Some time ago Andrew WK was interviewed by Akira The Don for The Quietus. You can watch the interview on YouTube.
In this video Andrew gets shown a video message from the fabulous talented Gonzales. He challenges Andrew for a piano battle in New York.
Gonzales wasn't kidding, as the battle has really taken place in Joe's Pub in NYC. Take a look at here for the excitement.
MUST HAVE: Ah, on the Gonzales subject. He has done a piano remake of the Erol Alkan vs Boys Noise tune 'Waves' and has a release on 16th November. (listen)
LCD Soundsystem are offering their cover of Alan Vega's Bye Bye Bayou for free as a download. Go to www.lcdsoundsystem.com. There is only 20.000 of these free downloads, so be quick!!!! Early 2010 a new album will hit the shops.
So, that was it! All I want to say is: 'Thanks for the beer!' There are a few who know exactly what I mean or perhaps the below warning says enough. ;)
I also got reminded that The Rakes summed up a part of my life pretty well. 'Work work work (pub club sleep)' Watch the video at here.
Lots of excitement is happening in Vitry-Sur-Seine. Where? Vitry-Sur-Seine is a suburb of Paris and that's where stencil artist C215 is living. As being a semi-ambassador of his neighbourhood, he is inviting artists to come over and paint.
Last weekend Finbarr DAC was in Paris to drop his supercool art. Who? Read my article about him on CFYE. Yesterday the photos of his adventures were uploaded. All I can say is: 'Wooawww!!!' Who needs museums and galleries when you can see art out there on the streets. Just look at the picture below. Isn't that wonderful? There is more where that came from on Finbarr's Flickr.
On a special invitation of the lovely guys behind CFYE, Finbarr is coming to Amsterdam on 7th November to show his work and perhaps even do a live paint session. What? This is part of Museum N8. More news about this soon.
My ultimate hero in music Erol Alkan has uploaded his DJ mixes dating from 2002 to present at http://www.mixcloud.com/ErolAlkan/. There is more to come. Woooww! Merci, Erol!
My 3 personal favourites:
A Bugged In Mix (listen)
Live At Trash, October 2002 (listen)
One Louder, Muzik Covermount CD 2003 (listen)
The last couple of days it has been the distortions of Japandroids, that have taken over my musical hearing. Good for my anger management. Not that I have any anger inside myself, but still...
During the last couple of hours the distortions have left the building, because Memory Tapes have entered. A bit of electro and a bit of shoegaze. I say: NICE!!!!
I f-wording love The Filthy Dukes. I repeat: I f-wording love The Filthy Dukes. I am not gonna repeat myself by saying why I love them though. I am very glad to read that they are releasing Nonsense In The Dark, which is my favourite from their debut album, as a digital release on 22nd November. It does seems to be only having a release in the UK. Mmmm... If you have the album you must know how wonderful this song is. If you haven't, then read on.
Nonsense in the Dark features Orlando Weeks (The Maccabees) on vocals. His vocals are so, so perfect. His vocals also make this song a pleasure to listen to over and over again. I like listening to songs over and over again. I find it hard to describe why I so much like this song. It might be that Nonsense in the dark is part of my first half a year of 2009 soundtrack. Just think about your favourite songs and why you like them so much.
If you go to Filthy Dukes' Myspace you will see that Nonsense in the Dark is in their music player alongside remixes by Prins Thomas, Justin Robertson, C90s and (the fabulous) Skull Juice.
Can someone teleport me to London, please? I am jealous at everyone who is able to visit Mutate Britain, so won't talk about it that much. I will talk about another exhibition, which is opening next Thursday at Black Rat Press gallery.
I got a press release send, which I can not leave unnoticed.
London's Black Rat Press has another great solo show lined up in its Shoreditch gallery. Lucas Price, also better known as Cyclops, presents his major solo show 'Jesus Help Me Find My Proper Place' from 15th October until 13th November.
In partnership with Sweet Toof, Price' work (familiar skeletal and giant toothed street art works) can be seen all over London and the world. In his solo show he will be exploring the fringes of society, which tackles narratives of homelessness, dereliction, madness, drugs and redemption.
The show also marks a part of his own life on the streets. He was expelled at 15 for daubing the school with graffiti and later experienced homelessness, drug addiction and jail on two continents. Five years after having kicked his addiction, Price gets recognition for his art from critics, media and buyers from all over the world.
His new works feature irreverent and often politically-loaded satire, as well as visual commentary on society's dark underbelly. From his personal experience he questions the ugliness that exists in society and demonstrates the beauty that can be found in even the most abject circumstances.
The show's title 'Jesus Help Me Find My Proper Place' is appropriated from the Velvet Underground track Jesus, which has been re-interpreted by Price as a direct reference to his past and acknowledgement of his newfound acclaim. He recently left a series of large-scale light boxes outside central London tube stations, police stations, art galleries and major advertising hotspots including Piccadilly Circus, which are without any doubt part of the show.
Show details:
Date: 15th October- 13th November 2009 (Private View: 15th October)
Location: Black Rat Press, Thru Cargo garden, Arch 461, 83 Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3AY
The week started with Vampire Weekend giving away the opening track of their new album, which is out January next year. The new track is called Horchata and is to be downloaded from their website at www.vampireweekend.com.
The second free download is from Chew Lips and it is an exclusive new track called Seven. Download from this download link or do how I did it and sign up to their mailinglist.
The third one is from Delphic. It is a download EP and includes a new track called Alterstate and Counterpoint (Live in Amsterdam, 19/02/2009), This Momentary (Live in Berlin, 14/02/2009) and Counterpoint (Paul Woolford Remix). You can get it by signing up at here. If this fails go to http://j.mp/16gVKD.
As mentioned a couple of days ago, Dummy offered a free Golden Filter download on their website.
Cool things are happening in Amsterdam next week(end). After last years Paint & Beer event, the second installment is taking place on 15th, 16th and 17th October. There will be live graffiti, beer and music. What more do you want?
The opening is taking place at Social Centrum (Ceintuurbaan 215) on Thursday 15th from 6pm with live graffiti and a street art expo. The next day (16th) there will also be food, films, more live graffiti and beer. On Saturday (17th) everyone is moving to Villa Friekens for a massive live paint, music and of course the beer.
Don't let the credits ruin your life. This is what happens in the Keith Schofield directed video for the Justice remix of Lenny Kravitz' 'Let Love Rule'. Watch the video below.
Earlier this year I witnessed two great live shows in London's Queen of Hoxton during Dummy's launch night. The first great live show was by Delphic and the second by The Golden Filter, who are from NYC.
At the time of that show the last one mentioned had just released a single on Dummy Records. The Golden Filter are releasing a new single called Thunderbird on 16th November. The kind people of Dummy are offering the single for free on their website. Grab it while you can! It is very nice and very disco. I like disco!!!
It has been some weeks ago that Kindred Times and Future Goodbyes, a supercool street art show, took place in an abandoned house in Tel Aviv. The artists who showed their work were Know Hope, Klone, Zero Cents and Foma <3. Even though this show has already happened, I think it is just too cool not to mention.
Check out the video below of the opening and at Know Hope's Flickr are the pics.
Spanish act Crystal Fighters recently made a ten minute mix for Xfm and this was broadcasted last Friday. I think it is damn fine. If you wanna agree or disagree with me, the mix is online for you to listen to on their MySpace.
Cool things are happening in Amsterdam next week(end). After last years Paint & Beer event, the second installment is taking place on 15th, 16th and 17th October. There will be live graffiti, beer and music. What more do you want?
