Filed under: Inspiration, Motion Graphics, Music, creative | Tags: 2008, Advanced Beauty, atlas sound, autechre, best of 2008, black to comm, bon iver, deerhunter, DVD, favorite, Fennesz, grouper, Music, nadja, oneida, original silence, sunken foal, the walkmen, thurston moore, Universal Everything
There was so much good music released this year. This is a list of what I was able to pull out of the giant maelstrom of 2008:
Fennesz “Black Sea”
It has been 4 years since Christian Fennesz’ last full length solo album. It was worth the wait.
Fennesz /Dafeldecker/Brandlmayr “Till the old world’s blown up and a new one is created”
This is a perfect album. It combines all of my loves: glitch, drone, reverb, and improvisation. Wonderful album.
Sunken Foal ” Fallen Arches”
Like Squarepusher, Dosh, Clark, Ghost Band have done, Sunken Foal has proven that a musician can make a great electronic album. This is a complex album.
Atlas Sound “Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel”
I like this album for the same reasons I love My Bloody Valentine: reverb, wall-of-sound, hypnotizing looping, and down tempo rhythms. Color me impressed.
The Walkmen “You & Me”
Damn this is a great band. I love this album. It continues to be on heavy rotation.
Bon Iver ” For Emma, Forever Ago”
Another album that I fell in love with. Having found out later in the game that Justin comes from the same part of Wisconsin that I do. Added bonus.
Black to Comm “Fractal Hair Geometry”
This outfit has a couple of previous releases. I had always heard of them. I’m glad I finally listened.
Oneida “Preteen Weaponry”
This is part one of the “Thank Your Parents Triptych”. This is the form I most like Oneida to take: Full on psych jam astronauts.
Original Silence “The Second Original Silence”
I love this album. Noise punk improv would be how I would attempt to explain it.
Thurston Moore “Sensitive/Lethal”
This is Thurston as solo noisenik. The cover photo is quite telling.
Grouper “Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill”
This album has been a perfect companion for me many times this year.
Nadja “Desire in Uneasiness”
A friend tipped me off to this band from the north. I quote, “Can’t…Stop…Listening”. This has filled in the holes quite nicely this winter.
Terry Riley “Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band – All Night Flight”
This is a live recording of Terry Riley performing in 1968 at SUNY, New York. He utilized Soprano Saxophone, Organ, and something he called a Time-Lag Accumulator. This recording was made available once again by the label Elysian Fields. Truly a modern masterpiece. Sounds like it could have been made today.
Various Artists DVD “Advanced Beauty”
Curated by Universal Everything and Freeform, this is a collection of “video sound sculptures”. To quote the website, “The films embrace unusual video making processes, the visual programming language Processing, high-end audio analysis and fluid dynamic simulations alongside intuitive responses in traditional cell animation. Each artist was given the same set of parameters to work within; to start, finish and exist within a white space, creating a seamless coherence, all sculptures sharing the same white environment.” Get this DVD asap and find an HD TV!
Autechre “Quarastice” & “Quaratice EP”
Finally, Autechre released another full length. This time around they got melodic. I love these albums.
Filed under: Graphic Design, Inspiration, Photography, blackandwhite, creative
Some more black and white imagery that I like:
First off, I really like Build’s showcase site, wearebuild.com. I especially like the simple interface. While you’re at it, check out Michael’s blog.
I found the work of the artist Carrie Schnieder over on the blog Reform and Revolution. Carrie has some beautiful work. What caught my eye the most was the use of black and white. Stunning stuff.
Jason Tozer is a photographer that I found in Creative Review.
Lastly, I am not afraid.
