Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Look at the Ceiling

March 06 040

There is nothing wrong with billboards and other large scale advertisements. Even if there is always a pedestrian or sinister element lurking somewhere.

March 06 044

However, they do tend to grasp your attention away from other worthy features of oururban surroundings, e.g: architecture, colour schemes, floor markings, vaulted areas, signs,lighting and the list goes on. The way these so-perceived passive elements are juxtaposed orcontrasted provide a subtler, cogent but ultimately more fulfilling pleasure than adverts which elicit immediate interpretation.

March 06 039

Switching to this preferable slowburn pleasure requires little discipline. Just tilting your head lightly up to the ceiling will open up a whole new universe that used to reside in our peripheral vision. Let the sidelines reclaim the limelight, it is only fair. The adverts will still be there but as footnote to something greater.

Friday, March 31, 2006

Under the jurisprudence of the ...

The Chap Point Eph 041

In this room, she serves me some vital grapefruit juice to pang my soul. But today the ambrosia ran out and bottled mineral water was the only alternative.

Appropriate music: Foremost Poets - Moonraker

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Monday, March 27, 2006

The Deja Vu Crowd

We never get excited.
We have forfeited outward elation to be witnesses not critics.
Our senses have been blunted and deadened.

Culture is no longer our pleasure.
Culture has become our daily sustenance,
On the train, in our head, on the screen.

Our bodies are becoming irrelevant.
There is no need to move or to dance.
A smile, a wink or a nod are enough...here and there.

The Chap Point Eph 018

Sunday, March 26, 2006

The Chap and Cursor Minor

14-02-06, Point Ephemere, Paris

The Lo Recordings night at Point Ephemere was certainly a highlight of the past few months.

The Chap Point Eph 120

Cursor Minor plays electropop wig outs with endearing wit and a quaint approach.

The Chap Point Eph 175

The Chap played a pummeling set, no dead air, just punchy avant-pop...dedicating songs and to Nokia toying with musique concrete elements. The Fash crowd decided it was now or never and they did some studied moshing with their trilby hats and Hoxton fins.

The Chap Point Eph 158

This is Panos from The Chap, he was instrumental in their new and surprising novo-barbershop track.

Friday, March 24, 2006

You Reprobates!

The Chap Point Eph 088

The sign can be translated as follows: "You stole my bicycle [...] And you don't even use it! [...] Remove your chain [sic] So that I can continue my normal life."

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Plastic Pleasures

The Chap Point Eph 177 copy


Much pleasure can derived from compiling music for others. Finding a thread that runs throughout, choosing possible tracks, numbering them, refining the selection, incorporating transitions and making the cover are some of the stages of the compilation-making process.

The Chap Point Eph 016


Two bands, old and new, start off this compilation. I discovered them thanks to 20 Jazz Funk Greats, a wonderful MP3 resource that provides some blistering barnacles and great commentary. Chromatics' "Healer" is a polished kraut-disco shuffler whose mysterious understatement is great to draw the listener in.Then we have Fire Engines and their assured and crooner postpunk which notches things up a little. Akiko Yano is a bit of the odd one out but that's alright.

This compilation is very much devoted to bass music and electro rap going from the crossover Sir Mix-A-Lot hit "I like Big Buts" to more obscure stuff like Twilight 22 "Siberian Nights, which actually is very apt considering the current weather. JJ Fad "Supersonic" is probably a little weak, but they'll have to live w/ it.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Drifting News

After a major hiatus due to dirty dishes pile that rivals the one in "Withnail & I" and writing new songs for Marco Tulio Thrash. Drifting in Paris is slowly coming back to life.

Vague plans to make a TV Show based on the log are afoot. You will be kept informed of any further developments. Do not fret.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Plage du Tendre

Plage du Tendre, La Plage, 22 January

January 06 010

Régis Victor played at the "Plage du Tendre" organised by Discobabel (see links). He combined Twin Peaks style keyboard workouts and baroque guitar pop.

Régis Victor a joué à la Plage du Tendre, une soirée 'rock et amour' organisée par Discobabel.Il a joué un set bipolaire entre des plages synthétiques style Twin Peaks et de la pop baroque à guitare avec des paroles parsemées.

January 06 006

There was also a Miss and Mr Tender 2006 contest (very shambolic), a table football competition between girls and boys. You could also dedicate a ballad to your love interest.

Il y avait aussi l'éléction Miss et Mr Tendre 2006 (très bordelique), des jeux de babyfoot garçons contre filles et on pouvait dédier un slow à notre amoureux/euse.

January 06 016

One last picture of Régis Victor and his DX7 for the boys and girls to drool at.

Une dernière photo de Régis Victor et son DX7 pour le plus grand plaisir de tous.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Not Back

Stupor Time
by Marco Tulio Thrash

Stupor gun, set to stun.
I've been hit, head split.
Bus Ride. Another Home.
Fashion spreads and countryside,
I can't decide where to look.
Bus Ride. Another Home.

Position closed, join the queue.
Guess the face in front of you.
Sometimes, I ask myself
Is there a point in moving on?
Meeting point, to avoid.
Wait in line, mistaken times.
Sometimes, I ask myself
Is there a point in moving on?


[CHORUS]
Stupor hangs over my face
like a tudor veil.
Tear it away, save my soul!
Tear it away, oh let me see!
Tear it away, save my soul!
Tear it away, oh let me see!
Stupor hangs over my face
like a tudor veil.
[CHORUS]

Letters jitter w/ every bump.
Opposite views, creative slump.
Bus Ride. Another Home.
A house of cards on my lap,
another silo passed me by.
Bus Ride. Another Home.

Crisp notes in my pocket
are slowly replaced by sales receipts.
Sometimes, I ask myself:
Is there a point in moving on?
Cash machines that do not work,
how can I operate?
Sometimes, I ask myself:
Is there a point in moving on?


[CHORUS]x2

as it should have been performed at the Pop In Open Mic Night on January 22nd, 2006

Not Ready

Extra Mile
by Marco Tulio Thrash

From the road,
the grass is green.

Black tarmac,
trucks boom past.

Can I run that extra mile? (x2)
Can I run? Can I run?
Can I run that extra mile? (x2)
Can I run? Can I run?

Petrol stations,
so iconic.

Bleeding feet,
no assistance.

Can I run that extra mile? (x2)
Can I run? Can I run?
Can I run that extra mile? (x2)
Can I run? Can I run?

as performed at the Pop In on January 22nd, 2006

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Motorways At Night (Theme)

The blue and orange snow truck sirens flash along the winding service track running unevenly along the motorway.

Les sirènes bleues et oranges des camions anti-neige aveuglent la petite route parallèle mais bien moins droite que l’autoroute qu’elle est censée suivre.

Motorways At Night

The general perception when it comes to travel is that the arrival should be the most pleasurable moment, may be because it denotes a sense of completion or achievement. However, I tend to derive the greatest of all pleasures from the journey itself, because it's like waiting but the scenery outside is flying past: movement and patience intertwined.

Au contraire de l’opinion générale, pour moi le plaisir du voyage ne se trouve pas vraiment à l’arrivée mais plutôt dans le trajet lui-même parce que c'est une attente en mouvement.

Journey Home

From all those childhood holidays all around Europe, the only vivid memories that remain are those of the motorways: its rest-areas, petrol stations, signs, exits and the comfort of the road markings. All the sights, monuments and landmarks that lay in wait at the point of arrival proved to be irrelevant and thus washed away.

De toutes mes vacances d'enfants, les seules choses dont je me rappelle sont les autoroutes; avec leurs péages, leurs aires de repos, la signalétique et l'assurance apporté par mes yeux qui suivaient les lignes blanches. Tous les monuments qui se trouvaient à l'arrivée se sont effacés, ils n'avaient pour moi aucune importance.

Motorways at Night (Theme) by Marco Tulio Thrash is available for listening here: www.myspace.com/driftingdisco

Monday, January 02, 2006

Roadside Pastoral

Roadside Pastoral

As the roadside becomes a blur, we lose sight of its pastoral appeal.
Quand le côté de la route devient flou, nous perdons son essence pastorale.

Roadside Short Cut

I can't make out the dead foxes in the snow.
Je ne peux pas voir les corps de renard dans la neige.

Roadside Cut Away

I wanted to turn here, I shall miss this turn.
Je voulais tourner ici, cette bifurcation va me manquer.

Monday, December 26, 2005

Journey Home

Terminal State

Hiding behind the corner.
Je me cache derrière le coin.

Tea Break

This is a perfect spot for a tea break.
Voila un coin judicieux pour prendre son gouter.

Paranoia Vignette

The view wasn´t worth the trouble.
La vue ne vallait pas l'effort fourni.

A - Always B - Be C - Closing

It was self explanatory really even if the lemon sorbet cake raised the alarm.
C'était pourtant très clair même si le gâteau au sorbet de citron a fait retentir l'alarme.

Smile and Succeed you Scum!

Publicités et Mot d'Ordre

Sourire Suivant (Publicité)

Cette le formule utilisé dans une publicité de métro pour un supermarché me fait trembler de peur et dégoût. Un sentiment qui s’accroît chaque fois que je la vois. Pour moi la notion de sourire évoque quelque chose de sournois et sinistre. Voyons le ‘sous-rire’ à l’opposé du ‘rire’ pur et dur qui nous fait penser à la joie, la spontanéité, la liberté ou même l’hystérie.

En choisissant le sourire, les créateurs de la pub démontrent qu’ils sont conscients que les supermarchés ne sont pas porteurs de joie. Effectivement la deuxième partie de la formule donne à ce sourire un coté expéditif comme si le supermarché était une machine à sourires.

Le cauchemar qui me travaille l’intérieur c’est de voir un tapis roulant de gens avec des sourires identikit et des sacs d’achats ballant des mains à la sortie d’un un supermarché.

Reussir son Bébé (Publicité)

Cette formule apparaît juste à coté d’une photo d'un bébé qui affiche une expression qui n’a rien d’un rire ni même un sourire. C’est plutôt une expression d’effroi mêlé à un dégoût naissant.

Réussir son bébé, certes... et si on le rate. Est-ce que c’est comme un soufflé au citron ? Peut-être s’était-on trompé et on avait confondu le sucre et le sel ?

Réussir son bébé... c’est plus une épreuve comme le BAC S ou ES, mais si on perd des points, si nos coefficients sont trop faibles est-ce qu’on peut les rattraper ?

De la notion d’épreuve on passe rapidement à l’éprouvette, des laboratoires, des chercheurs regardant à travers un microscope cherchant le meilleur résultat.

Racaille (Mot d’Ordre)

Le ministre de l’intérieur a employé ce mot, les médias s’en sont emparés et maintenant tout le monde l’inclut dans ses conversations journalières.

Il y a quelque temps un documentaire fut diffusé sur un linguiste juif victime de l’Holocauste. Entre 1933 et jusqu’a sa mort il traça le développement du langage du nazisme avec une froideur et une objectivité implacable. Dans ses essais il parlait de comment des mots tels que ‘haine’, ‘hystérie’ et ‘paranoïa’ furent revêtus de connotations positives.

Le ministre de l’intérieur a réintroduit le mot 'racaille' dans le domaine public par des voies de communication officielles.

Je suis convaincu que le nazisme n’est pas arrivé au pouvoir que par l’intimidation et la violence mais aussi par l’introduction d’un langage textuel et visuel (logos, insignes...) ciblé et calculé, au delà d'un discours et de la rhétorique de surface. Ce langage textuel (des mots et des courtes expressions) a facilité le passage de l’idée à l’acte.

La réintroduction du mot 'racaille' s'inscrit dans l'approche décrite ci-dessus. C'est comme un virus du langage. Après l'innoculation médiatique et son heure de gloire dans les conversations après le diner, il rentre dans une phase d'hibernation...mais jusqu'à quand?

Le jour quand le mot ‘racaille’ ne sera plus employé entre guillemets comme il l’est maintenant, j’espère que je serais très loin de la France.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Tchernobyl Disco

Tchernobyl Disco

There we are, the artwork for the debut single out this weekend. The radioactive head is hand drawn using a felt tip pen. The font for 'Marco Tulio Thrash' is Eras Demi Light (I think) and the one for 'Tchernobyl Disco' is Dokyo, sadly an often misused font in club flyers and such things.

As for the single itself the B-sides are Drive To Glory Hole and The Toys are Gone. Drive To Glory Hole is about barely concealed anger in the metro. The Toys are Gone is about a visit to one's hometown after ten years. Lyrics can accessed from the side menu.


All the songs were recorded and mixed by De Rinchy from Club des Chats fame. Their website can be accessed from the Links section in the sidebar. Come on! let the feline punk out of the bag.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Not Bleeding

Try Me
written by Marco Tulio Thrash

You were talking to the cat,
when I came in.
You didn't bring it up,
when I sat down.
You tried to calm me down,
when I got up.

But I wanted blood.

Try me, try me,
Try me again. (x2)

You're soft like a cat's paw.
But you hurt like a cat's claw. (x2)

Try me, try me,
Try me again.

You were busy making plans,
when I came in.
You didn't even care,
where I sat down.
You tried to fit me in,
when I got up.

But I wanted blood.

(Chorus)

You already made your mind,
when I came in.
You didn't want me back,
when I sat down.
You tried to make me stay,
when I got up.

But I wanted blood.

(Chorus)

as performed at the Pop In Club on Nov, 27th.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Birthday Essayage

Birthday 3

Rarely have I felt like such an object.

Rarement, me suis je senti autant objet.

This was my second hexagonal birthday, and I thank DD, F. and G. for making it so enjoyable.

C'était mon deuxième anniversaire hexagonal, et je remercie DD, F et G pour une journée bien taillée.

Photo Credit: Gaelle Fernandez

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Tracks at O'clock

CAMARO'S GANG - Motel Lovers (Super Radio SR-7016a)

RADIATORS - I am Sure (One Round More XX102a)

CHEAPS - Moliendo Cafe (Memory MEMIX - 003a)

MUROMOV- Yabloki na Snegu

BREAKOUT CREW - Break out Theme (FDT 008a)

JUAN HIELSCHER

Disco Terror Weekender on the CBS: www.cbs.nu

Marco Tulio Thrash + Drifting Disco

Marco Tulio Thrash

The Drifting Disco Club is now up and running (click here)

Le Drifting Disco Club est maintenant ouvert au public. (cliquez ici)

Add this address to your Favourites now!
Ajoutez cette addresse à vos favoris maintenant!

You can check out the latest news on both Marco Tulio Thrash (the only crooner with a plutonium heart) and upcoming Drifting Disco Club Nites.

Vous pouvez avoir toute l'actualité sur Marco Tulio Thrash (le crooner au coeur radioactif) et les soirées Drifting Disco à venir.

Lest I forget, you can also listen to some of Marco Tulio Thrash's music here: www.myspace.com/driftingdisco

Sans oublier, que vous pouvez écouter des morceaux de Marco Tulio Thrash ici:
www.myspace.com/driftingdisco

Photo credit: Déborah Douek (www.offthetracks.blogspot.com)