The Audiozine

1) No more summer, now it's autumn. Here's yr soundtrack (thanks to Asif) for jogging in crisp air while leaves turn and fall: minusbaby. Reminds me of Aphex or Mu-Ziq, without the ornery noisiness. The synths squelch and gurgle below, chime and jangle above. Everything sounds extremely polished and clean. Digital not clinical.

2) I mentioned Chromat a few posts ago. Now Becca and Emily have put together a website for Chromat Garments. Fashions spiked with "acts of poetic vandalism and urban renewal".

3) Farsheed knows this cat named Mike Brosco. Brosco got Farsheed got me hip to Debile Menthol. Brosco does all kinds of soundscaping and music but he's also one of the minds behind Proof of Utah, an underrated band in the deeply skewed avant-pop tradition of Debile Menthol and the other RecRec bands. Click here to read more and download a rip of "Happy To Be Here".

4) Speaking of Farsheed, here are some dingy but otherwise excellent videos of Black Tie Elephant's last show. Farsheed also points out that BTE's got some rough demos up on Myspace.

My friend, Becca, has been maintaining a Lynchburg Street Style blog for a few months now. If I didn't know her personally, I'd fretfully wonder if the whole effort is a condescending mishmash of affluence and, well, non-affluence. But, knowing Becca's enthusiasm, I can assure you that the blog is a really refreshing, honest, and exuberant look at the fashion styles that people are sporting in this small, humble Virginia town. I think it's a really great egalitarian move, especially considering her blogroll effectively puts Lynchburg in the same company as NYC, Paris, etc.

You'll note that the post from Aug 29th, 2008 is for a fashion show. Chromat was put together by Becca and Emily and was, in my opinion, a strong effort overall. The duo reconceived hunting clothes, plaid patterns, a Nascar jacket, and other common fashion statements in the Lynchburg area as raw materials for a decidedly modern collection. And, critically, at no point was their bluegrass couture smug or disdainful of Lynchburg and her people. Now I'm just waiting for a men's line...