BOOKS AND BLOOD

BOOKS & BLOOD MIXTAPE VOLUME II

2012-01-19T15:54:00.004-05:00

The Librarian has concocted yet another Books and Blood Mixtape for your listening pleasure. The mixtape acts as a reminder of 2011 and an introduction to 2012. Volume Two includes such artists as Blawn Baton, Iceage, Kuedo, Babe Rainbow, Bestial Mouths, and more.

DOWNLOAD [RIGHT CLICK / SAVE]

The Books & Blood Mixtape Series is also available from Citizen's Band - A Race Car Productions Podcast via iTunes.

Full Tracklist:

Austra - Beat and the Pulse

Bestial Mouths - Gulls

Ellie Herring - Crave Secrets

Iceage - White Rune

The Librarian - Red Letter (Reve Mosquito's 1979 Version)

Powwoww - Circle Dancer

HTRK - Bendin'

Blawn Baton - Paint Job (Encaved Remix)

Kuedo - Truth Flood

Prurient - Let's Make A Slave

Babe Rainbow - You'll Wanna Be

White Ring - Suffocation (Vitaminsforyou Remix)

Skeleton Hands - Ravage (The Librarian's Knife in the Back Remix)

Eats Everything - Whatever Whatever

Mater Suspiria Vision - The Afterlife (Hypnagogic Remix)

BOOKS & BLOOD MIXTAPE VOLUME I

2011-10-25T01:05:00.013-04:00

I am proud to present a new semi-regular Books and Blood Mixtape Series curated by your friend, The Librarian. Each volume will feature music from new underground artists as well as older classics. Volume One includes such artists as Gazelle Twin, Pictureplane, Ellie Herring, Bruno Pronsato, Skeleton Hands, and more.

DOWNLOAD [RIGHT CLICK / SAVE]

Full Tracklist:

Gazelle Twin - I Am Shell I Am Bone

The Librarian - Slow [Ellie Herring Remix]

†‡† - Laguna

HEALTH - Goth Star [Pictureplane Cover]

LA Vampires & Zola Jesus - Bone is Bloodstone

Cumbres Carrascosa - University Avenue

Pictureplane - Black Nails

Sutja Gutiérrez My Punk Is Alive [The Fruhstucks Cover Live]

M83 - Midnight City

Skeleton Hands - Dotted Lines

Zola Jesus - Vessel

Ellie Herring - It's Anytime You Go
Bruno Pronsato featuring Ninca Leece - Trio-Out

2011-04-06T00:55:00.006-04:00

In 1993, convicted murderer Joseph Paul Jernigan was executed and his body was donated to science. The cadaver was thinly cut, and 1,871 slices of Joseph were digitized and animated for the Visible Human Project. Croix Gagnon and Frank Schot recently reconstructed him as a 3D phantom in long-exposure photographs. The photos were created with a laptop playing the animation on fullscreen, moved slowly in darkly-lit scenes. Beautiful and haunting, the project is entitled 12:31 [http://www.project1231.com].

Mark 12:31, "The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

Bees Blade

2011-04-06T00:42:00.005-04:00

Beeswax Sculpture by Markus Fielder [http://www.errorerror.net] Courtesy of Elise Thompson

The Fruhstucks - Sorry, We Are The Fruhstucks

2011-03-15T12:40:00.000-04:00

Last June we met a young man named Sutja Gutiérrez from Castellón de la Plana who introduced us to his newest vision, The Fruhstucks. At that time it was a one-man band but since he has initiated Miguel Cámara (Miguel Boxerinlove) on guitar. As the project morphed so did the sound. What finally emerged was a lo-fi, dream pop band that will make your ears fall in love, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  

As we came to know The Fruhstucks better we realized they were destined for vinyl. So without further adieu, we are pleased to present, finally, The Fruhstucks first record to you on March 15th, 2011. Sorry, We Are The Fruhstucks is a limited edition 7 inch pressed in Purple Tie-Dye available to 248 lucky lovers. The record is for sale on our website and Bandcamp. Get those orders in quick because the prerelease sold quite a few of them. To boot, The Fruhstucks have decided to release the digital only bonus track, "My Punk Is Alive (Inside)" for free.

To all retailers, the vinyl is available from Complete Distribution

White Ring

2011-03-15T02:52:00.000-04:00

I've recently become very interested in White Ring. Fantastic sound and a cut above the rest of the genre in my own eye. Enjoi. Perhaps I'll actually update this bloody thing more often now that I am settled in on the West Coast.

Sphere

2011-01-06T09:52:00.000-05:00

A good friend and excellent musician, Jeremy Jacobs aka JPLS recently helped create a new iPhone/iPad application entitled Sphere. It's like Simon Says on Acid. Enjoi.

The Way I Feel

2010-12-02T08:40:00.004-05:00

I consider myself very lucky to have met Sutja Gutierrez. I feel even more fortunate that he shares his music with me. He recently released a wonderful EP on Distorted Disco entitled "The Way I Feel." These songs are quick, dirty, and extremely emotional. The kind of songs that you listen to over and over. This is his forte.

So far, he has released music only as The Fruhstucks [Sutja Gutierrez and Miguel Camara.] Their first single on RACECAR called "Hats & Cats" is available through Beatport and their first EP titled "Parade, I Don't Care" is available on Band Camp. The Fruhstucks will be making their vinyl debut with "Sorry, We are The Fruhstucks" on RACECAR early in 2011. Stay tuned.

"If you fall in love with my music, you fall in love with my life, my mind, my shoes, my drugs & my flowers."
- Sutja Gutierrez

Impressions

2010-11-08T10:58:00.000-05:00

Billy Lucas

2010-09-23T09:19:00.003-04:00

“We're all worried, we're all in pain. That just comes with having eyes and having ears. But just remember one thing - it can't get any worse, it can only get better. High school is the bottom, being a teenager sucks, but that's the point, surviving it is the whole point. Quitting is not going to make you stronger, living will.”

Growing up as a “different” individual myself I am well aware of how difficult high school can be. Moreover, I also realize that being “straight” probably spared me a touch of torment. However, in the words of Mark Hunter, Pump Up the Volume, the point is making it through and letting yourself become stronger. So you’re different, you’ve challenged the status quo? What this ends up doing is forcing you to constantly think outside the box. This can take you many places in life; places the “sheep” won’t go.

Recently a publicized event has shed light on what is a terrible (and common) problem. Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old student in Greensburg, Indiana, killed himself after being bullied by his classmates about his purported sexuality. To add insult to injury, homophobic hate messages were left Thursday on a memorial page set up for him. Numerous images were uploaded to a Facebook group, giving visitors a taste of the kind of hate Lucas endured on a daily basis. The messages chided the teen about defending himself and made attacks on his presumed sexuality, Channel 6 News Joanna Massee reported.

Fortunately, Dan Savage, an American author, media pundit, journalist, and newspaper editor, has launched the “It Gets Better Project” as an online support system for LGBT youth. So if you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and you want to send an inspiring message via YouTube, head over and upload your video at It Gets Better Project and to all of your suffering through the fifth circle of Hell we call High School, realize that it does, in fact, get better.

Home

2010-09-15T21:06:00.002-04:00

Do You Love The Librarian?

2010-08-31T20:37:00.003-04:00

Love

2010-08-24T07:41:00.000-04:00

HEALTH

2010-07-19T08:08:00.003-04:00

I just can't stop listening to this song. It may very well be perfect in every way. Note the nature of this video is not appropriate for children or those with weak stomachs. Enjoi.

The Librarian Live

2010-06-11T08:26:00.001-04:00

For the better part of my career as The Librarian I have been aiming for the goal of playing live. After one solid weekend of illness I have finally put in the time that it took to make it happen. The groundwork is laid, practising has begun, and I believe myself ready for this virgin venture. This is an exercise in conquest and a new chapter in myself as a musician. Wish me luck.

4/4: Volume I

2010-05-28T10:58:00.006-04:00

Playing infamously together for the past 5 years KFrey & The Librarian finally record a sampling of their skills and selection. Focusing on the juxtaposition of classic and more modern records this mix is a testament to what happens when two masterminds combine forces. This is sure to usher in the summer months beautifully, from sunrise to sunset.

Available via Podcast through Race Car Productions Citizens Band

OR

Direct Download

My Wooden Toy

2010-04-22T09:26:00.004-04:00

It was almost two decades ago and my Thrasher Magazine wall calendar, on a particular day, stated that I should skateboard at dawn. I did it. I have had a long spanning relationship with a piece of wood with wheels attached to it. It gave me exercise, friends, and something to daydream about. Through the years it has come and gone but one thing has always remained, I’ve always had a skateboard.

It all started when my parents denied me my desire of a skateboard. I simply went behind their back and bought a green, plastic rollerskate-style skateboard for 10 cents at a neighborhood garage sale. It didn’t take long for them to catch me cruising the streets and soon enough I ended up with a proper deck and with it, pads and a helmet. With this my parents remained supportive. My father built me ramps and even learned a few tricks himself.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I pulled out my board and decided I wanted it back in my life. I drove to the local skatepark, fell a few times, and was more than likely laughed at quietly by the other skateboarders with youth on their side. I did a couple boneless ones, skated the bowls, and looked like I was straight out of 1989. I loved it just like I loved it so long ago. The speed, the freedom, and the rekindling of my youth all wrapped up in a toy. Thank you skateboarding, for everything you’ve given me.

G-Shock

2010-03-24T16:01:00.003-04:00

I checked the mail yesterday and found my recent purchase: G-Shock: Ed Templeton [2st Century Boys Edition.] This came out in November of 1998 and is incredibly rare. I'm a bit worried I might have a G-Shock problem. I suppose that is better than a Rolex problem.

Bruno Pronsato

2010-03-10T15:20:00.003-05:00

It's a good day for some old, new music. This is a performance from Bruno Pronsato that I keep gong back to. It comprises material from The Make Up / The Break Up, Why Can't We Be Like Us, and more. The music is sexy, quirky, and defiant. I oftentimes wonder how he does what he does. Is it simply thinking outside the box or is there even a box involved? Regardless, I believe it's a good musical excursion that you all will enjoy.

Download Here: Bruno Pronsato - Live at the Bunker

Down for the Count

2010-03-04T08:40:00.002-05:00

Artist: Poop Bear @ Deviantart

J.D. Salinger

2010-01-28T13:44:00.002-05:00

“I hope to hell that when I do die somebody has the sense to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetary. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody.” - J.D. Salinger

Rest in Peace Captain.

Different

2010-01-21T09:24:00.004-05:00

Perhaps it is my lack of regular DJ performances as of late, but I am finding myself delving into different genres of sound as of late. Particularly, minimal wave, hauntology, and IDM. In this vein, a good friend of mine, JPLS, has put together a DJ mix of sorts of the latter. All of the stripped down qualities you come to expect from his moniker but with less form and more experimentation. It is refreshing to hear the sounds that initially introduced me to electronics compiled into a take on the "best of" mentality. Take a listen and keep an open mind. This is the sound of yesterday that sounds all too new now. It would also behoove you to listen to the new album Depths from JPLS as well.

JPLS Mix for Electric Deluxe - Listen Here

Also, expect some "different" takes on music over the next short period of time. I'm feeling rather strange.

Eric Cloutier

2009-12-22T09:40:00.006-05:00

Somewhere around 2006 I followed Derek Plaslaiko up to Detroit for one of the infamous UNTITLED parties. While there I witnessed a DJ playing in an American Nightmare shirt that absolutely blew my mind named Eric Cloutier. Fast forward a couple months and I was conversing with him regularly and booked him to play in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ever since he has been a regular here and has gained more and more notoriety in the techno realm. He is now a NYC resident and has been paid the honor of playing events as home based as the Movement Festival to bigger events such as the Labyrinth Festical in Japan. Although his music is constantly evolving it always tends to go in a direction that I can respect and enjoy. I thought I would show him a bit of love and post one my personal favorite mixes he did for MNML SSGS. Take a listen and enjoy, it's a nice ride.

Listen Here Now

More Information About Eric Cloutier

Hornets from Hell

2009-12-09T16:17:00.003-05:00

I don't need to tell you how much this intrigues me. A small but highly efficient killing machine lurks in the mountains of Japan — the Japanese giant hornet. The voracious predator pumps out a dose of venom with an enzyme so strong it can dissolve human tissue. Just a handful of these hornets can kill 30,000 European honeybees within hours. Moreover, up to 40 human deaths a year are attributed to encountering these hand-sized demons.

Emma De Sèze

2009-10-20T10:46:00.003-04:00

This year I came across a new sound in the techno realm that took me for a loop from a young lady named Emma De Sèze. We found each other through the mighty wasteland that is MySpace and after talking back and forth a number of times we decided to release her music on the Race Car Productions imprint. A relationship was made and I ended up remixing one of her songs on the release. Her music is quirky with deep and dark elements. It isn’t at all the trend but stands on its own as a new voice with roots in many different arenas. Her debut on Italo Business was not as producer but as a vocalist on Hernan Bass’ song entitled Francesa; however, she has released Bambi through us and the I Can’t EP through Tao Dan Records. It is safe to say that she has a warm and burgeoning career ahead with a myriad of labels. Do yourself a favor, have a listen to her latest DJ set and her discography. This is one to watch.

Emma De Sèze – October Mix [feat. music from Sir Von Rohr and bernstein] October mix by EmmadeSèze

Let's Dance!

2009-09-25T15:32:00.003-04:00

It seems that all the male Books and Blood readers should take heed and start dance classes. US psychologists Cindy Meston and David Buss unveiled details of their new book ‘Why Women Have Sex’ this week and revealed that men who are good at dancing communicate subliminal messages of being better mates.

“In fact, in our studies, we found that some women had sex with men simply because they'd been impressed by their dancing,” the sex specialist professors told the Daily Mail, “(The women in our study) were more attracted to men who displayed larger and more sweeping movements. They also rated these men more erotic,” they said.

So men, get to work! If you need a little help read The Disco Handbook. Smiles.

The Disco Handbook

Obsolete

2009-09-14T09:32:00.004-04:00

As most of you would assume, I am actually a librarian. It’s not just a catchy name. I don’t like to dwell on my daytime job. I figure most of the blog universe is inundated with complaints and concerns rather than just an appreciation for art and the pursuit thereof which has primarily been my focus up until now. However, when I read an article that views books as obsolete it makes me question the world I live in. David Abel writes, “When I look at books, I see an outdated technology, like scrolls before books,’’ said James Tracy, headmaster of Cushing and chief promoter of the bookless campus. “This isn’t ‘Fahrenheit 451’ [the 1953 Ray Bradbury novel in which books are banned]. We’re not discouraging students from reading. We see this as a natural way to shape emerging trends and optimize technology.’’ This is a preposterous notion regardless of its emerging relevance. I use books daily to great effect, but who am I kidding, I still buy vinyl. Evil grin.

All things noted, I am not a typical librarian. Often times when people find out my profession they say something quip like, “I bet you really like to read, huh?” I usually respond with a yes, but quickly spout out that that had nothing to do with my decision to become a librarian. I plainly enjoyed the adventure of the quest for information. I value continuing to be a life long learner. A day in my life is spent working with code and helping students with the overwhelming and daunting task of finding information. The latter is my enjoyment.

Therefore, my view of books is not as antiquarian as it is out of a passion to have a novel sitting beside my bed. I am not going to bore anyone with the fact that some books are very useful in research and absolutely imperative for certain subject matters but I will say that James Tracy is ignorant in his knowledge of research and his ability to listen to the most important expert on the matter, his school’s library director.

Sad indeed.

Coffin Couches

2009-08-26T17:53:00.007-04:00

Books and Blood will be dedicating some time to home decoration for a few posts. This is courtesy of Neil/Jessica and would be in my home now if I could obtain it financially. The company is called Coffin Couches. They recycle used coffins to make home furnishings. From their website:

We at Coffin Couches have the mindset of thinking "Green" and we know it is different but we strongly believe in recycling. Our niche happens to be 18 gauge steel coffins which we collected from local funeral homes primarily in Southern California. It is a health and safety law that funeral homes cannot resell used coffins to the general public. We approached funeral directors with the attitude of recycling. These coffins are not used for burial due to slight cosmetic inconsistencies. They are reconfigured and modified resulting in a finished product - a unique one a kind coffin couch. If you notice (although it may be too small) the sixcast iron heavy duty legs are embossed with the universal biohazard insignia. The reason we utilize this sign is because safety is our utmost concern. If you are not aware, once a human body is placed in a coffin it is considered biohazard tissue. The legs have the embossed insignia for precautionary reasons in the event body fluids are exchanged on these coffins.

Creepy and well, lovely.

Harmonie Interieure

2009-08-26T17:40:00.002-04:00

As some of us begin to move into dormitories, new crash pads, or even into the daunting life of home ownership, decoration is key. Here to help you with your new beginnings is a "home decoration workshop" named Harmonie Interieure that offers unique ideas and inspirations for your comfy abode.

Learn more here.

Who's That?

2009-06-19T10:11:00.002-04:00

Commonwealth

2009-06-17T14:42:00.014-04:00

My recent musings have all had a common thread. Many of the greatest design teams are comprised of both female and male counterparts. This has been explicated by the likes of Dethlab and Passarella Death Squad in my more recent musings on Books and Blood. Today I realized another design team worth noting here, there, and everywhere.

Founded in 2005 by Zoe Coombes and David Boira, Commonwealth is an art and design studio based in New York City. Harnessing a new fluidity enabled by machine languages, Commonwealth's interests are as material and emotional as they are technical. Working within the worlds of contemporary art and industrial furniture design, Commonwealth aims to produce work that embodies a sense of elegant desire through an engagement with both the newest of tools and the oldest of techniques.

I have presented a couple of their ideas here; however, much can be achieved from visiting their webspace and further delving into their respective visions. The ‘Lard Series’ makes no claim to break to break from the easy markers of Euclidean space. Instead, it embraces both a sense of defined regulation and a perverse appreciation for irregular, lard-like form. Like the opening of an animal, it is the moving parts of the ‘Lard Series’ that enable the greatest moments of surprise. In the case of the bureau, the exterior finish is discretely detailed with a minimalist sense of precision. With a soft push of a drawer, a dampened spring exposes the exquisite insides in glossy white.

Artful Expression and the Masses: Respect and Reality

2009-06-01T11:17:00.012-04:00

Movement 2009 in Detroit

Last Memorial Day weekend I had the pleasure to once again travel to Detroit to hopefully be inspired and realize why it is I spend so much time and energy on my music. If you are in the dark, Detroit ushers in the world’s top artists in the techno realm once a year at the Movement Festival. It is always guaranteed that you will have a handful of performances either at the festival or at a random afterhours that will essentially, “change your life.” Some notable performances for me this year came from Bruno Pronsato, Camea, Clark Warner, and Ryan Elliott. It was, as always, a wake-up for me. I always feel better after I sleep off the weekend and get back to my craft with new ears and new ideas.

Bruno Pronsato

Camea

I digress. A sweeping trend has befallen electronic music in the past few years. As technology advances more and more artists are emerging. More and more music is being pushed out fast and without ingenuity. Some audiences are becoming more and more averse to sonic exploration and more caught up in the fame, glitz, and glamour. In other words, night life in America has subsided into a drunken party. It is not “all about the music” anymore. These audiences come to be VIP “in tha club” and artists must now cater to the lowest common denominator in the crowd to win them over, rather than doing what they feel. It is a true shame. However, it is important to note that not all artists are catering at all, in the slightest. I recently read an article about an event in LA sponsored by Scion that was appalling to say the least. Detroit techno rebels Dopplereffekt, pioneers of my music, were set to play and the audience was unruly. This “tweet” from the show sums up the artist to crowd ratio:

LilEdit: Some guy just screamed, 'I have way more money than you. Way more. And I fucked more people than you, bitch.' Wow. Quality crowd.
Thu, May 21, 2009 12:12 AM

Dopplereffekt in Los Angeles

People booed them, even going so far as chanting “Let’s Go Lakers” to a Detroit act. Disrespect no matter how you spin it. Feel free to read the full article here. Now, there are two ways one can react to this badgering. One can recant or ignore. Dopplereffekt ignored which is the honorable route more honorable than most of us would have been. They continued as planned.

This predicament is a very hard thing for me to understand as an artist and also to comprehend after coming home from Detroit’s festival I spoke of earlier. However, locally as an artist, it is all too common. Especially as an artist who steps outside the box quite a bit. Because of this, it is important for me to always remember that there are places in the world that still emote a feeling of creativity, acceptance, and honor for artists. We just have to demand it.

What can be learned from all of this? Artists are there to do one of two things. Entertain and/or express. There is nothing wrong with performing what you make. Audiences just need to learn to either enjoy it or leave it. However, belittling it is the lowest form of maturity and respect akin to walking into an art museum and drawing on a Michelangelo. This is equal for any kind of act whether a party DJ, an ambient synth outfit, a pop princess, or a drone-noise act.

As we move into the future of a growing myriad of new genres and start seeing a wider range of music being recorded and performed we must be open minded and look for the “love” in it. There really is no difference from what I do with minimal electronic music and what the man on the street playing the saxophone does. We’re all in it for the same reason and catering is the greatest death of all. Be real.

The Horrors

2009-05-21T09:16:00.002-04:00

The Horrors - Who Can Say from IM // UR on Vimeo.

The Horrors are an incredible "new" act that were passed on from a good friend. They have their origin in the early 2000s where they became interested in obscure vinyl and DJing. During trips to London and on the Southend circuit, Rhys "Spider" Webb met Faris Badwan (Faris Rotter) and Tom Cowan (Tomethy Furse), who had attended Rugby School together, through their shared interests in '60s garage rock, and in 2005 the three formed a band with Joshua Hayward (Joshua Third) and Joseph Spurgeon (Coffin Joe.) From their virgin album, Strange House to the new record, Primary Colours, this is seriously a must-listen.

Dethlab

2009-04-22T15:46:00.005-04:00

Dethlab, comprised of Bethany Shorb and Michael Doyle, is my favorite couple this side of the United States and although I don’t personally know them [I have met Michael Doyle briefly], I tend to always have a watchful eye on their happenings. Their Dethlab project, based in Detroit, Michigan, is described by them as a project to define “the new black.” It is essentially combining music, fashion, design, and culture into a bitter concoction reminiscent of your favorite cyber-punk thriller. This comes out in releases, DJ mixes, events, and more. In fact, Dethlab is only part of the picture.

Holding an MFA from Cranbrook, New York area native Bethany Shorb has dabbled and excelled in disciplines ranging from sculpture, fashion, graphic design, photography, and music. She has performed around the country as Toybreaker and founded Cyberoptix which honestly makes the most incredible ties available. She has designed a vast catalog of innovative couture, including the costumes for Skinny Puppy's 2004 world tour. Her work has been featured in magazines such as Make and Industrial Nation.

After living in New York during the rise and fall of both the dot-com bubble and electroclash; designer, lecturer, curator and obsessive blogger, Michael Doyle moved to Detroit and promptly co-founded the Dorkwave collective. Doyle coined the name and concise manifesto, "music for freaks", after one impromptu night DJing with Rob Theakston at the legendary UNTITLED parties [home to such Books and Blood favorites as Ryan Elliot, Matthew Dear, Derek Plaslaiko, Eric Cloutier, and Mike Servito.] His design work can be seen everywhere from auto show exhibits and museums to record covers, and his group blog Burnlab has been a favorite bookmark among taste makers for more than six years

So what does this all mean? Dethlab has just recently begun throwing soirees again in Detroit, Michigan. In fact, if you are in the general vicinity on April 23rd, 2009, stop over to the Trowbridge House of Coffee at 10241 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, MI 48212 to see Terence Fixmer and Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb and of course, Dethlab. For your listening enjoyment Dethlab prepared a mix just for the event. You can listen/download here:

Dethlab – Hurrah, Die Butter Ist Alle! Mix – MP3 – 192 kbps

Louderbach - Autumn

2009-04-16T09:37:00.004-04:00

Louderbach is back with a new album this Spring ironically entitled Autumn. For those of your unfamiliar with the duo they are comprised of Troy Pierce of Minus fame and Gibby Miller of Panic fame. Speaking of, I was amazed in 2004 that the singer for the band Panic that I had connected with so well as an angst-ridden teenager was making another appearance in my life as Louderbach. I digress, the duo teamed up in 2004 on the Underline label taking Miller's brooding vocals and marrying them to Pierce's sparse productions. Their love of early industrial and post-punk such as Bauhaus, Coil, and Joy Division was readily apparent and that's reportedly even more the case on their sophomore effort Autumn which will hit stores in April/May. Minus says that "distant intimacy is a naturally occurring theme throughout the album, manifesting itself as dark, twilight tales of melancholy romance, burning obsession and the slow, disintegration of desire." The Librarian can’t wait.

Passarella Death Squad

2009-04-07T12:11:00.015-04:00

In keeping with my fashion theme of the last couple of posts, I thought I would present a new designer. Passarella Death Squad was started in London by Danny Broddle and Emilie Albisser in 2004. They import all of their fabrics from Tokyo to London, where all of the manufacturing and hand printing is done. The Passarella Death Squad also create all of the clothing patterns as well as the image designs and text. The collective have also signed with The Republic of Desire recordings and their first record is out early 2009.

Founding member Danny Broddle says, "This is dark sexploitation without being over-bearing. I like the idea of something being appealing from afar but inspiring up close." The clothes feature provocative images atop world locales. It is, without a doubt, a pointed comment on sex, nationalism, and the sale of both. These t-shirts speak.

Buy the Collection Here:
http://sevennewyork.com/designers/passarella-death-squad
http://www.oki-ni.com/icat/pasarelladeathsquadall

Dior Homme - Summer 2009

2009-03-25T20:33:00.008-04:00

I thought I would step outside of my comfort zone and post a bit about a particular design house that I have always admired, Dior Homme. Anyone who knows me is privy to my interest in Hedi Slimane be it his fashion or photography. I lost a great deal of interest in the Dior Homme line when he left in 2007; however, I am impressed with the new designs of Kris Van Assche, albeit not quite up to the high threshold of Hedi's designs.

Dior Homme - Summer 2009 Collection [Video]

My Secret Heart

2009-03-17T15:55:00.005-04:00

My Secret Heart is a new commission by Streetwise Opera (www.streetwiseopera.org) of a music and film installation written by electronic composer and Warp artist Mira Calix, a long time favorite of Books and Blood; visual artists Flat-e; and sound designer Dave Sheppard. They worked with around one hundred Streetwise Opera performers from across the UK to create a unique work that is being shown around the world. This new piece is inspired by the Allegri’s 17th-century choral work Miserere Mei, a piece so protected by the Vatican that they put an embargo on it. Mira Calix and Flat-e have used the theme of secrecy to explore movements and singing with Streetwise’s participants to create this new century-leaping work.

The piece exists as an immersive installation on a purpose-built 360 degree screen with surround sound and as a 7-minute film. The installation was premiered live at the Royal Festival Hall including a staging featuring a cast of 100 and is now touring to galleries, festivals, and cinemas across the world through 2009 as an installation and film. Once again, the Midwest will not see such magnificence any time soon; however, enjoi the preview nonetheless dear readers.

Jeff Noon

2009-03-09T11:31:00.007-04:00

About three or four years ago I was introduced to a science fiction writer that held me perfectly captive on my rusty futon. He was recommended by a good friend to be “right up my alley.” This began my short-lived love affair with Jeff Noon’s career. I started with Pixeljuice and stopped at Nymphomation mainly because his work is extremely hard to find whether that be libraries or bookstores. However, for some reason I decided I wanted more a few days ago and checked into Noon’s more recent work. What I found was quite intriguing. He has been very busy with a new project called 217 Babel Street. Here is how the project is explained:

217 Babel Street is a web of interconnected stories set in a seaside apartment block. There are twenty apartments in the building. Each of the four writers works independently of the others, starting off stories from different rooms. New pages are produced by creating a link from a word or a phrase on a page that already exists. Writers can interrupt and take over each other’s stories, taking them in different directions. Month by month the narrative changes, expanding into new rooms, characters and situations, creating new pathways for readers to explore. The front door allows access to any of the apartments, where the different stories begin. All characters mentioned in a given episode are listed at the bottom of the page. Clicking on these character links takes the reader to a page describing the character, as well as a list of all the pages in which they appear.

I will have to dedicate some time over the next few days to delve into this. It sounds quite remarkable. If you have never been much of a science fiction reader, give yourself a chance with this author, he has proved himself time and time again to me and I don’t usually care for science fiction.

Cesare vs. Disorder

2009-02-12T10:04:00.005-05:00

Cesare Marchese aka Cesare vs. Disorder,Queen Atom, or Sire Cactus) was born in 1980 in the city of Palermo, Italy. He is now currently based in London.

Cesare was an aspiring musician since a very young age tackling classic guitar, piano, percussion instruments, and bass. This devout love for the instrument led him to fall as deeply in love with the sounds and manipulations of electronic music. He quickly skimmed Hip Hop, Dub, and Drum and Bass leading him to finally dive into techno. He has an impressive release schedule already planned for 2009. He has released music on labels worldwide including: Resopal, Archipel, Stock5, Dumb Unit, Phonocult, Mean, Thema, Serialism, Mineral Musica, Safari Electronique, UnfoundSound, SthlmAudio, MultiVitamins, EssentialReload, and 6one6. He is the proprieter of his own labels; Mean Records and EssentialReload.

I recently found a set of his from late in 2008 performed in Brooklyn, NY. I think it will tame the thunder claps and boom clouds above us here in the midwest.

Cesare vs. Disorder in Brooklyn, NY

Kyle Geiger [Redux]

2009-02-06T11:26:00.005-05:00

The very first post on Books and Blood was about this guy named Kyle Geiger. It was offering up his promo mix for 2008. As we have jumped into the new year, so has Mr. Geiger. He has already completed his promo mix for 2009. I could go on and on about how good it is, but you already know. However, I will share a quote from his website, "...This year has undoubtedly made me a better and more thoughtful DJ, and it has certainly brought back that child-like enthusiasm when I play. If you're reading this, whether you know it or not, you most likely have inspired me some way or somehow, so I thank you. Consider this mix hopefully a form of gratitude to the beloved listener." So, download and enjoy. It won't disappoint. And finally, I must ask, is it cold in here, or is it just the D?

Kyle Geiger - Promo Mix 2009

Pris Mix 001

2009-02-02T15:47:00.005-05:00

A new concoction has been brewed here in Cincinnati called Pris. It exists as two events spaced out between each month. With the new night comes a new idea, mixtapes. Each month we give away a limited number of cassettes containing specific mixes from our collaborative. If you missed the opportunity to get the first in what promises to be a long series, you are in luck. The first month featuring The Librarian and kFrey is available as a download now at:

Pris Mix 001

Happy Holidays from Books and Blood

2008-12-25T11:44:00.000-05:00

Best Releases of 2008

2008-12-17T16:11:00.012-05:00

10. Bernstein – Matthew’s EP [Race Car Productions]
It is not often that someone titles the name of a release after you. In fact, it is a rarity. However, in 2008 I had just that pleasure. Bernstein and I have been collaborators for almost 5 years. We have always complemented each other very nicely inside and out of the studio. His music inspires me and vice-versa. As to why the EP is named after me, I am not sure? It could be because he used a couple of synthesizer patches that I created or it could just be a tribute. Regardless, I do know that the songs within embody the sound I am always looking for as I search my digital files. I would have given this EP higher honors but it would seem far too vain. Highlights include the feverish “Auf Mich” and the epic “Dark Matter.”

09. Jimmy Edgar – Nothing is Better [Moodgadget]
Jimmy Edgar is a busy gentleman. Besides fashioning dark, driving electronic music under his own name, he also heads up the house and funk-influenced project Her Bad Habit, serves as executive producer for X District, and is rumored to be one-half of electro duo Plus Device. Add to that his work as a fashion photographer. Most importantly, he released a new record for the upstart label Moodgadget this year, managing to make Nothing is Better the most annoyingly simple yet equally as eerie sounding release imaginable. Absolutely mesmerizing. Highlights include both the original “Nothing is Better"

08. Ricardo Tobar – Boy Love Girl EP [Border Community]
Ricardo Tobar seemed to come from nowhere and then inhabit everything. The sound of Border Community is known for its rich melding of genres and its progressive approach. There is certainly a sound to the label, but it evolves nicely and frequently. Although Tobar harnesses Fairmont and James Holden, he also harnesses the best of M83 and My Bloody Valentine with Boy Love Girl. It goes from sunny to cloudy to the the passing of the most enormous whirlwind imaginable. This EP works the emotion and the feet of the dancefloor at any point in the evening. Highlights include the mournful “Psprf Frame” and the anthemic “Voy.”

07. Ellen Allien – Sool [BPitchControl]
Ellen Allien has had an impressive inception into the electronic music canon. Although she often times works in a collaborative manner it is impossible to ignore that her firm grip on her music is always there. Sool came out of somewhere darker that had been alluded to in her long career as an artist and a label owner. This time she was joined by Antye Greie aka AGF as her producer alongside. Where many albums of 2008 ran away from minimalism and the sound of Berlin, Sool challenged and conquered it. If you gave up on this release, listen again, with more sound and louder. You will hear more and more. Highlights include the robust “MM” and the robotic “Caress.”

06. Black Mustang – Blackout [LoEB]
Deep, dark, and trembling with energy, Black Mustang is apparently nothing less than a sonic revolutionary. Black Mustang has been hailed as “italo-shoegaze” and lives up to it. Absolutely the deepest sound imaginable. As rumour says, the Black Mustang sound is achieved by mastering to analog tape and cutting the vinyl directly from the tape master. To further prove the worth of this record, Sleeparchive’s remix is over the moon, making it hard to even breathe whilst listening to it. This release is an absolute gem that will be played for years to come. Highlights include “Mad As Hell” and the eerie “Sleeparchive Disco Dub Version.”

05. M83 – Saturdays = Youth [Mute]
As the resurgence of shoegaze continues to emerge, M83 [Anthony Gonzalez] does it justice. A summer album in definition, this album bubbles over with 80’s pop sensibilities, all with a flower for the Cocteau Twins. Saturdays = Youth is a far stretch from the usual M83 sound but with a striking likeness of artistry that keeps his catalogue all the more eccentric. This is an album for a late-night, summer drive into nowhere. Highlights include the solemn “Dark Moves of Love” and the playfully dark “Graveyard Girl.”

04. Autechre – Quaristice [Warp]
Autechre pushed every boundary of electronic music since the late-1990’s. Their music was considered the future. Maybe this is only the final chapter in this decade of “future music”; however, Sean Booth and Rob Brown stick to the guns they have shot so well with Quaristice. This is their downfall, but also their achievement as the rest of the electronic movement pushes forward into odd and fey trends. Autechre dances to the beat of another drummer and three years since their last album, they show no signs of stopping. Highlights include “IO” and the finale of fresh air, “Outh9x.”

03. Kangding Ray – Automne Fold [Raster- Noton]
Following his highly successful debut "Stabil” , Kangding Ray, David Letelliere, released his second full length record this year entitled "Automne Fold.” Like many, Letelliere shunned the beauty and ambience of his first release for something far more dark and organic with Automne Fold. This album is a cacophony of strings, field recordings, synthesizers, and the human voice. This will be an autumn favorite for years to come and has it’s place in history already. Get ready for the trilogy. Highlights include the despair driven, “Idle”, and the closer, “Palisades.”

02. JPLS – Combination EP [Minus]
Jeremy Jacobs, JPLS, has both reinvigorated and recreated techno in his short career. Throughout the Combination, Twilite, and Fuckshuffle monikers, he has continuously pushed into deeper realms of possibility and experimentation. There are very few doing what he is for a rather formulaic techno repertoire. This time around Jeremy Jacobs took more chances with, most importantly, vocal work; however, he didn’t ignore rhythms that take chances, that most are too afraid of, yet, they always find a way. Highlights include the haunting “Combination01” and the rhythm-hungry “Combination03.”

01. Byetone – Death of a Typographer [Raster-Noton]
Byetone, Olaf Bender, has been quite hermetic for some time. He has been living with Raster-Noton since day one; however, finding a solo release from him is a rare one indeed. In 2008 we were given Plastic Star which seemed like enough of a gift but Death of Typographer is a different beast all alone. As rhythmic as it is ambient, as gothic as it is dance, as lush as it is stark, this album is a masterpiece. Beatport voted this one of the best albums of the year, with good reason. Highlights include the droning “Heart” which rounds out the album and of course, “Plastic Star [Session.]”

Jeremy P. Caulfield

2008-11-25T15:30:00.004-05:00

24 cents short of a quarter. A few beers short of a six-pack. A lot of feathers but not much chicken. A PBS mind in an MTV world. All cassette, no tape. Not quite the brightest bulb on the marquee. As useful as a top hat with pockets. Bright as Alaska in December. Couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel. Hasn't got all his china in the cupboard. If brains were leather, he couldn't saddle a flea. If he moved any slower, he'd rust. Monorail doesn't go all the way to Tomorrowland. Not the sharpest tool in the shed. One tree short of a hammock. Tone arm is down but no music is playing.

The way Jeremy P. Caulfield describes himself, you would think either comedy or self-deprecation. The former may be true but the latter is completely undeserved. Tricky, stalking and complex, Jeremy’s productions follow a theme that defies the typical stereotypes of today’s techno. His growing list of productions are featured on labels such as WMF, Trapez, and DUMB-UNIT; the label he runs out of Berlin. Distributed through Germany’s esteemed KOMPAKT, DUMB-UNIT, has quickly grown to become one of the most respected and consistent of Canadian labels. This is a relatively recent mix. It also happens to be wildly incredible. It will be great for your Thanksgiving romps.

Jeremy P. Caulfield - Wild Rag Perfume

The Block

2008-11-18T09:14:00.005-05:00

Two words that have been swarming through my brain recently have been "writer's block." Being that I am a somewhat creative soul in my musical exploits, I am consistently hitting creative road blocks. Moreover, my "partner-in-crime"/significant other, Jessica and my mother are both writers. This also doesn't include the countless musicians I know and work with on a daily basis. They all understand those two words just as well.

Every artist, no matter the signifcance of their work, deals with this challenge. The real question is, what can be done? For starters I visited the leader of search engines to find a lovely little note on Purdue's website. This is possibly very helpful for a student writing a research paper but how does it help the creative? I sincerely doubt listening to jazz while I make techno is going to help me. Maybe I should stretch more.

Unsatisfied, I kept looking. I found this small article that may have a few words of wisdom. I can't tell you how many times I have arrived back in town after a weekend in Detroit, only to write my little heart out. I truly believe going to concerts can be a great tool. However, the music I listen to is only played by a select few in this city. This is not the cure all I would like. I searched and I searched. Millions of techniques were posed. Nothing.

The reality is, this problem will never go away. It is viral. There will be remedies; however, no matter what you do everything will seem like it is more important to do than writing, when the thing you need to do is write. Confused? Me too. So go see a concert, take a class, listen to jazz, stretch. The reality is, if you are lucky enough to conquer it, it will only come back next week. Writer's block is the definition of defeat and the definition of reality. Good luck setting deadlines.

Ink And Dagger

2008-11-12T18:17:00.008-05:00

I remember it like it was yesterday. I saw Ink And Dagger open for L7 at Sudsy Malone's in Cincinnati, Ohio. The vocalist stood on stage with his eyes locked on me. His name was Sean Patrick McCabe. The music and energy was overwhelming. They finished their set and he came straight up to me. He asked me if I was one of them and then he answered that he could see I was. It was as if he looked into my soul to find one equally as black as his. I still think back to the moment as one of the largest influences I have had on my life.

Everybody has a dark side. Philadelphia’s Ink And Dagger were just trying to help you get in touch with your inner Vampire. Their all-too-short career saw them go from aggressive DC styled aggro punk to techno-enhanced masters of noisecore to finally tripped-out experimental hardcore / psychedelic fusion. The almighty Ink And Dagger’s first releases were progressive hardcore along the lines of Swiz, done with unbridled passion and unique vocals. Think bloodsucking, theft of souls, nocturnal adventures, and punk rock. By the end, long gone were the Swiz and Circus Lupus inspired hardcore blasts that they began with, the Daggers took their experimentation to the next level. Dreamy, psychedelic trips with some of their patented aggression. If their first full length was over your head, their final work will decapitate you. Undeniably one of the best bands of the 90’s and one of the most boundary-pushing hardcore bands of all time.

Sean Patrick McCabe would have been 36 years old tomorrow.

You will be missed, Sean.

I present to you dear readers, Ink And Dagger's most rare offering: The Sensation 7 Inch in Mp3 Format. This one is a hard one to find indeed.

Ink And Dagger - Sensation 7 Inch

JPLS

2008-10-31T09:11:00.002-04:00

In 2006, an unknown artist appeared on my radar via Minus Recordings named JPLS. The release was entitled Program and it exemplified the precise sound I wanted to convey in my sets. It perfectly melded my love of IDM, Techno, and Darkness. The problem was JPLS seemed to be the only artist creating this sound. I simply took a chance and contacted him for a performance. He agreed and came to Northern Kentucky. It was the first of many performances by him that I consider the best in the realm of modern electronic music. As per usual, I will shed some light on an otherwise dark soul. JPLS' analog attitude is stripped down amongst the ever-growing digital landscape of expanding sound fields. Recording as JPLS with recent net releases on Clever and Redevice he made his first Minus appearance on 2006's 'min2MAX' compilation also performing live in Detroit in May for the 'min2MAX' launch showcase. Since then he has further experimented the sounds of Program, Twilite, Fuckshuffle, and Combination. Jacobs' sound falls into a range of dub-punched techno while under the minimal aesthetic from the top down. His mode of procedure emphasizes the cerebral effects of 'less is more' and works with precision versus surrounding his sound with clutter.

JPLS just so happened to release two free tracks for Halloween today. JPLS builds off the ideas of his latest Combination EP with Spook Trax. Designed using unique harmonic variations and a dark theme set in time for Halloween.

JPLS – Spook Trax – Minus Recordings

JPLS - Spook Trax [YouTube Advertisement]

MOTOR

2008-10-21T12:42:00.007-04:00

Sometimes I wake up and there is nothing that soothes me like something abrasive, something raw. This morning was just that kind of morning. I stumbled in to work, grabbed a coffee in a Styrofoam cup, opened Photoshop, and put on a new mix by MOTOR. For those of you who aren’t privy to the group MOTOR, allow me to shed some light.

MOTOR is totally un-compromised music that deliberately breaks any musical restrictions or sound barriers. Electronic music practising a punk ethic, MOTOR is unlike anything else: abrasive, strangely melodic, pulsing like a machine. A sound, which by no mistake, has put them in a class of their own. Mr. No comes from the industrial wastelands of Paris, and Bryan Black from Minneapolis. Now based in London, the duo formed as MOTOR in 2003, meeting by chance in a smoky Camden underworld where Mr. No was playing drums and Bryan was watching in awe. Bryan Black was seminal pop star Prince's sound designer and programmer at Paisley Park Studios in the late 90s before setting off to London to pursue his own musical projects whilst Mr. No arrived in London in 1989 with a mission to turn drummers into drum machines. After conspiring together, they quickly put out their first 12" release on Novamute 0503 which gained DJ support from the likes of Andrew Weatherall, Tiga, Felix Da Housecat, and Mute's own Daniel Miller. The duo have since gone on to remix the likes of Marilyn Manson "Personal Jesus", Throbbing Gristle "Persuasion," and Client "Pornography." MOTOR has releases on the mighty Mute Records [Novamute] as well as a new single entitled “Ice” on Kompakt. Make no mistake, MOTOR are behind the wheel.

Please enjoi MOTOR's new Mix for Winter on this lovely autumn afternoon.

MOTOR - Fall/Winter 2008 - Mix

The Fix

2008-10-06T22:22:00.002-04:00

Helpful Advice

2008-10-04T14:55:00.002-04:00

"Do not make the mistake of "going clubbing" a habit; it is a way of life that people can get trapped in. They begin to believe if they are not continually going to clubs they will miss out on something. The only thing that they do miss out on is themselves. Once in a club you have to leave your mind outside."

-The Manual, Cauty/Drummond

Legowelt

2008-09-26T09:29:00.003-04:00

I have never found any one artist that truly manipulates analog sound like Danny Wolfers, also known as Legowelt. Ever since I first heard Pimpshifter I can’t honestly pass on anything he releases. It is a must have. There is a certain wonder that can emerge from prehistoric synthesizers and the absence of computers and Danny Wolfers has imagined it. Legowelt further forged the pre-existing Bunker sound from the dirty ghettos of The Hague in Amsterdam with his first release on the imprint in 1998 and has continued since. It must be stated; however, that this is not a typical electronic sound. In fact, when asked about the music he makes, Danny Wolfers responds, “We say that our music is autistic because in the music world it is always seen as not fashionable or underground. It is not about fashion. In the dance scene it is all about fashion and clubbing and socialising and all those kinds of things. So we call our music autistic.” This is not a medical diagnosis but stands true. There is magic and warmth along with a playfulness that envelopes his sound and many of his labelmates. I would encourage anyone to sample Legowelt, this is music that transcends genre and taste. I remember once when I was playing records and I played a newer Legowelt production, a fellow DJ came to the booth to find out what he was hearing. When he saw that it was Legowelt he quickly smiled and replied, “Figures.”

Please sample a recent live show of his. I am sure you will enjoi it.

Legowelt – Live at Analogical Force – Madrid [2008]

Bookplates

2008-09-22T10:45:00.005-04:00

Being that I am a full-fledged librarian, I am sure you can imagine my love for classically styled libraries and antique books. What is more old world library than beautifully designed bookplates. A friend of the blog sent me a message regarding particular bookplates available from Manifesto Press that would look quite at home in the Books & Blood home library. They are absolutely gorgeous. By and by, if you are unsure what bookplates are I will provide a definition.

Bookplate –noun : a label bearing the owner's name and often a design, coat of arms, or the like, for pasting on the front end paper of a book.

The Darkness

2008-09-16T09:17:00.006-04:00

As I'm sure any follower of Books & Blood knows, we are enveloped in darkness here in the Greater Cincinnati area. Bringing an excess of candles, D size batteries, and pronounced sleep. Anyone who knows me would agree that this would be my paradise being that I love the night; however, the lack of electricity also means the lack of making music. Nerve wracking yet somewhat soothing. There is nothing more sonically pleasing than a city without the buzz. Silence truly makes everything more alive. More real. It is a shame that we oftentimes clutter our ears whilst the earth provides us with the best samples of all. The sounds of nature, a lover's heartbeat, and us settling upon them. As if the gaps in between the sounds explain everything. Uncomfortable silence becomes comfortable.

Regardless, everyone has their breaking point. Here are the sounds I am filling my head with this morning as I am connected to power and LAN lines. This is Troy Pierce's Sunday performance from last weekend's Minitek Festival in New York City. Try to find the sound that isn't there.

Troy Pierce -Sunday, September 14th, 2008 - Minitek Festival

***I just was informed that this set was pulled; however, I have just corrected it. It really is a fantastic set. One of my favorites in awhile.

Konrad Black & Matt John

2008-08-26T15:09:00.008-04:00

Well I guess it is official. Books and Blood loves Konrad Black. I for certain know one reader who has applauded the first Konrad Black mix I put up with great praises and I know one other reader who recently met him. We will try to look past the fact that he hasn't put out anything in a great time; however, I did hear a little rumor that he has completed a remix of Tiga and Zyntherius' - Sunglasses At Night. A cover of the Corey Hart classic that came out in 2000. I am still not sure why we get remixes 8 years later but I am excited to hear the outcome. I digress, Konrad Black has been spending all of his time remixing and playing records. We expect a new release soon Mr. Konrad Black but until then we will just settle for one more exquisite DJ mix that will blacken our soul and the ground beneath us. For this we thank you.

As a lovely bonus, Matt John also happened to be in tow with Konrad Black on the eve of recording this lovely mix. Therefore, we also get an equally fantastic mix by him. I have to praise Matt John. First and foremost for hailing from two of my most respected labels, Underline and Perlon. Secondly, I dug out some of his old tunes for the last Schwarz and realized how incredibly talented he is. In fact, there is also a rumour bouncing around the mill that Matt John has been playing select songs from my most recent record. I truly hope you enjoi.

Konrad Black at Fuse in Brussels, Belgium on July 12th, 2008

Matt John at Fuse in Brussels, Belgium on July 12th, 2008

Kid606

2008-08-20T19:03:00.005-04:00

One of the reasons I initially accepted electronic music was an artist by the name of Kid606. He melded experimental with ambient and really gave me some incentive to start writing music; moreover, he inspired me to start playing records. Over the years his sound has changed but has always been something that I consistently find quite accessible even though the everyman might consider it noise. Regardless, I had an old mix of his from 2003 on a CD that I was bouncing around to today. I think the readers of Books & Blood might find it equally as enjoyable. Enjoi it, but don't expect the usual Books & Blood techno sound, this is experimental at times and at other times quite pop-influenced.

Kid606 aka Miguel Depedro, born 1979 in Venezuela and raised in California, dropped out of school and life to make music and run around the world bringing his uniquely wreckless, fucked up, and at times beautiful music to our fucked up and beautiful world. Insipired by the best of electronica, punk, jungle, hiphop, bass, dancehall, and techno, Kid606 fuses it all together with a love of pop-culture that Andy Warhol would approve of. He has released critically acclaimed albums (both legal and illegal) on Ipecac, Mille Plateaux, Fatcat, 555, as well as his own Tigerbeat6 label. His remix discography is equally as impressive including work done for such artists as Depeche Mode, The Locust, Peaches, and Super Furry Animals. His repertoire paints a clear portrait of him as an inspired, angry, and iconoclastic artist more concerned with emotional content then popularity. All the while, avoiding being pigeonholed in any vacant scene or soulless musical genre. Open your ears and shout along or close your eyes and dance but always expect the unexpected.

Kid 606 - Live at Ultrahang Festival on September, 25th 2003

Elon

2008-08-18T11:49:00.010-04:00

Something has finally caught my attention almost a month after my last post. I stumbled upon a live recording of an artist named Elon who records for the imprint, Clink. I have been playing a handful of his tracks for the better part of the last 2 years and I can easily note them as crowd-favorites. I digress. This mix puts me in the spirit for sweaters, jackets, and leaves crunching under my feet; however, that might just be my mood recently. I long for temperatures to fall. Regardless, it is a fabulous performance, dark and decadent.

Having spent only 2 years in the studio; in spring 2007, the Israeli-born producer made his debut with the two-track "Movin' In" EP on Jesse Rose's imprint, Made to Play. Originally self-released as a white label, "Movin' In" impressed Rose when he heard it at the 2006 Winter Music Conference and he not only signed it, but included the track on his Body Language Vol. 3 mix on Get Physical. Since then, Elon has enjoyed a steady release schedule for 2007 on Infant Records in May, "Radio Engine" on Clink in June, as well as various remix projects. In 2008 Elon has released even more gems on such labels as Dumb-Unit and his mainstay, Clink. When asked about his music Elon notes, "I'm inspired by details, the ways to employ effects, spending time cutting and editing, putting in little reverbs and delays from every angle."

As for my mini-sabbatical, I would say that I have been distracted but the reality is I've been up to very little as of late. Nonetheless, my apologies for being so evasive lately dear readers. Moods come and go, as do I.

Elon- Live PA at Cold Cave, Niederlande on July 13th, 2008

Pray For Daylight

2008-07-24T08:28:00.005-04:00

Last Fall I recorded a mix entitled Pray For Daylight. It was dark. It came out around Halloween. I had always thought it quite mediocre but for some reason I decided to relisten to it yesterday. Perhaps it was something in the coffee I was drinking or maybe it is actually fairly decent. Regardless, it was a good soundtrack for the start of my yesterday. In light of this, I thought I would shamelessly post it here for you all to listen to.

However, for those of you who have listened to it a million times and are sick to death with it, I have posted a remix I did earlier this year of The Locust - Scavenger, Invader. Enjoi either or both.

The Librarian - Pray for Daylight [Fall 2007]

The Locust - Scavenger, Invader [The Librarian's Filthy & Foul Remix]

Semicolon

2008-06-25T16:20:00.007-04:00

Today, I was thinking about the semicolon. One of my long lost friends named Andrew Simmons had a tattoo of a semi-colon on his arm. It was as if he was saying to the world, "What next?" or perhaps, "I am a variable." Who knows? Andrew was an incredible poet. We didn't ask questions.

Despite remembering an old friend, I have come to the conclusion that I use semicolons very sparingly. However, when a semicolon works, it is a crucial punctuation. The Ancient Greeks used it as a question mark for ages until it was revived by the Italian printer Aldus Manutius the elder to separate words opposed in meaning and to mark off interdependent statements. In 1560, it was introduced into English. A London printer, Henry Denham, used semicolons regularly; for instance, “A Golden Chaine” by Thomas Rogers. I imagine Aldus Manutius probably had no idea that the semicolon would end up being used commonly by none other than Shakespeare or in my last sentence. Grins.

So throw a couple in your next sentence and read this article. Ben Jonson would be proud.

Alleluyark!

2008-06-24T09:36:00.003-04:00

Ark is the artist who first brought the minimal style to France as early as 1997. Ark is a precursor, always light years ahead of his time; therefore, his first releases were not widely popular. However, he was not defeated and pushed on via collaborations in 1999 with Herbert and Losoul. Since then he has gained a somewhat cult status in the techno realm with releases on Perlon, Playhouse, and Circus Company.

Ark's music stands alone; however, his live and DJ sets amaze. He never really settles in to any one genre blasting everything from minimal and techno to hardcore and reggae. Nothing is off limits. He plays alone and ping pongs: he regularly plays with his compatriots including Mr. Oizo, Feadz, and Herbert. Tricks, techniques, and magic. He takes chances. Ark is truly an inspiration to me as a DJ. He brings a raw energy that I hope to some day convey. I felt it was time that the Books & Blood readers were enlightened.

Note: I was able to share the stage with him many years back. Not only a fantastic performer, but also a genuinely kind man with terribly broken English. Smiles.

We Call It Techno!

2008-06-17T13:01:00.003-04:00

A new film about Germany's early rave and techno culture arrived on DVD yesterday. We Call It Techno! includes interviews with Sven Väth, Riley Reinhold and Ata. The film emphasises techno's DIY foundations, telling the story of the rise of the genre with everyday, likeminded music lovers becoming DJs, promoters, label and record store owners. The 100-minute documentary made by Maren Sextro and Holger Wick charts the rise of techno in Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne from pre- to post-Wall Germany. We Call It Techno! also includes still images and unreleased film captured 1988-93 of the first Love Parade, Frankfurt's first techno clubs Omen and Dorian Gray, the Hardwax and Delirium record stores plus interviews with Ata, Mijk van Dijk, DJ Hell, Cosmic Baby, Wolfgang Voigt and more. Now if I only had money. View the trailer below:

Autechre

2008-06-12T09:51:00.008-04:00

Most people know where they were when Kennedy was shot. Most people know where they were on September 11th. I remember where I was when I first heard Autechre. This is yet another experience I gained from witnessing one of Lyndon's shows at the radio station I worked in during college. Autechre, along with a select few, cemented me into my current obsession with electonically made music. Many would go so far as to say Autechre are pioneers. They are.

Autechre is an English electronic music group consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale. The group is one of the most prominent acts signed with Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music artists. Some journalists consider Autechre to be a paragon of IDM and one of the driving forces behind its development, though Booth and Brown are ambivalent in relating their sound to established genres.

Much of Autechre's music has a strong focus on complex rhythm, driving percussion, and meticulous sequencing. Often unusual rhythmic loops repeat and change incrementally, with the music constantly in transition. Sometimes patterns are set against one another, implying several time signatures at once. Later work has been notably experimental and abstract, in contrast to the more club-friendly and conventional early 1990s releases.

These clips are very short but more incredible. They are from a live performance from 1993 in Birmingham, UK. Extremely rare. So, sit back, pour a cup of coffee and relish this. Cold and austere. Warm with sentiment.

ae - Live in Birmingham, UK - 1993 Part I
ae - Live in Birmingham, UK - 1993 Part II
ae - Live in Birmingham, UK - 1993 Part III

Konrad Black

2008-06-04T14:25:00.007-04:00

When I went to make yet another music post on an influential artist I admire, I realized that I have inadvertently started a mini-series here on Books and Blood showcasing my "idols" whether they are DJs or Musicians. So be it. This time we will highlight Konrad Black. Many consider him the dark knight of techno. I would agree.

Konrad Black has been involved in DJing, producing, and performing music for the past 10 years. A constant throughout his musical career is a signature mix of dirty bass threaded with atmospheric sounds, emerging from his roots in Drum and Bass and Hip Hop. After his first release on Formation Records in the UK he began to be influenced by artists such as Maurizio and Klang. This led him to a more minimal sound. From there Konrad went on to record a number of tracks on 240 volts, including the "Nails" or alternatively titled "Heavy Metal Withdrawal" EP as well as the "Busting Down the Door with a Shotgun" EP.

In 2004 Konrad then formed Wagon Repair Recordings with Mathew Jonson, Graham Boothby, and Jesse Fisk. He continued his wide panorama of sound on his first release on the label: ‘Draconia’, which enjoyed critical success internationally. Black followed up with the club hit "Medusa Smile." Both proved themselves being top-ranked in playlists of opinion leaders such as Ricardo Villalobos, Richie Hawtin, Steve Bug, Loco Dice, and Tiga.

Please enjoy the inclement weather with an almost 3 hour mix of Konrad Black's performance at Watergate in Berlin in 2007. Don't think it's dated. Many of the tracks contained just came out recently. It will fit the thunderstorms and tornados perfectly, that is, until the power goes out.

Konrad Black - DJ Set at Watergate, Berlin

Troy Pierce

2008-05-23T14:09:00.007-04:00

I am an enormous fan of Troy Pierce, specifically his work with Gibby Miller [from Panic fame] on his Louderbach project. He is also responsible for some of my favorite tracks from his release on Items & Things entitled "The Day After Yesterday" and his full-length album "Gone Astray." I have seen him play records on quite a few occasions and always find his sets very dark and inviting. We have the same taste. In fact, he even describes his influences as being Bauhaus, Joy Division, and Coil.

Rumour has it that he has been playing my remix done by JPLS as well. I feel it is time for me to give this gentleman the respect he deserves. This is an older mix that I have come back to on many occasions. Very dark and demented. Cold.

Troy Pierce - Live in NYC - Date Unknown

Ryan Elliott

2008-05-12T10:48:00.009-04:00

It's a lovely brisk day today and nothing goes better with that than a Ryan Elliott mix. If you don't know who Ryan Elliott is than you obviously don't know me all too well. Here is a brief biography on Mr. Elliott:

Detroit’s Ryan Elliott has gained international notoriety by programming sets that are as well crafted and sophisticated as they are danceable. From ice cold minimal techno to summery house beats, Elliott has played everything from Fabric to the Guggenheim with equal success. As a DJ, Ryan is adept in the late night hours, finding the balance between heavy floor tracks and elegant crowdpleasers. Utilizing three decks, multiple audio sources, and outboard effects are par for the course, and Elliott employs them with the utmost skill to keep crowds engaged- the only people not dancing are watching him work. With a fervent interest in the emerging international techno scene, he is a walking encyclopedia of artists, labels, and releases.

Elliott’s very popular Tuesday night residency at Ann Arbor’s Goodnight Gracie with Matthew Dear lasted from 2002 – 2004, effectively revitalizing the city’s nightlife. Ryan Elliott was also asked to be a resident at Detroit’s weekly Untitled alongside Dear, Tadd Mullinix, Mike Servito, and Derek Plaslaiko. In 2005 he began a residency at Detroit’s Oslo, and created a stellar 33-track mix for the 2xCD edition of the Spectral Sound Vol. 1 compilation. The ensuing years have found Elliott globetrotting at a rapid rate and trying his hand at remixing including a stealth bomber for Kate Simko’s “She Said.” Never to be counted out, Elliott continues to surprise and inspire with a bulletproof passion for his craft as his guide.

So here is the his latest mix. Open up the windows of your office and enjoy. As Ryan Elliott would say, "Heeeeey, hey!"

Ryan Elliott - The R Factor [2008 May Promo Mix]

Pawel Blot

2008-05-06T09:47:00.013-04:00

I have been taking a break from my usual Techno and Minimal sounds as of late. I have been much more absorbed by early Electro and Italo-Disco. Everything is cyclical. Perhaps finishing my EP [which comes out tomorrow on Beatport] took something out of me and I simply need to rebuild. Regardless, I have been finding some gems recently. Today I spent a great deal of my time cataloging Government Documents and listening to a gentleman by the name of Pawel Blot. He is a Polish DJ that has been a large purveyor of The Hague. Nowadays, Pawel throws local Elektric Disco parties in The Hague and continues to be a resident at Crème / Bunker parties in Holland. This is his Mimoza Mix which I consider perfect for the dark disco in all of us. Enjoi.

Pawel Blot - Mimoza Mix

Diskolos

2008-04-29T15:32:00.009-04:00

My love for electronic music started late. Right around 2000. I had flirted with it but hadn't been fully drowned in it yet. My fellow DJ's at the WLCV Radio Station turned me onto Aphex Twin and ambient paving the way to a full on obsession with the music now. That being said, one of those fellow DJ's once handed me a tape with the title Smylonylon on it. I listened to it over and over again and do believe I even still have it.

Later I found out that Smylonylon was not an artist, but rather a clothing store that opened in 1995 at 222 Lafayette Street in New York and was owned and operated by Chris Brickand his wife Judy ( singer Linda Lamb, from International Deejay Gigolos.) However, the clothing is not what they are known for, they worked tirelessly to produce mixtapes of their rare record collections mixed by Alex Gloor from In-Flagranti, which ranged from South American exotica and French orchestral music to Italo-Disco, musique concrete, and minimal synth. There are believed to be around 30 volumes of mixtapes with the Smylonylon title. The store closed in late 2002 due to an increase in rent.

I hadn't heard the name Smylonylon in a long time (the tapes are extremely hard to find) until today. A friend of the blog sent me a mix thinking I would enjoy it. Little does he know that he was giving me the best gift ever! So I present to you Books and Blood reader's, one of the main reasons I DJ, the Smylonylon Diskolos tape that I obsessed over in college. It's been a long time friend.

Smylonylon - Diskolos - Side A

Smylonylon - Diskolos - Side B

New Bike Day

2008-04-28T09:21:00.005-04:00

Beyond the Rave

2008-04-17T12:12:00.003-04:00

This has bad written all over it. However, you know I'll watch it. Glutton for punishment.

Rouleur

2008-04-11T08:42:00.010-04:00

Recently I received an email from my good friend Mr. Stephen Boyd about a magazine entitled Rouleur. It is a fantastic publication with extremely well-written articles on Cycling. This is all the more relevant today considering I am at work and it is raining, both of which inhibit me from enjoying the roads today on my bicycle. if you are feeling like me or you just want to rekindle your childhood love for cycling, head over and have a read. Just try not to get too excited about the magazine, the $125 subscription fee probably means you will only be an online reader. However, if you were to want to buy a subscription feel free to give me the promotional gift of a Rapha Cycling Cap. I look good in black and pink. Have a good day all. I hope to see some of you this evening.

Billy Says Go

2008-04-07T11:28:00.007-04:00

I will always be a devout follower of Mr. Dear. From Leave Luck to Heaven to Warsaw Bread to Mouth to Mouth, I am rarely displeased by any of his monikers whether it be his birthname, Jabberjaw, Audion, or False. I recently noticed that he has a new offering as his Audion persona. Although it is hard to judge a release from clips alone, it seems that Dear has changed his Audion hat yet again. The title track is oddly spooky, reminiscent of Seth Troxler. However, the last two seem like they belong to Dear's False identity more than Audion. Regardless, it looks to be a fantastic release. In 2006, Mouth to Mouth was the Detroit Electronic Music Festival [Movement Festival] anthem. In 2007 it was the Audion remix of I'm A Man by Black Strobe. It looks like Matthew Dear will have 2008 in the bag as well with this release. It comes out on June 9th, 2008 on Spectral Sound.

Listen to Clips from the Release Here

Maurice Manning

2008-03-27T13:43:00.008-04:00

Poetry is probably my favorite writing style; however, contemporary poetry usually annoys me. I prefer poetry that is terribly serious yet doesn't take itself too seriously. This is a very hard thing to find.

All of that said, my mother turned me on to a poet named Maurice Manning last year. He is an avid poet as well as a professor at Indiana University. He was born and raised in Kentucky and he has always stayed close to his home. His poetry reflects his feelings about the land and culture that surround him; however, he does so with a cynic's charm. I am comfortable to say that he is one of my favorite living poets and he certainly has a seat at the table of my favorite poets of all time. His most recent book is called Bucolics. Here is one of his most recent poems entitled "The Doctrine Of An Axe."

The Doctrine Of An Axe

Of all times, now is not the time,
given the world's old vague condition,

to hang in my mind the plumb-bob weight
of original sin and watch it twist

around like a tire at the end of a rope
looped over a tree branch. Once

my sister came within a hair
of getting bit by a snake asleep

in the tire she'd hooped around herself.
She was wearing a dress, my friend, just home

from church; her patent leather shoes
kicked at the air just twice before

she shed the tire and screamed. I chopped
the copperhead to pieces. What kind

of parents allow their child to play
with an axe? Well, mine, I suppose. I made

them proud that day. The sin was how
I let myself be proud, a pride

that wore like whitewash from a fence.
Now you might think I'm being stern

and unforgiving. After all,
I was only six and could not have known

about sin. But I did; I knew it like
a nursery rhyme, or the Now I Lay Me

bedtime prayer. I once got drunk
on a Sunday morning; I don't know

if that was sinful, but it proved
that nothingness is absolute,

a naked shameful nothing left
beneath the shade tree in my heart,

the rusted axehead long since stuck
and buried in its trunk, a bone

caught in its living throat, a wound
I made in its side and can't undo.

We should both be doing something good;
we should be kind to someone now.

On April 4th, Maurice Manning will offer a reading as the host of the annual Words Celebration at my place of employment, Thomas More College. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. in Steigerwald Hall. Wine and appetizer reception at 6:45. Free and open to the public.

Vampires

2008-03-20T10:20:00.005-04:00

With the end of the week and countless projects occupying my time this week/weekend, I am in a top-5 kind of mood today. Anyone who knows me is well aware that I like movies about vampires. Some would say I'm an aficionado. So I present you with my top-5 Vampire Films of all time. Oh, come on, the blog IS called Books and Blood.

5. Vampyres [1974]

This British horror thriller is the story of two female vampires who hitchhike along a deserted highway in the English countryside, luring unsuspecting drivers to their residence for a night of passion or more explicitly, the victim’s murder at the hands of the femme fatales. This movie along with it's precursor Vampyros Lesbos [1970] brought sexuality to the forefront of the vampire genre. (Directed by Jose Ramon Larraz)

4. The Hunger [1983]

Miriam, a beautiful vampire, preys on NYC clubbers with her vampire lover John. When John suddenly begins to age rapidly, he seeks out the help of Sarah, an expert on premature aging. However, the insatiable Miriam wants Sarah for herself and seduces her, leaving Sarah with an increasing thirst for blood. Did I mention that John is played by David Bowie? Enough said. (Directed by Tony Scott)

3. 30 Days of Night [2007]

Barrow, an isolated town in Alaska, is plunged into darkness for a month each year when the sun sinks below the horizon. As the last rays of light fade, the town is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires bent on an uninterrupted orgy of destruction. Only the small town's husband-and-wife Sheriff team stand between the survivors and certain destruction. This movie is very new but is executed artfully. The vampires in this film are without a doubt the most frightening renditions ever created with little to no special effects or makeup. (Directed by David Slade)

2. Martin [1977]

George Romero does for vampires what he has already done to zombies - an intense and realistic treatment that follows the exploits of Martin, who claims to be 84 years old, and who certainly drinks human blood. The boy arrives in Pittsburgh to stay with his uncle, who promises to save Martin’s soul and destroy him once he is finished, but Martin’s loneliness finds other means of release. Is Martin a vampire? This wins the award for creativity. Beautifully done, deeply disturbing. (Directed by George A. Romero)

1. Near Dark [1987]

A young cowboy is seduced by a new girl in town only to find out he has been kissed by a vampire. Slowly turning into a creature of the night, he is persuaded to join up with the girl and a roaming band of ghouls. But when his own father and sister become targets in the vampires’ endless search for ‘food,’ he is forced to choose between loyalty to the vampires, or loyalty to his own family. When I think of vampire films I think of this. Many people compare it to The Lost Boys but in my opinion, it is far superior. Superbly 80's, beautiful imagery, and very realistic. Not to mention the most attractive vampire to ever exist, Mae played by Jenny Wright. I had such a crush on Jenny Wright when I was younger. (Directed by Kathryn Bigelow)

Drumcode

2008-03-18T09:27:00.008-04:00

If you have had the displeasure of seeing me play records recently you would know that I have been playing an awful lot of Drumcode Records again. Perhaps it is my new Saab that is causing me to favor Swedish Techno? Regardless, Mr. Beyer has been putting out absolute gems recently. This video is a nice teaser of the things to come from the lovely town of Stockholm plus it reminds me of Space Camp. Yes, I went to Space Camp.

UPCOMING RELEASES FROM DRUMCODE:
Christian Smith & John Selway - Total Departure
Kyle Geiger - Identity Crisis + Remixes by JPLS & Martinez
Ortin Cam - Warped Love / Omerta
Patrik Skoog - The Good Machine

Keirin Racing

2008-03-17T11:26:00.005-04:00

I have decided that Keirin Racing may be one of the most entertaining sports around, well, aside from Futbol of course. It's Monday morning and I'm exhausted. Looking forward to a reclusive week and weekend. Salutem plurimam.

Macaframa

2008-03-14T07:41:00.002-04:00

This is one of those videos that I have probably already sent you a billion times. In fact, this is my favorite video to watch while eating a peanut, butter, and jelly sandwich in my office on a lunch break. It is by a group of extremely talented riders/cinematographers on the West Coast that call themselves Macaframa. This style of riding is a large part of why I fell back in love with bicycles. Now go ride a bike. Enjoi.

Kyle Geiger

2008-03-13T11:43:00.000-04:00

I first met Kyle Geiger about a year ago in Detroit. We chatted about Futbol and he was kind enough to procure me a Vitamin Water from backstage. Since then I have come to realize him as a fantastic DJ as well as a gifted producer. He recently put out a Promo Mix on his website that is absolutely stellar, stellar enough to warrant him as the subject of my first post. Do yourself a favor and download his mix whether it is for at home listening or a long commute on bicycle or automobile:

Download Kyle Geiger's 2008 Promo Mix

For tour dates and his original music please visit Kyle Geiger

Please note that he will be playing Clique Lounge on April 11th along with Evan Scott and yours truly.