Discuss.

A less restrained distribution model would move some of the control from the music industry's hands and into the consumer's...I'm thinking "paradigm shift" here -- the end of massive superstars, and the rise of music for the people, by the people, and of the people.

Jacques Attali thirty years ago:

Today, in embryonic form, beyond repetition, lies freedom: more than a new music, a fourth kind of musical practice. It heralds the arrival of new social relations. Music is becoming composition.

I guess this kind of makes up for all that stuff in Noise about death motels, etc.

I've only just gotten around to putting some documentation of a project I did in London last April online: Homeless and Blue, in which I and a partner sent messages to people's mobile phones via Bluetooth as a way of exploring issues around homelessness, public space, and the digital divide.

More pictures related to the project can be found here.

It's hard to think of a worse note upon which to leave the country. Wilson was simultaneously an inspiration and a right bastard, as all good Mancunians should be, in my reckoning. Cambridge grad, mouthy ponce, agent provocateur, Wilson was all three at once. England didn't deserve him, and vice versa. He will be sorely missed.

Rest in peace, Tony, don't let the bastards get you down.

The Finnish electronic whiz best-known as Luomo revists his dubby ambient guise.

Unlike Dominique Leone's 2003 review of The Present Lover, the review itself doesn't make this claim, and of course one has to allow for the different reviewers' perspectives - Andy Battaglia's been followiing the minimal/microhouse/techno beat for a long time, both in The Onion and more recently in Pitchfork, so it's quite likely that from his perspective Sasu Ripatti is better known as Luomo, but still, a pretty funny reversal from the 'Fork, all told.

Speaking of Rx, I see that Blasthaus is also putting on Luomo at the end of the month, I can hardly believe I'm missing that here in London. Not to complain, I've seen Ricardo a few times, Zip, Cassy, Luciano and more, but still, man, Luomo! Last time he played in SF it was nothing short of spectacular. Hopefully I'll catch up with him on this side of the pond over the summer.

In other news, I may be staying here in London longer than I had originally planned, we'll see...

1. Do not use "Tex-Mex" style kidney bean chili as the beans
   
2. Do not bake the burrito. Keep it away from ovens. Steam the tortilla, stew the beans, boil the rice, mix them together and they will stay warm.
   

That said, it wasn't terrible, but I do think Beach Burrito Café on Berwick Street in Soho has got to take the cake for me, especially now that they've expanded their menu a bit - you can finally order a bean & cheese burrito instead of their weird veggie burrito (Sweet potatos? Not in my burrito), and it's right across from Music & Video Exchange and down the street from Sister Ray, so you might say I'm around a lot.

Still, I was making a list of SF things to do for a friend's girlfriend who is flying there for a conference and got pretty sad and hungry listing all the great taquerias. Oh London, so much to answer for...

And Slipslide is playing too, I don't think they ever play out, either. Definitely a night of serious pop.

Time to go for a walk...

http://www.thedogstar.com/about.php (Conveniently close to where I'm currently staying - report tomorrow)

Also: A mailing list for Mexican Food in London! People feel my pain.

That would be Black Dice, Frivolous and Yo La Tengo, for your reference. YLT I can live with missing, but scheduling Black Dice and Frivolous at the same time presents major dilemmas. Black Dice have been nothing short of amazing every time I've seen them but even in the largely minimal-friendly Bay Area how often is it you get to see someone on Karloff throw down? Seems like we're criminally overlooked by techno acts, unless they're from LA...