Eclecticism #1

This is my first mix of tracks that I have put together. This is the first and may be the last but I had a lot of fun making it so if time allows there might be another one.

The mixing is shocking but I'm not a Dj and [for me] its not about the mixing its about the music! I hope you enjoy these tracks as much as I do.

Happy Christmas!!

Eclecticism #1 by The Confused Eclectic on Mixcloud

MIXED SIGNALS

For anyone we reads this blog at any sort of regular interval will know i post a lot about exhibitions in The Signal Gallery. Their next exhibition is one of the most exciting of the year, especially for me who never gets to go to any of them [and if i could choose one it would be this], it is the annual group showing.

There are some incredible artists showing, heres a few pieces by some of the artists... just to whet the appetite...

Dan Baldwin (UK)

Armsrock (Denmark)

Byroglyphics (UK),

Dale Grimshaw (UK),

Guy Denning (UK/France), Case (Germany), Jonathan Darby (UK), David Le Fleming (New Zealand), Ethos (Brazil), C215 (France), Alke Schmidt (Germany/UK), Holly Thoburn (UK), Jef Aerosol (France), Labrona (Canada), Christopher Ross (Canada), SPQR (UK), Istvan Szanto (Hungary). Click here for more pieces by the artists!

The show opens to the public on 4th and runs till the 19th December 2009.

THE MISSING COG

Music means many different things to different people.

I knew one person who couldn't listen to music, it was a constant pain, they just didn't enjoy it, the only time they did was in [shit] nightclubs. Other friends, its all day everyday, they walk into a room the first thing they do is pick music, walking down the road 5 minutes, they are listening to music. They love a soundtrack to their life.

I fit in this second category. Every second of my life is filled with listening to and trying to find new music. Its exciting, finding a new artist I have never heard before.

Growing up I listened to Nina Simone, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Leonard Cohen and strangley enough Moroccan and Indian music, no heritage in the family, my Dad just loved the sound. And random Jazz selctions that my Mam loved to listen to but could never remember the names. I always had listened to an eclectic range of music but didnt have a huge knowledge of modern music, we had no 'sky' in my house but i do have memories of listening to Radio 1, John Peel and Westwood to hear some amazing acts that as I got access to more music I would come to love.

This and two good mates, who introduced me to hip hop and dance, developed my current taste in all types music. we used to sneak in to one of the guy's older brother's room to raid his collection. My other mate [Beano] had an obsessive interest in music [and film], he would get into an artist and learn everything there was to know about them and buy all their albums, his desire for music spread to me, and he introduced me to so much music, and continues to do so now!!

There are other people, who have influenced my taste and continue to do so everyday. And I send out my love to them aswell.

So thats a basic history of people who influenced my musical taste... but that wasn't the point of this post [I am a rambler], 'the missing cog' is how for people who listening to music constantly, all day every day, different music fit different times. I had forgotten a genre of music that I listened to a lot when i was younger, Jazz. I was missing that music that, when i was sad or in a bit of a funk, sorted me out.

I guess I see all my favourite music as fitting in somewhere and when there is space for it all, your life is much better, and for the last year, Jazz has been missing and my life was the sadder for it.

A week ago, listening to Sam K on Space Invader Radio, his first song was this...

Cristo Redentor by Donald Byrd is a beautiful song and immediately I went searching for more songs... I didn't find another Donald Byrd song on my travels but I did find this...

Along with these to songs, I had found 'the missing cog" that made me [as an emotional person] work better and I strolled home with a smile on my face and these songs on repeat.

JOY!!

MUTO

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Photo or Painting...

The first time i saw this i wasn't sure if this was a painting or photo... I had no idea... I stared at it for a few minutes thinking, that must be a altered photo. But its a painting.

All of Jeremy Geddes painting have this surreal theme running through them, the hyper realistic look of the painting, that makes some of them look life like, is offset by the a sometimes grotesque surrealism of the main character of the painting [below] or as above with the placement of the woman flying towards the ground.

I don't know a lot about the Jeremy Geddes,in his own word though, he"spends his days smearing pigment onto pieces of wood, in between playing air guitar and drinking coffee." He is a very talented artist who brought a bit of enjoyment to my day today.

What do you think?

Check out more of his paintings here.

KID ZOOM

Cool time-lapse video from Kid Zoom.

...

This post is all about the mood I am in today.

Not a great mood, I know its a choice and all that crap but I am just a little sad today.

I am putting it down to the darkness all around in Dublin.

This is a beautiful song by The Cinematic Orchestra called To Build a Home.

Carry Me, Ohio - Sun Kil Moon

And another Sun Kill Moon song because they are catching my attention at the moment - Gentle Moon. Not that any of these song are depressing. Its just that for a change I don't want to listen to 'bangin tunes'. I need something to soothe me.

This next song - Wolfman featuring Peter Doherty - For Lovers - is one from my youth, that has popped up throughout my short ( action packed if I may say so myself) life and will probably continue to do so!

Excuses.... Excuses.... Excuses...

I haven't posted anything in a long time. Things have been absolutely crazy in work. And I haven't had a chance to search out some new music or find some things of interest.

Things have calmed down again now in work. No more 7 in the mornings to 10 at night... well not for a while anyway. Expect a few posts over the next few days as I settle into a nice relaxed bank holiday weekend... After one night of madness at Damfunk in Twisted Pepper.

Nicholas Kopernicus

I was chatting to a friend about music last night. About music that catches your attention from the first time you hear it, and how rare it is... So today, listening to Laidback Radio I hear Nicholas Kopernicus. Straight off I wanted to hear more.

Nicholas Kopernicus are Jason Minnis and Seon Gomez. I wasnt sure what to expect from the album The Album "Audicentric". I had heard the first track and second. I had a long walk ahead of me tonight so I put on "Audiocentric" and listened from the start to finish... and back to the start again. This album is a journey through many different genres that keeps you hooked in. The worry for an album that goes through many genres, I think is that the album as a whole the album doesnt fit together but is not true of this album. I would recommend listening to this album as a whole. The common factor throughout the album is great music, the beats, the instrumetals on the album are consuming.

The song here is Grand Central(ft.Sixteenstone). Diping back into the album now, Im loving the flute and guitar on Candle Dreams [I had to post it aswell]. Im talking about every song on the album so far and that wasnt my intention, but Brisa... It put a smile on my face. Remindeds me of happy sunny days. And then the album flows into a funky hiphop song Spittin' Blues. And just to show the diversity theres a Reggae song Natural High. If a camera had followed me home, it would have shown me speeding up and slowing down and grooving away as I walked home.

I am really enjoying this album and I have a feeling it will be my go to album for the next while.

Grand Central(ft.Sixteenstone) by nkopernicus


Candle Dreams by nkopernicus


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Myspace

The Revenge

A couple of great songs I stumbled onto on Soundcloud by The Revenge. I have been a big fan of The Revenge before I knew who they were. The love affair started with A remix of "Heavens in the Backseat of my Cadillac" and just keeps going with all the new music they release.

Love it... hate it... tell me what you think!




The Revenge : Forever In Their Debt (Original Mix) by The Revenge



And If : Beyond Senses (Harri & The Revenge Remix) by The Revenge

Blood is thicker than water... and an introduction to Online Radio

I heard this last night listening to "Songs of praise" Cubkimusik's radio show on Space Invader Radio. Internet Radio is a new thing to me but I have to say Cubkimusik's "Songs of Praise" and Orsii's "Little Miss Sunshine" Laid Back radio show have opened my eyes to the great music shows available on the internet.

I love the concept behind the on-line radio show.

I love that I can find a show that plays the type of music I like. Normally listening to FM radio, I hear a song I like maybe at best every half an hour, possibly every hour and very rarely will I be introduced to any new music.

The above two shows have already created a list in my head of new music, I have to buy. When does this happen when you listen to three hours of normal radio [with the exception of a couple of DJs].

The fact that if I miss the regular broadcast on the net I can download and listen at my leisure is fantastic, this weekend I spent an evening doing some work I had to get done but I had left my I-pod in town, and having no music would have made an already painful task worse and internet radio came to my rescue.

The lack of advertising during the show is fantastic, its just pure music with a few interludes to introduce tracks or place them in context.

If you find an internet radio show you like, stick with it. It will be a great show for as long as it is made.

Tell me about your favourite shows, what you hate or love about Radio be it on-line or regular radio!!

HOMAGE

I found this looking through my favorite photo blog. . Yimmys Yayo. I dont know who took the photo or who wrote the Homage just that I like it.

COMBO

This is an amazing collaborative animation by Blu and David Ellis at the Fame Festival in Italy.

I wish it would rain

Iv been posting lots of Mayer Hawthorne... but why the hell not, i havent got so much joy from an artist in a while! Listening to the album strolling down the street i found I have developed a new walk...

I love this song. It reminds me of a break up I had when I was but a young fella. Then thinking about it i have had a few moment like that in the rain... (one involved a very funny walking backwards fall.. you know what im talking about!!) but i do live in Ireland... it does rain a lot... yet for all these memories, this song makes me smile. I hope you enjoy it as much as i do!!

Thru - You

Kutiman, is a musician, composer, producer and animator from Israel. This is his new (to me) project. First released in June 2009. It is called Thru-You. He mixes different youtube videos. I think its brilliant.

Sometime...

Iv been getting together some ideas for posts in my head recently because I feel I havent been creating enough of my own contents, (Just posting tunes and video)... I have a few ideas so hopefully over the next few week I get together all the stuff I need to do what i want...

But until then here are a few tracks that I have been enjoying over the last while.

Pony Pony Run Run - Hey You (Mondkompf Remix)


Download

Mademoiselle - Do You Love Me


Download

Database vs French Horn Revolution - Beaches and Friends (Twelves Remix)


Download

Annie - Anthonio (Fred Falke Remix)


Download

The XX - Basic Space (Astronomer Remix)


Download

My Friend Cubilas

Emotional Rescue

Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue (MeatMatter Edit) by greymatter

I love this song. Carrys me to work every morning!! Check out Greymatter's MySpace and Soundcloud for more tracks.

Simian Mobile Disco

Sitting here listening to the new Simian Mobile Disco album "Temporary Pleasure", its very good. My first proper listen to them, having heard a lot about them. I have to go out and buy the rest of the albums now. Everyody at Electric Picnic is probably enjoying the live set they are playing... but at least im not coveredd in mud... lame excuse.. Iv got Electric Picnic envy!

Anyhow... enjoy this track.

Love is All right

Mayer Hawthorne is class. End off. He is releasing a four inch mini single, "Love is All right"... as seen above... It will be packed as a limited edition with his album A Strange Arrangement. It is out on 8th Sept. Its pretty freakin' cool.

He is playing Dublin Electronic Arts Festival in October. It will be brilliant.

Generation Undone

Jonathan Darby is different. His art explores the vulnerability of youth in our materially driven society, but not in a way that is obscure. His work is "accesible." I find some of these a little disturbing. Its the kid's faces mixed with corporate logos, for some reason it gets to me!



His work ‘The Prisoners’ based on the Katte Kollwitz piece of the same name, was selected as one of the top 5 in the curator choice category in the Noise Festival 2008 (its just below). This is His first solo show, at Signal Gallery. If you are in London in between thge 18th September and 10th October 2009. Drop down to the Signal Gallery for a look. It's sure to get you thinking.

Irish Film Board

In the words of Raphael Saadiq & Q-Tip......GET INVOLVED!

Stop the destruction of the Irish Film Board. Its simple maths (maybe going on recent history, something accountants, bank managers and the government shouldnt be involved in.) The IFB runs a fund of 18 million to support Irish Film in many differenty way. Through this help, the Irish film industry is worth 600 million. Read the press release below and give your support, on twitter, facebook or whatever medium you like!!



Irish Film Board Press Release.

Grassroots group mobilizes support for the Irish Film Board
in anticipation of the imminent decision by An Bord Snip Nua

It was recently revealed that the recommendations in the Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (An Bord Snip Nua) included the abolition of the Irish Film Board, the winding-up of its investment funds and the transfer of its enterprise functions to Enterprise Ireland.

Members of the public quickly responded by setting up a grassroots lobby group to save the Irish Film Board. An online "causes" group via the social networking site Facebook was setup ( http://www.causes.com/SavetheIFB ). In less than a month's time the group grew to a staggering 3,664 members. Letters to local TD's and Councillors were written, and even a Twitter hashtag was created to encourage online discourse about the benefits of the Irish Film Board ( http://twitter.com/#search?q=SavetheIFB )

The group was recently given the alarming news that the Snip decisions are being made this week as the end of August is the deadline, so if any lobbying is to be done it needs to be done before then.

There is great concern surrounding the short-sighted effects of disbanding the Irish Film Board as the follow-on effect would have several points of negative impact including (but not limited to):

* Immediate loss of employment resulting in further strain on Social Welfare which will exceed the sought after savings.
* The loss of other indirect employment benefits arising out of production activities and costs throughout the country.
* The loss of growth potential of the audiovisual content industry - which represents one of the best prospects of employment for young people.
* Ireland being the only developed country in the world producing no cinematic films - and therefore losing an incredibly powerful cultural identity tool.
* The loss of tourism and trade, which is well known to be triggered by seeing Ireland in the movies.

The full Industry Notice written by The IFB can be viewed online here: http://bit.ly/lbeGB

The group would like to encourage all members of the public to please take into consideration the long-term effects of disbanding this very important cultural organization.

Please write to your local TD and spread the word. Visit this site for a full list of Constituencies, TDs & Councillors. Without contacting them this is a pointless exercise.
http://oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=29&disp=const

Cutting the €18 million spent on the Film Board will destroy a 600 million Euro industry!

For more information please contact Jessie Ward 086 386 8819 jessie@brixtoncat.com
Click here to download this press release in Word Format

Electric Picnic

Electric Picnic is coming up. The 4th 5th and 6th of September. Another year passes and another year I cannot go. But for everyone else... check out Cubikmusik's Electric Picnic mix. Just what you need to get you in the mood.

...bastards.

Organ Grinder

Atsushi Yano - Organ Grinder

Lust for Life

This is the new video from San Francisco, lo-fi pop rockers [nice], "Girls", check out there last video I posted about a while back. There album is out 21st of September. You can buy it here. You can check out where they are playing on radarmaker.com.

Speech Debelle

Speech Debelle - The Key

Breakout

I went to see this guy, Ash Grunwald, in Whelans, Dublin last night. He is part of, from what I can remember from my Australian mate, a fun and friendly australian blues scene around Melbourne. The gig was a lot of fun. He has this infectious enjoyment for the music he plays.

Raw Cuts #002

Motor City Drum Ensemble - Raw Cuts #002

Why Did You Do It

Plastic Dreams

Jaydee - Plastic Dreams

Kid Adrift

Myspace

Audion

Audion - Look at the Moon



The track is 'look at the moon' Audion are playing Dublin this Sunday night at Twisted Pepper. Its going to be amazing!

Audion

Clasixx

Clasixx - Ill Get You (feat Jeppe)

Lazaro Cassano

Juan Maclean - Happy House [Lazaro Cassano]

Travega

Here is sample of a few tracks from Dublin based band Travega. They released their debut album recently. Get it here.






MySpace

eccafd

Evolution of the Ciaran Crawford Action Figure Doll, will be having another tasting event in Ukiyo, this Sunday the 26th July. If you have no clue what I am talking about, click here for the original review.

The theme this time is Taboo, so be prepared to be shocked, confused and amazed!

This is another golden ticket event so get in there and snap them up... you can contact the eccafd guys on their website or drop in to Ukiyo to get a ticket.

Just Aint

MySpace

Beatconductor

Beatconductor - Sumthin' Better [Thanks to DJ Mad MAts for this track. Check his site for more great tunes and mixes.]

Red Astaire

Red Astaire - Rollin' Stone

No. 2

Demo Magazine is a magazine and website that writes about Australia's up and coming artists. On the readers in Australia will be able to see the actually magazine but for the rest of us check out the website, it is very good, excellent graphics and good cool new tunes.

Check it out.

Heavy Love

The Revenge - Heavy Love. Thanks to BigStereo for this.

Your Disco

VITALIC - Your Disco Song
by Differentrecordings

5 for Friday

Holy Ghost - I will come back


Starks & Nancy - Lose your love


Dillinger Escape Plan – Black Bubblegum (Triobelisk Remix)


Dynasty - I dont wanna be a freak (but i can't help myself)


Silver Connection – Fly Robin Fly

Hellhole Ratrace

I know very little about this band, except they are from San Francisco and I like this song. Its called "Hellhole Ratrace" and the band is Girls. That all i got.

myspace.

Tinariwen

This is a song from Tinariwen called "Amassakoul'n'Tenere". They play Tishoumaren music (music of the unemployed). Good for these times! They are supposed to be incredible live, so if you are at Glastonbury. check them out. If not... buy there album here.

Brought to you by... Matt

Pnau - Embrace feat. Ladyhawke


Labi Siffre - I got the blues


Lou Reed - Dirty Blvd.


Jody Watley - I want your love (Danny Krivit edit)


The Source feat. Candi Staton - You got the love

5 for Friday

Disco Diamonds - Dont try to kick me


Play Paul & Daniel Dexter - Mostro 1


Shizofonics - Breakfree


Fromage Disco - Repeight


Kenneth Bager Fr. one (...and I kept hearing)(Radio Edit)

C215

C215 (aka Christian Guémy) is a world renowned Street artist. Signal Gallery have this rare oppurtunity to exhibit his works, and give the public the rare chance of seeing all his work in one place at one time!

"Graffiti is marking territory by catching attention to a name (then placing it at the wrong place) while street art aims at placing art in the right place, as if it should have been there forever." C215

This exhibition is about shoe-shiners. Here is what C215 has to say:

I have met many street shoe-shiners during my trips around the world. They represent the lower class of urban workers. Almost beggars, they construct their boxes from a light and cheap material, just one handmade box containing brushes and creams offering a job that less and less people need. When they get a customer, the working dynamic turns into a humiliating symbol - one bending before the other, polishing his shoes, while the superior one gets annoyed or bored, looking around. Shoe-shining, in French, gave birth to numerous ways of describing flattery: "polishing", "shining", "boots-licker"... The lost pride of real street shoe-shiners is easy to encompass with such words, but are we not all discretely licking arses everyday to promote ourselves?

Have a look at the preview here.

Check out his myspace here.

The exhibtion opens today with a private view at the Signal Gallery and continues until the 11th July.

Evolution of the Ciaran Crawford Action Figure Doll

People might wonder why I am writing about a tasting and a cookbook here. Normally I write about music and art, but as the name says...

In fact this was very enjoyable, so what am I talking about.... A cookbook called "Evolution of the Ciaran Crawford Action Figure Doll" by Dylan Stott and Ciaran Crawford. Ciaran, the chef, masterminds the various recipies, and Dylan provides the stories.

I had no idea what to expect from the event. A few days ago, I bought a ticket, "a golden ticket" to a six course tasting with a reading from a cookbook... 'a reading from a cookbook?!' I thought to myself. I had been told it would be an exciting, eclectic (which is what I'm looking for), innovative blend of flavours and character, and that was just the readings.

Waiting outside the restaurant, Ukiyo on Exchequer St, was like a scene from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with the song "I've got a got a golden ticket, I've got a golden ticket!", sneaking out from under the shutter. The excitement was rising, the excitement of the unknown, the unexpected.

Once the doors opened we were escorted inside to be greeted by the very charming and friendly Dylan Stott. Scanning the menu was much like discovering a new language, I didn't know what a lot of it meant, sauces, foams, nages...but it all sounded inviting. From each of the six courses I could recognise the primary ingredients; Oysters, Champagne, Black & White Pudding, Seabass, Ice Cream and Espresso. What may sound as a standard restaurant offering was more than just a normal run of the mill dinner...

For starters...well lets hold on a moment. First we were treated with Sake Mojitos....delish! It complemented the starter, Bloody Mary Oyster Shooter, beautifully. Although there were a few worried faces at the table, this was short lived. One course down and the palate already felt like royalty.

Up next, a few introductions, and a reading from the book. I'm not a literary critic so I'm a little stretched here but, Dylan's writing was funny, crisp and enjoyable, and well presented by the writer himself. It is always a special treat to have a writer read his own work. His enthusiasm, skill and joy in what he was doing shone throughout his narration.

Following the performance we were treated to Mille Feuilles with Black & White Pudding, Apple Crisps and Cider Jus. This course was a hit at my table and was followed by Warm Champagne Jelly with Candied Chili. Dylan entertained again with another reading, "The Waltzing Lobster", a pacy tale of drunken cooking. Then there was the Seabass with Bok Choy, Sweet Potato Puree and Lemon Grass Nage (that's 'poaching' for you and me!). Oh the Seabass! Cooked to perfection with a sea of accompaniments, this course was incredible.

The sweets were next, Mushroom Ice Cream and Earl Grey Caramel! Only one person at our table knew it was mushroom ice cream. We all thought she was nuts till outside later, the chef himself told us that it was. Whether we knew or not, was not important. It was a culinary delight. Chatting to Ciaran Crawford, the excitement and enjoyment he gets from cooking the food he does and from having organised such a night, was evident from his passion for his finished product.

The concept behind the food and the book, the desire to do things their way, slightly avant garde, off beat, underground, but still achieve flavours and stories that everybody enjoyed and would keep coming back for more of, left me and anybody else I talked to that night asking when the next installment was...

So the final course, Espresso Panacotto with Guinness Foam. A strange delight. Two of my favourite things put together, it couldn't go wrong.

There is, I think, two more installments, the next is again in Ukiyo, keep your ear to the ground because tickets to this will be gone in seconds... After that I believe there is one more, I am a little sketchy on details but will add more when I get more details. Then its off to New York for more installments and serialisation in a magazine.

So if you are reading this and are in New York, keep those eyes peeled for Evolution of the Ciaran Crawford Action Figure Doll, or your palate will never forgive you!

Come closer

This is a tune from Paris based producer Onra called "come closer". Thank to Analog Giant for this.

Get the album here.
Myspace

I've been sending you signals!

Matthew Dear - "Don and Sherri" from Ghostly International on Vimeo.

I love this track. Gets into your head and stays there for days... in a good way! Its from Mathhew Dear's new album Asa Breed.Thanks to the lads for putting me on to this tune.

Website

Lady dont tek no.

Latyrx "lady dont tek no" this a track from 1998 EP, "Muzapper's Mixes". This has been on repeat on my ipod for days. Thank to Cubikmusic for this track.

Russ Mill's Signal Gallery Exhibition

Russ Mills' work is striking, to say the least. The drab colours- grey, red, black and white invoke an urban setting and upon closer inspection of the figures that he paints, their branded footwear and baggy clothing confirm that his subjects are all city living young people. It isn't until I reflected on the exhibition after leaving the gallery that I worked out what his work reminds me of- a book I had when I was younger about squashed fairies. The book suggested that just like collecting flowers you could collect fairies and press them- all of them were pressed into expressions of surprise and cheeky delight. These characters are the bright young things of London's urban environment, also pressed upon the canvas in mid pose. My favourite was that of a girl who looked like she was dancing before being captured in digital and then transformed into an acrylic centrepiece.

While there isn't much to distinguish Mills' pieces other than the captured people themselves, the distinction comes in the detail, which can only be seen in person and up close. Each portrait conveys its own sense of city living through the eyes of its squashed fairy subjects.