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The Police - Synchronicity (Remastered 2003)
44 minutes ago
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Pentangle to reform
@'The Wire'
Adrian Sherwood Interview
...A lot of what you did - and with you just saying before that the racial atmosphere was a lot more tense in the early 80s, and you were mixing up punk and reggae and black and white artists - had an inherently political aspect. Did you see what you were doing as political?
AS: I think that reggae was carrying a political message because they were talking about sufferation, Garveyism, the back to African movement, pan-Africanism, the rasta thing, which was about the improvement of black people and the proudness of being black and the need for revolution. And over here you had the punk movement which was like 'I'm so bloody bored, can't we do what Guy Fawkes failed to do - blow up the place'... disenchanted white youth. And they were all kids who went to school together, and a lot of white kids were into reggae so it brought it all together. And on our front I had Mark Stewart, who was very politicised, and he had made The Pop Group albums, saying we tolerate mass murder, we're all prostitutes etc. By the time I was working with him and we were doing all his records which were all coming through On-U, and Tackhead after that... all that stuff was like news on the beat, as we called it. We were cutting up information, and Mark was our Gysin or Burroughs or something.
But I was brought up listening to the news in England, and you think 'Oh those poor Israelis how they're suffering' and you never heard anything about what they did to Palestine, or what went on. You were depoliticised from quite an early age in this country. But in the 70s there were loads of movements for workers' rights, the political situation... it was all put much more in your face, and it's only now I think we went through a gap for 20 years where I think people are comfortable with making money, they bought into the whole Thatcher thing. So I think with On-U, we were attempting to be as political as possible. I had to learn things - I learned lots of things off people about what really goes on. I didn't know the txtent of what goes on in the Middle East, about American Foreign Policy, the destabilising of governments like Nicaragua. I had to be taught that myself. I wasn't taught that by my parents or the school system...
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Adrian Sherwood with Bonjo from African Head Charge
Drilling Down Documents: Natural Gas's Toxic Waste
Wells for extracting natural gas, like these in Colorado, are a growing source of energy but can also pose hazards.
@'New York Times Interactive'
<<<>>>
Fracking Resource Guide Regulation Is Lax for Water From Gas Wells
..the relatively new drilling method — known as high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking — carries significant environmental risks. It involves injecting huge amounts of water, mixed with sand and chemicals, at high pressures to break up rock formations and release the gas.
With hydrofracking, a well can produce over a million gallons of wastewater that is often laced with highly corrosive salts, carcinogens like benzene and radioactive elements like radium, all of which can occur naturally thousands of feet underground. Other carcinogenic materials can be added to the wastewater by the chemicals used in the hydrofracking itself.
While the existence of the toxic wastes has been reported, thousands of internal documents obtained by The New York Times from the Environmental Protection Agency, state regulators and drillers show that the dangers to the environment and health are greater than previously understood.
The documents reveal that the wastewater, which is sometimes hauled to sewage plants not designed to treat it and then discharged into rivers that supply drinking water, contains radioactivity at levels higher than previously known, and far higher than the level that federal regulators say is safe for these treatment plants to handle.
Other documents and interviews show that many E.P.A. scientists are alarmed, warning that the drilling waste is a threat to drinking water in Pennsylvania. Their concern is based partly on a 2009 study, never made public, written by an E.P.A. consultant who concluded that some sewage treatment plants were incapable of removing certain drilling waste contaminants and were probably violating the law.
The Times also found never-reported studies by the E.P.A. and a confidential study by the drilling industry that all concluded that radioactivity in drilling waste cannot be fully diluted in rivers and other waterways.
But the E.P.A. has not intervened....
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
'I want to be a magnet for tapes' (Eno on the founding of Obscure Records)
The name might be commercial coquetry, but Island Records are not promoting their new Obscure label as mass appeal music, though a price of £1.99 should encourage people to take a chance. With low recording costs, and minimal promotion, the flexible project of 10 to 12 records a year is not a major investment. The most amazing thing about the project is that a rock record company should be starting a series devoted to minority music at all. The next most amazing thing is that the idea came from one of their own recording artists, Brian Eno, late of Roxy Music.
I presented this idea to Island by saying that they ought to be working towards the kind of research and development situation that you find in larger industries. This idea is to launch a few things out of the mainstream and watch their progress very closely. Most record companies do the opposite; put out a lot of mainstream projects, and the most successful is pursued in a big way, and the others quickly dropped. In business terms, this isn't a very healthy situation. Multi-national industries exploit a lot of different things at once, so that if the market takes a sudden turn in a different direction, they've already got a number of mutations that can cope with it. So it did have a business rationale. The first five Obscure albums will have cost much less than a single rock album. An ordinary rock album costs about £10,000. These will have cost about £6,000. I think a company of this size should be able to afford this kind of experiment.
All the time I've been signed to Island, I've been very interested in their affairs. Most musicians aren't, and regard the record company as a kind of enemy, really. I don't regard it as that and always try to stimulate some kind of co-operation between us.
I only started the thing on the assumption that Island would market and distribute them. As it is, I do everything, including the accounts, the pressing, and making a finished art-work for the cover. So I present them with a finished record, in fact.
Eno first came to rock in 1968. But before that, his interest in music had been encouraged at art school by Tom Phillips. Phillips introduced him to the kind of experimental musicians whose background is often neither classical nor popular, which hints at the kind of territory Obscure records have so far explored:
My main reason for starting the venture was that I wanted to be in a position where I heard anything interesting that was going on. I wanted to be a magnet for tapes. Otherwise, it's a case of rooting through music history to find enough interesting pieces which can change sufficiently to justify a new recording. We're going to do a Cage percussion album well as those pieces we've already done, since a lot of his percussion music hasn't been recorded. Another interesting thing is to put older music through new recording techniques, not treating them as performances that happen to be in front of microphones, but making a record with a piece of music.
With the early stages, the first 12 albums or so, I want to give the impression that the label is capable of taking a very wide range of material. But I'm not interested in releasing records of young rock groups. The main decision is whether I like a piece or not. I think the borderline area between rock and experimental is a very interesting one. The present stance is: Whatever happens, I'm not going to use my intellect. The experimental stance is: 'Whatever happens, I'm only going to use my intellect.'...
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Adrian Jack @'Time Out' (March 15-18, 1975)
Scar Art by He Duoling (何多苓)
“I started painting at a very young age. People of my generation failed to determine our own destinies. But thanks to my mother, who contributed my painting to a children’s magazine, my works was published for the first time. This experience is the driving force behind my accomplishments,” he said.
He’s early oil paintings were done with fine brushes, featuring themes like Chairman Mao on Jinggang Mountain. He said he was also facinated by the bleakness in Andrew Wyeth's nostalgic realist works in the 80s, so he imitate Wyeth and became known for works like The Little Long-tail Pheasant, The Beautiful Crow and Reviving Spring Breeze...
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The Sewing Machine Orchestra
Sewing machine orchestra is the first version of a performance created by Martin Messier. the basic sounds used in this performance consist entirely of the acoustic noises produced by 8 sewing machines, amplified by means of microcontacts and process by a computer.
Via
REpost: Bob Ostertag and the Kronos Quartet - All The Rage (1993)
"Bob Ostertag's "All the Rage" turned the evening on its head with a devastating roar of gay anger.
Of recent concert pieces having to do with AIDS, "All the Rage" seems by far the most powerful example.
Mr. Ostertag's stern, purifying gaze has swept away the sentimentality and melodrama that have compromised more famous compositions in the genre."
- The New York Times
Mr. Ostertag's stern, purifying gaze has swept away the sentimentality and melodrama that have compromised more famous compositions in the genre."
- The New York Times
Its sister album 'Burns Like Fire' here.
There is also live recording partly from the ICA in London, 'Voice of America' featuring Bob Ostertag, Fred Frith and Phil Minton here.
(A gig I actually attended back in 1981 where Phil was actually originally along just to watch the show but ended up performing due to equipment malfunction.)
"...A few months later Fred and I were in London for a concert. Moments before going on, my synthesizer was destroyed in a technical mishap. I was left with my cassette set-up and a contact mic I either kept between my teeth or used to amplify various toys. Fred had brought only a piece of wood with a few screws at either end and guitar strings strung between them. With my synthesizer still smoking, we hastily recruited Phil Minton out of his seat in the audience and without any time for discussion began the set that became Voice of America Part 2."
Bob has a blog at 'The Huffington Post' here.
Monday, 18 April 2011
Andres Serrano's Piss Christ destroyed by Christian protesters
Piss Christ by Andres Serrano after it was attacked by Christian protesters in Avignon. Photograph: Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images
The controversial work Piss Christ by the New York photographer Andres Serrano has been destroyed at a gallery in France after weeks of protests.
The photograph, which shows a small crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist's urine, outraged the US religious right in 1987, when it was first shown, with Serrano denounced in the Senate by the Republican Jesse Helms. It was later vandalised in Australia, and neo-Nazis ransacked a show by the artist in Sweden in 2007.
The work has previously been shown without incident in France, but for the past two weeks Catholic groups have campaigned against it, culminating in hundreds of people marching through Avignon on Saturday in protest.
Just after 11am on Sunday, four people in sunglasses entered the gallery where the exhibition was being held. One took a hammer from his sock and threatened security staff. A guard restrained one man but the remaining members of the group managed to smash an acrylic screen and slash the photograph with what police believe was a screwdriver or ice pick. They then destroyed another photograph, of nuns' hands in prayer.
Piss Christ is part of a series by Serrano showing religious objects submerged in fluid such as blood and milk. It was being shown in an exhibition to mark 10 years of the art dealer Yvon Lambert's personal collection in his 18th-century mansion.
Last week the gallery complained of "extremist harassment" by Christians who wanted the image banned. The archbishop of Vaucluse, Jean-Pierre Cattenoz, called the work "odious" and said he wanted "this trash" taken off the gallery walls. Saturday's street protest against the work gained the support of the far-right National Front, which has recently done well in local elections.
Lambert had complained he was being "persecuted" by religious extremists who had sent him tens of thousands of emails. He likened the atmosphere to a return to the middle ages. The gallery stepped up protection, putting Plexiglass in front of Piss Christ and assigning two gallery guards to stand in front of it.
The culture minister, Frédéric Mitterrand, condemned the vandalism as an attack on the fundamental freedoms of creation and expression. A police complaint has been filed by the gallery and the guards.
The gallery's director, Eric Mézil, says he will keep the exhibition open to the public with the destroyed work on show "so people can see what barbarians can do".
The I Believe in Miracles exhibition opened in December and will run until May.
Angelique Chrisafis @'The Guardian'
Fugn christians!!!
The photograph, which shows a small crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist's urine, outraged the US religious right in 1987, when it was first shown, with Serrano denounced in the Senate by the Republican Jesse Helms. It was later vandalised in Australia, and neo-Nazis ransacked a show by the artist in Sweden in 2007.
The work has previously been shown without incident in France, but for the past two weeks Catholic groups have campaigned against it, culminating in hundreds of people marching through Avignon on Saturday in protest.
Just after 11am on Sunday, four people in sunglasses entered the gallery where the exhibition was being held. One took a hammer from his sock and threatened security staff. A guard restrained one man but the remaining members of the group managed to smash an acrylic screen and slash the photograph with what police believe was a screwdriver or ice pick. They then destroyed another photograph, of nuns' hands in prayer.
Piss Christ is part of a series by Serrano showing religious objects submerged in fluid such as blood and milk. It was being shown in an exhibition to mark 10 years of the art dealer Yvon Lambert's personal collection in his 18th-century mansion.
Last week the gallery complained of "extremist harassment" by Christians who wanted the image banned. The archbishop of Vaucluse, Jean-Pierre Cattenoz, called the work "odious" and said he wanted "this trash" taken off the gallery walls. Saturday's street protest against the work gained the support of the far-right National Front, which has recently done well in local elections.
Lambert had complained he was being "persecuted" by religious extremists who had sent him tens of thousands of emails. He likened the atmosphere to a return to the middle ages. The gallery stepped up protection, putting Plexiglass in front of Piss Christ and assigning two gallery guards to stand in front of it.
The culture minister, Frédéric Mitterrand, condemned the vandalism as an attack on the fundamental freedoms of creation and expression. A police complaint has been filed by the gallery and the guards.
The gallery's director, Eric Mézil, says he will keep the exhibition open to the public with the destroyed work on show "so people can see what barbarians can do".
The I Believe in Miracles exhibition opened in December and will run until May.
Angelique Chrisafis @'The Guardian'
Fugn christians!!!
'We're not dumb'
Lou Reed, Maureen "Mo" Tucker, and Doug Yule reunited at The New York Public Library on December 8, 2009 to chat with "Rolling Stone" journalist David Fricke.
I'm not living any of my nine lives to a fulfilling level
depressed_cat Depressed Cat
Poo caught in tail fur, didn't realise until I arrived at work. Colleagues not impressed.
Nationalists make big gains in Finland
Finland's anti-euro True Finns party has made big gains in parliamentary elections, raising the risk of disruption to an EU bailout of Portugal.
The centre-right National Coalition Party (NCP), part of the current government and a strong advocate for European integration, will be the biggest party in the new parliament after winning 44 out of 200 seats with a 20.4 per cent share of the vote.
The results means Jyrki Katainen, NCP's leader and finance minister in the current coalition, will likely be handed the job of forming a new government.
But the True Finns made the biggest gains in Sunday vote, jumping from six seats to 39 on a 19 per cent share. As the votes were counted, Timo Soini, the leader of the True Finns, said: "This is really good. This is a historic change.''
Mari Kiviniemi, the outgoing prime minister, said her Centre Party would go into opposition after winning just 15.8 per cent of votes and losing 15 seats.
"It would appear to be a crushing defeat for us,'' said Kiviniemi, whose party was damaged by a scandal over political funding as well as voter angst over unemployment.
The result means the nationalist and anti-immigration party True Finns could be invited to join an NCP coalition, with a new government expected to be in place by mid-May.
"We can cooperate with any party, as long as the election results and a government programme make it possible," said Katainen on Sunday.
But the possible inclusion of True Finns could have far-reaching consequences for the entire eurozone.
Finland can put requests for bailout funds to a majority vote in parliament, meaning that the election outcome may affect EU plans to shore up Portugal and stability in debt markets.
"The package that is there. I do not believe it will remain," Soini told public broadcaster YLE, referring to the bailout.
The True Finns have said they have no intention of backing down from their opposition to the bailout plan, but political analysts said the party and Soini would probably compromise if needed.
Jan Vapaavuori, an NCP minister, played down fears of a new anti-euro government ahead of the election, saying any coalition that is formed would support the EU.
The True Finns, he said, would probably tone down its rhetoric as a condition of joining government.
The Social Democrats, who are critical of the bailout plan but supportive of the EU, would be even easier to get on board, he said.
@'Al Jazeera'
The centre-right National Coalition Party (NCP), part of the current government and a strong advocate for European integration, will be the biggest party in the new parliament after winning 44 out of 200 seats with a 20.4 per cent share of the vote.
The results means Jyrki Katainen, NCP's leader and finance minister in the current coalition, will likely be handed the job of forming a new government.
But the True Finns made the biggest gains in Sunday vote, jumping from six seats to 39 on a 19 per cent share. As the votes were counted, Timo Soini, the leader of the True Finns, said: "This is really good. This is a historic change.''
Mari Kiviniemi, the outgoing prime minister, said her Centre Party would go into opposition after winning just 15.8 per cent of votes and losing 15 seats.
"It would appear to be a crushing defeat for us,'' said Kiviniemi, whose party was damaged by a scandal over political funding as well as voter angst over unemployment.
The result means the nationalist and anti-immigration party True Finns could be invited to join an NCP coalition, with a new government expected to be in place by mid-May.
"We can cooperate with any party, as long as the election results and a government programme make it possible," said Katainen on Sunday.
But the possible inclusion of True Finns could have far-reaching consequences for the entire eurozone.
Finland can put requests for bailout funds to a majority vote in parliament, meaning that the election outcome may affect EU plans to shore up Portugal and stability in debt markets.
"The package that is there. I do not believe it will remain," Soini told public broadcaster YLE, referring to the bailout.
The True Finns have said they have no intention of backing down from their opposition to the bailout plan, but political analysts said the party and Soini would probably compromise if needed.
Jan Vapaavuori, an NCP minister, played down fears of a new anti-euro government ahead of the election, saying any coalition that is formed would support the EU.
The True Finns, he said, would probably tone down its rhetoric as a condition of joining government.
The Social Democrats, who are critical of the bailout plan but supportive of the EU, would be even easier to get on board, he said.
@'Al Jazeera'
Rumi Calling - Sufi Dub (Mix by DJ Umb)
"APPEAR AS YOU ARE, BE AS YOU APPEAR" - {RUMI }
The music is Swirling & the dervishes are Whirling!
Unreleased Music by Celt Islam & feat, a worldwide exclusive stream of a track by the "SUFI DUBSTARS" (Celt Islam & DJ UMB)....perhaps, the first ever QAWWALI DUBSTEP track!
Recorded Live on Pioneer CDJ 1000MKII & DJM600! One cut/first take-un-mastered!
1. Raqs Al Maghreb (UMB live sample drop version) - Celt Islam feat. Dawoud Kringle
2..Mureed - Celt Islam
3. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – Celt Islam
4. For who Jah bless – Celt Islam
5. Wahddaat Ul Wajood –Celt Islam
6. Al Jihad – Celt Islam feat. Dawoud Kringle
7. Sufi Dub – Celt Islam
8. Pressure – Celt Islam
9. Presence – Celt Islam
10.Time is coming - Celt Islam feat. DanMan
11.Ya Allah – (Sufi Dubstars feat. Dawoud Kringle RmX) - Layah Project (SUFI DUBSTARS are Celt Islam & DJ UMB)
IF YOU LIKE THIS MIX...PLEASE CHECK OUT "DERVISH", MORE CHILLED BUT BEAUTIFUL...http://fairtilizer.com/track/21732
The music is Swirling & the dervishes are Whirling!
Unreleased Music by Celt Islam & feat, a worldwide exclusive stream of a track by the "SUFI DUBSTARS" (Celt Islam & DJ UMB)....perhaps, the first ever QAWWALI DUBSTEP track!
Recorded Live on Pioneer CDJ 1000MKII & DJM600! One cut/first take-un-mastered!
1. Raqs Al Maghreb (UMB live sample drop version) - Celt Islam feat. Dawoud Kringle
2..Mureed - Celt Islam
3. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – Celt Islam
4. For who Jah bless – Celt Islam
5. Wahddaat Ul Wajood –Celt Islam
6. Al Jihad – Celt Islam feat. Dawoud Kringle
7. Sufi Dub – Celt Islam
8. Pressure – Celt Islam
9. Presence – Celt Islam
10.Time is coming - Celt Islam feat. DanMan
11.Ya Allah – (Sufi Dubstars feat. Dawoud Kringle RmX) - Layah Project (SUFI DUBSTARS are Celt Islam & DJ UMB)
IF YOU LIKE THIS MIX...PLEASE CHECK OUT "DERVISH", MORE CHILLED BUT BEAUTIFUL...http://fairtilizer.com/track/21732
Experience Human Flight
It’s as difficult to comprehend what the people in this video are seeing or feeling as it is to describe exactly what you’re watching.
Melbourne Skydive Centre recruited local production company Betty Wants In to create a promotional video for them, which they managed to do by outfitting jumpers’ helmets with GoPro cameras during a group dive.
As the group hurtles towards the ground, the video slows so we are able to absorb every movement and synchronised upside-down twist, giving us overwhelming feelings of awe and nausea in equal measure.
@'Portable'
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