Daedelus and the 256 Bits (or: Buttons)

This past Friday, I caught Daedelus at Loda, a weekly event at Gallery in Silver Spring, Maryland.

There were other artists performing and they were all quite good, but I went to see Daedelus and I was not disappointed. Well, not entirely. There were some sound issues that dragged his set downwards, but otherwise, it was an excellent performance.

One thing that I thought very impressive was his set up- only a Macbook and two Monomes, one with 64 buttons and another with 256. To say only is a bit of an understatement. All three are impressive pieces of hardware by themselves. Strung together, they're even more impressive.

Daedelus was running his beats off of the 64 button Monome and all of his melodies, samples and various noises of all types off of the other, mashing any number of the 256 buttons to create each song. Watching him, it almost seemed impossible that he might remember where anything was- the buttons on the Monome carrying no indication, save for a basic on/off feature whereby the user knows if a sample is active, if an LED is lit or not. All real, specific indication of use comes from the software used, which can be anything, really. I'm not sure exactly what Daedelus was using on Friday night, but he was getting results.

The crowd was bouncing around, even with the sound problems and going wild for nearly every stitch of sound that tore through the air.

An excellent show, all around.

How I spent my tax refund (well part of it)

The cold knife of taxes jiggles in my side like a key in the wrong lock, but once a year I get my comeupance in the form of my tax return. Here are the things that devoured my return as soon as it entered my account.

1. 1 - case of Hitachino Nest Beer - White. A couple years back a friend recommended Hitachino beer and since then I have been ruined to all other beers. This Japanese import is truly the nectar of the gods. It's a sweet and sour Belgian White beer that is uniquely mouth watering. Most of the local stores stopped carrying it several months back (from a lack of distribution and the worsening economy) therefore, this came only by way of special order. Normally I can't justify paying almost $5 per 12 oz bottle unless it's a rare import at a classy bar, but this is what the refund is for, right? To blow it immediately? Here's to jump-starting the economy.


2. 27 - LPs, 8 - 45s. Before things got too crowded at the DC Record Fair this weekend I was able to snag some really decent funk and soul records. I made the critical mistake of bringing my portable record player in my travel bag, because within ten minutes it just became an obstacle to the swarm of people fighting over crates. So I was not able to preview any of the records, but I am really satisfied with what I blindly purchased (again the burning hole in my pocket from the refund is the only reason I would have opened my wallet before my portable case.)

3. 1 - Office Space Blue Ray Disc. Possibly the best comedy ever made and the movie I have seen more than any other. Not sure that the high resolution is needed or overly noticeable, but I needed a new copy anyways.

4. Renewals (1 year - Virus Protection, Car Inspection. 6 months - Car Insurance.) It is not an accident that all my interval plans expire around the time I get my tax refund. Boo. Not fun.

5. 1 - Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion for PS3. After I finished Fallout 3 (Ed. Note - best game available for PS3) I had a craving for another RPG game and I figured I would just work backwards through the Bethesda catalog. I have never really connected with games involving potions or magic (I am more just a big gun shoot 'em up guy), but this game is so well developed that leveling into full nerd was quite painless. (HP on free time - 50HP.)

Pick Of The Crate - Disco Lady

A terrible thing happened to music in the late 70s and unfortunately funk and soul music were not immune to the epidemic. This plague was disco. Between 1975 and 1979 a lot of hybrid albums were popping up all over the place fusing funk and disco. I blame Van McCoy, but there are a lot of other people who helped propel this genre. I generally steer clear of these records, but every once in a while I come across one that really melded the sound in a pleasing way and could have led the revolution had disco not died a firey death one night at Comiskey Park. The record I wanted to display for people's exhibit A is George Franklin Smallwood's "Disco Lady".


This copy is a reissue pressed by my friend Kevin over at www.dcsoulrecordings.com. I don't know much about the history of the man, but the music speaks for itself and was good enough to be chosen as a DC/VA/MD record that needed wide-spread re-release. If you would like a copy please contact Kevin. I think he is doing a second run in the near future (although he may still have some on hand now.) Enjoi.

Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips

Sure, you don't need anyone to tell you that Gladys Knight and those wonderful Pips are good. In terms of hits that should be remembered though, this one seems to have fallen to the wayside next to some of their others.

I might be a sucker for harpsichord in popular music, so the intro that reoccurs later in the song is all it took for this one to grab me. Maybe it's a clavinet, but it's played like harpsichord anyway. I like the fact that you can hear the mechanics of the instrument as it's played. I enjoy when this happens with piano and any other keyboard instrument too. The hi-hat and bass do a nice complement with the harpsichord on the intro also.

Aside from the intro though, it's a great song and a great arrangement that makes smart use of strings, horns, guitar, and backup singers to sometimes stay out of the way and other times build into a powerhouse. Of course it's a great arrangement, it's a Motown record, right? Why am I even writing this?

Recordmendation - Memory Cassette

As noted in my 2008 mix post - my record consumption in 2008 was at an all time low. I have gone from picking up about 3-5 albums a week to maybe 3-5 a month. I have been sticking to safe bets like new albums by bands that never disappoint and always build on their previous work (see Animal Collective, Portishead, etc.) It's hard for me to really get behind a new band unless they really blow me away and stand out in my collection. Last year that band was Air France and this year I have a new cleared space in my heart for my new love - NJ's own Memory Cassette. Not ironically the debut EP from Memory Cassette will be coming out on Acephale Records, which is also the home of Air France (according to GvB). The similarities between Air France and Memory Cassette are noticeable - they both make beautiful, dreamy, electronic sunshine pop. What sets Memory Cassette apart is the live vocals as a substitute to looped vocal samples. The vocals are in complete unison with the emotional tone and composition to compliment the groove whether it be a downtempo eye closer or a four-on-the-floor ass rocker. You can find the first two EPs "The Hiss We Missed" and "Rewind While Sleeping" for free over at the weird tapes blog or you can check out some head nodders over at myspace. That's about all you will find. There is certainly an aura of mystery surrounding the project. No photos. No info or blog entries. Worst off - no news on touring, but if they come anywhere around DC you will be sure to see me noting the instruments used to bring amazing headphone music to the stage. Enjoy and support the project as soon as the EP comes out for sale (not sure if it is one of the two aforementioned EPs or a new one).

Weird Tapes
Memory Cassette's Myspace

Who I'm In Love With Today - Amy Mainzer

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a space junkie. I Tivo all the space shows on the Discovery and the History Channels and I finally got caught up on the last couple episodes of The Universe. After my last relationship ended I told myself I would not get in another relationship unless the girl was exponentially smarter than I. Perhaps I have found that person. Her name is Amy Mainzer and she is the classiest slash sexiest research scientist around (and no that is not an oxy-moron.) She was on the latest episode of the Universe and she is made me want to pull out my old Astrophysics books. If I were smart enough I would made some quip about the difference of big bang and big bounce theory, but I am not that intelligent. I need teaching. And I think Amy could provide that. Maybe in some far away galaxy many years ago...

Records That Time Forgot - The Ladies And The Babies

Quote from Flight of the Conchords, "Bret Gives Up The Dream"
Jemaine: "Bret, do you think it should it be, 'shake your booties, yeah' or 'shake your boobies, yeah'? Because when I think of 'shake your booties', I think of those little boots that babies wear. You know those little woolen boots that they wear?"

Looking at this Frankie Lee album you might think he says, "Why choose?" Babies like music - you know those Baby Einstein CDs are big. Plus, why limit yourself to just half the market? Why not make an album for children and adults? If you were hoping this would be that album - your wait is not over. With songs like, "Stoned, Cold & Blue" and "Nasty Stuff" this album doesn't cater to the kids the way the title implies (false advertising if you ask me.) The title and title track are in reference to trying to duck child support after a one night mistake. The rest of the album is listenable, I suppose - one listen should do. The highlight is obviously the cameo by Johnny "Guitar" Watson on "Stoned, Cold & Blue" although it gets largely washed out by the cheesy 80s synth pad. I don't know that it's enough to salvage this from the making it's way back to the $1 bin in the used record store, but at least it prompts an interesting discussion. Could an album made for children and adults be feasible or marketable?

The Daily Dig

Every weekend for the past 10 years or so I have hit up the local thrift stores, flea markets or yard sales in the area. Mostly I am looking for records, but I always stop by the art section looking for original paintings, unusual frames and old photographs. Every once in a while you come across old photo albums with the pictures still inside. Most of the time people remove the photos and just donate the book itself, but sometimes people who have passed on or people who just don't need the photos anymore donate the whole lot. Yesterday I found 5 albums for $2/ea that were all from the same couple's vacations from 1975-1982. The photos are largely just of the historical landmarks they visited from Sweden to Hungary to Germany (and many more) but every couple pages were truly candid and remarkable photos of the couple, their friends or the random staples of life that are largely passed by and ignored. More extraordinary than the photos themselves is the astounding amount of record keeping with each book. Every photo has the description on the back as well as a written representation in the interleave. Also included are personal diaries, maps, itineraries and memorabilia. The travelogues are truly engaging and one could save money on a vacation and just live vicariously through the images and words captured along their journeys. It's obvious that the couple has lived a much fuller life and adventurous life than I have so far, but this is a nice reminder to get out and see the world. Attached are a couple photos and one of the many pages of documentation.

Worst Top Ten List of 2008

Dearest 2008,

I heard you wanted a top ten list from me, but I had just finished off that bottle of Vicodin that the dentist gave me and instead of doing what you wanted, I just played video games and then passed out.

When I came to, I found a few crumpled, slightly moist sheets of paper with the following paragraphs written on it:


10. Jabberwocky
This poem is awesome. A few years ago, a friend with a sore throat read it for me and some other folks. He sounded like a demon. It was amazing. Then I downloaded it on iTunes and threw it on my iPod. Now I play it in the car to annoy people who do not like poems. Fun times. And all in delicious rhyme.

9. The Force Unleashed
Shut up. I liked it. I liked it a lot. Tell me you wouldn't enjoy throwing storm troopers around with the force, electrocuting Jawas and stabbing droids and rancors with a lightsaber. BZZZT. Wooosh. VRRRMMMM. PEW PEW PEW.


8. High-Definition
So I gave in and got a flat screen TV in 2008. It was on sale at Newegg and thankfully, even up til now, I haven't seen it's equivalent for much lower than I paid. Good stuff. And even at only 780p, it looks delicious. My cable provider gave me a hi-def box and watching The Science Channel in HD is just plain fantastic. Also, I think there's a BBC HD channel. They need to put some Top Gear up ins, like soon-ish.

7. The iPhone
A little late on this one, I think. Like most of my choices. But it was the applications and the fantastic updates that made this wafer of dense technology shine this year. And I'm not even talking about the 3G version. I still have the first gen iPhone. From the cowbell app to Aurora Feint to the improvements in the UI, 2008 brought about some standards in mobile computing that will stick around for a good while.

6. Google Chrome
It's fantastic. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive. ET CETERA!

5. NPR / WAMU 88.5
I've been listening to NPR regularly for about three years now and I became a card-carrying, financially supportive member in 2008. I even donated a bit to WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio, the station that produces This American Life, so I can download the podcast in good conscience. I have to say, the radio has given me far more and via this station, far better information than the TV ever has or likely ever will. So here's to "dead media".

4. Challenges at Work
So I got a juicy promotion to a really cool position at work back in August/September. It has been challenging and fun and I've learned a great deal so far. I have a lot of ideas for my company and so far, a fair number of them are being utilized to great effect. I was quite wary of staying at Custom Ink after I started- it was a huge shock to move from the psychotic flailing of the record industry to an industry that I only vaguely realized existed in 2007, when I applied for the job of Production Artist- an industry that is doing well, even during the downturn. Thank Jebus for the intertubes.

3. Xbox 360
Yeah, it's getting kind of old. Sure, the console has had a huge number of problems. I personally know three people who have gotten the infamous "Red Ring of Death". But all of them had their systems fixed in record breaking time and they still play them today. Downloadable content makes games what they are these days, from full on expansions to extended missions, options and more lightsaber choices. All fantastic ideas... and the best one? Well, the best one is my number two item of 2008... (And that thing that beat it out basically beat everything else by a landslide, including John McCain. See if you can guess what my number one is before you scroll down any further!)

2. Netflix
And it was a long time coming. Not as long as number one, but frankly, it's just as surprising to folks who know me. I own several hundred DVDs. Movies, TV shows, OVA Animation. But I only signed up for Netflix in November of 2008. I slept on it. My old roommates had it, so I mooched there and frankly, I liked buying DVDs. But with Blue Ray creeping up and HD looming large (see number 8), I decided to put the whole "buying DVDs" thing on hold. Also, I don't work at Tower any more and I don't get a discount on DVDs. But the clearest, most obvious and awesome reason that I set up a subscription to this most excellent service is the streaming video plug-in for the Xbox 360. Netflix + Xbox = massive win. Only slightly less massive win than another thing that happened in November...


1. Hope
Barack Obama won the election in what I feel like is a landslide. And next week, he'll be sworn in as our 45th president. I've been excited for a year about his prospects and it built to a fever pitch over the course of the election. What I like most about his effort, his message, his promises... It's the hope. The overwhelmingly positive attitude that the whole effort brought out. We've spent eight years being spoon-fed fear and hate and as any good Jedi will tell you, that shit leads to the dark side. So here's to 2008 ending on a high note. May the force be with you all.


Cheers. Now let's bring on the rest of the year.

It's been a long, long time comin', but I know- change gon' come

Left 4 Dead

Some of us live our lives in perpetual fear. And then, some of us live our lives preparing for the end of the world.

And I'm not speaking of some predicted rapture- some end of days, in fire, brimstone and all that. I speak of the day that the dead will rise from their graves, in a non-biblical way. The day that Zombies will begin biting the living hell out of the... Well, out of the living. It'll hurt for a moment, but only a moment... And then, you'll be one of them and you won't really care about your bite wound or perhaps even your missing arms or maybe your bullet wounds.


So, instead of just quietly awaiting our fates, curled up in the fetal position in our apartments and houses and slums and trailers, we're picking up boxes of shotgun shells, passing the time with target practice and reading up on field dressing bite wounds. Those of us who do this will be the leaders in the Zombie Apocalypse.

When that day comes, try not to hang out on top of really tall ducts without a big gun and lots of ammo. And a can of soda and some chips fall off of the roof. (Took me way too long to figure this picture out)

Left 4 Dead, possibly the greatest multi-player effort yet from your friends at Valve, based on the Source Engine, does what no other team shooter has yet achieved to date.


Left 4 Dead achieves balance.


A gameplay issue that few developers ever triumph over, even in the smallest ways, Valve have taken their time and learned from what must be nearly a decade of experience at multi-player shooters and the first person genre by now (and I'm not looking it up, I just know it's been a really long time). They've taken a subject which is certain to excite their core fanbase and they've done it great justice. In lesser hands, this game would have been a putrid pile of bugs, poor performance choices and annoyingly difficult, repetitive scenarios.

Instead, we have the survivors on one side- a four person, playable force of humans, immune to a disease/virus/infection thing that consumes people and forces uncontrolable rage and deadness into them before sending them off in search of warm bodies to munch on. And as for those who wish to munch on aforementioned warm bodies, they are well covered in the form of a massive horde of drone-like zombies and five powerful super-ish zombies.

Pitting these two historical forces against each other, in a rag-dolling, realistically attributed physical world, constantly AI-shifting series of levels leaves not only a delicious feeling in the extermities, but also sets the player up for an amazingly visceral jump factor. It forces the reaction dial to eleven on allowing for the realization that the horde is stumbling, rumbling and screaming down on you at the speed of a leaping, snarling, hooded undead maniac.

In a way, it is a ridiculously plain and most innovatively simple aspect that balances the game in an interesting way:


Valve took away one side's guns. And then they took away most of the bullets and the choices of grenades and silencers... They took almost everything from the team that got to keep their guns and they said:

Aw, hell. These guys always trample my corn.

"GOOD LUCK GETTING TO THE END OF THE LEVEL. WE'VE PUT A JILLION ZOMBIES IN YOUR PATH AND IF YOU DO REALLY WELL, WE TOLD THEM TO RUN FASTER, BITE HARDER AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T DRAG YOU ACROSS THE ENTIRE LEVEL ONLY TO TEAR YOU TO BITS AT THE MOMENT WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT."


But this is good. It gives those of us preparing for the end of days a bit of extra practice, just to make sure our tactics are sound. And don't worry, guys- we're here for you. This practice will do us all a world of good when that day comes.

kiss kiss, bang bang

It's Always Sunny...

in Philadelphia.




Television will probably always be a vast wasteland, as it was said to be in 1961. 90% of what is broadcast in America today is filler, set up as a buffer between the amazing peaks of awesomeness that erupt and crush into the sky from time to time. Amazingly, possibly the very best show on television right now, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, managed within its first three episodes, to do what some shows take three seasons to do- if they ever achieve it.

They have made their characters REAL. Well... As real as characters in a TV show can get. Their personalities are dynamic and realistic, to the point that anyone can identify with some of Charlie, some of Dennis, Mac and Sweet Dee. Even the late addition, Frank, in the chubby, diminutive form of Danny DeVito, shows us a little about ourselves.

These characters are the best kind of characters- they are caricatures. They point out our most basic absurdities in a way that only the best comedy can. If you watch any behind-the-scenes footage, you know they're having fun doing it. And above that, as the main actors and producers are the writers, you can tell from the fact that they keep coming back, each time more absurd than the last, they are relishing the fact that American culture, society, bureaucracy and our very unique quirks can be exploited for fun and yes- profit.

Thankfully, as a nation, we will never better ourselves quite enough to force these folks to stop writing and acting our their grand farce.

So carry on, you crazy bastards. For every Dennis that falls, two Charlies will take his place!

wildcard, bitches!