Carl Sagan - 'A Glorious Dawn' ft Stephen Hawking (Cosmos Remixed)

The words that come to mind when watching this are strange, profound, and outright hilarious. It's that awesome mixture that keeps me coming back to this video for repeat viewings.

A warm thanks to our friend anewidentity for this one.

Maluca - "Live in Santo Domingo"

I received a lot of great feedback from people when I posted the music video for Maluca's song, “El Tigeraso.” So here is a bootleg recording of her performing in Santo Domingo.

Setlist:

Big Bad Bangs
Culebra
Kalembe (Maluca Dubplate)
Jungle Violento
Tigeraso / Tigeraso (Sticky K Remix)
Outro

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Maluca:Live in Santo Domingo

Radiohead: “Lotus Flower” (live at Haiti benefit)

Here's a new Radiohead song titled, "Lotus Flower." Thom York performed it alone at the Los Angeles Haiti benefit.

FACT Mix 118 - Bullion

The bad-ass psych-hop DJ, Bullion put together this ten minute mix for Fact Magazine. Artists in the mix include David Crosby, Fleetwood Mac, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. For full track list click here.

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FACT Mix 118:Bullion

Rhymefest - "Exodus 5.1"

"Exodus 5.1" is a spoken-word piece by Chicago MC, Rhymefest. The video inter cuts a live performance of the song as well as some grainy footage of downtown Chicago. A rolling guitar loop creates a minimal backdrop to Rhymefest's stark and powerful words. His debut record Blue Collar came out in 2006 and the record El Che is supposed to drop sometime this year.

Mystery Artist - "9.20.19.13.5.723378"

There have been some mysterious viral videos floating around, having everyone guessing who the creator is. Guesses have been anywhere from Lady GaGa to Goldfrapp to Christina Aguilera. But more likely it's none of the above. Either way, there is an enjoyable creepiness to these videos that make me curious for more.

Previously:

L.A.C.M.A. presents director Andrei Tarkovsky, a Retrospective

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents a retrospective look at Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky, going on now until Feb. 5. For those who only know the remake of his film "Solaris" with George Clooney, this retrospective would be a fantastic introduction to this epic director and his phenomenal works. Be sure to check out perhaps his most famous film, “Andrei Rublev” (1966), Saturday, January 30. This film chronicles religious icon painter Andrei Rublev. Taking place in Medieval Russia, the film reflects on the life of Rublev as “he tries to reconcile his faith, his art, and the savage reality around him”. Get there early to also check out “Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky”, a documentary about the director as told by many of his collaborators.

"Tarkovsky for me is the greatest, the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream". –Ingmar Bergman

For more information and showtimes click here.

JULIAN SMITH – "Techno Jeep"

via juliansmith87:

"The sounds in this video are ACTUAL sounds from the Jeep. Everyone began rehearsing their parts 2 weeks before we shot the video. It took us 7 hours of filming to get a solid take."

David Byrne & Fatboy Slim (Feat. Santigold) - "Please Don't"

David Byrne teams up with Fatboy Slim on a concept-album based around the life of Imelda "Steel Butterfly" Marcos, widow of former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The album, "Here Lies" is out 2/23 via Todomundo/Nonesuch. Other contributors include Tori Amos, Róisín Murphy, Alice Russell, and Sharon Jones. "Please Don't" features the singer, Santigold and the funky clavinets are reminiscent of mid era Talking Heads.

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David Byrne And Fatboy Slim:Please Don't (Feat Santigold)

Toro Y Moi - "Blessa"

Mimosa - "Crunksteppers Guide to PsyPhy"

Tigran Mimosa, like many of his west coast peers, makes some dirty glitched out dubstep. He’s got 2 EPs out, Flux For Life and Hostilis. He's giving his new mix, "Crunksteppers Guide to PsyPhy" away for free over at Soundcloud. In the mix, Mimosa uses Hip Hop samples from Dead Prez to Missy Elliot.

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Mimosa:Crunksteppers Guide to PsyPhy

Swept Away, dir. Lina Wertmuller (1974)

Upon viewing “Swept Away” it is easy to forget that it was written and directed by a woman, Lina Wertmuller. While Wertmuller sets out to create a film about politics and class struggle, the subverted relationship between the rich Raphaella (Mariangela Melato) and the poor sailor Gennarino (Giancarlo Giannini), immediately dominates and intrigues its audience. The two become stranded on a deserted island alone together and Gennarino is charged with being responsible for their survival. Raphaella appears to gain pleasure from verbally assaulting and giving orders to the lowly sailor, while his animosity toward her grows. Gennarino quickly realizes that his survival skills give him the upper hand in the relationship and stages a sort of one-man worker’s revolt against the capitalist pig, Raphaella. In a display of sexual violence that leaves many feminists up in arms about the film, Gennarino assumes his dominance over Raphaella. Giannini and Melato perform these roles with such stellar conviction that you are completely enveloped in the story of love and survival that ensues. Wertmuller began her film career as the third assistant director to Federico Fellini on his masterpiece “8 ½” and was the first female director nominated for an academy award for another masterful work called, “Seven Beauties.” Her wonderfully controversial films will leave a lasting impression and cannot be missed.

Things To Come - "Speak of the Devil"

Things to Come is one of thousands of unknown garage bands from the 60's. In 1994 a CD came out with 16 previously unreleased demos from 1965-67. Although one could argue that the band mostly attempts to imitate what the Stones, Them or other popular groups were doing at the time, they had some real gems. The song "Speak of the Devil" is about as gritty and as fresh as anything created in the era of dark psychedelia.

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Things To Come:Speak Of The Devil

The Seeds - "A Faded Picture"

The Seeds were best known for the song, "Pushin' To Hard." "A Faded Picture" is a slow dirge, reminiscing on times past. The song is steady with slide guitar and somber chimes. Lead singer, Sky Saxon whimpers with an attitude that never dulls.

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The Seeds:A Faded Picture

Jesca Hoop - "Four Dreams" & "Seed Of Wonder"

On Friday, we waited in a line outside of The Hotel Cafe to get sold out tickets to Jesca Hoop. It was worth it. Not only did the doorman give us half off for missing the opening but the show exceeded all expectations. She mostly played new songs from the album "Hunting My Dress" (currently only released in the UK). Hoop said that she grew up on murder ballads and it shows. Her music is minor-keyed, full of crooked thoughts, hymn-like at times and rather ominous. But that's not to say it's not fun, as "Four Dreams" shows, the music has both a sense of humor and a great rhythmic quality.

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Jesca Hoop:Four Dreams

And from the Silverscreen Demos:

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Jesca Hoop:Seed Of Wonder

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, dir. Terry Giliam

Visionary director Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” is a true feat of imagination and one his best films in recent years. Faced with a slew of challenges to the production, including the unfortunate and untimely death of Heath Ledger (Tony), the film delves seamlessly between imagination, reality, good, and evil. Gilliam has said that the film is his “Amarcord,” and like Fellini, he basks in the environment that he knows best; which for Gilliam are these magical and fantastical worlds. We meet the aged Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) as he is approached once again by the devil, Mr. Nick (wickedly played by Tom Waits). Mr. Nick has come to collect on a wager in which the life of Parnassus’ daughter, Valentina (Lily Cole), would be his prize. Parnassus sets out with his traveling Imaginarium in a new wager with Mr. Nick, to be the first to entice five souls, in the hope of winning back his daughter. Tony (Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrell) aids Parnassus in this journey by gathering people to step beyond the magic mirror into a world of their wildest imaginations. Despite the tragedy in the midst of making this film, in the words of Dr. Parnassus, “you can’t stop a story being told” and as the credits roll, you certainly feel the magic behind “A Film From Heath Ledger and Friends.”

Gil Scott-Heron - "Me And The Devil"

"Me and The Devil" is the first thing Gil Scott Heron has released in over a decade. In the 70's Heron wrote songs such as "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" and "Winter In America." He's known for his intelligent street poetry and was a major influence on the birth of hip hop. The music video for "Me and The Devil" has skeleton crews roaming the streets and sinister looking carnies looming in the shadows. Heron continues to push his artistry to new heights. His forthcoming LP titled, "I'm New Here" is due out on February 9th.

Vashti Bunyan - "Train Song"

Vashti Bunyan was pretty much overlooked in her heyday but now she's known as a folk-psych legend. She is best known for her 1970 album, "Just Another Diamond Day" but "Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind", a collection of demo sessions from 1964, is just as wonderful. Her songs are rather simple, typically meditating on the elements or farm life. She has a sweet, innocent voice, reminding me of a mother singing to a newborn. "Train song" has to be one of my all time favorites.

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Vashti Bunyan:Train Song

Young Man - "Playtime"

Chicago's Colin Caulfield of Young Man gives us another taste of his upcoming album, "Boy" with the song, "Playtime." In the song he somehow manages to make a music box sound like its being strummed like a guitar. This really nice effect adds to his mellow 60's vibe.

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Young Man:Playtime

Twin Sister - "I Want A House"

Twin Sister's lovely song "I Want A House" is part of a digital EP called "Vampires With Dreaming Kids." In this song, beautiful vocal harmonies move smoothly along the spacious instrumentation. The band is offering the EP for free on their website.

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Twin Sister:I Want a House

Pit Er Pat - "Water"

The LA based Pit Er Pat will be releasing The Flexible Entertainer this January 26th via Thrill Jockey. "Water" is a strange R&B track...a bit of a head scratcher but cool nonetheless.

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Pit Er Pat:Water

The Knux - "Floozy"

The Knux (short for the Knuckleheads) are two brothers from New Orleans who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and now make music in LA. "Floozy", the first song off the, "Fuck You EP" has a seriously infectious funky beat.

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The Knux:Floozy

Parkour - Motion Reel

parkour motion reel
by yom_

White Hinterland - "Icarus"

I'm greatly anticipating White Hinterland's upcoming release, "Kairos." It's due out on March 9th via Dead Oceans. Their previous releases have been wonderful and although "Icarus" seems a little watered down, it has the same dreamy chill sound that's so enjoyable.

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White Hinterland:Icarus

Beyonce: "Single Ladies (In Mayberry)" (Andy Griffith Mashup)

The Knife - "Colouring of Pigeons"

The Knife teams up with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock with their new track, "Colouring of Pigeons." The song is part of an opera they wrote called "Tomorrow, In A Year" which is due out on March 1st. The opera is based on the writings of Charles Darwin. "Colouring of Pigeons" is an 11 minute journey into a dank & beautiful hemisphere...truly a unique musical experience.

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The Knife:Colouring of Pigeons

Bullion - "Crazy Over You"

Bullion's song, "Crazy Over You" is off the new "Say Goodbye To What Is" EP. The two song EP is available for as little as a British pound over at Bandcamp. The psych-pop track, "Crazy Over You" samples Buffy Sainte-Marie's untamed vibrato as well as the otherworldly 70's rocker Klaus Nomi. It nicely blends musical eras, from the 60's to the present.

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Bullion: Crazy Over You

Happy New Years & Vacation

Oldie but Goodie: I hope everyone has a thrilling New Years! I'll leave you with "Piano Mécanique (Jour de Fête)" from the album "Sonorama!" The album is a collection of songs taken from various Jacques Tati films. It's the perfect way to start a vacation, set fire to your paperwork and skip problem free down the boulevard. See you in a few weeks!

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Jean Yatove:Piano Mécanique (Jour de Fête)

Best Tracks of 2009 (In No Particular Order)

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Mountain Man:Animal Tracks

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Prefuse73:Four Reels Collide

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Ganglians:Valiant Brave

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The Sandwiches:Back To The Sea

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Gold Panda:Quitters Raga

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Mos Def:Quiet Dog

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TV On The Radio:Red Dress (THE GLITCH MOB Remix)

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Marissa Nadler:Ghosts & Lovers

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Mercer Chamber Orchestra:Trio Agitato

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Bosque Brown:Went Walking

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XX:Crystalised

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Micachu:Eat Your Heart

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Tipper:Jibber Jabber

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Cass McCombs:Dreams Come True Girl (Ft. Karen Black).mp3

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Grizzly Bear:Southern Point

Lucas Santtana - Sem-Nostalgia

Brazilian musician Lucas Santtana crosses genres with Afro-Brazilian rhythms, samba, rock, atmospheric, folk, etc. "Sem-Nostalgia" is a wonderful groove record, perfect for nights of drinking beer on a porch and simply watching the moon glow.

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Lucas Santtana:Ripple of the water

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Lucas Santtana:Amor em Jacumã