It seems like a brave move allowing the audio to shift back and forth behind the dialogue in each scene but the result here is great.

After the huge success of their first album ‘Leftism’ I remember some of the material from this follow up LP being delivered alongside pretty dramatic visuals like the Afrika Shox video by Chris Cunningham and the Guiness advert featuring Phat Planet. I’m not sure this video achieved such a high profile but in my mind it’s the perfect delivery for the track… different people in different places, each getting down with their own vibe.

Now go find yourself a copy without the dialogue and turn it up loud for that break around the 3.30 mark.

Sepalcure – Love Pressure EP (Preview) by Hotflush

I was originally a little disappointed to find ‘Feeling That I Know So Well’ (the original track from the time lapse video) isn’t on this release. Not to worry though, being the gentlemen they are Praveen and Travis have teamed up with XLR8R and made it available as a free download to celebrate the new EP. Good work all round.

This guy seems comfortable with his style across a range of different scales (some of the aerosol pieces are big!). Check out the clip below to see one of the smaller ones coming together…

Visit his site for more… http://www.aryz.es

Originally released as 100 hand numbered promo’s back in 2008 (I’m not sure who sent me mine but thank you guys), this is well overdue finding it’s way online.

Grab it via the link below and keep your eyes peeled for part two later this year.

http://get-wise.tumblr.com/post/773789655/get-wise-volume-1

Props to Iloobia for the heads up above and big thanks to those of you that are still checking in here from time to time despite the lack of updates.

Posts here may have slowed significantly but there is still a pulse. This game’s not over yet.

Really enjoyed this, always motivating to hear from high profile people who’s feet remain firmly on the ground.

This is great in so many ways. Using film footage, a well spoken voice over and some inventive animations, the makers gracefully explain the basics of computer operations. With such developed usability and interface technology there’s little need for an understanding of these fundamentals now days. If however, you’re unfamiliar with these concepts and have ever wondered how the seemingly inanimate object you’re reading this on does what it does then this is an elegant introduction and a great way to discover about the octopus that was doing all the counting inside your favourite 8bit games console.

Via A Kind Of Terminus.

The 11 episodes released so far include parts 1-6 of Skate and Create, parts 1-3 of Graffiti and a couple of brief artist profiles on Swoon and Os Gêmeos…

Visit the site to check out all the episodes so far at…

http://www.wk.com/wke/show/diy/

Written, directed by : Patrick Jean
Director of Photography : Matias Boucard

As the seasons change I find myself revisiting releases that have been hibernating, unnoticed in my itunes library for a while. Certain musical directions that for one reason or another I’ve come to associate with a particular time of year will stand out again when I’m browsing for a work soundtrack or something to keep me in a groove while I’m cooking dinner. This mix by 40 Winks often reappears around this time each year, maybe it’s the first few days of being outside in a t-shirt without freezing that does it…

S002: 40 Winks – Extended Leisure by slidemusic

As I said last time I’m not going to go in to any depth trying to explain the content of these mixes, you can scan them via the player if you want to get a feel for what’s involved. If you’re not familiar with what 40 Winks do, think along the lines of an adventure in laid back beats and narrative interludes.

You can stream or download the mp3 via the Soundcloud player. Enjoy.

1923 (aka Heaven) is one of two animation loops directed by Max Hattler, inspired by the work of French outsider artist Augustin Lesage (1876-1954). 1923 is based on Lesage’s painting A symbolic Composition of the Spiritual World 1923.

The second animation loop, 1925 (aka Hell) is based on Lesage’s painting from two years later A symbolic Composition of the Spiritual World 1925.

Thank you Lassi for the tip off on these. Check them out full screen and in HD for maximum effect.

You can find the image above among a selection of other work from Mr Young in our recent Capsule 01 print project.

LMG Interview with Alex Young

Forthcoming on Hotflush Recordings I believe, Travis (Machinedrum/Tstewart) and Praveen team up as Sepalcure. Accompanied here by time lapse footage of Sougwen doing her thing with pen and paper…

“Sepalcure’s combination of love for bass and 90s house acapellas is the culmination of a cathartic two week collaboration between Machinedrum and Praveen. Their mix of tribal dub, house and two step beats works equally well for both late nights in the club and rainy, introspective nights at home. Detroit techno chords cut through wooden beats, neon synths and dubbed out atmospherics. Future lovestep.”

Looking forward to the full release from these guys soon.

http://www.sepalcure.com

Sougwen is a featured contributor in Capsule 01

From the Serein website…

“‘Retold’ is an apt title for this body of work, at times light and serene, other times dark, brooding and sinister – Nest are expert storytellers. Taking cues from film soundtracks and contemporary classical music, the story is woven using a myriad of instrumentation. Dulcet piano tones are backed by string and horn arrangements, unidentifiable plucked instruments and the sound of the Welsh harp; often heavily processed, Retold is an album that has as much in common with experimental electronic music as it does with modern classical composition.”

“Nest is the collaborative project of Otto Totland and Huw Roberts. The first six tracks on this album were originally released in 2007 on the eponymously titled Nest EP; they are presented here again having been remastered alongside five new pieces composed in 2009. A revised edition of the track ‘Cad Goddeu’ was created especially for this release.”

Huw has been a good friend for a number of years now. Along with a handful of others who populate the contact list of my chat client on a daily basis, he’s the closest thing I have to any real work colleagues right now. Always on hand for discussion and feedback, his consistent high standards and objectivity are a real asset when I’m stuck procrastinating on a project that’s not progressing as I’d like it too.

You may remember seeing my original post on this blog when the Nest EP was released back in 2007. Huw had played me material he’d worked on previously but when it arrived back then the EP really blew me away and became an all time favourite that I’d go back to again and again. It’s one of those rare gems that’s so immediately accessible but also manages to reveal more depth with every listen.

Huw also runs the Serein label and when he explained his plans to make the transition from a back catalogue of digital mp3s to manufacturing and distributing physical product my first thought was how much I wanted a well crafted Nest release and in this regard ‘Retold’ delivers on every level.

An update to something with which you already have a strong relationship is often a cause for concern but the results here are very welcome. The new material sits beautifully alongside remastered tracks from the original EP adding new layers of depth and fidelity. I’m won’t say anything more about the music itself, you have the sample tracks above for that.

I’ve taken a batch from Huw that are available direct from our new online shop and although things may seem a little quiet around here from the outside, I’m working hard to get Multilink moving again at a proper pace. Purchasing products here is a great way you can help speed up the process and support the artists behind each project.

Buy Nest ‘Retold’ from the Multilink online shop (£7.99)

 
Let me begin by making it clear that the Capsule series is in no way intended as a replacement for the online magazine (which is still due to return in the near future), serving instead as a physical extension with it’s own functionality and agenda in line with the nature of the format. To explain a little further…

Since publishing the first digital issue of Multilink Magazine people have often enquired about a print version and expressed an interest in getting their hands on the featured artwork in a more tangible format. There’s a number of reasons why the magazine has always made more sense to me in a digital format both in terms of production and distribution as well as the flexibility needed to accommodate the diversity of what’s been featured in each issue. That’s not to say I don’t fully appreciate the desire to interact with content away from the computer sometimes. There’s so much to soak up online that it’s often hard to really give things the level of attention they deserve and regardless of what quality monitor you use it never really feels the same as leafing through well printed pages on a nice weighty paper stock.

 
Multilink Magazine has always been a purposely chaotic mixture of people and ideas across as wide a variety of disciplines as possible. The idea is to celebrate the diversity of creativity while at the same time trying to highlight the common fundamentals involved. This has meant issues of various sizes are released at irregular intervals, one of many logistical considerations that alongside the fluid nature of the content in each issue really doesn’t sit too well with the kind of unavoidable financial model required to produce and distribute a project in print.

Capsule has been conceived as a high quality and collectible series of art books and prints that span the same diversity of visual culture found in the free online magazine without the editorial. Many of the same principles remain in place such as the variety of content and desire to elevate some incredible talents, generally operating beneath the popular radar. But where the online magazine is a platform for all kinds of creative endeavours, these books and prints provide a more focussed catalog of art and illustration. High production standards have been a key consideration and considering what we’ve achieved with the magazine in it’s ‘virtual’ environment I’ve been keen to ensure that the physical quality of the end product justifies the move to a manufactured format. On a similar note, I’m happy to say that we’ve kept tightly in line with all FSC standards, using environmentally sound inks and paper from well managed forests and other sources. It was essential from the start to try and make the books as affordable as possible and collectible over time forming a much larger resource and archive. With that in mind they all feature an extra durable PUR binding to ensure you won’t find pages starting to drop out over the coming years. You can also open them up nice and wide too without worrying about any disturbing cracking sounds from the spine.

 
So enough introduction from me, follow the link below (or in the left hand menu) to see more details of who’s in the first volume. It’s currently available direct via our new online shop and will soon be joined by some initial limited prints from this volume and a handful of other non-Capsule related items that will also appear here on the blog in the coming weeks.

If you’re having any problems with the order process or have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to drop me an email via the address on the info page or via the contact page on the shop.

A new online issue of Multilink Magazine is incoming too I promise so please do keep checking back.

For more details and to order a copy at £7.99 click here.

“MAKE IT COUNT is a four-part documentary, which showcases Element’s defining moments and delves into its compelling story. From its humble beginnings, to a forward thinking global brand, this film covers two decades of stories and imagery.”

Here’s links to the Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 posts with embedded video as above. Visit the Make It Count website to watch and download each episode in a variety of resolutions.

It’s been a while since I last looked at this stuff and made (then promptly lost) the mental note about posting it here, so big thanks to the good people over at the Nice Produce blog for posting it there and jogging my memory.

You can see more of Shohei’s work on his site… here.

Interesting stuff to look at on his blog too, probably a lot more interesting if you can read Japanese though.

“The first incarnation of Element came in the form of a small collaborative, East Coast company called Underworld Element. Most often referred to as Underworld, the company was inspired by the hip-hop movement and used a mixture of urban styles and reflected a raw and controversial vibe.

Soon after its inception, Underworld was plagued with many challenges, and the business began to collapse. Its original crew had all moved on, and Johnny was left with two choices: either turn the struggling brand around, or abandon Underworld altogether and start something entirely new.”

You can watch the above on the Element site at a variety of resolutions here.

If you’re into the documentary then the first Element video ‘Fine Artists’ (above) is a good follow up move.

With a well considered mixtape, tracks can be placed in certain contexts and you often end up hearing something familiar in a new light. There’s a lot to be gleaned about the person putting the mix together too, the variety of tracks and moods and the type of transitions between them all say something about that individuals relationship with the ideas they’re using.

So the concept is simple, I’ve got together a pile of mixes from friends and associates and with their permission I’ll be posting them at intervals here on the blog via soundcloud. Over time we should rack up an interesting archive from the past present and future. Enough introductory rambling now, on to the first installment…

I’m starting the series with a mix of my own from 2003 which may seem a little self indulgent though there is a specific reason for it too. Multilink wasn’t originally conceived as a magazine, it basically started life as a desire to get involved with creative people and projects of as wide a variety as possible. We stumbled into the idea of a pdf mag after Steve showed me Bloodwars and it seemed like something that between us we could get moving pretty quickly, so that’s what we did. With no experience of any conventional magazine editorial process, my plan was to approach the first issue as a mixtape only made with people and projects as opposed to 12″s and LPs and that’s basically what I’ve stuck with for all subsequent issues since.

The significance of starting our series with the Disengage mix is that it was planned and recorded during the same period Steve and I put together issue #01 of multilink. So as different as the end formats may be, I’ve always felt they shared a similar process in regards to selection and assembly.

I plan to avoid describing the content of each mix, opting instead for a little background info each time. However, if you do require serving suggestions then this one is probably well suited to long journeys or extended sessions of lazy leisure.

Download the mp3 via the arrow on the Soundcloud player. Larger front/back artwork and track listing can be downloaded here.

“When built in 1913, the Michigan Central Station was the world’s largest train station. The station was built fairly far from the downtown, with the hopes that it would anchor further development in the area. The station was used heavily through World War II, though the Great Depression slowed development in the city.  Michigan Central Station saw declining usage shortly after. Unfortunately the station was never even filled to capacity with several upper floors never being used.

The station finally closed for good in 1988. It has stood empty ever since, and after years of neglect and deterioration, the Detroit City Council has voted to demolish the historic building, and bill the owner, Matty Moroun, for the costs.”

The above images and text where taken from a project page of Kevins on Behance Network, click here to view the entire set. Also via his Behance profile you will find a set of various night scenes from metro Detroit and his 100 Abandoned Houses project.

You can browse the full selection of Kevins work at www.kevinbauman.com/

This is to some extent a compressed interpretation of Dan Sicko’s book, Techno Rebels which comes highly recommend if you’re into the subject matter (a revised edition of which is apparently in development although the last update on that appears to have been in April).

Techno and it’s early roots in Detroit are the focus here. Unlike Sicko’s book which I remember as relatively reserved in it’s accounts, this initially suffers a little from the barrage of overwhelming ego’s on parade. There’s some pretty bold and potentially quite questionable statements being thrown around regarding certain individuals views on what techno is and who’s ultimately responsible for it, the kind of conclusions I would prefer to draw later for myself as opposed to being fed as an introduction. Don’t let this put you off though as it’s by no means a deal breaker and easily explained as an inevitable consequence of the level of passion involved.

It’s an informative story on a number of levels. A big highlight for me being the inclusion of academic Jerry Herron with his accounts of the city’s social and economic history of the last 50 years and it’s role in shaping the circumstances and environment in which all this could manifest.

If you’re not a fan of techno I would still suggest you give this a go. You may be pleasantly surprised and if it leads you onto the book, there’s a whole other level of in-depth and worthwhile material to be explored there in regards to creative drive and progression in general.

From Plexifilm…

“HIGH TECH SOUL is the first documentary to tackle the deep roots of techno music alongside the cultural history of Detroit, its birthplace. From the race riots of 1967 to the underground party scene of the late 1980s, Detroit’s economic downturn didn’t stop the invention of a new kind of music that brought international attention to its producers and their hometown.

Featuring in-depth interviews with many of the world’s best exponents of the artform, High Tech Soul focuses on the creators of the genre — Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson — and looks at the relationships and personal struggles behind the music. Artists like Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Eddie Fowlkes and a host of others explain why techno, with its abrasive tones and resonating basslines, could not have come from anywhere but Detroit.”

I’ve no idea when I originally made the note about featuring these or how it slipped through the net, they’ve chosen a good day to resurface though.

For more images, news and prints visit www.kenichihoshine.com

Then a few months back Graham came through again, this time on his Unique Uncut label with Klics debut release… a two track digital release with the same depth and restraint that had me hooked on the mix above. I’ve been harassing G about how this needs a vinyl release and with a bit of luck we’ll see some wax turn up in the future but in the meantime if you’re into the mix, you can do a good thing by supporting these guys and picking up a copy online here.

As if that’s not enough to get involved with, how about this slick edit of Esbjörn Svensson Trio?

Use the arrow in the right hand panel of each player to download mp3s of both the mix and the E.S.T edit. Respect to Ned for letting me share this stuff with the rest of you and big thanks to Greymatter too for putting me in the loop.

“MAKE IT COUNT is a four-part documentary, which showcases Element’s defining moments and delves into its compelling story. From its humble beginnings, to a forward thinking global brand, this film covers two decades of stories and imagery.

In creating Chapter 1 of 4, “WIND” Kirk Dianda (director) followed Johnny Schillereff (Element founder & president) and dug into his history, interviewing the very people that have shaped his life and the company. The opening and closing sequences give you a small taste of the diverse community of people interviewed for the entire project, topics covered, and nostalgia that was un-earthed.”

The remaining three chapters are to be released on the first of each month. Use the button on the bottom right of the player to view full screen. Alternatively, you can watch and download in medium and high resolution here.

I had a music post prepared for today but something exciting is happening tomorrow which I’m hoping this Howell interview may (loosely) work as a primer for. Check back Sunday / Monday for details.

Andy Howell interview at Slap magazine.

Under the Strictly Kev pseudonym, Foakes was part of the original DJ Food line up alongside Patrick Carpenter (PC) and Coldcut’s Matt Black and Jonathan More. A friend of mine picked up Refried Food sometime in 97 and it was following up on the remixers there that led me to the likes of Autechre, Fila Brazillia, Luke Vibert and Mathew Herbert. Shortly after, I discovered the Blech II mix that he and PC had put together, which for me still stands as one of the best examples of what you can make of a mixtape (look at that tracklist!).

Alongside the music and DJing, Foakes has delivered some seriously tasteful artwork as graphic designer at Ninja Tune. Over the years, he’s created a visual profile that only long term realtionships like this or The Designers Republic & Warp seem to yield.

I recommend you spend some time exploring the history of projects on his site. If you’re into digging for good stuff you may have missed, the connections to be found there are certainly worthy of investigation.

www.djfood.org

This book could be vital. For as long as I can remember, graffiti has been a prime candidate for appropriation by the seemingly infinite incarnations of mainstream media. The explosion in recent years of ’street art’ as an ambiguous tag for anything outdoors involving paint has done little to expose the real nature of the sub-culture that ad agencies still seem unashamed to pillage for a lazy fast track to an ‘urban’ aesthetic.

In a lot of ways, a low profile of the reality here is a helpful proponent in allowing it’s continued practice. The fact that such a raw, committed activity continues to burn so brightly despite the constant, overwhelming misrepresentation it receives is certainly reassuring. That said, it’s always good to see these things documented accurately at some point if only to provide a valid counterpoint for their bastardized commercial persona.

Pre-orders and further info at www.crackandshine.com

“Few skate spots on earth can claim the notoriety of philadelphia’s love park. its location and design have made it the focal point of east-coast skateboarding. for the first time, ricky oyola, stevie williams, josh kalis, kerry getz, tim o’connor, and a host of local notables tell the tale of this legendary landmark.”

“A short film directed by Matt Watkins featuring Lucy McLauchlan’s improvised painting process and the harvesting of urban detritus. Tacit was filmed between locations in Birmingham and Walsall Art Gallery.

The soundtrack was composed, performed and recorded by McLauchlan and Watkins with a circuit bent broken radio and a ‘prepared’ piano in the reception of Birmingham’s Custard Factory.”

You can see more of Lucy’s artwork at the Beat13 website

From their site…

“NEWWORK magazine is a large-format arts publication for Connoisseur of fresh ideas. Designed and published biannually by studio NEWWORK, each issue features new work from a wide range of artists and creators in the worlds of fine art, design, high fashion, culture, and politics. From art directors to business leaders, design students to curators, NEWWORK’s contributors are united in their passion to push the boundaries of their disciplines. Among the magazine’s special features are bold, custom-designed typefaces and a twist on the traditional newspaper format, offering a stimulating juxtaposition of striking design and everyday simplicity. Since pages can be separated, each layout can be hung on the wall as an individual art piece.”

visit www.newworkmag.com

As you can see the site has had a little refit to make way for things to come. I’m tired of giving all my time to clients and never getting a chance to move forward with multilink. Precarious as the current climate may be, I’ve made the decision to cut loose and see what’s possible here once and for all. The next issue of the online/pdf magazine is currently in production with an intended release date within the next couple of months, expect the usual cocktail of people and things spanning the period since the last one. I’m also organising a small online shop to help some featured artists and friends get their stuff out there. The focus will hopefully be on limited items and stuff you can’t pick up everywhere else.

The most common request over the years has been for a print version of each issue so people have a physical copy of the artwork to flick through. In some ways this goes against the nature of the online publication but I do hear where you’re coming from. In response I’m looking into a series of small but perfectly formed artwork books that will be produced in limited numbers and available in the new shop too, possibly alongside some limited prints. More about that as it comes together.

It’s probably wise that I leave it there for now, there’s quite a bit more going on but it’s a little further down the line. Now more than ever I’m looking for people to help out, particularly writers with ideas for articles or essays on creative subjects. If you have something that you think might make sense in the shop, hit me up about that too. I’ll do my best to answer all the emails but please bear with me while I try to get back in gear.

Proper blog posts to resume in the next few days, thanks for coming back.

(photo above: adam appleby)

If you were into that, you’re going to like his tracks too I reckon. Obvious points of reference being Prefuse 73, Flying Lotus and Dabrye’s 2001 debut ‘One/Three’. Check the following lifted from his myspace page and then we’ll get onto some releases…

“could let you all know bit more bout me i thought … i had some yamaha keyboard when i was about 7 – had this “snow flakes” sound on it .. and i regret not knowing what it sounds like anymore, but i was able to trip out on just hitting the C-3-Note .. also had this fisher-price tape recorder, with a built in microphone – got some pretty crazy stuff on tape because of that .. sometimes just these really long recordings of me and my family eating at the dinner-table .. i wish i could say i recorded that out of interest – but i pretty much just forgot pressing the stop button … also played piano when little .. stoped playing the piano when i got older .. started playing the super-nintendo though .. recently even sampled “claymates” again cause it got some nice arpeggio synth lines in it .. crazy game … youre a clay-ball that can transform into animals … anyways .. now i spend lotsa time wasting it .. and making music …”

First thing I picked up was his 4 track ‘Beat Tape’ on TrebleO for a very reasonable £1.99. While you’re there you should also listen to ‘Thank Capital Letters’ which is his track on the ‘Here Comes Treble’ compilation, an absolute killer and available as a single track if you’re not feeling the rest of the comp. If the sound clips aren’t enough to persuade you, TrebleO is giving away a short taster track too.

Next up is a new 12 inch on it’s way via Affine Records which you can listen to on their site.

If you’re after more free stuff, download his 2006 release ‘Seek When Is Her’ (EAR022) from Earstroke Records. I had problems with the .zip but you can grab each track individually if needs be.

From the Gestalten website…

“The application of diagrams extends beyond its classical field of use today. Data Flow charts this development, introduces the expansive scope of innovatively designed diagrams and presents an abundant range of possibilities in visualising data and information. These range from chart-like diagrams such as bar, plot, line diagrams and spider charts, graph-based diagrams including line, matrix, process flow, and molecular diagrams to extremely complex three-dimensional diagrams. Data Flow is an up-to-date survey providing cutting-edge aesthetics and inspirational solutions for designers, and at the same time unlocks a new field of visual codes…”

More details an images here.

Tasteful short film interviewing the books creators here.

From the BFI website… “Jennifer Baichwal’s award-winning documentary centres on renowned artist Edward Burtynsky whose large-scale photographs portray the devastating impact of industrial expansion on the environment.

Baichwal observes the artist at work amid some of the most surreal landscapes of the 21st century: China’s mountains of computer waste; the Yangtze River where whole towns are disappearing in the flooding caused by the Three Gorges Dam; the shipbreaking yards of Bangladesh; Shanghai, with its increasingly crowded skyline and millions of new inhabitants.

Eschewing polemics, Burtynsky aims simply to bring these landscapes into our consciousness, to provoke reflection on some highly inconvenient truths. Yet Baichwal’s film also exposes a tension between ethics and aesthetics: aren’t these images of apocalyptic splendour just a little too seductive? One thing’s for sure: it’s a terrible beauty that’s born.”

I saw this about a month ago and it blew me away. Although it was filmed back in 2006 it only saw a UK DVD release this week via the British Film Institute so I’ve been resisting the temptation to write this post until now.

Manufactured Landscapes is the most visually stunning documentary I’ve seen in a long time. It seems to have received a little criticism for the lack of any overtly ethical component in it’s narrative but for me that worked out well, providing an opportunity to absorb all the information on offer and consider the ethical connotations for myself once the film was over. As a film about social and economical issues, arguably perhaps it does lack something in addressing it’s ethical responsibility but as a film about a photographer and his work, I think it’s right on point.

I read another review where the author called the film boring (!!) which to me is madness. There’s no doubt this documentary takes it’s time but (in my view) anything else would be inappropriate and fail to do justice to the unquestionable depth and detail of Burtynsky’s work. For me, the combination of relaxed pace and calmly meandering, non didactic narrative was close to perfect. I seriously can’t recommend this enough.

If you’re still not convinced, there’s a well executed New York Times review here from sometime around the films US release date last year.

Finally, here’s a 10 minute compilation of excerpts from youtube…