Archival Thursdays: Tangerine Dream - Exit (1981)

'Exit' is an excellent LP to start your long journey with Tangerine Dream, especially since they've released more than a hundred studio albums since the 1970's. Recorded during the bands "Virgin Years", it's a carefully crafted ambient trip which retains it's consistency throughout and keeps listeners hooked. The composition "Exit" might sound familiar as it was used in the famous "babysitter scene" in the movie Risky Business, however, my favorite track on this release has to be the ever satisfying "Remote viewing" which to this day is still well ahead of it's time.

I bought this release over at one of Miami's last used vinyl shops, Yesterday & Today records about 6 months ago.

2011 Cinelli Vigorelli & Mash

Just last week in Vegas was the annual Interbike trade show and the Cinelli reps were out in full force with a full line of new accessories and bikes. Very impressive to say the least, and it shows Cinelli is atop of the cycling game. The new Mash & Vigorelli are perfect examples. Take the Vigorelli for instance, how many years were they planning on releasing the same color-scheme? I mean, of course I love the original colors since it's on my Vigorelli, but I was honestly hoping for a different approach to make them stand out. So here we have the 2011 Vigorelli in a beautiful stealth-black with accents of red, green and yellow. The geometry hasn't changed much, just slightly, and hopefully like the Mash, they keep changing the color-scheme each year.



The 2011 Mash is not of this world, in fact it's out of this world! Everything about it is perfect and I couldn't be more in love with this frame. For the 2011 Mash, Cinelli decided on a steeper, more aggressive top-tube geometry (look at that thing!) and a paint job that is probably the best ever done on any of their bikes. That flat black & glossy blue with accents of gray go together hand in hand. They definitely upped the already highly praised Mash line to another level! In the end, this is one serious track bike and from the looks of it, Cinelli is the future of cycling.

Photos courtesy of John Prolly

Bike Porn: Pinarello X-Track

I always dream with Pinarello's. *sigh*

Fuck It Fridays: Slayer - Playing With Dolls

From time to time you are going to start to see Fuck It Friday posts. Although not every week like my Archival Thursdays, I will still try to update at least twice a month. Call it corny if you will, but in my opinion it's a great way to prepare for the weekend with some kick ass music.

Starting off this Fuck It Friday we have metal gods Slayer breaking it down with their track "Playing with dolls" off their wonderful new album 'World Painted Blood' which was produced by none other than Rick Rubin. Turn it up, bang your head and make it a kick ass weekend!

Archival Thursdays: Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time (1986)

Iron Maiden's 'Somewhere In Time' LP marked a change for the band, as it was their first album to introduce synth and guitar synthesizers, and was not a concept album as most of their previous releases. I first heard Maiden through this album and fell in love with them after hearing the album's title track, "Caught somewhere in time".
I remember thinking the cover was cool and wondered what they were like. It was during this time I started listening to more metal and watching Adam Curry on Headbangers Ball every Saturday after 11pm. "Wasted years" has become a staple in Maiden's live sets and who can pass up those heavy guitars in "Stranger in a strange land"?

This was one of those LP's I had as a kid and never took care of, therefore I had to buy a newer one online since it's older and more scarce.

Low End Theory Mix 17: Daddy Kev & Baths

L.A.'s Daddy Kev is not one many have heard of, yet has lent his production skills to a variety of artists and labels. His output consists of underground hip-hop and crunchy IDM and dubstep. Working with artists such as Prefuse 73, Busdriver, Mix Master Mike and AWOL-One has put him on the map of well respected underground producers. And after working with labels like Ninja Tune and Big Dada, Kev figured it was time to start his own and label it Alpha-Pup Records.

Here is a recent mix from Daddy Kev and L.A. beat junkie Baths which was recorded for the Low End Theory podcasts that the Alpha-Pup collective puts out. It starts with Kev giving you the crunchiest electro-hip-hop you've ever heard, swerving into a bit of IDM and dubstep punches. Download it here, and for more Low End Theory podcasts go here.

Beer Snob 2: Re-cap

Good times were had this past Saturday at part 2 of the famous Beer Snob pub crawl. Over 100 cyclists came out to have a beer with friends and meet new ones. The weather was perfect with pure sun and easterly ocean breezes, especially on the beach. Can't wait for the next one! Check out this great video of Saturday's ride below. Thanks to Rydel for the video (I still got those wheels dah). Check out some photos here.

Beer Snob MIA Bicycle Pub Crawl 2 from rydel high on Vimeo.

Archival Thursdays: Massive Attack - 100th Window (2003)

Massive Attack's '100th Window' almost never happened. It took almost 4 years to put together with personnel coming and going, lots of writing and re-writing tracks, using different approaches and techniques that weren't working and growing tired as a result. At one point they completed the structure of most songs only to scrap it due to the band becoming "very unhappy with the shapes being formed". Total disagreement on all ends! So finally, after several years they drop their 5th studio album "100th Window", and in the process created a masterpiece. I guess since they produced the album themselves, they really didn't have the direction of a full-on producer hence the long outcome. This album wouldn't be what it is without songs like "Small time shot away" or "Butterfly caught". Total eargasm!

I got this release at the now defunct Virgin Megastore here in Miami. Man I really do miss that place!

Beer Snob Part 2

Once again, the Beer Snobs unite this Saturday afternoon for part 2 of the great pub crawl. Cyclists will pedal from one dive to the next, hoping to be sober enough to make it to the last joint, the DRB. Last years pub crawl was loads of fun, the weather was great, and nobody wanted it to end. Hopefully, this years will be just as much fun.

For the full route and list of bars we'll be hitting up, click here.

Ride The Lightning

Only in NYC does a man get pushed onto a live third rail off a subway platform, endures 625 volts of shock treatment, and survives! Apparently the victim was drunk and tried to start some shit and annoyed the wrong people. Maybe all the booze in his system is what saved his life, who knows. Either way, it's a pretty bizarre story. After seeing the way "Ramo" got shocked in the movie Beat Street, I've always been terrified of that third rail! Read more of what unfolded in Brooklyn last Wednesday via Daily News, here.

Archival Thursdays: Three Times Dope - Funky Dividends (1989)

Not many people know who I'm talking about when I ask them if they've ever heard of Three Times Dope. They were seriously underrated and in my opinion put out some of the best hip-hop during the late 80's. I remember seeing them first on Yo! MTV Raps and immediately went out to buy the cassette. The track "Funky dividends" has been sampled countless times by others, and "The greatest man alive" has gained classic notoriety by now. Sadly, they died out with hip-hop during the early 90's and went underground, but back in their heyday the took the hip-hop world by storm.

I found this disc over at Turntable Lab in NYC back in 2004.

Updates

Recently upgraded a few parts on the ride. Threw on a pair of carbon Zipps for the longer, faster rides and also some Look Keo Classic clipless pedals.

The Sword - Black River

Getaway day is upon us and what better way to bring in the long weekend with some proper doom metal. The Sword is the perfect antidote, coming at you with riffing guitars, endless drum cadences and stern vocals that make this one serious outfit! "Black river" is the perfect blend for this dark, rainy afternoon here in Miami, heading into the last days of summer or the perfect storm.

Archival Thursdays: Gescom - The Sounds of Machines Our Parents Used (1995)

Gescom is the alias of several members of UK's Skam label. It's used as a platform for releasing obscure electronica and collaborations amongst Autechre, Bola and others. This particular release is my favorite Gescom record and by listening to it you can see why. Precision-like production that's as sharp as a razor, never-ending electro journey's and a sound so unique you've never heard anything like it. "Puzl" and "Go Sumo" had me sold the moment I laid ears on it. Nothing quite compares! This was Gescom's only release on the superb electro label Clear.

I had to buy this release off eBay due to it's rarity and have cherished it ever since. I think the only other person in Miami that still has this record is none other than DJ Aura, especially these days, but I could be wrong.

To Live & Ride In L.A.

When it comes to track bike films, San Francisco has Mash, New York City has Empire and now the city of angels has their own titled "To Live & Ride in L.A." It's filled with quick edits and tons of high quality footage featuring Cali's finest riders such as Keo, Tracko, Hern and countless others. Looks to be a winner and I'm stoked to see it!

If you happen to be in L.A. this weekend, be sure to check out the premiere. More info on that here, check out the official website here.

To Live & Ride In L.A. OFFICIAL TRAILER from TRAFIK on Vimeo.