FOLLOW US ON:
GET THE NEWSLETTER
CONTACT US
LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy folds Steve Reich into his epic Bowie remix
11.12.2013
03:18 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
I really like this remix of David Bowie’s “Love is Lost” from his album The Next Day, which came out earlier this year. It was undertaken by James Murphy, recently of LCD Soundsystem, and it incorporates as the primary bed a recording of Steve Reich’s 1972 “Clapping Music.” In fact it’s called the “Hello Steve Reich Mix.”
 

 
“Clapping Music” must be one of Reich’s most popular works. While researching this piece I found a textbook in which the class was told to break up into groups for the purpose of “composing your own ‘Clapping Music.’” Reich wrote it for two people (the video below has ten), and it’s based on a very simple idea. The two clappers clap the same pattern, but one of them adds a slight pause every few bars, which generates interesting and unexpected patterns until it eventually moves back into phase again. Since the notes don’t change in pitch, the notation looks like this:
 
Clapping Music
 
Here’s Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music” performed by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble in 2006:

 

Previously on Dangerous Minds:
LCD Soundsystem’s last ever gig in full
‘Wavelength’ live score with members of Jesus Lizard, The Melvins & LCD Soundsystem

Posted by Martin Schneider
|
11.12.2013
03:18 pm
|
A belated Britpop Xmas present: a brand new track by Pulp
01.07.2013
06:37 pm
Topics:
Tags:

image
 
Don’t blame the band for the late arrival of this brilliant new tune on Dangerous Minds, blame me (though they could have picked a better time to put this out than on December 26th when I’m on my hols, ferchrisakes.)

By far the best of the ‘Britpop’ bunch, you’ll probably be aware that Pulp got back together again, after a ten year absence, for a string of live dates last year.

Well they didn’t just tour. They also went into the studio with none other than LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, and laid down a brand new tune called “After You,” a power-disco-pop gem that fits snugly into the band’s canon of modern classics. It leans towards the band’s more uptight-funk sound—it’s even got a bongo breakdown—but as ever is carried along by Jarvis Cocker’s caustic with, and a delivery that combines hard-nosed snark with pure sexiness.

Here’s to more brand new Pulp tracks in 2013!

Pulp “After You”
 

 

BONUS! After the jump, the entire, two hour Pulp headline set from the 2011 Reading Festival.

READ ON
Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
|
01.07.2013
06:37 pm
|
LCD Soundsystem’s last ever gig in full
04.03.2011
04:29 pm
Topics:
Tags:

image
 
At a time when the shelf life of bands can be stretched way past the point of credibility, it’s a great statement to just stop. Last night LCD Soundsystem, one of the actual bands shaping the “post-Nirvana era,” bowed out with their final ever live show at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

They may have divided opinion with their recorded work, but one thing is for sure, they were a really great live act. One of the best modern live acts, in fact, an asset that took them out of the realm of hipper-than-thou and into the mainstream. I think I saw them four times in total, and they got better and better (as did their records). For their last show they are on mighty form, and this is recommended viewing for both fans and fence-sitters alike:
 

 
Thanks Teamy!

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
|
04.03.2011
04:29 pm
|