TODAY WE LIKE: Graffiti with substance

07/05/2010 / Marc Zedler

Is the Be Yourself Movement just a bunch of new hooded heroes or just a collective of urban thugs?

BYM is a group of Italian street artists who are fed up with current outdoor adverts and as a result are determined to tag questionable messages and images. Disappearing as soon as they arrive this guerrilla faction of mainstream dissenters are armed with spray cans, paper, glue, and cutter.

Already a big hit in Rome and Milan, BYM have recently decided to take their artistic exploits to the Germanic capital, Berlin. Cheekily BYM claims, “[How] Could we obviously lose the opportunity to export the BYM in Teutonic lands?!” On their weekend bender “propaganda” was posted at the Brandenburger Tor, various universities, and even the Volksbühne. Below you can have a look at their creative mayhem.

What makes BYM unique over would-be posers is its universal mantra, ‘I am who I am.’ Altering adverts with a healthy dose of humor and self-esteem, the messages promote beauty in physical differences and imperfections. It’s a breath of fresh air to the mundane tagging and signatures. For further information add them on Facebook or view their website.

Oh, and for those who are lured by BYM’s romantic appeal you can even download BYM samples and do a bit of your own urban tagging. (Not that we support such behavior.)

Also check out BYM’s manifesto, here's a sample below:

"We’re tired of feeling like numbers, of our generation being seen as a target and of our behaviour being measured as a market trend.

We believe in and promote the development of an individual and collective critical conscience and we aim for it to be respected.

We believe it is necessary to free our and future generations from self-constraining life and beauty stereotypes.

We refuse to accept socio-cultural imposition, the standardisation of the individual and the proliferation of one ideology.

We believe in plump Prince Charmings and in well-nourished princesses.

We believe it’s much better to live life in the way one wants rather than fitting into someone else’s model.

We believe that physical differences and imperfections are positive symbols of individual uniqueness.

We believe in accepting people for what and who they are without discrimination.

We believe in freedom of expression, constructive criticism and the democracy of communication.

We believe it’s time to stand up and creatively claim our right not to be standardised.

Be yourself, be proud of it and help us to spread the Be Yourself Movement!"

Be Yourself Movement Milano metro action from beyourselfmovement on Vimeo.

21 SAUCES OF INSPIRATION - Matthew Herbert

05/05/2010 / Ari Stein

English artist Matthew Herbert has never been one to shy away from taking risks. He (also known as Herbert, Doctor Rockit, Radio Boy, Mr. Vertigo, Transformer, Wishmountain) constantly leaps at the chance to create works of individuality and distinctiveness. His body of work borders on the absurd, which is why we find him so endearing.

Herbert chose the distinguished path of making some truly definable records early on, his record Bodily Functions in 2001 setting him far apart from the rest of electronic artists.

Having worked with such artists as Moloko, Bjork and even producing The Invisible’s debut album, this ain’t bad at all for a guy who started out in 1995 using a bag of crisps as an instrument.

The guy who is now 38 years old, is a pioneer in the micro-house movement but even more so possesses a serious political agenda. Lets not forget the huge controversy surrounding the One Pig record, which Herbert will release later this year.

Herbert has just released a new record titled One One, part of an ongoing trilogy, which will also include One Club consisting completely of club sounds.

Matthew Herbert's Big Band is making several appearances across Europe at the moment. You can find all dates here.

Take a peek at what baffles, perplexes and inspires Mr. Herbert.

1. What gets you going in the morning?

Small boys crying.

2. What five records would you take to a desert island?

Five copies of Keith Jarrett, The Melody at Night with You

3. What inspires you to create?

Mediocrity. Curiosity. Chomsky.

4. What book or piece of literature are you reading at the moment?

The Man in the Dark by Paul Auster

5. Favorite piece of literature and why?

Silence by John Cage.

6. Favorite club?

Metro, Kyoto

7. Which historical figure inspires you or would you like to meet?

John Cage

8. List five movies that you couldn’t live without?

I could happily live without movies.

9. Favorite director or actor?

At the moment: Paul Thomas Anderson

10. Favorite piece of architecture or building?

Kings Hospital in Dulwich, London for keeping my boy alive.

11. Favorite combination of food or recipe?

The butter chicken at Tratorria Sostanza in Florence.

12. Favorite musical genre in the last 100 years and what would you mix it with if you could?

The Blues.

13. Favorite Internet site?

www.seat61.com
Invaluable when you're trying to avoid flying

14. Who has had the biggest influence on you in your life?

Regrettably, George Bush.

15. What is one record you should never be seen dancing to in a club?

Music by Madonna


16. Favorite 5 music artists currently listening to?

Datsik. D Frost. Rowdy Superstar. Barbara Panther. James Holden

17. Favorite piece of art or artist and why?

I thought the recent Anish Kapoor exhibition at the RA had two incredible works in it.

18. Artist you’d most like to collaborate with?

Fred Astaire

19. One obscure band / artist you think should be more popular?

Micachu

20. What’s your ringtone?

Tinkly

21. Do you have a favorite sauce?

The homemade piccalilli from the butcher at the Goods Shed in Canterbury.

DJ Koze sucked into The Big Crunch Theory

03/03/2010 / Ari Stein

Just what is the Big Crunch theory? Science tells us that it’s the never-ending expansion-reversal of the universe, ultimately resulting in a doomsday scenario, the end of the world. But then, it’s also the new partnership between Versatile artist Lisa Li-Lund and label boss DJ Gilb-R aka Gilbert Cohen.

A serious French love-in, the collaboration involves team-ups with other Versatile artist like Zombie Zombie’s Etienne Jaumet and Bertrand Burgalat amongst others. The lo-fi poptronica outfit was recently worked over by Hamburg’s DJ Koze with some very exciting results. Different to Koze’s other works, the remix ‘Distortion’ is a more pop orientated affair, different to his more four-to-the-floor styled edits.

This classy mash-up is part of The Big Crunch Theory’s debut EP What To Say EP with also includes two remixes by Roman Flügel out on March 10th 2010, of course on Versatile.

Have a listen to DJ Koze’s remix of ‘Distortion’ and the single ‘What to Say’ here:

Tiesto, no love for the glowsticks?

03/03/2010 / Ari Stein

How we love Tiesto. The Dutch trance phenomenon just keeps on surprising us. Only months after releasing his crossover album, ‘promoters’ on his current Kaleidoscope Tour have started making devious demands, including one that is very preposterous… No glow sticks!

Yes, the man that kicked off the glow stick movement has been debilitated by a cruel call to lose those iconic trance emblems. They were banned from an upcoming Liverpool Echo Arena show on March 13th.

Mixmag reported that “Arena officials fear the small plastic sticks could be dropped and crushed underfoot, spilling the small amount of liquid onto the floor causing slips and injuries”.

Yes, sure…we speculate if a conversation something like below was responsible for the ban:

Tiesto: I just can’t stand my image anymore, I need to change!

PR: No problem, just do a crossover album and lose the glow sticks!

Roman Flügel kicks out the Robert Johnson jams

03/03/2010 / Ari Stein

Well known Frankfurt based club Robert Johnson will appoint one of its own natives Roman Flügel to head up its ongoing live series. Surprisingly, this will be Flügel’s first mix CD as solo artist, and will feature two of his own productions "N.M.I.S.M.D." and "Brian Le Bon" which will go along with the mix CD as a separate EP.

One half of Alter Ego, Flügel has been an active und successful participant in the electronic music scene since the early 90s, acting under many different guises including Soylent Green and Eight Miles High.

Only a recent initiative, the Robert Johnson club started their live mixes series last year and became well known for their beautifully designed box set, which you can see here.

Artists that have also partaken in mixing a Robert Johnson live mix CD include Chloé, Ivan Smagghe, Prins Thomas and Thomas Hammann & Gerd Janson. The limited box including the first 4 mix CDs can be ordered here.

Tracklist

01. Freund Der Familie - Pewars

02. Itzone - Azul Magico

03. Roman Flügel - N.M.I.S.M.D.

04. Armando feat. Sharvette - Don't Take It (Thomos Edit)

05. Molex - Kick C

06. Ink and Needle - Five

07. Ben Klock - Before One (Original Mix)

08. Nail - Optimus

09. Idioma - Landscapes

10. Forevereaction - U People (Dance Mix)

11. Maetrik - Show Me

12. Soylent Green - Humpty Acid

13. Ratsnake - Swedish Woman

14. Soulphiction - Rise

15. Roman Flügel - Brian Le Bon

Roman Flügel will release his live mix CD just in time for the summer season on May 10th, 2010.