The Exotic Element in Popular Mid-Century Music
Here’s the script to my lecture (pdf), but I spoke freely for the better part and ignored what I had written. The music in brackets is what I didn’t play in execution.

A short list of what I understood of it, but english is not my first language so please give me a break if I got something wrong!

1. BP used a new form of artificially created bacteria, pumping it into the well as an aid for drilling under the Deep Water Horizon platform in the Gulf of Mexico
2. this bacteria has a completely new, previously unknown set of genes and has been patented by a company associated with BP
3. it has two markers: one means completely artificial, the second means complete resistance towards anti-biotics
4. scientists in the lab called it Synthia
5. it eats the crude-oil and by doing so is doing valuable work with the oil in the well for BP, putting out more precious products
6. the process got out of hand, creating uncontrollable gasses and pressure
7. after the accident happened the oil and bacteria spilled in thousands and thousands of tons into the Gulf of Mexico
8. the administration handed the control of events over to BP and got in a supporting roll, since only BP had a chance of knowing how to handle it all
9. Synthia eats body cells, too, and breeds on its own
10. it was important for the people to not get too close to the oil
11. it was important for BP to not tell the public about the bacteria
12. people living in the area got sick anyway
13. a company associated with BP developed a vaccine that is not yet available to the general public

So this is what I made of these videos, and if this is true, even if only in parts, we are looking at immense trouble. I always wondered why I never heard about surfers from the Gulf complaining of the loss of their sea, but writing this right now it dawns on me that most of them are probably in some way or other depending on the oil industry. However, the stuff is not going to stay in their waters, it starts travelling with the currents around the world.

World Vision Portal

update:

another page about The Blue Plague

The complete Blue Surf-Ari at Dangerous Minds. You owe it to yourself to watch it, trust me.

The first is a theremin version with the ultimate degree of pitch modulation.

The second is a violin version with the moderate pitch vibrato that the movement of the left hand permits.

The third and last version is played on harmonica and for me is the winner in the emotion (and sound) department.

So in conclusion: there’s more to an emotional sound than shaky pitch.

Are you ready?

Really?

Rreally??

OK… so… here it is!!! Mmmmhhoooohahahahaaaaa!

Update:

According to this journalist the spraying of corexit ist still continuing at this point (video uploaded September 17th 2010). He also reports on the consequences for the area residents.

In case you are not aware, what goes into the foodchain stays in the foodchain. There is no other place to go.

A while ago I posted a link to the work in progress, here it is now filled to the brim.

200 Exotica Music Videos on YouTube

This time german band The Space Rangers made an appearance there as a stop on their California tour. The band hails from Ulm and on guitar is Muck who played rhythm guitar on one tour with my old band The Looney Tunes. On that tour I borrowed him my Musima Eterna DeLuxe as he only owned a Steinberger headless and a jazz-box. It’s great to see him finally sporting a Jaguar. I knew the Surf-bug bit him when he started doubling my lead on Miserlou during one of our shows, and checking out the playlist from the convention I reckon his new band plays old showstoppers from the Looney Tunes setlist The Swingin’ Creeper (as it is tradtionally called in Germany, elsewhere known as Nightstick*, A Go-Go Dancer**, Kickstand*** by The Ventures) and Stampede. Talk about keeping the torch on fire.

* UK, ** US, *** Japan