Friday, September 26, 2008

Funky Friday Playlist

It is Friday and you need the beats to move your feets, so here you go...

The Glimmers - I'd Much Rather Go Out With The Boys
Bomb The Bass - Fuzzbox (feat. John Spencer)
Liquid Liquid - Optimo (DJ Sample Remix)
Poni Hoax - My Own Private Vietnam
Mark Ernestus - Mark's Disco Dub
Squarepusher - The Coathanger
Arabian Prince - Simple Planet
Mr. Scruff - Give Up To Get
DJ Day - A Place To Go To
Tricky - Slow
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The new TV On The Radio album Dear Science is going to end up on a lot of best of 2008 lists, including mine. It is great. Watch these videos and feel the greatness.


TV On The Radio - Dancing Choose

TV On The Radio's Golden Age video.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Crushes

The premise is a simple one; these are some tunes that I'm seriously crushing on. The Very Sexuals are Dutch indie poppers who are giving away their album for free at their website. It is really good - it might remind you of Moonbabies or Joy Zipper.
Stars have a new digital EP, Sad Robots, where they continue to remind me of Prefab Sprout and Thomas Dolby. Mmmm mmmm good.
Ladyhawke is all over the blogosphere with her new self titled album - think Missing Persons/Til Tuesday/Blondie. Very '80s, and some of it I'm not too sure about, but Crazy World has a dreamy melody and a killer hook. By the way, Gary Numan called and he wants his synths back when you're done.
David Holmes has decided to start singing, and it is not a bad thing. His shoegaze-y new album The Holy Pictures will remind you of The Jesus & Mary Chain and Primal Scream, with a few choice instrumentals like Melanie scattered in between.
Former Beta Band-ers The Aliens are back with Luna and it is filled with great, sunny psychedelic rock of typically British pedigree. Theramin is a gorgeous bit of boom bap folk with horse-y clip clops.
The Stills' latest Oceans Will Rise doesn't seem to be garnering the buzz of their first two records. Tis a shame, because I actually think it is better than the last one, and closer in spirit to their debut.

The Very Sexuals - Wrecked This Century
Stars - Undertow
Ladyhawke - Crazy World
David Holmes - Melanie
The Aliens - Theramin
The Stills - Snow In California

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Dumb Down The Disco

DJ Wrongtom - Dumb Down The Disco Mix

This is a killer mix of of classic post-punk stuff - nab it now! Then be sure to grab the bonus Billy bragg remix below...

Glaxo Babies/DJ Wrongtom - Wrongtom Meets The Disco Dinosaurs
The Clash - Radio Edit (Wrongtom's Disco Dub)
Rip Rig And Panic - Take A Don Key To Mystery
Coco Beware - Tropical Depression
Fad Gadget - Make Room
Public Image Limited - Death Disco (Live In Tokyo)
Orange Juice - Lord John White And The Bottleneck Train
Pig Bag - Getting Up
Boots For Dancing - Hypnotize
Return Of The Panthers - Crown Of Thorns (Wrongtom's Disco Dub)
Au Pairs - Shakedown
Blank Students - I Want To Be Happy
Phil Daniels + The Cross - Kill Another Night
The Beat - Too Nice To Talk To
Penetration - Movement (Wrongtom's Disco Dub)

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Billy Bragg vs DJ Wrongtom - Bloody England

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

Rick Wright, R.I.P.


Richard Wright - keyboardist, singer and song writer for Pink Floyd - has died of cancer at the age of 65. I am a huge fan of the Floyd, and to me there is no denying how important his contributions were to the band. As a composer he contributed to some truly classic instrumentals - "Interstellar Overdrive", "A Saucerful of Secrets" & "One Of These Days" - as well as some of the most loved tunes in the band's canon - "Echoes", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", "The Great Gig in the Sky" & "Us and Them". I love the keyboards and electronics in music - always have, so to me his involvement was crucial to the overall feel and sound of the Floyd. He and his band mates have sound-tracked some truly memorable moments in my life over the last 30 years, and for that I will always be grateful. Thanks for the music and the memories, Rick.
Pink Floyd - Echoes
Pink Floyd - Us And Them

Friday, September 12, 2008

Funky Friday

Time to deliver the funky jams you need to get your weekend started right. It's a nice and eclectic selection of tunes today, including a new Kid Loco tune remixed in a latin/western/disco stylee, a classic bit of funk from The Commodores, a slowly building ambient hip hop track from Alias and Roisin Murphy's great cover of the old Bryan Ferry hit. Anoraak are from France and are '80s revivalists and remind me of Zoot Woman - lots of cheesy synth action. Pianist Pete Jolly's 1970 album Seasons got the reissue treatment last year, and is full of improvised funk and jazz jams, all heavy on the keyboards, all good. TV On The Radio have a new album coming out (Dear Science,) where, on a couple of tracks, they unleash the funkiness I always knew they had in 'em. It is a good thing, and a great sounding record to boot! Guy Cuevas and Pigbag are old school classics - sweet latin disco and fierce jazz funk in your face. Ratatat put the massed guitars to work on Mumtaz Khan and deliver an Eastern flavored jam.

Kid Loco - Motorcycle Angels (SLDB Disco Version)
The Commodores - Machine Gun
Alias - I Heart Drum Machines
Roisin Murphy - Slave To Love
Anoraak - Sunday Night Fever
Pete Jolly - Plummer Park
TV On The Radio - Crying
Guy Cuevas - Obsession
Ratatat - Mumtaz Khan
Pigbag - Sunny Day
Listen to Anoraak (covering The Romantics' classic '80s hit)
Anoraak - Talking In Your Sleep

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Molten Light

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Sugar Must Be Acid Rain

Late Of The Pier - The Bears Are Coming (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Remix)

I am obsessed with Late Of The Pier. I have been listening to their debut album Fantasy Black Channel almost every day for like a month now. I have sought out their remixes, one of which I share today. Produced by Erol Alkan and singer Sam Eastgate (AKA L.A. Priest), they offer a seamless blend of rock and electronics. The four piece band touches on prog, Numan-esque new wave, quirky electronica, funk, and the spazz rock of Zappa. It is a remarkably self assured debut, and has been getting great reviews. The songs are chock full of energy and ideas, and the band has the chops to carry it off. They handle many styles well, and instead of being a disjointed mess the album flows nicely. I look forward to hearing what they come up with next. I have to say that I also really dig their videos. They reflect the odd quirks of the band, and range from silly to strange. Here's a good example...

"Snap away" she said,
As she danced towards the moonlight,
Run away he did
As she cast off another night.
So in tune were we by the thought of what could never be,
So consumed were we by the fear that swelled between the sheets.
What do they mean?
Seamless dirty dreams.
Why must you scream?
Please don't make a scene.
She plays, she plays,
Is it all a game?
Longing to be tamed,
Sugar must be acid rain.
I saw you wading in the water,
I saw you ride along the sea.
Shine on your nightmare,
Shine through the tears.