You might remember our friend Ben Aqua from the amazing Bollywood mix he dropped on us a few months ago. Well, he's back again and bringing the heat. This time sharing with us an exclusive demo from his alter-ego and synth assault project, MVSCLZ. This scorching homage to High-Energy, Italo Disco would make Sylvester swoon and even Lime blush. So hot!
Apparently we're not the only ones paying attention to Ben's awe inspiring work. His blog, AQUABOTIC was recently featured on director Spike Jonze's"We Love You So-Where The Wild Things Are" website in reference to it's influence on Jonze's film making process. When he's not posting on his blog, or making music, he's actively creating art in the multimedia conglomerate Totally Wreck Production Instute, as well as DJing in the interdimensional outer space outfit, MenRG. He just doesn't quit. Big props to Ben for all his good work. Expect this star to keep rising people. Enjoy this clip of MVSCLZperforming live on Austin Public Access via EIHITV.
Olivia Newton-John hasn't really meant much to me in the past. I never understood the fascination with her body of work. I sort of loathed "Grease" growing up and only recently was able to appreciate the over-the-top kitsch of "Xanadu". Other than her 80's aerobic disco hit, "Physical", I assumed her music catalog was total rubbish. But for some reason her likeness and sound is always close to me, in a sort of 6 degrees of separation kind of way. I have my neighborhood gay karaoke bar to thank for most of it, but at home I'm consistently reminded of her. The image you see above is actually hanging in my living room. A few years ago I found an LP at a thrift store that randomly had 3 fold-out original posters of Olivia in the case. I had just moved into a new place and needed stuff to hang on the walls, so making a collage with this image seemed like a no-brainer. I felt strange creating an homage to an artist I didn't really appreciate, but it was really just kitsch for kitsch sake. So, Olivia's been on my wall looking over me like a catholic Jesus painting for years now, going relatively unnoticed and collecting dust. Little did I know that this image was going to mean something to me later in a totally different light.
A few months ago one of my favorite video blogs, Videothunder, turned me onto this amazing film called "The Beaver Trilogy". My words can't adequately describe how beautiful and bizarre this film is. The story starts out like a documentary as a TV cameraman comes across a lonely, attention starved local yokel (Groovin' Gary) with a strong desire to share his Olivia Newton-John impression with the world. As you can imagine, the movie goes downhill from almost the very start. What really makes this interesting is the unflinching eye of the camera as the absurdity of this story unfolds. This movie is essentially 3 different takes on the same story. The second and third installment of this film feature Sean Penn and Crispin Glover reprising the role of "Groovin' Gary" as they impersonate the impersonator's impression of Olivia. Convoluted enough for you? These performances have to be seen if you're a fan of either actor, especially Crispin Glover's portrayal. Probably my favorite piece he's ever done. I don't know, there's something about this repetition of theme, a story within a story, that really speaks to me. I really find it strange that I found a song I like from Olivia Newton-John because of a horrendous impression of an impersonator. I haven't been able to get this song out of my head. My brain keeps bouncing back and forth between the different takes on this beautiful song. So now when I listen to Olivia, I think of this movie, these dudes, and the picture on my wall. Sort of a Holy Trinity if you will. I'm not one to repeat songs much in a playlist, but this one has been going back to back for a while now. I can't get enough of this track
I highly recommend grabbing "The Beaver Trilogy", especially if you like movies that are quintessentially kitsch. The movie can be found here in .rar rapidshare form. I'll leave you with a highlight from Crispin's performance which will hopefully entice you to investigate further.
Spectral Empire - Black Shark is now available for purchase on Thisisnotanexit Records. Our friends at 20JFG were kind enough to introduce me to this group and requested my video treatment for the single. After hearing this gorgeously dark, brooding instrumental piece I was immediately hooked. The song really has a wonderful cinematic feel to it, which fit easily with the video narrative. I was also aided with an intense storyline that the always amazing writers at 20JFG came up with to compliment this release. All I can say is, Spectral Empire was very specific with the details pertaining to the song. I hope my video does this story justice. Regardless, it was a blast to make. Please read the comment section for the backstory to this video. My work is intended to be the prequel to this saga. I'll leave you with this wicked tune. Enjoy the feature kids!
I recently had the pleasure of experiencing one of the best live shows I've seen in a long, long time. You might remember we posted about //TENSE// last year during our Halloween freakout period. I've been dying to see this guy in the flesh ever since and last weekend it finally happened. I'm really feeling this guy, his passion, his sound, so much so I felt compelled to throw together a little tribute video for his single, "Sin Realite". I'm so stoked for this video, shots were taken from the live performance and video feedback loops from my TV using the iPhone. Love bringing the high-tech to lo-tech approach. This video is a definite homage to classic EBM videos from Front 242, Klinik, and Cabaret Voltaire. My video, like the song, strives to honor this tradition by following in the aesthetic.
I asked //TENSE// to share some insight about his sound. His words:
//TENSE// is a vehicle created simply to voice my frustrations. My frustration with myself, feelings of inadequecy and frustration with the world. It's simply a platform to express my desires that go unspoken throughout my day to day life. At this point my goal is to have an actual lp out. I want something that can be added to the canon of great music that influenced me and shaped who I've become. Music has been the love of my life since I was old enough to press play on a recorder or flip an lp. My fantasy is to put out a 12" single on WaxTrax! Records. So I like to imagine that they still exist and will be calling me at any moment begging //TENSE// to give them some master tapes! Haha.
"Sin Realite"....is about my utter lack of emotion from day to day. We go to work every day, working for someone else, usually unhappy and completely unfulfilled. I've learned to just repress my anger and try to smile and go with the flow....all the while pictures of punching people in the face float through my head....Money and greed also play a role in what I do.
This project is NOT about any sort of financial gain, I truly just love doing what I do. If this ever feels like work then it's done. It's a shame to see music treated like a business by so many. Ugh.
I never learned to play an instrument and can't write music, so if I should die and someone had to read my notes for songs they'd be in trouble! //TENSE// IS me. Mariana (MKF, Medio Mutante) was definitely a HUGE influence on everything so far and continues to be awesome during the live shows. Rich (Twisted Wires, Indian Jewelry) was also an integral part in the scheme. Lending me equipment and teaching me new tricks!
I think this sums it up perfectly. If ever an artist captured the heart of EBM, it'd be //TENSE//. I'm so proud of these Houston people too. In just one post I get to talk about Medio Mutante, Indian Jewelry, Twisted Wires, and //TENSE//. I'm telling you now, Texas is coming hard. Catch up if you've been missing out. There's good music here.
This single is from the MEMORY album on Desire Records. Enjoy the darkness kiddies
Earlier this month Discodust posted three "diva" edits from Mindless Boogie up and coming edit-ors Villa. A great trio of edits of Tina Turner, Anita Meyer and my favorite of the three of course, a nearly nine minute filtered out rework of the ultimate gap toothed superstar, Agnetha Fältskog of ABBA. Umm... love her. Since then I've been heavily revisiting that edit, the original track and the album it all came from, also entitled Wrap Your Arms Around Me. That record being Agnetha's her first solo outing after ABBA's unfortunate demise. Wah.
Enjoy the super-schmaltz. Cuz no one can do it like a Swede.
and since I like you guys so much, another cut from that album, an AM gold, super hazy disco ballad that I just adore. That bassline equals heaven for me.
No not that one. Just a little Rational Youth to start off your week right and a tiny reminder of all the escapism and adventure that lies just behind the eyes of another.
I started a series on my last pass through, giving a bit of promise for more summer love to come, then life happened again and I disappeared. I think of ARAWA almost daily, thinking of returning to find it overgrown with moss and ivy, in a hidden corner of some secret garden. Waiting in silence for Tommy and I to return and turn these lights back on.
Well hi. Missed you guys.
This song has been bouncing around my head and heart all season, pianos sustaining toward the horizon, riding atop a glorious boogie funk bassline, bits of synth sprinkled behind, falling and skipping the surface like stones... ahhh. Summer.
Time to share a few recent youtube favorites in what I hope will become an ongoing element to this lovely place. Too many good videos out there not to share. Enjoy
I've been cleaning out the ol' record bin recently, searching for summer music with the thought that a good playlist should be energetic, but not too uptempo that you loose steam dancing in summer's heat. Considering heatstroke and fatigue are usually a bad look, I felt compelled to cool things off with a refreshing selection of blissfully sluggish, off-disco gems. Inspiration came from many places, but special thanks should go to The Growning Bin for turning me onto Fata Morgana, which has become a new summer standard, and to Jaz for consistently supplying the choicest edits. Oh, I guess while I'm giving shout outs, this also goes out to Mr Donson, fellow arawainian, who's having a summer to remember!!! Let the sun shine in Sean!!!
