Loading...

Browsing tag archives: Review

Welcome Wagon (Welcome to)

A few weeks ago I listened to “Welcome to the Welcome Wagon” on the excellent VPRO Luisterpaal (http://3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/). I ordered the CD and today it has been delivered by mail.

The reason I happily pay a few extra bucks for a CD is that there is artwork included and in this case the artwork provides a little background about the work.

This album was recorded and produced by Sufjan Steven and his musical touch stands out. What I did not know is that the music was composed and performed by Pastor Vito Aiuto and his Monique Aiuto. The music classifies itself as folk/gospel.

I do not regularly look at music in the Gospel category. The reason is twofold. First the message does not appeal to me, and second, and more important, is that Gospel music is often stereotypical and not inspired.

This album is different. Although it clearly has a religious message it is inspired, made with the appropriate lower belly feelings, and sometimes has a touch of humor. The album is cleanly produced, lighthearted but still has balls. Proof? At the moment I wrote this paragraph the tune “American Legion” is played, it brings tears to my eyes…

While I do not believe in God there are emotions that one could classify as religious. Sometimes they are communicated through music. And while not true for all tracks this album contains such an examples.

Read more about “Welcome to the Welcome Wagon” at Asthmatic Kitty Records.


A Propos Bistro

Last weekend I got  “A Propos Bistro” by Stephane Reynaud. A book with 299 mouth watering recipes, great pictures, great recipes, and a bit of humor. It is one of the best cookbooks that I’ve laid my hands on recently. Although I have not yet prepared any of the recipes they look straightforward and very standard. Very inspiring!

The Amen Break

This video contains an expose by Nate Harrisson about the “Amen Break”. I did not know about the “Amen Break” as a concept and this video is an eyeopener. A good piece of music history and theory that, when you are only remotely interested in the history of modern music, you should listen to.

Nate Wilson uses the history of the Amen Break to make an elloquentargument about “innovation” in arts and culture being stiffled by tostrict copyright rules.

Well worth 18 minutes of your time. One remark: this YouTube content is radio, not video.

For those who do not know what the Amen Break is here follows the first paragraph of the Wikipedia lemma:

(usually pronounced //ɑ:’mmɛn/) was a drum-solo performed by Gregory Sylvester “G.C.” Coleman. The “Amen Break”, “Amen” or imitations thereof, are frequently used as sampled drum loops in hip hop, jungle and drum and bassmusic. It is 5.20 seconds long and consists of 4 bars of the drum-solosampled from the song “Amen, Brother” as performed by the 1960s funk and soul outfit The Winstons. The song is an up-tempo instrumental rendition of an older gospel music classic. The Winstons’ version was released as a B-side of the 45 RPM 7-inch vinyl single “Color Him Father” in 1969 on Metromedia (MMS-117), and is currently available on several compilations and on a 12-inch vinyl re-release together with other songs by The Winstons.

The Mix Up

 

My brother in law gave me a late birthday present: The latest Beasty Boys album: The Mix-UP.

I have had a weak spot for the Beasty Boys for many years. I am not particularly fond of their rap style, its non melodic and almost old-school-cliche they do have ‘balls’. Their “Get it together” from the 1994 album “Ill Communication” is one of my all time favorite Rap tunes. The Boys seemed to have managed to merge Rock and Roll and Rap in a credible and sustained way.

 Il communication lead to “The Sound from Way Out“, an instrumental album that I enjoyed listening to with great pleasure.

I was a bit surprised to find the text “Their First-Ever Full Album of All-New Instrumental material”, obviously this fine marketing text needs to be close read to understand that its the first album with exclusive new material, in contrast to the Sound from the way out, that contained material from Ill Communication. Anyway, the marketeers have not spoiled the pleasure.

The sound of The Mix-Up is remarkably similar to the sound of the Sound from the way out. It seems (probably not by accident) that not much care have been taken to production value; 8-track, bedroom recordings is  my first impression. The seemingly low production  is the charm of the album; clean drum sounds, Hammond organ, wah-wah guitar, and bongo. Melodic music, with strong Bass and Guitar riffs and almost trivial melodies. Like the music that folk from the neighborhood are playing in the local community center.

To me the charm of the album is that it sounds like the music that I would like and could technically play. A couple of guys making fun without pretense, it is inspiring, and it comes close to what I think what Rock and Roll is all about.

Sopranos ….

 

I am a big fan of the Sopranos. However, Dutch television fails to broadcast the show on prime time so it never made it really popular in the NL. That leaves me nothing but SOBT (Stealing over BitTorrent) or waiting for the DVD series to come and pay 60 Euro.

Anyway, I am watching series 6 and the first episode started with a long scene, with a William S. Burroughs track accompagnying the images, that introduced in what state of life the family and their friends are. The William S. Burroughs track I didn't know but it sounded remarkably like the work he did with the "The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy" (Michael Franti's old band). A plesant goosebump experience.

I try to understand why I like the Sopranos so much, one of the reasons is that the show is pure commedy. For instance, I couldn't stop laughing when one therapist, Eliot, was talking to the other, Melfi, and said, without a trace of cynicism: "This Omerta concept comes from a pre-therapeutic culture".

I fail to understand why the broadcast of the last episode made the Dutch news. They had to first explain that the Sopranos is a popular series in the US and then broadcasted the plot spoiler! 

Suspicious Activity

While over in the US last couple of weeks I bought the latest “The Bad Plus” album “Suspicious Activity”. The band has on my radars screen since I heard their first album and bought it after the first four bars of the album gave me goose bumps. Actually I am very excited that I will be seeing them life comming sunday.

But with the purchase of the album I entered SONY’s DRM hell.

During the trip I ripped the track to my laptoy, its the play-back method of my choice during trips. RIP the new albums and randomly play them, on Mac OSX/iTunes this worked perfectly.

On my home system, a windows XP box I keep the iTunes that I sync with my iPod. And the iPod is my main method for music consumption. I therefore planned to RIP the CD on my windows box too.

Not being sharp after a 24hour trip I did not realize that the install screen was not for some nice add-on but for the propriatary SONY rip tool. And that is even though I frequently read Schneiers blog, that reported about this recently. Besides, ripping the CD with the tool does not help me much since I end up with Windows Media files, those do not work well with iPods.

I now ended up with an uncontrollable piece of software. The uninstall ActiveX template, that can only be obtained after you disclosed your e-mail address (shame! shame! shame!), seemed to have failed. This might be fortunate since according to recent reports the uninstall script leaves an even bigger hole.

I am increadibly frustrated over this. Being honest and supporting good bands by buying their music is punished. And although there are rumours that Sony will recall the CDs that is probably only doable in the US and not for folk that exported the media to Europe. I wonder if I can bill SONY for the consultancy fee for reinstalling XP and all my software $1500 on damages I’d estimate.

The Bad Plus actually recommend against ripping the CD.

COPYRIGHT-PROTECTION ACTIVITY?
The American edition of our recent release, “Suspicious Activity?”, was copy-
protected by Sony/BMG without our prior knowledge. Unfortunately, we are now
further informed that Windows PC users must be advised that any attempts to
remove the anti-piracy software could result in your having to reinstall the operating
system. Mac users are not affected. The European edition of the disc does not
feature this copy-protection software.

While we would love for you to hear “Suspicious Activity?”, we are compelled
to recommend that until a safe protocol is posted on this site that you
think twice before loading the American version of the CD onto your PC–and
we profoundly regret any difficulties that Sony/BMG’s copy protection has
created for any Windows users.

I will wait until there is a sensible uninstall tool for the SONY DRM. There are a couple of blogs that write about this here, here (they posted a quote from the president of SONY BGM’s digital business), and here

I will enjoy Sunday’s concert. If these guys are as good life as in studio I am in for one of the best concerts I’ll ever see. Buy Their Music as soon as it appears without this cruft.

 

 

Mud.. mud.. more mud..

Cover of the "Hemelse Modder Cookbook"


 This here is “Hemelse Modder”, “Heavenly Mud”. Its the signature dish of one of my favorite Amsterdam restaurant bearing name: Hemelse Modder.

This restaurant has been in existence for over a decade and serve this dish on a daily basis. Lets assume they are open for 300days per year, serve 40 portions per day and a portion is about 250 gram. That means they have served 30 000 kg of chocolate mousse during their existence, isn’t that equivalent to a small swimming pool.? (Mousse fetish anybody?).

If you like food, like to be attended by informal staff that enjoys food too and knows what the job is about this is the place to be. We are planning for Saturday…

April 8,2012: Updated with a new picture

Star Wreck in the Pirkinning

Gordon Lennox pointed me to “Star Wreck in the Pirkinning”. This effort deserves to be hyped!

Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning is a feature-length sci-fi parody, seven years in the making. It is the product of a core group of five Finns, and over 300 extras, assistants and supporters. The film combines world-class visual effects, a rough-and-ready sense of humour, and a passion that provide the basis for the first-ever Finnish science fiction adventure.

Bar Zinc



Yesterday was my last day in Paris. I regret having spoiled a fewevenings. One evening I was to tired to go out and had a sandwich in myhotel room (Fresh tomato and roquefort, so not a complete waste) andone evening I got sucked into a IETF working group chair beer event ina English style micro brewery.

But yesterday evening I was with good friends and I’ve managed to convince them to go to Bar Zinc.

Thefirst time I was at Bar Zinc was about a year ago when I was in Parisfor a training course and my colleague and me stumbled upon the placeen were both plesantly surprised. So when I returned about 2 monthslater, with my wife, we went to the same place and were plesantlysurprised again. Yesterday, again a plesant surprise.


As astarter I had a cucumber-Cheddar tartar, Magrait de Canard as a maincourse, a cheese plate to relax and finally a lovely little desert withthe most delicious white chocolate mouse I have ever tasted. It wasn;tquite a mouse more thick butterlike cream, but very tasty indeed. Thethree of us started the meal with a Champaign, accompanied our meal witha bottle and a pichet of 2001 Medoc AOC and had more Champaign,Cognac and coffee after the meal. Total price per head, a very fair 85Euro.


Three times cannot be coincedence. This place offers quality. BarZinc is a relaxed bistrot. The guests were elderly women, business people, couples, tatood andpierced youngsters and even while its Augustit seemed that we were the only 3 tourists. The walls showed anexposition of a local artist, this time photos whith an erotic twist. If I recall well they had other types of art on display the first 2 times.

The neighbourhood is vibrant and Bar Zinc is probably not the only restaurant where you can find fine food for a fair price. But the next time I’m in Paris… I’ll give it a try again.

The address:
Bar Zinc, 9, rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris (Tel: 01 48 05 05 95). It is a block north of La Bastille.

Oh-la-la….

Yesterday I had a very nice salad in this slightly overpriced restaurant down the road from the IETF venue. Its a Brasserie specialized in Fruit de Mere.

I ordered Salade Italienne. Very nice indeed, until I hit a bug, covered in olive oil, that was enjoying the salad too. I am not a specialist in insects but I know cockroaches come in many different shapes and forms. The small animal covered in oil could have been a baby cockroach.

I signaled the waiter and after several "Oh-la-la’s" he offered me a new salad. I lost my appetite so I refused. So far nothing to complain about. But then came the bill. I was charged. Then I specifically asked if something could be done about that. And to be honest I’d settled for anything symbolic, free wine, free desert, espresso, anything. But the waiter could not be convinced.

Hence my recommendation. Do not go to:
Le Ternes Pereire
84, Avenue de Ternes
75017 Paris

Actually pass by, look at the menu, and if the waiter tries to convince you to come in just mention the cockroach in the salad.