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productmusic
BRIGHT LIGHT
Twelve years into their career, Andy Cato and Tom Findlay show no signs of sitting pretty on their already huge successes. With three million records sold worldwide, a Grammy nomination for their seminal track Superstylin’ and now on their sixth studio album (Black Light, due for release late February), the British powerhouse that is Groove Armada storms on. GA have completely reinvented their sound for Black Light in a way that can’t help but win over a new audience and gain respect from new ears. They’ve stepped away from the funk-driven beats of Superstylin’ and laid-back grooves of At the River and moved over to a darker side.
Working on the album for the past 14 months, Andy and Tom’s strong
—Tom Bunning, 18 January 2010
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Hubert Selby Jr’s critically acclaimed novel Last Exit to Brooklyn remains a classic among modern-day American writing. Still frighteningly relevant nearly fifty years after it was first published, Selby’s narrative looks deep inside the most primitive human emotions. Ruthless stories of violence, corruption, alcoholism and drug use in blue-collar Brooklyn set an unrelenting pace. Each account is an unrefined stream of consciousness that is unapologetic and in your face. If you were a fan of Selby’s Requiem for a Dream then put Last Exit to Brooklyn at the top of your ‘must read’ list for 2010.
—Anthony Smith, 15 January 2010
Pick up a thriller novel and chances are it’ll have a review quoted within that’ll assure you that you’ll not be able to put it down. “A page-turner.” I use these charity-shop-bought bestsellers at night to induce sleep: it requires turning only a page or two before my lights are out. (Bloke from Chicago Tribune, you’re an idiot.)
Stewart’s book, however, is, in fact—no, really—truly compelling. That it’s sort-of based on a period of the author’s own life makes it all the more so. It’ll have you wondering: Did he really work a crazy job on a fishing boat? Did he
—Chris Noble, 15 January 2010
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peoplemusic
SOUND INVESTMENTS
Ken Shipley, Tom Lunt and Rob Sevier, working collectively as Numero Group, have set out to close the gap between songs seemingly gone forever and the people who have been waiting years to hear them again. Numero Group serves as an archival record label focusing on reissuing obscure soul, blues and funk recordings that hold a distinct place in the history of recorded music—or at least that’s how it started. From its inception in 2003, Numero Group has grown to include hundreds of titles touching several genres and has released these gems in a variety of mediums, both audio and visual. Their most recognized collection of releases, the Eccentric Soul series, features soul tracks on the verge of extinction from
—Omar Almufti, 24 December 2009
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artpeople
TOTALLY IN TOONS
Canadian illustrator Josh J. Holinaty has carved out a niche for himself with a uniquely bizarre style of cartooning. Holinaty’s illustrative talents have landed his work in the pages of Transworld Skateboarding and Snowboarding, Color Magazine and The Globe and Mail, just to name a few. Recently a new collaborative project and some exciting personal work have been keeping things fresh in the midst of an ever-expanding client list.
You just released a graphic novel, We Hate This Place Here; It’s Our Home: Chapter One. Tell me a little bit about that project. How did it come about?
I’ve worked with writer David Berry quite a few times before we started up on the graphic novel. As the arts editor at
—Anthony Smith, 15 December 2009
Holinaty’s website hosts his works past and present
We Hate This Place Here; It’s Our Home: Chapter One will set you back $15 Canadian
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Lucero’s latest release has the same good ol’ boy lyrics of lead singer Ben Nichols, but his distinctively raspy voice is accompanied by a healthy dose of southern soul in the shape of gospel-like backing vocals and robust horn sections. The result is a melodic collection of, to quote Nichols, “sad old bastard songs” for the soul. By the final track Mom, it’s clear that this is their most determined effort to date.
—Anthony Smith, 10 December 2009
Pro whizplanker Patrick Melcher has teamed up with BMX shred-vet Jon Peacy to make a new TV series—or at least the firing-off point of one. If it comes to fruition, Good Times Roll will feature the two shredders’ travels around the country from spot to spot. Along the way they’ll enlist locals as guides and live that life on the road, all in front of the cameras.
“This is gonna get sooo loose!” says Peacy. “Straight killing spots and pumping the revolution is what’s goin’ down!”
All they need now is a TV network with the vision to kick it into gear.
—Chris Noble, 08 December 2009
Jazz, skateboards, art: if any of these things interest you then you’ll want to get familiar with Ian Johnson’s work. I always thought it would be dope to have an opportunity to ask Ian a few questions about the work he does, I hit him up and he was really cool about it. So put some Charlie Parker on the stereo, check out the interview, look through the gallery, and chill out for a bit.
—Omar Almufti, 08 December 2009
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peoplephoto
THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER
When photographer Scott Toepfer took a call from Chuck Ragan, formerly of Hot Water Music, inviting him aboard the bus for the California leg of this year’s Revival Tour, an alternative to accepting didn’t cross Scott’s mind. He was already on the plane. Literally. Nor did he think that one of the bands on tour, The Anderson Family, would make such an impression on him. Scott latched on to the family of musicians and returned with rolls of photographic gold and a new-found respect for the mandolin.
Who are The Anderson Family, to you and to the world?
The Anderson Family is a family bluegrass band from Northern California, Grass Valley I believe. They are exceptional people, and damn fine musicians.
—Chris Noble, 07 December 2009
SCOTT HAS A PORTION OF HIS WEBSITE DEDICATED TO HIS TAKE FROM THE REVIVAL TOUR
HIS NEXT PROJECT IS A PHOTO DOCUMENTARY TO START MAY/JUNE 2010; SPONSORS INVITED. PREVIOUS DOCUMENTARIES ARE ONLINE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
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VBS TV continues its output of quality programming with a look at the dark realities of Blackpool. The partially-subtitled 30 minute documentary on England’s “Las Vegas of the North” focusses on how the city is faring in the modern world. Sad and funny in equal measures.
—Lee Basford, 02 December 2009
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