Archive for November, 2010

It was sad to hear about the loss of the singer from The Slits just a bit ago, this new song by Anika on Stones Throw reminds me alil bit of that of what I liked about The Slits, the power in the voice isn’t there here but the charm of how loose and free the making of the music is something i’ve always wised I could do and this girl has that.

i’m a sucker for sampled cut up guitars that loop in a pretty way, thats why this Years song is up here today.

Lukid does fascinating things with low end, i’m always checking in on what he’s going to do on the less hype songs like this.

Stellar OM Source laid down a very interesting LP that became available yesterday, a personally can’t get enough of this Sand Lie track, I just wish it was longer.

Photo by: Jesse Brew

Design Observer posted a little behind-the-scenes of Marian Bantjes’ new book cover design. Bantjes walks you through her sketches and path to the eventual solution. An amazing peek into her process. Haven’t read the book yet, but it’s on the way. Some more info here.

Retro Synth Ads has some great scans of various electronic music equipment from the 70’s and 80’s. It’s interesting to observe how the sophistication of advertising design in niche industries — like music technology — predictably lags behind that of the mainstream. These are pretty far along and represent output from some of the biggest names of the day, but examples like this and this are fascinating in their simplicity. I’m guessing the engineers who built the machines were moonlighting as their own designers in these cases. Loving the TL-12, makes me wish I had a MSQ-700.

Source Retro Synth Ads

It’s another nostalgia day.

I listened to a lot of IDM(dirty word I know but its coming back but under a different name) in the early 2000’s and one of the first artists I found after joining WATMM(message forum that started as a BoC and AFX) was Dorian White, I think we’ve talked over AIM for close to 10 years, his music was aggressive, sad and playful all at the same time which got me more interested in music like Wisp. His new single dropped today on iTunes and the track Exit has been on repeat ever since i’ve had it.

At one point in my life I don’t think I ever DJed a set without playing this song by Cex, I don’t know what he does now but I can’t see him ever blowing this one out of the water.

I ask you all to listen to this Khonnor song from start to finish, I hate hearing it end.

One of Yasume’s most beautiful compositions.

Philistine DSGN is a anti-art collective out of Brooklyn, NY that is run by Danny Scales. In my mind he finds the beauty in what most people might see as darkness but since i’ve known him I see it as pure care taking of what should be visually appealing and interesting during a time where a lot of darker looking design is so ordinary and without surprise in my mind.

It doesn’t get much better than this from Telefon Tel Aviv, featured on the new DJ-Kicks that was compiled by Apparat, moody darkness with a hefty scoop of tender details that release perfectly.

One of the reasons why I don’t truly review music on the blog is because I don’t like to share music that I don’t like, also sometimes albums fall in the lap of the wrong reviewer, I think thats what happened when Pitchfork gave this album a bad review, it happens but this new album by Blonde Redhead is far from bad. I think its written perfectly for a band that has been together this long, I can go on for lengths of why it should be received better but instead you can judge it yourself, I can’t see anyone else writing music like this any better.

Enjoy some true synth magic by Suzanne Ciani, probably made before any of us were even born.

I support the Swedes on all levels, probably at the top of that list is NHL star Peter Forsberg as my favorite Swede then the groups Studio and The Radio Dept. Korallreven is inching into my top 5 though, now we just need an album.

It’s been a while since I wrote about my most cherished 5DMKII. I drove down to Santa Barbara this weekend to catch a Neon Tree’s concert and brought the 5D for the trip back up the coast. Was hoping to get some sexy landscape shots (inspired by Mr. Navis and his multiple Big Sur adventures).

Overall I was very impressed with the camera’s performance. I continue to think that I have absolutely nothing to with any “good” pictures the camera takes. It is an incredible piece of equipment. On my Japan trip I felt like I could hand the camera to a 5 year old, instruct them to run around in circles taking pictures, and get it back with pure gold on the memory card. With the 50mm locked in it seems like it can do no wrong.

All that said, I wasn’t really in love with anything I shot on the drive up. I was trying to time the light with my journey so I would be at the most epic locations around 4pm. A fair plan, but Nepenthe (very tasty) took 1 hour longer than I expected and my dreams of sun-drenched cliffs were thwarted. I was happy with the above shots though — the first one reminds me of a painting.

Getting the rig into the concert wasn’t super easy (neither was shooting amongst hundreds of bouncing UCSB students…). Next time I’m saying I’m a member of the press (because I am right? Sort of?).

The rest of my pictures are up on Facebook

Some interesting prints by Jenny Odell which she created using imagery from Google Satellite. I’ll take the pools one.

Jenny Odell

I have a good feeling about Braids, a very good feeling that this band will do great things, they have a sound that is easy to fall in love with. A little bird tipped on them last night and i’m glad they did, sounds promising. I love how the singer sings in a way that makes me to follow her lyrics but I think I hear some potty mouth parts in there, I could be wrong.

After listening to this Weekend song I almost thought it was too far into the cold season to post but hey why not I don’t post enough straight rock on the blog and this one is a good one compared to plenty of what is out there that has this feel.

This Secret Mountains tracks takes many different shapes for only being less than 7 minutes, it calms nicely like something Blonde Redhead would have done years ago then swells into psychedelia, i’ll keep them on the radar and maybe pick up their cassette LP when it drops.

I had to break up the small rock playlist with a Tangerine Dream-ish effort by Miracle, this track goes on a beautiful journey yet I wish the spastic percussion at the end had more depth in the sound.

Some excellent product design going on over at Rich, Brilliant, Willing. Indeed, I’m guessing you need to be all three of those things to own any of their products. I think that’s the last thing I’d spend money on, lighting. Even though it’s probably one of the more important factors in making a room look good and feel comfortable, it’s so hard to justify these $1,000 lamps and fixtures. Forever Ikea.

Source Rich, Brilliant, Willing via DVDP