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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Radiohead Reloads for Post-'King of Limbs' Blitz

Band storms New York with shows, TV gigs in advance of 2012 tour. Plus: New Atoms for Peace LP?

By David Fricke
thom yorke radiohead new york
Thom Yorke of Radiohead performs at Roseland Ballroom in New York.
 
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
 
"This is a nice little hit," singer Thom Yorke says in a breezy voice the day before Radiohead's September 28th show at New York's Roseland Ballroom. He is sitting in a hotel lobby, drinking tea and talking cheerfully about his band's current promo blitz on behalf of its latest album, the very-electronic enigma The King of Limbs. When the record came out as a download in February, Radiohead – an independent act since it finished its EMI deal with 2003's Hail to the Thief – played no gigs and did no interviews.

"It was nice not to do any of it," Yorke says. "But after a while, we thought, 'Hold on, it might be nice to do something.' And now that we've figured out how to play it live" – referring to the album's lush tangle of samples, drum loops and glassy vocal reveries – "that creates an energy that we want to pursue. You want to get it out there."

Radiohead's New York trip has included TV appearances on Saturday Night Live, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and a special one-hour edition of The Colbert Report, during which the usually limelight-shy Yorke gamely fired quips back at the host. At Roseland on the 28th and 29th, Radiohead, who have not toured North America since 2008, gave a spectacular preview of their new six-piece lineup – with second drummer Clive Deamer of the British group Portishead – and the major roadwork they are planning for 2012. Yorke, bassist Colin Greenwood, drummer Phil Selway and guitarists Ed O'Brien and Jonny Greenwood performed seven of the eight songs on The King of Limbs, invigorating the laptop-built ambience of "Bloom" and "Morning Mr. Magpie" with live-band dynamics and Selway's polyrhythmic bond with Deamer.

The Roseland shows included an unreleased song, "Daily Mail," Yorke's scathing address to ex-British prime minister Tony Blair, the King of Limbs outtake "Supercollider" and a new arrangement with furious double drumming on "Myxomatosis," from Hail to the Thief. Radiohead also resurrected two oldies: "Subterranean Homesick Alien," from 1997's OK Computer and, on the 29th, a bit of the fans' favorite "True Love Waits" during the intro to "Everything in Its Right Place," from 2000's Kid A. The previous night, in the same spot, Yorke paid tribute to the recently split R.E.M. and their singer Michael Stipe, a close friend, singing a chorus from their 1987 hit "The One I Love."

"It was the same thing with Kid A – the studio was this process, then you bring it to life," Yorke says of the delay in bringing The King of Limbs to the stage. "In 'Bloom,' when Clive goes from the electro pads to the live kit, and my guitar shoots up an octave, I'm like, 'Wow!' When we came up with that, it was like, 'OK, we got it.'"

"The whole thing is a morass of syncopations and layers," says Deamer, who started playing with Selway last winter, working out parts, before rehearsing with the whole group. "But every time we play, it grows. Something slightly different can happen."

Radiohead could squeeze in only three concerts this year – the Roseland dates and a surprise set in June at Britain's Glastonbury Festival – because Deamer is also on the road with Portishead. "He wasn't available," says Chris Hufford, one of Radiohead's managers, "and it's why we couldn't go out on tour until next year."
"It will be sort of on and off, with big gaps," Yorke says of the probable schedule, then grins reassuringly. "But not that big."

In the meantime, Radiohead have released another new album. TKOL RMX 1234567 is a two-CD set of radical reconstructions of the tracks on The King of Limbs by DJs and producers such as Modeselektor, Altrice and SBTRKT. "It was kind of my baby," Yorke says, noting that Blawan's remix of "Bloom" "has just a little bit of us in there. But I love that."

Yorke, who turned 43 on October 7th, is determined to finish his new Atoms for Peace album by the end of the year. It is likely to feature recordings from the sessions Yorke did in 2010 with his touring band of that name, whose members include Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich and bassist Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album has "a lot of solo stuff as well," Yorke adds. But, he confesses, "It's not good enough yet." He and Godrich "were excited about it for so long, then we kind of lost our way. So we're taking some steps back."

"The genesis was more like The Eraser – Thom and I in the studio," Godrich says, referring to Yorke's 2006 solo album. "The idea was to generate the music, then record the band. We did that. Some of it worked. We also went back to some of the electronic stuff. It's still in flux. We're waiting for the lightning bolt to strike."
Radiohead are returning to the studio as well. They will work on new material at their recording space in Oxford, England, in December and January. "We can get things together quite rapidly at the moment," Yorke says brightly. He mentions one song, "Come to Your Senses." "We have this version of it. It's a five-minute rehearsal, but it has the essence of what we need.

"There are a few of those," he adds. "It would be fun to have them ready when we go to play next year. I don't know how we would release them." Yorke smiles hopefully. "It would be nice to make it all part of the flow and just enjoy it – not think about it too much."

Congrats, Taylor Swift! You’re Billboard’s Woman Of The Year!

From: http://www.hollywoodlife.com/


Taylor Swift, 21, is the youngest girl to ever receive this honor!

Taylor Swift is on fire! Not only was she nominated this morning for American Music Awards, but the 21-year-old singer is also going to be named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in New York City Dec. 2. We’re so proud of her!

“Taylor has shown the power of good songwriting with music that has transcended genres, and we’re thrilled to recognize all of her successes over the past year by honoring her with the Billboard Woman of the Year Award,” Bill Werde, Billboard’s Editorial Director, said in a release. “At the young age of 21, Taylor has already made a major impact on music and has been an incredible role model for aspiring singers/songwriters and young women everywhere. I look forward to watching her career continue to flourish in the years to come.”

Taylor is the youngest woman to ever receive this honor and last year, Fergie walked away with the award. Congrats on all of your success, Taylor! You make your fans proud!



iOS 5 reviewed: Notifications, iMessages, and iCloud, oh my!

arstechnica.comThe long-awaited public release of iOS 5 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch is now in our grubby little hands. Thanks to better notifications, a new way to avoid texting, and a new focus on cloud sync, it's one of the best iOS updates yet. 


Click here for the Full Article: http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/10/ios-5-reviewed-notifications-imessages-and-icloud-oh-my.ars

Scientists Find A Way To Stop Peanut Allergies

 Author: Steve West
From: http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/


Allergies are often seen as a sign of weakness. If you have an allergy you’re seen as inferior. There’s little you can do about a food allergy unless you have a lot of time and money. They can start at any time in life; and often mean having to live without the food or go through immunotherapy. That is until now. Scientists have found a way to get rid of peanut allergy.

Peanut allergy is infamous, as peanuts are pervasive throughout our food system. As a chef I’m alerted to every allergy-suffering customer that orders food, and we take usual precautions. Peanut allergies being so prevalent we actually don’t have any peanuts on the premises. It’s also widely known that people will claim an allergy when they don’t like something. You really want me to believe you’re allergic to salt? You’d be dead right now if that were the case. Yes, “no salt. Allergic!” did appear on a ticket a few months ago. But peanuts are no joke.

As scary as anaphylactic shock, the immune system’s response to the protein that causes the problem, can be it isn’t normally life ending. Only a few hundred people die from anaphylactic shock each year, out of many thousands of documented cases. Still it is a nuisance to be saddled with a food allergy. Even a mild intolerance can be annoying.


Scientists at Northwestern University have found a way to acclimate the immune system to the problem peanut proteins. Paul Bryce and Stephen Miller attached the peanut protein to blood cells, which are then put back in the body. This way the immune system recognizes the blood cell, and slowly begins to get used to the protein. Then why peanuts are introduced the system doesn’t go batshit crazy and shut off a person’s ability to breathe.

The method has only been tested in mice, but it could prove a fast and efficient way to get over a food allergy. Immunotherapy does work, but it can be a large time investment.

Introducing... the earth-scraper: Architects design 65-storey building which plunges 300 metres below ground

By Hugo Gye
From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Architects have designed an incredible 65-storey 'earth-scraper' which plunges 300 metres below ground.

The stunning upside down pyramid in the middle of Mexico City is designed to get around height limits on new buildings in the capital.


The subterranean building will have 10 storeys each for homes, shops and a museum, as well as 35 storeys for offices.

Deep: The 65-storey 'earth-scraper' is set to plunge 300m into the ground beneath Mexico City
Deep: The 65-storey 'earth-scraper' is set to plunge 300m into the ground beneath Mexico City
Epic scale: The enormous complex is intended to get round the city's planning laws, which state that buildings can be no more than eight storeys high
Epic scale: The enormous complex is intended to get round the city's planning laws, which state that buildings can be no more than eight storeys high
Landmark: The earth-scraper would be located in the city's main square, and topped with an enormous Mexican flag
Landmark: The earth-scraper would be located in the city's main square, and topped with an enormous Mexican flag

A glass floor covers the massive 240m x 240m hole in the city's main square to filter in natural light from the world above.

The design has been crowned with a Mexican flag.

Esteban Suarez, from architecture firm BNKR Arquitectura, said the building would also house a new cultural centre.

Scary: The core is all made of glass to ensure that all parts of the building receive natural sunlight from the world outside
Scary: The core is all made of glass to ensure that all parts of the building receive natural sunlight from the world outside
Relaxing: Designers expect the public areas of the building to become a popular destination for those wishing to escape the bustle of the city
Relaxing: Designers expect the public areas of the building to become a popular destination for those wishing to escape the bustle of the city
Heritage: The earth-scraper is expected to contain a museum and cultural centre which will explore the history of Mexico and its pyramids
Heritage: The earth-scraper is expected to contain a museum and cultural centre which will explore the history of Mexico and its pyramids

He said: 'New infrastructure, office, retail and living space are required in the city but no empty plots are available.


'Federal and local laws prohibit demolishing historic buildings and even if this was so, height regulations limit new structures to eight storeys.


'The city's historic centre is in desperate need of a makeover but we have nowhere to put it, this means the only way to go is down.'


He added: 'The Earthscraper preserves the iconic presence of the city square and the existing hierarchy of the buildings that surround it.


'It is an inverted pyramid with a central void to allow all habitable spaces to enjoy natural lighting and ventilation.


'It will also allow the numerous activities that take place on the city square year round such as concerts, open-air exhibitions and military parades to go ahead.'

Unobtrusive: One advantage of the unusual structure is that it would create space in the centre of Mexico City, which is full of historic buildings which cannot be demolished
Unobtrusive: One advantage of the unusual structure is that it would create space in the centre of Mexico City, which is full of historic buildings which cannot be demolished
Green: The interior of the building is supposed to look natural and welcoming
Green: The interior of the building is supposed to look natural and welcoming
Efficient: The creative use of space would allow the plaza to be used for events such as concerts and military parades
Efficient: The creative use of space would allow the plaza to be used for events such as concerts and military parades
Massive: The space covering the earth-scraper will take up 240 square metres in the heart of Mexico's capital
Massive: The space covering the earth-scraper will take up 240 square metres in the heart of Mexico's capital

Pyramids play a large part in the architectural history of Mexico, as the country's anicent civilisations have often build huge pyramid structures.


When the Aztecs first came into the Valley of Mexico they built their pyramids on the lake they found there.


As the Aztec Empire grew in size and power they conceived a new and bigger pyramid, but instead of looking for a new site they just built it on and around the existing one.

The traditional pyramids are therefore composed of different layers of historical periods.

Modern: Much of the building is expected to be devoted to office space
Modern: Much of the building is expected to be devoted to office space
Shopping: The earth-scraper would almost certainly become one of the city's top retail destinations as soon as it opened
Shopping: The earth-scraper would almost certainly become one of the city's top retail destinations as soon as it opened
Connected: This picture shows the proposed metro station which would pass through the earth-scraper just below ground level
Connected: This picture shows the proposed metro station which would pass through the earth-scraper just below ground level

When the Spanish arrived in America and ultimately conquered the Aztecs, they erected Christian churches on top of the pyramids.


Eventually their whole colonial city was built over the Aztec one. In the 20th century, many colonial buildings were demolished and modern structures raised on the existing historic foundations.


Esteban added: 'The Earthscraper digs down through the layers of cities to uncover our roots.'
Novelty: No other public building extends so far beneath the ground
Novelty: No other public building extends so far beneath the ground
Technical: The building would be an extraordinary feat of engineering
Technical: The building would be an extraordinary feat of engineering
Today: The plaza, shown as it looks currently, would be transformed by the radical plan
Today: The plaza, shown as it looks currently, would be transformed by the radical plan