music

Recently, I somehow managed to damage my second external hard drive and in the process lost all my mp3s. I blame it on the move to the new studio. Over 80 gigs of music instantly gone. Sorta devastating. Anyone want to put some music on my server? Wink wink

In the process of rebuilding my library I’ve been thinking about “essential” songs that went missing. All the old disco and post punk that I listened to on permanent repeat years ago still holds up. Here are a few tracks I played for friends the other night. They came in between some Chicago House, Soft Circle, and lots of fancy Belgian Ale.

Paul Mccartney - Temporary Secretary
Aural Exciters - Spooks in Space

La Bionda - I Wanna Be Your Lover

Bumblebee Unlimited - Ladybug
Captain Sensible - Wot

Share/Save

I wouldn’t think shows like The City and The Hills would have any bearing on my music taste. I am not fifteen. I find out music by going to shows, digging around blogs, websites like last.fm, the hype machine, and record stores.

First I discovered musician Yelle in between an episode of The Hills. She danced around in a smiley faced Jeremy Scott number while rapping a French does MIA dirty dance number. I got to see her energetic live performance the next week and then Rebecca gave her some signature clothing and sat during her Venus shoot a month or two later. Um. Jealous!

And now, I find myself listening to Australian band Empire of the Sun whom I discovered during Monday’s episode of The City. I’m surprised I even heard them (as Whitney and Olivia “worked” on the DVF shoot) given the gleeful screaming and commentary that is had when eight people are over eating snacks.

Anyway! I am really feeling their single “Walking on a Dream.” MGMT and Prince tunes with Adam Ant styling sounds perfect for a summer jam. Of course it *is* summer in Australia right now. Here is the youtube video

Share/Save

I’m feeling the song “Ani Kuni” by French Canadian singer Madeleine Chartrand. It’s from a Freakbeat compilation I don’t yet have my hands on. A cursory google lead me to to this bare bones video. Check it out for a mean electric sitar, tambourins, and a cute girl dressed up like a 1973 version of Poccahontas!

Here’s the Mp3: Ani Kuni

Youtube link

Share/Save

I’m in tonight working late, finishing a job so James and I can take a buying trip tomorrow. Every weekend the past month I’ve left the city and hit up flea markets and antique stores outside of the city; traveling to Columbus and Englishtown NJ, Philly, and a secret spot far away in CT.

Tomorrow, it’s back to PA. I am trying to finish up the new apartment on the super cheap. I’m hunting for a Danish Modern credenza, old mirrors (especially those with scalloped edges), a coffee table, shelving brackets, threadbare oriental rugs, an ornate headboard or captain’s bed, pendant lamps and chandelier, a china cabinet, and flair in the 5-20$ range.

While this may sound like a tall order, the prices are so much less than anything in the city, less than Ikea even. I’ll post photos of my finds later.

I made two mixes for the trip. Too bad muxtape is dead. I’d post them otherwise.

Share/Save

Rebecca has been looking for tracks for her upcoming collection’s new video. She passed along Micachu tonight as a possible option. I have to admit, I’m totally feeling this. Who thinks this is the next big glitchy-Lily Allen-Lykke Li-Julie Ruin-Yacht-thing? I do.

MP3: Golden Phone

Thanks Trash Menagerie

Share/Save

I love album art from the mid to late sixties. That period in time where bands like the 13th floor Elevators were taking copious amounts of lsd and adding swirls, deco motifs, vibrating day-glo colors, and optical illusions to nearly everything.

Here are a few covers I’m particularly fond of.

Share/Save

I took some old art and made a remix. I took some songs and made a mix.

Here’s the playlist:
MelodyDay.muxtape.com

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Rollerdisco
White Sport - She’s Groovy
Hercules And Love Affair - Time Will
Deastro - Light Powered
YACHT - If Music Could Cure All That Ails You
Trophy - Slow Flight
The Lijadu Sisters - Orere Elejigbo
The Seeds - Pictures And Designs
White Rabbits - The Plot
Sonic Youth - Starfield Road
The Ting Tings - Great DJ (Original Radio Edit)
Tamion - Fuck You Tami

Share/Save

After Andrew and I finished up the Men Women and Children record for “Hot Hot Volcano,” I am Sound suggested I pitch a music video for UK band The Black Ghosts. The single was “Repetition” and it featured Damon Albarn.

The budget was decent, but for the life of me, I couldn’t find anyone who knew motion graphics and was free to direct the project. So I asked a friend to show me a sample treatment. And then proceeded to write my own dark and psychedelic Alice in Wonderland inspired pitch where I played both illustrator and director.

Didn’t end up getting the gig, but I think my treatment was good. Now I can only hope that down the line I can take this idea and make it come to life for a different project.

click below to see the pitch

Read the rest of this entry »

Share/Save