Ministry of Artistic Affairs, as seen in Design Lines, Fall 2010

The Ministry of Artistic Affairs

Coffee Porn – The Syphon Project

Yes, I dare type the P word, and risk inviting the sticky tendrils of spammers the internet wide.  No matter, it was worth it.  There is no better occasion commemorate my very own acquisition of a Bodum Santos syphon coffee maker than posting this short film, briefly titled, The Syphon Project. Syphon coffee is made using an ingenious contraption that looks more like a chemistry set than a coffee maker, and delivers a clean and pure taste, similar to a plunger / French press, but arguably more refined even.

The video is supposedly composed of about 30 hours of footage created by Jake Forrest, of j4 studios. Extra bubbles provided by Massive Attack.

Ok, I guess the two chambers do kind of look like, well, you know...

Day of the Dead Homer & Bart

I have not been impressed at all by any of the Simrpsons vinyl figures that have been coming out lately but these two customs made with Toy2R blanks are blowing my mind.  Made by artist Kim Mayhew, they will spice up your life in a psychedelic ( and psychopompous) fashion.

More pix after the jump.

 

DVAS – Society – Album Review – As Seen in Exclaim Magazine

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DVAS
Society

By Jesse Ship

Montreal’s DVAS channel mystical forces of the Hall & Oates, et al. yacht rock movement while making memorable contributions to the French Touch sound. The album’s title track channels Sebastien Tellier’s “Sexuality” crescendo horn hooks, mixing them with plucky synth bops and up-late-at-night-in-your-bedroom bubblegum vocals. Being from Montreal, it’s easy to bring up Chromeo comparisons, but the beats and heart-wrenchingly sincere vocals, like those in “Consenting Adults,” always take the forefront in DVAS’ doings. The album is great for anyone looking to recapture the emotionally-tinged disco ethics of Daft Punk’s earlier smashes from Homework andDiscovery, especially tracks like “Fantasy,” whose crashing waves conjure images of Charles, the poor, sentimental pup featured in Bangalter’s early videos. If you love the ’70s and the ’80s even more, but tuned out for most of the ’90s, there is no album for you this summer other than Society. (Upper Class)

Chromeo – Business Casual Tour – Toronto Gig

In case you haven’t noticed, Chromeo played a solid show last night, delivering exactly what the crowd wanted to hear — a mix of classic gems (e.g. Needy Girl, Momma’s Boy, Bonafide Lovin’, 100%), and a couple of new tracks to show off their new album, Business Casual.

Check out the intro to Bonafide Lovin’ where they riff off of Dire Straits, Money For Nothing.  Pure gold.

Skanks

Omg, check out at the hot Russian mail order skanks at the Chromeo show!!!  They come equipped with deadstock Brooks runners, only available now from top Soviet athletic purchasing points!

Taken & blogged with an iPhone 4.

Chromeo on Tour

Chromeo’s on tour, which means Dave 1 and P-Thug will be making a stop over in Toronto tonight! Come dressed in your best Business Casual.

Chromeo Tour Promo from GHOSTONVACATION on Vimeo.

CHROMEO
WITH HOLY GHOST!
BUSINESS CASUAL SUMMER 2010 TOUR
Tuesday August 3, 2010
Phoenix Concert Theatre
410 Sherbourne Street, Toronto ON
Doors 8 pm – Show 9 pm – 19+
Tickets $30.00 + S/C, on sale at:
UnionEvents.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone 416-870-8000,
Ticketmaster.ca, Rotate This & Soundscapes

New Hatiras Mix

De original Toronto Space Invada touches down with a new mixtape, and a remix for Tim Healy vs Nom De Strip’s (Surfer Rosa) new ‘ Let The Beat Flow’ track. It’s not out yet, but you can hunt for it deep in the mix below.

The last time I saw Hatiras play was at Circa (RIP),but the first time was probably back in 1998 at Dose Interactive, or maybe it was at a Thursday pre-party at the Bop?   Most likely he’ll be back some time at Footwork or the Guv.

FREE HATIRUS DJ MIX
Tracklisting:
Too Fly For Disco – DJ Kue – CDR
Sabotage (Mateo DiMarr Remix) – Jason Taylor – Blu Music
Fuckin’ Down (Antoine Clamaran Remix) – Gregori Klosman, Tristan Gardner – Karma
Dooms Night – Azzido Da Bass – Kontor Records
Disco Spinning – Fuzzy Heads – Netswork Records
We Like That – DJ Nano, Dario Nunez – Tribal Spain
Liftered – Marshall (aka Luigi Rocca)  – Hotfingers
What The Fuck (Acapella) – Fatboy Slim – Skint
Nobody Listens To Techno – Funkagenda & MC Flipside – Toolroom
Without Me (Acapella) – Eminem – Shady Records
House Nation (Hatiras Remix) – Abel Ramos – Juicy Music
Pump Up The Jam (Da Fresh’s Miami Booty) – Tehnotronic – CDR
Ghosts N’ Stuff (Elite Force Revamp) – Deadmau5 – CDR
**Let The Beat Flow (Hatiras Remix) – Tim Healey & Nom De Strip – Surfer Rosa Records**
Where’s Your Yeah Yeahs (Laidback Luke Mashup) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs, A-trak, Basement Jaxx
Just The Tip (Hatiras Remix) – Joey Seminara, Danny Nagels, MC Flipside – PBR
M.A.D. (Elite Force’s Donkey Punch Mashup) – Hatiras, DJ Jelo, Stanton Warriors, Vandalism – U&A
Bass Monkeys (Acapella) – Hatiras – Hatrax
Shake It (Acapella) – Rooster & Peralta – Funkatronik

Muhsinah Album Charity Drive!

Experimental beatsmaker, Muhsinah aka The Golden Girl, has been nominated for a Grammy but has not even an a full studio album to call her own!
Help her raise the $31,000 needed to cover the cost of producing this album/film project through pre-sale and fan support via kickstarter.com. Donations vary from a mere $10 to a costly $4,000, but these efforts are not without their rewards! You could earn anything from catered fried chicken dinners, to deluxe album silkscreen prints, studio consultation sessions with Muhsinah, or even an iPad, fully loaded with Muhsinah apps.
More pics after the jump.

2 Turntables and a Microphone – DJ Hero 2 !

Breaking news from Activision today as, after much personal speculation, DJ Hero 2 has been announced for an early Fall 2010 release!

It does not look like much will change in terms of the general formula, but the story mode will be ramped up a bit. Instead of simply becoming a superstar dj, your goal is now to become a Jay Z-esque music industry maven. Says Activision, ” In Empire Mode, players will start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.”

The title promises more club anthems from “the biggest” artists in pop, dance and hip hop including Dr. Dre, The Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and over 85 others, for a total of 70 mash-ups.

The new game will come in an optional party pack that includes two turntables and a microphone which allows you to sing and rap over the tracks. Activision also promises to beef up the interface with actual versus battles rather than the rather weak, slightly competitive co-op mode, seen in the original game.

Starting today, XBL and PSN members can download a free mash-up of Deadmau5’s”Ghosts n Stuff” mixed with Gaga’s “Just Dance”! And, yes,Deadmau5 will be available as an in-game playable character.

For further information, check out the DJ Hero site its self.