Siren's Eye

Ok, I confess. I am a big fan of the series Greek. Every character is lovable and the stories are oh so juicy soap-ish. Cappie (Scott Michael Foster) is one of my favourite characters. He kind of reminds me of myself, without the lady skills of course. So, such is routine, after every series or new interest I go read up on the wiki. Check some random trivia about the people. You know the simple celebrity syndrome fixation.
Then I read that Scott also plays in an indie band, Siren's Eye. He even does the vocals. So natural instinct took over and I just had to listen to it. Boy, was I surprised. It's not necessarily very unique, but darn is it catchy and Scott can sing! Listen to Falling.

Check the live vids as well on their Myspace.
Awesome-tastic.

Band of the Day: Campbell

http://www.myspace.com/campbelltheband

After listening to an 8bit act called Campbell (which is also very good) I stumbled upon this band on last.fm. Truly amazing vocals and melodies. Subtle yet powerful. Go have a listen!

Dear Reader, I present a new Harris Tweed

I always enjoy interesting music. Someone that brings new things to the front and that broadens my horizons. Harris Tweed did this when they released their first album. It was fresh and Cherilyn's voice was so sweet and sugary. I loved it! Especially Ode to Confusion, which strangely sounded like the Meatloaf epic, I'd do anything for love. Well the keys anyway. Hehe.

Fast forward a successful SA reception and now we have Dear Reader. Harris Tweed had to change their name due to a company in Scotland with a similar name. They are currently touring Europe and UK and their blogs are interesting to read as they document their tour.

I like the new sound of Dear Reader especially the song Never Goes. Go have a listen.

Music and Me: An Introspective Rant

Over the past week, I've been kinda re-evaluting my stance on music. I try to live by the ideal that I will listen to any music, despite prejudices, connotations, ideas and notions; ergo have an open mind.

A previous blog post last week I went into ranting about how I hate zealous bidding of bands such as Fokofpolisiekar and all their respective children they have spawned, but somehow they were not a part of my ideal. I had judged them before I truly listened to it. On a even deeper level: I judged, and that is not part of my life philosophy. I live by the ignorant notion that I shall not judge anyone or anything based on whatever they do. I was not granted the all mighty smiting hammer so I could damn everyone, because they do 'bad' things. Who am I, to take that role?

Don't get me wrong, I'll not be a totally void of opinion, because I'm scared of judging people. That's a whole different ball game. Let's take music as an example again:
I like music, and I try to listen to every kind of music. However, when someone plays me some music, and unless the band or artist is musically horrendous (bad notes, flat, rhythm is off etc), I will take it in for subjective growth experience it provides. I might not go ape shit over it and hail it next messiah, but I will most definitely not say, that shit is horrible. Some things I like more than other, but I'm not in the position to condemn it.

So, taking Fokofpolisiekar, Van Coke Kartel and aKing as examples: bands which I have completely condemned, because I despised them for various reasons, I will now remove that veil and go listen to their music. In the end I'll have a more informed opinion, although I might not necessarily like them, and I'll know that I at least gave them a chance. And if I don't like them, I'm going to go about evangelizing the support for bring down band 'x', because of 'x' reasons.

So, in retrospect, The Afrikaans Phenomenon post was uncalled for. I felt strong about something, but I should've rather focused on the constructive rather the destructive.

Cheers,
Niel

Infinite Toys

I found this funky list on Digg.com just now:
http://gizmodo.com/5068177/10-gadgets-that-provide-perpetual-pleasure

But, the most awesome thing there is the perpetual bubble wrap popper. OMG!











"Bubble Wrap Toy: This PuchiPuchi Bubble Wrap Toy kicked off Japan's new found fascination with "infinite gadgets"—toys that allow users to enjoy mundane but strangely thrilling experiences over and over again. Apparently, it's just as satisfying as popping real bubble wrap, except that ever 100th pop greets you with the sound of a fart, barking dog, door chime or sexy voice."

All I can say is: "Awesome! That will definitely help me procrastinate even more!"

LAN

Calling themselves after the sought after nerd activity, LAN, comes three synth lovers to rock up your dancefloor.
http://www.myspace.com/localareanetworksa

With a first demo tune up on there Myspace, it sounds like they have some potential. I'm super eager for a dance band scene to start being established in South Africa in the similiar vein such as guys as Simian Mobile Disco, LCD Soundsystem, Digitalism etc.

Currently South Africa is flooded with metal, punk and indie rock bands, now let's get some dancing in there too. Go have a listen. Hopefully we will see them gigging soon! Only thing that I don't like about that tune is the vocoded vocals, I'm not a big fan of that, but it's not a complete deterent.
If you like them, check out Cutout Collective as well.

The Afrikaans Phenomenon

Here we are in a changed South Africa, a culture rainbow allsorts, embracing many views, styles, noises, sneers and, then, music. Now, I’m not a South African jellytot man omniscient of all music in South Africa, but I’ve found myself in the middle-to-upper-class-bored-to-death-hood. The one where kids in D.F. Malan with rich daddies and uninspired lives turn to music.

Before I start, I would just like to add that I talk Afrikaans at home, with friends, parents etc. I only write in English, so this is not all a Soutie being obnoxious to the boere. Now more closely, I’m talking about the Afrikaans alternative music scene, which has seen an amazing birth recently due to MK and Fokofpolisiekar. I for one was never a hardcore patriotic, “Vir jou Suid-Afrika!”, but rather skeptical of this Afrikaans “foofie”.

When Fokofpolisiekar became the gods of the SA teens, I realized something was astir. I, with an objective mind listened to Fokofpolisiekar and quickly realized what was messing with the minds of so many lost teens – Afrikaans. I’m going to make a bold statement, but when you take FPK and replace them with an English faggot you get boring rehashed nonsense. Obviously there are exceptions, Hemel op die Platteland and Skynheilig among few, but most are generic punk.

Since when does singing in a different language constitute ignorance toward something original? It completely fails me. Perhaps I’m not that a big lyric listener, but this is just ridiculous. Now, many teens from bored lives and anarchist tendencies follow suit in Fokofpolisiekar’s path to unoriginality. Every time I see a band on MK I throw up, because they think they can get away with just singing Afrikaans and having sub-par punk churned dredge as accompaniment. The sad thing is it works for them. Other bored teens go ape shit over their rehashed nonsense. South Africa’s generation X? After Apartheid perhaps they are lost and feel the need to connect to their “Vaderland”. FOK DIT!

I’m a slight music purist, and try to as objective to any type of music, but this recent surge of idolatry towards sub-par Afrikaans music is making me rage in ire. The only Afrikaans band doing something original while still creating interesting lyrics in their “moedertaal” is Foto na Dans. Those chaps are my heroes. Another interesting band to check out is Vermoor Jou Vriende, last year’s JIP Rockspaaider North Winners. They try something slightly different, albeit still having the stock guitars, bass, drums and vocals formula, I’m keen on hearing their album, which has recently been released. I’m ordering a CD, and will review it in a future post. Of course there is still: Zinkplaat and Die Helde with some good stuff. Do you have any other suggestions of any good Afrikaans bands? Maybe I missed something obvious? Comment me!

So, I beg you, please when you hear another Afrikaans band, stand back and think a bit; take away the language and what do you get? Does this sound like anything produced before?

Cheers,

Niel

P.S. – Fok Ef-El, hulle gooi ‘n kickass live show en het mal catchy tunes, maar ek het hul nog nie vergewe nie. Oja, Straatligkinders ook.

Two Channel Only Compilation Released

The much anticipated Two Channels Only Compilation, spearheaded by the innovative little-scale, has finally been released.

Download it from here:
"WOO HOO! The two channel compilation is finally here! We got Nestroyer, Jellica, 8GB, Unicorn Dream Attack, Random, Failotron, esc AND LOADS MORE! Each artist has had to make a song using only two channels of their choice, making the restrictive art of chiptune even more restrictive! Watch this space for a one channel comp soon, then a non-channel comp! (the last one may not be true) - Artwork by CDK fave Sparkyboy!"

Thanks to Sparkyboy for the artwork!

Thanks to CDK Records for hosting and releasing this one!


Tracklisting
Disc 1
1. Orphanage by The J. Arthur Keenes Band
2. Post-Apology Nation by little-scale
3. MPDJ by Ten Thousand Free Men & Their Families
4. Y2K by Astro Zombies
5. Modus operandi by Emartransformo
6. Manhattan Dynamite by Vintaque
7. Cobra Attack Squad by Sybi0t
8. 2ChanLifespan by Joedouken!
9. Gold by Lazerbeat
10. Space Dust Inhilation Theory by TristEndo
11. Galway Funk by 8GB
12. Whack Attack by TurboDaze
13. The Drone by White Circuit
14. Shortwobble1 by Jellica
15. Strangers by Nestroyer
16. 2 Tones by Subway Sonicbeat
17. Neko by SMES


Disc 2
1. Treehouse by Arms Akimbo
2. Mutoid Bit by Buskerdroid
3. Alabaster and Tears by Unicorn Dream Attack
4. Reminiscences by Secret Lab
5.Why Chip Tune Sucks In 26' by Flashbob
6. Jupiters by Micro Knight
7. Double Espresso by Random
8. sClick2 by Infradead
9. 2channelproductions by failotron
10. History by Sparkyboy
11. BRB, BRKDWN TYM! by TRASHAPPY!
12. The Journey Of Squarrel by Varia Vaku
13. Flying Laser Sharks by Flegmatical
14. RocketShoe by L-Tron
15. 97 Minutes by Environmental Sound Collapse
16. Donkey Lasher by Fluxxin

I did the artwork and made a track for it. The challenge was interesting, but even more interesting is that there is a One Channel Compilation in the works.

Enjoy!

Final Fantasy - Owen Pallet

Owen Pallet going by the name Final Fantasy (yes, it is from the flamboyant game series) uses his violin to get to some interesting new places. He is better known for doing violin work for Arcade Fire on both Funeral and Neon Bible and has often toured with them.

His music has a video game/movie score feel to it and it would fit perfectly in games such as... Final Fantasy. Hooray for Captain Obvious! But alas, his music is fairly classical and it would not be most people's cup of afternoon tea, but I myself find listening to him on a lazy day with a glowing sunset to be very soothing.

Fightstar Releases New Single

Fightstar, a UK band fronted by ex-Busted pimp, Charlie Simpson, has released a new single, The English Way. Listen here.



I'm a big Fightstar fan, because they use their musical talents to create an extremely full sound and excellent harmonies. The English Way is no exception to their winning formula. The drumming once again very inventive and Charlie sings with passion. The choirs seem a little flimsy and not integrated well, but it's a welcomed change.

I'm not usually a fan of hard rock, but Fightstar brings forth passion, complexity and harmonies together in a new appealing way without alienating listeners. For more listening try getting the songs We Apologise for Nothing from their sophomore album One Day Son This Will All Be Yours and The Grand Unification Part 2 from their debut album Grand Unification.

A neglected blog...

When I started this blog, I set out to be active in this blogging endeavour, but alas like most blog missions, it fails after a few posts.

However, I now aim to pick it up and at least try to post two blog posts a week. After reading Luca Vincenzo's awesome blog about the South African Music scene:
http://lucavincenzo.blogspot.com/

I realized, shit son, I'm wasting my valuable musical interest by letting it rot in my brain, but now that rotting knowledge will spew forth into a new brain zombie. Let it run free my friend.

Peace Out,
Niel

My first Gig (Sparkyboy) and the response

Braving a cold winter's night I settled of to Kleine Libertas, a quaint venue in Stellenbosch to open for awesome local acts: Desmond and the Tutu's, Unit-R and kidofdoom.
The bands were a bit late so I sat around minding own business. When the bands came they all sound checked, but I was getting nervous as it took longer than I expected. So the venue had to open the doors to let people in; it was getting too crowded.

So basically all the lights went off, and I had to do my line check and set-up all on my own while a huge crowd was eagerly awaiting some kickass tunes. I fondled in the dark for a table and quickly started setting up. Taking out my toys and Gameboy I could've only imagined what the crowd thought.

Alas when I started with Local Bar, the crowd went beserk. I quickly played through my 25min set and ended with an encore. I threw my 45 CD's into the crowd and already I got offered another gig, an interview with a magazine and a guy wants to use my music in his student film project.
The response to say the least was unexpected and overwhelming. Where I should've felt privileged for the response, I left the night with a confused mind and a sour taste in my mouth. This is not what I wanted. I'm scared of this becoming a scene thing. The reason I got into 8bit music is not because it's totally indie, but it is absence of pretentiousness. I don't want to cater for Crystal Castles indie wannabes, but to the people who enjoy 8bit music for the pure enjoy joy it creates.

A conglomerate of people who enjoy the nostalgia and the associated nerdiness and general incapacity to be awesome when associated with video games. I stress: it's not pretentious rock star nonsense. The you're so indie thing is not what I want.

So I'm now considering the future of Sparkyboy. My choice of gigs will be most important. I'm not here for the fame.
If only there were more 8bit artists in South Africa.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming

I watched a series recently on BBC Prime (yes, we have that in South Africa) that went by the name of Derren Brown: Trick of the Mind.

Derren Brown, is a mentalist. He uses the power of suggestion and various observations to predict thoughts and human behaviour. From the simple trick of guessing how many fingers are behind your back to the absurd feats of guessing what a man in a grocery store will buy and predicting his walking pattern.

Derren Brown has even beaten nine master's of chess simultaneously. His perception skills are amazing and the series even more. It beckoned me to read more on the subject matter and Derren Brown.
A technique that is said to be used by mentalists is NLP (neuro-linguistic programming). I stumbled upon the NLP wiki page and found the theories very interesting. The basic principles of NLP intrigued me immensely:

• Behind every behavior there is a positive intention.
• A person is not his or her behaviour.
• There is no failure, only feedback.
• The meaning of the communication is the response it produces, not the intended communication.
• One cannot not communicate.
• Choice is better than no choice.
• People already have all the internal resources they need to succeed.
• Multiple descriptions are better than one.
• Meet people in their own unique map of the world.

This seemed like great outlook on life: life is a positive building experience. I from now on adopt those principles into my own life, even though it's theory, I will accept it as real.
Another strange thing about neuro-linguistic programming is how much the sub-conscious works in our thinking process.
If you sail through this and don't worry about going overboard on the details and I ask you to see an image in your mind; what is the most likely thing you'll see? You've got an ocean of possibilities.





Do you see it?
What did you draw in your mind?






This might not work, but just a thought. Re-read my instruction:
If you sail through this and don't worry about going overboard on the details and I ask you to see an image in your mind; what is the most likely thing you'll see? You've got an ocean of possibilities.

The chances of you drawing a boat or something water-related is much higher. You understand? If this worked. Leave me a comment!
Here are some interesting Derren Brown videos:
Derren Brown Youtube

Watch these ones especially:
He puts a gamer into his own game
Gets someone drunk without drinking
Picks up chicks

Enjoy!

A note on Death Note

Death Note: what an amazing series.

It faced me so much questions about morality and justice that I had to rethink my position on this. A kid by the name of Yagami Light is given a notebook by a shinigami (Death God) and in this notebook when a name is written in it, that person will die (if the writer knows the face as of the victim as well). However, there are many more complex rules surrounding the Death Note, the fact remains: you can kill without being directly involved. Yagami Light then decides he will use this Death Note to reap justice on society and become the God of a New World with peace that reigns throughout. He watches the news and picks of the criminals.

A genius unknown detective is then sent in to find Kira (the name given to unknown justice reaper). A cat and mouse game ensues. Now the first question that was brought to my attention is, what is true justice? Can one man go about killing criminals? Can he be the almighty judgement passer? Is this justice?

It was such a morally grey area that I soaked in this wonderful dilemma with each episode. Just like the series Dexter, where a serial killer kills other serial killers. However, what made Death Note different is that it was on much more global scale. This created a fear among people that if they did a crime, they might be killed by Kira. It became a cult so to speak. Now that's where I start to have an objection. When people start being controlled by fear, that's where things start going awry. Just like Christianity were everyone is passed on by divine judgement. Heaven or Hell? I'll take a room with a view please!

In a way to expect a person to pass judgement on other with his subjective morality is actually absurd, yet in Death Note I did not find it that strange. Criminals are bad! They deserve judgement and if that stops more crimes, why not? You see my mind goes into a paradox when thinking about this. Killing for justice! There's the paradox right there. It's like that idiotic rhetorical question, "Can everyone hear me?" and yet people answer "No!".

Do you kill those who kill for justice?

In an ideal world, "No!", but humans being morally ambiguous, subjective and unstable, "Yes!".

Kill me.

Doomsday... Again!

Yes, for centuries, doomsday evangelists has walked the Earth: from the Y2k bug, to the babbling of priests fearing the Anti-Christ and don't forget that - hopefully - future fallacy; 2012. Being as open minded as possible I often fall prey to doomsday conspiracies. Maybe, because I feel I need a deadline to work to my utmost. Seeing as we don't know if life is a punishment or gift, we might as well do the best with it that we can.

So, being the theoretical psychics buff, I found a great a interest in the recent project being built in Switzerland: The Large Hadron Collider. Again, doomsday dudes crept out of the cracks and announced the end of the world in August 2008. A recent article at CNN debunks the fears mostly, but there is a minute chance something catastrophic might happen: from roque particles, to mini blackholes and magnetised monopoles.

The strange thing was that I did not care if the world ended in August. I might not experience Blip Festival or the sweet divinity of fornication, but I could not have cared less. "Why is this?", I tried to ask myself. Is it that the date is so close, that immediately my sub-conscious debunks this myth as false. My survival instincts can not comprehend this.

Alas, I'm not afraid of death either. The workings of the sub-conscious boggles me. However, another intriguing anomaly might arise from the using of the LHC: small wormholes.
In effect, the LHC will become a time machine that creates Year Zero. The first time frame for time travellers to travel back to. You have to ask yourself, if you believe in the single timeline theory, that why are there no people visiting us from the future? (I assume now that time travelling is possible and the future generations found a way to do it and did not die before creating such a machine).
Maybe, just maybe, the LHC could create a minute wormhole for time travellers to use. Imagine when those two atoms hit, travelling at 99% the speed of light, instantly brings new people into this world from the future. Now wouldn't that be funky!?

The true use of the this particle collider is to find out more about lost particles, such as the Higgs Boson, or just plainly researching atoms and quarks at a quantum level, but my imagination wishes for other interesting events. Now we sit back and wait!

One Post Wonder

Natty recently posted a blog about his friend who runs a blog about One Post Wonders. Just like the music world's One Hit Wonders, so the Internet has a cyber friend - albeit a little more personal.

I found the blog very hilarious as one can see where these posts come from. Just like Natty said they are "generally written in some state of unease, ranging from boredom to anger to semi-deranged non-sequitur."
This made me shout in a chorus (yes, I imagine myself having an acapella group shadowing my everyday musings), "I love the Internet" with a slight minor harmony.
You see the Internet not only creates this wonderful opportunity to see into the mind of the average earthling, but also the opportunity to see the weaknesses among the cracks. I'm by no means implying that some people are elitist and superior, but I guess with the advent of the Internet a major part of civilization has been, almost instantly revealed to unsuspecting passers-by. This makes me shudder at the thought of the future, but alas no more musings about shit.

Here are my favourites on the blog:
> stupidiot.blogspot.com
>> Wow, how many times have we wished to express our wishes so boldly. Amazing!
> bigbootyho.blogspot.com
>> Gossip girl? A fine example of verbal diarrhea.
> idiotamerica.blogspot.com
>> I hope that was not intentional!
> herpes.blogspot.com
>> That's what she said.

A Penny for my Thoughts!

I slowly drop a penny into the blog vending machine. I hear it clink and clank down the tubes of the Internet. I press Accept and out comes my life.

"Enjoy it," it said.