Busy,
busy, busy. Among other things with doing some PR for the
RECession
Festival and also playing the role of booker of concerts
for two lovely ladies out of Berlin. Check out the video
below for a taste of what they do. And read more here.
Oh, and I've also put quite a bit of pictures from my latest
Berlin trip in July online. Quite a trip. Go here
for those and some words about them.
Spinning
today
The Black Keys: The Big Come Up
Oxbow: The Narcotic Story
2008
- july 26
Got
my "weavil" machine from Tom Bugs yesterday. A
little contraption that makes one hell of a bunch of cool
noises. Hours of fun, I'm sure. Tom makes quite few of these
(and others) and sells them via his website.
He also sent along a cd of his, "The Shifted Sands",
which was a really positive surprise. Reminds me of the
self-titled album from The For Carnation - which is definitely
not a bad thing at all.
Also... I put together a little "video medley"
of snapshots from the Elektronisk Jazzjuice festival in
Aarhus, Denmark, last weekend. Easily one of the best and
most exciting festivals in the country. Of course, it's
not widely known as many of the bigger festivals. But hey,
if you want the good stuff you don't get it served on a
silver platter, right?
Spinning
today
Knowlegde of Bugs:
The Shifted Sands
Voice of the Seven Woods: The Journey
2008
- july 25
Finally
got a little "travel video" made from my trip
to Berlin in May. Later I might make one from the July trip.
Regular photos from July will be here soon, though. The
video here has also been added to the photo page from the
May trip.
Spinning
today
Elmore James: Greatest Hits
Tom Waits:
Bone Machine
2008
- july 1
Finally
got around to actually getting myself a Supersilent cd. Saw
them live some years ago. Superb. Got hold of some mp3s later.
Also great. I guess with number 8 to start with I can work my
way backwards. :-)
Oh, and some down to earth uhm, "earthiness" from
Mr. Gelb in the form of the album below, that I haven't heard
in a while. Going "gelb" here again, I guess, in anticipation
for the September 2nd album "proVISIONS" by Giant
Sand.
Spinning
today
Supersilent: 8
Giant Sand: Is All Over The Map
2008
- june 30
I
did an interview with Dennis Thang Block of Delay Lama about
the release of "Mk. I" at the Spot Festival. Here's
the clip which also includes a preview of tracks from the cd.
Enjoy!
Spinning
today
Rainer Ptacek:
17 Miracles - The Best Of Rainer
Thom Yorke: The Eraser
2008
- june 29
People
who know me also know that I like Berlin a lot. And anyone who
has surfed around on this
website might have caught on to that too, he-he.
Back in the cold war days of course East Germany etc. was standard
material learned in school. Such an odd and absurd piece of
history that it really stuck with me. And many others, I suppose.
Still, the nitty-gritty details have eluded me. So I figured
that since I'll go down there for the 8th time since 2004 soon
I should maybe dig a bit. Well, I'm curious, obviously. Hopefully
I can find some time to read something. And squeeze in those
last few Berlin movies that I should see. Already seen "Faraway
So Close", "Goodbye Lenin" and "The Lives
Of Others". All great flicks. Next up is "Wings Of
Desire" (yeah, I know I should have seen that first), "Downfall"
and "Trouble". The last one is a less known film I
bought at the Am Friedrichshain cinema on a previous trip. And
yes, maybe it would also be good to see one of those music documentaries
about Einstürzende Neubauten in the 80's.
I guess this is all pretty basic stuff. And there are of course
plenty more. But I look forward to sink my teeth into the last
bits of "the groundwork".
Haven't read much about Berlin, I must admit. Since school anyway.
And what did I even read back then?
On my bookshelf I have for a long time had a book by Danish
writer-and-much-more George Brandes. It's from 1885 (not a reprint)
and it's a big one. Will probably be a totally unrecognizable
Berlin in there, but nevertheless it could be interesting.
Surfed the web recently and read some reviews (some good, some
less good) of different books that seemed to cover the subject
from different angles and in different styles. I hope to sniff
them out a bit before I go this time.
Yeah, "Bowie In Berlin". Why not, he-he? Still Berlin.
And with Bowie. Perfect combo (just listen to the albums). I
read the "33 1/3" pocket book about the "Low"
album and it was well interesting, so this new one might go
a bit deeper with this unique artist in a unique place in the
world in a unique place in time.
Imagine what I could dig up if someone actually told me what
to check out of this kind? I never really asked anyone. I should.
Also in regards to music - past and present.
Speaking of music... What's with all this listening of old music
these days? Have I finally gotten old... out of the blue? Didn't
know it happened from one day to the other. I mean, getting
nostalgic that way. That much. Putting on old UK 'electronica'
(before that was a word even, I guess) from the 90's. Maybe
it's just a phase? :-) Well, okay today some newer shit spun
around. But hm, still kinda old school...
Spinning
today
Oh No: Dr. No's Oxperiment
Luke Vibert:
YosepH
2008
- june 28
Spend
quite a bit of the day in a car. And thus also in Paul's Boutique.
Loud. I know this masterpiece of an album by heart. But somehow
new things popped up. Nice how a change of venue and/or stereo
can do that. Of course reading can do that too, so in this
case I'd like to recommend the pocket book about the album
in the "33 1/3" series. Not all writers in this
series have done a good job, but Dan Leroy has with this one.
The amount of work that went into that album back in the late
80's - where it wasn't so easy to just stich everything together
digitally - makes me respect the album and enjoy it even more.
Despite relying heavily on "stolen" material it
has that organic feel that makes it so obvious what current
rap and hip-hop is missing. Perfection is boring. And yeah,
I sound like an old fart now.
I've mentioned some of these books before, but no harm in
doing that again.
There's also one on PJ Harvey's "Rid Of Me", but
it seems it's one of those to avoid. Too bad. Would have loved
to read more about the genesis of that album. Like "Paul's
Boutique" also one of my all time favourites. Recent
days I have enjoyed spinning it again. Too my delight I've
noticed that it will be re-issued on vinyl soon so one don't
have to pay ludicrous amounts on eBay for a used copy from
the first printing. I am really looking forward to hearing
this on vinyl. It was made for that. It would be nice if it
was AAA like another Albini-produced favourite of mine - Low's
"Secret Name" - but maybe it would be too much to
hope for an all analogue transfer from the original masters
directly to vinyl as it was done with Low's.
At the moment I try to find my
favourite albums on vinyl. Not an easy task. Some really
are only on cd (but luckily only a few of them). And
others are so expensive I really don't wanna pay that kind
of money. But I've lucked out a few times and found some nice
ones this year (stumbling on Dauerfisch's "Crime Of The
Century" in Berlin was a very pleasant surprise.
I expected it to only be on cd). There are 48 "all time
favourites". Quite a bunch. Got 22 of them. About 14-15
might be possible to get, but a handful of those would be
at crazy prices and I'm not that desperate. I just want to
hear the best in the best way possible.
Spinning
today
Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique
PJ Harvey: Rid Of Me
2008
- june 16
Some
say the best things in life are free. How true. Danish noiserock
darlings Speaker Bite Me are giving a live album away right
now. Go
get it.
A little more costly, but nevertheless worth the money is the
hyped Danish turntablism collected Den Sorte Skole. Nicely inventive
and still old school. But hey, maybe being inventive - in the
essence - is old school. Ya' hear, blingers?! ;-)
Spinning
today
Speaker Bite Me:
Live Recordings 2001-2002
Den Sorte Skole:
Lektion #2
2008
- june 15
These
last couple of days I've kind of rediscovered an old classic.
Underworld comes down from the shelf every now and then. But
cranking it up on the headphones on the train this weekend gave
it a bit of new life. Nice.
A newer one by Radian also pleases quite a bit these days. Minimal
drumming and slight jittery electronics "short circuit
style" moving into sweeping glacial noise. Electrifying.
Spinning
today
Underworld:
Dubnobasswith-myheadman
Radian:
Juxtaposition
2008
- june 10
The
trip to Berlin was wonderful. Great weather, chill vibe with
friends and lots of music. I put up a whole lot of pictures
and mp3s of my dj set here.
After writing the introductory text on that page my friend
Theresa a.k.a. Golden Diskó Ship reassured me that
indeed there was still underground stuff happening in cool
places. One of them being Neuköln. Made sense. The named
had popped up a bit lately. Nice to know that when Prenzlauerberg
has been overrun by tourists you can go elsewhere for the
better stuff. Next time I will!
And since coming back SOPA has released to cds: Girls Love
Rallie and Delay Lama. Damn fine pieces of work both of them.
Been wanting to get "the lama sounds" out for years
so I'm damn proud that SOPA has them out now. Dennis' old
things shouldn't go unheard. They're too good for that.
Spinning
today
Kid Kishore:
Perker Tech
Delay Lama:
Mk. 1 EP
2008
- may 18
Pretty
excited about going to Berlin again. Been there quite a few
times already. Collected a lot of stuff from those trips on
a new page.
2008
- may 14
Just
got the latest issue of always exciting dvd mag Specialten.
One of the nice treats on it this time is the music video
"Woodsong I" by Make A Rising. It's also on YouTube.
Mesmerizing stop-animation stuff, I must say.
2008
- may 12
Not
the best of days. So finding some comfort in the words of a
few of the old 80's pop classics that never really let go of
me. More precisely the two songs "The
Last Time" by Eurythmics and "Throwing
It All Away" by Genesis. Tuned into their basic sentiment
today, unfortunately.
Spinning
today
Eurythmics: Revenge
Genesis: Invisible Touch
2008
- may 4
Nice
Einstürzende Neubauten gig last Wednesday. Expected a bit
more noise, but all in all an interesting experience. A handful
of times it was superb, but it wasn't all good for that two
and half hours of playing time.
Now it's Sunday. Got the new Under Byen orchestral live EP spinning.
Nice one. Big sound.
Spinning
today
Under Byen: Siamesisk (EP)
Einstürzende Neubauten: Tabula Rasa
2008
- may 3
Finished
the "Blog archive" page today. Stuff gathered from
all the blogs here and there that I have been doing over the
years. What a ridiculous amount of words. So many.
Quite enjoying listening to Tenniscoats on this sunny Saturday.
Don't know what "tan-tan" is, but it sure feels therapeutic.
Gorgeousness.
Spinning
today
Tenniscoats: Tan-Tan Therapy
Barry Adamson & Pan Sonic: Motorlab #3
2008
- may 2
Anyone
"in the know" on this matter would surely call it
old news, but me, I just stumbled on the website Daytrotter.
Lots of great live sessions there with artists such as Nina
Nastasia, Dirty Projectors, Low, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Jana
Hunter. Yeah, those were the ones I wanted to mention, but there
are lots more for various tastes. Go to www.daytrotter.com
for all that.
Spinning
today
Portishead: Third
Datassette: Datassette
2008
- may 1
I
put a lot of old stuff on the website today. Words and pictures.
I decided to collect words within the same "genre"
on one page no matter how long it ran. Oh well. Check the menu
- the Gallery and the Writings.
Spinning
today
The Skatalites: Play Ska
The Buffets: Saucy Jack
2008
- april 20
How
to make a Sunday a Zenday...
Get up late. Put Tom Waits on the record player and make the
omelette to end all omelettes. Eat it on the terrace. Then...
do nothing. End the day by continuing your trip through the
"Twin Peaks" dvd box. And be sure to do it not alone,
but with someone. Oh yeah.
The omelette: plenty of eggs straight from a farm, milk, salt'n'pepper,
thyme, mixed with bacon, champignons (mushrooms), spring onions,
small cherry tomatoes and red sweet "snack" pepper
fruits. Then on top: rucola salad and slices of brie cheese.
Yup! Well tasty, I tell ya'.
Here it is... your moment of zen...
Spinning
today
Tom Waits: Mule Variations
Philip Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble: Malcolm
X Memorial (A Tribute In Music)
2008
- april 18
Still
working on the site. Today I put up my list of my all time favourite
albums. And then I'm gonna add some of those "other favourite
albums" that deserves mentioning.
Also: still working on putting together the blog archive. A
big job. Lots of words there.
2008
- april 12
Today
I've finally taken a step towards making my new website. Got
a nice picture of myself from the talented Steffen
"Jint" Jørgensen (if you need web design
and/or photo services get in touch with him). The photos was
shot when I dj'ed at the 2nd Society warm up (SOPA Night #4)
on April 3rd at Huset i Magstræde in Copenhagen. Great
evening. SOPA artists 9 and Delay Lama played really well and
we also made a nice new friend: Spejderrobot, who headlined
the evening.
Anyways, this website will be part business, part personal.
Will try and see if it works.
