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MAY YOUR HAMMER BE MIGHTY

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Passing Gas



Senior year of high school was a great year. Less zits, more freedom, and amongst leaving my small hometown and going to Santa Barbara, I was introduced to a musician that changed the way I to listen to music. It was at an Us Versus Them art exhibition where I first heard The Gaslamp Killer. The art and all the clothes were pretty cool, I still have the Stüssy shirt I bought that night, but the part that will I will never forget is GLK’s set. The old Us Versus Them shop wasn’t the first place I had seen the curly haired nutcase DJ, I actually shared a burger with him about a half an hour earlier at In-N-Out right down the street. I mean, we weren’t exactly at the same table, but I did recognize him for his strange appearance. He looked calm, but like one of those calm people that has two faces, calm face and killer face.

Later that night I left 'Versus' with the aforementioned t-shirt that is now pretty holey and GLK’s I Spit on Your Grave CD. Initially, I thought it was complete shit and I didn’t listen to that CD until about a month or so later. Little did I know, that CD would turn into the my version of crack cocaine.

After taking a greater appreciation for b-sides and more jam sesh-esque type tracks, my brain was ready for something new. A month ago, I Spit on Your Grave stood on the pitcher’s mound and threw me the meatiest curve ball you’d ever seen and I whiffed. What happened next is comparable to the moment in They Live when the protagonist puts on the sunglasses and realizes everything is just NUTS. Completely underestimating and not comprehending what I heard the first time, the second listen hooked me. Beats, beats, samples and beats. That's pretty much all the CD was, but they were sick beats. Not like the shitty mainstream hip-hop that had been out, it was something new and dark, something crazy that no one I knew had heard.

CHEWCH


So GLK blew my mind in high school and suffice to say, he still does it today. I decided that the trip to Joshua tree with Buck, Rob, Deanna, a shit ton of beer, wine, and other alcohol was the perfect time to get lost to GLK’s latest album (at the time) All Killer. The day of climbing that I didn’t climb, but instead got really sober with the incredible amount of alcohol in my backpack, I killed a David Sedaris book and GLK killed me. After that experience and as far as I’m concerned, he has the musical taste, technical skill, and prowess that a DJ needs to break away from the herd. From Jefferson Airplane to sinister classical organ samples to crazy Middle Eastern hoopla, GLK can’t be defined.

In recent years, the rise of dubstep has played an interesting and absolutely positive role in the evolution of GLK’s style. While touring in Japan, he recorded Akuma No Chi Ga Odoru and in my opinion, his best mix to date. Later in Barcelona at his set at the Sonar Festival in 2009 (top video), GLK mixed a plethora of genres to create what apparently was a show that was so incredible, they forgot to record it for a podcast. Fortunately, Low End Theory has many of his mixes available as podcasts on their website.

Glk's eclectic style, not only demonstrated by his impressive turntablism, but also by his unique onstage presence makes GLK and his shows something you can't afford to pass up. With something new coming at his listeners all the time, his latest work (teaser below) titled Death Gate is an ominous album that all GLK fans can appreciate. If you are in the LA area, Low End Theory is THE place to catch the latest and the greatest artists on the rise. Don’t miss out while it’s still around.




If you're new to the mother fucking gaslamp killer, here's my top picks:

Akuma No Chi Ga Odoru click to listen, right click and save as to download


Gaslamp Killer & Lorn click to listen, right click and save as to download



Enjoy.

-gonz

ESCUCHALE



This isn't exactly a new song, but I was checking some notes I had taken on post-its and this was a video link I had saved. Awhile back in April I was able to catch Flying Lotus at Coachella and boy let me tell ya, it was an unforgettable show. I had previously heard of FlyLo and even had a few of his tracks, but nothing compared to the collection I have now.

Reading up on the guy I found that he is the nephew of Alice Coltrane, a famous jazz musician. FlyLo is also one of the founding fathers of a club in LA called Low End Theory. Some of my favorite musicians like The Gaslamp killer, Samiyam, Nosaj Thing, Daedelus, Shlohmo, and others often pay their dues and bring the house down for whoever cares to stop by for an incredible show. Attending a famous low end theory event has been on my to-do list for a long time and now I'm moving to top priority when I return to the states.


Back to FlyLo... He's been biannually releasing a new album beginning with 1983 in 2006 and more often remains out of sight, but not out of earshot. If you haven't heard his music yet, play the video above. If you watch adult swim, you're likely to have heard his talent in action as FlyLo is responsible for some of the music during these screens. I recommend you get a hold of both the Cosmogramma and Los Angeles albums first. After you decide you like him and his music reminds you of a retro futuristic scene, take a look at his recent work Kill Your Co-workers .

In addition to FlyLo's music is amazing videography (which can be seen above) and artwork. Theo Jemison's stuff which is the cover art for Cosmogramma captures the essence of what FlyLo seems to be trying to produce musically. They are both independent works, but complement each other as if they were made side by side. Watch the video below and listen to that album to understand what I'm talking about.



If you're still not interested in this guy, god save you and you're missing out. I'm looking forward to some incredible releases by FlyLo in 2011 and hoping he'll slay out in Coachella if he's back in the lineup. I'm starving.

PEACE

-gonz

ps. here are a few of my favs from each of the albums...

1983 1983

Los Angeles Golden Diva

Cosmogramma Dance of the Pseudo Nymph

BONUS

Robo Tussin

Monday, December 20, 2010

In Diana Jones



I'm obsessed with this song for more than one reason. First, Monster Rally is my new favorite group. Their textured sound takes you away to VHS land, somewhere between the late 80's and early 90's, icing the cake with mellow beats that'll make you want to hit up the ok chalet main lounge. The second reason is this video, it has nothing to do with the song and they don't seem to match at all, but they strangely complement one another very well. Anyways, these guys have some of their music available for free download here -> EP Download link



NEW MIX! its extra long


SANTA CLAUDE

+ more



I dont remember watching this on sesame street.


-gonz

Saturday, December 18, 2010

sebastian



Once in a while, you can't just help but get into deep contemplative moods. For me, it usually happens after midnight when I listen to a song like the one above. It is then, when things Ive been thinking about, but dont really have any place being pondered over during the day, finally come out of the recesses of my mind.

Sometimes pleasant and sometimes not, these contemplative thoughts can keep me up for hours until daybreak or wrap me in a warm blanket of comfort and let my conscious fade to my dreams. During these times of thought, I crave to see the stars. What a better backdrop or thing to look at than the infinite and unexplored frontier that lies only miles away?

Space is never given much thought during our day to day lives and it's a shame. We fight with one another over trivial things like land or money, material things that are often given value by the power of beliefs. It is understandable that when such an immense unknown is right at our doorstep, to think about what is out there feels intimidating, even scary. Yet, many people are doing incredible things to learn more about what is beyond, they are so curious and amazed. Many or most don't care at all. I'm not exactly doing my part to help either, but if I had the chance, I'd volunteer in a second to explore what's beyond our little blue planet. As long as I could remember, I've always had a dream to go to outer space. In reality, it's not as far fetched as it sounds. The first commercial Spaceport has already opened with tickets costing almost an arm and a leg, but who gives a shit? I'm not asking to drive a floating car, I'm asking to go to space.

People are on the verge of making something that was almost impossible to do a century ago, possible for anyone who has the money to pay for it. It's something that I may not have the money to do in my lifetime, but I'm hopeful that those after me who have a similar fascination with the final frontier will be able to do what I have always dreamt of doing.

-gonz