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)