seen.´s non-hippie reggae and dancehall blog

© Chris Cunningham for Dazed & Confused

Sunday is probably the best day of the week to just grab a book, a cool soda or a cup of tea (depending on which side of the globe you´re currently living on), and chill and get smarter at the same time.

There are three publications that I might start to read today or on any upcoming Sunday: “Remix - Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy” by Lawrence Lessig, “Definition - The Art and Design of Hip Hop” by Cey Adam and Bill Adler and “Off the Books: The Underground Economy of the Urban Poor” by Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh.

Need more inspiration? Check the latest video podcast of Die Gestalten which has an interview with David Pearson and Jim Stoddart (Penguin Books).

via Animal NY

Something to download: Roots Manuva - “Let The Spirit (Hot Chip RMX)” (via nialler9)

Something to think about:

There is a home for creatives in between poverty and stardom. Somewhere lower than stratospheric bestsellerdom, but higher than the obscurity of the long tail. I don’t know the actual true number, but I think a dedicated artist could cultivate 1,000 True Fans, and by their direct support using new technology, make an honest living. (via Signal vs. Noise)

Something to listen or subscribe to: Addicted to Race Premium

If you’re at all interested, here’s an interview for the Addicted To Race Premium podcast, one of the most consistently intriguing places for cutting-edge dialogue on race and culture. I was really honored to be asked to participate. (via Can´t Stop Won´t Stop)

Any non-German speaker just skip this one: Jacques Palminger (Studio Braun) and the Kings of Dub Rock released their first full-length album “Mondo Cherry” last Friday. It´s what you could call a mixture of first class world music (sic) and roots reggae without roots but with a hell lot of intelligence. That paired with a perfect feeling for catchy loops and female hooks makes for an instant classic. There´s no excuse to not check tunes like “Mariaenna”, “Polizeihubschrauber” (an incredible remake of “Police in Helicopter”) and “Tuedeldub”:

Und in der anderen Hand ‘ne Dubplate von King Tubby, Alter.

In other headlines, the New York Times sums up “Fall deals for the Caribbean”. Amongst resorts in the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands, “Beaches” in Jamaica is recommended. For only $3,162 (min. 7-day rate for a family of four) you can sip Kingston beer while Elmo & the Cookie monster sweat their hairy asses off building sand castles with your children…

The three Beaches resorts in Jamaica (www.beaches.com) are promoting a Wonderfall package, which includes a free night, up to 45 percent off room rates and perks like a new Sesame Street stage show.

Hm, that could be almost as explosive as the Thunderheist show which made Big Dada sign them right off the Popkomm conference in Berlin:

Vocalist Isis made most of the room into her stage, provoked more movement than a bank going under, and generally awed the crowd. Add to this the quite literally thunderous, dancefloor pop-hop from Grahm Zilla, and you had what’s being called the ‘highlight.’

or this news from Buzz feed:

Despite her retirement, M.I.A. played a show in Brooklyn Saturday night where fans saw the real reason she canceled all her summer shows. She’s pregnant!

If you´re not into big bellies but into big booties, you could either have a look at the review of the Man Rec. versus Delicious Gutter show with Don Rimini, Daniel Haaksman and one of the world´s best DJs, DJ Beware:

Man Recordings vs. Delicious Gutter rocked it till 7am.

or check out Dance Floor Dale:

We´ve hosted the vide0 here as it keeps getting banned elsewhere due to some explicit scenes (allegedly).

via TurnTableLab

Computersyle´s rebirth post links to Diplo´s marriage of Cutty Ranks and Black Flag: “Dutty Six Pack”

Funny how close Dukowski is to just knocking out the Sleng Teng riddim.

Over at Mad Decent, in the meantime, Widlife´s re-interpretation of Terry Lynn´s “Knights Crusade” got posted:

As an exclusive, Wildlife!, who produced “The System” amungst other tracks for Terry sent us a Rerub he did putting Terry over Crystal Castles.

And while these MP3s are making their way to your hard drive, you can read through this interview a site called “YardEdge” did with Peter Dean Rickards.

YardEdge: What are you trying to achieve with First magazine?
Peter: Some people are going take this the wrong way but I’m going to say it anyway. First is the sort of thing that a Jamaican should be able to show his/her friends and family abroad as evidence that we are not a bunch of illiterates.

Less than one year after the Jamaican Observer announced that Alton Ellis was suffering from cancer, and only two days after rumours could be heard that he´d died already, he was finally put out of his misery last night as Trojan Records reports:

Today the music world mourns the passing of Reggae legend Alton Ellis, who passed away last night after a long struggle against the effects of lymphatic cancer.

As recently reported, Alton had been admitted into hospital after collapsing at a show at London’s 100 Club in August and sadly, despite intensive care, was never able to regain his health.

His talent and influence was immense and his loss will be felt by all those who ever had the pleasure of his company. A kind and modest man, he always had time for his family, friends and fans, and his loss is a terrible blow not only to Jamaican music, but to the world at large.

© SZ Magazin

On the first post-Oktoberfest 2008 Saturday, you might want to

learn how to convert LPs into MP3s from Wired Magazine

download Toddla T & Serocee´s “Fabric 9th Birthday Mix” (via Alex and Attorney Street)

check out Flogsta Danshall

listen to Junior Byles “Last of the Love Songs” on Mudd-Up and/or

read John Eden´s post on UK reggae and the national front.