Wednesday 23 December 2009

Plaza Plus Festival,Sonic Acts Festival,5 days off,Imagine Fim Festival,Art Amsterdam,Sail 2010,Amsterdam Cello Biennial,Concert Update

Hello everyone , hope you all had a great end of 2009 and wishes of a 2010 full of health and peace .

First 2010 post will focus mainly in this year upcoming events , if you ever decide to visit holland there are a lot of great events for all tastes.


PLAZAPLUS FESTIVAL
14.15.16 jan. 2010 Plaza Futura, Eindhoven
Explorations in media-art and live performance.

Live cinema, music, audiovisual performance, screenings, installations, artist talks, dance performances, lectures and more. Plazaplus is an international art festival that focusses on emerging and established artists, musicians and filmmakers. Presenting new collaborations, special projects and performances of all kinds, Plazaplus is an event that you will have to experience live!

Haushka’s Ghost Piano show in collaboration with filmmaker Jeff Desom, is a unique commisioned project by Plazaplus. Artist in Focus of this second PLAZAPLUS edition is Sophie Clements. Sophie will show her mesmerising awarded piece ‘Evensong’ and will perform live with her band. Italian artist Quayala presents STRATA2, a cinematic and surreal installation work . Natures is an audiovisual performance that explored the relation between nature and technology, performed by Quayola with Mira Calix and Oliver Coates. Recoil performs an interactive dance piece with motion-detection technology and stunning organic movements. Other curiosities such as Francien van Everdingen, Ilan Katin, Raquel Meyers& Goto80 and Culture TV are not to be missed either. Hans Beekmans will be sharing his thoughts about the history of Live Cinema, and a special screening-programme. The best of Optofonica’s live cinema is to be experienced every day in a one hour screening. Last but not least, there will be live music in the cafe every night, and the Sjansmachine will be able to let you make new friends for life!

This event is curated by Gieske Bienert & Wiepko Oosterhuis & guest-curator Olga Mink.


Festival: 25 - 28 February 2010
Exhibition: 25 February - 1 May 2010
Location: Paradiso, de Balie, NIMk, STEIM, Amsterdam

The thirteenth Sonic Acts Festival in Amsterdam is entirely dedicated to the exploration of space in performative and audiovisual art, film, music and architecture. Sonic Acts XIII - The Poetics of Space examines the importance of physical space in times of far-reaching technological developments, and the physical and psychological impact of spatial designs.

Researching spatiality in the arts forms the core of the festival. How is space defined by a work of art? What does a viewer or listener experience? How do technological artworks deal with the visual, auditory and psychological aspects of spatiality? How has the relationship between technology, space and architecture developed over the past few centuries? How have technological developments influenced our perception and representation of space, and how do we relate to the space that surrounds us?

The programme comprises an overview of recent works and experiments - spatial audio compositions and audiovisual installations - and includes relevant historical examples and utopian ideals and dreams of the 20th century.

Concerts / Performances / Films
Jürgen Reble & Thomas Köner, Haswell & Hecker, Fred Worden, Paul Sharits, Anthony McCall, Takashi Ito, Yann Beauvais, Bruce McClure, Optical Machines, Annea Lockwood, Jacob Kirkegaard, Barry Truax, BJ Nilsen, Eric La Casa, Gilles Aubry, Hildegard Westerkamp, a tribute to Maryanne Amacher, TeZ, Francisco López, Evelina Domnitch & Dmitry Gelfland, Paul Prudence, Hans W. Koch and Yutaka Makino.



5 days off started in 2001 as a spin-off of the 10 days off festival in Ghent, Belgium and was the first multiple day indoor dance event in Holland. The last few years the festival offered a more and more various line-up, and was hereby able to show a high quality overview of the international electronic music of these days. By doing this, 5 days off build a strong reputation for itself, in Holland, but also beyond the borders. Besides music, there's an increasing amount of attention for media art in the last couple of years. 5 days off grew from being a small festival in the Amsterdam Melkweg (aka Milkyway) to a genuine cityfestival which nowadays includes locations such as Melkweg, Paradiso and the Netherlands Media Art Institute (NIMk).

Confirmed :
Boemklatsch – Dekmantel: 3 Year Anniversary – Dixon – Dj Kutz – Floating Points – Gomes - Groove Armada – Hot Chip - Joker - Paul Kalkbrenner – Minilogue - Miss Kittin (République) – Nosaj Thing - Oi! – Pantha du Prince - Promo (live) & guests – Redshape - Rusko - The Bloody Beetroots (live) - Vitalic (dj-set)


Imagine

From April 16 to 25, the festival will see its 25th edition. An anniversary therefore, but that is not the reason we gave the AFFF a new label. So why is there a new name?

* Because the term 'fantastic' is too often confused with the more limited term 'fantasy'.
* Because we think that IMAGINE: not only sounds better, but also implies an invitation to the audience: 'Just imagine that...'
* But above all, because IMAGINE: explicitly emphasizes the adventurous, free-thinking direction of the festival, much more so than the old name.

The genres in which the festival traditionally specializes, fantasy, horror and science-fiction, lost their strict definitions a long time ago. More and more it's the margins of the film industry, where creators allow themselves larger amounts of artistic freedom, that the festival picks its selections from. Films that don't try to cater to a specific target audience by colouring neatly within the lines of 'their genre', but present themselves to the viewer on their own terms. Films that have one question to their viewers in common: 'Just imagine that...' And then they go on to tell their own story their own way, regardless of the genre or mixture of genres.



The 26th edition of Art Amsterdam will be held in the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam from 26 to 30 May 2010. Art Amsterdam is the oldest and largest exhibition of contemporary and modern art in the Netherlands. Over 130 leading galleries from the Netherlands, Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia will be present. The exhibits range from photographs, paintings and video art to sculptures, drawings and installations.



The 8th edition of SAIL 2010 will take place from 19 to 23 August 2010. For five days long, the Amsterdam IJ harbour will serve as the backdrop for a festive programme full of music, culture and nautical riches. Preparations are in full swing and the event promises once again to be an unparalled nautical spectacle which includes:

SAIL Amsterdam is the largest event in the Netherlands which is free to the public. In 2005 the event drew 1.8 million visitors, who gave SAIL Amsterdam 2005 high marks. SAIL Amsterdam 2010 will take place from Thursday 19 August to Monday 23 August 2010 on and around the IJ river.



SAIL's main attraction will be the impressive fleet of Tall Ships, sailing heritage craft, modern ships, naval ships and replicas. In addition to this, every day there will be a varying programme of all kinds of cultural and sports activities. The theme of SAIL 2010 is "a nautical encounter between the past, present and future".

The idea behind SAIL Amsterdam originated during preparations for the celebration of Amsterdam's 700 years of existence in 1975. After the huge success of SAIL Amsterdam 700, organisers decided to hold another SAIL Amsterdam in 1980. In order to effectively manage the organisation, the permanent SAIL Amsterdam Foundation (SSA) was established in 1977. Since then, the SSA has successfully organised SAIL Amsterdam in 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 and is now focussing on the 8th edition of the event.



Third Amsterdam Cello Biennal
5 - 13 November 2010 , Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ

After two succesfull editions in 2006 and 2008 - with 14000 and 20000 visitors - we are looking forward to the third Amsterdam Cello Biennial.

The preparations for the 2010 edition are of course already in full swing. Bach & Breakfast will remain the core of the programming, as well as the Masterclasses and the Conversations with Anner Bijlsma.
Anyone who witnessed 140 young and very young cellists occupying the stage during the second Biennal, forming the Mega Children's Cello Orchestra, will understand immediately that young musicians will again be a main focus of the festival in 2010.

And what will be new and different is the special focus on cello ensembles and the connection between the cello and the visual arts. to wet your appetite for november 2010.

Concert Update

Melkweg Amsterdam

15/01 Ltj Bukem + Fabio & Grooverider
22/01 Modeselektor
28/01 Gui Borato
30/01 Joan as Policewoman
27/02 Jaga Jazzist
03 - 07/03 5 daysoff
15/03 Hadouken
03/04 Zita Zwoon
07/04 Autchere [Live]
18/05 Broken Social Scene

Paradiso Amsterdam

21/01 Aux Raus
26/01 Sunn o)))
06/02 Air + George Pringle
17/02 Delphic
20/02 La Roux [sold out]
22/02 Florence and the Machine [sold out]
23/02 Beach House
02/03 Hockey
03-07/03 5 Days Off
17/03 Blood Red Shoes
20/03 Yeasayer
26/03 Phoenix + Two Door Cinema Club [ Sold Out]
31/03 Magnetic Fields
05/04 Balmorhea
10/04 65days of Static
23-24/04 London Calling
28/04 Lou Rhodes
08/05 Pavement
13/05 Balck Rebel Motocicle Club
19/05 Gotan Project

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Sunday 13 December 2009

Best 2009 Albums

Ive received a email from blogger in behave of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) , they say that this post contains illegal material , so i gently reply asking what was here illegal , so seams like no one really cares , so im reposting my 2009 fav albums.


Vladislav Delay
"Tummaa" - Leaf
Mp3 | Vladislav Delay - Tummaa

My heart almost stopped when i heard that Valdislav Delay new album was out , i was so involved with his last two albums that naturally the expectations were very high.
I cant say that im disappointed with the record , its just that with "Tummaa" Vladislav turn into a more cooperative experience than previous works , the astral random blurs of intensity that were shattered all over "Whistleblower" were a bit gone .
Its a less sonic adventure , more instrument based creation , maybe less abstract but more complex , perhaps a melting point with a more futuristic approach with his jazz drumming background.


Hildur Gudnadottir
" Without Sinking " - Touch
Mp3 | Hildur Gudnadottir - Ascent

Hildur debut on touch records appeared quite early in the year and was one of the first that i knew would be on this list.
" Without Sinking " its a remarkable piece of instrumental music , what i like about it is the intensity that Hildur uses on the her cello , its a extraordinary journey full of soundscapes that describes the many hours Hildur spend cruising around the globe staring at the passing clouds.


Ben Frost
"By The Throat" - Bedroom Community
Mp3 | Ben Frost - Killshot

Another of my mega favorites , as soon as got my and on Ben Frost new album a ritual took place , lights off , headphones on , light a cigarette and may the force be with me . What did i expected ? naturally something on the lines of Theory of Machines , the first track bring back those happy sound memories , 10 sharp raiser blade slowly open the chest and my soul is free , like a hurricane flying at the speed of light , a thousand waves rapping thru the defensive shields of atlantis , what i love most about Ben's music is intensity and unpredictability full of high and low's , or you could be on the bottom of the ocean and jumped on a jet stream and in 38.5 seconds arriving at the Moon.



Soap & Skin
" Lovetune For Vacuum " Pias
Mp3 | Soap&Skin - Cynthia

The first time i heard Eighteen-year old Austrian Anja Plaschg didn't really caught my ear , was on a second accidental listening when "Cynthia" appeared on one of my playlists that Soap & Skin debut album became one instant favorite , its a dark , morbid and gothic record , the kind that would send someone to be burn alive for witchcraft , the piano and her voice combines for a explosive mixture.


The Bloody Beetroots
"Romborama" - Dim Mac
Mp3 | The Bloody Beetroots - Romborama (feat. All Leather)

The biggest bad ass dj duo in z planet , The Bloody Beetroots need no introduction but just for those who don't know them , they are Italian Bob Rifo and DJ Tommy Tea , together they turn the world up side down with this electro bang noise.
The mega highly anticipated record had one problem attach to it , were the mixes they made for other artists better than their originals ? The are equally awesome and may the noise be with them for a long time.


Danny Norbury
" Light in August " - Lacies
Mp3 | Danny Norbury - Light in August

Half joking half serious sometimes i say that if the men's body extension is the gun the women is the cello. I've been following as much as possible this apparent alternative ladies with cello movement , its all started with Julia Kent , Zoe Keating , Bela Emerson and Hildur Gudnadottir they all play in a very distinct way and when i heard Danny's cello i was absolute dazzled , it sounded a lot like Julia Kent sort of Post-Classic with is simplicity and harmonies , just if like you could combine Spring and Autumn in a pallet of sounds , the Simplicity and intensity of the cello with almost dreamy like piano splashes , Its just beautiful , there's no need to try to explain it , just listen and enjoy it


Mokira
"Persona" - Type
Mp3 | Mokira - valla torg kraut

There was a huge buzz surrounding Andreas Tilliander album , if u could combine the likes of Vladislav Delay and Tim Hecker in a single album it would sound exactly like this. When you add all this elements with some brilliant looped dubs rambling bass into the equation a dazzling album is born.



Pan American
"White Bird" - Kranky
Mp3 | Pan American - both literally and figuratively

Pan American is Labradford guitarist Mark Nelson solo new album.
I think what attracts me to ambient music is that it gives me time to think about what im listening to , like a very imaginary encounter with the sounds that carry a very personal message , i get very close to these records , i love to listen to them when im on the train , it gives a idea of abstract time travel , a bit like Spielberg's close encounters.


Heather Woods Broderick
"From The Ground" - Preservation
Mp3 | Heather Woods Broderick - Left

I was completely by surprise with this record , was by pure accident that i heard it for the first time , when i look at the title i thought that was a collaboration between peter broderick and other musicians , actually turn out to be his sister debut. when i looked up on youtube and heard the first cords of wounded bird , it sounded just like Leonard Cohen soul , even more surprised after listening to the whole record , folk , drones and beautiful tones of cellos and piano , really magical , at same point ad this idea of something that could sound like the merge of New Orleans Belong and Swedish Ane Brun .


Vitalic
"Flashmob" - Different
Mp3 | Vitalic - Poison Lips

Vitalic triumphant return is a tribute to his fans that make the clubs vibrate every time he is in town.
There's not a lot to say , he has a formula that a lot of copy cat dj's and producers try to use but there is only one vitalic , this record was made for is fans and to make sure that we dance our shoes off.

Other 2009 listings

Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz [Polydor]
Sonic Youth - The Eternal [Matador]
Mountains - Choral [Thrill Jockey]
Yuksek - Away from the sea [Barclay]
Moderat - Moderat [Bpitch]
Le Lendemain - Fires [Home Normal]
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career [4AD]
Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care [Domino]
Pixeltan - Yamarena [DFA]
Radian - Chimeric [Thrill Jockey]
Telefon Tel Aviv - Immolate Yourself [Bpitch]
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [Warp]
Das Bierbeben - Das Bierbeben [Shitkatapult]
Vive la fete - Disque d'Or [Firme De Disque]
Tim Hecker - An Imaginary Country [Kranly]
Barzin - Notes To An Absent Lover [Monotreme]
Atlas Sound - Logos [4AD]
Pj Harvey and John Parish - A Woman A Man Walked By [Island]
Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs [Matador]
The Slew - 100% [Ninja Tune]
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic [Warner Bros]
Fink - Sort Of Revolution [Ninja Tune]
Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg [Modular]

biggest diarrhea of 2009
The Killers - Are we human, or are we dancer? , gimme a break , get a live dudes

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Wednesday 9 December 2009

mY Indie Soul,Portishead,Thank You Too,These New Puritans,Blu in Berlin,Ascii Disko,Shotgun Stories,The Interpretation, Analogue Glove,The Balance


mY Indie Soul # 31

Its been some time since ive recorded a indie soul , yesterday i received news from a old friend that i haven't heard or seen in 7 or 8 years , that made me very happy , also my vinyl collection that i left behind when i moved to Scotland is safe , how about that for a reason for a new indie soul.

Listen and Download mY Indie Soul # 31

Toro y Moi - Talamak
The Slew - Its All Over
The Shoes Feat. Primary 1 - People Movin [ Toma Remix ]
Daedelus - Fair Weather Friends [ Death Set Remix ]
Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya - Fuck Friend [ Cansei de Ser Sexy Remix ]
BotOx - Rue de lAresnal [ Yuksek Remix ]
Lost Valentinos - Midnights [ Emperor Machine mix ]
Midnight Juggernauts - Into the galaxy [ Chateau Marmont remix ]
We Have Band - Honey Trap [ Le Matos Remix ]
Teenage Bad Girl - Break out the wheel
The Bloody Beetroots - Mystery Meat [ The Bloody Beetroots remix ]
Vitalic - Second Lives



Portishead have released a brand new track - 'Chase the Tear' for Amnesty International.

It's now available as an exclusive download single from 7 digital with all earnings going towards Amnesty's human rights work.

Buy it Here to support Amnesty

Watch | Portishead - Chase the Tear




A very cool and original way to say Thank You to your friends , please visit them to view all cards . Thank You Too



Angular Records / Domino Records are proud to present the new video for These New Puritans 'We Want War', seven and half minutes of serene and poignant cinematography influenced by ballistics footage. Directed by Daniel Askill

Watch | These New Puritans - We Want War



This video from blu in Berlin must have passed unseen , well here he is now , a big wall painting time lapse 3 days work.

Watch | Blu in Berlin



Long term favorite Daniel Holc aka Ascii Disko unveiled is new track and video from is upcoming new album due to release in 2010.
One of the best videos i've seen this year , unusual , radical and not following the industry patterns , its really good to see him back.
Directed by David Strindberg & Johan Bring.

Watch | Ascii Disko - Jawbreaker



Debut film for Director Jeff Nichols, with soundtrack by Ben Nichols (Lucero), Shotgun Stories tracks a feud that erupts between two sets of half brothers following the death of their father.

Watch | Shotgun Stories



A work of art that explores the relationship between nature, motion and sound, The Interpretation takes us on a languid journey through a slowly flourishing forest. Hinting at vague memories of microbiology and rotating through a cool organic spectrum of greens, blues, browns, blacks and whites; this motion-based work will entrance its viewer as the forest evolves. The Interpretation is set to a minimal score filled with authentic sounds of nature, complimenting the environmental essence of the visuals. Visuals by Michael Paul Young.

Watch | The Interpretation



This interactive sound installation deals with exploring the physical connection between people and technology. A tangible user interface, taking the form of a glove is worn by the participant as they are invited to interact with an analogue tape surface. As the glove comes in contact with the tape, sound is generated and can be manipulated via touch and movement. This piece intends to explore the somewhat obsolete medium of tape through a playful and sonically interesting experience, appealing to a wide audience. the pre-recorded sound on the tape is a random collage of compiled material including a range of musical styles & found recordings.
This piece is informed by works such as Nam June Paik’s “Random Access Music” and Stockhausen’s Tape experimentations as well as the notion of using analogue tape as an instrument.

Watch | Analogue Tape Glove v1



The balance , is the work of the Lithuanian artist Rimantas Lukavicius , it show us the visualization of two colliding sound waves

Watch | The Balance

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Tuesday 8 December 2009

Human Rights Day 10 December 2009 , Bloggers Unite for Human Rights



" Heart that doesn't see doesn't get hurt "

Everyday when im going to work im tuned on the bbc worldwide , everyday i hear really horrendous news about atrocities that are committed on the world against innocent people , mass murders , bombs killing thousands of innocent people , child abuse , domestic violence , its outrageous , sometimes i have to shut it off , the sheer of violence and magnitude of the crimes that are perpetrated are just overwhelming.

The economic crash , the Mexican flew and the whole climate change has somehow let this violence epidemic pass unseen .

The question is why ? How can this thinks still happening ? is our conscience so used to this kind of news that we don't react anymore , or just the fact that is to the others that is happening.

There is no easy way of talking about this , i really fell sorry for this people , to live in a hell situation like that , maybe the really only way is to keep talking about this things to create awareness and hope things get better somehow.

I would like to send a message of hope to all human beings that have been stripped of their basic rights , to live in peace and to be able to choose and believe in whatever they want without being persecuted by people with no moral or conscience.

We are all stuck in the same planet and their is just one credit , why do we have to make so difficult ?

Tiago Martins
Bloggers Unite for Human Rights

Sunday 6 December 2009

Top 20 Albums and Tracks 2008

Before posting 2009 selections , a review of 2008 fav albums and tracks.


Aidan Baker & Tim Hecker
" Fantasma Parastasie " - Alien8

Mp3 | Aidan Baker & Tim Hecker - hymn to the idea of night


Atlas Sound
" Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See ... " - Kranky

Mp3 | Atlas Sound - River Card


Beach House
" Devotion " - Carpark

Mp3 | Beach House - Some Things Last a Long Time


Cloudland Canyon
" Lie in Light " - Kranky

Mp3 | Cloudland Canyon - You & I


Deerhunter
" Microcastle " - Kranky

Mp3 | Deerhunter - Agoraphobia


Duchess Says
" Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs " - Alien8

Mp3 | Duchess Says - La friche


Fennesz
" Black Sea " - Touch

Mp3 | Fennesz - Saffron Revolution


Flying Lotus
" Los Angeles " - Warp

Mp3 | Flying Lotus - Parisian Goldfish


Kangding Ray
" Automne Fold " - Raster-Noton

Mp3 | Kangding Ray - A Protest Song


Kap Bambino
" zero life night vision " - Alt+Delee

Mp3 | Kap Bambino - Night Vision Ocean


M83
" Saturdays=Youth " - Mute

Mp3 | M83 - You, Appearing


MIT
" Coda " - Haute Areal

Mp3 | Mit - Gebaut


Munk
" Cloudbuster " - Gomma

Mp3 | Munk - Psychomagic


Our Sleepless Forest
" Our Sleepless Forest " - Resonant

Mp3 | Our Sleepless Forest - White Bird


Padded Cell
" Night Must Fall " - Dc Recordings

Mp3 | Padded Cell - Fare Beneath London


Arnaud Rebotini
" Music Components " - Citizen

Mp3 | Rebotini- the swamp waltz


Remote
" Dark Enough " - Kill the Dj

Mp3 | Remote - Veron


These New Puritans
" Beat Pyramid " - Domino

Mp3 | These New Puritans - Numerology aka Numbers


Tindersticks
" The Hungry Saw " - Beggars

Mp3 | Tindersticks - The Other Side Of The World


Woolfy VS Projections
" The Astral Projections Of Twilight " - Permanent Vacation

Mp3 | Woolfy VS Projections - The Chase

Download Full best of 2008 Part 1 , Part 2

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