Recently BOK BOK put out a free LuckyMe mix for download, which has proved itself to be a worthy listen. It features plenty of hot artists, including dubstep favorites Joker and Zombie as well as DJ Assault and Dre Skull. Opening up with a track laden with soulful vocals from Refuge, the mix weaves its way through plenty of bass heavy textures and shifty snare and handclap grooves you'd expect to come across on a late night UK dancefloor, as well as some wonderfully bendy synths and dirty souf homages you wouldn't.
The download link can be found on LWR END SPSM's blog.
6.08.2009
1.28.2009
A huge loss.
This is the statement that's been going around:
"It breaks my heart to inform you all that Charlie Cooper, my better half in Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on January 22.
We have been friends since high school, and began making records together a decade ago. We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another's expense.
Aside from Charlie's singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere. His musicianship was surpassed only by his greater gift to the world—his warmth, his generosity, his unquenchable humor, and his undying loyalty to those he loved. In the spirit of honorable mention, however, I should mention that he had a shoe collection that was marvelous, knowledge of hip-hop that was profound, and knowledge of wine that was subtle.
He is survived by a sister, a neice, a nephew, his mother, his stepfather, me, and more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter. As such, his family and I ask for your discretion and consideration of our privacy during these extremely turbulent waters."
Sad news.
"It breaks my heart to inform you all that Charlie Cooper, my better half in Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on January 22.
We have been friends since high school, and began making records together a decade ago. We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another's expense.
Aside from Charlie's singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere. His musicianship was surpassed only by his greater gift to the world—his warmth, his generosity, his unquenchable humor, and his undying loyalty to those he loved. In the spirit of honorable mention, however, I should mention that he had a shoe collection that was marvelous, knowledge of hip-hop that was profound, and knowledge of wine that was subtle.
He is survived by a sister, a neice, a nephew, his mother, his stepfather, me, and more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter. As such, his family and I ask for your discretion and consideration of our privacy during these extremely turbulent waters."
Sad news.
1.20.2009
1.19.2009
Detrimentalist
WARNING: I'm gonna repeatedly use genre terminology ('breakcore') and use it loosely in this post, so deal with it.
Giving breakcore the serious listen it deserves has been something that for me has been a very long time coming. Without really knowing what it was I'd been briefly exposed in the early aughts - must have been something about hanging out with the computer geek crowd as a high schooler. In more recent years I've been much more acutely aware of the genre's existence, but couldn't really do more than appreciate it's reality-bending qualities and the novelty mindfuck (probably best exemplified by Chris Cunningham's video for Squarepusher's "Come On My Selector"). I didn't really understand how it could be a form of music with much listenability or variation. The breaks themselves were simply too overwhelming and ended up distracting me from being able to notice the details. A pretty big oversight considering this music is, from what I can tell, entirely about the attention to detail.
Even though I tend to favor more danceable electronic music, a good friend of mine piqued my interests again and I figured I'd do things right this time by checking out the latest release by the staple breakcore artist, Venetian Snares. The Canadian native's '08 release Detrimentalist favors moody synth lines to back his breaks over the shimmering sustain of the synths that I've come across in my limited experiences with his other recordings, and makes great use of vocal samples. The ragga intro to 'Eurocore MVP' shows his taste for incorporating a wide range of different styles into his music before jumping into his breaks, which eventually features some hardass vocals that for me really make the track. On the epic ender 'Miss Balaton', VS shows off his ability to use a softer touch with ethereal background synths, strings, and a break that nimbly moves across the track.
All in all, Detrimentalist is a worthwhile album that has happily proved my previous notions about breakcore wrong. Establishing a flow on this kind of album can't be an easy task, and I'd say VS pulls it off reasonably well. Repeat listens, instead of becoming tiresome, make themselves worthwhile by exposing new sounds to digest. And given the sheer volume of stuff that's going on here, I see myself coming back for more on a regular basis. Time to get the rest of the (massive) VS collection of releases.
1.16.2009
I get around, apparently
When talking about using a bicycle as your primary means of transportation in this sort of weather (and by this sort, I mean -10 with a windchill of -23), it seems there are two approaches that are generally taken. On one hand are the people who pretty much do nothing but bitch about how awful it is, but yet refuse to either A) stop riding or B) stop complaining. Now, I'm not going to tell them that the should quit riding just because I'm tired of the complaining. They should keep riding. I'm telling them to stop being so damn annoying about it. On the other hand, there's the self-righteous types who talk about how amazing and liberating and important it is that they do this, and how everybody who doesn't do the same is a fraud or hates the environment. Even more annoying.
When it comes down to it, getting around on a bike these days does explain both attitudes. Sure, it sucks - your toes get cold, your fingers get especially cold, and your bike is a pile of rusted steel and/or corroded aluminum at the end of the season no matter what steps you take to prevent it from happening. But it's also pretty cool. It helps out with the cabin fever, helps to keep you from getting too out of shape (sorta), and I'll admit it - riding in this cold makes you feel like a fucking warrior.
Despite the highs and the lows, most reasonable people will find the two pretty much balance each other out. To illustrate my point, I'll share a quick anecdote from my ride home from class this morning. I was cruising down Albert near Collingwood when I passed another dude on a full fendered 'cross bike (a pretty rare sight around here). On a nicer day I might have tried catching up with him to meet a new biking friend. But today this clearly wasn't happening. By all outward appearances we were both just fighting the cold, hoping to get wherever we were going as quickly as possible. A nod was the most either of us could muster up.
I guess sometimes you have to deal with the fact that your favorite things are just going to be, for lack of a better descriptor, kind of whatever.
When it comes down to it, getting around on a bike these days does explain both attitudes. Sure, it sucks - your toes get cold, your fingers get especially cold, and your bike is a pile of rusted steel and/or corroded aluminum at the end of the season no matter what steps you take to prevent it from happening. But it's also pretty cool. It helps out with the cabin fever, helps to keep you from getting too out of shape (sorta), and I'll admit it - riding in this cold makes you feel like a fucking warrior.
Despite the highs and the lows, most reasonable people will find the two pretty much balance each other out. To illustrate my point, I'll share a quick anecdote from my ride home from class this morning. I was cruising down Albert near Collingwood when I passed another dude on a full fendered 'cross bike (a pretty rare sight around here). On a nicer day I might have tried catching up with him to meet a new biking friend. But today this clearly wasn't happening. By all outward appearances we were both just fighting the cold, hoping to get wherever we were going as quickly as possible. A nod was the most either of us could muster up.
I guess sometimes you have to deal with the fact that your favorite things are just going to be, for lack of a better descriptor, kind of whatever.
1.15.2009
The Bug - London Zoo
I've been slowly working my way into the world of dubstep after being exposed to Burial in '07 after his explosive release of Untrue, which pretty much rocked the whole world of electronic music. In search of other artists in the genre that can impact me as much as Burial did, I've recently come across The Bug's album London Zoo, which was released back in August '08. The Bug (Kevin Martin, IRL) has produced a grime-coated recording full of vocal features from artists like Warrior Queen and Hyperdub labelmate Spacescape. Projecting all sorts of anger and confusion towards an unfeeling outside world, the album feels like the East London slum where it was recorded - not that I've ever been to an East London slum, but I've got a pretty good imagination. Dark as it is, I'm finding it to be a great winter listen.
1.14.2009
Notorious
The Biggie Smalls dramamentary is looking to be one of the hottest films of the year. Looking forward to the release this Friday - hopefully it'll be screening in the Lansing area, this is something I need to look into.
1.13.2009
CLICK, CLICK
I would like to officially be the first to welcome myself to the world of riding clipless. After a brief first ride around town I have to say I'm really happy I made the switch and wish I'd have done it sooner. My Adidas El Moro shoes are comfortable, very stealth in terms of appearance and avoiding the Fred look, and at least for now don't have the cleats rubbing when I'm off the bike. The Crank Brothers Smarty pedals I went with are also treating me well so far. I'm still getting the feel for clipping in quickly, but the release has been effortless and I've got no fears of being that guy tipping over on his bike at a stopped intersection. Based on online reviews I've got my doubts about their longevity, but I suppose time will just have to tell on that one.
Being completely unafraid to plug one of my own bands here, tomorrow night Falcorps is playing with Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady, which is pretty exciting. We're fairly out of practice and just lost our cello player to another band (damn you, Goodnight House! [actually, this is a project involving lots of good friends and they deserve being checked out]). This obviously causes some worries, but whatever, I'm sure we'll get though the set just fine. I hope.
Being completely unafraid to plug one of my own bands here, tomorrow night Falcorps is playing with Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady, which is pretty exciting. We're fairly out of practice and just lost our cello player to another band (damn you, Goodnight House! [actually, this is a project involving lots of good friends and they deserve being checked out]). This obviously causes some worries, but whatever, I'm sure we'll get though the set just fine. I hope.
1.12.2009
Here goes...
It is a well known fact that in 2009, one must do everything. Unfortunately for me, scientists agree that blogging falls under the category of 'everything'. There are lots of other parts of 'everything' I was more looking forward to getting started on doing this year (it turns out there are TONS of different drugs I now have to try), but I figured I could get rid of one chorish task early. I promised myself a few years ago I'd never make a blog, but the nature of the year in which we live dictates otherwise, and you just can't fuck with those kinds of physics. It's 2009, and I should get with the times.
Other upsides to my good timing: I get to forgo having to post about all sorts big news that got way too much blog coverage lately: Zooey's unfortunate engagement, my top albums of '08, the new AC record. All topics I solemnly swear to avoid.
Everything else, however, is completely fair game. This especially includes the emerging niche market of cartoon dragon-on-car porn, which was covered fairly extensively here.
One last thing: let me be the first to say that I'm not sure I'm down with Google's new favicon. My tabs now look all unfamiliar and give me this unsettling feeling in my tummy.
Other upsides to my good timing: I get to forgo having to post about all sorts big news that got way too much blog coverage lately: Zooey's unfortunate engagement, my top albums of '08, the new AC record. All topics I solemnly swear to avoid.
Everything else, however, is completely fair game. This especially includes the emerging niche market of cartoon dragon-on-car porn, which was covered fairly extensively here.
One last thing: let me be the first to say that I'm not sure I'm down with Google's new favicon. My tabs now look all unfamiliar and give me this unsettling feeling in my tummy.
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