Watching: Manualist plays Bohemian Rhapsody

I find it hard to believe this is real but it really seems to be.

Soundtracking: Boonsville (and Monday Sunset)

The long rusty wheels of Boonsville, my big zombie film project are slowly grinding into action and it's about time. First stop is a teaser short "Woody and Dan" - a comedy about music and a boy from Melbourne and a girl from Sydney coming together in Canberra.

I'm writing again and I've had a go at putting the first draft of a soundtrack together, which (if you'll excuse the indulgence) will also be the show for tomorrow.

My Pal God Tales from the Oz Underground 76-89 3:21



This is one of my all time favourite songs and it acts as an initial spark point between Dan and Sharyn (Woody) when they met in the uni bar.

(The YouTube video brings some old VHS video warping to the sound of this song)

Quick way to hell The Fuelers Hot Dang 3:42

I'm pretty keen to bring a definite local feel to this soundtrack and I like the sound that these guys produce - this is a great slinky atmospheric track - I'd probably use the intro more

0020 Need you this way The Kleptones 24 Hours 4:13

Mashup is a bit of a must - I'm not thinking about licensing and legalities just yet but I would like to use something along these lines if possible - beautiful blending of Walk this way (Aerosmith) and Need you tonight (INXS)

We're rising The Negotiators Apples and Oranges 4:03

Every film needs a soaring rock guitar solo

Sunday song Snowbug Inextricably intertwined 2:13

Snaggy Melbourne-styled acoustica pt. 1 (for a quiet patch)

Fitzroy Strongman Sodastream Looks like a Russian 4:10

Snaggy Melbourne-styled acoustica pt. 2 (coming out of a quiet patch)

The Shadow Reel (Live at the Zoo) Soma Rasa Soma Rasa 4:01

Getting a little more lively - this track just shouts that things are hotting up.

Let's Roll 'Em Van Lustbader The People versus VanLustbader 3:33

Not entirely sure if this is for the soundtrack but I've been really enjoying this album in the last couple of days so had to toss it in - more good rock with a hint of Oasis meeting Primal Scream.

Previous Crimes Devastations Devastations 4:58

This song is a heartbreaker and the track that really put me on to the Devs.

.32-20 blues Tom Woodward 32-20 blues 3:16

Beautifully slurry feeling blues howl from local boy with soul

Blue Guitar Fred Smith Bagarap Empires 5:29

I like the feel of this track - it's really on the move, sense of travelling through the bush

Our way of life EYE Vs the Commonwealth Government Songs of Protest 1:17

Edgy and smart remix of the old Australian Government terrorism ad

Wonder Riff Baterz Out of Hell 3:03

There will have to be a Baterz track - the guy was a frackin genius. Quite possibly this one but Zombie Girl is another option. The guitar and word play here are great.

Faded Blue - Cyan Sigh remix (Telemetry Orchestra) B(if)tek Frequencies will be remixed 3:47

Near ambient electronica from one time locals B(if)tek, remixed by Sydneysiders.
If you're telling a story about music and Canberra, there has to be some electro.


Agnus Dei Rufus Wainwright Want two 5:45

What a voice on this guy - not sure if it's for the soundtrack exactly but you have to hear this song.

I remember a time when once you used to love me Dirty 3 Horse stories 6:12

People either love or hate the Dirty 3, I love the buckets of raw emotion they cram into each song.

It's ok Black Cab Altamont Diary 2:50

A great song from a very interesting concept album about the Stones concert at Altamont in 1970 that is credited with killing the hippy era

Metal for Melbourne The Beautiful Few Metal for Melbourne 6:42

More Melbourne acoustic-snaggery - perhaps more than we need, who knows. Still a beautiful song.

Happiness' border Youth Group Urban & Eastern 3:11

Rock song that opens like a big shiny sprinkler and rings with a Flying Nun kind of rock crystal clarity.

Save My Soul Inflatable Ingrid Single 2:55

If it's Canberra and it's about music - you really need something that has a metal quality to it - this is also a track by Monday Lunchbox presenter Paul.

(Another version of My Pal - performed by White Circle Crime Club performing in Antwerp (B), 30 09 2006, at the Break Down The Walls exhibition of Vaast Colson & Dennis Tyfus.)

Ordering: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Well I nearly missed the bandwagon but I got my pre-order in this morning for the final book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

There's not really anything I can say that hasn't been said a million times already - though I'm interested in how I'm going to squeeze in some quality reading time next weekend - given that as soon as I pick up the book I'm heading off to the coast to reunite with the PC, who's have a well earned break there right now.

Speculation has been rife that (in keeping with literary theory) that Harry will die vanquishing Voldemort but obviously we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm tempted to get to the store early to see the freak show (sorry, fans having dress-up fun - much as my colleague Len and his girl did for the HP5 film premiere at Tuggeranong the other night. Points to them both for being the only people in costume and for having the cojones to ride with it.)

Watching: Wingnuts

This clip largely speaks for itself - it's the audience debate section of last nights big controversial ABC documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle" and followup discussion.

Evidently a bunch of Lyndon LaRouche acolytes (fascinating and odd man incidentally) were able to salt themselves through the crowd and claims that environmentalism is a science with a secret agenda of eugenics and that Carbon 14 (an underpinning principle of Creationism) disproves all the Climate Change Science make this a spectacular video.

I wonder how long it will be before the BAAAs (Bolt, Albrechtsen and Ackerman) jump up and down claiming that the crowd was deliberately made up of fruitloops.

Enjoy

Watching: Guy Pearse talking about Howard lies on Climate Change

I heard something about the explosive new book High and Dry: John Howard, Climate Change and the selling of Australia's future a while ago but seeing the author on Lateline Business last night really brought home how wrong the present government are being on this vital issue.

According to his website:

Guy Pearse joined the Liberal party in 1989 and spent the past eighteen years studying environment policy and working in the political ‘dark arts’. He’s been an industry lobbyist, political minder, consultant and spin doctor. He wrote the speeches of Australia’s former environment minister, Robert Hill.

More recently, his PhD research exposed the self-dubbed 'greenhouse mafia' - a cabal of lobbyists working for our worst polluting industries. What Guy discovered about the pervasive control these industries have over Australia's response to climate change persuaded him to leave the dark arts behind to write High & Dry - his first book.

There's no footage up yet on the ABC website (though I'll keep an eye out and update when I find something) but this guy absolutely wiped the floor with the Howard government last night - detailing particularly the way that big business have been writing submissions to Cabinet about policy (something that is always otherwise done by the appropriate neutral government department).

The fact that the guy really looks like a Liberal as well (and for our O/S readers, don't forget that Liberal here is evil neo-con pretty well everywhere else) - slightly puffy and born in a suit means that he will be much harder to discredit.

Though apparently plans for this are already in the works - the usual whispering campaigns trying to cast Pearse as someone who wasn't really working there and so forth, when it is clear that he has the government nailed.

Just wait until Howard's trained attack sheep, the BAAA squad (Bolt, Albrechtsen and Ackerman) wade into the fray.

Here's a promo clip for the book for now



Update: The Lateline Business interview with Guy Pearse is now up on the ABC website.

Click here for the video

Playing music: Songs for Lost Highway

Here are today's tracks - once again a little all over the place but quite a few nuggets in there, particularly Nina Gordon's take on NWA's classic, Straight out of Compton.

Straight Out Of Compton Nina Gordon Internets 1:50
Jesus Ranch Tenacious D Tribute Single 2:14
Jessica Adam Green Friends of mine 2:37
Empty Shell Cat Power The Greatest 3:03
Woody Guthrie Alabama 3 Last train to Mashville 3:52
What If Lucinda Williams West 5:41
Lonely Streets The Fuelers Hot Dang 4:34
The Biggest Mess Sunglass Sunglass 4:18
Stormclouds Ashley Davies Ned Kelly 2:11
Asleep in perfection Augie March Waltz 3:58
River Girl Amanda Brown Incognita 3:56
Love Is A Sweet Thing Randall Blair And The Wedded Bliss Tattoos And Taillights 4:14
Son of Sam Elliott Smith Figure 8 3:04
My drug buddy Evan Dando Live at the Brattle Theatre 2:55
I know y'know I know Tex Perkins Dark Horses 4:30
Walkin' after midnight Patsy Cline The Great Patsy Cline Disk 1 2:35
Jackson The Pleasure Barons Live in Las Vegas 3:03
You Took My Thing And Put It In My Place C.W. Stoneking King Hokum 2:50
Puttin' On The Dog Tom Waits Orphans: Brawlers 3:39
Coat Of Many Colors Dolly Parton The Very Best Of 3:05
The Killing Moon Grant-Lee Phillips Nineteeneighties 4:14
Pink bullets The Shins Chutes too narrow 3:53
If I Had A Ticket Ed Kuepper Character Assassination 2:54

Listening: Airbourne - Runnin' Wild - Track by track

I've already had one rave about the new album from old style Oz rock band Airbourne in a previous post here so I'll spare you that again - here's my track by track take on their album. (as promised earlier)

Stand Up For Rock'n'roll 4:01

Opening the album with a classic ACDC meedly-meedly-mee slow burning riff, this track launches into a powerful pub rock track that screeches the praises of rock from the high heavens to the fiery depths. Bon would be proud.

Runnin' Wild 3:38

More of a chugga-chugga opening this time but some great powerchords underneath. Love the chorus - "You can cry me a river, cry me a river of tears" which launches into a true singalong "runniiiiiiiin wild and free". It's simple and it rawwwks.

Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast 3:42

Now we move into Rose Tattoo territory - it sounds like the song of a late 70's suburban street gang, complete with Winnie Blues tucked under the arm of the tight tshirt. It's all about the rebellion and self-destruction and features another great, simple power chorus.

Diamond In The Rough 2:53

This is possibly as close as this album gets to a love song - it's the classic tale of how rich girls can't get enough of working class blokes (territory covered slightly differently in Pulp's Common People). Once more, it rocks out.

The chorus gets a little confusing though - with singer Joel O'Keefe pronouncing that "I can't get enough, of that diamond in the rough" - is he quoting the rich girl or are secret longings being revealed? (And no, I probably wouldn't say that to his face :)

Fat City 3:26

I don't know why but there is something about this track that says Motley Crue to me - it's a little more droning that some of the others even though it tries hard.

Blackjack 2:42

That's more like it - quick start into a hard rockin' boogie and more energy in a bar than the whole previous song - it's something about playing cards but I get the feeling that it's actually something else, I'm just not sure what.

What's Eatin' You 3:36

It's probably more a matter of my attention span but I'm starting to feel my attention drifting by this point - there's nothing wrong with this song in itself but the regularity of the tunes is starting to make them kind of blur into each other now.

It's still got a good dose of energy and you have to love J O'Ks screeching vocals and the power of the guitars, I'm just a bit meh about it I guess.

Girls In Black 3:15

Ahh that's better, I think the secret here is that when the songs drop below a certain bpm they just don't do it. Fortunately, this has cranked it up a notch.
Beyond that, there's nothing ultra-special here but it's still good rock

Cheap Wine 3:10

This one also reminds me a little of Rose Tattoo - something to do with the vocals - and there's nothing wrong with that. Great dirty gutter rock and/or roll music. This redeems the last 3 or 4 tracks.

Heartbreaker 3:56

This could be any one of a dozen ACDC songs - I don't mind acca dacca but I wouldn't call myself a fan or buy a tshirt - it's a nice raucous track that seems to have all the right ingredients but there's something extra that it's missing. Scratch that, it was a strong solo and that's there too. But still...

Let's Ride 3:28

Good finishing track - kicks the pace up a notch just when it needs it - once more, nothing outstanding but for what it is and in the context of the album, this is a good rocker. (There's something about this that reminds me of Car Chase City by Tenacious D on the Pick of Destiny soundtrack, which can't be a bad thing)


All in all - some pretty good rockin' that offers the promise of more - if they can introduce a little more variety and originality into the mix. 72%

Updating: stuff (hair + FAT awards)

I have a few things to update today so please excuse the higgledy piggledy nature of this post.

First up, the No Shampoo challenge - Day 33.



As you can see (I know it's not an awesome video but I haven't figured out how to properly use the HD camera and Dean Semler has stopped taking my calls), the hair is getting a little greasier but overall it still seems ok.

It still doesn't smell, it is a little flat and my scalp rarely itches at all these days. I'm a little curious about the white patch at the crown of my head - never seen that there before.

Next - the CIT FAT (Film and Television) awards.

This is another one I've been a little lax in reporting on - essentially the Communications Media and Music students at work here have an annual awards night / screening of the ten best first year student films.

This was a couple of weeks ago now and having had a bit to do with student films (both as a student and a teacher), I made some predictions on this blog about what I was expecting.

Some will be dark and showcase the extraordinary inner angst through a series of moody images of people gazing sadly into the distance and walking slowly.

This was a bit of a gimme and I was rewarded within the first 10 seconds of the screening with pretty much exactly this in the film "I hate" (which was still pretty well made)

Some will be great stories well told.

I was impressed that there was a fair bit of this - everything from simple documentaries about the experience of Asian students and migrants in Australia ("I want to be an Aussie") to the tale of an inventive old man ("The Shed") and a quirky 50's b-movie flick about the zombie menace which started off looking for all the world like a Douglas Sirk melodrama. ("Down by the lake")

Some will completely abuse the digital tools available in the editing software and apply filters and transitions all over the shop.

Nope, admirable restraint was shown here - although in general most of the films could have worked a little more on their sound.

At least one character will die for every two films (and possibly more).

This prediction was looking a bit wrong as well for a while but if you include references to deaths as part of stories, a couple of films (including a stylish but slightly thin Film Noir one that I don't remember the name of) pulled through gave me my minimum five deaths.

There will be at least two fairly funny Tropfest style one joke films.

Nope, totally wrong there.

Some of the films will appear to have been much more fun to make than to watch.

Some did look like they would have been quite fun to make but managed to stay enjoyable. Wrong again. (However, if it had been a screening of all the films made, I might have been closer to the truth)

Some will be far more fun to watch than they were to make.

Obviously hard to say but given the multitude of things that can go wrong on a film shoot, this is a bit obvious really.

Small pockets of the audience will cheer, laugh and applaud disproportionately when certain films begin (and at key points within the film)

Well of course you would, it's a huge buzz seeing your work on screen.

All in all, I was pretty impressed with a lot of the works here - particularly with the ones that I've named already and also with the bravery of the attempt at stop motion animation in "Blob the loser", which while rough, had heart and a funny bone.

Checking: the ANU film group programme

The ANU Film Group (ANUFG) run regular cinema quality 35mm film screenings several times a week at the Australian National University here in Canberra.


I worked for them for a few years as a projectionist before deciding that having more of a social life in the evenings would be nice and it's a pretty smooth operation and a sweet deal.

For a semester membership fee of $35 you get free access to all screenings - which for next semester is around 84 films. As I say, films are screened in Dolby digital sound from a 35mm projector on a screen larger than most of the ones I've seen in Canberra.

Some of the highlights I can see coming up:

• Friday 20/7 : The Host


• Saturday 21/7 : Reno 911: Miami


• Wednesday 1/8 : A Clockwork Orange


• Thursday 9/8 : Bobby


• Friday 10/8 : Death of a President


• Thursday 16/8 : Perfume: The Story of a Murderer


• Wednesday 22/8 : TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)


• Saturday 25/8 : Passport to Pimlico


• Wednesday 29/8 : Noise


• Thursday 30/8 : Ocean's Thirteen


• Saturday 1/9 : Priceless


• Saturday 15/9 : Whisky Galore!


• Wednesday 19/9 : Paris, je t'aime


• Thursday 20/9 : Transformers


• Saturday 22/9 : Blades of Glory


• Friday 28/9 : 28 Weeks Later


• Thursday 4/10 : The lives of others


• Friday 5/10 : Curse of the Golden Flower


• Friday 12/10 : Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix


• Saturday 13/10 : Gremlins + Westworld


• Wednesday 17/10 : As it is in Heaven


• Friday 19/10 : Clubland + Half Nelson


• Saturday 20/10 : The Simpsons Movie


• Thursday 8/11 : Sicko

There are double features on Friday and Saturday nights and occasional Sunday arvo screenings of kids films. The seats could do with some work but if you plan ahead and bring a cushion you should be fine.

Films always start at 8pm - doors open around 7 and the hardcore sad film group geeks tend to lob up around ten minutes later to secure prime seats but generally you'll get an ok spot if you get there 10-15 mins before the film starts. There are no trailers so when it says 8pm, that's what it is.

(If you're interested, Spiderman 3 is on this coming Saturday)

Asking: for your vote

Voting has now opened in the GetUp! Oz in 30 seconds competition and I'd really appreciate your help to make the finals. (Winning it I'm less fussed about as there are some great other ads but I'd love to make the top 10 at least.)

For those who came in late, this is a competition for average folk out here to make a 30 second political ad (which doesn't endorse any particular party) which GetUp! will put to air around the time of the upcoming federal election.

Here are my two entries - the animation is a tad shaky but overall I think they came out pretty well.

Good or just lucky?



Liagra



The process for voting is an interesting one - essentially you go to the Vote Now tab on the Watch the videos page and a random selection of 10 videos are displayed.

Voting is determined partially by which videos have the most viewings as well as how many votes are given. (This is the ten exclamation marks under the video - just click on however many votes/points you wish to give the video).

If the video you want to see doesn't appear first time (i.e. Good or Just Lucky OR Liagra) just refresh your browser until it's there.

I realise that it might seem as though I'm trying to sway the results and I guess I am - but I'm sure that every other filmmaker and their dog (or cat) are also going to be trying to round up votes the exact same way - so your support would be greatly valued.

Apparently measurement of voting is taken from the I.P address of the computer so you can only vote once for a video from any given machine. Voting runs from now until the 23rd of July.

Thanks (in advance) for your help :)

Playing: tunes

Here are the tracks for the show tomorrow (such organisation)

Jolene Dolly Parton The Very Best Of 2:41

A classic Dolly track

Runnin' Wild Airbourne Runnin' Wild 3:38

More OZ rock from Airbourne - nothing sophisticated, just balls out rawwwk in an AC/DC style.

Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast Airbourne Runnin' Wild 3:42

Rose Tattoo can take some credit for this one, turn it up.

Ace Of Spades Motorhead The Best Of Motorhead D1 2:51

While we're rockin', can't forget Lemmy

Idea of Fun The Stooges The Weirdness 3:17

I really want to use this song as the soundtrack to a First Person shooter video game

Velvety Frank Black 93-03 2:29

Changing the pace a little (but maintaining the rock)

Last nite (The Strokes) The Detroit Cobras Stop me if you think you've heard this one before 2:35

Great cover in a classic girl rock band style

Spring Rain David McCormack Write Your Adventures Down: A Tribute To The Go-Betweens 4:02

Former Custard/Titanics frontman brings his unique voice to an otherwise faithful Gobee's tribute.

Off The Grid The Beastie Boys The Mix-Up 4:36

Like the soundtrack to a great blaxploitation flick, I'll be coming back to this album regularly in coming weeks (and perhaps months)

Evidence Single Gun Theory The Monkey's Mask O.S.T 3:02

Beautiful acoustica from an underrated soundtrack.

The Underpants Song Los Capitanes No Butts! 3:41

Quirky track from one time local outfit

Nature Springs The Good, The Bad And The Queen The Good, The Bad And The Queen 3:10

Gentler and more hopeful in sound but still low-key - nice acoustic guitar work (including the squeaks and squeals from changing chords), some blips and bleeps, again with the fragmentary echoes of OK Computer (a compliment, don't get me wrong). Oh and whistling - who doesn't love a bit of whistling in a tune.

Brain Damage Dr. Israel Dub Side Of The Moon 4:06

Modern reggae take on a classic tune from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon

Big Decision Elliott Smith New Moon 2:00

Zippy track for Elliot and another golden one.

300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues The White Stripes Icky Thump 5:28

Cruel Sea vibe/riffs - very nice.

Pick Me Up Dinosaur Jr Beyond 6:32

Returns to more conventional DJr ground but brings in some outthere whistly synth at points (I think) to keep the freshness up. Loving the guitar in this one, it's gold and has put the song up into my top 2 for this album.

Weeds The Negotiators Apples and Oranges 3:59

Great raspy rock track from occasional commenter Shane

If Jesus Drove A Motor Home Jim White Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You See 4:36

Courtesy of Jerry "Lost Highway" Schwab, this is a very cool alt.country/lounge track.

Love Is A Sweet Thing Randall Blair And The Wedded Bliss Tattoos And Taillights 4:14

More local treasure - nice melodic country pop complete with near oompah brass.

Human Fly Nouvelle Vague Bande À Part 2:49

Eminently listenable 80s alternapop hits jazzed up and given the French bossa nova/lounge treatment

Come Back Margaret Camera Obscura Let's Get Out Of This Country 3:47

Beautiful girl driven pop from Scotland.

Beating: Barry Jones - or not

Barry Jones is an official Australian living treasure - a highly intelligent quiz show champion in the early days of Australian television and an elder statesman of the Labor Party and more now.

He is also one of the brainstrust on ABC tv's The Einstein Factor.

Cutting the point here, I got a question right that he got wrong. There is something I knew that Barry Jones didn't - that William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe were born on the same day in 1564.

(I'm entirely aware that asked another 999 questions, the score could well sit at Jones 999 Couch 1 but that's another matter :)

I guess, as a bit of quiz show nerd, this has a certain unexpected joy to it.

Update - which is tinged of course with the ever present twinge of sadness as a quick search of the web seems to tell me that they weren't actually born on the same day at all. So Barry was right and I was wrong. Well root my boot and thank you Channel 2.

Making: Liagra

I'm off to Newcastle for the weekend tomorrow so I'm posting early - this is a (slightly rough) second ad that I've put together for the GetUp! Oz in 30 seconds competition.

(My first is up here)

It's a little crude in it's inferences perhaps but I kind of don't care.

Have a great weekend

Marking: 200 posts with Star Wars and Manamana

I have a big old workshop to run today (using audio and video in your teaching) so I might just mark the passing of this milestone by presenting a clip that sums up this blog in some ways (not all though).

It's a very nicely edited clip from YouTube that takes the stars of Star Wars and overlays the classic Muppets song Manamana on top. It's a little geeky, works with interesting juxtapositions to create new meaning, stimulates the senses and is hopefully something you will enjoy (I know I like it)

Listening: Airbourne - Runnin' Wild

The much hyped and worth every over-the-top word Airbourne debut album was released on the weekend here in Oz and excuse me while I bang my head a little and smile a dumb rock fevered grin.


(Click on image for full size version - I particularly like the use of Pentridge Prison, Melbourne's old main prison, also known as Bluestone College)

If Wolfmother can build a sound on raiding the best of Sabbath and Led Zep, it's only fair that Airbourne dip deep into the AC/DC well for theirs.

Now maybe it's my bogan roots showing once more (I stand by my respect for Cold Chisel, by the way) but in spite of the fact that I've never really given old Acca Dacca much time, there is something so ROCK about this album that you can't help but love it.

It's loud, it's straight forward and it loves being on stage being a rock star.

I'll post a track by track look at the new album Runnin' Wild soon but for now, here's a sample - I'd really advise turning the sound up.



(Enjoy them now before they get swallowed up by mega-corporate media and played so often that you can't stand the sound of it - I note that this is already underway with the inclusion of this song on the soundtrack to the biggest NFL (American Football) video game - Madden NFL 08. )

Listening: The Mix Up - Beastie Boys

The packaging proclaims this as "their first-ever full album of all-new instrumental material" - just in case you might be freaked out by the surprise of an instrumental album I guess.

It's almost impossible not to hear this as the soundtrack to some very cool film - it drips with atmosphere and the further in you get, the more it seems like the coolest 70's exploitation/blaxploitation film you never saw.

So it's in these terms that I'm going to talk about the tracks on this album.

Overall, it's fantastic - I really like instrumental music when I'm working - the language centers of my brain don't get confused but I still get caught up in the music on more of a subconscious level.

(If you're interested in a slightly more musical take on this album track-by-track, check out this blog - we noted a few of the same things at points)

B For My Name 3:32

Opening with some slinky keyboard driven 70s swagger, this feels like you are the hero strutting down a street in your neighbourhood in the opening scene of a blaxploitation film.

14th St. Break 3:34

This track features a more contemporary clattering drum breakbeat, a buzzy almost-but-not-quite distorted electro riff, plenty of grooves and a sense of movement with an impatience to get there.

Suco De Tangerina 3:17

With a satisfyingly rumbly bassline, reggae beats and a very catchy synth melody, this track puts you somewhere in the tropics but still feeling a little like the hero of some cheesy 70s movie out of their element.

The Gala Event 3:47

Slowing the pace down and adding a certain amount of suspense, this feels like the docks in the early hours of the morning, waiting for someone shady to turn up. Parts of the keyboard remind me momentarily of The Necks' soundtrack to "The Boys", another dark, gritty piece of celluloid.




Electric Worm 3:15

With a healthy bed of wakka wakka guitar and a warm confident bassline, this feels like you're out on the case, doing the legwork, talking to snitches and making some progress.

Freaky Hijiki 3:06

This is a lights down low, slinky track that is close to but not quite the sex scene - there's an extended drum break solo near the end that just wouldn't quite fit (or maybe I'm just a dull dull man :)

Off The Grid 4:36

This could be the end credits - it has an everything's ok now feel to it - it could also be a bit of a drug-den party vibe where the hero is tripping out a little and then goes off into a full dream sequence kind of thing - I like the stretched out spacy quality to this one as well as the dominant guitar in the latter parts.



The Rat Cage 3:37

I get the feel of a sparky but slightly dingy nightclub from this one - you enter from a dirty city alleyway, walking down some stairs. It's another smooth track with the drum beats and dirty distorted but pure guitar putting it into this decade.

The Melee 3:10

Our hero is walking down the street, intensely focussed on the matter at hand. Things have been happening in the story and it's all getting pretty lively - this could well be on the way to the final showdown.

On the other hand, this could well be the closing credits, leaving you to walk out of the movie on an energised high.

Dramastically Different 3:57

With a little bit of a sitar sounding buzz, this is probably the scene where our hero goes to talk to the free-lovin' hippies for some help - there could well be some kind of wanky montage here.

The Cousin Of Death 3:06

Music for a visit to a loud sleazy stripclub, playing in the background while our hero talks to someone (or possibly roughs someone up - most likely in self defence)


The Kangaroo Rat 3:28

This is perhaps the wild card part of the movie - maybe a chase scene, maybe the part that you thought, wow, I wouldn't have thought of putting that in a film. It has energy and drive but isn't crazy fast or anything - I guess this could conceivably be the end credits (the sound that is playing as you walk out rather than the credits that you sit through to the end.)

Preparing: Monday Sunset 2/7/7

Crazy (Theremin version) Randy George The Ether and Aether Experiment website 2:56

I blogged this last week and liked it so much I have to play it today - there's something about the theremin that just seems so futuristic, even though it's been kicking around for more than 50 years. The whole idea of playing an instrument without touching it, just interacting with electro-magnetic thingamies - it's ace. :)

Race Various Artists Stone 4:16

Stone was a classic Oz bikie exploitation film from the mid 70s - this is one tune from the psychedelia soaked rock soundtrack.

Flame Trees Sarah Blasko Standing On The Outside (The Songs Of Cold Chisel) 5:21

Beautiful cover that gets better with each listening.

High Times Elliott Smith New Moon 3:11

Oh Elliot, why did you leave us so soon? - this is a slightly darker track for Elliot Smith but like all the others, it's fracking brilliant.

This Room Fat Freddys Drop Based on a True Story 5:00

Smooth kiwi dub/reggae from an amazing band live.

I'm Slowly Turning Into You The White Stripes Icky Thump 4:28

From the new album, this features a Jaggerish tint to vocals, slinky rock, layered voices and is a great tune.

Help Save The Youth Of America Billy Bragg Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg [Disc 1] 2:48

A little old school Bill - at his barking best.

Everybody Knows Rufus Wainwright Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man 4:30

Great cover from a slightly disappointing album of Cohen covers by people you would think would do better.

Machines Work B(if)tek 2020 3:58

Warm beeps and bloops from a couple of one time Canberrans.

In Front of Me Tzu Smiling At Strangers 3:37

Infectiously lively and upbeat rock hiphop from Melbourne's TZU

Quick Way To Hell The Fuelers Hot Dang 3:42

Very smooth local rockin' country.

No one will Cody Chestnut The Headphone Masterpiece 2:59

Even smoother 70s style soul

Dry The Rain The Beta Band 3 E.P.'s 6:06

The song John Cusack played in High Fidelity with the promise that it would make five people would buy the album - and it is that good

Made of stone The Stone Roses The Very Best Of 4:16

Great early 90s Brit-rock from the Stoneys.

The Room Got Heavy Yo La Tengo I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass 5:10

Amazing album - out there song.

Koolism Is Koolism Diverse EP 3:50

Another one time local outfit, great happy hiphop.

Wonder Riff Baterz Out of Hell 3:03

Smart, funny and perhaps a little odd (but in a good way) song writing from a much missed artist around town.

Hello Pussycat The Titanics Love Is The Devil 1:53

Good fun rock track with a completely unsubtle message

Asthma attack The Fiery Furnaces Gallowsbird's Bark 2:08

Odd bassy and fun rockabilly styled tune

Chinito Chinito Ry Cooder Chavez Ravine 4:52

This is a bit of a fave with the PC and I completely understand

I Don't Want To Play Football Belle & Sebastian Storytelling 0:57

Beautiful and low key ending, taken from a movie that you might have missed.

Making: Good or Just Lucky?: an ad.

Tah daaah - after a few teasers late last week, I'm pleased to present Good or Just Lucky?, my contribution to the GetUp! Oz in 30 seconds competition.



If you haven't come across GetUp! before, they are (in their own words):

... a new independent political movement to build a progressive Australia. GetUp brings together like-minded people who want to bring participation back into our democracy.

GetUp.org.au members use the latest online tools to act on important issues facing the country.

They have a membership of over 180,000 and have already run a number of successful campaigns on issues ranging from funding for the ABC, migration, RU486, the environment and more.

The governing Liberals hate them and consider them a Labor party front but the organisation board includes people from a wide section of the community with concerns about a number of issues that the government has bollocksed up in one way or another.

The competition - modelled on an American one last year called Bush in 30 seconds - calls on people to create their own political ad to be aired in the run up to upcoming federal election here.

It's not about endorsing one party in particular (but the bulk of them do seem to be about highlighting the myriad problems with the current government)

This is my third significant project in Flash and I will admit that it's still on the rough side (calling any FLS Flash gurus - the deadline for this has been extended to the 7th of July and help in making this more funky would be gratefully received) but it does the job.

I took the perhaps unusual approach of looking at something that is generally regarded as a strength for the government - the economy - and dared to ask the question: Is everything as good as it should be or is it a house of cards?

The Australian economy has been in a period of growth since 1993 (3 years before the Howard government), driven largely by a massive demand for resources by China.

Keeping things ticking over is a pretty easy job when the money is rushing in but there are a lot of areas where this country could be doing a lot better and if/when the money dries up (e.g. China gets a better offer).

A combination of massive household debt, poor infrastructure (roads, ports and particularly broadband internet), a lack of innovation, research and development in industry and an ideological neglect of education mean that this country is completely unprepared to stand on its own two feet in the knowledge economy of the 21st century.

Add this to some particularly repressive industrial relations laws which could see workers seriously exploited in an economic downturn and you have a country with a number of problems just beneath the surface.

Getting this all across in a 30 second ad of course is a tough task so I chose to just raise the question and hope that this is enough to spark debate in an area that is considered almost off limits in public debate in this country.

I toyed with the idea of having ships taking resources to China on the map but felt it made the image a little busy. I'm still thinking vaguely about replacing the ch-ching sounds with video game bleeps but have other projects to press on with for now.

I hope you like it.

Updating: No Shampoo challenge - Day 23

I'm heading into Week 4 of the no-shampoo challenge (original story)- no significant news to report. Hair is still sitting a little flat which doesn't worry me and still doesn't seem greasy or smelly.









I think the PC is finding it a little tougher having washed her hair more frequently in the past than I but I know she has the strength to get through.

LOLing: Swearing Johnny Howard

This is something I stumbled across on YouTube just now and while it's simple and crude, it's still pretty funny.