September 2012's calendar / wallpaper

I would normally I used a photo taken in August but the weather has been so lousy that I don't have any really good ones to use... so forgive me for using another one from my summer holidays.

This month's calendar / wallpaper is of a huge nishikigoi that I saw in Great Yarmouth. There were a number of huge fish in the Model Village's pond... I just pointed my camera and snapped a few photos... and was delighted with how this one turned out.

All the usual flavours are included below. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for everyones' willingness to have my photography on their devices... it is appreciated by me.

Enjoy.

Tx

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iPhone with Calendar + iPhone without Calendar
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What I listened to in August 2012

I've been listening to a considerable amount of Cousin Silas and Apta... but then they do have music dropping soon on weareallghosts.

Gurrumul has been a real favourite too... his voice is simply divine... whereas Underworld and High Contrast are as a direct result of their inclusion in the soundtrack for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

Tx

Some thoughts on Hitchcock's "Vertigo"

Last Monday I had the house to myself. Monday is the only Bank Holiday that I get that Olly and the we'ans do not... so I had a few hours to myself.

I bought a four-pack of Alfred Hitchcock films on DVD a while back... and took the opportunity to watch "Vertigo". I hadn't seen it in a long, long time and was in the mood.

The first thing I noticed was how powerful the credits are... simple graphics from Saul Bass but when matched with Bernard Herrmann's score they were really moving and set the tone of the film.

The next thing I picked up on was Hitchcock's attention to detail. Each scene is perfect. Each interaction is effortless. I loved Hitchcock's cinematography... the angles he uses. Simply first class.

I also loved the way San Francisco was portrayed in such a way that it becomes an integral character. I would love to visit the Argosy Bookstore, Ernie's restaurant or see the Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point. Beautiful.



If you haven't seen "Vertigo" then please check it out. It really is great.

Tx

2012 Paralympic Games

I'll admit it... I am very excited about the 2012 Paralymic Games. More so after getting really into the Olympic Games.

Hopefully my productivity won't be too badly affected.

That said, the jury is out about Channel 4's coverage in the UK. The BBC's coverage of the Olympics was second-to-none… their TV coverage was brilliant with so much choice… especially when you consider Sky's 'red button' option. I also enjoyed the coverage on Radio 5Live… a channel I hadn't listened to prior to the Olympics. Colin Murray was very entertaining… as was Claire Balding on the TV… she really is a great presenter and I hope she can, along with Jon Snow, recapture some of the BBC's excellence for C4.

Anyway… I'm looking forward to eleven days of competition… and hope I can overlook the adverts. That said… some of the adverts have been particularly good… especially C4's own ad (above).

Speaking of ads... I was taken with this ad for the Canadian Paralympic Committee which was shot in one take:



I hope you will enjoy the Games as much as I will.

Tx

New book :: "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White with illustrations from Maria Kalman

A copy of "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White with illustrations from Maria Kalman arrived for me today. I bought it to help me with my written English at work... with the hope being that it will trickle down to my non-work writing.

It's an absolute cracker of an artefact... Kalman's illustrations are truly first class... and the content from Strunk & White is inspirational:

"Meaningful. A bankrupt adjective. Choose another, or rephrase." 

 "Interesting. An unconvincing word; avoid it as a means of introduction. Instead of announcing that what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so." 

"As yet. Yet nearly always is as good, if not better."

Brilliant!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Tx

Remembering Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut; 05/08/1930 - 25/08/2012

Seven questions... with Neil S. Milton

Following on from my post on "Seas" and "Skies"... two EPs by Scottish musician and composer Neil Milton... I thought it apt to ask him my wee blog interview... this is what he had to say in response:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
So, I'm Neil Milton and I'm a Scottish musican and composer living in Warsaw, Poland.  In the early 2000s I played guitar in a band from Glasgow called Troika, started a record label called Too Many Fireworks and DJed at a club called Fire: works.  For a couple of years now, though, I've been writing and recording both modern-classical music and - what I like to think of as - organic ambient, soundscape music.


2) What are you working on at the moment?
I've recently finished my latest record, a double e.p. set called Skies / Seas.  It's the first I've written that consciously separates the classical music with the organic soundscapes.  Skies is predominantly piano and string quartet with a few surprises thrown in.  Seas is far more experimental, with acoustic sounds heavily processed using delay and reverb.  While I've begun writing a follow-up more specifically to Seas and would like to see that come out before the end of the year, I've also started to rehearse a live set that would see me play shows for the first time in 2 and a half years.


3) Who inspires you?
My family is an inspiration, certainly.  My dad for introducing me to music in the first place with very early exposure to bands like the Byrds and the Beach Boys; my mum for telling me I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it - I think I took her a little too literally.  My girlfriend inspires me also.  She is adventurous, funny, eternally optimistic and the first person I want to impress when I finish a new piece.

My foremost musical inspirations are worn on my music like a badge of pride.  Modern-classical composers like Ólafur Arnalds and Jóhann Jóhannsson influence my chamber and classical works whereas Sigur rós, Mogwai and Jónsi & Alex are, I suppose, pretty clear influences on the more post-rock, soundscape pieces.

With the exception of Mogwai, then, I think that also helps to sum up a place that inspires me.  Iceland.  The music from the small North Atlantic island has been a massive part of my life for a long time and it drips into my music through the influences of the bands mentioned, the landscapes photographed and the friends made.

A thing that inspires me?  I think the most obvious one at the moment would be my Yamaha VSS-30 sampler keyboard.  It's my favourite thing.  It's essentially a voice-sampler from the 80's but it has some wonderful effects such as u-turn and fuzz.  The AM filter is really nice and the sampler has a fully editable ADSR envelope.  It's one of the most creative things I've ever used.  So much fun.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
I'm not sure what drives what I do really but I love music and I love creating music.  With piano, I love learning new classical pieces - especially Chopin and Schumann. That helps to improve technique.  With the ambient stuff, I just enjoy messing with sound and seeing what comes from it.  I suppose the end result of either is what drives me.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
By its very nature, my music is emotional.  The first time my music made someone cry, I realised that I wanted that.  If the music touches something within the listener then it has done its job.  My values aren't as important to the listener as theirs are so if my music reinforces positive values within them or if it allows them to experience a moment of joy, comfort, solace, happiness, nostalgia, whatever then I've done my job.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
When I was in Scotland, community played a massive part in my musical life.  I was managing a record label that had a great group of people around it.  Outside of that, the music scene in Glasgow is one that is great for meeting others and collaborating.  In Warsaw, not so much.  I work mainly on my own now but occasionally, I'll get an idea to involve a group of people in my music.  There's another of those coming up very soon.


7) What is next for what you do?
Off the back of Skies / Seas there's talk of short film scores, vinyl releases and CD albums but it's all in the very early discussion stage. For now, I'd like to explore the more soundscape nature of my music in the next record while I'm also preparing for some solo classical piano shows in Warsaw towards the end of the year so I'm going to continue to work hard on that.  A big focus for me for the rest of the year will be to get some new modern classical, ambient and post-rock artists for release on too many fireworks - and dear goodness, my website needs a redesign - soon!

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Thanks Neil!

To find out more about Neil, please visit neilmilton.co.uk/ or facebook.com/neilmiltonmusic.

Tx

Loving... "Seas" and "Skies" by Neil Milton

Music amazes me. I'm not musical in the sense that I can't play an instrument or read notation… but I can appreciate music for all it can do for the human soul… and it amazes me how it can just perfectly express the mood or soundtrack a moment… a moment that will be remembered every time the piece is played.

"Elegy for Tramway" by fellow Scot, Neil Milton, is such a track… a piece of minimal neo-classical expression that just grabs me… each and every time I hear it. I had heard it previously… used in a mix of Milton's. I also had a live version. Both recorded under the name "Beneath us, the waves"… both achingly beautiful and expressive, in a Craig Armstrong-style piano and strings-orientated way, of the most delicious melancholy. To say I love this track would be… well… an understatement.

It was then the most wonderful surprise to hear the track again on one of two EPs Milton has recently released on Valentine Records.

I had loaded these EPs: "Seas" and "Skies" on my iPhone and was out walking the dog… the time I do some deep listening… and the track came on. I hadn't looked at the tracklisting… and had lost the association between Milton and his previous moniker. To say I was blown away would be another understatement.

"Elegy for Tramway" is the opening track on the more neo-classical EP of the two entitled "Skies". It leads very nicely into the most beautiful solo piano piece - "Taiwan" - which broadens to include a backing of strings that compliments but never overwhelms such a special melody.

From "Taiwan" we then moved to a glockenspiel fest called "178329600 Seconds" which could easily be from the Sigur Ros canon… it is that good. Again, the strings effectively back the melody but never take from it… enhancing it… complementing it… but never taking anything from it.

We then have the closing track - "As you sleep" - which is another piano-driven expression that reminds me of Craig Armstrong… it could easily fit as the soundtrack backing to a moment of poignant grace. It is simply stunning and a fitting finale to the EP.

The second of the two EPs - "Seas" - is more electronic than "Skies". This is an observation rather than a criticism because Milton's use of electronics to enhance his sound is inspired. He knows the concept of 'enough'… the Goldilocks principle of 'just right' and he works to that principle.



The opening track - "Your smile is my ghost" - is an odd dirge… an offbeat track with a distinct funereal air that is enhanced with the clicks of an old record and the drones of a violin (I think) and a haunting vocal (or something that sounds like a haunting vocal). It is delightful and an interesting opening to the EP.

The haunting vocal theme is carried through to the second track - "A loch" - which evokes an expanse of water. The droning ambience of this track is breathtaking… truly cinematic and expressive.

The third track - "Somewhere near you a heart is broken" - has a choral feel to it… a sacred choral expression with a delightfully disorientating echo. The track makes you feel like you are walking in the space the choir are practicing… some big expansive place… but can't quite locate the origin of the sound. I love it… it makes walking my dog a very interesting and uplifting experience.

Lastly, we have a dark drone that is underpinned with the clinking and clanking of found industrial sounds. "A harbour" is a short but very evocative track… a piece that paints a sound-picture so effectively.

I heartily welcome the release of both EPs from Neil Milton and would recommend you check them out. "Skies" is more 'straight-up' neo-classical in styling whereas "Seas" is more electronic, more ambient in nature. Both are welcome on my iPhone / iPod.

I have embedded players for both EPs below and would encourage you to check them out. They are currently 'pay what you want' but, as before, I would encourage you to support independent music… "Elegy for Tramway" is worth the price of a latte alone.

Oh and if you are on Facebook, please also support Neil Milton by 'liking' his Facebook page and engaging with him on there :: facebook.com/neilmiltonmusic

Tx

Loving... the artwork that accompanies "Al Kemet" by painter Dina Chhan

Note: 
All photos in this post are of paintings by Dina Chhan from Invisible Agent's flickr feed. Used with permission

Dina Chhan is a painter and sculpter... who currently works and lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia... and is the painter who created the artwork for Ketsa's fantastic "Al Kemet" album.



Each track has it's own background painted by Chhan... the top painting represents the opening track "Solution" and the painting above is for the second track "Filtration".

I love this idea... an idea I have seen and personally used before... I think it is a really effective and adds real value to an intangible item. I think Chhan's abstract paintings are wonderfully vibrant and really complement the music they were created for.



"Evaporation"



"Distillation"

To view the rest of the images... please go to Invisible Agent's Flickr ... and to find more about Chhan... please check her site out :: http://www.artistdina.com

Tx

Loving... “Al Kemet” by Ketsa

One of my favourite independent electronic musicians... Dominic Giam aka Ketsa has a new album coming out soon and I was privileged to get a preview copy from my friend Warren over at Invisible Agent... in short: it is an utterly delightful expression of the cosmopolitan plurality of now... and I love it.

I am and have been a fan of quality expressions of electronic music for twenty years... my dancing days are well gone and my limited DJ’ing skills are no longer called upon... but I still have a deep love and respect for rhythm culture and dance music. For me, music is all about moods... and well crafted dance music brings me up... enhancing my mood, giving me a skip in my step.

“Al Kemet” by Ketsa is just such a release... it brings me up, makes me smile and gives me that all important skip in my step... something I desperately need whilst enduring a terribly wet summer in Scotland... a summer so wet I am genuinely worried I'll get trenchfoot.

Ketsa has brought together some seriously infectious beats with subtle vocal samples and some wonderfully cosmopolitan sounds to create a release that really captures the spirit of now for me... someone still caught in a post-Olympics haze of participation and cooperation.

Ketsa balances rhythm with melody... feeling and ambience with effective song structure... to create a release that can easily go on repeat for extended periods without sounding repetitive or tired. This is due to the varied sub-genres that Ketsa paints his sound-pictures from within: glitchy downtempo... jazzy breaks... skittering dubstep... imaginative IDM... and even dub-reggae... he has a talent for making all these expressions his own.

The use of piano on some of the tracks really uplifts me and deserves to be singled out... Ketsa is a talented pianist and the way he weaves these piano-orientated melodies into his tracks is simply fab.

His synth work and obsession with quality percussive backing is exemplary too. He can really create a moment in sound... especially when he utilises more traditional Arabesque / Asian music and fuses it with more current rhythms and percussive expressions... to capture a sense of plurality... the cosmopolitan idea of multiple ideas coming together to create something fresh, decidedly vibrant and new.

According to the notes that came with this release... “Al Kemet” is the Western interpretation of Egyptian magic... the phrase form which we draw the word “alchemy”. This is such an apt title for this release... because Ketsa has created something magical... he has created gold in his experimentations and I, for one, love it.

I have embedded the player below for you to have a listen... take time to listen to this release... I have a feeling you won't be disappointed.

"Al Kemet" by Ketsa will be released on Invisible Agent on the 1st September 2012

Tx

Loving... the music of Twice Removed (2 of 2)

OK... I'll admit it... I got distracted by the Olympics and should have posted this a while back. I extend my apologies to Gavin. I should have followed up this post sooner.

The back catalogue of Twice Removed is a rich and varied selection of ambient, electronic and post-rock sounds... and I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring their nooks and crannies.


Take “What’s wrong with miracles” by Listening Mirror for example... this is a wonderful release that consists of three longish form ambient pieces... not singular drones per se but more of an unique type “pluck and drone” ambience where the call of strings has a responding droning echo... backed by delightfully atmospheric, almost organic sounds. These pieces are, at times, dark and mysterious... reflective of nature and indicative, to me at least, of the places and spaces where no one really goes.






Ourobonic Plague’s “post-human possibilities” on the other hand presents a noisy, chaotic, urban electronic soundscape... one that is dissonant but engaging with an emphasis on rhythm and melody... however processed these may be. They present a dark, nightmarish, industrial environment in an immersive manner... one that could soundtrack life in a major city or sprawl.






Another piece that I enjoyed was “Raw Powerless” by These Ship Wrecks... a post-rock outfit who are, in some ways, let down by their lo-fi recording and paradoxically enhanced by it. I guess it is their potential that shines through... their instrumentation being used with great effect and a heartfelt honesty that reminded me of Sigur Ros... albeit a jangly, stompy, shabby chic version of the Icelandic superstars.





On a completely different tip we have the droning ambience of "Troposphere" by Ryonkt… a vividly immersive release that I found at times to be overwhelming, disorientating and disconcerting… a release that envelops the mind and provides space for deeper thought. The various tracks on the album aren't necessarily long-form… but the work well together to form a synergistic whole that is utterly delightful… if you like that sort of thing.





Last up… we have Twice Removed's most recent release… an ambitious single-track long-form drone from Fescal entitled "moods and views". It is an immersive, glitchy drone that has a relentless repetitiveness that may disconcert some but comfort others… a drone that evolves into something more subtle with some seriously haunting sounds intertwined. This release is a particularly interesting highlight in a decidedly strong catalogue.


I would heartily recommend all the releases on the Twice Removed micro-label and I am grateful to Gavin for the opportunity to hear his content.

Please support independent music by listening to and buy music from micro-labels like Twice Removed.

Tx

Seven questions... with Mark Mendieta from 'Transcend with Time'

I featured the music of Mark Mendieta last week and whilst in discussions with him... I asked him to complete my wee blog interview. This is what he had to say:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
I am Mark Mendieta from Brownsville, Texas & I am a musician. I have been involved with music since the age of 5. I have 2 musical projects. Transcend with Time is my solo New Age/Ambient project that I started on 2006 & Subject to Thoughts is my Progressive Rock/Metal project that I began back in 1999. At the moment, it’s now a 2 man project.

2) What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment, I am working on new music for our upcoming Subject to Thoughts album. Hopefully, to be released late 2012 or early 2013.

3) Who inspires you?
Life & family inspire me. My family provides me with the motivation to allow me to do this. Since music is something I’ve wanted to do even at an early age, let’s just say music is my calling.

- Name an artist who has inspired you.
Back in 1992, while I was still in high school, a band came onto the scene which inspired me even more to become a musician. That band was Dream Theater. Their music was awe inspiring that till this day, they still remain my favorite band & the biggest influence in my/our music.

- Name place that has inspired you.
None.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
Hearing my/our music on radio stations. That really makes being a musician worthwhile. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever believe something like that would happen since these projects started as a hobby.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
I guess life again. I’ve been through a lot throughout my lifetime. Even though it’s been tough at times, my perseverance is what motivates me to continue what I’m doing. I tend to use my music as a form of therapy to help heal wounds. Thankfully, it’s worked.

5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
Well, for me it varies because every album (TwT or StT) tend to portray different values. It just depends what state of mind I’m in when writing a particular album.

6) What role does community play in what you do?
None.

7) What is next for what you do?
Well, hopefully continue to make music for as long as I can. Hopefully, garner as many fans I can along the way as well because without fans, music does not exist. In the end, I hope listeners can enjoy the sincerity and thought-provoking style I bring to my music because that’s something I’ve always prided myself in doing. I tend to stray away from the masses. You’ll never hear mainstream stuff out of me.

Last but not least, I would like to thank you Thomas for the support. It’s truly an honor.

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You are welcome, Mark!

Now... here are all the places where you can buy Mark's CD:

CDBaby
Amazon MP3
iTunes
BandCamp
eMusic

Please Note: the physical CD contains 2 bonus tracks and is only at CDBaby.

04 08 20 12

Inspired by the recent events on Saturday, 4th August; in London... I put together a wee something with a number of tracks that were recommended by folks in my twitter timeline.

To download, go here... but be quick because I'll take it down soon.

Tx

Seven questions... with Swartz et

I recently featured an interesting ambient release entitled 'respire' from a chap called Swartz et... the release intrigued me and lived up to this expectation. Whilst discussing the post... I asked Swartz et if he'd be up for completing my wee blog interview. He obliged. This is what he had to say:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
In essence, an appreciator of sound, light, texture and the natural world. But specifically, I am a musician, studio engineer, designer and photographer from Detroit, MI.

2) What are you working on at the moment?
Oh man. I always have so many things I'm working on. Not because I'm easily distracted, but mostly because I'm constantly finding new sources of inspiration around me. There's so many wonderful things to see and special moments wrapped up in each day. I'm thinking about some of the things I would like to explore for my next recording project. There are a lot of ideas, but I have yet to decide on exactly what set of ideas I want to focus on. In the meantime, I've been mastering some albums for other artists as well as prepping to start mixing an EP for a collective group I'm also a part of called Au Revoir Borealis. I'm also working on musical treatments for a film project about Detroit.

3) Who inspires you?
My single largest inspiration has been to watch my 3 children discover the world in ways I've completely missed. My oldest especially. She's so incredibly aware of sound. She was the catalyst that made me listen to the world in a more detailed manner.

- Name an artist who has inspired you.
There have been so many artists over the course of my life that have influenced what I do, but I would have to say that the two artists who have shaped the process in which I work the most are David Sylvian and Wolfgang Voigt. Both are artists whose careers share a sense of restlessness that has allowed them to mold their craft into widely differing forms of expression. However, all of the various incarnations of their work retain a particular set of aesthetic values that become the framework for how they present their work.

- Name place that has inspired you.
Detroit, most definitely. There are others, but this has been the pool of culture that has shaped me the most. It's a tough city in a lot of ways and it certainly has it's problems. But there'a also a rich palette of ethicities, musicians and artists that define the cultural backbone of the city. It's a place that requires resilience and a self starting spirit in order to thrive. There's a great music and arts scene, but no definitive genre or school of thinking. It's a giant melting pot of ideas and experiences. There are absolutely no creative rules or socially unacceptable avenues to explore. There's a great deal of freedom and the creative community is excited to try new things and cheer each other on as we take creative risks and venture into new territories. It's a city with a rich heritage of invention and reinvention and it constantly inspires me when I see how many amazing things have been born from seemingly nothing. It's a place that has shown me there is always a way. There's always a path. Just keep walking.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
I think one thing that has been a regular source of inspiration for me is the sky. It's constantly evolving and changing throughout the day. The color spectrum that happens from morning to evening is not only incredible to watch, but is totally different each day depending on the weather and temperature. It evolves, shifts with subtlety and requires patience to absorb all the depth it has to offer.

4) What drives you to do what you do?
I'm largely driven to do what I do because I hear the things I create in my head and it's hard to sleep at night when I'm constantly thinking about them. So I usually have to do something with them eventually. Another thing that drives me to do what I do is just a sheer fascination with sound and how it relates to our experience of the world around us, the memories we form and the unique sense of place that is tied to those sounds. I always like for the things I create to feel like they are happening in a place or a setting. I don't like creating things on the computer. I need to do things in a place and have the fingerprints of that place on the recording.

5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
A lot of love goes into what I do. I hope that each person who listens to my work will at some point feel wrapped in some sort of warmth and wonder. I hope that people feel a sense of depth and space moves around them and wraps itself around them. I also want the work to carry a sense of authenticity. I want it to feel genuine, organic and human. With all of these traits I desire to be present in my work, my highest desire is that the music would be a conduit for love, compassion, rest for the spirit and an unexpected challenge to the initial perceptions of the concepts in the work itself.

6) What role does community play in what you do?
Community is very important to me. I don't get to be as active in it as I would like since I have a wife and three kids, but it's still quite vital for me. It's inspiring for me to be in contact with other creative minds and hear about the things they are working on or exploring. They learn things on their creative journey that can help illuminate my path as well. It prevents me from becoming an island, challenges me to try harder and also keeps me rooted in a environment of ideas.

7) What is next for what you do?
Good question. There's about 6 albums and a couple EPs worth of ideas and demos sitting in my studio. I have to wrap up some mastering work for a few artists and then decide what collection of ideas to focus on next. But I'm looking forward to falling in love with a particular artistic journey again very soon. The end result is satisfying, but the journey is always the real fun. I have a deep love for the process so I can't stay away from it for long.

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Respire is out now and heartily recommended. Have a listen and hear for yourself.

Tx

Loving... the guitar-orientated super-bluesy deep-down swampy hyper-boogie of Andre LaFosse

I recently featured a musician on here who I have really taken to in the last couple of weeks after our initial email exchange ... this musician is Andre LaFosse and his form of guitar-orientated super-bluesy deep-down swampy hyper-boogie is currently my ’go to’ music for when I need respite from all the ambient music I consume... his music is the ginger that goes with my sushi rolls... it cleanses my palate, changes my focus, and reawakens my senses... allowing me to approach my most favoured musical “rolls” with a fresh perspective.

The music on “the hard bargain” and “do the math”, whilst different, comes to me like a breath of fresh air... and reminds me of how much I love a well executed bluesy guitar riff. It scratches the itch I have for this kind of expression very, very well.

My initial thought was to compare LaFosse to the mighty Tommy Guerrero... their approach being similar whilst their execution being different. Their approach being to lay down some seriously awesome guitar lines over some a percussive but not overly intrusive rhythm section. Even though LaFosse is like an ADHD Guerrero after his fifth double espresso... their approach is similar. That said... I think this is more valid for “the hard bargain” which is LaFosse’s straight-up “melt your face off” guitar-orientated release... a release that sounds great on headphones because the hands are left free to play along with your favourite air guitar. It also sounds amazing on the hi-fi and also in the car... if ever an album deserved to be on vinyl it would be this one.

The instrumental tracks presented of “the hard bargain” are just wonderful. The sounds aren't necessarily new... Joe Satriani has made a career out of them when he isn’t suing Coldplay... but the way LaFosse plays is... with a sensuousness... a lover’s caress... that brings life and excitement back to the fore. This is music to get lost in... music to help you forget your troubles... music that is a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end. I can't recommend it highly enough... and wouldn't be surprised if his songs appeared as incidental music on Top Gear.

Similarly with the more progressively experimental future-blues that LaFosse presents in “do the math”. Yes... the swampy hyper-boogie is there... but so are some wonderfully electric sounds that back the guitar and provide an interesting juxtaposition that warrants my description of future-blues. This is something new for me and I love it.

The beeps and gurgles really add something extra special to the guitar riffs... such as in “hard sci-fi” which stands out in this regard.

Other tracks place the electronics in a comparable footing... reminding me of the awesome Tomoyasu Hotei who’s album “electric samurai” features the track “battle without honor or humanity”... a track very familiar with “kill bill” fans. Some of the music on LaFosse’s album reminds me of tracks on “electric samurai”.

Put it this way... if LaFosse submitted this album to my netlabel I would rush it out. This music needs to be heard and I am proud to do my bit to promote it.

I have embedded players for both albums and would highly recommend you pick them up... they are currently free downloads and well worth the time taken to download them.

Tx

Loving... the BBC's trailer for the 2012 Olympics

I think the BBC's coverage of the 2012 Olympics has been first class... and I have watched on BBC1 and BBC2; and via 'the red button'... I have also enjoyed the radio commentary of BBC Radio 5Live.

One thing I have particularly enjoyed is the trailer (above). I'm not sure who is responsible for it (anyone know?) ... but it is simply brilliant.

I congratulate the Beeb and am grateful that my license fee is being spent on something this good.

Tx

Vertigo film posters

To celebrate one of my fave films being acknowledged as 'the greatest film of all time'... I thought I'd share some 'Vertigo' film posters.

Enjoy.

Tx













Some of the posters were sourced from www.posterartmovies.com

Glasgow 2014 logo vs London 2012 logo

Compare the Glasgow 2014 logo to...



...to London 2012 and ask yourself... which one works?

I prefer the Glasgow 2014... and love how Marque Creative have built it up:









Genius... in my opinion... and something that will last. View the presentation for more. I love their use of an elegant capitalised sans serif font too.

I don't know the story behind the London 2012 logo... and don't want to hate on it but it will be remembered... for being awful.

Tx

Some excellent Olympic / Sport-inspired graphics

I've been a wee bit obsessed with the Olympics over the last week or so... watching the opening ceremony live (first time)... watching the men's road race live... listening to Bradley Wiggins win the time trial this afternoon at work on my iPhone... etc. It has caught my attention.

One thing I have been disappointed with... however... is the lack of cool indie art. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough or maybe the brand policing has been too stringent but not that much has caught my attention.

That said... some things did catch my eye... like the graphic for "Wiggo" from gingersoul. I think his art is more based on the recent Tour de France but it works today after Wiggo won gold and became our most successful Olympian.



Jakub over at the awesome blog iso50 posted on a series of 'alternative London Olympics posters' (sourced from Kathy Kavan). The poster above is by Andrew Maunders and was inspired by the 1948 games. I like how Maunders is distributing the poster to help build up the games. It is certainly better than the official identity... which disturbs me.

I also loved the minimal posters from Samar Abbas (below)... they say so much with so little. They are my favourites of the bunch, if I'm honest.





I've also been loving the Olympic-themed Google Doodles... anyone know who they are by?

The full set can be seen in the Google Doodle archive.

Any sweet graphics caught your eye?

Tx

Loving this vid :: Zombie Experiment NYC

Not really too sure what's behind this video... but it's awesome!

If you go on putzombiesback.com there is some blurb about a company called 'dish' who have dropped a number of shows including The Walking Dead. Imagine dropping TWD? It's one of the best shows on the TV just now... the second season just got better and better.

Anyway... enjoy the video and think... as one commentator said... what if someone just pulled out a gun and headshot one of them? 

My thanks to @mattsingley for sharing!

Tx

What I listened to in July 2012...

This excludes the music we listened to on CD in the car on holiday... and all the music my VIPs played... but does show what has been grabbing my attention lately.

Tx

Loving... the trailer for Cloud Atlas

When I watched this trailer for Cloud Atlas... a niggling thought came to me: I know this film... and then I realised this was the film that was partly shot near where I work in Glasgow.

I can't wait to see it. It looks awesome... and whilst I haven't read the book... I commend the Wachowski's and Tom Tykwer for having the guts to make it.

Tx