Sunday, October 31, 2010

Lexicon - I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones Cover)



After releasing two successful indie hiphop albums, LA-based brothers Gideon & Nick Black added a band, created a new genre, and made Paris a home for their new sound. So far, très bien.

But this perfect scenario, like anything in life, didn’t come easy. Instead of building on the props they’d achieved in the underground scene, they tore it all down, in order to build something different. Calling upon for inspiration all of the rock and new wave music that blared from their parents speakers while they were growing up, Lexicon realized that by combining these elements with their deep knowledge of hiphop they could finally express themselves the way they wanted to.

Mixing their broad range of influences from the A Tribe Called Quest to The Strokes to The Police to N.E.R.D. to Roxy Music…these seasoned vets flawlessly flow their way through this new sound with an appealing confidence and an ever-present sense of humor.

Signed to Paris-based record label Laitdbac since late 2008, the brothers Black released two acclaimed singles, and played numerous shows and festivals around Europe to pave the way for the release of the long awaited album Rapstars“.


--p.a.t.t.

FUKKK OFFF - Worldwide EP




Sick new EP from the electro rock outfit, FUKKK OFFF. Brain rock is a classic electro banger while the title track, Worldwide is more of club electro hip hop. Can't wait to hear the remixes of these tracks coming in 2011. Get yourself the full quality originals from beatport.

--p.a.t.t.

Ludachrist - Talk Is Cheap

LUDACHRIST.
What can I say? Their new record is incredible. Go download it from their website IMMEDIATELY.


One of the best mash-up albums I have EVER heard, easy. It appears that the majority of the album was mixed in key, which is amazing to hear them harmonize the samples the way they do on this record. Something I have NEVER heard done like this before. What a great Halloween Treat!
~MarK~

OMFG(HOSTS!!!) - Ghost Hunters LIVE! 10.31.10

image from syfy.com


This Sunday, the Ghost Hunters LIVE Halloween show returns! They didn't do one last year, so I'm very excited to have it back.  They will be taking you on a live 6 hour investigation of the Buffalo Central Terminal in Buffalo, NY.  There have been many reports of paranormal activity ranging from full bodied apparitions to female voices crying out from an elevator shaft.

Live feed from 4 cameras will get you right in the action along side TAPS and guests Kofi Kingston (WWE), Joe Maddalena (Hollywood Treasure), Ben Hansen (Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files), and actress Meaghan Rath (Being Human). 

Host Josh Gates (Destination Truth) & cohost Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13) will be guiding you through the event by keeping you updated with all the experiences the Hunters have.  During the investigation, you can chat live with the Ghost Hunters and if you think you've seen something that they missed, hit the "panic button" on the syfy.com Ghost Hunters website. Tell them what you saw, and you might actually get your experience ON AIR! How cool is that?






See ECW's Elijah Burke freak out during the 2007 live Halloween Event!


This AWESOME 6 hour live event starts 7pm/6pm central on Sunday night! Tune in & get scared!



OMFG <3's TAPS!
OMFG Steph, TAPS Steve Gonsalves, OMFG Mark

TAPS Grant Wilson, TAPS Jason Hawes, OMFG Mo

OMFG Mo and TAPS Kris Williams

~Mo.


Friday, October 29, 2010

OMFG - Beer Review Series - Can Beers


Can beers are here to stay. I tried a few over the past month and my reviews are below but here is a quick history of the can, how it works, why its kick ass and why you should not fear the CAN! Yes, craft breweries have been canning beer since 2001 when Cask Brewing Systems developed a new system for small breweries. Oskar Blues was the first to use it. There has been a surge in craft cans in recent years though, and in 2010, they have gained a significant amount of attention, even from mainstream media outlets.

  • Cans actually lock in the flavor of beer better than even dark glass bottles. No light penetrates the cans and the seal is tighter than a bottle cap. Thus, your beer tastes fresher longer. 
  • Cans are more environmentally friendly. They are easier to recycle and require less packaging. 
  •  Cans are cheaper for the brewery and distributor to ship. Cans don't break. 
  • Cans are easier and more convenient to bring along on outdoor activities such as camping, disc golf, hiking, a day at the beach and any other activity that affords you the luxury of enjoying good beer! 
  • Cans get cold pretty damn quick and take up less space in your fridge!

How its done the craft way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-kkmanEYRQ
I was fortunate enough to try the Tokyo Black Porter this weekend and was really impressed. The beer pours super dark and opaque. It has a one finger tan head that quickly recedes to a brown ring around the glass.  (looks a lot like Coca-Cola) Nose is straight up coffee and dark malts.
First sip was chocolate, really full body with a smoky aftertaste. Once the beer warms the coffee is more prominent and some vanilla starts to peak through.
Mouthfeel is medium and carbonation is light. It makes this beer really easy to drink despite the bold flavors.
GUBNA was the second can beer I tried this weekend. People either love this or hate it. I fall on the side of …unsure? I think it’s a great beer but I am not completely sold.
Pour Light diluted copper with a medium amount of chill haze, or more likely a haze from excessive hop additions. A thin white head forms along the sides of the glass, though not across the top of the entire beer. Alcohol presence aids in good lacing down the sides.

Smell hits you right in the face. Lots of odors going on here, most notably the floral hop notes and pine resin. Also whiffs of wheat grass and barley. This is very earthy and rural-smelling. Be ready for this one or it will end your palette. It runs full force with a mack truck of hops to smash your grill with flavors rich and sweet. Once your teeth are demolished the flavor train will then go on to compress the sides of your tongue with the bitter citrus of righteousness. If you think the assault is over it is a mere reprieve until the final thrust to back of your mouth. 

You thought swallowing would end the attack? You were wrong. The aftertaste of dry, crisp justice pervades every square inch of the inside of your mouth while the 10% ABV volatizes it way up your unsuspecting sinuses into your nasal cavity. Eventually you'll be gasping for air just to end the ecstasy, unless you're a masochist for pleasure and decide to venture another sip. I thought it was a nonsessionable IIPA but fun to drink none the less. 

Cheers!
Ryan

Jenny & Johnny @ Criminal Records Saturday 10/30



Jenny and Johnny (Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley & Jonathan Rice) are playing some songs at Criminal Records this Saturday @ 3:00PM (10/30/10) - After they play DAWES is performing as well :). See the full Jenny and Johnny experience later that night at The Fox.
  
--p.a.t.t.

Tonight! Thievery Corporation & Massive Attack @ Fox Theatre



Cha! That's where I'll be tonight. Hopefully I'll be able to snag some pics for you guys, otherwise add Thievery Corporation's facebook page for updates and pics from the tour!

--p.a.t.t.

OMF(ashion)G - Pet costumes

Have you ever dressed up your pet? Or maybe you're thinking about getting Spot a cute 'lil outfit this year to parade around in. Well, maybe you should think again.  Q100's The Bert Show recently did a story about how dogs actually DON'T like being dressed up.  Pet psychics have found that dogs get embarrassed by the attention (laughing & pointing).  Dogs are used to their wild heritage being part of a pack, so being singled out makes them very uncomfortable. I guess a lot of this depends on how much you believe in pet psychics though!!

image from empirecostumes.com

Happy Halloween!!!

~Mo.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

OMFG - Beer Review Series - Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale



As promised, the second half of the hop harvest review is the Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale. It is a pale ale with a 6.70% abv and clocks in around a sporty 10 American Dollars at many of the local stores. The presentation is one of the fanciest beers I have ever seen. The label is thick card stock with water marks throughout. Sierra Nevada did us a favor and dipped each bottle in wax to ensure longevity and reduce oxidation; additionally, waxed bottles just looks really bad ass!

 Sierra Nevada planted a hop field near their brewery in Northern California in late 2004. Following the success of the hop field, in 2008 Sierra Nevada used the left over 26 acres for barley. End result: SN Estate Homegrown Ale! This is one of the few if any completely organic ales grown at the brewery.   

Enough chit chat, lets crack this bad boy open. It pours a fluffy 4 finger head that looks like a cloud over the dark amber colored beer. The beer has excellent clarity and you can tell much care was used in crafting this brew.

The first smell uncovers fresh pine, big grapefruit, pineapple, citrus and mouth watering hops. The Estate drips with fragrance and for the third fresh hopped beer in a weekend this has the most complex nose.

The first sip uncovers some light bitterness but not offensive. The second gulp uncovers flavors of Light malts, honey and caramel. The flavors don’t end there. The nose predicted the following flavors perfectly to balance this pale ale: citrus, grapefruit, earthy hops, apple and topped off with light spice.

The mouthfeel was slightly thin for me but the carbonation was crisp to balance it out. Drinkability is superb. I would highly recommend checking this out if you have the opportunity. This beer is quality and an organic treat.

Cheers! 

Ryan

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Update on Drivin' N' Cryin's stolen gear!

The band posted on their facebook page today with an update regarding the stolen trailer & equipment:


"UPDATE: On Oct 15, Gwinnett County (GA) Police recovered the stolen trailer belonging to DNC. Dirty & damaged, the trailer contained a handful of damaged items belonging to the band including 2 speaker cabinets, a bass amplifier, a few drums & other misc items. Thanks to everyone for the support, kindness & generosity offered throughout this ordeal. We are humbled & proud to have you as our fans & friends"

Other than that, they've only been able to recover a few items here & there. We are glad to see Drivin' N' Cryin' still out there doing their thing! The bad guys can't keep them down! Their next show is November 3 at Shaka's in Virginia Beach, VA. Go check them out if you can!

Rock on, guys! And I'll leave you with a dedication to the scum bags that did this!



~Mo.

Friday, October 22, 2010

OM(ovies)FG - SCREAM 4 TRAILER


You heard it from us first, back in August 2009, that Scream 4 was set to start filming. Now, we have the trailer for you: Click here to view off of IMDB's page http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi872847641/

OMFG - Beer Review Series - Fall Fresh Hop Harvest Ales


Yeee-Hawww, It’s hop harvest time Beer Nerds! Getty- up, get out and snatch up some of the fresh hop ales that hit the Atlanta market last week. My sources say the following beers are available now: Terrapin – So Fresh So Green Green, Founders – Hop Harvest, Sierra Nevada – Southern Hemisphere Harvest, Estate Homegrown Ale, Southern Tier - Harvest, Great Divide - Fresh Hop Pale Ale and Weyerbacher - Harvest Ale. I was fortunate enough to come across 3 of the heavy hitters from the bunch. 
Wet Hopping beer simply stated means: the use of fresh hops that a have recently been picked. Generally, when brewers get hops they come in a few forms: pellet, plug or whole. Pellets look like rabbit food and are easy to use because of the small size. Brewers can add incremental amounts to get exact results. They are processed and tend to be less fragrant. Plugs look like pellets but are the size of bratwurst. For home brewers they are difficult to break up but act like whole leaf hops in flavor and fragrance.  Whole hops are the real deal. These hops are dried and have the best flavor and aroma.  Hops are harvested once a year in the Pacific Northwest between August and September. Since hops decompose quickly, these flowering cones are typically kiln-dried and consigned to storage. However, some of the just-plucked hops are rushed to breweries, where they become fall's fleeting pleasure: fresh-hopped beer.

 I sometimes forget that hops are an agricultural product and the freaking things grow in the dirt; much like a hamburger was once a cow. Fresh hop beers (American Pale Ales) have a more balanced, less acidic and overall smooth flavor. This is what a fresh beer should taste like; so, bust out your straw hat and overalls we are about to explore the wonderful world of fresh harvest (wet hopped) ales!
First up is the Founders Hop Harvest: Pours Golden clear with a thin white head that quickly dies to form a thin mist across the glass. The aroma is of juicy fresh grapefruit, tropical pineapple and pine needle. It reminds me of a balanced IPA but doesn’t have the harsh bitterness on the nose.
On first sip I get grapefruit, pineapple and cracker bread malts. Taste is very light and balanced but complex at the same time.  As this beer warms it begins to uncover some fresh herbs, candy hops and some pine. Very mellow. On swallow, the hops seem to linger with light bitterness. The mouthfeel is sticky and lightly carbonated. Pleasant. This is a must try due to its complexity. I challenge you to find a Pale Ale that can stand next to this beer.
Next up! So Fresh So Green Green from Terrapin. I was really impressed by this beer! Terrapin posted this picture of the hops on facebook a few months ago. Very exciting stuff! 
The beer pours with a billowy light white head and amber in color. Smell was muddy earthy hops with some floral and grapefruit. I venture to guess they use Amarillo hops which tend to have a pine and spicy flavor. First sip uncovers a light bread malt, caramel, honey, toffee and grapefruit. It has an uncharacteristic umami or savory earthy flavor. Nothing I have ever tasted before in a beer. I am really impressed by the fullness of the flavor matched with the hops. 

This beer seems one note and not very complex; however, the fresh hops are showcased and the simplicity of the beer makes it amazing to enjoy on these colder Georgia nights. It highlights the fresh harvest hops and everything else takes a backseat. I spoke with many Beer Advocates over the last week and they disagree with my terrapin review because they feel it lacks complexity. I think simplicity makes this beer outstanding. PB & J is uncomplicated, but it can taste great. It doesn't need to be gourmet to be first-rate. There is a pleasant bitterness on the swallow with creamy body and carbonation in the mouthfeel. Lacing all over the glass makes me think they used 2 row malts with some complex sugars.

These two beers are impressive. Both are very drinkable and exemplary examples of wet hopped American Pale Ales. I highly recommend them both.  I still have the third beer to review (Sierra Nevada – Estate: which will be up middle of next week.) Keep an eye out for the following reviews (in simplistic form) Duck Rabbit 2009 Barleywine, Left Hand Milk on nitro tap and Founders Porter. Follow me and OMFG on twitter @ SquirrelStash (my cellar’s name) for up to minute news about where to find these beers in the Atlanta market.  
Cheers!

Ryan

OMFG - ATL: ITS PARTY TIME THIS SATURDAY!!!

We here at OMFG are super-pumped up for this weekend. This Saturday is time for one of our favorite ATL parties: HEAVY! @ The Graveyard Tavern. The whole OMFG crew will be there & we will also be celebrating OMFG Co-Founder, Stephanie's birthday!!! 
Awhh Yeahh Birthday Yeahh! So come RAGE with us! It's gonna be a blast! 

Here is a link to the Facebook event:

Thursday, October 21, 2010

LOVE Thursdays? Me too!



dj p.a.t.t. on the decks 8:30p - 12:30a
(chill, electronica, dub, house, indie, disco, funk, dubstep)

Lots of NewNew tunes in store for you tonight!

Apres Diem is located off the intersection of 8th St and Monroe Dr, in the Midtown Promenade.
(behind Trader Joe's, between The Highlander and Midtown Arts Cinema)

--p.a.t.t.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Circa Survive at Criminal Records - 10/21


Come see Circa Survive in an intimate setting and pick up a copy of Blue Sky Noise for the band to sign! Blue Sky Noise was listed as MySpace's BEST ALBUM of 2010 (so far). Watch the video for Get Out HERE. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvAQEx_Itfw&ob=av2n)

Mark

Saturday, October 16, 2010

DivKid - Kablam EP



Seems DivKid has nothing better to do than make more and more interesting music. The original track here is full of wonky basslines and pitched synths. But my fave has got to be the Kane dubstep remix. Go ahead, they're 320kbps, getchu some!

--p.a.t.t.

OM(usic)FG - Arcade Fire Album Review

Arcade Fire's Suburbs is musically and lyrically the album of 2010: Its admonishing social commentary on impatience, conformity, and alienation is even more poignant than Radiohead's monumental album OK Computer (i.e. the reference to the chess player Kasparov being beaten by the computer Deep Blue is one of many examples of man's loss of self, both individually and culturally). One can understand why director Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Fisher King) filmed their show in NYC: Throughout it, the theme of the global sprawl surpassing personal nostalgia feels as apocalyptic as their grandiosely paranoid album Neon Bible. Yet the redemptive escape from "a garden left for ruin by a millionaire inside of a private prison" and "dead shopping malls like mountains beyond mountains" ultimately comes from the same place where No Cars Go, the same place that overcame death in their groundbreaking fantastical first album, the Funeral ("climb out the chimney and meet me in the middle"); it is the place where the wild things are, where love and hope commune together: the imagination.
And because the instrumentation, sound engineering, and song arrangements are seamlessly coherent, the album entertainingly achieves at relentlessly rocking your face right off your head.

Posted by Guest Contributor: Markos

Friday, October 15, 2010

OMFG - Beer Review Series - The Epic Stout Tasting

The results are back from the stout tasting. We sampled 5 stouts over the weekend and based on the verbal approvals I received from the folks trying these amazing beers I would rank them as follows:

6. Mikkeller Black Hole – Good solid beer but lacks the complexity of the other offerings. 
· Jet black and no head formation to speak of. Smelled of coffee (coffee grounds, even), vanilla, dried fruit, red licorice and alcohol. Slight smokiness. 
Tasted pretty much as it smelled, and I found Black Hole far too sweet to be drinkable. In an attempt to trick myself into enjoying it I tried to put it into context with similarly sweet drinks like port or dessert wines but without the acidity it didn't hold up. The lactic, dairy-creamer attributes were off-putting as well. Mouthfeel was thick and oily with very little carbonation. 

5. Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S the destroyer – I was a big fan of the balance with this beer. It could easily take the number 4 spot, but due to the fast DFH Bitches brew was more drinkable I bumped it down. 
· Whiskey is apparent from the moment it touches the tongue and is prevalent throughout the tasting. There are distinctive notes of toffee and molasses, and these elements, coupled with the lack of detectable hops, help to make this marginally sweeter than normal BORIS. At the same time, the bourbon aging works to mitigate the sugary side.

4. Dogfish Head Bitches brew – Sweet, different, good. Still does not compare to the other offerings
· The taste has smooth chocolate and caramel backed up with lesser notes of coffee. the honey shines through the darker flavors with a sweet floral aspect. the licorice/rootbeer follows up with an herbal note, that i can't quite put my finger on, and the smoke sneaking in at the back and aftertaste. the finish is nice and long.
3. Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast – Very well rounded, heavy handed on the coffee but very drinkable.
· Roasty aroma with coffee and chocolate. Flavor has loads of espresso, roasted malts, and chocolate. Medium-heavy bodied, and a good bitter finish.

2. Mikkeller Wine barrel aged black hole – Impressive, complex, boozy, amazingness.
· Poured a dark black in color w/ a bubbly one finger head that left heavy lacing on the glass. Appearance was awesome! Nose was of roasted malts, dark fruits, and wine in your face. Taste was of chocolate roasted notes, a touch of coffee and vanilla, with a finish of bitter hop bite and vinous cabernet/merlot wine. Mouthfeel was medium bodied w/ nice amounts of carbonation


1. Old Rasputin Barrel aged XI – Very drinkable, well rounded great beer (consumed the fastest by all)
· Pours jet black with a tan head - The aroma translates to the taste. Upfront I pick up a mellow bourbon flavor. Not overpowering in anyway. Just enough to let you know it's there. Immediately following oak touches the palate accompanied by a coconut explosion. When combined with the vanilla attributes it almost gives off a marshmallow-like flavor. Heavenly. Finishes extremely smooth and delicate. Full mouthfeel and nice viscosity. Overall the best IMO of the ones we tasted.

Cheers!
Ryan

Big Boi - Shutterbug (Sub Swara Remix)


"As they move closer to the the November 9 release of their second album, Triggers, the Brooklyn duo, Sub Swara flips an electric soul-drenched twist on Big Boi's Shutterbug, mixing equal parts Curtis Mayfield-era piano and string layers with the group's dynamic bass weight.  While the first single off the new album, 'Bend You' showed the dancefloor-smshing upbeat dubstep angle, this remix is indicative of a different pulse that still embraces Sub Swara's signature melding of lush melody laced around a core of earth-shaking rhythm." - LowLifeInc



Also, here's a lil treat... An original dubstep track from Sub Swara



                       

--p.a.t.t.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

LOVE Thursdays? Me too!



dj p.a.t.t.  8:30p - 12:30a
(chill, electronica, dub, house, funk, disco, indie, dubstep)

Apres Diem is located at the intersection of 8th St and Monroe Dr in the Midtown Promenade
(behind Trader Joe's, between The Highlander and Midtown Arts Cinema) 

--p.a.t.t.

Sing Leaf + Various Artists - Generation Ship (A Benefit: EAT TO FEED LIBERIANS)



"GENERATION SHIP - (n.) A spaceship designed for traveling distances so great that the passengers will have lived through multiple generations by the time it reaches its destination [Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction].

A collection of songs for those who will come after us.

------

All proceeds from the sale of this album are being donated to EAT TO FEED LIBERIANS, a charitable organization that operates two feeding programs in the Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp in Ghana.

One of these provides lunches for approximately 350 students and teachers attending a school in the camp ($1 donated provides 7 meals).

The second is called "The Wonderful Kids", a feeding program and support network for HIV affected/infected children. The 38 children in this program meet six times a week for lunch, and have a soccer team that plays against others in the community twice a month.

EAT TO FEED LIBERIANS was founded in 2008 by Lindsay Seegmiller, who first visited the camp as a volunteer teacher.

ETFL has no administrative costs and is completely run by volunteers. 100% of the money donated is sent directly to the feeding programs.

For more information, visit eattofeedliberians.com."

Available now for purchase through bandcamp
Officially released through the big retailers on October 31st

--p.a.t.t.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Married to Rock on E!

"Not content to let Bravo run wild with its vast empire of Real Housewives, E! will air a docu-series about women who are in relationships with rock stars. “Married to Rock” will star Susan Holmes McKagan (wife of former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff), Etty Farrell (wife of Perry Farrell), Josie Stevens (wife of Billy Idol’s guitarist), and AJ Celi (girlfriend of Billy Duffy, guitarist for The Cult)."

"“So many women have a fantasy about landing a rock star,” said Lisa Berger, executive vp programming at E! “We’re raising the curtain on the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle and showing there’s more to it than the late-night partying, ravaged hotel rooms and jet-set life we’ve all read about. But, of course, there’s all of that too.”"
"The season kicks off with Etty Farrell working on organizing the latest incarnation of Lollapalooza while weighing in on Josie Stevens’ decision to re-tie the knot at the Hollywood Castle. Meanwhile, Celi, a VIP director at a Hollywood nightclub, pressures Duffy to walk down the aisle. And supermodel Susan Holmes McKagan struggles to get a new collection in her swimwear line ready for launch."
 
Quoted: http://warmingglow.uproxx.com/2010/10/file-this-one-with-all-the-others
Steph Geezy

Hottest New Hair Color Trend: "Bronde"

"‘Bronde’ hair color (or a mix of brown and blonde) is all the rage this season. Stars like Gossip Girl Blake Lively, Jennifer Aniston and Gisele Bundchen are all sporting this stylish hue. It has gained popularity not only because it’s a low maintenance version of blonde and an upgraded version of brown, but because it’s less expensive to maintain as well. In times like this, we are all trying to pinch pennies where we can, and although we don’t always want to give up spending money on our beauty rituals, sometimes cutting back can help." - Steph Geezy

Quoted: Websource


The XX - Crystallised (Slyde Remix 4)



Lucky me, I actually just saw The XX at The Tabernacle here in Atlanta last week. Friggin awesome show. I really dig their sound though and I've been playing remixes of their songs in almost all my sets, so seeing them live and hearing the original tracks performed live was incredible. Not to mention that their stage setup looked pretty kool as well (Ya, I took that photo below with my phone...I never got to take photography courses).

And whaddya know.. few days later I get this sweet remix of Crystallised sent to us from Slyde. Brilliant work fellas.



--p.a.t.t.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

OMF(unny)G - 4 Popped Collars

Just when you thought 1 popped collar was enough...some d-bag brings you 4!!! 
OMFG.
Posted by: S (steph_gossip grrrl)

Shigeto - Full Circle



ARTIST: Shigeto
ALBUM TITLE: Full Circle
LABEL: Ghostly International / Moodgadget
FORMAT: CD / LP / DL
RELEASE DATE: November 9th (US/EU) & November 22, 2010 (UK)
GENRE: Electronic / Beats / Hip Hop
01. Ann Arbor Part 1
02. Escape From The Incubator
03. Relentless Drag
04. So So Lovely
05. Sky Of The Revolution
06. Brown Eyed Girl
07. French Kiss Power Up
08. Ann Arbor Part 2
09. Children At Midnight
10. Look At All The Smiling Faces
Thus far, Zach Saginaw’s releases as Shigeto have been fragments, albeit singularly satisfying fragments—EP-length glimpses into the Brooklyn producer’s creative psyche. After filling two EPs on Ghostly International (Semi Circle & What We Held On To ) , Shigeto’s lush, sumptuous take on instrumental hip-hop has fully materialized. Full Circle , the artist’s first full-length album due on November 9th, completes the journey begun with Shigeto’s Semi-Circle EP, synthesizing the drummer/producer’s signature themes of family, continuity, and musical boundary-pushing into a vibrant, fully unified artistic statement.
The sounds on Full Circle come from four years of obsessive field recording and collaboration. Saginaw brought his Tascam mini-recorder with him everywhere, capturing the “glasses, chains, breathing, children, family meals, monks singing in cathedrals, walks in the south of France, and good friends offering their musical skill” that would all find homes in the record’s compositional nooks and crannies. As a result of Saginaw’s constant documentation, the songs on Full Circle play like chapters in an ongoing story—as in “Escape from the Incubator”, whose initial rhythmic claustrophobia opens up into a boom-clap nocturnal chase, or “French Kiss Power Up”, whose romantic digital strut gives way to discord and fragmentation as the waves of synthesizer give way to a shaky, neurotic coda. Full Circle is framed by the “Ann Arbor” diptych, a pair of beat suites named after Saginaw’s hometown (one featuring a sample of Detroit MC SelfSays), all double-thick synths and triple-strength kick drums. Saginaw plays the majority of his rhythms by hand, and Full Circle’s consistently deep pocket is the record’s secret weapon, thumping and breathing like a living being.
Having set the stage with Semi-Circle and What We Held On To EPs—twin treatises on Saginaw’s Japanese grandmother’s escape from a US internment camp—Shigeto is clearly ready to draw the tale to a close and take center stage. “This release represents the end of the beginning—or perhaps that there is no end and no beginning at all,” says Saginaw. Regardless, Full Circle is the start of something great.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Artists take on pseudonyms for a multitude of reasons, but in Zach Saginaw’s case, those reasons run deeper than most. Zach records under the name Shigeto. It’s his middle name; it’s also his grandfather’s name, a tribute to the Japanese branch of Zach’s family tree. Shigeto also means “to grow bigger”—appropriate, given Zach’s premature birth-weight of less than a pound. Today, Shigeto stands for Zach’s vividly beautiful electronic music. Beat-driven but given to richly textured sound design, rhythmically fractured but melodically sumptuous, Shigeto’s music is a bridge between the past and present, bringing the artist face to face with a creative legacy that spans decades.
Zach was brought up on a steady diet of Michigan-bred music, as his father spoon-fed him old Motown and jazz records by the crateload. Zach picked up the drums at an early age, spending much of his childhood playing in the Detroit/Ann Arbor music scene. After nearly flunking out of high school—save for his music studies—Zach spent three years studying jazz at the New School in NYC and three more in London, where he began woodshedding, obsessed with learning electronic production. Soon enough, beats materialized, Zach moved to Brooklyn and took up the name Shigeto, and Zach’s peers began to take notice.
Zach’s body of work has grown over the last few years to the tune of several EPs on Moodgadget as Shigeto and with A Setting Sun, a pair of EPs under the alias Frank Omura (another family-name reference), and remixes for Worst Friends, Praveen & Benoit, Tycho, Mux Mool, Charles Trees, A Setting Sun, Beautiful Bells, Shlohmo, and more. The Semi-Circle EP will be his first release with Ghostly International; the full-length Full Circle is on the horizon. Semi-Circle is a fiercely independent work of art, nominally indebted to instrumental hip-hop but, like Zach, straddling many worlds at once. Cool shades of ambient music, stuttering early IDM, dubstep sub-bass, and jazz melodicism color Shigeto’s palette, which he wields with a painterly attention to detail.
As Ghostly International hits its 10th anniversary, Shigeto is one of the first of a wave of young artists who grew up influenced by the label’s early output. And again, names come into play. “Putting out this record on Ghostly isn’t just ‘getting signed,’ for me,” says Zach, “it’s becoming part of a family, an influence that I’ve respected forever. That’s Full Circle.” Let’s just say the feeling’s mutual.
 full write-up couresty of Ghostly
--p.a.t.t.

Monday, October 11, 2010

King Fantastic - Westcoastsynthesizerbeachbumgangstermusic (Knight Riderz Remix)



"Good day gangsters.
This remix is all about the power of the internet and keeping connected with those you meet along the way.
A few years back I, Troublemaker, was touring with Z-Trip, and on a trip to Canada we met this cool dj/dude/promoter named Degree.

Over the years we've kept in touch, and when Reese and I dropped our album, he hit me up about doing a remix for this song.

It took us a bit to get him the stems, but I'm sure glad we did. This remix is crushing. And, for all of you in the remix game, this is what I call a true remix. Take it apart, scramble it up, make it your own, and shock the people that made it in the best way possible.
Cheers to Degree and his partner in the Knight Riderz."
- from the desk of Troublemaker


--p.a.t.t.

Kotchy - Baggy Spandex



"Baggy Spandex came about by a complete chance encounter on a dark street in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood on the way home from a night out. Kotchy was walking along and finding a box of old albums on the sidewalk decided to have a look. As he was checking out the wax the front door opened and out walked Janine from Ghostbusters (the Secretary and Rick Moranis’ Girlfriend) wearing a very confounding pair of baggy spandex shorts. It was decided then that Kotchy would go straight home, taking the albums with him and make an album comprised entirely of samples from this collection. It’s dedicated to Janine and it’s called Baggy Spandex!" - LowLifeInc



You can listen to/download the rest of the album from Kotchy's website


--p.a.t.t.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

OMF(ood)G - SIMPLY DELICIOUS - J Christopher's


Everybody knows that the Queen behind the scenes is Miss Stephanie, but did you know
one of her absolute favorite places to eat is J. Christopher’s. She loves to eat there and
her favorite meal is one of the signature skillets with the yummy sausage, and sunny side
up eggs and potatoes. I have to admit it is one of my favorite places also. They have
wonderful pancakes and eggs benedict and omelets and crepes and the list goes on. Their
lunch items other than breakfast foods are very good also, like quesadillas, hamburgers,
sandwiches, soups and salads. Come hungry and leave happy!

L. BLIZZARD
mp3 blogs