A few links to try to get my mind off the fact that the young upstart Padgett has gone and upstaged me with the photos on website front - I give you Mr Michael Madsen.
First up here's a new activity for the friday night binge drinking session: hipster bingo!. However this may need updating for Woking... Pikey Bingo anyone?
Then there is this site. I particularly like the animals on drugs and Jesus being a git.
And for anyone with an XBox (well, those who are familiar with Halo - which basically means every XBox owner in the world), can I recommend downloading the videos from RedVsBlue.com.
Sunday, August 31, 2003
Saturday, August 30, 2003
First it's New York, then London... and now Woking is hit by a power cut. It's a sign, the end of civilisation is obviously on it's way - well maybe that's being a tad over-dramatic, but it did manage to knacker my Freeview box (I've got a new one now, the Panasonic TU-CT20, it's much better than my old one).
This meant that the early part of the evening's socialising was done in the dark, without crappy pub music, and at £8 for a round of three warm bottles of Stella. For the rest of the evening it was business as usual, I'm pretty sure I didn't piss off too many people this week, except maybe for those people in Virginia who learned a few new Anglo-Saxon swear words over XBox Live.
This meant that the early part of the evening's socialising was done in the dark, without crappy pub music, and at £8 for a round of three warm bottles of Stella. For the rest of the evening it was business as usual, I'm pretty sure I didn't piss off too many people this week, except maybe for those people in Virginia who learned a few new Anglo-Saxon swear words over XBox Live.
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Four (count 'em homeboyz!) new CDs turned up in the post today, I'm going to take my time with the 'reviews' for these since they are all so good! Yes, I know that I tend to go on about all the CDs I get with nothing but praise, but you probably get the impression that some of my purchase I could probably live without... a very small minority, but never the less it's there.
So first up is Cex with Being Ridden Instrumentals, short sharp acoustic driven tunes well up to the standard of his excellent Oops! I did it again album. Then Prefuse 73 with Extinguished, this is described as outtakes from his recent One Word Extinguisher album but I think of it as more of a companion piece - as a listening experience I'd say it's better. Finally two Anticon based CDs, from Why? we have Oaklandazulasylum - very good, but even better is the cLOUDDEAD CD. Damn this is good, I was expecting a hip hop album, but this is closer to what the Boards of Canada do. Damn it's good!
I also recieved a new comic book called Y the last man, it's based on the idea that all the males in the world have died from a sudden plague except for Yoric, an escapologist and Ampersand his pet monkey. The characters aren't as interesting as what I'm used to reading, but the story is fascinating and I'm looking forward to the next issue.
Other news, has anyone seen what's going on over at Johnboy's corner of the internet? I'm quite proud of this ;-)
So first up is Cex with Being Ridden Instrumentals, short sharp acoustic driven tunes well up to the standard of his excellent Oops! I did it again album. Then Prefuse 73 with Extinguished, this is described as outtakes from his recent One Word Extinguisher album but I think of it as more of a companion piece - as a listening experience I'd say it's better. Finally two Anticon based CDs, from Why? we have Oaklandazulasylum - very good, but even better is the cLOUDDEAD CD. Damn this is good, I was expecting a hip hop album, but this is closer to what the Boards of Canada do. Damn it's good!
I also recieved a new comic book called Y the last man, it's based on the idea that all the males in the world have died from a sudden plague except for Yoric, an escapologist and Ampersand his pet monkey. The characters aren't as interesting as what I'm used to reading, but the story is fascinating and I'm looking forward to the next issue.
Other news, has anyone seen what's going on over at Johnboy's corner of the internet? I'm quite proud of this ;-)
The original Police Academy is one of the finest examples of comedy committed to celluloid. Discuss.
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Some of the regular visitors to this site may have notice I'm a bit of a fan of the pop music mash-up/glitch-up/bootleg - they fulfil my need to listen to the more leftfield of the music industry and my dirty sordid love of pop music. I've already pointed you in the direction of dsico that no-talent hack, but here's another one (recommended by non-other than Strictly Kev of DJ Food fame!). People I give you Poj Masta, go and download his stuff, it's good!
The annoying thing is the little sod is only 16 years old! I'm a bit embarressed, I'm about to be 30, have a full version of Cool Edit 2000 (although it seems I need an upgrade now), and helpful instructions from Dsico's site... why haven't I had a go? Hmm, what's that sound? The comic book 'ting' of a light bulb appearing above my head?
The annoying thing is the little sod is only 16 years old! I'm a bit embarressed, I'm about to be 30, have a full version of Cool Edit 2000 (although it seems I need an upgrade now), and helpful instructions from Dsico's site... why haven't I had a go? Hmm, what's that sound? The comic book 'ting' of a light bulb appearing above my head?
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
After Leicester's poor result tonight Darth Phil needs cheering up, and what could be better than a bit of Jackass. Yes I know it's puerile and immature, but hey, it's funny and in this day and age when world events are getting far too serious these fine upstanding Americans should be cherished!
I'm really busy at work today - honest!
But I've some how found time to note down my thoughts on this lunch time's CD shopping. Found a good photography site called jenyk.com while I was looking for pictures of Sharin Foo to go with the review of The Ravonettes CD. Jenyk.com seems like the sort of site that may inspire you to go off and explore some new music, which is thoroughly approved of round these parts.
But I've some how found time to note down my thoughts on this lunch time's CD shopping. Found a good photography site called jenyk.com while I was looking for pictures of Sharin Foo to go with the review of The Ravonettes CD. Jenyk.com seems like the sort of site that may inspire you to go off and explore some new music, which is thoroughly approved of round these parts.
Smells like Monday to me...
The Ravonettes - Chain Gang of Love
The Ravenettes original mini album, Whip It On, was a classic rock'n'roll album - short, sweet and clearly in league with the Devil. On this album, not much has changed, Sharin Foo (phwoar!) and Sune Rose Wagner are still firmly stuck in a 1950's teen rebel film, still recording in glorious B flat Major and there music so needs to be in a Tarantino directed torture scene - but... they've cheered up a bit, which is kind of a shame. Still, this is a damn fine Rock'n'Roll album...
Kid Koala - Basin Street Blues
A little taster of his upcoming album 'Some of my best friends are DJs'. Basically two tracks, the first one being a New Orleans style funeral march with the turntable taking the lead, the second track leads on from the music he did for his book 'nufonia must fall' with a little tune about Vacation Island (that won't make a blind bit of sense if you haven't read the book). It's nice, I look forward to the album.
LFO - Freak
Anyone else remember LFO? Or am I the only one around here who does? OK, back to the old skool - techno beats, evil speak'n'spell vocal samples...nice! And the last tune on this three track single is brutal.
The Ravonettes - Chain Gang of Love
The Ravenettes original mini album, Whip It On, was a classic rock'n'roll album - short, sweet and clearly in league with the Devil. On this album, not much has changed, Sharin Foo (phwoar!) and Sune Rose Wagner are still firmly stuck in a 1950's teen rebel film, still recording in glorious B flat Major and there music so needs to be in a Tarantino directed torture scene - but... they've cheered up a bit, which is kind of a shame. Still, this is a damn fine Rock'n'Roll album...
Kid Koala - Basin Street Blues
A little taster of his upcoming album 'Some of my best friends are DJs'. Basically two tracks, the first one being a New Orleans style funeral march with the turntable taking the lead, the second track leads on from the music he did for his book 'nufonia must fall' with a little tune about Vacation Island (that won't make a blind bit of sense if you haven't read the book). It's nice, I look forward to the album.
LFO - Freak
Anyone else remember LFO? Or am I the only one around here who does? OK, back to the old skool - techno beats, evil speak'n'spell vocal samples...nice! And the last tune on this three track single is brutal.
The effects of this weekend's excessive boozing seem to have almost worn off - all I'm left with now is a screwed up sleeping pattern (well, a bit more screwed up than usual), and the fading memory of a dream from last night which:
"Involved Willow from buffy the vampire slayer dressed in a star trek uniform, and something about a man who could not exist in the present - only the past and the future"
Let's see what this internet doo-hicky has to say about that...
Well, dreamstop.com had these comments:
We're working on a definition for vampires... it's pretty complicated, so check back later.
Now, first up: the vampire thing is not complicated - vampires = shagging, simple as that. Sigmund Freud probably had a field day on the subject, but knowing him he'd want your Mother in on the acr. It's the Star Trek uniform I'm curious about:
When you see a uniformed person in your dream, it denotes that a wealthy friend may help you out. If you are wearing the uniform, it may indicate that your country is on the brink of war-- but more likely, you are warring with yourself about a matter you do not want to face.
...well as far as analyzing my deep dark secrets that pretty useless.
Next up freakydreams.com, they fair a little better, but not much:
You fear your own feelings
...stating the obvious there I'm afraid.
Spiritual awakening
...well, I can take the Invisibles far too seriously
Need to identify yourself with others or to break free of rules..
...erm, does that sentence mean absolutely nothing or is it me?
You are curious about something going on around you.
...hmm
Finally it's hugemagazine.com and there Dream Analyzer V1.0:
"You must have had some really spicy food last night!"
Aha! That's where your wrong, I had pasta! Still I think I prefer that explanation the best.
"Involved Willow from buffy the vampire slayer dressed in a star trek uniform, and something about a man who could not exist in the present - only the past and the future"
Let's see what this internet doo-hicky has to say about that...
Well, dreamstop.com had these comments:
We're working on a definition for vampires... it's pretty complicated, so check back later.
Now, first up: the vampire thing is not complicated - vampires = shagging, simple as that. Sigmund Freud probably had a field day on the subject, but knowing him he'd want your Mother in on the acr. It's the Star Trek uniform I'm curious about:
When you see a uniformed person in your dream, it denotes that a wealthy friend may help you out. If you are wearing the uniform, it may indicate that your country is on the brink of war-- but more likely, you are warring with yourself about a matter you do not want to face.
...well as far as analyzing my deep dark secrets that pretty useless.
Next up freakydreams.com, they fair a little better, but not much:
You fear your own feelings
...stating the obvious there I'm afraid.
Spiritual awakening
...well, I can take the Invisibles far too seriously
Need to identify yourself with others or to break free of rules..
...erm, does that sentence mean absolutely nothing or is it me?
You are curious about something going on around you.
...hmm
Finally it's hugemagazine.com and there Dream Analyzer V1.0:
"You must have had some really spicy food last night!"
Aha! That's where your wrong, I had pasta! Still I think I prefer that explanation the best.
Monday, August 25, 2003
...and now I'm finally sober! yay!!
Today's sobering up exercise involved watching the majority of my new Will and Grace DVD boxset. For some strange reason I have an urge to change the colour scheme of this site to something pink and fluffy.
Today's sobering up exercise involved watching the majority of my new Will and Grace DVD boxset. For some strange reason I have an urge to change the colour scheme of this site to something pink and fluffy.
Sunday, August 24, 2003
PS I'm drunk...
Note to self: the word 'yes' is one of the most powerful words in the English language. It should be used carefully... especially by people who may be under the influence of people who may be under the influence of what could be descibed as too much alcohol...
Equally people should not bare there deepest darkest secrets to mother fuckers who may have been exposed to too much alcohol... Such deep dark secrets will invariably be leaked to people who are not meant to know about them... Although maybe that is the plan?
Note to self: the word 'yes' is one of the most powerful words in the English language. It should be used carefully... especially by people who may be under the influence of people who may be under the influence of what could be descibed as too much alcohol...
Equally people should not bare there deepest darkest secrets to mother fuckers who may have been exposed to too much alcohol... Such deep dark secrets will invariably be leaked to people who are not meant to know about them... Although maybe that is the plan?
Friday, August 22, 2003
And you can tell that maybe time is out of joy my love
So this is maybe just a SOS shrapnel, an echo of dead sentiment
Measurement across the nothing for no one awaits that effort to shrug
Or maybe resident incurable romantic defunct in the face of fact
Blackboard formula waits by the next class
with the outlines still intact, and I see it
And I'm still not sure of the meaning
But I'll say it, write it down, and read it for you...
Sorry, I've just been watching the new Def Jux DVD and felt the urge to quote, it's very good...
By the way the pictures are here
So this is maybe just a SOS shrapnel, an echo of dead sentiment
Measurement across the nothing for no one awaits that effort to shrug
Or maybe resident incurable romantic defunct in the face of fact
Blackboard formula waits by the next class
with the outlines still intact, and I see it
And I'm still not sure of the meaning
But I'll say it, write it down, and read it for you...
Sorry, I've just been watching the new Def Jux DVD and felt the urge to quote, it's very good...
By the way the pictures are here
This is the sort of sick twisted amoral nonsence that makes me proud to be a member of the human race...
Woo to the mutha funkin Hoo! My new Definitive Jux DVD has arrived, and it comes with a free CD! I've had a quick listen to it and posted some thoughts in the usual place, along with opinions on the Warpmart compilations and Henri Pousseur CD's I was listening too a few days ago
bonus CD
Various - The Revenge Of The Robots
This is a bonus CD which comes with the new Definitive Jux DVD. Four tracks, first up RJD2 takes us on a 15 minutes trip through the definitive jux discography with his megamix. The next three tracks are live ones, El-P does Stepfather factory, RJD2 does a live version of The Horror and Mr Lif does front on this. The first two I've already seen as video clips on The Horror EP, and to be honest without the visuals they fall a bit flat as does the Mr Lif tune. Still, this CD is a freebie that comes with the DVD, that has over 3 hours of Def Jux goodness! I haven't seen it yet (it only turned up today), but I'm looking forward to it.
Various - The Revenge Of The Robots
This is a bonus CD which comes with the new Definitive Jux DVD. Four tracks, first up RJD2 takes us on a 15 minutes trip through the definitive jux discography with his megamix. The next three tracks are live ones, El-P does Stepfather factory, RJD2 does a live version of The Horror and Mr Lif does front on this. The first two I've already seen as video clips on The Horror EP, and to be honest without the visuals they fall a bit flat as does the Mr Lif tune. Still, this CD is a freebie that comes with the DVD, that has over 3 hours of Def Jux goodness! I haven't seen it yet (it only turned up today), but I'm looking forward to it.
arty crap
Henri Pousseur - 4 parabolic mixes
Henri Pousseur is a Belgian avant-garde composer, this CD is a live recording where 4 artists, Robert Hampson, Philip Jeck, Markus Popp and the composer himself attempt to create a parabolic mix based on Pousseur's 8 ètudes paraboliques. So as you can guess we're up against some seriously pretentious nonsense, chances of finding a tune or a rhythm are going to be slim, an I'm sorry I've no idea who Henri Pousseur is, and I'm damned if I can work out what a parabolic mix is, does the tempo or structure follow some a basic parabolic curve? I'm not sure they do here, anyway I'm not any sort of mathematician or wire journalist so I'm not going to go into details. All I'm here to do is describe what they sound like and if I like them. Well Henri Pousseur version is the least interesting in my opinion, too chaotic - basically he mixes effects with a couple of sound sources playing randomly generated mono-synth samples. Hampson's is much better, more ambient but with teeth and he's not afraid to mix in a few extra sound sources such as towards the end when a brass instrument is heard in the background along with general crowd samples. Jeck's is my favourite, normally he uses old battered record players and vinyl - I'm assuming he's doing the same here - ambient music at it's most sinister. Last mix is from Markus Popp of Oval, my only exposure to Oval is from playing Rez on the PS2, I can hear the connection here - Popp mix basically transforms the original into his own. So, my opinion on this CD? Well, it's hard for me to recommend since I find it quite hard work to listen to so I know other's will have more trouble with it. It's interesting... and good to listen to semiconcious...
Various - Warpmart1
This is a sampler from Warp Records online shop, I recommend a look at it since they stock plenty of other CDs from obscure record labels (the Pousseur CD is a case in point). Anyway on to this compilation, well it's difficult to review for one major reason: track 14 - Closed Shoulders (cLOUDDEAD Remix) by Boom Bip. It is so fucking good! The sort of song the Boards of Canada would kill for! I haven't really listened to the other tracks as much, not that they are bad: tracks by Ardisson, The Gasman, and Intricate are all very good... just not as good as that damn cLOUDDEAD mix!
Henri Pousseur - 4 parabolic mixes
Henri Pousseur is a Belgian avant-garde composer, this CD is a live recording where 4 artists, Robert Hampson, Philip Jeck, Markus Popp and the composer himself attempt to create a parabolic mix based on Pousseur's 8 ètudes paraboliques. So as you can guess we're up against some seriously pretentious nonsense, chances of finding a tune or a rhythm are going to be slim, an I'm sorry I've no idea who Henri Pousseur is, and I'm damned if I can work out what a parabolic mix is, does the tempo or structure follow some a basic parabolic curve? I'm not sure they do here, anyway I'm not any sort of mathematician or wire journalist so I'm not going to go into details. All I'm here to do is describe what they sound like and if I like them. Well Henri Pousseur version is the least interesting in my opinion, too chaotic - basically he mixes effects with a couple of sound sources playing randomly generated mono-synth samples. Hampson's is much better, more ambient but with teeth and he's not afraid to mix in a few extra sound sources such as towards the end when a brass instrument is heard in the background along with general crowd samples. Jeck's is my favourite, normally he uses old battered record players and vinyl - I'm assuming he's doing the same here - ambient music at it's most sinister. Last mix is from Markus Popp of Oval, my only exposure to Oval is from playing Rez on the PS2, I can hear the connection here - Popp mix basically transforms the original into his own. So, my opinion on this CD? Well, it's hard for me to recommend since I find it quite hard work to listen to so I know other's will have more trouble with it. It's interesting... and good to listen to semiconcious...
Various - Warpmart1
This is a sampler from Warp Records online shop, I recommend a look at it since they stock plenty of other CDs from obscure record labels (the Pousseur CD is a case in point). Anyway on to this compilation, well it's difficult to review for one major reason: track 14 - Closed Shoulders (cLOUDDEAD Remix) by Boom Bip. It is so fucking good! The sort of song the Boards of Canada would kill for! I haven't really listened to the other tracks as much, not that they are bad: tracks by Ardisson, The Gasman, and Intricate are all very good... just not as good as that damn cLOUDDEAD mix!
Thursday, August 21, 2003
My respect for Keanu Reeves has just plummeted after reading this quote about the upcoming Hellblazer movie:
"[It's] his anger. He's angry, but he's got a good heart,"
No! John Constantine is a complete and utter bastard! He might feel guilty afterwards, but he will fuck you over given the opportunity. I smell another ruined comic book film...
"[It's] his anger. He's angry, but he's got a good heart,"
No! John Constantine is a complete and utter bastard! He might feel guilty afterwards, but he will fuck you over given the opportunity. I smell another ruined comic book film...
Those of a nervous disposition may wish to turn away now.
...
I've been in two minds about this post all week, but I think it's important.
I have a personal website, if you read it you'll get to know I'm a big music fan who likes the more difficult end of the music spectrum, I play a lot of videogames which I take far too seriously, I like my comic books with deeply troubled heroes, I'm not that inspired by my job, and without fail I'll be drunk on a Friday night. But the other stuff, my more personal thoughts don't get documented - which is a shame, if this website is going to do the job it's meant to do, certain things need to be mentioned, no matter how uncomfortable.
Let's get back on track: 19th August 2000 was a big day in my life. It was the day my Dad died, it should go without saying that I miss him terribly and that he was a big influence on me. His love of cheesy 1950's Science Fiction films is probably responsible for my Star Wars obsession, my music tastes developed by being brought up listening to everything from Roy Orbison to some early New Order, with a bit of Led Zepplin and Blondie mixed in - and the Leicester thing is his fault.
He was diagnosed six months before he died with a form of cancer called Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, it's like Leukemia but it effects the lymphatic system, it's what Joey Ramone suffered from. If your feeling generous I remember cancerbacup being pretty helpful and the Lymphoma Association have a new website called LifeSite , which seems a worthy cause to support.
OK there you go, sorry if that was a bit too much, normal service will be resumed shortly...
...
I've been in two minds about this post all week, but I think it's important.
I have a personal website, if you read it you'll get to know I'm a big music fan who likes the more difficult end of the music spectrum, I play a lot of videogames which I take far too seriously, I like my comic books with deeply troubled heroes, I'm not that inspired by my job, and without fail I'll be drunk on a Friday night. But the other stuff, my more personal thoughts don't get documented - which is a shame, if this website is going to do the job it's meant to do, certain things need to be mentioned, no matter how uncomfortable.
Let's get back on track: 19th August 2000 was a big day in my life. It was the day my Dad died, it should go without saying that I miss him terribly and that he was a big influence on me. His love of cheesy 1950's Science Fiction films is probably responsible for my Star Wars obsession, my music tastes developed by being brought up listening to everything from Roy Orbison to some early New Order, with a bit of Led Zepplin and Blondie mixed in - and the Leicester thing is his fault.
He was diagnosed six months before he died with a form of cancer called Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, it's like Leukemia but it effects the lymphatic system, it's what Joey Ramone suffered from. If your feeling generous I remember cancerbacup being pretty helpful and the Lymphoma Association have a new website called LifeSite , which seems a worthy cause to support.
OK there you go, sorry if that was a bit too much, normal service will be resumed shortly...
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Monday, August 18, 2003
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Top tips for a successful night out:
1. Girls... the madder the better.
2. Vodka and Redbull - tastes vile, but as a practical solution to the age old problem of getting extremely pissed but not falling asleep in the corner of what ever pub you are in, it cannot be beaten.
3. Cheesy 80's music,
4. Not paying for your train ticket home (bite my shiny metal ass South West Trains!).
5. Staying up until 6:00am, drinking vodka and forcing your slightly warped music tastes on unsuspecting friends.
Actually the last point is not a top tip as it tends to completely ruin your sleeping patterns.
I seem to have developed the habit of trying to calm my hangovers down with some light comic book shopping. I think it's to do with having a very short attention span when it comes to reading after a night on the sauce. And the fact that most comic books nowadays are far more intelligent than well written than any 'real' novel you may pick up. The latest purchase is called The Ultimates - its one of these team based affairs consisting of Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, The Wasp, Giant Man and Thor. Interestingly there isn't any main villain, the only action consists of why Captain America dissappeared after World War 2 and there is a bit towards the end where Bruce Banner let's the Hulk loose to provoke the rest of the team into a response.
What keeps you interested is how fucked up all these 'heroes' are; Captain America's difficulty with integrating with modern society, Giant Man and The Wasp seem like the perfect couple - except Giant Man is addicted to Prozac and The Wasp has some very questionable hygiene habits, Iron Man is a bored rich capitalist with a brain tumour, Thor is a hippy and the less said about Bruce the better. All in all it's a good read
1. Girls... the madder the better.
2. Vodka and Redbull - tastes vile, but as a practical solution to the age old problem of getting extremely pissed but not falling asleep in the corner of what ever pub you are in, it cannot be beaten.
3. Cheesy 80's music,
4. Not paying for your train ticket home (bite my shiny metal ass South West Trains!).
5. Staying up until 6:00am, drinking vodka and forcing your slightly warped music tastes on unsuspecting friends.
Actually the last point is not a top tip as it tends to completely ruin your sleeping patterns.
I seem to have developed the habit of trying to calm my hangovers down with some light comic book shopping. I think it's to do with having a very short attention span when it comes to reading after a night on the sauce. And the fact that most comic books nowadays are far more intelligent than well written than any 'real' novel you may pick up. The latest purchase is called The Ultimates - its one of these team based affairs consisting of Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, The Wasp, Giant Man and Thor. Interestingly there isn't any main villain, the only action consists of why Captain America dissappeared after World War 2 and there is a bit towards the end where Bruce Banner let's the Hulk loose to provoke the rest of the team into a response.
What keeps you interested is how fucked up all these 'heroes' are; Captain America's difficulty with integrating with modern society, Giant Man and The Wasp seem like the perfect couple - except Giant Man is addicted to Prozac and The Wasp has some very questionable hygiene habits, Iron Man is a bored rich capitalist with a brain tumour, Thor is a hippy and the less said about Bruce the better. All in all it's a good read
Saturday, August 16, 2003
Calm down young Thomas, the pictures are up - now available in grown up sizes.
A couple of new CD's have turned up today. One called 4 Parabolic Mixes by Henri Pousseur - this is a double CD with each mix taking about half an hour. All of the mixes were done live, the one that I was interested in is by Philip Jeck - he's sort of a turntablist, but rather than dealing with any funky beat gymnastics he uses antique record players and scratched vinyl to produce a far more ambient feel. His mix is very good to listen to while semi-concious and/or hungover
The other CD is a compilation from WarpMart, there is a cLOUDDEAD remix of a Boom Bip tune which is so beautiful it would make a grown man weep.
Further reports on these aquisitions will follow shortly.
A couple of new CD's have turned up today. One called 4 Parabolic Mixes by Henri Pousseur - this is a double CD with each mix taking about half an hour. All of the mixes were done live, the one that I was interested in is by Philip Jeck - he's sort of a turntablist, but rather than dealing with any funky beat gymnastics he uses antique record players and scratched vinyl to produce a far more ambient feel. His mix is very good to listen to while semi-concious and/or hungover
The other CD is a compilation from WarpMart, there is a cLOUDDEAD remix of a Boom Bip tune which is so beautiful it would make a grown man weep.
Further reports on these aquisitions will follow shortly.
Friday, August 15, 2003
Sorry about the site being a bit crap - it's mainly down to the fact that I've done fuck all interesting this week. I did have half hearted plans about going to see Dalek on Wednesday, but due to the weather introducing me to new levels of lethargy I couldn't be arsed with the trip to Camden.
I now make a solid vow that this sort of apathy and laziness will not happen again (scouts honour, dib dib dib! dob dob dob! and all that jazz... *snigger* not that I was ever in the scouts), so I'm going to set plans in action now to go and see Cex on the 6th September at The Garage. It's a Saturday, so excuses about not being arsed will not be tolerated - and I think there is an England match in the afternoon, so I'll be suitably blattered. As a plan it can not possibly fail.
I now make a solid vow that this sort of apathy and laziness will not happen again (scouts honour, dib dib dib! dob dob dob! and all that jazz... *snigger* not that I was ever in the scouts), so I'm going to set plans in action now to go and see Cex on the 6th September at The Garage. It's a Saturday, so excuses about not being arsed will not be tolerated - and I think there is an England match in the afternoon, so I'll be suitably blattered. As a plan it can not possibly fail.
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
I realised today that I've put in over 90 hours of work of playing Phantasy Star Online over the last few weeks, this will not do. OK, I'm now level 67 (bow before your new god!), but other games are being cast aside well before they should. So, Zelda is now back in the Gamecube - a reasonable amount of progress has been made tonight...
Oh, and today I bought the most violent extreme CD I've heard in a long time, maybe since the Atari Teenage Riot Live at Brixton Academy CD, a recording of a show I had the fortune to attend - very funny, long term ATR fans were ripping up there T-shirts and booing, well, trying to boo over all the noise. I on the otherhand am a bit of a fan of a well aimed "fuck you world!"
Oh, and today I bought the most violent extreme CD I've heard in a long time, maybe since the Atari Teenage Riot Live at Brixton Academy CD, a recording of a show I had the fortune to attend - very funny, long term ATR fans were ripping up there T-shirts and booing, well, trying to boo over all the noise. I on the otherhand am a bit of a fan of a well aimed "fuck you world!"
ouch!
The Curse Of The Golden Vampire - Mass Destruction
The Curse of the Golden Vampire are basically Techno Animal but somehow even more pissed off with the world. This must be the loudest, most violent CD I've ever bought, Justin Broadrick is half of Techno Animal and played guitar and did vocals for an early incarnation of Napalm Death and now it seems he's feeling a tad nostalgic since what we basically have here is a grindcore album. OK the beats may be more Jungle than anything and alot of the noises are samples rather than guitars and screaming (not that there isn't a hell of a lot of guitars and screaming) but yep, it's good ol fashioned grindcore - just like Mom used to make! I put this CD on my headphones at work and almost instantly the memories of a long haired, black clothes obsessed teenage Darth Phil came flooding back - I've been listening to this since then with the biggest shit eating grin you've ever seen! The thing is, anyone else in there right mind will hate it...
The Curse Of The Golden Vampire - Mass Destruction
The Curse of the Golden Vampire are basically Techno Animal but somehow even more pissed off with the world. This must be the loudest, most violent CD I've ever bought, Justin Broadrick is half of Techno Animal and played guitar and did vocals for an early incarnation of Napalm Death and now it seems he's feeling a tad nostalgic since what we basically have here is a grindcore album. OK the beats may be more Jungle than anything and alot of the noises are samples rather than guitars and screaming (not that there isn't a hell of a lot of guitars and screaming) but yep, it's good ol fashioned grindcore - just like Mom used to make! I put this CD on my headphones at work and almost instantly the memories of a long haired, black clothes obsessed teenage Darth Phil came flooding back - I've been listening to this since then with the biggest shit eating grin you've ever seen! The thing is, anyone else in there right mind will hate it...
Sunday, August 10, 2003
So, I was watching the tv today, and during the commercial break the advert for the new Peugot 206 came on. Now, this has got a really good tune in the background and I was thinking wouldn't it be useful if there was some sort of online database where I could look up an advert and find out the name of any tune associated with it. Well what do you know, there is! It's called Commercial Breaks and Beats and it's very handy...
In case your wondering the tune in question is called In the House - In a Heartbeat, it's from the soundtrack to 28 days later.
In case your wondering the tune in question is called In the House - In a Heartbeat, it's from the soundtrack to 28 days later.
Saturday, August 9, 2003
My god it's hot. This is weather for thin attractive people who turn brown, not overweight unattractive people who turn pink (like me).
I am Darth Phil's deep rooted sense of self loathing ;-)
Anyway, in lieu of any drunken pictures from last night (not sure why there aren't any, I guess I was having too much fun) I've finally got round to posting some pictures from Glastonbury. I can't really take the credit for them since they are from Johnboy's fancy digital camera, I've got a disposable camera which has a bunch of photos, I just haven't got round to finishing it off.
I've recently discovered that Garth Ennis the author of Preacher, one of my favourite comic book series, has been writing The Punisher. So today I've been aquainting myself with this series.
In theory it should be a bit crap, as a character he's possibly the most one one-dimensional comic book heroes around, morally very suspect, he doesn't really have an arch-nemesis, and he's not really one for the wise-cracks. However Mr Ennis has come up trumps, as with Preacher he's got some great bad guys - the quadrelegic female crime boss (the way she gets that way is pretty amusing), the Russian Transexual Cyborg and the midget crime boss with a thing about chopping his friends legs off and dressing them as garden gnomes. There are also some great guest spots, DareDevil, Spiderman and Wolverine all make appearences - Spiderman's is particularly funny and Ennis goes to town with Wolverines self healing ability.
The second book has a story where Frank (that's the Punisher in case you're wondering) goes to Northern Ireland to track down some Cocaine smugglers, in the space of 20 odd pages Ennis manages to sum up the political and social situation better than any commentator I've ever heard or read.
I am Darth Phil's deep rooted sense of self loathing ;-)
Anyway, in lieu of any drunken pictures from last night (not sure why there aren't any, I guess I was having too much fun) I've finally got round to posting some pictures from Glastonbury. I can't really take the credit for them since they are from Johnboy's fancy digital camera, I've got a disposable camera which has a bunch of photos, I just haven't got round to finishing it off.
I've recently discovered that Garth Ennis the author of Preacher, one of my favourite comic book series, has been writing The Punisher. So today I've been aquainting myself with this series.
In theory it should be a bit crap, as a character he's possibly the most one one-dimensional comic book heroes around, morally very suspect, he doesn't really have an arch-nemesis, and he's not really one for the wise-cracks. However Mr Ennis has come up trumps, as with Preacher he's got some great bad guys - the quadrelegic female crime boss (the way she gets that way is pretty amusing), the Russian Transexual Cyborg and the midget crime boss with a thing about chopping his friends legs off and dressing them as garden gnomes. There are also some great guest spots, DareDevil, Spiderman and Wolverine all make appearences - Spiderman's is particularly funny and Ennis goes to town with Wolverines self healing ability.
The second book has a story where Frank (that's the Punisher in case you're wondering) goes to Northern Ireland to track down some Cocaine smugglers, in the space of 20 odd pages Ennis manages to sum up the political and social situation better than any commentator I've ever heard or read.
Thursday, August 7, 2003
If anyone is feeling nostalgic about the first Beastie Boys album may I recommend the Party Fun Action Committee...
Wednesday, August 6, 2003
Time to go large I think.
Tonight the mighty foxes visited Woking... and lost miserably. I'm just hoping Adams was resting the real team in preparation for Barcelona's visit to Filbo, today's team involved Taggart, Benjamin and a bunch of school kids who must of won a competition or something - embarassing.
Still not without a few comedy moments, my favourite being a Leicester fan shouting "Go on Gerry, You've got the pace!". Ho! Ho! Ho!
Tonight the mighty foxes visited Woking... and lost miserably. I'm just hoping Adams was resting the real team in preparation for Barcelona's visit to Filbo, today's team involved Taggart, Benjamin and a bunch of school kids who must of won a competition or something - embarassing.
Still not without a few comedy moments, my favourite being a Leicester fan shouting "Go on Gerry, You've got the pace!". Ho! Ho! Ho!
Well, I guess it is...
Anyway time to spread my opinions: Finally got round to seeing the Hulk, which I enjoyed - not so much in a "Wow! look at that" way, more in a "Wow! a comic book film for grown ups". I've heard people complain that the Hulk looks fake and too CGI; well of course he does, he's a 12 foot bright green lump of muscle which by its nature will look fake and out of place no matter what medium your talking about... I personally thought it looked really good, I loved all the exaggerated jumping around too - after all he is a comic book character, and that is what they do.
Next up, games: I finished Warioworld on my cube. Good points about the game: Wario is a great character and quite alot of fun to control... and the boss levels are all very good (except the last one, which was a bit disappointing). Bad points: it's far to short, and the normal bad guys get a bit repetative. I enjoyed it while I was playing, but it's not a keeper...
Anyway time to spread my opinions: Finally got round to seeing the Hulk, which I enjoyed - not so much in a "Wow! look at that" way, more in a "Wow! a comic book film for grown ups". I've heard people complain that the Hulk looks fake and too CGI; well of course he does, he's a 12 foot bright green lump of muscle which by its nature will look fake and out of place no matter what medium your talking about... I personally thought it looked really good, I loved all the exaggerated jumping around too - after all he is a comic book character, and that is what they do.
Next up, games: I finished Warioworld on my cube. Good points about the game: Wario is a great character and quite alot of fun to control... and the boss levels are all very good (except the last one, which was a bit disappointing). Bad points: it's far to short, and the normal bad guys get a bit repetative. I enjoyed it while I was playing, but it's not a keeper...
Monday, August 4, 2003
B3ta time! They've been raiding the user reviews on Amazon.com and have found some absolute gems - first up, the Hasslehoff reviews, and they have pointed me in the direction of Henry Raddick; here's a sample of his work on a review of a book called Don't Shoot the Dog: Study Guide by James L. Kopp:
"Kopp's marvelous guide shows how to train a dog without resorting to desperate measures. Thanks to this book I have kept my spaniel Barry in line with a couple of mock executions."
Apparently he was quite famous last year
"Kopp's marvelous guide shows how to train a dog without resorting to desperate measures. Thanks to this book I have kept my spaniel Barry in line with a couple of mock executions."
Apparently he was quite famous last year
Sunday, August 3, 2003
OK site updated...
In the past week I've aquired the grand total of 8 CDs - I'm hoping this week has been an exception since there is no way I can keep up with that sort of rate, both financially speaking and finding time to listen to the buggers. If your interested my thoughts on them are documents over here, I'm afraid it tails off after about 4 since I got bored of writing.
Next up on the agenda is the charmingly titled Mass Destruction by Curse Of The Golden Vampire. I'm looking forward to that one since it involves the Techno Animal boys.
There's some new pictures from Friday night here. I have to admit that the quality and quantity has gone downhill a bit since I've got my T610, unfortunatly it just isn't as good as my old phone in dark light - but then again it does have the added attraction of bluejacking pictures from other peoples' phones.
Finally I've bought a couple of new games so that list has been updated. As you can guess from the last post the new Pokemon game (fuck yoo! it's a good game) is sitting in my GBA SP, and I finally got round to buying Panzer Dragoon Orta for the XBox, which I'm slowly getting into... it's very pretty to look at, but I'm still not sure about the 360 degrees aspect to the view - it's an on-rails shooter and the constantly switching the view 90 degrees can get very dissorienting.
I guess the one aspect of my life that doesn't get documented enough on this site is my videogame habit/addiction. So to set the record straight here's what I'm playing at the moment: on the XBox it's Phantasy Star Online which has hit crack addiction levels, I'm in the realms of level 60 with plenty of special weapons so I can almost call myself a veteran except I'm really not playing it online enough. On the Cube it's Warioworld getting all the attention - a sound little platformer but way way too short... as for the PS2, well erm... don't say this too loudly but it's Dancing Stage Megamix, I'm justifying this one by trying to think of it as my fitness routine.
So there you go, you now know the games I'm playing, music I'm listening too and you can see pictures of me drinking too much. Not much else I'm afraid , but I reckon in a few thousand years if some future civilisation finds this website they could have a fair crack at making a resonable clone of me... Who says I don't have any ambitions? ;-)
And if all that waffling bores you try this, my favourite is the one with the balloons...
In the past week I've aquired the grand total of 8 CDs - I'm hoping this week has been an exception since there is no way I can keep up with that sort of rate, both financially speaking and finding time to listen to the buggers. If your interested my thoughts on them are documents over here, I'm afraid it tails off after about 4 since I got bored of writing.
Next up on the agenda is the charmingly titled Mass Destruction by Curse Of The Golden Vampire. I'm looking forward to that one since it involves the Techno Animal boys.
There's some new pictures from Friday night here. I have to admit that the quality and quantity has gone downhill a bit since I've got my T610, unfortunatly it just isn't as good as my old phone in dark light - but then again it does have the added attraction of bluejacking pictures from other peoples' phones.
Finally I've bought a couple of new games so that list has been updated. As you can guess from the last post the new Pokemon game (fuck yoo! it's a good game) is sitting in my GBA SP, and I finally got round to buying Panzer Dragoon Orta for the XBox, which I'm slowly getting into... it's very pretty to look at, but I'm still not sure about the 360 degrees aspect to the view - it's an on-rails shooter and the constantly switching the view 90 degrees can get very dissorienting.
I guess the one aspect of my life that doesn't get documented enough on this site is my videogame habit/addiction. So to set the record straight here's what I'm playing at the moment: on the XBox it's Phantasy Star Online which has hit crack addiction levels, I'm in the realms of level 60 with plenty of special weapons so I can almost call myself a veteran except I'm really not playing it online enough. On the Cube it's Warioworld getting all the attention - a sound little platformer but way way too short... as for the PS2, well erm... don't say this too loudly but it's Dancing Stage Megamix, I'm justifying this one by trying to think of it as my fitness routine.
So there you go, you now know the games I'm playing, music I'm listening too and you can see pictures of me drinking too much. Not much else I'm afraid , but I reckon in a few thousand years if some future civilisation finds this website they could have a fair crack at making a resonable clone of me... Who says I don't have any ambitions? ;-)
And if all that waffling bores you try this, my favourite is the one with the balloons...
far too many CD's
Unklesounds - Big Brother Is Watching
Very similar to the previous Unklesounds (who I am assuming is UNKLE - well it's pretty obvious isn't it) CD I've got, in fact quite a few of the tunes from that mix appear here. Anyway, 2 disks this time, the first is more "rocky" with tunes from Queens of the Stone Age and believe it or not Tears for Fears (who I think get mixed in with M.O.P. - I'm guessing from the very loud and angry rapping going on), there's also a bit where they mix Kraftwerk and Whitney Houston to create quite a unique effect. The second CD is a more traditional mix, mainly hard house - judging by the number of "essential" samples it may be taken from an UNKLE radio one mix. All in all a good mix album, some inspired choices of tunes and clever use of CD mixing - I'll give it 3 head nods...
Kid606 - The Illness
Being a Kid606 fan means you have to be ready for anything, pretty much all of his releases are fairly unique in style from the assault on the eardrums that is Down With The Scene to the more gentle ambient loveliness of PS I Love You. This EP showcases his forthcoming long player which I believe will be called Kill Sound Before Sound Kills You - I may be wrong there. The first track The Illness is what The Prodigy should be aiming for, I've mentioned it before in the proper blog so I won't repeat myself too much here - I'll just say it's absolutely essential. Next up is Ecstacy Motherfucker which takes it right back to the old skool, Maybe is more hip-hop than anything - it starts slow, but half way through you suddenly realise it's truly beautiful. The last two tracks are some ambient tunes, there not bad - just a bit throwaway. All in all, an excellent EP - I can't wait for the proper album.
The Angels Of Light - Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home
When I mention the most influential bands in my collection there is one group called Godflesh who I tend to be a bit too reverential towards. Now one of Godflesh's biggest influences (apparently) was a band called The Swans who I believe were doing loud depressing drone rock long before Mogwai or God Speed! You Black Emporer had recorded there first bit of feedback. Now I'm not one to look back, I've entered the Swans story very late, ie after they split up! The Angels Of Light are the band M.Gira created afterwards - very simplistic minimal songwriting, often songs end with a one or two chord refrain - these songs could be played solo on an acoustic guitar, but rather than leaving them alone layers and layers of acoustic samples have been painstakingly added to leave songs you can truly get lost in. It's not the easiest album to listen to, you need patience but it's well worth the effort.
Killing Joke - Killing Joke
Another album I've purchased because of a vague Godflesh connection - Raven was the Flesh's bass player towards the end. Anyway, like the new Metallica album this is an example of an album from a mature heavy metal band which is far heavier than anything produced by today's young upstarts. Uber back up drummer Dave Grohl handles the beats with a vengence, the guitars are heavy as fuck and Jaz Coleman sounds like a man possessed. Very good stuff if a little bit too much to handle at times... I must be getting old
S.A.Smash - Smashy Trashy
(OK I'm getting bored with this post... prepare for some short reviews) Def Jux's latest signing produce the goods. Pure filth at times and El-P produces one of his best efforts yet...
Phil Ranelin - Remixes
I bought this purely since it had a big sticker with "remixes by Prefuse 73 and El-P" I had no idea who Phil Ranelin was. Well apparently he's an old jazz trombonist. Remixes are pretty much as expected, I'm hoping El-P's is a good indication of what his new Thirsty Ear collaboration will sound like.
!!!
Rerelease of an untitled album by the unpronouncable !!!. Think Sonic Youth playing Frankie Goes To Hollywood. I really like it
Various - Open Up And Say...
Low priced compilation from Kid606's tigerbeat6 label. Very punk rock, but with laptops. Kid606 throws a spanner into his already extensive discography with a tune which has *gasp* vocals and *double gasp* almost a tune, DJ /rupture does his world music noisecore thang, Cex has a bit of a winge and the frighteningly gay (but definitely not in a friendly Graham Norton way) Zeigenbock Kopf try to scare everyone again. A very good introduction to the label.
Unklesounds - Big Brother Is Watching
Very similar to the previous Unklesounds (who I am assuming is UNKLE - well it's pretty obvious isn't it) CD I've got, in fact quite a few of the tunes from that mix appear here. Anyway, 2 disks this time, the first is more "rocky" with tunes from Queens of the Stone Age and believe it or not Tears for Fears (who I think get mixed in with M.O.P. - I'm guessing from the very loud and angry rapping going on), there's also a bit where they mix Kraftwerk and Whitney Houston to create quite a unique effect. The second CD is a more traditional mix, mainly hard house - judging by the number of "essential" samples it may be taken from an UNKLE radio one mix. All in all a good mix album, some inspired choices of tunes and clever use of CD mixing - I'll give it 3 head nods...
Kid606 - The Illness
Being a Kid606 fan means you have to be ready for anything, pretty much all of his releases are fairly unique in style from the assault on the eardrums that is Down With The Scene to the more gentle ambient loveliness of PS I Love You. This EP showcases his forthcoming long player which I believe will be called Kill Sound Before Sound Kills You - I may be wrong there. The first track The Illness is what The Prodigy should be aiming for, I've mentioned it before in the proper blog so I won't repeat myself too much here - I'll just say it's absolutely essential. Next up is Ecstacy Motherfucker which takes it right back to the old skool, Maybe is more hip-hop than anything - it starts slow, but half way through you suddenly realise it's truly beautiful. The last two tracks are some ambient tunes, there not bad - just a bit throwaway. All in all, an excellent EP - I can't wait for the proper album.
The Angels Of Light - Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home
When I mention the most influential bands in my collection there is one group called Godflesh who I tend to be a bit too reverential towards. Now one of Godflesh's biggest influences (apparently) was a band called The Swans who I believe were doing loud depressing drone rock long before Mogwai or God Speed! You Black Emporer had recorded there first bit of feedback. Now I'm not one to look back, I've entered the Swans story very late, ie after they split up! The Angels Of Light are the band M.Gira created afterwards - very simplistic minimal songwriting, often songs end with a one or two chord refrain - these songs could be played solo on an acoustic guitar, but rather than leaving them alone layers and layers of acoustic samples have been painstakingly added to leave songs you can truly get lost in. It's not the easiest album to listen to, you need patience but it's well worth the effort.
Killing Joke - Killing Joke
Another album I've purchased because of a vague Godflesh connection - Raven was the Flesh's bass player towards the end. Anyway, like the new Metallica album this is an example of an album from a mature heavy metal band which is far heavier than anything produced by today's young upstarts. Uber back up drummer Dave Grohl handles the beats with a vengence, the guitars are heavy as fuck and Jaz Coleman sounds like a man possessed. Very good stuff if a little bit too much to handle at times... I must be getting old
S.A.Smash - Smashy Trashy
(OK I'm getting bored with this post... prepare for some short reviews) Def Jux's latest signing produce the goods. Pure filth at times and El-P produces one of his best efforts yet...
Phil Ranelin - Remixes
I bought this purely since it had a big sticker with "remixes by Prefuse 73 and El-P" I had no idea who Phil Ranelin was. Well apparently he's an old jazz trombonist. Remixes are pretty much as expected, I'm hoping El-P's is a good indication of what his new Thirsty Ear collaboration will sound like.
!!!
Rerelease of an untitled album by the unpronouncable !!!. Think Sonic Youth playing Frankie Goes To Hollywood. I really like it
Various - Open Up And Say...
Low priced compilation from Kid606's tigerbeat6 label. Very punk rock, but with laptops. Kid606 throws a spanner into his already extensive discography with a tune which has *gasp* vocals and *double gasp* almost a tune, DJ /rupture does his world music noisecore thang, Cex has a bit of a winge and the frighteningly gay (but definitely not in a friendly Graham Norton way) Zeigenbock Kopf try to scare everyone again. A very good introduction to the label.
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