New Music Wednesday

Hercules' Theme
Blind (Hercules Club Mix)
Regular readers of my blog will already know that I love Hercules & Love Affair, the latest hipsters signed to the always good DFA Records. When their album came out earlier this spring I did a piece on it where I gushed over my love for it. OK. maybe I didn't gush, but I do love it. Produced by DFA main man Tim Goldsworthy, I wrote "it is a disco stunner. And by disco, I mean the good stuff - the '70s underground, Arthur Russell, Ze Records, Giorgio Moroder, Grace Jones and Larry Levan's Paradise Garage mixes all come to mind. It is a throbbing mix of classic disco influences, live instrumentation and current electronic production. There are strings, horns and synths. There are funky instrumentals." I also point out that Antony Hegarty, lead vocalist for Antony & The Johnsons, sings on several tracks. I a not a big fan of the the man's regular work, but I find his unique vocal stylings well suited to the disco grooves on offer here. The record has been well received by the music press, and I can see why. It has pop smarts, some serious club bangers, '70s disco authenticity, and just the right amount of artiness. The album finally got a US release this week via Mute Records, who have put it out with two extra tracks (Classique #2 & Roar) as well as the video for Blind. It is a fine record, probably one of my faves of the year so far, and I heartily encourage you to investigate it further!

Funky Friday / Jam & Lewis Edition

S.O.S. Band - The Finest
S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good To Me
Cherrelle - You Look Good To Me
Alexander O'Neal - Medley: Innocent I/Alex 900/Innocent II
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done For Me Lately?
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Human League - I Need Your Loving

You Got To Know Your Chicken

I played Cibo Matto's 1996 debut album Viva La Woman! today for the first time in quite a while. I was quickly reminded of why I loved them and their records so well. Formed in '94 in New York, the music of Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda went from the sublime (Sugar Water) to the ridiculous (Know Your Chicken). They were obsessed with food and sex and hip hop, all mashed it all up with bits of J-pop and art rock and ambience. The record was produced by Tchad Blake and Mitchell Froom, and features the ace Bernie Worrell on keyboards ("organ de plaisir" is how he is credited). It's a lot of fun and still holds up well these 12 years (!) later. If you've never heard them go pick this album up. If you already own it, pull it out and give it a spin - guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

Know Your Chicken
Sugar Water

New Music Tuesday

Coldplay - Strawberry Swing
Hi. My name is Michael, and I like Coldplay.

Or at least I did for a while. That last album (XYZ) of more of the same pretty much did them in for me. I think I played it two or three times before shelving it. Then I read last year that they had decided to record with Brian Eno at the producer's helm, and that intrigued me. He has a proven ability to reshape a popular band's sound - just ask U2, or Talking Heads, and he can be both formulaic and experimental. I picked up the resulting album Viva La Vida... this morning and been able to listen to it twice.

I am pleased with what I have heard. Co-produced by the band and Eno cohort Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire/Björk), you can spot the changes right away. There is a far more worldly sound at play here, apparent from the opening instrumental with it's hammered dulcimer. It is a tougher, harder rocking set with political overtones, and Eno's "sonic landscapes" work well with the band's dynamics. There are still several classic Coldplay moments, but there are also several songs where you might find yourself wondering who it is thats playing. I think that I'll be listening to this one more than just a couple of times. I just played Eno's Here Come The Warm Jets yesterday, so his influence here is freshly apparent to me, especially when you listen to the massed guitars and dense percussion of Strawberry Swing.

Funky Friday

Japan - Swing
N*E*R*D - Windows
Adele - Cold Shoulder
Sam Sparro - Clingwrap
Alpinestars - Hyper Hyper
Sam Sparro - 21st Century Life
Young MC - Bust A Move (Diplo Remix)
My Morning Jacket - Highly Suspicious
Grace Jones - Nipple To The Bottle (12" Version)
Santogold/N*E*R*D/Julian Casablancas - My Drive Thru
A fine assortment of grooves to move you; Japan really do swing on this bit of early '80s art-funk, with tasty fretless bass and horn riffage. N*E*R*D embrace the new wave/funk hybrid. Adele has a killer set of pipes like Amy Winehouse, but without all of the chav drama. Sam Sparro's self titled debut hits US shores on the 24th of this month, and if you love the '80s r'n'b and electro and have a good sense of humor you will LOVE this record. It's electrofunksoulpop that has the freshest grooves and beats, as well as some very amusing lyrics. Alpinestars seemed to be up and comers at the start of this decade, but are no more, and Hyper Hyper is a nice bit of electro from their 2000 debut B.A.S.I.C.. Young MC's classic gets a Diplo update. My Morning Jacket try some Prince-ly funk rock falsetto-ing. I've been listening to a lot of Grace Jones this week, so enjoy the extended pleasures of Nipple To The Bottle. Finally, could there be a hipper combo act than Santogold, N*E*R*D and Julian Casablancas all rolled up into one? I think not.

Random Sunday Post

I have been rather broke these last few weeks, so as a result there hasn't been much in the way of new music. This has led to fewer posts, including two weeks in a row without Funky Friday! Today I am cleaning out my inbox, and you are getting some rather tasty tracks out of the deal. The Amplive remix of MGMT is beefed up with a rap from Mistah Fab. Cage The Elephant bring the skank on this remix. Van She give Pendulum the crispy Franco-electro workout treatment. The Hues Corporation is a '70s pop soul classic - thanks to Greg for hearing my special request and sharing! Hopeless rocks the bad haircut - click the link for a bunch more music, including the Haircut 100 sampling original version! Lulu Rouge are a Danish duo who are collaborators of Trentemøller. Bless You is the title track from their new album out this week, and is some nice dubby techno in the vein of The Knife or Gus Gus. Comment over there >>>>>>>>

MGMT - Of Moons, Birds & Monsters (Amplive Remix feat. Mistah Fab)
Cage The Elephant - Wicked Devil (Ain't No Rest Remix)
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares (Van She Remix)
The Hues Corporation - Rock The Boat
Hopeless - Haircut 100 (Remix)
Lulu Rouge - Bless You
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Last 4 posts to my tumblr...
1. Radiohead's Nude played on some seriously vintage technologies.
2. Solange's I Decided video, a great pastiche of styles through the ages.
3. Muto, a killer graffiti animation by BLU.
4. Boards of Canada vs. David Hasselhoff. Yeah, you read that right.

New Music Tuesday

Ladytron - They Gave You A Heart, They Gave You A Name
Ladytron's new album Velocifero hits record stores today. I have been listening to an advance of it for about two months now and I am a huge fan. The band put in a special request to work with producer Vicarious Bliss, who is part of the Ed Banger Records crew. Does this mean that Ladytron have gone all hipster French electro? Nope. This record pretty much picks up where they left off with 2005's Witching Hour. That record began to hint at a more poptastic direction, and this one has taken that even further. The sound is punchier, less murky than previously. There are a bunch of memorable songs, with lead single Ghosts stomping along like Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus, all glitter beats and twang, until that dreamy chorus hits and carries you away on it's synth pillows. Runaway, Burning Up, Versus and Tomorrow are all brimming with pop hooks. There are plenty of moody moments (Black Cat & Kletva, sung in Bulgarian), lots of tasty electronic touches, and several tracks where the quartet rocks out (The Lovers), reminding you they are a band and not just a bunch of synths. Like I said, I really like this record and I recommend it highly. Lovely cover too...
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Also out today; The Futureheads' This Is Not The World, The Ting Tings' We Started Nothing, Radiohead's Best Of and Manu Chao's Politik Kills remix EP.
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For some reason Haloscan commenting has decided not to work on my blog anymore. I am trying to work something out. Any ideas? Email me - djrez1 at silenceisarhythmtoo dot com.

The Lesson(s)

Steinski - What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective
(Illegal Art)
How a nice Jewish boy from the suburbs became one of the most influential producers in hiphop, sampling, and cut & paste.

Worked as an advertising copywriter for 6 years - Polaroid, Volkswagen, Atari, etc. Taught copywriting at The School Of Visual Arts. Spent all disposable income on records. Promoted and DJ'ed dances in Brooklyn, hung out at early downtown Manhattan hiphop clubs; Negril, the Roxy. Quit advertising.

With partner Double Dee (Douglas DiFranco; a prince), co-produced the series of records known as The Lessons: The Lesson (The Payoff Mix), Lesson 2 (The James Brown Mix), Lesson 3 (The History Of Hiphop) for the Tommy Boy label. The first lesson won a nationwide remix contest by Tommy Boy Records that was judged by Afrika Bambaataa, Shep Pettibone, Jellybean Benitez and Arthur Baker, and subsequently became a Top 10 request on urban radio nationwide. These analog tape cut-and-paste collages, still widely bootlegged (and wildly illegal), are generally acknowledged as three of the most influential works in the world of hiphop and dance music production. Cited as definitive influences by DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist, who recorded their own series of Lessons.

As a solo producer, crafted “The Motorcade Sped On” turning historic broadcasts of the Kennedy assasination into a hiphop record. The NME gave away a quarter-million copies of the song as a Flexidisc stapled to the cover of the magazine.

Solo productions for Ninjatune include “It's Up To You” and “I'm Wild About That Thing” a satire on sex licensed to Pretty Polly Bras (UK) for TV advertising campaign. Go figure.

Reunited with Double Dee (a prince) after 10 years to produce “Jazz” for Tommy Boy's 10th Anniversary. Also illegal, also bootlegged.

Other recordings include:

Numerous 12" remixes and collages,

Remix of “Relax” (Frankie Goes To Hollywood) for the film Zoolander,

Burning Out Of Control, an album length mix of the Sugarhill Records catalogue for the Antidote label (UK)

12" collage “Ain't No Thing” for the Stone's Throw release of The Third Unheard (Connecticut Rap) compilation.

Nothing To Fear, a mix CD reviewed extensively and favorably by Entertainment Weekly, The Village Voice, URB, Salon.com, Metro, The Wire and Hiphop Connection.

Featured in the documentary film Scratch.
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This is a two CD set, with 14 retrospective tracks on disc 1, and the 28-track Nothing To Fear on disc 2. The second disc (along with The Lessons) is perhaps the most obvious precursor to Girl Talk's Night Ripper and was described by Salon as “The closest thing to a [mashup] masterpiece the genre has yet produced.” Packaging includes a 20-page booklet featuring liner notes by Hua Hsu (The Wire, New York Times, Village Voice, Slate, etc.) and Steinski himself.

Lesson 1 (The Payoff Mix)
Lesson 2 (James Brown Mix)
Lesson 3 (History of Hip Hop)

Original Simple Minds Lineup Hitting The Studio

This item comes from simpleminds.com ...

The original members of Simple Minds are due to work together for the first time in 27 years when they enter a recording studio in the middle of June '08. In an event that many never thought would happen again, Brian McGee, Derek Forbes, Mick McNeil, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, have set their aim on producing at least two new tracks that could be released later this year. Regarded by both Jim and Charlie as a 'nice experiment', particularly as it falls within their 30 year anniversary, the week-long reformation is being viewed as one of many 'let's see what happens' ideas that they look forward to working on over the course of the next year.

Jim Kerr said 'Of course I am excited with the prospect of working with the original line - up once more. I had always believed that the day would come when we would get the opportunity to do so. The last time we worked together was on our "Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call" album, featuring songs like "The American", "Themes for Great Cities", "Love Song" etc, and it is still considered by many as among our best ever work. We have a lot to live up to, but we intend to have some fun attempting to do just that.'

Woo-hoo! That last part about Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call certainly pertains to me. It remains my favorite record(s) of theirs today, and still gets played a fair amount (in it's nifty remastered reissue form). I gave up on the Minds in the late '80s - '89's Street Fighting Years was the last record of theirs I bought, and haven't really paid them much mind since. They got a bit too bloated for my liking. This news is pretty exciting, and I look forward to hearing what they come up with. Here are some prime examples of this classic lineup's post-punk-slash-prog abilities...

I Travel
This Fear Of Gods
Empires And Dance
Love Song
Theme For Great Cities
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call

Soulsearching

I got an e-mail this morning from Kel McKeown, AKA Kelpe. His latest album Ex-Aquarium (listen here) has been in heavy rotation around here this spring. He creates instrumental music that embraces electronics as well as organic intrumentation. Stylistically he fits in somewhere between the ambience of Boards of Canada, the abstractions of Four Tet and some of the leftfield hip hop of DJ's like Shadow and Cam. It is a fine record. Anyway, he sent me a nice mix he made. It is 32 minutes of mellow vibes and beats, and includes his own Whirlwound, with it's shuffling beats and moody synths. Should be very enjoyable with your Sunday morning paper and coffee...

Kelpe's Soulsearching Mix
(29.4MB)
Squarepusher - My Sound (Warp)
Tape - Beams (Hapna)
Dimlite - Oh Star (Sonar Kollektiv)
Kelpe - Whirlwound (DC Recordings)
Bumps - Bin Johnston (Stones Throw)
Pedro - Hope Is A Happiness (Mush)
Rustie - Cafe De Phresh (Instrumental) (Stuffrecords)
Dr Who Dat? - Ageless Daisy (Lex)
Soft Machine - Drop (CBS)
Samoyed - Making Snow (Flask)
Fennesz - Happy Audio (Mego)
Gonzalez - Gentle Threat (No Format)
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SIART's new muxtape is on a totally '70s kick...

The Pointer Sisters - How Long (Waxy edit)
Ultravox - Dangerous Rhythm
Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man
Gary Numan - Airlane
David Bowie - John, I'm Only Dancing Again (Single A-Side '74)
Bill Withers - Use Me
Brian Eno - Sky Saw
Little Feat - Time Loves A Hero
Robert Palmer & Lee Perry - River Stone
Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
Sergio Mendes - After Sunrise
B.T. Express - Give It What You Got
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The last 6 posts to my tumblr...

1. Ghostly Swim - a free compilation of leftfield goodness.
2. McCain for Viagra?
3. Weezer's Pork & Beans = youtube inspired lunacy!
4. Cut Copy's Hearts On Fire - great concept.
5. Annie's I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me - she's back and as poptastic as ever.
6. The Specials Eyeing Fall Reunion Shows!

G-Stoned

Back in the mid '90s when trip hop was the bee's knees the Austrian duo of Peter Kruder & Richard Dorfmeister were top of the class. They were remixers to virtually everyone in their musical realm, and then some. I dug their laid back vibe, the whiff of spliff, the hints of jazz and dub. They recorded an EP of original music, G-Stoned, whose cover is a great tribute to the classic Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel.
They have never released a follow up. Seems amazing, but its true. They did loads of remixes, and there are a few tracks on compilations that aren't on this EP, but there was never an album. Or another EP. I have always marveled at that. They have released a fair amount of music as Peace Orchestra (Kruder) and Tosca (Dorfmeister), but very little under the K&D brand. Both are still active - Tosca and Kruder's Voom:Voom put out music last year. Anyway, I love this EP, and side B is K&D at their best...
High Noon
Original Bedroom Rockers

My '80s Remastered - Night Time

Love Like Blood
Eighties (Kid Jensen Session)
The second wave of Killing Joke remasters hit stores back in February. Their 1985 breakthrough album Night Time has always been one of my favorites. This record saw them embracing slicker production values and a lot more keyboards, and saw them have a sizable hit with Eighties. It also displayed a new side to lead singer Jaz Coleman, one that had him actually singing instead of his gruff screaming. Turns out he has a lovely voice. Don't get me wrong here - there are still plenty of the hardcore riffs, tribal beats and chunky bass that KJ fans love, it is just presented a bit more subtly. I love it's mix of moody atmospherics, punk riffs and a dash of art rock. The remaster more than doubles the original's length with an extra nine songs; 4 Kid Jensen session tracks, non-album single New Day and it's b-side, and 3 remixes. A fine album on it's own, and even better remastered!
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This item from www.killingjoke.com will also be of interest to fans...

ORIGINAL LINE UP RETURN!!! JAZ, GEORDIE, YOUTH AND BIG PAUL WORLD TOUR

Finally, after numerous line-up changes through the years, all original Killing Joke members reunite for new album and world tour.

Drummer, Paul Ferguson, rejoins the line up for the first time since 1987 enabling a whole new generation of fans to see Killing Joke’s legendary original formation. Diehard fans have been waiting for this moment for two decades!

Bassist, Martin ‘Youth’ Glover also steps back into the live arena after a near 15 hiatus, having not played live with Killing Joke since 1994’s Pandemonium tour.

The tour will see Killing Joke take up a two night residency in most venues offering a different set on each evening. On the first night, they will play their first two albums in their entirety, 1980’s self-titled album followed by the album ‘What’s This…For!’. Their
second performance in each city will treat fans to 1994’s Pandemonium and the Island Records singles of’79 to ’80.

Godfathers of post-punk, Killing Joke return with their eagerly anticipated new album to coincide with their world tour. Album release date TBC.