Soon we will say GOODBYE JULY, 2003: WINNER ANNOUNCED AFTER HOW LONG??? We have a winner! That's right, at long last the gifts have been a-gathered and we have plucked a winner from the ether. His name is Richard Davies. Congratulations, Richard Davies. His winning entry read: "we are your friends" played by Spanish conquistadors as they take their first steps in South America, performed flamenco style, from the bows of their galleons a la "apocalypse now" chopper scene.
On being contacted by the lovely Clara, Richie told us:
"its funny, i met the one who looks like tom baker/starsky at a record shop opening a while back and he said he'd send me some cd's -- they never arrived so this must be fate"
Can't argue with that. A fat pack of good items is winging its way to Richie as a consequence. Commiserations to all those who played the good game and came away without children's toy musical instruments. Better luck next time.
By way of a communal consolation prize we've created a small Simian picture for you. See how the monkey cuddles. Be glad. And disturbed by the whole wild-animals-in-nappies thing.
HEADS UP! Check your listings folks. Monday -- that's this Monday a-comin', Monday 21st July -- Simian are doing a session on Radio 1's Breezeblock Show. LOG recalls an 11pm to 2am time slot, but wouldn't bet on it, not even with something as valueless as matchsticks.
MIDI JULY, 2003: MORE LIKENESS THAN EVER! Double wow. It's an artwork double bill. As if to distract from the fact that we still haven't announced a competition winner. Sorry -- we're, er, looking for the bag. It has only been waylaid, not mislaid, don't panic.
First up, this choice piece of choiceness: it's a Simian puzzle, sent all the way from Australia. By Dingo Mail. Made by Rachel, who tells us that "La Breeze used to (and still does) get a fair amount of airplay on a national youth radio station named Triple J. They also used to play One Dimension as well." Ripper!
But we don't stop there. By friendly Alexandre Lys. He is French:
Wow! Double time! And yes, competition will be finalised any day now, tum ti tum.
VERY EARLY JULY, 2003: UNCANNY LIKENESS! Yes, yes, you're impatient for the competition winner to be announced. We should announce the winningest winner within the next few days. The island was lovely, thanks for asking so nice and quietly.
In the meantime, feast your eyes on Aussie Rebekah's drawing of Simian! Uncanny, is it not? You will struggle to determine which is the photo and which is the drawing. If you too feel inspired to provide LOG with artwork of your own making, email it to WeAreYourFriends@WeAreSimian.com.
12TH JUNE, 2003: COMPETITITITION ENTRIES Nice entries! You are excellent top-notch mega-double friendly folks indeed. Your LOG is disappearing for a few weeks to live on an island, but will be back. Perhaps judgement will come before the return, perhaps after. Anyhow, here are some of those entries to keep you mulling. We will post the winner here - soon. Ish.
The question was: if you could broadcast a single Simian track at a global event, past or present, which song would you pick and at which event would you play it?
Here are just a smattering of the entries we've had (we will attach your names to your answers when we've had some sleep - everything is blurry and the fingers move too slowly for credits right now, but you will be saluted in time, promise).
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Your answers were: The Wisp instead of that Michael Jackson song in Free Willy 2 "Big Black Gun", at the press conference where the war on Iraq was launched/announced. Its the closest they would have got to a weapon of mass destruction, and for the line "Ain't got a soul, Just a big black hole" Watch it glow - at my wedding. I would broadcast SUNSHINE on the day the earth stands still.... Hopefuly it would happen during the day and everyone could fly towards the sun... I would play Mr. Crow, cause it's a realy cynical song with a meaning. I would play it to all of the stoned people in MTV music awards. we are your friends played by spanish conquistadors as they take their first steps in south america performed flamenco style from the bows of their galleons ala "apocalypse now" chopper scene. La Breeze at the World Cup 1994. One Dimension....at the annual Gloucester cheese rolling festival (lots of people get hurt there) ladytron remix and I would play it at the megaevent "love parade" a huge rave that gets to lots of people, or in my country at the summer rave, end of the year, which is also a huge event. LA BREEZE, LAUNCH OF NEW LABOUR! I would play one dimension at the opening of Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and get I.K.Brunel to dance. I would play "End of the Day" on 9/11/01 at dusk, because in sadness there is joy. Helpless at the Limelight, Belfast la breeze, just before a big tidal wave/tsunami would come and wash every one away, destroying everything in its path....bit depressing, but it would make everone feel much happier listening to the ace track..!!......here it comes..............here it comes.............. i can’t think of global events. Not like happy ones. Like wars. I wouldn’t play Simian at a war. I would play Mister Crow at the premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s “THE BIRDS”, that could be a global thing, couldn’t it? A film première.. And quite fitting. Did you see the bit with the girl in the phone booth and the crows attack her and a man rescues her? That has crows and men in it. La Breeze - Glastonbury Skin, The Pope's Christmas Mass, any year you like grey at the solar eclipse, cornwall 1999 perhaps "helpless" at the battle of hastings in 1066. I would say, "it's okay, you can come out now, it's over duke william of normandy," and he'd be all like, "I just don't like chili," while sucking his big toe to comfort his mouse. rocktronic. WHAT A DREAM, THE REMOVAL OF THE BERLIN WALL swarm - any company picnic what a dream....queens party what was more global than that? 'Never Be Alone' at the end of the world as we know it. drop and roll would be played at the first guillotining in france since the french revolution. the first victim? george bush Never Be Alone, when the Russians invited the Germans to come live with them. What a Dream at the original Woodstock I would play La Breeze as a tornado warning so people could dance ther way 2 safety Drop and Roll at some point during the Great Fire of London, maybe the second day into it. over the hills - the 1953 climbing of everest I would play La Breeze at SXSW because i went to Dallas once and it was really windy the whole time Never Be Alone at 93 FT East well, LA BREEZE, just before the impact of a global taifun (as a gentle warning...) La Breeze (simian mob disco) at 'The Berry Ball' in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. My dads' end of raspberry picking season thank you party for the Czech and Polish students who stay with us every year!!!!! I would play 'Tree In The Corner' at a big, worldwide convention for supernatural stuff, or maybe the Chelsea flower show, as a tribute to the bog-standard trees that are no doubt feeling left out among the pretty flowers. People from al over the world come to the Chelsea flower show, don't they? Mr Crow - Neighbours theme song (special edition of show where cast is entirely stoned) One Dimension at the election of President Bush (because he does see the world in one dimension, doesn't he?) La Breeze at my prom, because it would be crap without it!!!!( yes I do no its not a global event, but hey!) would have to be The Wisp and would play it on our festival X-Peripheria to get everyone in the mood for the evening Out of bed, last friday when i was sleeping in the car after a show and some guys mugged me for my money, camera and cellphone while i was sleeping and i didn't wake the hell up. (of course i was drunk...geeez) The wisp at the coronation of richard I You set off my brain - Midlands 'Out Of Bed' played when John and Yoko didn't in their Amsterdam Hotel Room. Genius! i would play la breeze - simply cos it shows exactly where simian are at - making FANTASTIC music for the summer partying people! theres no hanging around in the past or being disturbed at the future - its just right now in the sun the wisp at the anual ice-dust fairy convention, just before the ice-dustlets transform into full ice-dust fairies, it would be their coming of age song. As the world slowly comes to it's bitter end and judgement day is almost upon us and all we had was 2 minutes and 57 seconds to go i would want 'LA BREEZE' playing......it would really build the tension and freak everyone stupid! COME ON!!!!!!! Doba in a village party in South Of France we are your friends at the excecution of phil spector over the hills while i'm mooning La Breeze when America supposedly put the first man on the moon because there's no breeze there. |
LOG is exhausted. We will tell you who wins and we will send all the good stuff to them. Talk amongst yourselves for now. Bye!
6TH JUNE, 2003: SIMIAN AT THE SPITZ - SOON! Simian will play live at The Spitz, London E1 on Thursday 19th June, 8pm. They will be with Dibidim. If you can attend, you should!
Tickets are £10 on door/ £8 adv. Available via Ticketweb 08700 600 100 or www.ticketweb.co.uk.More info on La Breeze single, currently flying out of shops like demented bats and robins: La Breeze is loosely based on the Mistral, the famous wind that blows over the French plains and sends everyone a bit loopy. The single features a variety of remixes. Ladytron make the track a lot dirtier inserting their 80's stylings. Phil Kieran goes for the jugular with a tribalistic house rework. Plus there is one insane take on 'La Breeze' from Brian Eno. It's dischordant-glitch cut-up-drum-and-bass, more reminiscent of Squarepusher or AFX than the ambient productions he's more famous for. A rare remix from this infamous originator.
But yes, you have the single. All you want is the Spitz's address. Which is 109 Commercial Street, Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6BG. If you would like to chatter to them, call them on 020 7392 9032.
That was correct. 19th June. That's this month! On a Thursday.
MAY IS ALMOST DONE AND DUSTED FOR 2003: HOW DID THE ALTERNATIVE BREEZE VIDEO HAPPEN? ANSWERS!
LOG asked Keith Mottram about the making of the alternative video for La Breeze. He was kind enough to reply. This is what he said:
"I came to make the simian video because simian's manager Steve is a big bully... well that's not entirely fair but there is some truth in the matter. Basically I had already made a small piece of animation that i had cut to La Breeze and i showed it too steve, Steve had just seen the original la breeze video and showed it to me."
"Being an arrogant [LOG-DELETED EXPLETIVE] and occasional music video director i gave my opinion on the video: what was right, what was wrong and how i would have done it differently - the standard industry bitch and pitch. So Steve put me in the position to prove it."
"Armed with a couple of sheckles, a DV camera and a cocksure attitude i went off to Simian's east end studio and pottered around for a while. roughly a month later the torture was over and my mac gave birth to the new La Breeze video. Which video people prefer is up to them, they're both different after all, but i do feel that i managed to capture the essence of Simian and i hope others feel the same."
You'll find both videos for La Breeze on the FOOTAGE page of this site.
| All hail Steve! All hail Grilly! There was a cow bell. There were some sticks. Lesser men would attempt to beat the bell to death with the sticks, and in trying to do bloody murder would only create a Very Loud Sound. But Steve and Grilly chose not to beat the bell. Instead they held it and loved in and in time the bell's confidence grew and now it's all grown up and working as 3rd bell in the Great Westminster Clock (otherwise known as Big Ben). Which just goes to show. |
MAY IS ENDING, 2003: JAMES GIVES US THE FOOD-BASED LOWDOWN: In this, the apex of modern music loggerlism, LOG asks James, whose fists beat the drums, about some foodstuffs.
1) What are your feelings about Jaffa Cakes? Are they truly cake or hyped-up biscuits?
YOU SEE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THIS FUSS IS ABOUT. I'VE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A JAFFA CAKE LOVER. TO ME THEY'RE JUST SUBSTANDARD BISCUITS THAT ALWAYS TASTE STALE. I AM INTERESTED HOWEVER, IN THE DIFFERENCE BEETWEEN A CHUTNEY AND A PICKLE. FOR INSTANCE, I WOULD HAVE CLASSED BRANSTON PICKLE AS A CHUTNEY.
2) What is the best roast? And which vegatations go best with them meats?ERM..CHICKEN. AND YORKSHIRE PUDDING, FRESH FROM THE TREE.
3) What's on your rider? Tell us it's a whole slow-roasted camel. Go on.
SIMIAN'S TIPPLE OF CHOICE AT THE MO IS LASHING AND LASHINGS OF TEQUILA. IT GIVES US THAT MEXICAN FIGHTING SPIRIT WE ENJOY. OR ABSYNTHE. WHICH MAKES DRIVING THOSE BACKSTAGE GOLF BUGGIES ALL THE MORE INTERESTING. WE ALSO DEMAND OLYMPIC REGULATION JAVELINS... FOR JOUSTING.
4) Are you any good at cooking? What would you make for a 'specially friendly dinner'?
I PERSONALLY LEAVE THE COOKING TO ONE OF MY WIVES.
5) What to drink when the sun's high in the sky and the thirst's getting unbearable?
DRINKING IN THE SUN? SUNKIST IS THE ONE, OR RED STRIPE, OR SUPERSONIC IF I'M FEELING THOUGHTFUL.. MMMN, I LOVE SUMMER, ALL CHEAP WHITE CIDER AND FRISBEES.
12TH MAY, 2003: ALEX TELLS US BREEZE THINGS: You LOG speaks in small case. Alex SHOUTS REAL BIG. This is how you will know us.
1) The breeze. Is this something that a draught-excluder would sort out, or should we welcome it?
IT'S ACTUALLY LA BREEZE BECAUSE THIS PARTICULARLY CURIOUS WIND COMES FROM FRANCE (NOT LOS ANGELES AS SOME RADIO STATIONS SEEM TO THINK - THAT ONE'S CALLED "LOS BREEZE" DUMMIES!). LA BREEZE IS A VERY STRONG WIND WHICH ONLY OCCURS AT A CERTAIN TIME OF YEAR AND IF YOU GET CAUGHT IN IT YOU GO BONKERS IN THE NUT. DO NOT WELCOME IT. I THINK IT'S REALLY CALLED LA MISTRAL BUT WE DIDN'Y KNOW THAT AT THE TIME.
2) What's the deal with version 2 of the La Breeze video? How did this come about and did it please you?
VERSION 2 WAS THOUGHT UP AND CONSTRUCTED BY MR KEITH MOTTRAM WHO TAGGED ALONG TO A PHOTO SHOOT WE WERE DOING WITH A FRIEND OF HIS. WE JUST THOUGHT HE WAS SOME REGULAR GUY BUT IT TURNS OUT HE'S A SUPERVIDEOSUPERGENIUS. SECRETLY HE BEGAN PUTTING TOGETHER SOME MOVING IMAGES USING A FEW PHOTOS (MATRIX STYLE Y'ALL!). THE FIRST THING WE SAW OF THE VIDEO WAS THE "CAMERA" PANNING AROUND THIS STRANGE BEING WHICH LOOKED STRANGELY FAMILIAR BUT SOMEHOW DISAGREEABLE. THIS PERSON WAS A COMBINATION OF ALL FOUR OF US AND WHOOP, WHAT A LOOKER! AFTER SEEING THIS WE DEMANDED THAT WE GET TOGETHER AND FINISH THE VIDEO OFF. HE CAME TO OUR STUDIO AND GOT SOME LIVE PERFORMANCE ACTION AND THEN WENT OFF TO DO SOME HEAVY EDITING. WE CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW MUCH RESPECT WE HAVE FOR KEITH, HE HAS MADE US (IN MY OPPINION) OUR BEST VIDEO YET, COMPLETELY OFF HIS OWN BACK. HE DID IT REALLY CHEAP BY BLOCKING CALLS FROM HIS PRODUCTION COMPANY - WHO WERE TRYING TO EARN HIM THE BIG BUCKS. HE WANTED TO DO IT FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BIG COMPANY WITH THE BIG INVOICES AND THE TEAMS OF USELESS PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR USELESS, COSTLY OARS IN. WHICH IS AN ATTITUDE THAT WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND ADMIRE. NICE ONE KEITH!3) Version 2 video also shows you in your studio. Are you going to spring-clean in anytime soon? Have you ever lost small musical instruments within the clutter?
IT'S WAR IN HERE! I THINK THE CAT'S BEEN TAKING THINGS AND BUILDING HER OWN STUDIO. ONE DAY IT WILL BE ALL DUST AND NO KIT. MAYBE IT'S DISSOLVING.
4) Lots of people like the track. XFM. Mark and Lard. Who loves it the most?
WELL ONE COMMENT THAT KEEPS POPPING UP IS THAT LA BREEZE IS A SUMMERTIME GEM. IT'S NOT, IT A SERIOUS WARNING ABOUT THIS SERIOUSLY SCAREY WIND THAT'S GONNA COME AND MAKE US ALL GO LOOPY. C'MON PEOPLE, STOP DANCING AND GO GET THE TINNED FOODS IN.
5) What b-sides are going out with La Breeze? People would like to know, as your b-sides are usually spiffy.
WELL... WE'VE DONE A VERY RUDE RAGGA STYLE REMIX WITH A SLIGHTLY EASTERN TINGE, SO THAT SHOULD BE BLASTNG OUT OF THE LO RIDERS DOWN WHITECHAPPEL. STRANGE UNCLE ENO HAS DONE A REMIX, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE LA BREEZE MUST HAVE GOT TO HIM FIRST! LADYTRON HAVE ELECTRO'ED IT UP AND PHIL KIEREN HAS DONE A HOUSE REMIX (MARKETING DEPT - AHEM). BOTH ARE PRETTY SWEET. THEN THERE'S A DOWNBEAT REMIX FROM ILYA WITH A CHANTING MONKS/SHADOW TYPE THING. NO B-SIDES FROM US THIS TIME I'M AFRAID, JUST A BUNCH OF REALLY INTERESTING REMIXES.
6) Is anything lined up for release after La Breeze, or should we buy it now in a Simian start-of-summer feeding frenzy before the dry spell begins?
MUNCH IT ALL UP PEOPLE, THIS IS PROBABLY IT TILL THE NEXT ALBUM, WHICH BY THE WAY WILL SOUND LIKE THE EXACT OPPOSITE TO FRIENDS... ALTHOUGH I SUPPOSE THAT WOULD BE CHEMISTRY... BUT IT WON'T SOUND LIKE THAT EITHER.
And here concludes the mini-interview. Or minterview, for short. After all, it does taste FRESH, don't it?
8TH MAY 2003: VIDEO LUNCH IS FREE: Said Philosopher One: "There is no such thing as a free lunch".
Simian's Grouch/Pedant Resident Frisbee Polisher replies:
"This is rubbish. Only last week I enjoyed the cheese and pickle sandwich of a friend who had already tuckered-out on crisps and cans of fizzy pop. I paid not a penny. Was I grateful? Not especially. Did I feel guilty? Hell no. Did I pay in any way whatsoever, either fiscally or metaphorically? I say: not a bit."
Says Philopopper Number Two: "Is there such thing as a free video?"
Grouch/P R.F.P says: "Yes."
And it's true. There is such a thing as a free music video, and it's ace. Check out the FOOTAGE page of this mighty tome. There you will find an alternative video for La Breeze. It was shot and produced and all-round made by a man-genius who just thought the track was ace and that a video of his should, therefore, accompany it.
This video is only available online. So love it dearly.
Salutations! Log will try to track this man down and ask him some questions about the whole shebang soon. Answers will, of course, be shared here.
SHARING DETOUR: There is one video file on the server. It can be watched by well over 5,000 people. That's one up on feeding 5,000 with bread and fish, isn't it? Feeding 10,000 machines with quality streamed media. Times have changed. God is in need of broadband. Perhaps he or she is the almighty nexus, all things plugged in and humming, right and wrong presumed as zeros and ones pulsing through the web in an endless criss-cross of fine times, bad times, bad days, good people and top-quality hot chocolate in winter moments. You think?
>LOGS OF YORE<