ALAZKA RULES OK

We at FF have very fond memories of a year of peak activity know to most of you as 2007. It started with a concert at the Darling Foundry with a movable wall of amps, with performances by some of the best to-be and beings of the age. It was a vernissage for an art show called Get a Life which featured some of our favourite people and future collaborators. At midnight we started selling wine by the bottle, and things just got really... special. Only FF event with a bona fide fight, smashed bottle, and very bloodied performer (it was Zukerman so he probly deserved it). It was a Nuit Blanche all-night event so nobody was going anywhere.

One part of that night you might not remember if you were there was the bizarreness that was Alazka's opening DJ work prior to the cage-dancing Fynal Glayze set. Set the scene for the rest of the, uh, activity that night. Alazka, ALZKA etc is currently experiencing peak activity with a fresh new record which is the collaboration of her band YT // ST and the intrepid Psychic Handshake recordings. In celebration of their touring of this game-changer of a project and all things ALZSKA (her video in the Get a Life show was my introduction and its memory is palpable and top notch) I present you with the peak of her DJ work as I know it, an hourlong masterpiece of a bounce mix. Aside from the inclusion of that wretched piece of trash Single Ladies it is totally, totally flawless, and I know I'm in the minority on that call anyway but get back to me in 20 years and we'll see who's right. This thing is a no joke work of art, with a beginning, middle and end, and like DJ Shadow's Minute Mix it stands for me as a testament to the (North) American experience and how awesome it can be, in that most American of forms, some say the 20th century's most dynamic or meaningful contribution to art (I'll have to look up the Schjeldahl quote on this one), collage.

http://www.mediafire.com/?a1fbq6hf6hl3jhi

My play count on this thing is in the low triple digits, and that's all the way through honkeys, just to let you know where I'm at. It is conviniently tagged in such a way that it's always top of the list on my device. I never, ever get tired of it. So I hope y'all will enjoy this piece of history as you listen to that LP and find yourself wanting more.

More pics later - Blake

COOL FEST 11

Here's what went down:
FRIDAY 7PM - 2AM

Pon De Replay (ex-MTL/now-Toronto, Pleasance records)
Simon Delage

Man made Hill (Toronto new LP on Pleasance)

O Voids
Framboos (QC)
Metalux (NYC/Baltimore)

Omma Cobba (Toronto / Sweet Rot Records)

RAAS (Ottawa / member of the Unireverse)

The Pederast (Toronto)

SATURDAY 2PM - 7PM
Screening of Xavier: Renegade Angel
Lizmax Yogazone w/ Music by Prime Cuts Hammond Ri
Bataille Solaire
Eternalife (Kyle Fostner)
Body Count Dracula (Brian Mitchell, Mat Oxley)
Self Surgery (Ottawa / Bruised Tongue CEO)
Steve Jr.
Frasier Crane

DJ battle using sound from VHS tapes only
DJ Proud Father vs. DJ Rod Duchamp

7PM-2AM (with Djs Mister Caffery and Daisy)

Pon De Replay
Institutional Prostitution

Roman Pilates (Toronto / Wintage Records and Tapes CEO)

ISA Christ (NYC)

16mm Film by Leyla Majeri with live sound by Katherine Kline
Films by Joshua Bastien

Chansons D'amour
Gastric Female Reflex (Toronto / Beniffer Editions)

United Waters (NYC / member of Mouthus)
Flatgrey

COOL FEAST: Natasha made

Hortchata

Pork posole

Ropa Vieja

Cotija Tacos
and inside-out burritos

http://natashapickowicz.com/