It’s great to see that Berlin’s Atari Teenage Riot—electronic anarchists and creators of the “digital hardcore” sound—are back and in terrific shape. Predictably, what was first slated as a reunion for a few European shows has turned into a full-blown world tour for Alec Empire and Nic Endo, along with new Rioter CX KiDTRONiK.
Throughout the ‘90s, ATR spread sonic fire from the nexus of hard techno, thrash-punk and noise, with their members (including formers Hanin Elias and the late lamented Carl Crack) also releasing solo projects on their own Digital Hardcore Recordings label.
As shown by this stage invasion during their appearance at Zurich’s Fusion Festival from this spring, the Riot seems back on in full force.
After the jump, relive ATR’s famous 1999 anti-fascist May Day riot in Berlin, with commentary by Empire…
Some people bleed for their art.
French graphic designer Metastazis and Polish artist Zbiniew M. Blielak combined forces to create this poster for Swedish metal band Watain. Instead of conventional screenprint ink, they used human blood. Metastazis describes his art as being ‘scandalous yet refined.’ The Watain poster lives up to his credo.
111 posters were printed.
more bloody good photos after the jump
Brooklyn’s Gregory Brothers, who’ve done dozens of these, have done it again, a little remix masterpiece. They’ve auto-tuned a news report into a song that actually holds up as a song. The keyboard ending is a bit lame, but otherwise this is both funny and kind of moving.
After Antoine Dodson, a young hero from Huntsville, AL, saves his sister from an attack, he sings an important message both to his community and to the attacker himself. Evan Gregory then proceeds to play a heartfelt cover of the resulting song.
he’s climbin in your windows
he’s snatchin your people up
tryna rape em so y’all need to
hide your kids, hide your wife
hide your kids, hide your wife
hide your kids, hide your wife
and hide your husband
cuz they’re rapin errbody out here
Director Andreas Nilsson’s video for Miike Snow’s ‘The Rabbit’ is definitely bubblingly up into my top ten of 2010. The set design, color, choreography and little dude with beard coalesce into three minutes and 36 seconds of vibrant, color saturated bliss. Black is beautiful…and so is red, green, yellow and blue.
And the 2 Live Crew album cover is Baby Beard’s Holy Grail.
I’m starting to compile my choices for best videos for 2010 and this is a contender.
Dan Scheinert and Dan Kwan directed this slice of visual deliciousness for Icelandic electro poppers FM Belfast. Using variable speeds, warping, time displacement, jump cuts and stop motion, the two Daniels have created a mindbendingly cool video. And the song Underwear ain’t bad either.
Romain Gavras directed the controversial video for M.I.A.‘s song ‘Born Free.’ That’s the one where redheaded kids (gingers) are blown away to a sample of Suicide’s ‘Ghost Rider.’ Here’s the trailer for Romain’s feature length debut, Notre Jour Viendra, which was originally called Redheads. It looks quite compelling and I’m looking forward to seeing it. The visuals are striking and it stars one of my favorite actors, Vincent Cassell.
Exene Cervenka, the director of photography and co-writer on Modi Frank’s 1986 silent western Bad Day, is making the film available on her website to help raise money for Gulf Coast residents.
Shot at a secret location near Chatsworth, California, the short film features an inspired cast of irregulars playing the residents of a small town on a bad day. Call it what you will: a cow-punk time capsule, a mock-Western, a guerrilla film forerunner – or just plain proof of a time when everyone didn’t take themselves so seriously.
“Bad Day” has a cool cast that includes, John Doe (X), Dave Alvin (Blasters), Kevin Costner, Michael Blake and Chris Desjardin (The Flesheaters).
A portion of the proceeds from “Bad Day” are going to the Gulf Coast aid organization the Committee for Plaquemines Recovery that helps the people affected in the Gulf region.
Now available for the first time as a digital download Viewers will be able to “pay” whatever they choose for the download. Please view at www.baddaymovie.com
I mentioned before about my new LP of experimental pop tunes, Natural Selections coming out on August 24th, remember ? Well now my fabulous associates at the Hometapes label have released another mp3 and lovely video for the lead-off track, created by my brother Josh in advance of that event. You’ll note the Los Angeles theme of the video which ties in neatly with my Bunker Hill post from yesterday. See how I did that? I’ll be posting again about it all soon, tempting you with gorgeous product shots of the groovy swirly colored vinyl edition. Meantime, please enjoy a few minutes of my personal madness. Thank you.
