Picnic Land

Alan Sillitoe

2010-04-25T16:50:00.002+01:00

The Medicine Song

2010-03-12T13:17:00.003Z

If I made a music video, I'd probably model it on this.

Daphne Wright

2010-02-12T11:41:00.001Z

Swan, 2007 by Daphne Wright
Marble dust and resin

Currently at the Frith Street Gallery

Picking Up The Pieces

2010-02-12T11:31:00.003Z

Beauty Contest by Michael Jan g

Brenda K. Starr - Picking Up Pieces (1985)

Well it is nearly the weekend...

2010-02-05T14:49:00.003Z

Happy Accidents by Matt Stuart

...and who doesn't love a 'Happy Song'esque italo disco hit featuring a children's choir?

Baltinore - Strangers from the Light (1985)

Just A Story

2010-01-28T14:25:00.002Z

Mike Rogers - Just a Story

Deep.

Executive Realness

2010-01-28T08:35:00.004Z

HUGE new obsession (Thankyou Madame). More soon

Noel - Silent Morning (12" Freestyle Club Mix) (1987)
Oh, and keep listening to the last minute for the vocoder breakdown as featured in the first few minutes of the film...

Annie Anner

2009-12-09T12:01:00.004Z

Annie Anner - Night in the City (1985)

Annie Anner - Come on and Dance (1986)

Good god this is good!

Dietrich

2009-11-28T14:22:00.005Z

Marlene by Maximilian Schell, 1984

I Git Minze

2009-11-27T16:50:00.002Z

HOUSE

Pressure

2009-11-27T16:16:00.002Z

BOMBHEAD, 1989 by Bruce Conner

Manufacturing

2009-10-22T14:42:00.004+01:00

From the Manufacturing series by Edward Burtynsky, 2005.
Well worth a visit to his site for the large scale versions of these.

Vicky D - This Beat is Mine (1982)

Movin'

2009-10-22T11:20:00.002+01:00

Texas 008 by Shana Wittenwyler

Lee Marrow - Movin' (1990)

"Oops, I missed again"

2009-09-25T13:58:00.003+01:00

more Guy Bourdin. 1979.

Ronnie Jones - Video Games (1980)

Dana Popa

2009-09-23T12:49:00.002+01:00

By Dana Popa, from the 'not Natasha' series, 2006

Regrettably I'm 5 days too late to encourage you to go and see an exhibition of Dana Popa's work at the Photofusion gallery in Brixton, but you can read more about her work here.

I'm Hungry

2009-09-23T12:39:00.003+01:00

LA Leisures 17, 2006 by Corina Gamma

Stopp - I'm Hungry (1983)

HI THERE!

2009-09-18T14:49:00.003+01:00

René & Angela - I'll Be Good (1985)

Midnight Star

2009-08-25T00:00:00.000+01:00

Operator

Never Too Much

2009-08-24T23:56:00.000+01:00

Odyssey

2009-08-24T23:34:00.002+01:00

One of my favourite songs of all time.

Oooooooaaaaaaah

Barbi & The Kens

2009-08-24T22:03:00.003+01:00

Barbi & The Kens - Not Your Stepping Stone (1980)

Change of Heart

2009-08-21T16:44:00.002+01:00

Change - Change Of Heart (1984)

One for the weekend. I might patent some dance moves for this whilst I'm cleaning the house tomorrow. WHAT FUN!

Love You Inside Out

2009-08-20T13:51:00.004+01:00

Cole Medina - Love You Inside Out (The Pinches Mix)

Very very very good.
Bee Gees re-edit by LA dj Cole Medina aka House Arrest aka American Standard (?).

TWO SISTERS

2009-08-05T15:51:00.003+01:00

So fierce.

Two Sisters - B-Boys Beware (1983)

This week is all about sisters.

Transformation

2009-07-30T12:29:00.000+01:00

Nona Hendryx - Transformation (1983)

Jump to the Beat

2009-07-27T13:33:00.002+01:00

Girls dancing in a sprinkler in Bushwick, New York in the 1970s.
Photo by Allen Tannenbaum

Stacy Lattisaw - Jump to the Beat (1980)

Goblin!

2009-07-27T10:01:00.001+01:00

I'm going to see Goblin later!!! I hope they're not shit.

Space Hopper

2009-07-24T09:55:00.001+01:00

Proxyon - Space Hopper (1987)

Minty

2009-07-11T11:35:00.003+01:00

Leigh Bowery 'giving birth' to his wife, Nicola, live on stage during a performance with Minty, from the documentary 'The Legend of Leigh Bowery'.
When I was younger and read about this it seemed so fantastical, I spent ages imagining what it would have looked like. Finally getting to see it could have been a big disappointment but I really think it lives up to all my teenage ponderings.

And my favourite Minty track, which is actually from after Leigh Bowery's death in 1994.

Minty - Plastic Bag (1995)

One

2009-07-09T15:10:00.005+01:00

Nobody did birthday parties quite like Bianca Jagger.

Admittedly neglected of late, nonetheless I've had this blog for a year today so party hat on and pats on the back all round.
I'm reposting the first mp3 that I posted as I've been told by a certain someone that this was the best track I ever posted anyway and the blog went steadily downhill from then on.

Brian Auger - Night Train To Nowhere (1985)

Gimme Love

2009-07-08T11:30:00.001+01:00

P-92-05-01, Hamburg 1992 by Jörg Sasse.

Cellophane - Gimme Love (1983)
Italo disco party banger.

Bernd and Hilla Becher

2009-07-07T08:57:00.006+01:00

Bernd and Hilla Becher.

A much better presented selection of photos can be found here.

Encounters at the End of the World

2009-07-06T20:00:00.006+01:00

Really quite beautiful seal sounds from the Werner Herzog film, Encounters at the End of the World.
I watched this film some time back but it's worth mentioning now since it's being shown on Discovery at the moment (it's on next on August 19th).

I thought that the seals sounded exactly like a Bruce Haack record. Listen to the beginning of Haackula 1 for proof!

Bruce Haack - Haackula 1 (1978)
Bruce Haack - Electric To Me Turn (1968)

Here is Bruce Haack demonstrating one of his inventions on television in 1968.

And here is a picture of him demonstrating his 'dermatron' machine, also in the late sixties.

He also made really interesting childrens' records like 'The Way Out Record For Children'.
What a guy!

You Can't Hide Your Love

2009-07-06T13:05:00.004+01:00

Photograph by Joel Meyerowitz

David Joseph - You Can't Hide Your Love (1983)

Patrick D. Martin

2009-06-10T22:13:00.004+01:00

Patrick D. Martin - I Like 'Lectric Motors (1979)
Patrick D. Martin - Computer Datin' (1980)

DJ Venom wanted to know what this record sounds like. I put £7.50 (coincidentally the price of one cocktail Daniel) on him hating it.

Everybody Dance

2009-06-03T13:12:00.001+01:00

Ta Mara & The Seen - Everybody Dance (1985)

Summer Fashions

2009-05-14T11:33:00.001+01:00

Frances Dee.

From such films I've never seen as 'I Walked With A Zombie', 'The Gay Deception', 'Coming Out Party' and 'Follow Thru'.

Prisoner

2009-05-14T11:08:00.003+01:00

by HB Concept.

I'd say this could be the epitome of all 80s funk videos.

Jam Packed

2009-04-28T22:32:00.004+01:00

Untitled by Oren Noy, 2003

JAM PACKED!!

Nods rather heavily towards Oh Sheila by Ready for the World but I think
it's great nonetheless, or more likely because of that. Oh and for the daft
samples of Robin Leach from 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' too.

911 - It Must Be Nice (1986)

Making Waves

2009-04-27T12:51:00.005+01:00

Amy & The Angels - I Hate Being In Love (1981)

Today I'm going very twee so look away now if this offends your musical sensibilities.
This is the only Amy & The Angels release I know of. It's from the compilation 'Making Waves: A Collection of Women's Bands from the UK', released on Girlfriend records in 1981.
I love the cover illustration.

(I'm posting a lesser known Jam Packed records release tomorrow to compensate for this indie detour.)

Searchin' To Find The One

2009-04-17T12:21:00.003+01:00

From the Basingstoke series by Anna Fox, 1985/86.

Unlimited Touch - Searchin' To Find The One (Shep Pettibone 12" Mix) (1981)

Paradise Garage classic. Probably. I wouldn't know, I wasn't there.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains

2009-04-06T21:33:00.004+01:00

I was going to post some clips from my terrible quality bootleg DVD last summer, but my appalling grasp of youtube uploading prevented it. Despite it finally getting an official release in the autumn (17 years later!) I still didn't get round to it.
Anyhow, it came up in conversation at a party on Saturday which is why I am finally getting round to this.

Duke Lake

2009-04-03T11:04:00.003+01:00

Duke Lake - Do You (1983)

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

2009-04-03T10:30:00.004+01:00

I thought I saw Liz Taylor and Bob Mitchum in the backroom of The Commercial, South Bank, Middlesbrough, 1984

Friday Night, backroom of The Commercial, South Bank, Middlesbrough, 1983

Dancing Girls, South Bank, Middlesbrough, 1985

New Year's Eve, The Prince, South Bank, Middlesbrough, 1984-5

Outside The Commercial, South Bank, Middlesbrough, 1982

The Zetland, Middlesbrough, 1983

By Graham Smith. Images from Rose Gallery, Santa Monica

Tarr

2009-04-03T10:29:00.002+01:00

Jock Hattle

2009-04-01T13:18:00.004+01:00

Start at 1 minute 20 seconds.

Jock Hattle - Crazy Family (Yes-No) (1983)

I feel a bit emotional after that. WOW

Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons

2009-03-25T11:48:00.000Z

Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons - Blätta (1980)

Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons - Happy Funeral (1980)

Buckminster Fuller

2009-03-20T08:43:00.001Z

Add N to (X) - Buckminster Fuller (1999)

Dangerous

2009-03-19T12:46:00.001Z

Copia by Brian Ulrich

Black River Falls, WI, 2006

Pennye Ford - Dangerous (1984)

Piefke & Pafke

2009-03-19T09:59:00.001Z

Lido di Spina, 1978 by Luigi Ghirri

Piefke & Pafke - ...und es geht ab (1982)

GUTEN MORGEN!

2009-03-06T11:46:00.000Z

Electric Colour Picture by David Batchelor, 2002

Anno-Nym - NDT, NDW (1982)

Anna Barriball

2009-02-20T14:02:00.002Z

Silver Map
Silver pen on world map
2003

Sunset/Sunrise V
Pencil on paper
2008

Mirror Window Wall III
Ink on paper
2008

All by Anna Barriball
Frith Street Gallery until mid March. Worth a look.

Colonel Abrams

2009-02-13T11:43:00.004Z

We. all. love. Colonel Abrams.

But who wouldn't with outfits like this?

Colonel Abrams - I'm Not Gonna Let You (1986)

Robert Görl

2009-02-05T13:35:00.006Z

Robert Görl is best known for being a member of DAF, but these tracks are from his 1984 solo album 'Night Full of Tension'.

That's Annie Lennox singing on these by the way (I think Görl used to play keyboards for the Eurythmics when they first started).

Robert Görl - Darling Don't Leave Me (Extended Mix)
Robert Görl - Playtime

HOME

2009-01-31T07:46:00.001Z

Colorado Springs, Colorado 1968
By Robert Adams

Love Come Down

2009-01-30T13:28:00.003Z

Sweet Thang (Lynn Jenkins), 1975 by Barkley L Hendricks.

Wanda Walden - I Must Be Dreaming (1981)

Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Love Come Down (1982)

Take Me To The Top

2009-01-26T13:08:00.003Z

Beauty Contest, Southport 1967 by Tony Ray Jones.

Advance - Take Me To The Top (12" Version) (1982)

Exhausted Renegade Elephant

2009-01-26T12:51:00.003Z

'Exhausted Renegade Elephant'

Woodland, Washington, 1982.

By Joel Sternfeld.

WORK

2009-01-19T13:00:00.005Z

From the 'East End Business' series by Tom Hunter, 2007/2008

Ministry - Work For Love (1983)

MISERY

2009-01-16T21:57:00.001Z

American Night #12 by Paul Graham, 2000

Sentry

2009-01-11T12:11:00.002Z

Sentry by Andy Freeberg, 2007

Check-Out Five - Naif Orchestra (1985)

Le Samouraï

2009-01-04T22:50:00.002Z

Le Samouraï, 1967

Pumping Iron

2009-01-02T19:28:00.001Z

Day for Night

2009-01-02T19:24:00.000Z

Day for Night, Ofunato II by Darren Almond, 2006

Neil Young - Computer Age (1982)

Nightclubbing

2008-12-21T09:42:00.003Z

Grace Jones performing at the Paradise Garage, 1985.
Costume by Keith Haring.

Unseasonal

2008-12-18T12:56:00.002Z

Dino - Summergirls (1988)

Burroughs

2008-12-15T19:05:00.002Z

Burroughs Live

Somewhere Between Almost Right and Not Quite

2008-12-14T10:03:00.004Z

Umbrella (Orange): With Figure and Ball (Blue, Green), 2004
From Somewhere Between Almost Right and Not Quite (With Orange) by John Baldessari.

Shirley Murdock - No More (1985)

Let's Get Brutal

2008-12-11T13:39:00.002Z

School Days/A

School Days/B
By Tomoko Sawada, 2004.

Nitro Deluxe - Let's Get Brutal (1986)

Videos

2008-12-06T12:50:00.001Z

Sherrick - Just Call

Eugene Wilde - 30 Minutes To Talk

Haywoode - Roses

The music I mostly listen to these days. Where did it all go wrong?

Escape Artist

2008-12-05T07:31:00.002Z

Escape Artist by Sam Taylor-Wood, 2008

Heave

2008-12-04T23:44:00.003Z

Heave by Kate MccGwire, 2008
Pigeon flight feathers, felt and wood installation.

Tenderoni

2008-12-04T23:22:00.004Z

Tenderoni

Lovelite

O'Bryan - Tenderoni (1986)

Roman Signer

2008-12-01T12:58:00.003Z

From the film Signer's Suitcase by Peter Liechti.

Miller

2008-11-26T13:24:00.000Z

Searching For A Feeling

2008-11-26T13:20:00.002Z

Untitled, 2003 by Tara Donovan.
Styrofoam cups and hot glue.

Maximum Joy - Searching For A Feeling (1982)

Lover Turn Me On

2008-11-23T20:04:00.003Z

Kashif - I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) (1983)

Nice & Wild

2008-11-21T16:23:00.003Z

Nice & Wild - Diamond Girl (Disco Version) (1986)

Banging freestyle. Banging outfits.

All Over Your Face

2008-11-20T12:39:00.003Z

Photo by Thobias Fäldt, 2008

Ronnie Dyson - All Over Your Face (1983)

K.I.S.S.I.N.G

2008-11-16T11:19:00.004Z

Fences, 2008 by Driss Ouadahi.
Oil on canvas.

Sexual Harrassment - K.I.S.S.I.N.G (1983)

All Of Me For All Of You

2008-11-12T13:45:00.001Z

9.9 - All Of Me For All Of You (1985)

Aurora

2008-11-12T13:34:00.000Z

Aurora by Jennifer Coates, 2008

FUN

2008-11-11T08:30:00.003Z

Theme from Romper Stomper (1992)

Double Indemnity

2008-11-10T19:21:00.004Z

Serious Japanese

2008-11-06T13:02:00.005Z

Plastics - Copy promotional video

I've spent quite some time trying to decide which Plastics songs I love the most, so I do hope you appreciate my final choices.
Plastics - Pate (1981)
Plastics - Complex (1980)
Plastics - Diamond Head (1981)

Melon - Serious Japanese (Tokyo Club Mix) (1985)
Melon were formed by Toshio Nakanishi and Chica Sato after Plastics broke up. This song is a reworking of Diamond Head but with more samples and vocoders. There used to be a fantastic video of this on youtube but I can't seem to find it anymore.

LINDER

2008-11-03T23:01:00.001Z

Pretty Girls Series, 1977

Untitled, 1976

Untitled, 1978

Untitled, 1976

Buzzcocks artwork, 1977

Ludus artwork, 1981

Ludus - Sightseeing (1980)
From The Visit EP. Maybe I should've posted a better quality mp3 but I'm sticking with my long-time favourite instead.

Ginsberg

2008-11-02T22:44:00.001Z

Allen Ginsberg, 1966 by Christopher Felver

Behind The Mask

2008-10-26T08:35:00.007Z

I never knew this version of YMO's Behind The Mask existed until this week and to be honest, this is everything I could want in a song right now.
Michael Jackson wrote the additional bits and it was going to be included on Thriller but was left off at the last minute. Greg released it on his solo album 'Pulse' in 1984 but it was whilst he was working as a session musician for Eric Clapton that he introduced this to him and it was covered once again, becoming a bigger hit for Clapton in 1986.

Greg Phillinganes - Behind The Mask (1984)

Remember What You Like

2008-10-26T08:00:00.004Z

New York, 1980 by Helen Levitt

Jenny Burton - Remember What You Like (1983)

Seven minutes of glorious freestyle. Jenny Burton also did vocals on One More Shot by C-Bank which you can get here.

Miami Bass Girls

2008-10-23T00:39:00.005+01:00

Shake It (Do The 61st) - Anquette (1987)

Get Busy - Wink-D featuring Candy Fresh (1989)
If you like freestyle and you like Miami bass then this track is a winner for you, as it samples 'When I Hear Music' by Debbie Deb to great effect.

More bass.
Get It Boy - Fresh Celeste & M-4Sers (1987)
Better Yet L'Trimm - L'Trimm (1988)
Booty Shaking - Lady Base & Posse (1989)
Blame It On The Muzick - J.J. Fad (1988)

All And All

2008-10-23T00:02:00.004+01:00

Prostitute, Nagoya, 1958 by Shomei Tomatsu,

Joyce Sims - All and All (1986)
Ignore the first 20 seconds of this, it's worth it.
(More here)

Tea

2008-10-20T16:55:00.001+01:00

Margot Fonteyn by Bern Schwarz (1977)

This photo makes me very happy, as I discovered on Saturday during what may have been one of the more meaningful afternoon teas of my life.

I'll Go To

2008-10-17T16:56:00.002+01:00

Jerusalem by Gerhard Richter (1995).
This has absolutely no impact as a photo on the internet but nonetheless, I saw this at a party last night where it was on sale for 7 million quid or thereabouts. WOW.

Alvi & The Alviettes - I'll Go To (1983)

Yayoi Kusama!!

2008-10-12T22:08:00.005+01:00

Confusion

2008-10-10T13:26:00.005+01:00

Leroy Burgess and identical twins the Aleems look like the type of fun guys I'd like to party with this weekend. Casually Formal. Yeah.

Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess - Release Yourself (1984)

Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess - Confusion (1985)

You might notice, particularly on 'Confusion', that Leroy Burgess has a slight speech impediment (he can't pronounce his Rs). It sounds quite charming though, I love his vocal style.

It's No Crime

2008-10-08T12:51:00.003+01:00

Babyface - It's No Crime (1989)

Classic R&B/Swing sound.

Technicolor Film Noir

2008-10-07T13:06:00.003+01:00

Contradiction?

Niagara, directed by Henry Hathaway (1953)

"A raging torrent of emotion...
that even nature can't control!

"Niagara"
AND
Marilyn Monroe

as the tantalizing temptress...
whose kisses fired men's souls!
PASSIONS that can sweep a man to the top of the world!
or send him crashing down to Rock Bottom!
The two most electrifying sights in the world!
Niagara and Marilyn Monroe
The high water mark in suspense!"

URGH!

2008-10-06T20:22:00.006+01:00

Invisible Sex

Klaus Nomi

The Cramps

The Au-Pairs

The Alley Cats

Magazine

Youtube megapost, I know! All these performances are from the 1981 music film, Urgh! A Music War.

Probably my two favourite songs from the film...

Invisible Sex - Valium
Klaus Nomi - Total Eclipse

The following songs weren't actually in the film itself but I think they're better than those featured by the bands in question.

The Au-Pairs - We're So Cool
Wall Of Voodoo - Do The Doink (Demo)

Turning Point

2008-10-05T18:15:00.004+01:00

Pacific Ocean, Iwate, 1986 by Hiroshi Sugimoto

Shark Vegas - You Hurt Me (Version) (1986)

This is a driving, disco rock dirge full of bitterness and resentment. Which everybody needs once in a while.

Anaïs Nin

2008-10-02T20:54:00.003+01:00