nothing but films and music (and frigid)15 edi…orial Issue #15 has been a long time coming. It was really supposed to be out in mid-January to remind you all to come to the special Frigid at the Opera House. As it happened you didn’t need reminding, with 700 people showing up to chill with coke-snortin’ North Shore bimbos and several minor celebrities. In the space between #14 and #15 a lot has changed. Lucius, Sydney’s infamous poster terrorist, has hung up the sticky-tape and retired; edited by is now assistant editor of 3D World; Luke is now thirty; Monkeyboy dale and yellow peril is about to fly out of the country for several years pillaging the Americas; Dale has developed an unhealthy fetish for crappy vinyl; I’ve become addicted designed by to Pokemon as a result of Luke’s evil spouse Grit; and the rest of us are dale about to move Frigid to the Hopetoun temporarily whilst the Globe is cyclic website refurbished. More on all that somewhere in this issue. richard & richard There have also been several festivals: Big Day Out and Vibes, in particular. I’m not sure but I have the feeling that we’re smack bang in the middle of a written by cultural malaise. You see, the economies of the States, Britain and even yellow peril here are apparently booming. That is supposed to make us all happy. At dale least that’s what that ‘trickle down’ effect thing is about. I reckon it makes neural us lazy and bored. For all the millennium bullshit there hasn’t been much degrassi worthwhile to rival, say, punk in 77, in 91, or even jungle in the UK in 94/95. There’s nothing sweeping people up except jobs, and jobs mean copying, folding, ‘sensible clubbing’. Justin Kerrigan’s recent clubbing film Human Traffic even stapling and stuffing had to make handbag clubbing in the UK a little more edgy by incorporating the cryo crew with the footage of riot police at Reclaim The Streets into the title credits. That’s not long suffering monkey- so say Human Traffic is a bad film (it isn’t). It’s quite funny and fills a lot of boy at the helm people with a terrible sense of déjà vu, it’s just that even this film had to give its blind hedonism an air of ‘resistance’. Its defence of Ecstasy is also thanks to weakened by the need to portray the families of the main charcters as dys- ruth for proofing functional. Still, if you haven’t seen it yet, fuck the R rating off and take your monkeyboy for the little brother or sister. copying prowess - There is definitely some exciting music around - see my swag of reviews this good luck month - but there isn’t a great deal of it outside of a few select record shops ozi batla for finally supplying an almost entirely home listening or specific niche market. Anyway, making it back it can’t last forever... even the dirge of the 80s were broken in 1988 by in the UK and the mainstreaming of in the States. Advertising inquiries can be directed to the editors (see below) or to jordan spence at IMPORTANT [email protected] CYCLIC DEFROST will be losing its access to cheap WEBSITE (ahem...free) copying as of this issue. We need to Snarl Heavy Industries find an alternate way of printing the zine or we may not be able to continue in the same way we go there and prosper have over the past 18 months and 15 issues. lookout for cryo tickets and t-shirts (hmmm...maybe some day) if you can help print 250 issues of 5 double pages or know anyone that can, please contact [email protected]. ICY little blocks of sweetness mpfree A pirate music haven in a sea POLES of corporate sharks by First Mate Doof Jacobs of the Good Ship Liberty 3D World Dance Music Awards What’s this I spy through my honest income. Our crew is one by dale trusty technoscope? On the not of the many who are combining Sick of taking second place too distant horizon there’s a the best of both of these ideas VINYL to rock music 3D World fabulously decadent galleon and using mp3 to give their own Magazine is happy to she’s taking water fast. Flying the goods away for free. This kind of is a boy’s best friend announce the 3D World flag of Babylon the scurvy hulk is unregulated trading sends dread What will all this skullduggery a tale of adventure through the perils of dusty record boxes Dance Music Awards to be sinking under the weight of its ill shivers up robber barons spines lead to? An end to the ownership held on Wednesday April gotten gains. Word’s gotten and is rocking the foundations of and comodification of music itself I’m not going tell you how the advent of By the time I got there at 1.30 on 5th at the Metro in Sydney. round that mp3 buccaneers corporate music empires. While no less! I tell ye true, it gladdens the cd was just a ploy to increase Sunday afternoon the desperation had pulled the plug. So what be this for all you liberty loving listeners an old salt’s heart to see it thus. For over 10 years 3D World major label record company profits ceased, replaced by old fogies mp3 I hear ye ask? Aye tis a tool (with internet access) its a has been at the forefront of For up till now the only truly through decreased costs and checking the state of Scottish folk of trade for pirates to be sure, glimpse of a wide open ocean Australia’s burgeoning dance swash-buckling way to distribute expensive reissues, neither am I going records and families purchasing a few but the story behind the story is with free passage to all ports of and scene. Organarchy’s pieces of eight o’ to get all anachronistic on yo ass and classical records for the education of all about the free flow of call from the well traveled old In a country where axe eight has been by the very act of claim that no matter how hi the fidelity the kids...the black music section was information, in this case music. worlds of rock and pop to the wielding scotch drinking rock performing live, at free parties. nothing can compete with the visceral devoid of anything except Lionel most exotic and previously jocks have stolen the Mp3 is a way of saving music as Another tactic was handing it warmth of a needle travelling along a Ritchie records and, bizarrely enough, uncharted sonic paradises. limelight, 3D believes it is digital files that can be over at gigs on small runs of groove. The reason I like vinyl is that an Al Jolson record, and the popular time that the true talent transferred via the internet. The x on Organarchy’s music recycled cassettes. But this it’s cheap. music section had a fair smattering of have their day in the sun. Downloading this loot takes about treasure map is bogged the crew down in a lot of Whitesnake and bad eighties compila- People who provide 30 minutes per track via a dial www.mpfree.cat.org.au. This is fiddly rub-a-dub-dubbing and pho- Because of this it provides three main tions (1980 in the Sun et al...). But hundreds of thousands of up modem. A digital copy at near the site of our ever growing tocopycutnpaste. advantages; firstly, the ability to be everything had been reduced to half punters, every weekend, CD quality is then stashed on archive. As we make our tracks experimental in my purchases; price!!! By contrast, a few short weeks with the music that puts your hard drive. To hear it, you’ll we upload them there for all you secondly, the sheer volume of releases after the mpfree site was smiles on their faces and need to net yer self one of the lubbers to freely plunder. means that there is a great deal to I started my adventure in the sound launched word got back that push choose from; and thirdly, because of effects/mood music section and lifts them from the drudgery many free mp3 players charted Aye mates, one simple file bike ghetto blasters were sheer volume of (crap) releases record almost never returned. A whole bunch of everyday life. Finally the at the end of this report. Now transfer does away with all pumping out our merrie tunes at buying turns into a kind of game of of early radio jingles were the first thing people spinning the wax and technically you don’t own it, but oppressive copyright and Critical Mass rides in San ‘fossicking for buried treasure’. to catch my eye, along with a bunch of producing the tracks will get it’s digital form makes it rip- publishing restrictions. It takes Francisco. Arrrgh, this sort of records called Sidelines which turned the recognition they roaringly easy to copy and redis- the wind out of the sails of the “prairie fire” distribution was not So when I read in the paper that out to be bizarre one liners delivered in deserve—on a national tribute. DJ white label triads. Non- possible in ye olde days of the Screensound, the film and audio even more bizarre accents. I then scale. Mutinous minstrels tired of music productive middle meddlers are cassette networking scene. archives branch of the federal moved along to the religious and The night itself will see a industry shenanigans have taken made to walk the plank. government, were selling off their old spoken word sections and picked up So good friends, set sail for bundle of awards covering to building mp3 web sites as Hierarchical power imbalances vinyl, I was as excited than Big Kev some gems including some poetry www.mpfree.cat.org.au and dig all facets of the dance and great places to stash tunes. between music makers, distribu- with a handful of goo remover. To this readings of afro american poets up some of Organarchy’s buried electronic scene and will Some are ripping the mainstream tors and consumers are sent end I made the trek/pilgrimage to the treasure. Or view the source include performances by Robin Hood stylie, whilst others straight to Davey Jones’s locker. asshole of our nation, Canberra, to The highlight though was the “Foreign” code and see how easy it is to local & international artists. hawk their own tracks for an rescue some dusty cardboard covered music section where all manner of start your own mp3 mutiny. vinyl from the brink of oblivion. I wasn’t strangely packaged music from the There will also be an after the only one... past forty years resided, everything party at the Metro so the from Balinese gamelan music to dance community can do The sale lasted from 9 – 5pm on the traditional Persian and Indian music, what it does best—party. map references two days of the weekend. Like vultures from Lebanese pop to the Russion For enquiries contact ‘napster’ a program that lets users share mp3 files in a global grass roots roundtable. round a carcass it was up to those equivalent of Rene Geyer, from Malo (a Jade Harley www.napster.com stupid/brave enough to battle through band from the early 70s containing the first day through endless lines and on 02 92111 222 Carlos Santana’s brother and sounding “copyrant” more scribblings from the pirate’s pen at squabbles over the tastiest morsels. like Ozomatli) to obscure latin compila- or Monica Nakata www.cat.org.au/catalog/Copy1.htm Saturday belonged to the dealers and tions printed entirely in spanish... on 0411 1983 313 the diehards, with many counting their mp3 resources scars along with the many gems. A full report will follow in the next Cyclic. www.netby.net/Vest/Lykken/Fnast/Mp3players.htm www.jiveturkey.org www.mp3.dk www.juno.co.uk www.forcedexposure.com Probably the best UK store on the If you’re after music right on the edge, this is the site (not so) web. They stock all genres of for you! An amazing collection of electronic, experi- dance music, including more mental and re-issued music, both new and old. It downbeat leftfield music. They list doesn’t matter how weird it is, or how old, chances all tracks on the release, as well are Forced Exposure will stock it. They specialise in as MP3 sound clips for some re-issued music of the past that was ignored in its releases. Hundreds of new time, or did not receive the acclaim it deserved. I releases come in each week, yet thought I knew a lot about music until I visited this they stay competitively priced, site! This store is as reliable and as quick as Juno, SILENT deducting VAT (like our GST). I’ve also having very detailed reviews on each release, found Juno to be extremely which makes discovering new music easy. reliable (whatever is on their web site, they have in stock), and very ISOLATION quick, the parcel usually arriving in www.dustygroove.com An update to the hermit’s guide to music and the Internet just 7 days. The leaders in jazz, funk and soul re-issues. This site has an amazing catalogue including second hand vinyl. Some of the vinyl is very expensive, but if you’re article by neural: [email protected] www.roughtrade.com after that mint copy of an MPS George Duke record, Rough Trade is quite similar to then you probably won’t mind paying through the nose Juno in titles it stocks, but they for it. They get loads of new releases each week, and also cater for indie, punk and by the time they get the e-mail lists out, some of country. Their web site is not as their stock is sold out. If you’re a jazz funk nut, this well set up as Juno, sometimes web site should be visited regularly. you’ll order something from their site, and it may not be in stock. This can be annoying, but they do These web stores are great for new releases and re- seem to get some music titles issues, but what if you’re after that twelve inch single that slip through the cracks at that has a mix by your favourite band, and was Juno, so they are worth a regular released a few years back?? You need to look at the look. They deduct VAT too. web stores that have a huge back catalogue... Moving to The Bellingen Valley has been a dream for a long time. Now I’m finally there I figured my ability to buy new and interesting music would slow, if not stop all together. I’ve never [email protected] www.frontstage.com been a great advocate of the Internet — you can spend too much These guys don’t have a web site, Blaze put me onto this site. It has an incredible back time searching for information (unless you know a few tricks). but they send out weekly new catalogue of CDs, vinyl and videos, and a well Now that the closest record shop is 600km away, I’ve had to release lists, with great little designed site. Just type in the artist you’re after and embrace it if I want to continue immersing myself in the music I reviews of each title. They get be amazed at the list of releases you can get from love. some great stuff in, mainly from this store! the techno and electronic field. I’ve always believed in supporting your local music store if they look They reckon they’ll be deducting after you. Respect goes out to Tom and JD at Good Groove, and the VAT soon, and their postal www.insound.com folks at Waterfront for being the most helpful shops in Sydney. I still charges are very reasonable. try and order stuff from these guys, or visit them when I’m In Sydney. Like Front Stage this site is huge in the titles it Supporting good local music outlets is essential if they’re going to stocks. A really well designed web page makes survive the competition with Internet stores. browsing a breeze. They even have a copy of the only www.globalnet.co.uk/~chunky- movie Miles Davis ever acted in, Dingo‚!! Insound The mentality of some stores in Sydney made it difficult mo/ must have the best Zine stand (check out Sound to obtain those essential releases not of that musical genre, but with I’ve found Chunky Mail Order to be Collector) on the net, making this site a joy to the Internet it never has to be this way. great for quirky 7" releases (they browse. Insound also has a good selection of MP3s. have CDs and Albums too). Quite Most Internet music sites send out new release lists via e-mail, cutting a small site, but well set up. They down the need to surf considerably. If you subscribe to these lists, generally stock similar titles to If you still can’t find that elusive CD, try closer to the obtaining that quirky seven inch single limited to 200 copies becomes Pelicanneck, also exploring more source. Most record labels, even the smaller ones, a reality. Since using the Internet for buying music, I’ve never been dis- rock territory. Look out for their appointed - if one site does not have what I’m after, another usually fantastic sales, reducing just have a web page these days. You may be able to does. about everything to ridiculous order direct from them, or they’ll be able to put you prices! in contact with a store that stocks their titles. There are hundreds of Internet music stores, but what I’ve attempted to do is narrow the field to those stores that stock dance music, So there you have it. A rough guide to spending lots leftfield, electronic, re-issues and anything that’s hard to categorise. of money on the Internet, but at least you’re getting Obviously it helps if you have a credit card to purchase the music, and the music you want. So log on, and try out e- currency converters come in very handy, so you don’t spend next commerce magic week’s rent! summer line-ups series PILFERNATORS GRASS CLIPPINGS CD launch NEW VENUE HOPETOUN HOTEL Corner Fitzroy & Bourke St Surry Hills 4:30pm to 10pm $3 Three floors to explore, upstairs is non-smoking. Top class dinners & tapped beer (including Coopers Pale!!! for all you lovers of vegan beer/sowf oztraylyans/gourmet beer drinkers) & pokies to waste your money on.

(re)OPENING NIGHT ‘BEAT & SQUELCH’ SUNDAY CD launch FEBRUARY 27 SUNDAY SUNDAY MARCH 19 FEBRUARY 13 AMNESTY BENEFIT [Downstairs/Live] Mark N (HipHop set) Shark Island 11am-8pm [live] SUNDAY The Pilfernators Tooth Syndicate INVITATION ONLY / limited capacity Sandro FEBRUARY 20 Sulo [Live] Burnt Friedman & The Nu Dub Players () [DJs] [Downstairs/Live] [Upstairs/DJs] Ubin Sub Bass Snarl Funkenbubble Sub Bass Snarl [DJs] Kazumichi Grime Sir Robbo Sonik Professa Sir Robbo Sub Bass Snarl Purdy Alphatown Sir Robbo Tonight we kick off the new summer Frigid in a Just when Frigid was looking like a chilled H’biki plus more TBA rather low key vibe experimenting with the space a Sunday afternoon the nasty boys from Deep Child Epping and Newcastle roll up with their bit before the open slather of the next few weeks. The time has come once again. This Cryogenesis sees beat machines and create havoc. Yep, Although spread over the three floors of the [Upstairs/DJs] us waving farewell to summer with Burnt Friedman & Elefant Tracks has finally revealed The Hopetoun, the fishtank dungeon, the upstairs airy Sub Bass Snarl The Nu Dub Players dropping in to play a long live set. Pilfernators first ‘proper’ album to an terrace house and the sunny middle floor, the Sir Robbo Maybe better known to you as part of Flanger (Ninja unwary public. Titled Grass Clippings and action takes place all in the main area. We have a Tune), Drome (KiffSM, Incoming, Ash) or Nonplace With so many acts SBS and Robbo will be taking ranging from destructo- to live set from Tooth plus Melbourne post-rock outfit Urban Field, Bernd has a new album out on Pole’s over the upstairs space whilst the live action takes proto-gabber, The Pilfernators will be Sandro who may shock more than a few people label Scape which does for 70s dub what Flanger has place on the middle floor. It’s the launch of Tom laying down some nasty sounds to pogo with vocals and an indie feel. Nevertheless, the done for 70s jazz - reworking the sounds with all sorts ‘Funkenbubble’ Phillipson’s Amnesty benefit CD around to late in the afternoon preceded 13th is the day to scope out the venue and find all of subtle digital deconstruction. Ubin will showcase a Beat & Squelch, so a large swag of the acts who by Mark N’s hip hop tornado, fellow the cool places to sit and chill. Try the excellent range of new material as they prepare to write a new have contributed tracks to the excellent compilation Novocastrian Bloody Fisters Syndicate food—especially the Tandoori pizza or the fish & album, whilst Kazumichi Grime is preparing a special will be doing live sets. Ranging from Deep Child’s and westsaaaiide chap Sulo. Upstairs, chips—and the on tap bar goodness. For a lot of set to complement the exotic location. To ensure the dubby guitar-fused acid breaks to former Atomic we’ll be offering solace from the distortion you it will be easier to get to being situated just up day is not too overwhelmingly electronic, Purdy will HiFi collaborator Sonik Professa, the Detroit and relentless noise. (heh heh) Oh, and Foveaux St from Central Station and just down also be doing a rare live set hot on the heels of the influenced Alphatown and the crazed anime breaks this is your last chance to catch Ross from Taylor Square on Bourke St. fantastic album Kevolution. You know the drill. of H’biki who opens the most recent Freaky Loops ‘Monkeyboy’ Cavanagh before he leaves Invitations are on a first come first served basis so CD, the sounds should be pretty innovative and Sydney for possibly two years in the get emailing to [email protected] and/or come and otherwise unheard… half the door goes to Amnesty States breakdancing and acting like speak to us in person at Frigid and/or ring us. International too. someone from a Pepsi Max commercial. leap of faith given that Alice Coltrane never Blaxploitation territory (one of the tracks gets the props that John Coltrane does, not in the film is a version of Black Is and must have trusted that Forge knew Beautiful) full of car chase funk and a february’s that there were a whole legion of people stunning theme tune that is reprised with your host Yellow Peril keen to hear the source of the sounds that throughout. The remastering on all three underpin a lot of newer music, from people of these reissues is superb with the detail musical like Mixmaster Morris/Irrestistable Force, and richness of the originals being drawn mucus Jazzanova and Fridge. And, at $22 it is a out. The stereo separation is incredible great introduction for those more than a especially considering the highly oxidised little hesitant to step inside the polished state of the original tapes when they were floors of a ‘jazz’ shop. Astral Meditations found and these three soundtracks are has rippling harp tracks like Journey In some of the most intricate genre-crossing Kit Clayton changing shape creating simple Curd Duca, Dettinger from Kompakt, Satchidananda and Universal works of the period. The videos of The Nek Sanalet patterns creating a tranquil right thru to Pansonic. Deep dubby Consciousness alongside the sweeping Stone Killer and The Marseille Contract are (Scape) sparseness not unlike the more busy landscapes are interspersed with voice orchestral sounds of Galaxy In Turiya, and available for hire at Dr What in Bondi Do Make Say Think or Tortoise on reconstructions and ultra minimalist is an exceptionally lush and spacious Junction Source: Juno sounding record not to be missed. Temazapam. An excellent contempla- sound. With few maps to this territory Divine Styler The Scape label is run by Pole’s Stefan tive record and meditative fodder. Clicks & Cuts at least lays down a few Funkstorung Word Sound 2 Betke so it is little wonder to find signposts. Position Normal Post Art (MoWax) American Kit Clayton dropping an Stop Your Nonsense (Chocolate Industries) album of deep, fractured dub sounds Source:MoWax Promo (Mind Horizon) Source: Juno on his second album (first for Scape). REISSUES MoWax have a tendency for reissuing quite More rhythm oriented than Pole but Source: Juno Various Sensibly, Chocolate Industries has reissued interesting releases that have, perhaps, equally obsessed with hiss, static and Stop Your Nonsense is one of a series Electric Psychedelic Sitar this excellent first EP from duo not gotten the attention they deserved the bottom end, Kit Clayton tracks are full of comedy- records released Headswirlers Volume 2 Funkstorung. When it came out it was first time around. There’s been the of edgy clicks that teeter on that edge in the last nine months. Whilst (Purple Lantern) being heralded as a new Autechre, but on inimitable Dr Octagon album and more between twitching and tapping. Highly Spymania has monopolised this market re-listening it is clear that Funkstorung are recently the Major Force West compilation, listenable despite the nonsensical track Source: Sir Robbo via Time most recently releasing the Welcome working towards a different theory. As and now, Divine Styler’s Word Sound 2 titles. To Celebrity Fog Donkey compilation Shane picked this up at Time Warp in Autechre have progressed towards originally out in 1998. Given that MoWax DJ Cheb I Sabbah just before Christmas, others are what is apparently a very excellent minutely dissected beats and static have lost all their ‘big name’ signings to Shri Durga following suit. Serious label Skam has psychedelic section. Here are twenty textures, Funkstorung go for an angular, other labels, who can blame them for (Six Degrees) just done the Wevie Stonder EP, Fat tracks from various people you might sharp semi-electro sound still allowing scratching around with reissues? Divine Cat has the Ludlow & Smith 12”s know (Popul Vuh, Leary, Chocolate listeners the luxury of dancing. Styler is one of the weirder hip hop artists, Source: Fish Bondi Junction a bit like Rammellzee, who dropped an which are apparently Andy Wetherall Watch Band) and plenty you probably Roy Budd important album early on and then Cheb I Sabbah is a DJ from San under another name, Rephlex did the don’t - notable is the Turkish Diamonds OST Francisco who has done stuff with psychedelia of Erkin Koray direct from vanished for ten years or so only to singles chat line CD called 100% The Stone Killer OST people like Spooky and Timothy Leary the sixties. Despite what the heavy reappear. A devout Muslim who has made Genuine and now to add to this motley The Marseille Contract OST the pilgrimage to Mecca, and also former (on the sub rosa compilation Ancient bunch Position Normal’s Stop Your liner notes say, I think the sitar is (Castle Records) Lights and the Blackcore) this is his Nonsense. The nonsense lyrics perhaps most audibly similar in effect member of the 5 Percent Nation (but reworking of traditional Indian ragas. including the poignant “I miss her like I to our detuned Western ears to the Source: Red Eye Records more media-savvy than fellow 5%ers Brand Done with samples and loops, Shri miss rabies” are very reminiscent of acid sound of the 303. There is These three soundtracks all produced by Nubian), Divine Styler drops cryptic quasi- Durga is less electronic than one the fertile vein of early 1970s British something captivating about the sitar Roy Budd in the early 1970s are freshly religious rhymes over beats and sounds might imagine with a lot of emphasis comedy - Monty Python in particular - sound and it’s not just because it’s available in remastered form courtesy of straight from Blade Runner, which inciden- being placed on retaining the meaning whilst the music is a blend of weird from the ‘exotic East’. The twenty Castle Records. Budd, best known for the tally, is one of the sample sources. Thus and structure of the originals. Whilst guitar loops and sound cut ups, often tracks on Headswirlers range from the excellent Get Carter soundtrack, does much of Word Sound 2 is stuck in a Six Degrees sounds like it might be a incredibly catchy ones. almost folk-y to classic Sixties psych- some of his most eclectic production here. sound-world of 1980s futurism full of pretty New Age label, this release pop and a few weird tabla tracks that apocalyptic technology and electro- Various Artists Diamonds (aka Diamond Shaft), a dodgy treads a careful path keeping the wouldn’t be out of place at Kooky. influences to match. MoWax’s reissue will Clicks & Cuts film about a complex bank heist in Tel Aviv, structural integrity of the source Since Robbo lent me this it has been do much to elevate Divine Styler’s status (Mille Plateaux) has Budd blending MOR soul (the cheesy material. firmly in the Discman and we are all title tune) and funk with tablas, Middle but that says more about MoWax than Source: Synaesthesia Melbourne searching for the rest of the volumes anything else. Papa M Eastern percussion and some exceptionally in the series! Robbo accurately Live From A Shark Cage The world of reduced techno can be a menacing bass notes. The Marseille describes the listening experience as (Spunk/Drag City) daunting pool to dip your toes into. Contract, a film with Michael Caine playing “being stuck in a weird Sixties movie”. Every release from Pole to Basic a killer hired by an US Embassy official to Source: Fish Bondi Junction Channel, Thomas Brinkmann and the Alice Coltrane put away a big smack dealer in France, Papa M is ex-Tortoise collaborator rest of the Berlin and Cologne centred Astral Meditations continues with the subtle Eastern influence, David Pajo. A recent visitor to Sydney scene tends to speak directly to an (Impulse) sinister bass progressions and tablas (he played at the Hopetoun), Pajo has audience that understands the alternating at critical moments in the film Source: Birdland done several solo releases first as M, techniques and/or intention behind the with some fine breakbeats. In fact it is on then Aerial M and now Papa M. Live sounds. Luckily Mille Plateaux has Patrick Forge, one of London’s rare The Marseille Contract soundtrack that the From A Shark Cage is perhaps his brought together this rather nifty groove DJs and writer for Straight No source material for Rob D’s Clubbed To most minimal with wisps of guitar compilation that stretches across the Chaser convinced Impulse to let him Death is revealed, a track on the looping over subtle electronic beats field bringing together a broad raid their vaults and put together a soundtrack called Jazz It Up being almost a that remain low in the mix, almost as spectrum of artists from Pole and compilation of Alice Coltrane material, remix of it. Finally, The Stone Killer - a film a texture under the guitar. These Brinkmann to Noto, Vadislav Delay, a lot of which was previously vinyl only. with playing a renegade guitar loops build and expand, slowly For Impulse this must have been a cop full of crazy car chases - heads in to 2000 SPECIAL

De-millennium

Dear Degrassi,

I’m a lazy Arts student at university.

Even though I’m now 48, I’ve somehow

managed to study at the one institution

since the early 70s. I successfully

completed 3rd year last year and am

going to do honors this year. I’ve

decided to base my thesis on pop

culture in the late 20th century, but I

really can’t be bothered doing any work.

I figured that if I sent you carefully

crafted letters every month I could

vicariously do all the research I need

and make you think that you’re helping

out some chump in the process.

Um...so can you help me out? Lucky Phil

degrassi, dear readers with a pop culture wrap of late last century! provide you with information and Cyclic now attempt to kill 2 birds with the one column: student. I will in Philosophy when I too was an arts resembles the kind of essay questions I used to get terms of what you want me to say, in fact it almost Well, you really haven’t given me a lot to work with in stature! Well, I’d be only too happy to help a celebrity of your RBT commercials to air in NSW the early 80s? You’re not THE Lucky Phil, are you? Star of the first letter: Boy! That was a nice little lead into the next reader’s than television. of an effort made more the years, but at least it attempts to chronicle in its mediocre print media was also pretty derived by viewers. The to the entertainment shows like this is inversely proportional produce to required footage. The amount of effort over the top of stock have someone narrate and a leg to costs an arm It hardly culture? of all aspects pop all the retrospectives were and a millennium? Where decade, century get to celebrate the end of a day, month, year, with little gems like ‘Blossom’. How often do we us 5 nights a week summer so they bombard of all out enjoying the sunshine and warmth assume that we’re when television programmers I know it’s Century! that joyous time of year leading up to the end of 20th programming the distinct lack of quality television disappointed me was Another thing that really get any sense out of me! that he couldn’t I was medicated to such a degree Fortunately cop who crashed our private party.undercover of the millennium goes to loser award 3am! The second fist closed down at a mere bitch that successfully had our New Years party I would like to say king fist the psychotic woman of the world! me into a instantly transform deflowering didn’t live up to its hype, much the same way didn’t really the transition into 21st Century fantastic time on both occasions! It’s just that though, I had a get me wrong Don’t afterwards. feel any different really time and you don’t It’s wearing clean underwear! over in no you’re and you make sure make it ‘special’ or ‘perfect’ losing one’sYou virginity: hype it up, you want to 1999 to 2000 as being like change over from much sussed the I’d pretty to fuss really! - no need computer crashed, no riots occurred the sky; no financial from planes dropped Well, well, well! Here’s the new millennium - no James Stewart and timelessly James Stewart Starring the undeniably suave Hitchcock’s classic. city not to owe something impossible for any film shot in that surrounding areas, it is almost set in San Francisco and shamelessly copies it. As the film is De Palma’s film ‘Dressed to Kill’ mainly based on this film and Brian although a full Hitchcock spoof, is course). Mel Brooks‚ ‘High Anxiety’, high camp way of the film (in a very appropriates entire sequences from series of Maupin’s ‘Tales of the City’ the role of Madeleine. The mini using Jennifer Jason Leigh to play direct mini narrative of the film a video clip which was almost stolen from it! Faith No More made clips and television shows that have countless films, tele-movies, video chances are you have seen If you haven’t seen this film, Vertigo 1 Degrassi’s Top 6 Films Degrassi’s Top 6 Why 6? Top 10s are predictable and require nearly twice as much work a Top 6. true story too! true story not forget that this is based on a pre World War II . Let’s all mischievous children with music in retired naval captain and his of a patriotic, warms the hearts of the rebel nun who know the story isn’t exactly appealing. You should all prospect of looking after 7 children Fraulien Maria although the young thing I have wanted to be film when I was a sweet innocent No, I’m not joking! Since I saw this The Sound of Music 2 time I even think about it. film gives me goose bumps every cinema re-release! This all too short restored in 1997 and it enjoyed an recreation of it. The print was obsession with a myth and the and a man’s and mortality history of a woman’sstory obsession with sequences in film. Vertigo is the first colour psychedelic the very released in 1958. It includes one of of cinematography when it was film way ahead of its time in terms beautiful Kim Novak, Vertigo was a programmers to the public. and the responsibility of about violence and sex in the media the media. It also poses questions fine line between fantasy, reality and outfits), Videodrome explores the unflattering dishy despite very (who looks quite Deborah Harry starring James Woods and Made in 1983 by David Cronenberg Now this is one fucked up movie! Videodrome 3 The hills are alive! admit to even yourselves! words to more than you care song, and you probably know the least hum along to just about every admit it or not, I’m sure you can at vocals. Whether you will openly had to rely on dubbing for her and given to Audrey Hepburn who Lady’ which was then take from her the role of Eliza Doolittle in ‘My Fair Maria after having been promised of Andrews was given the part including best picture. Julie of 5 Academy Awards in 1965, The Sound of Music was the winner Cronenberg’s recent film, eXistenZ, violent films because of its brutal the FBDO series that featured Degrassi’s Top 6 Singles 3 a copy of this track I will be a is similar in many ways to realism. Charlie Slater as Ferris (yeah, right!) Please, Please, Please Let Me complete and whole person. Morris Videodrome and demonstrates his and Jennifer Aniston as Jeanie. This was always going to be a hard Get What I Want Minor and the Majors really were a ongoing concern with new technolo- Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, Rumour has it that a FBDO sequel one with only 6 slots to fill. I know The Smiths one hit wonder concept band, but gies and their integration into punk? is in the pipes, but old Matty is that I’m going to leave out a sizable gee that one track was funny. Their society. He exploits the new (well, it looking, um, old and if they think chunk of good music here and be Who would have thought that such follow up single, a piss take of 5 a light hearted and vivacious lass as was in 1983!) technology of video Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that they’re going to replace him as kicking myself in weeks to come for Stock, Aitken and Waterman further by releasing a subtly Ferris, well, I’m sure the box office forgetting something really special, myself would ever have listened to processed pop, called ‘This Is the different version of Videodrome on Can anyone out there quote this film will tell them that they made a big but we’ll all just have to live with The Smiths? Well, growing up is all Chorus’, although funny, just video from the film released at the more than I can? Anyone? Anyone? mistake! that. I really wanted to include about pain and angst and if you couldn’t reach the same watermark cinema. Although essentially the I quote a lot of films, but none so Angel Dust by New Order and grew up in the 80s, then The the boys had set with ‘Stutter Rap’. same, some almost identical scenes much as this one. I used to watch Namaste by the Beastie Boys but Smiths were the soundtrack to your I know I’ve never looked at the involve completely different this just about every single day I unfortunately they were never miserable, pimple-ridden, poetry Beasties or Chaka Khan in the 6 writing existence. Unlike most characters and dialogues! stayed home from school. If you St Elmo’s Fire released as singles, so cannot be same way since hearing this track! haven’t seen Ferris Bueller, you included. Smiths tracks, the title of the song Long live the new flesh! (I forgot to don’t deserve to live. It’s as simple I had you worried there for a not only relates to the song, but it 6 (it’s a tie) mention this film is up there with as that. It will forever be imprinted minute, didn’t I? You thought I is also a line in it. All you anti- Bela Lugosi’s Dead The Warriors in terms of being one Smiths punters out there probably Bauhaus in the minds of just about everyone wasn’t going to get around to 1 of the most sampled films of all don’t realise that the song playing currently aged between about 22 mentioning a Brat Pack movie! This Q time!) while Ferris, Sloan and Cameron Impact and 35. If you’re a guy, you wanted is the ultimate Brat Pack film as far Mental Cube walk around the Chicago art gallery Itch-ee and Scratch-ee 4 to be Ferris and if you’re a girl you as I’m concerned, with the obvious You might not have heard of Mental is actually an instrumental version of wanted to date him. exclusion of Anthony Michael Hall At first glance one wouldn’t actually and Molly Ringwald, of course. But Cube, but I’m sure you’ve all heard this track performed by The Dream be able to tell what these two Another classic film shot with San This isn’t just a funny movie though, let’s face it: Who really liked Molly of Future Sound of London who was Academy. tracks have in common. That’s it really does express sentiments I once Mental Cube as well as Francisco as its backdrop. Harry anyway? The whiney, huffy, gorgeous 4 because about the only thing they agree with wholeheartedly: Live for Humanoid. I’m also pretty sure that Callaghan played by Clint Eastwood red head! You either loved her or Infinity do have in common is that I made a the moment, don’t worry about if you’ve gone to a club or dance at his spunkiest, is the ultimate in hated her and I HATED her! Guru Josh loop tape of each of these songs cool! These days, filmmakers have what other people think of you and party in the past 10 years, you will when I was a youth I liked them us go for the bad guys, but he do what YOU want to do! Of course In a lot of ways St Elmo’s Fire is just have heard it at least once, even if 1990s Time for Guru THAT much! But please allow me to epitomised the cop that was just so that’s all very easy for Ferris like a Reality Bites of the Eighties you haven’t known its name. I love 1990s Time for Guru (Ah Ah Ooh elaborate... groovy, so funky that you had no because he’s, well, Ferris! This is a but therein lies its strength over this song so much that after Ah) choice but to hope he’d get the bad film about self-esteem, an issue Winona and Ethan! It follows the reaching the head of a 15 minute First a Smiths track and now guy! Dirty Harry spawned a further pertinent to impressionable lives of a group of college friends: queue for a toilet at the Bondi I don’t know about you, but that Bauhaus I might as well let you all 4 sequels, the last of which, Dead teenagers. For once it is presented Kirby (Emilio Estevez), Kevin (Andrew Diggers about 7 years ago, I heard pretty much sums it up for me! rummage through my underwear Pool, was made in 1988 and in a format other than a woefully McCarthy), Billy (Rob Lowe), Jules this track and had to run back to Now I hate the saxophone because draw, I’m baring that much of featured the acting debut (and swan scripted after school special, so (Demi Moore), Alex (Judd Nelson), the dance floor with a near bursting people like Kenny G have tainted as myself here! I’ve pretty much tried song come to think of it) for the people other than teachers and well Leslie (Ally Sheedy) and Wendy bladder for a boogie! It’s THAT good! far as I’m concerned, but I’m more every youth sub-culture with varying band Guns ‘n’ Roses! meaning, yet misguided parents (Mare-what-a-cruel-name for-a-plain- than willing to make an exception degrees of integrity. I’ll admit that actually saw it. Let‚s face it though, looking-girl-Winningham). Unlike the 2 for the guru’s saxophone playing when I went through my Goth After his wife is killed by a drunk Ferris is out there trying to give his Gen X-ers of the nineties though, Like A Virgin side kick, Mad Mick, on this all phase, I was more of a teeny- driver, Harry has little else in his life best friend Cameron just the tiniest these friends are going through the Madonna time, killer ANTHEM! I’m not so gother! Featured in the David Bowie but his work. Harry is assigned to shred of self esteem through decade best known for its sure about my sources on this little vampire film ‘The Hunger’, this little When I first saw a girl with permed investigate a serial killer and showing him the joys of spontaneity flamboyance, greed and ruthless gem of trivia, but I heard Josh was early 80s goth punk ditty impressed hair, crucifix earrings and necklaces, kidnapper called Scorpio. He takes a and just a little bit of rebelliousness. ambition which is so much more actually a dentist who started itself indelibly on my mind (or maybe fluoro socks with equally fluoro pretty similar approach to law (Having said that, I do think the film entertaining than the laments of writing music to make his patients that was because of the loop tape I stilettos and that beauty mark, I enforcement as Charles Bronson hits a low point when the Ferrari snivelling (albeit good looking) no- feel more at ease. Personally I played in my sleep..) knew what I wanted to be when I does as a vigilante in Death Wish. reverses out the window and hopers. All 7 of these kids would have just given them more grew up: Madonna! Even though Although not as gory as many more Cameron gives that weird and personified the quintessential 80s happy gas! Still, then the world I first heard Impact when I used to she first broke through with Burning recent films, back in 1971 this was almost totally indigestible soliloquy!) stereotypes! would never have seen one of the tape dance music off the radio back Up, Like A Virgin is the ultimate a pretty full on film and still holds up first video clips featuring bad, in my raver days. I remember Maddy track! I didn’t really realise as one of the most psychologically We in Australia were never blessed, baaaaad Acid Teds! thinking ‘How can something or perhaps I should say cursed, with the juxtaposition of her singing the produced in Australia sound THIS song at the time. In fact, back then 5 good?’ I eat those words now, but I don’t think I knew what a virgin Stutter Rap back then about the most polished was, let alone juxtaposition! ‘I’d been Morris Minor and the Majors Australian electronic music I heard had/I was sad and blue’? I just Readers, please!! If ANYONE out other than Itch-ee and Scratch-ee cd clearance thought she meant a gangster had there has a copy of this, I will be came out on Vicious Vinyl and doublecrossed her and she was a your personal slave for as long as everything else sounded like it had snarl heavy industries are slowly being overcome by an encroaching wall of cds so huge that they threaten to little upset about it. you want just to tape it from you! been produced on a Commodore block out the sun. To help in this emergency you can choose to adopt a cd for as little as $5, with proceeds Email me: [email protected] and I 64 and recorded in a toilet. going to the snarl vacation fund. Many titles to choose from, too numerous to list (Ambient, TripHop, Oddities, promise I’ll do anything so long as it Jungle etc) and also a smattering of band t-shirts... doesn’t involve animals, children or Stay tuned for next month’s installment: Top 6 Fashion Items email [email protected] for details and to arrange a viewing. heavy farm machinery! Once I have and Top 6 Spunks of the Millennium!

summer series sunday evenings 4 till 10 pm from february 13 at the hopetoun hotel corner fitzroy street and bourke street surry hills

13 feb: sandro & tooth 20 feb: funkenbubble, h’biki alphatown, sonic professa, deep child 27 feb: mark n, pilfernators, sulo syndicate