Hi-Sci-Fi

Some of Bach’s compositions were written for Lituus, a horn instrument, similar to a trumpet. But the instrument itself has disappeared, with no surviving examples to be found. Until now, that is.

Lituus is two-and-a-half metres long, with a curved, bell-shaped end. And the recreation was done using a computer program by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) that re-designed it based on description of appearance and sound found in literature. [ TelegraphUK]

This image was uploaded with the post Worth Listening To: Echo and the Bunnymen “Killing Moon”.

by Irma Arkus

Sweating it to the oldies and goodies with Echo and the Bunnymen, the band that started way, way, way back in 1978, in Liverpool. The punk-rock sweetness of the Echo and The Bunnymen, makes it a band that to this day sounds fresh, contemporary, and meaningful.

Listen to the Killing Moon here.

This image was uploaded with the post Classics: Eartha Kitt’s “I Want To Be Evil”.

This image was uploaded with the post Worth Listening To: Drive Like Jehu.

This image was uploaded with the post Worth Listening To: Blonde Redhead’s “23” .

This image was uploaded with the post The Harvey Girls: Our History Is Your Kitsch.

This image was uploaded with the post Malajube: Older, Wiser, Coller with “Labyrinthes”.

This image was uploaded with the post Malajube: Older, Wiser, Coller with “Labyrinthes”.

by Irma Arkus

Montreal’s Malajube captured my attention a few years back with their release Trompe L’Oeil (2006), a highly enjoyable, edgier indie pop-rock tunes, with significantly tastier titles like ‘Jus de Cannenberges,’ ‘Fille a Plumes’ and ‘Pate Filo.’ Filled with

Well, now Malajube is mightier than god, their image gracefully floating across pages of magazines, and everyone is tuning into their new album, Labyrinthes.

The Dears, Arcade Fire, and Wolf Parade are all familiar names that seem to be thrown in for good measure, but unncessarily so, as Labyrinthes deserves to be evaluated on its own merits.

And there are plenty of merits to Labyrinthes. The album is called by many “strange,” but features a healthy dose of prog-rock, sprinkled with heavier, moody funk added into its arraignment of sounds.

by Irma Arkus

This Halloween, we delight and celebrate, and amongst the movies that overjoy, horrify, and excite, we need to give you some tunes too: I present you with Eartha Kitt. Earthy, sexy, burleque-ish, “I Want To Be Evil.” Find out what a cat/catwoman with a voice of a callibri can do. Check out the video/song here.

From 1983, so it is one year off being an Arctic Monkeys reference, but nevertheless, so cool. ROBOT DANCERS!!!

That is right. Basshunter, who I think is German, lays down this slammin Eurobeat song dedicated to none other than an IRC BOT. Check out the video over on Youtube and get funky! He also does one about dotA which is also totally awesome.

Over at Pascal’s Toy Piano you can plunk away at an online toy piano and compose your own little ditty or do slamming electronic covers of new wave blasphemies. ROCK ON!

Siting piracy, Dependant Records of Germany has shut down its business, and submitted their entire catalog to The Pirate Bay. I am not sure what type of music this is, but I wonder how many people are going to try to buy the records from wherever they can get the remaining stock once they have downloaded it. Makes you wonder if this was a missed opportunity. For more details check out the link HERE

This image was uploaded with the post Sebastian Tellier’s New Album!.

Oh it is coming! With a title like Sexuality and producing work done by Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo of Daft Punk, you know it is going to rock. I have been personally frothing at the mouth to hear more of this thing since I heard the song “Sexual Sportswear” and luckily one my favourite music blogs Music For Robots have posted the song “Divine” and t is truly awesome. Aside from that, look at that cover! Unfortunately, the album is scheduled to only be released in Europe on Record Maker and no North American distro seems to exist. NOT EVEN A TORRENT SO FAR!! Hopefully both of these problems are resolved soon so I can hear more and so can you, oh faithful readers of this site and listeners of the show. In the meantime enjoy!

Sony issued a statement in court, in regards to fair use issues. According to its representatives, making “a copy”, any copy, of music that you yourself own in a form of a CD is also considered “stealing.” For example, ripping your CD to your mp3 portable player, or your computer is an act of theft. I guess someone has been smoking crack, and now we know who that someone is.

Just because a multi-million dollar industry is drowning in its stupidity, due to the fact that it hasn’t changed its business model since the 1060s, does not mean we’ll bend over backwards to be shafted by a whole lot of rich people who want to preserve their source of funds. No, I will not be happy about laws and regulations that are meant to preserve an empire of crusty old business moguls who have been taking advantage of musicians since the ol’ vinyl days. Britney Spears could have used a bit less ass-shaking routines, and a bit more school, and I for one will certainly not be working hard to have her illiterate ass make more millions of dollars, or for that matter, millions more for her record company.

It is certainly not the first time and industry underwent severe changes. My favorite example is the article on French button industry. Yes, those rich button makers had to relinquish their exclusive button club. Free the buttons!

by Irma Arkus

this week’s fave is Blonde Redheads’s “23” album. From fine “Dr. Strageluv” to “My Impure Hair” the vocals of Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino’s vocals are captivating, creamy and day-dreamy, and I’ve just decided I love them, loads.

Catch the tunes here.

by Irma Arkus

The Harvey Girls are rockin’ smokin’ band, with ooh-lah-lah girly sounds accompanied by prog-pop sounds, all lullying about. The best part, they are no greedy pigs, and their freewear album is available on site. The Harvey Girls are not only pretty, multi-talented sirens, but accept donations as well. So, check out their noises.