Funky Friday Playlist

Get yer dancin' shoes on.

Pizzicato Five - Baby Love Child
A bit of classic J-pop from the '90s. A lovely little track.

Dizzee Rascal featuring Lily Allen - Wannabe
From Dizzee's latest Maths And English, this is an inspired pairing that sounds pretty good to my ears. "Your Mum buys your bling." Hehehe.

Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man
Headhunters is a '70s jazz fusion classic. This track has been done many times, many ways, but this one is pure muso-funk bliss - whatever that is.

Simian Mobile Disco - Hotdog
This one is a big hit with my daughters due to it's copping of an old playground clapping rhyme - let's get the rhythm of the hotdog, indeed.

Roisin Murphy - Overpowered
Roisin gears up for solo album #2 with a corker of a tune. Check the Hype Machine for mixes.

Boom Bip - Rat Tail
Wow. From leftfield hip hopper to '80s flavored electro/italo master, Boom Bip brings the hot synth action on his new Sacchrilege EP. I like it.

Bullion - I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Bullion - God Only Knows
Got this in my inbox a week or two ago. Bullion Ness is from the UK. He has taken The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and reconstructed it in the style of J Dilla (RIP). I am very impressed with this head nodding goodness - great beats, cuts and melodies. Nab Pet Sounds In The Key Of Dee here - its worth it!

Matthew Dear - Don And Sherri
I continue to be impressed by the latest from Matthew Dear. Asa Breed is an intoxicating brew of glitchy electronics, micro house beats, downtempo weirdness, pop songs and plenty of real instrumentation all mixed up with Matthew's deep vocals. Quirky and unique and memorable. Listen to this one on the headphones...

Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
A disco classic that has served as sample source to many - delicious!!

5 Disc Shuffle, Or What I Played At Work Today.

I grabbed all oldies today, and it was good. Here are some choice selections from today's menu...

Nigo - March Of The General
Ape Sounds
2000Big orchestral samples + fat breakbeats + killer scratching + Planet Of The Apes samples = most excellent. "Damn you all to hell!!!"
David Holmes - Rip Rip
Out Of Sight
1998I've been on a Holmes kick, so this got aired today. What a great funky groove, and some choice Don Cheadle samples to boot.
Iggy Pop - Sister Midnight
A Million In Prizes
2005Fierce and funky. What a great bass line. David Bowie and Iggy were a real force to be reckoned with.

Boards Of Canada - Chromakey Dreamcoat
The Campfire Headphase
2005BOC are always good. Moody, melodic, and strangely evocative of the past.
Gorillaz Vs. Spacemonkeyz - Strarshine (Dub 09)
Laika Come Home
2002Damon's melancholic melodies work perfectly in the dub realm. Lovely.

The Soundtracks Of My Life

The wife and I don't see as many movies as we used to. The arrival of kids changed everything. Time became limited, baby sitting options aren't always available, blah blah blah. Anyway, I've been lucky to see a few good movies over the last month or two, both at the theatre and on DVD. Movie soundtracks can be hit or miss. The big blockbusters tend to be all bombast and corporate rock, as bloated as the movies they accompany. The soundtracks to Children Of Men and Stranger Than Fiction fall into a different category, where the songs fit their visual counterparts well and are even an integral part of the story. A good soundtrack makes a movie thrilling, and these three all fit that description.

King Crimson - The Court Of The Crimson King (Edit)
Jarvis Cocker - Running The WorldA fantastic film about a bleak not-so-distant future. The use of King Crimson really made an impression on me, lending it's scene the opulence it needed in that reserved, British way. The Jarvis song has had it's title amended to drop the prominently repeated "C" word and is not work/children safe. That having been said, it's a pretty dead on description of how things are, both in the movie and reality.

Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World
The Jam - That's Entertainment (Demo Version)Will Ferrell stars in this delightfully romantic comedy. It has some pivotal moments soundtracked by Spoon's Britt Daniel and Brian Reitzell, some classic British oldies, and a few cool odds and ends. The Wreckless Eric song is a shining moment where love comes to fruition, and the sweet demo take of the Jam classic is also very effectively used. A sweet film with a great supporting cast.

David Holmes - The Nose
David Holmes - Snake Eyes
Puccio Roelens - CaravanHaven't seen this movie yet, but I always buy the soundtrack because I LOVE David Holmes' music for Soderbergh's movies. These records are always swanky and jazzy, and the selection of other artists included is always spot on. Holmes is coming on all Mancini-like here, and Roelens' swingin' take of Caravan is great. I'll see the movie someday...

Funky Friday Is Datarocking

Norwegian duo Datarock released their debut LP Datarock Datarock to European audiences in 2005 after wowing critics, bloggers and music fans with their dance rock disco confections. Now, two years later, US audiences get a chance to enjoy this fine album. It has been reconfigured, with a few songs removed and 3 new ones added. Musically these guys do a great job of mixing slick electronics and disco sophistication with rock riffs. They also have a great sense of humor, with lyrics and pop culture references (Grease and Close Encounters of The Third Kind stand out) that bring a smile to my face. Today I offer a couple of the new tracks, which are definitely slicker than the rest of the album. They appear to have dropped the rocking in favor of an '80s approach. The crooning on Ganguro Girls reminds me of any one of those British blue eyed soul singers of that decade, and is a mid tempo groover about love in Tokyo that has some nice strummy guitar and synth strings. Fellow Bergen, Norway native Annie brings the fab guest vocals on the big disco duet of I Will Always Remember You, with its cheesy synths and roller rink action - great fun. A very entertaining album. I'm glad that this finally got a US release, and heartily recommend it.

My '80s Remastered - Learning To Crawl

The second round of Pretenders reissues hit US shelves last week. Last year brought the first two albums, and this round brings Learning To Crawl and Get Close. The original records have been remastered, and each has a bunch of bonus material. Learning To Crawl is the beginning of Pretenders v2.0. After the tragic deaths of James Honeyman Scott and Pete Farndon, Chrissie regrouped with Martin Chambers on drums, Robbie McIntosh on guitar and Malcolm Foster on bass. The original sound more or less intact, it is an album chock full of classic Chrissie songs and quite a few hits. She had been knocked down hard, but with this album Chrissie proved she could get right back up again, and with songs as memorable as those that came before. There are some rock classic moments here too - Middle Of The Road, 2000 Miles, Show Me, and the two I offer today. Back On The Chain Gang is pure pop heaven, all chiming guitars and that lovely voice. On the previously unreleased tip you get a smokin' version of one of Chrissie's greatest songs, My City Was Gone (Live). A great LP finally given the long overdue remastered treatment.

Back On The Chain Gang
My City Was Gone (Live)

My New Favorite Record This Week

My favorite new record this week isn't really new. Carnavas, the debut album from L.A. four piece Silversun Pickups, came out last year. Its new to me though. I was watching MTV2 a couple of weekends ago, and I was, shall we say, pleasantly buzzed. It was a block of live performances, and this band came on. I believe the song was Lazy Eye. It totally caught my ear, with its hugely catchy riffs and tight, precise rhythm section rocking. There was a great feedback filled rock out in the middle section and I was hooked. I actually got up and grabbed a scrap of paper to scrawl the band name on. I bought the album a couple of days later, and am quite happy with it. Is it innovative? Not particularly. It hearkens back to some of the '90s bands I enjoyed, especially Smashing Pumpkins, only they add some serious shoe gaze-y flavor as well as crisp production and effects. I am really enjoying the mighty guitars - loads of great solos and sounds - as well as the bass playing chick who also sings. These are two of my faves...
Waste It On
Lazy Eye

Funky Friday Electro Mixtape

I've been slack at posting this week so today I make it up to you with a mixtape of songs largely inspired by '80s electro. There are some original old school classics, a bunch of new school up and comers and a couple of bits and bobs that sort of just fit in. This should get you in a fine frame of mind for the weekend!

D-Train - Music (12" Version)
One of the old school classics. A shimmering synthfest from '83, this still sounds great. A nice mix of futuristic synths and soulful r'n'b.

Calvin Harris - Certified
Calvin Harris - Disco Heat
From the forthcoming album I Created Disco which is chock full of some seriously jammming recreations of '80s electro funk.

Chromeo - 100%
These funky white boys from Canada love all things eighties - always have. This is a perfect example, right down to the sax solo. Fab breakdown at the end too.

Paul Haig - Heaven Sent
Another gem from '83, this is from the former Josef K singer's solo debut Rhythm Of Life. Gone are the scrappy post punk guitars, replaced by all things electronic and sleek. A favorite of mine.

Joakim - Drumtrax
French musician and remixer whose production work on last year's Poni Hoax album really got my attention. Also produced a lot of Panico's great Subliminal Kill. His own record is a startling blend of electronics, rock, new wave and ambient weirdness. This is a stompin' electro tune with a wacky slo-mo breakdown.

Paul Hartnoll - Patchwork Guilt
One half of the now defunct Orbital on the solo tip. A very orchestral LP, with lots of strings and Robert Smith from the Cure singing on one track. And also very reminiscent of his old band.

Roxy Music - The Main Thing (Rub N Tug's Proton Saga)
A lovely old song updated with a bit more oomph. Actually, quite a lot of oomph. Delicious.

The System - You Are In My System
This is a stone cold classic from 1982, later covered (to great effect) by Robert Palmer. Slick and sleek and soulful.

Architecture In Helsinki - Heart It Races (Yacht's I Should Coco Remix)
Brand new AIH tastiness, from a CD single of remixes and remakes of this song. Loopy steel drum and Tom Tom Club moments, sprinkled with a dash of M.I.A.

Fancy - Whats Your Name Again (Busy P Remix)
French robot rock featuring a remix by the owner of Ed Banger Records.

Funky Friday Will Rise (On Sunday)

Herb Alpert - RiseThis 1979 LP was reissued this week. It has been remastered and expanded with two bonus tracks. According to the sleeve notes, the record was born out of an ill advised attempt to turn Herb's Tijuana Brass Band hits into disco - "We went into the studio with some wonderful studio musicians, but after listening to the boom boom boom disco beat of The Lonely Bull, I got a terrible feeling in my stomach and decided to let those '60s classics rest in peace." Instead his collaborators played him a bit of a new song, Rise, which he suggested they slow down from it's uptempo disco pacing. The song went on to win the Grammy for best pop instrumental. The rest of the album features more disco-ish tracks and his 1980 Olympic fanfare, all superbly played by the cream of studio sessioneers. The thing I like about this stuff is the electronic flavor - there are some great synth sounds scattered throughout. Most people will recognize Rise as the choice sample source for Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 classic Hypnotize. Rotation is more experimental. The alternate version is one of the album's bonus tracks, and is a lot more electro than the original. The 12" version is off of a cool promo CD single and has only ever been on vinyl. Very groovy.
Rise
Rotation (Original 12" Remix)
Rotation (Alternative Version)

My New Favorite Record This Week

To be fair the title of this post should really say "My New Favorite Record This Week, Last Week, The Week Before, The Week Before That And Probably Next Week Too.". Githead are Colin Newman from Wire, Robin Rimbaud (aka Scanner), Colin's wife Malka Spigel and drummer Max Franken, both formerly of Israeli new wave act Minimal Compact. Githead have been in existence since 2004. They have already released two EPs and one album, 2005's Profile. And I only just learned about them a month or two ago. Where the hell have I been? These guys are tremendous. I have been listening to Art Pop almost every day for a month now. Musically it really reminds me of Wire at their poppiest - both the early years and the late '80s stuff like Ideal Copy where things got a bit more electronic. Art Pop to me is a perfect blend of space-rock, art rock, punk, dub, new wave and electro-pop. It rocks hard in places, with Colin and Robin dueling it out on guitar. There are pop-tastic moments, some great melodies and some nice, spacy ambient songs with Malka's vocals. I think I actually prefer these songs to the recent Wire records, which have been less about intricate and edgy interplay and more about bludgeoning metal riffs. It is the perfect synthesis of the experimental and conventional into a memorable whole. This one will make my year end best of for sure. Here are a couple of tasty tracks that demonstrate both the rock-ist and the dance-y, spaced out sides of the band.

On Your Own
Rotterdam

Funky Friday Has Bangin' Beats

Matthew Dear - Good To Be Alive
Asa Breed
Leftfield microhouser Matthew Dear's new album drops June 5th on Ghostly International. It's house-y and glitchy like all of the good Ghostly stuff is, but then he throws real instruments into the mix and tops it all of with his baritone croon. It adds up to a unique take on minimal electronica, influenced by the polyrhythms of Byrne and Eno. I've only had this for a couple of days but I like what I hear.
Digitalism - Zdarlight
Idealism
The Hamburg duo who have come to be known for their remixes finally get their debut out, and it's another mish mash of styles and sounds. Their sound is always hard, a mix of rock and electronics, filled with riffage and memorable tunes. They include a bit of the Cure's Fire In Cairo in Digitalism In Cairo to great effect. This is robot rock that cribs from all of the usual sources ('ello Daft Punk) but doesn't bore like so much of it ('ello Daft Punk). A bumpin' LP.
Chemical Brothers - A Modern Midnight Conversation
We Are The Night
Tom and Ed are back, and they've brought a pretty entertaining record with them. It's a solid mix of bangin' instrumentals and songs with featured vocalists. The Klaxons, Midlake and Fatlip (Pharcyde) are all present. I keep thinking I'm over these guys but somehow they keep bringing me back into the fold.
New Young Pony Club - Fan
Fantastic Playroom
This London 5 piece drop their debut next month. It's a heady brew of indie rock, disco, no wave funk, electro and synth pop. For influences think LCD Soundsystem, Gang of Four, Talking Heads, ESG and even Grace Jones. There is a touch of electroclash in this with the monotone singing and '80s synths. I really am enjoying this album's hard and sexy dance party vibes.

Funky Friday Four Pack

I've had a craptacularly crappy week. I haven't had time to post once. Life has been speeding by, with every moment filled with activity. Yowsah. Thank goodness it's Friday, because lord knows I need a break from the drudgery. Here are some fantastic new tunes to get you dancing your way into the weekend.

Junior Boys - Like A Child (Carl Craig Remix)
The Dead Horse EP
Carl sprinkles minimalism all over this, and in the end it is 10 minutes and 39 seconds of techno bliss.

Bonde Do Role - Marina Do Bairro
With Lasers
Fat electro from the forthcoming LP from these Brazilian blogger favorites. A very enjoyable album.

Justice - New Jack
†
The current faves of the music blogosphere - all you need to do is check out the Hype Machine's Popular Blog Tracks to see that. Despite all of the hype, it is a record that is largely worthy of your attention.

Amerie - Some Like It
Because I Love It
Amerie sings over a backing track constructed from samples of Malcolm McClaren's World's Famous, taken from his seminal debut album Duck Rock. Produced by Trevor Horn, performed by him and his cohorts (who went on to become Art Of Noise), it is a prime slice of 1983 NYC flavored electro. Inspired choice of source material indeed.

Funky Friday Is A Family Affair

All seven of Sly & The Family Stone's classic albums have been remastered and expanded, many with previously unreleased tracks. They are available as a box set (which my fave record shop had on sale for $60.00 - now that's a deal!) and individually. They are numbered, limited editions in digipaks. They have expanded booklets with lots of photos and liner notes and details. They are fantastic. Seminal recordings, radical ideas, and tight ass musicianship - it's all good. Starting in the late '60s they blended pop, funk, soul and psychedelic rock in a unique and accessible way. Over the years (and with the help of a lot drugs) things got looser and funkier and spacier. I highly recommend these reissues to anyone with more than a passing interest in good music. Tracks marked with an * are previously unreleased...

Are You Ready
Higher (Unissued Single Version)*
Dance To The Music

Underdog
You Better Help Yourself (Instrumental)*
A Whole New Thing

Family Affair
You Caught Me Smilin'
There's A Riot Goin' On

Time For Livin'
Loose Booty (Alternate Version)*
Small Talk