I am so pumped for my friend Jesse - his band The Depth have been working on an album for over a year and it is done and in the bag, and tonight is their CD release gig at a great local venue Amigos. A great local funky DJ The Gaff, is opening for them, and it promises to be a fine night. CFCR, our beloved local community station is sponsoring the show, because they too, are full of awesome sauce. :)Even if I didn't know Jesse and Aaron and think they were amazing people, their CD is really good. It's has an organic electronic rockish sound..a bit hard to describe. But Solid. Unique. 2 particular tracks Mother Ocean and Where You Are have gotten stuck in my head a lot lately, because - well - it's a damn fine album. Where You Are...is becoming one of my favourite songs period...who'd have thought? I shake my head sometimes that it's people I know making these sounds. :)
If you somehow hear of them coming to your town this summer, or happen to be at Motion Notion festival in Alberta, where I know they are playing, or can pick up or listen to their music, I highly recommend picking up the album. Especially track 10...:)
If you're anywhere about in Saskatoon, come by tonight and see them. It promises to be a great night!
I love this song. Strangely enough it reminds me a bit of Yello... This song makes me happy :) I listened to this CD this morning and it's put me in a great mood.
I just don't get all the hype over Girl Talk. I heard about him a few years ago and got excited - someone remixing and doing mashups. Great. I love that stuff. But the thing is...he's not the only person to do that, although the way the world hypes him up you'd think he was the first. Some of his mash ups are pretty cool, but I'm thinking his appeal has to be more of the "ooh ooh I know that song!" thing happening throughout the album. People like the familiar. And it's built to dance to...I get that too. It's ass shaking stuff for sure. The thing is, KLF did this 20 years ago. Friends of mine can do it off the cuff on the turntables. Done very well it's a real treat to hear. I just don't like how he's doing it.
The thing is, I don't mind the tunes...some of the mash ups are downright brilliant. But for me my big beef that I really can't ignore is this: the lyrics. I'm going to sound old and curmudgeonly, but after listening to the whole new Girl Talk album to give it a fair listening to I have heard enough "niggers" titties" "ass"s and "whore"s to last me for years. I've heard about angst and how they all might pop a cap in my ass...or how they want to shoot me or lay me down and do X,Y and Z to me (oh baby yeah). I just don't need that in my music. I like to shake my ass with the best of them...but I don't like music that is so overtly sexual or misogynistic that I feel uncomfortable. I don't like when people are objects or when others wallow in their lust or anger. Do that at home. Not in my stereo. If he remixed with 75% less whores I'd be all up ins. As it is, I have to applaud him for his beat matching and mash up skills, but I won't be listening to it again, even to workout to. Sure I could tune out the lyrics...but they creep in your head. They get in there. And soon all those things would be in my head filling in nooks and crannies with negative crap...I like to choose the smut that enters my head thanks :) I'll have to keep on looking for new tunes...
PS - hello to everyone who came here by googling titties :)
Because I've been spending lots of time in the biosafety hood this week culturing cancer cells...in our affectionately nicknamed cabinet room ("the hood") I present to you a few tracks from a favourite remix album of mine I've been listening to while I'm in there. For some reason it keeps me going at the end of a long 14 hour day...
This song has been in my head all morning for some reason.
We just returned from a week long super muddy camping trip. Lots of fun...glad we had 4 wheel drive incredible moon buggy goodness. We would not have made it out without it. It rained every day...so much mud. We were prepared and happily toasty dry and could go anywhere. As it was we drove through and around the impassable roads at the site 3 times on our way oput...because we could :)
Mee hee.
Must do many things now...so much work to catch up on. When I have a moment I'll be back. Promise :)
Whew. Star Wars last night was awesome! Forgetting my keys and being locked out of the house after? Not so much. Thankfully we have company staying with us and they could come by let us in with their key...which is usually our hidden extra key. Yes. Good times.
There was a full orchestra. Video on a giant clear screen. Displays in the lobby including Chewbacca's costume, C3P0's costume, Imperial guard costumes, Kit Fisto's costume, Darth Vader's costume (my fave), Yoda (!!!!!) and lots of other props and costumes from the films... There was over 2 hours of music. They even started with the 20th century fox fanfare. It was lovely. And now I have a fridge magnet of Chewbacca playing the tuba. Excellent, no?
And yet...I am reaching critical mental exhaustion mass. Too much going on. Not enough sleep. I do hope I can sleep and relax soon... If I ever get a few minutes at home when I'm not asleep I will post some photos. They're still on my camera. I know I know. I'll get it together soon...maybe :)
I haven't been able to stop listening to the new Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach. it grew on me, as all odd albums do, but a few favourite tracks have been rolling around in my mind and still are there despite my best efforts at chasing them out with something else: Some Kind of Nature, Melancholy Hill (current fave), Glitter Freeze and Stylo...have a listen. iadmit I have a thing for the Gorillaz, and I think it was great that the lead singer of the Blur started this up. It made Blur's last album one I really enjoy from the influence of it all (not normally a Blur fan) and I've loved all 3 of their albums. Lots of guest artists and general weirdness. Their song Dare is still one of my all time favourites. Have a listen. If you can wade in through the slight weirdness you may find you like it too...
Space spelunking anyone? I've had this song in my head since I woke up this morning...so I worked out to the album this morning and MAN, I feel really good...
I've had this great old song in my head since I woke up this morning. Otis Day and the Knights...a classic. This whole soundtrack has some great songs on it...Twisting the night away...Hey Paula...Wonderful world(still one of my all time favourite songs)...Tossin and Turnin - great classic stuff. I keep pulling this CD out every year or so and swooshing around the room to it with a big grin on my face. Not particularly attached to the film...more the music :) I'm going to pull it up on my iPod right now and have a listen in the lab. Good stuff...
I do believe I'm revealing how much of a hermit I can be as far as not watching TV or listening to the radio, but I heard this song last week...and I love it...makes me grin and sing along. I just hunted it down to found out who it is...(and discovered how it's been out for ages and was quite popular, oh, 2 years ago...*cough*). BUT, now I can listen to is whenever I please.
Well then. I have just purchased tickets to see Moby .
This is most excellent news.
I just found out about the concert a few minutes ago, but thanks to his consideration at coming on a weekend to a city near me and the wonders of the interweb I am pleased to say I can go...I've like Mr Mobley for a long long time, and he's on my list of people I want to see live...he ever so kindly makes all sorts of musics like ambient, rock and electronic...and all in a way I like...so me hee. Play will still be my favourite album of his...but I'm glad he has a new album out as it means I'll get to see him live.
A fine end to a day :) I leave you with a favourite remix of mine that he did of the James Bond theme...
Last night we managed to get in to see Moses Mayes opening up for the one and only Kool and the Gang at the Jazz Festival. I've seen Moses Mayes before and they're super high energy funk and dance music...got everyone riled up....and then...Kool and the Gang. Meehee...
Man - they know how to put on a show. They had the crowd dancing and singing and even pulled out moves and choreography - it was a really fun show. Very odd to *see* them singing songs I've heard on the stereo and radio since I was a wee sprog. Loved it :) They did Jungle Boogie...Celebration...all the hits. They seemed to be having a fantastic time along with the crowd. And the crowd was amazing...it's cool to go to shows where you see people from all ages strutting their funky stuff :) And all this at the main stage in the Bessborough Hotel back gardens - our city's equivalent of a castle...the sort of place they just don't make anymore. In the back gardens at sunset... listening to legendary funk and soul. Seriously. Legendary. And I'm not just saying it. I'm TYPING it :) Really great way to spend an evening :)
We have one last day with our company and we're going to make delicious pancakes and then hit the Jazz Festival for a final day of music and relaxing in the sunshine...can't wait. Hope you're all having a fantastic weekend!
Well...nothing like a day of shtuff and such to jog the mind back into what's what...wot? :)
I am going upstairs to make a fort out of blankets now and sip tea and read a book. It's gonna be fun on a bun :) Here's a little listen to the music playing this night only, at the Casa Geo the blanket fort.... Pleasant dreams...:)
I've been chilling in the lab this morning listening to the Verve Remixed compilation...it's sort of funky lounge music...mellow remixed music from the Verve Records vault of stuff...great music like Billy Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald and the like. Some great DJs of the day have taken them and remixed them into some nice chilled music - what I'd play in the lounge of a cafe if I ever had one I think... I'm in on a day off getting some work done for someone...just taking a swinging coffee break. What kind of music do you like to chill to?
image The pizza was delish. Anyone want good pizza? Venice House, in Sutherland. Seriously...so good. I feel lousy, so rather than whine at you, listen to this instead. I'll be back when I have something constructive to say. Bye...
Lately I've been reading all the Planetary I can get my hands on. It's been cold and rainy and the other book I'm reading is a beginner's guide to string theory and the science involved in it (Universe on a TShirt: Quest for the theory of everything) so this is a light read with a cup of tea here and there to break it up.
A friend of mine (lucky guy) realised his dream this spring of opening up a comic store -very nice one too. He recommended the Planetary comics to my friend Magnus, who leant them to J who raved about them crazily, so I read them too.
The artwork? Well, one word -Wow. Incredible. Worth reading for it alone. And the stories of it? Well, Planetary is "Archaeologists of the Impossible". Really interesting - the idea of a group of people with unusual abilities, coming across myths, characters and ideas from history and fantasy and other dimension and even other comics and trying to deal with them and protect us all makes for great stories. Anything from Mothra to giant ants to Dracula to Tessla is fair game. Funded by a mysterious Fourth Man, the field team consists of Jakita Wagner who is strong, fast and nearly invulnerable, The Drummer, who can detect and manipulate nearby information streams, computers and electronics (and is somewhat insane), Elijah Snow, who doesn't seem to age and can extract heat from nearby substances at will, and the former third man Ambrose Chase who can phase time and the laws of physics around himself.
There is also a crossover book, where the Planetary world meets other comic characters and we see how they interact...where depending on the dimensions, people are not themselves. Haven't finished it yet, but I'm enjoying it so far.
I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an interesting read. I'm a fan, as is J who is not a comic guy- Planetary deserves a read if you like the idea of "Archaeologists of the Impossible". Each of the 3 volumes has 7 or 8 stories, and they are all really interesting and different. There is a master plot running through them all as well...I'm waiting for them to put out the last compilation to see how it all comes together.
Looking forward to more.
Have a good weekend all...I'm off on this rainy day to sequence part of my own DNA. Cool Huh?Yup, I get to be my control patient for a study. Me hee...
Oh, one last thing...:) Intergalactic Planetary...
Imagine if Bjork and Tears For Fears got together for a night of passion that resulted in a love child. Then teach this child to play a theremin, and get him writing his own electronic influenced music. Add in a crazy smile and a lot of talent and you'd have Shamone - a local guy who played a lot of his stuff on friday night, opening for DJ Check. Shamone is a fantastic guy, and I knew he did some interesting music of his own when he wasn't just plain old DJing...and we finally got to hear the music he's been working on when we went out friday night. Very cool stuff...unique, and hard to define. I stand by the description I gave him...it's the closest description of his music I can think of... And he played a theramin. Seriously...I've never seen a working theremin before...neato. J has always wanted one, but they're not easy to track down...let alone get a MIDI one that will interface with electronic sound equipment. Hell, *I* want on now just to play with and make lazer sounds with...:)
On other music news - there's a new Gomez album. And I'm really digging the latest Mr. Scruff album, Ninja Tuna. Not only is Mr. Scruff a good DJ, his original songs and remixes are really good...but he also sells tasty tea and likes to draw squiggly happy cartoons. What's not to love? Check him out :)
Even if I didn't know Jesse and Aaron and think they were amazing people, their CD is really good. It's has an organic electronic rockish sound..a bit hard to describe. But Solid. Unique. 2 particular tracks Mother Ocean and Where You Are have gotten stuck in my head a lot lately, because - well - it's a damn fine album. Where You Are...is becoming one of my favourite songs period...who'd have thought? I shake my head sometimes that it's people I know making these sounds. :)
