Focal Point : Ducktails

After leaving college, Matt Mondanile (of the band Real Estate) moved back to his parents' home in New Jersey, where he recorded in the basement. These recordings were released under the name Ducktails, and the music he created has been described as "hypnagogic pop", "woozy, horizontal pop", "lo-fi", and "chillwave". The recordings were freeform jams, once described as "bizarre, krautrock-influenced sound collages", but later material is far more produced-sounding and has more conventional song structures. It's also performed by a full-fledged band. 

 In 2009, Mondanile explained his preference for recording on cassette: "I like the idea of everything being as raw-sounding as possible, with nothing covering up the sound. It's like the only thing covering it up might be the quality of the recording". 

 Ducktails' music to me is full of the haze of late Summer. It drones and calms and is perfect music to relax or drive to ... or both. 

 As always, 

 *** ENJOY***

You can download the mix and track list RIGHT HERE.

Here are a few Ducktails videos from past to present … witness the evolution!

1.

Attention!

My brother Peter Thomas Wilm's amazing art will be featured in a group art show at Daniel Day Gallery here in Birmingham! The opening is his coming Friday evening and the show is entitled "Aquatic Dreams".

HERE is the facebook invite. Go check it out!!!

 2.

This is great. Witness Sigur Ros's amazing interactive ever-changing and 'live' video project for their song "Stormur" RIGHT HERE.

 

3.



And if yer a fan of My Bloody Valentine like I am, HERE is an excellent and revelaing new  Kevin Shields interview!

1stly is this colorful 1971 anti-drug flick called "Curious Alice" and ...well ... it actually makes drugs looks pretty appetizing! haha! See for yourself!

Wow! Witness this incredible new Juliana Barwick video … Here HERE!

This new one from Yo La Tengo is slightly annoying, yet full of clever pop "equations" … definitely original!

This brand new M83 video features the blue-haired adventures of a girl from another world!

Get More: Claudia Lewis - Directed By Bryce Dallas Howard, Music, More Music Videos

Speaking of girls, here's some freshness from Au Revoire Simone

Ah ... some beautiful ambient stuff care of M. Geddes Grengas

And if ya have some time to kill, here's a great fictitious tour documentary of the great yet obscure 90's band The Make Up! Entertaining stuff!

pt. 1


pt. 2

This very dumb girl thinks John Cusack was in "American Beauty". Interview fail!

Listen to David Sedaris praising RuPaul's Drag Race!

Speaking of drag queens and homosexuality, dig this (not funny, but very historic) 1972 gay activist answering phone-in questions!

Train Songs

 

This mix might just be perfect for …

A. Walking on train tracks

B. Riding a train

C. Watching trains go by

D. Thinking of trains

E. All of the above

In the movie "It's A Wonderful Life", George Bailey asks his Uncle Billy "You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are? Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles!"

... Sigh ...

There's no doubt about it, trains are sentimental and nostalgic giants. There's also a certain air of mystery and intrigue whenever a train is heard in the distance. Where is it headed? Where is it coming from?

In making this mixtape, I not only wanted it to be filled with these nostalgic and mysterious feelings, but also the strange yet somehow comforting sadness /lonesomeness that passing trains often embody.

As always,

 *** ENJOY ***

You can download the mix and track list RIGHT HERE.

1.

HERE is a great interview with Julian House (The Focus Group) about his music and parallel realities! 

                                                                               2.

HERE is a rather hilarious article that Craig Stroud posted called "I'm sick of pretending … I don't 'get' art" ... haha! Thanks, Craig!

 

3.

Keith Goodwin posted THIS article about recycling and Sweden running out of garbage … a good example of how things SHOULD be. Cheers, Keith!

1st up, a craaazy new Animal Collective video full of ropes, magic and pleasant dreams turning into nightmares!




 Talk about juxtaposition! Harsh rock meets the world of kid-dom in this 'un by KEN mode




A bit of water ballet fun with Hunters

Speaking of water, here's some waterbed adventures with Night Moves

Elise sent this video entitled 'Parametric Expression' … Woah! Creeeeepy animation with creepy music! Somehow makes me crave Halloween! Gracias, E!

Speaking of Halloween, watch Fol Chen get all spooked out

Here is an excellent animated 'evidence of humanity with no humanity' sort of video from Oneohtrix Point Never

Watch FKA twigs slowly but surely grow some big ole anime eyes!

Default Genders present feelings and projections … projected feelings?!

These are all technically music videos, but I just had to put em in the dessert section cuz they're all waay FUNNY!

Action Bronson raps in an old folks home!

A humorous blast from the past with Stump!

And finally a bizarrely funny brand new one from MGMT