Amanda Lear's "Alphabet"

I have a particular sensitivity to the letter "G."



Martiniano showed me this video tonight. It's fantastically campy. Amanda Lear, once romantically linked to David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Brian Jones and Salvador Dali(!) was the disco queen of Europe in the 80s.  Watch the video and you can't help but smile.

Holy Shit - You Made My Dreams Come True

Finally. Something to put on this thing >>

Holy Shit - You Made My Dreams Come True 12" out in November on Fat Possum.

Creatures of Comfort - Be My Valentine Mix

I made a Valentine's mix for my friend's shop, Creatures of Comfort. Go here to download and to see the tracklist. 

And here's part 2 to this mix.... It's the moody and melancholy counterpart to part 1. Tracklist here. 

xx

You Don't Own Me

I can't stop listening to Klaus Nomi's cover of "You Don't Own Me" off of his 1981 s/t album. His rendering has everything but the kitchen sink thrown in -- cabaret Queen-like theatrics, Thin Lizzy double lead guitar harmonies, middle of the road pub rock revivalist bummer, and Martin Duffy-like organ swells. It's probably the latter two, echoes of Denim and Felt, that draw me towards this version.



And the original and classic Leslie Gore version from 1964's TAMI show --

This American Life: BREAK-UP

In celebration of tomorrow's NYE, have a listen to TAL's Break-Up, act one of episode 339. Starlee Kine's wonderfully produced story features my beloved song, Against All Odds, and Phil Collins is a total mensch! One of my favorite favorite episodes...

Hansel from Basel MIX

I made a mix for my friend's site - Hansel from Basel.  It's inspired by Felt, Anna Karina and girls who wear tights.

She Lives By The Castle Mix - Click here to download.

Tracklisting:

Bel Canto - The Glassmaker

Berntholer - My Suitor

Cat's Eyes - I'm Not Stupid

Emma Tricca - Paris Rain

Helene Smith - Willing And Able

Joan Armatrading - Only One

Judee Sill - The Kiss
Kendra Smith - Iridescence 31

Laetitia Sadier - Summertime

Lijadu Sisters - Come on Home

Lucie Eyenga - Yaka Mama

Madredeus - Oxala

Mazzy Star - Common Burn

Poly Styrene - Dreaming

Purity Ring - Ungirthed

Sibylle Baier - The End

Susanna + The Magical Orchestra - Condition Of The Heart

Taken by Trees - No Letting Go

This Mortal Coil - Mr. Somewhere

Wanderléa - Te Amo

2011 Mix 3: Piano Works

Inspired by the autumnal change of season and my first Terry Riley live performance at Blum + Poe a couple of weeks ago, I compiled this mix consisting of piano works. Great to listen to while making soups, finding clarity or attempting to finish a crossword!

Click on image to download:

Hands of Russian piano virtuoso Sergei Rachmaninoff, New York, 1943

by Eric Schaal for Life Magazine

Princess Stephanie of Monaco

As a child, I was obsessed with this song, "Ouragan," by Princess Stephanie of Monaco. It was also released under the title of "Irresistible" stateside.

2011 Mix 2

It's been a while since the last mix but here are 20 deep cuts I've been enjoying this summer. Click on the image to download (btw, you only have 4 more days to see the great Gertrude Stein exhibit at SF's CJM). I tried to make this a Spotify mix but half of the tracks are unavailable. Oh well... You know it's a good one then! (פ') ליהנות

Cinéma du look: Subway

I have this thing that I say - "I only want to watch Memphis-inspired films."* Well, I finally got to see this Cinéma du look film by the great Luc Besson. So inspiring - the cinematography, the art direction, the styling, the Memphis-inspired colors, Isabelle Adjani, Christopher Lambert, and the most incredible song by Eric Serra, "It's Only Mystery." It's currently on Netflix stream.

Cinéma du look. Memphis-Milano Movement. An aesthetic kinship between two contemporary movements.




*I find that I have a hard time finding Memphis-inspired films. Do let me know if you can think of any.*

Upside Down: The Creation Records

Upside Down: The Creation Records Story - New Trailer from Upside Down The Movie on Vimeo.

Doing this. If you're in LA this Sunday or SF on Monday, come see the west coast premiere of this documentary on my all-time favorite record label. The director will be there. Mark Gardener from RIDE will perform. And it's free. Can't wait.

Felt : Ballad of the fan, by JC Brouchard

My handsome copy of JC Brouchard's "Felt, Ballad of the fan" just arrived all the way from France. You might want to get your copy before it sells out (just like Foxtrot Echo Lima Tango's did very quickly last year).

What Happened to Fanuelle?

Almost a decade ago, I fell in love with Matthew Fanuelle's self-releases. They were simply titled C, D, 1 or 2... The proper release, self-titled in 2005, fortunately included one of my all-time favorite songs, "I've Been Killing, So."

We've lost contact in the last few years. And then I found him incarnated as Nunzio Fattini. Fanuelle to Fattini. Nice surprise. Enjoy Album Primum by Nunzio Fattini here.



One could say "Cousin" is a masterpiece.

Selfish Lazy & Greedy

Holy Shit + John Maus tonight in Los Angeles. Can't wait.

Cat's Eyes

Enthralled. Crushing hard.

Nuts in May

I'm helped organized this event that is happening tomorrow!




NUTS IN MAY

Sound + performances by JON BRUMIT
and DAVID SCOTT STONE

Dance performance by WIFE

Readings by WOLFBOY
JOHN TOTTENHAM
and ALEXANDER ZEVIN

Dancing with DJ DINER

plus FARMER DAVE'S HOT NUTS


FREE



ABOUT HUMAN RESOURCES
Human Resources is an art/performance space that is currently located at 410 Cottage Home St in Chinatown, 90012, at the former Cottage Home Gallery.
Human Resources is a team of creative individuals which seeks to broaden engagement with contemporary and conceptual art, with an emphasis on performative and underexposed modes of expression.
Human Resources is entirely volunteer run and seeks to foster widespread public appreciation of the performative arts by encouraging maximum community access. Human Resources also serves as a point of convergence for diverse and disparate art communities to engage in conversation and idea-sharing promoting the sustainability of non-traditional art forms.

Lately...

Bill Callahan's Apocalypse (2011)


Vanessa and Jane as Julia and Lillian in Julia (1977)


Matt Connors' Correspondences (2011)


Durutti Column's Lips That Would Kiss Madeleine (1990)


Bless Safety Pin (2008)


Paul Heyer's Jangly (2010)


Carl Williamson Vessel (2010)


Gang Gang Dance's Eye Contact (2011)

Sauve Qui Peut (La Vie)

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing the rarely screened Godard film, Sauve Qui Peut (La Vie) at LACMA. Considered his "second first film" (after Breathless), I was instantly blown away by the soundtrack. With a little searching, I found the Gabriel Yared scored soundtrack here. So ahead of its time, highly recommend.

Joytown Mix

I made a teen mix for Matt Wolf's Teenage film blog.
For the tracks and the story behind the mix, click on the below image of my 8th grade graduation (mom made my dress!)

2011 Mix One

(click on image to download)