This Week We Heard

Okilly Dokilly say “most of our songs are direct Ned quotes”

Ok you can stop what you’re doing now; we’ve found the perfect way to cap off your working week. Lull yourself into the mood with the world’s first and only Ned Flanders-themed metal band: Okilly Dokilly. This works on so many levels, and there’s really not much else to say, so we’re just going to paraphrase the guys at Music Feeds: “Themed metal bands can be a joy to behold, especially when they’re drenched in pop culture. Take, for example, the newly-formed Phoenix, Arizona outfit Okilly Dokilly, who have combined the raw power of hardcore metal with the raw masculinity of The Simpsons‘ church-going neighbourino, Ned Flanders.”

Okilly Dokilly say “most of our songs are direct Ned quotes”

Listen to the sound of space!

NASA has busied itself over the last few years recording sound in the virtual vacuum of space (in the form of electromagnetic vibrations that pulsate in similar wavelengths) and the results are breathtakingly beautiful, or absolutely terrifying – you decide. Although popular belief is that there’s no sound in space, NASA has attached specially designed instruments to its space probes to capture within the normal range of human hearing what is the most exquisitely haunting acoustic pallet. If you’d rather live-stream the universe (ad-free and without subscription fees) check out the Radio Astronomy art/science project: http://www.radio-astronomy.net/

4 weeks into Apple Music’s launch and its arrival is short on revolutionary industry-changing impact

Which raises some interesting questions about the mainstream appeal of streaming, and its price point. With Apple Music reportedly hitting 10 million users ‘opting in’ to the 3-month free trial, it will be interesting to see how many will translate into paying subscribers. Meanwhile the rivalry between Spotify and Apple continues to intensify, with the former well ahead having announced in May this year that it had amassed 75 million users, 20 million of which are paying subscribers. Spotify’s recent pairing with Beatport for a content distribution deal around curated content (which is one of Apple Music’s biggest draw-cards) suggests the gloves are far from off.

4 weeks into Apple Music’s launch and its arrival is short on revolutionary industry-changing impact