Monthly Archives: November 2013

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A second profession

Me not working hard?
Yeah, right! Picture that with a Kodak
Or, better yet, go to Times Square
Take a picture of me with a Kodak
Took my life from negative to positive

– Pitbull

A recent edition of the Sunday Times Magazine featured a series of photographs of war veterans taken by Canadian rocker Bryan Adams. As a life-long anti-war activist he has written several songs about war and in November he published a photographic book, Wounded – The Legacy of War to highlight the human cost of armed conflicts.

Visitor viewing photographs of wounded veterans taken by Bryan Adams.

Visitor viewing photographs of wounded veterans taken by Bryan Adams.

Adams is one of many musicians cultivating a second career in photography. It is seemingly the second profession of choice for them. Music and photography often go together. Photos are essential in establishing and reinforcing the character and image of a band or artist, even if TV and the internet has taken over parts of that role. At concerts, the people who are closest in front of the stage are usually a group of photographers. Musicians paint pictures with words and sounds, photographers paint with light.

American musician Moby, famous for his electronic music, is an established photographer with exhibitions in several different countries in Europe as well as the US under his belt. In 2011 he released an album and a book of photographs both titled Destroyed.

Adams has done a lot of fashion photography and has been published in magazines like Vouge and Esquire.

Grand old lady of punk, Patti Smith, has also indulged herself in photography, resulting in her first large exhibition in 2011 called Camera Solo, currently working its way across the galleries of the world.

Former guitarist of The Police, Andy Summers, has toured far and wide with his photo exhibition I’ll Be Watching You: Inside The Police, 1980-83, documenting the bands tour around the globe between 1980 and 1980. The collection of more than 600 photographs records the band on stage, partying, taking drugs, fans, and the people and places they encountered on their journey.

Fans of The Police, captured by the band’s guitarist Andy Summers.

Moby’s photostream on Flickr

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The music of the Doctor

This November the iconic BBC show Doctor Who celebrates 50 years on the air. As the longest running science fiction show on the planet, with 77 million viewers worldwide, it has become an instantly recognizable part of the cultural history of Britain. The anniversary special episode was broadcasted simultaniously in 94 countries across six continents.

A key element in the success of Doctor Who, is the distinctive style of sounds and music. From the first theme, creepy and alien, composed by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire, to the more up beat version of the current series, it has always heralded the coming of epic adventures in time and space for millions of viewers.

 

50 years of Doctor Who!

Music from the show has become merchandise in it self. In 1983, the BBC released a full-length album with music and sound, titled Doctor Who: The Music. Music from the show has been featured at the Proms in Royal Albert Hall and a concert called Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular has been performed in New Zealand.

When the first episodes of the show was in production in 1963, a whole set of new sounds and music had to be created. The sound engineers at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop experimented freely and the results have had a enduring legacy.

Brian Hodgson, a former BBC sound engineer who worked on the original series of Doctor who, recently told BBC Radio Norfolk some of the secrets behind many of the iconic sounds from the show. He said the sound of the Tardis, the blue police box shaped combined time machine and space craft, was made by scraping his mothers keys against the strings in a old Sunday school piano.

Hodgson also told BBC how he had constructed the voice of the Daleks together with Peter Hawkins by shortening the length of the vowels to create the staccato voice. ‘EX-TER-MIN-ATE!’

 

VIDEO: Original Doctor Who theme (1963 – 1969)

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Live Review : Skrillex @ Building Six

Skrillex on Stage

He still maintains a fantastic energy throughout his set, but even with an interesting choice of songs (Sabotage by Beastie Boys anyone?) Skrillex disappointed me.

Skrillex on Stage

Skrillex full of energy on stage.

The usual pill-infused Electronic Dance Music fans came a-flocking with ridiculously over the top security checks imposed by the venue failing completely (it took us 40 minutes to get in including showing ID and tickets, and getting vigorously patted down by a security guard with the face of a bloodhound).

I was excited for the support acts, with the familiar faces of 12th Planet, Jack Beats and Koan Sound. But while Skrillex and Koan Sound entertained me, Jack Beats produced one of the most boring hour and a half sets I’ve ever heard. It was just a droning wave of generic-house, inspiring the entire audience to mob the bar.

One of the oldest faces in the dubstep scene from Los Angeles, 12th Planet delivered a fairly entertaining set, with just enough effort to make the crowd believe he was trying. But it was Bristol lads Koan Sound closing the evening that made me glad I came out, with a glitch-hop-meets-orchestral set packed full of energy. I’ve seen Skrillex before, but never managed to them live.

Verdict

While I had fun, this was far from the best time I’ve seen Skrillex. Whether it’s my own music tastes shifting, or him on a downward slope, I can’t honestly tell you, but something about the night felt off. The eyes of weekend ravers shone a little less bright in the hazy gloom, the strobe lights a little less epileptic.

Koan Sound were the resounding highlight of the evening for me, but I was surprised by how average the other acts were. Don’t get me wrong, it had its highlights (there was a hotdog stand in the smoking area) but I fear the EDM tidal wave has reached is peak, and is now on a comedown (like most of the audience a few hours later).

Be sure to check out Koan Sound’s “Sanctuary” EP.

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T in the Park announces first headlining act for 2014

Arctic Monkeys have been confirmed as the first headliners for T in the Park 2014

The Sheffield based band will take to the main stage in Balado, Scotland from 11th – 13th of July

Arctic Monkeys will headline the Scottish festival in 2014

Arctic Monkeys will headline the Scottish festival in 2014

The band said “We are delighted to be playing T in The Park and we look forward to a great night with our Scottish fans.”

The festival organizers say that this years 20th anniversary show was their best show yet and asked festival goers which bands they would like to see headline next years festival, Arctic Monkeys were one of the most heavily requested acts.

Tickets for the festival go on sale 9pm Friday on the festivals website.

 

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The Clan that changed Hip Hop

Shacklin’ the masses with drastic rap tactics, graphic displays melt steel like blacksmiths

– Wu-Tang Clan

20 years ago the New York-based rap collective Wu-Tang Clan released their first album Enter the Wu-Tang(36 chambers). A Hip Hop legend was born.

Enter the Wu-Tang quickly gained critical claim and the group established itself as a influential and creative force in the 90s. Wu-Tang Clan is famous for their unorthodox business model and their ground breaking contract with Loud/RCA, allowing all group members to negotiate their own solo contracts with other labels, effectively spreading the Clan across the industry.

Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers. The first Album of the soon to be notorious Wu-Tang Clan

Enter the Wu-Tang had a back to basics approach featuring piano-snippets, elements of 70s Soul and guitar stabs. The album had huge influence on the sound of east coast rap throughout the 90s.

Reflecting on their 20 years anniversary group member Method Man said to XXL Magazine it was “bitter-sweet”.

“It’s great to be recognized as pivotal group in the business. But it’s constant struggle to stay relevant and keep revenue coming in.”

Speaking about how the group has evolved, he said:

“We’re all still the same dudes. At least, I feel like we’re the same dudes; you’d have to ask somebody on the outside looking in. I still see the child in all my niggas. “

Wu-Tang Clan is more than just a rap collective, it is also a business enterprise. The Wu Tang brands has branched out to a range of merchandise and affiliated products. In 1999 the video game Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style was released for the Playstation, featuring all nine group members.

Following the success of their first album, Oli “Power” Grant, the executive producer opened four Wu Wear stores in different American cities. In 2007 the Wu-Tang entered a partnership with the Alife NYC clothing group, developing an exclusive series of custom t-shirts, hoodies, sneakers and other accessories.

Wu-Tang Clan was set to release an album commemorating their 20 years of fame, but the plans folded.

VIDEO:

Wu-Tang Clan Reflects on 20 year anniversary