Still existing on another plane.

Over 1 year after the intial Hurricane album release, Grace Jones releases the 3rd single: “Love You To Life” (live performance below).  The video – apparently influenced by her live performance of the song during the tour – has been co-directed by Why Not Associates and light artist Chris Levine, and is another outstanding piece of visual art which follows on nicely from the disturbingly warped Corporate Cannibal.

The collaboration between Grace Jones and Chris Levine went further with an exhibition titled “Stillness at the Speed of Light”, held at The Vinyl Factory in London.  A hallucinating collection of footage from the Love You To Life video has also been created (view here),  and for the first time, the Hurricane album has been pressed onto vinyl in a limited edition package available for £300.  I’m open to receiving this as a gift.

Also see: Guardian UK interviews Grace Jones, April 2010.
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Artistic Contrasts.

Hollie Smith, back on the road, showcasing “Humour and the Misfortune of others” at Sales St on Wednesday 14th April.  If I had to pick one word to describe it: contrast.

It’s well known by now that Humour is a massive departure from her debut in terms of mood and style.  Both are philisophical and show extraordinary depth and talent for someone of her age, but the cathartic and intense nature of Humour is a million miles away from the laid back Long Player. Contrast. (more…)

Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010). RIP.

Where do you start with someone like Malcolm McLaren? Former manager of The Sex Pistols, Adam Ant, Bow Wow Wow; once married to Vivienne Westwood (the designer responsible for the shoes that floored Naomi Campbell); and musically he was involved in a wide range of styles, including punk, hip-hop, new wave, funk, electronic, disco and opera. (more…)

Weekly Wrap: Brought to you by the letter B.

What a musical month March was… The Miami Winter Music Conference once again saw DJ’s & Producers from around the world come together to party and showcase, well, something.  So far, lots of interviews – including Seth Troxler on drugs and umm, bats (“bats! fucking bats!”) - but as of yet it has failed to deliver “this year’s hottest track” – unless I’ve completely missed the announcements, which is possible considering I’ve been swept away with a fantastic Massive Attack concert [review] plus new albums from Hollie Smith [my review @ Amplifier] and Erykah Badu [review] … My hits, misses and other moments from the past week or so: (more…)

Return of the Ankh.

The second in a 3-part series (all originally slated for release in 2008, but artists can’t be rushed!), “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh” is the “right side of the brain” – emotional and based around love…told with Erykah Badu’s unique twist.

The artwork for “Part One: 4th World War” summed up the album perfectly: dark, political, worldly and heavy.  It delivered complex and jagged soundscapes, smokey atmospheres with Badu’s voice often the only light shining through the fog.  Meanwhile, “Part Two” instantly appears lighter: the artwork is brighter, flourishing and has a garden growing from the mind Erykah’s “robot-girl” form.  Opening with a sonic frequency sweep which rushes through like a summer breeze, it’s instantly warmer.
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Hollie Smith Amplified.

My review of Hollie Smith’s sophomore album, “Humour and the misfortune of others”, went up on Amplifier today – which also happens to be the best place to find your digital copy.  Read here.

Comatose Karma

Some relatively large life decisions have wrapped me up in a constricting cocoon of stress and uncertainty today.  The Massive Attack concert was a much-needed musical release that immediately chiseled through that cocoon,  blowing it away in a powerful sonic storm.  It was also a jolting and well-timed reminder of exactly how much I need regular music events to keep me balanced. (Concert photo’s here).  (more…)

Mu Mu Land (on your iPhone).

Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty, The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, The KLF.  This article from Details magazine in 1991 is a great read on what these guys did (including their history with ABBA).  Their infamous “1987″ album – which came under fire due to the heavy amount of uncleared samples used – has been re-released by Japanese label Re<ords as an iPhone app.  Play it, scratch it, and flip your iPhone to turn the record over.  More info at Sandbox.