28 January, 2014

Now also on the Facebook


In an attempt to make Here be Porpoises more widely known, I've created a Facebook page for the blog. The Here be Porpoises page is at present only displaying the bare minimum, but in time I hope to figure out how to link Blogger to Facebook, so that each time I post here it will automatically appear on Facebook too.

In the meantime, if you like the blog, head on over to Facebook and like the Here be Porpoises page. Or don't. What ever floats your boat.

27 January, 2014

Grammys snub Hard Rock and Metal legends


Last nights Grammy Awards ceremony was meant to end with a bang, especially considering that the final performance for the evening included some of rocks greatest talent including Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age). 

Instead of being treated to an absolute musical extravaganza, viewers at home got to watch a reasonably good live performance of the Nine Inch Nails' track 'Copy of a,' followed by a much better performance of the Queens of the Stone Age track 'My god is the sun.' Well, that was what everyone was anticipating, but because the ceremony was running late, the guys in charge decided it was time cut off Homme and the boys and let every one at home know where the Grammy Awards got there money from before rolling the final credits.

As a result Reznor had the following tweet for the people behind the Grammy Awards:

Subsequently all videos of the performance have been removed with the organisers claiming copyright infringements. This prompted Spencer Kaufman across at Loudwire to write an open letter to the producers of Grammy Awards. It's an interesting read and points out a lot more of underlying issues within the 'music industry.'

23 January, 2014

Vuvuvultures - Deaf epic (Creep remix)

Dazed Digital are streaming the new Vuvuvultures remix by the talented duo Creep. This version of Deaf epic removes the 'happier' sounding instrumental parts, replacing them with atmospheric synths and percussion, giving the song a more brooding undertone. 



I'm really hoping to catch Vuvuvultures at one of their South African gigs in the coming months. I still need to give their album, Push/ Pull a proper listen on something other than my laptop too.

-- Updated 27 January 2014 --

Vuvuvultures have made the Deaf epic (Creep Remix) available as a free download for a limited time. All you have to do is follow this link, and fill in your e-mail.

300 million year old geopolitical map

I really like maps, so here's a cool one by Massimo Pietrobon displaying modern geopololitical borders superimposed over the super continent Pangaea.


Pity Argentina and South Africa aren't neighbours any more, it would make getting there a lot quicker and easier.

22 January, 2014

RDGLDGRN - 'Doing the most' music video

Here's the first music video by RDGLDGRN (pronounced Red Gold Green) for their single Doing the most. I highly suggest you check it out. And by the way, that's Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters below, he drums on this band's début album.

Nine Inch Nails help launch Beats Music with 'Remix 2014 EP'

Following last years release of the Live 2013 EP, which was a Spotify exclusive, Trent Reznor released a follow-up EP , Remix 2014. The new EP was released to coincide with the launch of Reznor's foray into the on-demand music streaming service, Beats Music, which was launched yesterday. 

Like the Live 2013 EP, Remix 2014 EP looks set to remain an online only release, which at present means that Remix 2014 EP is a United States exclusive.

I wonder if Hesitation Marks will get an expanded remix album/ EP companion album, or if the Remix 2014 EP is meant to to fill that space?

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and David Fincher team up once again

The soundtrack scoring duo, Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails, How to Destroy Angels) and Atticus Ross (How to Destroy Angels), are set to team up with director David Fincher for the third time to score the soundtrack for Gone Girl.

The trio have previously collaborated on the soundtracks for The Social Network, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, while Fincher also directed the music video for the Nine Inch Nails' track, Only.

All-star line-up to close Grammy Awards Ceremony

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards are taking place this Sunday night. I don't normally take much interest in awards ceremony, but this year might just be different. For starters it'll be the first time Gary Clark JrNine Inch Nails, and Queens of the Stone Age perform at the event. 

Clark is the first artist in history to be nominated in the categories 'Best Rock Song,' and 'Best Traditional R&B Performance' in the same year. I saw him perform live in June last year, and he would be a worthy recipient of either award, and probably deserves both.

What I'm really looking forward to seeing though, is the final performance of the evening by Trent Reznor/ Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age, who will also be joined on-stage by Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), and Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac). I'm interested to see if they will perform a track off of the Sound City soundtrack (since they were all involved in its creation), or if they perform a medley of tracks by the various groups. Either way, this looks to be an epic Grammy ceremony performance finale performance.

15 January, 2014

Devil Baby attack in NYC

In order to promote upcoming film Devil's Due, this elaborate hidden-camera prank was conceived (da dum tish). A radio controlled baby stroller, concealing an animatronic, screaming baby was let loose on the streets of New York City. The following video has some of the best reactions of people looking into a newborn's carriage, and seeing something totally unexpected.

13 January, 2014

Game of Thrones - Season 4 Trailer

Like most fans of the television series, Game of Thrones based on the fantasy novels of George R. R. Martin, I have yet to actually read a book from the series A Song of Ice and Fire.

I doubt that will change before the fourth season starts airing in North America on 6 April. Here's a glimpse at what we can look forward to in the coming season.