Impenetrable Boundaries of Steel, Glass and Concrete
Before immigrating to Europe and studying at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, Algerian Driss Ouadahi studied architecture. His paintings of the ubiquitous high-rise, the legacy of Modern Architecture’s failed promise to improve the human condition, are renderings of impenetrable boundaries of steel, glass and concrete.
Ouadahi’s exploration begins with images of the enormous public housing developments in Algiers that had been modeled on France’s habitation à loyer modéré (housing at moderated rents). In North Africa, these monoliths accommodate displaced rural populations; in Europe, they house immigrants from former colonies. They are symbols of the politics of class, religion and ethnicity. Reminders of otherness.
In addition to the permutations of cityscape which Ouadahi has been exploring in the last few years, his work consists of two new types of paintings. The first are rigorously formal renderings of chain-link fencing that are both minimalist abstractions and a signifier of separation. The second are depictions of tiled passageways, akin to subway systems like the Paris Métro. Fluorescent-lit and grimy, they are labyrinthian and claustrophobic. Ostensibly their purpose is movement from one place to another. But they feel more like blocked escape routes or morgues. They speak to restricted mobility in a supposedly global culture.
IS INDIE POP FORMULAIC? 6 KEYS TO CLASSIC SUMMER SOUND
Is indie pop formulaic?
Last summer, discosalt writer Casey Bowers pinned down 6 Keys to a Classic Summer Sound:
1. 60’s girl group pop melodies
2. Big, bright surf guitars
3. Vocals drenched (or drowned) in reverb
4. Any sound resembling The Beach Boys or Jan and Dean
5. Lyrics with the words: beach, summer, sun or waves
6. 80’s dream pop influence
This year, with the onslaught of 90s indie rock influence, garage rock leanings and psychedelic or chill vibes, 2011 has been about deviation. Here are some tracks that stayed true and got stuck in our heads and a few others that broke away, blurred the lines and just flat out floored us.
1. Bedroom Eyes - Dum Dum Girls
2. Summer Hits Or J Plus J Don't Like - Mazes
3. Hold On - Yellow Ostrich
4. Speaking In Tongues (featuring David Byrne) - Arcade Fire
5. Bone Orchard - Turrks
6. Where I'm Going - Cut Copy
7. Come to the City - The War on Drugs
8. Georgia - Yuck
You can check out Casey's article " Radiohead: Echoes of the Past, Glimpses of the Future" in the REMIX ISSUE of DISCOSALT Magazine, on sale now.
DON’T MISS THE FINAL SCENE OF CHROMEO’S NEW VIDEO
Careful, Chromeo’s latest video might impregnate you- or so the directors, Daniels, want you to think. Featuring Solange Knowles, “When The Night Falls,” is entertaining until the way end, (seriously, you don’t want to miss the final scene).
SNEAK PEAK: TOP SECRET SARA BLAKE PROJECT + 100 GIRLS
Before she heads over to Auckland, NZ to speak at the amazing We Can Create conference series, a 2 day conference for creatives, discosalt artist Sara Blake is sharing some new work. Not only can you can see more of Sara in the new issue of DISCOSALT Magazine, but she has been busy preparing new work for a side event exhibition with several incredible local artists as well. The exhibition will be the first installment of a year long project called 100 Girls—a personal exercise and exploration in creating a large body of work of one of her favorite subjects—pretty ladies. And Sara also has very hush hush top secret collaborations coming up as well, which you can sneak a peak at.
Below are some process images and sneak peaks of the 100 Girls series.
Here are some sneak peaks at Sara’s top secret project…shhhhh:
GET THE REMIX: HEART SHAPED ROCK (PAPERCUTZ REMIX)
We have a new remix for you from Papercutz: This song is a remix of the title track from Jason Grier’s and Ramona Gonzalez’s (aka Nite Jewel) “Heart Shaped E.P.” Jason Grier is also sharing the first proper release from his (anti)love duets series. The new Heart Shaped EP collects five songs Grier penned for Ramona Gonzalez of Nite Jewel, including studio versions of much blogged-about tracks “Heart Shaped Rock” and “Nothing Nothing”, plus four previously unheard jams. The 35 minute EP zeros in on “smash hit” grooves of the high broadcast age. Post-freestyle, slam jam, and daytime drama soundscapes wash over alien musings on love.
JUSTICE RELEASING LONG AWAITED SOPHOMORE LP
Emerging from the creative cocoon that has enveloped them since wrapping up promotional efforts for their 2007 Grammy-nominated debut, Xavier de Rosnay & Gaspard Augé, the influential Parisian duo known as Justice, have announced the impending release of their second album Audio, Video, Disco. Straying even further from their dance music roots, the new effort is at once looser and heavier than previous releases, using the combined musical vocabulary of rock and electronic to conjure a laidback, agricultural effort existing on the outer fringes of pop.
Audio, Video, Disco was created in the duo’s home studio, with all instrumentation performed by the group themselves. Seeking to create an album that would evoke the feel of progressive rock, the duo labored meticulously to learn instruments they had not previously conqueredto craft an epic masterpiece that exchanges the “night in the city” setting of their debut with an “afternoon in the country” atmosphere. Also notable is the presence of a range of guest vocalists, including a spot by Morgan Phalen of NY rockers Diamond Nights on “On’n’On” and “Newlands”, Vincenzi Vendetta of Australian band Midnight Juggernauts on “Ohio”, and UK pop singer Ali Love on the album’s first single “Civilization”, the graphically captivating video for which was iTunes “Video of the Week” in June and featured prominently on Pitchfork, Stereogum, Prefix, and countless other sites.
Their debut established the group as an international force and the duo have responded with a huge album that panders to no one, equally at home blaring from a dance club soundsystem or performed in an arena. Don’t be surprised when it finds its home in the latter.
NEW VHS YANKED VIDEO FROM MAYER HAWTHORNE
Check out the VHS-yanked clips for “A Long Time,” Mayer Hawthorne’s first video for his upcoming album “How Do You Do” on Universal. Taken from an old 80’s Detroit public access dance show- I can guarantee some of these people really regret their wardrobe choices…
Reminds us of Jimmy Fallon’s Dance Avenue. Click HERE to peep the video!
DINOSAUR JR.’S FIRST THREE ALBUMS BACK ON VINYL
I’M PARAPHRASING, UM: ANNIE HALL + WOODY ALLEN IMPRESSION CONTEST
The EPIX Free-For-All will screen Woody Allen’s Academy Award Winning classic Annie Hall on Coney Island, a key location for the film. The evening will feature a Woody Allen Impression contest with prizes. To enter, please email woody@rooftopfilms.com.
WHEN: Monday, August 8, 2011
7:00 PM Live DJ
8:30 PM Rooftop Films presents Kristen Lepore’s short film Bottle
8:40 PM Annie Hall
WHERE: On the Beach at Coney Island at W 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Subway Directions: Take the F train to Coney Island, walk to the beach and make a left.
ABOUT THE FILM:
ANNIE HALL (Written and directed by Woody Allen | 1977 | 94 mins)
When most people hear the name Woody Allen, they think of two women: Soon-Yi and Annie Hall. Fortunately for Allen, his legacy in cinema had been cemented with the latter long before the former came along. With Oscar wins for best director, best picture and best actress for the radiantly quirky Diane Keaton, Annie Hall struck a chord with audiences outside of erudite Manhattan film houses-and with good reason. Sure, we get the standard dose of neurotic Woody-isms, but we also get a sweet, sad, hopeful tale that reminds us love is sweet, love is sad, and if we’re lucky, love is downright funny.
The Coney Island History Project will be in attendance to speak about the history of Coney Island and the filming of Annie Hall.
ABOUT THE EPIX MOVIE FREE-FOR-ALL
All summer long, the EPIX Movie Free-For-All is hosting FREE movie screenings in four NYC parks! Sit under the stars and watch movies in The East Village, Long Island City, Williamsburg and Coney Island. And not just the movies are free.
EPIX is giving away prizes and swag at each event and also via Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and online.
LIVE WRESTLING, ANIMATION BLOCK PARTY, AND VIDEOGAME FILM FESTIVAL
Nerd Alert: Thursday is the New York Premiere of Robert Greene’s Fake It So Real, followed by a wrestling battle royale featuring wrestlers from the film, Friday is the opening night of the popular Animation Block Party, and Saturday is the Kill Screen Video Game Festival, a night of intellectual and artistic exploration of the question “Why do we play video games?” through short films like Das Racist’s, Who’s That? Broown! and live independent video game play.
Thursday, July 28 2011
FAKE IT SO REAL
Fake It So Real dives head-first into the world of independent pro wrestling. Filmed over a single week leading up to a big show, the film follows a ragtag group of wrestlers in North Carolina, exploring what happens when the over-the-top theatrics of the wrestling ring collide with the realities of the working-class South. The show will include a live wrestling match featuring the film’s subjects after the screening, a stunning blood and sweat example of Rooftop’s commitment to bringing the films we present to life. Filmmaker Robert Greene and subjects of the film will be at the show for a Q&A after the film.
More information at:
http://rooftopfilms.com/2011/schedule/fake-it-so-real/
Venue:
Outdoors in the backyard at Crown Vic
60 South 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Subway:
Take the L to Bedford, the G to Metropolitan, or the M to Marcy. The venue is located at the corner of South 2nd and Wythe.
7:30 PM Doors Open
8:00 PM Live Music
8:30 PM Film Begins
10:00 PM Q&A with filmmaker Robert Greene and subjects of the film
10:30 PM Live Wrestling Battle Royale, featuring subjects from the film
11:00 PM After-party at the Crown Vic
Friday, July 29, 2011
ANIMATION BLOCK PARTY (Short Films)
Some call it punk rock, some call it grass roots, but labels aside, NYC-based Animation Block Party is dedicated to exhibiting the world’s best independent, professional and student animation.
The summer of 2011 will mark the eighth annual Animation Block Party film festival. ABP has quickly become the premiere animation festival on the East Coast, showcasing the world’s best student, professional and independent shorts of all genres.
For the past six years, the ABP festival has opened at Rooftop Films. The ABP-Rooftop experience offers a big-screen simulcast of animation on both lawns at the Automotive High School.
This year, ABP will open on July 29th at Rooftop Films and then continue on July 30th and 31st at Bam Cinematek. Every evening will feature an awesome after party with free drinks.
The Films:
2011 ABP Intro (Casey Safron / NYC / 30 seconds)
Greetings from the Year 3000 (Barbara Benas / Brooklyn / 1:00 min)
La Plage (Agathe Bray-Bourret / Canada / 1:46 min)
Birdboy (Alberto Vazquez and Pedro Rivero / Bilbao, Spain / 12:36 min)
The Inkwell Shuffle (Christopher Diaz / Concordia University / 2:30 min)
The Girl and the Fox (Tyler J. Kupferer / SCAD / 5:30 min)
All Consuming Love – Man in a Cat (Louis Hudson / United Kingdom / 9:00 min)
Stay Home (Caleb Wood / RISD / 5:36 min)
Xxcuzxme (Aaron Keuter and Ashley Anderson / 2:06 min)
Little Thoughts (Alexander Geifman / Brazil-Israel / 6:16 min)
She Was The One (The Rauch Brothers / Brooklyn / 2:37 min)
Tempestade (Cesar Cabral / Brazil / 10 min)
7th (Sara Pocock / Cal Arts / 5:02 min)
The Leaf Woman and the Centaur (Jordan Bruner / Brooklyn / 3:10 min)
Venus (Tor Fruergaard, Instructor / National Film School of Denmark / 8:09 min)
Notes on Biology (Will and Danny Madden / Alabama / 5:38 min)
2011 ABP Outro (Aaron Hughes / Brooklyn / 30 seconds)
More information at:
http://rooftopfilms.com/2011/schedule/animation-block-party-1/
Venue:
On the lawn of Automotive High School, 50 Bedford Ave. (at North 13th St.), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or G to Nassau Ave.
8:00PM Doors Open
8:30PM Live Music
9:00PM Films Begin
11:30PM After Party at Matchless (557 Manhattan Ave at Driggs Ave)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
KILL SCREEN VIDEOGAME FILM FESTIVAL (Short Films)
Rooftop Films and Kill Screen present a night of short films, new videogames, and special presentations that showcase the impact that games have on our culture and daily lives. Rooftop Films and Kill Screen present a night of short films, games, and special presentations that showcase the impact that videogames have had on our culture and daily lives. Since 2008, the total worldwide gross income from videogame sales has exceeded worldwide movie theater box office grosses. Yet videogames are still generally treated as second rate entertainment. Kill Screen is a publication devoted to answering the question: “What does it mean to play games?” On July 30th we will explore that question, show some extraordinary work, and play some amazing videogames that might provide some answers.
More information at:
http://rooftopfilms.com/2011/schedule/kill-screen-videogame-film-festival/
Venue:
On the roof of The Old American Can Factory, 232 3rd St. (at 3rd Ave.), Gowanus/Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Subway: F/G to Carroll St. or M/R to Union
8:00 PM Doors Open
8:30 PM Live Music
9:00 PM Films Begin
11:30 PM Reception in Courtyard with Indie Video Games
The Films:
DAS RACIST: “WHO’S THAT? BROOOWN!” (Thomas DaNapoli | Brooklyn, NY | 4 min.)
GET REAL! (Evert de Beijer | Netherlands | 11 min.)
8 BITS (Valerie Amirault and Sarah Laufer | France | 7 min.)
MINECRAFT: THE STORY OF MOJANG (EXCERPT) (2 Player Productions | Sweden | 8 min.)
MINECRART INTERSTATE (Brett Sanders | Florida | 3 min.)
CLASSIC VIDEO GAME DEATHS (Rob Beschizza | USA | 3 min.)
DEAD ISLAND TRAILER (Deep Silver | Germany | 3 min.)
BEAR UNTITLED (Christen Bach | Berlin | 1 min.)
SUPER THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Tomfoolery | United Kingdom | 1 min.)
DOWNLOAD FREE TRACK FROM PHANTOM POWER
Phantom Power – Inertial Framez
THE GET UP KIDS COVER “GIRLS AND BOYS” BY BLUR
The Get Up Kids recently dropped by The AV Club to contribute to their ongoing Undercover Series. The AV Club, in conjunction with their readers, picked a list of 25 songs for 25 bands to cover. Every time a band comes in, they pick a song from the list and cross it off. The Get Up Kids chose seminal track “Girls And Boys” off the 1994 album Parklife by Blur, a song they often play during soundchecks.
The Get Up Kids cover “Girls And Boys” by Blur
WATCH “GIRLS AND BOYS” VIDEO
OFFICIAL TEDDYBEARS VIDEO: CHO CHA (FEAT. CEE LO AND THE B-52S)
Here is Teddybears’ official video for “Cho-Cha” feat. Cee-Lo and The B-52’s and starring Jeff Turner (the focus of the documentary ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ about a man stalking Tiffany) directed by Zach Shields. Opening with a bevy of breathless beauties perched on the sofa of a dimly lit room this video is frighteningly clever. Buy it now on iTunes: http://atlr.ec/qceXCx
LISTEN TO “VOMIT” FROM THE NEW GIRLS ALBUM
Click HERE to get a free mp3 and exclusive listen to ”Vomit” from new Girls album – ”Father, Son, Holy Ghost”. You can also pre-order the album and get loads of unique offers and exclusives direct from Girls store HERE or from Girls Facebook Page HERE. And for those of you in the U.S. – exclusive offer from Insound (free poster exclusively designed by Christopher Owens)
CD: CLICK HERE
LP: CLICK HERE
FREE MP3 FROM YACHT’S NEW ALBUM: SHANGRI-LA
Y.A.C.H.T’s (“Young Americans Challenging High Technology”) new album, Shangri-la is a strange and hypnotic mixed bag of idiosyncratic beats, charming synth sound and new age / DIY punk-mystic vision. Like See Mystery Lights, Y.A.C.H.T’s second album bends synthetic components with abstract lyrics to create an oddly organic, stripped-down experience (that you can dance to!) Download “Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire)” and preview two other tracks off the album below:
MP3: YACHT: “Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire)”
Tripped an Fell in Love
Shangri La
STREAM THE HORROR’S NEW ALBUM: SKYING
The Horrors new self-produced third album Skying leaked over the weekend, so XL decided to stream the album in full before the official release on July 11th. This is by far one of the most solid efforts to follow-up the hugely acclaimed Primary Colours, and maybe a sleeper best album of 2011. Check out the track “Still Life”, a catchy shoegaze drenched Echo & The Bunnymen reminiscent track that is sure to be the psychedelic jam of the summer.
NEW COMPILATION ALBUM FEAT. PAPERCUTZ + TEEEL MIXES SOUNDS OF PLANETS
It’s cold in space, but did you know that celestial body`s and planets produce sounds through radio waves that can sound warm and beautiful from light to dark? Jupiter sounds almost angelic like, while mercury sounds eerily creepy. This summer a group of artists have gotten together for a compilation album using those sounds called “Celestial Summer”, featuring tracks by Teeel, Moth, Summer Heart, Culture Voyage, Starfawn, plus textural maestro Bartosz Dziadosz aka Pleq. Space out to a track from Papercutz & Pleq below or check out the whole album HERE:
:papercutz & Pleq – Neptunian Moons by :papercutz
NEW MUSIC FROM THE KNUX: RUN (FEAT. KID CUDI)
The Knux already impressed us with “She’s So Up” earlier this year, and now they’re back with an even better single. Kid Cudi continues his rock experimentation and joins the innovative duo on “Run,” an upbeat number that conjures images of the beach, women, and good times. Add this one to your summer playlist ASAP.
The Knux will be performing alongside Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire and Party Supplies at Webster Hall on July 30. Get your tickets for one of the hottest shows of the summer here.
Listen: The Knux f/ Kid Cudi “Run”
BAND RADAR: GEOFFREY O’CONNOR
Vanity Is Forever, being released September 27th via Chapter Music, is Crayon Fields frontman Geoffrey O’Connor’s first album under his own name, and his most ambitious, dynamic and sophisticated work yet. O’Connor’s fractured romantic reflections and lustful tributes play out over vast synthscapes, colossal stadium drums and flanged orchestral sweeps, creating a world that is at once ethereal and strikingly vivid. With a combination of restraint and fearless abandon, O’Connor embraces the conflicts of modern love in a manner as ambiguous as it is blunt, and as shameless as it is generous. His songs indulge in ecstasy, love, pride, failure and all the glamorous contradictions they become. He is both an adult with a juvenile mind, and a geriatric in the body of a young man. Painstakingly refined over two years, Vanity Is Forever is O’Connor’s most fully realized album to date, an epic pop melodrama that shifts seamlessly between seductive high-production dance hits, suave funk joyrides and modern synthetic power balladry.
Listen to “Now and Then” HERE.
MEMORY TAPES: WAIT IN THE DARK (JENSEN SPORTAG REMIX)
A summer sleeper hit-to-be from MEMORY TAPES – “WAIT IN THE DARK” (JENSEN SPORTAG REMIX) Taken from the Memory Tapes Tour EP. LISTEN to the track below:
While you are here, you can also DOWNLOAD THE MEMORY TAPES TOUR EP (remixes by Jensen Sportag, Seams & Nazca Lines). Just click HERE.
You can also grab some JENSEN SPORTAG CUSTOM REMIXES. Just click HERE.
