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VIDEO: Bjork – “Crystalline”

Chief — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:02:54 +0000

Bjork‘s camp sent over an astounding Michel Gondry-directed video for Crystalline, which is just a small part of the interdisciplinary project that is Biophilia. Aside from a traditional record, the album will include apps, a new website, custom-made musical instruments, live shows and educational workshops that focus on exploring the similarities between nature, technology and music. You can find a lot more information about this project on her website, and purchase the Crystalline single on iTunes for only $1.29.

Time Traveling: Konono N°1

Chief — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:51:14 +0000

I was given the opportunity to spend a week with Ghanaian legend Obo Addy during his stint at a show I engineered a few weeks ago, and in between stories of gigs in Nigeria with Fela Kuti and skirts with Sammy Davis Jr., he introduced me to the beauty of Konono N°1. The group was formed in Kinshasa, DRC in the late ’70′s, where they combined electric likembés with traditional rhythms and instruments made from items they salvaged at a junkyard. Congotronics, their first international release, introduced most of the world to their sound and opened the door for collaborations with Bjork and Baloji. Both of their releases are near the top of my list, and a must have for anyone into African rhythms.

Konono N°1 – Paradiso

Dirty Projectors & Björk – Mount Wittenberg Orca

Danger — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:55:52 +0000

I just received an email about this collaboration between Dirty Projectors and Björk (two of my faves) for a cause, and obviously I couldn’t resist. The email alone says so much more than I could ever paraphrase, so here it is:

“In April 2009, Brandon Stosuy from Stereogum.com asked me if we wanted to play a benefit concert at a bookstore in New York. I said yes. He asked Björk the same thing, and she said yes. Then he asked us if we wanted to collaborate, and we said yes. Björk asked me what we should do, and I said, “I don’t know, I guess I’d really love to write a bunch of new songs for us to sing together?” And she said Yes.

That same month, Amber from Dirty Projectors was walking along a ridge on Mount Wittenberg, north of San Francisco. She was looking out at the ocean and saw a little family of whales, as you sometimes do in April on the Northern California coast. I wrote some songs about it and sent them to Björk, who agreed to sing the part of the mom whale. The songs became Mount Wittenberg Orca. Amber and Angel and Haley sang the part of the kid whales, and I sang the part of Amber. [...]

We’ve decided to give away all the money that Wittenberg generates to the project of creating international marine protected areas. Only 1% of the oceans are protected in any way and this is a huge problem. We’re working with the National Geographic Society to create areas of sustainability, so the oceans don’t end up like a giant poisonous corpse hugging the continents.

We’re so psyched about how this recording came out and hope you are too. Don’t listen on those tinny computer speakers — put in on the stereo and blast dat shiiiiiiiiii!!

Enjoy.

– David Longstreth”

You can buy the 7 track album (for a minimum donation of $7, what a steal!) HERE. Good cause, good music, it’s a win win.

Time Traveling, Vespertine

Danger — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:43:41 +0000

Often I like to think about my musical past, about artists, and more specifically albums, that significantly changed the way I thought about music. Björk is one of those definitive artists for me, and Vespertine is the album that truly solidified my love for her. This album hasn’t even been out for that long, so we’re definitely not time traveling very far. Hopefully if you’re already a fan it can serve as a pleasant reminder, and if not, perhaps this is the song that will convert you as well. Sundays seem inherently nostalgic, so what better time to share what is easily one of my favorite tracks of all time with you.

Björk – It’s Not Up To You