Hello

The World...And Me

2008-08-10T17:13:05Z

Series 2 of 'The World's..And Me' which sees comic Mark Dolan straddling the globe in search of particularly tart examples of human diversity, has been commissioned. This time the music will be fully embracing the alt. folk and underground rock of the Portland music scene. With thanks to Mr. Jim O'Rourke, Fleet Foxes and Sufjan Stevens - none of whom come from Portland, so I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about. Between series 1 and 2, I produced music for Radio 4's adaptation of Nikita Lalwani's novel, 'Gifted', Pulp UFO documentary series, 'Britain's Closest Encounters' and Channel 4 Education's take on the big Autumn extravaganza 'The Family'.

Also, check out www.youmightfindthisinteresting.com for more up to date musings on digital shenanigans.

In search of...

2008-02-20T12:57:20Z

I've been working on a new music commission for a Channel 4 documentary series by Firefly. Its going to have a twisted road journey aesthetic, bit Louis Theroux, bit something else. Before getting down to business, the series producer and I agreed a musical canvas - basically swapping compilations. The creative direction is disgruntled, ramshackle gypsy folk meets childish music. There are some samples of the work on this site and I'll post more at some point.

I'm also working on the Radio 4 adaptation of Nikita Lalwani's debut novel, Gifted. Its a book about mathematics, so I'm going to try and use mathematical algorithms in the compositions. We'll see. I was never much of a mathematician. Much more of a buffoon. Josh reckons I should use MAX, but it looks like more of a programming platform rather than an application.

Demos

2008-02-01T20:33:25Z

Moodboard

2008-01-17T09:54:33Z

Mixa

2007-10-25T23:13:28Z

Nice idea, nicely done. Well played. I love it and am slightly jealous that my own secretly held 'big ideas' are nowhere near as simple and cool.

Make a Mixa

The fear of being crap

2007-10-25T23:05:29Z

This is interesting. I think a lot of digital agencies struggle when building their own websites. But I think the root of this problem lies a little deeper than the often quoted 21st century conversation killer 'way too busy'. I think its about a fear of being crap.

This website neatly sidesteps the situation by offering users the opportunity to make the decision for them. The attention to detail and execution indicates that Nonsense, the agency in question, have plenty of time. But, perhaps what they are lacking are the stones to make a decision themselves.

I've always thought the difference between commerce and art was that, in art, there was no need to compromise. And you could do what you liked. Maybe art is about being compelled to do what you like.

Anyway, when introducing ourselves, maybe we should fess up about the kind of people we are. And if that means turning up in a rare pair of plaid pantaloons and pink blouse, then so be it.

nonsense. High Time We Had A Website.

WTF?

2007-06-28T22:43:58Z

Not to put too fine a point on it, this is bonkers. Apparently, the 'Washlet' will make you feel fresher and happier than you've ever felt before.

It's a toilet seat. Sold with a Scientologists zeal.

The company name is Toto, a reference to The Wizard of Oz, extending the sense of wonder and magic this toilet seat is designed to offer. The many aspects of the seat are sold by a multicultural group of impassioned and enlightened individuals who are initially introduced with their clean, refreshed and toned buttocks pointed directly at the viewer. Unashamed and unafraid. You know why? Because their asses have never been cleaner. This is self-realisation, through the introspection, vulnerability and, ultimately, cleansing of one's bowels. I wish I'd thought of it. As some kind of perverted campaign to highlight the absolute bankruptcy of our civilisation.

Clean is happy

Julia Fullerton-Batten

2007-06-24T21:47:19Z

Caught this via Newstoday. I like intricate, posed photography - there's something really cinematic about it. These have a whiff of suburban anonymity about them, but with the twisted, post-atomic Americana of the attack of the 50 ft woman and the awkwardness of adolesence added to the mix. Beautifully lit to boot, isn't it. She's originally from Germany, but now in the U.K.

www.juliafullerton-batten.com

The intellectuals and the masses

2007-06-22T20:31:38Z

Andrew Keen has written a book called The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet Is Killing Our Culture. I can't comment on it in any detail, because I haven't read it. Nor am I likely to, because I find that the most outspoken cultural analysis is often deeply conservative in nature. This book appears to be no different, in that the author apparently laments the loss of professionalism in favour of an emerging culture of 'the amateur'. This sounds ominously familiar. It sounds like the voice of a cultural elite fearing the erosion of their influence due to the democratisation of the arts. I, for one, am happy that we have a culture of amateurs. I am happy that dissident voices can broadcast from war-torn or oppressed countries, that - with very little training - minority or disenfranchised communities can begin to tell it like it is in their own voice. I'm happy that the power of the Daily Mail is being diminished by the progressive and liberal voice of the digital community. That teenagers in their suburban garage can make truly revolutionary ideas real. Get over it, Mr. Keen - wake up and smell the daisies.

Internet Smackdown: The Amateur vs. the Professional

Say cheese

2007-06-22T16:29:42Z

Almost a century ago and without the aid of any pixel-generating computer software, the itinerant photographer Arthur Mole (1889-1983) used his 11 x 14-inch view camera to stage a series of extraordinary mass photographic spectacles that choreographed living bodies into symbolic formations of religious and national community.

Cabinet Magazine Online - Dead Troops Salute

ubroadcast™

2007-06-08T11:43:46Z

"Have you ever wanted the forum to discuss any topic you wanted? Can’t find anything worth listening to on the radio? ubroadcast’s Station Manager Software lets you broadcast LIVE and uncensored content quickly and easily with no broadcasting or technical experience."

ubroadcast™

Photosynth

2007-06-07T23:39:22Z

Using photos of oft-snapped subjects (like Notre Dame) scraped from around the Web, Photosynth creates breathtaking multidimensional spaces with zoom and navigation features that outstrip all expectation. Its architect, Blaise Aguera y Arcas, shows it off in this standing-ovation demo. Curious about that speck in corner? Dive into a freefall and watch as the speck becomes a gargoyle. With an unpleasant grimace. And an ant-sized chip in its lower left molar. "Perhaps the most amazing demo I've seen this year," wrote Ethan Zuckerman, after TED2007. Indeed, Photosynth might utterly transform the way we manipulate and experience digital images.

TED | Talks | Blaise Aguera y Arcas: Photosynth demo

Number 2

2007-06-02T00:12:54Z

Very nice, tongue-in-cheek stationery. (You don't get to say or write that very often). First seen on the quite sensational design blog The Big Noob. Boy, what a thing of sheer typographical wonder and grid-like perfection that is.

Knock Knock

Storm chasers

2007-06-02T00:04:18Z

These shots of storm clouds are extraordinary.

Extreme instability

You're so f*cking special

2007-06-01T23:58:29Z

"...song.context.result began as a small feature that personally felt important to share. starting with the small question of “tell me about a moment, a song and what it meant to you” seemed in taste to know how music can bring anyone privately back to a special memory..."

I like this idea. Its very simple, very democratic and very human. Even if the first tune cited happens to be Enya; it's not what separates us thats important - it's what brings us closer.

Music is Art