A reader wrote in today asking why I haven’t posted on process or the day-to-day stuff much recently and after reading his email I realized he was right, I haven’t really been on top of that over the past couple months. This is partly due to the fact that most of the stuff I’ve been working on won’t be made public for a while and partly due to things being a bit overwhelming lately. As much as I enjoy it, running this blog has been a challenge for me at times, trying to balance getting work done and also talking about it. But even when I’m in the thick of it, it’s always nice to pop my head up and write an update and perhaps provide a little insight into the daily grind over here at the studio. So from now on I’ll make a better effort to post more often on the stuff that’s going on around here. So here’s the first installment, the studio update for June 2009.

The picture above is of Alex (the one and only ISO50 intern) in the upstairs work area which we use for printing, photography, and any other random tasks that don’t fit into the dungeon below which houses the music studio and main design systems. Alex has been prepping things for the new Epson 9900 which is finally all put together (pictured to the left). It’s scheduled to be commissioned today when the team from Meridian comes out to get it online. Once that’s up and running we’ll be able to do large format stuff so be on the lookout for some very big prints soon. Alex is also working on a very detailed article on color calibration which we’ve been sorting out for a while now and which just seems to keep growing in scope. But it will be worth the wait when it’s done, I promise!

As for new work, I’ve been locked downstairs working on the new Tycho album along with a few new posters which you will start to see coming out over the next couple months. It’s sort of been a rough few months transitioning into getting-shit-done mode. Putting together the Coastal Brake 12″ (due out in August) sort of wiped me out and then a long stretch of poorly timed traveling really put me in a bad spot as far as motivation is concerned. But after some time off I was able to get back into it over the past few weeks and the new work has been flowing pretty well. It’s nice to step away from things for a bit (even if not by choice), when I get back to it I always find myself seeing things from a different perspective and appreciating the process a little more.

Caught these images of Case Da Abitare magazine over at Things To Look At. Very nice!

For some of you that don’t know Bleep is the digital retail store for the label Warp Records that carries specific labels and artists that they hand select. They just released a great compilation called “Showcase Vol. 1” and here’s the best part: its only 1£ or $2(USD) for all 11 songs! So I went ahead and picked 4 of the songs that i’d alone just pay a buck each for, don’t worry there isn’t ever going to be a pack rat issue in your iTunes so just pick it up.

When has Bibio ever wronged us on this blog? never has and never will, the man honestly makes some of the most gorgeous originals and remixes and this one is no different than the rest. Just think maybe we can get him to do a Tycho remix?!

I have a feeling i’ve already post this Bullion song but it was unmastered or ripped from vinyl and muffled. If you haven’t heard of Bullion then you should know that he kills it by mashing up Beach Boys and J Dilla.

Om Unit reminds me of the classic Aphex Twin track Didgeridoo but just a great edit in 2009, if you can get into this you’re definitely a friend in my book.

Kelpe does that sound that I still don’t how to make because I just feel too white, its that sound if I had to show you visually it would look like im playing with a Jacob’s Ladder toy and its getting stuck once in a while in its own ropes.

Lone – Midnight Feast (Bibio remix)

Bullion – Time For Us All To Love

Om Unit – Scatterclocks

Kelpe – Skylla

Architectural imagery by Philipp Schaerer. I love the negative space created by the buildings in his Bildbauten series. As he describes on his site, the images are based on the photographic language, and “reflect a built, exaggerated reality.” I’m not sure the techniques used in the creation of the images, but I love the results. You can try and decode his description on his site.

Faasdant has some nice shots of the [possibly] Dieter Rams designed Gillette (Braun’s parent company) Supermax Pro 1300 hair dryer. Very 80’s, in the best possible way. I remember my mom having a similar model, but cream with black type. Now they all look like a prop from a bad sci-fi movie.

I know, it’s been way too long since we updated the Playlist, but the third installment is finally here. It’s sort of all over the place and I tried to add in a few extra tracks to make it worth the wait so there should be a little something for everyone. This will be the last one I personally compile for a little while, we’ve got some guest playlists lined up for the coming months and they should drop more punctually than this one (once a month or so). Also still working on the recall feature so you can go back and listen to past playlists, I’ll post on that when it’s ready. For now, sit back, relax, and click “Play” at the top of the center column (RSS readers must visit the site). Enjoy!

Track Listing: [Comment on this Playlist]

800BELOVED – GALAXIES
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART – YOUNG ADULT FRICTION
GRIZZLY BEAR – CHEERLEADER
THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE – 1517
BIBIO – AMBIVALENCE AVENUE
DEERHUNTER – AGORAPHOBIA
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT – UPPER EAST SIDE
BULLION – LONG PROMISED – ORIGINAL MIX
J DILLA – GOBSTOPPER
MUX MOOL – NIGHT COURT
ELIOT LIPP – BEAMRIDER
MODERAT – A NEW ERROR
DEASTRO – LIGHT POWERED
MAX TUNDRA – WHICH SONG
NATHAN FAKE – SUPERPOSITIONS
ROYKSOPP – HAPPY UP HERE
DAMN ARMS – DESTINATION PT. I
EVERYWHERE FT. MARTINA TOPLEY-BIRD
FEVER RAY – WHEN I GROW UP (VERSION BY LISSVIK)
TIM HECKER – SEA OF PULSES
TYCHO – COASTAL BRAKE MANUAL REMIX
PANDA BEAR – I’M NOT
A SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW – WATERY (DROWNING IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR BEING BURRIED ALIVE UNDER WATER)
AIRIEL – CINNAMON
SHIGETO/A SETTING SUN – POLAROID ROMANCE
ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI – FOR KATE I WAIT
CHRIST – PYLONESQUE

In a foggy new england town there comes a distant yet constant bump from a poorly lit dive bar. This rumble comes from the only turntables in the village spilling out the Detroit house and electro pulse. The youngsters flock towards this other worldy distant sound inviting them to flail their bodies to the demanding rhythm.

Behind these turntables stand a couple of fledgling producers named Matt Young and Grant Wheeler. Their pop remixes crafted for each week’s set provided only a hint of their direction in this world of visceral music. However, once combined with the angelic soul stylings of Angelica Bess, a sound took form they could call their own, a sound as instinctual as their own body language.

Just as they uttered their first musical words together, the sound of this small new england town started to fade. A new mechanical rumble came from the earth that was the sounds of New York City. With these city sounds, emerged a voice that spoke volumes of new influences. Body Language was quick to respond, and offered a five song EP aptly titled, Speaks which will be out June 16th and i’ll definitely be sharing a few tracks from on the ISO50 blog.

Upcoming NY Shows:
• 6/10 w/ Mux Mool, Bluejay @ Public Assembly
• 6/17 w/ Giantess @ Piano’s
• 6/19 w/ Passion Pit, Bear Hands @ Bowery Ballroom
• 6/20 DJ Set w/ Miike Snow, Macabees @ Williamsburg Music Hall

Volume 1 – Body Language Soul Influences – DOWNLOAD
Intro / Roy Ayers – Everybody Loves the Sunshine / Pretty Purdie – Don’t Go / Air – Le Soleil Es Pres de Moi / The Temptations – Just my Imagination / Otis Redding – Sitting on the Dock of the Bay / Marvin Gaye – That’s the Way Love is / Percy Sledge – You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me / Jimmy Hughes – Steal Away / Martha Reeves and the Vandellas – Jimmy Mack / Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered / Raphael Saadiq – Love That Girl / The Marvelettes – Heat Wave / Ray Charles – I’ve Got A Woman / Diana Ross and the Supremes – Come See About Me / Jamie Lidell – Multiply / The Commodores – Brick House / Patrice Rushen – Hang it Up / James Brown – The Payback / Nina Simone – Don’t Let me be Misunderstood / Beach Boys – Don’t Talk

Volume 2 – Body Language Disco Influences – DOWNLOAD
Roy Ayers – Running Away / Daniel Wang – Like Some Dream I can Stop Dreaming / Escort – Starlight / Hercules and the Love Affair – Blind / Indeep – Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (Mirage Remix) / Evelyn Champlain King – Love Come Down / Kerrier District – Lets Dance and Freak / Marvin Gaye – Got to get Down / Kano – i’m ready / Prince – Controversy / Giorgio Moroder – The Chase / Metro Area – Seduction / Michael Jackson – Off the Wall / Ian Preece – Superfuzz / Panthers – Goblin City (Holy Ghost! disco dub) / Motown Sounds – Bad Mouthin’ / Black Devil Disco Dub – The Devil In Us

Volume 3 – Body Language Detroit Influences – DOWNLOAD
Mr Fingers – Can You Feel It / Move D – Quit Quittin / The Other People Place – Let me be me / Joey Beltram – Energy Flash / Adonis – No Way Back / Jeff Mills – Automatic / F.U.S.E. – Substance Abuse / Drexciya – Water Walker / Inner City – Good Life (Magic Juan Mix) / Morgan Geist – Detroit (Carl Craig Remix) / Green Velvet – Shake and Pop / L.F.O. – LFO / Laurent Garnier – Crispy Bacon / Dopplereffekt – Sterilization / Detroit Grand Pubahs – Sandwiches / B12– Hall of Mirrors

Some wonderful things going on over at Jung + Wenig. Always a fan of this brand of restraint. Via The Strange Attractor

You may know Daniel from the group Judah Johnson or you may know the original of Does Not Compute by Prince but this is the official debut of his Bulbz EP which includes 3 covers of Smokey Robinson, Kanye West and this cover of Prince. When I hear Daniel’s production it reminds of Jamie Lidell’s singing style meeting up with Radiohead’s spastic breakdowns and somehow Daniel pulls it off and makes that marriage work. Please excuse the PG-13 cover we got going on today, don’t worry they’re a couple that read the blog so its nothing scandalous.

Dirk Leyers maybe better known for his work on Kompakt as half of Closer Musik which is a very seductive minimal house project which is located in the recent playlist on our blog. The song Wellen has this nice swing to it right from the start and the long synth melody can easily be burned into your memory.

We’ve had Jim O’Rourke already on the blog before and I think the other song was actually off this same EP but I needed to post this track because it came up on shuffle last night and I think the horn parts are perfect and maybe you might agree.

Canada’s The Mole might be one of most smiley DJs i’ve ever seen play, I remember seeing his performance at MUTEK years ago and him just really enjoying himself almost to the point that I thought he might be watching something funny while playing LIVE off his laptop. Knock Twice has a strong simple groove which is almost appropriate for any dance set you can think of.

Daniel – Does Not Compute

Dirk Leyers – Wellen

Jim O’Rourke – Not Sport, Martial Art

The Mole – Knock Twice

My brother Kirk got the new Canon Rebel T1i over the weekend and it looks like it’s working out quite well for him. He used Sigma 70-300 lens in macro for his first video tests (above, wait for the ant!) and as you can see, the detail is incredible (albeit slimy). I’d like to see some more tests in different lighting situations and with different subject matter, but so far the performance looks great. Although, after seeing what Will Calcutt did with the 5D MKII in Detroit I am not sure I could settle for the T1i, but it seems like a close second for the budget-conscious. At any rate, I am pretty close to jumping ship from Nikon. Video Link

Update: Kirk added a short clip of Forrest skimboarding in Sacramento: