I was having a dig through my collection last night trying to find LTJ Bukem Sunrain and nearly every record took me on a trip down nostalgia lane. All of these records were anthems for me at some point or another and all of these hold a very special place in my heart because of the people I was hanging out with and the places that we were going at the time and all of these records are as important to me as my Fela Kuti, Gil Scott-heron, John Coltrane and Pepe Bradock records because they shaped my initial journey into dance music, the culture and getting down on dancefloors at silly o'clock in the morning. This post is dedicated to all the people that helped make 1994 - 1999 so special for me and although some of these records came out before then but when the summer of love hit Cape Town a lot of the DJs were from the United Kingdom and unbeknownst to me they weren't exactly on the cutting edge of the time and were still playing records like Feel It, Tears and the like and I'm truly grateful that I got to hear them down the front on a loud soundsystem surrounded by a bunch of nutters, and I have to admit that I do get a bit misty-eyed when I hear them...I know, I know, big girl's blouse.
Nightmares on Wax - Les Nuits
Bocca Juniors - Raise
Lemon Interupt - Dirty
Leftfield - Afro-left
Attaboy - New World
Goldie - Inner City Life - 4Hero remix
Jonny L - This Time - Carl Craig remix
Presence - Future Love - Love From San Francisco mix
LTJ Bukem - Sunrain
Danny Tenaglia - Elements
Coco Steel & Lovebomb - Feel It
Omni Trio - Redshift
Junior Vasquez - If Madonna Calls
Frankie Knuckles presents Satoshi Tomiie and Robert Owens - Tears
Marshall Jefferson - Mushrooms - Salt City Orchestra remix
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
One Hundred Project : Ashley Kanter
What is on your stereo at the moment?
Physically, there's a Dennis Coffey record on one side, and Sweat X on the other, but otherwise I've been bending my ear to The Heavy, Holy Fuck, whatever snippets are sneaking out of the new Jamie Lidell album, and giving the whole Cinematic Orchestra back catalogue a bit of a once over (again).
3 records that changed your life. Why?
Prodigy - Music For The Jilted Generation
Dirtchamber Sessions is the album I'd tell the haters to go have a listen to, but this was the really notable album for me. Firstly because it was the first "electronic" album I got into, and secondly, because it was the first record I'd heard that, while maybe not all that clever, was eclectic in a non-superficial sense. 3 Kilos appears in the mix as a nod to that and a bit of a guilty pleasure for me.
RjD2 - Deadringer
I was slowly getting into funk/jazz records when this came out, but this really pushed me full on back into organic music. Even though it was loop based a lot of the samples highlighted what was missing in the music I was listening to, and convinced me finally that I'd only play records I really loved.
DJ Food & DK - Now, Listen Again!
Apart from just thinking this is a really great mix I was listening to this at a time when I just felt lucky to be alive and it was one of those moments when everything just clicked.
What are you looking forward to?
Finally feeling satisfied with my own output, whatever that turns out to be.
What couldn’t you live without? Why?
The same things as everyone else, I guess.
Most memorable gig?
Beirut. The sort of sound experience it's impossible to record onto anything. Generally I'm a fan of imperfections and a bit of low slung grittiness, but this was a pretty good ad for craft and perfection. I can't say much more about why they're great except that you should go and see them for yourselves.
What is the best and worst thing about the city that you live in?
The best is definitely the people. There's a particular side of Jo'burg that's really special, that you'd be lucky to know without living here.
The worst is the economic disparity. The majority really grow up with so few opportunities in life that the excesses of others seem almost disgusting in contrast.Add to this, the fact that the failure to address this has led to a situation that is (understandably) threatening to tear this country apart.
Given the accelerated pace of modern culture, what are we due a revival in?
I could go in for what I'm often told is the mad ecclecticism of the 80s block party hip-hop originators. That would be nice.
Who do you admire? Why?
People like Strictly Kev, DJ Krush, Dave Eggers and Swoon. Apart from all being painfully good at what they do, there's also a sense that they're really trying to push their respective fields and trying to give other talented people opportunities to benefit from their success.
Is there anything else that you feel that we should know?
If there is, I'm probably not the right person to ask.
Ashley is a Johannesburg-based toy/art/record collector, DJ, financial whiz and the voice of reason on E-vent when he can be arsed to log on. We have uncanny similar tastes in most things.
Ashley Is A Serial Dabbler
TRACKLISTING
Funkadelic - You And Your Folks, Me And My Folks
David Holmes & The Free Association - Wish I Had A Wooden Heart
Fat Freddy's Drop - Ernie
Jah Division - Heart + Soul Dub
The Prodigy - 3 Kilos
Boxcutter - Bloscid
Sweat X - Interstella
Newcleus - Jam On It
Burial - Near Dark
Download the mix here.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Simpsons in Afrikaans
You have to speak the language to find this funny but I was in tears. This is probably just for Chris Keyz in all truth.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
From The Back of The Box part 3
This beauty samples Janis Ian's Fly Too High which was produced by disco demi-God, Giorgio Moroder in the late 70s. With the imminent release of Quiet Village's debut album Silent Movie on !K7 in April it is quite timely that I share this one with you. It has been a stable of many a DJs sets since it emerged on a criminally limited pressing on New York's Whatever We Want Records back in 2005 and it is valued at $100+ at the moment on Discogs, so it is a good thing that I own two copies of it and no I'm not willing to part with either. I love this record and it was featured on Paul and my Press Play mix on Another Night On Earth which you can download here. This record never leaves my box.
Quiet Village - Too High To Move
Lead by Miles Tackett this Los Angeles based band expertly fuses funk, soul and hip hop and this track came out originally on a Stones Throw sampler in 2001 or 2002 and this is one of my warm-up tunes as it gets people smiling. It's probably best played in a bar but it'll undeniably get people raising a glass with a smile on their face. It is most definitely worth hunting down and buying their other albums and releases as they're not just a cheap pastiche of funk music but the next step in the tradition.
Breakestra - Remember Who You Are
This is my favourite record by Sufjan Stevens and it is all about the change about halfway through when the tempo changes and the horns come triumphantly to the front of the arrangement. I've only had the balls to play this out a few times and every time at least one person has come up to me to ask me what it is but be warned it is hard to program into a set of music but when you do it can be a real highlight.
Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel The Illinoise!
I don't know much about Motorpsycho beyond that they are a Norwegian rock band who may or may not be the best kept secret in the world of rock 'n roll depending on who you believe. This edit was expertly played towards the end of an epic night down at Aficionado by the bearded balearic god that is Moonboots. It was particularly poignant as my wife was leaving Manchester for Long Beach and it was her last night in the city (I joined her a few months later after seeing out my contract with my employers in the UK) and it made it that much more special. That night was ended off with The The This Is The Day which unfortunately has been abused in an M&M commercial that seems to be on television every time I turn it on. I really miss Sundays at Odder entrapped in the magic that is Aficionado.
Motorpsycho - Go To California - High Feelings edit
This track samples Risco Connection's Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now and as much as I like the former this is a great update and I'm not sure who is behind it as it is dubious at best but it definitely does hit the spot musically. It was featured on the second installment of the Balearica series which was released on Balearica Records in 2006 and the series is a great way of getting some rare records for less than fifteen notes but if you played at 'Nado you'd have to wear the sleeve on your head, which is a small price to pay in all truth.
Prism - The White Shadow
Quiet Village - Too High To Move
Lead by Miles Tackett this Los Angeles based band expertly fuses funk, soul and hip hop and this track came out originally on a Stones Throw sampler in 2001 or 2002 and this is one of my warm-up tunes as it gets people smiling. It's probably best played in a bar but it'll undeniably get people raising a glass with a smile on their face. It is most definitely worth hunting down and buying their other albums and releases as they're not just a cheap pastiche of funk music but the next step in the tradition.
Breakestra - Remember Who You Are
This is my favourite record by Sufjan Stevens and it is all about the change about halfway through when the tempo changes and the horns come triumphantly to the front of the arrangement. I've only had the balls to play this out a few times and every time at least one person has come up to me to ask me what it is but be warned it is hard to program into a set of music but when you do it can be a real highlight.
Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel The Illinoise!
I don't know much about Motorpsycho beyond that they are a Norwegian rock band who may or may not be the best kept secret in the world of rock 'n roll depending on who you believe. This edit was expertly played towards the end of an epic night down at Aficionado by the bearded balearic god that is Moonboots. It was particularly poignant as my wife was leaving Manchester for Long Beach and it was her last night in the city (I joined her a few months later after seeing out my contract with my employers in the UK) and it made it that much more special. That night was ended off with The The This Is The Day which unfortunately has been abused in an M&M commercial that seems to be on television every time I turn it on. I really miss Sundays at Odder entrapped in the magic that is Aficionado.
Motorpsycho - Go To California - High Feelings edit
This track samples Risco Connection's Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now and as much as I like the former this is a great update and I'm not sure who is behind it as it is dubious at best but it definitely does hit the spot musically. It was featured on the second installment of the Balearica series which was released on Balearica Records in 2006 and the series is a great way of getting some rare records for less than fifteen notes but if you played at 'Nado you'd have to wear the sleeve on your head, which is a small price to pay in all truth.
Prism - The White Shadow
Adidas x Diesel
Check this cool little video from the launch of the Adidas x Diesel jeans from the store on Melrose, and for the record the jeans are awesome if a little over-priced.
adidas Originals LA and HVW8 Presents: 83 ORIGINAL WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY WASTE YOUR TIME from Jaime Macías on Vimeo
adidas Originals LA and HVW8 Presents: 83 ORIGINAL WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY WASTE YOUR TIME from Jaime Macías on Vimeo
From The Back of The Box part 2
Hailing from Stockholm and generally found on Raw Fusion, Up Hygh have slowly been making waves amongst taste-makers for a few years now without ever truly getting their big breakthrough. This remix is done by Philip Owusu who is one-half of Owusu & Green as well as Owusu & Hannibal who delivered the incredible Delerium on Ubiquity a few years back. I don't think this ever came out from what I can gather but it was meant to come out on Jugglin' but either way what you have is a deep modern take on soul music that has been a secret weapon of mine over the past 20 months or so. One of those records that sneaks up on you and hits you where it counts.
Up Hygh feat. Eska - Be Known - Owusu remix
This Jaco Pastorius-penned monster from the Mr. Gone album is a superb future jazz number that works as well in disco sets as it does in jazz sets, I like records that are versatile and this definitely fits the bill. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this when Downbeat magazine gave it a one-star rating and all hell broke loose with the band members arranging a rebuttal interview that was a bit tense to say the least. I'm not sure how you could give this track or the album for that matter one-star and whoever did so must be cloth-eared. This is one of those records that you never get tired of.
Weather Report - River People
The king of shoegaze electronica dropped this little beauty on his first opus Far Away Trains Passing By which has as much to do with My Bloody Valentine as it does with Electribe 101 and he may have gone a bit off the boil in recent years but during this particular purple patch he produced the follow-up A Strangely Isolated Place as well as the immaculate reworking of Justin Robertson's Love Movement that had everyone frothing at the mouth when it came out. Passing By is as perfect a sunrise record as you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing, use it wisely young Skywalkers.
Ulrich Schnauss - Passing By
This track, which was a staple of mine on my radio show for a couple of months, was produced by Nigel Godrich and the lyrics were penned by Jarvis Cocker and as far as I am concerned this is the epitome of modern balearica (although that may be a bit of an oxymoron) with its lush piano line and Charlotte's almost melancholic delivery. This is a superlative record on an album of superlative tracks, hunt it down immediately if you don't already own it.
Charlotte Gainsbourg - The Operation
This bonafide Aficionado anthem was given to me by my good friend Jeffo from Hot Chip (he's not really a member of Hot Chip but he's the splitting image of the bear-like one from the band) and I play it at least every other day. It's hip hop. It's indie. It's fucking brilliant.
King Biscuit Time - I Walk The Earth
Up Hygh feat. Eska - Be Known - Owusu remix
This Jaco Pastorius-penned monster from the Mr. Gone album is a superb future jazz number that works as well in disco sets as it does in jazz sets, I like records that are versatile and this definitely fits the bill. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this when Downbeat magazine gave it a one-star rating and all hell broke loose with the band members arranging a rebuttal interview that was a bit tense to say the least. I'm not sure how you could give this track or the album for that matter one-star and whoever did so must be cloth-eared. This is one of those records that you never get tired of.
Weather Report - River People
The king of shoegaze electronica dropped this little beauty on his first opus Far Away Trains Passing By which has as much to do with My Bloody Valentine as it does with Electribe 101 and he may have gone a bit off the boil in recent years but during this particular purple patch he produced the follow-up A Strangely Isolated Place as well as the immaculate reworking of Justin Robertson's Love Movement that had everyone frothing at the mouth when it came out. Passing By is as perfect a sunrise record as you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing, use it wisely young Skywalkers.
Ulrich Schnauss - Passing By
This track, which was a staple of mine on my radio show for a couple of months, was produced by Nigel Godrich and the lyrics were penned by Jarvis Cocker and as far as I am concerned this is the epitome of modern balearica (although that may be a bit of an oxymoron) with its lush piano line and Charlotte's almost melancholic delivery. This is a superlative record on an album of superlative tracks, hunt it down immediately if you don't already own it.
Charlotte Gainsbourg - The Operation
This bonafide Aficionado anthem was given to me by my good friend Jeffo from Hot Chip (he's not really a member of Hot Chip but he's the splitting image of the bear-like one from the band) and I play it at least every other day. It's hip hop. It's indie. It's fucking brilliant.
King Biscuit Time - I Walk The Earth
Upper Space
Sketch City launched their gallery Upper Space last week and these images have emerged from the camp. If you're in Manchester then pay them a visit at Marlsboro House, 52 Newton Street M1 1ED.
Best of luck with this Jonny.
Best of luck with this Jonny.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
From The Back of The Box part 1
Again, these records aren't exactly diggers gems but I do pull them out from time to time when I need a little surge of upliftment, which usually comes after I've spent an hour or two going through the latest minimal releases in the hope of finding that one record that is worth dropping a few notes on. Minimal is the new progressive house? A lot more truth in that than some people would ever care to admit.
The first track I've chosen is by the Four Tops and it's the brilliant Reach Out (I'll Be There) which is one of those feelgood records that you can play just about anywhere. A few years ago Justin (Unabombers/Electrons/Only Child) played it at the Electric Chair after Kelvin Andrews had taken the roof off and being on the dancefloor surrounded by a couple of hundred Mancs singing their hearts out is an experience that I'll never forget.
The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)
The Polyphonic Spree are an interesting bunch. A few years ago they were rocking the robe look, which was giving off a bit of a cultish vibe and now they're sporting an all-black slightly militaristic look but whatever garb they choose to wear they do deliver a symphonic take on rock music that is incredibly uplifting and just the ticket for those sunrise moments that we know and love so much. Lead by the enigmatic Tim DeLaughter they number 23 members in total but have been known to have as many as 27 amongst their ranks and for my money the world of music would be a lot duller if the Spree didn't exist. Play this when you're in a bad mood or just play it at any point of the day, it's magic.
The Polyphonic Spree - Light & Day/Reach For The Sun
English hair rock from the 70s never sounded as good as when Mott The Hoople were strutting their stuff. They count David Bowie amongst their fans and it was the thin white duke who wrote their best known hit All The Young Dudes. Dragging the glam rockers kicking and screaming into the 21st Century are balearock's finest A Mountain of One who don't do many remixes/edits but when they do they invariably end up being nothing short of sublime. It would probably take a lot of balls to play this at peak-time but if anyone has then they have my unerring respect on so many levels. This track is almost worth buying a sequined jumper for. Almost.
Mott The Hoople - Bastard - A Mountain of One edit
Seu Jorge is probably best known to those outside of Brazil for playing Knockout Ned in the superb City of God back in 2002 but unbeknownst to many of us he's already a fully-fledged star in his native land for his poignant and incredibly catchy songs that traverse a number of themes and experiences with an undeniable amount of cool. This song is a cover of a Bowie's Life On Mars (another great segue, I'm on fire this week) and as much as I love the original this version is easily my favourite by a long way. I don't know what it is about it, possibly Seu's dulcet tones but it definitely strikes a chord with me whenever I play it and that is admittedly quite a lot.
Seu Jorge - Life On Mars
This is produced by one sixth of Jazzanova, Roskow Kretschmann who quite blatantly has an outstanding Afrobeat collection if this record is anything to go by. It comes on a double A-side EP with the equally good Deux Mille Deux on the flip. It's all about this percussion on this one and it's driven through the vocal snippets with nothing short of dancefloor dy-no-mite. Heavy record that when played at the right time will get the dancers throwing shapes like never before.
Sygaire - Oh Ba Ju Li
The first track I've chosen is by the Four Tops and it's the brilliant Reach Out (I'll Be There) which is one of those feelgood records that you can play just about anywhere. A few years ago Justin (Unabombers/Electrons/Only Child) played it at the Electric Chair after Kelvin Andrews had taken the roof off and being on the dancefloor surrounded by a couple of hundred Mancs singing their hearts out is an experience that I'll never forget.
The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)
The Polyphonic Spree are an interesting bunch. A few years ago they were rocking the robe look, which was giving off a bit of a cultish vibe and now they're sporting an all-black slightly militaristic look but whatever garb they choose to wear they do deliver a symphonic take on rock music that is incredibly uplifting and just the ticket for those sunrise moments that we know and love so much. Lead by the enigmatic Tim DeLaughter they number 23 members in total but have been known to have as many as 27 amongst their ranks and for my money the world of music would be a lot duller if the Spree didn't exist. Play this when you're in a bad mood or just play it at any point of the day, it's magic.
The Polyphonic Spree - Light & Day/Reach For The Sun
English hair rock from the 70s never sounded as good as when Mott The Hoople were strutting their stuff. They count David Bowie amongst their fans and it was the thin white duke who wrote their best known hit All The Young Dudes. Dragging the glam rockers kicking and screaming into the 21st Century are balearock's finest A Mountain of One who don't do many remixes/edits but when they do they invariably end up being nothing short of sublime. It would probably take a lot of balls to play this at peak-time but if anyone has then they have my unerring respect on so many levels. This track is almost worth buying a sequined jumper for. Almost.
Mott The Hoople - Bastard - A Mountain of One edit
Seu Jorge is probably best known to those outside of Brazil for playing Knockout Ned in the superb City of God back in 2002 but unbeknownst to many of us he's already a fully-fledged star in his native land for his poignant and incredibly catchy songs that traverse a number of themes and experiences with an undeniable amount of cool. This song is a cover of a Bowie's Life On Mars (another great segue, I'm on fire this week) and as much as I love the original this version is easily my favourite by a long way. I don't know what it is about it, possibly Seu's dulcet tones but it definitely strikes a chord with me whenever I play it and that is admittedly quite a lot.
Seu Jorge - Life On Mars
This is produced by one sixth of Jazzanova, Roskow Kretschmann who quite blatantly has an outstanding Afrobeat collection if this record is anything to go by. It comes on a double A-side EP with the equally good Deux Mille Deux on the flip. It's all about this percussion on this one and it's driven through the vocal snippets with nothing short of dancefloor dy-no-mite. Heavy record that when played at the right time will get the dancers throwing shapes like never before.
Sygaire - Oh Ba Ju Li
Sunday Shoutin'
I've been a bit slack on posting the past few days mainly due to a lack of inspiration in all truth...living on a hill in Southern California miles away from anything will do that to you from time to time not that I have much to complain about as it is beautiful up here. Below is what it looks like.
To give you an idea where it is here is a massively helpful map. I'm about three hours south-east of Los Angeles and two hours and change north of San Diego and Tijuana.
Idyllwild has a population of 5000 tops and if you live here long enough the chances of meeting them all is quite high. It was the original summer home for the Cahuilla Indians who sought refuge from the stifling heat down the desert and it seems like every rock, crevice and valley has a legend associated with them in some way. In the 60s and 70s it was a haven for hippies such as Timothy Leary who lived near to here in Garner Valley and Idyllwild itself was the home of The Brotherhood of Eternal Love who may or may not have been the 'hippie mafia' depending on who you believe and for those of you old enough to remember it served as a shooting location for Air Wolf. My wife is teaching English as a Second Language up here at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and as I am still in process to get my green card I do a few things here and there voluntarily like tomorrow when I managed to persuade Egon from Stones Throw Records to come up and talk to the students about jazz, funk, soul and hip hop and the lineage of the particular music genres. I will report back on all this on Tuesday.
Anyway, I thought that I'd let you all in on what has been catching my eye in recent weeks.
First up, this t-shirt by Mike Giant of REBEL8. Founded in 2003, REBEL8 is a lifestyle brand focused on the creation of high-integrity lowbrow art products with mass-appeal. Products include clothing and limited edition artist prints, in addition to a newly launched publishing arm. REBEL8 manifests a lifestyle built on community, artistic integrity, and respect.
Every REBEL8 graphic is hand-illustrated by Mike Giant. Unlike most clothing graphics, which are created by digitizing the original artwork into vector format, REBEL8 graphics are exact reproductions of the original piece. No part of the original inked line is compromised in this process, lending an edge of authenticity seldom seen in today’s mass-produced market.
Partners Joshy D. and Mike Giant met in the late 1990’s in San Francisco’s then bustling graffiti scene. Josh ran the popular graffiti website, HiFiArt, and Mike was one of the city’s most notorious writers. Years later, and having had some experience with a previous clothing venture, Josh approached Mike about creating a handful of t-shirt graphics. Mike agreed, and a small batch of shirts was made. Josh sold those shirts out of a messenger bag around the city, and REBEL8 was born.
This t-shirt called Big In Japan has really caught my eye. I have a bit of thing for Japanese inspired graphics and with this design they have really hit the nail on the head. I really like the energy of the image, top work.
You can buy this from REBEL8.
Next up, I have two designs from the always excellent Graniph company based in Japan. (How is that for a perfect segue?) I first came across them when I went to Tokyo a few years ago and as far as printing techniques and quality of products are concerned they are unrivaled as far as I am concerned. They don't stoop to immature rip offs of brands and products in order to drive their product home and that is why I like them. They have locations all over Japan and in Sydney and Taipei, so if you're in the area then why not pick up a few?
These are two of my favourites from their newish range that is available to purchase online.
You can buy this from Graniph.
You can buy this from Graniph.
This t-shirt is by Imaginary Foundation. Their designs are beautiful if a little overworked at times and most of them work as prints better than t-shirts but they are definitely a brand that I will be supporting when I open my store in a few months as they are aesthetically incredible and they have a great symbiosis between idea, craft and end product.
This is from their website, "The Imaginary Foundation is a think tank from Switzerland that does experimental research on new ways of thinking and the power of the imagination. They hold dear a belief in human potential and seek progress in all directions. The small clandestine team is headed up by the mysterious "Director" a 70 something uber intellectual who's father founded the Dadaist movement. Avoiding direct publicity the team has sought streetwear as an unlikely vehicle for bringing their ideas beyond the academic realm and into popular culture.
In his vision for the Imaginary Foundation, the Director knew that the human mind has more than one mode, that indeed it has an "ecology" of being. He knew that imagination, intuition, inspiration are basic to psyche. . . . A philosophy of research began to form: imagination as fundamental to all learning; artistic making as a model of integrating vision, materials, structure, and imagery.
What makes true vision is the poetry of life and the richness of nature.
The Foundation's basis has been a strong sense of community, free inquiry, creativity, and the experimental spirit. Over the years the Foundation has generated a critical mass of creative people in many different fields, for whom it's been a catalyst for experimentation and innovation.
The Imaginary Foundation is a crazy and magical place, and the electricity of it's members seems to make for a wonderfully charged atmosphere, so that sometimes before sessions one becomes excited and a little anxious, as though a thunderstorm were sweeping in."
So as you can tell a lot of thought has gone into it, a bit too much for a t-shirt brand? Quite possibly but then again you do need mavericks to drive any scene.
This t-shirt is probably my favourite piece from any range in recent months.
You can buy this from Karmaloop.
So now that you've fought your way through all that I'll give you a bit of a heads up for the week ahead. Hopefully there will be a couple of new installments from the One Hundred Project and I'm going to be putting up a a few tracks for you to download as well as a look at a few more of my favourite artists, so business as usual then. Have a great week.
To give you an idea where it is here is a massively helpful map. I'm about three hours south-east of Los Angeles and two hours and change north of San Diego and Tijuana.
Idyllwild has a population of 5000 tops and if you live here long enough the chances of meeting them all is quite high. It was the original summer home for the Cahuilla Indians who sought refuge from the stifling heat down the desert and it seems like every rock, crevice and valley has a legend associated with them in some way. In the 60s and 70s it was a haven for hippies such as Timothy Leary who lived near to here in Garner Valley and Idyllwild itself was the home of The Brotherhood of Eternal Love who may or may not have been the 'hippie mafia' depending on who you believe and for those of you old enough to remember it served as a shooting location for Air Wolf. My wife is teaching English as a Second Language up here at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and as I am still in process to get my green card I do a few things here and there voluntarily like tomorrow when I managed to persuade Egon from Stones Throw Records to come up and talk to the students about jazz, funk, soul and hip hop and the lineage of the particular music genres. I will report back on all this on Tuesday.
Anyway, I thought that I'd let you all in on what has been catching my eye in recent weeks.
First up, this t-shirt by Mike Giant of REBEL8. Founded in 2003, REBEL8 is a lifestyle brand focused on the creation of high-integrity lowbrow art products with mass-appeal. Products include clothing and limited edition artist prints, in addition to a newly launched publishing arm. REBEL8 manifests a lifestyle built on community, artistic integrity, and respect.
Every REBEL8 graphic is hand-illustrated by Mike Giant. Unlike most clothing graphics, which are created by digitizing the original artwork into vector format, REBEL8 graphics are exact reproductions of the original piece. No part of the original inked line is compromised in this process, lending an edge of authenticity seldom seen in today’s mass-produced market.
Partners Joshy D. and Mike Giant met in the late 1990’s in San Francisco’s then bustling graffiti scene. Josh ran the popular graffiti website, HiFiArt, and Mike was one of the city’s most notorious writers. Years later, and having had some experience with a previous clothing venture, Josh approached Mike about creating a handful of t-shirt graphics. Mike agreed, and a small batch of shirts was made. Josh sold those shirts out of a messenger bag around the city, and REBEL8 was born.
This t-shirt called Big In Japan has really caught my eye. I have a bit of thing for Japanese inspired graphics and with this design they have really hit the nail on the head. I really like the energy of the image, top work.
You can buy this from REBEL8.
Next up, I have two designs from the always excellent Graniph company based in Japan. (How is that for a perfect segue?) I first came across them when I went to Tokyo a few years ago and as far as printing techniques and quality of products are concerned they are unrivaled as far as I am concerned. They don't stoop to immature rip offs of brands and products in order to drive their product home and that is why I like them. They have locations all over Japan and in Sydney and Taipei, so if you're in the area then why not pick up a few?
These are two of my favourites from their newish range that is available to purchase online.
You can buy this from Graniph.
You can buy this from Graniph.
This t-shirt is by Imaginary Foundation. Their designs are beautiful if a little overworked at times and most of them work as prints better than t-shirts but they are definitely a brand that I will be supporting when I open my store in a few months as they are aesthetically incredible and they have a great symbiosis between idea, craft and end product.
This is from their website, "The Imaginary Foundation is a think tank from Switzerland that does experimental research on new ways of thinking and the power of the imagination. They hold dear a belief in human potential and seek progress in all directions. The small clandestine team is headed up by the mysterious "Director" a 70 something uber intellectual who's father founded the Dadaist movement. Avoiding direct publicity the team has sought streetwear as an unlikely vehicle for bringing their ideas beyond the academic realm and into popular culture.
In his vision for the Imaginary Foundation, the Director knew that the human mind has more than one mode, that indeed it has an "ecology" of being. He knew that imagination, intuition, inspiration are basic to psyche. . . . A philosophy of research began to form: imagination as fundamental to all learning; artistic making as a model of integrating vision, materials, structure, and imagery.
What makes true vision is the poetry of life and the richness of nature.
The Foundation's basis has been a strong sense of community, free inquiry, creativity, and the experimental spirit. Over the years the Foundation has generated a critical mass of creative people in many different fields, for whom it's been a catalyst for experimentation and innovation.
The Imaginary Foundation is a crazy and magical place, and the electricity of it's members seems to make for a wonderfully charged atmosphere, so that sometimes before sessions one becomes excited and a little anxious, as though a thunderstorm were sweeping in."
So as you can tell a lot of thought has gone into it, a bit too much for a t-shirt brand? Quite possibly but then again you do need mavericks to drive any scene.
This t-shirt is probably my favourite piece from any range in recent months.
You can buy this from Karmaloop.
So now that you've fought your way through all that I'll give you a bit of a heads up for the week ahead. Hopefully there will be a couple of new installments from the One Hundred Project and I'm going to be putting up a a few tracks for you to download as well as a look at a few more of my favourite artists, so business as usual then. Have a great week.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Kozik
Born near Madrid, Spain in 1962, Frank Kozik is best known as a living master of poster, album cover, and toy art. Credited by such sources as Rolling Stone and the Smithsonian Museum for single-handedly reviving the ‘Rock Concert Poster’, Frank Kozik has done over 1000 concert posters and 300 album and CD covers for acts as diverse as the Sex Pistols, Nirvana, Soundgarden and The Rolling Stones.
Frank Kozik also founded and managed Man’s Ruin Records which popularized the genre of ‘Stoner Rock’ and released over 200 records and CDs in a 5-year span, including first releases by bands such as Queens Of The Stone Age and the Hellacopters.
Frank has also maintained a steady stream of Fine Arts gallery shows with over 60 exhibits in the last 15 years.
Kozik began to work in collectible art toys in the late nineties. His Smorkin’ Labbit character has become a huge success, as have his scores of other characters (Mongers, Chumps, and many others) created for Kidrobot, Bounty Hunter, and other manufacturers.
Frank Kozik currently resides in San Francisco.
PAUL: I remember that you once told me that Kozik is a Czech name. What was it like growing up for you, and how did you first discover that you are an artist?
FRANK: Actually, I think it's a Polish name. My father's side of the family came over here around 1905 or so, and at that time I believe the village was in Russian hands. I do know our 'hometown' was wiped out sometime between 1914-1919 during all the battles in eastern Poland/Russia.
I had a sort of odd childhood...my dad was an American, but my parents split up before I was born and I was raised primarily in Spain by my mother, although once in a while I'd spend some time with my dad when he was in Europe. I remember living in England for a year.
My mother’s family was a classic case of a Spanish family split up by the civil war there in the 1930's. My grandparents where from Barcelona, and lost or gave their business to the 'anarchists' or 'communists' or whatever and ended up both being killed during the war... and on the losing side. My mom ended up being raised by 'fascists' and my uncle, who was older, fought in the war, survived but was branded 'undesirable' as he fought on the losing side as well. My childhood consisted of shuttling back and forth between the 2 households. One wealthy, right wing and 'connected' and the other, poor, disenfranchised and tied to anti-government activities.
I hated it... and when my dad showed up again when I was 14 and said I could come to America, I immediately did so.
As to discovering the 'art thing'... I have no idea. I always was attracted to visuals as a child and drew a lot, I also loved building things. So for me, it has always been there. I don’t really consider myself an 'Artist'... I just like to make stuff. I have no formal training of any kind, but I always was fascinated by the visual thing and spent a lot of time as a kid going on my own to museums and so forth (in Madrid I lived very near the Prado, and went there at least once a week for maybe 10 years), looking at comics, art books, atlases etc.... so eventually I got a pretty good education in 'art' and 'pop culture' from different eras on my own.
PAUL: I know what you mean about not considering yourself an artist, and having worked with you, there’s a kind of freedom that you have that makes sense to me. I have the same experience, often I look at something I've done and it's as if it was done by someone else, maybe someone I'd heard of once before, but certainly not by me.
FRANK: This correlates directly to my experience. I think the 'fugue state' is a valid indicator of immersion in the process, and an essential part of it. I look back at 25 years worth of projects and there is not much of a personal connection, its far more abstract. But then again, I don't archive or 'collect' my own work (I have none of it at home, for example), so maybe my 'art' is simply one very long term project.
PAUL: I don't have much of my own work at home either. I hadn't thought of that before, I think it's sort of like designing a clothing line, after a while all you want to do is wear black because you're so immersed in your work life. All Marc Jacobs ever wears is a Mickey Mouse T-shirt!
I've said about you that you're the easiest artist to work with, because all you care about is making good work and at the same time, your ego isn't in the way. So it isn't about you, it's about the work. My experience of you is that making art is pretty easeful for you, it's not a big stressful thing, and yet your work is nevertheless immaculate.
FRANK: Well, having some sort of big ego is pretty tacky, basically. Additionally, I already considered myself a 'whole person' by the time I decided to start doing whatever it is I actually do in the creative field, so my 'art' does not have very much to do with my 'self worth'. It's more of a very interesting hobby.
Also. I came into this by a backwards route... My very first 'real' work was done commercially, I learned all my techniques by doing commercial, technical hands-on graphics work. Any 'theory' actually crossed over from my social and entertainment interests... music, weird art, world history, etc.
Basically, I don’t have a message. Each stage and level of the things I have done over the years where always linked directly to what resources and tools I had available, and my 'focus' has shifted many, many times.
As to it being 'easy'... well... Ideas, yes. Very easy. I have a MILLION ideas...some of them good. More every minute as one unfolds into it's opposite or another.
What IS very stressful is the 'actual physical' part of it. I am fairly capable in a wide variety of techniques and 'schools'... but really hate doing the work. So in essence, my approach is to think about it a lot, then do the end piece as quickly and 'perfectly nailed' as possible the first time out. I do VERY little sketching etc. I don’t do sketchbooks. There is usually no more than 1 or 2 rounds of revisions (for commercial stuff). And when I paint or make a 3-D object I never revise, it's just done once.
This works really well for me, to fully mentally have visualized the end result. I hate the process, I am results-oriented. In effect, everything I make is already there, all ready finished before I ever draw it or lay it out in the computer. This allows me to do a lot of work, very quickly, that is very focused and finished.
PAUL: There's a kind of funny ironic darkness in your work, Frank. It's as much in the colors you choose as the imagery (light blue rabbit with a cigarette, orange Mao Tse Tung with Mickey Mouse ears). Is that something you think about, or is it just what comes up? Is there anything specific you're thinking about when you make these things?
FRANK: Well, each type of character or object exists for a fairly specific purpose. As to the Labbit, well, it's my attempt to create a very simple, very 'expandable' character along the lines of say... Hello Kitty... except it's a character that reflects my own sort of view on things. Basically, the 'darksided' Hello Kitty. Bright, pastel colors serve as a nice sort of 'poison candy'.
With things like the Mao...that's a bit more complex. It involves these factors:
1. My love of and desire to make 'Pop Art'...what better than a large, shiny plastic object.
2. My fascination with Mao
3. My fascination with 'branding'
4. The utter oddness of the current '3rd road' approach in China
5. The ability to produce an exceedingly odd object of no value whatsoever, except it makes people go 'whoa... what the fuck?' ...and then want to own it.
6. My love of the utterly absurd.
PAUL: Where did Labbit come from?
FRANK: Back around 1996 or so, I was in Tokyo doing some work and visiting my friends. One evening a few of us were in a bar or restaurant or something and my Japanese friends where trying to figure out my Hello Kitty obsession, and why I had asked them to take me to places to get 'rad' HK stuff. They, being sort of upscale people, thought it was weird and sort of trashy that I was into it, but they appreciated the commerciality of it, so they suggested I design a 'Kitty' type character.
So, I doodled a lumpy little dirty bunny looking thing with a cigarette on the spot and they all thought it would 'work' and agreed to make a few items for Japan out of it. We ended up selling like 1000 plushes instantly. I then started putting it on stuff like ashtrays and Zippos etc., even made some plastic lunch pails. They sold really well, primarily to the 'music' crowd I was dealing with then.
PAUL: Was this related at all to your record label? I don't think most people know that you had a pretty successful record label. What made you want to do that? What kinds of bands did you sign? And going backwards in time, how'd you start out designing rock and roll posters?
FRANK: I first started doing posters in 1982, in Austin. I had been doing 'mail art' (sort of a pre-zine thing where people would make weird art and mail it back and forth... I used to correspond with people all over the place, Europe etc.... anyways, we had this little mail-art collective (Artmagots) going on and we would also do weird 'punk' comics and posters, just random street art sort of stuff. Some local bands saw these, liked them and they slowly developed into posters for shows. One thing led to another and around 1991 I had a national sort of deal going on, doing these posters for bands like Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers etc. Right around then I started doing 'fine art' and gallery type shows and eventually, large format silkscreen stuff. All basically music related.
This, in turn led me to do a lot of high budget ad campaigns for like BAF and Nike and soon... I took those massive checks and used the money to start releasing vinyl records by small bands (and not so small), which in turn led into CDs and a fully blown label (Man's Ruin). I ended up releasing about 220 different singles, EPs and LPs in all formats. Did all the artwork, and posters etc. Some bands include Kyuss, the first Queens Of The Stoneage, Turbonegro, Hellacopters... many, many bands.
PAUL: The most amazing thing I ever saw in your studio was a giant Star Wars imperial walker toy that you'd modified and painted in WWII camo. I think you said it was a commission. That just blew me away, and I've been secretly trying to get a Star Wars license so we can produce something like that together, though I doubt it would get past the Lucus branding machine. It seems like you have a kind of obsession with WWII-era Soviet-era Mao-era stuff, where does that come from?
FRANK: I did several of those for a show in London. As far as my love of militaria, well, I come from a 'military' family on both sides and grew up watching military parades, and then went on to serve in the military myself. The 'look' is fascinating... what can I say? I was surrounded by military people and machines until I was 22 years old.
PAUL: What happened to the record label? Did you enjoy that?
FRANK: Tha'ts an epic saga of despair. Basically we outgrew our distributor and the whole thing simply imploded.
PAUL: Man's Ruin Records was an apt name, I guess.
Your story about the posters makes it feel like you almost fell into being a working artist. Your whole identity has morphed as things keep changing. Now you're making all these toys and clothing with us, bigger art shows, sneakers, big art pieces. Is there anything you're just dying to do that you're planning to do someday?
FRANK: Well...part of me has this desire to very large, very stupud 'pop art' installations and interiors. The 16" and 30" busts and the giant Labbit stools are sort of the tiny first step in that direction. Also, I really want to keep making the toys forever. I really love them. I have always changed my focus according to what resources become available... so as those change, so will I.
Interview sourced from Paul Budnitz who is the founder of Kidrobot, so the interview isn't the most objective seeing as Paul would probably put out a tissue that Frank has blown his nose on given half a chance.
The reason why I'm bringing Frank up is because after getting wind that he had published a book called Plasticland I ponied up the $30 for it in the blink of an eye. Now seeing as it was sold as such, "The man credited with single-handedly reviving the concept of rock posters as an art form, Kozik was first exposed to the counterculture world of "designer art toys" on a trip to Japan in 1996. His collecting hobby soon mutated into a new profession, and in 2002 Kozik made the leap from illustrator to toy designer. Now considered one of the world's top three underground toy designers, Kozik shares all the secrets of this arcane and cutting-edge art movement in Plasticland. This deluxe oversized volume, the first collected work of Kozik's foray into this explosive new phenomenon, offers a fascinating look at the creation and end result of modern toy design. A dazzling photographic record of all Kozik's production and custom pieces through early 2006, the book also features his new works in serigraphy and oil painting."
So far so good but when the book arrived and once I had opened the embossed cover I was a bit underwhelmed in all truth. I could have made this book in a day tops and it was very first year design if you get what I mean. It just seems strange that an artist as capable as Frank wouldn't put more effort into the aesthetics of what is ultimately a vehicle for his work. I guess, I'm the fool for dropping thirty notes on it but I'll get over it and it'll make a decent way of cataloguing the toys that he designed in my collection. I was also a bit disappointed to find that he didn't do his own sculpts as well. Here are some images from the book.
You can buy the book from Amazon.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Making It Quick
Right, so it is my birthday and as this will be the last year of my twenties, so forgive me if I make this one quick I have a lot of 'lost' time to make up. Basically today I've simply chosen just to highlight things that I like.
First off, my favourite scandinavian psychedelic balearic band Studio have put out yet another stellar reworking this time of Rubies (nope, I've never heard of them either) and this is so good that when you listen to it you can practically feel the sand between your toes as the boys take you on a slow laconic melodious guitar-flecked journey through a truly breath-taking sonic template as categorized on their previous remixes for Love Is All, Kylie Minogue, A Mountain of One and on their West Coast album (send it to me please, Paul), basically everything they have released has been sublime, utterly original and you should buy it all now. That'll be $5 please, Dan and Rasmus.
Rubies - The Keys - Studio remix
The second track for the day comes from LCD Soundsystem and it has been out for a while and I've played it to death but incredibly I'm still not tired of it, which is saying something as I tend to shelve records fairly quickly and move on. This was originally the b-side to the All My Friends 12" that came with the incredible Harvey mix and as good as that is, it is not a patch on the Freak Out, which has one of those grooves that will get a dancefloor moving. I'm not that enamored with Starry Eyes and as their is no differentiation between the two on the single you had to concentrate a bit harder than usual (not a whole lot in my case) as to when to mix it out and obviously I wasn't the only one who saw this as a bit of a hassle as they've just released a 12" with the two separated, handy that. I'm crap at genres seeing as I hardly stick to one but I'd probably describe this as post-punk disco-not-disco if I was pushed to but I'm not and that is a bit naff in all truth.
LCD Soundsystem - Freak Out/Starry Eyes
I'm not certain why this one has been slept on by the balearic/re-edit axis of doom, maybe because it came out on Kompakt or wasn't given a glowing endorsement by the Lowife mob or Prins Thomas on DJ History but Justus Köhncke has produced yet another superb late-night disco workout with more than a touch of the Moroders to it. This is a record that could quite easily be embraced by the disco nerds and the too cool for school prophets of minimalism and has by quite a large number of the latter if charts are to be believed. If this takes your fancy then don't just stop here, search out/buy his other essential records 2 after 909 and Elan. He's just about to release another album and I'll be the first to admit that he can be a little bit hit and miss but when he hits it is dy-no-mite.
Justus Köhncke - Parage
Taking a bit of a detour here but recently I've come across a publisher called Victionary who put out incredible books that are both aesthetically pleasing and absolutely cutting-edge. Their editing process is great and they hardly ever have publish a page that isn't pure candy for the eye. Hopefully in a few years when I hopefully fulfill one of my ambitions by publishing a book or two that I have been working on based on my travels. If it turns out even half as good as any of the Victionary publications then I'll be satisfied. Here are a few images from my two favourite books, Illustration Play and Type Addicted.
Illustration Play
Type Addicted
You can buy the books from here.
For my birthday I always buy myself something and this year I bought myself $137 of records and a Brixton Castor.
Right, I'm off to hang out with the wife, have a great day.
First off, my favourite scandinavian psychedelic balearic band Studio have put out yet another stellar reworking this time of Rubies (nope, I've never heard of them either) and this is so good that when you listen to it you can practically feel the sand between your toes as the boys take you on a slow laconic melodious guitar-flecked journey through a truly breath-taking sonic template as categorized on their previous remixes for Love Is All, Kylie Minogue, A Mountain of One and on their West Coast album (send it to me please, Paul), basically everything they have released has been sublime, utterly original and you should buy it all now. That'll be $5 please, Dan and Rasmus.
Rubies - The Keys - Studio remix
The second track for the day comes from LCD Soundsystem and it has been out for a while and I've played it to death but incredibly I'm still not tired of it, which is saying something as I tend to shelve records fairly quickly and move on. This was originally the b-side to the All My Friends 12" that came with the incredible Harvey mix and as good as that is, it is not a patch on the Freak Out, which has one of those grooves that will get a dancefloor moving. I'm not that enamored with Starry Eyes and as their is no differentiation between the two on the single you had to concentrate a bit harder than usual (not a whole lot in my case) as to when to mix it out and obviously I wasn't the only one who saw this as a bit of a hassle as they've just released a 12" with the two separated, handy that. I'm crap at genres seeing as I hardly stick to one but I'd probably describe this as post-punk disco-not-disco if I was pushed to but I'm not and that is a bit naff in all truth.
LCD Soundsystem - Freak Out/Starry Eyes
I'm not certain why this one has been slept on by the balearic/re-edit axis of doom, maybe because it came out on Kompakt or wasn't given a glowing endorsement by the Lowife mob or Prins Thomas on DJ History but Justus Köhncke has produced yet another superb late-night disco workout with more than a touch of the Moroders to it. This is a record that could quite easily be embraced by the disco nerds and the too cool for school prophets of minimalism and has by quite a large number of the latter if charts are to be believed. If this takes your fancy then don't just stop here, search out/buy his other essential records 2 after 909 and Elan. He's just about to release another album and I'll be the first to admit that he can be a little bit hit and miss but when he hits it is dy-no-mite.
Justus Köhncke - Parage
Taking a bit of a detour here but recently I've come across a publisher called Victionary who put out incredible books that are both aesthetically pleasing and absolutely cutting-edge. Their editing process is great and they hardly ever have publish a page that isn't pure candy for the eye. Hopefully in a few years when I hopefully fulfill one of my ambitions by publishing a book or two that I have been working on based on my travels. If it turns out even half as good as any of the Victionary publications then I'll be satisfied. Here are a few images from my two favourite books, Illustration Play and Type Addicted.
Illustration Play
Type Addicted
You can buy the books from here.
For my birthday I always buy myself something and this year I bought myself $137 of records and a Brixton Castor.
Right, I'm off to hang out with the wife, have a great day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
