Sub Pop is still going full force with its 20th anniversary celebrations, and for the latest nod to the last two decades, the Seattle-based label has joined forces with Zune Marketplace. Microsoft’s online store has a boatload of material to hand out to fans for the occasion, including exclusive video podcasts, Guestlist picks by the Sub Pop staff, and tracks that span the label’s entire catalog.

The latter comes in the form of the Sub Pop Collection: A to Z, which features 220 tracks from Sub Pop’s history. Then, a handful of podcasts include a tour of the Sub Pop offices, as well as exclusive video interviews and live performance clips. Finally, the Guestlist series features two Sub Pop installments, one from Mudhoney frontman Mark Arm, discussing his 30 favorite tracks, and one from label founder Jonathan Poneman, who picks 19 of his favorite tunes from the label.

And we could further elaborate, but perhaps this teaser is explanatory enough:

Sub Pop 20 Trailer from zuneartcs on Vimeo.

Pictured: Sub Pop’s Jonathan Poneman. Photo by Piper Ferguson.

When he’s not busy chatting it up with XLR8R (see Issue 119 for a full interview), Brian Roettinger keeps busy working under his Hand Held Heart moniker, designing books and creating fonts for bands like No Age and Liars.

He’ll unveil his very first solo exhibition this month, at Echo Park’s Hope Gallery. Live Dangerously Until the End will consist of a series of collages and sculptures that feature geometric shapes, neon colors, and varying shades of black. The exhibition runs from August 16 – September 10.

Not to be outdone by the Glitch Mob’s unique live band approach to computer music, Detroit techno legend and Planet E boss Carl Craig is stepping away from the laptop and heading not to a MIDI controller, but a full orchestra setup.

On October 18, Les Siècles Orchestra will perform Craig’s music with a full setup (you know, like with violins and cellos and such) at this year’s Versus event at the Cité de la Musique in Paris. From what we gather, it works like this: Craig handed over some tracks to pianist Francesco Tristano, who arranged the music. François-Xavier Roth will direct the orchestra. It’s not known yet which tracks the orchestra will perform, but a new piece which Craig co-wrote with the elusive Berlin producer Moritz Von Oswald is slated to be unveiled. Take that, Ableton.

Photo By Riva Sayegh.

From carbon emissions points to that strange cube we’re constantly referencing, Minus is a label that’s constantly tapped into technology and not afraid to experiment. For its latest project, Richie Hawtin’s imprint turns its attention towards digital downloads.

The Sixty-Four series consists of 12 Marc Houle tracks that, instead of being dropped onto a single album, will be released in groups of MP3s over the course of one month. Math experts, yes, that means three tracks per week will be available from the Minus site, as well as Beatport, and they won’t all be heavy dancefloor bangers either. Those scheduled for Week One are said to contain acid basslines, 808 hats, and slow techno grooves, while Week Two jams reference ’80s computer and videogame culture. Week Three songs find Houle using post-punk flavors before he finishes the series up with “Meatier Shower,” which features Magda on vocals and, as its title suggests, will be a heavy number.

Week One tracks were released yesterday. Houle and Minus have also promised a double-pack 12″ containing seven of the tracks from the series, which will go to the stores on September 12. Whether the whole venture is going to be fascinating or frustrating for the consumer remains to be seen, but props to Minus for always turning a creative eye towards its releases.

Sixty-Four
Week One
01 Sands
02 Deathray at You
03 Jouster

Week Two
01 Buchla9
02 Steeplechase
03 Door Nobula

Week Three
01 Flapping Around
02 Selection 12
03 Ketchup and Beans

Week Four
01 Meatier Shower
02 Investments
03 What are You Doin