Monday 29 March 2010
Monday 22 March 2010
Friday 19 March 2010
A force for good
Been writing about UK defence policy all week. It seems each party has a different view of what 'a force for good' is. Here's mine...
Wednesday 10 March 2010
"People Are Still Having Sex"
Contrary to what it might have seemed during the last decade this track tells you that people are still having sex. Oh wait, but it was made 20 years ago and since then record labels called Sex Is Disgusting have been established along with this weird fashion for awkwardness. Let's only hope that the words of La Tour will ring true again soon...
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Sunday 7 March 2010
sllices of space
Click to download
Tracklist
Novicat de Soeurs Missionaires - Yesu Ka Mkwebaze
Lonnie Liston Smith - Beautiful Woman
Marcus Belgrave - Space Odyssey
Arthur Verocai - Karina
J Dilla - Crushin (instrumental)
Herbie Hancock - Hidden Shadows
Theo Parrish - Space Station
Steve Reich - Nagoya Marimbas
Brian Bennett - Solstice
Ash Ra Temple - Ala Tul
Ago - You Make Me Do It
Instant Funk - Dark Vadar
Marvin Gaye - A Funky Space Reincarnation
Monday 22 February 2010
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Steve Reich
Steve Reich gave a lecture today at the Red Bull Music Academy. His well-rehearsed tales had were punctuated by a set of musical morsels which left the audience entranced. Acting as the luddite, the 74 year old explained how resistant he was to technical innovation - abandoning phasing for live composition. "I wanted to be the second tape," he exclaimed.
His staunch rejection of computer composing was remarkably well received by a room filled with laptop producers who've spent their lives beating off in their own bedrooms. As a tribute here's Enfant (Chants) by Ricardo Villalobos.
Monday 15 February 2010
Corporation not cooperation
Read about Labour's campaign changing idea today. Using the most well-known example of co-op action, the John Lewis plan - a brainchild of Ed Miliband - believes public bodies can be part-owned by their staff and, where appropriate, their users. In political and social terms this means schools are operated by parents as well as teachers, estates by housing associations and occupants, the NHS by eerm...
This pluralist notion stuck in my mind as I went to pick up a Peugeot bike from a mate when all of a sudden I was given the chance to take part in a bit of public participation. The police pulled me over on suspicion of theft - I was pushing one bike whilst riding another, the second causing the stir.
Now, had this not have been the forth time this month that I'd had a run-in with these pigs I wouldn't have protested their time-wasting efforts so much. But, still with the co-op Labour idea fresh in mind it occurred to me - whilst myself and my belongings were being invaded by the cops - that there was nothing co-operative about this. I wouldn't be co-operative if it made their jobs harder, they weren't being co-operative as a result. Childish logic but the effect of multiple police fuck-ups.
Guilty until proven innocent I rode off feeling pretty pissed off and cynical. "Does Labour only want our co-operation becuase it makes the jobs of the civil servants easier?" I wondered. Certainly sticking your heals in the ground makes it harder for 'em, although you do this in the face of being told "co-operation will be to your benefit.
Without any cash public bodies will continue to struggle under the weight of their own responsibilities. Voluntary help is needed and if that's the case then fine, by all means ask for help. But don't hide it like your the ones doing us a favour. The public are simply part of a corporation - like interns who volunteer in a business - in which co-operation only exists to benefit the dudes at the top.
Shame bikes don't conger that same easy rider image of rebelion...
Sunday 14 February 2010
Saturday 13 February 2010
Consistently A Banger
For a lesson in how to do it right look no further than Matthew Barney. Husband to Bjork, father to us all.
Thursday 11 February 2010
Wednesday 10 February 2010
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