tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91155710772381611122024-03-13T16:42:00.367+00:00Stuff From The IslandA place for me to talk about stuff I'm enjoying.MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-87064931013039614542013-04-02T00:18:00.001+01:002013-04-02T00:18:09.100+01:00Rise of the Zombies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bHkLxOj8rtoVWCDhYJMoP_QyAb77K5RrzRFaxaH-Tw3elHq5oy7iclypmcNJmuttUmJqDEPn4QoESZTah1M2KwIBN7WRPrnV-ipaOsh4099jbUfJY_nxl6KWXzXaVs2l7pVjU88MjEGj/s1600/Flatbush+Zombies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bHkLxOj8rtoVWCDhYJMoP_QyAb77K5RrzRFaxaH-Tw3elHq5oy7iclypmcNJmuttUmJqDEPn4QoESZTah1M2KwIBN7WRPrnV-ipaOsh4099jbUfJY_nxl6KWXzXaVs2l7pVjU88MjEGj/s400/Flatbush+Zombies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridiculously brilliant picture taken from http://www.modernmidiclassics.com/flatbush-zombies.html via Google Images</td></tr>
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Just over a week ago I caught a Nardwuar interview with Flatbush Zombies (if you aren't familiar with Nardwuar the Human Serviette check him, his interviews are usually bob on), they piqued my interest so I went to see what they're all about. I am extremely glad that I did.<div>
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Hailing from the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, New York, Flatbush Zombies are made up of L.S. Darko, Juice, and Erick Arc Elliott. So far they have only put out a mix-tape called D.R.U.G.S. which can be downloaded for free at the other end of the following link:-</div>
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http://www.datpiff.com/Flatbush-Zombies-DRUGS-mixtape.377648.html</div>
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If I haven't lost you to the lure of free music or if you need a little more convincing other than the picture up top, let me explain why you and your stereo should check this shit out.</div>
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After I'd caught the Nardwuar interview I did the standard YouTube check to see what kind of stuff they put out. The first thing I saw was this video...</div>
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That's some nasty music right there, and I'm always on board with that. The production from Erick Arc Elliott is on point and the hook is catchy as hell and will burrow into your head and stay there for days. The thing I dig most about this though is the mental vibe they give off, they have a scary way about them but in quite a fun way, kinda like Sticky Fingaz but if he was on a bouncy castle (yeah I wrote that)!</div>
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That track was enough to convince me to download D.R.U.G.S. so I settled down to listen to it, I have barely stopped since. As is par for the course during my ramblings, I'll talk a little about some of the tracks that I have been enjoying the most and come up with more ridiculous ways of describing it all.</div>
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The opening track, rather cleverly named 'Intro', sets the left-field tone of everything perfectly. A theremin kicks in shortly after a beating heart and we are treated to Elias Koteas' "Have you ever noticed" speech from The Prophecy,if you start your mixtape with an Elias Koteas speech you've won me over for good. This gives way to a haunting, horror-core type beat for Juice and Darko to go over which they do with with great aplomb. Darko absolutely steals this track though, his flow is absolutely ridiculous. Here are the lyrics but you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not listening to his delivery of them.</div>
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In the land beyond living, all things are possible</div>
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It's insane to think this really all started from a molecule</div>
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Now I'm fucking unstoppable</div>
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My past it was hard to do, now my future's remarkable<br style="background-color: #161616;" />Fuck fame n*gga, can't you see the bigger picture?</div>
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Sold your soul to the devil well at least you got three wishes</div>
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Young, witty, pompous, arrogant, malicious</div>
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Blowing kisses to the devil as I form a ladies vivid</div>
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Screen motion picture shit</div>
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While, I'm standing idle, fuck a title</div>
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Rather American Psycho than American Idol</div>
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Chop a clip, reload the clip, barrel hits</div>
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Like a vinyl the universe is my shit</div>
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Knew it since I was a zygote</div>
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This shit I'm spitting got your head spinning like an exorcism</div>
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When I was young I fought authority</div>
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And reject religion, learned to see from every angle</div>
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Never regret decisions, at times I feel like fuck religion</div>
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Because religion is division.</div>
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On 'Mary, Nothing Above Thee' the trio have crafted their ode to weed. Juice again kicks things off and is channeling a little Bone Thugs in his rap (I love that the Bone Thugs style is coming back a little now) and his voice sits perfectly over the laid back, drifty beats again provided by Arc. I have to give a little mention to the following Darko line too because I bloody love it, it's not particularly clever or deep but it's one of my favourites on the whole mix.</div>
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Well I'll be damned, I'll be damned, Aaliyah in her last movie.</div>
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'JupiterSound' featuring Kilo Kush is probably my favourite track on the mixtape probably because they're on that Bone Thugs N Harmony again. This track is tremendous, from the aforementioned Bone flow to Kilo's stunning voice on the hook, via a beat that sounds like it's underwater. Everyone involved is just bringing their best on this one, can't recommend this song enough.</div>
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On 'YBA' all three members pick up the mic (Arc doesn't get many verses on here but he holds his own when he gets from behind the boards), to be honest the music is fairly standard on this one but I think that helps the track as it puts more focus on what these guys are capable of on the mic. This track as a whole is probably the most accessible on here and could serve as a good intro to folk that might not necessarily listen to this type of thing on the regular. <br style="background-color: #161616;" /></div>
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Over the course of D.R.U.G.S. and as the name suggests, you'll be treated to more odes to Weed or LSD but it would be unfair to write these guys off as being a bunch of weed rappers. It's clearly a massive part of who they are but it's not right to focus on that aspect. In way it's like how the Das Racist shit was (a group I think give a similar vibe to FZ), Das Racist were dope but everyone seemed to focus on the ethnicity like that was their appeal! They were much more than their ethnicity, sure it's a big part of who they are but it's not what you should be focusing on, fact is they made great Hip Hop. Flatbush Zombies make great Hip Hop, I don't do drugs and this music doesn't make me want to. This mixtape ain't about drugs to me, it's about a group of people from New York who happen to do that stuff making damn good music. </div>
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Their is plenty more for you to discover on here, even some Houston style chopped and screwed tracks, and I would definitely advise you to follow the link up there and enjoy this for free. Free music without you having to be a pirate is always a good option!</div>
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Here is another song by Flatbush Zombies for you to enjoy and I'll also post the Nardwuar interview in case you were curious about that too. Go check it all and hopefully get into it.</div>
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Thanks for reading</div>
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-4455155917990327712013-03-30T12:20:00.000+00:002013-03-30T12:23:26.772+00:00Another Track of The MomentLife has unfortunately been a little shit lately and has done it's best to get in the way of things so I'm going to throw this up to start getting things going again, there are a few in progress blogs that'll be up soon but to tide things over, here is a a track that's I've rediscovered recently. Wrap your ears around this bad boy, it's been the track of my last couple of summers and given that the sun has decided to come and melt this snow away finally, it may just be time to get back on this one.<br />
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Seek it out if you enjoy it.<br />
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Mechagodzeala<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bWcwU-SgIKPQLRy3wjYKV9Nf_EoLdXjFET0LpHzvmnSuGBhcjw75lgYWXe4Qhz8ITviTdS_zHhaHN4iAfFwQ-62N6iYXmXxji9xxgtt9sz4F-PYYGrK47Xg1Gt_C62twA6XV1_hSJQHt/s1600/Mechagodzeala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bWcwU-SgIKPQLRy3wjYKV9Nf_EoLdXjFET0LpHzvmnSuGBhcjw75lgYWXe4Qhz8ITviTdS_zHhaHN4iAfFwQ-62N6iYXmXxji9xxgtt9sz4F-PYYGrK47Xg1Gt_C62twA6XV1_hSJQHt/s200/Mechagodzeala.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-78912050023485489842013-02-12T23:33:00.002+00:002013-02-12T23:33:52.323+00:00Kickstarter Plea - F.Stokes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUHe0dz2_EcC3E3WtX0Jw43oN-3fCHCbC94oUC6Z-RWh85G_QwpISSPE9cLvoU_yrrghpymkI3CSHv_keFFOQCoXDrs4XZnlRgY-bTsulZXOuH1D1cof7hnCzFzDF5r0XNr2ybz_mxO1g/s1600/F.Stokes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUHe0dz2_EcC3E3WtX0Jw43oN-3fCHCbC94oUC6Z-RWh85G_QwpISSPE9cLvoU_yrrghpymkI3CSHv_keFFOQCoXDrs4XZnlRgY-bTsulZXOuH1D1cof7hnCzFzDF5r0XNr2ybz_mxO1g/s1600/F.Stokes.jpg" /></a></div>
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Just a quick plea to ask everyone to go back the Kickstarter project on the following link:</div>
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<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/148546913/fearless-beauty?ref=live">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/148546913/fearless-beauty?ref=live</a></div>
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There are some top rewards but more importantly you're helping something that is potentially brilliant get out there. There is more information about it on the end of that link so please check it out. Not much left to raise so get in whilst you can. If you are unfamiliar with F.Stokes here's a little video from YouTube that lets you see how raw this guy is.</div>
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Thanks</div>
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MechagodZeala</div>
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-3665062232994704322013-02-12T23:17:00.001+00:002013-02-12T23:17:23.184+00:00If He's Not Your Homeboy Or Your Boyfriend, What Is Toussaint Morrison?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last week or two my stereo has been dominated by two albums, Toussaint Morrison is Not My Boyfriend and Toussaint Morrison is Not My Homeboy. During this time I have come to the conclusion that Toussaint Morrison really deserves to be far better known than he is (unless he's actually really well known outside of Wales and we're just late to the party). He's one of those artists that I genuinely believe could be huge if given the right exposure, if people sat down and listened I've every confidence they'd discover something they'd like.</div>
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Now from checking out what this guy has out there I'm led to believe that he's been around for a moment, as a member of The Blend and Lazlo Supreme and releasing the afore mentioned albums (mixtapes actually) under his own name. He's also a 3-time national slam poet according to his Bandcamp so Toussaint's been putting in the work. </div>
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Being from North Wales and not having many people I know that are into a lot of the music I'm into means it can be hard to discover new stuff in my preferred genres, don't get me wrong my mates have recommended a ton of great bands for me to check and without them I'd have no BRMC, Cooper Temple Clause, Raveonettes, etc in my life so it's not a shabby situation to be in. The problem is without my friends being into my preferred genres, without any real music scene to really speak of round here, and without a music shop to go and discover things in within a reasonable distance from me, it can be very hard to be exposed to new music. There are essentially three ways I find new artists:-</div>
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1) I hit up websites like Rapreviews and randomly click on albums and see if I stumble across anything decent.</div>
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2) I see what customers on Amazon, iTunes and all of those type of places are picking up as well as whichever album I last purchased. For instance, when I was first put on to El-P's Fantastic Damage (which was a huge record for me in terms of me discovering shit) I checked and started discovering all of the Def Jux stuff, which in turn took me to things like Babbletron and then Cool Calm Pete.</div>
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3) I see what artists I like have been working on and who they've been working with, I check out bands I see them mention in interviews (which is why it forms a large part of the interviews I do on here), or see tweets of what they may be listening to. </div>
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Once I find artists in any of the three ways I've touched on above I tend to jot the names down on scrap pieces of paper or enter them on my mobile and every so often I sit at the computer and have a listen to whatever snippets I can find online and if I get into it I'll order what I can get my hands on. This is how I found Toussaint Morrison. I think I initially saw his name on Rapreviews in a year end list (actually I googled it and now know I did) and so I put his name in the notepad on my phone along with a couple of others. A few weeks back I checked a couple of the acts and whilst searching for some songs of Toussaint's to hear, I was taken to his Bandcamp page. Two mixtapes on there, both as free downloads! Now as this guy is giving that shit away for free, rather than listen to a track or two on YouTube, I decided to give the downloads a try in their entirety. If it isn't costing me anything but my time then it's worth a go, especially as my time is so cheap. I am extremely glad I did because this dude has a little of everything going on.</div>
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The first thing that got me was that the man has a set of pipes on him, I've always got time for someone that can belt a track out so when I heard the opening to the following song I was well and truly sold.</div>
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As you will have noticed from that track he's not shabby in the rapping department either and to be perfectly honest that track is way off the standard his rapping tends to be at (don't get me wrong though, it's still dope on that track). The blend of the tremendous singing and tight rapping is great to hear and having it coming from just one dude makes it all the more enjoyable.<br />
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The other thing that I latched onto was the subject the dude spits about. Altered Beast, Street Fighter, Donnie Yen, X-Men, or Pro Wrestling are all fair game. That's something I can personally connect to. I've mentioned before that I'm quite far removed from the world most of my favourite musicians inhabit, I'm not exactly the intended audience for most of it (although Afrika did say that people should listen to music that isn't meant for them) and I guess aside from clever wordplay or raw beats, there is a voyeuristic pleasure in hearing things so different to my experiences. With Toussaint Morrison I can share some of the points of reference.<br />
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So no surprises this time fellas<br />
Y'all get the guards I'm going in for Zelda<br />
Go ahead, kiss ya cross, fight it through<br />
But I'm risk it all and I put that on Hyrule.<br />
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I grew up on things like Zelda, I can actually relate to that and what's not to like about good music you can relate to? As these are mixtapes you will recognise some of the beats, I won't spoil everything for you but even Radiohead serve as a great backing track, there is a little of everything on display here.<br />
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I think these albums/mixtapes were actually funded by Kickstarter so kudos to all the heads that backed this and helped get it out there for people like me to enjoy, it's a shame that I was too late to the party to be able to have helped in some way!<br />
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My words don't often do justice to the things I talk about (I just spout about stuff I like and obviously am no kind of writer) so you can have another song which is much harder than the previously featured track, the beat is a wonderfully chopped up version of Franz Ferdinand that Toussaint flows over superbly.<br />
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If you're interested in downloading the two albums please follow the links below, it'll cost you nothing so why not? I could talk about them for plenty more paragraphs but why listen to me when you can listen to the albums without cost?<br />
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<a href="http://toussaintmorrison.bandcamp.com/album/toussaint-morrison-is-not-my-homeboy">http://toussaintmorrison.bandcamp.com/album/toussaint-morrison-is-not-my-homeboy</a><br />
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Check the guy out and follow him on Twitter @2santMorrison, it's worth the effort.<br />
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Thanks for Reading<br />
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MechagodZeala<br />
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-72795325823444824372013-02-04T23:11:00.000+00:002013-02-04T23:11:24.466+00:00It's The Return!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgPjDxtDVSg-3K9R1UG2DcitWPYpKXJh6vfgM48CtdbBIli0TJtJf3y2MjkAmuIzxNtraccaa9oYgHlBciI_Eehpo3EXHTsF70XIYRR_bcJjUBEvVs9wZjaezUkZ-DAfr_pUuOPBXynmG/s1600/Fingathing+Comeback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgPjDxtDVSg-3K9R1UG2DcitWPYpKXJh6vfgM48CtdbBIli0TJtJf3y2MjkAmuIzxNtraccaa9oYgHlBciI_Eehpo3EXHTsF70XIYRR_bcJjUBEvVs9wZjaezUkZ-DAfr_pUuOPBXynmG/s320/Fingathing+Comeback.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always expect the unexpected at a Fingathing gig.</td></tr>
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Saturday night saw the live return of Fingathing so Wena and I headed up to Manchester to take it in. The gig took place in 2022NQ, a club/gallery type of place up in the Northern Quarter just up from Forbidden Planet. It's the kind of venue that Manchester seems to have in such abundance, a dark, cramped, sweaty, and basement-esque (like The Roadhouse) joint that seems to be so well suited to hosting gigs. Personally I love a venue with sweat covered walls, cold stone floors, and crudely painted fixtures, that's tucked away down a back alley. At the risk of sounding all hipstery, there is a real no nonsense, all about the music vibe to it that just works for me. That said, at this venue I actually felt a bit out of place. We arrived shortly after the doors opened around ten and sat there listening to the DJ, trying to pass the two hours until Fingathing took to the stage. I'm not sure if it's because everyone there seemed to be in big groups and mingling or if it was because we just clearly are not big city folk (I mean we use terms like 'big city folk') but I did feel a tad uncomfortable there for a little while, I'm sure a more outgoing person would have been fine or if we were in a little group of folk, it would have been cool but in a room full of people that either looked something like Noel Gallagher deciding he's a b-boy or just straight up well dressed, well bearded, young folk, this guy just seemed out of place...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was no place for a Norwegian tourist.</td></tr>
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After a couple of slowly drunk, £4 a bottle, ciders and the filling up of the place it started to feel a bit more like it should and soon enough the DJ spun his last Tribe record and gave way for the return of Fingathing. It's been 6 or so years since they played a live show so the crowd was more than ready to go on the journey The 'Thing had in store for them. For those who aren't familiar with Fingathing or aren't fortunate enough to have caught them live I should explain a little about what sets them apart. Aside from the technical wizardy from Parker and the heavy bass lines from Sneaky, there is also the visual element provided by the band's artist Chris Drury. Drury had clearly been hard at work in preparation for this comeback gig because the visuals were down right incredible. All new artwork which was every bit as insane and dope as the music. Don't believe me? Check these shots Wena took...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tremendous stuff</td></tr>
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Some mental imagery up there which actually makes it hard to know where to look when Fingathing are on stage. Do you watch the incredible animation, mixed with close ups of Parker and Sneaky hammering their respective instruments? Do you focus on Sneaky shredding it on his upright bass? Or do you watch Parker bobbing up and down maniacally as he smashes his MPC or cuts records to shit? To be honest in the five or six times I have seen Fingathing I've found the best thing to do is just take a step back and just hope your eyes manage to catch as much of the experience as they possibly can.</div>
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Musically we were treated to mixture of old and new, we had the perfect for a live show Head to Head which is a great showcase of how this set up works, the live dueling between the turntable and the bass is, put simply, spectacular. Classic rawness like Ffathead gave way to some of my own personal Finga favourites such as Synergy and Cluster Buster (which I've given a fair bumming to in my Big Red Nebula Band review previously). The new tracks such as Hell Raiser and Bounce seemed to really get the crowd jumping too and Man Made Monster had everyone in attendance reaching for the ceiling. Exactly how it should be. There was a track they played, which due to me standing by the Sound Techs holding a set-list I could see was called Time, which was absolutely killer. There was something about that song that evoked Velvet Underground to me, just a huge track. There was a nice outing for Walk In Space too which is a truly wonderful live experience and possibly my favourite moment of the night! The tangents that they go off on in that song is just mind blowing and was worth the price of admission alone. Here's an old video I ripped from YouTube that shows how good this track is live. Be warned that the audio is a little off and quality not amazing but it's an awful lot better than the phone videos I took at the gig!!!<br />
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There was plenty more to enjoy and in the hope that this gig was a precursor to a full blown tour I won't spoil anything further for you. If they do tour please make sure you pick up tickets for whichever gig is closest to you because Fingathing are unlike anything else you've ever seen and are still one of the best live acts I have ever witnessed.<br />
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Catch you down front at the next one.<br />
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MechagodZeala<br />
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-15914129649033170792013-01-20T00:10:00.001+00:002013-01-20T05:29:03.618+00:00Almost a Decade Without Play<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone broke his heart, thanks to whoever it was.</td></tr>
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Today I'm going to gush a little about Beck's 2002 album Sea Change. I'll confess straight away that about 9 years ago I was borderline obsessed with this album! I was going to college at the time and as such had 2 hours of coach journeying to get through each day (add another 2 hours on to that if I left college early and relied on public buses), I always had my Discman for those journeys and for most of the day due to all the free periods my schedule had. For a good 5 months I only ever carried two albums, Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (should blog that at some point) and Beck - Sea Change. Those two albums were on an almost constant loop at that point in my life and I loved it that way. Over the last month or so Sea Change has been creeping it's way back in to a similar position with me, it's been getting a fair blast and if it wasn't for the ruck of music that's been arriving in my letterbox, it'd probably be getting a fair bit more.<br />
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Beck is an artist I'm usually giving a bit of play to all the time, partly because his shit spans so many genres that he fits into whatever I'm on to at any given time and partly because he's one of the few musicians that I actually own the majority of the music for (although not that book thing he put out). Sea Change is not one of the albums I have revisited though, I think in part because it is very much a soundtrack to the previously mentioned period of my life and it was a period that was largely uneventful too, it's the soundtrack to a time that I don't get nostalgic about. Recently I dug it out as I had been internally humming the album opener 'The Golden Age' in work, which in turn made me remember how fond I was of the album. I was eager to see if the 28 year old me agreed with the 19 year old version of me! It's safe to say that there isn't much common ground between Paul 2012 and Paul '03, for every Wu Tang or Beastie Boys song that that teenage me and approaching 30 me both nod to, there is a Reel Big Fish or Hed P.E that the grown up me is fully prepared to mock past Me for. With that in mind I wasn't sure if I'd still get the same kick out of the album.<br />
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The observant among you (Saw 4 flashback time: "Today I'm going to gush a little about Beck's 2002 album Sea Change") or the folks that know I only blog about stuff I like, will have realised that I needn't have worried. The album has held up and then some! The moment Beck's voice kicks in on 'The Golden Age' I knew the album and me were going to be cool. For those who are familiar with Beck for albums like Odelay or Mellow Gold you'll probably find this album is somewhat of a departure for Beck. It's actually much closer in tone to his album Mutations yet it feels far more personal (possibly because it doesn't have any of the filler that Mutations seemed to be loaded with). It's a far more polished album than most of Beck's work up to that point and the lo-fi guitar noodlings, sample laden beats, and funky crowd pleasers have made way to lonelier, acoustically-driven, and dreamlike sound. The album is clearly made by a down in the dumps Beck and yet the gentleness of the strings and the subdued beats somehow make all the gloom quite nice. For an album dealing with such depressing subject matter it's actually pretty warm. For those unfamiliar with Beck it's still all of the above.<br />
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The album should really be enjoyed as a whole and I would encourage people checking it for the first time to enjoy it as such , but as is the norm on my posts I'm going to talk a little about some of my own favourite tracks on the album.<br />
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The Golden Age - The song that made me dig out the album again sets the tone of the album beautifully. Beck's haunting vocals, complimented by spaced out bleeps and whirrs, and the gentle, sometimes aching strum of Beck's guitar make for an astonishing song. This song gets better with every listen.<br />
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Lost Cause - This is my favourite track on the album and I'll admit to having used the skip button a few times in the car to make sure it's the last song I hear before I head off into work. It's a prime example of what I mean about the juxtaposition of the depressing subject and the warm niceness of the actual song. I've embedded it below because it deserves a listen.<br />
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Paper Tiger - The song that sounds a bit more like the better known Beck music. Beck sounds more like himself on this and less like the hurt grown up he sounds like on most of the album. A brilliantly subtle, slow builder that features some great orchestration. I believe that Beck's dad is actually responsible for the sweepingly dramatic strings on this song. I'm sure I read that somewhere once upon a time but there is every chance I've made that up. Enjoy it.<br />
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Already Dead - This is one of the most downbeat things Beck has recorded, it's a pretty depressing song to be honest but we need that kind of thing too. The man was clearly at a low point when he wrote this song and there's a brutal honesty to it. Just to give you a taste of it here is a sample of the lyrics...<br />
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Love looks away<br />
In the harsh light of day<br />
On the edge of nothing more<br />
Days fade to black<br />
In the light of what they lack<br />
Nothing's measured by what it needs<br />
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Fuck that's grim. It's also incredible and I have always got time for music that can accurately show you the feeling of the songwriter.<br />
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There are only 12 songs on this album so I'll limit my rambling to just four of those tracks. As always I would ask people to buy the album if they get a kick out of the embedded youTube videos. I know Beck isn't short of cash and it'll probably end up with L.Ron's crew but dude still made this shit so deserves to have reimbursement for it.<br />
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Later<br />
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MechagodZEALa<br />
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<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-33056698605115735222013-01-16T19:47:00.001+00:002013-01-16T19:48:29.296+00:00Track of The MomentI'm going to start throwing up a little post here and there to show a song that I'm digging at the moment. I'll let the songs speak for themselves and will only say who it is and encourage you to support it if you like it... So here is EMC - Leak It Out and if you like it go and look for more of their stuff and buy it.<br />
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MechagodZEALa<br />
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<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-14570587529150592812013-01-03T00:18:00.001+00:002013-01-03T19:10:58.910+00:00Albums ListSo here is my list of what I believe to be the best albums of the year. Music is a completely subjective thing and I'm sure they'll be plenty of people that will disagree. If you do then please let me know in the comments section below, I'm always on the lookout for new stuff so any recommendations would be welcomed.<br />
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This year the list is dominated by Hip Hop because it's been a very good year for the genre with some real big releases. There are plenty of albums that I've missed and I don't exactly have my finger on the pulse so I'm sure there is a ruck of brilliant stuff I just don't know exists. I'll list a track to check for each album, if you have the time please do go and check them out and if you like it please go spend some money on it. Support good music!!!<br />
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Without further ado here is my top ten of the year in order.<br />
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<u>Honourable Mentions</u></div>
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Mister Jason - Son of Frankensteez EP</div>
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Not a full album so not in but worth mentioning all the same. I've spent most of the year listening to Mister Jason Presents Frankensteez but it's release date was 2011 so I can't include it, worth a check though as is this great EP featuring a killer DJ Format remix.</div>
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<div>
Guilty Simpson & Apollo Brown - Dice Game</div>
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Top quality album but it doesn't quite make it because I haven't really been able to spend as much time with it as I would have liked. I only picked it up a month or so back and it hasn't had enough play for me to be familiar enough to Top 10 it. Still a great album and well worth a chunk of your hard earned.</div>
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<div>
Action Bronson & Alchemist - Rare Chandeliers<br />
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Similar to the above mentioned Guilty Simpson/Apollo Brown album I haven't played this enough to warrant it's inclusion. Top stuff and it's great start to finish I just haven't got off listening to Bronson's 2011 Dr. Lecter album. I'm sure it'll get a lot more love from me over the coming months.<br />
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<u>Top Ten</u><br />
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10) Tim Fite - Ain't Ain't Ain't<br />
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I love Tim Fite, having seen him support Buck 65 a few years back in Manchester and being blown away by just how weird this guy was I've kept a close eye on his work. There has always been plenty of Mr. Fite's music to enjoy as he is one prolific itchy-legged gentleman, who also has a tendency to put his music up for free download on his site, good egg!<br />
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This album is Tim Fite's third full length studio album and follows Fair Ain't Fair and Gone Ain't Gone and it's a far more accessible album than some of his earlier work. Not one to be pigeonholed Tim Fite's album spans several genres from stripped down country to Beirutesque noodlings, the remarkable thing is how cohesive it remains throughout which is no small feat given the bases he touches on this record. The weirdness and sampling have definitely been dialled down from his previous offerings and I only hope this helps the dude get out to a bigger audience. Starting with you guys hopefully.<br />
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Track to Check = Hold Me All Night - Try not to sing along to this after a few listens or get carried away on those drums. I dare you.<br />
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9) Best Coast - The Only Place<br />
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This is a band I got into on the strength of an album cover 2010's Crazy for You here it is...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top notch</td></tr>
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The album was a pleasant surprise of lo-fi shoe-gazey surf rock (I can't believe I typed that either, sorry) and as such I discovered a new band to keep an eye on. This years follow up 'The Only Place' was duly picked up with expectations of more of the same, turns out that Best Coast don't dish up seconds and as such have served up a far more polished, alt-country album to be enjoyed. The album feels more clear and concise and singer Bethany Cosentino seems to be on some Neko Case shit, not a bad thing in my opinion. A very relaxing album as that despite the downbeat nature of most of it seems to have an extremely uplifting effect on me.<br />
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Track to Check = Up All Night - Great songwriting and should actually be huge. This will be used on some tween movie romantic scene soon and people are going to wake up to these guys over here.<br />
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8) P.O.S - We Don't Even Live Here<br />
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I'll be honest, I wasn't familiar with P.O.S or his group Doomtree but I saw this album mentioned round a lot of places online at it's time of release, a little check of a couple of the tracks and it was purchased. This album is filled with big songs. The heaviness of the opener Bumper, complete with some of the best drums I've heard on a track this year (simple yet hard), was enough to have me reaching for my card. On the whole the album is filled with filthy, club ready tracks that again could be big over here in the UK but for whatever reason isn't, check it and start spreading the word.<br />
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Track to Check = Get Down ft. Mike Mictlan - This is the only song that gave Spaceship Earth a run for it's money in my Track of the Year thinking. This song is dripping with a filthy, sweaty swagger that is ideal for a packed club. Would love to see this spun in V2!<br />
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7) DZ Deathrays - Bloodstreams<br />
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Australian rock that is in your face, distorted, and extremely loud. I've previously reviewed DZ Deathrays' EP on here and it was nice to see what they were capable of over a full length release. They don't disappoint, it's every bit as brash and bold as the aforementioned EP. I was fortunate enough to catch them live this year and as such the album serves as fond reminder of a quite spectacular performance and that was always going to ensure it had a place on this list come the year end. Do yourselves a favour and stay out of my way when I'm pumping this album in the car as this shit makes me feel near invincible or at least not give a shit about the consequences.<br />
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Track to Check = Dinomight - Actually a bit more restrained than most of the album but fuck me this track is heavy when it lets go.<br />
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6) Abdominal & The Obliques - Sitting Music<br />
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Abdominal is back and dude has gone in a completely different direction. Sitting Music represents a real departure for Abs, this is stripped down Hip Hop. Abdominal is one of my favourite lyricists and THE rapper that has me hanging on his every word on a track. His mellow voice, ability to go at any pace, and the fact that he is one witty motherfunker firmly places him as one of my favourite rappers.<br />
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I picked this up for my girlfriend (what's better than buying a gift you yourself want?), on account of Abdominal and DJ Fase's Flowtation Device being the album I used to actually introduce Wen to Hip Hop and slowly get hooked. I ordered it as soon as I could, I'm a keeper, and was soon enough in possession of one of the most surprising releases of the year. As I said in the first paragraph this is bare bones Hip Hop, the beats and samples have been replaced with bluesy/folky guitar and soft drums. Abs is still rapping albeit in a slower, more considered way but he is also singing a few bars on this album. It is definitely not the album I was expecting and I'm grateful to Abdominal and The Obliques for swerving my expectations. You want hear most rappers collaborating with their mothers but Abdominal isn't most rappers. Probably the most interesting album on this list.<br />
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Track to Check = Balance Both ft. Chali 2na - I wanted to pick one of the songs that had a bit more singing on it but this is such a brilliant track that I insist you have a listen.<br />
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5) Masta Ace & MF Doom - MA_Doom : Son of Yvonne<br />
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Masta Ace kicking it over some Doom beats?!? Sold, take my money and take it now. What's that? Big Daddy Kane is on the album? The album with Doom's production??? Take my bank card, here's my pin, take what you need.<br />
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Now the beats are recycled from Doom's other releases but I love Dooms other releases and could listen to, and have listened to, his music all day. Masta Ace is as sharp as ever and as per usual his storytelling is on another level.<br />
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Thank you to anyone and everyone that had anything to do with this album coming into existence.<br />
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Track to Check = Think I Am ft. Big Daddy Kane - It kind of had to be, check Doom's positive verse too, I always like to big up the pleasant side of this genre.<br />
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4) Blu & Exile - Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them<br />
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I don't really know much about these guys, I discovered Blu through that track he did with Edan and stumbled across this album on iTunes a couple of months back and seeing his name just blind purchased it. Sometimes it's nice to just have something I'm into that I don't know anything about. I deliberately have not looked up anything about Blu or Exile as I just want to enjoy the music for what it is much like the pre internet days when I had my Beastie Boys tape anfdfirst started getting into music properly.<br />
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This album is so chilled it's unreal, there is a Madlib vibe to the beats and the rapping is so laid back and effortless whilst clearly being extremely complex and sophisticated. If you know anything about these dudes please don't share it with me. Let me just have this one, that said if anyone can throw me a copy of the album with that Edan/Blu track Ronald Morgan on it (I think it's called No York), I certainly wouldn't say no.<br />
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Track to Check = Ease Your Mind - I can't wait for summer just so I can put this track on repeat and lounge in the sun.<br />
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3) El-P - Cancer for Cure<br />
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Put simply nobody else could make this album. Nobody. A beast of an album right from the off, probably the best opener on any of the albums on this list. El-P goes hard and isn't so much presenting you with new music more smacking you round the head with it. If you are unfamiliar with El's work then maybe check his other work first because I'm worried that if this is your first encounter with his sound you might actually get hurt.<br />
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My words probably won't do any of these albums justice and that is certainly the case with this album, I don't know how to describe it other than to swear a lot and use the word hard. Just listen to it.<br />
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Track to Check = I should say The Full Retard but I have to go with the opening track Request Denied - Just wow.<br />
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2) Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music<br />
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Production by El-P, not a combo I expected to be listening to but I'm extremely grateful that it came to be. These two represent two different areas within the Hip Hop community and I didn't expect them to collide in this way. What a great fit these two are with each other, and they both seem to have raised each other's game. Personally I don't think Mike has ever sounded so good, don't get me wrong, I'm a big Killer Mike fan but on this album he's just an absolute monster! His rhymes are so technical and assured that I don't know if he will ever be able to top this.<br />
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El's production is as insane as it always is, and his style is all over it but he has clearly worked very hard to put together beats that have a Southern sensibility to them in order to really fit Mike the way they should. This album is an absolute animal and it's damn near perfect. I'm currently working on a full review of this album so I'll leave it at that for now.<br />
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Track to Check = Untitled ft. Scar - They know they've made a classic, they absolutely know it.<br />
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1) DJ Format - Statement of Intent<br />
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This is the album of the year for me. I've reviewed it previously on this blog so I won't go into too much detail on it again. Put simply it's a great album that strikes up a brilliant balance of all that is good in Hip Hop, perfect instrumentals like 'Mayor of a Ghost Town' to old school Hip Hop vibes like 'Mr.DJ' via the future of Hip Hop 'Spaceship Earth', everything is covered. This is as perfect an album, as far as my tastes go, as is humanly possible and I thank Format for creating it. I will never ever tire of this and I'm sure most people would have a similar view if they gave it the chance it deserves.</div>
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Everyone has a right to disagree with another persons opinion, and I fully expect people to not agree with half the shit I say and musically there isn't really a right or wrong, BUT if you disagree with me with regards to this album, I'm afraid you are most definitely wrong. They'll be Universities in Texas and other parts of the world that will carry out scientific studies proving me to be right on this occasion, which in turn will make you look very foolish indeed. Don't try to argue this one, just go out and get this album and then send me a thank you card.<br />
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Track to Check = Spaceship Earth ft. Edan - I could pick anything and you should listen to it all but for me this was the best song released all year so I'm obliged to pick this.<br />
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So that's my list and hopefully you've discovered some new music that you can enjoy, if so please go and buy the records. I appreciate that the internet is full of torrents and the like but these artists deserve to have their work paid for.<br />
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Thanks for reading<br />
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Mechagodzeala<br />
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-52702108458050096612013-01-01T21:34:00.003+00:002013-01-01T21:36:15.310+00:00Film ListHere are the 10 best films, in my opinion, released in 2012. For me it's been a bit of a lean year for films but then again there is a lot that I haven't caught in the cinema It should also be noted that I have not yet seen The Master and I'm sure that will walk into the top ten once I see it later this week.<br />
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<u>Honourable Mentions</u><br />
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The Shining - Not making the top ten because it's a re-release but this year saw a UK cinema showing of the US version of The Shining, a whopping twenty odd minutes longer than the previously released UK version. To be honest I didn't really notice 20 minutes of extra stuff but who cares because I got to see The Shining on a big screen! I don't need to tell anyone how brilliant this film is.<br />
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John Carter - Came in for a lot of stick but I really enjoyed my trip to watch this. Obviously a lot of the story has been pillaged by many other big sci-fi films that made it to the big screen first (Star Wars a prime example) so large parts of this felt familiar but it didn't dampen it for me personally. Shit looked pretty on a big ass screen too.<br />
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How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Mel Gibson is a horrible, racist c*nt but he does have a lot of great films on his CV. How I Spent... is an absolutely insane actioner set in a Mexican prison and featuring Gibson at his dickish best. An absurd movie that requires no thinking whatsoever, just good fun.<br />
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<u>Top Ten</u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdh9B0i_Vu8H3i0jalmzagprrQ9JxPbp3ObRylh5052Y09ecTqi9uAqYKKBDHVSaxfOzBm6kqEg6W7FDNXhTP7yFkRVK05A2GXfOKcDkztPCbxPJ_qnL9OczGYvq6Y9Tbd-uCV6kbZmFU/s1600/bill-cunningham-new-york.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdh9B0i_Vu8H3i0jalmzagprrQ9JxPbp3ObRylh5052Y09ecTqi9uAqYKKBDHVSaxfOzBm6kqEg6W7FDNXhTP7yFkRVK05A2GXfOKcDkztPCbxPJ_qnL9OczGYvq6Y9Tbd-uCV6kbZmFU/s320/bill-cunningham-new-york.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't not admire this man</td></tr>
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10) Bill Cunningham, New York - As recommended by Paul Iannacchino on these here pages, this film is about an extremely likable 80-something fashion photographer for the New York Times. It's an inspiring and heart-warming film that documents Bill's passion for what he does, a man who truly lives for his art.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsstDQK4PSXgPFnCtPxf-hpn8y1rqLjuWpP-a2OUacKjALM98YjrxhCpLj-XguugJZ-JsOvXTN8cFTFkoPZTAQQpcW9PVTD9SmNckiqefJjSKMh5v8T-EbXo-ejT8SAGueBJDuFw-wk5Qv/s1600/ghost+rider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsstDQK4PSXgPFnCtPxf-hpn8y1rqLjuWpP-a2OUacKjALM98YjrxhCpLj-XguugJZ-JsOvXTN8cFTFkoPZTAQQpcW9PVTD9SmNckiqefJjSKMh5v8T-EbXo-ejT8SAGueBJDuFw-wk5Qv/s1600/ghost+rider.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His head is on fire!</td></tr>
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9) Ghost Rider 2 - I told you it was a lean year, not actually a great film but it was damn good fun. Nic Cage was yelling and his head kept going on fire there are times that I don't need much more than that. Not something I'm every likely to watch again but for the duration of the run-time I laughed and that can't be a bad thing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0eoHJWhCZj-aK0juOuYBnNE8WFlq7LhJPvet7IZe2riD8-RGdizK0qWJ4lPvMP_rk7N2w0FysXvXJBLxprAKrUoVyuNTMBBS8jFkDtLipEQ0TuCeR65TyMTt29x72D0C0vtd6bPNb12_/s1600/Goon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0eoHJWhCZj-aK0juOuYBnNE8WFlq7LhJPvet7IZe2riD8-RGdizK0qWJ4lPvMP_rk7N2w0FysXvXJBLxprAKrUoVyuNTMBBS8jFkDtLipEQ0TuCeR65TyMTt29x72D0C0vtd6bPNb12_/s1600/Goon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprisingly heart-warming</td></tr>
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8) Goon - Another movie that isn't exactly a classic but I've included it because of how unexpectedly good it was. My friend and I rented this on account of us having spent way too long in the video store without choosing something so we grabbed what was to hand. We were expecting a low key, gross out, not very funny comedy and yet we got a sweet, slapsticky, warm hearted tale of a stupid bouncer trying to find his place in the world. A very deceiving marketing campaign really didn't do this film any justice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsmVJZi-V33DkZfWihvNpTKGKMfXvLeGC6NL9ZEb27czXJfCRm_ydq2kO9jkbEmAhO8PvWlHiHefFrZb62ftrP90E4JatZcykfandZFk91RaiJd-lRjy1kzxXWcWJXCxKEGvMlJikyNHM/s1600/Looper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsmVJZi-V33DkZfWihvNpTKGKMfXvLeGC6NL9ZEb27czXJfCRm_ydq2kO9jkbEmAhO8PvWlHiHefFrZb62ftrP90E4JatZcykfandZFk91RaiJd-lRjy1kzxXWcWJXCxKEGvMlJikyNHM/s1600/Looper.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got his Bruce Willis face on there</td></tr>
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7) Looper - Sci-fi done well and with added Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis. It doesn't get bogged down with explaining the how of the time travel in the film and just gets on with the actual story, which I appreciated. It's an interesting take on the future and whilst it isn't perfect it's nice to have an intelligently made film that is so unashamedly sci-fi.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6xaq8W4Xe7PEHfuksL_zdcCDN3Y_Hney7430cQmh3QMBuOGiFm0SOgMXbT2xHTx-yvIDBCi7zIuBcnNAFh9Mv2W0mNTSs0hWdX0rUhMnBYo5sirmOutc_8bMde_MUs8M39Kt3bz-bhg8/s1600/Manborg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6xaq8W4Xe7PEHfuksL_zdcCDN3Y_Hney7430cQmh3QMBuOGiFm0SOgMXbT2xHTx-yvIDBCi7zIuBcnNAFh9Mv2W0mNTSs0hWdX0rUhMnBYo5sirmOutc_8bMde_MUs8M39Kt3bz-bhg8/s1600/Manborg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greatest poster ever</td></tr>
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6) Manborg - From Astron 6, the creative geniuses behind the amazing Father's Day and the epically brilliant Lazer Ghosts 2: Return to Laser Cove comes the story of a dead soldier brought back to life as a cyborg to battle hell on Earth and to defeat the evil Draculon! Low budget film making at it's best what it lacks in production value it more than makes up for with laugh out loud funny, and straight up passion. Check the trailer below and buy the DVD these guys deserve all of your money.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgeRLNJ_0SPA3U80k50vLgYoCftA4iAjrbUuEucQWFj4RkNUxN4D0TpTTLU1NqfF9jnhTbVu0MBgKfk8OXzbG1PxlSuaZAXOnXcAyvjFp7kIT6KJeKB8ZlBCLNszd0U7d4yiCGuEMh6S3/s1600/Undefeated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgeRLNJ_0SPA3U80k50vLgYoCftA4iAjrbUuEucQWFj4RkNUxN4D0TpTTLU1NqfF9jnhTbVu0MBgKfk8OXzbG1PxlSuaZAXOnXcAyvjFp7kIT6KJeKB8ZlBCLNszd0U7d4yiCGuEMh6S3/s1600/Undefeated.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic tale told well</td></tr>
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5) Undefeated - I should point out that I love a good sports movie from We Are Marshall to Hard Ball and everything in between, I'll watch any of them. We all know how every single one of them ends but there is so much natural drama in sports that films about sport prove to be an easy watch it also helps that so often the films are so feel good. This documentary tells the standard story of an underfunded, underprivileged, perennial loser high school football team as they undergo a reversal of fortunes. Inspiring stuff and I'm not gonna lie the things that happen with Money damn near made me well up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl0kJro7DgVJZQ8C30_KtqDbJWIp4Jriq0rLZTdUA-J5wSIrUzcjdVD0vW3bCOgz5WaQU1wTsQsuabW4dhWPFmhdm6lYw2ee17Tncjvyonza0QRh1r6vMfYFx9jRqig2qDgzZNucKoiSi/s1600/Killer+Joe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl0kJro7DgVJZQ8C30_KtqDbJWIp4Jriq0rLZTdUA-J5wSIrUzcjdVD0vW3bCOgz5WaQU1wTsQsuabW4dhWPFmhdm6lYw2ee17Tncjvyonza0QRh1r6vMfYFx9jRqig2qDgzZNucKoiSi/s1600/Killer+Joe.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man can do sinister</td></tr>
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4) Killer Joe - Wickedly funny and extremely dark tale of son's attempt to have his mother offed by Matthew McConaughey's insane killer for hire. Contains one of the most disturbing scenes in recent history. It's nice to see McConaughey reminding everyone what he is capable of when he isn't picking up chick flick cheques. The rest of the cast is superb too and it's nice to see Billy Friedkin nailing it again.<br />
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3) The Imposter - Bart Layton's amazing documentary (I know that's three and I'm not trying to be all high brow it's just that this year was a good year for documentaries) about the disappearance of a 13 year old boy from Texas and his subsequent reappearance in Spain. Very cinematic for a documentary, it leaves you with questions in the same way Capturing The Friedmans did and really covers all angles in a truly astonishing story. I won't go into too much detail about it as much like the equally brilliant shockumentary Catfish it really needs to be seen to be believed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjxqrIlgPA8MddqPbyy3b98DvXiN4mBFbTu9FsZXz8gheUNMBeIW455xdiHsNHTeRtvPX6gn-JVBVVm0XDpgHdHxJuAPPcglMBV9bSl-4eSEc0ChYGixCAoxT_mOXkDwx_NxoOPdSHvv9/s1600/Argo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjxqrIlgPA8MddqPbyy3b98DvXiN4mBFbTu9FsZXz8gheUNMBeIW455xdiHsNHTeRtvPX6gn-JVBVVm0XDpgHdHxJuAPPcglMBV9bSl-4eSEc0ChYGixCAoxT_mOXkDwx_NxoOPdSHvv9/s1600/Argo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"There, there Affleck we can't all have glorious white beards!"</td></tr>
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2) Argo - God bless Affleck, talented son of a bitch that he is. See previous review for more info but know that this shit is incredible just like a hirsute Ben Affleck.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiFK2DteEJTiBNyRGZPA1OI2i18Coo_PIZcWpUWrMnH2hf_xvKyB_xCtFnJG5RZSZn_rrpwjQiQmUBA-Y6uPoeEJwzyAgRphyphenhypheniOQSx2yjzEA119mBFiOR_fRGEQsmrvjHm6knIdcuKd58/s1600/The+Raid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiFK2DteEJTiBNyRGZPA1OI2i18Coo_PIZcWpUWrMnH2hf_xvKyB_xCtFnJG5RZSZn_rrpwjQiQmUBA-Y6uPoeEJwzyAgRphyphenhypheniOQSx2yjzEA119mBFiOR_fRGEQsmrvjHm6knIdcuKd58/s1600/The+Raid.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does what it says on the poster</td></tr>
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1) The Raid - This was the best film of the year for me, downright incredible. Police are going into an derelict apartment block in order to bring a ruthless criminal to justice unfortunately he lives on the top floor and all previous floors are occupied by nails criminals, living rent free, that protect the boss. 100 odd minutes of dudes getting smashed hard in the face and being smacked into walls.<br />
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Iko Uwais plays the rookie cop hero of the piece and that man knows how belt people around. I'd only previously seen Iko in the very entertaining Merantau Warrior (from the same director) but he's certainly one to watch as far as martial arts go. The film is so fast and action packed that you hardly get a break from the moment the police enter the building and the fight choreography is out of this world. Iko, as per Merantau Warrior, has such a painful looking style. He's a blur of elbows and knees and seems to revel in using the environment as a weapon. The real star of the show though is Yayan Ruhian as the big boss' loyal enforcer Mad Dog. His style is so rugged it's unreal, the rawness of him reminded me a lot of the nomad bad guy from Donnie Yen's Ip Man, every move he throws just looks brutal and like it would hurt an awful lot. The Mad Dog vs 2 fight in particular is absolutely astounding and the three styles from all involved are so contrasting and yet perfectly complementary to each other that I can only say thank to the director for filming it, I am forever in your debt sir.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk4XSqESmPxlA9LhToor-lLV9mO-6zngSKaUikMwDanY5MkOcPJCJCs5M5Ny38PaMNoO-gSwmlt39TtNdCG80FUIeLuJwY7krqzos6kMh82cPza046rQhYEVU2CoZALT8EdAFRQOydTbg/s1600/Mad+Dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk4XSqESmPxlA9LhToor-lLV9mO-6zngSKaUikMwDanY5MkOcPJCJCs5M5Ny38PaMNoO-gSwmlt39TtNdCG80FUIeLuJwY7krqzos6kMh82cPza046rQhYEVU2CoZALT8EdAFRQOydTbg/s320/Mad+Dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brutal, just brutal</td></tr>
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The rest of the cast are superb too with a great turn from Ray Sahetapy as the boss Tama who plays his role perfectly with an unnerving laid-back, almost passive attitude for such a evil and ruthless individual. Joe Taslim who plays Jaka is worth mentioning too as his fighting style is so crisp and clean, almost effortless in his execution he's a damn good watch.<br />
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The other great thing about this film is that the director is Welsh! Now it would be my number one choice regardless of the director's nationality but the fact that a fellow countryman has gone out and made this brilliant film is the icing on the cake. We don't get too many chances to be proud of our country, hell not many know we're even here, but we can definitely be proud of Gareth Evans. All credit to him for opening up peoples eyes to Indonesian cinema and getting a subtitled film to be such a huge hit. No question about it, easily my film of the year.<br />
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Please go out and buy/rent these films and support the talented individuals that made them. The more you support the more these guys can make. <br />
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So those are my films of the years, just my opinion and that doesn't count for a great deal. If you agree or disagree then let me know in the comments section or feel free to tell me whatever I've missed out although I should mention that I did see Avengers and Dark Knight Rises and neither lived up to the hype for me so I wouldn't bother trying to change my mind on those two.<br />
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Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my Albums of The Year that will be up at some point tomorrow evening.<br />
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Later<br />
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Mechagodzeala<br />
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<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-50048368013413769772013-01-01T17:35:00.002+00:002013-01-01T17:35:46.697+00:00Affleck is The ShitSo a little while back I went and caught Ben Affleck's latest film Argo. I had very high hopes as the first two films Affleck has directed, Gone Baby Gone and The Town, have been two of my favourite films of the last decade. Affleck, it turns out, does not like to disappoint.<br />
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Argo is awesome and not just because Rory Cochrane is in it looking like this.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ben, is it okay if I leave Tehran now? I'm gonna leave Tehran now?"</td></tr>
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For those that don't know, Argo tells the story of Antonio Mendez (Played superbly by the non Antonio Mendezy Ben Affleck) on a mission to save six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran. After the U.S embassy in Tehran is stormed in retaliation for the Americans taking in recently deposed Shah, the six diplomats slip away and hole up in the Canadian Ambassador's house. The American government must then try to get the diplomats out of the country before the Iranians realise that the embassy is six hostages short. The Americans, well Affleck, decide(s) the best way to save these citizens is to pretend they are part of a Canadian film crew scouting for locations for a Star Wars type film and then try and march them out through the Iranian's front door (or Airport). You'd be forgiven for thinking that sounds a tad far fetched and more than a little insane.<br />
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This film is based on a true story!!! Poking about on this here internets I've found that it is only loosely based on true events but that there is even the slightest bit of truth to this is mental. It's worth noting that the story is based on Antonio Mendez's account of events and therefore could and should be exaggerated, hell I wouldn't sell myself short if Affleck was making a movie about me.<br />
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High concept aside Argo is a pretty straightforward movie that is executed brilliantly, the plot unfolds naturally and is very uncomplicated. The early scenes of the mob outside the embassy in particular, look spectacular and are downright terrifying, more importantly though these scenes really give a good understanding of how the Iranian people felt and why they felt that way.<br />
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The main thing I absolutely love about this film is that it's for grown ups. It's a 70's film, I don't mean in setting (I think it was technically 1980/81), it's more the tone of it. For me 70's cinema was the shit, most of my favourite films tend to come from that era, and the reason I enjoy that period of film-making most is that not everything is spoon fed to you. The story tends to develop naturally and quite often at a slower pace than the cinema of today, there doesn't seem to be a need to hit beats/go through the motions and I prefer it that way. I appreciate I'm going a little off track here but if you could please allow me a moment longer to try and fully explain what I mean here. A large number of films made in the 70's (and the 60's) are the equivalent to how real albums are made. It's a piece of work that should be enjoyed start to finish and in it's entirety. The films of the last decade or so, not all though as this film proves, are how flavour of the month pop albums are made, no one really cares a great deal how we get from A to B as long as there is a couple of singles on there. Argo slowly belts you in and takes you up the hill before dangling you over the edge and letting you see the roller coaster ride that's ahead of you, the suspense filled ending doesn't work without the slow build of the first 3/4 of the film and the viewer is therefore rewarded for handing themselves over to the film.<br />
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It's also nice to see a film that's comfortable with what it is, Argo is actually a pretty funny movie. It knows it's a bob on suspenseful thriller but that doesn't mean it can't poke a little fun at Hollywood and it doesn't mean it can't have a couple of goofy moments (Rory Cochrane in the market). Rather than being confined by the expectations of it's target audience, it's not afraid to straddle genres and it manages to do it without becoming disjointed or messy.<br />
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The acting in the film is tremendous and the supporting cast made up of Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, and Bryan Cranston and countless others joining the previously mentioned Ben Affleck and Rory Cochrane. There's a real subtlety to the performances on display and it's with good reason that this film is being mentioned an awful with regards to awards season.<br />
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All in all folks should check this film, it's one hell of a ride but more importantly you're witnessing one of the best directors this generation has to offer doing his thing and that is a real pleasure. If none of this has convinced you then at least watch it for Affleck's majestic beard work.<br />
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I'm done.<br />
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Mechagodzeala<br />
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<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-40725640812305713882012-12-10T20:47:00.002+00:002012-12-10T20:47:22.650+00:00The ReturnBeen a while, work has been a bit on the hectic side and had left me in no mood to be noodling about in front of a laptop when I got home each night. Typical that I slack just when I was getting some decent traffic on the site, build again. Will do my best to keep on top of things, and as way of an apology you can enjoy one of all time favourite photos.<br />
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<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-34316183680286949662012-10-06T23:21:00.003+01:002012-10-06T23:21:42.029+01:00Interview with Mister Jason<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So I have another interview and this time it's with the creator of the Frankensteez album previously reviewed on these here pages, Mister Jason! Read, hopefully enjoy, and discover some great new music for yourself.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Pic taken from Twitter</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">First off for those folks in Wales and the big wide world that are
unfamiliar, please can you tell them who you are?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I am human, I am part monster, Mister Jason to some, just
"Jason" to others, "Jay to many close to me, CEO of Frankensteez
Entertainment.</span><span style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">How did you first get started on the path of becoming a musician and how
did you get your break into the industry?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I was always a fan or rap/hip-hop, since around 1983, at that time I was
listening to 60/70's rock, but mostly hardcore punk, like Suicidal Tendencies
and my all time favorites, Circle Jerks. After officially putting out
music in the form of "tapes" back in 1995, my break came in 1997 when
a local record store (Biscuithead Records) owner and legendary Boston DJ, DJ
Bruno, heard I was working on a few projects. I would hang out
at his store and soon we began speaking about a possible record label and
record deal. He started "Biscuithead Recordings" and along with
Edan's debut 12" "Sing It Shitface" he put out my group, Porn
Theatre Ushers, and our first single "Me and Him." The strength
of the deal also came about due to the fact Nabo Rawk won the "Biscuithead
Freestyle Battle" the same year. It was a crazy time, very reckless.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">How did you find your time as one half of Porn Theatre Ushers?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">It was probably the most fun I have ever had, but also the most
frustrating, due to lack of business direction. We should have been out
there more, more tours, I loved the people behind our labels but they weren't
really in a place to take us worldwide. We had fans worldwide, but
nothing organized in terms of how to maximize our potential. I look back
and think of how much we could have grown as a force in the industry, at that
time.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">You're from Boston and obviously there is a very rich Hip Hop scene
there, with the late, great Guru, Mr.Lif, Akrobatik, 7L and Esoteric, and Reks having come through. Do you feel that Boston has its own style in the genre and
do you think it influences or in fact comes through in your own music?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I definitely think Boston has it's own sound, escpecially in those
underground golden years, the late 90's. We hade so many different
personalities and genre's but we all worked together to put the 2nd generation
of Boston on the map. Many artists, Edo G., Top Choice Clique, RSO,
TDS Mob and others paved the way for us and we came in with a new
sound. We made independent hip-hop, sampling uncoventional records,
new flows, complex vocab, etc. It was a great time...</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">How did you find going from the classic DJ & MC combo of PTU to going
out alone and putting out an album in your voice? I personally think there is a
big difference in the music you have put out as part of Porn Theatre Ushers and
as yourself in that whilst PTU was everything that is great about Hip Hop in a
raw and energetic way, your solo work seems more layered and more of a
progression of the genre rather than the celebration of Hip Hop that I feel PTU
were. Do you think it's down to a maturity in yourself or is it just the result
of new influences, styles or even equipment you're using now?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">It is very different, which is important to me. I will always have
the PTU feel in my veins, that is the core of what I'm about. With
Frankensteez, I took bits and pieces from many elements to come up with that
sound. Also, although I am by myself with the actual release of
Frankensteez, I enlisted many people to help create the final sound. PTU
will always sound the way you've known it to be, with Frankensteez, I wanted to
try something new. So, I think it's a blend of maturity, working
with new people, and also the recording process was a bit different, using
live instruments, harmonies and different ways to sample.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">I'd like to talk a little about Frankensteez but I'll get the elephant
in the room out of the way first, that 26 rapper Mister Jason Has A Posse (to
me the greatest posse cut ever commited to wax). How did it come about and how
hard was it to get it together? Also how do you feel about the response it's
received as that song seems to have really made waves in the Hip Hop community
and I've seen nothing but praise for it out there, where you aware you were
making something special?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">One day, in my apartment, I was hanging out with Rain (my engineer and
also co-produced some joints), going through records to make beats, and I came
across this one 45, which ended up being the backbone of the track. To
me, the vibe seemed like a "tag team" feel, where the stab you hear
every four bars, sounds like a natural break in the beat for a different rapper
to "tag in." It was initially meant to be what turned into
"Renegades." Then I started thinking of a song with multiple
rappers, but just a "Boston rapper" track, showcasing some of the
local artists, both established and up and coming. That envolved into an
idea of having emcees rap about a particular letter of the alphabet, then
finally, choosing rappers that fit each speficic letter of the alphabet.
Although it took over a year to compile, I was amazed that the emcees
volunteered and were excited to be a part of this historic record. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I wanted to do something different, my whole life I have never been
satisfied with the "norm" and musically strive to create something
new. Even when PTU has that classic boom-bap sound, I always chose
samples that I thought were odd or different.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Now the album itself is a beast in and of itself, and the thing that
struck me was how varied it was, with bouncing party tracks, moody beats, Joy
Division samples, flute samples, funky filled bass lines, it really does touch
a lot of musical bases. Were you conscious of that as you made the album or is that
the just what comes through when you're creating music?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It was on purpose. The meaning of the title
"Frankensteez" means just that, all different moods, styles, a
"mixed bag," a "Frankenstein" sound...Frankenstein's
"monster" was man made, made of different body parts, anything the
Doctor. could find to create his monster. It is a
"Frankensteez." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">You're releasing Son of Frankensteez on Halloween this year, what can we
expect from this?</span><span style="color: #741b47;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">It is not a full length release, hence the title "Son of "
meaning just a little piece of work, born from the original Frankensteez
It contains 11 tracks, but is made up of remixes, instrumentals and a few
new tracks. It will be released on Halloween day, 10/31/2012 on limited
green vinyl, but I decided to go with a 12" size this time.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Son... aside what can we expect from you in the future? Is there a plan
from where you go from here?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I am thinking the next "Frankensteez based" release will be
"The Bride of Frankensteez" which will feature all female
emcees. Can't wait for that. I might just tweet that I am taking
open auditions for this one vs. reaching out to specific people
myself. Also, 2013 marks the 15th anniversary for Porn Theatre
Ushers. We will be releasing new music, some old archived videos and a
tour. Look out for that one!</span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #500050; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Will we ever see you over in the UK in the future?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">That is my next goal, I HAVE to come to the UK. Spread the word to
anyone that wants to set that up.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Who or what inspires you and why?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I'm inspired by anything that is unique and not like the
other...creativity without worry, oddball shit, I actually love when people say
"Mister J, you have a warped mind" or "you're insane"...that
is the biggest compliment!</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">As a large part of this blog is to try and put people onto things they may not have heard we have a few standard questions for folks, so with that in my mind...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Firstly what are you listening to at the moment?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Mostly traditional Greek, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern music, me
being Greek, this music is in my blood. There is a ton of rare
psychadelic gems being released from all over the globe, some amazing
stuff. I listen to any genre from the late 60's, such a great time period
for music.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">If you could get folks to check out three musicians or more specifically
three albums what would they be and why?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Great question...ok, this is tough...there are so many.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Lord Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth- Funky Technician (1990)--Along with
early Prince Paul, Beatnuts, Ultramagnetic, this is one of my earliest
influences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">MOOG: The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> (1969)--just
listen to it, you'll know why I love it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Erkin Koray-Erkin Koray (1973)--self titled debut LP from this Turkish
Psych god. Turkish Psychadelic music? need I say more?</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Check him out!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Are you much of a film head and if so have you seen anything of note
recently?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">As a kid, I was really into horror films, on VHS, and I would try to
find the most disturbing, disgusting films out. I remember seeing movies
like Basket Case, Return of the Alien's Deadly Spawn, Humanoids from the Deep,
and many low budget splatter films. Then I got into martial art movies
from Hong Kong, the early Jet Li movies were amazing, until he blew up in
American. If you're a fan of that genre, I recommend seeing Shaolin
Temple, Once Upon a Time in China, Fist of Legend and Fong Sai Yuk. Now I
mostly enjoy independent films and films that typically aren't blockbusters,
but now and then I find good commercially successful films.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">What would be your three all time top film recommendations and why?</span><span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Hmmm....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">A Clockwork Orange, simply amazing, a timeless classic, amazing score by
electronica legend Walter/Wendy Carlos (yes, she/he was once a woman)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Star Wars--the staple of my generation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Can't name a third.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">It was at this moment Mister Jason had to go take a piss so that concludes the interview. If you haven't already got hold of his music, do it now! You're on the internet anyway and what else are you going to spend that £10 (probably less) on? You won't be disappointed in the music and you'll be supporting the kind of artist who's decent enough to agree to do an interview on here! You can buy the music from iTunes/Amazon or by clicking on the following link...</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/store/results.asp?searchby=All&keywords=mister+jason&searchTarget=store" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/store/results.asp?searchby=All&keywords=mister+jason&searchTarget=store</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know it makes sense. I'd like to thank Mister Jason for keeping his piss in long enough to answer all those questions and thanks to everyone who's reading this, huge thanks to anyone that goes and buys the music (should I offer up more robots or maybe promise to stop drawing them?), Anyways cheers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost forgot, you can keep up with Mister Jason news on Twitter by following @misterjasonptu.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace out</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrdKyejCCLl1z2Lw3yFNp4T8DulaEB08bofRfoafOKcSLzWTUaEm2t7L9u2VmPQ2CTxEM2wOalMxJ_ZzqSQyHCbzDSAVmjrI7kDpi1_dRauBrSCZ9CWxYQtx-cS3b2ubYbbgm7Fg3iubm/s1600/Mechagodzeala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrdKyejCCLl1z2Lw3yFNp4T8DulaEB08bofRfoafOKcSLzWTUaEm2t7L9u2VmPQ2CTxEM2wOalMxJ_ZzqSQyHCbzDSAVmjrI7kDpi1_dRauBrSCZ9CWxYQtx-cS3b2ubYbbgm7Fg3iubm/s200/Mechagodzeala.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mechagodzeala</span></div>
MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-81885122471443388612012-09-22T12:18:00.002+01:002012-09-22T19:27:27.744+01:00Interview - Paul Iannacchino<span style="background-color: black;">I have another interview to put up here! While I'm eternally grateful to Mart for doing the first interview on here it was quite easy to get him on account of him being one of my best friends, he's a dick but not so big a dick that he wouldn't help me out. Anyways, this time I have managed to grab an interview with someone I don't know, it's the film-maker and former musician Paul Iannacchino.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KU9AqGeMc66euo-mTHurk422satOpoGPno8drg3OHE_TF9Q2xtCjR4hUrk7LjyyEAdgHZdw0s5hg5hPkZb_QGQ8QYZ9WJIDq_l3aNyMk9vK-7-xHSurOyRqS3LOwt_OYaizt5fOafyN2/s1600/Paul+google+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KU9AqGeMc66euo-mTHurk422satOpoGPno8drg3OHE_TF9Q2xtCjR4hUrk7LjyyEAdgHZdw0s5hg5hPkZb_QGQ8QYZ9WJIDq_l3aNyMk9vK-7-xHSurOyRqS3LOwt_OYaizt5fOafyN2/s320/Paul+google+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: small;">Picture taken from the first page of Google Images and used based on that hat.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those who may be unfamiliar with your work please could you tell them who you are and what you do?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My name is Paul. I'm a Scorpio. I sell art for commerce to pay my mortgage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The logical place to start would be the film you have in progress, can you tell us a little about Adult Rappers please? Who can we expect to see in it?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adult Rappers is a documentary film that features a lot of passionate people that make a living off their art. However, none of them are not household names. A fact most people probably sees as a contradiction.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was it that made you want to cover this part of Hip Hop rather than say a specific area's scene or the work of a specific artist? Where did this idea originate?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've tried every step of the way not to make a hip hop documentary. This is a film about people. We've tried our best to avoid hip-hop cliches and retread familiar ground. The idea originated as a joke. Honestly. My phone rang one day and I said to a friend in passing, "I have too many adult rappers in my life". That's how it began.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now Adult Rappers was KickStarter funded and seemed to do very well on there, how did you find that whole experience, obviously waiting all that time to see if you'd hit your funding and also coming up with rewards you felt were a fair trade for buying into the project?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was actually well on my way down the road towards making this film when we launched the Kickstarter. I had piggy backed interviews onto other jobs anytime I could, baking interviews for close to a year. The Kickstarter, while successful, was never about "funding" the film. It was about finishing. I figured now we have a strong story - I need to be able to jump on a plane, grab a small crew and shoot when and where I want to wrap this up. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing that was evident during the KickStarter was the interest some people seemed to take in it. For example a guy on Twitter (@Egyptoknuckles) essentially became a PR man for the project, retweeting everything and spreading the word practically non-stop, how was it to see that a passion project of your own was resonating so strongly with other people out there?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For sure. That was the unexpected upside to the Kickstarter campaign. We had a great deal of passionate people come on board as ambassadors for the project - for no other reason than they believed in it. We didn't raise $1 million, but you can't put a price on what those people like @Egyptoknuckles brought to the project. It was also validation that we had tapped into a story people were interested in seeing. It was like free focus testing. The fact that it resonated so strongly with total strangers only strengthened our resolve. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the plan for the film? Will it be doing the festival circuit/limited run or are you looking to get a DVD out there as soon as possible? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Our plan is the festivals first. We'd love to see this premiere at SXSW. It just makes sense given the artists involved, the timing and the themes we're exploring. That said, if the festivals don't provide us the golden ticket we have some other ideas about the best way to share the story with the people that want to see it most. Ultimately, it's for them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously I imagine all your focus is on getting this film right at the moment but do you have any plans for what you will be doing beyond this film?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's life beyond this film?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0h5Sqa3W9-okon-l7KmiGSJ6bOCdly9pYEs5YucCTU2Bdb1uIEn7_1A4T-0R3R2pA6adRD-QOyNbD7JvVZiM9r3Wku_uBk1tnsbPr_Ei3WXCEmgZJmdWoXzImeKDQ7Yi8aO82Lt6b7p1/s1600/Hangar+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0h5Sqa3W9-okon-l7KmiGSJ6bOCdly9pYEs5YucCTU2Bdb1uIEn7_1A4T-0R3R2pA6adRD-QOyNbD7JvVZiM9r3Wku_uBk1tnsbPr_Ei3WXCEmgZJmdWoXzImeKDQ7Yi8aO82Lt6b7p1/s1600/Hangar+18.jpg" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now to get to Adult Rappers and the world of documentaries you've come via a fairly unconventional route, I believe you are currently a commercial director and you are the former DJ /producer of the tremendous group Hangar 18! That's a pretty unique C.V. How on earth did that happen?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Good question. I have no idea how I got here. I'm very, very lucky. People say that and usually it's some bullshit. I'm telling you legitimately, I know I am very lucky. My parents worked blue collar jobs. I went to public school. I'm not all that smart - I've been able to try on the life of a musician and decide it wasn't for me...not to mention I think I was horribly average. Most people don't even get that shot. I remind myself of that constantly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">So how did this happen? How did I get here? I love telling stories. I love moving pictures and I love poop jokes. I'm able to make a living doing two outta three. That gives me the opportunity to pursue passion projects like Adult Rappers. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the sum of all those experiences. I'm a lucky bastard.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I've seen it stated in previous articles and on blogs online that both yourself and Windnbreeze pretty much lost interest in the music business. Is there truth to this or was it just a case of people trying to attach a reason as to why a band with such a strong output just stopped?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, you're very kind. First, yes, the business of music is bullshit. As I said, I don't think I was very good at either the music or the business part. I think we all burned out on the business first and the music shortly thereafter. Second, my wife and I had our first child and her first year on earth coincided with our second LP. Something had to give on my end. I think I made the right choice. Musically it felt like the writing was on the wall too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you miss that part of your life at all or was it very much a 'that was then' situation? Do you still make beats at all?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love that part of my life. We had a fucking blast. I shared a tour bus with Shock G! Are you kidding? Every night I was like, "what are we doing here?" I just was not built for the life of a road dog...I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. It was amazing. I still boot up the MPC now and again, just for fun, I never save the beats. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: small;">Who wouldn't want to share a bus with this guy?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of questions I always like to see artists I'm a fan of answer, whilst cliched, is... who inspires your work and why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, man. Too many to list. I'm a 70's baby, so basically all the shit that's popular now that everyone who's under 30 thinks is the new shit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main purpose of the blog is to try and put people on to new stuff so we have a few favourites/recommendation questions for you. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First given that Adult Rappers is going to give a fresh new perspective on Hip Hop, what other film around Hip Hop culture would you recommend people check out?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old school. Style Wars. New School. Tha Carter. Both classics in their own right. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you watched anything worth checking out lately?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does the Twilight saga count? For sure, the one film from the last year I'm amazed how many music and film people haven't seen is Drive. If you're one of those people first get some friends to flog you with soap in the sock, Full Metal Jacket style. Then watch it. Best film of 2011 bar none. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you could put people onto any three films what would they be and why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3?! 3 films??? Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's go recent docs then; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) "It Might Get Loud" - because it's creative oxygen for anyone that's needed a little inspiration.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) "Bill Cunningham NY" - because, New York. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) "Inside Job" - everything else is derivative when it comes to current history.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you reading anything currently?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, any suggestions? Last great read was "Check The Technique" Brian Coleman.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What three books would you say are essential reading for one and all?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Koran</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you listening to currently?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike Eagle - 4NML HSPTL</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suicidal Tendencies - Self titled</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any Band of Horse LP</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alaska's new demos and whatever SYFFAL sends me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, why should everyone check Adult Rappers?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it's a story that's relevant to anyone that grew up a part of generation X. Anyone who's parents told them "go to school, get a "real" job work hard, get married and everything will work out"...especially if now you're out of work, half crazy and wish you took a different path - or at least tried. If you pump NWA "Straight Outta Compton" even with the kids in the car, this film is for you. Now I'm confused. What was the question?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's the interview, hope you all enjoyed it and make sure you keep an eye out for Adult Rappers mainly because it looks like it's going to be spanking but also because Paul Iannacchino is clearly a good dude, I'm not sure too many people would have agreed to do this interview! I'd like to thank him for agreeing to it and thank you all for reading.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost forgot, if you want to keep up with the progress of Adult Rappers or if you just think Paul seems like a decent sort then follow him on Twitter @pawlmadethis.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laters</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mechagodzeala</span></div>
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-84337849073527257852012-09-17T21:56:00.001+01:002012-09-18T07:33:47.576+01:00Essential Listening<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaqLmGWAfmkNVfJUd42hlgK36LszOL3fRZlbgrpvau0GfEwZ1AWa4px3fncBm4Ly13el5W-WQQX0frZzovFFbmJbhXu2I0d7IZREaQt8O899uZi0RFQji03rNLSB3ZNKqLyPsX2xRCJAH/s1600/Fingathing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaqLmGWAfmkNVfJUd42hlgK36LszOL3fRZlbgrpvau0GfEwZ1AWa4px3fncBm4Ly13el5W-WQQX0frZzovFFbmJbhXu2I0d7IZREaQt8O899uZi0RFQji03rNLSB3ZNKqLyPsX2xRCJAH/s320/Fingathing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken from Farmfestival.co.uk (not sure who owns it)</td></tr>
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Today's review is going to be of the criminally slept on Fingathing and the Big Red Nebula Band. For those that are unfamiliar with Fingathing, the band consists of the classically trained Bassist - Sneaky (chap on the left), Artist - Chris Drury (centre), and Turnatablist and MPC wizard - Peter Parker (on the right). It's not your typical line up but then again they don't make your typical music.</div>
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Fingathing are generally found in the instrumental Hip Hop section at most retailers/online outlets but it is very hard to actually categorize the music that these guys make. I've seen them listed as Trip-Hop, Nu-Jazz, Dance, Electro, and countless others. The easiest way to label the music, if you absolutely have to, is to file it under awesome.
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Now Fingathing and the Big Red Nebula Band is the third full length release from Manchester's own Fingathing and is a prime example of a band reaching a whole new level in their ability. Whilst their debut LP 'The Main Event' served as a great introduction to the band and showcased the rawness of how well the turntable and bass can compliment each other (key tracks - Head to Head and Big Monsters Crush Cities), and the follow up 'Superhero Music' put across more of the band's personality and took the warped concepts Fingathing put out there up a notch (key tracks- Ogre and title track Superhero Music), for me Big Red Nebula was a release that should have put them over in a massive way. I cannot for the life of me understand why this album isn't considered to be the classic it so rightly deserves to be and hopefully with this blog I can encourage more of you to check it out and discover a type of music you never knew you'd love.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Drury does not mess about</td></tr>
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Big Red Nebula band is a concept album, and it picks up from where Superhero Music left off. These concepts are one of the things I love about the band, not only are they giving you a narrative for their album which I think gives the whole thing a bit of focus that's missing from a lot of albums, but it shows that they give a damn about what they put out there, they're taking extra time creating a story for their album and also have the ridiculously talented artist Chris Drury bringing another perspective to their musical creations to life with his artwork (one of the elements of Hip Hop that is sorely lacking these days). The concept of this album is, and stick with me on this one, Parker and Sneaky are floating through space in metal coffins after faking their own death at the end of previous album Superhero Music, the coffins are basically picked up by a bunch of alien musicians (Big Red Nebula Band) and essentially a massive jam session and madness ensues, with giant robots, re-animation, and interstellar joy-riding all on the cards there is a little something for everyone. There is more to the concept than that but hopefully you can all discover that for yourselves when you pick this album up (go on, they deserve your hard-earned).<br />
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Once we get past that ridiculous yet epically brilliant concept we are left with thirteen tracks, thirteen tracks of sheer brilliance that ranges from hauntingly beautiful soundscapes to futuristic bleeps and whirrs over heavy pumping drums and almost everything in between. As is standard I would like to talk about a few of what I see as the biggest tracks on this album (although I could honestly rant about every single track on this album) so I will start with....<br />
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Walk In Space - This is the album opener and serves as a great introduction for where this album is headed. The combination of soothing strings, the fat bass line, dope spaced out cuts, and crisp drums are delivered with a swagger that befits a band at the top of their game.<br />
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Themes From The Big Red - A bizarre track that manages to be both ethereal and downright filthy at the same time. There is a real airy quality to this track and the intro in particular sounds like you could float away on it but then there is also a really filthy bass line, the kind of bass line that was clearly played with that classic bass stank face. Add to that the crazy 50's sci-fi sounds that Parker is cutting in and you have a real giant of a track. The last couple of minutes of this track are all business, there is a great build to it and it has an epicness about it that for some reason makes me think of a colossal fighter making his way to the ring for a fight he'll never lose. Huge song.<br />
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Rock The Whole Planet - This is a great club track for me, there is so much rawness in this song and it has a real Hip Hop vibe to it. Go check the iTunes Hip Hop of the week list right now, look at all them rappers like 2 Chainz (how's he keep popping up?) and know that in their whole career they will never make a track as dope or thug as what Fingathing do here and I will guarantee they sure as hell won't manage that shit in space either! (Author's note - It's a scientific fact that things are always better INSPACE, think of an activity and add IN SPACE to the end. Infinitely better right? Even with things like eating a sandwich...IN SPACE).<br />
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Cluster Buster - Fingathing are comprised of a turntablist/MPC wiz, a bassist, and an artist. It says so right at the top of this post, so now we have to ask ourselves how two musicians, who aren't shredding it on guitar, can rock as hard as these dudes do on this track? The drums are ridiculous and the bass is heavy, I dare you to listen to this song and not nod your head, not rock a stink face, and not feel pumped up by it. If you can manage that then I'm afraid you're dead inside, also stop reading my blog, there's probably nothing here for you, nothing at all (Actually don't stop reading, I appreciate the views and I'm sure we'll agree on something eventually).<br />
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Lady Nebula - How do you follow the pounding ferocity of the previous track Cluster Buster? Well if you're Fingathing you play the chilled out wonder that is Lady Nebula. An astonishingly beautiful song that sounds as though Sigur Ros are hurtling towards the Sun in a broken spaceship (probably one of the best compliments I'll ever give a song). If you aren't into the heavier stuff check this out.<br />
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Return To Ert - Starting off like some Ennio Morricone score, which is an influence you can hear throughout the Fingathing back catalogue, then beefed up by the Hip Hop drums and layered cuts that Fingathing are so adept at creating, this track is a great end to a great album. If this was put out in DJ Shadow's name then it would be on every advert ever made, every Super Sunday montage ever created, and would be widely regarded as one of the greatest instrumental Hip Hop tracks ever made. This track will make your life better, that is a scientific fact.<br />
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I've covered almost half of the album so I'll leave it at that because hopefully some of you will actually go out and check this band, I urge you to try something you may not have heard before. If I haven't quite sold this album to you then consider the following, if someone asked me to write a tagline for this album (this is my reviewer soundbite), I would describe the album as...'like John Carpenter, reinventing Electro, in a back alley church on Mars'. I would mean every word of that shit too.<br />
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It's also worth noting that the album is co-produced by James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco fame and also producer for the Klaxons 'Myths of the Near Future', Test Icicles 'For Screening Purposes Only', and most of what Arctic Monkeys have put out. He also produces for Florence and Those Other Guys which television and magazines tell me you kids love so get involved.<br />
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Please check the band out and if you ever get the chance try and catch them live as they really do put on one hell of a show, the Fingathing and The Fiends show is still one of the Top 5 shows I've ever been to. Also they are coming back and have put out some new material recently and you can go to the following site to not only stream a funking spectacular new track but you can also download it for free! Free music everyone (well free and without you having to steal it you dirty internet thieves)! CHECK IT OUT...<br />
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<a href="http://manmademonster.viinyl.com/">http://manmademonster.viinyl.com/</a>
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I have deliberately avoided posting any of their tracks for you to listen to because you really should search these guys out.<br />
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I'm out.<br />
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-89942572516341964592012-09-15T19:45:00.002+01:002012-09-15T19:45:24.954+01:00Jukebox ChampionsSo I saw the following video the other day and I liked it, figured I'd post it on here in case someone else might enjoy seeing them. I don't really know anything about these dudes other than what you'll see in the video. Enjoy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0332Lrx-IKU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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What the hell, here's another one.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8H4hzaTuDhE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Laters<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYpsNNITAdS-bX6Nr5ohhQIWKxwl5uDh2B_bJhAVA3eHhZhjNt0bns-cq5XwtdIjuvU3ibbMAqB02aC5TPQTByQsT_hH3IuonWX0pUfAVafHOuAqglCHWxtlw2XFH1flMMnwMhzjthff0/s1600/Mechagodzeala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYpsNNITAdS-bX6Nr5ohhQIWKxwl5uDh2B_bJhAVA3eHhZhjNt0bns-cq5XwtdIjuvU3ibbMAqB02aC5TPQTByQsT_hH3IuonWX0pUfAVafHOuAqglCHWxtlw2XFH1flMMnwMhzjthff0/s200/Mechagodzeala.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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MechagodzealaMechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-89313414582082726842012-09-10T20:14:00.000+01:002012-09-18T07:40:33.144+01:00A Couple More RobotsSo there are a couple more Adult Rappers robots to show. I went for a pun with the Taxi Driver effort because I'm a child. The MCA tribute is the robot from the Intergalactic video throwing up some graffiti, loved doing that and cheers to the guy that made the request. Check-check-check em out!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpP9sRSNYC_OgvTKYP9HyTGic5SX0HRcE0FjqpwpWAF08jj5XtEDVvJhoDnkuY3Tal_AaogDyvusnUbiymmgRv_cS_I2dZkUnP4ir5R7cK_PiuHOdsNKKmOG6iSO1J0axk9uOVtYMIhCC/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpP9sRSNYC_OgvTKYP9HyTGic5SX0HRcE0FjqpwpWAF08jj5XtEDVvJhoDnkuY3Tal_AaogDyvusnUbiymmgRv_cS_I2dZkUnP4ir5R7cK_PiuHOdsNKKmOG6iSO1J0axk9uOVtYMIhCC/s320/photo+(14).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robo De Niro</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MCA Tribute </td></tr>
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-7986435691711720462012-08-26T20:34:00.002+01:002012-08-26T20:34:08.369+01:00This is how I spend my time...A little while ago I wrote about a Kickstarter project called Adult Rappers, rather than explain it all again check the link and you can see what it's all about.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adultrappers/adult-rappers">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adultrappers/adult-rappers</a>
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As the donation end date neared it did look like Adult Rappers might not quite make it so as an added incentive to potential backers I offered up a reward for backers. I really wanted this film to get made so along with my donation I offered to draw a shit robot for everyone that backed the project. It turns out that I needn't have made such an un-appealing offer because Adult Rappers met it's funding target with ease. Some people, clearly trying to see just how shit these robots would be, have since claimed their robots.</div>
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I'm going to go all Tony Hart (I don't know what the non-British equivalent would be) and put up a little gallery of the robots. For anyone that has backed Adult Rappers and not yet claimed their robot feel free to hit me up on Twitter (@Mechagodzeala) or leave a comment and I'll get it done.</div>
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Now enjoy the following badly drawn robots.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjpjxChCtWQ0gKChJ0vtfWF9ZhupTJqNHD8GNpRE-b9GoFDJiAYpH23p5mH36alkFZmhbwrl-xtBcAZRngIueOmzuww9YjR3LZOtWRAQ9Rispx8AGhsM8dgHszBKXDoWwyrUdA-bUtJPi/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjpjxChCtWQ0gKChJ0vtfWF9ZhupTJqNHD8GNpRE-b9GoFDJiAYpH23p5mH36alkFZmhbwrl-xtBcAZRngIueOmzuww9YjR3LZOtWRAQ9Rispx8AGhsM8dgHszBKXDoWwyrUdA-bUtJPi/s320/photo+(6).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dude is the director of an online art school. I'm far too pleased with myself for the apple logo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn0pzElnFzpyX1IqjumT6_pyjXhU9IYHP1zU3FjgRzA3u840O8mTh1kbu8jpEk99K3y_qaws_1A5CJXOPdZPFvqtIrsxa5cbn3_R_GWFanCHar4-VnqkLm8CRiVMddujoIHDOSmR-QBiF/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn0pzElnFzpyX1IqjumT6_pyjXhU9IYHP1zU3FjgRzA3u840O8mTh1kbu8jpEk99K3y_qaws_1A5CJXOPdZPFvqtIrsxa5cbn3_R_GWFanCHar4-VnqkLm8CRiVMddujoIHDOSmR-QBiF/s320/photo+(4).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@Jakemoney is all I had to work with. Jake 'The Snake' Robots + Money = Done</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zPntaZmcJHN8_h0coI9c8kTVBNU7AMIdPjLB_bb2l9-PRg3U66xT7tLYtbHiLlVY-Mhf4nabdl79Q4rc9iXlTQo0Zi6WTIrwMIksKyRxlc0xAAeiwLEAB1SU6dUbUw6wtMYXIElSl8po/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zPntaZmcJHN8_h0coI9c8kTVBNU7AMIdPjLB_bb2l9-PRg3U66xT7tLYtbHiLlVY-Mhf4nabdl79Q4rc9iXlTQo0Zi6WTIrwMIksKyRxlc0xAAeiwLEAB1SU6dUbUw6wtMYXIElSl8po/s320/photo+(12).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy wanted a robot version of the cover for his upcoming EP.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNDbVgO7zUEadCQ512_PJvnIug8Mrlp3zsBwpxVHr6yzQOQqC1tBs6GdekaR_0XH8IDi6AmbaNH1z_Ofc9sg7y23gQbB9wG-RyUXdwJkCd-ZhYisaAE06dZqDScAx4NnQvnlV4o9OsAIw/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNDbVgO7zUEadCQ512_PJvnIug8Mrlp3zsBwpxVHr6yzQOQqC1tBs6GdekaR_0XH8IDi6AmbaNH1z_Ofc9sg7y23gQbB9wG-RyUXdwJkCd-ZhYisaAE06dZqDScAx4NnQvnlV4o9OsAIw/s320/photo+(11).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@Frankiepancakes got a robot making pancakes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbZm9WJeHNtxaBgbXuaMpK1c1y7_377RKaGpZzTnVefOZTsIbs4DHzOQOfvfpJXBd1J3UYEFAV6KAuxmzXlIZiAwZRUzOTQaufZQq_-lA5fVjfVxzIUOm253Npbjh4tDGPSdoraj9j5Go/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbZm9WJeHNtxaBgbXuaMpK1c1y7_377RKaGpZzTnVefOZTsIbs4DHzOQOfvfpJXBd1J3UYEFAV6KAuxmzXlIZiAwZRUzOTQaufZQq_-lA5fVjfVxzIUOm253Npbjh4tDGPSdoraj9j5Go/s320/photo+(5).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girl backed it and demanded one...@Wenderwoman gets a robo Wonder Woman but ginger.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXa78IQY1ysLzrSdmw9j2P9OA3gCBaqBzbN4-Gz-1IvVAYGo5JyhsNwYG8e7gETPPDoMna1jvZUygEdrny9Mu4gWQLPimVTUK63gHwCvJzL30wtV53YJp5orRuevS-fAPLtFknZwhwVNz/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXa78IQY1ysLzrSdmw9j2P9OA3gCBaqBzbN4-Gz-1IvVAYGo5JyhsNwYG8e7gETPPDoMna1jvZUygEdrny9Mu4gWQLPimVTUK63gHwCvJzL30wtV53YJp5orRuevS-fAPLtFknZwhwVNz/s320/photo+(7).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attackosaur got his beloved dino vs Mecha Van Damme. Check the splits.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPSHDKHL6TCS91rNsZ_pWETUQNm4RDvNlZRnIQsdDoQga-2Q37jxW4IcXfQ8F85il0TLIbjo8XqNHSDdyktcyeyvwb1A5xRxCoR8mErbhFH7tEakEu5ETXgauwwrFBjxiiOwX_KImoxpj/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPSHDKHL6TCS91rNsZ_pWETUQNm4RDvNlZRnIQsdDoQga-2Q37jxW4IcXfQ8F85il0TLIbjo8XqNHSDdyktcyeyvwb1A5xRxCoR8mErbhFH7tEakEu5ETXgauwwrFBjxiiOwX_KImoxpj/s320/photo+(8).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dude is an editor/director. I did a director directing a scene from Profondo Robo. I am far too pleased with myself for that pun and robo-recreation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L6W_WbynOUB6zKc_76qRalUSCyjIcqiYNlexpdvTAWt2aowkkGWqS_OkfEQz4WYsi_al-Xys37fGFIKOlxs9zJpJes9Y-gyUZJxJjFSy6LKxFEihCWBiqw7q0qUmQpUNSHX3h7IdnTdU/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L6W_WbynOUB6zKc_76qRalUSCyjIcqiYNlexpdvTAWt2aowkkGWqS_OkfEQz4WYsi_al-Xys37fGFIKOlxs9zJpJes9Y-gyUZJxJjFSy6LKxFEihCWBiqw7q0qUmQpUNSHX3h7IdnTdU/s320/photo+(9).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy has been watching a lot of Kung Fu lately, he gets Bruce Lee battering Han. I know the outfit is from a different movie but I make the rules.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfQIBE-3oYyPMO5vialwU4cpHfl9jh-uIC8ydsdNYcVTkon6DLpd9ddkKoZF5lZ5egg2NIulJLCvcF4VC6SSBAkd3ElAMFA8eZG1joQYFXyjsxwP2N-YK8KJkJGviCRoAVe2MLSyZhZv9/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfQIBE-3oYyPMO5vialwU4cpHfl9jh-uIC8ydsdNYcVTkon6DLpd9ddkKoZF5lZ5egg2NIulJLCvcF4VC6SSBAkd3ElAMFA8eZG1joQYFXyjsxwP2N-YK8KJkJGviCRoAVe2MLSyZhZv9/s320/photo+(10).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy is a teacher so he got a classroom scene...Binary 101!!! I am such a wit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfOmvg9h9-8F08i9zEUO-EUPDErJXZRSkWpbn9riAucAfWnbVCjSKUlMh4w-nUXWkOPkxtPb7WkLiEgGv-SkYOax79u_9Am4-ADMczZWIx93BJ6BsdPckoApVQI9KFlWw8VGM3mszQOOF/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfOmvg9h9-8F08i9zEUO-EUPDErJXZRSkWpbn9riAucAfWnbVCjSKUlMh4w-nUXWkOPkxtPb7WkLiEgGv-SkYOax79u_9Am4-ADMczZWIx93BJ6BsdPckoApVQI9KFlWw8VGM3mszQOOF/s320/photo+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The request was Syffal tee, cane, bees, and a massive set of swingers. I also included a Hobot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRy7VIlNaaP7dMtER-33raO8Hu9-nQEAOLUIGArUcAYW5-jAflt06oX2xQKhlykx_PKUQoGGypjvkRuBr6QUsEo4GJk609Y2sf1aVv-v06rLvHGNAliF-INIlxucXKJYltfJK9ejLYVXL/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRy7VIlNaaP7dMtER-33raO8Hu9-nQEAOLUIGArUcAYW5-jAflt06oX2xQKhlykx_PKUQoGGypjvkRuBr6QUsEo4GJk609Y2sf1aVv-v06rLvHGNAliF-INIlxucXKJYltfJK9ejLYVXL/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dude was retweeting for this project like you wouldn't believe so he got the first robot, he also had Egypt in his Twitter handle so, you know, pyramids and that.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Director of the project, he got a Director asking to see a young rappers parents.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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Before anyone mentions it, yes I am a grown man. I don't care because robots are the shit and this film is going to be tremendous. I will post up more as and when they are done, I'm working on one at the moment I just can't decide on the finishing touches. If any Adult Rappers backers want one, hit me up.<br />
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Laters yo!<br />
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Mechagodzeala<br />
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<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-57403036060257928112012-08-25T22:58:00.001+01:002012-09-20T21:28:13.939+01:00Ain't no Hipiau Hopiau***WARNING***<br />
I initially started this whole blog in an attempt to just talk about the stuff I was into at any given time, to be positive about some of the art out there and hopefully encourage some folks to check my recommendations out and maybe find something that they might end up enjoying. I didn't want to review stuff that wasn't good because quite frankly there isn't a lot you can gain from a review that isn't good, sure you may steer clear of a potentially bad album/film but so what? That's nothing like the thrill of discovering something that you get, that speaks to you on some level and that will bring you good times. Now anyone that's met me will know full well that I love a whinge and I'm pretty opinionated when it comes to films/music/books (I'm a bit of a dick about it to be honest). Whilst I am genuinely trying not to be a great big moaning vagina about things please allow me this one slip and now that I've enabled the comments section so that you don't need to sign in, feel free to tell me that I'm an end.<br />
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There are two factors that triggered this post and I want to properly explain why this got me thinking so much about the genre I love. The first was a conversation I had with a colleague, now I should state that I have a tendency to speak like I'm gangsta (check the a) and tell people that they are so un-down that they're up when they don't understand what I'm saying, this amuses me because I am pretty much one of the whitest people out there. See below for proof.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how white I look at the exact time I am writing this blog.</td></tr>
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It was during one of these nonsensical, accusing my co-workers of being super white moments that I asked if my colleague was in fact a fan of Rap or Hip Hop(the genre not necessarily the culture). The reply was that whilst she wasn't really into the genre she will listen to things like Eminem when he has a Dido or whatever singing the hook. She wasn't into the delivery of rap music and much preferred a nice melodic voice over a beat. Now that's a fair point, rapping isn't to everyone's taste and music is one of the most subjective things out there so I can't really argue with it, each to their own and all that.<br />
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My colleague did however offer up another explanation about why this genre doesn't really grab her..."I don't like how it's all about sex,drugs and violence". Now this got me thinking hard, and to an extent I can see her point. A very large part of Hip Hop is about exactly those things, some of the best Hip Hop ever made is exclusively about those three things but then again so much of it isn't. There are truly great artists that don't rhyme about those things, artists like De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, sure those topics come up every now and then but they certainly aren't defining elements of their music. It's kind of unfair to tarnish all of Hip Hop with the same brush and I think it's worth pointing out that that the themes most people see as a negative thing in Hip Hop are themes that pop up in the work of artists working within all genres. The Beatles sang about drugs, Marvin Gaye sang about using sex as some kind of medicine, shit even the 'cream' of UK pop once covered Lou Reed's song Perfect Day for Children in Need! Children in Need!!! Surely there can't be many more inappropriate songs to sing on behalf of a children's charity? Turn on the likes of Radio 1 right now and they'll probably be playing a Lady Gaga or Rihanna song about sex. Now in my opinion Rihanna singing about S&M in a song aimed at 12 year old girls is far worse than Wu Tang telling me they ain't nuthing to f' wit.<br />
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Now for every Guru trying to elevate the art form there is a Ludacris yelling 'move bitch get out the way' (I must admit I have time for Luda though) so I'm not going to pretend that all of Hip Hop is socially conscious but I genuinely believe that if most people listened to a fun track like DJ Format & Abdominal's 'Ugly Brothers' or classic shlitz like Jurassic 5's 'Concrete Schoolyard' they'd like it. Those are two prime examples of what is great about the art form yet it isn't necessarily the kind of thing a lot of folks who aren't into the genre, would think of when they thought of Hip Hop. It's certainly not what a lot of people are exposed to here in Wales so why would they think of it? I didn't think of the fact that my colleague has probably never been exposed to the kind of kind of thing I considered to be the best examples of Hip Hop until I got home and was having a look for the release date of the new Doom album. This is where the second trigger for this post kicked in.<br />
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I was checking the JJ Doom release date on iTunes so was having a look in the new Rap/Hip Hop releases, at the top of the page they have a couple of links to new albums that iTunes think you should check out. On this occasion the top link was to an album by an artist called 2 Chainz, I'd never heard of 2 Chainz but there he was at the top of the page, the first thing anyone in the UK would see when they looked up Rap/Hip Hop on iTunes. I popped across to the YouTube and looked for a song by 2 Chainz, there was a lot on there and the top one was featuring Nicki Minaj, this set some alarm bells because I've heard people talking about this Minaj character like she's some kind of Lady Gaga. I'm not really into that kind of thing but I gave it a go because apparently this should be the top thing I check in the world of Hip Hop right now. I clicked on the song, alarmingly titled 'I Luv Dem Strippers', I proceeded to lose 4 minutes of my life, 4 minutes I would never get back, 4 minutes that prompted me to lose plenty more time drafting this blog, 4 minutes that I would have preferred to spend smacking my own junk with a claw hammer. I know I've said earlier in this post that music is a very subjective thing and as a result it is ridiculously difficult to say whether or not a song is good or bad,but this is the exception to the rule and I can say without question that this is a terrible song. Firstly 2 Chainz is way too old to be making a song called 'I Luv Dem Strippers', he's also way too old to be spelling things that way.The beat sounds like it was nicked from a cut scene from some Grand Theft Auto knock off and the lyrics... just wow!!! The chorus to this song goes like this...<br />
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"Yeah, I love them strippers x 4<br />
In my foreign car, got the trunk by the engine<br />
So when I back back, I'm fronting on you n*ggas"<br />
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What the actual fuck is that? Please someone tell me and while you're at it explain this shit...<br />
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"All my bitches different, all my diamonds glistening<br />
My weed so loud, everybody listen<br />
They say it's for the birds, so I bought a kilo<br />
My boost mobile chirping, it must be my amigo"<br />
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That's not even the worst part of this song, Minaj is hell bent on outdoing 2 Chainz bullshit with her own. For starters there's the demented ooh noise she makes on a couple of occasions that sounds like she held a queeff in so long it came out of her mouth, then there is what I would say is the worst line I've ever heard.<br />
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"Bitches stay pressed, I call them a space bar"<br />
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That is terrible, to me it's worse than Lil Wayne's "Real G's move in silence like lasagna" and it even pips whoever the hell said "Like David Beckham I keep a mean shoot down".<br />
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My colleague wins at this point because she is dead right about Hip Hop. This song is everything that is shit about Hip Hop and it's also what iTunes has deemed to be the pinnacle of Hip Hop right now. The world is a terrible place at times and this is a prime example of one of those times.<br />
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To anyone reading this thinking to themselves "well yes it's a shit song but what do you expect? It's iTunes. Go to a store and look for some new music, don't rely on Apple to spoon-feed you new tracks, you only have yourself to blame". You have a point, but this is North Wales. I have to drive for 45 minutes to get to a CD shop that sells anything outside of the Top 40, I actually have to drive into a different country to get to a record store that sells Hip Hop, so iTunes and the internet are the way I get my music. A lot I get is from Amazon and Ebay so I can get decent stuff but the problem is how do I know which stuff to get? This is the big issue and I think it's the reason my colleague doesn't like Hip Hop. She has never been exposed to what in my opinion is the greatest examples of Hip Hop. When people listen to the radio in Wales they'll be exposed to Fiddy rhyming words he can't say properly and they'll be treated to Snoop phoning it in and reminding us exactly how you spell his name, they won't be exposed to Mister Jason and his posse cut, Edan the Humble Magnificent, or artists like Action Bronson. When they check out iTunes they'll see 2 Chainz and that's Hip Hop to them, that's all there is to it and that's real sad. Some people will like the style of the music and by virtue of the fact that 2 Chainz is all they are exposed to they'll get into that. I genuinely believe acts like DJ Format would be huge if people were exposed to it. I recently attended a Format gig in North Wales which was attended by all of 50 people, that may be generous, but I can assure you that had more people from the area turned up they would have seen something completely different to what they have previously experienced and in all likelihood they'd have enjoyed the hell out of it. For some reason though people aren't willing to just check new stuff out, they'd rather just take what Radio 1 is pushing on them.<br />
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For those who don't really know where Wales is or how far removed it is from the Hip Hop scene we have only ever had one real Rap group and that was Goldie Lookin' Chain. Here's a video so you can understand a little.<br />
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Many moons ago I listened to Nelly, now the only reason I did is because I liked Rap and it was one of the only examples of it I could get my hands on. I had a Beasties collection and I was into Wu Tang, Tupac, and Onyx after finding their music in the Urban section at OurPrice but I didn't have the internet, the radio only really played Hip Hop late at night and with Tim Westwood pressing his explosion button all over tracks, so I had no way of being exposed to more of the genre I was into most. Nelly started popping up in the supermarket so it was Rap I could get hold of and I did. I couldn't pluck groups from thin air to listen to so Nelly it was. When I was about 16 I found out one of my mates was into Hip Hop and he put me onto things like DMX, Tribe, De La, Ice Cube, and Public Enemy (it was this friend's older brother that gave me my treasured Beastie Boys tape way back when). I started to realise that Nelly was actually a pretty poor example of the genre. A few years later I was fortunate enough to meet a guy in a Hip Hop band and he put me on to the likes of DJ Format, El-P, Edan, and MF Doom, that's my music now. Through acts like these I get to experience the genre I love and I get to see it taken in new directions and I've discovered just how lazy and dull Nelly was/is but without meeting the people mentioned above I never would have been put on to any of my now favourite artists, I probably wouldn't be so into this genre, and I'd probably be listening to 2 Chainz right now!<br />
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Unfortunately for some inexplicable reason, the music we are exposed to, isn't actually the best music out there. For some reason that would take me countless blogs to try, and fail to understand, the music industry doesn't seem to want you to listen to great artists making great music. It's no wonder my colleague thinks Hip Hop is a bit shit, as far as what she's heard goes, it is. If someone was telling me Rock music was brilliant but the only Rock I'd ever heard was Nickelback then I would quite rightly think that this person was an idiot. We can only go off what we are exposed to, with that in mind could anyone reading this that isn't into Hip Hop or has similar views to my colleague please go and check out some of the artists mentioned in this blog? Not 2 Chainz though (I have deliberately not linked his song here because I don't want it to have the YouTube hits, please take my word for it when I say it is a travesty). If you are into what the snobbish and over-opinionated nobs like me would call 'real Hip Hop', please make someone you know that's not into the genre listen to what you think is a prime example of everything that's good about the genre. See if you can change the perception.<br />
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If anyone wants to suggest a couple of tracks they believe to be some of the finest in Hip Hop please post a comment. I'm always on the look out for new stuff and as I've mentioned we don't really have our finger on the pulse here in North Wales.<br />
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I leave you with a little De La Soul as a prime example of how good Hip Hop can be and how the themes that are often seen as a negative can be dealt with a far superior manner than when the likes of 2 Chainz address them.<br />
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<br />MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-42855030272788602472012-08-25T22:58:00.000+01:002012-08-25T22:58:00.766+01:00CommentsA couple of folks told me that they couldn't leave a comment without signing in so I've tried to fix that now. You should be able to leave all the abuse you want without signing in so feel free. If you have to be horrible try to only be horrible towards me and not each other, cheers.<div>
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-62118595945309076832012-07-10T00:02:00.001+01:002012-07-10T00:16:58.921+01:00Interview - Martin Smith<span style="background-color: #444444;">I'm going to try something a little different and hopefully I can keep this going as a feature, the plan is to try and get an interview with people whose work I'm into. I'll try and get an insight into why they do what they do and also what kind of stuff they're into themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Without further ado, here's my first interview! Ladies and gentlemen Mr. Martin Smith</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #444444;"><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: yellow;">First of all, for those unfamiliar with your work, tell us a little about yourself</span></b><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: yellow;">.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">I'm Martin, a Welsh small press comic creator of superhuman size and strength! I write and self-publish horror comics under the Attackosaur banner, selling them at various UK conventions and through my website, the snappily titled <a href="http://attackosaur.com/"><span style="color: red;">Attackosaur.com</span></a>. My hobbies include labouring away at a film degree at Aberystwyth University.</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b style="background-color: #444444;">Why Attackosaur Comics?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">In an effort to appear more professional than I actually am - more like a company and less like a guy with £60 worth of software and a box of comics under his bed - I thought I should use some kind of logo. Marvel have one. I needed more things that they have. With dinosaurs being my one true love and the only thing I'm any kop at drawing (not that much kop, mind), I settled on Attackosaur. It's a dinosaur, but he attacks things. Instead of dino-ing things. Naturally.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">How and why did you get into the comic book industry?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Sadly, I don't think I'm in it. I'm super excited to be part of the UK small press industry though, if industry is the right word. I got into making comics through film. For years, I'd spend every waking hour writing film scripts. Eventually, I realised that I was always having to scale my ideas back for financial or taste reasons ("There's no way I can get an actor to do <i>that </i>on camera!"). Then, I think I saw the movie adaptation of <i>American Splendor </i>and realised that all comics aren't just made by huge companies sitting on scripts for years at a time. Having been into them ever since reading <i>From Hell</i> as a teenager, I figured comics would solve all of the problems I'd had with the restrictions of screenwriting. Of course, it's completely different from screenwriting in almost every way, but by the time I understood that I was well into it and enjoying it as its own medium.</span> </div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">What was your first book and how do you feel about it now with hindsight?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">It was a slow-burning horror set during the Blitz called <i>Paralysis</i>. I find it impossibly clunky in places now - the story hits some of the right notes, but in really clumsy ways that would need much more room than I gave them - but I'm still proud of it. I still think it's a fun story, though it must've been a nightmare for the artist to draw all that talking and brooding. I was going for an old-fashioned Vincent Price kinda vibe and I think that still comes through. Just seeing the comic in print was magic, to be honest. I damn near did a little wee when I first saw someone else's drawing of a character I thought up.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">Over the course of your other releases how do you feel your skill as a writer has developed?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">My old scripts make me cringe a little, which is a good sign! The Arvon Foundation were amazing and gave me a grant to be able to attend a week-long comics workshop with Bryan Talbot (<i>Grandville, Luther Arkwright</i>) and Hannah Berry (<i>Britten & Brulightly</i>) which was invaluable, smashing home the insane amount of thought that needs to go into every detail of every panel. After devouring as many writing books as is humanly possible (anything by David Mamet or Scott McCloud is absolute gold), I'm much more confident with story structure. Still wonky on other things, mind! I'm currently digging into retro comics (e.g. Simon & Kirby) for inspiration.</span> </div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">I'm working with a top-notch artist named Nicolas Giacondino on a new exorcism-based comic called <i>Devil Executioner</i>. I'm lettering the pages for that as they come in. Not having a huge distribution machine or the brilliant marketing skills of a Stan Lee, I have to work in one-shots. Developing a series is a bit more than I can afford or handle at the moment. That said, I love one-shots. There's something satisfying about finishing a script and moving onto completely different material. All of them being self-contained gives me a handy leg-up with the sales aspect as well. It's much easier to convince someone to take a chance on a single comic.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">So do you think you may create a series later on down the road or are you happy to keep producing one shots?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">If I come up with a cool enough idea I'll be back on it in a flash for another one-shot. Quite happy to leave it at one if that doesn't happen, mind. A series is expensive stuff when you can't draw! (Though I'm trying to learn, so fingers crossed.
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">I'm hammering away at a couple of horrors. The first is a dirty little thing set in Wales - I'm trying to do a little for Wales of what Tobe Hooper did for Texas - and the other is a historical murder mystery set after the fall of the Knights Templar in the 14th Century. There might even be a sword-fight in that one!</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">You mentioned earlier that you're from Wales, and you've said you're working on something set in Wales. Do you think that being Welsh and in Wales helps or hinders you in any way or do you even think it has any influence on your work?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">It's a bit of a hindrance in that I'm pretty far away from most of the conventions and comic shops that I could otherwise pester into stocking one of my comics. As far as stopping me breaking in or anything like that, I don't think it matters that much. Alan Moore is a comics god and he's from Northampton. I can think of only one thing from Northampton, and it's him. As for how much it influences my work, I couldn't really say. It makes me want to write stories about Wales though, especially considering how invisible the country is in popular media. I wish that made Welsh stuff exotic in some way, but I don't reckon it does. The Scots and the Irish are always stealing our non-English thunder!
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">One of the features of your work, and in particular A Rope Around Your Broken Neck, is the depth of the research that seems to go into each book. Is the research a part of writing that you enjoy?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Love it! I tend to choose an idea to develop depending on how interesting the research is going to be. I sometimes get carried away and do more than is really necessary, but it always leads to new ideas and the sort of perspective you can't really get from anywhere other than real life accounts. If my knowledge of a subject completely comes from films and comics I've read about it, I feel like whatever I produce will be kind of false and removed from reality by an extra layer. If I write a story about a secret agent and don't go beyond watching Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible, I'm basing my story on a fictional account of reality and not reality itself. I've let someone else decide for me which are the most interesting parts of the job. I'd be writing a comic about spy movies rather than spies, if that makes sense</span>.</div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">Do you find that the story is easier to write once you get into the research or do you find it sometimes means you can't go in directions you were thinking about?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">It's easier when you find great little details you can use and when, as with <i>Paralysis</i>, the situation lends itself to the character's mood and the atmosphere, but it can totally mess with your plans. <i>A Rope Around Your Broken Neck</i> completely changed. The original pitch was '<i>The Fugitive</i> during the Great Plague of London.' Harrison Ford was going to have the plague and this doctor would chase him down in his creepy outfit. There was a big sword-fight at the end and everything! The research, though, was brutal. <i>The Great Plague</i> by Stephen Porter is one of the most horrific things I've ever read. What seemed like a fascinating subject at first, a fun backdrop for an action comic, was of course in reality one of the most tragic things to ever happen to the country. Reading account after account of slow, agonising death with weekly death tolls in their thousands stopped me from ever being able to write something as trivial as an action story in that setting. It's easy to gloss over it because it's not in recent memory, but think of having a half dozen 9/11s every week. I didn't feel comfortable using something like that as a backdrop. If that's in a story, for me, that <i>is </i>the story. I'd still like to rip off <i>The Fugitive</i> at some point, mind. I'll just have to set it somewhere nice.<span style="color: #500050;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">What do you hope to achieve in the future?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">It'd be lovely to be paid to write full time, but I'm perfectly happy to keep knocking out self-published comics until I am but a useless husk of a man. </span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">Right then seeing as the point of me setting up the site was to try and put people on to the stuff I enjoy and to be positive about the all the great art that's out there right now, I've decided that I'll try and get the people I interview to give a few recommendations for stuff to check out and an insight into their favourite films/books/music.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">From a creative stand point who influences you and why/how?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Kazuo Koike, definitely. The massive amount of research that seems to have gone into <i>Lone Wolf and Cub</i> is insane. It feels like you could read them as history books alone even if they didn't have those brilliant, mostly stand-alone stories. The amount of drama he can wangle out of the smallest details is astonishing. The other big one, I'd say, is the crime author Jim Thompson. The way he bends what could've been a run-of-the-mill genre piece like <i>The Getaway</i> into a deeply personal, massively disturbing story is blinding. He takes a bog-standard plot like "A couple of bank robbers escape from the law after a heist goes wrong" and when you put it down it feels like he's smashed you in the face with a shovel.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Oh, um. All sorts of horror films, video games, dragging my sorry near-corpse through music festivals, and that kind of thing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;"><i>The Green River Killer</i>. Brilliant serial killer story written by the son of the lead investigator on the real life case.<i> </i>With his personal connection to the investigator, it kind of reads like a serial killer version of <i>Maus</i>.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">Just to put you on the spot, could you please name your three favourite books of all time?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">All time favourite 3 books: I'll just go with comics. Top 3 novels would probably be all Jim Thompson ones anyway! <i>Lone Wolf and Cub</i> (Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima) for the reasons I mentioned earlier. The artwork is stunning as well. <i>Preacher </i>(Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon) for its absolute insanity. I re-read the whole lot like once a year and it just gets better. <i>Road to Perdition</i> (Max Allan Collins, Richard Piers Rayner) has to get a spot too. <i>Lone Wolf and Cub</i> meets <i>The Untouchables</i>. What's not to love? The comic has a great deal more crazy John Woo-style gunplay than the film (which was also brilliant) and the pen and ink style artwork rocks my socks. I love that kinda look. Eddie Campbell's ace at that.
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<span style="background-color: #444444;"><i>Indie Game: The Movie </i>is a brilliant indie documentary about the creators of <i>Fez </i>and <i>Super Meat Boy</i>. It's not technical at all. It deals with the pitfalls of creating art, that kind of thing. I can't help but feel for Phil Fish when he's standing around at a convention looking terrified as people walk past his game. I gave them $5 on Kickstarter. Best $5 I ever spent!
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<span style="background-color: #444444;"><i>Jurassic Park</i> is my all-time favourite anything by a country mile. Perfect cast, perfect score, ground-breaking effects that still look amazing, and all the dinosaurs you can eat. The scene where Sam Neill sees his first live dinosaur still gives me chills. The bit where the T-Rex looks through the jeep window still makes me do a little wee. I'm a big fan of westerns, but none of them have messed me up quite as much as <i>The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. </i>Casey Affleck's performance is seriously heart-breaking and the whole thing looks just stunning and the score by Nick Cave and (the other) Warren Ellis is... Well, I'm running out of different ways to call this film brilliant! The film I watch more than absolutely any other - not including a huge Fight Club phase I had ten years back - is a documentary called <i>American Movie</i>. I must've seen this thing about 50 times. It's about a guy who lives in the middle of nowhere trying to raise enough money to make his dream film. It's so funny that the first time I caught it on TV I assumed it was a <i>Spinal Tap</i> for film-makers. The main guy is a fascinating dude and something of a cautionary tale for anyone making their own stuff.
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">I'm absolutely useless at keeping up with new music, I'm afraid. DJ Format's latest album, mentioned in this fine establishment, is one of the best things I've heard in ages. Definitely go get that baby. Um. I'm loving a band (or just a man, I'm not sure) called College at the moment. They/he did that song from the super amazingly brilliant film <i>Drive</i>. Everything else I've heard is mostly instrumental stuff, but it's got a great 80s dancey vibe. One more. I won't lie. I'm listening to Justin Timberlake a lot. The man's pretty brilliant. Decent actor too!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">I'm not very good at describing why I like music and I still haven't come up with any more words for 'brilliant', so I'll make this bit quick. Rough top 3 off the top of my head would have to include Nine Inch Nails, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Joy Division.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: yellow;">Finally (in the interest of plugging your stuff) why should people check your stuff out?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Like Lloyd Kaufman, I don't have anyone to tell me off for writing stupid stuff. There's always the very real chance that it might get a bit too silly or a bit too personal. You don't tend to have that problem with Marvel stuff, brilliant as some of it is. This applies to the whole small press industry (I'm desperately trying not to use the word 'scene'). It's a great reason to try any self-financed, for-the-love-of-the-game comic books. If you can get to a convention, the place will be full of great comics trying things you'd rarely see come out of the big two. I once bought a Judge Reinhold mini-biography which came with a badge and a word search! I'm going to leave it to my grandkids! (If I don't have any, I'll leave it to someone else's.)
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">That's that and hopefully you all enjoyed the interview. Once again you should all go and spend a few pennies over at <a href="http://attackosaur.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">attackosaur.com</span></a> and support Martin.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;">Mechagodzeala</span></div>
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</div>MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-1028383312050745202012-06-12T19:35:00.001+01:002012-06-12T19:35:02.244+01:00Long Live The KaneJust wanted to post this video from Vlad TV of the genius that is Big Daddy Kane speaking about the Beastie Boys.<br />
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Laters<br />
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MechagodZeala<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfo7ZKKNw-ZK_Vr-3qncql6o2GtnIBgF6MsZgAZt9tih2ukycVr0xTjF89fpfbYGOkDuksgZCFIztOknTozflRmN4DiW2I-l0X7P7mZ5gisGbqh9Z1_PyUiHQKjzVbSSCbap_mJypKfLN/s1600/Mechagodzeala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfo7ZKKNw-ZK_Vr-3qncql6o2GtnIBgF6MsZgAZt9tih2ukycVr0xTjF89fpfbYGOkDuksgZCFIztOknTozflRmN4DiW2I-l0X7P7mZ5gisGbqh9Z1_PyUiHQKjzVbSSCbap_mJypKfLN/s1600/Mechagodzeala.jpg" /></a></div>MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-28646744972406643302012-06-12T19:14:00.001+01:002012-06-12T20:47:57.117+01:00Ain't No Clowns In This Posse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Apologies that I've gone quiet on here again but between work and the Summer League (a local football league I warm the bench in) I haven't had a lot of time to be active on here, I aim to rectify that this week.<br />
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This post is about the superb Mister Jason album Mister Jason presents: Frankensteez. Now prior to a few months ago my knowledge of Mister Jason began and ended with him being a producer on the MF Doom/MF Grimm collab track Doomsday. Honestly that's all I knew the dude for, I'm pretty late to the table on this one but better late than never. I noticed on Twitter that one of my favourite bands, Fingathing (review coming soon), linked to the Mister Jason song 'Mister Jason Has A Posse' so I checked it out. Four and a half minutes later I was picking up the pieces of my newly blown mind. This is the best Posse cut hip hop has ever heard! There are 26 rappers on this track!!! 26!!! I'll say it one more time...26!!! Each rapper spits four lines for their assigned letter of the alphabet over Mister's Jason's thumping drums and on point stabs. Now I'm not going to name every rapper on the track but there are names both familiar and new including Akrobatik, Edo G, Slaine, YZ, Thristin' Howl III, and Dizzy Dustin of Ugly Duckling. It also features a rapper named Riacha La Pasta, more on that soon. Now this posse cut is absolutely unreal and I don't think I'll be able to do it real justice so just check out the following video (please note that the video is every bit as tremendous as the track).<br />
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The album as a whole is every bit as head-turning as the ridiculous 26 rapper, can't stop saying that, posse cut previously mentioned. There are some big tracks on here and some real left-field tracks that are outside what you would normally expect on a hip hop album.</div>
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After a brief intro the album's first full track is Monster On The Rise. On vocals is I believe, could be wrong, a guy named K-No Supreme. He's not a rapper I've heard before but his smooth, laid-back tone fits nicely over a great beat that sounds like it should be pumping out of the stereo of a low-rider as it cruises through an Egyptian market. It's a great opener with a real catchy hook to it and some great turntable work from Mister Jason.</div>
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Another track that features K-No Supreme, again I could be wrong, is the simply brilliant 'The Medical World'. The vocals are a little more aggressive on this one and the beats a little less in your face. The drums are still pretty raw but we get some predatory sounding strings and some soft keys at the start which give way to the drums and what sounds to me like a 16 bit character jumping. The thing about this track that really got me involved though was the sample that runs through this song. He's sampling Joy Division's Transmission! On a hip hop album!!! Massive points to Mister Jason there, he's not happy with giving you a 26 rapper posse track, nah he wants to give the world a brilliant Joy Division sampling hip hop track. Unreal.</div>
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Another of my favourite tracks on the album is 'Renegades' featuring Riacha La Pasta and Eric Jalbert. The track is a great blend of futuristic space bleeps and old school horns. The drums drive along nicely and the bass is so bouncy it wouldn't sound out of place on a Jurassic 5 album. I'm hoping that at some point I'll be able to track down an instrumental copy of this album and in particular this track. Now Riacha La Pasta that features on this song and the previously mentioned posse cut is a bit of an interesting one for me. I've hit the internets to try and find out a little more about this rapper and I'm not finding anything! I've seen on one site that he is part of a hip hop group called Falsehood but all I could find attached to that was a Myspace page with a handful of cool songs that seemed to be linked to Mister Jason. That's all I've found. To me Riacha sounds like he might actually be one of my favourite rappers ever, Cool Calm Pete (formerly of Babbletron). I could be wrong on this one because as I say I can't find any info on it but that sounds exactly like the Cool Calm one. If it isn't him then at least we've got someone who sounds just like him so we have something to listen to while we continue to wait forever for a follow up to Cool Calm Pete's Lost (a truly phenomenal album). If anyone reading this can shed a little light on this for me it'd be much appreciated.</div>
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There is so much variety on this album that it would take me all day to go through the 17 tracks I haven't babbled about but rest assured there is plenty more there for you to enjoy from the flute heavy, Nabo Rawk featuring 'Monolith' to the funk dripped 'Black Angel'. This is a truly great album and I'd recommend it to all. It can be a little hard to get hold of here in Wales (I haven't found a physical copy) but it is available on iTunes for a mere £7.99 so go and support someone that's trying to take the genre to different places. You owe it to yourself to grab a copy of that posse cut alone.<br />
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I've been reliably informed by Mister Jason that you can grab a copy here <a href="http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/store/results.asp?searchby=Artist&keywords=frankensteez">http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/store/results.asp?searchby=Artist&keywords=frankensteez</a><br />
It's always better to be able to hold that shit in your hands.</div>
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I'm so glad I found this album as aside from being one of the best albums I've heard this year it's also put me on to some new stuff like Mister Jason's former group with Nabo Rawk, Porn Theatre Ushers (fingers crossed Wen hooks me up with the albums for my birthday on Thursday) and rappers like Reks or K-No Supreme who I'd never heard of before but will be trying to get music by.</div>
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Please check it out, you'll be better for it.</div>
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Laters</div>
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<br /></div>MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-7365916266415089062012-05-04T22:25:00.000+01:002012-08-26T17:46:20.953+01:00Adam Yauch/MCA 1964-2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He had a beard like a billy goat</td></tr>
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So a couple of hours ago I checked my Facebook timeline and saw a post that read "Oh, maaaaan. MCA!", my heart sank. I saw another that read "Can't believe MCA is dead!!! Horrible news! rip", my heart sank further. A news search later and those posts are confirmed. Adam Yauch, founding member of The Beastie Boys, has passed away at the depressingly young age of 47.</div>
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As anyone who has read this page before, or as those reading for the first time are about to discover, I'm not a guy who is going to write a series of beautiful words that perfectly describe what an absolute giant of music MCA was. All I can do is talk as a fan, as someone who's life was changed as a result of what Nathaniel Hornblower and his bandmates did, as someone who is gutted by the thought of a world in which a guy like MCA is taken far too soon.</div>
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I first got into The Beastie Boys at around 10/11 years old. My older sister had a few friends round and one of them was blasting some pretty weird stuff from the tape deck. I remember that Brass Monkey was what caught my ear and that was it for me, I didn't know what the hell these guys were on about but it sounded brilliant and it wasn't like anything I'd ever heard before. After a bit of pleading I managed to convince my sister's friend to let me keep hold of the tape, to be honest I think it was given to me as a way to get rid of me, a really effective way of getting rid of me. Over the next few weeks I never stopped flipping that tape. It was the first time in my life that I'd got that involved with music, I wanted to know everything about what this music was, where it came from, and who the hell was responsible. Unfortunately I didn't have the internets back then, hardly anyone did, I also live in a small village in North Wales which doesn't exactly have it's finger on the pulse. All I had to go on was the tape, it wasn't even a proper tape though, it was recorded and had Beastie Boys scribbled on the side in biro. I knew nothing about them but the fact that they were responsible for amazing songs like She's Crafty, Posse in Effect, Fight for Your Right, and what became my favourite song for the next year or so, Slow and Low. I'm sure the following statement is true for so many people but Beastie Boys were the first group I ever cared about.</div>
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Fast forward a year or two and I'm in Our Price in Chester, I'm rifling through the CD's and I see a Beastie Boy's album. At this point I'm still rocking the tape, I did until I was 17, so to find some new Beastie Boys music made for quite a day. After a tad more scanning I found another album, I pestered Mum a little and soon enough was the proud owner of two new albums: Paul's Boutique and Ill Communication.</div>
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As soon as I got home I popped Paul's Boutique in the player, sat back, and had my first listen.When To All The Girls played I was a tad confused. It didn't sound like the Brass Monkey guys, maybe the name on my tape was wrong? Then Shake Your Rump kicked in!!! I had the right album, and I had a favourite group. Shake Your Rump is to this day probably my favourite Beastie's song and back then it knocked the socks off the thirteen year old me. The rest of the album did not disappoint either and there is a damn good reason that it is held in such high regard and considered a game changer in Hip Hop. Songs like Egg Man, Looking Down The Barrel Of a Gun, and Shadrach are just huge. The whole album is as amazing to the 27 year old me as it was to the 13 year old North Walian experiencing it for the first time, I'm listening to it as I write this post and it's unreal just how dope it is. It was a couple of weeks before I ever got round to Ill Communication. </div>
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Now I could go through every Beastie album and talk about what it meant to me and how tremendous their work is but unless you've been living under a rock, you know this already. I haven't even mentioned songs like Intergalactic, Ch-Check It Out, Sure Shot, and the countless other go to songs everyone loves. From that cadged tape that hooked me, to Paul's Boutique which shaped my musical tastes so much, to To The 5 Boroughs (which is probably my favourite of their albums), to the Sounds of Science double disc (probably the only album my brother and I have ever both loved), all the way to the proving they still had it recent album Hot Sauce Commitee, The Beastie's have proven time and time again that they are straight up geniuses when it comes to the art of Hip Hop and their music has been a part of my and my generation's life.</div>
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I've seen musician's pass over the year's and I've never fully understood the reaction of so many people when the artists they look up to so much die. I mean I was saddened when Michael Jackson died but these things happen. I've always found it hard to understand how people can be so upset to lose someone they never knew. With the news of MCA's passing I understand fully. I can honestly say that had my girl not been sitting next to me when I found out this news I probably would have cried. I sure as hell felt like it but it seemed ridiculous to break down in front of someone over a guy I never had the pleasure of knowing. I guess music plays such an important part in our life and it soundtracks the highs and lows of every moment of it so it's natural to feel a connection to those responsible for the music we love. As a Beastie Boys fan, so much of my life is soundtracked by this group, I hear certain songs and it takes me back to periods in my life that mean something to me and it's crushing to know that one of them has been taken from the planet so early.</div>
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At the time of writing I don't know the cause of death. I know MCA had recently had cancer but by all accounts before the last album he'd beaten that which is why this was so unexpected.Maybe it wasn't beaten but whatever the reason a simple fact remains that between the music and the directing (he did a lot of the videos and directed the brilliant Awesome! I Shot That) we've lost a true creative force today and we lost him way too soon. I want to say thank you for all the great things I have enjoyed as a result of Adam Yauch and his fellow Beastie's, your work will always be greatly appreciated.</div>
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Thanks for reading</div>
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-62373202462696516922012-04-29T21:23:00.002+01:002012-04-29T21:35:59.882+01:00Let's Get This Done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSqFnx1mQ8WQeN3uQ3j2x75geD5vxnNsyGEhszP6jTUN9VtVmPwn6khiRl2t_XzZMHQWAQCmQ6EZQ9zECu6DcIN2yiL6qhi-xFQEzaX_V5cI1x_yPKJT92lPXpDpvbO6yscHFQ8WMs-Ve/s1600/Adult+Rappers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSqFnx1mQ8WQeN3uQ3j2x75geD5vxnNsyGEhszP6jTUN9VtVmPwn6khiRl2t_XzZMHQWAQCmQ6EZQ9zECu6DcIN2yiL6qhi-xFQEzaX_V5cI1x_yPKJT92lPXpDpvbO6yscHFQ8WMs-Ve/s1600/Adult+Rappers.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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This is just a quick plea to request that you please follow this link :<br />
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<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adultrappers/adult-rappers">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adultrappers/adult-rappers</a><br />
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DJ paWL formerly of the brilliant group Hangar 18, is making a film about rappers and what it's like actually being a rap artist in present day hip hop. From the looks of things it's going to give an insight into the side of the business we don't see, actually showing what it's like to work as a rapper like how we work in whatever our day jobs are. A more detailed explanation can be found at the end of that link up there.<br />
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Please check it out and help get this documentary made. For those of you unfamiliar with Kickstarter I'll give you a brief explanation, essentially the projects on this site need funding and they need it from you! The cool thing about this is that you are rewarded for your contribution, with better rewards the more you chip in. On this project for example there are numerous rewards for getting involved:<br />
$1 gets you a personal thank you email from The Director.<br />
$5 gets you a thanks in the credits! That's not bad for your name on a movie.<br />
$100 will actually get you in the movie! I'm gutted I don't live in America as I would be all over this one.<br />
There are loads of other rewards for you depending on the amount you want to donate so I'll let you check the link to see what you can get.<br />
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The other cool thing about this is that the money will not be deducted from your account until the closing date of the project and only if the target is met. If the full amount is not collected then you won't be out of pocket, if the goal is met then the money is taken and you get whatever shiny reward you were after and also the satisfaction of helping someone get their business done. Head on over to the site and give what you can, it would be a crying shame to see this project fizzle out. Please give even if it's just a dollar (that's 61p for us Brits, which is good value for a pleasant email from a member of one of my favourite rap groups, it is for me anyways).<br />
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If you could check it out I'd really appreciate it and if you can spare some coin then I'm sure the folks involved in the project would appreciate it too. If you would like to, check out the Twitter feed of DJ paWL on @Pawlmadethis and you can keep up to date with the progress of the project.<br />
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Thanks for reading<br />
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Mechagodzeala<br />
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MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9115571077238161112.post-81974139927340319712012-04-14T23:03:00.000+01:002012-04-14T23:03:03.371+01:00Cool Guy, Cool Car, Cool Jacket<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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If the title of this post and the Spanish poster up there weren't enough of a hint I'll be using this post to talk about Drive. Ryan Gosling stars as a stuntman/mechanic/cool as fuck getaway driver in this stylish thriller from Nicolas Winding Refn. I'm gonna get this right off my chest, this film made me wish I was Ryan Gosling. It's one of those films that oozes cool and the main character, Driver, is one of the baddest motherfunkers to ever grace a screen. Driver is a perfect mix of bad-ass traits, he doesn't seem to waste a single letter let alone word, he drives a 1973 Chevy Malibu (alright, I googled that), he looks like Ryan Gosling, and he dresses like only someone in a movie can. That jacket is straight gangster, a quilted white satin number complete with hardcore scorpion on the back. The moment I saw that jacket I wanted one, unfortunately I don't look like Ryan Gosling and I'm not in this film so there is no way I could ever get away with wearing one. To anybody else who really wants this jacket, the same applies to you! Don't believe me? Ask these dudes...</div>
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That's what I meant when I said only a movie character could get away with rocking that jacket.You have to look like a movie star to wear movie star clothes so don't bother. It'd be a challenge to rock that jacket even before you went and put a yellow scorpion on the back, whilst I'm on the subject of the scorpion I'm going to go a little fancy and chat some nonsense as to why it might be on his back, other than the brilliant aesthetic. Towards the end of the film Gosling's character references the fable of The Scorpion and The Frog. To anyone that is unfamiliar with that story I'll give a brief outline, basically a Scorpion wants to get across a river so he asks The Frog for a lift. The Frog says no because the scorpion will sting him, The Scorpion denies this and says that if he did then he'd drown and they'd both die. The Frog says alright and off they go, half way across The Scorpion stings The Frog. The Frog is all like 'Mate! Why'd you go and do that?'. To which The Scorpion replies 'I'm a Scorpion, I sting things. Do something.' Essentially the fable is trying to say that sometimes behaviour is irrepressible regardless of the consequence. This is certainly something that can be applied to Ryan Gosling's character as at times he doesn't seem to give a damn for the consequences of his actions and in researching this post I saw there are a few people who have picked up on this and made the Scorpion link. Personally though, I think he's more like the Frog in this story. I might be completely wrong on this but hear me out. Firstly on a straight up match, The Frog is giving The Scorpion a lift, he's the driver of the fable. The Frog (Gosling) agrees, naively, to enter the destructive world of The Scorpion (Criminals) leading to bad times for all involved. I think the most important thing that gives it away the Gosling is The Frog is that the Scorpion is on the back of his jacket just like The Scorpion on The Frog's back. In a film that is so precise and well thought out I can't accept that the back of his jacket isn't a well thought out representation of his character's situation.<br />
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Got my poor attempt at sounding like I understand films out of the way now so we'll get back to the proper stuff. The soundtrack!!! What a soundtrack!!! As amazingly cool and seemingly effortless as the rest of the film, the music is absolutely electric and well worth picking up. You know something is good when it starts getting used in shit adverts for mobile phones or ripped off by betting shops (Lonely Boy by Black Keys is a recent unrelated victim). The below song is a prime example of how brilliant the score is, it's also now being used in a mobile phone advert.<br />
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Now that's a song. It's also responsible for making me look like a dick. A few days after I saw the film I got the soundtrack. I'd also just got a new car, not a '73 Chevy Malibu but a Seat Ibiza. I was driving to work the next morning in my new car and I had my music on shuffle, it was a nice day and I had my fancy new electric windows down. Just as I pulled up to a set of traffic lights next to a middle aged woman on her own commute to work, the song embedded above started playing. I've just seen Drive and had been ranting to everyone about how cool that shit is and now here I was, driving, to that song that Gosling drives to, in my new car. I'll be honest in that moment I'm thinking to myself "I probably look exactly like Ryan Gosling right now". Out the corner of my eye I notice the woman I'm stopped next to is staring at me, probably because of the music that is blasting out of the car. She's staring and I think to myself "Even she is recognising how Ryan Gosling-like I am right now", so I gave her a nod, one of those slow motion smug nods, a nod that said "Yes woman! You are right, this dude right here is exactly like that Ryan Gosling you've seen on your tellybox". The lights then changed and I sped off at the speed of light to the NCP car park 200 yards up the road, feeling like I was one cool motherfunker. Once I'd got my early bird parking ticket and parked in the roomy spaces at the back I had time to reflect on what had just transpired. I realised that I figured I looked like this...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaCDVP8GDozQSIaUSXb_pmx-RTmYOx4tLlAev71RtEXAFdrl5mb84XPul1zIOOxvZuiTOhBo04Tl1_mBRb2o_RdJEoU6Xsp9LtD9qDcCyV0AFxtn67p0DiF51QxzoRZtfYbrrr025PKkP/s1600/Actual+Gosling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaCDVP8GDozQSIaUSXb_pmx-RTmYOx4tLlAev71RtEXAFdrl5mb84XPul1zIOOxvZuiTOhBo04Tl1_mBRb2o_RdJEoU6Xsp9LtD9qDcCyV0AFxtn67p0DiF51QxzoRZtfYbrrr025PKkP/s320/Actual+Gosling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gosling on set</td></tr>
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but I was actually looking something like this...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlGAHrZp91D2K8O6Ccc_nwsBYjy-1QGk2vrwnztZV90zTfdrBWajkHYEUkhcSpt5g3xqD0rA-Dpixp_aOlcCpPAgRRhyPth3bXOse-sJoo38LkI-Q4YRRESC3sRKwXDgipj3yPKFMgZbA/s1600/Not+Gosling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlGAHrZp91D2K8O6Ccc_nwsBYjy-1QGk2vrwnztZV90zTfdrBWajkHYEUkhcSpt5g3xqD0rA-Dpixp_aOlcCpPAgRRhyPth3bXOse-sJoo38LkI-Q4YRRESC3sRKwXDgipj3yPKFMgZbA/s320/Not+Gosling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in a Belgian hotel not in a car</td></tr>
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For anyone unable to tell us apart, Gosling is the cool one wearing sunglasses and gloves and I'm the overweight, bad beard sporting, ladies sunglasses wearing idiot. This incident and the guys at the top of the post wearing their Drive jackets are probably the only flaw I can find with this movie. It's so cool and such a brilliant movie that it makes idiots like me think that we could possibly be that cool if we did something a bit like the character I'm raving about. I can't be and the movie has given me false hope, to be fair though that is probably more of a flaw with me rather than the film.</div>
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I don't want to go into too much detail about the film because you really need to check it out if you haven't already. It's a ridiculously great film, that doesn't give a damn about back story or letting characters explain everything that's going on. The camera shows you everything you need to see to understand what is happening without wasting precious words, a key example is the scene where Gosling gets angry with a woman. Rather than getting all shouty and venting, we are made aware of his rising anger by the fact his fist is tightening as the scene goes on, the crackle of the leather gloves explains what dialogue normally does. Martin, the guy behind Attackosaur (previous blog), has explained to me that this film is exactly how David Mamet explains films should be made. If that's what Mamet says then I'm on board, hopefully I can rob the book from Mart at some point and I'll do a little edit and add to this point.</div>
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The supporting cast are all superb Carey Mulligan as the love interest is superb and there does seem to be a nice chemistry between her and Driver, just touching on my point from the previous paragraph, it is worth noting how little these two characters actually talk to each other in the film. Ron Perlman is cracking as the unpredictable criminal Nino, as is Albert Brooks as his more composed but no less dangerous partner in crime Bernie. There's also a great turn from Malcolm In The Middle's dad (Bryan Cranston) as Driver's boss and friend.</div>
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Superb film and well worth a look if you have a spare evening, just know going in that you will never be able to pull off that jacket or drive that way.</div>
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Later</div>
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</div>MechagodZEALahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03015082781469651085noreply@blogger.com0