Complications and Constrictions

It's a blowout! Three new reviews!
Holy stimulus!



Here's my take on the ever-fascinating, but not-quite-genius of Ricardo Villalobos's Vasco. Look at this guy (above), even his diet is minimalist.



And here I am recounting why Faust are still relevant on their latest.


Finally, a brief examination of the DVD version of Watchmen's Tales from the Black Freighter cartoon. I waxed a bit on its transgressive connection to Brecht, Genet, et. al, but fully neglected to mention E.C. Comics! E.C. perhaps shared much in common with some of these sick tales of depravity, particularly their gruesome and incredibly well-written horror tales.

Anywho, here's the kicker- Alan Moore be damned- the film's actually quite good. It'll never measure up to the graphic novel and readily missing is much of the meta-text that is comic-specific (today, a comedian- aka comic, ie. comic books- died in New York), but for a good ol' college-try Snyder pulled it off pretty well.

Underground Resistance on Current TV

All Apologies

Idolator has a post up regarding the Right Music Wrong campaign launched by the dying Virgin brand. The idea of a music "wrong" is so dogmatic and small-minded that it barely warrants mention, but Idolator's puts an interesting twist on this idea- don't we owe musicians an apology for buying all their albums and then pretending to be better than them several months later?

The comments section is very entertaining. Somebody ought to make an entire web site devoted to such musical apologies. Any takers?

Dear music industry,
I'm sorry for my stingy habits at taping songs off the radio, using BMG and Columbia House in my youth to get their free cd offers, taping songs I found at the library, burning CDs from friends, downloading music, listening to music on Youtube and Imeem, getting free promos to review, and buying local and independent music before anything mainstream. It really is sad that you are now irrelevant.
-Timh

Deeper Into Listening

I've got a new review up of the recent reissue of four works by Pauline Oliveros on Sub Rosa. Click the link to check it out.


I've had the privilege of meeting Ms. Oliveros and actually performed at her Deep Listening Space with Al Margolis (If, Bwana, Pogus Records, Sound of Pig Records) and Evan Leed (former Mr. Noise, m0dnAr, Moe Greene) (who've both recently collaborated on a great track on a compilation called String Theories)opening for the French improv group Hubbub. I thank the three people who came out that night.

Regardless, it's a great space to check out if you ever, for some ungodly purpose, find yourself trapped in the lower Hudson Valley. I have nothing but fond memories from there.

Deep Listening Institute

Invaders Must Die

A review on the new Prodigy. Surprisingly enough, it's pretty great.

Also, one I missed somehow. A review of the latest from Lowfish (1/2 Suction Records), Frozen and Broken

Assault and Confluence

Two new reviews to check out



This one on Manual's Confluence, which is gentle and quietly moving. And this one on the DVD rerelease of the original Assault on Precinct 13, which, of course, isn't either of the aforementioned.