Journal

here's a video I had a hand in the production of at work: DJ Spooky Paul D Miller giving a talk about his new book, sound unbound.

pretty great talk! somewhat nonlinear, but by the end I get it.

last weekend caught the end of the [event=]download fest[/event] at shoreline. I went to go see Gang of Four & Jesus And Mary Chain...i figured how many times do these bands play 10 minutes away from where I live for 20 bux? I had to go, so it was my big dumb concert for the summer. and well worth it! it was general seating, so for jamc I was maybe 5 rows from the front pushing against a wall of guitar fuzz. I think they played a new song, or at least I hadn't heard it/couldn't find it something that goes along the lines of "I love your amputation" which makes me chuckle to myself....

also caughtBrian Posehn do a short comedy set. I didn't realize he was performing at download, but it was welcomed. my favorite mr. show sketch with him in it is still....



last 2 weeks music that has really hit home has been the Orb's new album, The Dream, as well Suicide's 2nd album.

I heard suicide's first album years back, but it never really caught on. took a listen to the 2nd album, and I was instantly hooked. Love the throbbing drum machining, synth lines that glow like radiation, the vocals, the minimalism...very much predating much of the sounds that would come with synth pop in the 80's. I love that it's filed under both avant guard and at the same time rock. favorite tracks are:Fast Money Music,Touch Me, Shadazz, and Dream Baby Dream

finding suicide also explains why Pan_Sonic hit so hard for me...actually found out martin rev & pan_sonic did an album together, which makes sense.

the orb has been a favorite & huge influence for years...I'm a huge fan of Orblivion as well asOrbus Terrarum but honestly anything after that I hadn't been feeling as much.

it felt like things were starting up again with Orbsessions Volume II which i'd give 3 out of 5 stars...but the dream, it feels like they really turned a page...I actually enjoy the vocal tracks on it, which I can't really say from the last few albums.

I did a mix at home mixing Mother Nature into Perpetual Dawn, which worked lovely. as with any great album, a nod to the past, as well as pushing forward. there are ambient moments like orbus terrarum, really heavy dub moment (love that youth is back, he is integral to the sound) but surprisingly no track over 8 minutes.


edit: 02.01.09

not sure how I forgot about this dream. a dream of a dream of a dream.

so I was in one of the cafe's at work, having my tuna samwich fo lunch, and they had some cable all 80's station playing tunes...

It was the mess of a soup from the 80's...in there was some john cougarmellonsomethingerother, some cindi lauper...some WHAM! and then they played....

Sex Dwarf by soft cell. How did this make it into the mix?

I was chuckling to myself at the bustle of people getting thier lunches while I hummed to myself the main synth line. man, it brings back lots of memories of driving to d.c. to dance with the spookies in the mid 90's. that and hearing it at work....well, it improved my day vastly :)

I can't imagine him resting in peace, so I hope you are somewhere pissing god off. much love for the many laughs over the years....

saw bellavista on friday at the red devil lounge with a buddy in sf...

I've seen them 3 times now, and it's always pretty great. before the show I heard an echo & the bunnymen song, and an eno song...afterwords I heard a gary numan song, so think 80's/british/glam/post punk sorta thing.

bellavista has a great low frequency rumble with the bass & drums locked in a dance, and the guitars floating over top. other influences I would include would be the cure (3 imaginary boys to 17 seconds era), t rex, more spacemen 3 than spiritualized, and many things spacey & shoegazer.

favorite track off the cd is carve our world, but the whole thing is pretty great...catch 'em live if you can!

here's the link to the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/technology/29compute.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

pretty fascinating stuff, especially thinking of how different life must be there. working for a tech company in silicon valley, I can't imagine the day to day existence of having to setup on meetings on either side of the border & what you have to get through to just hold a simple group meeting.

While it wasn't planned, I ended up at the local record store the day the new portishead was released. I had maybe heard a blip that they were playing again (more than likely coachella) but it hadn't dawned on me that they had a new album out.

there have been several new twists in how the music industry is trying to get people to buy music. there was radiohead, with their free/pay as you like experiment. then there was nine inch nails version, which seems like a good idea (free songs, all instrumental and trent doesn't "sing").

the new portishead embraced a concept for what I had been hoping for all along...

for 12 bux (the price of a new cd), you get 2 records, as well as getting a coupon to download the album for free. in essence, you get what is (to me) the highest quality audio (vinyl) and you get the mp3 low fi companion for your portable player.

vinyl to me is still the best sounding medium. throw it through a tube amp, and yeah, it's just great, the warmest & richest sound experience.

mp3's are a good impression of the song, but if you are used to hearing hi fi music, it doesn't really fit the bill.

so I felt I had to invest in a new vinyl as finally there was a group that understood what I was looking for.

cept that...I can't download the mp3's from their site. So it's a great concept, but execution...not so well.

The album itself though...I am enjoying. they sound more like a band than dj's, and there is definitly a progression of sound...