This Janus Rose piece for 404 Media- You Can’t Post Your Way Out Of Fascism - is a must read. If nothing more, the first paragraph alone needs to hit your eyeballs:
If there’s one thing I’d hoped people had learned going into the next four years of Donald Trump as president, it’s that spending lots of time online posting about what people in power are saying and doing is not going to accomplish anything. If anything, it’s exactly what they want.
I'm as lost as everyone else (as is Rose) in the flood of bad news coming at us every single day. I also feel a deep sense of defeat and despair. Overwhelmed and prone to inaction - because what's the point? But.. that is the point. And I know it!
I don't have any set of answers but I found this piece served as a good reminder to focus on your local community. Support those around you when you can - donate to a food kitchen or a public fridge, attend a rally. Meet with others. Do something even if it's tiny. Then do it again.
Big shoutout to Alex Steed for the nudge towards the piece. Much needed.
Hompulon - a collaborative project from Matt Glassmeyer and Tom Spiker. "Hompulon is an alien hot potato of angst, confusion, bliss, brooding, and calm, passed back and forth to avoid radiation." I can't classify what genre this encroaches on but it's instrumental compositions filled with reeded instruments, pedal steel, drum machine, synth and a landscape of emotions.
William Tyler - Time Indefinite - To appreciate this fully I think you need to read through the "about" text that accompanies it; primarily the part where Tyler finds an ancient tape machine and begins making tape loops that make their way into this record. There's only 3 songs available at the moment but they are immersive soundscapes, sometimes chaotic and abrasive and sometimes gently coddling. Sometimes all of the above. Can't wait to hear the whole thing.
Tennessee Rhythm Company - another project that Matt Glassmeyer has some involvement in but with a much different vibe. These four tracks are steeped in R&B; complete with Wultizer, Moog and plenty of perfect horns. Dare I say a bit of funky vibes work there way in there too. Current favorite work mix on repeat.
The host of this video vacillates between amusingly self-deprecating and annoyingly self-aware but, despite that, this short video on the 3DS-EXP 645 Film Camera is worth a watch. It's a six lens camera designed for making lenticular prints, aka those prints that "move" depending on what angle you view them from. Almost every mention of this camera online is actually a link back to this video - a redundantly circular trip which just seems to confirm how rare this camera actually is. Occasionally you can find full product images, so it's worth digging around to find out even more after viewing the above.
As noted in previous posts, I don't know much about the Commodore 64. It was released in 1982 and is considered the "highest-selling single computer model of all time," with estimates between 12.5 and 17 million units out in the world. Mostly I know it is beloved and continues to be a platform that artists are making incredibly impressive works with.
This Mojo Demo is an excellent example of that level of mind melting impressive work. Released in 2023 by Bonsai & Pretzel Logic, it is a 17 minute animation that contains a plethora of nods to old games and movies while also embracing a good ole dystopian storyline here and there. I'm smitten.
I love it when I encounter a very nerdy thing that is clearly very impressive for very nerdy reasons but the specifics of which are entirely beyond me. For instance, this Linus Akesson Commodore 64 demo entitled NINE is "seemingly impossible." By and large because the Commodore 64 can only support "8 sprites on a given raster line" but this video proports to use more!
Look, I don't know anything about C64 rendering limitations and the related rabbit holes are just as confusing but that doesn't make it any less interesting! Great animation, fantastic music and a little mystery if you care to unlock it.
Many thanks to Raquel Laneri for sharing her experience in both meeting David Lynch and having him publish his Top 5 Sandwiches, a list that he took very seriously and contains many excellent sandwiches. Maybe pair this with the perfect milkshake?
The Nashville Underground occasionally bubbles up a piece of music history that piques my interest - such as this 1986 alt weekly called The Metro. Lots of great scans and art to see there but if you pull the thread just a little further you'll end up at Rev. Keith Gordon's History of Music Zines in Nashville; a four part series that starts in 1976 and touches on a multitude of releases through the 90s (before transitioning in web publications in the 00s).
Make sure you read Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four in full... loads of gems there and so much additional threads to pull, should you be so inclined. Or, just go for the graphic design, of which there is plenty to enjoy.
Longform Editions is a curatorial music practice created to foster and celebrate immersive listening experiences for the musically adventurous. Launched in 2018, Longform Editions was founded by Andrew Khedoori and Mark Gowing, based on the collective experience of their long running Preservation label. The organisation was originally born out of a desire to enable a deeper attention to listening utilising contemporary digital music delivery systems. Longform Editions was not conceived as a record label, rather it is more like an ever-evolving group show at an art gallery, but online, with music.
My suggestion is to load up their editions page; marvel at the consistent (and evolving) artwork that they have embraced over the last seven years and then click at random to discover something immersive. Maybe you'll land on Gavilán Rayna Russom, LCD Soundsystem member. Maybe you'll land on Rich Ruth, Nashville ambient composer. Maybe Susan Alcorn, the recently departed and incredibly influential creator in pedal steel. That said, I imagine it's the names you don't know that will be even more rewarding than the ones you do.
It's a shame that Longform is shutting down but I have the utmost respect for anyone that recognizes the limitations of an endeavor and chooses to start anew. It's a helluva body of work to say the least.
Generally speaking, I don't care to ramble on about myself. That said, I knew that with my new podcast YK World, I would want to provide some context for how the show came to be.. which would require a bit of a deep dive on me.
How We Got Here is forty minutes of looking back at my experiences with art, music and technology leading up to how I met Ross Wariner and launched yk Records. None of the episode talks about how the label actually functions but it basically does some broad strokes from the beginning to 2009, when the label begins.
I promise not every episode will be so self-indulgent but I do hope that the background provides some context for future episodes. And, yes, those are two perfectly awkward photos of me in college. Enjoy!
The Superbowl is this weekend, please consider following this kids lead and decorate yourself with ice cream. I mean, just try it out. Here's some videos I've been hoarding that I'm now ready to share:
Chazmo Finally Goes Home - this Tim Robinson / Sam Richardson commercial series has been around for a bit but this is the Superbowl version. A bit gruesome but a fitting end to the series. If you have not seen the others, please watch them.
February is the worst month - apparently this weatherman's screed against February is from 2016 but I'd never seen it before this year. His deadpan delivery is spot on. I don't agree with him but I love his vibe.
Fountain by Zilvinas Kempinas - there's not much to this video but this cassette installation piece is mesmerizing. I'd love to see it in real life.
Corgi Skateboard - America's Funniest Home Videos walked so this Internet video could run.
Mike Patton, Adult Themes for Voice transcription - I was already familiar with the vocal insanity of Mike Patton but was not aware that he released an album in 1996 called Adult Themes for Voice - a noise album recorded in hotel rooms while touring with Faith No More. It's difficult to listen to but this transcription from John Curry makes it a bit more engaging.
David Lynch on the Quest for the Perfect Milkshake - as you may know, David Lynch went to Bob's Big Boy every day for seven years. One of the reasons for this was the quest for the perfect milkshake.. which he actually obtained a few times!
David Lynch With His Boys - from the Eraserhead bonus materials, David Lynch hanging out with this five Woody Woodpecker dolls. He saved their lives. If this makes no sense to you, that's okay. It's Lynch!
Subpixel Snake - Friday Videos shouldn't be 5 minutes long nor should they be educational but this is both. It's also wild that this person built a game of Snake using only subpixels. You can't play it because you can't see it! But it exists.
The LaserDisc Turtle - apparently if you had a LaserDisc player and put the disc in upside down, you'd get this delighted little turtle. I love him. He seems so content to be wrong side up.
I recently became aware of ElasticStage, a UK based company that claims to make "vinyl on demand." They sorta explain how it works but are intentionally vague about it, presumably to protect their unique process. Based on what I can cobble together, my best guess is that it's a lathe cutting process on 140g black PETG (not quite the same as traditional vinyl) that is machine controlled in some way. Regardless of what they're doing, I had to give it a try. I am happy to report, after multiple orders - I am confident in the quality!
To that end, today we are announcing 20 copies of Talking With Hands excellent album Organic Machine. I am confident the quality is better than what you traditionally associate with a lathe cut, the packaging is great and it's an excellent way to hear the record.
Bonus! Today, Feb 7, Bandcamp is donating 100% of their proceeds to MusiCares, to benefit those affected in Southern California. So, go pick up some stuff on Bandcamp!
I'm sure there are many ridiculous creations from Brandon Hare to explore and enjoy but, today, I am imploring you to dive deep into Bluejeweled - "a mod for bejeweled 3 to add more blue."
Without spoiling anything I just gottta say, make sure you play it and make sure you play past Level 1. I don't care if you don't like Bejeweled or games of its ilk.. just click through!
The day before Fat Tuesday is called Lundi Gras (aka Fat Monday). On that day, the Krewe of Red Beans marches through the Marigny neighborhood, showcasing their incredibly unique bean-laden creations. This intro video gives you a great overview and taste of the creations but it's, truly, impossible to fully capture the magic of it all. Check this Camellia Bean Blog Entry for a taste of it.
It's also worth noting that while the creativity of the parade is incredibly impressive, the Krewe is also a huge hub for community good with their Beanlandia project. It's a membership program, a giant warehouse space and a commitment to ensuring that locals are taken care of. People tend to think of New Orleans and Mardi Gras as an excuse to just be sloppy drunk (which certainly happens) but it's a town deeply soaked in creativity and fellowship.
Artist EJ Hill created this massive Brake Run Helix installation inside of the MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art... which looks fantastic). It is a working rollercoaster that holds exactly one person and doesn't run that often. I love the museums writeup:
In Brake Run Helix, Hill inverts the experience of riding a roller coaster, transforming it from a shared ritual of joy and terror to an individual performance: only one person may ride the roller coaster, Brava!, at a time. Brava!’s single cart emerges from behind a two-story velvet stage curtain, moves across the coaster’s pink tracks, and ultimately comes to rest on the wooden stage, while onlookers observe from below. Visitors can see the roller coaster activated by riders throughout the day.
If you'd like, you can see it in action both from fan videos and official walkthroughs. I'm sure it was a delight to see in person.
Today I launched YK World, a brand new podcast about music, art and technology. I plan to use it to cover releases from yk Records but I also want to cover a wide range of topics - digital distribution, physical manufacturing, how film can inspire music creation, etc. etc. I say this all much more clearly in the first mini episode:
As I say in the show, I don't want to adhere to any strict format. I plan on having very short episodes, long episodes, episodes where I'm the host, episodes where I'm not present at all. I want to let it be a fungible experience. We'll see how that turns out! In the short term, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you like to listen!
I also forced myself not to put any tracking on the show. So, I will have zero insight into the number of people listening to each episode. Part of me feels this is a horrible mistake, another part of me feels like it is the most liberating choice I could possible make. I'll speak more on that in a future episode I'm sure.
In that first episode I mention the "The Nashville 100" playlist from Lance Conzett - 100 songs from Nashville artists that he finds influential or important. Many yk artists made the list and I couldn't be more flattered. Please go follow Lance and listen to that playlist.
When Totally Real Records announced The Speed of Time from phoneswithchords, I was instantly intrigued simply by the artwork - a cacophony of crackled paint forming a topographic map of sorts. Turns out the piece is called "The Whole Kitchen Sink" - which certainly makes sense.
Truthfully, there's a RIYL in the bio that cites "The Dandy Warhols, Pixies, Flaming Lips, R.E.M. " - bands that I know Bryan from Totally Real Records would not include in a bio if it weren't an accurate recommendation. Those are lofty band comparison to make but listening back, they are a great jumping off point. I'd throw in Sparklehorse, Goldcard and Sebadoh in the ring for good measure.
Of course, comparing one band to another band should only serve as a way to get you in the door - I don't mean to insinuate that The Speed of Time is ripping those bands off. There is a delightful bedroom style production to the record but only aids in making the fuzzy parts fuzzier and the intimate parts more intimate. "Are You Asleep?" and title track "The Speed of Time" are great examples of both, respectively.
Really enjoying the record and finding that it grows on me with each repeated listen. Tracks like "I Won't Let You Down" are enjoyable pop gems on first listen but feel like a wistful, explosive, yearning for spring on repeated plays.
Get it in your ears and make sure to follow along for future releases.
I don't know how I stumbled on the work of Ian Laseter Bush (aka Banshees Ritual) but I am poring over all of the details and style in every piece being offered up to the world. Over on the Poster Shop there are a number of Dawes posters, many with an incredibly amount of fine details to enjoy. Overall, it's the fun illustrative style that gets me but that details keep my eyeballs darting around.
If you, like me, are a fan of Failure, Autolux, Year of the Rabbit and ON*, get yourself over to NoiseZone on YouTube for a treasure trove of bootlegs, in-studio performances, TV broadcasts and music videos. Rarely am I tempted to download videos off YouTube but, in this case, it feels inevitable these will end up on a harddrive for long term enjoyment.
* There's not actually any ON here but you get what I mean. Also, if you're a fan of Swans, you should click through.
If you are unfamiliar, Chewbacchus is a Mardi Gras Krewe that celebrates all things sci-fi with their walking parade. This year the parade was themed as "Rise of the Superb Owl" - a nod to What We Do In the Shadows and a great way to get special guest Mark Proksch to appear!
This 90m video is delightful. The Mardi Gras walking parades are rife with costumes and floats that unbelievably impressive and often hilarious. There may be other parades like DragonCon or even ComicCon that have similar parades but none can hold a candle to the unique style here.
I recently watched Steve Buscemi's 1996 directorial debut Trees Lounge - an excellent little indie comedy-drama with characters making questionable decisions and an unbelievably stacked cast (tho, in 1996 maybe not so obvious that it was stacked). Definitely worth a watch.
I was also quite struck by the closing credits song from Hayden! Somehow I'd never heard this or just forgotten about it in the last 29 years. Regardless, damn good song.. time to revisit Hayden.
