photogiraffe

THE NEXT MOVEMENT

2011-03-31T14:33:00.005-07:00

I have some exciting news! I am having a large show in Scottsdale over all of my photography I have done with The Roots. There is a preview show April 21st at The Yucca Tap Room in Tempe. The 5 and 6 Gallery (5and6artspace.com) in Scottsdale will have a soft opening on Cinco de Mayo with an official opening date of May 6th. For the official opening, DJs Darrell D and Skip Skoolnik will be spinning The Roots all evening and there will be drinks and refreshments. There will be an after party with the location TBA.

I asked a painter here if he would collaborate with me and paint ontop of my photos. His name is Adam Dumper, but he goes by Dumperfoo. His work is amazing and I have followed it for years. Not only will he be painting on large prints of my photos, but we are turning the whole gallery from floor to ceiling into a Roots mural. You can read more about Dumperfoo here: http://boomboxknocks.com/dumperfoo/

Over the next month of creating our pieces for the show (approx. 30), I will be documenting the painting process. There will also be extensive documentation of transforming the gallery into a gigantic mural. We started last week by painting one of my Polaroids so I could take pictures for our flyers (this painting is not a part of our show). All of this documentation can be followed on the Facebook page we created (link below).

Tempe Camera (tempecamera.com) has graciously stepped forward to assist us by discounting their services. The Impossible Project (theimpossibleproject.com), creators of an instant film, are sponsoring us with film to help document our journey. Okayplayer (okayplayer.com), Internet home-base for The Roots, will be helping with world wide exposure. Boombox Knocks (boomboxknocks.com) and Coolin' Out Clothing (coolinoutworldwide.com) are also sponsoring.

Is there a way you can help us? There sure is.

Shows are incredibly expensive to put on and we can use all the help we can get in that department. Instead of just asking for a donation, we want to give something back. If you would like to donate, here is what we will do:

$25–$50: You may pick any image from my Flickr page for a signed 5"x5" print. Most of my work is square, but, if your pick isn't square, the largest side will be 5". A link to my Flickr page is below. If you would like one of my "blocks," please let me know and we'll work that out.

$51–$75: You may pick any image from my Flickr page for a signed 10"x10" print (if the image is not square, the largest side will be 10"). The deal with my "blocks" could apply here as well.

$76–$100: You will get one of the limited edition prints from our show. We're choosing our 5 favorite pieces from the show and creating limited edition prints of each one. They will be 16"x16" and printed on professional grade Fuji paper and signed by both of us.

$100+: You get one of the limited edition prints from our show and a choice between a10"x10" print from myself or a 6"x6" painted canvas (with painted edges) from Dumperfoo painted specifically for this project.

We have created a Paypal account for an easy donation process. The e-mail address for that is here:

projectnextmovement@gmail.com

Please specify what you would like in return for your donation. If you'd like a print from me, please include the link from the Flickr page along with your mailing address. Please allow 10–15 business days for shipping due to the print/paint time for a custom order. Shipping is included with your donation.

If you own a business and would like to donate more and are interested in sponsorship, please let me know and we can work out those details.

As another way of saying thanks, I will be creating a nice print to hang at the show with all our donators' names. If you would like, I can also include a site linking your business or portfolio, next to your name.

Another excellent way to help us out is by word of mouth! No matter where you live, please let people know! If you have a blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc., we would love the exposure! We have plans to move to show to LA, Philly, NYC and wherever else it might take us. So, the more hype, the better!

Website roll call:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Next-Movement/199450283422798

Twitter:

"The Next Movement" - https://twitter.com/NextMovementAZ

Sol - https://twitter.com/solexposure

Dumperfoo - https://twitter.com/dumperfoo

Thank you for everything!

Sol & Dumper

Polaroid Type 600 exp. '03

2010-11-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Love this film? So do I. I have decided to let go of 10 boxes (singles, not doubles) of this sweet, funky film. They are $16 a pack and I will ship for $5 in the US (if you are international, just email me or leave a message here and I'll let you know how much for shipping).

UPDATE: Now there are only 5 packs left! Hurry before they are gone!

These babies still need a good home!

2010-10-04T13:01:00.003-07:00

If you are interested in any of the cameras below, feel free to give me an offer. I will also consider trades, especially for film (any kind)! I will throw in a roll or two with the film cameras. Will ship international. Feel free to email me your offer at info@sol-exposure.com or if you have any questions.

1. Diana + w/ lens cap and 6x4.5 adapter

2. Ansco Ready Flash

3. Ansco Flash Clipper w/ original box

4. Polaroid OneStep

5. Polaroid One600

6. Polaroid OneStep Express

7. Polaroid Square Shooter

And as a special treat, 4 single packs of Type 689, expired 10/99. That's 40 exposures. Hard to find and some of the most beautiful effects you've ever seen!

$120 + $10 shipping to anywhere in the US. I will ship international, leave a comment here and I'll let you know how much.

Today Only

2010-07-18T10:59:00.003-07:00

-TOP PHOTO-
5 double packs of Type 600, expired in '04. That's 100 exposures. If you know my work, you know I use this film all the time and it's awesome. Very little expired effects and when they do happen, it's a bonus.

$170 + $10 shipping to anywhere in the US. I will ship international, leave a comment here and I'll let you know how much.

-BOTTOM PHOTO-

4 single packs of Type 689, expired 10/99. That's 40 exposures. Hard to find and some of the most beautiful effects you've ever seen!

$120 + $10 shipping to anywhere in the US. I will ship international, leave a comment here and I'll let you know how much.

I love these films dearly, but it's been a real tough month.

Cameras For Sale

2010-01-12T13:53:00.007-07:00

~~1. Pentona II w/ case. Trioplan 3.5/45 lens~~

2. Diana + w/ lens cap and 6x4.5 adapter.

3. Ansco Ready Flash

~~4. Kodak Brownie Flash Six-20~~

5. Ansco Flash Clipper w/ original box.

~~6. Kodak Duaflex IV w/ original box, flash and close up lens.~~

7. Polaroid One600

8. Polaroid OneStep Express

9. Polaroid OneStep

10. Polaroid Time Zero OneStep (black)

11. Polaroid OneStep (white, takes Time Zero film or film with ND filter)

12. Polaroid Square Shooter

~~13. Polaroid Colorpack II~~

Holiday Special/Way to Give Thanks

2009-11-17T15:30:00.004-07:00

Although I try to give my praises and say my thank yous year round, this seems to be the time of the year to give gifts. I am offering a super special BUY-1-GET-1-FREE deal as a way to say thank you to all the people that enjoy my work. That way, you can buy a print for a friend or loved one and pick out one for yourself :)

Anything on my Flickr stream is available (as long as it's a printable file, which most photos are).

For an 8x10, 8x8 or 10x10 in matte or glossy it is $75. If you would like a giclée print, it's $100. The free print will be 8x10, 8x8 or 10x10 in matte or glossy (if you would also like this as a giclée, we can work it out). All prints are done at a local professional shop that I use quite frequently because their work is of the highest caliber.

I also am offering custom Polaroid lifts or transfers, please email me at info@sol-exposure.com if this is something you are interested in. The BUY-1-GET-1-FREE deal applies.

Shipping within the U.S. is $10 and shipping outside the U.S. is $15.

This special runs from now till Dec. 31, 2009.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my work!!

Vinyl Listening on 08.22.09

2009-08-22T14:18:00.035-07:00

It's been a long time since we've actually blogged about what we've been listening to. We have been pretty good about meeting up online and picking out records for each other at least once a week though. Just bad about blogging about it. That won't be the case today!

Steven's #1: Bong-Ra - Colony of Electric Machines (Vinalogica, 2005)

Dutch breakcore DJ and hardcore junglist ear damager Bong-Ra is usually responsible for tracks of exquisite thunderous noise and Amen break tomfoolery galore. However this 12'' was commissioned by the Center for Electronic Music in Amsterdam, who encouraged the shuddering sound scamp to muck about solely with the vintage analogue equipment they had in their studios. The result is four tracks of a more sinister, moody abstract wash of noise and menacing low-end bassy warblings, rather than the regular manic drilled drum assault he is more famed for producing. It's kind of like his usual breakcore madness, only trapped inside a big sonic jelly and made all sludgy and wobbly and squelchy. Pretty damn pleasant really and a far nicer way to start a relaxed Saturday evening than i was expecting.

Sol's #1: African Roots - Act III - Strictly Dub (Wackies, 1983)

Excellent way to start of my Saturday. I have all three acts, but have never actually gave them a good listen. This LP has an excellent line up with Jackie Mittoo on keys and Sugar Minott as the "dub voice" on a few of the tracks. Minott also co-produced the album. "Stay On Dub" really stuck out for me.

Steven's #2: Grouch & Eligh - No More Greener Grass b/w Picture This (Up Above, 2004)

Another 12'' picked for me by Sol and another which i had yet to listen to. Living Legends, The Grouch & Eligh, ganging up with Good Life Cafe alumni Pigeon John for some real laidback, soulful fine hip hop on the title track. Extra pleasant production and super nice rappish flows makes for a most lovelisome listen.

Sol's #2: Sound Providers - Street Keys b/w Apples (Quarternote/ABB, 2000)

Both tracks are instrumental goodness. I think this must have been a freebie sent when I ordered An Evening With the Sound Providers through UGHH.com. Good lookin' out UGHH! I haven't ordered from them in a long while, but when I did regularly, I remember they were always throwing promotional items in with your order.

Sol's #3: Lusine - Emerald EP (Ghostly International, 2006)

I discovered Lusine in 2007 when Podgelism released, which is a remix album for Serial Podgelism (2004). There are some great remixes on there, and if I remember correctly, I was first attracted to the album by seeing that Matthew Dear did one of them. Unfortunately, that remix is not on this EP. Still a great, chill spin though.

Steven's #3: Astronautalis - You and Yer Good Ideas (Fighting, 2005)

I am a huge big fan of Astronautalis, so kudos and love to Sol and her rekkid selecting ways for picking this double LP out for me. This is his first full length release wondrously well produced with the aid of Radical Face (one half of the Morr Music electronica duo Electric President) - hip hoppish story-telling over delicate electronicky sounds and foot slappingly fine beats makes for a happy listener.
Spilling a pint glass of water over a nearby stash of listened to records because you are a clumsy footed, ale supping oaf however can put a serious dampener on such happy listenings.
A very damp dampener.
Silly flapping narrow feet, booze, small bedrooms, record sleeves and water do not go well together.
Harrumph.

Sol's #4: V/A - Motown Love Songs/Motown Dance! (RCA, 1984)

This double LP comp was and IS a DJ's dream and for some reason, my copy has never been played. Things I'm not afraid to admit, I skipped over Endless Love and almost cried during Never Can Say Goodbye.

Steven's #4: Mr. Cooper - Amongst Strangers (HHV.de/Project Mooncircle, 2006)

The puddle in my bedroom has now been soaked up. Mostly by my records sadly. It is late and i am sleepy. So this next record choice better be something fine...
And it is.
This is Mr. Cooper's first solo release (he's a UK producer and previously had conspired with a rapper called Sketch as Mummy Fortuna's Theatre Company on Lex records and then combined with Legs MC as Amateur Dramatics). It's a blend of sampling, some live instrumentation and a whole lot of computer jiggery-pokery, all combining to a most satisfying and soggy man cheering up instrumental hip hop whole. It's on Project Mooncircle, a label who continually put out the good fine stuff, and comes most highly recommended.

Sol's #5: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Butt of Course... (Atlantic, 1974)

Besides the incredible artwork, this album is a good funk find. Although, I found the switch between the funky, nasty Bertha Butt Boogie to the sappy, almost rock ballad One Precious Word to be...interesting. Then, to my surprise, they do a slightly calypso, sitar laced, instrumental cover of Elton John's Daniel. I love that song and the cover wasn't horrible.

Steven's #5: Lab Waste - Can I Get It How You Live? (Ooohh! That's Heavy, 2008)

Last vinyl spin of the night for me, since it is fast approaching 3 of the bleary eyed morning clock and i'm still all sore and irked about my watery fumblings.
Ooohh! That's Heavy is a little 'vinyl only' record label specialising in limited runs of picture discs. This particular 7'', by Lab Waste (a hip hop duo consisting of the ludicrously talented and awesome Thavius Beck and Giovanni Marks), was one of a run of 500. The record was produced jointly with Vulgar Records, a similarly small and lovely record label based in Montpellier, France.
The music lurking on the 7'' more than lives up to Almyum's fine painty art sported on the front and rear of the disc. Skittish beats and angular electronic melodies coupled with Thav and Gio's usual slightly abstract wordy delivery. Pretty damn sweet.

Sol's #6: David Bowie - Tonight (EMI, 1984)

I know absolutely nothing about this album. Allmusic.com categorized this as "Blue-Eyed Soul" and "Sophisti-Pop". Those are two terms I hope to live out the rest of my life and never hear again. So far, the album has gone disastrously downhill from the first track, which wasn't bad, Loving the Alien. I can never forgive Bowie's horrible rendition of The Beach Boys God Only Knows. Never.

Sol's #7: Bobby Blue Bland - His California Album (ABC, 1973)

Love this album and know it well. This was one of the first records I purchased for myself. The sleeve is dingy and falling apart but the record is in great shape, so until I find a cleaner copy, this'll do just fine. Highlights are This Time I'm Gone For Good, his cover of Luther Ingram's (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right and Where Baby Went (great horns in this track).

Super block!

2009-04-24T13:08:00.003-07:00

Block 68:

This is my biggest block that I have made to date. It is 6" x 16.25". The block is $45 with $5 shipping anywhere in the US. I will ship international, just email me first or leave a comment here and I can let you know how much. You can see my other blocks available here, where prices vary from $15 to $30. I do combined shipping.

Framed photos for sale pt. I

2009-04-22T17:12:00.005-07:00

I have a few framed photos that were made for a show that isn't up anymore. I like to have work not by me hanging in my living area so, these are for sale.

$80 each. $10 for shipping within the US. I will ship international, just email or leave a comment here for where to and I can tell you how much.

The frames are 10"x10" and the inside image is 4.5"x4.5". They are 1.75" thick. The prints were made on Epson archival grade paper with Epson inks on a professional Epson printer. Signed on the mattes.

Both images were taken in Bisbee, AZ. Here are both images:

Soon I will be selling a few framed concert photos, stay tuned.

Putting A Harness On Young Sol

2009-03-04T18:10:00.017-07:00

The science guys, from every clime,

They all pitched in with overtime.
Before they knew it, the job was done;
They'd hitched up the power of the gosh-darn sun,
They put a harness on Old Sol,
Splittin' atoms, while the diplomats was splittin' hairs...

(Excerpt from Old Man Atom by Vern Partlow)

Taking the sterling atom-splitting work of those science guys as a guide i have strapped down, gagged and thoroughly harnessed up Young Sol.

Disappointingly she hasn't unleashed any hitherto untapped and boundless energy though.
Instead she is pretty inert.

So inert that it now behoves me, in her well harnessed incapacity, to weave a web of meandering sentences together and to continue this here blog thing for her.

Horrorshow.

Advanced apologies, to anyone fool enough to continue reading, for the woeful cobbling together of semi-coherent inane jibber-jabber i will now, doubtless, spew out.

Sorry.

Anyways, here goes...

Friday night and, in lieu of having an actual social life, i am shivering in my bedroom, cursing the foul chilly English weather and hoping that a randomly chosen platter of wax might warm the cockles of my heart. And, indeed, the cockles of my entire frosty body.

I got a whole lot of cockles what need a-warming.

And warmed they are, for Hilary has directed me to a delightful double LP on the Equinox Record Label.

One Year & A Day - A Sound Exposure Vol. 2.

Equinox is a record label run and founded by German DJ, DJ Scientist. This is the second full length release on the label and features a whole host of different artists blurting out a raft of different sounds (all loosely held together with a core of hip hoppish beats and electronicky noodlings). If you shuffle on over to his MySpace page you can endear yourself to your ears no end by copping a listen to the promo mix of the album.

Hilary's first hunt unearthed a surprising treat.

Blue Riddim Band - (unititled?)

A well manicured, yet surprised, eyebrow was raised by Hilary because the makers of the sweet reggae music, emanating from the record, happened to be from Kansas City. Right down the road from where she is from.

How their existence had eluded her for so long, she knows not. But she is most glad to have found them now.

Click away and hear for yourself the surprisingly fine sounds of Kansas City reggae.

Whilst i continued to shimmy shammy about on my bony behind, listening to the 2LP of beaty goodness, Sol was sent into her record stash to unearth a second melodic morsel.

This time she returned chomping at the bit of a copy of the Brother Ali - Champion Remix 12''.

A twelve inch she declared as being 'the perfect vinyl single'. Three of her favorite tracks from the Champion EP. Well worth the pennies spent in buying it.

And still my original choice rumbled on.

Forcing Miss Allen back into a box of vinyl to try to mine another sonic nugget.

And she struck gold.

Continuing with the theme of talented white fellas making music, next up came the El Michels Affair and their LP, Sounding Out The City. According to Miss Allen, Todd Simon (the trumpeter of the Affair) is a nice dude. And most mightily talented to boot. More than recommendation enough for me to put this record on my wish list.

Sashay over here: truthandsoulrecords.com/el-michels to find out a little bit more about this funkisome collaboration of soulful types.

Finally Dj Scientist and friends released their magical musical grip on my foolish flappy ears and i was free to delve into the vinyl pile again.

Having delved, and delved well, i emerged triumphantly gripping a copy of The Bug's Dem A Bomb We featuring Warrior Queen on jukeboxy style 45.

The Bug is producer Kevin Martin. He has been using his insectoid moniker to release a steady stream of crunchy, dirty, noisy ragga/dancehall for a while now. Previously he has made similarly abrassive sounds as Techno-Animal (industrial noisy hip-hop) and God (industrial noisy industrial metal music) with Justin Broadrick. Young Sol is fond of Mr. Broadrick. I am fond of Mr. Martin. Yet neither of us have heard any God and i've only copped a very brief listen to some Techno-Animal far away in the dim and distant past. I suspect we will both try to remedy this musical oversight and endeavor to discover exactly what kind of sound the two crunchy sound making misters make together.

With the El Michel's Affair still beguiling her ears, i got a chance to grab another record.

One of my all time favorite artists, Caetano Veloso with his Transa album.

This album was Caetano's third (and final) recording made whilst being exiled in London for a couple of years. The album blends Brazilian Tropicalia with the rock'n'roll of London, with lyrics in English and Portuguese. All coming together delightfully and allowing Caetano to express all the home sickness and nostalgia he felt for his beloved and lost Brazil. It is a really fine album.
Check out the first track on the album 'You Don't Know Me'.

Having had her mind well and truly blown by the awesome second side of the El Michels Affair LP, Suttree's Adoptive Mother needed new listenings.

And these new listenings were again of the talented white guy variety.

A limited promotional 7''...Thrash Unreal b/w You Must Be Willing by the Florida punk band Against Me! lifted from their 4th album, New Wave.

The flea-bitten Adoptive Mother proclaimed herself satisfied with the 45, in particular the flip side.

Rattling through their punky songs double quick, as those speedy guitar playing punk types are prone to, meant Rabbit Lovin' Hilary required another record.

This finally brought to an end the run of white boy music...landing a Jimmy McGriff record, Countdown, from 1983 on her lap.

This was the Hammond organ playing soul-jazzman's first record on Milestone. Rabbit Fan Hilary found it maybe a little too 80's sounding in places but still considered it a solid date. Strong sax apparently.

Yeah.

SAX, baby.

It was at this point that things started to get a little weird.

Whilst sharing sounds with each other we tend to witter a whole lot. Ocassionally this wittering slips, shamelessly, into woefully inept double entendre making foolery.

After mentioning sax, strong sax at that, we engaged in a duel of such word nerdery.

All well and good...except...as we linguistically cavorted, Jimmy McGriff decided to play a tune called 'Blow Your Own Horn', thereby completely whooping us both at our own game.

The swine.

And then my next record selection came up...

Spankrock - Put That Pussy On Me b/w The Sr Yeah Megamix (Money Studios, 2005).

Big booty Baltimore party sounds in a 2 Live Crew style...with big booty on the cover.

Was the vinyl trying to join in with our frivolous banter?

Quite possibly, it seemed.

Saxy Sol's next choice unearthed a gritty, funky, bluesy LP.

Nothing obviously saucy going on with Howlin' Wolf's The Howlin' Wolf Album (Chess, 1969). As you can probably tell from the photo of the cover, Howlin' wasn't overly fond of this particular record. However Horn Blower Hilary is pretty fond of it.

She was also fond of the track names, as she demonstrated with her next message to me...

'while you are Down In the Bottom with your spankrock album, i'm going to let in my Back Door Man who happens to be Three Hundred Pounds of Joy. he's gonna give me the Evil, Red Rooster which is Built For Comfort and i'm going to be Moanin' At Midnight'

Yeah, the records are definitely trying to join in.

Cheeky bastards.

Having recovered from the intrusive behaviour of our records, it was time for me to grab something new to listen to.

And it was actually something new, since i hadn't played the record before.

Sixtoo feat. Damo Suzuki - Boxcutter Emporium b/w Storm Clouds & Silver Linings (Ninja Tune, 2004)

The tracks are from Sixtoo's album Chewing on Glass and Other Miracle Cures, which i have listened to many times. So there was nothing new to listen to really. However i am always happy to listen to some Sixtoo and always enjoy the freeform, improvised yammerings of Damo Suzuki (best known for his time as singer with the krautrock band Can). A most pleasing listen.

Howlin' Wolf was still howling, leaving me to change records alone.

I was directed towards another 12''.

Antennae - Water (Botanica Del Jibaro, 2005)

More politically and socially conscious hip hop from the Botanica Del Jibaro label - deep, melodic and funky. As with most of the releases on this label, highly recommended.

It was starting to get late and i was staring to get hungry.

So i sidled off to the refridgerator to see what i could find for my rumbling belly.

I found an egg.

One egg.

Misery and woe.

Unfortunately this is a common occurence. Being an impoverished, unskilled and inept warehouse worker both my wallet and my cupboards are regularly bare.

Any food parcels anyone might want to put together will be gratefully received. Feel free to slather any such foody produce with terrible poisons to avenge your poor eyes for having to wade through all this awful, stuttering prose. I don't mind. Just as long as i have something to eat.

Damn, i'm hungry.

Meanwhile Howlin' Wolf had now quit hollering.

Leaving Hilary to holler for a new record choice alone.

One random selection later and a highly contented Hilary expressed her delight at the choice, exclaming that she had been wanting to listen to the album forever.

Della Reese - Black Is Beautiful (1970, Avco Embassy)

Now i had never heard of Della before. A quick internetty search revealed that she is mostly famous for starring in a schmalzy, overly emotional sounding television series 'Touched By An Angel'.

However before she starred in this heart-warming, inspirational televisual monstrosity, she began her career as a gospel and then a jazz singer. The album Black Is Beautiful marked something of a departure from her musical roots being a more funky and soulful affair.

It also has a cover of a Gene McDaniels song. Gene McDaniels was a singer and songwriter who wrote a whole lot of socially and politically conscious songs. Check out his two albums on Atlantic Records, Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse and Outlaw, if you get a chance. Good stuff.

Anyways the song covered by Della on her album is the protest song, Compared To What. And what many consider the definitive version of this song is on an album i got to listen to the last time we played this vinyl playing game, Les McCann & Eddie Harris's Swiss Movement.

Once again our record collections are proving to be companion sets.

As for Della's version of the song and the rest of the album, Hollerin' Hilary considers it really uplifting and fine. Such praise and the fact that Compared To What is on the album has prompted me to order a copy of the album for myself.

This game is fun...fun and financially crippling.

I needed something new to listen to, so the Cackling Harridan Hilary decided to send me on an arduous vinyl safari and demanded that i count 4,987 records in from the right of my record stack. Okay, so it was only 52 in from the right. But it was late by now. I was tired. I am old. It felt like i was counting to 4,987. And probably took as long.

Once again the records seemed to be trying to toy with us.

I returned from my safari with a record with animals all over the front cover...

Isan - Clockwork Menagerie (2LP, with bonus 7'', on Morr Music from 2002).

This 2LP is a collection of earlier, rare and hard to get hold of tracks released by a fledging Isan (who are an English electronic duo...by which i mean they are a duo who create electronic music rather than the hybrid electricity-human creation of some mad English scientist).

I'm not really a huge fan of Isan. I was initially intrigued by what sounds they might make given that the duo don't actually physically work together but, rather, live miles apart and communicate their musical ideas by post and the internet. However most of what i have heard from them has been a little too twee and cosy, pop-electronica for my liking. But this is an interesting insight into an earlier incarnation with them melding the familiar poppy melodies of Isan with a little sprinkling of experimental electronic jiggery-pokery. All in all not a bad listen.

With the soulful songstress Della running out of steam, Shuffling Sol needed to be sent shuffling about her home again in search of something new to listen to.

She returned, a short shuffle later, with a record by the dead sexy Carly Simon. No Secrets, released in 1972 on Elektra.

This was Carly's third album, ably produced by super-able super-producer Richard Perry (one of the most ridiculously sucessful producers in music history). The album contains her hit single, You're So Vain.

A song i have loathed for a good, long time. Probably because of the interminable number of times i have had to hear it playing on radios.

The No Longer Shuffling But Contentedly Swaying And Singing Sol assured me that it is, in fact, a very fine album with instrumental values which she considered way ahead of their time. Probably in no small part due to the aforementioned super-producer and the host of talented musicians gathered together to perform on the album. All held together by Carly Simon's own inimitable voice.

So maybe i'll try to quell my revulsion of You're So Vain and listen to this album some day.

With the not entirely unpleasant electrical warblings of Isan still floating from my speakers, it was Madam Allen who once again had to dig into a crate.

And she did dig out a companion safari album for my Clockwork Menagerie.

Sonny Fortune - Serengeti Minstrel (1977, Atlantic)

Post-bop, funky jazz stylings from the Philadelphian saxophonist which Madam Allen appreciated and, doubtless, bopped to good and hard.

Whilst the post-bop bopping continued apace, the more gentler sounds of Isan had come to a finish.

Leaving me in need of a new pick.

And the new pick laid the ground work for the scary culmination of the evening's impossibly freaky, weird record coincidences.

Hilary directed me to the record 2 UP in the second vertical stack. Teasing me with her choice of easily accesible stack and then forcing me to have to dig down to the bottom of the darn thing.

Yes. The bottom.

The round, juicy bottom.

We weren't about to let any bottom get by us without a comment.

So as i rummaged about the round, juicy ass of my vinyl stack, Hilary's last record came to end and she requested further listenings.

Distracted by the thoughts of bottoms and my own late-night empty stomach (for yes, i was now hankering for a midnight snack something rotten), i directed Hilary to a crate and finally freed up my choice.

Capital D - Enough Already b/w Vent (All Natural Inc, 2004).

A couple of tunes and instrumentals from Cap D's 2004 solo release, Insomnia.

Capital D is the rapper from the Hip Hop duo All Natural. The other half being DJ Tone B. Nimble. They hail from Chicago and if you don't own anything by All Natural you need to remedy that situation with uncommon haste. Easily one of my all time favorite rappers, you really can't go wrong when Capital D is on the mic.

Whilst i was happily rocking out to Enough Already, allowing Capital D's flow to distract me from the hunger gnawing at my insides and further thoughts of bottoms, a big, bad HOLY SHIT of an exclamation exploded onto my computer screen. Blurted out by the usually demure and relaxed but now Fully Freaked Out Fraulein Allen.

Quivering with nervous anticipation i awaited her next email and the terrifying photograph it apparently contained...

Wildman Steve - Midnight Snack (Raw Records, date unknown)

Juicy round bottoms?

Check.

Midnight snack?

Check.

Wildman...Steve?

Check.

Mate.

Yikes.

Apart from being the terrifying results of some black vinyl magic conjuration, mucking about with our delicate minds and cast by some tricksome and capricious vinyl-game playing prankster deity, the Wildman Steve record is a comedy record. In much the same vein as Rudy Ray Moore or Richard Pryor. Only spoken, according to the still mostly terrified and gibbering Hilary, in an intense yelling southern preacher style.

But with gags like:

"i've never heard of a good war...

...but i have heard of a good piece."

I think i could handle the intense delivery.

Hilary could not and decided to listen to only the first side.

Leaving us both needing new choices and possibly some kind of anti-black magic amulets to protect us from further worrisome record grabbing coincidences.

Fortuitously the next pair of choices were bereft of more terrors.

Instead i ended up with another hip hop 12''.

Insight - Seventeen MCs b/w Visual Audio (Brick Records, 2005)

Insight is the MC from Y-Society. The vinyl game had previously unearthed their deput LP for me to listen to. This 12'' has Insight producing and rapping. Seventeen MCs, taken from his LP Blast Radius, is Insight showing off and adopting 17 different styles and personas for the track.

Check it out yourself.

Hilary emerged from her vinyl induced catatonic state with a Depeche Mode LP, Black Celebration.

Usually i would expect the dull, samey sounds of Depeche Mode to lull anyone, fool enough to listen to them, into a catatonic state. But it seems the reverse happened this time.

Neither Miss Allen nor i are really fans of Depeche Mode.

But after grabbing a traumatic voodoo comedy record which revealed my life and thoughts on it's malevolent cover, it seems Hilary's brain was numb enough to appreciate their gloomy, maudlin tones.

She even went as far as to claim the record wasn't bothering her and that it was quite likeable.

Damn you, foul god of black magic vinyl. You've gone and frazzled poor Hilary's brain.

Irked and disturbed by this ghastly turn of events i decided i needed one final record for the evening.

Preferably something noisy and loud to banish the demonic vinyl and any lingering thoughts of Depeche Mode from my mind for good.

Result!

Violent Onsen Geisha - Balloon Collector In The Wilderness (Who Is Totally Naked) b/w Real Wild Thing (Japan Overseas, 1995)

Violent Onsen Geisha is Masaya Nakahara and he makes noise. And plenty of it.

He is part of the Japanese noise music scene. His take on the music, though, tends to be a little more whimsical and downright silly than most other noise artists.

You can check out the flip side of this 7'', Real Wild Thing

Whilst i was being slightly bemused by the splenetic version of Wild Thing my ears were being assailed by, Hilary had finished with Depeche Mode and required one last record for the evening as well.

Kool And The Gang - Ladies Night

Pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum to my Japanese Noise 7''...some disco tinged funk from Kool And The Gang.

A super smooth sonic rejoinder to the skittish, jarring roughness of Violent Onsen Geisha.

Possibly because of the lengthy vinyl listening session we were coming to end of...or because of that darn accursed Wildman Steve record...Hilary ended up not feeling quite as pumped as Kool And The Gang seemed to be trying to make her feel.

I was flagging a whole bunch too.

So, with yawns aplenty from me and mutterings about scary record selections from Hilary, we decided to part ways.

A new kind of Block

2009-03-01T03:06:00.007-07:00

If you are a Flickr contact, you know about my blocks. What you may not have known is that they are for sale and pretty darn cheap. $15 for the 6x6's (most of them). The larger ones aren't that much more. Well, I've made a new kind of block. It's a Polaroid on top of a Polaroid. A Polaroid emulsion lift on top of a blank Type 600. Now these will be a bit more, since they are a bit more work and doubling up on the magic that is Polaroid. These are $30 and also 6x6. Shipping is super cheap and if you buy more than one, it gets even cheaper.

Here is the first of the new kind of Block:

Here is a link to the other blocks that are available. You can leave a comment here if you are interested, leaving a way to contact you.

Tuesday Heartbreak

2009-02-17T23:56:00.017-07:00

Title refers to the Stevie Wonder song that I was just exposed to the other night, thanks to the vinyl game. It continues tonight!

Foreigner's Agent Provocateur was up first for me. I thought, "is today a good day for Foreigner?" and that was quickly followed with, "don't be an idjit. EVERYDAY is Foreigner day." Side hip thrusts for Agent Provocateur!

Here is Steven, looking slightly disheveled with this new 7" from Ceschi with Count On It.

I had a huge change up with Redd Foxx's You Gotta Wash Your Ass. Timeless.

Steven got Push Button Objects' 360 Degrees Remix from Prefuse 73. I actually have this too. Go us!

I got Paquito D'Rivera next, with Live At Keystone Korner. He is a Cuban saxophonist that I have never listened to until now. Very good, but I wasn't in a bebop jazz mood today, so I didn't listen to the whole thing. Most of it though! I will save it for a later date.

Steven got real lucky with this next 12", Cyne-Running Water. It has remixes by Four Tet and Floyd the Locsmif, two artists I enjoy very much.

The Spinners were up next for me with Yesterday Today & Tomorrow. I was definitely not in the mood to hear sappy love songs (80's love ballads by Foreigner, yes) so I had very little patience with this. Although I enjoy Honey, I'm in Love With You and You're Throwing A Good Love Away, I think I can trade this album. It's driving me crazy that I can't remember who sampled the beginning of You're Throwing A Good Love Away, it's right on the tip of my tongue...grr! I will probably wake up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, shouting it. Don't worry, I will make an edit.

3 record LP up next for Steven, DJ Shortee-The Dreamer from Bomb Hip Hop Records.

A 45 was next for me, Creedence Clearwater Revival with Bad Moon Rising and Lodi on the flip. Is there ever a time that this song isn't amazing?

Since Steven got caught up with his 3 LP, I got to go hunting again. The Persuasions-Street Corner Symphony. This was one of my first records I bought and I haven't listened to it in years. The cover of The Man in Me is so excellent. I found out today that Frank Zappa was responsible for their first album being recorded. Reason why Frank Zappa is cool #183. Love this cover photo, which is by Ron St. Claire, who I can't find a single thing about on the world wide internets. Damn.

Finally, Steven's hip hop vinyl was done, so he got to move on to some amazing jazz. He lucked out with Les McCann & Eddie Harris with Swiss Movement.

I got a rare 10" next, Boss Hog-Girl+ EP. Boss Hog is Jon Spencer and his super sexy wife, Cristina Martinez. This came in a crate of practically near mint records I bought all at once. There are a ton of things in there that I plan on selling on ebay. This is one of them, although, it was pretty good.

One of my favorite hip hop/electronic artists is Steven's next pick, Alias w/ Marcus Archer-Unseen Sights.

I got some more jazz with Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport. There is a damn sweet photo on the back that I just had to scan. After some diddling in PS, it's now a new banner for my site. Thank you Mr. Brubeck!

I just want to see the photos those cameras took. man. The caption under the photo says, "The First Camera Quartet".

Steven got to get funky before he went to bed with Charles Earland-Black Talk!

My last pick was the soulful Esther Phillips with Performance. INCREDIBLE! I actually listened to it twice, and I'll probably listen to it a third time before I put it back. I really hope I have more Esther Phillips in my collection.

sunday kind of love

2009-02-17T11:03:00.010-07:00

Vinyl love. Maybe not the best kind of love, but a damn good kind. Our vinyl hunt continues on a Sunday evening.

Steven got real creative with my first hunt, picking crate 1, record 1, which led me to Johnny Cash-Bitter Tears. I forgot how weird the song White Girl was, and how Cash imitating an Native American chant sounds a bit like Bing Crosby attempting the same. However, still a fine record for a Sunday afternoon.

My first hunt for Steven sent him to a more hip hop response, landing him with Y Society's Travel At Your Own Pace. Y Society is made of Insight and Damu the Fudgemunk.Speaking of white girls in my last pick, on my second hunt, there is the whitest of white girls on the cover, Wes Montgomery's California Dreaming, Verve, 1966. I really enjoy Wes's interpretation of California Dreaming, and on the second side, there is some wonderful improv. Montgomery and Green are probably my two favorite jazz guitarists, so this was a nice listen.Speaking of improv, for Steven's next pick, he got the Argentine experimental noise trio, Reynolds with Deportation Symphony. This is written on the back of the release, "On March 9th 2003 we were denied entry into the United Kingdom. This piece was conceived during the six hours of detention preceding the deportation. We made this music playing only photocopies of the papers given to us by the UK Immigration Services. We are very sad that because of absurd politics, the British people was denied to enjoy our music. However, spiritually we did play in UK. Music can never be deported." Notice how Steven threw in a copy of Cormac McCarthy's Suttree to even up our pictures content. Next up for me was a 45 of Stevie Wonder with You Are the Sunshine of My Life with Tuesday Heartbreak on the flip. I swear I just happened to be wearing this obnoxiously yellow shirt.This next pick for Steven proves that he has much more eccentric records than me. An alias of Otto Von Shirach, DocNuke.com with Petroleum G-String. Check it out, it comes with a latex glove! This was released on Beta Bodega Records, which is the mother label of Botanica Del Jibaro. Have fun with that Steven, but not too much fun.Up next for me is another 1966 release, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass with What Now My Love. Although this record is good, I have quite a bit of ol' Herb and this will make it's way across the ocean to Steven's collection. Steven's final pick for the night was another hip hop goodie, the 1986 album, Just-Ice-Back to the Old School. Not just a clever name, DMX has definitely been served a big heaping of Just-Ice lately here in the desert. My final pick for the night was The Beatles-Hey Jude 45 (Revolution on the flip), in the original Apple sleeve! Added bonus, conveniently placed cleavage hole.

saturday vinyl hunting

2009-02-14T20:29:00.005-07:00

Here we are again, vinyl hunting in our own rooms. Sure, we're not going to be adding to our collection or nerding it out with fellow diggers, but this way is a lot cheaper and it's fun finding something you thought you didn't have. And you, yes you there, can nerd out with us. Just send me a picture of how your vinyl is stored and we'll get you hunting in no time! Share your results, make us jealous!

Steven's first rummage brought him to this fine release from Diplo back in '05, Hollertronix #3. I don't have it in my collection, but I damn near should. I have slacked on my Diplo vinyl, just barely being able to pick up the I Like Turtles mix.

Steven made me go digging in my 45s, about a quarter of which are promos from my time spent working in record stores. Interpol-The Heinrich Maneuver with Mammoth Instrumental on the flip side. This is from the '07 album, Our Love to Admire. I'm not the biggest Interpol fan, but if you are and want to purchase this (or trade!), then send me an email or leave a comment with contact info.

Steven made a nice transition with his second find, the dubby '08 release, Skream-Midnight Request Line.

One of my favorite trumpeters, Hugh Masekela was up next for me. A '67 release, Hugh Masekela's Latest. Side 2 was much more enjoyable to me, for it had more instrumentals, although it was a bit samba-ish.

One of my favorite current LA artists is Steven's 3rd find. The extremely talented Aloe Blacc with Dance For Life from Stones Throw. I'm pretty sure I have this somewhere, but, if I don't, I need it.

Hot Chocolate - Man on Man is probably the most ambiguously gay title I've ever heard, regardless, it was the next thing I listened to. I now want "Heaven Is In the Back Seat of My Cadillac" on a shirt. And I want it now.

Steven also got a chance to get his groove on with the 1988 12" T La Rock-Flow With the New Style.

A 12" was also up next for me with the Canadian hip hop duo, Swollen Members with Lady Venom. I think I had plans for this instrumental at one point in time, but I don't anymore. This goes in the "to trade" stack. Or, like I said above, you can let me know if you are interested in it.

Steven's next pick was also from a Canadian hip hop duo, Bending Mouth with The E.P.. Thesis Sahib and Self Help make up Bending Mouth and this EP was released on Vulgar Records back in '04.

I really lucked out with the 5th album Steven sent me hunting for. George Benson with Body Talk. It was arranged and conducted by Pee Wee Ellis of James Brown fame. Earl Klugh is the other guitarist and everything all together makes this a great album. Also, if you know my photography, you know I love the cover! A weird little fact is that Pee Wee Ellis now resides in the county of Somerset, just like Steven! See, this game is fun :)

Steven wasn't as lucky with his next pick, Lenny White with Venusian Summer. Apparently, he wasn't too fond of it. Time to trade!

Luck was with me again when Steven made me go find Ray Bryant's Me and the Blues, from 1974. This is a double vinyl and has beautiful instrumentals of your favorite blues songs. Quite a moving pianist. His rendition of Angel Eyes almost brought me to tears and deserved a second listen.

Up next for Steven is a 12" from Shockout, a sublabel of a label I have been fond of for years, Tigerbeat 6. Tracks are versions of Buckle Up by Wayne Lonesome made by The Bug and Kid606. Makes me want to go dig up some of my Kid606.

And since my double LP from above has been playing for a looong time, Steven is up with his next pick, Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns with A Blow For Me, A Toot For You. So, not only was it a bit weird that Pee Wee Ellis now lives in Somerset, but Steven goes and randomly picks out another JB allstar. Are our hunting patterns not so random afterall? Strange.

we cheer each other up

2009-02-13T23:09:00.003-07:00

A long time aural appreciating friend and I have gone hunting in our record collections. Now, we have never been in each other's rooms (him living in Britland and me living in the desert), so we have sent each other pictures of the lay out of our record collections. Here is his room (I do not condone the act of stacking vinyl vertically, but he is space challenged, so I will let it slide, THIS ONCE):Here is my bedroom, and then I have some vinyl that has migrated to the office/studio/guest room:

We have designated numbers to the stacks/crates and we tell each other what to go hunting for. For example, Steven will tell me to go to Crate 5, 12 records in from the left.

Steven's first hunt landed him with TTC - Danser EP from Big Dada, nice!!

My first hunt landed me with the classic vinyl that you should be able to find in any good record store, Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits.

Now the deal is we have to listen to at least 1 track from each side, if not the whole record. I started the process of trying to hone my vinyl collection awhile ago and have been extremely unsuccessful. This lil' game of ours should help that out. Now, although this is a Greatest Hits, the vinyl is mint, and let's face it, I think this is kind of a must have vinyl, if you don't have all, ALL, of his albums on vinyl. I, unfortunately, do not.

Steven's second hunt brought him to Greenhouse Effect VS. Radiohead vinyl. It's pretty. Anyone know what Blueprint has been up to lately?

My second efforts uncovered my second favorite female vocalist, Rickie Lee Jones and her self titled album. Probably her most popular song, Chuck E.'s In Love starts off the album and continues in greatness all the way through. This album is definitely not leaving my collection.

Steven had to open up his 3rd pick, a 12" from Evolver-State of the Union from the label, Botanica Del Jibaro.

My 3rd pick was a perfect choice to end this week with, the late, great J Dilla and his Shining Instrumentals double LP. Rest In Power Dilla, we miss you. If you haven't downloaded it yet, make sure to get the Suite For Ma Dukes EP from Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on iTunes. All proceeds go to Ma Dukes, and it is quite beautiful.

Up next for Steven, is the 3 LP Hello Everything from Squarepusher. Lucky bastard.

I had quite a change up in the 4th round, TSOL's Change Today? LP. The copy I have is near mint, including the lyric sheet insert. I listened to the whole album and enjoyed it thoroughly, despite the drastic change up. I am not sure, but I hope I have some more TSOL. This album isn't going anywhere, unless it's for a pretty penny. Make that a lot of pretty pennies.

After Steven had much enjoyment from his long playing Squarepusher album, he got another dose of electronica from North Manchester Bedroom Allstars. Here's what forcedexposure.com has to say about this release, "Third 12" release by the NMB Allstars crew. The North Manchester Bedroom Allstars is a transient association of humans who own bedrooms in North Manchester. The bedroom is often the site for unequalled creativity and experimentation in sound, graphics of metaphysical nature. The output of NMB is not controlled by format, media or time. Thunderous, oppressive, heavy, scrawling and terrifyingly dark electronics. It's not that they are secretive, they just want to be left alone!"

My 5th pick was an interesting one, a hippy delicacy from Palo Alto, 1975. Christening for Listening-A Soundtrack for Every Body. A paragraph on the back states, "Christening for Listening is unique in that it is original music composed in a style suggested intuitively by the plants' own biorhythms, and is particularly sensitive and applicable to the needs of these serence green neighbors. Our recent research involving GSR polygraphs and Kirlian photography demonstrated "that the most consistent, significant degree of positive affective response was found to relate to music that was in harmony with plants' slower tempo of movement." Put less scientifically, the plant dug this music-and it showed up dramatically in the measurements."

"ABOUT THE COVER: This is a Kirlian photograph of a leaf, taken by a process that produces pictures shot in total darkness, without using a lens. It shows the electromagnetic energy field, or body, that surrounds and permeates the physical body of all living things. This technique can be used as a diagnosed aid in determining the physical or emotional state of the subject-in this case, the response of the total body to music." The first side is very minimal with only a Rhodes. The second side gets a bit funkier with the addition of an electric guitar, bass, some flutes and on one track, horns and drums. The first side reminded me a lot of the artist Eluvium. The second side was quite decent. I'm actually going to keep this interesting find.

My 6th choice is the incredible, one and only, Ella Fitzgerald singing the Gershwin Song Book. I mentioned earlier that Rickie Lee is my 2nd favorite female vocalist, well, Ella is the first. Lovely that I am listening to them both today, and by random odds.