jacki. Our favourite blonde and red head twins couldn’t help but be impressed by those colourfully FAB depictions!

[Howard]

Welcome to the club Angelo. You are in good company here.

[Howard]

I can see a ‘Sweet Lorraine’ video coming on. Now this would be brilliant! A real challenge for the Wagners I feel though, as there is a delightful (if a tad sad) story here that would take much work to do the telling justice. Maybe using the ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ video as a blueprint might be a more tangible alternative.

Surely there are some wealthy MLT Club members out there who could help sponsor such a project. I know there are many who are already stretching their finances to contribute to the MonaLisa Twins’ dream as they bring us along on their magical mystery musical journey!

[Howard]

Thanks for sharing your story Tomas. I’m currently on a motorbike tour but looking forward to catching up with more MLT music when I’m back home. ‘Sweet Lorraine’ will be at the top of the list. Such a bitter/sweet song and done so well by the Twins.