SMALL STUDIO: BIG SOUND

We all know about technology turning music UPSIDE DOWN.

The fact that you can make a track of epic proportions on your laptop, while simultaneously buying panties from ASOS.com

Producer and mixer behind big Guetta hits and Rihanna SANDY VEE does it all on a single PC: http://tiny.ly/7AZy. While this is George Michael’s rather modest home studio: http://yfrog.com/me91lz

So this is the often lauded ‘Democratisation’ of the music industry. If you’re reading this you’ve ALREADY GOT a computer: a few bits of software aside (which you can download in 30 minutes) and you’re sitting in front of all you need to make that hit.

The result of all this? An EXPLOSION in the amount of tracks being offered to the public, with little quality control.

And the result of that? A massive increase in the supply of music, but crucially with NO REAL INCREASE in the demand for it. And so a huge devaluation of recorded music…it’s simple economics innit.

Just a thought… x



RAPCAT

Check his lyrical flow…do note how this is actually quite a slick video.

I’m IMPRESSED

BATSHIT CRAZY

The facts in this video might not be entirely verifiable or true, namely that 45% of women in London aged 25-35 are single.

And supposedly 100%of these women own cats…

However this is worth watching for the moment at 1:23. Ever been attracted to anyone that described themselves as “clingy, bi-polar, batshit crazy”?

Which begs the question…what music does this batshit crazy 25-35 year-old demographic like?

Perhaps soulful dance-pop.

DE-CONSTRUCTION 2011

For those that don’t know, Sony have re-launched the De-construction dance label, run by Mike Pickering.

Last night they had a bash at The Den & Centro…which apparently used to be THE END nightclub. So:

- it was rammed

- Main act Diagram of the Heart were really good (amazing, lazer-heavy visuals)

-DJ duo Retro-Grade came on after the above, delivering a great set that seemed to include Daft Punk in near every mash up…but who ever said that was a bad thing

Other De-construction luminaries including Burns were in attendance…quite a bash in all.

LADY GAGA & BONEY M

The parallels between these 2 have been mooted of late…

Apparently BAD ROMANCE takes it’s catchy ‘ra ra ra’ idea from this track by Boney M. However the connection seems tenuous at best…inspired by perhaps, but certainly not plagiarised.

And of course POKER FACE samples this one by Boney. Again the connection is fleeting and doesn’t exactly smack you in the face.

“Where there’s a hit there’s a writ” is the old saying right…success usually means some finger pointing but Gaga hasn’t been that naughty. At least not musically.

BASTARD CATS

What’s the number one reason people say they don’t like cats, or else prefer them less than dogs/rabbits/hamsters/scorpions?

“Cause they’re selfish innit”

It’s a bit more complicated than that but basically yes. In the wild all cats (apart from lions) live solitary lives, taking care of themselves.

Dogs on the other hand are pack animals, functioning within a hierarchy…they work together and have to pander to the superior dogs in the pack, otherwise they get in trouble.

You could say dogs are programmed to suck up for their own benefit. Yet cats have no similar reason to pander to us.

It’s been speculated that even a cat’s purr can be used manipulatively, provoking our human need to nurture…hence the ensuing cuddle/food/beating that they receive. Bastards.

Nonetheless I’m keeping my cat, if just for the occassional lick.

LET…IT…SNOW

Greeting to all enjoying the festive weather.

And if you’re snowed up in Northern Europe (say, London where it’s minus 1 and they don’t collect the garbage) then you’re probably praying for it to end. But you’ll miss it when it’s gone.

And someone give that snowman a keytar so he can make some sweet winter synth music.