Event

JG Thirlwell pays an Easter visit

It’s been a fun Easter holiday, back in the UK after gigs in France over the weekend. Lots of chocolate and hanging out with the family, then Lauren Laverne decided to play the new single with The Amorphous Androgynous AGAIN this morning after dropping it on Friday on her 6Music show. This time I was at home and had a bit of a moment dancing with the kids while it blasted out, one to remember there.

A lot of people have been asking when they can get it, I’m assured that the pre-order page will be up on the Ninja Tune site this week, there will be 1500 copies on 12″ vinyl for Record Store Day on April 21st plus it’ll all be available as a download with an extra exclusive remix by 2econd Class Citizen. Ninja have kept 200 copies back for their online shop so that those who don’t make it out on RSD don’t go without. Please don’t feed the flippers on eBay if you don’t find one on the 21st, this will be repressed if stocks run out.

To add to that, Jim Thirlwell is in town to play the Union Chapel Bar on Thursday 12th with his Manorexia band and called to see if I was up for a visit. Even though we met over a decade ago and have worked together it’s still surreal to be making tea for him and relaxing in my studio. The teenage fan me, back in the 80’s, wouldn’t have ever believed it. Greatest Bank Holiday Monday ever.

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Record Store Day at Rat Records, Camberwell, SE5

I’ll be spinning for a couple of hours down at Rat Records in Camberwell, SE5 on April 21st for Record Store Day to celebrate the release of my remix 12″ with The Amorphous Androgynous. I should be bringing a box of 12″s for the occasion and I’ll try and rustle up the last copies of the limited CD/comic/flexi disc version of ‘The Search Engine’ album too. There will also be in store sets and appearances from DJ Andy Smith, Julia Finnimore and Serafina Steer – god knows where everyone is going to go as the shop isn’t huge.

Rat Records is a small but perfectly formed used record store nestled in the heart of Camberwell, close to where I live and a place I’ve lived around most of the two decades plus that I’ve been in London. They are also one of the only used record stores South of the river, along with the Record & Tape Exchange in Greenwich and Soul Brother in Putney, so they don’t benefit from the passing trade of the Soho stores.Because they are a used store they don’t have the ordering power to get new RSD product like the shops that sell new releases but I want to support them as they always make an effort for RSD. My good friend David Vallade has, once again, produced a poster for the occasion – nice touch with my character there :). Not sure exactly what time I’m be playing but it will be a 2 hour selection around midday.

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Davy Jones RIP

Sad news about Davy Jones today, time for a few Monkees-related posts from the past:

 

http://www.djfood.org/heads-up

(fictional ‘Head’ comic cover)

 

http://www.djfood.org/head-shots

(ultra nerdy dissection of a trailer for ‘Head’)

 

http://www.djfood.org/discography/mixes/head-dj-food-re-score

(something I did around a decade ago)

 

image adapted from the Big Glee website – Jack Davis draws Davy Jones for a book of fan letters written to the Monkees. He also posted a great Japanese tour brochure from 1968 only yesterday – spooky timing!

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Resonance FM auction ends at midnight tonight

To anyone wanting one of the DJ Food postcard records that I made for the recent Pure Evil Gallery exhibition, the LAST ONE is being auctioned tonight in aid of Resonance FM the independent radio station that’s home to show’s like Jonny Trunk’s OST, Ben Eshmade’s Arctic Circle and Alex Fitch’s Panel Borders shows amongst many more. The auction ends tonight (Feb 19th) at midnight GMT and you can see the list of goodies up for auction on the Fundraiser Spreadsheet.

The postcard is actually no.31 of 30 and is specially signed for the Resonance auction, also up for grabs is a one of a kind DJ Food 12″ controller record for use with DJ software like Tractor and Serato, on multi-coloured splatter vinyl. My items are lot # r9 and r10 (scroll down to near the bottom) and you can email your bids to [email protected] before midnight tonight. Please support this station if you can even if it’s a small donation, every bit helps.

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From the heart

 

 

 

 

I recently received back into my possession, several old scrapbooks from when I was aged between 11 and 15. Some of these consist entirely of cuttings about Adam & The Ants but that’s a story for a future blog. Whilst going through these I found this, written by Adam Ant back in 1980 for a teenage magazine. Seems apt to post it today, more to come in the coming months…

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Jean-Paul Goude Retrospective, Paris

I found an hour to visit the Jean-Paul Goude retrospective at Les Arts Decoratifs whilst in Paris over the weekend (two gigs in France and I managed to forget my Serato controller discs!) after a tip off from Steve Cook. You will probably know Goude’s work from the iconic images of Grace Jones he produced in the 80’s but he has photographed and mutated everyone from Bjork to Naomi Campbell to Vanessa Paradis. The retrospective features original photos, models, clothes and a huge steam train in the main hall (that looks like it was made for a parade of some sort if I understand correctly).

His cut up images are simply stunning, where he slices people up and repeats parts of their body, turning them into graphic works of angular abstraction. My biggest thrill was seeing the original cover photo for Grace’s ‘Slave To The Rhythm’ album, a record that I adore and have held the master tape of, all I need now is to see her perform it live and my life will be complete (or something).

Anyway, I’ll let some of the images do the talking and just recommend you try and catch it before it ends on March 18th.

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Steve even found time to shoot a short film on his phone while he was there:

Goudemalion from Temporal An0maly on Vimeo.

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Pepe Deluxé ‘Queen of the Wave’ album launch

In addition to the prep for the Pure Evil gallery exhibition I was playing at the Pepe Deluxe album launch party at the London Aquarium on Monday night, mixing water, sea and surf inspired music before and after their ‘Queen of the Wave’ LP play back. Out came everything from Jaws, James Bond and The Deep soundtracks to Led Zep’s ‘The Ocean’ and Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke On The Water’. The gig was held in the Ship Wreck Room which has a whole wall of glass looking into a giant fish tank populated by all manner of sharks, fish and three huge Easter Island heads. It was fun to play to an audience who didn’t make requests and gently bobbed their heads to even the most obscure surf soundtracks.

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I finally met Jari and Paul too (Pepe Deluxé) and they gave out mini books containing all the album companions they’d been posting on their site a well as nice little lunch boxes for the post-work crowd to chew on.

pd-launch-12pd-launch-13pd-launch-14pd-launch-15pd-launch-16pd-launch-17pd-launch-18pd-launch-19pd-launch-2pd-launch-20pd-launch-3pd-launch-4pd-launch-5pd-launch-6pd-launch-7pd-launch-9pd-launch-1pd-launch-10


Not only is their new album, ‘Queen of the Wave’, (finally) out today but they have a new mix on this week’s Solid Steel too which you can listen to and preview some of the album right now. Buy it here (physical) and here (digital)

There’s also a great grindhouse-esque trailer for the record to give you some sound AND vision – seriously, you need to hear this album, it’s going to be a love it or hate it affair but if you love it you’re going to LOVE it. If you liked ‘Spare Time Machine’ then this is a worthy successor but also even deeper in detail, it takes a fair few listens but will have you humming tunes out of the blue before you know it.
In case you hadn’t already guessed, I love this band and record.

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Pure Evil Gallery preparations – Mon/Tues/Wed

[singlepic id=3571 w=305 h=640 float=left] [singlepic id=3572 w=305 h=640 float=left]

What a week it’s been, after the planetarium shows on Thursday 19th, straight off to gigs in Amsterdam and Brighton on the Friday and Saturday and back home for a brief respite on Sunday. Monday 23rd saw the release of the album in Europe (Feb 7th in N. America) and final preparations for the show opening with Henry Flint‘s work at the Pure Evil Gallery in Shoreditch. I’d done a fair bit of framing over the Xmas period so some of the larger pictures were ready but there was still a lot of smaller pieces to finish and the show to hang. In addition to this I was playing at the Pepe Deluxe album launch party at the London Aquarium that night (see upcoming post for more). It was an early finish (mercifully for a Monday only 9pm) then it was back home to try and get some more done for the exhibition but I had to give up after half an hour as I was falling asleep.

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The first setback was on Tuesday morning when I picked up the huge front cover image from the framers and realised that it just wasn’t going to go in the car. That would have to wait another day while I worked out how to get it there. The rest of the day was spent at the gallery with the owner, Charley and his assistant Molly, working out where to put things, audio and video considerations and lighting.

When I returned that evening I still had a load of framing and mount cutting to do and ended up pulling an all-nighter to get it done. As I set off for another day at the gallery, after less than 3 hours sleep, I set the audio visual piece off rendering and figured it would be done by the time I got home. The problem of the huge picture was solved by hiring a cab driver I know with a Range Rover to deliver me and the last batch of pictures to the gallery, even then, the picture only just fitted inside. Second setback was upon arriving at the gallery I found it all locked up and no answer on any phone numbers I had. After waiting an hour in the car, dodging traffic wardens with the meter running, texting and calling everyone who I could think of with no joy, I phoned my agent whose office was down the road to ask if I could drop the pictures at his place.

[singlepic id=3575 w=305 h=240 float=left] [singlepic id=3576 w=305 h=240 float=left]

After doing that and a quick post-planetarium meeting to go over future options I went back to the gallery to find Molly and Charley there apologising profusely. Turns out Charley had to go to the American Embassy for a visa and had to leave his phone behind in the office, Molly had had a little too much to drink the night before and didn’t have my number but all was fine (although Charley got refused a visa, despite living there in the past). We’d lost the morning though and there was still a lot to painting to do where the walls had images in the past that needed covering up.

[singlepic id=3573 w=640 h=480 float=left]

Also there was the fact that all my pictures were sitting down the road but luckily Ninja had sent an intern up to help and we took three trips back and forth to ferry them all to their intended destination. By the end of the day we’d nearly got it all in place or had an idea where it was going. I got home to find that the AV file was still rendering and set about designing the title cards for each piece now that I knew exactly what was going in the show. Eventually the AV piece finished after 13 hours but had inexplicably only rendered the video, not the audio. Shit, I tried all sorts to embed the audio or re-export it but was so tired I was falling asleep at the machine (again).

 

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Planetarium post-mortem

For those of you wondering what the Planetarium launch night was like, well, it was one of the proudest moments and most memorable gigs of my career so far. It all went so well, considering the awkward travel arrangements and the margins for error with the sets, that I couldn’t quite believe it. Whilst the shows were by no means perfect they were better than at the rehearsal a few days before and I could happily hold my head up and say it was all a great success. Ninja Tune did a great job organising the whole event, PC, DK and 2econd Class Citizen all played space-themed tracks in the foyer, there were drinks and bowls of flying saucer sweets and the people from the Royal Observatory did a great job too.

Outside was an astronomer with a telescope and you could actually see Jupiter and several of its moons, coupled with the stunning night time view over South East London and the great setting for the shows amongst the galleries of the observatory, it was just perfectly pitched. I’m not going to try and describe the shows because it’s kind of redundant and I wouldn’t be able to do it justice but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive afterwards so I was pretty relieved, considering I think I knew at least half the people at the gig! I have to say a big thank you to Ed Bloomer, the astronomer I worked with on the show, as it couldn’t have happened without him and he really pulled it out of the bag in as far as building the elements into a cohesive set.
Adrian Williams sent me the image above that he took before the show started, if you click the image you should be able to pull it about a bit too. It’s hard to convey the scale of what you’re seeing, imagine sitting in half a dome, with the screen 360 degrees around you, joining at the top – that image was stretched across it when you walked in (the red/pink was the lighting so that people could see where they were going). I’m waiting on both photos and film of the event so I’ll post more when I have it. Below, the amazing view that greeted everyone when they left the Planetarium (by Jonny Cuba)


 

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Planetarium: important info for ticket holders

Well, the time is nearly upon us, the launch of ‘The Search Engine’ at the Planetarium in deepest South London. As this isn’t a regular gig and the margin for error is high, I’ve put together six main points for those who might not have properly read the transport and schedule info that came with the ticket. Timings are tight for the performances and there will be no admittance once a show has started and I’d hate for people to miss out by not reading the info properly.

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Planetarium launch entry details & set timings

Here’s the view from the top of Greenwich Park outside the Royal Observatory Greenwich where we’ll be launching The Search Engine on Thursday 19th January.

For all those going it’s very important to note: The park is closed after 6 to pedestrians, you can drive in through the Blackheath Gate but not walk or ride bikes, there is free parking outside the Observatory. For those coming on foot you can get a free shuttle bus from St. Mary’s Gate (just up the street from the Cutty Sark) or a free coach from outside the Greenwich train station (15 minutes transfer time).

Everyone who has bought tickets from the Ninjashop should have received an email with full details to be printed out and bought along to exchange for a coloured wristband, each different for each performance time.

You must bring your e-ticket to get into the transport provided, and to enter the venue. Beyond the main show show we have many things lined up, such as DJ’s PC, DK and 2econd Class Citizen in the bar, a cafe serving food and drink, the astronomy galleries, and more. Coaches depart 45 minutes before each show (shuttles buses every 5-10 mins) so make the most of it  and get there early, there will be no late admissions in the Planetarium itself! The event will be held on the south site of the Royal Observatory (entrance shown above left) in the Peter Harrison Planetarium (middle). But please do check the document and get there in good time for your performance. The event is open from 7pm-11pm.

Timings on the night are:
1900        Doors open. Café, bar, galleries and foyer open
1900 – 2230    Telescope viewing on Upper Courtyard

1900 – 2030    DJ set – 2econd Class Citizen
1920        Planetarium doors open
1930-2015    Planetarium show 1

2020        Planetarium doors open
2030 – 2115    Planetarium show 2
2030 – 2145    DJ Set 2 – DK

2120        Planetarium doors open
2130 – 2215    Planetarium show 3
2145 – 2300    DJ set 3: – PC (Narrick Peparcett) :)

2230        Café and bar close, Telescope viewing ends
2300        Event ends. Last coach departure to Greenwich Station

More exact details on transport arrangements: Shuttle buses
From 18:50, free shuttle buses will be available on a first come first served basis, picking up every 5 – 10 minutes from the park entrance St Mary’s Gate (located at the end of King William Walk, Greenwich Town Centre. Google maps:).

The shuttle buses will transport people to the Royal Observatory and back to St Mary’s Gate throughout the evening, last departure from the Royal Observatory to St Mary’s Gates: 23.00
Coaches
The Museum is providing free coaches to and from Greenwich train station and the venue. The coaches will be positioned in the parking zone just as you exit the station (take Greenwich High Road exit). Coaches are white and marked “City Circle”. Please have your booking confirmation letter ready to be checked before getting onto the coach.
Departures from Greenwich Train Station are scheduled at 18.45, 19.45
and 20.45.
Please note these times are approximate and dependant on traffic; the estimated transfer time between the station and the venue is 15 minutes.

Posted in DJ Food, Event, Ninja Tune. | 2 Comments |

DJ Food & Henry Flint exhibition reminder

I know I’ve already published details of this a while back but it’s been announced to the press in general this week and already been blogged by Design Week, Secret Oranges and ECBT2000ad amongst others. Here’s the final flyer with opening times, myself and Henry will be there on the opening night to drink chat and sign things if you wish.

There will be free booze, kindly provided by Peroni, and you can order signed gicleé prints direct from Scraffer.com which will also be on display (third one to be announced next week) as well as pick up an ultra limited postcard record (if they arrive from Vienna in time).

 

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Happy New Year!

EdBag2012As we begin a new year and I feel like death warmed up after a lovely night in with friends and family (my first non-gig New Year’s Eve for a while now) I’m looking forward to 2012 and the treats it will bring.

This time last year I think I said, “There WILL be a new DJ Food album this year”, and there was, sort of. I completed the trilogy of vinyl EPs that would make up the bulk of the album, finished all the artwork and it was even released early in Japan so at least that was done.

The worldwide release is in just over 3 weeks though, on Jan 23rd, preceded by a launch party at the London Planetarium and followed by my joint exhibition with Henry Flint at the Pure Evil Gallery, January is going to be a very busy month, coupled with the various DJ gigs I have as well.

So that kicks off the year nicely, the album will be out in various different formats and the full dome planetarium show is slowly coming together, something I plan to develop over the year. There should also be a 4th 12″ with remixes, one by 2econd Class Citizen which is excellent, and more which I’ll reveal as they come in.

Solid Steel will continue to develop, after topping the AV podcast charts last year, with a new residency at a London studio from February, more on that as it happens. I want to get back into doing mixes in 2012 too, it’s been very thin on the ground for me the last few years as music and design has taken a bigger role but 2012 is the year to get back to it and get the DJ set re-routed to fit the new record. I also want to take my design work in different areas, pursuing some personal avenues started with the new album artwork and learning more about app-based alternatives. I also want to get an electronic drum kit but that’s something else altogether.

I’ve had a love / hate relationship with ‘modern’ music for the last few years with little new stuff getting me that excited (another reason for less mixes) but I’m genuinely excited about a load of albums due to see the light this year:

DJ Format – Statement of Intent

2econd Class Citizen – The Small Minority

Pepe Deluxé – Queen Of The Wave

Sound Sci – The Formula

Belbury Poly – The Belbury Tales

Demdike Stare – Elemental pt.3 & 4

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds remixed by Amorphous Androgynous

The The – Moonbug Soundtrack

and all the great things Finder’s Keepers, Trunk and Ghost Box will throw at us.

On the film front Ridley Scott‘s Prometheus looks about as good as it can get, The Dark Knight Rises could be decent blockbuster fun and I’m hoping the second go at adapting Judge Dredd for the big screen won’t stink too much. The newly 3D-ified Phantom Menace with still be shit but it will be fun to take the boys to see it for the first time and their first 3D experience. In the comics world I’m very much looking forward to Mike Mignola‘s return to drawing Hellboy (in Hell!) after re-reading the entire graphic novel series in 2011, I’m going to try and do B.P.R.D this year. Jim Mahfood and Mike McMahon‘s first turns on Tank Girl should be good fun, the final League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will be worth a look although the last one wasn’t all that exciting, I wish Moore would stop trying to crowbar every single literary character or reference into it as it’s becoming tedious now.

Anyway, a year full of possibilities as always, let’s not dwell on all the negatives we will inevitably be faced with at some point, the album is done, time to launch it and see if it hits the mark or disappears into the great beyond…

PS: the 2012 image is by Edmund Bagwell, pinched from the Bad Librarianship blog

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