V

We went to see V For Vendetta last night.

I wonder where I can buy a few million Guy Fawkes masks….

Couple of odd things, related: I was sticking around in the theater, waiting for the music credits, because I wanted to find out the name and artist of the brilliant electronic track in the closing credits that used the Malcolm X samples.

Anyway — I’m the only one in the theater (or so I thought) — and the teenager had already gone out to the lobby. Suddenly, a petite brunette, whom I hadn’t seen, walks up next to me and grabs my wrist gently. I look at her, and she says: “Nine Eleven Truth dot org.” She then lets my wrist go, turns, and leaves me alone in the theater.

I was already aware of 911truth.org — it’s a site which questions the official story of the events of 9/11. But to have it given to me as a message, in such a conspiratorial tone, after the screening of that particular movie, was a very odd experience.

Second thing: I found out that the track in question is called BKAB, by Ethan Stoller. Naturally, it’s not on the official soundtrack album. I tracked down the artists’ website, and discovered a few very annoying things. One, he has no record deal. He lucked into getting that track in the movie. Two, he has the song available as a paid download on his site….but it’s the “Speechless” mix. Without the samples. Because he doesn’t have the clearance rights for them. He’s supposedly trying to clear the samples himself, and if he does, he’ll have the “real” version available. I’ll keep an eye out for that.

For right now, though, the song that I loved, the song that I wanted to get…..DOESN’T EXIST, except as a brief sound snippet at the closing credits of the film. Odd.

Icarus Crew….

Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease Tell me that we’re OK for this Sunday….

I’m jonesing. BAD. Need my fix.

Friday Music

Back again after a brief hiatus. Didja miss me?

I had already typed up this entire post, and then my browser crashed (which only happens once every 3 months or so, and always when I’m typing up these posts, it seems.) So, I’m going to try to remember all of the links (since I deleted them already….SMART).

Gnarls Barkley is a fictional singer. The project is a collaboration between DJ Danger Mouse (the guy responsible for the brilliant Beatles/Jay-Z “Grey Album” mash-ups) and Atlanta-area rapper Cee-Lo. Given the presense of a skilled DJ and a rapper, you’d expect some smokin’ hip-hop tracks, right? WRONG. They have combined to produce perfect retro/neo soul….sounding for all the world as if Al Green or Bill Withers had gotten into a studio with 21st century producers. This stuff is amazing: Gnarls Barkley – “Crazy.”

Neo-soul puts me in the mood for classic soul, so here’s one of my favorite tracks from the early 70s: The Spinners – “I’ll Be Around.”

While I’m on the topic of great production– The producer behind Roisin Murphy’s solo album (which I posted several tracks from last year) has an album of his own out (with Roisin providing additional vocals), and it’s the same jazzy/funky mix of electronics and orchestration. Herbert – “The Movers & The Shakers.”

I was looking for some more French hip-hop for , but found this great rock track instead. The band is called Noir Désir (“Black Desire”), and this is from the album 666.667 Club: Noir Désir – “Un Homme Pressé”

I don’t know anything about Mellowdrone, aside from the fact that they are a brand-new band, and I really, really like their music. I’ll be trying to find out more over the next week or so: Mellowdrone – “Oh My.”

The Roger Sisters are a NYC band that sound like early B-52s (“Rock Lobster/Private Idaho” period, rather than “Love Shack/Channel Z” period). Here’s a lovely little ditty about climate change and the end of the world: The Roger Sisters – “Zero Point.”

There you go. Only six tracks this week. More next week, I promise.