Princess Chelsea - The Cigarette Duet

Minimalism is fun.  Only after all components of a circumstance, a storyline, or a song, have been removed, save the essentials, can you truly know where you stand.

Cults - Go Outside

Cult behavior is so intriguing to me.  It can be argued that sometimes there is a fine-line between cult behavior and organizational socialization.  If a company, for example, influences your ideals, goals, morales, objectives, etc., at what point could they ask you to do something you wouldn't normally do and you would do it?  Would you overtly lie to somebody?  Would you withhold information from somebody else which could potentially cause them to leave the organization?  Would you exclude somebody, would you cutoff family and friends from communication with you?

All organizations are dangerous for this reason -- all individuals must not lose their identity or blindly follow anything or anyone.  We must always keep our minds independent and cautious.

This song is by a band called Cults.  The song is simple and very good.

La Roux - Reflections are Protections

It is no secret that I have kids.  Can you believe that?  The currator of Ohm's Law is a human!  3 boys, to be exact.  All young. 

From their earliest years, I have tried to teach them the importance of listening to good music.  When each one of them were babies, I would sing them Kraftwerk - Neon Lights on a nightly basis.  When Yo Gabba Gabba introduced them to Mark Mothersbaugh, I started listening to Devo in the car.  The result?  3 Kraftwerk fans, 3 Devo fans.  3 fans of analog. 

My youngest son is now 4 (bottom photo).  He has enjoyed analog his entire life, but now he is addicted to the analog tones which originate from the camp of La Roux.

Looking to the future, I am not concerned they will get involved with drugs, or something equally stupid, as they seem too smart for that type of behavior.  However, sometimes, late at night, when my defenses are down, I worry that they will turn their backs on analog.

This is my youngest son's favorite song this week:

We Wait for Entertainment

I sat at my desk yesterday waiting... waiting for entertainment.  Across the sea, a friend and colleague, Colin, heard my silent cry for help and posted this.

From Sweden, may I present you with Those Dancing Days...

Northern Labour Party - September 30th, 2011 @ Fitzgerald's in HB

Colin was deported from our country.  He is now in Germany, but we still love him.

Northern Labour Party will debut their new drummer, John Poblick, September 30th.  Some may be asking why he looks so mad in this photo.  It is because he wants to destroy you.

The Kill Frequency 9PM

Northern Labour Party 10PM

Make a declaration on the FB event:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159307474146067

Fitzgerald's

19171 Magnolia St.

Huntington Beach, CA

Samhain - Archangel

In the 7th grade, I had a friend who was from the UK that attended our junior high school.  His hair hung down in front of his face and terminated to a point.  I was a little familair with punk, as my brothers were into that stuff, but I wasn't really familair with Samhain, as we were not a Samhain family.  This kid worshipped Samhain. 

Listening to this stuff as an adult, I feel that the music couldn't be simpler.  Of course, simplicity is genius, but this stuff is way straight forward.  But... keeping with the idea that a band should perform for the song and support the melody, Samhain pulls it off on Archangel.

New to the Ohm's Law Family - Layout Noise

The most recent addition to the Ohm's family is Layout Noise, a new project formed by former Northern Labour Party drummer, Colin Altena. This project will rely on electricity, acoustic vibrations, and instrument cables to convey the emotions latent in German and Dutch architecture. Track their progress here for now.

The Horrors - Still Life

Have you heard this yet? The Horrors, man. I love their material.

This is for those...

Who want to keep it thick...

Joy Division - Passover (live)

Keep it dark, keep it bleak.

More Mirrors

Here they are, performing live for you.  Listen to the sequence, listen to the passion of the electronics. 

I am thankful for all Kraftwerk has done for mankind.  I am thankful for these students of Kraftwerk for taking the torch.

When I die, there will be a simple sequence on a loop playing at my funeral.

New Music from The Cars

This is a few weeks late, so I apologize.  The good news is that The Cars have some new tunes.  The better news is that this new song actually sounds like The Cars.

We present to you, The Cars - Sad Song.

John Foxx Interview

For those who do not know John Foxx, please come of age, or rather, transcend backward through time.  Travel back to an era when these machines which produce synthetic sounds were relatively new and fragile.  Then, travel back into the present day, and listen to the man who shirks the modern, virtual, emulations of his now "traditional" tools.  Please listen carefully as he discusses his love of analog equipment.  Analog is imperfect, which makes it more human, and pleasing to our imperfect ears.

LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change

Yeah, I know, relax.  Are we not supposed to like him because he is on the cover of Spin?  Whatever, the lead keyboard riff on this tune is so good.

Live version:

Principe Valiente - The Night

I noticed that it is interesting that this video popped-up as a recommendation after the NLP - Less Than Three official video on YouTube.

I guess if there was a Swedish Northern Labour Party, it would sound like this:

Northern Labour Party - Less Than Three Video (Official)

Here it is, the latest music video from Northern Labour Party.  This was directed by Shea Formaneck.

Northern Labour Party - Live in Huntington Beach, CA this Friday Night

Colin, the drummer of NLP, is playing his last California show with the group on Friday, 03-11-11, at Fitzgerald's in Huntington Beach, CA.  His final shows with the band will be in Provo and Salt Lake City, UT on April 1st and 2nd, 2011. 

We are all so sad to see him move back to Holland, but we are excited for the new adventures which await him there.

Photo Credit:  Jon McFerson

CEO - Illuminata

Have you heard of these guys yet?  This is a great tune.  Crank it.


ceo - illuminata from Modular People on Vimeo.

Pop is Good

In an eternal quest to remind people to "keep it casual," I feel as if part of that should be to remind people that it is okay to have fun.  This is pop, don't freak.  They're in Australia, don't freak.  Our lives are too short to be serious all of the time.  The band is Bag Raiders.  The song is "Sunight."


Bag Raiders - 'Sunlight' from Modular People on Vimeo.

monofon | wellenreigen

Hey everybody, this guy did a little piece on his modular synth which was inspired by Kraftwerk's "Franz Schubert," which happens to by my favorite Kraftwerk piece.  Monofon has again reminded us that you don't need much in the way of equipment to create beautiful music; just a few pieces of analog will do.

Wombats Go Analog

Thank you gents, thank you.  Moog Little Phatty spotted with no guitar in sight.

John Foxx is Back

John Foxx has some interesting things to say about electronic music and the tools which are used in its creation.  He also has some new tunes due out March 21st, 2011.

Mirrors - Ways To An End

A young Kraftwerk?  Everybody must surely acknowledge that they love it.  I just heard of these guys tonight, and I LOVE it.

Treasure

Has anybody purchased any of Roger O'Donnell's (formerly of The Cure) solo stuff?  This tune is 5 years old, but here at Ohm's Law, we do not discriminate based on age.

Northern Labour Party - Just One More Night

I'm not sure if anybody is familair with the subject matter of this song.  If people don't know what it is about, I honestly prefer they don't find out, as it is based on a true story; a story which is too sad to discuss.  I hope that everytime NLP plays this song, they connect somehow to the individual who this song is about.  I never met that person, but eventually I will in some fashion.

This is not an official video for the song.  However, I like the fact the video uses images of the cosmos, as it is the great linkage in the sky which connects all lifeforms.  In a world dominated by endless distractions of a digital nature (iphones, ipods, ipads, itouches, idontcares), humans have stopped looking up in an attempt to discover their origins.  I do not speak of finding religion, I speak of binding oneself back to the universe.

Listen to this song and remember that how ever bad things may seem, we need to be grateful for how good we have it.

Photos of NLP by Jon McFerson.  Photos of the universe by NASA.

Why I Must Quit Mountain Dew

it is unfortunate that pain is triggered by loss
as mastering a minimalist existence
could result in the ultimate human existence,
for the elimination of distraction
should yield increased focus, and therefore
elevated productivity, creativity, and
a polished work output.

we shall be productive without our vices
although our mortal weaknesses long for them
we sit at our desks and dream of what could be
if we broke promises and caved
however, we shall sit and wait
for the correct time to partake
for the drug to sharpen our minds and
further increase work output.



The XX

I love music, and although I am closed-minded by default, I really try hard not to be.  Some individuals think I am new music-averse, but I'm not; I'm just picky, as all new music must compete for my music listening time.  Accept it.

The XX.  I was in Fingerprints in Long Beach about a year ago, and heard these guys on the overhead.  The simplicity haunted me.  It cast out the rock norms which I had grown tired of about 10 years prior.  The XX have everything which I require in simple music:  deep bass, good drum sounds, synths, and, most importantly of all, great songs.  What about the guitar?  Well, if I played guitar, I would play it exactly as she does. 

The XX.  I want to see them live.

Where the Wild Things Are

I took my kids to see the film in the cheap theater soon after it came out. There we sat beneath a mountain of popcorn and straddled by several large Icee’s (yeah, I am weak; I give-in too often) and the sadness of the film really touched me. Everytime I read this book to my kids before I put them in bed, I get a little bummed out.  One day, they too will want to escape their circumstance.  And one day, my kids will watch this film and really see it.

So, I leave you with that non-sense. Before you get back to your regular life, please enjoy these tunes:

I Wonder if He Ever Received the Message

There I was, floating in space, all alone. I thought they didn’t care, or at least took a break to get some coffee. However, after I blacked-out due to depleting oxygen tanks, I could faintly hear their voices being broadcast from Earth. This triggered my temporary revival, and I answered, “tell my wife I love her very much.” I am thankful that I came to, as I was able to witness my vessel aimlessly drift into the abyss of deep space. It was beautiful.

Speaking of beautiful, I still love this girl’s version:

Oh No Ono - Helplessly Young

Sometimes, when I catch a glimpse of my hair as I walk past a large glass building, I do not think of the hustle of bustle of capitalism contained within the structure's walls.  Instead, I think of the gray which has infiltrated my life.

Today, we give you Oh No Ono.  If you are not familair with them, make some changes in your life.  You can start tonight, and cancel that lame date you probably have scheduled.  Listen to and study Oh No Ono.