de-minimis: May 2013

31 May 2013

detroit grand poobahs - 'sandwiches'

This is an old favourite for a spot of dad-dancing in the living room with my 2 children. Perhaps the video wasn't appropriate but I bluffed my way through it and said they were singing about food.

dub fx - 'no rest for the wicked' feat. cade & mahesh vinayakram

Big thanks to my very good friend Jim M who got me onto this rooftop live jam. Cool video and a drop dead brilliant tune. If only all drum and bass was this good.

29 May 2013

everything but the girl - 'the only living boy in new york'

One of my favourite covers from two of my favourite people.

jj - 'beautiful life (air tycoon remix)'

My favourite Gothenburg dream-poppers in a rather moody remix. Delightful.

27 May 2013

my first ever record

I was probably about 8 or 9 and had badgered my mum for this album as a birthday present for ages. I must have played it to death as well. I can still remember most of the lyrics. Brighton-born Den Hegarty (the mad haired one) put together a brilliant rock and roll revival outfit but sadly, was shafted so comprehensively by his record company that he had no choice but to leave the band. Thanks for the memories Den.

26 May 2013

portishead - 'roads (monk and cantella remix)'

This version is by fellow Bristolians and pioneers of the trip-hop sound, Monk and Cantella.

belle and sebastian - 'i fought in a war'

Still my favourite B&S song even after all these years.

25 May 2013

robert owens - 'i'll be your friend'

One last party favourite before I go out tonight and do some dad dancing alongside the beautiful people half my age.

Look and learn son. You don't get taught moves like this at school. I learnt this on the mean streets of Worthing.

mad professor - 'radiation ruling the nation'

I loved the original and I'm deeply, hopelessly head over heels in love with this remix from the dub remix album by Mad Professor. He once played this at a dub reggae night at the Concorde here in my hometown of Brighton. I got as far the pillars by the fire exit facing the sea (for those who know the venue) and could get no further. The bass was so low it was making me feel queasy. He does love a bit of bass!

The only other time that has happened was a small venue of Portobello Road back in the day when it was the Aba Shanti Sound System. All I could do was watch in awe as these superhumans rocked and rolled a few feet away from the weapons-grade speakers.

As a postscript can I just say that the cover of the album is just about the worst I've ever seen and totally unworthy to grace such a fine collection of remixes.

groove armada - 'raising the stakes'

I always thought this was a very under-rated track from their 'Goodbye Country...' album. The bassline alone makes this a great track.

fort knox five - 'shift feat. afrika bambaataa and mustafa akbar'

It's Saturday night and I'm in the mood for some seriously funky tunes. First port of call is Fort Knox Five. Funk guaranteed.

24 May 2013

sizzla - 'subterranean homesick blues'

It seems to me that Bob Dylan songs all sound better sung by other people. The one Dylan song I did prefer him singing is this. It's my favourite too, it's just so brilliantly observed and the video, shot in London behind the Savoy with a cameo part for Allan Ginsberg is iconic. It's as good a music video as you'll ever see.

I came across this cover by Sizzla on a reggae tribute album to Dylan some time ago and Sizzla has done a wonderful job of making it his own whilst jkeeping the spirit and message of the song. Then I came across the video with Sizzla paying homage to the original too. This is what covering a song is all about. The reality TV driven karaoke pastiches make me want to tear my hair out sometimes. I do wish that just once, that one of those hapless fools would break free from Cowell's formula and go for Sizzla's approach.

amorphous androgynous - 'go tell it to the trees egghead'

If this song doesn't relax you then you need medical help.

23 May 2013

rrose - 'waterfall (birth)'

It's too layered to be minimal, not quite techno, not quite electro, definitely not acid (although I can see why some might say it is). This track gathers weight as it goes along like a snowball rolling in the snow. I like this a lot.

frankie knuckles presents director's cut feat. jamie principle - 'your love (the remixes)'

Not one but all 3 remixes of one of the most important House tracks to come out of Chicago.

boards of canada - 'reach for the dead'

At last the wait is over. Ambient electronica maestros The Boards of Canada have finally released a full track rather than the little tasters we've been teased with up until now. The new album is out next month and if this is anything to go by it's going to be a seriously good long player.

talking heads - 'psycho killer feat. arthur russell'

I was delighted to stumble across this rarity on Soundcloud recently. Byrne, Weymouth and the gang team up with experimental composer Arthur Russell for a raw version of the Talking Heads classic.

when saints go machine - 'iodine'

Fresh off the presses, here's the single from their latest album and a quite stunning yet subtle video to accompany it.

tricky - 'past mistakes'

I still haven't forgiven him for that abhomination of a gig last year with the live Maxinequaye performance but I still love his music. None more so than this.

22 May 2013

the ronettes - 'i can hear music'

I must have told you of my love for Veronica Bennett, lead singer of the Ronettes. The way she scrunches her nose and smiles...sigh!

lady waks in da mix #229 feat. smash hi-fi

Everyone's favourite breakbeat DJ is in the house.

stornoway - 'knock me on the head'

I haven't listened to their first album in too long but I made up for that on the commute home tonight and now got their second album playing right now. It's a beautiful debut album and flows like a story with harmonies that barbershop quartets would be envious of. The second compliments the first rather well and shows a maturity to their music that makes me wonder where they go for their third album.

Track number 6. Cracking tune.

21 May 2013

the aboriginal heavy metal gangs of wadeye

Here's a rather strange thing. It appears that all is not well with the indigenous people of Waseye in the Northern Territories, Australia. The young men have formed themselves into gangs. Nothing particularly odd about that but they have named themselves after the bands of the golden era of heavy metal: Slayer, Megadeth, Judas Priest....they are all represented.

Don't be fooled either into thinking this is a bit of a laugh. People, property, communities are getting seriously harmed. See for yourself here.

Part 1:

Part 2:

richard villalobos - 'timemorf'

When I started this blog I thought I'd be playing a lot more minimal techno (hence the name) but not working from home so often has meant that I don't put it on anymore. I find it helps me concentrate with the spreadsheets. No idea why, but it does. I will rectify the absence right now with this beauty from everyone's favourite Chilean party animal DJ/Producer.

biting tongues – 'boss toyota trouble'

I'd forgotten about this tune. It popped up on a CD I recently bought - 'Factory Records Rare 12" and Remixes.' It's very Splodgenessabounds, Blockheads. Pretty damn cool.

mungo's hi-fi - 'dem no like it (feat omar perry)'

This has the kind of stomach-churning low bass that reminds me of Mad Professor sound systems.

19 May 2013

black grape - 'shake your money'

The Rolling Stones have been a great source of inspiration for some classic songs, Bittersweet Symphony being (probably) the greatest example but here's another that I love as much. It was a song placed in the graveyard slot of second to last track on their first album and far too rude to release as a single although I recall Chris Evans playing a heavily edited version on his breakfast show once. It also features Sean Ryder quoting the famous Troggs outtake...the one about sprinkling a bit of fairy dust and you've got a hit record. It's a corker and no mistake.

...and the Rolling Stones song it emulates? 'Fool To Cry'.

vashti bunyan - 'pink sugar elephants'

The original working of the song that she changed later to the 'Train Song'.

18 May 2013

elvis presley - 'such a night'

My children have just gone to bed a little bit bemused and embarrassed as their dad danced around the living room to this song....and not missing a single inflection as he sang along, I hasten to add. This is one of my very favourite Elvis tunes too.

mexican institute of sound - 'escribeme pronto'

Have I played this before? Ah well, if I have then it hasn't been for a long time. I'm in the mood for some Latin-infused breaks and beats. Saturday morning music!

16 May 2013

hiroshi and kudo featuring dj milo - 'return of the original art form'

Still my all time favourite hip-hop record.

darker than blue - 'ghetto funk'

You know when a track just hits that sweet spot?

15 May 2013

tiffany - 'panic'

Not just a collector's piece but actually a pretty interesting reworking of the Smiths song by none other than Tiffany....yes, that Tiffany. It sounds to me like a Depeche Mode backed track that Ridley Scott might use. I like it.

thievery corporation - 'vampires (afrolicious and rob garza remix)'

Ahead of the release of his remixes album Rob Garza from Thievery Corporation has made available as download this funky little number. It's retained the North African soul of the tune but freshened it up and given it a new set of clothes. You can read more and download the track here.

14 May 2013

bonobo -'cirrus'

The awful, numb feeling after losing to Crystal Palace yesterday has made any attempts at listening to upbeat music futile. I think the key word here is down-tempo and this is what the new Bonobo album delivers by the bucket-load It's quite ethereal and suits the mood perfectly.

12 May 2013

leftside wobble - 'acid soul 10 mix'

I was sent this by a friend and it could possibly be the best dance mix I've heard in years. Leftside Wobble is one half of Coldcut so this comes with a lot of pedigree and a guarantee of quality. That first track especially....it will have its own entry here soon, it is that good.

saint saviour - 'tightrope (all saints basement sessions)'

I'm going to keep waxing lyrical about Saint Saviour until she achieves the rewards that she deserves. This will blow you away - it sounds like the best James Bond theme never made.

jackie opel - 'pictures of smoke'

This is very apt right now in my house. I'm just preparing the Sunday roast in the kitchen but we've got the shisha pipe going and the air is full of apple tobacco smoke. This tune is a ska classic from right back to the beginning of the genre in the early 60s. What a tune.

owiny sigoma band - 'magret aloor'

I have a serious contender for my album of the year. It's a superb work of art from the first right through to the last track. Best described (by me at least) as Kenyan 'Owiny' music meets psychedelic funk with a splash of techno. This is just one of the tracks but oh my goodness, just how good is this? Seriously....how good is this? Genius.

11 May 2013

sweet tee - 'i got that feeling'

I love the breaks in this very old school hip-hop classic. 24 years old and still as fresh as a daisy with a stripped back feel and samples to die for.

08 May 2013

probably the most extreme music video you'll ever watch (NSFW)

This video is very clever but it's not for the faint-hearted. Think 'Smack My Bitch Up' but more so. Needless to say it's not suitable for children, for watching at work or for the squeamish.

hidden orchestra - 'spoken'

I tried and failed to get my head around the Scott Walker albumwhilst wanderin around Poplar on my lunch break. I think I need to sit down with the lyrics in front of me and follow along with the songs. It's not the type of album you can zone out to with headphones on. The Hidden Orchestra however are made for the job and I've been enjoying their 'Archipelago' album for the past hour. The arrangements are lush, evocative and soaring as this track shows.

the xx - 'reunion'

It must be something in the water...or maybe I'm just taking more effort when listening to music but XX's 'Coexist' album has been the soundtrack to my daily commute for a few days now and I've discovered all sorts of things hidden away within the album that I missed when first listening. If I carry on like this with my re-appraisal of 'difficult' recent releases I might just be ready soon to tackle Scott Walker's 'Bish Bosch', an album that has so far remained impenetrable to me.

07 May 2013

12 alabama bands you should listen to now

The very excellent Paste Magazine has a brilliant article about the Alabama music scene and in particular 12 bands that are doing the state proud. A lot of them seem to come from Birmingham and a lot are bluegrass/Americana/country oriented as you would expect but there's nothing stale about the sounds and you will have a very enjoyable few hours exploring these bands - all of which were new to me although there's a fair degree of musical pedigree there. Here's the link.

And this is my pick of the bunch. St Paul and the Broken Bones 'Sugar Dyed Honey Pants'.

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'mermaids'

I've been quite underwhelmed by the 'Push The Sky Away' album and it has quite upset me that I feel like this about the person I regard as my number one musical hero. I spoke to someone who managed to get tickets for the accompanying tour and they told me that there was a ferocity in the live performances missing from the studio album. Although this is one of his slower numbers this live recording of his latest single 'Mermaids' does reveal an additional spirit or even soul that lifts it from album filler to a quite romantic track.

the temptations - 'ball of confusion'

Inspired by listening recently to the Unkle track that sampled this classic I feel moved to play the original. What a tune.

street sign rap lyrics

This is a clever concept. Jay Shells has taken his love of hip-hop literally to the streets and referenced the blocks, streets and corners name-checked in classic rap songs.

depeche mode - 'welcome to my world (grubber remix)'

It's taken a few listens but I think I'm finally getting their latest album. It sounded a bit dirge-like on first listen but it's actually more rocky laced with a lot of humour. In places it reminds me of those very heavy electro goth/industrial sounds of :wumpscut: and Marilyn Manson and in other places a more classic Depeche Mode sub-ballad feel. If you're struggling with the album I'd recommend sticking with it because it is well worth it and if you already love it then play it some more!

06 May 2013

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'red right hand'

This song still has all the venom in it that I heard when I first listened to it 20 odd years ago. "You're just a microscopic cog in his catastrophic plans.." Incredible.

05 May 2013

apollo 440 - 'vanishing point'

I've written about my love of Apollo 440's 'Electroglide in Blue' album before. It's a rarity in that there's absolutely no album fillers; every single track stands on its own as a work of art. This is a case in point.