Recommended reading December 2009
I have been immersed in books as of late, and will post a few reviews as I get the time.
Mark Fisher (or K-punk to those who read FACT or New Statesman) writes an incisive analysis of the common, yet under scrutinized condition of ‘Capitalist Realism’. Characterized by a deflated resignation that there is no viable alternative to Capitalism, this bite size book highlights many of the fundamental misconceptions and hypocrisies of Neo-liberal government with a particularly interesting focus on the parallel ascendancy of mental illness in that time.
This short book calls out a number of concerns; from the emphasis on ‘individuality’ in the work place to the schizophrenic corporate relationship with familial structures (relying on secure family to absorb the anxiety of the modern workplace while simultaneously obliterating job security, culminating in a perpetual stress machine).
Lending credibility to palpable inconsistencies in the realist argument, Fisher’s approach is unencumbered by the bitterness that often colors similar ‘truth to power’ writings. Outlining a number of ways that he feels a newly vitalized and organized left can address pandemic discontent and despondence, I greatly look forward to his next writings on the subject.
Also, a word about the publisher. I strongly recommend that you visit Zero Books and have a look around. ‘Intellectual without being academic, popular without being populist’ is the tag line, and the two books that I have received so far have gone far and beyond my initially high expectations.
Review – Ocean ‘Pantheon of the Lesser’
Monolithic doom from Portland, Maine. Playing at a pace so slothful it reset my BPM counter, on account of this effort Ocean have to be considered one of the heaviest in the field.
Two tracks spread over a one hour release suggests that we have entered the realm of the contemplative, and opener ‘The Beacon’ evokes the suspenseful inertia of artists like Khanate or Corrupted in that at times it moves so slowly you fear you may collapse before the riff drops.
That is ultimately what I love about the sluggish doom genre(and this record is very much a genre piece). Elongated compositions such as these palpably dissect time and space and reflect our pavlovian relationship to riff and rhythm – offering something familiar yet at an uncanny and disorienting pace. Delayed gratification, if you will. Despite this element Ocean, like Japanese touring mates Mono, often transcend the sludge; coloring their dense clouds of gloom with an epic silver lining that offers a gulp of air in between steep plunges into the void.
Second track ‘Of the Lesser’ is purportedly an ode to misery and chemical distraction, which partly explains some of the more ominous elements of the piece. Heavily sustained moaned guitar (à la Blut Aus Nord) colors the activity, which alternates pace with enough frequency and polarity to convey both a sense of fervent longing and existential dread.
Superbly executed with fleeting highs and monotonous lows, ‘Pantheon of the Lesser’ is an exceptional effort in line with the rest of Important Record’s stellar catalogue.
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Attend the Funeral of Analog TV
Art courtesy of Paula at paulaart.com. Thanks!
“The problem with television is that … the average American hasn’t got time for it.”
- New York Times in regards to the prototype television shown at the 1939 World’s Fair.
presented by The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), Berkeley Center for New Media (BCNM)
andThe Long Now Foundation
Date: Tuesday February 17, 02009 – Yes this event is still on!
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Location: Berkeley Art Museum, 2621 Durant Ave., Berkeley, CA 94720
Cost: FREE, bring cash and id for full bar courtesy of the RockStar Bartenders
Extras: donate your Analog TV for recycling! (one per person please)
Website: http://bcnm.berkeley.edu/tvfuneral
More About the Event:
On February 17th join author Bruce Sterling, technology pundit Paul Saffo, and other special guests at the Berkeley Art Museum to mourn the loss of our long time acquaintance, the Analog Television Signal. Born in the 01920′s the signal has been an integral part of all our lives, bringing us news of the rich, the famous, the politicians, the wars, the Apollo landings, the thrills of victory, and the agonies of defeat. While Analog Television has not been a good friend to us all, it has been important to each and every one of us. Analog Television is survived by its wife Digital Television, and its second cousin Internet Television.
Please bring your Analog TV with antenna for display (and free recycling by ACCRC), as we will stack as many sets as we can in memoriam to our life long friend. At the ceremony Paul Saffo will spell out the sordid history of the Analog TV Signal’s life, the group Author and Punisher will perform the funeral dirge, and just before the signal winks out for the last time, author Bruce Sterling will deliver the eulogy via pirate television broadcast supplied by Neighborhood Public Radio.
Note: Bruce Sterling will not be speaking live, this will be a televised appearance he has created specifically for this event.
Also note: Apropos of the soap-operatic life of TV, there is a chance that Congress may issue an 11th hour stay of the “do not resuscitate order” on the Analog TV Signal, however this event will go forward either way as February 17 marks the day they will begin going off air.
This event will be filmed, additional press coverage welcome.
Donated TV’s will be responsibly reused or recycled by The Alameda County Computer Resource Center who will be on hand to help with TV collection. If you cant make it, but have a TV that needs to be recycled ACCRC will take it free!
Cosmic CCTV
HD images taken of our fair planet from the Japanese lunar orbiter Selene. Note the 6,000 satellites, of which only 800 are operational.
Hours of Worship
Click of the image for a monolithic mix of techno and dark musings from New York
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