The Wire: "On this double CD containing two separate but related works, sound artist Gintas Kraptavicius organises dry moments into neat sets. Lengvai is a sequence of four tight compositions that allow complexity to emerge from small things but in a precise order. Working with a simple rangle of clicks, sinewaves, silences and repeated effects, Kraptavicius shows a remarkable facility for arranging the largest number of changes over the shortest periods of time. The accompanying work, composed entirely of a single 2kHz tone changing its time once every 60 seconds for an hour, follows a similar behavioural line. Even when hidden by the dirtiest hues, the time retains a luxurious gleam. You can only imagine how tidy this guy's bathroom looks."
The Wire: "Another strong release from a label dedicated to bringing out limited edition CD-Rs of high quality music packaged in uniform grey sleeves. Biotron Shelf are Murray Fisher and Wil Bolton, a UK based duo who are unafraid to explore the finely grained sensuality of sound. Over ten tracks neatly sequenced together, keyboards unfurl and sequencers swell; voices lifted off the TV and radio sputter and fade while big floating melodies rise over them. There's an abstract emotional roughness at work here, especially on darker offerings such as "Broken Transmission" and "Displacement", which is onlly enhanced by the clear and dramatic use of levels and fades throughout this bold production."
allmusic.com: "Pere Ubu emerged from the urban wastelands of mid-'70s Cleveland to impact the American underground for generations to follow; led by hulking frontman David Thomas, whose absurdist warble and rapturously demented lyrics remained the band's creative focus throughout their long, convoluted career, Ubu's protean art punk sound harnessed self-destructing melodies, scattershot rhythms, and industrial-strength dissonance to capture the angst and chaos of their times with both apocalyptic fervor and surprising humanity." More
allmusic.com: "Usually a trio of drummer Eddie Prévost, saxophonist Lou Gare and guitarist Keith Rowe, AMM has explored the minimalist fringe of avant-garde chance operations and improvisational jazz since its inception in 1965. The group debuted with AMMMusic in 1967, and released two additional albums during the late '60s. Much more quiet during the following decade, AMM became jazz-oriented for a brief period when only Prévost and Gare remained. The addition of composer Cornelius Cardew, and frequent classical musicians (cellist Rohan de Saram, pianist John Tilbury), tilted the balance back towards classical minimalism." More
The new album from the Charalambides, now pared down to the original core duo of Christina Carter and Tom Carter.
The WIRE: "Here is a truly 21st century experimental ethnic music that explores quietness and stasis... in the same way that musicians in the second half of the 20th century discovered amplification, noise and speed." More
zeit.de: "Wir leben in einer Copy/Paste-Kultur. Alles, was digital ist - egal, ob Musik, Film, Wissen oder Text - kann beliebig oft kopiert werden. Und jede Kopie ist so gut wie das Original. Ist das Konzept vom geistigen Eigentum überholt - nur weil es nicht mehr durchsetzbar ist? Und wie können Künstler, Wissenschaftler und Medienunternehmen trotzdem noch Geld verdienen. Die dreitägige Konferenz Wizards of OS in Berlin versucht, Antworten auf diese Fragen zu finden. " Weiter
bitkom: "Noch nie wurde in Deutschland so viel Musik im Internet gekauft wie im ersten Halbjahr 2006. Die Anzahl der Downloads kletterte auf 11,71 Millionen, der Umsatz auf 21,2 Millionen Euro. Damit ist der Markt im Vergleich zum Vorjahreszeitraum um ein Drittel gewachsen." Weiter
wikipedia.org: "An original member of New York's new-school pioneers the Ultramagnetic MCs, Thornton is best known as a solo rapper. His signature style is stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow and complex vocals, two skills that earn him a perennial nod from the underground hip-hop community. The average Kool Keith album is peppered with bizarre, disjointed, even delusional or disassociated themes, concepts, and references. Nearly all of his albums incorporate a satirical dislike for more commercialized strains of hip-hop, as well as major record labels." More
Open Source Press: "Anlässlich der diesjährigen Konferenz "Wizards of OS" (14.-16. September in Berlin) stellt Open Source Press das Buch "Freie Kultur - Wesen und Zukunft der Kreativität" von Lawrence Lessig unter einer freien Lizenz ins Internet.
econtalk.org: "Russ Roberts talks with Chris Anderson of Wired Magazine about the ideas in his new book, The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More. Topics include the weird world of internet distribution and production, how the Sears catalog of the 1890s was the predecessor to Amazon books in the 1990s, the economics of choice and the role of filters, and the challenges of wrapping our minds around emergent phenomena." More
Following The Long Tail
The hot best seller, "The Long Tail," is causing a sensation with its claims about how the Internet is rewriting the old rules of commerce, especially when it comes to digital music sales. The book’s Chris Anderson joins guest host Anthony DeCurtis to discuss his blockbuster ideas and address his critics" Listen here
dradio.de: "Es sind die Märchen aus 1001 Nacht, die viele europäische Herzen seit jeher höher schlagen und Traumwelten vom exotischen Orient entstehen lassen. Sie beeinflussten Architektur und Lebensstil, und bis heute suchen sich Werbetreibende Bilder von prunkvollen Palästen und unendlich erscheinenden Sanddünen der Wüsten, denn der Orient dient den Europäern immer noch als Projektionsfläche und als Reiseziel, um Grenzen zu überschreiten." Weiter
wikipedia.org: "Ustad Zakir Hussain (born March 9, 1951), son of tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, is the most famous classical tabla player in India today. He is appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large. Zakir has won many awards and recognitions for his contribution to the world of music. A classical tabla virtuoso, his performances have gained him worldwide fame."
Below are links to video clips and webpages of some of the artitsts from the Enjoy Jazz Festival 2006 in Germany. For a list of all the artists and more videos click here
Tori Amos
She speaks in delicious metaphors. She's funny, self-aware and she doesn't hold back her opinions. But has singer—songwriter Tori Amos really been around long enough for a career—retrospective box set? She tells Kurt Andersen why women need to learn about mythological archetypes, and how becoming a mother has changed her. Listen here
David Byrne
Chairs that look like DNA molecules made out of tinker—toys, corporate signs with hidden messages, and trees that diagram everything from the future of rock n' roll to the results of bad habits — David Byrne has made them all. The former Talking Heads spends most of time on visual art now. Listen here
Songs and Views of the Magnetic Garden
Songs and Views of the Magnetic Garden is a piece by Alvin Curran, recorded in 1973. Weaving his voice, flugelhorn, glass chimes, and synthesizer with the sounds of high-tension wires in Sardinia, swallows in Rome, bees, water, and frog peepers, Curran created music that still sounds unique after 33 years. The piece has an unusual beauty: focussed and expansive, casual and precise, experimental and warmly human. On the eve of Sept. 11th, when something thoughtful and heart-felt seems called for, we listen to this piece in its entirety. Listen here
M. Ward
The raspy-voiced singer-songwriter M. Ward has just released a new record, "Post-War." He's said he looked to the postwar music of the late 1940s and 50s for inspiration. He's on a nationwide tour and he's live in our studio. Listen here
Keeping Album Art Alive
Album cover art, a long-celebrated vehicle for visual artists, has changed dramatically as its canvas has shrunk - from 12-inch LP's to 1-inch iPod screens. But reports of its death may be greatly exaggerated. Today, we explore the fate of album art in the digital music age with Josh Koppel, who creates digital liner notes and art for the company TuneBooks.com; and Nathan Brackett, an editor at Rolling Stone magazine. Listen here
The State of the Arts Five Years after 9/11
Today on Soundcheck: A panel of artists and arts activists, including musician Suzanne Vega and Robert Hurwitz of Nonesuch Records, talk about how patriotism, censorship, spirituality and fear have reverberated in New York's artistic landscape. Also, a live performance by Armenian pianist, Sahan Arzruni. Listen here
In Praise of Dreams
New works from Europe make up the backbone of this New Sounds program. Listen here
New Music from Argentina
Listen to a bunch of new music from Argentina on this New Sounds show, including singer/songwriter Gabriela’s unique combination of Argentine folk music and jazz. Also, hear folktronica from Juana Molina with nature noises, bombo leguero (hollow log drum), and keyboards. Not to be outdone, there’s playful folktronic geekery by Gaby Kerpel which uses plenty of other instruments from South America and samples from anywhere. Plus, arrangements of music by the late great king of the “Nuevo Tango” Astor Piazzolla, new music by bandoneon master Dino Saluzzi, and more. Listen here
spiegel.de: "A new book about humor under the Nazis gives some interesting insights into life in the Third Reich and breaks yet another taboo in Germany's treatment of its history. Jokes told during the era, says the author, provided the populace with a pressure release." More
dradio.de: "Meins oder deins? Nie war es einfacher Werke von Künstlern zu kopieren. Das Internet macht's möglich. Aber was ist überhaupt ein Künstler? Kann heute nicht jeder produzieren - kreativ sein? Das schon, aber bitte keine fremden Inhalte verwenden. Das ist Piraterie - sagt das Urheberrecht. Der "Wizards of OS"-Kongress in Berlin meint: Information muss frei sein - damit Kreativität auch im Jahrhundert der Bytes überlebt." Weiter
Habe den Artikel noch nicht gelesen, klingt aber sehr gut
itas.fzk.de "Der Einsatz von DRM-Systemen kann für attraktive und benutzerfreundliche Produkte und Dienste genutzt werden – vorausgesetzt die Rechte und die legitimen Interessen der Verbraucher werden berücksichtigt. Der gegenwärtig vorherrschende Ansatz, DRM ausschließlich als eine Angelegenheit des Urheberrechts zu betrachten, steht einer wirksamen rechtlichen Berücksichtigung der Interessen der Verbraucher im Wege. Mit einer Reihe von Vorschlägen wird gezeigt, welche Rolle einem ergänzenden verbraucherschutzrechtlichen Ansatz zukommen könnte. Aus Forderungen, die an das Urheberrecht und den Verbraucherschutz zu stellen sind, wird eine DRM-Agenda mit mehreren Optionen der rechtlichen Ausgestaltung entwickelt." Weiter
wired.com: "Though the music industry has seen drastic changes in recent years, what has remained constant is the fact that most listeners still find their music with the assistance of a filter: a reliable source that sifts through millions of tracks to help them choose what they do (and don't) want to hear. The filters we traditionally depended on – music magazines, radio stations, music video channels, even the recommendations of a trusted record store clerk – have diminished in influence enough to give a player like Pitchfork room to operate. Pitchfork is a small site: The traffic it draws is too tiny to be measured by Nielsen//NetRatings. But like the indie bands that are its lifeblood, Pitchfork has found its own way to thrive in an industry that is slowly being niched to death: It influences those who influence others." More
Sie sind Helden
faz.net: "In Deutschland können sich selbständige Künstler und Publizisten bei der Künstlersozialkasse für ihre Renten-, Kranken- und Pflegeversicherung versichern lassen. Anfang 2006 waren dort etwa 40.000 Musiker gemeldet. Deren Durchschnittseinkommen beträgt 788 Euro im Monat. Das ist nichts Neues. 1994 waren es umgerechnet 701 Euro. Wirklich besser ging es ihnen also noch nie. Die meisten Künstler überleben durch Nebenjobs. Oder sie leben vom Familieneinkommen. Mit ihren Konzerten verdienen viele Bands in den ersten Jahren nicht mehr als sechshundert Euro netto pro Jahr.
Von ihren Alben verkaufen sie nicht mehr als zweitausend Stück. Und die meisten behalten nach Abzug aller Kosten als reinen Ertrag pro Album nicht mehr als tausend Euro: ein Gewinn, den sie dann versteuern, durch die Zahl der Bandmitglieder teilen, von dem sie Instrumente kaufen, den Tourbus volltanken und ein Jahr lang leben müssen - theoretisch." Weiter
faz.net: "Daß man sich dort, wo gesungen wird, ruhig niederlassen könne, weil böse Menschen keine Lieder hätten, ist wohl eines der dümmsten geflügelten Worte der deutschen Tradition. Rechtsradikale jedenfalls singen meist gern und viel, zwar oft scheußlich, aber dafür um so lauter, gerade wieder in diesen Tagen: Bei der Landtagswahl in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern am kommenden Sonntag könnte die NPD - letzten Umfragen zufolge - wohl mit bis zu sechs Prozent ins Parlament einziehen." Weiter
dradio.de: ""On Hacking Well" heißt ein Jugendprojekt, das zurzeit im Chaos Computer Club Köln stattfindet. Der Club, der heute 25 Jahre alt wird, fördert den Nachwuchs. Für seine Mitglieder besteht das Hacken aus einer Herausforderung, ein System zu öffnen. Sie kämpfen für eine Welt ohne Zugangsrechte." Weiter
npr.org: "Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews The Clarinets, a new album from the clarinet-playing trio of Anthony Burr, Oscar Noriega and Chris Speed." Listen here
The new album from the Charalambides, now pared down to the original core duo of Christina Carter and Tom Carter.
npr.org: "Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews The Clarinets, a new album from the clarinet-playing trio of Anthony Burr, Oscar Noriega and Chris Speed." 