Ben Cooper and Alex Kane of Electric President are onto their first stateside album, The Violent Blue. In this mood filled, evocative track, Ben’s reflective  harmonies sweep against waves of epic percussion and “silent lucidities.” →

Two weeks before the election of Barack Obama, filmmaker Jeff Deutchman asked his friends around the world to record their experiences of 11/4/08, a day that had become “historic” before it had even taken place. He collected footage from a combination of passionate amateurs and acclaimed independent filmmakers, including Henry Joost (Catfish), Margaret Brown (The Order of Myths), Joe Swanberg (Alexander the Last) and Benh Zeitlin (Glory At Sea). →

Javelin
Luaka Bop
(2010)

At a typical Javelin show, cousins George Langford and Tom Van Buskirk prepare boomboxes that serve as more than just hipster accessories. Each boombox produces a layer comprising a pastiche of sounds that are wide-ranging and indecipherable. They sample motifs from disco, hip-hop, R&B, calypso, psychedelic folk and god-knows-what-else, and recreate the sounds with electronic and homemade instruments. These songs are not exactly mash-ups →

As a means of bringing creative pursuits into an experiential environment, Arkitip and Incase have partnered to open Project Space, a unique setting for exhibitions, performances and installations. Along with original artwork, Project Space will support a limited range of curated products that will rotate based on availability. This will include all special project endeavors from each brand. Project Space stays true to Arkitip’s founding principles: supporting the arts, promoting freedom of expression and making art affordable and accessible. →

In celebration of five new styles and the launch of accessories for Spring 2010, Android Homme has  released the season’s campaign images and brand short film.  Shapes and symbols have been a method of communicating and comprehending the unknown. Android Homme brings you a brand video that utilizes some basic symbols and shapes to outline the process of reprogramming. The short film is directed by Javier Laval and is intended to stimulate and trigger memories from our ancient past to our near and distant future. →

Latapaza Band – “Odi-Yoo” (bonus track)

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Out-of-print since 2002, Duncan Brooker’s Afro-Rock Vol. 1 was one of many influential compilations to kindle interest in “world music” and African music of the sixties and seventies. Jazz, funk, and soul fans along with compulsive crate-diggers began exploring the music of a continent →

Converse Presents: 45 Live
Speakeasy – Austin, TX
3/17/10

Converse, Stones Throw and Wax Poetics present an event featuring DJ sets and performances featuring all 45s. The first 45 attendees will receive limited-edition copies of the Mayer Hawthorne/James Pants split-45 featuring covers of “Thin Moon” and “Green Eyed Love.” →

Dwele with the Suite for Ma Dukes Orchestra – “Angel”

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On March 30, Mochilla will release a DVD box set of three incredible performances set in Los Angeles: Suite for Ma Dukes, Mulatu Astatke and Arthur Verocai at the Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex. These three performances took place during last February and March and boasted rare appearances by American and foreign artists. →

Genre Hound
Film Opinion

In celebration of the success of recent films that explore themes related to madness and distorted reality (Shutter Island, Alice in Wonderland), I’d like to recommend a vintage “undiscovered” gem titled Lilith from 1964. The film features a brilliant, haunting performance by Jean Seberg and a strange, subdued turn by a very young Warren Beatty.

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Winner of the Cannes Special Jury Prize, NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS is a film about Tehran’s underground indie music scene and while the political themes of the film are engaging, eye-opening and supremely important the overarching theme of the film is the shared love of rock & roll music. →