Just to clarify

This is generally what happens:


live set: a lively journey composed of quieter electronica and indiepop happiness.


radio show: An investigation into the anxiety created by the pressures and loneliness of modern life.


recommended reading: Norman Potter "What is a Designer : things.places.messages"

Tonight - WZBC - Chris is on the air

My friend Chris is doing my show from 1900 to 2200 tonight.
I'll be back next Friday.

Listen in.

George

recent articles of note - large update

The storks have come back to Germany. The creator of ramen pot noodles passed away. IHT on designer Konstantin Grcic and the work of Studio Job, as well as a guide to browsing the web for designer gifts. An article about Sweden's minister for integration and gender equality. Frank J. Oteri writes on music's relationship to time. The Observer interview with David Attenborough. James Kanter reports in IHT on Europe's clean energy scene. The CBC reports on memory and prussian blue. A few good recent editorials on the American administration, capitalism, retail insecurity, and apologies unaccepted.

On the air tonight. + weekenders

Nevermind the weather, good news is on its way. Tonight I am on the air once again from 1900-2200 on WZBC. Please listen.

Until then, here are a few items to keep your mind functioning.
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni reports on Men's Street Fashion in Paris, Chris Marker's latest work (Chats perchés a/k/a "The Case of the Grinning Cat") opens for a week at the Brattle in Cambridge.

The Seventh Annual New Films From Europe series commences tomorrow at the Harvard Film Archive.

Also: Now one can check out the Chicago Reader film blog with contributions from Jonathan Rosenbaum, J.R. Jones, and Pat Graham. Rosenbaum speaks of online film magazine Rouge with interest.

Also, I cannot recommend enough Planet Earth. It just finished in the UK and is currently on Canadian Television. I don't know when it will play in the United States. The cinematography is breathtaking.

Jay-Jay Johanson - release information

further details here.

Thanks.

A big thank you to everyone who came to River Gods on Thursday night. It was a lot of fun. I should do it more often.

Full Live DJ Set - Tomorrow Night at River Gods (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)

The live version is always different than the radio transmissions -- expect a lot of new and rare material.

Subject: River Gods this Thursday

Thursday January 11th at River Gods:
WZBC Presents Monthly Countdown plus 2 featured DJs.

Countdown is from 10-11:
Our favorite tracks from our favorite discs of November and December

The 2 Featured DJs:
8:30 - 10: George (host of Off the Cuff, Fridays from 7-10 p.m.)
spinning quieter electronica and indie-pop stuff.

11-1: Steve Ravioli (co-host of Flyhweight, Thursdays from 5-7 p.m.)
spinning 50's outlaw, 60's garage, 70's dub, 80's postpunk,
90's beats, 00's ... and back again.

21+, no cover
River Gods is located at 125 River Street in Cambridge, near Central Square
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1

On the air tonight - WZBC 1900-2200 EST

Please listen while it rains outside.

Tezcatlipoca

From Oaxaca a video for the new Nine Rain cd by Bruno Varela.

Pan's Labyrinth - due in the Boston area soon

Check the ICA Boston's website for notice of an upcoming preview.

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno)
Details: 2006, Latin America/Rest of the world/Spain, Drama/Sci-fi/Horror, 112 mins, Dir: Guillermo del Toro, Guillermo del Toro
With: Ariadna Gil, Doug Jones, Ivana Baquero, Maribel Verdu, Sergi Lopez
Summary: At the end of the Spanish civil war, a young girl meets the god Pan, who gives her three challenges.

In the meantime, I refer you to the following reviews. Also of notice is Peter Bradshaw's review along with Mark Kermode's comment in the Guardian UK, where you can also see director Guillermo del Toro's sketches -- full details along with an interview are here.
The official website for the film is here.

Needless to say, I am excited.

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Also of interest is Anthony Lane's latest piece in the New Yorker, reviewing Pan's Labyrinth and Children of Men.

UPDATE:::

Finally, a full review by Jonathan Rosenbaum of these two exceptional films.

Hello again.

Its me, ready for another year, ready for work, for play, for future events. Today I watched a mystical story of jealousy and madness, namely Ingmar Bergman's film "Hour of the Wolf". There's nothing like a good fright to wake one up to the pressures of reality, to reacquaint oneself with future prospects. Now I'm dreaming of careful walks by the seashore, of the point where the sea meets the sky. I go there now in my mind for a few moments, then I breathe out again. inhale. exhale. For some reason I smile suddenly, although i have nothing in particular to smile about. I've been listening to the recent track by the Orchids "Saturday Night" (who are due to tour starting in March). I remember thinking the first time I heard this track: its like they picked up right where they left off without missing a beat. They continue to make priceless, brilliant pop music. It is so good to have many new concerts and albums to listen to-- I've said it before: the value of culture cannot be underestimated, it is what gives life meaning. This will always be remembered. On the last day of the year, as I walked across town to get coffee, I listened to "This is Just a Modern Rock Song" by Belle and Sebastian, somehow it just seems fitting.

I'll try not to be so prickly in the future, how about that?

In the meantime, the theme to ring in the New Year turned out to be ...
"Final Day" by the Young Marble Giants, what else?