Tuesday, October 29, 2002
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 Arcadia
12 Apostles are proud to announce the arrival of their first game: Waste of Space Invaders - a retro arcade styleee chance to vent your frustrations on some of the worthless 'product' that is routinely foisted upon the world by record labels with less exacting standards than ourselves. Get firing! |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 12:52] |
Monday, October 28, 2002
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Turning rebellion into money...
The ability of British culture to take what was once revolutionary and sanitise it for the simpering middle classes is a thing of wonder. If you are quick you’ll still be able to catch left-wing firebrand Tony Benn continuing his sell-out (ho, ho!) theatre show. “We’re reinventing the public meeting” he stated between tea and pipe smoke. Funny, I don’t remember having to shell out seventeen quid to hear your pearls of wisdom before, Tony?
Another contrary soul I thought I’d lost to the world of Sunday colour supplements was the venerable John Peel. For the Brit Apostles there was always a stage in our education that coincided with the Peel show. The beauty of the show was that it never pandered to its audience. In the world of music sold by demographics it stood out like a defiant middle finger. In retrospect I cannot think why I stopped listening to it? It could have been the risible Home Truths on Radio Four (the Peel fronted family problems show)? Once more the behemoth of British culture was claiming another victim, I mused. But then I had recourse to listen to his Radio One Show again and you know what? It’s still the bazaar of delights that I fondly remembered. Music as eclectic as ever and now, through the internet, it’s available around the clock - the shows are archived for anyone with a RealPlayer. Go on, give it a try.
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| [posted in Lancashire :: UK at 21:14] |
News update - Shazam
Following the previous post, positive news reaches the 12 Apostles Bow HQ about the recognition abilities of the Shazam service. One of our panel of resident telecom experts tested the service by playing it samples of two tracks from the eponymous album by Love Spit Love (featuring Richard Butler from The Psychedelic Furs), released in 1994 to muted acclaim, and both were recognised. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 14:16] |
Mobiles Tagging Music & Then Buy From The Site
So you've all heard about Shazam the brand new service which tags music over your mobile phone anywhere in the UK.
Just hit 2580 on your mobile and hold your mobile phone towards the music for 30 seconds after the tone. They will then end the call and you will receive a txt with the name of the track and artist.
Sounds great but can they identify the following artists for me.
Alex Empire
Any deep Detroit Sounds
Ten Benson
Robert Johnson
Let the 12 know how you go...... |
| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 05:52] |
Sunday, October 27, 2002
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Call for submissions
The Center for Experiments in Art, Information, and Technology (CEAIT) will be holding its 6th annual festival of electronic music between January 10-12, 2003 and is looking for submissions from people working with “live electronics, tape or computer, tape alone, video tape, or computer alone”.
Pieces must be a maximum of 15 minutes in length and those interested should provide a “representative version” of what will be performed live (on CD, VHS, CD-Rom, or DVD) along with their biography, contact information (including email), a list of technical requirements and any accompanying program notes. Include a SASE if you want the stuff back. Sadly there is no financial support on offer for travel or production expenses. All submissions should be postmarked by Monday, December 2nd, 2002, and sent to the following address:
California Institute of the Arts ,
CEAIT Festival 2003 ,
School of Music ,
24700 McBean Parkway,
Valencia, CA 91355
If you're looking for outlets for your work then don't forget to use our very own Beatbox service to let us hear what you're up to. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 11:32] |
More Jesus on the Net.
Try Winking Jesus Does he or doesn’t he?
Muslim Jesus vs Christian Jesus The 2 Jesus's go twenty two philosophical rounds of explanation as to why they are not the same Jesus
Jesus .. does he prefer reef or beach breaks.. buy the t-shirt
Jesus shaves
.....and finally the the christian punk & ska web ring with amongst others Christian Punk
a site is dedicated to all of the christian punk bands out there and Skankin Christian A "cool" umm? site dedicated to ska glorifying God.. You'll need to enter and go to the list sites section
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 03:58] |
Thursday, October 24, 2002
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Corporate Bootlegging Culture
Thanks to our business apostle here in Australia we have found the latest development in music mania.. it'll never hit the dancefloors but if others pick up on it we could have some very upset multinationals.... something that would please the 12 no end... Read on ..
If any further proof is needed that KPMG Accountants unleashed a Weapon of Mass Destruction on the world when it penned the "KPMG Strong As Can Be" song: then look no further, these lyrics have to be seen to be believed.
chorus
KPMG, we're strong as can be
A team of power and energy
We go for the gold
Together we hold onto our vision of global strategy.
KPMG, we're strong as can be
A dream of power and energy
We go for the gold
Together we hold onto our vision of global strategy.
verse one
We create, we innovate
We pass the ones that are la-a-ate.
A global team, this is our dream of success that we create.
We'll be number one, with effort and fun
Together each of us will run for gold that shines like the sun in our eyes
chorus
KPMG, we're strong as can be
A team of power and energy
We go for the gold
Together we hold onto our vision of global strategy.
KPMG, we're strong as can be
A dream of power and energy
We go for the gold
Together we hold onto our vision of global strategy.
verse two
The time is now to lead the way
We share the same idea that may win by the end of the day
Our strength is here to stay
Identity, one energy, one strategy, with sympathy
These are the words that will lead us into our new world.
chorus, repeat ad nauseam
If that was the worst of it, then there may be grounds for a plea of mitigation but it gets worse, much worse. Since the jingle's release last year it has mutated into far more hideous versions:
We have managed to track down the original KPMG jingle and following mixes to download
The Teutonic Master Mix - which runs with the review "This industrial-metal version fails to inspire PowerPoint greatness with its clashing cymbals, Rammstein-inspired chants, and Nordic-parade-march tempo
The KPMG Jungle mix - "Consultants on ecstasy will get jiggy with this blend of ska, reggae, and techno";
KPMG Hard Rock Mix - "Think Bon Jovi meets the Heaven's Gate cult. This inconsistent version starts off slow but builds to crescendo of sampled guitar riffs from Guns 'n' Roses, AC/DC, and the Clash".
The individual concerned can only be damned and praised at the same time.
Send the 12 your corporate anthem remixes...
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 04:18] |
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
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Want to blind people with science everyday? Don't scare yourself when looking to make something very hyperactive that entertains people on trains, planes and automobiles? Mr. Dolby visits Europa next month - November 7 2002 - to teach you how to make the latest and greatest in the orchestra sounding future of polyphonic ringtones. May the Cube be with you. |
| [posted in Maidenhead :: UK at 10:30] |
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
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Pumpkin beats
The witching hour is literally only days away (well okay a week and a bit) and for those within striking distance of London, Fat Tony is throwing a party. "Very Superstitious: Tony's Trick or Treat Hallo Weener Special" is running at Smersh in Shoreditch on Wednesday 30th so head on down as Blackbeltjones and the rest of the crew are sure to lay on a real vinyl fright fest. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 17:26] |
Monday, October 21, 2002
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I'm So Bored With Nick Hornby
Thanks to another blog the 12 have found Nick Hornby's top 10.
He might be all the rage with Hollywood producers but just like his repetitive books and the boring eighties Arsenal team he adores this collection of songs says it all to us. Blah blah... the Clash...blah blah.. Philly soul..... blah blah .. Steve Earle.
All very commendable his choices but no pzazz... where's the Stooges, Massive Attack or Lee Scratch Perry. |
| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 08:21] |
Terror Groups to Target Thai Party Scene? .
Skruff email alert and website have reported in their weekly update last week that the Guardian has indicated that Koh Samui and Ko Phan Ngan and its famous Haad Rin full moon parties could be the next target for nutty muslim terrorists.
Although the 12 suggest that this is just lazy journalism by a groovy Guardian journo trying to proove that they know the party scene occurs outside London, Ibiza & Berlin. We would also like to suggest that these parties and their cultural imperialism over the local Thais should have died quite some time ago.
This apostle attended parties on Haad Rin over a decade ago and found that a bunch of naked Danes and some west London trustafarians do not a scene, make.
Returning five years later, the story had become even sadder with too many young escapees from Israel’s army combined with some of the worst aspects of the barmy army had taken over the beach and reduced it to Blackpool in Asia. We haven't dared go back since.
For those who don’t believe us, please read Decca Aitkenhead’s wonderful chapter on Haad Rin in The Promised Land: Travels in Search of the Perfect E"
So what’s the apostle approach… let the Thai police close it all down …. Get rid of the bad drugs and bad development brought by the Thai mainlanders and let the islanders build something that makes them money and doesn’t fuck their environment, before some believer of Bin Laden decides to take Haad Rin out. Southern Thailand has always had its radicals – that’s where they go to hide from Mahatahir’s secret police.
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 07:05] |
Sunday, October 20, 2002
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Pop quiz, hot shot...
Ah, Sunday is upon us here at the Apostles Bow H.Q. - and how better to pass time than engaging in a pop quiz... |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 10:59] |
Thursday, October 17, 2002
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Frequently Nasty .
Sometimes somebody has to research the nasty stuff online and it does make you wonder about US civil liberties when it comes to free speech…. Do we need to see this stuff… I suppose so
Here are a couple of sites that make this apostle wonder.
First up is Hip Hop artist and I use the word artist in the loosest sense of the word, Necro He’s out of New York state and you only have to look at him to know that whatever music he’s making , its got to be bad. What really worries this apostle is why women would send in pictures of themselves to be posted on his site.
How about this lot Crucified Women.com which describes itself as an online community whatever….
There’s some quite appalling photoshop imaging going on here and lots of "erotic" drawings.
As an apostle I can categorically assure you that crucifixion isn’t erotic… we were there and some of us were even crucified upside down ….don’t let them persuade you that this form of torture is anything but extremely unpleasant.
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 03:50] |
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
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Strange Fruit
Last Wednesday saw an unlikely double-bill at London’s Royal Festival Hall – punk legends Pere Ubu and the Electric Prunes, an obscure but highly regarded 60’s band who produced a minor masterpiece of garage psychedelia with their second album “Underground”
Pere Ubu were providing the musical accompaniment to a screening of the sci-fi B-movie “It Came From Outer Space” – in 3D! Never having seen a 3-D film before I donned my glasses with excitement and was transported into another world of depth and perspective – well, not quite but there was a landslide at the start of the film where the rocks appeared to fly out of the screen. Sadly none of the other effects quite lived up to that. Pere Ubu’s score was suitably mysterious and other worldy and there were some amusing narrative interjections from David Thomas as well as manipulation of the voice track with delay effects and repetition. The film itself was pretty dire even by B-movie standards but the audience seemed to enjoy themselves and it was a fun start to the evening.
The Prunes were headlining and sadly half the audience (the venue had been packed for the film) left before they came on stage. This was only their second visit to the UK, the first being 35 years ago in 1967, and though the years had taken their toll appearance-wise they actually played a rather entertaining set (if you didn’t mind a bit of nostalgia), their rather heavy-handed version of “The Great Banana Hoax” aside. There were some spirited renditions of old favourites such as “Too Much To Deam”, “Long Day’s Flight”, “Hideaway” and the set closing “Get Me To The World On Time” with great trademark psychedelic guitar work. It was just a pity that they weren’t booked to play a smaller venue where there would have been a better atmosphere. The band seemed genuinely excited to be playing in London again after so many years, even to the point of turning up in the foyer afterwards to talk to fans.
If you want to check out what they sounded like at the height of their powers, find a copy of the "Stockholm 67" CD - a fine testament to a great band!
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| [posted in Angel :: London at 14:54] |
Knowledge is power
Friend of The Apostles and seasoned aural adventurer Dave Golightly has recently returned from a jaunt round the Baltic. He has kindly written a piece for the Knowledge section of the site so you too may learn more of some of the musical delights and horrors he encountered.
If you have knowledge to impart on a subject of your choice then please get in touch. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 10:07] |
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
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Coxoff
Is it just me or is everyone else totally bored with that bloke from Blur moaning on about how he isn't friends with the rest of them anymore? The poor sod is all upset 'cause being in a pop group turned out not to be fun after all and signing a big bucks deal with a record company had a commercial angle he didn't like. Yawn. Still it seems his new found independence has prompted an admirable degree of self analysis as he recently told someone from The Scotsman: "I realise that I’ve been an arsehole for a long, long time."
Perhaps the final word on the subject should come from Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai who no doubt will be gutted to hear about whatshisnames departure:-
"We decided to proclaim our dislike of one of the weakest bands on the planet. The thing about the shirt is it's like a dictionary definition. 'Blur: Are Shite'. It's factual and if there's any legal problems about it I'll go to court as someone who has studied music so I can prove they are shite." |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 20:27] |
Australia House Summer
As the northern hemisphere slips into darkness for six months .. house lovers.. should head south. Sydney has never really given up on the sound. The first of the december and january events are hitting the street press.
In the Domain next to the city on new year's day fuzzy are presenting their ever expanding summer do. This year we've got Felix Da Housecat back for the second time in 6 months. Plump DJ's, Scratch Perverts and Dimitri From Paris.
Mobile Home have had to move from their Bondi Beach home to Wharf 3 at Millers Point on the harbour for their NYE party, not such a bad move as the punters will get a free firework show thrown in for the bargain, again the house sound rules the roost with Roger Sanchez and Basement Jaxx on the decks.
If neither of these take your fancy you could hope and pray that Sugar Ray decides to resurrect his famous Love parties of the early nineties to earn some $'s ... at these parties the house boys and girls actually look good at 5 in the morning... well... bar the few geezers with the ben sherman's and suede cuts that you'll find propping up the bar.
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 08:03] |
Sunday, October 13, 2002
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Cross talk
In 1969, Arthur Blessitt heard JC say that he wanted him to "Carry the cross on foot - identify my message in the highways, roadsides, where the people are' - so he did, and so far has clocked up 35,000 miles. Here are some handy hints from the man himself on making an cross that is suitably hard wearing whilst also being compliant with international airline regulations. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 16:11] |
Beatboxing clever
Those of the readership in New York or with access to a reasonable internet connection may be interested in the first of a regular series of Urban A cappella: Beatboxing and The Art of Spoken Word gigs at CBGB - which are also being streamed live. The series is created, produced and hosted by Kid Lucky and each set will pair a beatboxer and spoken word artist together. Tuesday also features a guest appearance from original beatboxer Doug E Fresh. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 16:00] |
Saturday, October 12, 2002
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Countdown
As all time top 100 singles listings go this one is pretty eclectic - still what else would you expect from the consumer nostalgia fest that is TV Cream. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 09:57] |
Friday, October 11, 2002
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Where Art Politics & the Web Collide .
Check the intro to the site for the new Mike Moore movie
Great use of Camper Van Beethoven lyrics mixed with some increasingly serious politics, given this week's events around Washington DC.
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 09:04] |
Thursday, October 10, 2002
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Captain Beefheart meets Captain Pugwash Uptown
The Coral defy easy categorisation and the fact that they work at all is a cause for some celebration. If DJ culture has familiarised us with genres based entirely on thievery it probably hasn’t prepared us for a group of Scouse teenagers doing the same with most of the twentieth century’s popular forms of music. You can't help wonder if they'd imbibed Syd Barrett with their mother's milk? It’s all here from psychedelia to east European folk via reggae. The intentions were clear from the booming dub-plates that echoed 'round the dance floor prior to their appearance.
Truth be told, it’s all a bit “Brand New You’re Retro” but I have to admit by being seduced by the scam. It’s reminiscent of a time when Liverpool led the nations musical tastes by dint of the docks receiving the shipments of American Blues and R’n’B vinyl before the rest of the country. Consciously, or otherwise, The Coral play up to this heritage with their name and lyrics riddled with mentions of pirates, galleons and buried treasure. And given years of the blanding out of culture give me a few awkward buggers, with regional accents you can cut bread with, and I’m a happy punter.
Live, you get their debut CD performed with a pleasing vim. They battled against the cramped stage and muddy sound to produce a couple of polished gems, Goodbye sounded particularly fine but the schoolyard rhymes of Simon Diamond swept all before. “Started out as Simon Russell/ Lived his life inside a nutshell”. Profound, eh? The crowd lapped it up and though the older ones amongst them may have been muttering “seen it all before” when it’s as invigorating as this, who cares?
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| [posted in Lancashire :: UK at 14:50] |
News For Insipid Soul Lovers
Jamiroquai is to play the Sydney Opera House forecourt in a very special one off.Jay Kay and his guys will be the first international act to perform as part of the Forecourt's Opening Season on Friday November 15.
Losers who like this sort of gumph can book at the Opera House
We are told there is standing room only ... this is a bit of a difficult one for all those industry types... who we note... normally like to sit down at these pop concert things.
For some reason unbeknown to this apostle J has a rather large fanbase of 20 something skinny model type girls here in Sydney so expect a lot of pouting and preening if you attend this one
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 08:09] |
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
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Lathe(r) of love
In need of some lathe cut vinyl to launch your newly minted masterpiece on an unsuspecting world? Peter King Record Manufacturing in New Zealand will produce quantities from 20 upwards in a range of sizes, shapes and colours for very reasonable rates. They also ship world wide and keep an impressive list of who has used their service for all those with completists tendancies. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 17:37] |
Indie Nostalgia
Want that old Jasmine Minks track you admired in somebody's flat when at university?
Well, 21st century technology and plain old fashioned trainspotting attitude combine at this site/blog which allows you to download them along with early primals, bogshed and other peelie favourites from mid to late eighties.
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 05:53] |
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
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Expanding new media
In a bid to escape the pitfalls of dealing with record labels, distributors 'or other middlemen' the ever inventive Einstürzende Neubauten have decided to try and establish a direct relationship with their listeners by asking for a one-time donation of $35 to help make the next album. Those deciding to become official Neubauten supporters will get a copy of the finished CD plus a chance to watch from the sidelines as the record takes shape (and maybe even toss in the odd suggestion or two). To facilitate this the Neubauten studio has been equipped with broadband access and multiple cameras so that interested supporters (and jet engine enthusiasts) can watch the creative process up close.
The group have also embarked upon a comprehensive move towards using digital downloads as a means of making their back catalogue available. At the moment this involves four of their albums from the ‘80s (Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T. through Haus der Lüge) but will eventually include the entire recorded output of the group. Users can download entire albums or make up their own best of compilation by picking out tracks (charged at $0.25 a minute).
The 12 Apostles salute their ingenuity, commitment to their muse and enthusiasm for embracing the internet as an opportunity rather than a threat. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 13:19] |
Monday, October 07, 2002
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Hammer of the moggies
Seems like all those media reports of the demise of kitten rock were premature 'cause it is alive and well here and here. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 16:21] |
Marc Anthony Live NYC
An infrequent cultural update from our other NYC correspondent F.Lo
Here's what I got for you, to establish beyond any doubt that i'm the coolest of the cool.
Upon my return to nyc the very first thing i did was to go to a Marc Anthony concert at Madison Square Garden. Yep ..you read it right. It was a cultural experience. Not one word of english was spoken the entire evening and the warm up band Carlos Vivas (Columbian) bus had broken down, so the headliner came on at around 9:30.
Got off at around 11:00. then the warm up band came on at around 11:30 ish. And Marc finished at around 1. Most of my friends, with whom i had gone, gave out and left early. But this apostle stayed all the way through, especially since carlos vivas is one of my favorite artists. I made friends with many young Columbian men. boogied my butt off. it was a blast.
I still have no idea what exactly was said during the show. One of my friends said, "my favorite part of the show was when marc anthony started crying." Which he did because everyone was going so totally crazy over him. As you know there are many many Puerto Ricans in nyc and he's like a national hero and stuff.
Here endeth the lesson.. |
| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 08:49] |
Saturday, October 05, 2002
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New noise
Magh has "ambient minimal noise lowercase material from analogue and concrete sources, digitally processed and published in a lowercode aestethics" all released under the open content licence (OCL) and freely available for download, copying, redistribution, and modification. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 09:11] |
This is Serious Mum.
A night of student union frippery at the Metro in Sydney begins with local band The Drugs. Looking like the lost rejects from a White Castles burger shop the band jumped around the stage threw a few chunky publand guitar moves, most of which were out of tune as they had to pull in a replacement rhythm guitarist 3 songs into the set because the original had broken his ankle just beforehand.
This apostle ever happy to praise local outfits was wanting this lot to be good, having seen their penchant for dressing up in NSW police uniforms in the past. But… even a case of VB and a disco biscuit couldn’t have improved their execution of the set… shouty shouty bit, guitar bit, keyboard bit and bang thrash on the drums do not a band make.
At 11pm it’s time for the guys who’ve been doing it properly since 1982. OK the songs are a bit basic and the liberal use of the words wanker and fuck can tend to grate, but they certainly know how to put on a good show with a minimal budget.
TISM appear wearing their trademark SAS uniforms and Balaclavas, each sporting a gilt framed picture of themselves in said balaclava’s on their heads. Every song is accompanied by frenzied badly executed boy band moves in agit p®op style. What’s great about this lot is that they are a band for the people, ever happy to crowd surf and dance their way through the sell out venue. Outside Australia nobody will have an idea who these guys are but in the metro everybody knew all the words. And when everybody’s singing , I’m on the drugs that killed River Phoenix, what more could you ask for.
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| [posted in Bondi :: Sydney at 03:59] |
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
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Dow Jones is big leggy
Here at the Apostles our minds often turn to the fate of those who's 15 minutes of pop fame is well and truly over. Where are they now? Are they getting on okay? Do they miss the Top of The Pops dressing room and the Saturday Morning kids TV appearances?
This week's Sunday Times shed some light on the current whereabouts of the third of 1980s pop duo Haysi Fantayzee that didn't go on to become DJ superstar Jeremy Healy or fashion photographer Kate Garner. Paul Caplin now runs Caplin Systems which supplies real-time data to financial institutions and markets including JP Morgan Chase, UBS Warburg, Dow Jones and Nasdaq. Readers will, no doubt, be please to know that despite the current dire state of many technology companies Caplin Systems' sales have grown 306% a year since 1999 to £4.8m last year. |
| [posted in Bow :: London at 10:20] |
Move Over Big Sister
Sometimes Apostles find their minds wandering aimlessly for days, weeks, even months waiting for some event to pull them out of the creative void. Well that happened today with a bang in downtown New York when Jack and Meg White, aka The White Stripes, served up a noisy feast for me and the rest of Union Square's lunch time crowd. It's easy to take living in Manhattan and its musical diversity for granted, but special treats like this, which just face it aren't going to happen in many towns, provide a reminder of how lucky we are.
The band hit the stage at the stroke of 12 and filled their permitted 60 minutes with the usual mix of new tunes and old plus their shambolic rendition of country classic Jolene. There's something refreshing about the sound of feedback piercing a deep blue October sky instead of resonating through a smoke-filled hall. The early start, urban surroundings and mix of fans and passers ensured a different atmosphere than the White Stripes are used to but Jack seemed to enjoy himself as did the 2,000 plus who attended the free gig, only announced yesterday via Internet mailing lists and the band's web site. The only sour note of the day was when some little power merchant pulled the plug halfway through the last number at 1pm sharp. Jack of course finished the song unplugged.
The White Stripes are going places and deservedly so. Today's gig will have brought in a few more converts and earned a wider praise than that from an already adoring music press. Winning those MTV Video Music Awards won't have harmed their prospects either. Bottom line though, Jack's the man. He looks and sounds like a rock n roll star and a glimpse of how great he could be was afforded to those of us lucky enough to catch him jamming with The Strokes earlier this year at Radio City Music Hall. The contrast to earlier that evening was all too obvious when he and Meg looked, and dare I say sounded, totally lost in the vast splendor of the legendary arena. This man needs a band so eventually you're going to have to move over big sister.
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| [posted in Manhattan :: New York at 02:32] |
