Tag: Warp

LA Weekly Cover: Flying Lotus’ Cosmic Drama

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Steven Ellison, a.k.a. Flying Lotus (Star Foreman)

The story is pretty thorough, so I’ll keep the introduction brief. I had the pleasure of profiling Steven Ellison, a.k.a. Flying Lotus, for the new issue of LA Weekly, on stands today. Ellison was kind enough to invite me into his home on two occasions, to share some very “special” snacks with me, and to more-or-less grant me unlimited access to his personal Rolodex. Cameos come from an international cast — Mary Anne Hobbs, Ravi Coltrane, the Gaslamp Killer, Daddy Kev, a man named Thundercat — but this is, at its core, an L.A. story. So if you live in that fair city, pick up a hard copy to read. If not, click here to dive in.

News Roundup: Flying Lotus launches app, collab’s w. Jose James, Fol Chen delivers free EP, Fitz + Tantrums + Dangerbird, Lemon Sun

Flying Lotus, 'Cosmogramma'

Quick bloggy bits from around the L.A. underground (and up). Share ’em.

  1. FEATURED: Augment Reality with Flying Lotus’ Astral Harp*
  2. MP3: Meet Soulster José James, Produced by Flying Lotus
  3. Fol Chen Releases Free EP, Remixes from Baths, Karin Tatoyan
  4. Fitz and the Tantrums Sign to Dangerbird, Tour with Dap-Kings
  5. Video Premiere: Lemon Sun, “Touch the Lightning”

    6. (all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)

* The program allows webcam-enabled users enter the album art and bat around those sketchy geometric orbs, which in turn warps the lines emanating outward from the sun-like object. Recommended snack pairing: “A Fish Called Juana” crackers.

LA Weekly’s 10 Best L.A. Albums Of The ’00s

Sure to ruffle a few feathers, LA Weekly‘s “10 Best L.A. Albums Of The ’00s” feature hit the web (and newsstands) today and the list is about as eclectic as the city itself. Alongside solid entries by solid homies like Drew Tewksbury and Jeff Weiss, not to mention music ed Randall Roberts, you’ll find two write-ups by yours truly — on Flying Lotus’ Los Angeles, and Rabbit Fur Coat, by Jenny Lewis And The Watson Twins.

Flying Lotus throws up his city.

Jenny Lewis throws up dessert (later).

News Roundup: Beck + Feist + Jamie Lidell, Flying Lotus, Snoop, Atlas Sound + No Age + Jim Jarmusch, Rage, and Madvillain

Quick bloggy bits* from around the L.A. underground (and up).

  1. Rage Against The Machine Wins UK Chart Upset, Issues Statement, Plans Free ‘Thank You’ Concert
  2. Watch: Indie Luminaries Covering Skip Spence and Neil Young
  3. Download: ‘A Decade Of Flying Lotus,’ Blended by Gaslamp Killer
  4. Snoop to Lead the 2010 Countdown at YOUR New Year’s Party

    5. (all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)

*If you like it, then you better put a tweet on it.

Roundup: Flying Lotus Leaks, Fool’s Gold + Mariah, Anticon, Nite Jewel + Stones Throw

Quick bloggy bits* from around the L.A. underground (and up).

  1. Flying Lotus Leaks New Songs, Lil Wayne Remix
  2. Fool’s Gold & Mariah Carey – Love at First Screech (MP3)
  3. Indie Rap, Live Comedy & Short Films, Oh My! Anticon Hosts A/V Event at Crane’s Tonight (MP3)
  4. Nite Jewel Plays Free Show Tonight, Leaks New Song, Signs To Stones Throw?! (MP3s)

    5. (all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)

*If you like it, then you better put a tweet on it.

New Magazine! Plus, Words on Cool Kids, U-N-I, Themselves, and Anti-pop Consortium

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Print ain’t dead, it just shrunk. To wit, Blink Media has just started up a brand new, free L.A.-circulated magazine dubbed Poptimist. It just so happens that said mag could fit into one’s back pocket, and without the classic rolling method that’s loosened so many perfect bindings. I haven’t held a copy in my hand yet, but I do have experience with these things, and I’d guess Poptimist‘s specs to be roughly 10 inches high by 6 wide. Though, if you click here, it can be however big you’d like it to. Once you’re firmly ensconced in those digital pages, you may want to turn to:

– Page 24, for an update from Chicago hipster hoppers The Cool Kids.
– Page 26, to explore the fabric of Compton’s fashion-forward U-N-I.
– Page 45, for a critical take on Anti-Pop Consortium’s Flourescent Black.
– Page 47, to read an overdue lauding of Themselves’ latest, CrownsDown.

Cult Bit: Best Music Of 2009 (so far)

Us A.V. Clubbers have spoken regarding the wonderful glut of great music 2009 hath wrought thusfar. You’ll find me at the top of the pile (read it here), waxing hyperbolic about: Animal Collective, DM Stith, Grizzly Bear, WHY? and Dirty Projectors. Read on from there to find some unexpected entries from Leonard Pierce (a vote for a recent Rhymesayers record) and Genevieve Koski, who brings a much-needed femme-focused perspective to the discussion.

Q&A: Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen

Decider New York has just posted my interview with Daniel Rossen, co-mastermind of both the fantastic Grizzly Bear and the wonderful Department Of Eagles. There’s a lot to love there, and plenty to talk about (like that incredible new record, Veckatimest), so hop on over here to join the conversation. Will be adding a sweet Griz tune to the Lala player asap. In the meantime, scroll through the playlist to find “Herring Bone” by DOE. Should tide ya over. If not, this might:

Inside Daniel Rossens mind.

A live capture from inside Daniel Rossen's mind.

Night Vision: Flying Lotus @ Downtown Independent

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Last night, Dublab threw Labrat Matinee VI at Main Street’s Downtown Independent, the new theater next door to The Smell. After dozens of artful music videos and shorts — ranging from the single-shot mini thriller that Ben Barnes made for WHY?‘s ” Sky For Shoeing Horses Under,” to Tim And Eric’s bizarro Absolut Vodka advert starring Zach Galifianakis — beat music auteur Flying Lotus performed. His set included sizable chunks from 2008’s fantastic Los Angeles LP, hard bop samples, rave send-ups  and at least one Squarepusher drum phrase. I captured a wee bit of it below.

Consider donatating to Dublab’s Flash Forward Proton Drive.