Hell Toupee

6th Nov 2012 | 1 note

“Pearline”, by Dorian Wood, is one of my favorite songs in the entire world.

In this recording of Pearline, Dorian has crafted an artistic achievement that penetrates right into the center of my heart with a warmth and gravity I cannot describe. What is more, I am honored to have contributed to the making of this music. Indeed, some of the low, sustained humming sounds you hear throughout are the reeds of my accordion. Never mind this detail, however.

I simply want to share this song with you because it is a work of utterly humbling and stunning beauty. And because words fail me. After all, is that not the value of deep listening? To be rendered speechless?

Stop what you are doing. Listen…

dorianwood:

The “Pearline” EP is out now! Listen/download here: http://dorianwood.bandcamp.com/album/pearline-ep

also available on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pearline-single/id583132613

16th Jul 2012

~~Song~~ Sound of the ~~Day~~ Night: Conet Project - “2 Voices in One Transmission”

Here is some truly mysterious and potentially chilling insomnia listening. As an exercise, I recommend putting this recording of a short-wave radio transmission on late at night, alone in a dimly-lit room. Then imagine the circumstances under which the recording you hear was originally received. Then, think about all the secrets you are keeping. Compare and contrast.

“For more than 30 years the short-wave radio spectrum has been used by the worlds intelligence agencies to transmit secret messages. These messages are transmitted by hundreds of Numbers Stations.

Shortwave Numbers Stations are a perfect method of anonymous, one-way communication. Spies located anywhere in the world can be communicated to by their masters via small, locally available, and unmodified Shortwave receivers. The encryption system used by Numbers Stations, known as a one time pad, is unbreakable….

These stations use very rigid schedules, and transmit in many different languages, employing male and female voices repeating strings of numbers or phonetic letters day and night, all year round.” - from archive.org

Irdial Discs has made available the entire 4CD compilation this selection is taken from - called The Conet Project - available for free download here: www.archive.org/details/ird059 and here: irdial.hyperreal.org/. Enjoy.

Conet Project—2 Voices in One Transmission

15th Jul 2012

~~Song~~ Sound of the Day: Jim Wilson - “God’s Cricket Chorus” (excerpt)

The ethereal, ghostly choral sounds you hear in the background are crickets.

Yes, crickets*.

Apparently the only manipulation made is that the recording of these crickets has been slowed down significantly. And overlaid we simply hear the sound of crickets at normal playback speed. This piece provided the background of Robbie Robertson’s composition “Twisted Hair” from Music for The Native Americans.

*the whole truth of this claim is the matter of some debate. There is no shortage of religious and new-age sites sharing versions of this track, adding more unconfirmed details and conjecture to the story; as well as detractors and naysayers in the associated comments sections. However, opera singer Bonnie Jo Hunt, who sings on “Twisted Hair” confirmed on NPR’s Hearing Voices in 2004 that these are indeed crickets chirping with the pitch slowed down considerably in the studio. In addition, Robbie Robertson confirmed the claim on his Facebook page as well. And as if these insects weren’t fascinating enough, it’s also true that the temperature outdoors can also be determined by counting cricket chirps.

Jim Wilson—God's Cricket Chorus

5th Jul 2012

Song of the Day - Total Control - “Carpet Rash”

I have had this entire album on repeat for days now. For those of you who don’t know, I practically never do this. However, only rarely a band or a song will strike a nerve and then I will spend long hours indulging in it, taking care not to wear out the effect. Perhaps I am trying to find the source of the internal zeitgeist with which the music is resonating within myself or else immersing my imagination into the total sonic world the musicians have created… or perhaps it’s just really fucking good. This one taps all three…

Full album available here: ironlungpv.bandcamp.com/album/henge-beat-lp

20th Jun 2012

Los Angeles Theater ceiling self portrait. June 13, 2012.

20th Jun 2012 | 2 notes

i heard tapping on the ceiling at my office today and this is what i saw when i looked up

5th Jun 2012

Venus transit self-portrait on cardboard
June 5, 2012

3rd May 2012

Song of the Day - Man Man “Oh, La Brea”

This is my new theme song for the sunny daze here in L.A. I spent a lot of time at the tar pits when I was a kid (which led to an interest in pre-history, archaeology, and weird megafauna). That Man Man wrote an ode to this beautiful wondrous city with the tar pits as a central theme endears them to me forever. And even though I’m allergic, sabre-tooth cats are the coolest fucking predators ever.

25th Apr 2012

Song of the Day: The Cramps - “Thee Most Exalted Potentate of Love”

I recently became an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church so I could marry my friends. People have been asking me how I wish to be addressed. Rather than Reverend, Pastor, or Father Savvy, I think I prefer to invoke Lux here and be called “Most Exalted Potentate of Love”.

13th Feb 2012

Song of the day: Wugazi - “Nowhere to Wait”

The Wugazi project is brilliant, no doubt. However, this particular track has an indescribable amount of energy. Every time I listen to it, I get the same rush of excitement and chills I did when I first heard Fugazi - unremixed - 20 odd years ago.

Get the full album for free download here.