This song is dedicated to the not very well known German-Jewish philosopher Günther Anders, whose ideas nowadays have been simply borrowed by the “star” Zygmunt Bauman. These ideas and concepts (expressed mostly in the masterpiece “Die Antiquiertheit des Menschen” ["The Outdateness of the Human Beings/Human Kind" - "L'uomo è antiquato" - maybe not by chance this book has never been translated in english...]) have been made simpler and definitely less philosophical; in other words, the so called anti-capitalist Bauman trivialized Anders’ philosophy making it accessible to the masses, perfect for the soulless reader of the consumerism dictatorship, BUT without quoting enough the mind behind his overrated books: “our” Günther Anders who had a prophetic vision.
This song of ours intends to be an homage to this important philosopher too often ignored.

Some suggestions for summer readings (connected to the post above):

ADORNO, T.W., Minima Moralia. Reflexionen aus dem beschädigten Leben, Suhrkamp Verlag, Berlin-Frankfurt a.M. 1951; trad. it. di R. Solmi, Minima moralia. Meditazioni della vita offesa, Einaudi, Torino 1954, 1979², 1994³.

ANDERS, G., Die Antiquiertheit des Menschen, Band I: Über die Seele im Zeitalter der zweiten industriellen Revolution, Beck, München 1956, 1980²; trad. it. di L. Dallapiccola, L’uomo è antiquato, vol. I: Considerazioni sull’anima nell’epoca della seconda rivoluzione industriale, Il Saggiatore, Milano 1963, poi ristampato da Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 2003 e 2006².

– Die Antiquiertheit des Menschen, Band II: Über die Zerstörung des Lebens im Zeitalter der dritten industriellen Revolution, Beck, München 1980, 1995²; trad. it. di M.A. Mori, L’uomo è antiquato, vol. II: Sulla distruzione della vita nell’epoca della terza rivoluzione industriale, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 1992, 2003 e 2007³.

BAUMAN, Z., Consuming Life, Polity Press, Cambridge 2007; trad. it. di M. Cupellaro, Consumo, dunque sono, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008.

BENJAMIN, W., Das Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1955; trad. it. di E. Filippini, L’opera d’arte nell’epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica, Einaudi, Torino 1966 e 1991².

BLOCH, E., Das Prinzip Hoffnung, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1959; trad. it. di E. De Angelis e T. Cavallo, Il principio speranza, Garzanti, Milano 1994.

– Philosophische Aufsätze zur objektiven Phantasie, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1969.

CANETTI, E., Masse und Macht, Claassen Verlag, Hamburg 1960; trad. it. di F. Jesi, Massa e potere, Adelphi, Milano 1981.

HORKHEIMER, M., − T.W. ADORNO, Dialektik der Aufklärung. Philosophische Fragmente, Social Studies Ass., New York 1944 (ed. ciclostilata col titolo Philosophische Fragmente); Querido, Amsterdam 1947 (prima ed. a stampa, col titolo definitivo e con poche aggiunte); S. Fischer Verlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1969 (ristampa quasi invariata); trad. it. di L. Vinci (pseud. di R. Solmi), Dialettica dell’illuminismo, Einaudi, Torino 1966, 1997⁴.

KRACAUER, S., Das Ornament der Masse, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1963; trad. it. (parz.) di M.G. Almirante Pappalardo e F. Maione, La massa come ornamento, Prismi, Napoli 1982; trad. it. (parz.) di C. Groff, La fabbrica del disimpegno, L’Ancora del Mediterraneo, Napoli 2002.

– Straβen in Berlin und anderswo, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1964; trad. it. (parz.) in La massa come ornamento, cit.

– Die Angestellten. Aus dem neuesten Deutschland, Societätsverlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1930; trad. it. di A. Solmi, Gli Impiegati, Einaudi, Torino 1980.

LUKÁCS, G., Geschichte und Klassenbewusstsein, Der Malik, Berlin 1923; trad. it. di G. Piana, Storia e coscienza di classe, SugarCo, Milano 1967.

– Die Zerstörung der Vernunft, Aufbau Verlag, Berlin 1954; trad. it. di E. Arnaud, La distruzione della ragione, Einaudi, Torino 1959.

MARCUSE, H., Kultur und Gesellschaft, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a.M. 1965; trad. it. di C. Ascheri, H. Ascheri Osterlow e F. Cerutti, Cultura e società. Saggi di teoria critica 1933-1965, Einaudi, Torino 1969.

– Eros and Civilisation. A Philosophical Inquiry into Freud, Beacon Press, Boston 1955, 1966²; trad. it. di L. Bassi, Eros e civiltà, Einaudi, Torino 1964, 1968².

– One-Dimensional Man. Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society, Beacon Press, Boston 1964; trad. it. di L. Gallino e T. Giani Gallino, L’uomo a una dimensione. L’ideologia della società industriale avanzata, Einaudi, Torino 1967.

MARX, K., Ökonomisch-philosophische Manuskripte aus dem Jahre 1844, in ID., Texte zu Methode und Praxis, Band II: Pariser Manuskripte 1844, herausgegeben von G. Hillmann, Rowohlt, München 1966; trad. it. di N. Bobbio, Manoscritti economico-filosofici del 1844, Einaudi, Torino 1968.

ORTEGA Y GASSET, J., La rebelión de las masas (1927, 1937), Espasa-Calpe, Madrid 1980³; trad. it. di S. Battaglia e C. Greppi, La ribellione delle masse, SE, Milano 2001.

RIESMAN, S., The Lonely Crowd. A Study of the Changing American Character, Yale University Press, New Haven 1950; trad. it. di G. Sarti, La folla solitaria, Il Mulino, Bologna 1956; nuova edizione, Il Mulino, Bologna 1999.

– Faces in the Crowd. Individual Studies in Character and Politics, Yale University Press, New Haven 1952; trad. it. di P. Trimarchi, Visi nella folla, Il Mulino, Bologna 1957.

SENNETT, R., The Fall of Public Man, W.W. Norton, New York 1977, poi Random House, London 1978; trad. it. di F. Gusmeroli, Il declino dell’uomo pubblico, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2006.

SIMMEL, G., Philosophie des Geldes, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig-München 1900, XVI, 554 S; trad. it. di A. Cavalli, R. Liebhart, L. Perucchi, Filosofia del denaro, UTET, Torino 1984, 2004².

– Die Groβstädte und das Geistesleben, in «Jahrbuch der Gehe-Stiftung», IX, 1903 (später in der Sammlung: Brücke und Tür. Essays des Philosophen zur Geschichte, Kunst, Religion und Gesellschaft, 1957); trad. it. di P. Jedlowski e R. Siebert, Le metropoli e la vita dello spirito, Armando, Roma 2005.

– Philosophie der Mode, Pan-Verlag, Berlin 1905 (= Moderne Zeitfragen. 11.), 41 S (später in der Sammlung: Philosophische Kultur. Gesammelte Essais, 1911); trad. it. di L. Perucchi, La moda, SE, Milano 1996.

– Der Konflikt der modernen Kultur. Ein Vortrag, Duncker & Humblot, München-Leipzig 1918, 48 S.; trad. it. di G. Rensi, Il conflitto della civiltà moderna, Fratelli Bocca Editori, Torino 1925; SE, Milano 1999².

TÖNNIES, F., Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft, Reislad, Leipzig 1887; trad. it. di G. Giordano, Comunità e società, Edizioni di Comunità, Milano 1963.

WEBER, M., Die protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus, in Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Religionssoziologie, Mohr, Tübingen 1922; trad. it. di P. Burresi, L’etica protestante e lo spirito del capitalismo, Sansoni, Firenze 1945, 1965², 1977³.

WHYTE, W.H., The Organization Man, Simon & Schuster, New York 1956; trad. it. di L. Gallino, L’uomo dell’organizzazione, Einaudi, Torino 1960.

WRIGHT MILLS, C., White Collar. The American Middle Classes, Oxford University Press, New York 1951; trad. it. di S. Sarti, Colletti bianchi. La classe media americana, Einaudi, Torino 1966.

Up The Royals!

Aphex Twin –  “Xtal” [da Selected Ambient Works 85-92, Apollo, 1992]

Arab Strap – “Here we go” [da Philophobia, Chemikal Underground, 1998]

Autechre – “Calbruc” [da Chiastic Slide, Warp, 1997]

Bardo Pond – “Tommy Gun Angel” [da Lapsed, Matador, 1997]

Bark Psychosis – “Pendulum Man” [da Hex, Circa Records Ltd., 1994]

Bedhead – “Exhume” [da Transaction De Novo, Trance Syndacate Records, 1998]

Belle And Sebastian – “If You’re Feeling Sinister” [da If You’re Feeling Sinister, Jeepster Recordings, 1996]

Black Heart Procession, The – “Blue Tears” [da 2, Touch And Go, 1999]

Boards Of Canada – “Everything You Do Is A Balloon” [da Hi Scores, Skam, 1996]

Bonnie “Prince” Billie – “Another Day Full Of Dread” [da I See A Darkness, Palace Records, 1999]

Codeine – “Realize” [da Barely Real, Sub Pop Records, 1992]

Dirty Three – “Hope” [da Horse Stories, Touch And Go, 1996]

Disco Inferno – “Footprints In Snow” [da D.I. Go Pop, Rough Trade, 1994]

Eels – “Going To Your Funeral Part I” [da Electro-Shock Blues, Dreamworks Records, 1998]

Elliot Smith – “Needle In The Hay” [da S/T, Kill Rock Stars, 1995]

Flying Saucer Attack – “The Drowners” [da S/T, VHF Records, 1993]

For Carnation, The – “On The Swing” [da Marshmallows, Matador, 1996]

Gas – “Untitled #4” [da Königsforst, Mille Plateaux, 1998]

Gastr Del Sol – “Our Exquisite Replica Of ‘Eternity’” [da Upgrade & Afterlife, Drag City, 1996]

Godspeed You Black Emperor! – “East Hastings” [da F#A#oo, Kranky, 1998]

Grant Lee Buffalo – “The Shining Hour” [da Fuzzy, Slash Records, 1993]

Idaho – “Skyscrape” [da Year After Year, Caroline records, 1993]

June Of 44 – “Of Information & Belief” [da Four Great Points, Quarterstick Records, 1998]

Labradford – “Splash Down” [da Prazision LP, Kranky, 1993]

Long Fin Killie – “Valentino” [da Valentino, Too Pure, 1996]

Low – “Down” [da I Could Live In Hope, Vernon Yard Recordings, 1994]

Magnog – “Lost Landing” [da S/T, Kranky, 1996]

Mogwai – “Tracy” [da Young Team, Chemikal Underground, 1997]

My Bloody Valentine – “Sometimes” [da Loveless, Creation Records, 1991]

Neutral Milk Hotel -  “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea” [da In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, Merge Records, 1998]

Oval – “Post-Post“ [da Systemisch, Mille Plateaux, 1994]

Papa M – “Arundel” [da Live From A Shark Cage, Domino Recording Company Ltd., 1999]

Pavement – “In The Mouth Of A Desert” [da Slanted And Enchanted, Matador, 1992]

Placebo – “Pure Morning” [da Without You I’m Nothing, Elevator Music Ltd., Virgin, 1998]

Pearl Jam – “Smile” [da No Code, Epic, 1996]

Red House Painters – “Grace Cathedral Park” [da S/T, 4AD, 1993]

Seefeel – “Through You” [da Quique, Too Pure, 1993]

Slint – “Good Morning, Captain” [da Spiderland, Touch And Go, 1991]

Slowdive – “Dagger” [da Souvlaki, Creation Records, 1993]

Smashing Pumpkins, The – “Bodies” [da Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, Virgin, 1995]

Smog – “Chosen One” [da Julius Caesar, Drag City, 1993]

Spain – “Nobody Has To Know” [da She Haunts My Dreams, Restless Records, 1999]

Talk Talk – “Taphead” [da Laughing Stock, Polydor, 1991]

Tindersticks – “Blood” [da S/T, This Way Up, 1993]

Third Eye Foundation – “Still-Life” [da Semtex, Linda’s Strange Vacation, 1996]

Tortoise – “Djed” [da Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Thrill Jockey, 1996]

Trans Am – “Motr“ [da Surrender To The Night, City Slang, 1997]

Van Pelt, The – “The Good, The Bad & The Blind” [da Sultans Of Sentiment, Gern Blandsten,. 1997]

Weezer – “Undone – The Sweater Song” [da S/T, Geffen Records, 1994]

Windsor For The Derby – “Skimming +” [da Minnie Greutzfeldt, Trance Syndacate Records, 1997]

Melly

Lost, dunque, finisce per essere uno specchio fedele della società del consumo globale di oggi: attira, lusinga e poi al fondo delude. Eppure delude con una certa classe, emozionando e divertendo, quasi di nascosto; soprattutto, delude perchè era programmato per farlo, perchè si sta parlando comunque di prodotti, di pubblicità, di soldi. (Ed è pure interessante notare come il messaggio di fondo nascosto nella sua mitologia, ovviamente non svolto, sia l’esatto contrario di ciò che, come appena detto, Lost nel complesso obliquamente contribuisce ad alimentare…)

Quello che ho imparato in questi sei anni è, come sempre, che tutto ciò che c’è di bello nell’arte sta in una prospettiva parziale, nella paura del non vedere e del non sapere, nella possiblità, e nell’attesa della scelta. Appena si allarga il campo e si comprende la verità, l’arte facilmente muore.

What i’m listening to:  Scuba, Pantha Du Prince, the Notwist (”Boneless”), Ash Ra Tempel, Belong, Fourtet, Black Dice, Neu!;

What i’m reading: ogni cosa che abbia a che fare con le prospettive di riforma del sistema di giustizia italiano; i manuali del liceo di filosofia (Hegel, Eraclito, Parmenide);

Movies: Tarantino, Moore, ecc.

melly

The Italian Magazine XL published the Tour Diary of our latest tour in Eastern Europe with some cool pictures taken by Elena Leone.

Read it HERE! (only in italian sorry!)

Up The Royals!

Up!

the sick passion for poker nowadays is a clear symptom of the permanent regression to an idiot barbarism that, sadly, was never really dead nor defeated, but that at contrary is now the “main theme” of our time and the essential part of our so-called progress…
how the fuck is it possible that some people (also the so-called “vip”) are allowed to play tournaments with millions of euros while a huge part of this exhausted planet is starving to death? and especially how can everybody like this horrible show? of course and sadly i know well the answers to these questions… but asking is still essential if anybody wants really to wipe out such an “atrocity exhibition”…

please get us back to the gladiators of the ancient rome, where barbarism was still “natural”, “honest” and less brutal. the passion for poker shows perfectly a world where every romantic element is completely vanished, a fake-plastic world where everything is phony: there is not even a real tension in that fake game, all is calculated in advance, even the expressions of the competitors… where is the tension/suspense of the original gambling?
but mostly and above all where are we now?

cotidie circenses sine pane. please lord give us our everyday show when there is nothing to eat and to live for.

attilio

36 - “Inside” [da Hypersona, 3six Recordings, 2009]

Album Leaf, The – “Over The Pond” [da In A Safe Place, Sub Pop, 2004]

Allien, E. & Apparat – “Jet” [da An Orchestra Of Bubbles, BPitch Control, 2006]

Arcade Fire – “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)” [da Funeral, Merge, 2004]

Arovane – “Deauville” [da Tides, City Centre Offices, 2000]

Auburn Lull – “Shallow In Youth” [da Cast From The Platform, Darla, 2004]

Boom Bip – “From Left To Right” [da Corymb, Lex, 2004]

Books, The – “Read, Eat, Sleep” [da Thought For Food, Tomlab, 2002]

Broken Social Scene – “Stars And Sons” [da You Forgot It In People, A&C, 2003]

Burial – “Ghost Hardware” [da Untrue, Hyperdub, 2007]

Cash, J. – “Hurt” [da American IV: The Man Comes Around, American, 2002]

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – “Over And Over Again (da Lost And Found)” [da S/t, Wichita, 2006]

Colleen- “Summer water” [da The Golden Morning Breaks, Leaf, 2005]

Daft Punk – “Veridis Quo” [da Discovery, Virgin, 2001]

Death Cab For Cutie – “Title and Registration” [da Transatlanticism, Barsuk Records, 2003]

Dntel – “Fear Of Corners” [da Life Is Full Of Possibilities, Plug Research, 2001]

Domotic – “Tourquoise / Trotzdem” [da Ask for Tiger, Active Suspension, 2005]

Early Day Miners – “In These Hills” [da Placer Found, Western Vynil, 2000]

Eluvium – “Everything To Come” [da Talk Amongst The Trees, Temporary Residence, 2005]

Fake, N. – “Grandfathered” [da Drowning In A Sea Of  Love, Boarder Community, 2006]

Fennesz, C. – “Caecilia” [da Endless Summer, Mego, 2001]

Field, The – “Good Things End” [da From Here We Go Sublime, Kompakt, 2007]

Fizzarum – “Microphorus” [da Monochrome Plural, Domino, 2000]

Fourtet – “My Angel Rocks Back And Forth” [da Rounds, Domino, 2003]

Fuck Buttons – “Sweet Love For Planet Earth” [da Street Horrrsing, ATP, 2008]

Hecker, T. – “7000 Miles ” [da Radio Amor, Mille Plateaux, 2003]

Holden, J. – “10101″ [da The Idiots Are Winning, Border Community, 2006]

Interpol – “PDA” [da Fukd I.D. #3, Chemikal Underground, 2000]

Lali Puna – “Scary World Theory” [da Scary World Theory, Morr Music, 2001]

Landing – “How Did You Feel?” [da Oceanless, Strange Attractors, 2001]

Last Days – “The Safest Place” [da Sea, n5MD, 2006]

M83 – “Gone” [da Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, Mute, 2003]

Magnetophone – “Temporary Lid/Georgia” [da I Guess Sometimes I Need To Be Reminded Of How Much You Love Me, 4AD, 2000]

Microphones, The – “I Want Wind To Blow” [da “The Glow” Pt. 2, K..., 2001] 

Mountains - “Telescope” [da Choral, Thrill Jockey, 2009]

Offlaga Disco Pax – “Tatranky” [da Socialismo Tascabile, Santeria, 2005]

Pan American – “Love Song” [da For Waiting, For Chasing, Mosz, 2006]

Radiohead – “Idioteque” [da Kid A, Parlophone, 2000]

Schnauss, U. -  “… Passing by” [da Far Away Trains Passing By, City Centre Offices, 2001]

Sight Below, The – “Dour” [da Glider, GI-78, 2008]

Sigur Ròs – “Untitled (#6)” [da ( ) , Fat Cat, 2002]

Sparklehorse – “Sea Of Teeth” [da It’s A Wonderful Life, Capitol, 2001]

Strokes, The – “The Modern Age” [da Is This It, RCA, 2001]

Stars Of The Lid – “Tippy’s Demise” [da Stars Of The Lid And Their Refinement Of The Decline, Kranky, 2006]

Tarentel – “Open Letter To Hummingbirds” [da Paper White, Temporary Residence, 2005]

Thermals, The – “A Pillar Of Salt” [da The Body The Blood The Machine, Sub Pop, 2006]

Telefon Tel Aviv – “Helen Of Troy” [da Immolate Yourself, BPitch Control, 2009]

Xiu Xiu – “I luv the valley OH!” [da Fabulous Muscles, Tomlab, 2004]

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps” [da Fever To Tell, Interscope, 2003]

Yo La Tengo – “Everyday” [da And Then Nothing Turned Itself Into Nothing, Matador, 2000]

Up,

Ettore/Melly

HVA

Worries and constraints I am oh, roped
By their swell
Well so none can’t tell
About this girl’s envious eyes
I am reaching the very top of
Delusion
I set myself free
And my fingers come unglued
I try no to reach for too much
I can handle only some decent lies
Small lies
Well,
We always pretend to be someone else
I am not to pretend
I am not to pretend

We pretend to be someone else

NIGHTS IN KIEV

Velocity girl, I miss you
Velocity girl, you are lost
You are lost

I was in L.A. to watch the sun that fades

ANNA USTINOVA

In the sun I used to walk, up
In the sky we float as clouds
She will take my hand and guide me
Facing the rainy ground
And the weather I was hoping
Will lead us to a quiet place
We can see cars and people
And she jumps above, in the sky
If the word that you are spreading
Is the most that you can give
I dont feel that I am lying
That she longs

She jumps over the sky
She cries

I USED TO BE SAD

I’m gonna go there
I’m gonna kiss her
I’m not going anywhere

After I recovered
From the worst winter
World ever seen
I barely remember
I used to be sad

After I discovered
The greatest thing
It is your laugh
I barely remember
I used to be sad

SUSY: BLUE EAST FADING

I used to be sad…
Never more
Never again

THE PHOTOSHOPPED PRINCE

All the fridays of the spring
All the dogs – oh, they went bald
Colder evenings, shallow breath
Do I know you? Hope I am not wrong

Do you take your luck for granted?
Do you care if I go bald?
Did you find the world inverted?
Did you take disease for gold
[Would you care if I got bald?
Would you care yes or no?]

All the sundays of the fall
All the trees – oh, they went bald
Simply no one got involved
Yes I know you! Hope I am not wrong
[... having fun in losing the hair]

Do you take your luck for granted?
Do you care if I go bald?
Did you find the world inverted?
Did you take disease for gold
[Would you care if I got bald?
Would you care yes or no?]

BALDING GENERATION (LOSING HAIR AS WE LOSE HOPE)

Here we are
Balding generation
Losing hair
As we lose hope
Here we are
Balding generation
Losing hair
As we lose hope
But
Still able
To fall in love
Still able
To dare to love

Up,
the royals