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Music

Video effect that I adore

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There have been a number of videos recently that employ an effect that can only be described as turning the artifacts of streaming buffering into something truly artistic. I saw it first with Beck’s “Youthless:”

And then again last week with Cassettes Won’t Listen’s video for “Into the Hillside:”

And finally, tonight, from the Presets. How I had never seen the video for “Are You the One?” is really beyond me:

Maybe it comes from years of surfing the internet on Venus Telephone’s blistering and never-changed-since-2000 384 kbps connection, but there’s a part of me that will always have a soft spot for these whacky pixelated messes.

Best album I forgot I had: Pet Grief by The Radio Dept

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Sometimes I open iTunes and scroll through my music library without really knowing what I’m doing or looking for. This past Saturday morning was one of these times and I’m glad it was because I landed myself on a real gem that I forgot I even had lying around: Pet Grief by The Radio Dept.

This 2006 album is an absolute ideal compliment to making pancakes after sleeping in. Or reading a magazine after all the chores are checked off for the day. Or taking a long drive with the leaves falling and the roof open (as I hope to do in a few days.) Essentially, it’s a relaxed weekend bordering on contented boredom in musical form.

A few of the bands’ tracks were on the Marie Antoinette soundtrack. I needn’t say more.

So, now is the time when I pick my favorite tracks and provide you with a small army of links: “It’s Personal,” “Pet Grief,” “The Worst Taste in Music” and “Always a Relief.”

As you can hear, it’s a little like merging Air and New Order. Kind of a perfect combination in my book.

And the Wikipedias tell me that 2009 will see a new release as well. Hooray for accidental rediscovery!

Humanthesizer?

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Calvin Harris has produced a wonderfully imaginative video experiment using his single “Ready for the Weekend.” I’ve never heard of Calvin Harris, but if the goal was to get me interested in his music, it’s worked because this is fantastically clever.

Thanks, boffins. (And TrendHunter.)

A lament for OiNK

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Do you remember OiNK? I do, because it was the best damned music downloading service (that I’m sure we would never have used, legal beagles we all are, yeah?) It was an absolute dream to use, had everything one could ever want and, of course, was free. Gizmodo posted a great summary of a podcast by Greg Kot on the failings of the music industry – specifically, how these missteps produced piracy. I was both surprised and delighted to see author Dan Nosowitz openly proclaim his love for OiNK. In so doing he rightly pointed out that there has still not been a true competitor for this BitTorrent tracker, not even Apple’s iTunes. The story is worth a read, and the podcast is probably worth a listen (I haven’t had time yet, myself, but Greg was highly entertaining when he was at the Lit House this past Spring.)

Listen: The Bachelor by Patrick Wolf

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As promised, here’s my review of Patrick Wolf’s newest release. I noticed that there was such a thing while Kate was leafing through Vogue UK or somesuch and saw his picture. In a flurry of excitement, I listened as Kate read Mr. Wolf’s description of his latest album as music for both soccer moms and Goth kids. Perfect – time to run to the computer at 1:30 am.

And I did. Which I’m glad for, because it’s wonderful.

It’s certainly no The Magic Position. A few tracks get close – “Hard Times,” “Vulture” and “Messenger” in particular – but overall, it’s a real departure into something more sonically lush. And it broods as much as Pat’s asymmetrical hair would lead you to believe it might. Think Lycanthropy or Wind in the Wires with the polish they deserved (not that they were bad albums.) At times, I had to be sure my iPhone hadn’t gone on to shuffle: “Oblivion” could be AFI, “The Bachelor” could be a clever classic rock remix, “Battle” wouldn’t be out of place at a skate park. Great to see some exploration of new directions, though it does make this album feel a bit like a playlist. “Count of Casualty,” my personal favorite, would sell you even if everything else was terrible.

Did I mention SWINTON is on the album, too? See? Amazing.