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 The Orphanage |
Cultural Stimuli in LA
Issue 130: individuated flavor
True, there's safety in numbers — but there's also something beautiful about a citizen who dares to stray from the pack. Bad-boy author Bret Easton Ellis, mistress of satire Heather Woodbury, and geeky rock chronicler Chuck Klosterman each strike their own path. Cartoon luminary Gary Baseman and singer/songwriter Tom Brosseau don't bow to industry standards. Funk diva Sharon Jones, like old-school romantics Al Jarreau and Cassandra Wilson, pushes her voice well beyond the average. And Tony Powell uses other people's records to create a whole new groove. So whether you start the trail alone or with others, take your own path, and never forget to spread it!
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flavorpill LA is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art, and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.
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The most popular cerveja in Brasil, Brahma carries the colors of a country. And now, Brahma Music introduces you to the sounds of this place — to the music of a nation's most beloved artists. The rhythm of the real Brasil. Move to the music. Share a Brahma. |
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| PERFORMANCE |
Tale of 2 Cities: An American Joyride on Multiple Tracks
| when: |
Tue 8.23 (8pm) |
| where: |
The Steve Allen Theater (4773 Hollywood Blvd, Los Feliz, 323.666.4268) map |
| price: |
$10 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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In her work, Heather Woodbury marries a passion for history with a storyteller's knack for individual narrative. Her plays are developed through a long process of research, interview, workshop, and improvisational performance. In Tale of 2 Cities, she investigates the events surrounding the 1957 transplant of the Brooklyn Dodgers from New York to LA, examining the two neighborhoods whose spirits and identities were unceremoniously eviscerated by the process. Using satire, comedy, and pathos, she deftly weaves each character's story into one profound commentary on society's erasure of communities in the name of progress. (SND)
Note: You can also catch the show Tue 8.30 (8pm) for its closing performance.
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| ALSO ON TUE |
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MUSIC: Singer/ Songwriter
Tom Brosseau
Tue 8.23 (8pm) Largo (432 N Fairfax Ave, 323.852.1073) map $10
Event Info |
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This North Dakota-born, LA-based folk singer brings his charming sounds to a familiar stage, performing unvarnished indie Americana with the help of his guitar, harmonica, and the occasional keys. (MG)
 
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| ART |
Jeni Yang: Between Catnaps
| when: |
Wed 8.24 (7-11pm) |
| where: |
The Lab Gallery (2930 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info | Jeni Yang |
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In addition to publishing one of the Internet's better culture magazines, the arbiters of cool at Over/Under are also patrons of the arts. Teaming up with progressive Costa Mesa retail consortium the Lab, Over/Under has created the ARTery — an 8 x 40 foot shipping container-cum-gallery. This month's featured show is Between Catnaps: quirky, expressive illustrations by Jeni Yang. Her vaguely feral, fuzzy creatures and graf-inspired landscapes, installed in the cold, steel space, give a whole new meaning to the words "urban jungle." (SND)
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| MUSIC: Liquefying |
Hot Summer Nights feat. Al Jarreau, Cassandra Wilson, and the Rippingtons
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They ain't calling it the Hot Summer Nights series for nothing. R&B legend Al Jarreau's pipes have a kind of white-hot magic that'll melt the ice cubes in your Chardonnay (even if you're sitting in the nosebleed section). Tonight he welcomes sultry jazz phenom Cassandra Wilson, whose powerful, smoky voice summons a bluesy golden age for a whole new generation. This is the kind of music that made the Hollywood Bowl famous, so you'll be forgiven for wearing sequins. (SND)
 At what address is Al Jarreau's star located on Hollywood's Walk of Fame? The first five correct responses win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| ALSO ON WED |
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FILM
Aliens (1986)
Wed 8.24 (8pm) ArcLight Hollywood (6360 W Sunset Blvd, 323.464.4226) map $11
Event Info |
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Though 57 years have passed, Ripley hasn't aged a day since Alien (1979). This second installment of the pioneering Alien series is the one where the monsters eat everyone in the LV426 colonies and all the Marines, too. (SND)
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| MUSIC: Smut Rock |
The New Pornographers In-Store
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If you haven't already bought the New Pornographers' latest album, Twin Cinema, this is your chance to catch up and be rewarded. Purchasing the record entitles you to more than just this surprisingly mature, but also giddy, pop masterpiece: you'll also get access to an exclusive in-store performance by the band. Unless you feel like trekking to Santa Ana for their Galaxy show on the 26th, or waiting a month for their Fonda appearance, this is the best bet to get your fill of A.C. Newman, Neko Case, and the rest of this Canadian supergroup. (JCF)
What instrument did Neko Case begin her musical career playing? The eighth correct response wins a copy of Twin Cinema.
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| MUSIC: Cheese-Ball |
Richard Cheese w/ Charles Phoenix's Retro Slide Show Spectacular
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With all the doom and gloom plaguing our tiny planet, who couldn't use the chance to kick back, sip an Aperitif, and laugh until their seams split? Let ADD lounge impresario Richard Cheese trip your lights fantastic with hyperactive, Vegas-style renditions of K-ROQ hit singles, complete with tiger-skin tux. Charles Phoenix gets you in the mood with a unique, heartfelt, and kind of creepy narrated slide show that casts a loving gaze at America's '50s Kodachrome Camelot. (SND)
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| MUSIC: Sun-Baked |
The 88 w/ Ringside
| when: |
Thur 8.25 (9:30pm) |
| where: |
The Viper Room (8852 Sunset Blvd, W Hollywood, 310.358.1881) map |
| price: |
$10 |
| links: |
Event Info | The 88 |
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California dreamers the 88 have been honing stylish melodies since their early days in the Valley. Their 2003 debut, Kind of Light, was met by great critical acclaim, gaining a diverse fan base that included the OC, Lance Armstrong, Jimmy Kimmel, and Nic Harcourt. But these retro-rockers haven't let it go to their heads. Their unpretentious approach to lush melodies and hooky riffs comfortably moves the band between power-pop ditties and scorching rock anthems. Gearing up for the release of their second album, Over and Over, the group is testing new material on their home turf. (MG)
Which Kinks tune did the 88 re-record for an NBC drama? Correct responses five through nine each win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| ALSO ON THUR |
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READING
Chuck Klosterman: Killing Yourself to Live
Thur 8.25 (7pm) Borders (1360 Westwood Blvd, 310.475.3444) map
Event Info |
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Music nerds, rejoice! Chuck Klosterman returns with a look at the lives and deaths (but mostly deaths) of rock 'n roll's tragic heroes. (LMT)
Note: This tour also hits Skylight Fri 8.26 and Vroman's Sat 8.27
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DISCUSSION
The Great Debate: the Morality of Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
Thur 8.25 (8pm) 2100 Square Feet (5615 San Vicente Blvd, 323.936.6807) map $5
Venue Info |
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It doesn't get much geekier than vivisecting the moral implications of Tri-Lam's tyranny over Booger, Lewis, Poindexter, and the boys. Join the fun as Matt Price and Ilyse Mimoun mince words over this allegorical classic. (JCF)
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| PERFORMANCE |
Ann E. Wrecksick & the Odyssey of the Bulimic Orphans
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This comedy/musical about a 15-year-old girl's downward spiral into bulimia won't be leaving a UTA agent's desk anytime soon. And that's precisely what makes Scott Allgauer and Damon Intrabartolo's brilliantly twisted odyssey of fat orphans and toothy-grinned teenagers a must-see. Landing its first run at the Cavern Club theater, Ann E. Wrecksick tells the tale of several husky, un-adoptable orphans and their redheaded ringleader — a heroine with a compulsive eating disorder. Don't expect to learn any life lessons, but instead to catch an exciting show early in its run — if Intrabartolo's last hit (the off-Broadway cult classic Bare) is any indication, Ann E. should find a larger home very soon. (JH)
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| FILM: '70s Italian Crime Double Feature |
The Conformist (1970) and Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion(1970)
| when: |
Fri 8.26 (7:30pm) |
| where: |
New Beverly Cinema (7165 W Beverly Blvd, 323.938.4038) map |
| price: |
$7 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Dark deeds of assignation and Fascism run rampant through these two Italian psychological thrillers set under the Tuscan sun. The Conformist (1970) is Bernardo Bertolucci's intense examination of a loser's transformation from pushover to Fascist hit man. It is especially controversial in its implication that his dirty deeds are the result of repressed homosexuality. Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) is even more direct in its anti-establishment leanings, telling the story of a corrupt police inspector who murders his mistress only to playfully take advantage of his social status and manipulate the judicial system. (DRC)
Note: This double feature also screens Sat 8.27 (3:10 & 7:30pm)
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| MULTIMEDIA: Avant-garde |
Scores Composed for the Moving Image
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Shedding adherence to structure and scale, the avant-garde often taps the subconscious more easily than its conventional counterparts. Similarly experimental ventures in music and film meet at the beautiful Schindler House for two nights of performances and screenings. Friday, vocal composer Michael Webster premieres the song "Fade on Family" while filmmaker/musician George Lockwood unveils the John Cage-esque "Roaratorio." Saturday, Tom Recchion breaks out old film and video work with a live improvised score. SHRIMPS collaborator and all-around noisemaker Mark Wheaton provides a living soundtrack for the event. (JCF)
What song would be on the current soundtrack to your life, and why? Our favorite response of 50 words or less wins a pair of tickets to this show.
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| MUSIC: Deep Soul |
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
| when: |
Fri 8.26 (9pm) |
| where: |
The Echo (1822 Sunset Blvd, Echo Park, 213.413.8200) map |
| price: |
$15 |
| links: |
Event Info | Sharon Jones |
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Plenty of eyeliner-wearing, Las Vegas chart-toppers claim to have it, but "soul" is elusive and its actual owners are few and far between. Of course, Sharon Jones really has soul. Accompanied by the Dap Kings, Jones is an electrifying R&B powerhouse who isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Singing "My Man is a Mean Man" and "Your Thing is a Drag" against the backdrop of funky bass, horns, and conga drums, this diva channels the sound and spirit of the godfather (Brown, not Brando) himself. (EJ)
On which London street did the Killers film their video for "All These Things That I've Done"? Correct responses three through seven win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| ALSO ON FRI |
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PERFORMANCE
Velvet Hammer Burlesque
Fri 8.26 (8pm) El Rey (5515 Wilshire Blvd, 323.936.6400) map $25
Event Info |
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Let the buttons pop and the tassels fly: it's the season finale of LA's finest blend of sass and sexuality (with a healthy dose of kitsch) and your last chance to check out these girls of burlesque before school starts. (MS)
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| FESTIVAL |
25th Annual Sunset Junction Street Fair
| when: |
Sat 8.27 (10am-11pm) & Sun 8.28 (10am-10pm) |
| where: |
3600 to 4400 Sunset Blvd (323.661.7771) map |
| price: |
$10 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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This annual street fair is one of LA's summer highlights. You can wander the streets of Silver Lake alongside teenagers and seniors, junkies and yuppies, cholos and drag queens. The affair has all the freakish wonders of the West Hollywood Halloween bash, the multi-culti buffet vibes of a farmer's market, and the rattle-trap thrill rides of a Southland parking lot carnival. And Sunset Junction has absolutely killer bands, too. This year's big names include Rilo Kiley, the Walkmen, John Cale, Eagles of Death Metal, and the New York Dolls. (DRC)
Note: Spaceland hosts an afterparty with the Walkmen and Giant Drag.
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| READING |
Bret Easton Ellis: Lunar Park
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The controversy surrounding Bret Easton Ellis reached a fever pitch with American Psycho (1991) and again with the subsequent film adaptation. Ellis had crossed the line that he had danced along in Less Than Zero and The Rules of Attraction, writing a book so disturbing that it lead detractors to that age-old question: how far removed is this author from his psychopathic creations? In his newest novel, Lunar Park, Ellis ventures into Paul Auster territory, finally confronting these issues with the story of a writer, also named Bret Easton Ellis, whose life is starting to come apart at the seams. (DRC)
Note: Ellis also appears at Vroman's on Fri. 8.26.
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| DJ |
URB Presents: Unison feat. Tony Powell and DJ Sol
| when: |
Sat 8.27 (9pm-5am) |
| where: |
Soul Folks (613 Imperial St, 213.613.0381) map |
| price: |
$10 / $5 before 11pm |
| links: |
Event Info | Tony Powell |
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The down-home peeps at Soul Folks are revered for their old-fashioned Southern cooking. Now they're bringing local spin-smith DJ Tony Powell to make you feel even more at ease. For over a decade, Powell has made rounds from the hills to the coast playing funk, house, and tribal beats. Also on the deck is DJ Sol's South American styling; this femme fatale can easily slide from Latin rhythms to downtempo delights, and has spun with some of the greats, including Little Louie Vega, and Paul Van Dyk. Don't miss this fresh and fiery combo in Unison. (KH)
What's your favorite soul food? The three most comforting responses (complete with recipes, please!) win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| MULTIMEDIA |
Cannibal Flower's Five-Year Anniversary
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It's hard to believe that it's been half a decade since Cannibal Flower opened the "doors" to their traveling art, music, and performance shows. Started by a group of working artists to circumvent gallery politics, this shifting-venue showcase has blossomed into a monthly party featuring the area's finest underground artists, variety acts, and DJs. The haunting yet playful Nathan Spoor is this month's featured artist, and the party includes nude body art by the Razor Candy Girls, live painting by Mear One, and Mr. Obey (Shepard Fairey) manning turntables. (JCF)
Note: Come as "walking art" and save $2.
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| MUSIC: Much Love |
KCRW's World Festival: Reggae Night IV
| when: |
Sun 8.28 (7pm) |
| where: |
Hollywood Bowl (2301 N Highland Ave, 323.850.2000) map |
| price: |
$12-34 |
| links: |
Event Info | KCRW |
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KCRW's Reggae Night IV promises to bring more than just the usual Hollywood Bowl magic to the air. Something else is sure to permeate the balmy night sky: Rastafarian music, of course. What else? The lineup reads like a dreadhead's dream, combining Culture's laid-back Roots Reggae, Maxi Priest's sexy lover-rock, the bouncy Caribbean ska of Hepcat, and Israel Vibration's smooth Marley-esque sounds. These peaceful, mellow Rastas should no doubt bring lovers of the (Hollywood) Bowl together. (EJ)
What's the ultimate (legal) reggae accessory? The two most rasta responses win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| READING |
Gary Baseman and John Harris: Strong Stuff
| when: |
Sun 8.28 (2:30pm) |
| where: |
The Getty Center Lecture Hall Lobby (1200 Getty Center Dr, 310.440.7300) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info | Gary Baseman |
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If you've ever stepped into a Starbucks, opened a magazine, or turned on your TV, you've probably seen Gary Baseman's work. Art designer of the addictive board game Cranium and creator of Teacher's Pet (as well as countless maimed paintings and art toys), Baseman has the uncanny ability to skewer the family-friendly illusion his cartoon characters evoke. Along these lines, he recently drew the art for John Harris' Strong Stuff, a reinterpretation for children of the Herakles myth. Harris reads from the book and Baseman conducts a drawing clinic. (JCF)
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| MUSIC: A Capella |
John Wesley Harding's Love Hall Tryst
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In the '80s, John Wesley Harding — who takes his stage name from a Bob Dylan album — skipped out early from Cambridge to become a trailblazer for folk noir. But it was a literary endeavor that spawned Love Hall Tryst, the four-part a capella group comprised of Harding, Kelly Hogan, Nora O'Connor, and Brian Lohmann. After writing Misfortune, an 18th-century-style novel featuring lyrics to 13 traditional UK folk tunes, Harding called upon his friends to set word to song for a companion album. The result? A titillating mélange of sublime harmony and wickedly dark humor. (FAY)
In what county does Dylan's John Wesley Harding "lend a helping hand"? The seventh and eighth correct responses win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| FILM |
El Crimen Perfecto
| when: |
Through Thur 8.1 |
| where: |
Landmark Nuart Theatre (11272 Santa Monica Blvd, W Hollywood, 310.281.8223) map |
| price: |
$9.50 |
| links: |
Event Info | El Crimen Perfecto |
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Eclipsed only by Pedro Almodóvar in his native country of Spain, writer/director Alex de la Iglesia remains largely unnoticed in the US — but not because he's the inaccessible avant-gardist the term "foreign auteur" might connote. Rather, the charm of de la Iglesia's projects stems from an unashamedly broad, almost commercial humor. In El Crimen Perfecto, a rakish women's-clothing salesman inadvertently offs his rival and has to marry the one girl he doesn't desire in order to keep his secret. The film may be old-school sexist and too brightly lit (especially for a European venture), but it's also an especially taut dark comedy that pleasantly smacks of Hitchcock. (LR)
Pitch us your own micro Hitchcock plot. The five most twisting, turning, titillating sequences of 50 words or less win a pair of tickets to a screening.
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| DESIGN |
The California Design Biennial
| when: |
Now through Sun 8.28 (Wed-Sun: 12-5pm) |
| where: |
The Pasadena Museum of California Art (490 E Union St, Pasadena, 626.568.3665) map |
| price: |
$6 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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The design collective SuperHappyBunny designed a chair from a half sheet of plywood that packs flat and comes with a soup can mallet. Apple Computer's industrial design king Jonathan Ive has given us a decade of the coolest-looking computers on the face of the planet. Frank Gehry created a jaw-dropping steel monument to curved awesomeness in the heart of our blessed town. Through the end of August, the Pasadena Museum of California Art applauds their creative genius as part of the California Design Biennial. Don't miss this exciting survey of the statewide designers who have kept the Golden State at the forefront of international design. (DR)
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BE HERE NOW: here! Network |
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On the eve of its one-year anniversary, here! — the first 24/7 gay and lesbian cable network — has made its all-gay, all-day dream a full-blown reality. The network has licensed the rights to movies and expanded to Direct TV and Digital On-Demand, it presents inspired original programming, and now it's pulling out the big guns — launching here! Tunes alongside Google Video on heretv.com, in order to digitally stream its award-winning films, documentaries, and TV series straight to your computer. From inception to fruition, here! has been, and remains, a welcoming place for voices ignored by mainstream television to be. (KH)
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CD REVIEW: Recloose, Hiatus on the Horizon |
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Peacefrog
Released August 2005
$14.98 (Buy.com)
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A run of 12-inch releases for Carl Craig's Planet E label led up to Recloose's brilliant 2002 debut, Cardiology — and comparisons to the likes of Roy Ayers followed. A move to New Zealand temporarily stunted a career most critics bet would quickly ascend the house hierarchy, but Recloose now returns to best even those lofty expectations with Hiatus on the Horizon. Somewhat distanced from his earlier Detroit sound, he layers broken beats, jazzy keys, hooky horns, Latin flourishes, and dubwise riddims with soulful, upbeat (though occasionally over-emphasized) vocals. Each meticulously arranged track gleams with classy confidence and serves as a testament to Recloose's reputation for craft and innovation; no other producer can turn nightclub strobes into rays of sunshine. (ND)
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STREAMS: BBC Collective |
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The BBC Collective continues to present fresh, relevant knowledge about new music, arts, and culture. This week, check out a live session from one of the UK's more promising bands, the Rakes, who are currently being produced by the man with the golden touch, Paul Epworth. Speaking of producers, there's also an entire feature on the studio minds behind some of today's most forward-thinking music, from the whip-smart spittin' of Lady Sovereign to the disco punk of Spektrum, all the way to mainstream staples such as Beyoncé and J.Lo. Finally, enjoy a profile of avant hip-hop label Lex Records, complete with a selection of live performances from some of its key artists. (CJN)
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The Rakes: Live session (Art rock)
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Various Artists: Producer Power (Producer profiles)
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Lex Records: Feature/live performances (Label profile)
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| Header Design: |
| Oliver | The Orphanage |
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| Editors: |
| Opus | Daniel R. Chamberlin | | Charo | Shana Nys Dambrot | | Evita | Josh C. Forbes | | Cher | Jocelyn K. Glei | | Pikachu | Doug Levy | | Jesus | Jake Lancaster | | Madonna | Sascha Lewis | | Meatloaf | Mark Mangan | | Otto | Colin J. Nagy | | Brutus | Andrew Phillips | | Gallagher | Lauren Ragland | | Stalin | Bryony Roberts | | Buddha | Philip H. Sherburne |
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| ABOUT US |
| flavorpill LA is a free weekly mailer covering music, arts, and cultural events in LA. All listings are pure editorial, never paid advertisements. No money is accepted from venues, artists, or promoters. Read more about us, and spread it... |
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| FEEDBACK |
| Please let us know what's on your mind, any and all feedback — comments, questions, ideas, or rants. |
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| EVENT SUBMISSIONS |
| To let us know about an upcoming event that you think belongs here, please
email us at events at least two weeks prior to the date. |
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| Contributors: |
| Tupac | Hilary Craven | | Plato | Nick Doherty | | Aristotle | Menaka Gopinath | | Donovan | Kate Hewitt | | Nico | Julian Hooper | | Bjork | Elisa Jacobs | | Che | Colin J Nagy | | Zorro | Steve Nalepa | | RuPaul | Lisa Rosman | | Liberace | Dan Rossiter | | Twiggy | Michael Shawver | | Yanni | Leah M. Taylor | | Roseanne | Faith-Ann Young |
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Production: |
| Bono | Anjuli Ayer | | Yoko | Jessica Bauer-Greene | | Pele | David Morrow | | Morissey | Sander-Martijn Milks |
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MORE FILTERED CULTURE |
Hi-fidelity updates
A twice-monthly email magazine high- lighting the latest in electronic music — including news, reviews, and original features
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A monthly review focusing on smart, readable works of fiction and nonfiction, from current titles to past gems
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Global fashion trends
A twice-monthly, insider view on fashion trends breaking in Paris, London, New York, and around the world
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A twice-monthly email magazine covering art, design, and architecture with profiles, news, and reviews of inter- national shows
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