It’s that most wonderful time of the year when Number Line Records releases its sampler CD, and just like last time, they gave me a hard time to choose which cover to get. Say heartbreak when you gotta pick among Louie Cordero, Poklong Anading, Dan Matutina, Nicole Coson, and Luis Santos.
How’s this one by STATUS Mastermind Louie Cordero? I learned that this piece was actually shown in the famed lowbrow haunt Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York. The very elusive Poklong Anading, who I’d always remember for his Anonymity series, also pitched work for the record. I got lucky to have interviews with Dan Matutina (also STATUS-featured with his girlfriend, artist Dang Sering), St. Martins student Nicole Coson, and 2011 breakout Luis Santos. Watch out for that.
The same date was also the launch of Similar Objects’ Finding Astral Lovers, a follow up to similar forays into dreamscapes. As milkriddles on MySpace, he has been producing beats in the pursuit of his interest in abstract art and hip-hop, but he’s moved on to collecting his more sophisticated tracks and releasing them as Similar Objects. Personal favorites in this compilation so far are “La Medecin de Vame” and “Di la della Vita.”
Modulogeek can be a little bit more ambient than dance electronic, so I’m pleasantly surprised that many people agree with me on liking his music. They liked him enough that the promising but on-indefinite-hiatus Run & Play got resurrected to shoot him playing “The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship.” Now where to get a Space Invaders shirt, or better yet, a Modulogeek shirt?
I’ve mentioned Nicole Coson earlier, so here she is in this video playing doppelganger to her sister (and STATUS contributor), Mara Coson, the actual subject of this post. Mara’s wicked video collage project The Grim Repat just got a client in (STATUS Maestro) Ang Bandang Shirley who wanted a video for their single “Patintero.” I heard three things: people were supposed to wear solid-colored shirts, it’s gonna be a one-take thing, and it had a marching band. As to what happened, we wait til New Year at Mara’s blog.
Indonesian artist Arkiv Vilmansa went back to Manila for Relics, another show at The Collective’s Vinyl on Vinyl. Known for his redesign of Mickey Mouse for Disney Asia, Arkiv seems to have tried making his own version of Jollibee, too (what do you think?). Is that a trend for foreign artists (ala Herve di Rosa) now, or they just fall in love with ChickenJoy? Common in Arkiv’s work is the image of the phoenix, so I heard he also made an Ibong Adarna. Somebody’s feeling at home.
Well, that includes yours truly as I’m tucked out of town for the holidays, but see you all soon in the city. Have a happy Christmas by treating yo’ selves! -NANSAN
