Green Arrow Radio

Influential electronic musician Thomas Dolby has produced a stunning remix of Radiohead’s current single ‘Nude’. The dreamy, semi-ambient mix is reminiscent of Dolby’s work as a collaborator with the likes of Joni Mitchell, Prefab Sprout and Joan Armatrading. Continuing the innovative marketing approach for their album ‘In Rainbows’, Radiohead has allowed users to download individual ‘stems’ of the song to create their own remix, and upload it for public listening and voting. Thomas Dolby has never met Radiohead, and his remix was unsolicited. Instead, he simply downloaded to song parts from iTunes for $0.99 each and created his own mix, submitting it to http://www.radioheadremix.com along with nearly 2000 other fans. Most of these remixers are amateur enthusiasts and virtually unknown, but Dolby is perhaps the best-known participant to date. He explains how it came about: ‘I was trying out my new wireless router to see if I could get reception down on the beach in front of my house,’ said Dolby. ‘Sitting there shivering beside the North Sea with my laptop, huddled in a blanket and listening to Radiohead’s ‘Nude’ stems on iTunes, with the waves lapping the shore and a crowd of seagulls fighting over a crab shell, I got an idea for a lovely remix.’ Entitled ‘Nude (Bathing In The Icefloe Mix)’. There are no plans to release it commercially. Thomas Dolby—these days often regarded as the original steampunk–made a return to touring last year after a hiatus of nearly 15 years. During this time his technology company Beatnik Inc was responsible for engineering the ringtone synthesiser embedded in nearly 800 million mobile phones made by Nokia and other manufacturers. In the mid-90’s Beatnik also powered the first ever Web-wide remix contests for artists like Queen Latifah, Britney Spears, N’Sync and David Bowie. How does Dolby feel about being on the ‘other end of the wire’ and submitting his own Radiohead remix along with thousands of fans? ‘Well as a fan myself I’m happy to pay homage to Radiohead just because I adore their music. But objectively, it’s great that a band of their stature would open up their intricately crafted music to regular users. And I love the fact that anyone with affordable music software gets to have a go, and might end up with the most votes. It’s a true meritocracy in this amazing age of YouTube and MySpace, where big record labels and stadium rock bands are on level playing field with the hordes of brilliant amateurs out there who have never had an audience of their own.’

Hear Thomas Dolby’s ‘Nude (Bathing In The Icefloe Mix)’ at http://www.radioheadremix.com/remix/?id=1825

Artist Jerry Wennstrom‘s latest sculpture was created from a castoff old piano, with original cedar scupltures, and pounded copper. The piano’s foot pedals are rigged to open the hands and turn the head, which opens to reveal a laughing skull. The music is “Mapa” by Uakti, from their MAPA album. A Point Philips album.
Slideshow created by Carol Wright using program called Photo To Movie, then processed via Mac’s iMovie HD 6 to a .mov file. The opening of dissolves in the title sequence was made using separate images created in Photoshop.

One of Atlanta’s most popular blues guitarists and singers, Sean Costello was found dead on Tuesday. Instead of gathering for a birthday celebration (Sean would have turned 29 today)his friends and fans will be at Northside Tavern Wednesday night for a musical tribute. This Howell Mill Rd. blues bar was Costello’s second home; he began playing there while still in his teens. I know I have several friends in Atlanta and the surrounding areas that are traveling with heavy hearts and I of course wish them happy thoughts during this sad time.

RIP 1979-2008

Major League Baseball today announced that the national celebration of Jackie Robinson’s entry into the Major Leagues will take place at Shea Stadium on Tuesday, April 15th, the league’s official “Jackie Robinson Day. Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s wife,(who I had the honor of fetching water for at a JRF event) and Sharon Robinson, Jackie’s daughter, will join Bob DuPuy, President and Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball, in an on-field recognition of Jackie Robinson’s legacy prior to the start of the Washington Nationals-New York Mets game. Four Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars will accompany them on the field for a special recognition. One scholar also will have ceremonial first pitch honors. The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides four-year college scholarships to minority students with records of academic distinction and leadership capacity. It strives to cultivate future leaders who will be ambassadors of Jackie Robinson’s guiding life tenet, “A life is not important except in its impact on other lives.” Major League Baseball and its Clubs have a long history of supporting the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Since 1996, financial support for the Jackie Robinson Foundation from Baseball and its Clubs has been nearly $10 million. Clubs playing at home on Tuesday, April 15th will commemorate “Jackie Robinson Day” with special pregame ceremonies in their ballparks, all of which will feature Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars and will showcase activities that reflect Robinson’s legacy. Clubs that are not playing on April 15th will hold “Jackie Robinson Day” celebrations at a later date. Clubs will also be using ceremonial home plates, base jewels and lineup cards that will include the “Jackie Robinson Day” logo. On April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s entry into Major League Baseball, Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced that Robinson’s Number 42 would be retired throughout baseball and would never again be issued to on-field personnel. He temporarily suspended the retirement for the 60th anniversary and will do so again for this year’s 61st anniversary. The way to treat a true hero and his legacy.

Check out my past conversation with Della Britton-Baeza, the President/CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation here.

…as played by Kronos Quartet.
This one just seemed to fit this moment of this day.

Flugufrelsarinn by Sigur Ros, played by Kronos Quartet. Video credit thanks to mead2000!

Wayne “Frosty Freeze” Frost, a hip-hop pioneer whose acrobatic performance with the legendary Rock Steady Crew in the 1983 movie “Flashdance” helped set off a worldwide breakdancing craze, has died. He was 44. Breakdancing emerged from the Bronx and Harlem in the early 1970s, part of the hip-hop culture that also included graffiti, MCing or rapping, and disc jockeys scratching and mixing vinyl records on turntables. Frost was known for many things including his energetic style, intricate choreography and fearless moves including back flips & head spins. One was even dubbed the “Suicide.” Frost got his start back in 1978 with the Bronx-based Rock City Crew. In 1981, he became part of the Rock Steady Crew, joining such acclaimed breakdancers as Ken Swift and Lil Crazy Legs. Frost toured the world with the Rock Steady Crew and other hip-hop artists, including Fab 5 Freddy, Futura 2000 and Kool Lady Blue. Graffiti artist and close friend Zulu King Slone, who knew Frost for 15 years, said he was “like a walking hip-hop culture encyclopedia.”