Erykah Badu, in all her glory. Well, part of its fuzzy because of the ho-hum politics of nudity that won’t allow us that access. Or perhaps Miz Badu prefers it that way, and it’s one of those “you kinda had to be there” type moments.
Track # 2 on her new record, New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh
Hi Bright Liners,
I’ve started writing articles for Brooklyn Bodega, a website devoted to exploring Hiphop, art, culture, politics, as well as curating the annual Brooklyn Hiphop Festival. There’s so many forces in the conversation. I’d like to bring to the table the influences different genres of indie music have on Hiphop, interviews with artists and thinkers and creators who can incite dialog and shifts in the status quo.
Whew. For now, here’s a start. Little Dragon performed at The Music Hall of Williamsburg and Mercury Lounge last week, and I wrote a performance review for Brooklyn Bodega:
http://www.brooklynbodega.com/2010/03/29/little-dragon-nyc/
And check out Little Dragon’s video for “Swimming” off their new album Machine Dreams. Yukimi Nagano’s father, Yusuke Nagano created the vid!
photo courtesy of Matthew Drazin, www.shotsofrock.com
Not quite done with the lo-fi Daily Rotations for today’s installment. It’s this here warm spell in NYC. It’s a love jones I won’t name yet.
It’s Toro y Moi.
Musician Chaz Bundick’s project, by way of South Carolina-
Toro y Moi’s chill wave grooves are all about atmosphere, good times, kickin’ it, Spring Awakening, and shedding layers for smoother skin.
He’ll grace the Brooklyn Bowl stage with New Zealand psychedelic indie rockers The Ruby Suns on March 26th, 2010. Tickets are $5! Pretty voices, cheap tickets.
The video for “Blessa”:
and the boys playing with rockets in the video for “Talamak”:
Alan Palomo of Neon Indian just released “Sleep Paralysist”…The track, co-produced with Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, echoes the outerworldly video game tunes on his debut record Psychic Chasms.
Robo-R&B art-roc-songstress Janelle Monae, all pompadour and soul, belts this shiny, self-assured ditty with poise ‘n attitude. Big Boi’s smooth foray against the funky bass line compliments the pure abandon that Ms. Monae delivers perfectly.
Mobius Collective, every Thursday at Rose Live Music in Williamsburg, BK
Mobius Collective celebrates their 3rd anniversary at Rose Live Music this Thursday.
Saxophonist/director Troy Simms, along with staple cipher Omar Little (trumpet), Borahm Lee (keys), and David Bailis (guitar), the Collective features guest DJ’s and musicians each session. Last week amidst the snow storm, the house was packed full of folks ready to go on a trip. Guest DJ–brilliant selector–Deejay Obah–filled in the blanks between sets, seamlessly taking us from a recording of Fela’s “Yellow Fever” into the band’s supersonic rendition of it. Keyboardist Borahm Lee brings it full force, slapping at his keyboard, mapping out intricate solos, infusing the tune with an echo here, a reverb there–he’s a vision to witness in action. Jazz to warm you up in the beginning, dub to settle the whiskey in your bones (it’s cold outside, y’all), flowing into Afrobeat and Hiphop to get the people dancing.
There’s something to the venue too. The abuela wallpaper and jazz club stage has an old-timers vibe, a subtly complementary addition to the listening experience.
Mobius Collective, courtesy of the band's Myspace
Note about their name, “Mobius Collective,” it’s a reference to the Mobius Strip, a one-sided, single edged surface that has no beginning or end. This metaphor comes alive during their performance–the musicians contribute to the soundscape by carefully listening, evoking the continuity between them, between the genres they journey across in a few hours’ time.
Check it @ Rose Live Music, every Thursday!
What: 3rd Anniversary Party of Mobius Collective’s “Brooklyn Freestyle Sessions
Where: Rose Live Music, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on 345 Grand St. @ Marcy
When: 10 PM to 3AM
The third track on Miles Davis’ 1959 Kind of Blue, called ”Blue in Green”:
You can see how thinking about music moves into mysticism–Kwami Coleman
This Sunday, I talked to my friend, musician & musicologist, Kwami Coleman, who resides in San Francisco, about modality in music. I was listening to Miles Davis’ ”Blue in Green”, a highly textured musical composition, from his record Kind of Blue, which is very modal. Now, I’ve studied music, namely violin, but still have lots of questions regarding the theories. At first, Kwami broke down the basics of my questions, but then it soon delved into the relationship between music & tonality & its (unknowable) effects on human psyche.
When we hear a piece of music, it elicits a response from us. Whether we listen to Miles Davis, to get into a heady, reflective, sober condition or the energetic, multilayered, orchestrated spontaneity of Fela Kuti—there is an emotional response drawn out of us. We attribute emotions—longing, misery, whimsy, joy—to the melodies we hear. We all know this. And we know that the reason for this will never be fully understood, there’s value in understanding what certain tones provoke in the listener.
To read the Dialog Box interview, click the title of this post.
