Captain Ahab, 'The End of Irony'
You often can judge an album by its cover, but what does it mean when that cover depicts the musicians as A) a godlike figure with arms spread and an umbilical penis protruding from his pants, and B) the manchild of that divine figure, still attached bellybutton-wise to said life-giving dong, covered in sweat? Read the latest installment of INCHES to find out.
Oh, indeed.
Quick bloggy bits from around the L.A. underground (and up). Share ’em.
(all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)
* “Lorn is a beast on the beat machine — a former scratch DJ who clearly spent some time listening to the fathomless rap noir of D-Styles’ classic turntablist docuement, Phantazmagorea.”
A list of recommended L.A.-area shows for the coming week (plus clips for instant gratification). Click “details” for descriptions. More after the jump.
Baths, on grass. (Hanna Dryland Shapiro)
It’s Baths day here at Funny Ha Ha, but can you blame us? Will Wiesenfeld’s music is as fascinating as it is infectious, and like L.A.’s current favorite son, the kid hails from the Valley. Chatsworth, to be exact, just a five-minute drive from that other ‘burb creative hotbed, Winnetka. Kudos to the beat scene for giving the SFV something to be proud of. Well, other than the seedier side of the So Cal film industry. But I digress.
Earlier in the week, KPCC’s Alex Cohen called me into the studio to talk about Baths for All Things Considered. Get hip to it already.
Over the line, Facebook, over the line.
**UPDATE: Submitted to FAIL Blog. Vote for it here.**
This is a rare detour for Funny Ha Ha in that it has nothing to do with music, and it’s actually funny. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case, two is more than enough.
While attempting to share this blog’s previous post on Facebook, I was prompted by the random Security Check to type in “klansmen treatment,” which left me feeling far less secure than before. Actually, it’s kind of terrifying considering I was promoting a link about an openly gay artist.
Way to be a bigot, Facebook. Nice one.
A small bear confronts the wilds. (Hanna Dryland Shapiro)
Okay, side-project may not be entirely accurate considering Will Wiesenfeld founded Baths last September, but while the fruits of that better-known project bounce around the blogosphere, it’s a good time to dig up a little more of the 21-year-old Valley-dweller’s past.
Wiesenfeld also makes music as Geotic, and it’s beautiful stuff. Far more minimal, often ambient, though decidedly not drone-y, these songs are excellent for headphones, lazy afternoons and night driving. And best of all, they’re entirely free. Download Geotic music here. We recommend you start with the Eyes LP and the “Waterway” single.
Mickey Petralia and crow. (Kevin Scanlon)
LA Weekly‘s annual People issue hits the stands today — snatch one up before they all disappear. I had the pleasure of speaking to Mickey Petralia, music producer/engineer extraordinaire and (more importantly to some) the founder of Griffith Park’s greatest secret, Trails Cafe. Read about it here, and check out the rest of the 2010 People stories here.
Photos by my incredibly talented next-door neighbor, Kevin Scanlon.
Phosphorescent, Here’s To Taking It Easy (Dead Oceans)
Phosphorescent, 'Here's To Taking It Easy'
The Phosphorescent sound—a typically gossamer thing that revels in spare moments and reverbed vocals—is bulked up with Houck’s full-time lineup.
Grade: B+ (via The A.V. Club)
Want more Phossy? Read my 2009 Q&A with Matthew Houck.
Charles Fleming poses for the L.A. Times
Good friend and fantastic writer Charles Fleming has released a book compiling more than 40 urban (some less so) hikes around Los Angeles, revolving around this city’s largely unexplored network of public staircases. Some climb through the woods, others wind through architectural landmarks and celebrity estates, all offer an informative, intimate look at one of the world’s most misunderstood metropolises. Buy it at Skylight if you’re able (where it’s currently number five among “Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers”), or here if you have to. It’s called Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles, and you can read Fleming’s story in this piece by L.A. Times‘ Steve Lopez.
The story’s already been told (and quite well, I might add) by L.A. music journo Jeff Weiss, but the word needs to spread yet further. One of the city’s most vital creative minds, DJ and visual artist Kutmah, a.k.a. Justin McNulty, has been detained by immigration agents and is being held in New Mexico while officials prepare to expel him from the country.
Kutmah is part of the larger Dublab collective, and one of the founders of the L.A. beat scene. Click on either of the banners above or below to sign a petition, or otherwise rally to stop this from happening.
Chris Writes Things 