Ended up spending a few days in Tokyo recently and checked out a mere fraction of the area including the Akihabara and Ginza districts. The surroundings were more than overwhelming to the senses. A truly unique place! Click the link below to visit the gallery of pictures I snapped while there.
Akihabara and Ginza districts of Tokyo, Japan; December 2011
It’s been a long time coming for this to finally make its debut. Pleased to offer a small glimpse of what my eyes have gazed upon since living in the Land of Smiles and exploring the surrounding area. Enjoy!
The Goldbrick Gallery; Photography by Ryan Nerone, 2007-2011
Just as in the last posting, way back in April, flooding continues to remain an issue for Thailand. While it was in the southern area earlier this year, it is presently the central region that is in a crisis state and the water is now moving into Bangkok with the situation worsening by the day.
While in Bangkok last week, I had hoped to go up to Ayutthaya, an ancient city in Thailand, and the former capital of the kingdom, that is littered with places that I could spend hour upon hour checking out. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen as the area has been totally evacuated and flood waters have inundated the entire city center and beyond. On the day I was going to set forth, the front page of the Bangkok Post featured this stunning shot.
Visit the Bangkok Post for the latest news updates and information on how you can contribute to relief efforts.
Check out the events of Thai politics via this excellent timeline (2001-2010) created by Wit Pimkanchanapong. It starts with the election of Thaksin Shinawatra as Prime Minister back in 2001 and ends just one week before the assassination of Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol, commonly known as Seh Daeng, which would lead to the end of three-month-long Red Shirt protest in Bangkok. Campaigns would follow and, in the beginning of July, Thailand elected their first female Prime Minister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of the former Prime Minister who was ousted nearly five years earlier through a military coup. Clearly things have come full circle around here. Is that a good thing?
In my experience, I have met far too many Thais who possess very little knowledge of geography and historical events around the world. I can even go further to say that many don’t know the same subject matter in regards to their own country. Rather amazing, yet sad, to be honest. The Thai school system fails miserably in these areas. Case and point is the choice of costume at a school parade by students in Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand. Teenagers dressed as Nazi soldiers! Click the link and shake your head in disbelief that this happened in 2011.
The video below was taken while riding on the canal boats of San Seab in Bangkok. A journey which consisted of being thrilled by the fast pace of the boats, the craziness of watching the workers traverse the narrow ledge of the boat, the disgust of the stench of sewage that was present throughout, the unfortunate surprise of being drenched in said sewage from an unexpected wave, the amazement of seeing a local guy fishing in the waters (can’t imagine eating anything out of those waters!) and, I shit you not, the shock of seeing a dead body of a person who hung himself on an overpass! Fucking for real! If you are looking for an adventure in Bangkok, it’s guaranteed to be just around every corner. Just spend 15 baht and ride these canal boats and you’ll never forget it. Holy shit!
http://www.thegoldbrick.net/video/sansaeb.flv
Here’s the shitty picture I got. Had just put my camera up after getting drenched and couldn’t get it out in time. Probably better I didn’t get a close up. All the onlookers are on the far left side with the coppers on the bridge.
On the shitty pictures of amazing moments tip, here’s another one. This time it was a more pleasant siting in the water. It was the beautiful Indo-Pacific pink humpback dolphins that live off the waters of Khanom, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Don Sak, Surat Thani. My jaw dropped when I was hanging over the railing of the ferry as we left the port and the pink dolphin jumped out of the water right next to me. Fumbled from my camera and wasn’t able to fire off in time for what might have been an incredible shot. Totally awesome moment!
Watched this a helluva long time ago, but just now posting it. It’s the trailer to the upcoming documentary, Take Me Away Fast, which follows Frank Gossner, of Voodoo Funk, as he journeys around West Africa in search of records. Can’t wait to see the full length feature of this one!
Column Five Media presents “The Value of Data Visualization” for a look into the intersection of data and design. Peep it.
Greenpeace activists and artist John Quigley created Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Vitruvian Man in the Arctic Ocean using copper pipes. The incomplete image was done to highlight the effects of climate change. Click here for a few more photos and to read the story.
Ever wanted to be Mikey Dread? Well, now you can! Check out the virtual Mikey Dread site and mash up di dance. Love that the selecta is a lion! Run di riddim! Raaaaaah!
Been a huge fan of the Kashmere Stage Band since 2006 when Now-Again dropped the Texas Thunder Soul anthology. Director Mark Landsman traced the roots of the band and delivered the story of bandleader Conrad O. Johnson with the Thunder Soul documentary. I’ve been watching with anticipation for it to be released ever since the first premiere was held at SXSW back in March in Austin, TX. Now it has arrived! Just gotta hunt down a screen that has it showing!
Check DJ Shadow’s short from the SXSW premiere.
Go for a ride on the International Space Station as it traverses the Earth from over the Pacific Ocean and continues over North and South America before entering daylight near Antarctica. Awesome!
3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38,000 miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage…all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food….into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films. Courtesy of Rick Mereki, director and producer; Tim White, director of photography, producer and editor; and Andrew Lees, actor. Move. Learn. Eat.
On the hi-fi while compiling this post is the Willows’ “Send Another Moses”. Original Roots style from Studio One. Extending the vibes with the Brentford Reggae Band’s version on the flip. Massive sounds!
Artist/Designer Lewis Heriz and DJ Hugo Mendez are the founders of Sofrito, a party held in London that is equal parts killer on the eyes, with incredible poster art, and on the ears, with plentiful amounts of tropical sounds from all corners of the globe. Check out the history of the event below and visit here, here, here, here and here for the vibes!
The Mikiphone Pocket Phonograph. One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Dope!
Tim Armstrong aka Lint aka Tim Timebomb of Rancid debuts his RockNRoll Theater series. Here’s the trailer to the first episode titled “Dante”. Excited to see the full episode and for more from the series to be delivered our way.
Roger Rivas, boss organist for the Aggrolites, serves up more Skinhead Reggae in this second volume of his Organ Versions series (…grab the first volume here). This time he was working with Mark Morales, L.A.-based record collector, and Jurassic Sound outta Brazil. Hotness!
Roger Rivas – Organ Versions Vol.2; Self-Released, 2011
Learn about the man called Norman Jay MBE and his legendary Good Times Sound System. Ruling supreme on the London scene for 30 years now. Respect!
Strut serves up a tribute to mark the anniversary with this special set. This selecta was known for his broad taste in music and this offering delivers nuff variety. Enjoy!
Norman Jay MBE - Presents Good Times 30th Anniversary Edition; Strut, 2011
Punk rock, drinkin’, chillin’, crusin’ around on motorbikes. That’s the culture of Lexington, Kentucky as documented in Carlos Puga’s Satan Since 2003. Check it out!
Finally! Finally! Finally! It has arrived! Ron Fricke’s Samsara, which I have been anticipating for years, finally debuted on September 11th at the Toronto International Film Festival! Future showings are in the works and, while it may take some time for this to grace my eyes, I’m patiently awaiting that wonderful day.
All of the projects he has worked on in the past have had a significant impact on me after viewing them and this one will undoubtedly do the same. Check out a few of the stills below which certainly only represent a true fraction of the beauty that lies in the reels.
This last image of a mandala brought back memories of watching Werner Herzog’s Wheel of Time and recalling one of its more powerful and moving scenes, to me personally of course. I was in awe when watching this and learning for the first time about the Tibetan Buddhist monks who perform prostrations along their entire journey to Bodhgaya, India for the Kalachakra Initiation. Simply remarkable.
Collection of pictures from July and August in Phang Nga, Surat Thani and Bangkok.
A collection of photos, from March to June, that include the sights seen in the provinces of Phuket, Bangkok, Phang Nga, Surat Thani and Krabi.
The skies opened recently over Southern Thailand and, before finally moving to the Andaman region and out to sea, left a wake of destruction, across areas of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi and Surat Thani, from flooding and landslides. The low-pressure mass that remained stagnant over the area was entirely unseasonal as this is the height of dry season.
Here on Samui and surrounding islands, life largely came to a halt with widespread flooding resulting in impassable roads, electricity outages and the cancellation of all flights and ferries leaving no way to access or depart the island. The infrastructure improved quite rapidly and, once the weather system moved out, we welcomed sunny skies to help dry up the land. Glad to welcome blue skies, feel the scorching sun typical of the peak of summer and see the rebuilding taking place. My thoughts are with all those who lost loved ones and the thousands who lost their possessions.
Around Samui in video: Massive boulder nearby my house, Channel NewsAsia report, Here’s what the streets around the island looked like
Around the South in pictures: Devastating landslide in Krabi, Incredible floods in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Damage throughout Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani
We all know the Earth can show its incredible beauty and its sheer destructive power as well. Check the simply stunning time-lapse footage, from Terje Sorgjerd, taken atop El Tiede, the highest peak in Spain, for evidence of the former.
Been vibin’ on Ikebe Shakedown’s Hard Steppin’ EP for a few months now and I’m highly anticipating hearing the sounds of their upcoming release on Ubiquity due out in early June. Give the tune “Tujunga” a listen below and stay on the lookout for the full length. If you haven’t heard the EP, pick it up here.
Long-lost video reels of the NYC Ska Mob have been unearthed courtesy of the YouTube channel from StrikkklyROCKERS. On offer is a stellar collection of videos featuring the Version City Rockers performing some crucial covers as well as videos of other members from the NYC scene.
Months have passed since the NBA Sprite Slam Dunk Contest went down, but I gotta serve up my two cents since no ruminations have been delivered since then. Overall, I was definitely impressed with the jams and there were some pretty innovative dunks in the mix that I had never imagined. Serge Ibaka retrieved a teddy bear from the rim with his teeth which was pretty clever and took off from the charity stripe which is always impressive, but doesn’t shine that much to me. Blake Griffin was a monster on the court this year, but his dunks (side of the backboard windmill, 360, off-the-glass honey dip, and jumping over a car…or the hood of a car to be more clear) were certainly nice, but fell below what I imagined would come from his powerful arsenal. Not surprised he was the winner as a result of the fans from “They Dunk. You Decide.”, who must have assumed it was a popularity contest.
My final round would have featured Javale McGee, who showed off his multiple ball tricks including three balls on one dunk and two balls on separate goals on the same dunk…Nice!…and the true winner in my book, Demar Derozan, whose highlights included the ‘East Bay Funk Remix’ dunk which was hella difficult (44 = bullshit) and the killer ‘Show Stopper’ dunk which was the best of the evening. Check it below as it’s certified sick! He got robbed again this year, but I hope to see him take it to ‘em in 2012.
Cheers to the Samui Flair Monster who can be found at Lamai Walking Street every Sunday evening on the beach road. These guys have some tight tricks up their sleeves when it comes to bartending and constantly rock a smile on their face even if a shaker gets spilled, an ice cube gets dropped or a bottle gets smashed. They definitely don’t take it too seriously that is for sure. Rarely order cocktails from them, but always check out their show as I wait for my pizza at the booth beside theirs while listening to them blare either House or Luk Thung vibes.
Big ups to NYCTrust for sending me one of their limited-edition mixtapes. The Swing-A-Ling session is the first of many to come from NYCTrust Radio. Keep up the great work with the label and ‘preciate the hookup.
Where’s that Swing-A-Ling name from you ask? Charlie Ace’s mobile record shop of course! While browsing some pictures of it on the Web, I came across Jah Bill’s custom model. Guilty of being jealous. That’s a boss replica!
Love seeing the Swing-A-Ling Mobile Record Shack in action and, even more so, Charlie Ace’s reply to “Where did you get the idea from?” and “Do you think you are doing a function by getting the music to the poor black people?”. One love!
Finally got my hands on two kilograms of the inimitable aroma of Srinavas Sugandhalaya nag champa. Its constant presence in my home has been well missed for years. Fantastic to take in that scent again when I opened the box. Now I just gotta keep that supply comin’ from here forth.
There are literally tons of platters that blend nicely with burnin’ nag champa, but, for that initial one, you know I had to toss This is Augustus Pablo onto the turntable. Strictly meditative!
On the hi-fi at the present while compiling these thoughts is the CE crew, from the ATL, preachin’ the truth!
Check the wealth of boss wax served up from the following YouTube channels. Wicked Roots tunes on these vinyl sides that were thankfully shared from SamCeMar, JamaicanRootsWebsite and PabloKingStoned. There are more cats out there dishin’ out similar vibes, but just wanted to feature these. Nuff respect and keep the grooves flowin’.
Just one selection of the many crucial roots vibrations to be found is Sangie Davis and the Gatherers with “Words of my Mouth” b/w The Upsetters “Word a Mouth Dub”. Massive chune! Jah bless!
Big ups to my crew from the ATL, Esperanza, for continuing to deliver choice designs as they have been doin’ for years. Wish I could check out a Bravos ballgame with you at the Ted, cheer on the Hawks as we look to finish off the Magic in Game 5 (sweetness!) or just chill out doin’ nuthin’ but chattin’ on the porch with a delicious brew in hand. Someday soon I hope. Until then, keep holdin’ it down in the ol’ hometown. Guidance!
Following their release to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Groove Merchant Record Store in San Francisco, Ubiquity has just put out this limited-edition record case along with a set of 10 seven inches. Read about the details here and watch below how The Key Printing and Binding in Oakland made them.
Adrian Quesada, member of Grupo Fantasma, Ocote Soul Sounds and Brownout, is set to launch his latest project under the moniker The Echocentrics. Sample a selection of two cuts to be featured on the upcoming full length titled Sunshadows, to be released by Ubiquity in early April.
This piece of killer animation demonstrates that no matter how many times you try, you simply cannot walk in a straight line if you are blindfolded. Without a point of reference like the Sun, a star, a mountain, etc., you’ll end up just going in circles. Interesting stuff.
Have you ever seen the Chinese artist Liu Bolin’s work? Dubbed “The Invisible Man”, he camouflages himself in various settings and the results are nothing less than brilliant. I’d bet that if I didn’t tip you off to what was going on in these pictures that you’d probably gloss right over a few of them without knowing there was a person standing there. Check the following galleries of his work. Gallery #1, #2, #3.
Here’s some various shit about the man like DJ Nu-Mark. He recently served up his latest mixtape, Take Me With You. Check out the 20-minute snippet mix of the same name here and pick up the LP here. His next full length, titled Broken Sunlight, is set to be released in the coming months. He also recently dropped a remix of Nas & Damian Marley’s “Nah Mean” cut off their Distant Relatives record from last year. Gotta say I love the original banger way more, but certainly happy to toss this in the crates as well. Listen online here or download a copy here. Lastly, Mochilla paid him a visit and checked out his mad collection of musical toys to be found at his crib. Dude is one of the most creative beat makers out there and this video pretty much reaffirms that. Wanted to embed it below, but it’s having issues. So…peep it here.
Big ups to LWR MGMT, for the heads up on the NBA Slam Dunk Contest Video Visualization from Hoopism. It is a timeline that compiles nearly every dunk from the years 1984-2010, and sorts each dunk by year and score. Only gripe, and not sure if it is just on my side, is that the playback controls for the videos are missing. Other than that, this thing is pure fucking brilliance for dunk enthusiasts like myself.
The Edge of the Earth is a documentary filmed solely using solar power. It was shot over the course of two weeks in the complete wilderness that is the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska and takes you on a journey down the Alatna River. The results are exceptionally stunning!
Photographer Luke Duggleby and reporter Ron Gluckman were granted access into the Dhammakaya movement at their main temple in Pathum Thani province. Check the pictures of this rather strange and controversial sect of Buddhism here.
Learn more about Scoutmob via the Esperanza Transmission. They’re an ATL-based company that provides insight into local shops and eateries, and, more importantly, hard-to-resist deals, on your mobile phone, to get you out to visit such places. Enjoyed listening to the philosophy behind the company and the guidelines they have used to attain their success. Had to laugh when they were ripping on clamshell phones and I glanced over at the hella-advanced piece of technology laying on my desk. Suits my needs, so I got no worries on being light-years behind. To both of these crews, keep up the great work. Peace out from the Land of No 3G Networks.
A case of confusion at Kor Tor Mor, Phuket Town
When you enter this nightclub called Kor Tor Mor, there is a glass case on the left-hand side. In it, is a collection of fake passports, fake IDs, and all the brews pictured below. One would think that they’d be available for purchase at the bar. However, that’d be an incorrect assumption as all of the following: Sierra Nevada Pale Bock, Anchor Steam, Brooklyn Lager, Elephant, Red Brew-ster, Corona, Sol, Humboldt Gold Rush, Strongbow, Grant’s Weis Beer, Broken Hill, Holsten, Odoul’s (?), Bicycle, Miller Genuine Draft, Simpatico, Beck’s, Grolsch, Point Special, Saint Andrews, Coors Dry, Carlsberg, Olympia, and Bud Light…are for display only.
I’m not saying all of those are choice selections by any means, but you have to understand what life is like as a beer drinker (or former beer drinker as it is now!) in the Land of Smiles. It took a lot willpower not to smash that glass to get my hands on the Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam bottles though. Lookin’ about 10 years old or more, definitely not the taste that was intended when it was crafted and a possible risk of digesting some bacteria that has been growing inside; don’t care and totally worth the gamble were I able to down one. Alas, I couldn’t get my hands on them and was forced to bow my head in disappointment, belly up to the bar and weep over the lager-dominated choices presented to me here in Thailand that include Siamsato, Heineken, Cheers, Asahi, Chang, Leo, Archa, Singha, Tiger, and San Miguel Light. Fuck me.
This is the single worst tradeoff made for living abroad here in Southern Thailand. A taste of some supremely-delicious Sweetwater from good ol’ Georgia would be unimaginably perfect right about now. Goddamn I miss home.
Spent my New Year’s Eve chillin’ pon di shore at Ska Bar in Kata, Phuket. Reggae vibes on the soundsystem, bucket of Sang Som Lae Sapporot in hand and a sky filled with khom loy and fireworks. Nice way to ring in the new year. Check the video below that someone captured from a location much further away from the beach than where I was sitting. To all who stop by this site, Happy New Year!
Never knew Brigadier Jerry and Sister Nancy were siblings. Interesting tidbit from Jamaican deejay culture. Learned it while listening to the massive sounds of Papa Finnigan on the Version City Podcast #12. Check the sounds and be sure to hit up the previous podcasts if you haven’t tuned in before. Boss vibes outta the Stubborn stable with a musical biscuit laid ‘pon your table. Glad to see they are back on the airwaves after an extended hiatus.
49% Motherfucker. 51% Son of a Bitch. That’s the tagline for the badass-looking Lemmy Kilmister documentary that was released in the November of last year. Awesome flick, but disappointed that Lars Frederiksen was only in it for less than thirty seconds. Boo! Regardless, pick up a copy below or check the film’s site to see if it is coming to a theatre near you. For my folks in the ATL, be sure to grab a brew at the Righteous Room and then head over to The Plaza between Jan. 15-20 to catch the film!
Lemmy - Directed by Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski, 2010
Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4 (English audio/French subtitles)
Wish I had video or audio of me trying to purchase A&W Root Beer at 3:00 in the afternoon at Tesco Lotus. (You can’t purchase alcohol between 2:00-5:00 in the afternoon here in Thailand – normally only observed at major retailers) Spent three to four minutes explaining to the teenager working the checkout counter that it was, in fact, not “beer” even though the side of the can said “Root Beer”. After having my patience tested, I finally convinced her and was able to laugh and enjoy those refreshing flavors.
Interesting math fact: 1 x 8 + 1 = 9; 12 x 8 + 2 = 98; 123 x 8 + 3 = 987; 1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876; 12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765; 123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654; 1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543; 12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432; 123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321
The latest effort from Federico Aubele, titled Berlin 13, is set to drop, via ESL, on the 22nd of March and I absolutely cannot wait to hear the sounds it’ll offer. He’s been one of my favorite musicians for years now and I’m sure his latest compositions will be equally as beautiful as those in his existing songbook. Check the video below to hear him discussing the project.
On a side note, I got a laugh after finding out that I have been saying his name wrong for about six years now. It’s Aubele (Oh-Bell) and not Aubele (Awe-Bay-Lay) as I always thought it was. Guess the e’s don’t have accent marks, so I should have known better. Anyways, glad to be corrected.
Have you seen the latest “Where Amazing Happens” commercials, under the campaign of ‘Encouragement’, from the Association? Excellent video/audio trickery on these. The first two feature Kevin Durant and Amar’e Stoudemire (click to watch) and a few more are on the way from Stephen Curry, Steve Nash and Chris Paul. Should be winners for sure.
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest is just around the corner and the lineup features Javale McGee aka The Family Man, Serge Ibaka aka The Team Player, Brandon Jennings aka The Comeback Kid and, my favorite, Blake Griffin aka The Top Pick. Hope this year’s show is memorable unlike last year’s which was incredibly weak. I’ll be on the lookout for the highlights come February 19th.
Still a huge Duke Blue Devils fan despite not having watched any college hoops in the past four years. Haven’t seen Kyle Singler’s on-court play except for highlights here and there, but definitely diggin’ the trick-shot reel he did from inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Names You Can Trust (NYCT) has recently revamped their site as well as adding a dozen or so podcasts that are available for download. In the coming year, they intend to dish out more and more and I’ll be sure to pick them up once they do. Head over there to pick up the sounds from the label with a choice taste in vibes.
In case you’ve been sleepin’, Pete Philly finally served up all of the tracks on his Open Loops project. Here’s the tracks from the past fourteen weeks collected just for you.
Pete Philly – Open Loops, No Label, 2010
Psych Funk Sa-Re-Ga! Seminar: Aesthetic Expressions of Psych Funk Music in India 1970-83 has been dominating the hi-fi as of late. Killer selection of some cuts in the crates already and plenty of others that weren’t. Head nod deluxe! Can you identify which dynamic duo sampled Kalyanji Anandji’s “Dharmatma Theme Music (Sad)” for an incredibly ill banger?
Only recently did I find out that Reason Y Records issued a set of previously-unreleased tracks from Partisan, one of my favorite bands to come out of Atlanta, GA. The material is from 2002 and laid dormant after being shelved as the band progressed toward the sounds heard on their debut pressing, The Gothic and the Gospel. Purchase a copy of the LP, simply titled The Partisan, here or stream the album in its entirety here.
Pick up the superb sounds of The Black Cat which is Doctor L and Grant Phabao alongside a variety of guests on this first of five volumes in the Hard 2 Find series. Solid vibes that’ll surely have you addicted to the sound of Colored-Inc.
The Black Cat – Hard 2 Find Vol.1; Colored-Inc., 2010
Oh shit! New Madvillain joints up in your area. Check the snippets of “Avalanche” and “Victory Lap” on their lonesome here or pick up the Stones Throw’s 2011 podcast mixed by Peanut Butter Wolf here. Yeah yeah!
The top-seeded Dirty Birds head into the NFL playoffs to take on the Green Bay Packers this coming weekend. Cheers to the Falcons for killin’ it all season. Now let’s get ‘em and bring the Lombardi trophy back home to the ATL for the first time!
Just came across the Critical Past website that was launched earlier this year. It’s a treasure trove of archived footage including videos and photographs. The presentation of the site is key and searching through the database is incredibly easy. Head over there and expect to spend hour upon hour browsing the goods. Quality stuff!
Talk about confused as a mutha when I flipped on the tube and the sport of Kabbadi from the 2010 Asian Games was on. Never had seen it before in my life and couldn’t figure out the object of the game in the least bit. Click here and see if you can tell me what is going on?
Taken aback a bit when I saw the headline in the news that said “Thai Police Find 2,000 Illegally Aborted Fetuses at Buddhist Temple“. Crazy shit from here in the “Land of Smiles”.
The 3J’s, which features Jesse and Josh of the Aggrolites and Josh from ¡Aparato!, serve up a Brazilian-Jazz version of “Free Time” by the Aggrolites off their Reggae Hit L.A. album.
Flying Lotus x Adult Swim dropped the video for “Zodiac Shit” recently. An absolutely killer, tripped-out journey through the celestial sphere and its various representations of the zodiac.
Watching the above reminds me of the work of Vince Collins, creator of some crazy hallucinogenic visuals. Holy insanity!
Ubiquity just put out these super-sick slipmats for your wheels of steel as a part of their commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Groove Merchant record store. Pick up the slipmats here and the choice selections on the compilation here. Fresh!
A wealth of amazing photos are to be found in the 2010 National Geographic Photo Contest collections. Haven’t browsed through all of the galleries to pick a favorite, so featured below is the winning photograph from Aaron Lim Boon Teck. Stunning. Click the picture to view the other entries.
Haven’t had the opportunity to watch any NBA games this year (and it is gonna remain that way all season…again!), but I try to peep the highlights when I can. One thing I do know, Blake Griffin is a fuggin’ beast. Never had a chance to see him in his college days, so seeing his aggressive inside play and how he attacks the rim is a first for me. Nasty!
Watch the highlight reel below (and this more-than-half-court oop which happened this past week before the reel was made) which represents only the first month or so of the season! Here’s the snapshot from the #1 dunk which is completely filthy. If you don’t like this, you don’t like NBA basketball!
Not a supporter of the newly-assembled Miami Heat squad, however the photograph below is sick. Yes, D-Wade’s right pinky looks cut off (looks like some foreshortening going on), and, yes, the perspective makes BronBron look a bit like a mini-BronBron, but the swagger of D-Wade celebrating before the flush is straight boss in my book. Killer snap.
P.U.T.S. reminded me recently of two things I miss from back home in the States. House parties and beer! Would’ve be sweet to check out one (or more) of those Secret House Party shows they did recently and to get wasted on something other than fuckin’ lager beer which is about all you can find here in Thailand. Ugh!
DJ Day drops some mad flavor on his cut “Fuss and Fight” featuring Blame One and Aloe Blacc. This joint has been featured in a few mixes out there, but here it is in its own glory. Hella nice vibes. Run di reel below for a listen and grab the track here.
Give a listen to “Bina”, the first cut to be served up off of Shawn Lee’s World of Funk set to be issued on Feb. 8th of next year. Been a fan of his for years and his output never fails to amaze me. Truly impressive how much he releases and that all the beats rank as top-notch. If you haven’t already, pick up his interpretations of well-known classical arrangements titled Hooked Up Classics which dropped recently, and, if you don’t have any of his material at all, it’s time to get diggin’!
DJ Nu-Mark dropped this 20-minute mix of Samba, Cumbia, Calypso, Rumba, Afro-beat and Balkan beats as a sampler to his upcoming mixtape of the same name, Take Me With You, which is intended to be a platter you can take with you in your travels wherever you may go. Be on the lookout for his full length, Broken Sunlight, to drop early next year.
DJ Nu-Mark – Take Me With You; Mochilla, 2010 (Right Click to Download)
Recycling some Christmas vibes from a post last year. Wishing everyone who stops by this site a happy holiday season and all the best to each of you in the year to come. Get into the spirit and 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, a bit of comedy from the Adult Swim crew, another record that perfectly regrooves the traditional Christmas songbook, choice selections from Bob Dylan’s ‘Theme Time Radio Hour’, and a final platter (…with ridiculously-boss cover art) filled with stone-cold Funk & Soul rarities in the Yuletide tradition.
Taken last month during the annual Vegetarian Festival held predominantly in the southern provinces of Thailand. Specifically the Eiw Geng processions of San Jao Jui Tui in Suan Luang, Phuket Town and San Jao Guan Ou in Takuapa, Phang Nga. Exhilarating!
http://www.thegoldbrick.net/video/takuapavegetarian2010-01.flv http://www.thegoldbrick.net/video/takuapavegetarian2010-02.flv http://www.thegoldbrick.net/video/takuapavegetarian2010-03.flv
It’s monsoon season here in Southern Thailand. A few weeks back I made my way over to Thong Takian Beach, next to my house, and was hoping to go for a swim. While I knew the sea was getting rough, I was still quite shocked to see the change when I rounded the corner. Click on the thumbnails to check some before, in August, and after, now, pictures.
Mother Nature has dumped buckets upon buckets of rain on this country during November. First it was the central provinces and Isaan that got hit with torrid flooding. Then it was down here in the south. After being hit by a tropical depression, Koh Samui has been flooded out for the past couple weeks. The worst of the worst was down in Songkhla in the major city of Hat Yai where the water rose to 3 meters in places. While it is quick to point to the horrendous weather as the cause of this massive inundation, this Bangkok Post article provides insight into how the actions of people have made matters worse than they really should be. Regardless of the root of it, I wish all the best to everyone in various parts of the country who are recovering during this time.
Moving on to a lighter tone, I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the upcoming set of five 7″s by the Aggrolites. Each pressing will be released monthly starting in December for a total of ten new tracks for your listening pleasure. Not too much information out there now on it, but check Young Cub Records for future updates and sound samples.
Came across this post one day. A glimpse into the booklet for Madlib Medicine Show No.7: High Jazz and the screen printing they did for the LPs. While downloading music is key and all; it doesn’t beat actually holding a record or flipping through the liner notes and artwork of a release. Cost over pleasure at this point I suppose. Would love to check out all those mock covers for the Yesterdays Universe collective. Looks dope.
Speaking of record jackets, artwork and liner notes for releases, how about the insanely killer design of the upcoming Psychedelic Aliens record titled Psycho African Beat on Voodoo Funk. Wow! I had little doubt that the vibes would be stellar, but no idea that the release would come packaged like this. Perhaps I gotta figure out how to cost-effectively get this one shipped halfway around the world. Don’t hesitate on picking this one up!…or you can opt for the equally nice box set of four 45s. Pure sweetness. Click here for more photos.
Absolutely beautiful work by Dustin Ferrell on his Landscapes: Volume One collection of time-lapse sequences. Stunning! Be sure to give his other work a view as well. Makes me want to go back and visit the Southwestern U.S. again. Beautiful beyond belief there.
Regarding non-verbal films, the calendar is getting closer and closer to the release of Ron Fricke’s latest effort, Samsara,which is expected within the next year. Can’t wait for the day as I’m certain it will deliver a life-changing experience through jaw-dropping visuals in the same manner as Baraka. Read more about the film and stay updated via Spirit of Baraka.
Saw this French AIDS-awareness video recently on TV here in Thailand. Love the idea and love that it was airing on a public network. You’d never see something like this make it to the airwaves back home in the States.
Would’ve been sweet to check out the sounds of Clive Chin who brought his sound to Asia and teamed last month up with The Uprooted Sunshine Soundsystem and selectors from the extended Randy’s family to mash up di dance throughout China. Click here the full poster.
Never heard of Clive Chin? Randy’s? Impact? 17 North Parade? Greensleeves? VP? Then it’s time to check The Story of Randy’s courtesy of United Reggae. The Chin family started a little record store in 1958 in downtown Kingston and over the course of time it went on to become the biggest label in the history of Reggae.
Most people probably don’t know it, but the Chinese immigrant population had a huge influence on the sound of Jamaica. From the original deejay, Tom the Great Sebastian aka Thomas Wong (this man alongside King Stitt and Count Machuki started what is presently known as Rap!), to producers and musicians like Justin Yap at Top Deck, Byron Lee, Leslie Kong at Beverly’s, Clive Chin at Impact!, and the mighty team of Ernest and Joseph “Jo Jo” Hookim at Channel One; the Chinese imprint on JA music from Ska to Rocksteady to Reggae to Dub to Roots & Culture is undeniable.
It’s been a month or so since the World Series-winning S.F. Giants knocked my Bravos out of the postseason, but I haven’t posted any ruminations since then. Therefore, I would be remiss to not recognize our veteran manager, Bobby Cox, for the contributions he made to the city of Atlanta and the Braves organization over the course of his storied career. All the best in your retirement and thanks for all the memories.
Diggin’ the stripped down sound of the Street Dogs presented by Dying Scene Sessions on their exclusive videos of acoustic performances inclusive of a never-played-before track called “Pedestal”.
Check the latest track from Amy Winehouse (right click to save) taken from Quincy Jones’ upcoming Q: Soul Train Bossa Nostra album. On the Mark Ronson-produced cut she covers Leslie Gore’s “It’s My Party”.
Nice stop-motion animation video below from David Cox set to the “Love Dub” tune by Tommy McCook & the Supersonics. Rub-A-Dub!
Chikaramanga recently dropped the fourth 7″ in his six-part series. The track titled “T.R.E.S.Q.” features ESQ spittin’ fresh rhymes on the mic. Give it a listen below and pick up the first three pressings here.
I’ve been hunting for years for the video to the song featured below. It is Vic Ruggerio performing an organ version of Willie Nelson’s “Always on my Mind”. While the song is great, the video is where it is at! Featuring Cris ‘The Wix’ Qualiana and filmed in the practice space at Jammyland (I think), it used to be on Hellcat’s site circa 2001, but disappeared one day. Regretfully, I don’t have a copy. Glad at least that this audio version popped up on the Web recently. If you happen to have this video, please send it over! If you prefer a better-quality, fuller-sound version performed by the entire Slackers crew, then check this live version from a show at the Middle East. Equally killer!
Did you see the J.Period and Black Thought collaboration on the Live Mixtape: Illadelph Edition at the Manifesto Festival in Toronto from a couple months back? Didn’t know he had done these live mixtape shows and the idea of bringing it all together with Black Thought solely only the mic was choice! Bet the full set of this was killer.
Never knew the cover artwork for Life Goes in Circles: Sounds from the Talent Corportation 1974-79, which showcases the work of the great Tommy Cowan, on the Pressure Sounds label was lifted from Freddie Hubbard’s Hub Cap released in 1961 on the Blue Note label. Love discovering stuff like this.
Sad to report the recent passing of Sonia Pottinger, the first female producer in Jamaican history. She operated the Tip Top Record Shop and ran a variety of imprints including Gay Feet, Tip Top, Rainbow and High Note. The roster of artists that she worked with include some of the finest vocalists on the island. Her legacy of beautiful Rocksteady and Reggae tunes remains. Nuff respect to Mrs. Pottinger who was truly harder than the rest! Below is one of the many tunes she produced that I love and have listened to countless times over.
These were taken during a recent trip across the border to the island of Penang in Malaysia. A nice place to visit with plenty of things to intrigue visitors. Among the sights I saw during my short time there were the beautiful national park on the northwestern tip of the island looking out toward the Strait of Malacca, white-sand beaches along the coast of Batu Ferringhi, a stunning temple on the hills of Air Itam with an amazing Guan Im statue that is still being completed, and plenty of interesting street life, Chinese temples, mosques, great food in Little India and historic architecture around every corner in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Georgetown.
A glimpse of life during the last few months. Taken throughout home here in the southern region of Thailand including the provinces of Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Ranong, Phuket and Krabi.
