Rum & 7"s

Hey - I’ve been in the overseas… Here’s...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:02:00 +1000

Hey - I’ve been in the overseas…

Here’s a Diplo music vid directed by Eric Wareheim. So no surprise that this is badass.

I’m really enjoying Lester Bang’s biography at the...

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:36:14 +1000

I’m really enjoying Lester Bang’s biography at the moment - Let It Blurt; The Life And Times of Lester Bangs by Jim DeRogatis. Lester is hailed as one of the greatest rock critics of all time, and indeed one of the most famous journalists of his era. I’ve yet to finish but I’ve particularly enjoyed his sparring matches with Lou Reed.

By clicking through the pic above you can read his less than complimentary 1978 review of Bob Marley’s “Kaya”.

Heath Ledger's inspiration for The Joker was probably Tom Waits.

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:36:58 +1000

Heath Ledger's inspiration for The Joker was probably Tom Waits.

3 Kings Feat. Dr. Dre & Jay-Z From Rick Ross’ GOD...

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 12:35:48 +1000

3 Kings Feat. Dr. Dre & Jay-Z From Rick Ross’ GOD FORGIVES, I DON’T Album In Stores July 31st!

gonz

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:57:02 +1000

gonz

Exploring my run on the bitter blood riddim this week.

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:23:00 +1000

Exploring my run on the bitter blood riddim this week.

Gappy paying homage on a popular Peckings 7”

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:35:00 +1000

Gappy paying homage on a popular Peckings 7”

Photo

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:13:12 +1000

Big Mama Thornton performs “Ball and Chain” with the...

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:40:45 +1000

Big Mama Thornton performs “Ball and Chain” with the Buddy Guy Blues Band. Fricken’ BOSS!

"Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest— …Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the..."

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:43:30 +1000

““Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—
…Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest—
…Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!””

- Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

King Tuff on heavy rotation at my place currently.

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:00:20 +1000

King Tuff on heavy rotation at my place currently.

The Bondi Acquarium at Tamarama, circa 1890. Back when the land...

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:48:37 +1000

The Bondi Acquarium at Tamarama, circa 1890. Back when the land around my neighbourhood was so cheap they built an amusement park on it.

Lovely little Observer repress, originally issued in the...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:39:15 +1000

Lovely little Observer repress, originally issued in the 1980’s on a 12”

This sunrise shot, taken from the rocks at the end of my street,...

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:35:00 +1000

This sunrise shot, taken from the rocks at the end of my street, rivals the sunset pic I posted towards the end of summer. My apartment was glowing with this light, filling me with gratitude and luring me out and onto the beach.

The Surfrider Foundation announced today that the California State Assembly passed House Resolution No. 30; a resolution that recognizes International Surfing Day as a way to celebrate California’s surfing heritage and raise awareness about the need to protect our oceans, waves and beaches.

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:03:56 +1000

The Surfrider Foundation announced today that the California State Assembly passed House Resolution No. 30; a resolution that recognizes International Surfing Day as a way to celebrate California’s surfing heritage and raise awareness about the need to protect our oceans, waves and beaches.

I laid out a bit of dosh on a few new album releases recently. -...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:47:12 +1000

I laid out a bit of dosh on a few new album releases recently.

- The Hives - ‘Lex Hives’ (released June 4th). Brilliantly fun, scream-your-guts-out rock. My go-to running album at the moment. I’d love to see this group live - I reckon they’d be rad.

- Hot Chip - ‘In Our Heads’ (released June 11th). This sort of music isn’t really my usual style these days, but this album got really good reviews from a bunch of people that I listen to as far as music is concerned. ‘How do You Do’ had me wondering if I would still enjoy the nightclub dance floor again, but if I check them at a festival that would probably be the closest I’d get. Very refreshing and enjoyable for me.

- Big KRIT - ‘Live From The Underground’ (released June 4th). I’d been waiting for this one for awhile, after digging his mix tapes over the past year or so. I was hoping to be completely blown away and proclaim him the new king of Southern hip hop - the next Andre 3000! But there are few tracks on the album that compare to his earlier efforts in my mind. Having gotten over that, it’s still one of the best “current” rap albums I’ve heard in a long time and I think it’s still growing on me. Actually, I love it already.

- Unknown Mortal Orchestra - ‘Unknown Mortal Orchestra’ (released August last year). This one slipped my notice last year so thanks to my bro for pointing me towards this Kiwi-led group based in Portland, OR. Ruban Nielson (ex Mint Chicks) has created something really beautiful here and I hope they do well.

El Dorado 3 Year Old Cask Aged, Guyana This is the baby of the...

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:31:00 +1000

El Dorado 3 Year Old Cask Aged, Guyana

This is the baby of the bunch and an interesting spirit from Plantation Diamond on the East bank of the Demerara River.

Twice filtered through natural charcoal, the 3 year looks like Vodka. But it’s still a rum, and has been slightly aged in Bourbon barrels, so it smells like vanilla sugar and feels buttery and smooth in the mouth.

While I wouldn’t consider this a sipping rum, that is more of an option here than for pretty much all white rums I’ve tried. A very light sweetness carries good flavour, but the coconut and citrus flavours lend themselves more to island style cocktails. The lack of any real spice or notes of oak then becomes more of a blessing than a curse.

It’s a bit odd tasting a totally clear El Dorado rum, knowing that it comes from the banks of the silt stained Demerara.

Photo

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:30:59 +1000

If you thought Mick Boogie's MCA tribute mix was good - check out this one from Doc Delay!

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:39:56 +1000

If you thought Mick Boogie's MCA tribute mix was good - check out this one from Doc Delay!

It’s winter time here in Sydney. Best embrace the rain....

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:43:18 +1000

It’s winter time here in Sydney. Best embrace the rain. Stream this link - http://www.rainymood.com/ - while you listen to this gorgeous slice of late 70’s Studio One goodness from Jackie Mittoo.

From a 1980’s UK repress. Run tune…