Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

Make the music here.  
Link via Dub Defender.

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

The Gents may be back home catching up on some R&R but their growing legacy is still going strong the U.S. Daytrotter recently released their sessions with our beloved BLK JKS. Catch BLK JKS in NYC, Spetember 9th at S.O.B.s before they hit the road for a series of dates and festivals. Checks it and stay up!

Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com

Sopogy Inc. uses 12 foot upward-curved mirrors to generate solar energy into the pipes aligning the center of each panel

It's fucking hot in New York we can't wait to feel better about cooling off in our office buildings. Apparently, solar air-conditioning has been around from some time now, says David Berokoff, a technology development manager at SoCal Gas, one of the nations largest energy suppliers. Now it's a matter of connecting all the dots and making it a reality for residential and business structures. That is exactly what three different companies are exploring. By using mirrors to generate solar energy and collecting it into a piping system, the heated water then "powers a thermal process in a chiller that cools the cold water used in air conditioning units." SoCal Gas Co. and its parent company, Sempra Energy are planning on dropping a cool 10 million on renewable research for sustainable projects this year.

HelioDynamics go with small, flat mirrors that reflect the sun's rays into a single pipe directly above

SoCal Gas initially wanted to lock in a long term plan meant to wean businesses off gas while building their own renewable energy profile. Both Sopogy Inc. in Honolulu and HelioDynamics of Britain are experimenting with solar-thermal cooling technology; each taking a different approach in the size and shape of mirrors and pipe placement. Pretty dynamite! Smart folks say the technology won't be available to the public and companies for another two or three years but we're all geeked out over here already. Waiting. Stay up!

Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com

I dropped off a few records yesterday at TURNTABLE LAB in Manhattan and picked up this sumptuous comp of jazzed-out west coasty psych beats selected by Dublab.   The colors jump-kicked off the shelf --  serious Cali art love.  Two blazers off ECHO EXPANSION in the steam.

"DNT FK SGR" by Daedlus

"Jose's Views" by Dimlite

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

You gotta hand it to Erik Prince i mean the guy is kinda like his own Military Industrial Complex, he's the corporate KKK. Can someone get this guy a reality TV show??  I guess it's not surprising that a murder rap would come up soon.  Come to think of it this guy's got a pretty good music name as it is, Jimmy should sign him and get him on the next Eminem album.  This guy runs more guns than anyone in the game. 

Posted by Benjamin Bronfman
ben@greenowl.com

Planting prairie flowers at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center

From building the railroads to planting prairie flowers -- prison labor has come a long way in the US.  Check this new article on GRIST about the efforts in Washington state where prisoners work with local universities and the Nature Conservancy to restore the state's natural environment.   Beyond prison, green jobs are also being created for ex-cons in the outside world.

Rehabilitate nature, rehabilitate the self -- sounds like symbiosis to us.

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

Bike co-op's have been gaining interest in past few years. To give the people access to ready available bikes not only takes more cars off the road, it could help formulate communities (surrounding bikes and branching out), increase physical activity and promote policy changes in road laws. All of this is pretty boss! Boston is currently up for a huge bike co-op, talking with Public Bike System Co out of Montreal. The company is discussing sending 3,000 bikes to Beantown to be shared throughout the city.  Customers will be able to pick up a bike in one location and drop it off at another for about $5 bones. Other cities, such as Portland, Ore and Seattle. Wash., both having avid biking and sustainable lifestyle communities, are in the Public Bike System Co. radar as well. Though concerns of bike theft -an issue that challenged Paris's co-op program- are something to consider, one should hope the pro's hold clout here.  Check out Public Bike System Co. and learn more about co-ops, biking, and good old hippie living. Stay up!

Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com

Loving the new CAVE SINGERS LP on Matador.   "Townships" off Welcome Joy in the stream.

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

Oil rig blowout

Two recent news items expose ethical missteps in the fight against climate change legislation.   More Fake Letters to Congress on Energy Bill in the NYtimes highlights a series of letters written to Congress by some shady PR firms.  And DEMOCRACY NOW reports (below) on a leaked memo that showed oil employees being hired to pose as everyday citizens in political rallies:

"Oil Industry Group Sought to Stage Rallies Against Climate Bill: A newly disclosed memo shows a prominent oil industry group has tried to stage rallies against climate change legislation using oil company employees posing as everyday citizens. The leaked American Petroleum Institute memo was made public by the environmental group Greenpeace. The memo urges oil companies to recruit employees to take part in protests against the Waxman-Markey climate bill approved by the House in June."

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

Last week, we posted on the Obama Administration's report card, an article found in issue 1085 of Rolling Stone. In that same issue, I just came across an article on Ginger Baker, a great interview that reminded me of the 'fuck you' spirit and determination of Mr. Baker.  Turns out, the notorious drummer, addict, repeatedly exiled angry man and overall bad ass is celebrating his 70th birthday today!

Now living in Tulbagh, South Africa, Ginger Baker is one of rock's most legendary drummers. He is also infamous for his dedication to and mastering of Afrobeat style drumming - he even sat in for Tony Allen with Fela Ransome-Kuti. To some up Bakers influence, Tony Allen is quoted as saying "If Ginger wants to play jazz, he plays jazz. If he wants to play rock, he starts Cream. If he wants to play Afrobeat, he moves to Nigeria. Whatever he plays, he brings his own pulse and sound. He understands the African beat more than any other Westerner."

We love what "Oyinbo" (white drummer) has done for the music community past and present and with that, these Yankee's wish him a happy birthday.

Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com

In an order to reach our younger generations (and tighten up the federal budget), this video has replaced all sex ed classes... Ish

Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com

THE VERY BEST (from left to right) Etienne, Esau and Johan

FADER Magazine blazed a trail for THE VERY BEST before the band was formed.  TVB's Esau Mwamawaya graced Fader's cover almost 2 years ago.  It was a sign of things to come.

Journalists are often the first to spot nascent trends; a classic case was Springstein in 1974:  "I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springstein," Jon Landau wrote in Rolling Stone Magazine before leaving his writing job at the magazine to manage Bruce Springstein. 

In the case of THE VERY BEST and Springstein, journalists not only detected major new talent, but helped to create the space within which the talent could gain critical mass for a takeoff.  It's those arcs and interchanges that inform the creation of new art and lay the groundwork for groundbreaking music.  

We're grateful to be a part of the story.

More on TVB from FADER here.

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

Buika's voice brims with the melodies and cadences of Moorish Spain -- African sounds that stretched outside of Africa, penetrating Andalusia.   Apart from the rare folkways recording, I haven't heard anything quite like her.  If you're in NYC, catch Buika live for free at Lincoln Center on Thursday night.  Her song, "Volver, Volver" below.

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com

Our friends at Other Music are among the first to stock THE VERY BEST's WARM HEART OF AFRICA 7inch.  Side A is "WARM HEART OF AFRICA" a party record playlist shot of Afropop with vocals from THE VERY BEST's ESAU MWAMWAYA and a surprise appearance from EZRA KOENIG of VAMPIRE WEEKEND.  Side B is “YALIRA” a previously unreleased song from THE VERY BEST’s debut LP available digitally 25 August on GREEN OWL.  Get your copy at OTHER MUSIC in person or order it online from our store.

Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com