November 6, 2013 – LonelyMachines

Two Races

Ken Cuccinelli had all the answers the Tea Party wanted to hear, but he couldn’t win the governor’s spot in Virginia. The why of it is something the Republican party has to grasp if they hope to retain any relevancy.

The first mistake? Relying on NRA ratings. Democratic opponent McAuliffe has an F grade from the organization and he doesn’t care. In a debate at Virginia Tech two weeks ago, he said he was “fine” with it, adding “I’m not running to be president of the NRA. I’m running to be governor of Virginia.” The takeaway? That isn’t enough to tank a candidate in a swing state like Virginia.

The second was overestimating voter anger at the Affordable Care Act. The traditional math says that everybody hates it, but they don’t seem to hate it enough at the ballot box. Republicans seem intent on running against the ACA as a strategy, but that’s only going to be a relevant issue for next year’s midterms.

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Music

Review: Ve Palor by Arovane

It’s been nearly a decade since Uwe Zahn’s last record. In a field that demands constant innovation, that’s a timespan of geological proportions. Most electronic artists would feel compelled to reinvent themselves to conform with current trends, but Zahn hasn’t.

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. When you’re this good, you don’t have to settle for being a revolutionary.

Zahn has an odd but satisfying way of playing fragmentary melodies and rhythms against each other, but he never sinks to the rigors of the avant garde. His arrangements are marked by an ear for craftsmanship, and even the most unexpected elements come together in a satisfying way.

The sound design rivals Robert Henke in its attention to detail. The title track and “Gniddt” stand out particularly well in this regard. I’m tempted to say “C ll lt” recalls Lusine, but it’s really the other way around.

If I have one complaint, it’s that the sequencing is a bit haphazard, making this feel like a collection of singles rather than a unified album.

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