Bent Festival: Your Guide to Circuit Breaking

For your circuit breaking needs

LA says wassup to the Bent Festival, arriving today in Downtown before its stint in New York and Minneapolis. It's all about circuit bending and the festival presents workshops, lectures, music, and should appeal to anyone interested in making electronic music, especially in the DIY manner.

Their site says, "The Bent Festival is an annual art and music festival celebrating DIY electronics, hardware hacking, and circuit bending. Each year we invite artists from across the country and around the globe to perform music with their home-made or circuit bent instruments, teach workshops to adults and children alike, create beautiful art installations and to generally come together, face to face, and showcase the state of the art in DIY electronics and circuit bending culture."

Here's some info on the fest:

Bent Festival
April 17-19, 2008
Check out the schedule here.

Tickets

Each night is free with a suggested donation of $10.

A Festival Pass to all events is available for $25.

Locations

Grand Performances at California Plaza

350 S. Grand Ave (map)
Los Angeles, CA, 90017

Zero Point

1049 E 32nd St (map)
Los Angeles, CA,

Kool-Aid Reeboks!

Came across this event, happening Wednesday, April 16th if you're interested. I think the time on the flier should be 9PM-12AM (midnight).

Double check if you RSVP though:
reebokla@complex.com

Justice (apparel) for All (but not really)

(via Hypebeast)

Have you ever dreamed of being as awesome as Justice? Well this might get you one step closer to having your fantasies come true. French clothing label Surface 2 Air made nice with our favorite 2nd favorite French House duo and produced a very limited quantity of their signature leather jackets and jeans. By limited, I mean approximately a hundred-and-fifty pieces per model, so if you're so inclined I'd crack that checkbook open right now and line-up infront of one of these exclusive outlets:

Colette, Barneys, Lane Crawford, Isetan, Le Bon Marche, Paris Texas, Asylum, Le Shop, Incu, Surface to Air (Paris/Brazil)

The threads drop in June.

Blek le Rat at Subliminal Projects Gallery

"I fought the war and the war won..."

I heard this guy on Indie 103.1 the other day on Jonesy's Jukebox, guest starring with Shepard Fairey. Hailing from Paris, his first LA solo show will be at Fairey's gallery, Subliminal Projects, Saturday, April 5th, from 8-11pm. He's been on the scene way longer than most active stencil artists, pioneering the life-size stencil on the streets. He is also one of the first people to use stencils instead of bombing their name all over walls.

Written in the show's press release: "The concept for Art Is Not Peace But War is inspired by an article about graffiti written by Norman Mailer for The New York Times in 1972 read by le Rat during his first visit to New York. For le Rat, an artist is always in a constant fight to create. He views graffiti as the most democratic form of art and parlays this perspective into each of his works. 'Urban art is a powerful way to serve social causes and evoke reaction from the people, and if you have a message to give to the public, it is the best way to give it.'”

Check it out. I'll be there, and so will Blek le Rat.

Subliminal Projects Gallery
1331 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Saturday, April 5th, 2008
8:00-11:00pm

Radiohead Strips Stems for a Nude Remix

Click picture for details!

Radiohead cut up their song "Nude" for fans to remix and put the tracks on iTunes available to purchase. Each track is $0.99, or if you want the package with all the tracks that includes a GarageBand code, it's $5.94. Right now the Holy Fuck mix is leading, and in all honesty, it can be beat. I encourage someone to make a remix that'll blow that one away. The deadline for this is May 1st (does anybody know if there is a prize for this?)

More details at www.radioheadremix.com

Gibson owns your Guitar Hero Controller

Whoa! So it finally happened (over a week ago, actually). Gibson is now suing major game retailers for selling those Gibson-esque Guitar Hero controllers, after previously attempting to stop Activision Inc. from fabricating the controllers in the first place. If you haven't noticed, Guitar Hero has cranked the controller versions of many signature Gibson guitars including the Flying-V, the X-Plorer, and most notibly the Les Paul.

CNN Article

Polish your kicks, it's Spring Time!

I know it' s a day early but I'm taken up tomorrow, so Happy Spring all and thanks for reading!

Elation - Spring Fever (via zShare)

Scion Sampler Vol 21: IHEARTCOMIX Remixed

Speaking of Ocelot, the most recent of Scion's mixtapes is actually Franki Chan's evil bidding.  This mix is a collection of tracks from Chan's label, IHEARTCOMIX, which would include artists such as Ocelot, HEARTSREVOLUTION, Death Set and more.  It would definitely do you some good to check it out.

By the way, if anyone's lucky enough to be in Austin tonight there's a HUGE event by IHEARTCOMIX and Mad Decent with a line-up that would blow anyone's mind.

New Ocelot Mixtape

Looks like our pretty kitty friends, Ocelot, made this exxxclusive mix for No Love Lost Records, featuring a couple remixes of their recently released Lo Sforzo track plus a lot more hard thumpin' electro house goodness.

I especially like their mysterious "Untitled" track, and their remix of Razorlight's "America".  Amazing stuff.  Find a link to the mix and its full tracklist on their myspace.

Ocelotspace

A Korg MS-10 on your DS

Via Music Thing

I know. What the ef, right? Among the clutter of "meh" music games on portable consoles stands an application to be reckoned with. Modeled after the legendary Korg MS-10 synth, this "game" has a 6-track sequencer, two sound engines, Reason-style patching and the ability to play wirelessly with friends. It sounds like it would waste more of my time than tetris (maybe) and hell, it might just kick the crap out've that Chocopoolp thing for beat sketching on the go.

But hey, you tell me.

Unfortunately, this baby is one of them "Japan Only" games. Someone selling a Japanese DS?

*Update 03/19/08: Looks like the game WILL be available in other regions, w00t!

This is Your Brain on Jazz

Any neuro majors out there?

A recent study funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (phew...) has found that jazz musicians, when engaged in improvisional solos, shuts down a sizable amount of the brain involved in observing performance "while a small region involved in organizing self-initiated thoughts and behaviors is highly activated."

The Study

Stencil... Reincarnation??

What are those flying things on the upper right?

...Reincarnation in the sense that it has been away from the mainstream for quite some time... introducing us to artists some have never heard of. The last BIG show I remember was when Banksy showed at some rundown warehouse in LA. Since then, Logan Hicks came and did some wall art on Melrose for the release of his designed K-Swiss kicks. If you love stencil art, this show looks promising already with some of the art featured on their flyer. I love the Carmichael Gallery shows, being introduced to them when they brought art to the Biscuit Company Lofts in Downtown LA. They know how to set up their space for maximum visual pleasure, as well as atmospheric pleasure. The opening reception is this Saturday, March 1st from 8pm-12am.

Logan Hicks doing some stencil work
(regards to the 'mastodon' who posted this on YouTube.)

Video of the Meek FM "Typographic Synthesizer"

If Moog worked for a type foundry...

Music and art is (among other things) what this blog is about, and as often as the two intermingle with each other I had never thought that analog synthesizers and typographic design could be married.

Well it has. Rob Meek and Frank Miller's invention of the Meek FM has taken the internets by storm and finally some video footage of the thing in action has come along for all of us to enjoy.


"Meek FM is an interpretation of type as sound. Using new software and the M.E.E.K. typographic synthesizer, the musician/designer develops sounds and typographic visuals in parallel."


A good way for the sound designer to break into type and vise versa. Personally, I wouldn't mind tweaking knobs instead of Bézier handles.

The Meek FM in Action

Puremagnetik Squeezes out the "TeeBee"

TeeBee!

Puremagnetik is just an amazing company. Every month they release two sample packs stuffed with great quality sounds for a measely 5 bucks a month. This month they released the "TeeBee", a pack that samples the original TB-303.

Samples can be heard on the Puremagnetik Website.

If you're interested go and subscribe now! The packs jump in price when the new flavors of the month set in.

Para One + Ayumi Hamasaki?

via Palms Out

Yeah, you heard me right. Soon to be released by the Japanese record label Avex is an Ayu remix album featuring a Para One refix of her song "Greatful Days".

...and I thought he was lucky enough to be remixing Daft Punk's "Prime Time of Your Life".

If you don't know who Ayumi Hamasaki is, the girl is huge. Dubbed the "Empress of Japanese Pop Music" she's a powerhouse of award-winning tracks with enough top singles to put even platinum artists to shame. Just check her wiki.

As for how the remix sounds?  It's a light-sounding club beat with "Voyager" style basslines that drop in around the middle.  Nothing special, but Ayu remix compilations tend to be pretty inoffensive like that anyway. Download the remix below and check out the original track if you can.

Ayumi Hamasaki - "Greatful Days" (Para One Remix) (via zShare)

Get'em Para One, you silly Frenchman!

Polaroid (1948-2009)

Shake it like a Polaroid picture, while you still can

It is with great regret that I announce the Polaroid Corporation's decision to discontinue Polaroid films. Starting this year, Polaroid will start to discontinue the first of its instant films and by September of 2009 the last batch will have been packed and shipped from the factory. There is no solid speculation if another manufacture will take its place, but it is said that Polaroid is seeking a partner to acquire licensing rights in hopes that a firm will produce the film and hardware long after the company is gone.

As a Polaroid fan myself, I have always enjoyed taking fun instant photos (I even gave in to the Joy Cam and i-Zone craze in grade school). I loved to apply the smudge/scrape effect on my pictures, remember that? Now I sit and stare at my old Polaroid Spirit 600 with great grief. Snap 'em up while you can, fellas.

Polaroid Notification

I can't figure out why this song reminds me of Polaroid pics but it does, so here:

Jah Cure - Love Is (via zShare)

*Update 2/22/08: I came across this post about the post-Polaroid scare. Stock up on that film!

Two Notable Events: MSTRKRFT + Ed Fella/Geoff McFetridge

Ed Fella!

Unfortunately, MSTRKRFT and the Ed Fella/Geoff McFetridge event isn't happening at the same venue. Damn bookers raining on my parade.

MSTRKRFT's tickets for their February 29th show at the Music Box at the Fonda in Hollywood are on sale now for $26. Get your dance on with Z-Trip and DJ Diabetic opening. Why do awesome electro duos like to hide their identity?

The REDCAT gallery has been overshadowed by the larger Downtown LA museums, but it's not worth overlooking. On February 20th, it's holding the opening reception for two great and influential designers Ed Fella and Geoff McFetridge from 6:00-9:00pm. Spectators will be able to meet the artists through an artist talk at 6:30pm. The show will be open until April 6th, so there's no excuse to miss this opportunity!

That Fool Kanye

The Evolution Theory: Edwin Birdsong's "Cola Bottle Baby" > Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" > Kanye West's "Stronger"

Getting clowned on left and right by celebrities such as Usher and Vince Gill, Kanye took it like a champ at the 2008 Grammy Awards.  What doesn't kill him makes him stronger, right? Speaking of stronger, the pop icon performed the ever-so ironic popular song live at the awards show, which I learned a couple of things from: 1) I found out that Daft Punk uses something like a Lemur controller for their live performances, and 2) I found out Kanye CAN actually see through those window blinds-styled glasses.

Congrats on your "Best Rap Album" and your "Solo Performance" award, Kanye.  You're still a douchebag.

Daft Punk - Around the World/Harder, Better, Faster Stronger (from the "Alive" album) (via zShare)

Oh, Snap!  Was someone putting up the pyramid sign during his performance sixteen seconds into that vid?

Rack Mount a Wine Rack

Rack'em! Rack! Rack!

Proof that anything and everything can be racked (given it's 19 inches or less) Canford, the UK gear source for pro audio components, has in their almighty catalog a wine rack that can be mounted onto your gear rack. I suppose this might be for good for those sound and light board operators when there's an opportune gap between cues.

The idea is not unheard of. Many gear junkies have toured with various oddities mounted onto their racks. I've personally seen theremins, video game consoles, tvs, and sex toys bolted onto seemingly unwilling cabinets. Can you think of the next big rack-mountable thing?

OCELOT MTHRFCKRS!! Lo Sforzo 12" Dropping Soon

Kitty go "meow!"

Last November Franki Chan's blog, iheartcomix, announced a remix contest for Ocelot's new single, "Lo Sforzo". The winner will have their track featured on the B side (I'm keeping my fingers crossed). Regardless of who wins this track is going to be off the hook, so keep your eyes peeled and your paws ready; this one's sure to be at the top of everyone's record crate. The tune will be available on the 12th, if iheartcomix ever fixes their bloody online store.


In the mean time, enjoy one of Ocelot's remixes:

Dragonette - Competition (OCELOT MTHRFCKRS remix) (via zShare)


Ocelotspace

PS: Speaking of Franki Chan. He has a show in LA tonight called "Still Fucking Awesome" @ The Beauty Bar: 1638 N. Cahuenga Blvd. See you there!

New Stuff from Lauryn Hill (?)

Back in Elementary school I used get the songs "If I Ruled the World" and "Around the World" mixed up. Yeah, two totally different songs I know but give me a break, I was in.. what.. like 2nd grade? Regardless, both Lauryn Hill and Daft Punk have since been cranking out albums and singles each more popular then the next. Daft Punk released Alive in early December. So What's Lauryn got in store for us?

Recently, there has been a lot of rumors going around the blogosphere about Lauryn's new album, which might possibly be dropped outside of the states. The album will have 25 tracks comprised of remixes, relicks, classsics, and other goodn's not yet confirmed. Legend fortells that the cd drops on the 12th, but don't quote me on it.

Tracks spec'd for the new album:

So High (Remix) (via zShare)

The Sweetest Thing (Remix) (via zShare)

First Fridays @ The Natural History Museum

Come rock with the dinosaurs

Dinner, discussion, and music... what more does a hipster need? The Natural History Museum began their "First Fridays" last summer with great artists aboard their monthly event. This year, they're continuing it a bit earlier and it's something to be excited about. Whoever is organizing these events is a genius for bringing publicity to a well-deserved museum. Not only do these events generate awareness about significant topics and issues, they book hip bands that everyone can enjoy.

Last month, they kicked the 2008's first Friday with Sea Wolf performing as their musical guest. Next month, on February 1st, A-TRAK and Kid Sister are going to rock the house. Word on the street (via Stereogum) is that Kanye West showed up and did some songs at a similar gig at the American Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Maybe Angelinos will be as lucky as Chi-town.

On the first Friday of every month, come support the lectures and discussions and stick around for the great musical guests.

Admission: Adult $9, students (w. ID) $6.50, Members FREE.

Links:
First Fridays

A-TRAKSpace

Kid SisterSpace

Get Down Stay Down with Thao

Picture from Coffee Snorter

If there's anyone who can ease me out of realizing that Sunday evening is a pre-cursor to Monday, it's this gal and her entourage.  Hailing from Virginia, Thao Nguyen has been a favorite in the Folk scene for a couple of years now.  This cute little bandwagon released their first album, Like the Linen, in 2005 and managed to crank two albums behind my back in 2006; The Sound the Hare Heard and Day Trotter Sessions.  If that didn't break my heart, the band is releasing another album in just a few days.  We Brave Bee Stings and All drops on the 29th of January.  Be sure to pre-order it on Amazon.

...and she happens to share my distaste in geography, w00t.

Thao Nguyen with The Get Down Stay Down - Geography (via zShare)

ThaoSpace

Japanese Bands Compile a Radiohead Tribute Album

There are quite a few Radiohead tribute albums out there, but I hope you left room in your crate for one more.  Introducing the Radiohead Tribute "Master's Collection", a compilation of Radiohead tunes covered by a variety of Japanese artists.  The tracks all range in genre and the album is definitely an interesting listen for Radiohead fans.  See how they breathe new life into the classics.

Radiohead - Just (Lulu cover) (via zShare)

Cop the album here.

And if for some reason you're in Japan, here.

CCP says Brush them Teeth

This guy lays it on phat while keeping his pearlies sparking. Let me see them teeth, money!

Don't let his looks fool you; hailing from Queens, Cool Calm Pete is a factory of smart hip-hop. With thought behind each word his flows are delivered with full composure, while making sure he lives up to his name. Forget that "money in the bank" and "bitches and hoes" nonsense, CCP has food for thought and it's always good to see hip-hop getting its sophistication on.

It's also refreshing to hear a rapper that actually articulates. Peep game:

Cool Calm Pete feat. RJD2 - Black Friday (via zShare)

Pete drops bombs on a track layed out by the legendary RJD2. Cop it full on iTunes, better yet get the 12".

CCPSpace

RJD2Space

Naked DJing: What's in for '08

Porn and trance? Two of my all-time favorites, 'cept trance (via Hipster Runoff)

Had you asked me where to go for half-naked sluts and trance music I would've told you go to LA and find a nice rave, but recently all that has changed. Niki Belucci, a Hungarian porn star turned DJ, is quickly gaining popularity in Europe and was even featured in some mainstream publications such as FHM.

What's her stuff like? Why don't YOU try looking for her mixes without getting distracted.

BelucciSpace Official Site

So DJs, when it get's a little steamy up in that booth of yours, feel free to take off your tops. If you're set sounds a bit sloppy, it just might save you!

Naked DJing is Kid Millionare and Uffie approved!

Official Coachella 2008 Poster

No Deltron 3030 :(

Here is the OFFICIAL poster for Coachella 2008, and you might know from former years, it is subject to change with additions that can happen days before the festival begins. The biggest surprise is the addition of Roger Waters as Sunday's headliner, performing the whole Dark Side of the Moon album. Although Radiohead (or Led Zeppelin) didn't make the cut, I'm very satisfied with Portishead, the Verve, Justice, Death Cab for Cutie, and Kraftwerk as the bigger names on the list. What I got most excited about was seeing The Swell Season being part of Coachella. After seeing the "band's" performance on the film Once, I fell in love with their songs. Watch the film and you will be an instant fan if you're into soft acoustic guitar/piano music led by powerful vocals.

To help familiarize you with the smaller names you might not know, I'll research a couple bands (perhaps by your request in the comments?) and post some songs by them as the countdown to Coachella 2008 commences.

Pause to Reflect: NAMM '08 via Flickr + CDM

What? Nooo, I think the G-1000 Fucking Fucker Tube Amp is more than appropriate for your children

In case you didn't catch NAMM in all its glory. Here's a little Flickr photoset by CDM covering some of the odds and ends of the show, including the tube head you see above.

*Update: Also, check out the NAMM '08 top gear picks from Wire to the Ear. What are you gonna cop in '08?

*Yet another Update 1/24/08: Looks like CDM put up another post about all the goodns at NAMM. I love the shot of Roger Linn with the "Drum Machines Have No Soul" bumper sticker. Brilliant!

Coachella 2008 Confirmed(?) Band of the Week: Deltron 3030

FOR YOUR INTERGALACTIC PLEASURE

I woke up this morning and rushed to my computer, just to be disappointed that the Coachella lineup has not been posted yet. Thus, I bring you another installment of Confirmed(?) Band of the Week.

Here is the best news I have heard about the festival so far. Deltron 3030 is HIGHLY rumored to be playing this year. Deltron Event II is a follow up to their self-titled album which (hopefully) will be releasing soon. My optimistic conscious tells me the album may have been postponed around festival time, hyping up their fans to see them at Coachella and purchase the album. Although not much is posted about them on the internet world, I urge you to find their music, listen to them non-stop, and then stand in the front row during their set to show them your intergalactic love. Their conceptual style is influenced by the afrofuturist Sun Ra, and if you've seen Space is the Place, you'll know what I'm talking about.

If their normal pseudonyms aren't enough, Deltron 3030's members take on more futuristic ones as: Deltron Zero (Del the Funky Homosapien), The Cantankerous Captain Aptos (Dan the Automator), and Skiznod the Boy Wonder (Kid Koala).

Deltron 3030 Hieroglyphics site

"Virus" flash video

Are you at NAMM?

via O'Reilly Digital Media

Just across the street from Disneyland there's a whole lotta gear-junky goodness at NAMM, the anual trade show for new and upcomming audio products. If you weren't lucky enough to be an attendee there are tons of people in the blogosphere ready to give you live coverage, my personal favorite being CDM. Either way, don't miss it! You're bound to find something that'll interest you and your gear.

Also, if you're interested in strange gear, you might like Barry Wood's NAMM Oddities site. I look forward to the 2008 edition.

Justice Bootleg Tee!

via Palms Out Sounds

Red Foxxworth of POS snapped this hilarious picture of a bootleg Justice tee from Target. I just had to repost. Red notes that the original "DANCE" text on the shirt is replaced with "ACE", bloody brilliant!

Remember these shirts from the video?

Anamanaguchi...?

You'd like it if you had robot ears

If you've been influenced heavily by Nintendo games and the whole bit (pun intended) then you might enjoy a little band called Anamanaguchi (it's like a mix of onomatopoeia + Gucci in it's pronunciation). The NYC band made their debut in LA within the last couple of weeks and they've been a huge hit with us nerdy locals, but hey, I'm sure Dragonforce was up front and center. For once, fuck the SID chip; it's all about NES. Nintendocore fans rejoice.

Anamanaguchi - Airbase (via zShare)

AnamanaguchiSpace

Steve Jobs Introduces the MacBook Air

Introducing the MacBook Air. With the music and art industry using mainly Apple platforms, this new notebook will be the buzz among many artists. Perhaps, this is one you can create your beats and/or do your Photoshop work on and travel with easily. You decide.

The screen is a backlit 13.3 LCD display with a resolution of 1280x800 and on the right side of the notebook, there is a flip down hatch that houses a headphone jack, one usb port, and a micro-DVI port. The top of the lid has a "smartly integrated" iSight camera that has the capability for webcam chats and picture taking. As for the internal hardware, the MacBook Air has 2GB of RAM and a 80GB hard drive. It has a 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor included in the standard model, and for those who need more performance, there is a higher model available that has a 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor in it. Battery life for this notebook is not too impressive for its size. Apple is saying "you can access the web wirelessly for five full hours" which is not heavy use at all, meaning the ACTUAL battery life is significantly less. I'm guessing the battery will last 2-3 hours for those college leveled student multi-taskers who listen to music, chat on AIM (or iChat), write those essays, and browse the web... at the same time.


The keyboard is different from the previous MacBook Pros, which is a downgrade because those keys were so easy to type with and felt very soft to the touch. The current MacBooks have the "separated keys" which is awkward at times and very hard to the touch. It also features a large trackpad similar to the touch screen on the iPhone, meaning you can "pinch, swipe, or rotate to zoom in on text, advance through a photo album, or adjust an image."

Where are the speakers? No optical drive?

Case Specs:
Weight: 3 pounds
Thickness: 0.16-0.76 inches
Dimensions: 12.8" wide and 8.95" deep

Portability is a huge factor with consumers now and this notebook can fit in a large size mailing envelope with its wedge shaped design. It will be available in two weeks starting at the price of $1799.

*Update 1/18/08: Even after all the bickering with Apple over iPhone specs, the environmental organization Greenpeace has acknowledged the MacBook Air as being "a strong entry in the race to build a green PC" because of the laptop's lack of mercury and arsenic. (via Macworld)

Be Kind, Rewind

Fist bump's definitely still in

I was at a drive-in theater (I know, right?) in Riverside when this preview lit up the screen. Now, I've heard about this film before but failed to think much of it; that is until I saw Jack Black and Mos Def pop up on the big screen with some fist bump action. Jack Black and Mos Def? I almost dropped my tacos. This has got to be the coolest combination (presumably) since peanut butter and bananas.

Be Kind Rewind

The film hits the big screen on 2.22

*Side note (not worthy of its own post): Before going to the movies I hit up the Virgin Records in Ontario and came across this "in-thing". Might be hard to see...

It's a Flight of the Conchords T. Sorry, but it won't make you look like Daft Punk. Comes in a couple flavors at the Virgin Megastore. Other Conchords gear can be found at the HBO Store and (if you must) Hot Topic.

*Update 1/18/08: Check out the Sundance interview of the director of "Be Kind, Rewind" Michel Gondry here.

Belkin makes an XLR interface for the iPod

via Engadget

Did Belkin actually make something useful for a change? Maybe. Unveiled at CES earlier this week, the Belkin Podcast Studio (oh) sports an internal mic, speaker, and XLR connections. The notable features on the interface include a couple of gain control switches (one per channel?), a mono/stereo toggle, and what appears to be a filter switch. Yeah, it leaves much to be desired, but it would be more than adequate for its intended purpose and, at a rumored price of $100 USD, it might suffice as a po' man's R-09 or Zoom H4. Someone want to field test this for me?

Japonisme II

It’s happening all over again...

 

I don’t have any problems with how the US is embracing the pop culture stylings of the Far East, but I can’t help but get a little disappointed when I see once talented artists give in to a trend for a profit.

Now I hate to go against the grain of what’s popular today, but I’m sure you’ve heard of Takashi Murakami.  He was once a talented and hard-working artist, who studied the traditional style of the old masters.  At the end of his scholastic career, however, he shifted gears and became very interested in the longevity of corporately marketable cartoons.

His creative mind currently rests on an island somewhere between Japan and the States and, along side his oompa loompas design team, he mashes-up pre-existing cartoon characters, exaggerates their most outstanding characteristics, and ships them off to Rockefeller Center, MOCA, or some other happening destination.

The shock value, generated by the contrast of cuteness and questionable content, is generally enough to keep the hipsters swooning while they order up a limited edition (5k USD) Louis Vuitton bag with eyeballs on it, designed by Murakami of course.

The bright colors, clean graphic lines, the characters, they are in fact very beautiful and Murakami’s works do stand as wonderful pieces of art.  The problem is that I’ve seen it all before.  I was raised watching this stuff on videotapes, shipped to me by relatives in Tokyo.  In more recent years I’ve seen more twisted versions of these cartoons in trendy shops such as Giant Robot and f you’re lucky enough to visit the streets of Akihabara, you’ll see more of the same merch in their novelty stores.  With all previous criticisms aside, it was pretty discouraging to see these characters outlandishly butchered in uninspiring ways and so obviously exploited for profit.  If it was art pour l'art it would’ve been okay, but art for self-indulgent profit?  It doesn’t sit well with me.

I can respect him as a great marketer, but his public persona clouds my view of, what could be, amazing work.

*Update:  This past weekend my little sister invited me to an art show at California State University Los Angeles.  There I saw a piece riddled with Murakami’s sunflower decal by a student from CSU Long Beach, Pakorn Sukiphaiboon, a great Visual Communications student and an active member of the local VCDA (Visual Communication Design Association).  On it was an excerpt from this article by Jeff Howe of Wired Magazine.  It was actually quite a relief to realize that someone else, at least in part, thought a little like me.

We Are Terrorists

Often referred to as just WAT, We Are Terrorists is a French house group under the ever-so-ill iheartcomix label, home of Ocelot, The Toxic Avenger, and a lot of other prime house artists. Just don't search for them on Google.

Ironic Sexism (We Are Terrorists Remix) (via zShare)

Wanna see'm live? Go see them play at the Batofar in Paris on the 16th (and if you're actually considering going, fill out this form to get a free WAT pin with that sic ass graphic from above).

WATSpace

Coachella 2008 Confirmed(?) Band of the Week: Death Cab for Cutie

Anticipation rises as the Coachella 2008 line up is speculated to be released at any moment. Until then, I will be presenting you with the (rumored to be) confirmed bands every Friday. The internet is never a reputable source for anything so I could be wrong with these bands.

Last year, presale for the festival was available through Ducat King before the line up came out, but there has been nothing about it anywhere yet.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

While perusing the official Coachella message boards, and searching through means of Google, the band that people are claiming to be confirmed for Coachella 2008 is Death Cab for Cutie. Word has it that a concert booker tried to book them for a show during the dates of Coachella and they had to decline because of this reason. If in fact confirmed, they would be a great addition to the line up as they have never played the desert festival before and playing Coachella makes sense with their new album releasing May 2008. That reason alone makes them a perfect candidate to play, not to mention they have going on 10+ years strong as prominent indie rockers. The band has been under the radar since their last album was released, almost forgotten amidst the convoluted mainstream indie-pop around today. Drive Well, Sleep Carefully is a highly recommended DVD to watch if you want to be exposed to the band further.

If you're an overanxious major fan of the band, check out guitarist Chris Walla's solo material here. His solo album Field Manual drops January 29, 2008.

The 7-String Guitar Ruined Metal

I remember the first time I heard Korn and thought to myself, "why are there 3 bass players in this band?" To my unfortunate surprise, however, it was in fact the addition of two 7-string guitars added to the mix. The solid-body electric 7-string came onto the scene in the early 90’s and was first introduced and used by guitar virtuoso, Steve Vai. Though Mr. Vai is a competent player and theoretically knows how to incorporate the low B string added to the guitar, he unknowingly unleashed a hellish mass of “me too” spawn. Originally intended for retaining the original register of notes for soloing and incorporating an added string for low end riffage, the 7-string was, sorry to say, raped by hordes of Neanderthal “guitarists” who dropped the tuning of the already bass heavy instrument to create what they called “music.” In other words, the bar for musicianship was greatly lowered.

If you wear a mask, you’re 7-string approved.

Ok, seriously, just down-tune your 6-string, cause God knows you’re not gonna fucking use all 7 of those strings. Stop kidding yourself. That’s why they make baritone guitars. Actually, better yet, drop the bullshit and buy a BASS. If all you do is noodle around with your Line 6 amp and Boss Metal-Zone pedal and make “sick riffs” all day while never attempting to once use the clean channel than do this: Buy a fucking bass you half-witted clodpole dumbfuck.

Fuck, thanks, Steve Vai.

- Ogre

Hudson Mohawke

You bet your sweet Pomeranian ass

A friend had told me about Hudson Mo after getting an earful from his sample cd (which apparently came free with some new threads at Urban Outfitters).  I have to say, I'm sold on this new beat.

This genre-defying sound gives off what I can only begin to classify as a new breed of downtempo/trip-hop.  It's chaotic time signatures, both in the samples and beats keep the track real fresh.  I suppose where Aaron Funk's sound might be considered a hard roll, Hud Mo would be the nice buzz.

The real Hudson Mohawke.  Judging by the setup, ya think the beats are done live?

I guess the best way to tap his sound is to listen to his tracks...

Hudson Mohawke - Star of a Story (via zShare)

HudsonSpace

Be sure to check out his collaboration with Mike Slott called "Heralds of Change".  Cop the 12" for your decks.

Justice Tours with Chromeo and Diplo

Following the link above brings you to an all familiar MySpace music page. However, this time they are promoting a music tour with bands that simply cannot be overlooked. While the headliners, Justice, can stand their own, New Yorkers can enjoy the taste of Justice AND Chromeo, while Los Angelinos get Justice served with a bit of Diplo. New Yorkers should jump on these tickets if they're Chromeo fans because four of their five of their tour dates coming up are SOLD OUT. You would be doing yourself a favor with this double treat.

Chromeo - Tenderoni (MSTRKRFT remix)

Do You Feel "Alive"

Motivational poster by Ishkur

So the Alive 2007 tour is now long over with Daft Punk's last US appearance being at Vegoose back at the tail end of October. Not to say that the robotic duo is dead and gone, though; the Alive cd was dropped early last month, and anyone lucky enough to get a copy can get an earful of this amazing live mix. Though the mix stands well on its own, I'm sure that those who've seen the "great pyramid" in person would get an especially hard nostalgic rush.

I've been aware of DP for awhile now, ever since I caught my older brother listening to "Around the World" in grade school. Who would've thought that they would become the fathers of electro house and a source of inspiration for great artists such as Justice (as well as the rest of the Ed Banger crew).

Sometime last year I made a short megamix of Daft Punk remixes as a birthday gift for my friend, Jorge.

Jorgegasm - Shimmy's Daft Megamix on musicv2.com (alt zShare link)

Has anyone copped this box set of Alive? Those Daft Punk Be@rbricks are sic!

Ishkur's Guide to the Galaxy... of Electronic Music

About a year and a half ago I came across this site that's apparently been around since late y2k. What looks like an e-tard's wank at a website is actually a handy reference guide to the world of electronic music. Ishkur, whether it's the name of the site or a moniker of the author's, has all the information you need to get you schooled on electronic tunes.

One of my favorite nugs is The Great Samples Database, which is a reader expanded list of songs and their respective source samples. Last I checked they were going three-thousand strong.

Another good one is Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music, which is a comprehensive flash-based tour through the origins of electronic music and its many genres and sub-genres. Each stop has a description of the genre and even an audio loop so you can get an idea of what the genre sounds like. Real good stuff, whether you're electronically challenged or not.

Guess looks can be deceiving.

ishkur.com

Did I mention that he's taking donations?