This site is amazing. A collection of photos from abandoned places around the world. Won’t even bother trying to describe them here - besides I’d have to type 1000 words for each one. Just click the link and be suitably blown away.
Par exemple:
So next week I shall be DJing at the fifth Tokyo Laptop Battle. Rejoice sinners!
If I understand the brief correctly I shall be playing before, during and indeed after the ‘battle’ proper. So it’s essentially an extended BETAMAXNOMATES set interrupted by some bouts of laptop-based lunges, parrys and reprisals. The spectacle of Laptop Battle truly is something to behold; every Laptop Battle (and I’ve attended three - twice as a competitor) throws up some genuine eccentrics, the occasional shit-hot talent, and perhaps one or two out-and-out chancers. (Which bracket you might choose to put me in I’ll leave to your own discretion). Suffice to say, there’s not another event like it that I can think of and if you do find yourself in Roppongi of a Friday evening there are far, far worse ways of spending your time.
See you there!
Podcast time once more! In this episode we’ve got the lowdown on the Tokyo Laptop Battle - an innovative new electronic music event happening Friday June 19th in Super Deluxe in Nishi-Azabu. There’s an interview with the organisers, Matt and Claudius, not to mention a unique ‘ethniglitch’ mix from Matt’s alter ego Control Freak. Be sure to check out Control Freak’s free ‘Desert Fox’ EP, available now from Heavy7Productions.
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Tracklist
01. Shackleton - I Want To Eat You
02. Azam Ali - La Serena
03. Control Freak - Drop Your Guns
04. Cheb I Sabbah - Alkher Illa Doffor (Bassnectar Remix)
05. Control Freak - Forty Breaths
06. Chase & Status - Eastern Jam
07. Control Freak - Doub Taka Dub
08. King Soly - Tamil Dub
09. Maurice Jarre - Lawrence Of Arabia Movie Soundtrack Main Theme
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And so the Little Boots album arrives at last. Is it all we (I) could have hoped for? Well, yes. And no. Yesandno.
Like pretty much every other album these days about half the tracks on here have been floating around in various forms for about a year now. Still, it’s remarkable how generally cohesive the whole thing sounds. It’s polished to within an inch of its life and while perhaps not sounding quite like the proverbial million dollars (these are troubled times after all) it’s clear a fairly sizable bit of cash has been thrown at this project. And that last word there is key - it really does sound like a ‘project’. Multiple producers (including Greg Kurstin, Joe Goddard from Hot Chip, and Lady Gaga hitmaker RedOne) have lent their weight to the album, beefing up the sometimes weak songwriting with all manner of shiny synths and whooshy sound effects. Of the lot, the RedOne track, ‘Remedy’, is probably the standout - though it’s by far the least Little Boots-sounding song on the record (it’s also already spawned a pretty excellent Rusko remix which you can here a bit of here).
Other highlights include the naggingly catchy ‘Earthquake’ and the campy Phil Oakey duet ‘Symmetry’; overall, though the album just feels a bit too calculated, transparently programmed to appeal to Top 40 fans and Hype Machine heads alike. Basically, it sounds like Little Boots wants to be Annie. No bad thing, that - except we already have an Annie who’s doing a pretty good job of being, er, herself. What set Little Boots apart (at least initially) was the endearingly ramshackle, DIY approach to the music - clearly influenced by Goddard; unfortunately most of that sound has been sidelined on this album, in favour of glitzy, sequined numbers like ‘New In Town’ and the aforementioned ‘Remedy’. It’s by no means a bad album, just a mildly disappointing one. There are glimmers of what made Little Boots so great to begin with on here but they are, alas, just glimmers.
Still, ‘Remedy’. What a tune, eh?
Farewell James! The Apprentice, alas, will be significantly less quotable now that you’ve gone.
Neither of the finalists (Kate and Yasmina) are much cop really but I’d prefer Yasmina to win, if only because she seems to have a bit of personality and - from certain angles, in certain lights - is actually quite attractive.
Here’s (I think) the best picture of the two of them together.
No caption necessary.
As if one retina-scorching vidular extravaganza wasn’t enough, The Alchemist has done it again, this time slicing and dicing the highlights of the Made In Glitch Valentine’s Day Party at La Fabrique in Shibuya. Featuring some knob-twiddling, pad-hammering theatrics from Rob Speakerbruiser, Mochipet, DJ Ken One, Matt B, Lucca, and of course my bad self, the video also showcases some of VJ Bento’s hyperkinetic visual delights. Enjoy!
Here’s the newest Made In Glitch promotional video shot by Antipodean auteur and unabashed Michael Bay-fanboy ‘The Alchemist’ Michael Condon and featuring some glitchy four-note tunage from yours truly. Various shots and stills from this clip will be soon seen in Michael’s upcoming video for edIT of The Glitch Mob. Watch this space for more.
