There can’t be many people out there producing electronic music that aren’t already familiar with the Amen Break to some extent. It’s quite possibly the most reused piece of audio since the introduction of sampling.

A few months ago, Nathaniel pointed me in the direction of this tidy and concise 18 minute youtube clip doing an admirable job of explaining the enormous significance of this 6 second drum loop and it’s influence on anything breakbeat related since. I never got around to posting it here and eventually it slipped my mind completely but after it was pointed out to me again this week by someone else (thanks qiU!) I thought I better share before it gets lost again among the mess of other ideas swirling about my mindtank.

Amen Brother: The worlds most important 6 sec drum loop?

“Non-Format is a creative team comprising Kjell Ekhorn and Jon Forss. They work together (often remotely) on a range of projects including art direction, design and illustration for music industry, arts & culture, fashion and advertising clients. They also art direct Varoom: the journal of illustration and made images.”

Non-Format Interview at YouWorkForThem

Non-Format website

Here’s something nice for any of you who share my nostalgic fascination for the various characters who’ve shaped the last 25 years of electronic music.

Gerald’s been an innovator from the start. Setting a solid course in the late eighties with Pacific as part of 808 State and Voodoo Ray on his own, he went on to play a large part in the transition from Hardcore to Jungle. Of the many names that surface during discussions of early UK breakbeat culture, Gerald often seems to get brushed aside in favour of people like Goldie and Bukem. I have enormous respect for all of them but I think most of the original Drum & Bass guys would struggle to argue that they’re weren’t influenced by Gerald’s constant forward thinking approach during that early period.

Enough of my thoughts and opinions. I’m writing this because I stumbled across his site a couple of weeks back and the info section is great. The highlight is a short video made up of parts from a couple of old documentaries; Granada TV’s Madchester from 1990 and Channel 4’s Pioneers docu from 2000. There’s also a great page on Acid House which makes an ideal intro to anyone less familiar with his work or the period in general.

Mini documentary

Gerald on Acid House

A Guy Called Gerald homepage

There’s a great interview with Theo Parrish over at Resident Advisor. The guy’s very opinionated but makes some interesting and solid points. I suggest checking out the links in the first paragraph before you get stuck in, especially the BBC interview.

Theo Parrish interview at resident Advisor

In an effort to maintain regular updates, I’m inviting a few friends to come up with guest posts. This one comes courtesy of Natural Self, thank you mate…

“This is a song and video that a friend of mine recently brought to my attention. The singer is Brazilian but now resides in London. The song is a cover of a piece by Tom Waits. This is an unusual kind of love song, written as it is, from the point of view of the lover who has already passed away to the lover who remains alive. The video by Gustavo Guimaraes and Adams Carvahlo is perfectly pitched to carry its sombre and gentle beauty.”

I took the afternoon off today for some much required down time, work being pretty hectic as usual. The weather’s surprisingly nice and I couldn’t have asked for a better sofa soundtrack than this as the sun poured in.

Le Sac De Sonido (or ‘The Bag Of Sound’) is the work of Desmond Hollins, you can download the entire release for free at Portuguese net-label Test Tube. This is finding it’s place in my mind somewhere between titles like Gramm’s Personal Rock and Dan Abrams various releases as Shuttle358. If you’re looking to power down for a while and do a little mental housekeeping, this may well sort you out.

Hollins continues to impress. With his three S&S collections of hip hop makeovers (as Katrah Quey) alongside a handful of other releases including the Ceptual project debuted by Miasmah in 2006, this guy is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Appreciation goes out to Orville for passing me the link, thank you sir.

On first inspection, the work of Joe Nishizawa looks a lot like a combination of computer graphics and Hollywood scale set design. Instead, every image is an entirely untreated photograph of a real location he has visited and captured as he found it, often without the use of even a flashlight.

His work centers around some of Japans most impressive industrial design, much of which is found hidden deep underground in various facilities that seldom grant any kind of public access. Taking pride in documenting just how technologically advanced a nation Japan has become, he’s created a collection of books that consistently render sublime imagery from objects and environments created primarily for function rather than any aethetic value.

If recent rumors about a live action Akira are true, I hope that whoever’s heading up the production design dept. has some of Joe’s books on their shelf.

Joe Nishizawa website

Old Pingmag interview (2006)

Little-D returns with the most recent addition to his series of mix shows, available to download from the new improved website.

Show #14 starts with a tidy 50 minute mix from Estro (pictured above), regularly switching up the mood but keeping things locked in a tastefully deep house direction. The mix is followed by an interesting 20 minute interview with Peel Seamus of Delsin Records about the labels history and his thoughts on future directions.

Little-D Soundlab  / Estro / Delsin Records

Machine Molle is the Paris based motion and graphic design agency responsible for the crazy good ‘DVNO’ video doing the rounds at the moment. Make sure you check it in the Music Videos section of their site and see how many of the visuals you recognise from the last 30 years.

Along with the various other motion graphics work (check the air one too), there’s some real tasteful Design and Illustration.

website: http://machinemolle.com/

Keep daydreaming about a trip to Japan too, late 2008 / early 2009 I reckon…

Another update over the weekend if I can get enough other stuff done…

Berkeley-based artist Brendan Monroe answers a few question for Gestalten Verlag in this short video. If you’re unfamiliar with his painting and sculpture work, you should peep his site too. Seriously organic business…

www.brendanmonroe.com 

I posted a bit of info here back in December about extended multilink family member Iloobia’s collaboration with Studio Rarekwai on their book RackGaki. Since then he’s dropped by and filled me in on some other recent projects.

There’s been another three projects with the Rarekwai guys; contributing sticker designs for their forthcoming sticker book, editing a 20 minute documentary about HIV/AIDS in kenya as well as editing and post production for an hour long Dubstep documentary due for Japanese DVD release later this year.

He also showed me a short film he’s completed for Ninja Tune artist Max & Harvey’s track ‘Thieves’ from the forthcoming Big Amoeba Sounds album (keep an eye out for this, the album is amazing).

Next up is a documentary co-directed with Brighton writer and philosopher Neil Cantwell about music and religion in Japan which is due to start filing in April.

You can view an animation reel of past projects via the holding page for his new website. If you like what you see, please read on here and help us out…

www.iloobia.com

…he also has an entry in e4’s annual competition to produce stings for their channel. Having made it to the final stage where 28 finalists face a public vote, you can check it out here (it’s the one called Chicken Shaman) and show your support by helping him win. Voting ends at noon on the 29th Feb.

Born in France 1976, Stephane Tartelin start mixing traditional drawings with computer graphics at 15 years old. After 5 years of professional visual communication school, he fulfilled his childhood dream and started working for various video games development studios in Paris.
Operating as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and motion designer since January 2000, he now works for a range of international advertising, broadcast and publishing clients and continues to explore all facets of graphic design, animation, 3D, photography and illustration .

www.tartelin.com

Gez Fry is a half British, half Japanese illustrator living and working in Tokyo. Check out his website portfolio for more images and info…

Gez Fry online Gallery

Also worth a read is this PingMag interview with him from back in June 06 which does a nice job of putting the work in context. You’re going to be sick when you realise just how long he’s actually been drawing for!

Hydro 74 is Joshua M Smith, a real visual force to be reckoned with. It’s not easy to carve out anything resembling a truly original style in regards to vector illustration but this guy seems to hit the nail on the head every time. A constant source of inspiration, his type treatments are some of the best reference material for logo design I’ve seen in a while. Interview/showcase in the upcoming issue maybe?

Hydro74 website

Canadian based artist Joy Ang. Nice selection of styles going on, particularly in the illustration section.

Joy Ang website

Pump Up The Volume is a three part history on the development of electronic dance music. Part one looks in detail at Chicago and the early roots of house as it grows out of disco’s remains. The second and third parts take you through Detroit techno, acid house, Manchesters legendary Hacienda club and the UKs widespread rave scene of the early 90s that gave birth to so many new styles and directions over the following decade.

I say this about stuff a lot but you should consider checking this out even if you think it’s not your area. Anyone who’s into the idea of subculture and watching something develop should get a lot out of these. Although at 3 hours in total you may want to drop a bookmark to come back for parts two and three…

Pump Up The Volume: Part one (58mins)

Pump Up The Volume: Part two (49mins)

Pump Up The Volume: Part three (58mins)

Mark Rothko born Marcus Rothkowitz (1903–1970) was a Latvian-born Jewish American painter and printmaker who is classified as an abstract expressionist, although he rejected not only the label but even being an abstract painter.

Below is an hour long BBC ‘Power Of Art’ documentary on his career. I have a few reservations about the way this is done but ultimately, it does deliver a solid picture of some of what the guy was about. See it through if you have the time, it’s a little dark in places but well worth it…

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Props to Brad Troemel at Very Young Millionaire for the original post.

In the meantime, have a bit of ‘Purple & Brown’. This just about sums up my mental capacity at the moment, enjoy…

‘Hay Stacks’

‘Flower Fields’

‘Circular Housing Development’

‘Algae Between Logs’

Check the rest of his impressively consistent portfolio at www.alexmaclean.com

A name that gets less than it’s fair share of recognition is Natas Kaupas. To me, one of Skateboarding’s greatest strengths as a culture is its ability to be different things to different people and Natas really personifies what it’s meant to me over the years. The guy got involved on his own terms and carved his own route, that’s what it’s all about. Later, he would use that same personalized passion and drive as he began to get involved in related business ventures. Eventually finding himself as an art director he continued to turn his dedication and love for what he was involved with into some seriously fresh, original and influential styles.

Below is a 4 part ‘On Video’ biography on his career from pioneering skate legend of the 80’s to his post injury art direction of the 90’s. Don’t sleep on this if you’re feeling it’s not an area of interest to you, the cultural significance of this guys attitude and approach goes way beyond the context of skateboarding…

Part one…

Part two…

Part three…

Part four…

Drop by Brussels based www.laid-back.be and pick up the latest mixtape from 40Winks featuring tracks from their latest album alongside stuff they’ve sampled from and generally appreciate. Also check out their new EP of tracks with M.anifest available to download for free.

Maria’s Sea is a collection of short illustrated stories from Dan Kim’s Clone.Manga project, added at random as they’re completed. If you’re unfamiliar with Dans work you can download multilink #4 and get a feel for his uniquely abstract and often pretty dark approach to story telling. Parallel Star, the newest addition to Maria’s Sea is available now along with Karen which has been up there for a while now. Also, if you never checked Dans full length Paper XI, you missed something epic. It’s available to read online but you’d do well to track down a print version too if you can.

Hard Format is a design blog that catalogues interesting examples of music packaging…

“It seems like everybody’s talking about the end of physical music media. Who knows whether they’re right or not, but Hard Format is a little place we’ve set up to celebrate our love of brilliant music-related design. That means we’re going to focus on records, CDs, cassettes and their like. However, Hard Format isn’t intended to become a dusty museum devoted exclusively to past glories, though there’ll certainly be some of that, we also want to highlight the brilliant new design work being produced right now.”

Great inspirational resource, especially if you work in this area.

Pixel Notes by Duncan Wilson and Sirkka Hammer.

“A wallpaper consisting of four layers of varying grey tones on a bright primary backing. Each layer is perforated in a grid format and backed with a tacky adhesive similar to ‘post-it’ notes. Pixelnotes is inspired by the way we work within a space. The walls become functional, an integrated noticeboard that documents our activity within the room. Pixelated formations and shapes develop according to our patterns of use.”

Very nice!

We’ll be starting a series of podcasts here in the new year but in the meantime you’d do well to check out these guys.

Info on Amp Art Recordings is currently a little thin on the ground and maybe that’s intentional, after following a lead from a couple of months ago I still haven’t come up with much other than this page full of various audio to stream and download. It does a nice job of letting the music speak for itself so I’ll follow suit and let you go see what’s there for yourself.

The Public Life mix from 2001 and MXMs Move Me are current favourites.

Staying on the Japan tip from last Friday, here’s another nice photo set to peep at.

For 11 years, photographer Masataka Nakano has kept watch for the most impossible of scenes: central Tokyo street scenes inhabited by nobody. These aren’t manipulated composites but rather the result of a dedicated opportunist. There’s something very eerie about these desolate moments and their startling absence of congestion, usually so integral to the portrayal of this environment.

This is just a sample selection but you can pick up the complete series in this 96 page book published back in Sept 2007. If you’re into this check out more of Masataka’s work at his online gallery.

Hats off to Matt from Samurai.fm for pointing this stuff out to me.

Iloobia has passed me an article on filming this that I’ve put aside for the new issue early next year but you might want to think about picking up the DVD/book now as it’s been around for a while. Available from Laurence King Publishing in all good book stores…

2007 rework of the Depeche Mode original. This track has seen it’s fair share of cover versions including efforts from Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson. This version appears on ‘My Favourite Kind Of Irrelevance 1997-2007‘ on Hydrogen Dukebox, a kind of ‘best of’ collection that draws together choice cuts by Lee Norris under his various aliases. Highly recommended.

“When the social elevator is broken you have to know how to bounce. Between the take off and the fall, the man parachuted in the city learns to control his trajectory.”

Wicked little photo set from French photographer Denis Darzacq.

Devoid of yesterday is an arts based collective specializing in the creation of personal short film projects and not for profit commissions. The group is made up of motion directors Rob Chiu and Chris Hewitt alongside audio designer Ben Boysen.

Have a look at their work together in Things Fall Apart which reminded me it’s been a while since I watched Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira.

I’m not sure this got the credit it deserved when it was released back in March. Nest is a collaboration between Huw Roberts who runs Serein and Otto Totland. You might recognise Otto’s name as one half of Norwegian duo Deaf Center who’s 2005 album ‘Pale Ravine‘ makes for a close point of reference here. Perfect stuff for the cold winter evenings that are closing in here and my vote for net-release of 2007.

Download the whole EP (accompanied by some gorgeous artwork) free at www.serein.co.uk/music/ser013/

This project started a few years back with a load of ideas but no solid plans about how they should be executed. Having made the decision back then to allow it to grow as organically as possible it was amazing to watch things evolve and as more and more people offered their time and effort, I felt like we were building something really worthwhile. The problem with this approach is that as you progress you can’t help starting to see directions you want to guide things towards, potential routes that make sense in maintaining a stable future for what I’m trying to do here. That’s where we are now I hope, a slightly reconfigured approach that provides room for expansion without compromising my initial principles on how things should be done. Most importantly, a maintainable infrastructure is now in place (hopefully) meaning a lot more consistency in the delivery of content. This is not a business and nobody gets paid so it’s been a priority to make sure things remain manageable, as life has a habit of getting in the way.

So what’s different/new… well, firstly I’m no longer going to be delivering pdfs on a quarterly basis. Instead, there will be two issues a year which I hope to make more substantial. The big new addition is this blog which will be updated daily with new stuff to check. I’m hoping this will keep people coming back on a regular basis and mean we can begin to see what kind of community we have outside of those who’ve contributed content so far. Each blog entry has the capacity for you to leave comments and I’m hoping it’ll create a bit of dialogue so don’t be shy and leave a message if you find things of interest. Aside from the above, you’ll notice some other new bits and pieces as the site starts to ‘flesh out’ all of which will be introduced as and when they arrive.

There’s an RSS feed for the blog if you’d like to use it, you should see a subscription icon in your browsers address bar .

Remember, all the previous pdf issues remain available to download for free so if you missed any then now might be a good time to check them out. I’m aiming for a February release date on the next one so if you’ve sent stuff and not a lot has happened you may be hearing from me soon. Similarly, if you want to make a submission or discuss any ideas for content, get in touch. I’m ironing out a few kinks with the mailing list css but it still works fine if you want to subscribe, you email address will be safe I promise.

Onwards with the posting then…