Flavortone

The Flavortone Study Group sub-series continues with Alec & Nick progressing in their reading of Jacques Attali's "Noise: The Political Economy of Music." Discussing the book's second chapter, “Sacrificing,” this episode gives a deep reading and commentary on Attali's position that the earliest essential social role of music was to serve as a substitute or simulacrum of sacrifice—and was a way of controlling and vanquishing noise by creating a harmonious order that legitimizes a social order.

Alec and Nick meditate on the Valentine's holiday with a consideration of musical romance and romanticism. Charting a history of musical thought regarding topics of love, collectivity and intimacy, the episode investigates deeper foundations of romance as well as its contemporary commercial and social constructions in sound. Topics include Edgard Varèse, Johannes Brahms, João Gilberto, Éliane Radigue, Roland Barthes, Michael Franks and more.

Alec & Nick inaugurate the new patron-exclusive Politics & Poetry sub-series with a deep dive into the politics, poetry, and music of 17-year-old country music / emo-rap star Kidd G. The discussion touches on trans-american rural aesthetics, reciprocities of youth and aging, binaristic partisan politics, and the postmodern synthesis of “country-rap” as it plays out in Harmony Korine, Ryan Trecartin & contemporary life. The duo also discusses how the politics of populism flow into recent dramas such the Neil Young & Joe Rogan Spotify stand-off, independent music Twitter’s recent meltdown on NFT music “scam” HitPiece, and more.

Alec and Nick discursively cross the river Styx that is Web3 and NFT culture. Charting a recent history of music’s own volatile and speculative economies, this episode tracks analogical implications within sound and blockchain technologies. The duo borrow the crypto degen epithet “we like the art” and speak about the visualization and tokenization of music as its transpired within the industrial conditions of Web2 as an audible musical imprint. The conversation touches on recent music distribution protocol Nina, the upcoming Tiny Mix Tapes DAO, the rise and fall of SoundCloud, Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty, Simon Reynold’s Conceptronica essay, Reza Negarastani & Generative Aesthetics, Dostoevsky & God, and more.

In this first podcast of the Flavortone Study Group sub-series, Alec & Nick begin their reading of Jacques Attali's "Noise: The Political Economy of Music." Discussing the book's first chapter, "Listening," this episode offers introduction and commentary on Attali's central theme of music as a prophetic social force and as a mirror of political and economic circumstances.

Alec and Nick continue their “Musician’s Friend” sub-series, dedicating an episode to discuss a selection of father & son musical relationships including: Mark Fell & Rian Treanor, Terry & Gyan Riley, Thom & Noah Yorke, La Monte Young, as wells as The Hank Williams & Bach musical dynasties. The conversation touches on topics such as uncanny music industry alliances, simple family jamming, notions of the original and the copy, Jacques Lacan’s “Nom du Pere,” patriarchal political economies of music, and the fragmentation of American familial structure.

Alec & Nick inaugurate the new patron-exclusive Editorials and Opinions sub-series with a sportsmanly report on music they did not listen to in 2021. Topics include The Wire Magazine, the live music show, Coldplay, Fuerza Regida, Klein, aesthetics of failure and participatory discrepancy.

In this final episode of 2021, Alec and Nick wrap up the year by revisiting an early concept from the Flavortone archive: the Cochlear Wind. The Cochlear Wind is a figurative mascot, intended to both cheer and taunt the way composers bamboozle listeners (and often, themselves) through flurries of tactical language, technological posturing and evocations of site-specificity. Poking fun at platitudes found in sound art and phenomenology, this idea is a parody of "the mystery of sound," where sonority and noise disorient the always beleaguered, insufficient Ear as it attempts to understand an audible world. Topics include: the Trap Card of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Jeff Witscher, Oda speaker company, Alvin Lucier, François Bonnet, Pascale Criton and more! 

Art by Char Esme, www.charesme.info.

Inaugurating the launch of their Patreon and merch projects, Alec and Nick discuss their ambitious “mise en place” for a new year of podcasts, guest appearances and exclusive publications. “Mise en place”—the french culinary term for "putting in place" or "gathering” an array of ingredients—serves as a way of framing these new Patron benefits. On the menu: The “Editorials & Opinions” sub-series, focusing on hot takes on the topical music issues of our times; The “Politics & Poetry” sub-series, focusing on kitchen sink discussions of current events and various subjects of human interest in music; and, the “Study Group” sub-series, focusing on close readings of classic musical texts & works. Patrons will also receive The Flavortone Review: monthly assembled PDF documents surveying the materials discussed in the episodes. Additional benefits include annual free merch gifts, supper club invitations & more. Bon appetite, arrivederci, and happy new year!

https://www.patreon.com/flavortonepodcast

https://www.flavortonemerch.com/

In preparation of cooking their own turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, Alec and Nick make a broad comparison of the venerable bird to the production of music albums and the heights and depths of American culture. Topics include tensions around suspicion and comfort, the trauma of American capitalist and familial ritual, obsessive indexing and preparation tactics, gratitude as radical subjectivity, and the carnal reveries of desiring-production. Referencing everything Robert Wyatt's "Rock Bottom" to Fernando Zalamea's "American—An Integral Weave: Transversality, Borders, and Abysses in 19th & 20th Century American Culture," the discussion ends up staging a culinary conversation that hybridizes wet and dry brine turkey cooking methods. 

Opening mix: "The Splendid Table Theme Song" performed by Rachel Solomon (Piano), Chris Autry (Bass) & Brett Byars (Drums).

Opening theme music: Xander Seren

Closing music: "The Splendid Table Theme Song" performed by Rachel Solomon (Piano), Chris Autry (Bass) & Brett Byars (Drums).