Lost AT E Minor

Art / Somehow now

March 30, 2006 | Art | by Zolton |

If only life was like a movie. An expensive, surreal epic in which the outcome is as predetermined and saccharine sweet as a Hollywood blockbuster and all the supporting roles are played with the grace and integrity befitting of those desperately wanting to climb the steep celluloid pecking order. Roll up, roll up for the casting couch of fate. Read more

Illustration / Take the sun

March 30, 2006 | Illustration | by Zolton |

Izzie Klingels

Thanks to all those who’ve referred Lost At E Minor onto their friends over the past couple of weeks. We’ve been able to track who’s referred who onto the newsletter and we’ll contact the two winners of the subscription drive over the next few days and send them out a pair each of brand spankin’ new AM sunglasses. Ah, technology. It’s a wonderful thing. Unless, of course, you’re Amish or a member of some strange yet oddly compelling club that ridicules advances and remains wedded to the year 1212. But enough about me. And, yes, membership enquiries are welcome. Though be warned: the joining fee is pricey. Well, we do gotta eat!

Ok, there’s some very nice illustrative work up on the Residue website and some beautiful photography, amongst other creative exploits, on the Endless Love Crew site. They are a group of artists who met through New York City’s thriving street art scene. It’s all very cool. As, I’m sure, this party will be. It’s happening on April 8th in Melbourne and it’s being put on by the talented folk behind the creative poster phenomenon, Is Not Magazine. It’s a Beatles versus Stones night with live bands, killer snacks and plenty of miscellaneous mayhem. Is Not to be missed (ha! ok, ok, apologies for the obvious tag).

I’ve also been getting into Maile Lani’s blog this week. She dabbles in a bit of everything - from photography to songwriting and illustration. And she presents her innermost thoughts in a very engaging and entertaining way. Speaking of which, be sure to check out this screen saver. Surely the best one ever! Just fire it up and watch the bugger fall, fall, fall. Hmmm. You can almost see the lies seeping out with every uncontrolled collision. Ouch!

Music / Feel free

March 30, 2006 | Music | by Zolton |

Kanye West is equal parts inventive, progressive, soulful and manic, his hyperactive production skills never settling too long in either the one melodic or instrumental space. Wikipedia says this about him: ‘After losing the Best New Artist award to Gretchen Wilson at the 2004 American Music Awards, West went on a rant against the music industry claiming “I was the best new artist this year” and “I got ten Grammy nominations and won three — even if I should have won all ten”. During his performance at the 2006 Brit Awards, he sung ‘a medley of Diamonds from Sierra Leone, Gold Digger, and Touch The Sky … and danced with over seventy female dancers, who were painted gold and dressed in gold bikinis’. Well, he’s nothing if not an opportunist. Thanks to Universal Records we have five copies of the special Australian tour edition of his seminal album, Late Registration, to give away to random emailers. And yes, we welcome, no, encourage bribery (we like things that beep and whistle).

Music / Angels or demons

March 30, 2006 | Music | by Zolton |

The Black Angels hail from Austin, Texas and are quite simply one of the hottest new rawk and roll groups on the planet at the moment. They blend psychedelic jams with punchy bass-heavy grooves to create a sound which drips with passion and sonic intent. It’s all warm and friendly - like treacle on a well-cooked pancake - but with enough balls to kickstart your heart and send it racing into the stratosphere. Spin Magazine said this about them: ‘Turn On, Tune In, Drone Out is a mantra this band takes seriously enough to call the organist a “drone machine.” These alleged offspring of a minister, a mortician, and a Texan baptize their deviant impulses in bluesy pools of garage-scum shame mongering. No light shines at the end of their torture tunnel, no morning will redeem their deep midnight of the soul’. And who am I to disagree. Their new album - Passover - is sublime, and we have five copies to give away to a handful of lucky random emailers.

Illustration / Joshua Gurrie

March 30, 2006 | Illustration | by Zolton |

While Australian illustrator and painter Joshua Gurrie takes inspiration from the racier elements of contemporary popular culture, his work also seeks to counter the over-saturation of ‘pop media, web junk and glossy sneakers’. He achieves this with clean black lines that pierce the page with their directness and his work is notable for its lack of excessive ornamentation. Gurrie’s background in design contributes to this minimalist approach but it’s his surrealist take on the human form that most captivates

Illustration / Last living souls

March 22, 2006 | Illustration | by Zolton |

This is the second week of our subscription drive via our new Refer A Friend tool. It’s a simple way for you to let your buddies know about this newsletter and we have a pair of girls and guys AM Eyewear sunglasses to give away to the two people who refer the most number of new subscribers to Lost At E Minor. It won’t take too many referrals to win, so please help spread the good word. Onto other things and I’ve been really enjoying the work of Junko Shimizu who was part of an interesting book project called AB OVO which was coordinated by Steven Hull. Meanwhile there’s some really strong photographic work on Paul Paper’s website. He tends to work in that unprocessed realm, much like the photography featured in UK mag Dazed & Confused. It’s all very moody - full of dark shadows and lines between lines. Speaking of which, check out this band. The Howling Bells are the hottest Australian act I’ve heard in a long time and their soon to be released debut album (which I’m fortunate enough to have had a sneak preview of) is amazing. Keep an ear out for them. By the way, it’s great to see another crew supporting the local arts and illustration scene in this part of the world. We Are Image Makers are doing a fine job of giving props to those talented folk whose work speaks louder than their mouths.

Music / Rock me gently

March 22, 2006 | Music | by Zolton |

Off the always adventurous Playhouse label and bristling with a glitchy, staticy - and decidedly unconformist - spirit, Isolee (aka Rajko Müller) is one of the more creative producers to emerge out of the rather cloistered European electronica scene. His album, Western Store, is actually a collection of twelve of Isolée’s best vinyl works from the period between 1997 and 2003 (culled from five EPs) and has been compiled by one half of Alter Ego, Jörn Elling Wuttke. It’s a typically scattered range of material, taking in everything from retro-flavoured disco beats to futuristic synth based tracks which arc and weave through several tempo and melodic changes. Highlight is the brilliant Beau Mot Plage, which I first discovered on a Playhouse compilation a few years back. Killer riff. Killer album. Thanks to Stomp we have five copies of Western Store to give away to random emailers. And yes, bribery is always welcomed (we like shiny things).

Photography / Nicholas Hegel McClelland

March 22, 2006 | Photography | by Zolton |

Some nice black and white work by New York-based photographer, Nicholas Hegel McClelland. He is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and has served on the editorial board of Blue Eyes Magazine since its creation in 2003. He has covered ‘both the 2000 and 2004 general and presidential elections, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the Al Aksa Intifada, and a general labor strike in Venezuela’ and plans to ’spend the next three years completing more essays on the current state of American politics’.

Illustration / War on want

March 15, 2006 | Illustration | by Zolton |

Ah, the weekend. A murky, troubled montage of loud music, boisterous conversation, the occasional argument, a series of overzealous yet well-meaning attempts at rearranging the furniture, the pungent aromas of spicy Indian food, and the 2am rattle and hum of a bed being worked overtime. But enough about my neighbours. Read more

Illustration / All exits final

March 15, 2006 | Illustration | by Zolton |

A big up to local designer Andrew Boddy who is doing some very clever and creative web work. He reallly is one of the best web designers out there. Also doing some interesting things is the artist Reka who is exhibiting locally this month at the China Heights gallery. Elsewhere, TPD Design have created a fun online character generator called Lametoy which features the work of international artists such as 123Klan (Fra) and Jon Burgerman (UK). All proceeds from the online sale of exclusive Lametoy sticker collections go to GiveIndia, a charity dedicated to helping poor Indian communities. Oh, and if you have a few hours to kill, check out this game. Not for animal lovers of any kind, though I have been assured that no kittens were harmed in the making of it. Really!

Music / It’s a gas

March 15, 2006 | Music | by Zolton |

Richard Ashcroft’s third solo album – Keys To the World – is a subtle collection of music, full of all the earthy realism that the former Verve frontman has become synonymous with. Ashcroft weaves rich lyrical narratives around winding arrangements which never quite settle. Says Ashcroft: ‘I think I was born to be a songwriter. I’m not driven by fame or success. I’m quite a shy, introverted person and I could easily melt away into the background. But I am driven to write tunes. Creativity for me is almost like therapy, my songs take you into the underbelly of my mind and there’s some dark stuff in there. If I lived in LA, I’d be seeing someone three times a day, every day. But I’m a northern Englishman dealing with his shit in his own way’. Many of these songs soar in parts, streaking away from their maudlin intros to their wonderfully dramatic conclusions. Thanks to EMI we have five limited edition CD/DVD packs to give away to random emailers

Photography / I remember days

March 15, 2006 | Photography | by Zolton |

For As Long As I Can’t Remember is a limited edition (1000 copies), perfect bound, full colour book featuring the photographic work of Joachim Baan. Says Baan of his work: ‘I remember days, I remember nights, I remember hours, minutes, seconds, moments. I remember what I thought when I walked through a city that was new to me. The moment I laughed, the moment I cried, the moment I felt so alive. I remember it by the pictures I’ve made, capturing the composition of light, the intensity of colours, and the trueness of the moment. Moments that resemble how I perceive the world. Moments that are bundled in this book’. The book is a beautiful collection of work from one of the Netherland’s leading young photographers. It can be ordered online, but we also have two signed copies to give away to random emailers.

Photography / Anastasia La Fey

March 15, 2006 | Photography | by Zolton |

Some stunning creations from Australian artisan designer, Anastasia La Fey. Her clothes are moody and sensual, allowing the character of the models to shine through the light and dark dynamics of their surrounds.

Art / Sarajo Frieden

March 8, 2006 | Art | by Zolton |

A couple of evocative works from Sarajo Frieden. The Los Angeles-based artist takes storybook narratives and works them into colourful pieces that, with their highly structured aesthetic, take on an almost montage perspective. It’s all very beautiful and uplifting.

Illustration / Talk to strangers

March 8, 2006 | Illustration | by Zolton |

So I’m reading the Google story at the moment and what’s been most impressive about the company’s staggering rise from its rather inauspicious beginnings is the resilient single-mindedness of the founders. Read more