Swimming in Qualia

Steve Jansen

Wasn't I Joe?

By David Sylvian



Online Videos by Veoh.com

Meredith Monk

A performance by Meredith Monk from the "Four American Composers" by Peter Greenaway

Derek Bailey

A piece on Derek Bailey. Guitarist

Funny Games

Now with having seen the new version of "Funny Games" By Michael Haneke last night, I now think of what the films are really about. Michael Haneke made the same film in Austria ten years ago. He went back and remade the film, shot for shot, line for line(almost.) His reasoning for this was because he felt the point of the original film was about the senseless violence of American films that had no real consequence, violence for entertainments sake. The film represents that, but with an unhappy solution. So now we approach what Haneke is doing with this idea of repeating his point again. To me, it works maybe better the second time around. The look and feel of the original film are flawless, the performances just as fine, different, but still great. But as I sat in the theatre watching the film knowing the outcome and what was to come after the first thirty minutes I felt an overwhelming sense of dread. Here it comes or now we are in for it. As I have said to many people, this is the most horrifying film I have ever seen. I admire the film so much for almost taunting it's audience that even thinking about them getting out is pointless. Even so much so where a pivotal scene is re-wound on screen to repeat it, but with a very different outcome. In terms of affecting his audience, this is Haneke's most accomplished film. I wish more films were made like this, maybe not as distressing, but just as fearless. Not being at the beck and call of it's audience, but challenging them to see and accept what is happening, no matter how intense it gets.

Trailer for the 1997 version of Funny Games



Trailer for the 2007 version of Funny Games

Keith Rowe

Short subject about Keith Rowe, Avant-Garde guitar player

Fred Frith & Otomo Yoshihide

Some late night music

365 days ago

365 days ago my life changed forever. I loved someone. I truly did. As I look back on my decisions at that time of how I handled the situations that arouse from bad timing, bad judgement, cowardice and egotism, it's still hard to deal with it all. At the time, I thought leaving was going to change everything for the better, but it didn't. Knowing what you should have done and what you did are things that go through stages of emotional grief. Now the mile marker is here. It still feels just like yesterday. The best and worst time of my life. The best, being that I finally came to accept myself and the worst in I still wanted what I had given up. Certain days you feel quite good and certain days you don't. Regret and potential are some of the strongest emotions that you can feel. So now a year later after much psycho-analysis and personal growth I think now of what I did and why and understand and accept my decisions. They were poor, ill-advised and childish, but needed to experience the edge of emotional trauma. This equaled growth for me. So today is the anniversary of the most important day of my life. We will see how things are in another 365 days

Meanings of Art

Alan Wilder's thoughts of the music industry at large

Wonderful article here

Brian Eno views on art, evolution and life

http://www.poptech.com/popcasts/popcasts.aspx?lang=viewcastid=30

Very Interesting stuff. I don't find him very interesting as a musician anymore, but as a thinker he really has something

Tsai Ming-Liang

Tsai Ming-Liang is one of the more eclectic filmmakers in the world. A Taiwanese filmmaker who uses the movement of time as has palate. He lets things evolve at their own pace and own time. His love of nature and silence make his film an almost zen like experience, but the interesting thing he does in these confines of rather slow pace, he has many ideas for his social outcast characters. Always played by his "muse" Lee Kang-Sheng. He places them in positions of sexual experimentation, end of the world tragedies and home grief. Possibly his retort for being an outcast in his own culture(his pace and sexuality.) Drawing much inspiration from Francois Truffaut, as can be seen with a cameo by Jean-Pierre Leaud in "What Time Is It There" He is a true artist in Asian and world cinema. A person trying to do something different with the form.

Nader jumps in

Ralph Nader has decided to jump into the presidency of 2008 election. Not again. His being there fucked up the last two elections. He knows he has no chance in hell, but he does this anyway just to wave his political cock once again. While he does have good ideas, he only states his plan to go into the race after the two sides have come close to figuring out who is going to go into this. This is not 1992 when it was anyone's game. This is a democratic election. The movement away from the conservative stranglehold on the country for nearly thirty years is close to coming to an end. The major concern, of course is Nader sticks in enough votes to where even if the election is close again, the conservative party wins out. Not wanted. So Mr. nader do the American people a favor and sit out of this one.

Amoeba

A new project has developed recently. This is called "Amoeba" The point of the project is creating a soundtrack for the undercurrent of life. In this case, cells. The video is being composed at the moment and the soundtrack being composed in three movements. More on this project soon. Fr now, a preview of the soundtrack can be heard at myspace.com/therandomjohnnies

The Oscars

Tonight is the Academy Awards. My pick is very simple: No Country for Old Men was the most accomplished film this year out of the ones competing and should get the Best Picture Oscar. Now onto my favorite films of the year.


The two best films I saw this year were "Diving Bell and the Butterfly" Which is nominated for several Academy Awards, and might go home with the best director Oscar for Julian Schanbel. I hope to see him in his Pajamas as usual(see above) A far fuller portrayal of Jean-Dominique Bauby, than Jean-Do could do for himself. A film of remarkable beauty and power. Touching moments, especially his scenes with his aging father played by Max Von Sydow.

Number two is "4 months, 3 weeks and two days" Set at the height of communism in Romania in the late eighties. The story deals with a late term abortion and very illegally done. The portrayal of two people who don't realize the real danger they are in is at the same time heart-breaking and thrilling.

If I had my way the Oscars would offer far more variation, but this will not happen this decade or any other decade. Great films will always be thrown off in favor of highly disposable crap, and many people will miss out again on great films only because of the dreaded letters at the bottom of the screen.

But maybe the real reason to watch the Oscars could be the fashion. No one can deny it is a fabulous evening to feel superficial

New Greenaway Project and an interesting discussion on history

Tripod

Well, my new side project "Tripod" had it's first gig on Friday. Happy I am. The band is an electronic progressive rock trio. Quite dense sonically, and good fun. Depending on development this may become my entire focus of music, but I am still enjoying doing things on my own terms quite a bit. Who knows. My lovely cello player has been helping me with new ideas. And opening me up to electroacousitc possibilities. My project progression to me is always funny. A year or two passes of building up ideas and then--BOOM! the writing and recording happens very quickly.

Back to Tripod.

The band consists of Myself on computer, electric guitar and other electronics. Terry Porter on Keyboards. Quite a fan of Kraftwerk and other German electronics. He might date himself a bit in the respect, but a solid player nonetheless. And David Genualdi on Electric guitar. David has an interesting style. Very much into a Wilco and Nels Cline style. He does have a nice way of using sustain notes and making interesting textures. His playing continues to improve to become his own.

So, this is my new project. A few samples of this is up and about on the website. A myspace page will be made soon

-Patrick

New developments

In the never ending search to find meaning in music, life and art. I now jump away from electronics for the next project. Acoustic instruments are in full force now. Cello, Oboe and Trumpet are being recorded for future use on the new project. No date is set, but these are the new happenings.

More posts to come