Van She – needs more cowbell.

Has anyone heard that radio rip of what sounds like a Van She (myspace) cover of Blue Oyster Cult’s ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’? (I’m still amazed radio rips get around on the internets. I mean, come on, this is the 21st century.)

Personally, I’m digging the Van She take on it which, frankly, doesn’t take it too far from the original (EDIT: what was I thinking? It’s massively different, but Van She have that timeless, spaced-out vocal thing going on, much like Blue Oyster Cult). But if there’s one thing it’s missing — it’s more cowbell.

It’s pretty much impossible to find an embed-able version of that old SNL sketch, so you’ll have to watch it here.

Track: Van She – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (listen).

Vestax Spin.

At the risk that this appears to be a controller-oriented blog (it’s not, DJTechTools well and truly have that mantle covered), I have to post about Vestax’s latest controller, the Spin.

This thing looks pretty interesting. For one thing, it’s well and truly in the consumer price bracket, at only RRP$249. Secondly, it will be sold in Apple stores, alongside Apple MacBooks, iPods etc. and will ship with software which integrates with iTunes. Third, it is made by a reputable company, Vestax. A full write-up on features can be found here.

I have to wonder why Numark’s iPod compatible products never made the leap into this segment – they’ve had well over two years to do it – but they never got Apple endorsement.

No word on whether it will make it to Australia. Given the strong dollar, I’m sure one could be had from North America for relatively little additional dosh, but I think I’ll save my pennies.

Huge!

How bitchin is this!

I’ve been lusting after a new MacBook ever since the new unibodies came out, but I have to say, this takes the cake. Can anyone say “Real Estate”? A screen that huge for only AU$2,199?! Love you strong Australian dollar (right now).

Plus, wireless keyboard and mouse (magic mouse, even) as standard is just the icing on the cake. Where’s my tax return when I need it? (Oh yeah, I spent it on this.)

Lifelike x Plastiscines.

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Oh Lifelike (myspace), where have you been these last few months? I listened to your 2007 mixtape and it was fantastic, and your remixes adorn my iPod like an overdone North American Christmas tree, but where are your famous synth-laden lofty sounds in time for summer?

Here:

Track: Plastiscines – Barcelona (Lifelike Remix) (listen).

And yes, I could have easily put a picture of Plastiscines (myspace) for this post, being the all-girl French superstars that they are, but that would have been just too predictable, wouldn’t it.

Micro-controller djs.

Is it wrong that right after a post extolling the virtues of vinyl and bemoaning the closure of another record store that I post about by burgeoning interest in digital djing using micro-controllers?

I don’t think so.

DJTechTools just did a very interesting post comparing (inter alia) the Korg NanoPad with the Akai LPD8. Of course, as soon as I saw the Akai’s 8 pads and 8 knobs, my head was spinning with potential Traktor layouts. I had to buy one. Then I had to YouTube it and see what other people were doing:

Needless to say, it’s got me thinking. Given the sudden influx of micro-controllers onto the market, will we see them taken up by professional djs as new portable djing solutions? I mean, we’ve already seen that Russ Chimes djs with little more than a Nocturn and analogue mixer – but why stop there?

Another sad day.

A while back I posted, with a heavy heart, about news of Melbourne’s Hear Now records closing.

Within the space of a few months, it seems Vinyl Warning has befallen a similar fate.

This is sad news indeed. I may have now wholeheartedly adopted digital djing and enjoy the benefits of perfect beatmatching, seamless effects and one-touch looping but, like many others, I started on wax and I still view it as the only true way.

I realise that’s a pretty backward view – what would djs be today if they didn’t have Ableton or Serato? Glorified iTunes shuffle really. But vinyl was the persona and mystery which made it attractive. Doing things by ear, searching (really hard) for just one track, hauling a collection around to only use a few discs.

Anyway. I’ll never let my 1200mkIIs go and my vinyl collection (small as it is will always be a prized possession.

Steel is real.

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So I was walking back from my favourite cheap Japanese place on Little Lonsdale the other day, via Brother Baba Budan, and I couldn’t help but notice there were more vintage road bikes out front that chairs hanging from the ceiling. Didn’t happen to snap a shot, but it was quite an intimidating a mound of steel, rubber and mini-Kryptonites. Of course, there’s a point to this story. Steel isn’t just real, it’s cool.

But I won’t let the recent spike in the Columbus/Reynolds/Tange-dex hold me back, my dream is still to sport a full steel setup on St Kilda and Beach Rds daily. But I’m starting to think vintage will be out of my reach.

Pacer it is.

Mille // Sneaky Sound System.

It’s been long enough and I’ve got enough crap to post about so I thought it was time for a bit of an update.

First thing – Mille (myspace). Courtesy of the always reliable Discodust, the best thing about this track is how much it sounds like Sonic the Hedgehog on Sega Genesis. Totally chanelling my younger days, I get a warm fuzzy feeling whenever I hear those chords, reminding me of happier days in our basement playing Sonic for hours. I’m pretty sure that’s not what they were going for with this one so I highly recommend you listen to it and make up your own mind.

Track: Mille – Crysteena (listen).

Second, Sneaky Sound System (official). Read a review about these guys in the paper the other day. Apparently they’ve scaled back their live show massively, to feature just cdjs and Connie, which isn’t exactly the stadium setup they were sporting 12 months ago. But it gets them cred.

This Thin White Duke remix also gets them cred. Maybe its just my taste degenerating in old age, but I really dig this poppy, clubby sound.

Track: Sneaky Sound System – It’s Not my Problem (Thin White Duke Remix) (listen).

Winter = Wool.

Check out these Merino wool hoodies from Outlier. I’m in the market for some warmer cycling stuff. Something that I can wear for more than two days in a row and won’t stink up with sweat. They also make some other cool stuff but I’m mainly interested in the hoodie.

Really missing riding while I lose this cold.

Revival.

As new offerings from Colnago and Cinelli demonstrate, steel is far from dead. And not just in that nostalgic polish-it-up and put it on the mantle sense — these frames are made to be built up with state of the art gear and ridden fast.

Both get my vote for looks and authenticity. There’s a built up Master-X at BSC QV, stunning piece of machine. But nothing beats a Llewellyn.

If you need more evidence that steel is real, you need only look at this long list of steel road bikes now on the market courtesy of Urban Velo.