25/3/2003
Highlights from the Oscars for me include:

Listening to Lewis Parker's It's All Happening Now. I really, really rate this album. The last time I heard a hip-hop record this consistent, raw and tight was Quasimoto's The Unseen. And to think that I bought and slept on his first album Masquerades and Silhouettes ... shame on me. Mr Parker, here's making it up to you – EVERYONE BUY THIS ALBUM! I like it so much I'ma treat all you loyal Shtikman fans to one of his tunes. Also waiting impatiently for my Jay Dee instrumental album from Dusty Groove. Heard the new Four Tet album and it's really good too.

Right, time to get that Mark Hollis CD outta the stereo.

21/3/2003
Why dem waan stop di weed man tings star?

20/3/2003
I was too young to take the '91 Gulf War seriously, all I remember was gossiping about it being the start of WWIII. Now that I'm 24 and witnessing war as it happens, it's really chilling actually. I used to watch Beyond 2000 and ogled at all those sophisticated weaponry and military technology. I feel sick now thinking about how we can actually marvel at killing machines and make innocent television shows out of it, glorifying their power and deadliness. And these very machines are in action now, every spent bullet and shell, every shard and shrapnel, brought to you live, 24 hours a day.

Don't you feel sick?

16/3/2003
Whoa! Lookit!

"Dear Sir/Madam

SECTION 80 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1990
ALLEGED NOISE NUISANCE

I received a complaint about drumming noise emitting from the above premises.

I was unable to confirm the allegation that the noise was excessive, as the noise had stopped before I was able to visit.

However I am drawing this complaint to your attention so that you are aware of the possible problem of noise and to advise you that if a statutory nuisance is witnessed by an officer with the 24-Hour Noise Team a formal notice will be served.

The effect of such a notice is to prohibit any further nuisance caused by noise and failure to comply with such a notice could result in a maximum penalty of £5,000."

Hmm ... looks like I'll have to stop hanging around in my flat wearing my loincloth and playing my taiko.

2/3/2003
Lotsa new music! Happy happy joy joy!

Buck 65/Square - Quite good, only qualm is that it's made up of four irritatingly long tracks. Kinda like Chris Bowden's Slightly Askew.

Stereo MCs/Retroactive – Surprisingly, their better tunes are those made in 1988/89. Nothing tops 'Connected' though.

Jan Jelinek Avec The Exposures/La Nouvelle Pauvreté – I don't know how else to describe Jan Jelinek's music, other than 'minimal electronic funk'.

The Majesticons/Beauty Party – Tongue-in-cheek parody of all things bling-bling from the genius that is Mike Ladd.

Do Make Say Think – Heard some tracks being played prior to the MWBIC gig (see 2/3 blog entry below), remembered their excellent gig in 93 Feet East back in summer last year and decided to listen to all their albums again.

Soft Pink Truth/Do You Party? – Funky, dirty electro.

Impressed with Gilles Peterson – A jazz compilation by Gilles Peterson can do no wrong.

Yesterdays New Quintet/Stevie Vol. 1 – Madlib reinterpreting Stevie Wonder. Waiting with bated breath for the Madvillain and Jaylib stuff.

Jaga Jazzist/A Livingroom Hush - Like a much more jazzier Amon Tobin.

The Sea & Cake/One Bedroom - Really only average, but 'Four Corners' is a top, top tune.

(Meanwhile, back in Malaysia ... Dad looks at credit card bills ... and you will know me by the trail of dead.)

2/3/2003
It's March already.

Is there any other soft drink in the world worse than Diet Lemon Coke? First off, Diet Coke is tasteless. When you drink it all you get is that gassy sting in your throat and then, blank. My taste buds go, "Doh ... what happened?" Now, Diet Lemon Coke works the same way, but instead of going blank on your tongue, it decides to leave a horrible, dish washing liquid-lemon aftertaste in your mouth. Which is actually kinda bitter as well. Blaahdee hell, didn't the Coke people do any market research beforehand? Diet Lemon Coke sucks.

Saw this band at the Union Chapel last Wednesday called Meanwhile, Back In Communist Russia ... . T'was a pretty lacklustre gig, methinks. Opening act 'Byrne' was full of poseurs. As Thurston Moore put it, very "I'm in a band". Halfway through the second song, we decided to go back up to the bar for some beer. When MBICR finally took to the stage, I was expecting better music. First signs of disappointment came when I noticed the band didn't have a drum kit. Just the guitarist, bassist, keyboardist/programmer and the singer. Vocalist rather. She spoke rather than sang. Skinny, cigarette in hand, ripped stockings, very neo-beatnik. I thought the music was pretty average but Aris kept reassuring me that they sound a lot better on record. Love the band name though. Meanwhile Back In Communist Russia ... And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. I'm waiting for the band called ... So, Anyway ...

By the way, Adaptation is brilliant! It's a movie about making a movie about making a movie. Kinda like looking at your infinite self in a mirror with another mirror behind you. Go see for yourself. Mirror and movie.