Asita Recordings

We like Pam Grier, Red Stripe, the sound and the smell of records, mixtapes,the SF Giants, analog synths, McCovey Cove, Lanikai at night, and San Francisco's indian summer.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

I Need That Record - documntary [video]







"I Need That Record" is a promising documentary about the closing of Thrash, a 25 year old independent record store that specialized in metal and rock vinyl. Consolidation (see: Walmart), greed, and technology are all cited as reasons for the closure. They eventually get pushed out by a print shop. Sadly this is part of a wider trend in America which threatens not only record stores, but all small businesses, in turn dissolving a real sense of community.

Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth who has been in 480242304827 music documentaries over the years, does not miss his opportunity here. Visit the blog for more info about screenings.

http://ineedthatrecord.blogspot.com/

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Dub Echoes - documentary [video]





http://www.dubechoes.com/

Although I'm not terribly pleased with the soundtrack, which mostly features new artists, the screen shots alone beg a second look. Will post a list of our favorite dub albums with some clips soon.



In the meantime check out the music of our friends BR. The group hails from the tropical jungles of Hilo, Hawaii, and is the evil genius of two brothers who produce some of the rawest live instrumental dub we've heard in awhile. We hope that they grace us with an album in the near future!

http://www.myspace.com/brdrumampbass

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Scratching with Cassette Tapes: DJ Ramsey [video]



This guy's about the best thing to come out of Arizona since Linda Ronstadt was doing duets with the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Mark my words tapes are the new vinyl.

link courtesy of Nick

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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Alpha Pup: Keeping It Independent with M-Audio [video]



M-Audio sponsored video. Daddy Kev discussing Alpha Pup with commentary by NoCanDo and edit.

I have huge respect for what Daddy Kev is doing with Alpha Pup Records. There are many small, calculated, details that I think set them apart from other labels.

With his background both with big labels AND artists on the fringe, coupled with his open embrace of technology, Kev is unrelenting in reinforcing his vision of the label. To me, Alpha Pup is about destroying the box (not just thinking outside of it), and creating workable new solutions, in an increasingly tight marketplace.

Take for instance their partnership with Terrorbird Media. Together they've created a new digital application for sharing promotional materials, cutting both costs and postal waste. Read about that here.

"Terrorbird Media has partnered with Alpha Pup Digital to develop TerrorbirdDigital, a stunning new digital radio promotion interface that goes live on January 17th. This next generation technology is both thrilling and highly functional, allowing Terrorbird to give radio stations, DJs, and tastemakers the closest possible experience to receiving a Terrorbird package in the mail."


Top to bottom involvement (see: quality control) seeps in at all levels, from in-house web and print design, photography to production, and that's just on the creative end. To me a label (music, clothing, food, whatever) requires a couple of key elements without which success will be harder to come by. Foremost you need taste and talent and a good support team. You need a vision that you won't compromise. After that there are all the x-factors that set the fledgling apart from the great; business savvy, ingenuity, hard work, intelligent risk, and commitment.

While I don't love all of their artist choices all the time, I'm still consistently impressed with the level of sophistication to which Daddy Kev attacks the game.

Also see how they are locking down the live component of the label with Low End Theory nights which have recently expanded to New York.

http://www.myspace.com/alphapup

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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Factor - Chandelier EP 7" ltd to 500 copies!




I can't wait to get my hands and ears on a copy of the new 7" EP Chandlier from Oooh! That's Heavy Records and Factor. They were the same people who brought you the Labwaste 7" earlier this year. Painter Almyum just keeps getting better!

PIRATE EYE SIDE

1. "Out Of The Same Thing"

Featuring: The Gaff

2. "More Rude Than Handsome"

Featuring: Awol One

3. "The Leen"

Featuring: Josh Martinez

FACTOR SIDE

1. "Good Old Smokey (My Kannie)"

Featuring: Myke 9

2. "Time Of The Year"

Featuring: Sadat X

3. "Pray"

Featuring: Ceschi

Artwork By: Almyum

LIMITED TO 500 COPIES!

The Awol track is streaming on myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/othrecordings
lazeruspit.blogspot.com

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Yonaguni Pyramids

When I was younger I was obsessed with all kinds of unexplained phenomena. The Lochness Monster, Chupacabra, menehune, giant killer squid, even the Bermuda triangle.

You name it, as a kid with an overactive imagination, I was about it.

I never went as far as some of my friends who became armchair conspiracy theorists (we all know at least one..typically stoned friends who see "things" in folded dollar bills), never listened to Art Bell, or began believing in the lizard people, but I was still intrigued with the idea of that which science could not fathom.





I guess a little bit of that childhood curiosity never completely goes away.

When I happened to catch this History Channel documentary on the Yonaguni Pyramids sometimes called the Asian Atlantis I was hooked. Japanese divers and scientists believe the monument which is the length of about 2 football fields was made by human hands some 5,000 years ago.

What is of most interest to me is that this would pre-date the pyramids in Egypt and would prove a certain level of technology in Asia that was not previously believed to exist. Believers see in the formation castles, perfectly geometric structures,ritual areas, faces, and other carvings in the large expanse of rock. Skeptics on the other hand think that the rock formations are either naturally occurring along fault lines, or natural rock structures later modified by humans.

"This island has recently become well known for massive sunken rock and stone formations known as the Yonaguni monument which surround the island. It has been claimed that it is human made, possibly an ancient temple complex, antedating all known buildings, or a product of terraforming, however, others believe that it is a natural geologic formation. Robert Schoch after diving there suggests that it is most likely a natural formation later modified by human hands[1]."

No matter the true origin of the Yonaguni Pyramids they are definitely things of beauty and wonder!

wiki
flickerset
moiren institute - more pics

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Questosahn: A Documentary on DJ Quest [video]


Questosahn: A Documentary from MOF on Vimeo.

Short and sweet video interview with legendary DJ QUEST of the Bullet Proof Space Travellers. He talks about his influences and notably where and when he invented the hamsterstyle. Do yourself a favor and see Quest live. He's one of very few DJ's who can rock with both an insane level of technical accuracy AND musicianship.

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Ellay Khule the Rifleman - Rock On teaser [video]


Rock On teaser



Los Angeles based Eyelevel Pictures is proud to present a small teaser from the "Rock On" video shoot that took place last week. The song features one of the hardest beats off Ellay Khule's 2006 album In My Own World with Joe Dub. They are also shooting some live stuff that is to be featured along with the video when it drops.

Be sure to check out the other live videos already posted on Eyelevel's Youtube account featuring performances of classics like Klantastic, Sick Boy, unreleased joints and more.

http://www.myspace.com/therockonproject
eyelevel pictures youtube

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Monday, April 07, 2008

Luke Sick from Sacred Hoop/Grand Invincible interview!




Grand Invincible was formed under the philosophy that hip hop as an artform was best served under the technological limitations of the late-80s and early-90s. Armed with only an AKAI MPC 2000, two turntables, a mixer, a microphone, and a diggin’ ass record collection with the intention of making the most out of the least.”

The homie Jeff laced us with this really excellent interview he did with Luke Sick of Sacred Hoop and now Grand Invincible.

The interview covers tons of ground with ample coverage of Luke's musical history and influences, along with back stories of specific songs and projects. Eventually touching on the subject of Brougham Luke's Warner Brother's side project, and all of the headaches that come with a major label signing.

I was impressed with the questions asked and was particularly intrigued to hear Luke mention a fascination with old school recording techniques. I think as true lovers of music, most of us can identify with geeking out on those kinds of details!

"Ask the Dust" is a quality listen from front to back and probably a little different from what we've come to expect from a traditional Hoop record. While I too love the grimey, drugs and party shit, this is equally refreshing. By the way you can get the very limited copy of the cd with comic book cover for CHEAP ($6) at sofarwest.net.

I don't know how long the link will be viable so get it while you can!

http://rapidshare.com/files/104894266/Luke_Sick.mp3.html
New permenant download link: http://www.wixq.com/interviews/Luke%20Sick/Luke_sick.mp3

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FREE - La2thebay digital 7" - Prince Po / 2mex ltd. 100



This is the first in a series of La2thebay "digital 7-inches." The download is completely free, but limited to only 100 downloads!

This time around enjoy Prince Po's - Pretty Black b/w Prince Po and 2mex "Ask Me." Both are bangin!

link

Thanks to grandgood for the heads up. Shows how aware of things I am!

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Mush Records - "Scratch and Dent" / Obama deal



I can definitely get on board with any industry practice which discourages unnecessary waste. Mush Records is offering a steal on cd's which are cosmetically damaged but otherwise play fine. On top of that they are also offering 15 "free" cd's with free shipping (!) if you donate $50 to the Barack Obama campaign. I don't typically approve of mixing art and politics but it's kind of refreshing to see a label make a stand.

Check the Mush site for details. It appears that the selection is almost everything they've ever released on cd.

The deal we are offering is 8 CDs for $10, or 15 CDs for $15! Of course prices do not include shipping, but the price per CD is really quite low when shipping multiple discs.

To place your order, visit our online store. Make sure to tell us in the comments section which CDs you want (include catalog number, artist title, and album name - just copy and paste from the titles listed below).

...Or, for those of you supporting Barack Obama for president, email us (orders@mushrecords.com) a conformation of a $50 donation made to his campaign, and Mush will send you 15 scratch & dent cds of your choice for FREE (we'll even pay for the shipping).

The titles we have available are listed below. As each title becomes sold out (many titles only have a few copies in scratch & dent shape) we will take it off of the list. Some of the titles will fly out quick, so place your orders early.

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Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Wax Poetics magazine feature on Current TV! [video]




Everyone's favorite good music magazine, Wax Poetics, is now being features in CurrentTV's latest rotation. Watch the story above or check it out on your local Current station. In Hawaii it's channel digital cable channel 900.

Schedule:
http://current.com/tv

TV channels:
Channel 103 Time Warner NYC
Channel 142 Time Warner Los Angeles
Channel 366 DirecTV
Channel 196 Dish network.
Channel 107 Comcast
Channel 189 AT&T u-verse
http://current.com/ for more TV channels (look in the lower right corner)


By the way, the excellent closing track "Feelin Free" is by the artist Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators out of Finland. Remember that impossibly rare, fender rhodes laden, Didier Sound Spectrum LP from a few years back? I believe he is one of the Soul Investigators so you know the music is solid. And lucky for all of us the album has been reprinted by Lifesaver Records. Available at Dusty Groove. Check it out!

http://www.waxpoetics.com
http://www.myspace.com/nicolewillisandthesoulinvestigators

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