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In Character as 'Harlequin' on the set of the Leonardo-Nieto Montenegro directed Short Film 'OUT RANK', one of my first experiences on an actual set.

Kassassin Street Review by Samuel E. Mac

Hailing from Portsmouth, UK, Kassassin Street are a five-piecealternative/psychedelic/electronic band who have opened for artists such as The Big Pink, The Sheepdogs, 2:54 and Art Brut at UK venues and who have been playing together since two years.

Their style is refreshing, original and almost undeniable. Carrying genes of 90’s post-rock with their melancholic undertones, hypnotic vocals and raw mixing, and spewing more modern electronic experimentation, their debut five-track ‘EP’ is an accomplished and remarkably recorded triumph.

‘I’m okay, are you okay?’ Human Conditionscreams as the album passes by swiftly, encompassing full attention, progressing superbly and possessing influences from many different genres; ‘Closer To The Ground Than The Sky’ is a spacey, mathematical track that includes an off-tempo drum beat that contrasts almost ubiquitously to the pulsating bass while the echoing-anthem like vocals carry the song into new territory while ‘Finger On The Pulse’ and ‘Beautiful Noise’ both lead the mood into familiar territory oozing with influences of post-rock bands such as The Verve or The Stone Roses. It’s almost impossible to comprehend that this superb debut was recorded in a rehearsal room and a bedroom

After the release of ‘EP’, they garnered airplay on BBC and Amazing Radio and have enjoyed some overseas recognition by being part of The BullPitt podcast in the United States and continued torehearse mercilessly at their spot, an old ammunitions dump in Portsmouth.

Currently in the process of mastering a new 3-track, as of yet untitled, EP, they have releasedtheir new single in promotion, and it marks a progression in both sound and style and is undoubtedly their most accomplished track to date, ‘Centre Straight Atom’ is the first single to be recorded at their new barn studio in Hampshire. It has been accompanied with a video on their youtube release and if it’s anything of a sign, their new EP should be even more triumphant.

http://24ourmusic.net/2012/08/25/oh-lord-im-searching-for-new-world-horizon-kassassin-street/

Cheese KILLS, apparently...

About a month ago a friend of mine told me a story that made me laugh, and I still feel bad for this, but it really is a story. These days, you can get wallets that look like anything; yesterday whilst online I almost bought Samuel L. Jacksons ‘Bad Mother Fucker’ wallet from Pulp Fiction, at the time I thought it was gangster, but it was $20 dollars too expensive from my usual budget of $9.99, and all I would be really paying for is the extra material. How about a wallet shaped like a gun? That’s cool, right? Absolutely. And that’s exactly what the poor son of a bitch thought when he picked it up for, lets be honest, probably less than $9.99. Don’t get me wrong; I like cheesy merchandise as much as the next man, and given the opportunity I would have bought it too. The story of how this wallet led to this individual’s death is a classic case of mistaken intent. Or trigger happy cops. Upon removing his wallet-gun from his back pocket on pullover, the man was opened fire on for carrying what was thought to be a concealed weapon…full of money. It’s funny how you can die for less than $9.99. And whoever invented the gun-wallet should probably rethink a few things. If you’re reading this, try something else? Like a grenade?

the surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently...

Nietzche

Excerpt

"It’s a familiar feeling, hate. I know it, like a mother knows worry. I’ve felt it more times than I care to count, Asshole-this, Asshole-that, sometime’s I think my name is one word. It’s an endless cycle, once driven into an attitude of self loathing, it’s a long climb up the sheer, sometime’s people don’t even reach neutral. Should I worry about this? Probably. My habitual routine of blaming other people for my own failures has became the source of my stubbornness, trying to get me out of a bad mood is the cataclysmic impact of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. And I don’t even have drugs to save me this time.

I hate this world, however, I’m not about to quit anytime soon, but I consider myself, this year more than ever, fully aware of how false and enclosed it is, people like me, people who see the glass half empty, we are all doomed. More so, than say, some guy fixing toilets somewhere. At least he’s useful."

- Zachary Crowe of the short story 'Stuck' in Absurdum Vol. 1 (Novella)

After The Purge

Something moves ahead, in a baron city landscape.

It’s newspapers.

Old newspapers.

The sky is bright blue and although things are desolate and eerie,

I can’t help but think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Sun is light.

Sun is energy.

Sun is comfort.

Sun is God.

Don't Talk To Robots. Hilarious video.

Was referred to this web-series by a friend, Great premise, Great production. SYNC by Corridor Digital. Episode 1.

Five Films: that linger long after...

Some films are easily forgotten like a bad dream, but some, like a nightmare, stay long after they've left. Here are five films that have always grasped me for the longer than the duration on screen, not just in thought, but in overall mood.

5. Eyes Wide Shut (Kubrick, 1999)

No matter how many times you see this movie, there is something so relentlessly sinister and cruel about it. The non-gratuitous (in any way) love scenes, the ever-present megalomaniacal undertones, the disturbing score, the long dialogues, the masks...this movie, no matter how painstakingly long, sticks around long after the credits roll.

4. Mullholland Drive (Lynch, 2001)

From the ambient score, to the mysterious characters and the split personality of the main darling, this movie unwinds like a nightmarish lucid dream, with often stand alone scenes being intertwined with an underlining murder mystery, Lynch creates an atmosphere that is not soon forgotten. Worth watching twice, or maybe even three, or four times.

3. Oldboy (Park, 2003)

The premise, the story, the acting, the octopus eating...this movie is as crazy as anything I've ever seen, and when the twist arrives, a feeling of shear dread and disgust echo mercilessly. A mood changer, thats for sure, one to watch when feeling slightly off.

2. The Machinist (Anderson, 2004)

I don't know if its the skeleton pretending to be Christian Bale or the creepy stranger with the cartoon-esque facial that make this film so dark and almost soulless, but its lingering atmosphere and stressed mood will stay with you for days. One of the greatest psychological thrillers of the past decade.

1. Lost Highway (Lynch, 1997)

All I can really say about this film is, 'What the fuck?'. Great, none-the-les. Arguably Lynch's forgotten masterpiece.

...close the door and pull the shades and climb the walls

Lyrics from 'Overfloater - Soundgarden' (Down On The Upside)

Albums I'm Listening To Right Now...

Outside - David Bowie

Maxinquaye - Tricky

The Hawk Is Howling - Mogwai

Bad As Me - Tom Waits

Down On The Upside - Soundgarden

Trip-Hop Top 10

Recently I've been fishing out my old records from when I first got into Trip-Hop, (thats if it actually really exists...), and been refreshing my flavour with some of the beats that first got me hooked and inspired to create my own trip-hop records.

Here's ten tracks:

10. Kemuri (Untouchable Mix) - DJ Krush

Originally from the album 'Strictly Turntablised', this remix appeared on the Stepping Stones compilation of self-mixes and compilation tracks. The far-east flutes and the pulsating downtempo drum beat, mixed with sirens, scratching and ecstatic buildups, makes this track simply, filthy.

9. Midnight in a Perfect World - DJ Shadow

From debut album 'Endtroducing...' this track moves swiftly and sucks you into a unescapable trance, sharp pianos and strings blended with old jazz samples and low-key synths, one of the picks of the bunch from this record, sexy.

8. UFO's over Leytonstone - Squarepusher

Minimal. Minimal. Beautiful. Hypnotic. Minimal.

7. Special Cases - Massive Attack

Taken from the '100th Window' album, which introduced a new side to massive attack and a neo-industrial, 70's and 80's disco influenced sound. Featuring hypnotic vocals, Special Cases is one of the most big-beat in-your-face tracks on the album. With its anthem like chorus, angelic choir echoes and relentless bass line, it hits hard.

6. Pumpkin - Tricky

From debut album Maxinquaye, simply breathtaking, the Smashing Pumpkins sample is so masterfully executed. One of the many exemplary tracks on this genre-bending album.

5. Underwater Love - Smoke City

Portugese vocals, James-Bond esque guitar riffs and liquidized drum beats, Sultry, sultry track.

4. Nobody Else - Low Roar

Lo-fi rock meets trip-hop heaven. A creepy, hypnotic and depressing melody, but addictive and moving all the same. One of many great songs on the self-titled album by Low Roar.

3. Dusted - Leftfield

Big-beat bass and hard as nails vocals from Roots Manuva, this song hails from the tent-pole album 'Rhythm and Stealth', and makes you move, one way or another. End of story.

2. Christiansands - Tricky

Killer track.

1. Girl I Love You - Massive Attack

The pick of the bunch from 'Heligoland', one of the more recent Massive Attack albums. A progressive wonder.

Expanding network of Independent Musicians...and counting...and counting...

Underwater TV's are practically useless

Excerpt 'Life, Submerged' from 'Absurdum Vol. I'

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