Kraftwerk release "interactive 24-hour music generator" iPhone/iPad app; Florian Schneider must be one angry bird

By Squeo on

Kraftwerk release "interactive 24-hour music generator" iPhone/iPad app; Florian Schneider must be one angry bird

Kraftwerk: electronic music pioneers, visionary artists, and now app developers??

Sorry, I always wanted to start off a story like that. Anyway, Kling Klang Machine — No. 1 has just been released on the iTunes Store, and it’s just like any other iPhone/iPad app, except this one was created by the holy grandfathers of mathematical rhythmic sound. For $8.99, you can roam around your environs with the Kling Klang Machine booted up and marvel as it “creates music and sound based on realtime data depending on your location.” Hear that, residents of Funky Town?

If you’d like more information, you probably won’t find it in this exceedingly confusing list of features:

1. WORLD TIME ZONE MAP
24 hours automated music

2. INTERACTIVE CONTROL
Bidirectional cross line: tempo and tune of sound
Zoom: room – sound – effect
Save: 2 memory locations for control settings
Reset: All settings back to default

3. MATRIX
Auto: Matrix sequence – variation after 16 steps
Loop: 16 step sequence in a loop
Clear: Clear matrix
Save: 2 memory locations for sequencer

4. MIXER
Direct access to all parameters through direct controls
Save: 2 memory locations for controller settings
Reset: All settings back to default

Other than the revolutionary “Reset” button detailed above, this app might seem a little gimmicky to the average Kraftwerk fan, and a little light on actual user interactivity. However, prepare to have your presumptions shattered and your mind blown as I present to you two Krafticized songs created with the Kling Klang Machine, courtesy of SoundCloud user Dr. Nemmo.

Blur’s “Song 2”:

The Guess Who/Sir Lenny Kravitz’s “American Woman”:

I dare you to listen to those without smiling.

• Kraftwerk: http://www.kraftwerk.com

RIP: MC Smiley Culture, reggae singer and DJ

By Shane Mack on Mar 16 2011

From The Quietus:

UK dancehall MC Smiley Culture, born David Emmanuel in 1960s south London, has died in his Surrey home following a police raid aged 47.

His was a style that predicted the lingo-clash of assimilated black London MCs such as Roots Manuva and Dizzee Rascal. He was best known for his two hits, ‘Cockney Translation’ and (the now horribly ironically-titled) ‘Police Officer’, which famously smuggled fabric-of-nation-exploding words such as “sensimilia” and “ganja” onto BBC airwaves, hiding them from the ears of besuited folk using the speed and thickness of his delivery.

According to The Voice, a spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission confirmed they were now investigating a “death following police contact”. He was due to face trial after being charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine last September.

• MC Smiley Culture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiley_Culture

Arthur magazine ceases publication

By Mango Starr on Mar 15 2011

According to Arthur’s website:

After years of service, Arthur departed the material plane today.

He died as he lived — free, high and a-dreaming of love, ‘neath vultures’ terrible gaze.

Thank you, and love to all.

INDEED: Arthur magazine has left the tangible world today. It passed away the same way as it lived — inexpensive, tall, and ruminating on relationships, something-something-I-don’t-get-it.

• Arthur: http://www.arthurmag.com

Chad VanGaalen titles new album Diaper Island; toddlercore sweeps the nation

By Annapocalypse on Mar 15 2011

When Chad VanGaalen locks himself up in his home in Calgary to work on a new record, he has the tendency to go a little crazy after cutting himself off from human contact for so long. Case in point: his new idea to make toddlercore as big a musical genre as chillwave. VanGaalen’s first step in achieving his dream is titling his new album Diaper Island, which is due out on May 17 via Sub Pop. It’s not clear what toddlercore actually sounds like, but VanGaalen has hinted that it will revolve around experimental sounds (e.g. babies crying) and lots of percussion (e.g. babies banging on things). He also claims that Diaper Island is the closest he has come to making a rock album, but I think that’s just code for more baby tears.

Diaper Island tracklisting:

01. Do Not Fear
02. Peace on the Rise
03. Burning Photographs
04. Heavy Stones
05. Sara
06. Replace Me
07. Blonde Hash
08. Freedom for a Policeman
09. Can You Believe It!?
10. Wandering Spirits
11. No Panic / No Heat
12. Shave My Pussy

One lonely tourdate:

04.01.11 - Saskatoon, SK - Christ Church

• Chad VanGaalen: http://www.chadvangaalen.com
• Sub Pop: http://www.subpop.com

RIP: Joe Morello, jazz drummer

By Shane Mack on Mar 15 2011

From The New York Times:

Joe Morello, a jazz drummer whose elegant, economical playing in the Dave Brubeck Quartet sounded natural and effortless even in unusual time signatures, died on Saturday at his home in Irvington, N.J. He was 82.

His death was announced on his Web site, joemorello.net. No cause was given.

Mr. Morello was most famous for his tenure in Mr. Brubeck’s band, in which he was engaged initially for a brief tour in 1955. He became a member in late 1956, and remained until the group disbanded at the end of 1967.

• Joe Morello: http://www.joemorello.net

[Photo: dontworry]

Thom Yorke, Burial, Four Tet team up for split 12-inch, Richard D. James still unimpressed

By Nobodaddy on Mar 15 2011

Okay, so here’s where things are at currently: Radiohead’s Thom Yorke is like, totally prepared to leave his wife, kids, band, and whatever else if only Aphex Twin’s Richard D. James would reciprocate his love and agree to run off with him to live in a grass hut by the sea in Cornwall so the two of them can just, you know, lick each others’ windows for ever and ever. He has done all his homework, boning up on the Warp stuff and incorporating “skittering electronics” into all of his bullshit, U2 anthems to class them up some. He has totally reenacted the “Come to Daddy” video in its entirety using only his MacBook’s camera and Photo Booth effects.

And now, he’s even gone so far as to team up with reigning electronic badass Four Tet and the mysterious dubstep kingpin Burial for a new 12-inch single, to be released on Four Tet’s own Text label. The A-side is called “Ego,” while the AA-side is “Mirror” (ain’t no such thing as a “B-side” when your crew is freakin’ Burial, Four Tet, and Thom Yorke, duh).

Will this hip collaboration finally win Thom the respect of his longtime crush? Perhaps it depends on how badass the recordings end up. Luckily, (according to Pitchfork), we’ll all get a chance to judge for ourselves when both sides air tonight at 11:00 PM GMT, on UK radio station Rinse FM during a Four Tet session with Britain’s most nerdily-monikered DJ: Floating Points. So, Richard, if you’re listening….

• Thom Yorke: http://www.myspace.com/thomyorkemusic
• Four Tet: http://www.fourtet.net/
• Burial: http://www.myspace.com/burialuk
• Text: http://www.boomkat.com/labels/?id=2477
• RinseFM: http://rinse.fm

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