Daily Archives: January 12, 2020

When people lament the passing of the weird, old San Francisco, Trance Mission isn't necessarily what they have in mind, but the singular ensemble represents everything that made the city's pre-Internet music scene such a creative hotbed. The first half of the 1990s was a wide-open era when artists of all stripes could find a $300 room in a rambling Mission District house, while Oakland and even Berkeley offered similarly bohemian-friendly digs. It's not a coincidence that the profusion of clubs and venues brimmed with a disparate roster of wildly inventive bands like Mr. Bungle, Broun Fellinis, Deerhoof, New Klezmer Trio, Idiot Flesh, and Alphabet Soup.

Amongst this heady and hybrid menagerie, Trance Mission stood out as the most unlikely of combos, with a sound built on the starkly contrasting cadences of Beth Custer's sinuous clarinet and Stephen Kent's buzzing didjeridu. Performing with several different lineups, the group released four albums in the 1990s, took a multi-year hiatus, and then returned as an instrumental trio in the mid-Aughts with Los Angeles drummer Peter Valsamis. The relentlessly grooving combo completes its reboot at Yoshi's on Monday, celebrating the release of Le Pendu, its first new album in two decades.

Over the years, the band's mission has evolved and the trance-inducing sound has grown more potent, with an earthy new palette of rhythms and textures. The music still feels like it emanates from Kent's guttural grooves, but where past Trance Mission albums captured the band's roiling excursions, Le Pendu distills the tunes. "It has similarities, with sweeping, epic melodies over driving grooves," Custer said. "I don't really 'write' the music; we jam, and I come up with melodies. Weshape pieces by improvising and experimenting."

While Kent is best known for his pioneering work on didjeridu, the long, droning cylindrical horn created by the aboriginal people of Northern Australia, he's also skilled on percussionist and cello-sintir. Custer contributes on percussion and an array of reeds, particularly B flat, alto, bass clarinets.

Valsamis also doubles on percussion and provides subtle sonic elements on electronics. The results are often giddily intoxicating, as Custer's clarinet lines dart and weave over the subterranean churn. The title track sets the agenda with a blast of ominous whimsy as Custer joyously soars around a disquieting thrum punctuated by the barking rasp of Kent's didjeridu. On other tracks the addition of Anastasi Mavrides's guitar work "launches Le Pendu into more of a jazz/funk realm," Custer said.

The seeds for Trance Mission were planted in 1991, when Custer was on the road with Connie Champagne and her Tiny Bubbles. The tour manager Ron Gompertz, who went on to display his knack for combining the seemingly irreconcilable by codifying the portmanteau holiday Chrismukkah, kept playing a cassette of Lights in aFat City because Kent's pioneering fourth world ambient band was on an upcoming double bill with Champagne at a SOMA nightspot. Fat City's unusual sound caught Custer's ear.

"I took my demo tape to the gig andintroduced myself to Stephen, gave him my cassette," she recalls. "He called me thenext day and we jammed in the Headlands Center for the Arts where I wasartist in residence."

They quickly forged a friendship and started performing at Radio Valencia as a duo. Trance Mission coalesced with the addition of Fat City percussionist Kenneth Newby and multi-instrumentalist John Loose, who added an international array of percussion and string instruments, including tar, bodhrn, tabla, kalimba, kanjira, and riq. The eponymous 1992 debut album introduced the band's giddy grooves and puckish sense of humor (the opening track is "Bo Didgeley"). By the time Trance Mission released its fourth album, 1999's live recording of its farewell concert at St. John's in Berkeley A Day Out of Time (Schott Music), the lineup featured Eda Maxym on vocals and keyboards and Valsamis on drums, electronic percussion, dumbek, gongs, and djembe.

When Custer and Kent started performing as Trance Mission again they mostly worked as a duo, adding Valsamis into the mix whenever he could make it up from L.A. Annual gigs at the beloved Garden of Memory event at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland and InterMusic's SF Music Day has kept the group in the Bay Area mix, but they intend the release of Le Pendu to put the band back on the road. One reason the group hasn't worked more is that Kent and Custer aren't lacking in other commitments.

A revolving roster of assignments has made Custer a major force in Bay Area arts. Drawing on a vivid palette of influences from jazz, folk, blues, Afro-Caribbean, and contemporary classical, she's honed a style that has enhanced a tremendous array of creative endeavors, from the dance theater of the Joe Goode Performance Group to various productions by Intersection For the Arts' Campo Santo to the classic 1929 Soviet silent film My Grandmother. She's also founded and led numerous bands, like the all-star quartet Clarinet Thing. If Trance Mission sounds like the unrestrained id of the scene, Clarinet Thing is the cosmopolitan super ego, uniting Custer with fellow reed maestros Ben Goldberg, Harvey Wainapel, and Sheldon Brown. The group performs Jan. 19, kicking off St. Alban's Episcopal Church's Third Sunday Series.

Like Trance Mission, Clarinet Thing came together in the early 1990s, inspired by the ROVA Saxophone Quartet. But instead of extended improvisations, Clarinet Thing traffics in exquisite chamber jazz, captured on the acclaimed albums Cry, Want, and Agony Pipes and Misery Sticks. The repertoire reflects the musicians' far-flung passions, from Brazilian choro and klezmer tunes to South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, Duke Ellington, Herbie Nichols, Thelonious Monk, Carla Bley, and clarinet greats John Carter and Benny Goodman. Oakland reed specialist Sheldon Brown, who can be found most Sundays playing in the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, said he was drawn to Clarinet Thing by the "openness and willingness to experiment and take chances, and high level of musicianship all around."

Trance Mission, Jan. 13, 8 p.m., $21-49, Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, 510-238-9200, Yoshis.com

Clarinet Thing, Jan. 19, 4 p.m., $20-25 (children under 12 free), St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany, 510-525-1716, StAlbansAlbany.org.

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Out In the Reeds With Beth Custer - East Bay Express

Buckle up everyone because Whethan is ready to leave a magical impression on the music scene in 2020 with his forthcoming albumFantasy!

Whethan, who has been rising to the top with performances at major festivals and tracks like Be Like You featuring Broods is starting off the year with a new single, new album, and a new tour. New everything. The 20-year-old talent just released his collaboration track Stay Forever featuring STRFKR off his debut album Fantasy. The single is dynamic and brings a sense of ease to the ears. The first drop will make your shoulders groove and youll slowly start to fall into a tranceand a beautiful trance at that.

The vocals complement the chord progression beautifully, especially before the second drop. The track steadily builds up and the explosion of euphoria hits. No joke, get ready to dance by this point. Words cant describe the feelings that Stay Forever ignites, but I can only imagine the fantasy Whethan is going to create on his album. Following that epic drop, the track begins to fade out and ends on a smooth, relaxing note. It leaves you wanting more. Seriously I wish the song was longer.

Check out the Stay Forever music video below or listen to the track on your favorite platform. For fans of Tron or vaporwave, youll appreciate the aesthetics. The end is brilliant, it perfectly sums up how we all feel when a music festival ends and were forced back into reality. Tragic.

For fans in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and surrounding areasWhethan is kicking off the Fantasy tour with support from Chrome Sparks and Ramzoid starting March 26. Each show will feel like a pop-up show, so you can expect special surprises, new music, and an opportunity to create new memories.

Tickets for the Fantasy tour are on sale now via Whethans website.

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Whethan Returns with New Single "Stay Forever" and Fantasy Tour - EDM Identity

Eyes Everywhere unleashes the tech-house fire with Coupla Blues,a body rocking, two-track EP infused with unrelenting character!

New music alert! Eyes Everywhere jumps back on Psycho Disco! with a phenomenal EP dubbed Coupla Blues!As one of the labels shining stars, we have already become privy to their dance floor rocking tunes with their hit EPs Talk and Soul Cycle, as well as singles that include Kmart Krump, Ride Me, and many more. But, for this go-round, the boys dig even deeper into their musical toolbox, showing us that they are the ones to watch as the new decade gears up.

Making their come up in the great city of Buffalo, NY, Eyes Everywhere (Kyle Tatum and Brian Doyle) have explored a vast array of sounds ranging from crust punk to trance. Eventually, their love for dance music would take them on a journey of growth as they wowed crowds and explored their musical creativity on Holy Ship, as well as at Camp Bisco and HARD Summer.

Now with releases on major labels including Desert Hearts, Toolroom Records and of course, Atlanta-based Psycho Disco!, the boys remain dedicated to honing their craft as they land gigs everywhere from Buffalo, Detroit, Denver, LA and beyond. I am particularly excited because as they bring something fresh and funky to the table every time they take the stage it is their ever-expanding expertise in the studio that will allow them to consistently churn out dance floor gems like their forthcoming Coupla Blues EP!

Continue on to get an exclusive listen to Coupla Blues, pre-order it ahead of its full release on Jan 10, and read on for my review on the two tunes!

With just one listen I am enamored by the swirling sound details that spin playfully among a domineering tech house kick. With echoing lyrics that act as one of many fierce focal points, my body is switched on with the announcement that tonights the night. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I cant help but begin to crave a night out at the club, the place that we flock to when we want to shake off the stress of the day.

But this track does more than just help to shake off the stress. It offers up an off-the-wall escape packed with boundless energy that attaches to each and every fiber of the soul. With moments that feel lighter than air coupled with waves of fun peak hour flair, Coupla Blues has the ability to become a fan favorite dance floor anthem.

When I look at In The Corners as a whole I immediately want to grab a partner and groove down low as the deep sexy lyric guides my every move. This track inspires physical exploration as the hot and heavy synth line keeps my mind locked in a trance and my body gyrating in ways that would make my parents blush.

When I close my eyes I imagine a dark club in the early hours of the morning as the swirling lights cast a glow on the bodies caught in the grip of sultry debauchery. While we are literally just getting into the new year I can already say that this will be one of my favorite tunes of 2020 because it embodies the very essence of club culture through both the intense sound elements and lyrical imagery.

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Eyes Everywhere Gets Us Ready for the Club with 'Coupla Blues' [Exclusive Premiere] - EDM Identity

Nostalgia is like quicksand. The more that you place your mind into the past to relive fun moments, the more you put yourself in danger to miss what's going on in front of you. It's because you become obsessed with how good it was back then as opposed to different circumstances that exist now.

Tame Impala's new song, "Lost in Yesterday," is designed to pull you out of this throwback trance. Kevin Parker and the troupe want you to snap out of it, and their grand plan is to hit you with waves of space-traveling funk to do it.

"Lost in Yesterday" sounds like it found itself in the future. Synths creep out from every corner along with cosmic sounds straight from a galaxy-themed pinball machine. Parker's voice floats in on top of this spaceship to deliver a serious message: Get your head out of the past, or you'll be oblivious to how good today is. "Does it help to get lost in yesterday?/And you might've missed something, don't say," he sings on the chorus. The last line of the first verse captures his real feelings toward nostalgia and its destructive nature: "Eventually, terrible memories turn into great ones." Can you emerge from this pit before it swallows you whole?

"Lost in Yesterday" is the fourth single from Tame Impala's forthcoming album,The Slow Rush, set to drop on February 14. Before then, their last LP was 2015's Currents. The new singlefollows the previously released tunes "Posthumous Forgiveness," "Borderline," and "It Might Be Time." Last March, they also released "Patience," but there's no word if that will appear on the album.

Tame Impala also have a slew of tour dates on the horizon. They have four shows in March with Clairo across California and Mexico. Then, they'll be heading out on tour with indie-pop artist Perfume Genius in May. The trek kicks off in Chicago on May 29 and wraps up in George, Washington on August 7.

Check out Tame Impala's anti-nostalgia anthem, "Lost in Yesterday," up above.

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Tame Impala Try To Save You From Sinking Into The Past On Lost In Yesterday - MTV.com

The year 2019 witnessed Malayalam cinema go pan-India thanks to rising popularity of OTT platforms hosting films like Kumbalangi Nights, Lucifer, Virus, Ishq, among others. This year too, there will be a tidy balance of films celebrating super-stardom and slice-of-life narratives. There are superstar big-budget films like Bilal and Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham, films with unusual themes, rom-coms, a superhero story, a biopic, a political thriller and a gangster story.

We have tried to keep this list to 10, with a set of films that have either already created enough hype on the social media or going by the makers/writers portfolio of quality cinema.

Trance

Fahadh Faasil in a poster for Trance. Image from Twitter

The biggest news around Trance has to be director Anwar Rasheed making a film after a gap of 6 years (his last was Aami in5 Sundarikal). Produced by Rasheed, written by Vincent Vadakkan, framed by Amal Neerad, starring Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Fahad, Vinayakan and Soubin Shahir, the film, made on a budget of Rs 35 crores, is reportedly based on the Pentecostal community.Rasheed has also produced two of the most successful films in the last decadePremam and Bangalore Days.

Release month: February

Bilal

When Amal Neerad first announced the project in 2017, this development was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from social media. Whats more, nearly all young Malayalam actors shared the news on their social accounts, about the second coming of Bilal.

Neerad called it a prequel to his cult action thriller Big B, starring Mammootty, which also marked his directorial debut. Big B wasnt a box office success, like most films ahead of their times,it proved to be a slow burner. Besides becoming a cult favourite, it isnow considered one of the most technically superior films of our times. While Big B centred around Mary Teachers murder and how her four adopted sons come together to unravel the mystery and find the culprits, its prequel, written by Unni R will apparently dwell on Bilals past.

With the success of Neerads last release, Varathan, Bilal will be a pressure test for the director as he has the task of bettering Big B. There are rumours about Fahadh Faasil and Sreenath Bhasi being part of the project.Other members of the cast have not been announced.

Release month: Tentatively end of the year

Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham

A poster of Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham. Image from Twitter

Priyadarshans historical period drama co-written withAni Sasi is about the exploits of Kunjali Marakkar IV a16th century naval chieftain of the Zamorin of Calicut. There were three Marakkars before him who played a key role in their naval wars with the Portuguese from 1507 to 1600. They are said to have organised the first naval defence of the Indian coast.

Reportedly made on a budget of Rs 100 crores,Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simhamis said to be the most expensive Malayalam film yet. With quite an ensemble of actors led by Mohanlal, the cast also includes Arjun, Manju Warrier, Sudeep, Suniel Shetty and Keerthy Suresh.Pranav Mohanlal and Kalyani Priyadarshan willmake a cameo appearance.

Originally planned in 1996 by Priyadarshan, based on T Damodarans script, the project never took off owing to budget constraints. With a well-made period feature, Kaalapani behind him, and a sneak peak of the teaser released during its audio launch creating much buzz on social media, its a film to look forward to. Principle cinematography is by Thirru, while Sabu Cyril has handled the production design and Rahul Raj hascomposed the music

Release month: The film is scheduled to release over 5000 screens worldwide on 26 March

Halal Love Story

After the critically and commercially successful Sudani from Nigeria, Zakariya is once again teaming up with writer Muhsin Parari for a cute little story set in Malappuram. The story is said to revolve around the home video culture, in that part of the world. Cast includes Indrajith Sukumaran and Grace Antony, along with Joju George and Vinay Fort. Aashiq Abu and Zakariya are producing the film.

Release month:TBA

Kurup

Dulquer Salmaan in and as Kurup. Image from Twitter

Sreenath Rajendran whose debut was Second Show starring the then-newcomer Dulquer Salmaan, is yet again teaming up with the actor in Kurup, based on one of Keralas notorious fugitives Sukumara Kurup. Kurup is said to have burnt a man inside a car to fake his own death to get an insurance amount. Though his co-accused have been serving life imprisonment, the criminal is still untraceable and the case remains one of the long-standing open cases in the history of the state.

Salmaanplays the titular role, supported by Indrajith Sukumaran and Shine Tom Chacko. The film is scripted by Daniell Sayooj Nair and KS Aravind while Jithin K Jose has penned the story.

Release month: Mid2020

One

Mammootty in a poster for One. Image from Twitter

Mammootty plays apolitician in this thrillerscripted by Bobby-Sanjay (their first association with the actor) and directed by Santosh Vishwanath (of Chirakodinja Kinavukal-fame). Nimisha Sajayan, Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Renji Panicker, Murali Gopy and Joju George are part of the ensemble.

One has generated a significant interest ever since the makers released first look posters of the actor. In the images, Mammootty, clad in a white shirt and mundu, looks stern and composed.

Release month: March end

Thuramukham

A poster of Thuramukham. Image from Twitter

After the critically appreciated Kammatipaadam in 2016, Rajeev Ravi will yet again bring lesser known history of Kochi into focus. Based on a 1968 play of the same title by KM Chidambaram, a teacher and a renowned playwright; it revolved around a Muslim family in Mattancherry, where the working class lived in impoverished conditions due to unemployment and exploitation by shipping companies. It revolves around the events leading to Chappa system practised in the Cochin harbour during the 1950s.

The screenplay is Gopan Chithambaram (who also co-wrote Iyobinte Pusthakam). Nivin Pauly stars inThuramukhamalongside Indrajith Sukumaran, Nimisha Sajayan and Poornima Indrajith.

Release month:TBA

Malik

Editor-director Mahesh Narayanan, who made his debut with Take Off in 2017, is back with his second film starring Fahadh Faasil and Nimisha Sajayan. It is said to be a gangster film, set in the backdrop of Beemapally riots. The film is bankrolled by Anto Joseph.

Release month: End of this year

Thangam

After the terrific success of Kumbalangi Nights, Syam Pushkaran is collaborating with yetnewcomer director, Shaheed Arafath. Pushkaran is co-producing the project, reportedly a heist thriller, withDileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil and Rajan Thomas.

Faasil, Joju George and Pothan have been roped in as actors.Faasil and Pothans associations,Maheshinte Prathikaram and Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, have been magical and thats enough reason to put your money on the upcoming film.

Release month:TBA

Minnal Murali

A poster of Minnal Murali. Image from IMDb

Malayalam cinemas first film based on a fictitious local superhero, has Tovino Thomas in the lead role. Directed by Basil Joseph, this film also stars Tamil actor Guru Somasundaram. Tovino also has interesting films like Kilometers and Kilometers, and Forensic lined up this year.

Release month:TBA

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Updated Date: Jan 13, 2020 08: 12: 18 IST

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Most awaited Malayalam films of 2020, from One and Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham to Thuramukham and Kurup | MOOSE GAZETTE - Moose Gazette

Clear your Thursday afternoons, friends, because that's just about the only time you can still get tickets to cult classic HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH at Portland Center Stage. These are tickets you'll definitely want to snag. Directed by Chip Miller and starring Delphon "DJ" Curtis Jr. and Ithica Tell, this glam rock concert musical delivers the goods -- it's a kickass testament to self-acceptance and a reminder that the world is a lot less binary than we try to make it.

The show is staged as a concert, with Hedwig singing original songs interspersed with the story of her life. And quite a life she's had! She was born in East Germany as Hansel, the son of a single mother who spent most of his time listening to American rock music on the radio. As a young man, Hansel caught the eye of an American G.I. named Luther, who wanted to marry him and take him to the United States. But, getting immigration papers required a full physical, so Hansel become Hedwig. However, the sex change operation was botched, leaving her with an "angry inch."

Shortly after returning to America, Luther abandoned Hedwig, and she found herself living in a Kansas trailer park. Through one of her odd jobs, Hedwig meets Tommy and they start to write songs together. But he's a conservative Christian and can't accept her genderqueer identity, so he takes the songs and leaves Hedwig behind. Fast forward a few years and Tommy is playing huge arenas while Hedwig and her band, "The Angry Inch," are relegated to rundown establishments, like the old Chili's in an abandoned mall that is the setting for the PCS production.

That may seem like a lot of spoilers, but if you're familiar with Hedwig, you know that the plot is not the point. What is the point is Hedwig's journey toward accepting and loving herself for exactly who she is.

I've heard stories of some legendary HEDWIG productions here in Portland in the past. Though I wasn't lucky enough to see any of them, I predict that this production will join their ranks. First, for mainstream theatre audiences, HEDWIG is still edgy -- certainly the edgiest thing that PCS has produced in the several years since I've been here.

But, most importantly, this production will be talked about as Curtis's breakout performance. He had me in a trance from the moment he appeared in full glam rock glory -- with sky-high hair (rolled around pop cans!) and impossibly tall boots -- descending the broken escalator like a god coming down to Earth to lay some knowledge on us mere mortals. His voice is god-like as well. He slays Stephen Trask's score (which Time Magazine called, "The most exciting rock score written for the theatre since, oh, ever!"), from the quiet thoughtful moments to the loud blow-the-roof-off rock and roll bliss.

With Hedwig's personality taking up almost the entire stage, there isn't much room left for Yitzhak, Hedwig's manager and helper of sorts. But Ithica Tell does a remarkable job in the role of not only claiming space, but creating a complete and complex character. Her rendition of "The Long Grift" is just one of the show's many chill-inducing moments.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is officially the first must-see show of 2020. It runs through Feb. 23. More details and tickets here.

Photo credit: Owen Carey/Courtesy of Portland Center Stage at The Armory

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BWW Review: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH at Portland Center Stage - Broadway World