December 8, 2011 | New Music | 
by Jonathan Burton |
BBC Radio 4′s Jon Ronson On is compulsive listening and here he sheds light on the bizarre back story of The Shaggs. It’s a bizarre tale of a 1960s girl group who were forced to rehearse by their overbearing father. They were secluded from society, home schooled, and music was banned in the home. The result is what music sounds like when made by those who have heard practically no music in their entire lives. It’s a weird and fascinating cacophony, ironically now considered by some to be music at it’s purest form. Kurt Cobain listed their album Philosophy of the World as his number 5 favourite album of all time and Frank Zappa described them as being better than The Beatles. [Listen to the Shaggs story here]
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
December 8, 2011 | New Film | 
by Jonathan Burton |
Insanely talented director and animator Terry Gilliam has a good point here. The best stories are those that leave you asking questions.
December 8, 2011 | New Art | by Jonathan Burton |
I have huge respect for Grayson Perry and his dedication to traditional craft and ‘beauty’ that sometimes contrasts with the trends within the contemporary art world. This studio visit is a small insight into his process. His aptly titled curated show, The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman, is at the British Museum until February 19.
December 7, 2011 | New Events | by Jonathan Burton |
This is an Audience Participation project I am working on as an experiment in improvisation and new ways of thinking. I am asking people to suggest what happens next and each chosen participant will receive all the illustrations in a handmade book. Read more
December 7, 2011 | New Music | by Jonathan Burton |
This was my song of the summer. It will always bring back memories of long drives to the beach with my small kids singing along and asking for it to be played again. This live version shows just how good they look and sound. If you don’t know it, their album Smoking in Heaven has influences of Ska and early Rock and Roll and will charm your pants off.
December 7, 2011 | New Trends | by Jonathan Burton |
Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz have created a radio program broadcast from the afterlife to the living world. It’s spot on, I imagine. Creepy, strange and very, very funny. [Listen to an excerpt here] Read more
Exploring the versatility of beeswax as a material, artist Markus Fiedler creates intricate sculptures, woven ‘textiles,’ and ‘paintings’ from the substance, pushing the boundaries of what one can do with just one main medium. Read more
Sometimes the Deviant Art community throws up a gem of a piece. And this one by Papa Ninja is a star. Somehow it’s funny, sexy, and artistically compelling at the same time. Or perhaps that’s just because I’m two hours into the day and haven’t had a coffee yet.
I ran a series of 80s nights in New York last year — showing cult 80s movies and playing classic cuts from that era of kitsch and spice — purely so I could spin After The Fire’s Der Kommissar over and over. Yessir, this was the future of music in 1983. Pity no one was listening.
Melbournes laneways are cluttered with themed, designer bars. The challenge seems to be which is the most hip, funky and individual bar. Step in Section 8, an old inner city carpark furbished with warehouse pallets, patio heaters and a couple of freight containers, converted to serve you drinks. The vibe is fittingly low-key, with background music played at a reasonable level, frequently changing decor, and a variety of options to quench your thirst. It’s casual, fun and simple. Oh, and to keep it that way, there’s even a no suit policy! [photo via TravelMuse]
Now, c’mon, if you had the chance to lay a clever one liner on William Shatner, you would, right? Yeah. If you could look him in the eyes, gently brush his laser gun out of your face, and unleash that killer put down that you’ve had swirling around the deepest cavaties of your subconcious ever since episode six of the fourth series, you’d grab it with both hands and offer up a thanks to those strange looking alien creatures who rule our universe. Well, guess what? You can. And while you’re at it, why don’t you give Dustin Diamond an ear full, too. Ah, the joys of unrequited paybacks.
What do you get when you combine the most sophisticated rock band of the past thirty years with a smooth jiving, foul mouthed rapper with enough testosterone to make up for the rock band’s distinct lack of it? Hmmm? I present Jaydiohead. The greatest mash-up since the great potato wars of 2008.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Too sweet for words, these beautiful hoop earrings by Sydney-based designer Carmel Taylor are a real touch of origami for your ears.
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
A little infectious lollipop rock anyone? Feel free to embarrass yourself singing along at the stoplight. If the other drivers give you that look, roll down the windows and spread the love.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Nerd-attack! Man, this TARDIS zipper robe is so much cooler than any Star Wars crap people are hawking this days. This is for the true gangsta nerd.
Pencils made from recycled newspaper
The problem with awesome things like these pencils made out of recycled newspaper is that you almost don’t want to use them.
Communication prosthesis by Sascha Nordmeyer
This ‘communication prosthesis’ by designer Sascha Nordmeyer is hilarious and awesome. I want to wear one to a job interview.
Our friends at Aussie stationary shop Notemaker have given us 10 Moleskine Lego Notebooks to give away: an assorted mix of 5 large and 5 pocket ones with mixed covers. To enter, tell us the first thing you’d write in your new notebook, along with the city you live in. Read more
Set up in 2011, Rebel Unlit is a printing collaboration between London based Artists Neil Butler and Shanney Mulcahy. They make short run screen-printed t-shirts and limited edition prints from their studio in East London. All the t shirts are fair traded and printed by hand and, as a result, each one is unique. Read more
FOLLOW US
DISCOVER MORE
SO...
SEARCH: Can't find what you're looking for? Do a search..
IS IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO?
We hope you're enjoying your time on Lost At E Minor, but it's not over yet. Got something to share? Tell us about it and we'll look to publish it. If you want to have your work featured on the site, we'd love to hear from you. Pssst, we also have an online store stocking some of the goodies we feature on the site.
If you're a media agency and want to use this platform to connect with our readership, then drop us a line and tell us about it. Oh yeah, and we do digital consulting for cool brands that want to reach the sort of demographic that visits this site.
