Tribe Blog (older).

moving on over...

solsken — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:17:54 GMT

...just started setting up a new Wordpress site which will become my main blog: http://www.solsken.com/blog Feel free to poke around as it changes! This new blog will still feed into my Tribe page too. If I forgot you on my blogroll, send me a shout!

crazy midiGUN!

solsken — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:53:46 GMT

Shhoooo -- I've never laughed so much at audio hardware!!! Check out this midiGUN: it's a midi controller designed to be held like a hand-held weapon to be used with Ableton Live, Traktor DJ, and other audio software. The midiGUN comes with 16 controllers which you can program in 16 different sets, a mini 2-D joystick and even a laserbeam which you can shoot at your "audience" while shaking in front of your computer... enjoy! More action shots here: http://www.midigun.com/midiGunchart.htm

New Overlap last.fm group

solsken — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:05:08 GMT

I've created a new Overlap group on last.fm: http://www.last.fm/group/Overlap/ Come join us as we begin scrobbling our very own crazy music charts :D If you haven't heard of last.fm, It's quite possibly one of the greatest social music websites online... well worth checking out!

Pocket Pet = Yummy.

solsken — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 01:22:55 GMT

I've been loving the new stuff by Pocket Pet, David Last's side project with Segeke. "Shaky Hands" from the WeSendIt EP is especially conducive to serious dancefloor convulsions and ass-jiggling. You can preview the track at Goosehound's website, http://www.goosehound.com. Then run and buy it!!

Remix for Steve Reich!

solsken — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 21:47:23 GMT

Legendary experimental composer Steve Reich continues to ring in his 70th birthday year with a series of live performances and new works. As part of the "Steve Reich@70" celebration, Reich will return to New York this fall with an entire month of premiere performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. The first event, a dance-music collaborative double bill with the Rosas and Akram Khan Companies, will take place at BAM on his birthday, October 3. Events will conclude on November 4. In the meantime, Reich invites *you* to participate, too. The Breezeblock, BBC Radio 1's popular electronic music show, is hosting a remix competition for his upcoming 'Music For 18 Musicians'. Reich will select the winning track, which will be featured with remixes by Alex Smoke and Four Tet. You can download the track here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/exposed/stevereich.shtml More info at http://www.stevereich.com/

Matthew Barney, Bjork, Matmos and Wobbly @ SFMOMA

solsken — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:44:17 GMT

Despite (or perhaps in spite of) an ongoing migraine, I caught the artist's reception for Matthew Barney's DRAWING RESTRAINT exhibition at the SFMOMA last night. We arrived early at 6 pm to preview the exhibition on the fourth floor, catch some tunes by friends and mingle amongst the art critics, press, socialites and trashily chic hipsters. Twas a much more casual affair than his earlier NYC opening at the Guggenheim; the crowd seemed decidedly more diverse, though the buzz around the opening still felt electric. Barney's new material was smaller in scope and more conservative than his Cremaster efforts. He continued the same motifs from the Cremaster cycle, including the animalistic references, photographs and large-scale thermo-plastic and self-lubricating plastic installations. While some of his sketches and photo work were beautiful, I left feeling rather unmoved by the collection; once I see the new film in full, I'll report back with further thoughts. Barney appeared virtually unchanged from the last time I saw him, nonplussed and ready for the adoring crowd. Bjork and her equally vivacious daughter, appropriately dressed in a little white tux, strolled around with a smaller coterie of fab friends. She looked adorable in a white floral chiffon gown and red platform boots. She offered me a wink too! In the loo, I caught sight of a woman dressed in full kimono, dancing and singing to Bjork's "Big Time Sensuality" on top of the sink bar while a friend videotaped her in the mirror. It reminded me of the other fan(atic)s who seemed to pull all stops for her arrival... and how Bjork always manages to create such a stir! Wobbly, hilarious as ever, whipped up a great DJ set with his 4 CDJs, mixing derelict opera with dreamier stuff. Matmos performed new material, with Martin playing a tuning fork over dry ice while Drew tweaked the knobs, playing a singing bowl and a small xylophone. J Lesser played bass with them and showed off his Dave Smith Evolver #9 to us. Also briefly chatted with Overlap artist bLevin bLectum, who's still in vet school and looking great... and ran into other creative peeps, like Nate, Solar, Chris, Giamma, Violet, Matt, and Latrice. Due to my ailing head, I went home after the opening, but David and other invited friends went onto the Stud where Bjork and Matthew carried on the party with laptop DJ sets. Apparently the intended small circle of friends mushroomed into a max-packed night as folks hurried to call and invite their friends to come over.

Matmos @ SFAI

solsken — Sun, 14 May 2006 03:30:17 GMT

Richard Chartier (L-ne/12K/Raster-Noten) and Matmos performed in a live outdoor show at the SF Art Institute yesterday. Chartier performed a lovely ambient soundscape which seriously mellowed the crowd out, enhanced by the passing of birds in the air and white noise from the neighborhood. Then Matmos picked things up as they played material from their newly released album, "The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth Of A Beast." Matmos was joined by Martin's SFAI students -- aka the New Genres Orchestra -- who lined the balcony above. While Drew tweaked the electronics, Martin donned a pair of long gloves and played a cow's uterus (!) with a vacuum tube, chimes, percussive hand instruments, drums and a horn. The students chanted, drummed, blew through tubes and rocked rose bouquets until the petals, bloom heads and leaves fell like confetti onto the band and audience below. Twas a lovely sight to behold, especially on a sunny Friday afternoon in San Francisco! Fellow Overlap video artist Nate Boyce joined Matmos for a bit of drumming before the group finished with a superb space-disco piece. Run and pick up your copy of the new album -- it's fantastic. Former collaborators like Bjork also appear on the album's title track, which is dedicated to Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Goldfrapp rocked.

solsken — Tue, 09 May 2006 18:36:12 GMT

Caught the lovely Alison Goldfrapp yesterdy at the Fillmore here in San Francisco -- ooh la la. Her sweetly gorgeously voice and cool sass definitely impressed, from her opening "Utopia" and "Lovely Head" to SUPERNATURE's latest club hits. The night was one part glam, one part camp, and umpteen parts pure fun. Miss G. was flanked by two dancers on stage; together, they rocked crazy costume changes as much as they did the packed house, which included what seemed like the entire gay population of San Francisco! A group of white jumpsuit-clad bears jumped up and down next to us while Jesus joined us from above... yes indeed, Goldfrapp's dancing violinist/guitarist/back up vocalist looked very much like Christ himself, with long stringy hair and beard, flowing robes and a gargantuan 80's-style synth guitar. There wasn't a moment when my ass wasn't a-shaking with the rest of the boys. As DJ Mak says, 'twas "high drama" -- at its very best.

Jan Jelinek in SF

solsken — Sat, 06 May 2006 04:24:41 GMT

One of my favorite Berlin-based producers, Jan Jelinek (aka Farben!), will swing by San Francisco for his Kosmischer Pitch album (from the esteemed ~scape label). Quite possibly one of the most exciting shows of the year: Jan Jelinek Thursday, June 1, 2006 Boca San Francisco http://www.janjelinek.com/ http://www.scape-music.de/

LISTEN 02.

solsken — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 03:51:17 GMT

Overlap.org Presents LISTEN April 28th, 2006 - 8-10pm June 23rd 2006 – 8-10pm Admission: $10 in advance, $12 day of event. Studio Rasa 933 Parker St. Berkeley, CA LISTEN is a new audio series that will explore the art of intense listening. In collaboration with Audio Rasa and Overlap.org, Christopher Willits has commissioned * unreleased * sound works from an international pool of acclaimed contemporary sound makers. These unique recordings will be amplified within the beautiful Studio Rasa in Berkeley CA. Come prepared to tune in and zone out. April 28th 2006 Frank Bretschneider Sebastien Roux Taylor Deupree Kenneth Kirschner Strategy June 23rd 2006 Keiichi Sugimoto Gregg Kowalsky Greg Davis Sawako

NYC Moments.

solsken — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 17:34:09 GMT

Got to NYC yesterday -- stayed up all night with Dana and Tara. Snippets from our conversation: Jimmy Carter says yes. Green fingernails need you... The humpty dance rocks eggs. But few other things, mind you, like tubs of vasoline. Waking up in a pickle barrel house with leaves falling on the skylight over your head... then bonking your head on the curved roof. Russian Pig Olympics! Moments most missed: licking the back of a postage stamp right before mailing a letter to a friend. They were wrong - learning math did NOT matter! Check out Amadou and Miriam - cute blind couple from Mali, produced by Manu Chao There IS such a thing as cat scratch fever. Happypot cookies that you freeze, not bake. Vintage shopping in Chelsea is the perfect antidote to rainy Sunday afternoons in NYC. And a cuppa coffee at Push Cafe. :-) Feels good to be back in NYC.

In Philadelphia.

solsken — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:10:51 GMT

I'm back in Philly, where the cherry trees are in full bloom and spring is at its lovely best. It's nice to reconnnect with old friends as we set up for Arts In Motion's show tonight at the Trinity Center -- a mix of classical fusion with electronic composition guided by 3-D synchronous music visualization projections across the hall. Then off to Fluid for late night electro dancing @ Sex Dwarf! http://artsinmotion.org/ http://www.fluidnightclub.com/

OVERLAP 02

solsken — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 00:32:53 GMT

Hello dear friends, I'm very excited to share with you OVERLAP 02! Come out, and bring friends witcha for a merry evening of experimental music, dance and performance art hailing from the Bay Area, Berlin and Japan. Also Greg's album release for Kranky! Live sets by: Wobbly (Tigerbeat6) http://www.detritus.net/wobbly/ - Kyoka (from Groopies, Japan) + Christopher Willits http://www.myspace.com/kyoka http://www.myspace.com/groopies - Yuko Kaseki (experimental dance performance, Berlin) http://www.cokaseki.com/ - Gregg Kowalsky (Kranky) http://www.kranky.net/artists/kowalskyg.html - The Hemlock Tavern 1131 Polk Street (between Post and Sutter) San Francisco, CA $10 http://overlap.org http://upcoming.org/event/64428/

Of DMV Hell, FoundSound and Thai Elephant Bathtubs.

solsken — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 19:03:02 GMT

Went to the DMV yesterday to finally switch over my driver's license to California. The entrance was prominently marked with a graf tag that read, "DMV IS HELL," which was clearly legible from afar despite repainting. It actually wasn't so bad, even if I did have to take a written exam again (and only missed 2 questions!) 'Twas funny how the peeps there still had record of my original license for which I had applied when I was 16, so I received my old CA license number back!! Also this week, I've been hanging out w/ Danish designers from Jutland, listening to new FoundSound material (straight outta Philadelphia), and in general feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. Oh yes, and I had weird dreams about rolling in mud with lots of lemons and chasing small teddy bears with bowties and hats around corners... If you ever wander down to South Park, be sure to check out Koh Samui & the Monkey and order tea. The tea will arrive with celadon-colored drinking bowls with carved elephant handles. The tea-drinking experience is, according to Bigfoot, "like drinking bathwater from bathtubs made for baby elephants." Yummy.

Resale of Vintage Synths Banned in Japan.

solsken — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 23:00:25 GMT

Sad news for vintage gearheads: as of April 1, 2006, the Japanese government has banned the resale of vintage synthesizers (and any electrical appliance, for that matter) manufactured before 2001. The new Product Safety of Electrical Appliance and Material Law allows owners of electronics produced prior to 2001 to continue using their equipment. However, individual who sell older gear without a PSE sticker can face fines up to 300,000 yen (approximately $2,600 USD). Businesses face even steeper penalties of up to 1 million yen. Musicians, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, are circulating a petition opposing it: http://www.petitiononline.com/norikok/petition.html

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec.

solsken — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 07:33:15 GMT

The two irresistible brothers have unveiled yet another fabulous creation! Perhaps inspired by Interface's mix-and-match FLOR tile system, the French design team created flexible foam and fabric units which can be linked together to form wall coverings. Image shown above is from the Kvadrat showroom in Stockholm. More photos in my photo gallery... www.bouroullec.com/

Bday party tonight

solsken — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:51:53 GMT

A bunch of us are going to Kiji tonight for dinner @ 7:30 -- afterward, I invite you to a light gathering of friends, both old and new, at my flat just up the hill until the wee hours. I'll have some beer, snacks, and open turntables... I'd encourage you to bring your lovely selves and perhaps consider also bringing friends, records, CDs, any beverages you'd like to consume... If you're interested in dinner, pls. ping me by 5pm so I can give the restaurant a headsup. Bisous to you all!

Run, Kitty Run!

solsken — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:17:55 GMT

Much dancing and merry-making to be had tomorrow night... come to the very first OVERLAP show, and bring your friends too! The Hemlock Tavern February 18, 2006 9:30pm - 2am Live set by bLevin bLectum DJ set by Safety Scissors Solo set by Christopher Willits Flossin (Christopher Willits, Zach Hill, Kid606) Visuals by Nate Boyce website coming soon: www.overlap.org

Multi-Touch Interactive Environment

solsken — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 01:27:59 GMT

From my ever-insightful bro: http://mblog.lib.umich.edu/~rdivecha/archives/2006/02/the_world_of_sm.html

Matthew Barney @ SFMOMA

solsken — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 10:28:32 GMT

I'm elated to announce that the SFMOMA will soon welcome conceptual artist Matthew Barney's DRAWING RESTRAINT series. Video, photographs, and sculpture from parts 1-8 of the DRAWING RESTRAINT series will be featured. Highlights include Barney's latest film, DRAWING RESTRAINT 9, in which the artist explores the tension between his provocative, pomo-infused vision and Japanese tradition. Set aboard a whaling ship in Nagasaki, his vaseline sculptures also return in massive form, morphing as they chart the nearly silent dialogue between Barney and his co-star, the quintessential Björk. This will be only U.S. stop for the exhibition. Matthew Barney DRAWING RESTRAINT SFMOMA June 23 - September 17, 2006

Apollo Braun | Fashion Week NYC

solsken — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 01:05:41 GMT

Hey all you tragic hipsters (or $$ uptown hipster wannabes), NYC fashion designer extraordinaire Apollo Braun is hosting his biggest and baddest fashion show yet! For this Fashion Week 2006, his two fashion lines will be presented: the street-chic Apollo Braun line and the haute-couture Doron Braunshtein line. Promoted by party monster Toshi (www.toshifilm.com). Oh, and did I mention you can also party all night with the open bar...? Get your tix now: http://www.toshifilm.com/tickets/?prm=apollomusik@yahoo.com Friday, February 10th, 2006 10 pm The Puck Building, Grand Ballroom floor 295 Lafayette Street www.apollobraun.com

Bigfoot Love.

solsken — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 23:04:49 GMT

Leave it to the Canadians to find topics like naughty rodents or overgrown primates and whip them into addictive reading material. Graham Roumieu's latest work, Me Write Book: It Bigfoot Memoir, is the brilliant second installation by the popular (and misunderstood) recluse, chock full of gnarly humor and inventive illustrations. With an appropriate introduction from that other mysterious beast, Nessie of Loch Ness fame, the book includes a hand-clapping tablature for one of his endearing ballads as well as equally priceless descriptions of his rollicking days hanging with Chet Baker and Emilio Estevez. It's quite possibly the funniest narrative I've read this year, and friends with whom I've shared the story have also elicited "hootilicious" reactions. Roumieu has illustrated for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Harpers, Paper Mag, and perhaps most notably, Andrews McMeel's A Really Super Book About Squirrels... He lives in Toronto, is a Libra, and is easily annoyed. Bless his most noble heart. Run to Giant Robot for your own copy! http://roumieu.com/

King Henry VII, Macworld, and Net Tuesday

solsken — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 07:04:57 GMT

<geek> Yummm... King Henry VIII (pictured above), caught on 24th Street in Noe Valley. Sooo delicious I can't stop looking at him! Even yummier... Macworld. Will they finally unveil the new Intel iMacs or plasma displays? Triple the yum with Net Tuesday... swing by Varnish tomorrow (Tuesday) from 6-9 pm for drinks + chat with other techies and social changemakers. Deets/rsvp here: http://upcoming.org/event/47159/ </geek>

Foster + Partners announce Elephanthus

solsken — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 22:42:06 GMT

Yay... my best buddy Alexa has moved from Paris to London... congratulations darling. And she is going to work for Foster + Partners! Lo and behold, I just found out today that the British super design firm is working on an elephant house for the Copenhagen Zoo, which is set to be completed in 2007. Looks like there will be more of their gorgeous curved glass domes, much like the ones seen at the Reichstag in Berlin and the British Musuem in London... landscape design by Stig L. Andersson. Track of the day: Johan Skugge | "Voodoo Version" (Skyddsnisch EP)

Damien Hirst Picks Up A Castle.

solsken — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 23:22:23 GMT

Former Young British Artist Damien Hirst, renown for slicing up cows and sharks and presenting them in formaldehyde blocks, has snapped up a new home -- and it's as shocking as his art. Hirst's macabre aesthetic sensibility suits Toddington Manor, his new Gloucestershire residence. Built in the 19th-century gothic revival fashion, this 300-room mansion rests on a 124-acre estate and is believed to have inspired the Houses of Parliament in London. He plans to use his new digs as home base for his family -- he's married to Maia Norman, with whom he shares three sons -- as well as an art museum for his own and other artists' works. At a mere $5.4 million, this purchase was practically a steal. But it's no ordinary fixer-upper: vacant for 20 years, both the home and grounds have suffered from neglect and disrepair. According to the artist's spokesman, Hirst sees this property as a lifelong restoration project. It will certainly keep him busy; experts estimate $18 million in initial repairs, which will be conducted with the English Heritage.