Obamacons, Wall E, and “Crystal”–the new “Wolf”?

Ah, home from vacation. Back to work. Back to blog, etc.

Researching for work, I came upon my new favorite word: Obamacon. Now we all love a nifty word made up of an Obama-as-prefix, an “Obamism,” if you will. But this one is my fav. Why? Well, first of all if “conservative” can be in same realm, let alone the same TERM as “Obama” that’s a good thing, in regards to, oh, say winning an election (something Democrats haven’t been so good at recently). I’m a liberal, through and through (fuck religion! yay gays! save the poor!), but not everyone else is. That is the beauty of Obamania, that everyone–on the left, on the right, those liberal as fuck, conservative Catholics, and even retired generals (come on Colin Powell, endorse!)–can love the Barackstar.

Oh yeah and one more thing: Obamacon, it sounds like a robot. And I love robots. Agingsnob is snotty about most things culture (music, books, vegetables–broccolini over broccoli, thank you), but not about robots. Hence one of the reasons I went to see Wall-E this weekend, even braving the kiddie pool in Park Slope opening weekend. I’m almost astonished to say it is one of the most charming and beautiful films I’ve seen in quite some time. Some criticize the lack of any dialogue for the first hour. However, has anyone ever seen a classic children’s movie called The Red Balloon? Hmm. Or what about the sumptuously sweet and witty French animation film The Triplettes of Belleville? You can have a G-rated film without idiotic verbatim and children will still respond with laughter. So will adults as in the case of Wall-E.

Wall-E is visually spectacular (duh, it’s Pixar) but it’s the clever writing, reminiscent of early comedies of the 30’s ala Buster Keaton, that really make this movie such a joy to watch. Gina writes a great review, emphasizing just that, along with what a beautiful eco-lesson it is. Oh yeah, and uh, did I mention it’s a love story.

ROBOTS LOVING ROBOTS. How Daft Punk? Also, it’s notable that the female robot EVE (Eee-vaa) is the kick ass heroine of the story–smart, savvy, and yet feminine (really you never thought a robot giggle could be so adorable!). And because she’s a non-human (albeit one shaped a bit like something one might find at Good Vibrations…or the Apple Store), Disney didn’t force her into unrealistic babedom like that Pocohantas as Indian Barbie shit they pulled a few years ago. Bravo on all fronts!

Lastly, on this vacation o’ mine I checked out Crystal Castles live for the first time. Then, on the internets, I kept seeing reviews of the new Crystal Antlers album. Is Crystal the new Wolf? Discuss.

I like Australians who like Daft Punk (i.e. Cut Copy)

CUT COPY

Studio B

Saturday night. Fuckin’ go yo!

And yes, sadly, I think Goth week is over. I have nothing Goth left to give you!

Here’s what I am listening to get ready for another jaunt to Studio B:

Editions of You-Roxy Music

1983-Miss Kitten

So Cinematic-Pora Pora!**because nobody tears shit up like Nanna

Amparanoia: Proganado: War is Not the Solution (remix)

Arthur Russell and the first downloadable mix!

So, I’ve finally figured out how to put music online for all S.N.O.B fans to access. I realized that if Bradford Cox (of Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, and blogging fame) can find time to be sober enough to post mixes (which are quite good, check them out), fuck if I can’t do it too.

Speaking of frail, avant boy/men, so recently I discovered Arthur Russell, whose experimental dance music is a beautiful blend of ambient sounds, disco beats, cello, and “golly gee the world is big isn’t it?” lyricism. Russell died in the early 90’s of AIDS in relative obscurity outside the artsy music circles in New York. Only recently has his music been opened to a wider audience with the reissue of some of his albums. Rolling Stone wrote in 2004, “If Nick Drake had lived long enough to make records with New Order, they might have sounded something like this” of the LP World of Echo and it’s not a bad analogy. However, I think it’s a bit more like if Daniel Johnston made records with Autechre, but it’s similar point being made about what a frontrunner he was in terms of hybrid music. Russell’s story is as fascinating (he played cello for Ginsberg’s poetry readings, was an early East Village pioneer in the 1970’s and collaborated with Philip Glass and David Bryne to name a few) as his music is original.

 

Arthur Russell is, as my friend Josh put it, “dance music you can’t dance to.” This brought me back to IBM (Intelligent Dance Music), a form of “electronica” which hit its height in the mid-90s, but is constantly being revised and revisited by artists such as Boards of Canada, Architecture in Helsinki, and The Field. The pioneers of the 90’s boom, like Autechre, Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) and Squarepusher, are still quite active as well. Here is a sampling of my homage to IDM and to Russell, a mix full of intellectually important bleeps, bings! and scratches. But with some faux world music from Williasmburg and a little neo-Italo Disco (hello Simian Mobile Disco!) thrown in there. Uh, and Daft Punk and Radiohead too. 

2.20.08

Arthur Russell–Calling All Kids: This song is like if the producers of PBS’s Square One took drugs and hung out with Steve Reich (see below). Which, if you think about the early 80’s, is really not that improbable of a scenario.

Estro–Driven 

I Want I Want—Digitalism 

Every Day—AFX: Richard D. James channeling Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby.

Wait for the Summer—Yeasayer: I tried describing Yeasayer the other night and I ended up saying something along the lines of “It’s like when Eno and Byrne collaborated, but uh, less Eno and more lesbian.” That’s totally not the right way to describe them (that actually sounds kind of like Thievery Corporation, come to think of it), but I love this sorta World sound, as made by post-TV-on-the-Radio (yes I am told that is a genre now) Brooklynites.  

Sleep Deprivation—Simian Mobile Disco 

Neuschenee 78–Neu! : I am also a fan of Germans channeling world music in the 1970s.

Over the Ice—The Field  

Up the Ladder—Radiohead: Best track, in my opinion, off the second cd of the In-Rainbows package. “I’m a puhhh-ppet/you can almost see the string.” Oh Thom! You and your masochism!

Montreal—Autechre 

Musique—Daft Punk: I have a lot of fond memories from high school of driving around in my first boyfriend’s car listening to Daft Punk’s Alive during the spring of the first year of the 21st century. He drove a Volvo station wagon.  He also wore one of those backpacks that cross across your chest and fasten with velcro (does anyone remember those?). And once he wore man-capris (manpris?). I always thought he was a little gay for liking his Volvo and Daft Punk so much, not to mention wearing that backpack and those manpris, but I accredited it all to the fact that he is French. However, in my dating life post high school, I’ve been involved a lot of guys who looooove Daft Punk. Dudes who don’t wear man-pris. So, I guess I was wrong. I have come to realize it’s perfectly normal for straight guys to like Daft Punk, French or non-French. It still perplexes me a bit, but uh, Daft Punk is still awesome! Those backpacks, though, well, not so much. Ditto the man-pris.

My red hot car– Sqaurepusher

End of the World—The Shocking Pinks: Newish dream-pop, distributed in the US from our friends at DFA.

Blue Jeans 2.0—Ladytron: I also like when 21st Century Germans channel the Bangles as well.

Electric Counterpoint/Slow–Steve Reich                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Enjoy! And please let me know if you have any problems.