One year in business

II started this Blog just one year ago. Around this time of year there are always 2 major events. One is keeping the memory and legacy of Serge Gainsbourg alive and the other one is the International Women's Day. The 2nd of March has passed and 8 March is still on it’s way so as a foreshadow of future events an the occasion for men to express their love to the women around them, this tribute from Tom Zé to the women of brasil and a lament on the still harsh conditions some of them live in.

These studies on the musical genre of Pagode are set up as a form of soap-operetta. Pagode is a natural evolution of Samba, Rio style, bringing funny and smart lyrics about malandragem (freely translated as the way of live of the outlaw), hard life and the brazilian way of solving problems in a convenient manner. In many lyrics, the small criminal outlaw who lives this kind of live, the Malandro, gives comment on his lifestyle, the government, the police and… bad women. This way Pagode is also known for it’s often women unfriendly lyrics (reminiscent of gangster rap).

As a form of critic Tom Zé used this musical style to give form to one the most powerful musical tributes to women I know.

fuse

'got a date with Richie Hawtin'

I'm heading off for a night at the fuse in Brussels. A combination of a couple of M_nus label acts playin' live supported by lessismore. I'm specially keen in hearing Troy Pierce play. But that's for later on, as a warm-up some other great minimal/tech house. I've been listening and shaking to these tracks for quite a while now and I still ain't gettin' bored.

Hammer of Thor – Riton
Moan (vocal version) – Trentemøller feat. Ane Trolle
Monsteer (Riton Remix) – Lindstrøm

some new toy

Rerun

Haven't I seen this one somewhere before?... Yes indeed, it's the same one as the post from 28th of November, last year, but... only different.
It's a mix and match from that video with an Artic Monkeys song for the Rhythms del Mundo album full of pop musicians being concerned about global warming. So check this Artic Monkeys in Cuba with an in between stop in Mumbai again.



I'm also rediscovering Feist. I kind of lost track of her but after listening to Broken Social Scene I started to listen back to her last solo album that I have Let It Die which is from 2004 and really great. One favourite is this song One Evening. Nice video.

Des choses que j'aime bien
Eu Gosto destas coisas

Foutaises 1989


Whether you give or Don’t Give a Doggone About It, long live james brown.



Cold War Kids - Now Hang Me Up to Dry



Jamie T – Salvador



Noisettes - Sister Rosetta



I don't know what this song was about but I reckon it's about Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Just watch and look for the connection. If you think, haven't I seen this somewhere before, you're probably right. This clip is featured in the French Movie Amélie Poulain, on one of the videotapes she posts to the old man.



Part of a show by the amazing Collins Kids backed by Tex Ritter. They were really hot back in the fifties but stopped recording in the mid sixties. I wonder what they're up to these days... at a Saturday grill in the Ozark Mountains?

2006 - A Year in Music

Rehab - Amy Winehouse
This is what I call an instant classic! Amy Winehouse is a notorious Jazz vocalist, violent drunk and ever growing tattoo canvas known for using explicit lyrics and the occasional whim as this song about her past refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre, after it was encouraged by her management company, shows. She said no, no, no and told the management company to go, go, go.
Her last albums Back to Black now shows a swing to the girl groups of the Fifties and Sixties.



Seeing Through Shadows – Loco Dice
The Porcupine (original mix) – Latex
There’s a Minus label night comin’ up soon at the fuse in Brussels. The best minimal tech house I heard last year was from the former hip hop DJ Loco Dice. The biggest track of 2006 Seeing through Shadows was released on Richie Hawtin's Minus label and Porcupine was released on Rebelone under the pseudonym Latex. They both sort of tipped his profile over the edge. Especially Porcupine is one of the finest and most organic grooves you're likely to hear lately. A very fitting title for the irregular, shuffling spiky undertones, quirky gamelan and the dream-like melodies, that combined make this not just a guarantee for the dance floor but also a thing of beauty and elegance. A must have! He now moved from La Dusseldorf to NYC looking for inspiration for his first album. I’m really lookin’ forward to that.

Atlantis To Interzone – The Klaxons
Gravity's Rainbow – The Klaxons
Golden Skans – The Klaxons
What can I say about The Klaxons which isn't already said in this Wikipedia arcticle. Klaxons sounds groovy in English but in Dutch or French it sounds funny. It's the equivalent of the old honk of a vintage car - Laurel & Hardy style. It's a sound though, nevertheless, lately one of the most interesting bands around. Check their latest video which looks a bit like the old Jackson Five's What a Feeling.
By the way, apparently skans refers to a god in native American mythology, just check the web for some interesting Indian stories.



Roscoe – Midlake
Young Bride – Midlake
Another band that caught my attention last year was Midlake. They’re from Texas but don’t let that scare you off. A lot of fine stuff comes from Texas (mockingbirds, peppers, Austin, Scott Joplin, Gene Autry, the Houston helpdesk, and why not Coca Cola…). Anyway, they already made more than one album but those first ones got a bit lost in the cracks of time but that will not be the faith for last year’s album The Trials of Van Occupanther. A strange title and an even stranger album cover but it’s one that stays in your mind just as the music. When I read about it, most comments and reviews talk about 70’s influences like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac, but I just can’t stop thinking about a more recent band, Elbow. Their music had at first the same impact on me and it’s frankly in the same epic style and with a similar vocal sound. Just judge for yourself.





Cowgirls – Luomo
The Balloon Room – Ashley Beedle presents The London Heavy Disco Revue
Karawane – Escort
Moving Like A Train – Herbert
Loveboat (edit by palle) - iron-chef29 Kettel
Out The Door (Superdiscount Remix) – Who Made Who
Hustler – Simian Mobile Disco
Heart Of Hearts – !!!
Acho Um Pouco Bom - Cansei De Ser Sexy

D-Funked – Dexter
In The Morning - Junior Boys
Ankle Injuries – Fujiya & Miyagi
Discopolis Claude Monnet Beat Bass Dub – Lifelike & Kris Menace
Grabba Grabba Tape – Dr. Groxtronix & Lil Kul Lol
Get Myself Into It – The Rapture
A1 Motorized – Kiki
Marble House – The Knife
We Share Our Mother's Health – The Knife
I Go Hard, I Go Home – The Presets
Trucker's Delight – Flairs
Let's Make Love And Listen Death From Above - Cansei De Ser Sexy
Law of the Plainsmen – Antifamily

Madan (Exotic Disco Edit) – Martin Solveig vs Salif Keita
Pra Qui e Pra La- Kuduro Sound System feat. Gata Agressiva

Lump – James Holden
Que Belle Époque – Ricardo Villalobos
Sykkelsesong – Lindstrøm and Prins Thomas
I Go Ego Why Go We Go – Mouse On Mars
Congratulations – Wisp
Rotate Electrolyte – Squarepusher
Hello Meow – Squarepusher
Sweet Harmony - Thomas Mayer

Eternal Flame – Joan as Police Woman
If I - Piers Faccini
The Coming Of Night – Admiral Freebee
Think That Thought - Planningtorock
Fidelity - Regina Spector

On a Neck, on a Spit – Grizzly Bear
Take A Chance – The Magic Numbers
7/4 (Shoreline) - Broken Social Scene
Postcards From Italy – Beirut
The Song That We Sing – Charlotte Gainsbourg
And I Was A Boy From School - Hot Chip

Promiscuous Girl – Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado
You Are What You Love – Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins
Smile – Lily Allen
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Tell Me Baby – Red Hot Chili Peppers
We’re from Barcelona - I’m from Barcelona
Writer's Block – Young Folks
Big Julie - Jarvis Cocker

Long Distance Call - Phoenix
In the Morning - Razorlight

When You Were Young – The Killers
Gettin' Enough – Lil’ Chris
Checking It Out – Lil’ Chris
Save – Kap Bambino
Capricorinations – Mika Miko
Blood Visions – Jay Reatard
Elevator - White Nights
Standing in the Way of Control – The Gossip
Lost and Found - Phoenix
Here it goes again - OKGO
Tax Dollar - Erase Errata
Back To The 101 - Albert Hammond Jr.
Art Bitch - Cansei De Ser Sexy

On your way down – Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
Final Showdown – Shawn Lee - Bully OST
Break 'em On Down - The Soledad Brothers
Mr Tough – Yo La Tengo
Pull Shapes - The Pipettes
You’re the One – The Black Keys
You’re the kind of trouble – Solomon Burke



Git - Skeletons & The Girl Faced Boys
It's Time (Gay Masters Discomix) - They Came From the Stars (I Saw Them)
Les Matins De Paris - Teki Latex feat. Lio
The Elite (Radio Edit) - Robert O’Dell
Just Talk (Skatebard Remix) - The Work
Save Me Save Me - Xiu Xiu
Thatcherie – Sven Libaek
Girl and the Sea - The Presets

Bodiliser Bodilsizer – Emperor Machine
Red-Eye - The Album Leaf
Auto Rock (Errors Remix) - Mogwai
Origin (shake you down by the river) – Studio
Wildcat - Ratatat
Pick Up (Four Tet Remix) – Bonobo

Michael Caine on acting in movies

Michael Caine is my favourite actor and these episodes from Youtube show you more than anything else why. The sound’s way out of sync but it’s brilliant anyway.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

2006 >>> 2007

The year has come to an end and I know it's a shame to complaint but lookin' back, we really gotta have a lot more lovin'...

I spent the last few days in Helsinki with a dear friend. Time magazin's cartoon of the year was rather appropriate for the trip and so was global warming.

In the following days I'm going to post some of my favourite records of 2006 in a radio format. Some of these tracks where posted before as a normal link but I found this mp3 player just recently and me like it. It's fun. They're nice to look at and very easy to use.

Comments and pictures will follow as soon as posting is over.

John Davis Revisited

A while back, in July, I posted a compilation of the music of John Davis but I removed the links because of protest from the label owner. Now that I found a fairly convenient and satisfying broadcast system for mp3, I finally bring you back the music of John Davis as a teaser. If you like it, buy it.

Smelly Pop Radio Fun

Some more Radio comin' up...

Lil' Chris

I heard this band? or Kid? - is this for real? - on the radio just the other day as a request from a listener [check out the banner above] and boy, is sounded really great!

I first found some promo stuff [an autoplayin' videopromo] but Youtube is also serving separate quality video's.

The fist one is Gettin' Enough with some funny double entendres on the facts about puberty and sex before they head off for infection island.



The requested song in question was Checkin' it out... so check it out.

Planningtorock


Every once in a while you stumble across something completely different. Some artist or a group of people who do somethin’ - music wise - that you haven’t heard before or not quite in that way. There are still people out there who create highly original music. Planningtorock is somethin’ different. It’s a one-woman band called Janine Rostron who lives in Berlin like so many young starting musicians and artists today. She performs solo but surrounded by her own larger-than-life video projections. The music, the images and the performance enhance each other in order to create a total live experience.
I learned about this lady by checking the programme for the Noorderslag / Eurosonic festival in Groningen and 20jazzfunkgreats is also in to it.
The festival and the City have a long tradition of this type of independent music. She’s performing there in January.
I found her name, did some googling and bingo some amazing music! She has a debut album out this year which I recently bought online at eMusic and it’s really amazing. Highly original but still pretty enjoyable and accessible [still this is just my judgment].
I found a description of her style by Matmos’ Drew Daniel… ‘barrelhouse boogie-woogie pianos with ridiculous xylophone trills, honkytonk horn sleaze, bluesy growls, and creepy coos’ in a Pitchfork review. I read some other articles that compare her music with good old Residents, the Knife and Björk. The first for the avant-garde with strong roots and the lather for the kaleidoscopic vocal style.
References that I didn’t find anywhere but which are aparant to me are Laurie Anderson [there’s a link on her home site], as always offcourse Kate Bush and especially Danielle Dax. Dax is a solo artist, Indie Queen and former member of the Lemon Kittens. She’s also heavy into Old Man’s Blues and visual performance [to say the least]. Other names that maybe ring a bell are Diamanda Gallas, Lydia Lunch and Foetus. All of them make pretty dark music, kind of twisted stuff but with a certain sense of black humour. Plannigtorock is the same, but only different…

Some proof [be carefull with this, it was the eighties, ya know…]



Or maybe it sounds more like this…
all time favourites Les Rita Mitsouko [Hey, Bollywood wasn’t rediscovered yesterday, ya know]



Planningtorock – Have It All

Daktaris

040 Daktaris – Soul Explosion – Musicawa Silt
041 Daktaris – Soul Explosion – Musicawa Silt Part 2

Old dictator Mengistu of Ethiopia has been condemned in absentia for genocide today by the supreme court of Ethiopia. Chance that he will be prosecuted is rather small, since he’s living in exile in Zimbabwe after the fall of his regime back in 1991. But one never knows.
As a way of commemorating this fact of justice, some music from the heyday of Ethiopian popmusic, the early 70’s, just before Mengistu liberated Ethiopia from that other tiran, Haile Selassie.

Musicawa Silt was originally written as Muziqawi Silt by The Wallias Band, but I recently found a nice cover version by The Daktaris on their album Soul Explosion. The original version, you can find on the compilation album Ethiopian Groove which is part 13 in the amazing ongoing series of Ethiopiques. I have an older version of that compilation which was released by Munich Records under the same name and almost the same list of songs.
The Wallias Band was founded by Mulatu Astatke and is led by Johannes Tokola. They have backed many of Ethiopia's leading stars and still perform in the Addis Ababa Hilton today.
The Daktaris are formed by members of the Afrobeat Aficionados Antibalas. Their version is in 2 parts whereas the original has only one part. So two for the price of one. Fair Deal.
Read more.

Don’t stop the Black Gold

Asha Bhosle on Saturday was really great, I’m glad that I didn’t miss that one but more of that later on...
I'm listening to Gilles Peterson World Wide show right now so Black music is still going strong down here. I’m posting an update of some recent favourites. I recently found a compilation album that I’ve been looking for a long time. Funky Drops. Nothing special, just a fine collection of some rare and less rare tracks.

034 Fabulous Counts - Lunar Funk

This a great Fuzz Rock/Funk crossover track from 1970. The Fabulous Counts or Counts are best known for their classic first single Jan Jan b/w The Girl From Kenya recorded in 1968 for the Detroit based Moira label but I’m still lookin’ for that one. The single contains all of the trademarks that would make up the bands sound: wailing Hammond, two saxes in unison and funky, slightly off-centered guitar. Particularly Jan Jan is a floor-shaker.
Their last Moira 45’s are Get Down People b/w this Lunar Funk before they got more slick and started to record for Westbound of Funkadelica and Parliament fame. I found the track on the compilation Funky Drops volume 2 from 2002. It’s a fast moving tune with lots of wah-wah and echo effects in the break.
It's interesting to note that unlike many of their contemporaries, the Fabulous Counts manage to stay away from the influence of the Meters, the premier instrumental funk band of the era. Their sound has a harder, city edge to it and a much more conventional (and often less interesting) approach to funk than the Meters. But the lunar space sounds makes it still stand out.
Read more here.

035 The Twilight Clone – Herbie Hancock

From Magic Windows, Herbie Hancock’s 1981 break away from generic dance music and Disco into the homeland of 70’s funk. It’s basically an R&B record with funkier, more flexible rhythm sections, more intriguing electronic instrumental decorations by Hancock and some first-class instrumental contributions by the Brothers Johnsons, the Escovedo family and Michael Brecker.
Closing title The Twilight Clone is Hancock’s spooky foretaste of 80’s techno-pop and it sounds to me that he listened very well to The Talking Heads futuristic electrofunk sound from 1980’s Remain in Light.

036 Karawane – Escort

I found this track on the Bumrocks blog while they’re off on safari apparently. I do hope them come back because they post great stuff. I didn’t know anything about this percussive deep disco house gem complete with afro chanting inspired by Hugo Ball’s dada sound poem of the same name.
This psychedelic percussion-driven journey recalls the likes of Was Not Was and Kid Creole. It’s perfect for all fans of Rong Music, Idjut Boys, Prins Thomas and Lindstrom, Metro Area, Putsch 79 and Chicken Lips.

Escort was formed in early 2005 by Dan Balis, Eugene Cho, and Darius Maghen out of a desire to bring detail, depth, and perhaps most of all, the R&B songwriting tradition, back to underground dance music. Some may find their records shamelessly nostalgic: a blast of unadulterated and symphonic disco but for the members of Escort, this is not about the past. This is about a fervent belief that certain things are timeless: musicianship, songwriting, and production. No samples, no loops, just well crafted songs and great performances. Karawane is Escort's second release.

jolifanto bambla o falli bambla
großiga m'pfa habla horem
egiga goramen
higo bloiko russula huju
hollaka hollala
anlogo bung
blago bung blago bung
bosso fataka
ü üü ü
schampa wulla wussa olobo
hej tatta gorem
eschige zunbada
wulubu ssubudu uluwu ssubudu
tumba ba-umf
kusa gauma
ba - umf

037 Kansas City Funk – Roy Hargrove

This track’s from Hargrove’s last album Distractions. Roy Hargrove is probably one the finest Jazz musicians at this moment but more important, he’s very eclectic and open minded. He mixes many styles and works with a lot of contemporary soul artist like Erika Badu, D’Angelo,… This track is rather short but nevertheless has it all in terms of funk.

038 The Bombers – Get Dancin' (12'' Version)

The Bombers is a project of Pat DeSerio and from the same producer of Kebekelektrik and Rational Youth. It’s a Canadian group fronted by the vocals of Tamara Lorincz and Mack Jones that burst on the disco scene in 1978. The group's first album on Mel Cherren's West End label was simply-titled Bombers and contained an album version of this track. In 1979 West End issued the album to DJ's as a 2-12" singles package. This practice was originated by Prelude Records and copied by Salsoul. This commercial 12" remix of (Everybody) Get Dancin' went top ten in the clubs and also propelled sales of the album.

039 Yarbrough & Peoples - Don't Stop The Music

This singing duo from Dallas was discovered by Charlie Wilson of the GAP Band. Don't Stop The Music was their biggest hit single back in 1981 and a sinewy slab of synth-based R&B/funk that was way ahead of its time and had a far-reaching influence in the following years.

Read more.



And now for somethin’ completely different…

Work on you – MSTRKRFT

MSTRKRFT or Masterkraft are Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 and his group’s producer, Al-P, gone electro house and they sound like what Daft Punk should sound like today if it wasn’t for the fact that they’re human after all and not man-machines. I like this opener and highlight of their album The Looks, especially the hyped-up vocoder and way that drive builds up and up. A real floor-filler that makes one live up to the phrase… dance as if no one is watching you.

I’m gonna work on you
Until you’re feeling right
I’m gonna make you right
Under the disco lights

Helsinki, tähän i-kirjain johtua

Well, wouldn't you know... I'm going to Helsinki. I never ever thought I would one day end up there - way up north - Of all places but nevertheless, I'm going. And I'm pretty excited. I know absolutely nothin' about Finland except the fact that they have these choirs of shouting men, 'mieskuoro huutajat', and that they like tango. But who doesn't. So I'm going with an open mind and with the intention to enjoy myself.

You won't hear me complain about cold weather or anything... not like these people from Finland in a film from Youtube. It's actually pretty funny. If it's exemplary for the Finnish state of mind to make jokes like that, I'm pretty sure we're going to get along pretty well.

Hi di ho

The Bollywood funfair's still going on. This time Belgian danceproducer and DJ Buscemi. He used to make all sorts of electrobossa and lounge type of music which I like but after a while it all starts to sound the same. He's got a new album out and it sounds more diverse this time. Some Balkan Beats, which are gettin' popular around these parts, and yes, Bollywood Beats with some fine results. This track really kicks.

Buscemi - Bollywood Swing King