Marsden Hartley once wrote of the challenges of inhabiting New Mexico in a letter to Alfred Stieglitz. "This country is very beautiful and also difficult... It is not a country of light on things. It is a country of things in light, therefore it is a country of form, with a new presentation of light as problem." New Mexico remains a beautiful, difficult land.
Things in Light is pleased to present the eighth installment of ABQ MTV, featuring videos by Autumn Chacon and Mello Sanchez, Pancakes!, and Father of the Flood.
► Performance artist/musician Autumn Chacon and DJ/musician/pastry chef Mello Sanchez toss a salad like, well, it's never been tossed before.
► Pancakes! video for "Lipbiter" is psychedelic, energetic, and darn cute.
► Father of the Flood's video for "Disclosure/Salt Verse" is a dark and twisty journey — one probably best not undertaken by the faint of heart.
Things in Light is pleased to present the seventh installment of ABQ MTV.
► First, check out the new Leeches of Lore video for "Mountain Candy Rape," featuring an eye-catching mixture of live action footage and creative collage, cardboard signage, and puppetry.
► Second, 1...2...and don't forget to breathe while watching Tropical Girls' manipulated found footage music video for "Exercise."
► Finally, zone out to Dan Gottwald's psychedelic video, "This is Natural," featuring the sounds ofThe Analogous Ensemble— played by Dan Gottwald with trombone accompaniment by Christian Pincock.
Things in Light is pleased to present the sixth installment of ABQ MTV.
► First up, check out the funky sorta art rock-slash-new wave sound of Taos-based band The Refrigerators, performing "Dawn Patrol" in 1981.
► Second, indulge in the prog-funk stylings of The Wet Sox, performing "DDD & E" in 1981, as well.
► Third, here's a short film by Alan Swain called Kitchen Parties. It introduces the viewer to authentic Burque '80s house party culture via documentary footage and Albuquerque streetscapes — including one scene that features the notoriously greasy Vip's Big Boy. Soundtrack by Jerry's Kidz.
►The final entry in this installment isn't technically a music video, but es lo más chingón, so we had to we had include it — Treadmill's cover of Peter Gabriel's "Shock the Monkey."
Things in Light is pleased to present the fourth episode of ABQ
MTV.
William Fowler Collins' new LP, The Resurrections Unseen, will be available in the U.S. on November 7. The limited edition record was pressed on blood-red vinyl. This mooning -- and, yes, somewhat morbid -- music video provides a fitting visual counterpart to WFC's dark ambient track "Abattoir." Type Records' press release leads with, "There are dark forces at work deep in the deserts of New Mexico." Indeed.
Zoology's video for "Don't Step" showcases slick moves, sick beats, and downtown Burque. Simply put, it's tight. Forward motion, unpretentious enthusiasm, and Nuevomexicano skies make this music video a pleasure to watch. Good on ya, Zoology crew!
Gusher's first music video shows the band -- decked out in gas masks and medical garb -- alternately torturing a bound woman on a school bus and rocking out. So, yeah, the video's narrative is perhaps best described as "beating a dead cliché." But the sound, cinematography, and editing ain't bad. I'll admit I was waiting for a clever twist or satirical ending that never materialized, but that's a matter of personal taste. Watch it below and make your own assessment. And somebody get these guys "some fucking pliers."
Things in Light is psyched to present another "episode" of ABQ MTV, featuring local music videos that hark back to '86.
Our first video was broadcast live on Channel 27 in 1986. It features a musical intro by fringe-y Albuquerque new wave keyboard artist Rodger C. Venue. Then, seminal Albuquerque punk rockers Cracks in the Sidewalk share the "Leatherword." Check out youngsters Gordy Anderson (Black Maria, ex-Jerry's Kidz) Chris Partain (ex-Starsky, ex-Elephant, Star Tattoo), Judson Frondorf (designer, "PowerBook-fronter"), and Jez Velasquez (collage artist).
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Was that minute-long Rodger C. Venue intro just enough to whet your appetite for synth? You're in luck, 'cause here's a Venue vid from '86, "Danger City." And there's more synth-y goodness on the Rodger C. Venue Myspace, which indicates Venue is now calling Austin home.
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I would surely be remiss if I failed to include this Cracks in the Sidewalk "Down" video from '88.
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And, for good measure, here's Cracks in the Sidewalk performing in '94 on 5000 Feet High (Ch. 27).
I love music videos. And, this week, I stumbled across two new, local music videos that I absolutely lurve. Scroll on to get your ABQ A/V fix.
Local indie rawk duo Fart House seems to be following a witch house-esque search engine policy, because googling "Fart House" gets one exactly nowhere. Luckily, one-half of Fart House, uber-talented local artist Brapola! (Luke Hussack) shared this Supernormals-directed video for their song, "Song," on Facebook. Filmed at Small Engine Gallery, this video features so-bad-it's-good stand-up comedy, a couple of photogenic ducklings, face-in-hole paintings, and creative editing. And "Song" is a really good, er, song. Check it out!
American Modernist painter Marsden Hartley once wrote of the challenges of inhabiting New Mexico in a letter to Georgia O'Keeffe's husband, photographer and promoter Alfred Stieglitz. Hartley wrote: "This country is very beautiful and also difficult... It is not a country of light on things. It is a country of things in light, therefore it is a country of form, with a new presentation of light as problem." While time has passed since Hartley penned these words, New Mexico remains a beautiful, difficult land.
TIL Publisher Samantha Anne Carrillo
TIL Editor Rudolfo Carrillo
Things in Light Editor in Chief Rudolfo Carrillo currently serves as music & news editor for Weekly Alibi. Carrillo earned his bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico. His work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including daily newspapers, literary magazines and alt-weeklies. His personal weblog, Infinity Report, was recognized as one of the best blogs in New Mexico in 2007. At the latest Southwest Popular/American Culture Association conference, Carrillo chaired the experimental writing workshop.
