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Globe-trotting for the eyes and ears

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Chris Murphy is the chief executive of Petrol Records / EMI, the 5-year-old Sydney, Australia-based music label that specializes in what you might call “musical safaris.” Murphy (who for 15 years was the manager of the band INXS) and his team dip into far-flung music scenes to handpick gems for CD collections with titles such as “Istanbul: the Sex, the City, the Music.” He shared his personal pop-culture picks with Geoff Boucher.

ON THE iPOD

With the imminent release of the entire Petrol catalog worldwide, I am like a new father going through every track, every album to confirm we have the best in the world on offer. I am finding the David Bowie remix of “China Girl” chosen for the “Shanghai: the Sex, the City, the Music” very exciting. Also: “Uptown Top Ranking” by Althea & Donna (Jamaica); “Douce France” by Charles Trenet (France); “Nadie Se Salva de la Rumba” by Los Naranjos (Cuba).

FOR THE COMMUTE

My car is always overflowing with CD burns that come in from the Petrol music stylists around the world. Let the car overflow with new music I say ...

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BEDSTAND READING

“From My Experience: The Pleasures & Miseries of Life on a Farm,” by Louis Bromfield; “The Life and Work of Luis Barragan” by Jose Maria Buendia Julbez and Juan Palomar; “The Last Cowboys at the End of the World: The Story of the Gauchos of Patagonia” by Nick Reding; “The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More” by Chris Anderson; books about exotic women (research, of course, for a new DVD).

ON THE WEB

Between music and my property projects, I love the Internet for instant information: Wanerastation.com for updates; L.A. Times for news (for real); Apple iTunes; Petrol Records, www.petrolrecords.com.

IN THE NETFLIX QUEUE

I am seriously looking forward to catching up with old favorites: “Pulp Fiction,” “Kinky Boots,” “Motorcycle Diaries.”

TiVo PICKS

“House” and an Australian comedy show called “The Glass House.” My flat screen these days is usually used to watch the World Cup or international rugby, ice hockey or surfing.

GUILTY PLEASURE

[Wife] Olivia’s cooking, a beautiful Pinot Noir and rollies (I roll my own smoking tobacco).

CULTURAL ADDICTION

Music, the Internet, watching world style and design.

FILTERING THE POPCULTURE BLITZ

Ten years ago I would preach the coming digital age as the era of creativity; the media would lose their power to be society’s “filter.” But today, generally, most of the music lacks spirit. Someone needs to tell / show the budding creative geniuses of the world that pop idol shows are not the only way to be exposed; we must promote musical creativity. Where are the Mozarts and Beethovens of this century?

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