December 31, 2009
Apparently, Santa Claus really does exist. It’s not me however, I just play one annually. Here’s the story of how my belief in Ol’ Saint Nick was reignited this past holiday season.
It was late-July when I got notice of the new fall line from Brixton. Stellar lids and threads as usual and I gravitated to the new version of the “Castor” fedora immediately. Eyed the natural-straw model (not shown on the site anymore, but can be seen here) for weeks and then decided I was gonna fork over the cash for one. Unfortunately, the shipping costs to Thailand were outrageous to say the least, so my plan was nixed.
In the weeks and months to follow, I thought of asking Santa Claus (who I had always thought was my parents) to give it to me for Christmas and have it included in the next package they would send my way. Never did though and kinda figured I could just live without it.
Well…on Christmas Eve, I was suiting up in my Santa Claus costume for the surprise arrival, via longtail boat mind you, to our gala dinner on the beach, and had to stop by the housekeeping office to get some safety pins. I opened the door and, lying atop the table, was a fuggin’ natural-straw Brixton Castor!
After simultaneous eyes buggin’ out, doin’ a triple take and my jaw droppin’ to the floor, I picked it up to see that the size was perfect. The manager told me the room that had checked out earlier that day had left it behind and it was all mine if I wanted it. She didn’t even have to finish the sentence before I was rockin’ it and makin’ my way out the door. Amazing how life works sometimes.
Find Similar Posts in Not That, Not This : Drop a Line »
December 30, 2009
Finally got my hands on this limited-edition mixtape thanks to the good looking out of Cuchyfritos. Stellar in the usual Quantic way. Now I’m on the prowl to hunt down who recorded the last tune in the mix. It’s the same riddim as The Gaylads “Africa” which was recorded for Studio One in 1967. Not sure which version came first, but it’s a must to find out. If you know the details, the info would be much appreciated.
Quantic – Streams of New Music Flow from Old Sources; 101 Apparel, 2009
Find Similar Posts in Navigate The Vault : Drop a Line »
December 30, 2009
Ella Fitzgerald alongside Louis Armstrong, backed by the Oscar Peterson Quartet, as they perform ballads selected by Norman Granz, the founder of Verve Records. This set features the first album from 1956, Ella and Louis, and the sequel album from 1957, Ella and Louis Again. Your crates are definitely incomplete if you don’t have these records. Simply classic.
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstong - Ella and Louis b/w Ella and Louis Again; Verve, 1956-57
Find Similar Posts in Navigate The Vault : Drop a Line »
December 28, 2009
Strictly heavyweight riddims that have been in constant rotation on hi-fi for years. The first is Lloyd Parks’ “Stars” 7″ recorded for Randy’s in 1972. It’s a stellar rendition of Cornell Campbell & The Eternals song from Studio One. Here the tune gets extended with Dennis Alcapone serving up the deejay version.
The second offering is Gregory Isaacs “Mr. Know It All” 12″ recorded for D.E.B. Music in 1978. The cut is an extension of his Mr. Isaacs sessions where Ossie Hibbert was at the controls. The flipside showcases the dub treatment by Ossie Hibbert & The Revolutionaries titled “War of the Stars”. Mighty vibes!
Lloyd Parks & Dennis Alcapone “Stars” 45; Randy’s, 1972
Gregory Isaacs – “Mr. Know It All” b/w Ossie Hibbert & The Revolutionaries “War of the Stars”; D.E.B. Music, 1978
Find Similar Posts in Navigate The Vault : Drop a Line »
December 26, 2009
In remembrance of all the lives lost, five years ago from today, here in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Thailand and its surrounding areas, and in all the affected regions throughout the World.
In the years since that day, this area has recovered tremendously and there is really only a small handful of visible reminders that can presently be found. A true testament to the strength of the communities that reside here in Phang Nga.
The slideshow below presents three photographs from the same vantage point and serves to show the magnitude of this catastrophic event. The first, taken on December 14th, 2009, shows the Khao Lak coastline in its usual state at this time of the year. The second, a video still from December 26th at 10:24 am, a few minutes before the tsunami hit, shows the incredibly-low tide which exposed a shoreline of rocks that are all normally submerged. The third, another video still from 10:27 am, shows the tsunami hitting Khao Lak. The scale is unfathomable.
Map-assembled flyover, using these IKONOS-satellite images, showing complete devastation along a 40-km stretch of the Phang Nga coastline from Thap Lamu to Baan Nam Khem.
http://www.thegoldbrick.net/video/khaolakflyover.flv
The 2008 tsunami memorial ceremony held in Bang Niang, Khao Lak at the site of the 813 Marine Police Boat which was swept 2km inland.
Find Similar Posts in 9°28'51"N, 100°02'35"E : Drop a Line »
December 25, 2009
Heavy roots riddims that have been sending chills down my spine for years.
Crucial doesn’t half describe it.
Yabby You – Jesus Dread; Blood and Fire, 1997
Liner notes written by Noel Hawkes
Find Similar Posts in Navigate The Vault : Drop a Line »
December 23, 2009
Waveriders is the previously untold story of the unlikely Irish roots of the worldwide surfing phenomenon and today’s pioneers of Irish big-wave surfing. The story unfolds via the inspirational and ultimately tragic history of Irish/Hawaiian legendary waterman, George Freeth. Freeth, son of an Irishman, was responsible for the rebirth of this sport of Hawaiian kings in the early twentieth century.
With its distinguished cast of world-renowned Irish, British and Irish/American surfers, Waveriders journeys full-circle from Hawaii to California and back to the Irish shores following Freeth’s wave of influence. This journey reaches a spectacular climax when the surfers conquer the biggest swell ever to have been ridden in Ireland catching monster waves of over fifty feet.
Waveriders – Directed by Joel Conroy; 2009
Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4, Pt.5, Pt.6, Pt.7, Pt.8
Find Similar Posts in Film Reels : Drop a Line »
December 22, 2009
This 3-CD set features the best of the Blue Note roster showcasing their tunes that have been influenced by the tropical sounds of Bossa Nova. The artists maintain their own unique musical vision while adding that unmistakable Brazilian element to their compositions resulting in delightful vibes from start to finish.
Blue Note Plays Bossa Nova 3-CD Box Set; Blue Note, 2008 Pt.1, Pt.2
Find Similar Posts in Navigate The Vault : Drop a Line »
December 20, 2009
December 17, 2009
December 15, 2009
It’s all your familiar Lennon/McCartney compositions served up by the Manfred Fest Trio in a Bossa-Nova fashion. I’ve been listening to this one for years and it never fails to disappoint. Any time is the right time for The Beatles x Bossa Nova. Escavação ele!
Manfred Fest Trio - Os Sambeatles; Fermata, 1966
escavação
Find Similar Posts in Navigate The Vault : Drop a Line »
December 13, 2009
Tru Thoughts camp announced some releases scheduled for 2010. The Skeletons’, a side-project of Nostalgia 77 brainchild Ben Lamdin, debut album Smile and Quantic presenta Flowering Inferno’s sophomore effort titled Borojó el Original. Counting the days…
The U.S. Dollar Bill x Freemasonry. Bet you don’t know the connection. Check Eye of the Phoenix: Secrets of the Dollar Bill for an intriguing investigation.
Bonobo’s first-single, “The Keeper“, off his forthcoming, currently-untitled album has been out for a short while, but perhaps you overlooked it. Pick it up here and view the video below. No doubts that the full-length will be just as stellar as his previous output.
Upgraded to Firefox 3.5.5. Some nice features in the new release, however they could have warned me that “Clear all private data without asking” was checked as a default. Upon closing, my quick access to searches and sites I’ve been using for months and months are all gone. Ugh.
No Brasil.org did the monumental task of compiling all of the albums from Richard Dimery’s “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” book. Not all of them are choice in my book (e.g. Scissor Sisters is included, but The Abyssinians Satta Massagana is not), but there’s way more than enough essentials laced throughout to keep you occupied for a helluva long time.
It had been a few years since I watched The Spook Who Sat by the Door, but I revisited it a few weeks ago. The story of the first black CIA operative who later drops out to train the inner city men of Chicago, then spreads the knowledge to other major cities in the US, and then launches an all-out assault against the fucking system. Brilliant cinema. I downloaded my copy, but apparently you can just stream it over at Google video.
Oliver Nelson is providing the soundtrack to my writing and compiling with his stellar The Blues and the Abstract Truth. Mellow vibes.
Oliver Nelson – The Blues and The Abstract Truth; Impulse, 1961
Flippin’ through Banksy’s “Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall” the other night. Awesome stuff.
New Thai slang I learned this week. “Nong chai rong hai” which literally translates into “My little brother needs to cry”, but actually means you’re goin’ to take a piss.
Congrats to the Yellow Jackets on being ACC Champs. Sucks about the loss to the Dawgs this year, but we’re BCS bound to Miami and, well, they’re off to Shreveport. Sting ‘em at the Orange Bowl!
A repost from a few years ago just for the hell of it. Hilarious album covers.
Dillon x Paten Locke. Studies in Hunger. Food for thought. Food for the soul. Food for the body. Food for your ears and mind. Dine on the Mega Mix before you get the main course.
Until recently, I never knew that Hepcat’s “Marcus Garvey” was originally written and performed by Bongoman Byfield and appeared on the flipside of The Skatalites “Guns of Navarone” 45 released by Island in 1965. Interesting find, to me at least. Check both versions.
The Skatalites are playing in Pattaya and the Wailers are playing on Koh Phangan this coming week. Top-class vibes in the Land of Smiles. Pissed that I won’t be attending either one, but life goes on.
Just my luck. Decided I’d try to get the time away from work to make the trip up to Koh Phangan for the Wailers x Job2Do show. Called my friend up to get the location details and whatnot. Turns out it’s canceled. Damn! Would’ve been sweet.
Looks like rainy season has finally finished up for this year. On the agenda, spending more time viewing the horizon below.
Find Similar Posts in 9°28'51"N, 100°02'35"E, Not That, Not This : 2 Comments »
December 12, 2009
Tough to remember it actually is the holiday season as my surroundings here in Thailand offer no reminders whatsoever. Just like in years past, I’ll do my best to create a sense of the feeling with some holiday tunes and a mandatory viewing of A Christmas Story.
Merry Christmas to all and especially to the folks back home in the ATL. Below is some nostalgia for you. It’s The Pink Pig at Rich’s! If you’re not from the ATL, or if you are and have been living under a rock, then you can read and listen to Kathy Lohr’s “Atlanta’s Pink Pig Brightens Spirits, 55 Years On” story, from All Things Considered, which documents the relationship between a giant pink-pig skytrain and Christmas in Atlanta. Good memories for sure.
Enjoy these holiday vibes that I’ll be spinnin’ this time of year. Two classic albums that have been present on the hi-fi since childhood, another record that perfectly regrooves the traditional Christmas songbook, and a final platter (…with ridiculously-boss cover art) filled with stone-cold Funk & Soul rarities in the Yuletide tradition.
Find Similar Posts in Navigate The Vault, Not That, Not This : Drop a Line »
December 11, 2009
In February 2007, Martin Strel began an insane attempt to be the first person to swim the entire length of the world’s most dangerous river, the mighty Amazon. Martin is an endurance swimmer from Slovenia, who swims rivers – the Mississippi, the Danube and the Yangtze to date – to highlight their pollution to the world. Martin is also a rather overweight, horseburger-loving Slovenian, in his fifties, who drinks two bottles of red wine a day… even when swimming.
Big River Man – Directed by John Maringouin
Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4, Pt.5
Find Similar Posts in Film Reels : Drop a Line »
December 10, 2009
The Cove begins in Taiji, Japan, where former dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry has come to set things right after a long search for redemption. In the 1960s, it was O’Barry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation Flipper.
But his close relationship with those dolphins – the very dolphins who sparked a global fascination with trained sea mammals that continues to this day — led O’Barry to a radical change of heart. One fateful day, a heartbroken Barry came to realize that these deeply sensitive, highly intelligent and self-aware creatures so beautifully adapted to life in the open ocean must never be subjected to human captivity again. This mission has brought him to Taiji, a town that appears to be devoted to the wonders and mysteries of the sleek, playful dolphins and whales that swim off their coast.
But in a remote, glistening cove, surrounded by barbed wire and “Keep Out” signs, lies a dark reality. It is here, under cover of night, that the fishermen of Taiji, driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and an underhanded market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, engage in an unseen hunt. The nature of what they do is so chilling — and the consequences are so dangerous to human health — they will go to great lengths to halt anyone from seeing it.
Undeterred, O’Barry joins forces with filmmaker Louis Psihoyos and the Oceanic Preservation Society to get to the truth of what’s really going on in the cove and why it matters to everyone in the world. With the local Chief of Police hot on their trail and strong-arm fishermen keeping tabs on them, they will recruit an Ocean’s Eleven-style team of underwater sound and camera experts, special-effects artists, marine explorers, adrenaline junkies and world-class free divers who will carry out an undercover operation to photograph the off-limits cove, while playing a cloak-and-dagger game with those who would have them jailed. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery that adds up to an urgent plea for hope.
The Cove – Directed by Louis Psihoyos, 2009
Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4
Find Similar Posts in Film Reels : Drop a Line »
