Krautrock

Really feeling Germany these days:



Here is part one. Part six is just so frustrating without audio! Highly recommend though...

Winter 1:2 Mix

A day early.
Click on Steve to download.
Many thanks to the Neighbor Upstairs for introducing me to some great stuff, perfect for this promising Winter.
Why don't you start with Bill or Pete and end with Nico or Dino?

Elton or Bertrand?

Trying to decide which version to put on my mix for next month:

ATP

The crowd during the Pastels at the MBV curated ATP 'Nightmare Before Xmas,' Dec 2009

I told myself that last year's Coachella was going to be the last music festival I would ever go to (but I had said that the year before as well...) Well, at last year's Coachella, I left early (again) because it just became too painful. As much as I love going to see bands play live, I like quality, not quantity. My spirit was slowing breaking after the 99th band and I was feeling a bit claustrophobic...

Lately, going to see a band is more about the intimate experience and less about being with the general public. Yes this doesn't sound right but all I care about is seeing what the band sounds like live, how well they play their instruments, and whether or not they are dripping with charisma. The best place for this is not in the front or amongst the folk, it's leaning against the back wall or the preferable corner.

But when my band was invited by MBV to play this past December's ATP at Butlins, how was I suppose to refuse this ultimate honor? What's one more show right? Especially as something as special as this... MBV did an excellent job curating the festival. Best music festival experience ever...

I've never been to ATP but it's the kind of festival made for someone like me: it was relatively clean and not muddy whatsoever, all three stages were within one minute of each other, the on-site accommodation was not too shabby, and most importantly, I only saw one drunkard being taken away from the venue the whole weekend... Absolutely civilized. ATP is really about the music, well the kind of music I like and grew up liking. It felt intimate enough and being amongst the folk, who were just as into it as I was, there was no other feeling like it. Kindred spirits.

Do you know how fulfilling it was to have gotten the chance to finally see Television Personalities and The Pastels at last, two of my all-time favorite bands?

TVP's Painted Word is pure genius.



Pastels' Comin' Through is pure pop.

Ulrike Meinhof

Germany has never been my thing. I tried getting into krautrock in my teenage years and only got as far as Neu!*

The Deustch aesthetic encompasses a different kind of sensibility for me. I've found it challenging, ambiguous, and a little too intellectual and serious for me.

Perhaps I've heard of Ulrike Meinhof before but during this past holiday, I was formally introduced to her in Chris Kraus' first novel, I Love Dick. An epistolary novel, I Love Dick was very thrilling and fun to read. I loved how cultural theory and criticism were used to drive the plot. Now I'm reading Kraus' second novel, Aliens and Anorexia, which further delves into the life and activism of Meinhof. It's a pretty wild book.

Without realizing what it was about, I went to a rare screening of Yvonne Rainer's amazing Journeys from Berlin/1971, which also explores Meinhof and her gang. At times super abstract and dense, this film was so unwavering in its examination of personal and political identity and power. I was in over my head but learned a lot and left a little bit bewildered and light-headed which was very exciting. And the word "terrorism" was never mentioned once in the film.

The next day, I told my precocious filmmaker friend about it and he was like, "Oh, you don't know about the Baader-Meinhof Gang? They were really hot."

He's totally right. They were dangerously hot and sexy. I wished someone had told me of their handsome countenance years ago because I would of instantly read up on them (or in this instance, google imaged them).

Here is Andreas Baader and his equally hot girlfriend, a fellow RAF member, Gudrun Ensslin.

And here is Ulrike Meinhof. Smart and sexy.

Weirdly, Meinhof died on the same day as my birthday.


ALL HOT.

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*I believe this genre was more of a British conception which was not found amusing by those making said music. I find the term a little disconcerting and derogatory for my taste. Would people be okay with "chinkrock"?

Hippo Facto

How amazing is this? 

From Why Travel to France blog:

"The last year or so in L.A. has proven that food trucks not only have evolved far past their “roach coach” days but also have inadvertently contributed to reducing people’s carbon footprints. These roaming restaurants that come to you, offer anything from gourmet Korean tacos, grass-fed beef hotdogs, cupcakes, Banh Mi, BBQ, sushi, crepes – you name it, you can probably find the meal on wheels you’ve been looking for. I like the idea of the Green Truck running on vegetable oil, using biodegradable containers and serving organic food. The only glitch is that the food is not local, which is understandable in L.A.

France has had food trucks for many years in the form of pizza trucks in the south and French fry trucks in the north, not to mention the awesome cheese trucks, butcher trucks, bakery trucks… oh! and roasted chicken trucks and more. Aside from the pizza and fries trucks, I haven’t seen much innovation in rolling fast food until recently, and this one is pretty cool.

Taking food trucks to a whole new level and incorporating today’s “green” needs, Christopher Mauduit and Fabrice Vanderschooten launched Hippo Facto last November near the city of Caen, which is located in north west France just about 10 miles inland from the English Channel. What’s not to love about it? Pulled by Percheron draft horses and dedicated to sustainable living and organic, local products, Hippo Facto couldn’t be more brilliant. Respecting the environment and serving fast organic and local fare that’s simple, healthful and creative, you can order fruit/vegetable juices, tartines, soups among other offerings. The containers are also compostable.



You’re right, I can’t imagine a food truck like this in a megalopolis such as Los Angeles. Picture the road rage of people behind the horse and buggy! Hippo Facto seems to work where they are. Of course, it takes them two hours to get to Place de la République in Caen. That’s all good considering there’s no fossil fuels involved, they don’t live in a speedy world and besides, some people commute longer than that in cars every single day. Now THAT’S crazy."

***

Something New

It all came together a couple of weeks ago:
my favorite hike in Elysian Park,
my new favorite song,*
and
my favorite thing I've yet to experience: the airship.

*Expect to hear more of Dino Valente on my next mix. My neighbor just introduced me to him and I can't get enough of Dino. And it all makes sense now; he wrote my other favorite song, "Something on Your Mind" by Karen Dalton.

Team Conan

10cc - I'm Not In Love

Everything about this song and video is just perfect. The choral backing, the rhodes, the bassist!

I'm so in love. Best song ever.



repost from Bestest Song Ever.

Year of the Tiger

The standout track on this mix is Be Not So Fearful by the exceptional Bill Fay... Words to live by in this new year...

Alina and The Book of Sounds

Two albums keeping me company on this Sunday as I wrestle with writer's block:

http://rapidshare.com/files/59469213/alina.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/154162339/BofS1.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/154164830/BofS2.zip

The White Diamond

Herzog.
Airships.
Beauty. 
Lighter than Air...

Thanks KM for the suggestion.

Yard Sale Details

Repost from RFTH:

All the details for our Unknown Treasures yard sale now up on Craigslist (a small grab of my loot pictured above). Selling a bunch of things previously posted on R4TH plus other flea, antique mall finds and wardrobian exiles. Also dapper vintage clothing from Tim, kicks and vintage/designer ladies clothing from Les, Violet and Owley, + Indie records to boot. All in one place, do drop by.

Unknown Treasures

This holiday season, I've been invited to participate in my friends' annual group YARD SALE. It's this Sunday, December 13th somewhere in Silverlake (address to be announced later this week)! Tim and Violet will be selling clothes/wares again, Matt will be selling some amazing things (which I'm not sure what they'll be yet but amazing no doubt) and Ricky and Leslie will be unloading some of their unknown treasures.

Some highlights of Owley's treasures:

*New and vintage designer pieces (Margiela, Comme des Garcons, Sonia Rykiel, APC, Vivienne Westwood, Band of Outsiders, Pendleton)

*Mint conditions records featuring early 90s indie rock

*Various musical instruments

*Vintage pottery from Morocco, Denmark, Mexico and Vietnam

*Vintage books featuring music biographies (first editions)

and Ostwald Helgason masks, Romanian Byzantine eggs, English rose-shaped candle holders, precious gems, rocks and crystals...

Everything is shockingly reasonably priced and erm, negotiable!

And for those who personally know me, I'm taking appointments this week for a presale "open house"!

Here's what it looked like last time... here and here...

fall mix, part three

Before winter makes its arrival, here is the last of my fall mixes, beta 3... a bit random at times but these gems have been keeping me company these last couple of months. x

El Perro del Mar (from left to right)

[Blog Synchronicity... This is the second part of this entry. Read the first part on the other blog.]

...

These ladies really did it for me this year... First there was Camera Obscura's My Maudlin Career, then Taken by Trees' East of Eden. Now it's El Perro del Mar's Love is Not Pop. 

I'm a sucker for sad songs sung by sweet voices... and Sarah from El Perro del Mar can make even the worst song sound heavenly. When I first heard her new album, "Gotta Get Smart" was it for me.




Then I found comfort in "A Better Love." These two songs absolutely encapsulate the last couple of months for me.

I think the last time I cried during a show was at Acoustic Mainlines.

Seeing El Perro del Mar play tonight nicely rounded off this year for me. Don't you love it when the music you love listening to at home comes alive right in front of your eyes... complete with the best musicians with the most beautiful guitars, backing up a beautiful singer with the best outfit on, singing like there's no tomorrow? Things have changed since I last saw her a few years ago. She's in a different place now. So am I. Our timing is great.


***

Tonight, a friend told me about Bill Evans' From Left to Right: Playing the Fender Rhodes Electric Piano and the Steinway Piano... which I found appropriate for this post. Blog Synchronicity...

dot com dot co dot uk

http://www.dotcomdotcodotuk.com/

***

I live here for the time being while I sort out my identity crisis.
Owley x

A civilized kind of tour

It's been three years since I quit touring. I was beat up at the end of the North American tour and when I finally got home, I canceled the European tour due to "exhaustion." I had it with playing live. Had it with sound check. Had it with looking at the band. Had it with eating shitty random food on the side of freeways (though I did love the truck stops). Had it with sitting at the merch table... Had it with waiting around 23 hours of each day for that one hour we would play. I was done. I was bored.

And then somehow this tour materialized out of nowhere. Last month, I decided to plan a little mini European solo tour for First Husband, Mr. Bickerson, erm Darren Rademaker! This is an "inspirational" tour, greatest hits mixed with new "soon to be recorded" hits! It will mainly be Darren and his electric (in his short shorts) but I think I'll be accompanying him on some Tyde tunes... only if it feels right. The London show will be a special one. We have lovely friends from Fujiya and Miyagi, The Loves and Comet Gain joining in that night. Very loosey-goosey... Part tour, part holiday, I think this might be the best way to go from now on... I'm genuinely excited about playing again... See you out there somewhere Owley fans? And this time, no merch whatsoever...

***

The Short Shorts Euro Tour 2009

30 Oct > Paris @ Panic Room + DJs Magickrew

31 Oct > Paris @ Ground Zero Records
31 Oct > Paris @ Tigre + Deejettes Magickrew

01 Nov > Paris @ La Maroquinerie

03 Nov > Stockholm @ Last Waltz, Bonden Bar

04 Nov > Göteborg @ Woody West, Pusterviksbare 

05 Nov > London @ The Lexington

PING!

Okay I can't help myself. I seriously was not going to blog on Owley Patrol for a while as I focus on something much more important, much more life-changing and stimulating than erm... this... but this is special...this is precious... I needed to follow up on this... This will complete the cycle.

This morning, a fellow LOS told me about Ping! for the iPhone. Remember how I went on and on about BBM and that's why it's been so hard to fully embrace the iPhone in this last year? Well... Have a look at this application. It is totally Awesome. And it actually works! I've Ping! four friends (John, Amy, Sam and Bob) just in the last hour. I'm hooked! Just like when I was addicted to BBM.

Don't ask for my Ping! ping... You should know that already you dolt... dolt! It's a given! And remember to keep up okay?

Less is More...

And more exists elsewhere now...

Lately, I've been feeling disconnected with Owley Patrol... A break is needed.

But for now, I may be found here sometimes... www.dotcomdotcodotuk.com
(The search engines are not going to be pleased about this.)

Last weekend at El Matador, Malibu. The last of the warm summer rays.

And so I leave you with this song: El Perro Del Mar's "God Knows (You Gotta Give to Get)."

See you soon.
I already miss you.
x

fall mix, part two

Normally my mixes are not made in any sort of order, I prefer "shuffle by song." But somehow in this instance, try playing it in reverse alphabetical order upon first listen.

a bit heavier... it's really fall now...

Bestest Song Ever.

Really? Another blog? I'm in deep now...

http://bestestsongever.blogspot.com/

Somehow, out of nowhere, I got invited to contribute to BESTEST SONG EVER. How did they know? Thanks Duskin... Have fun in Paris. x

The Most Beautiful Swiss Books in the Universe

The most elegant (and Most Beautiful) lady I know, Ms. Cynthia Leung will co-present the Most Beautiful Swiss Books 2008 this weekend.

***

The New York Art Book Fair
Oct 1: (VIP Preview)
Oct 2-4
@ P.S. 1

With a giant bottle of sake and "The Present Issue" for sale.
The winners of the Most Beautiful Swiss Books (2008) will be exhibited, with Cynthia's (!) essay included in "The Present Issue" catalogue...


Only for the true (Most Beautiful) book nerds!

Do You Love Me?

This made my morning.



via Tirado/Thrown via Filastine Frequency.

"I mean it's the nineties!"

Jeremy reminded me of how relevant this song is still today...



I used to think Neil Hannon was such a babe, still do...

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

My friend Mary's blog is pretty cool. And her Still Life Installation was pretty cool too (from what friends told me). Too bad I'm too late in posting it but I truly feel that everyone needs some Slow and Steady in their life (especially me)...

TIME-OUT

This is how I feel today. Insane. Crazy. About to snap! Out of control and no one is stopping me! Friend said it's Mercury Retrograde and I keep fighting it. I guess I'm supposed to be planning and getting things in order and not communicating or trying to resolve things with other people. I don't know if I can be patient enough until September 29th. Do I roll with the punches? Time-Out...

Traceyanne and Victoria

Can't get enough of these two....




Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything more recent.

Farmer Dave Scher

Gonna get to see Farmer in all his glory tonite!

Farmer Dave Scher at the Silent Movie Theater from Farmer Dave Scher on Vimeo.

fall (white label) mix