Khalid Hanifi – Pamplemousse Presse
[ Comments Off ]Posted on July 23, 2008 by admin in Music
A quick listen to Khalid Hanifi’s catchy new radio-ready CD, Pamplemousse Presse
On his new release Pamplemousse Presse, Khalid Hanifi pulls off something any pop songwriter could admire, drawing from the pop palette without resorting to pop cliché, and effortlessly (well, maybe he worked on it…) blending excellent hooks with solid song craftsmanship. This collection of songs is solidly listenable from beginning to end, and in fact (whether I like it or not) remains pretty listenable in my head when the songs get stuck there. Very catchy stuff. Although you could toss off comparisons to a wide variety of singer songwriters (Rufus Wainright, Joseph Arthur, Joe Jackson, Michael Penn and others spring to mind) Hanifi has a maturity and purity of pitch in his voice and delivery that he clearly owns. You can only really compare Khalid Hanifi to Khalid Hanifi. Well paced, produced & mixed with exceptional clarity, strong melody, and nicely placed, sophisticated harmonies, this CD has only grown on me more with each listen. This is a seriously radio-ready (people still listen to those, don’t they?) artist who would fit comfortably into an adult alternative rotation as easily as an alt-country mix. If this is what Khalid Hanifi does when he’s not pursuing his music career full time, I can’t wait until he gets serious about it. Purchase a downloadable version on DigStation for USD9.99, or pick up the CD at CDBaby for USD12.97.
Clover Coffee Machine: For 11 Grand IT Should Wipe ME
[ 1 Comment ]Posted on July 22, 2008 by admin in Editorial & Opinion
Can the $11,000.00 Clover 1s coffee machine save Starbucks?
In spite of the meticulous engineering, net-connectivity, and overall coolness factor, there is NO WAY I would buy an eleven-thousand-dollar coffee maker that requires me to use a wire whisk and wipe the machine top as part of brewing my cup of coffee. For $11,000.00, it should whisk and wipe ME. Apparently Starbucks doesn’t feel the same way. Never mind the machine, they bought the company. Can it help them as they go down in flames? Do we care? Learn more about the Clover Coffee machine in this YouTube video, in which Le Gourmet TV stops by the Clover Coffee Company in Seattle.
Meet Your Maker: Mr. Deity
[ Comments Off ]Posted on July 22, 2008 by admin in Popular Media
In these hilarious, slickly produced YouTube clips, you’ll learn that even the Creator of the Universe has bad days.
If you missed Mr. Deity back in 2006, it’s time for you to meet your maker. These simple yet slickly-produced shorts are one of the reasons I love the evolving world of streaming video. In episode one of Mr. Deity, the creator of the universe and his assistant are wrapping up creation and deciding how much evil to keep in the design, so as to maintain free will as part of the plan. Assistant: “Holocaust, Torture, and Downe’s Syndrome…those three alone…make it kind of hard to believe in you…throw in a hard winter or two, NO-one’s gonna believe in you…” Check out the rest of the episodes here, and read the interview with Mr. Deity on Crackle.com
Bicycle Mowers – The Latest in Eco-friendly Lawn Care
[ 2 Comments ]Posted on July 22, 2008 by admin in Clean & Green
Two great tastes that taste great together: Lawnmowers and Bicycles
Reduce your carbon footprint and increase your “I am a dork” factor by jumping on the latest clean & green trend: Lawnmower Bicycles. Back in my day, you had to push one of these things around with your hands. Now you can hook your Brill Razorcut Mower
Delia Derbyshire – Electronic Music Pioneer
[ Comments Off ]Posted on July 21, 2008 by admin in Music
Little-known electronic musician Delia Derbyshire of the BBC was creating house beats and promoting raves 40 years ago.
Delia Derbyshire was busy being Bjork-like back when there weren’t no Bjork. Delia was told by Decca Records in 1959 that the company DID NOT employ women in their recording studios. This didn’t slow her down much; by 1960 she was working with the BBC as a trainee studio manager. This, at the age of 24, as a woman in the UK. Think about it. During her stint with the BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop, she anonymously created or was involved in numerous works, including familiar pieces like the much-covered Dr Who theme. She worked at various points with a stellar array of artists like Paul McCartney, Karlheinz Stockhausen, George Martin, and Pink Floyd. As part of the organization Unit Delta Plus she practically invented the rave in 1967, and did an early version of scratching and sampling, only with reel-to-reel tape decks, for crying out loud. See a YouTube clip here. To this day she is covered and credited by bands like Aphex Twin and The Chemical Brothers. Check out this clip of a Kraftwerk/House-like beat (which she describes as a toss-off) from the early sixties, or some of the eerie and textural soundscapes downloadable here. Rock on Delia – wherever your atoms went – you’re an inspiration!