New Electro Podcast Electrolux hosted by Chica PlastiKa

Electrolux hosted by chica PlastiKa is a monthly music podcast dedicated to Electro, Electroclash, Europop, indie-pop, punk, and funk. Since February is the month of L. O. V. E., Electrolux is broadcasting a Valentine’s Day edition called “Be My Valentine” and includes music by Yelle, Peaches, Vitalic, among other artists. Eletrolux is being streamed through podOmatic.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Barbarian Experience at Art Basel’s 2008 Positions

 

My Barbarian is a theater/performance art troupe form Los Angeles. These performers were located in one of the containers within Basel’s Art Positions on the beach and were brought by Steve Turner Contemporary. For me, their performance was a mix between a rock opera (a la Jesus Christ Superstar) and the chorus from ancient Greek Tragedy (a la Oedipus Rex). The piece was part of My Barbarian’s Hystera-Theater and it is based on a feminist interpretation of Plato’s Allegory of “The Cave” by Luce Igaray, where the cave is perceived as a womb. Having said that, the opening of the container was covered with wine red cloth that you (the observer) had to go through, to enter the container, thus entering the womb. Once inside “the womb” a video was projected at the end of the container. The performers—who wore red-wine robes and masks—sat, reclined, or laid-down on the floor on red pillows, while they chanted “You were born poor and poor you will die” and played instruments that went along with the Hystera-Theater video.

My Barbarian’s L.A. performance of ”You Were Born Poor and Poor You Will Die”

My Barbarians were absolutely refreshing, because they are taking on that ancient Greek Tragedy feel and make it powerful, especially when they add dark rock guitar rifts. The song they chanted was awesome especially, given the current economic climate coupled with the irony that many of the people walking through the art containers were wealthy art collectors. I also thought they were truly dedicated— I saw them on Sunday afternoon, considering they had been performing in a container since Wednesday evening, they were doing great—especially when the temperature in those containers can reach above 80F, and maybe crowds of four or five at a time would walk in to see them perform. The basic gut reaction that I got from their performance was that it was liberating. Their masks, the costumes, the chants, the music, the film, and the real time interaction with the audience, explored all senses and was intense.

Pictures of My Barbarian’s Miami Art Basel Performance by Liz Poin

   

O.H.W.O.W on the fringes of Miami’s Art Basel 2008

The O.H.W.O.W. art space, directed by Aaron Bondaroff and Al Moran, was an interesting venue. It was a pretty large space with three main exhibition areas and a club. They brought a variety of projects such as the Deitch Projects among many others. This event gathered the work of thirty artists in a gallery/warehouse west of the Wynwood District. In the warehouse part of the space, graffiti decorated the walls were a DJ started the night with Miami style bass.

Two notable pieces in this art space were the pieces by Ara Peterson and Kembra Pfahler. O.H.W.O.W. not only brought art, but music as they started of the week with DJ JD Samson from Le Tigre and A.R.E. Weapons. On Dec. 4th The Gossip’s Beth Ditto and guitarist Mick Jagged hosted a Karaoke event with guests. Outside an ice cream truck handed out ice cream, and free Camparis and Grolsch’s were served to the people that slowly trickled in from other events.

In all reality, The Gossip’s Beth Ditto commanding soulful voice should have kicked off Art Basel on the beach, and Yelle would have been a more suitable performance for this artsy industrial space. But it seems to me that O.H.W.O.W organizers are in tune with the ongoing rise of Miami’s art scene, and they are investing in quality music and art.

Video of Beth Ditto at a UK Awards Ceremony dueting with Jarvis Cocker

Yelle Loves Art @ Art Basel 2008: Miami Beach

 

Art Basel kicked off the fair on the evening of December 3rd with French group Yelle playing live on the beach. Yelle is a French group, whose front-woman Julie Budet, is flirty yet awkward, which makes her a natural performer. Yelle’s electro is fun to dance to and its electro song “À Cause des Garçons” has supposedly contributed to a teen dance craze in France, because its video showcases a troupe of dancers called the Tecktoniks, which completely cater to the “Nu Rave” scene.

Since Art Basel started its Miami version in 2002, it has brought bands like the New York Dolls, Peaches, and Iggy Pop—an unruly crowd of punks. In fact, this year Art Basel kept its punk rock vibe during its summer event in Switzerland, by having Patti Smith play at its inauguration. So, when the festival announced Yelle as the performers for the Art Loves Music concert it was quite a surprise.  Some people said the event was cutting down its Miami budget, while event organizers said that many artists they booked kept canceling on them. 

Regardless, here is my take on Yelle…

The show started at 10PM and it was free, open to the public, and lasted an hour. The venue as always was great because the stage is set right on the beach, so you have waves crashing and the ocean breeze flowing, while you listen the show. Yelle aimed to please and they played full force. Their set was especially fun right after they played the Tepr remix of “À Cause des Garçons.” They also played “Je te vex voir,” “Ce Jeu” and my favorite “Amour du Sol,” which is totally romantic. My only complaint of the show was the crowd… what a bunch of downers. Although it is difficult to have a LOUD live show on the beach, because the wind carries the sound, the crowd was overall “too cool” to dance.

Video of Yelle’s Performance…