I have been really digging all this HDR photography that's happening at the moment. It's a simple and fascinating technique that has only been possible with computers. Basically you take a few photos of something still at different apature settings then the computer makes one photo of them. This way you have extreme detail in all the colour range. No areas burn out. it's the opposite of HDR in computer games, even though it ends up looking a bit like computer graphics or a painting.I have put a little collage together on some pics and here is the flickr pool of images. Awsome.
I recently got interviewed for an article by Paul Lokyer. he was investigating the influences of 80's music on todays music. If he wanted me to reinforce his ideas I think he asked the wrong man. He's a good friend so I'm sure he can hack it. And it goes a little something like this, HIT IT!:
Q1. Worldwide there's quite a few so-called '80s revivalist Bands' enjoying success eg. 'The Killers', 'The Bravery', Interpol'. 'Franz Ferdinand'. Which local performers do you think most wear their 80s influences on their sleeves?
1. Obviously my brothers band, Eskimo Joe. I hear 'Great southern Land' in 'Black fingernails, red wine' and the theme to 'Neverending Story' in 'Sarah'. I think they have done something interesting with it, but I'm biased. The new 'Little Birdy' album is very 80's, but I think the 80's flashback was first obvious in the electro scene. Bands like Scissor Sisters and Electric Six. the style is called electro clash. A lot of guys like Mylo and Moby began sampling 80's stuff a few years ago. I don't think it's very interesting to do it now. I'm disappointed with Little birdy for taking that predictable route. At least it doesn't sound like the Beatles (Hello!, Jet's new album). Now that has been done to death.
Q2. Whats your take on the effects the 80s have had, and continue to have on the local music scene- the influences you see in a) original live and recorded music, and b) electronic and dance-samples, remixes etc?
2. I think the rehashed 80's sound is part of the whole flippant Paris Hilton cultural trend. Everything got so deep and new age for a while. Kurt Cobain, Elliot Smith and Jeff Buckley were committing suicide. Wars were going on but no one was allowed to protest. What the fuck can people do. Well they said "what the fuck!". That's the attitude. It's a rebellion against giving a shit. I don't think the 80's had an effect on modern music. Modern music just sampled it. It was useful to express something. that's sampling. You grab from anywhere that gives you what you need to express what you want to say.
Q3. Current House mix's are borrowing fairly heavily from that era, whats the level of 80s influence you observe in today's D&B, and why?
3. There is a bit of an influence in D&B but not much. People like Jon B and bits of pendulum, but it's not a popular trend. Drum and Bass seems to be it's own culture. It is one of the rare styles that has not originated from the US. It is a pure Jamaican influenced English culture. It is culturally strong, it's trends are internal. Well that's my opinion.
Q4. What are the factors that you see are behind the current resurgence of interest in music from the 80s ?
4. Again, I don't think people are listening to music from the 80's, they are sampling from it, which is totally different. It's like wearing flares now and wearing them in the 60's. In the 60's they were rebellious and anarchistic. long hair and crazy flairs said something dramatic (originally before they were POPed), now they are just kitch and purely functional style. You use them as a sixties reference, to give a slight 60's vibe. They are a bit of a style joke. It's the same with 80's samples, it's a light hearted musical joke, a playfulness and a technique of using a bit of that 80's throwaway vibe. Who gives a fuq lets do coke and drink champers (or at least act like we just did).
Q5. Personally, what effects have that decade of music had on you in a creative sense ?
5. My early teen years were in the 80's so it was a big time. I was into INXS, Eurythmics, Dire Straits, The Cars... I'm not name dropping, I actually had the vinyl as a kid. I had to find decent groovy music with only 96FM to listen to. Eventually I got some mix tapes and heard some real shit (as in good). Public Enemy, Eric B & Rakim, Bomb The bass, Cold Cut, Chicago Jack Tracks and acid house. These things were my music. I remember going to the music teacher in high school and playing her some house and saying this will be the music of the future. She hated it and said I didn't know what I was talking about. I hope she remembers me saying that (I doubt it). Music is better now. I fucking love it.
End of questions.
On that note...
This has got to be the coolest online flash thingy ever. I was amazed at how much I frick'n loved it. You will need some serious broadband action to even run it but, it's worth it. Beatbox is the best! Boyee!
http://www.beatboxmixer.com/
I'll get some new music projects up soon, promise.
Trilby of The Res
http://www.theresonance.net
http://www.myspace.com/theresonanceperth
