“After the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Gore and Hyatt wanted to start a conventional cable news network. They were disenchanted with the existing networks, especially CNN. The plan evolved into making a viewer-generated channel aimed at an audience demographic age 18–34.”

“Since its inception in 2005, emmy award-winning current tv has been the world’s leading peer-to-peer news and information network. current is the only 24/7 cable and satellite television network and internet site produced and programmed in collaboration with its audience.”

Recently, Current launched their ‘Embedded with…‘ series. Clearly fitting the company’s vision, explained by the music team in this interview:

‘What we’re looking to do in both the US and the UK is really make sure that when we present music, we’re presenting music in a way that you wouldn’t see or experience anywhere else, so really in-depth profile views into artists that go beyond a passion for music, so whatever informs then as a person and artist because their audience is into that.’

Let’s watch Embedded with Common:

Or Embedded with Mos Def in Japan:

Or Embedded with Ben Harper:

You can follow the different Current teams on twitter.com/current_music, twitter.com/current_news and on the site, of course. This is journalism taken to a next level if you ask me.

I’ve joined the Current community a long time ago, because the cool thing about Current is their so-called ‘pods’ or short programs, of which a portion are created by viewers and users. And the people voting are not your average bunch of youtube wankers, neither are they your stereotype camera-obsessed vimeo cats. It’s mostly about content on Current.

And that’s a good thing, of course.

The first teaser track has leaked today, together with a video of the recording, but let’s watch Newsnight first, for those of you not in the know about this man. BBC2 tracked Gil down for an indepth talk about what has happened to this man we’d easily call a living legend.

“He was called the black Bob Dylan. Songs about racism and poverty, hard-hitting yet melodic, climbed the charts in Britain and America.

But then the records dried up. You never seemed to hear about concepts anymore. There were stories about drugs and jail. What ever happened to Gil Scott-Heron?”

Listen and watch Gil performing ‘Where Did The Night Go’ of his forthcoming ‘I’m New Here’ album. Download the track right here. And keep your eyes open for Gil’s novels, soon to be republished by Canongate Books…

By simply becoming a fan. Or by following on twitter, for that matter.

Because by checking the site every other day.. to be honest.. you’re only getting half of what we put out there, sorry for that, but that’s 2009 for you.

If you want to see this grow, give us that extra push, and start putting links up on your facebook page or on your twitter. You’re all part of it really, for those who didn’t realize it yet, I’m just saying… you are! So don’t be selfishly absorbing all that goodness, and start spreading the word. We will be very thankful for that.

Logically thinking this should be linked to the murder case we saw in part one and two… But how?

Photographer Ringo Gomez-Jorge made a report about Brussels’ Independent Troops for Vice Magazine. Captain Sergej Culumarevic (who you might know as one of the participants to Release) and his friends play warfare in the streets of the capital city. But that’s not all there is to it. On a first degree level the concept is highlighting Belgium’s ever-lasting political troubles with two communities arguing over language, culture and the country’s future in an international context.

On a second level degree, think about the absurdity of eight grown men disguised in military outfits – Kalasjnikovs included – walking past a guardian police man at the former financial tower, at the time squatted by so-called sans-papiers (people staying in the country illegaly if you will).

Soon the troops will launch a campaign through-out the city, with posters screaming: ‘Brussels Needs You!’. Now this got me wondering if I’d apply, it seems like there definitely are helmets for a vast battalion…

(hat tip to Andrew)

If you were there you’ll have to agree he tore the roof of and it was funky like that:

Shout-out to Oemebamo of BeyondJazz fame for the killer photoset ( check his entire photo set collection), and Kenson for the little video. More video will be online soon, so keep an eye on the on-point facebook page, there might be too much to blog…

Click on the image to start downloading, burn it on a cd, and drive slowly to Da Bluefunk District on fridaynight…

Make sure to download the cd cover, and start memorizing this here tracklist:

OndaSonora – We Play The Funk Electric

Wuf Ticket – Ya Mama ( Prelude )
Macattack – Art Of Drums ( BCM )
Material – Don’t Lose Control ( Celluloid )
Trouble Funk – Trouble Funk Express ( Harmless )
The Gunchback Boogie Band – Funn ( Prelude )
Sparque – Take Some Time / Big Beat Mix ( Injection )
The Jazzie Ladies – Blowin’ Your Mind / Instrumental ( Prelude )
New York Citi Peech Boys – Life Is Something Special / Special Edition ( Island )
Cheryl Lynn – High Fidelity / Dub mix ( Columbia )
Cardell Funk Machine – Shoot Your Shot ( People’s Potential Unlimited )
Oran “Juice” Jones – The Rain ( Def Jam )
Baron Zen – Burn Rubber / Dâm-Funk Remix ( Stones Throw )
Mtume – Tie Me Up ( Epic )
Kleeer – Tonight ( Atlantic )

OndaSonora is: BLA and Disco Dalglish, and they are on a quest to promote quality music. Seducing people by gently teasing them off the mainstream path into severe addictions to raw, deep and soulful music. By all means necessary: parties, radio shows, a blog, podcasts and more.

If you’re a regular visitor – and thus staying allmighty on-point – you might know OndaSonora from this previous podcast: Disco Dub, where they were challenged to bridge the gap between disco and reggae, if there ever was one..

For half an hour Dâm talked to me about how he experienced the past year, touring the world, digging through records in different continents. On why he decided to take his live act to the next level playing the Axis Keytar. On learning the bass and on multi-instrumentalists and on how he’s not faking the funk.

We talked about the recordings he did before his Toeachizown album that’s now in stores. On the recordings even PeanutButter Wolf didn’t get to hear, and on his forthcoming Adult Funk album. We talked about future collaborations with Theo Parrish, Mazter Blaster and on his appreciation for the 18-year old Kyle Hall.

The talk went to conclude this may have been one of Dâm’s last interviews, as he’s about ready to hit the studio again and music isn’t being made by talking about it, of course.

All of that, and more.

Unfortunately I messed up, and the recording came in with no sound to it. So I’ll have to leave you with these screenshots, just so you know on-point has its off days too. I’m terribly sorry.

Big shout-out to Dâm Funk, make sure to come down to Le Tavernier in Brussels tomorrownight, as the Bluefunk District presents : Dâm Funk & OndaSonora. Doors open at around 10pm and the entrance is five euros. For the people who’ve read all the way to the end of this little text, and who can mail me the full name and birthplace of mr. Dâm Funk, I’ve got 4 tickets to give away!

With all that said and done, let’s watch On-Point TV one more time, when OndaSonora’s Bart and I interviewed Dâm Funk in Antwerp, still one of my favourite interview moments:

The Running of the Llamas is an annual llama race in Hammond, Wisconsin. The documentary celebrates this unique small-town event and the people who make it happen:

(30 minute documentary available on DVD at runningllamas.com)

“Anthony Pappalardo in Circle Board in New York City.”
Film by: William Strobeck

PS: for those who were sleeping on it, please do watch the Rouli Roulant film, the most beautiful skate aesthetics you’ve ever seen… Watch it.

Let’s pray to the gods and the lords above that the on-point headquarters will never come to be a mess like this. Packed with vinyl, magazines and books, I’m trying to keep things arranged, though it is far from evident.

Recently decided to take my boogie records out of the disco section where they mistakingly were put, yet now I need to set up a new section for these boogie records… And where to put my recently bought Permeke catalogue, next to Spilliaert, or rather leaning towards Emory Douglas?

Dilemmas of a collecting mind, that’s what it’s all about. Luckily I’m collecting, not hoarding. Apparently some people suffer of an extreme hoarding obsession. Sign of the times?

“‘Possessed‘ enters the complicated worlds of four hoarders; people whose lives are dominated by their relationship to possessions. The film questions whether hoarding is a symptom of mental illness or a revolt against the material recklessness of consumerism. When does collecting become hoarding and why do possessions exert such an influence on our lives?”

“This is a very common and growing problem. If you know anyone who is clearly a hoarder, please try to show them this film. I would be very interested to know how they respond. A feature of the disorder is that people often deny there is a problem. When they finally do realise they are in trouble they tend to think they have a unique problem which leads to a feeling of shame, isolation and despair. It’s a very complex problem without a quick fix, but with care and understanding it is possible to get on top of it. I’ve seen it done.”

For more info on Hoarding go to
ocfoundation.org
squalorsurvivors.com/index.shtml
childrenofhoarders.com/forum/index.php

(via freaky.be)

To be honest.. not really, no. Then again, being the documentary enthusiast that I am, this sure looks like a must-see film to me. Though I feel to much wobbling in this teaser, and on the rare occasions that I do listen to the dubstep genre, it’s definitely not to the wobbling kind.

That being said, 2009 is definitely the year I came to appreciate dubstep, so I’m far from fronting, I’m just saying…

‘dBstep – the documentary‘ is hitting screens on various occasions, starting this Saturday with the official premiere at the Untitled party on Fri 6 Nov 2009 at Trix Antwerp. For more dates:

13/11: (free) Dungeon, Leuven (w/ Scandalous Unltd, Bunzero,…)
13/11: (free) Langweiligkeit Festival, The Hague NL (w/ Untold, Pangaea,…)
21/11: (free) Echoes, Dendermonde (w/ Clouds, Quest, Sub Scape,…)
21/11: (free) ‘t Stuk, Leuven (w/…)

One year ago two young Antwerp boys addicted to the sounds of dubstep and in love with documentary decided it was time to give a view to the public what goes on in the Belgian world of dubstep. The amount of talent present in our country that is busy working on this musical genre deserved to be shown to the outher world.

So during one year Jeroen and Jonas went on the road with their camera to take interviews of all the people busy in the scene.

(via inyourbass.com)

Please, feel free to drop your theories on this one. Not sure if I can tell you the whole truth and nothing but the truth to this one. (Though the phone seems to be re-occuring..)

Previously: chapter one.

A lot has changed since Mayer’s first passage in Europe last year. Our man has been shouted out by Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys, did gigs with The Roots, was on the cover of just about any magazine and got phonecalls from Ghostface Killah and Snoop Dogg themselves.

Just to say, our man is pretty hot since his debut album ‘A Strange Arrangement’ dropped.

Now, of course, you know where you saw him first, and where you got that exclusive track to download (which didn’t make it to the album, although it’s his best cut, in our humble opinion), and now you’ll know who to buy beers this week in Ghent or in Leuven once you’ve won your duotickets, as I’ve got 3×2 tickets for the show in Make-Up Club in Ghent and 3×2 tickets for the show in Het Depot in Leuven.

All you have to do is mail me the answer to the following question: ‘What is Mayer Hawthorne’s DJ name?” A fairly easy question, isn’t it? Hell, the answer is even in the video:

‘How To Eat Your Watermelon In White Company (and enjoy it)’ is a full feature documentary on this Renaissance man, watch it:

A look at the prolific filmmaker, writer and performing artist Melvin Van Peebles. Best known as the director and star of Sweet Sweetback’s Badasssss Song he’s been causing a commotion since the late 1950s. Joe Angio’s film uses excellent clips and good interviews to chart Van Peebles’ career, from studious kid to his present position as an elder statesman of gentle provocation.

The hip-hop movement in Senegal was not quiet during the 2007 elections. This is a portrait of creative, involved young people and a society without true democracy. This film follows rappers, DJs and journalists to explore the role of young people and musical activism in the political process.

Check out the official site, because Nomadic Wax has taken this very seriously, and it’s beautiful to see how well put together this is.

The film is shown to public at Théâtre National, centre of Brussels tomorrow, saturday, at 6 pm, for a mere 5 euro entrance fee.

Much like one of the interviewees explains in this next video, it all seemed like a wonder to me, to make a piece of plastic spin, put a needle on it and you have sound. Marvellous, I thought, and shortly after I broke the record players needle and belt. Little did I know…

Anyhow, Vinyl People shows the type of people I came to admire, them true record afficionados, those that are truly hip to it, in a Robert Crumb or Jules Deelder way even, if you wish:

A portrait of Vinyl collectors and producers and aficionados. From the owner of a Charlie Parker album worth 10,000 who believes in playing it and prefers mono to stereo to the producers at Norton Records where rock musicians who had fallen off the charts are restored to vinyl to be heard again. To that add the proprietor of Fynl Vinyl, straight out of a Nick Hornsby novel and a homemade Gramophone brought by it’s owner and maker to Washington Square Park every Sunday to play a collection of 78’s. Produced for WNET City Arts by Howard Silver.

(via)

Sozyone Gonzalez posted a couple of previews of his new work, highly dynamic these are:

A profound debate about the neutrality of public space, the freedom of expression, the visibility of minority groups and protection of private property:

Through interviews and guerilla footage of graffiti writers in action on 5 continents, BOMB IT tells the story of graffiti from its origins in prehistoric cave paintings thru its notorious explosion in New York City during the 70’s and 80’s, then follows the flames as they paint the globe.

Featuring old school legends and current favorites such as Taki 183, Cornbread, Stay High 149, T-Kid, Cope 2, Zephyr, Revs, Os Gemeos, KET, Chino, Shepard Fairey, Revok, and Mear One.

This cutting edge documentary tracks down today’s most innovative and pervasive street artists as they battle for control over the urban visual landscape. You’ll never look at public space the same way again.

The film is shown to public at Théâtre National, centre of Brussels this saturday at 7.30 pm, for a mere 5 euro entrance fee.

BUT – ATTENTION! ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!!

For the people who’ve read all the way to the bottom of this little write-up, I have 3×2 tickets to give away, and while I don’t feel like being difficult today, the tickets will go to the first three people that mail me their name (the address is alex[at]on-point.be, in case you didn’t know already).

Maybe see you this saturday, at Theâtre National!

From now on, I’ll post selections of these pictures on this site too. If you want to catch the entire vibe, you’ll have to follow me, follow me. Or check the twitpic on the regular.

For now, here’s the first installment of a new series called “Bruxelles-Les-Nuits”, by the look of it, this could make for a storyboard to some grimey movie, wouldn’t it? This just breathes conspiracy theories…

If you’re down with Lord Quas, you must be down with ‘La Planète Sauvage‘, the 1973 feature animation by René Laloux. Soundtrack is mostly renowned for Madlib’s use of it in ‘Come On Feet’:

“Set in a far distant world, human beings – or “Oms” – have been domesticated by the gigantic Draags.

Wild Oms however are a problem and are exterminated by the dozen. Terr is able to escape his masters with a headset that puts information directly into the brain.

Armed now with the Draags technology he leads the Oms in an attempt to make life better for them…”

Now, come on feet!

Jalal Hamdan is one of many Palestinians who cross into Israel to find work. With hundreds of others, he spends his nights hidden in the sixth underground floor of an incomplete shopping centre near Tel Aviv. Jalal’s dream is to earn enough money to be able to marry his fiancée.

This film is a journey into the darkness, with only the optimism of this young lover to light the way.

The film is shown to public at Théâtre National, centre of Brussels – in the attendance of the director – tomorrow, saturday at 9 pm, for a mere 5 euro entrance fee.

Taking the pretext of the preparation of a photographic work by Jean-Dominique Burton on the most important priests and priestesses of the voodoo in Benin and their deities hidden in the middle of the convents, the filmmaker Samuel Lampaert proposes a documentary alive, coloured, who explores a complex religion through the points of views of a linguist, an anthropologist and priests themselves.

Click the image to see the trailer:

The film is shown to public at Théâtre National, centre of Brussels – in the attendance of the director – tomorrow, saturday at 2 pm, for a mere 5 euro entrance fee.

Documentary feature “VOODOO the origins”. HD. First copy : Feb 2009.
Final format 35mm and HD. 80 minutes. French with english subtitles.
Filmmaker Samuel Lampaert. Produced by Visu-L.

The film is shown to public at Théâtre National, centre of Brussels tomorrow, friday at 7 pm, for a mere 5 euro entrance fee.

The recording of which was a special event, as explained in the following video:

Congratulations to Wax Poetics Records (keep an eye on on-point tv for more info on that record label…)

Ow and, as it seems, Black Dynamite will be the best dating film to hit screens in a long time, as this preview clearly proves:

The Evoluon is a remarkable building in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, in the shape of a flying saucer. Between 1966 and 1989 it was a museum, dedicated to science and technology.

How I love the use of music in these old videos:

Walking through the city I couldn’t help but taking photos of the legendary logo’s, and if you’ve been down with on-point since back in the days when blogs didn’t even exist, you know Philips goes all the way back with vic&lloyd (due to copyright infringements I can’t go any deeper into that).

wikipedia: “The company was founded in 1891 by Gerard Philips, a maternal cousin of Karl Marx, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Its first products were light bulbs and other electro technical equipment. Its first factory remains as a museum devoted to light sculpture.”

During my short passage in Eindhoven, it seemed to be closed, but the Evoluon building still occupies my mind, would have loved to have a closer look at that old flying saucer:

No seriously, the saucer is of the flying kind, as this 1981 ad proves:

Just to wrap things up, I can’t emphasize my love for the Philips logo enough, look at the beauty, makes up for a classic t-shirt, if you ask me:

I’ll be posting a couple of more reports on this trip, but for now, allow me to simply hit you with some random pictures I took whilst walking the streets. Quite a nice vibe going on in the streets of E-town by the way:

And as the man will be touring Japan in november, Red Book decided to show parts of the On-Point TV interview to the people, including Japanese subtitles!

This video is now on screens in all Puma stores in Japan. I dedicate this to the Puma folks, who can now reach out to me again for future collaborations. (not free shoes, haha)