Oh some more?

I heard Bradford Cox in an interview say that making music is hard work. That is especially true in the current waters of the downloader freeloader audience. But Deerhunter makes music and Deerhunter works hard and their release of The Rainwater Cassette Exchange has me impressed again. It's clear that as young bloods, they are bursting with ideas, and the fact that they had just released a double LP doens't seem to factor into how much they end up laying down in the studio.

It is an EP and it has 5 songs.

Usually EP's are unworthy deviations from bands but because there is nothing unfocused about Deerhunter, what ends up happening is a tremendously well produced thumbprint of the band's current interests.

Like Flourescent Grey, but in reverse, it is the winding down of a satisfying arrangement of what is so easy to love about them. Cox's vocals are delightful and the bass lines get into your bones and shake you loose.

Doesn't the cover look a bit like Hercules and Love Affair?


Go and buy it, you will not be disappointed.

Part One: Gettin' Messy

I had a conversation with Alex last night which was started by one of the best questions I have been asked in a long time. Feeling pretty beat by the summer, "what are you stoked about?" caught me off guard. Immediately I wanted to say nothing, but instead I quickly realized that I had silently put myself on hold for these hot shiny months, and in fact, I was stoked about something.

Now don't get me wrong, when I read a mammoth manifesto by Denise Gonzales Crisp this summer, I did not understand a word of it, but with the help of one slyly placed question, I'm willing to work it out. Crisp thinks that decoration is due for a reorganization within visual culture and she's doing with her project called The Decorational. Where Crisp is concerned, 'functionality is completed by ornament'.

I want to get messy. I want to know how far ornament can go. To what extent does the decorational extend?

I'm smitten by Yokoland. I'm also thoroughly convinced they are one of the greatest graphic design firms working across the pond. To me they are the cornerstone of low-fi graphics, but it's their patterns that really get me crazy. Espen Friberg is one half of this, and his work carries the same strength.
His work seems to slide back and forth between the thoughtful and naive uses of collage, and mindbending ornament.

You can catch it most in his zine work where textures pile up and rub your eyes. If function and ornament are inextricably tied, then this work is the decorational in the body of a highschool doodle.

Do you know about....?

My sister introduced me to this handy lil' guy earlier this summer.
www.grooveshark.com
you can play virtually any song ever from all over the world. There's only 1 I haven't been able to find and that was from an unsigned band so I guess it makes sense. If you're looking to hear a song without downloading this is the best way. Sometimes the search mechanism can be picky, and it won't fix your spelling errors so you have to know what you're looking for but I've used it so much this summer and maybe it will be useful for you too!
Happy listening

Gothic Axeman: Gregory Coats

When I say Gothic you think Goth.

There shouldn't be such a strong link between some of the most interesting architecture, and some of the silliest uses of make-up to date (well, besides the Scene appeal). I want to disrupt, for the moment, this link in favor of talking about something interesting.

When they teach typography in our program, they usually associate epochs of type with architecture to further reinforce the idea behind the time. The most common being Gothic architecture with the Texturas and Frakturs and later on the Bastardas and finally the Rotundas with Renaissance architecture, primarily brunileschi's Cathedral in Florence.

There is nothing interesting interesting about this primarily, but it is quite interesting when the powerful decorative nuances of Gothic architecture seep into the very marrow of someones work.

When I think Gothic graphic design, Gregory Coats has it. Its lush, its manicured, it has all the graceful marks and decorative appeal of centuries past. Its beautiful.

Summer Music: A Review

If you remember, closer to the beginning of the summer I blogged about summer music. Well this summer is starting to wind down (only a few weeks left!) so I may be doing this a bit early but it's on my mind this morning.
My summer soundtrack is this.

Animal Collective- sleected songs from Merriweather, and Strawberry Jam (favourites Summertime Clothes, My Girls, Brothersport, Fireworks, Purple Bottle)

Cut Copy- ANYTHING from In Ghost Colours (try hearts on fire, light and music)

Phoenix- Amadeus Wolfgang Phoenix was amazing (try listomania, 1901)

Regina Spektor- even though I haven't seen it 500 Days of summer (watch the trailer) inspired this throwback to 2 summers ago with the song Us. Fidelity, on the radio, better, and remember that time are up there too.


Metric- Fantasies is a Real solid album (try sick muse, help I'm alive)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- So mad I didn't get to go to their concert (try heads will roll, hysteric)

I think this summarizes summer music of 2009 for me quite nicely. Of course there are others but these were the ones I turned to again and again.

Do you have any summer anthems?

MMmmmm vintage clothes.

Lately I am really hating stores in malls. They can be ok but... overpriced and unoriginal.

Here are some things I am digging.from Santokivillage on EtsyFrom Le Skinny on Etsy


From VintageETC on Etsy

What do you think? Like any?