“Despite Apple’s claims to the contrary, a test by a forum member at Weiphone suggests the iPhone 3GS may already have enough performance to smoothly play full HD video.

By manually copying over videos using file transfer apps on a computer and the iPhone, the community member says he could play up to a 1080p (1920×1080) clip at 30 frames per second at up to a 35Mbps without any lag or stuttering. Although they don’t show in the official iPod app, they work using Apple’s built-in video player when called by a third-party program.”

Whitetree - Cloudland

WHITETREE
CLOUDLAND
MARCH 2009

“Cloudland” takes inspiration from the story of Amos Tutuola “The Palm-Wine Drinkard,” and wants to be a test of strength against the cold and frenetic pulse of our present technology.

“Cloudland” is a unique album, with an immediacy and a depth that only inspired the meeting and exchange between these artists could be exceptional. The explanation of why it is quite obvious is that both Lippok are not the classic electronic composers such as Einaudi is not a classical composer in the common sense of the term. These are artists that are beyond the rules of classification between genres and music scenes.

Listening to Cloudlands makes my mind wonder and my thought drifts away, it’s like sitting in a boat gently gliding on still waters watching the sun set.

It’s hard to describe this beautiful music, but if you mix some jazzy works of Richard D. James and season it with some Eric Satie and maybe some Eno you should get pretty close to “Whitetree – Cloudland”. Ludovico Einaudi plays the classic piano on this album and Ronald & Robert Lippok creates these beautiful electronic atmospheres around the piano.

Give it a listen! It’s available @ iTunes store and worth every cent, please support these talented artists and join me on this journey.

A film by Eve Wood

The Beat Is The Law is a feature-length independent documentary about the journey through the 80’s and 90’s taken by a group of innovative artists living in Sheffield, a city famous for Electronic Pop but at the same time worst hit by Thatcher’s economic policies; an anarchic journey which lands them at the heart of the UK’s Dance and Britpop movements.

Through in-depth conversations, archive imagery and a stunning soundtrack the film documents the highs and lows of some of Sheffield’s most influential artists at a time when music played a key role in peoples’ lives. A time when the Beat was the Law.

The Beat Is The Law is currently in production and will have its world premiere in 2009. 

For one of the film’s pieces of artwork on sale in the shop, Phil Wolstenholme was asked, the mind behind some of the most classic Warp album designs, to come up with a little piece of computer art reflective of his time represented in the film. He came up with such an amazingly intricate and personal piece of art! Hurry up to buy! Original Giclée Print limited edition of 100 only.

Originally a Fine Art graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, Phil Wolstenholme has worked at the coalface of inventive computer art for nearly 20 years, and has inhabited a variety of strange but CGI-rich environments during that time.

Often working in conjunction with Designers Republic, Phil produced some of the most enduring sleeve images of the electronic/techno phenomenon from the early-to-mid 90’s. In his cover images for musical artists such as 808 State, The Orb, and Cabaret Voltaire, and for clients such as Warp Records, Designers Republic, Sony Japan and Strictly Rhythm, his unique style and pioneering use of 3D imagery helped define the look of a whole new musical genre.

Cover images of the time include such classics as:

‘The Extended Pleasures of Dance EP’ by 808 State
‘Yeah You’ by The Step on Warp Records
‘This is Strictly Rhythm’ and ‘Tracks ‘92? on Strictly Rhythm Records
‘UFOrb’ by The Orb
‘Groovy Laidback and Nasty’ and ‘Colours’ by Cabaret Voltaire
‘Pioneers of the Hypnotic Groove’, compilation series on Warp Records
‘(Artificial Intelligence)’ and ‘(Artificial Intelligence II)’ on Warp Records
‘A Different Drum’ by The Shamen
‘The Professional School of Techno’ on Sony Music (Japan)
‘Pulseman’ on Frogman Records (Japan)

In 1993, together with CG artists David Slade and Jess Scott-Hunter, he produced a still talked-about (and still influential) video release that set Warp’s finest electronic musical artists against ambitious CGI, in a suite of plot-based animation sequences. On a miniscule production budget, ‘Motion’ exceeded all expectations, and launched at the ICA in London, was a huge success.

Alongside this were projects such as a collaboration with the British composer Gavin Bryars, producing 3D animation for projection during live orchestral performances of ‘Sinking of the Titanic’, 1995.

Since these heady days, Phil has continued to produce commercial CG images, is a panoramic landscape photographer, and has also worked extensively within the software industry, designing, developing and demonstrating new 3D software packages and literature. Phil recently exhibited a new body of work at a former monastery in Provence, France.

He has also launched a publishing company, Heavy Everywhere®, producing digital fractal imagery for fabric, interior design and other product lines. The first fashion release is a range of luxury swimwear on a new label in January 2009. More information on the official The Beat Is The Law site.

Autechre: Quaristice Warp, 2008

Autechre’s first album in nearly three years will probably take nearly that long to sink in, but my first impression is pure pleasure. The opening track, “Altibzz,” teases with warm synths seemingly played live. I liken it to the first sip of hot tea—very satisfying. “The Plc” is electro on speed. Each note is quirky in some way. About two-thirds of the way through it breaks down into digitized laughter, then snippets of a familiar hip-hop sample. “IO” crunches what sounds like a news reporter through robotic processing.

A few of the tracks seem more experimental than musical. At first, “Simmm” reminds me of a gamelan. The sounds ride a razor’s edge between pluck and percussion. Then more and more of them build, almost randomly until the inevitable break-down, in this case chunks of panning bass. The notes on “paralel Suns” sink as reverb increases, dragging the hapless listener into whale-song depths. Listening to “Fol3,” I imagine a video game where players throw huge, crumbling, blocks of pixels at each other.

Other cuts remind me of an earlier era. On “rale,” electronics groan like branches rubbing together over a boom-chick beat. I know I’ve heard those chords before. On “90101-5l-l,” Autechre construct a glitchy groover from squelches and phasers. “Theswere” is wonderfully melodic but painfully brief, while “chenc9” evokes the style of LP 5. “Notwo” is lovely deep ambience. “Outh9X” builds slowly and beat-lessly with fascinating bass.

Even after nine albums and an equal number of EPs, Autechre’s Brown and Booth are full of fresh ideas. It feels like the varied electronic sounds here grew into place just so. Each part is perfectly placed, like a flower arrangement that would be ruined with even the slightest change.

Watch the trailer for Wall-E:

I saw Pixars Wall-E the other night. Brilliant movie as you can expect from the genius animators at Pixar. As with Pixar feature length animations, there is a screening of a short film just before the actual movie. This time it was a hilarious film called “Presto” featuring a magician performing in front of an audience while having to deal with his hungry rabbit.

About Wall-E now. This movie is set in the year 2815. Planet earth is devoid of human life and there are towering skyscrapers of un-recycled compacted waste. A robot, Wall-E takes trash, compacts them into cubes and arranges these cubes. His side-kick is a cockroach – I don’t recall this character ever having a name in the movie. One day, Wall-E discovers a seedling plant growing in an old refrigerator. He replants this seedling in an old shoe.

As the days go by, a massive spaceship-like thing lands near Wall-E’s place and a white robot by the name of Eve is left behind. Predictably these two robots fall in love. Eve then stumbles upon the seedling plant, puts it her “tummy” and suddenly goes into “sleep” mode. A saddened Wall-E tries to wake her up but fails.

Soon after, the spaceship like thing lands again and captures Eve. Wall-E stows himself away on the ship worried that he may lose his lady love… I won’t spoil it! Go and watch this adorable movie, it fun and suiteble for the whole family. Movie trailers here!

The cool Icons made by Michael Flarup.

Wednesday night, darkness dwells outside and the days get shorter. But in my darkness i listen to Emilíana Torrini. I rediscovered her music the other day and i have been playing here albums nonstop.

Her new ambum – Me And Armini is growing on me, but still, Love in the time of science from 1999 remains my favorite. It was while watching the end titles of The Lord Of The Rings – The Two Towers that i heard her special voice. Gollum’s Song is magnificent, Leonard Rosenman soundtrack is perfect!

I decided to rip my Emilíana CD to my iTunes Library and i have been enjoying her silk soft innocent scandinaviani-sch voice since. Now playing Baby Blue from – Love in the time of science this is a brilliant track!

When i first hear this song i was thinking to myself that she is riding the Björk wave, postmodern angst alá Torrini but now i think she’s a true and recognized artist.

Emiliana Torrini – Love in the time of science, 1999

01. To Be Free
02. Wednesday’s Child – Written-By – Alan Griffiths , Roland Orzabal
03. Baby Blue, Drums – Percussion – Clive Deamer , Siggi Baldursson Written-By – Alan Griffiths , Roland Orzabal
04. Dead Things
05. Unemployed In Summertime
06. Easy
07. Fingertips Drums, Percussion – Siggi Baldursson
08. Telepathy Keyboards, Written- By – Johann G Johannsson
09. Tuna Fish Drums, Percussion – Siggi Baldursson
10. Summerbreeze Guitar, Written- By – Mark Abis
11. Sea People

Producer – Eg White , Emiliana Torrini Recorded By – Eg White.

Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir was born May 16, 1977, is an Icelandic singer, best known for her 1999 album Love in the Time of Science and for performing “Gollum’s Song”, during the ending credits of Peter Jackson’s film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

Torrini grew up in Kópavogur, where, at the age of 7, she joined a choir as a soprano, until she went to opera school at the age of 15. In 1994, she became well-known in Iceland after winning the song competition of junior colleges in Iceland (Icelandic: Söngkeppni framhaldsskólanna), at the age of 17, singing “I Will Survive”. Her father is Italian and her mother Icelandic. She grew up with her parents in Iceland. Her father owns and operates a well-known Italian restaurant in Iceland, where she once worked as a waitress.

I was at the movies watching Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull yesterday, the movie was ok, but the best part of my movie theatre experience was the brand new THX Trailer “Amazing Life” This is something of the best I’ve seen, look for yourself, this small video format don’t do it justice, anyways here it is.

THX Trailer – Amazing Life

This Amazing THX Trailer rendering is made by Kyle and Michael from Eyestorm Productions. I predict a bright future for these guys. May time be on your side! ^^ Nelson.

Mike! Thanks for you’re nice mail!

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie…

I finally began watching Lord of the Rings. Bought the box set and took a deep breath before I plunged into the masterpiece Tolkien had created.

Why I took so long you ask?

I am a firm believer that you should always always always read the book before watching the movie. I have in fact in previous years tried but I never got past Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday. Not even to Gandalf’s arrival.

But I do not know what gave but it gave and I budge after a 5 year wait after the last movie.

And I finished watching the WHOLE of the 3 movies INCLUDING extra scenes and all today, well yesterday: 4th day of the 10th month in year 2008.

It was an epic. An adventure. An honour.

I am in awe. It left me in tears. Not so that it was sad, I WAS sad, that it all ends. Kudos to Peter Jackson for delivering THIS to me. Now that I have finished watching the movies, I do not know what else to live for anymore.

Well, not true I have now added things to do before I die: Climb Mount Everest joke! Travel to Asia this it something that I’ve wanted since i was a little kid.

What else have i been doing? I have been crying, feeling a bit depressed and restless somehow this because of personal problems. I have been working on my Weblog as you may notice, I still need to code a nice Flash banner to put on the header of my site, that i will do when i get some inspiration.

I have been awake nighttime and sleeping daytime for the the past 2 weeks, and it almost feels like I’m the last man on earth, kind of the same feeling Will Smith had in the great movie I Am Legend. Hmm… Need to do something about this, i lack a social life.

Some things that I’m grateful for is: My Internet works again, I have been migraine free almost 2 weeks, and I am so happy and proud of my brother Robin! He got a permanent employment at KWH PIPE, My 3 younger brothers now work under the same roof.

It’s the 5th day of the 10th month in year 2008 and the time is 7:40 in the AM and I’m still awake, I think I’ll go to bed now, Good Night kids!

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is an epic adventure of good against evil, the power of friendship and individual courage. The saga centers around an unassuming Hobbit named Frodo Baggins who inherits a Ring that would give a dark and powerful lord the power to enslave the world. With a loyal fellowship of elves, dwarves, men and a wizard, Frodo embarks on a heroic quest to destroy the One Ring and pave the way for the emergence of mankind. [..]