UK’s Zero 7 reinvent themselves with each new release, but never fail to produce music that is mesmerizing and beautiful. The musical duo of Henry Binns and Sam Hardake invite a host of contributors on each of their albums. They’ve worked with KCRW favorites Jose Gonzalez and Sia in the past and joked about the idea of a “The Last Waltz”-type concert with dozens of special guests. Sia doesn’t make an appearance on their latest release because she is busy at work on her upcoming solo album, but the band said future collaborations are definitely possible.
For their forth studio album “Yeah Ghost,” Zero 7 picked up the tempo a bit and invited jazz and soul singer Eska Mtungwazi into the line up. The band says they struggled to get a handle on the kind of record they wanted to make so it was more sonically diverse than some of their previous work. “Swing” is a clear favorite here in the basement and it was fantastic to hear reworked versions of other songs off the album.
Check out the set here
RR
Chef Alice Waters pioneered a new way of eating focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally. She’s been a model to many in the culinary world and we’re happy to have her as the latest addition to KCRW’s Guest DJ Project. Alice touches on the sensual aspects of both eating and music listening -- from the track that keeps her dancing in the kitchen to a surprising choice from an acclaimed indie rock band. Here are some of Alice’s thoughts on Nina Simone’s appropriately named “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl”
“It's a beautiful, sensual song and I am always trying to get people to open up and to touch and to taste and to smell and really engage in a different way with food. I was really drawn to the words in this song and the way that it brings you into that experience. I play it when I'm cooking in the kitchen, and it's so beautiful and so deep in its sensual appeal.
RR
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26497660-952,00.html
Cruise control driver runs down his critics
THE driver stuck on cruise control at 100km/h on the Eastern Freeway and EastLink has lashed out at those casting doubt on his story.
"You weren't in the car," Chase Weir said. "If anyone can fake a 000 call and all that screaming, show me how."
Readers swamped the Herald Sun website and talkback radio to also ask why the Ford Explorer driver didn't turn off his engine or shift the gear selector into neutral.
Click here to listen to the dramatic 000 call extract
Mr Weir told police the ignition key would not move and that he could not put the car into neutral.
On trying to brake, he could not slow below 80km/h.
The 22-year-old Queenslander's ordeal began at 12.40pm on Tuesday when he was unable to slow for his Eastern Freeway exit.
It ended just over 30 minutes later on the Moorooduc Highway at Frankston, when he finally managed to stop the vehicle using the handbrake and the brake pedal - on the wrong side of the road.
Police considered radical measures to stop Mr Weir.
But it was Sgt Marnie Goldsmith who in effect rescued him, talking him through his panic after he dialled 000.
Mr Weir thanked her in person.
Sgt Goldsmith said: "He shook my hand and I said 'I can give you a hug'."
Mr Weir said it was only her calm response that allowed him to keep his head.
"She was saying, 'the car won't stop but you're still OK'. I was panicky, but she kept me calm."
She explained: "I just said 'I'll tell you when it's time to panic and we're not there yet'."
Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority operator Jay Kemp, who co-ordinated the response, said: "There is no standard procedure to stop a car stuck on cruise control. It was extraordinary."
The first police unit to reach Mr Weir thought it would all end in tragedy.
Sen-Constable Steve Warr and Constable Stephen Glenk from Doncaster kept other vehicles away from him.
"We knew the traffic would bank up and we wanted to end it prior to Frankston," said Sen-Constable Warr.
"We discussed about 50 different options, from using our van or a truck to stop him, using the guard rail, or running him into a paddock.
"By the time the last 3km came up, it was too late. I thought there were going to be fatals. I said over the air - 'It's going to be bad'."
The Explorer will now be examined by police and Ford. Mr Weir claims six Australians have contacted him on Facebook to claim similar issues with their cars.
National Motoring Editor Paul Gover writes: If you are faced with a jammed accelerator, or a stuck cruise control, do not panic. Firstly, push down very hard on the brake. If it doesn't release the accelerator, don't panic.
If it's a manual, push down on the clutch, which should disengage a cruise control, or knock the lever into neutral. Do the same for an automatic, but go gently on the shifter.
Selecting neutral will disconnect the engine from the gearbox and allow you to brake to a stop.
If you cannot get into neutral, try turning the engine off (do not lock the steering). You should be able to steer and brake to a stop.
In the absolute worst case, do as Mr Weir did to stop.
2009 was a great year for music in Los Angeles. On air we hosted the radio debut of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, a joyous celebration of life and love with the intensity of a religious revival, and the haunting debut from local beat technician Nosaj Thing, a gorgeous merger of hip hop and electronica, which was a mainstay across all our music shows. Also, the recent nomination of Silversun Pickups for a “Best New Artist” Grammy – which is funny to many of us who have been seeing them live around town for the last 5 years – is a sign of LA’s powerful music presence.
Over the next few days, I’ll be posting about some of the newer bands bubbling up to the surface who we expect to see some great things from in ’10.
This band made my best of ’09 list even thought their album doesn’t officially come out until next year on Frenchkiss Records and both Anne Litt and Garth Trinidad are big fans. The Local Natives play celebratory rollicking rock with beautiful melodies. They have an exceptional live show and, after becoming regulars on the Eastside club scene, they built a huge fanbase across the pond with nonstop touring. These guys worked hard this year and won over a lot of ears and hearts. Keep an eye out for the release of their debut album “Gorilla Manor.” For those of you in LA, go see them live on Tuesday, December 22 at The Echo (with another great local act, Voxhaul Broadcast, who is getting spins from Nic Harcourt)
http://www.myspace.com/localnatives
KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez says they are “one of the most amazing live, young, vibrant cumbia bands in Los Angeles.” They keep in the tradition of cumbia and also know how to keep a dance floor moving! They’ll be playing on New Year’s Eve at the Rhythm Lounge in Long Beach.
http://www.myspace.com/buyepongo
This 10-person collective creates drunken anthems that owe a debt to Phil Spector's Wall of Sound and are a favorite of KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox. They have an EP called “Inconvenient Dreams” out now and a few shows coming up around town, including tonight in at Surf City Saloon and on Saturday, Dec 19 at The Smell.
http://www.myspace.com/jailweddings
RR
Sea Wolf’s debut EP was an instant hit here at the station. Founder Alex Brown Church followed it up with two stellar full lengths, the second of which came out this Fall called “White Water, White Bloom.” Sea Wolf’s music is orchestral, eloquent, and moving but also catchy. With the exception of the fantastic opening track “Wicked Blood” and “O Maria!,” which were written in LA, the rest of the album was written in Montreal. Alex had fallen in love with a girl who lived in Montreal while on tour with his previous outlet Irving (check out their CD “Death in the Garden, Blood in the Flowers” if you’re not familiar). Alex sang a bunch of new songs and older favorites like “You’re a Wolf” and “Middle Distance Runner” on MBE for a set that is definitely worth checking out.
RR
With our upcoming cross-country adventure looming, the Beloved and I decided to celebrate our own Christmas a little early this weekend. On Saturday, we stayed in our jammies, opened our stockings and exchanged gifts. Penny got her first stocking and was excited to find a couple of new toys and a few treats.
We said no tv or computer and we stayed in, lit the fireplace, listened to Christmas music and read. The weather cooperated for such a day by providing a much too rare all-day rain. Pretty much a perfect day.
The Christmas feast this year was a Bobby Flay recipe that we’d decided on – a veritable mouthful: Pan Seared Duck with Red Chile Pear Sauce, Bourbon-Brown Sugar-Asian Pear Relish and Potato-Blue Cheese Cakes. We had it with an excellent Novy Family Syrah.
This week is busy with a lot of prep and packing. I did stop by AAA today while I was out and scored this important travel aide:
We hit the road in THREE DAYS!
My Vox neighbour, Endeesea, has come up with a cracker of a post about the main impediment to much human progress. It's humans.
I want these either in my house or my place of work!
Do you ever have days when you just disgust yourself? I'm having one of those days. For some weird reason, I've been a complete eating machine today. I got up at 5:20, had raisin bran, stopped for a super big gulp of Diet Pepsi on the way to work, got to work and had a cup of decaf coffee and piece of half fossilized pecan pie that Scooterkitty brought to work last week, and I just took some things up to the faculty room and stopped off and had a corn dog in the cafeteria. It is only 9:15. I feel gross and oily and disgusting.
Break starts at 9:25, maybe eating one of those beautiful cinnamon crumb donuts that are in the cafeteria will help to settle my stomach ...
Or maybe a piece of fruit cake that's in the library refrigerator ...
I have to go to the dentist today. But I hate the dentist!
