15:34.




Get On Your Boots, the first single from U2's new album No Line On The Horizon, will be released as a digital download on February 15th with a physical format to follow on February 16 through Mercury/Universal (UK).

Produced by Brian Eno, Danny Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, sessions for No Line On The Horizon began in Fez, Morocco, and continued at the band's Dublin studio, New York's Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and London's Olympic Studios.

Released on March 2nd (March 3rd in the US), the album will come in a standard format with 24 page booklet and in digipak format. The digipak includes an extended booklet and the album's companion film "Linear" by Anton Corbijn. A limited edition 64 page magazine will also be available, featuring the band in conversation with artist Catherine Owens, and new Anton Corbijn photographs. No Line On The Horizon will be released on 180gm vinyl. (More on the formats below)

The album cover artwork is an image of the sea meeting the sky by Japanese artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Here's the full tracklisting:

1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez - Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon

No Line On The Horizon will be available in five formats;

- Standard jewel case - with album CD and 24 page booklet

- Digipak format - limited edition with album CD, 32 page colour booklet and fold out poster. Features access to exclusive downloadable Anton Corbijn film.

- Magazine format - limited edition with album CD, with 64 page magazine. Features access to exclusive downloadable Anton Corbijn film.

- Box format - limited edition bespoke box containing digipak format album CD, DVD of Anton Corbijn's exclusive film, 64 page hardback book, plus a fold out poster.

- LP vinyl - limited edition with 2 black vinyl discs, gatefold sleeve, and a 16 page booklet.

12:38.


I always loved it that Chinatown becomes such a blustery, vibrant, crowded, colourful, alive place during Chinese New Year. I may not actually go to the place. The last time I did must had been in 2004 when I returned from Melb (oh, tt was the time when 2 white boys tailed my friend and me and wanted to take photos with yours truly. rather... strange).

Still, maybe it's absence makes the heart grows fonder. Maybe it's that quaint trait that is happy just knowing something is there, though you may not use or visit it.

But yet.

When I got that emailer wth the pic, oh, such a sense of reminiscence descended.

Maybe it's the really busy work days and two in a row over 12-hour work days. Maybe it's that the last time I've been back was 3 months ago. Maybe it's the upcoming step out of the boat that's coming amidst the storm that sometimes seem entrapping, but gosh, I miss being home in Sg.

And just now, as I wallowed slightly in that feeling of entrapment, I felt You, Holy Spirit well up in me. I'm a free creation and never to be trapped. So though the storm is real and the rage is real, I choose to dwell as I am in You.

I'm free and amongst all that life throws, having 3 homes will not tie me up.

I bless Your Name. Hallelujah.

18:11.

New Year's Eve.

I tended for most of my life to favor the quiet NYE celebrations. No need for party hats and poppers. Just me and God, loved ones in the house and fireworks in the distance will be a nice touch.

I have a vague memory of when I was a little poppet, walking along with my parents and brothers near some of Singapore's myriad HDB estates because that was a spot where we were supposed to be able to catch fireworks.

This new year, we ambled out of a friend's terrace house in Klang onto the street after hearing those now familiar pops (KL seems to love fireworks at any occasion) and stared - shoulder to shoulder - at the fireworks gong off on our left and right.

They were lower, probably let off from someone's home, but still as glamourously mystical.

And as the last of the lights go off, we kissed and said happy new year before ambling back to the house to while the night away till 4am playing cards, making jokes and just enjoying good conversation.

Too bad we didn't get to go to the bak kut teh shop at 6am. That leaves me still without any klang bak kut teh experience in my life.

But this marks a most unexpected location for NYE and what a blast it was.

Happy new year, everyone.