Scholarly discussion of the music of John Cage.

[Eric Theise <>]

HO! (ho ho) ye Silenced,

This appeared in my email a few hours ago, and, with Metamatic's
permission, I am sending it along.  The only context I can provide is
that I have a great admiration for John Foxx--see e.g.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Foxx and/or
http://www.metamatic.com/ --and that I have not executed due diligence
against this particular project.

--Eric

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robin Harris 
<>
Date: Sat, Dec 18, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Subject: Metamatic Update 18.12.2010
To:


Hello everyone,

Cage Against The Machine...

Earlier this month John Foxx participated in the re-recording of John
Cage's 4'33"...
Below is the press release...

*****

On Monday the 6th of December a band made up of influential artists
and musicians of the alternative scene from Pete Doherty to Penguin
Prison, Kooks to Coldcut and Crystal Fighters to Dan Le Sac, will be
gathered at the legendary Dean Street Studios in Soho to make history
by re-recording John Cage's celebrated piece, 4'33", which comprises
of four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence. The single (and
subsequent 'pocket call' remixes by Alex Metric, Herve, Adam F, Mr
Scruff and Hot Chip) were released on Wall of Sound Records on
December 13th, 2010.

"Cage Against The Machine" was started by London-based artist Dave
Hilliard in summer 2010 as a grassroots Facebook campaign to get John
Cage's famous 'silent' composition 4'33" to number one this Christmas.
The idea soon reached tens of thousands of people and attracted media
attention from all the national daily newspapers and radio stations
around the world including The Sun, Mail, Guardian, MSN, Channel 5's
The Wright Stuff to name a few. The campaign stepped up a gear in
October 2010 with the help of Eddy Temple Morris (XFM broadcaster and
ambassador for BTA), Joe Hutchinson (Ou Est Le Swimming Pool) and Mark
Jones (Wall of Sound) who joined forces to rally some of the most
influential artists, producers and directors around today to make
Hilliard's vision a reality.

Just about this time last year what started off as two 'likes' on a
Facebook page, and which quickly turned into a million, made Rage
Against The Machine's anthem "Killing In The Name" Christmas number
one, in now legendary fashion. Jon Morter, one of the chief architects
of the RATM campaign last year, recently came out in support of "Cage
Against The Machine", saying: "If ANY Xmas No.1 campaign is going to
work... it'll be the John Cage 4'33" one." Now the Facebook community
has reached over ninety thousand people committed to buying this
single and, with a nation of indie / rock / punk communities ready
once again to make a stand against bland, vacuous pop music; the
clarion call is "Cage Against The Machine" for Christmas Number One!

All the proceeds from sales will go to five charities. These
music-related charities were chosen by the "Cage Against The Machine"
Facebook community's organisers as something they feel John Cage would
have whole heartedly approved of. These are not fluffy or 'sexy'
charities but five charities who are pitifully underfunded and
desperate for funds to help research cures and improve awareness:
Specifically...

1. The British Tinnitus Association (BTA): When Cage's 4'33" begins,
anyone with Tinnitus will just hear their own dreadful ringing. This
condition can drive people suicidal and affects musicians more than
any other illness. BTA can't even afford to fund a single phone line
24 hours a day to help cope with suicidal calls from sufferers. We can
change that.

2. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): When Chazz Haddon, singer
of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, tragically ended his own life at Pukkelpop
festival in August, a spotlight was put on the fact that the biggest
killer (aside from road accidents) of men under the age of thirty-five
in the UK is suicide. Men are four times more likely to kill
themselves than women. CALM is the only charity to exclusively focus
upon addressing young male suicide.

3. Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy: Nordoff Robbins brings music's
transforming power to children and adults in need, through the
delivery of music therapy services.

4. Youth Music: Youth Music is the leading UK charity using music to
transform the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.

5. Sound And Music: Promotes challenging new music and sound art.
"Your support enables us to conceive, experiment and pioneer
programmes to engage and inspire audiences of all ages."

*****

The track, together with seven remixes, is currently available...

01. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) 4'51"
02. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) (Adam F's Club Mix) 4'41"
03. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) (Herve Tidies His Studio Mix) 
4'46"
04. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) (Alex Metric Enters The
Batcave Mix) 4'34"
05. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) (Fake Blood's Needle Drop
Mix) 4'35"
06. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) (Aeroplane's 5'33" Mix) 5'35"
07. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) (Japanese Popstars Watch
Family Guy On Mute Mix) 4'36"
08. 4'33" (Cage Against The Machine Version) (Calm Before The Storm -
Remix By Mr Scruff) 4'33"

Order your copy on-line at :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004G13PPQ/metamatic-21

*****

Below are some links from around the www which have (so far) covered
this item...

The BBC...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11909886

The Guardian...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/dec/06/cage-against-machine-x-factor

The Metro...
http://www.metro.co.uk/music/844114-cage-against-the-machine-aim-to-silence-x-factor

Music News...
http://www.music-news.com/shownews.asp?H=Imogen-Heap,-Aeroplane,-Unkle-and-Fyfe-Dangerfield-added-to-Cage-Against-The-Machine&nItemID=37975

Spoonfed...
http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/spoonfed-team-2630/cage-against-the-machine-for-christmas-number-one-4290

*****

To watch the recording of this event, please point your browser at :
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/11289286
And again at : 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/dec/13/cage-against-machine-christmas-no-1

*****

Facebook...
Head to http://www.facebook.com/cageagainstthemachine and ;'like', then
post or 'tag' (@ sign before the name of the page) in any update on
your page mentioning the single and your involvement.

Twitter...
The Twitter address is http://twitter.com/johncagexmas. Please
@johncagexmas when talking about it and encourage your followers to
follow it (include in 'Follow Friday').
Be sure to include the hash tag #JOHNCAGE when talking about the
single and try and get it trending.
If posting the Facebook page to twitter you can use this short link
(http://bit.ly/433xmas) if possible please mention 'John Cage' in the
body of the tweet (to try and get it "trending")

Please support all the above and help get the single to Number One
this Christmas and support the charities. Please spread the word.

*****

Regards,

Rob
------------------------------------------
Metamatic - the official John Foxx website
PO Box 21, Ledbury, Herefordshire  HR8 2ZB  United Kingdom
Email: 

Web: http://www.metamatic.com

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