Urb: Warp20 at Terminal Five
Warp 20 Celebrates with Flying Lotus, Battles, & More (Review)
Posted Tuesday, September 08, 2009 @ 01:45 in Music by Jorge Hernandez
Judging by its current anniversary tour, Warp is clearly intent on taking over the world – on time. At New York’s Terminal 5 Friday night it was “Doors at 6pm, first show at 7pm,” no joke; working stiffs and chronically fashionably late be damned.
Rather than roll out stalwarts like Aphex Twin or Squarepusher the maverick label chose this Warp20 night to show off what the next twenty years might hold: acts that were still rooted in renegade electronics but increasingly mixed up with indie rock and no-school hip hop.
The punctual and funemployed caught the US debut of Australian noise-funk provocateurs Pivot. Pushing the swinging doors open, we caught LA’s DJ Flying Lotus bobbing and weaving on stage like a praying mantis, all skinny arms and head-nodding, while lights flared around him. Signs along the entrance had warned “Strobe lights will be used”, and they were. The blow-out moment came as “Parisian Goldfish” stormed the mix. For someone kicking out such brain-rattling beats, he was all charm; taking swigs of his beer, laughing with the crowd, he seemed to be loving the moment as much as anyone on the floor.
In their “only New York gig” this year, dingy post-disco brats !!! took it one step further and actually got down on the floor with the dudes in retro-frame glasses and dread-locked blondes grooving to tunes like “Hearts of Hearts”. Beatboxing headliners Battles sounded like a melodic explosion in an instrument factory, highlighting new tracks like the oddly jazz-funky “Sweetie and Shag”.
Kudos to the techs at Terminal 5 for keeping the bombastic assault in relative check. In front of the stage, our photographer said the soundwaves were actually blowing her hair back. Six hours of full-throttle dissonance could’ve easily ended in puddles of bloody earholes, but the open roof serving up burgers and empanadas was a good place to rest fried cilia. By night’s end if someone had announced Radiohead had just signed to Warp, nobody would’ve blinked. Probably not even David Byrne, who seemed politely perplexed to be getting patted down at the door on our way out. (Just in case you like a celebrity endorsement with your sycophantic predictions).
Village Voice: Pet Shop Boys, Yes!
Pet Shop Boys kicked off their US tour in NYC last night at the Hammerstein. You can read my review for the Village Voice here. Pictures on Flickr!
Urb: Underworld interview
My second crack at an Underworld Interview is up at Urb.com
:: Interview with Karl Hyde
By Jorge Hernandez Photography by N/A
08/06/09 :: URB web
In 1980 when Karl Hyde and Rick Smith first got together in Cardiff, England, MP3s, iPods, even MTV didn’t exist, and Apple computer was in the middle of a lawsuit with the Beatles’ Apple record label. The experimental electronic band by Hyde and Smith was formed but undefined; the name was represented by an abstract squiggle and pronounced “Freur.” By the time “Born Slippy” appeared on the Trainspotting soundtrack and DJ Darren Emerson joined and left, Underworld had burned through several genres, line-ups, and personal dramas, marking their evolution with Underworld MK1-3 sub-brands. This summer Underworld releases its back catalogue on iTunes, launches an iPhone application and aims to stream a live concert to Apple’s ubiquitous handsets. We caught up with front man and “beat” poet Karl Hyde a few days before their tour of select North American cities to chat about the Internet, flashing fans, and why inflatable dildos belong on stage.
URB: I’ve been following your Twitter. It seems with all the snippets of dialogue that run around in your head and make it to your lyrics, this would be a perfect platform for you.
KH: [Laughs] When I first heard about it, I said, Oh great, they created something else I need to see. Fantastic. It’s okay. Fortunately, I haven’t switched it on my phone yet, so I’ve been saved. In the studio, I have to close my laptop. Otherwise, every second I’d be doing it.
URB: Were you involved with developing the iPhone app? How did you select which loops and which songs to include?
KH: That was Rick’s baby. Isotope Studios approached us, so Rick worked with them to reprogram the tunes for the app. I stood by and said, Oh, that’s nice. It’s nice sometimes not to be so involved with some things.
URB: You’re also re-releasing your back catalog. That must’ve been a massive project.
KH: We’ve been fortunate to own our catalogue from day one of this group, and that’s… that’s a smile. We’re starting with the albums, then we’ll roll out all the twelves, then the singles.
URB: Are you going to include the River Run material?
KH: A lot of people have been asking us about that. It’s been coming up. People have been asking for hard copies of that, on quality vinyl, which is quite extraordinary.
URB: But at the moment?
KH: No, because we’re also involved in writing and recording and testing out material on the road as we’re going. People have already been finding new material on YouTube. We’ve always done that. It’s invaluable, when you play something live onstage, and you see, Ah, that’s really working or Oh, that’s really NOT working, we need to look at that again. The dynamic and the energy of the audience tell you a lot about how successfully the music is communicating a vibe. Early next year we’ll start to roll out the new material and release it throughout the year.
URB: Will it be an album, or just stuff that trickles out?
KH: Eventually, it will culminate in an album. But for many years now, I haven’t been drawn to the album format. It starts getting silly, you can only have so much material.
Aaargh! What happens if you want to release ten tracks after you just released these ten tracks? What the Internet has allowed us to do is release things in whatever shape or form we want – CDs, albums, MP3, or giving it away through our radio show. That feels much more exciting to us than dropping an album and making a big hoo-hah for a couple weeks then forgetting about it. We’ve been doing that for years. We need to feel something fresh, too.
URB: So, why aren’t you coming to NY?
KH: Because there’s plans to return to the East Coast later. I’m not supposed to say that. But you can’t tour the states and not play New York. It would be a bit odd.
URB: So is this like your pre-Broadway run?
KH: Exactly.
URB: In concert, you always have a video camera with which you project the audience onto the stage. What happens with that video? Do you save it? I heard you’re having a contest where fans can submit clips that could be played in their cities.
KH: We’re still talking about how it. I didn’t know that information was out. So, well done! I like being pushed. Are you living in my garden shed? Yes, we’re planning on using fan-made videos during the show. We’ve been putting some backstage footage online as well, everything from audience shots to some obscure stuff, which we wonder about putting out. Occasionally, you get an exhibitionist, so you have to cut away. Unless it’s an exhibitionist the audience wants to see more of.
URB: Besides naughty groupies, what else can fans look forward to this time around?
KH: It’s a new show, really. We’ve got new video material, new songs, and we have more inflated structures. The inflated structures have kind of taken on a life of their own.
URB: About those things… I’ve heard people call them everything from glo-stix to dildos.
KH: We just call them structures. They remind us of the toy Pick Up Sticks. With most shows, people put stuff on the floor, and they put things on the wall. But what about that 3D space? How do you fill that? The lights inside the structures really make them come alive.
URB: Will you be playing “Jumbo” on this tour?
KH: There’s a strong possibility. There are some tunes that if we don’t do, people would be disappointed. But there’s more new material than we’re able to integrate into the live set. So we’ve had to make a call.
When the publicist chimes in that it’s time another kind of call, Karl adds, “Thanks for helping us get the word out, mate.” This from someone name-checked by Radiohead as a major influence. Normally, it would seem a courtesy, but in this case, Karl remembers your name and the gratitude feels earnest and intimate. It’s enough to make you want to flash them.
Related:
Music :: All Points West ‘08 Photos
Review :: Underworld, Oblivion with Bells
Video :: Highlights from All Points West ‘08
Gen X mindfuckery: R.I.P. Farrah and Michael Jackson
Things that make you go, hmmmmutherfuckinmmmm: in one day, Gen X lost two of its biggest icons. Farrah Fawcett passed away in the morning; Michael Jackson in the afternoon. Every time I went for coffee, someone passed away. I’m not getting up again, I thought.
Farrah, you expected. She had been battling anal cancer for a while, and it had reently spread to her liver. Last night her family gathered to say their final farewells to the ultimate 70’s pin-up, actress and ultimately, heroine. It was a matter of hours. It was no less heavy. People at work were bummed out .
Then came a series of pings, texts, and exclamations. OMG, Michael Jackson rushed to the hospital; in cardiac arrest; dead from a pill overdose; in a coma. Finally, at 3:15, after hours of rumors, the LA Times confirmed, MJ, age 50 had passed away. On the way home, everyone in the subway was talking about Farrah and Michael. On the street, people had boomboxes on their fire escapes and car radios tuned to stations playing all Michael Jackson songs. The internet “collapsed” under the flurry of activity.
Iran disappeared. Once the death was confirmed, all mainstream news switched to Michael Jackson coverage. Barbara Walters aired a tribute to Farrah that ended with Jaclyn Smith crying.
Ed McMahon also died a couple days ago, but sad as that was, it didn’t really hit me or most people my age as hard as this one-two punch. Adding to the surreal vibe of it all, a rumor floated up from a fake news generator that Jeff Goldblum had died on location in Australia. According to “Kevin Spacey” on twitter, it’s all lies, so stop it. Just as well, there’s only so much even slackers can take.
“You’re just a product of / Loveliness / I like the groove of / Your walk, / Your talk, your dress…”
R.I.P. Andy “the Orb” Hughes
On June 12th, ambient/balearic producer and DJ, Andy Hughes passed away in a liver intensive care unit from a “short illness”. He was best known for his work with the Orb, notably on the album Orblivion which featured one of their bigger hits, “Toxygene”. Most recently, he was working with Basement Jaxx. His family is accepting donations at JustGiving.com.
R.I.P. Ian “Eon” Loveday
Ian “Eon” Loveday passed away June 17 from pneumonia. He was best known for the early 1990’s rave track, “Spice”, instantly recognizable by the “Dune” blips: “He who controls the Spice controls the universe” and “the Spice must flow.” He also teamed with Peter “Baby” Ford often; and Mark “S’Express” Moore. Most people would say, “Who?” But for ravers everywhere, this track bring long, giddy nights instantly, freshly to mind.
Ratatat
Ratatat’s psychedelic circus pulled into Terminal 5 last night long enough to freak the geeks with barrages of strobe lights, confetti, poultry-head visuals, wildcat roars and body surfing. Gaunt, grungy and sweaty, the Brooklyn duo banged, riffed, and bleep bleeped through a set fit for an off-campus rave. You don’t have to be young and chemically-enhanced. But if you were, this would’ve been the place to be it.
Starfucker Just Wanna Have Fun
How’s this for an endorsement: Press List-addicted Media Whore spends $70 on a last minute mad dash to small, sweaty club to catch indie pop funkers. Scary, but true. A PJ Harvey concert alert led me to a listing for Ratatat tomorrow, and Starfucker – tonight! I checked the clock, put the smokes down, jumped in a cab and raced to the East Village from Harlem. Twenty five minutes (and as many dollars) later I pushed my way into the Mercury Lounge as they were warming up. Part Jeff Lynne, Beck, and Brian Wilson let loose in a Fisher Price romper room, Starfucker are not afraid to wear cheap drag and cover “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Spastic hipsters, overpriced beer, work interruptions and flash storm aside, it was worth it. If that seems like a long, expensive way to go for a spontaneous thrill – eh, I’ve spent more on less.
The Field: Tomorrow, today
Alex Willner, the Field
Back to Ape School
Current favorite new thing: dreamy, noisy, melodic….
Ape School album cover
a twitter ditty
WFMU: Two Free Tix! Laurie Anderson & Friends at BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House in Bklyn, Wed Jan 21 @ 8pm. First reply who wants ‘em, gets ‘em 8:21 PM Jan 12th from web
@johnsancheznyc: @WFMU yes?! 8:23 PM Jan 12th from TwitterFon in reply to WFMU
@mediajorge: @johnsancheznyc @wfmu si, si! 8:25 PM Jan 12th from TwitterBerry in reply to johnsancheznyc
WFMU: @mediajorge , OK Mediajorge, the Laurie Anderson tickets are yours. DM me here or email me at ken at wfmu do t org for the details. 8:26 PM Jan 12th from web in reply to mediajorge
@johnsancheznyc: @mediajorge You sunk my battleship! 8:27 PM Jan 12th from TwitterFon in reply to mediajorge
@mediajorge: @johnsancheznyc wait, what just happened? i won tix to Laurie Anderson replying to you about @wfmu? haha! ur my date, then! 8:30 PM Jan 12th from web in reply to johnsancheznyc
WFMU Sorry Jorge! I thought you wanted the tix but Sanchez actually replied first. Hope that’s OK. If not, I will send you a T-shirt. 8:34 PM Jan 12th
@johnsancheznyc: @mediajorge Haha, you won w/o trying? I must be your lucky star (b/c I shine on you wherever you are)! Ok we’ll go. 8:37 PM Jan 12th from web in reply to mediajorge
@johnsancheznyc: @wfmu Your system could use some fixin’! 8:37 PM Jan 12th from web in reply to WFMU
@mediajorge: WFMU hi ken, its ok, sanchez + I are bff’s. I’d love him to have the tix. The whole thing is hilarious! I’d like a T-shirt, though 
thx! 8:43 PM Jan 12th
(John got the tickets; I never got the T-shirt.)
gObamarama!
Did ya hear, the USA has its first black president. And not just any black president, a potentially great president. This subtle distinction was often dismissed in the heated dialogues over his nomination and election. But it’s a distinction that stuck in my craw. To say that the only reason he won is because he’s black, is no better than dismissing his chances at winning for the same reason. Since this is not a political blog, I’m keeping this post light and breezy.
Here’s why I think “Gobama” won. Obama uses his big ears to listen. Obama likes tacos and makes sly, poignant references to Jay-Z. Obama uses Twitter, Flickr! and Youtube. (Although he has been slacking on his Twitter; and he may have to surrender his Blackberry on January 19th.) Even Rupert Murdoch’s rabid right-wing tabloid the NY Post dubbed him “President 2.0″ and summed up his victory and pending presidency this way: Obama is digital; McCain/Bush are analog. Michelle looks dashing, and their daughters’ “aww” factor is undeniable. I’m sure the haters in the McCain/Palin camp will look upon the search for a hypoalllergenic White House puppy as yet another example of the urban elite thrusting “Amurica” fast and furiously into the multiculti, liberal, pits of hell. And rightfully so. If I were on “that” side of the slavery narrative in America, I would look upon the coalition from “non-real” America with fear as well. Before the election, hate crimes increased; shortly after the election, gun sales soared. But all the fears of, and prayers for, race riots so far have gone unanswered.
As they did at so many other points in this election, mainstream media and the majority of conservative white America completely misread what was at the heart of this election. It was not revenge we were seeking and driven by; it was not a divine comeuppance. It was simply a chance to try doing things differently, a chance to acknowledge that the world was changing at such an accelerated pace, that falling back into the old school ways was not a viable option. By all accounts, Obama was the only candidate serving up fresh options at every turn.
This is not a new battle cry. This siren has been sounded before. So what was different this time? Simply stated, this time there was a truly worthy candidate to match our will and purpose. What made him worthy? Obama kept his eye on the prize and took the high road – and stuck to it. In doing so, he inspired everyone to do the same. A lesser candidate would have been dragged into the muck, and many were. The tenor of all other campaigns, including Clinton’s, at some point resorted to old-fashioned mudslinging, oblivious to the fact that their mainstream messages were being drowned out by the incessant chatter online. There is no marketing tool more effective than word of mouth.
The collapse of the economy didn’t help his opponents either. Obama’s numbers took a significant upswing as Wall Street’s numbers plummeted. The blame for the meltdown rests as much with Democrats as Republicans; but America and the world were suffering from Bush fatigue. Obama’s policies may need polishing, and he is not a superhero, or messiah that will save us overnight. But he is ready, willing and able to assemble a group of progressive thinkers that, given time, can at least abate the bloodletting, and give us a chance to heal. It’s a process that will take at least four years, and most likely eight. Considering we were willing to let the Republicans take and steal the previous eight years, barring any epic fumbles, I see no reason why Obama, America and the world, shouldn’t be allowed our fair shake at the next eight. Hopefully, we can refrain from picking at the scabs in the process.
I Know ur Girlfriend Hates Me
Oh, Annie. Ur cute, stylish, throw down a mean set, hang with the funkiest white boys, and then, then there’s that winking Betty Boop voice, those bubbly beats, and ricochet lyrics to match the dicey titles. Ur like Parker Posey on helium. You sent a demo to Saint Etienne and wound up touring with them. You both diss hysterical girlfriends that turn the disco down. Girlfriends may hate you, but we heart you, madly, deeply. (And lord knows, we ain’t turning the disco down any time soon…)
Adventures in Paradise
Getting lost in music is a trick my mother taught me. Headphones are your best friend. Tonight, after 11 hours at the office, I had to decompress.
I was poking around for something funkier – but really, if this don’t stink, then I don’t want to smell. Or something like that.
And now, we can’t get enough of Minnie Riperton and “Adventures in Paradise.” This is what Ms “lady with the high voice and flowers in her hair” decided to do after “Lovin You” and being one of Stevie’s Wonder-women. A perfect, dreamy sleeper. Her crazy vocal range is in smooth check. It all goes down nice n easy.
Yeah, I’m still stressed and this new moon’s not helping. So this, and a little help from our best friend down the hall, and we were both gay-ok. Take it away, Minnie, take it far, far away….
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