venerdì 26 novembre 2010

REVIEW: SPLATTERTRON - THE GREATEST GIFT IS LOVE (2010)

The album starts off with Roxy Game: a whimsical riff, like the modern version of a trumpet announcing a knight entering the castle precedes a whip-like beat. The gloomy atmosphere which follows soon after makes me think of a disco filled with unearthly creatures dancing along like crazy. No, like hell. It’s such fun, a rarefied voice repeats in the distance.. (pardon me if I misunderstand, after all English is not my first language) But yeah, I’m sure it must be a helluva fun. All those women dressed up like Dark Queens of the night whipping businessmen in tie and jacket. “Been a bad bad boy, huh?” “Shut up!” CRACK! SNAP! “Ouch!” Perhaps Beelzebub and a handful of his team are going to join the party later on, you never know how this kind of things end up.
But here comes ‘Penis’. All she want is my penis…penis..penis..penis… Hey, isn’t this stuff by one of those two guys who made music as Dupobs? This is nothing like noncommercial music. Nay, ‘tmust be like, the new hit that every music producer and major label big boss are looking for! Gotta dance along to this…Raise the volume and let's get on the dancefloor buddy!
And again, that gloomy obscure atmosphere…wow! This track is gonna galvanize the mob amok. (I can’t believe that timid DJ objected to the title, a penis is what a penis is in substance)
‘Snfc’ follows. Undoubtedly this is a basement where a haunting presence is hidden, waiting to leap upon somebody or frighten someone away. A voice speaks in Japanese through the speakers – must be Japanese, I caught a ‘mashite’ (well, it may also be an airport haunted with ancient demons) Terrifying whispers, demonic breaths and bizarre sounds from another world welcome us into a place that would be best kept closed to the public. You’d better get out of here as soon as you can, mate, terrible things are going to happen... we also hear the abrupt noise of a a dusty goods lift that's back in service all of a sudden, plain evidence that there’re spectres in the building...
And ‘Dream song’ is on. Bass semibreves (whatever type of bass it may be) beat the time while perfect quarter notes are played automatically in the background. The way the voice is recorded (or altered) gives a dream-like quality to the track. The title seems to be quite suitable. My love is the best love in the world...it knows no barriers...my dog is the best dog in the town...it's called a terrier...my lover's an expert in the world of polyamory... her sense is the sentence in the realm...
And last but not least, ‘Penis’ again, the extended version this time. Whip!boom whip!boom whip!boom…
Try to talk to her sometime ...try to take her to the line ...all she wants is my penis, penis, penis...
Rating: 4 and a half stars out of 5
These are the album notes on CDBaby: “the greatest gift is love" is the first EP, following on a number of online singles, by splattertron (aka Patrik Sampler, also of the satirical noise group dupobs). The EP is based around two versions of the instantly catchy, throw-away dance track, "penis", on which Sampler, sounding like Talking Heads' David Byrne, complains of a lover's obsession ("All she wants is my penis, penis, penis."). Tracks 1 and 3 -- "roxy music" and "sncf" -- have a dark, industrial '80s sound, reminiscent, perhaps, of Cabaret Voltaire, Coil, or Einsturzende. 

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martedì 14 settembre 2010

(P)review: Taro Shinkai

Taro Shinkai is an experimental video artist from Japan, at least active since 2001.
When I first stumbled upon his videos on Vimeo, I just couldn't help but fall in love with his work. His 'ordinary life' subjects matched with an estranged ambiance make his videos absolutely unique and unpredictable. What's more, the minimalist drawing and the soft hues make the characters of these minimovies look like futile paper-tissue-like fragments appearing and vanishing like fog.
Unfortunately, my attempts to describe his vids seem to rationalize them and  make them lose part of their charm, so you really need to watch and judge for yourself.



「embah」 from SHINKAI TARO on Vimeo.

giovedì 5 agosto 2010

UGOKIE KORI NO TATEHIKI (1933)

Director: Ikuo Oishi


venerdì 9 luglio 2010

Ragtime

A collection of ragtime pieces brought to you by Kazoomzoom.com, the world's first netlabel for kids.


sabato 5 giugno 2010

Ornette Coleman

WARNING: Difficult listening (easier than listening to Beyoncè for me though)








mercoledì 2 giugno 2010

Karlheinz Stockhausen "Helicopter String Quartet"

sabato 29 maggio 2010

Classic Jazz & Swing







giovedì 27 maggio 2010

(P)review: 'Everything But The Kitchen Sink' Hosted By Shawn Klein

'Everything But The Kitchen Sink' is a music programme hosted by Shawn Klein. The show is regularly broadcast on the Global Voice but it can also be downloaded as a podcast.
In Shawn's words, it's 'a bilingual program in English and Portuguese with a very eclectic mix of music. From cylinder recordings from the 1890's to folkloric regional music from Brazil to acid rock from Cambodia to Napolion XIV, to, well, just about anything, it's Everything But the Kitchen Sink!'
The show is aired on Wednesday at 03:00 am and on Sunday at 10:00 am but you can easily download every week's episode by clicking on "Most recent broadcast"
here.

martedì 18 maggio 2010

Kafka's legacy


Mysterious & rather appropriately cryptic website about Franz Kafka.
Just like wandering through the shabby corridors of a Kafkaesque tribunal. Wunderbar!

http://www.themodernword.com/kafka/

sabato 15 maggio 2010

Edvard Munch

I've come across this great website about the well-known expressionist artist.
An excellent gallery, a biography, a couple of essays and links to various articles regarding Edvard Munch are available. What else could you desire? Yes, there are also quotes and printable version of a few paintings.


https://www.edvard-munch.com/

mercoledì 12 maggio 2010

(P)review: BIRDMAN?

I mean, like, who the hell is this guy? Isn't he a genius, anyway?
[Later addition: His name is Claudio Montuori, google him, you won't regret it!]


lunedì 10 maggio 2010

(P)review: "Markeneier" by Lutz Mommartz

An astonishing short movie by the german experimental moviemaker. Absolutely worth watching.