Goooooallll!!

Damn do people love this record! Lindstrøm's "Where You Go I Go Too" scores a huge one with an 8.6 on PFork. Tim Finney says:

With its shimmering, strobing synthesizer melodies, dizzy layering, and measured rhythmic pulse, "Where You Go I Go Too" superficially resembles the depth of Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians and the cheesy grandeur of Tangerine Dream. But, as with his recent covers of Can ("Mighty Girl") and Jon & Vangelis (last year's "Let It Happen"), its logic is all Lindstrøm: The more he embraces the work of others, the more he ends up sounding like himself.

and wraps up with:

Paradoxically, Lindstrøm knows all the right moves to give his own brand of spacey disco an air of transcendence, but the result feels so effortless that his facsimile and the "real thing" become indistinguishable-- a fake so real it's beyond fake.

Oldsters will be reminded of later, soundtracky Tangerine Dream, early Jean Michel Jarre and the airier, less overtly heinous works of Vangelis, (cf. "Antarctica,"), but nobody younger than me knows those guys anyway!

Can't wait to see what Lindstrøm can do with the Chicago skyline.

Two of the Smartest Guys in Rock Not Named Robert Fripp

Update: It's out now!


David Byrne + Brian Eno have launched another collaboration only 27 years after their path-blazing and still incredible My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Cool interview with Eno at The Times Online. A free MP3 is available on their website now with the full album out digitally on August 18 and CD in October.

Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Party Update

A Benefit for The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis (contribute now!)

After many games of band Stratego, we finally have the lineups set for the big party at the end of September!

The Hideout, Chicago, IL

FRIDAY Sept 26
the coctails
antietam
katjonband (jon langford of the mekons and kat ex of the ex)
the bitter tears

SATURDAY Sept 27
the handsome family
megan reilly
speck mountain
lys guillorn

• Tickets are $15.00 for each night and are available now via Ticketweb.
• Music both nights starts at 9pm sharp, and if you haven't seen Lys or The Bitter Tears before, do yourself a favor and get there on time. Trust me on that one.
• Doors at 8:30.
• Sadly, they're both 21+ over shows. Sorry kids.
  
• Because The Hideout is so wonderfully intimate and because it is a benefit, there will be no guest list.

We have been inspired by SP20 and the kind gentlemen of Red Red Meat to donate any post-expense money we bring in at the door to the

Accelerated Cure Project

who support cutting edge MS research and aren't screwing around while doing it.

• To further this along, Carrot Top Records is paying the travel expenses to get the artists here and back.
• All of the bands have generously agreed to donate their pay for the night as well.
• The amazing and nice ladies at Green Light Go Publicity have offered to donate their time, energy, and expertise promoting these shows both locally and nationally.
• Steve W of Screwball Press has offered to donate some awesome, lovingly screenprinted posters for promotion and sale.

How cool is all this? Only one of many reasons why we love working with all of them. And big thanks to Julia and Michelle for doing the organizational heavy lifting.

And we've already snagged our first bit of press at a Time Out Chicago blog.

Wanna know more about MS?

• Here's a wonky but small computer generated video from Opexa Therapeutics that explains a lot. Even if you're not scientifically inclined, the pictures tell the story.
  
• For those who like to read, the UCSF MS Center has a lot of easy to digest material and is a great resource for both the new and knowledgeable.

We'll post further updates at the CTR News page, and return saki to her irregularly scheduled ephemera.

Chicago Nightclubs At Noon

Originally uploaded by _nickd

I finally had a chance to drop in on the Audible Architecture summer series at Pritzker Pavilion. Affiliated with Pitchfork Media's recent summer festival, it's a lineup of lunchtime shows featuring some really talented bands in a breathtaking, almost surreal, downtown setting. There was no way I was going to miss seeing Tortoise take advantage of the premium sound system of the Pritzker, a system usually reserved for the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. And I was not disappointed; despite rainy weather Tortoise really wowed a reverent crowd with intricate, beautiful songs (including some new material). There are still a few shows left, and I can't think of a better way to spend lunch. Highly recommended!

August 11th - Califone

August 18th - The Ex with Getatchew Mekuria

August 25th - Habibe Koite & Bamada

All shows 12:15pm-1:30pm

Future of Music Coalition Comes to Chicago

One of the coolest (and smartest) things I've done in the last 5 years is to take part in three of the Future of Music Coalition Policy Summits in Washington, DC.

[Check out a snippet of this great interview with George Clinton and one of my musical heroes Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy/Bomb Squad), where Hank breaks down the insanity of sample licensing. Hank takes a tiny snippet of P-Funk's "Atomic Dog" and processes it beyond recognition. For the full 30 minute video, follow this link.]

While I more or less enjoyed being on a panel five years ago, I've much more enjoyed just going from room to room and listening to all of the different, smart people from all corners of the music biz who have different perspectives on what's going on and why. I've witnessed many spirited debates, uplifting sentiments, and some damned cool music, including the unlikely collaboration of Lester Chambers singing "People Get Ready" accompanied on harmonica by FCC Commissioner Jonathan Edelstein!

But getting to DC can be costly in both travel expenses and time away from work. Thankfully for us midwesterners, the FMC powers that be have decided to bring their show on the road!

It will be a mini-Summit packed into one afternoon at the Old Town School of Folk Music, including help on musician's healthcare, marketing, podcasting, net neutrality, public performance royalties, technology, and more specific breakout sessions of smaller groups addressing more narrow issues. Having been to three of the big FMC Summits already, I can't recommend this highly enough, and not only for musicians, but for anybody who loves music, the business of music, or especially if you love a musician. Click the banner above for more info and I'll definitely be posting more here once they announce who'll be participating. Hopefully we'll see you there!