DHS 12 - Part 6 (D)

Evening all. Here I am fresh back from a weekend in the country, and my 2nd farm in as many months, albeit this was the first one where I made friends with a donkey. Donkeys are brilliant Ive decided, even if they do try and eat your jacket. I also found out that sheep can (almost) climb fences and cows are bastard big when you get up close to them - especially the Angus bulls. Had a nutsack like a space hopper that lad. Christ.


Anyway, thanks once again for your latest choices chaps - my thoughts are as follows:


S
The new short tunes were my first sustained listen to Northern Soul (I presume they are all NS ?) and Judy Street is a jaunty upbeat number, cant really say anymore than that, enjoyable, wouldn't turn it off but wouldn't hunt it down either. Mama Cass was another track in a similar vein and I'd say the same really although this one was a bit better for my money. John Edwards is a nice enough soul track but it did make me laugh with some of the lyrics 'the topic of Sir Galahad' just made me think of Monty Python & the Holy Grail ! Ive listened to this several times and I still don't have a Scooby what that lyric is doing in there - spoils an otherwise nice enough tune for me. Gary Numan isn't really my cup of tea either - theres something about his voice that grates a bit I think, only really heard 'cars' before and I didn't really notice it so much but here I do. Is this still Northern Soul ? Im thinking not but I guess it doesn't matter that much really. When in Rome is ok I think, very much of its time I suppose but doesn't really do much for me im afraid.


H
Night Bus is indeed atmospheric, there's no denying that. Could it be an opener ? I suppose so, even though it doesn't do very much - would have a liked a bit more to this track as I think it sets up a mood then doesn't see it through. Nice enough though. Plainsong is not one I have heard before and I think its stunning, an outrageous piece of music. So much so that I listened to the album but the rest of the tracks sadly dont live up to the standard of this one, apart from maybe 'lullaby'. Added to favourites - top tune mate. Archangel reminds me strongly of a timbaland cut called something like 'kill you' from the first shock value album, only with a kind of garage vibe over the top. Not for me I don't think, but definitely get the walking around London when its gloomy idea ! I really like the clubroot track, nice beats and subtly done with the wailing and strings, rising and falling ever so slightly with the insistent beat, very nicely produced. PRTCTN (does that mean 'protection' ?) is nicely moody too, wouldn't always be one you'd rack up but I can see this being a late night tune that would go very well.


My selection consists of two albums really - the only job was getting it down to 5 tunes ! The first was borne of a desire all of a sudden to check the original of 'what else is there' by Royksopp and I really liked it so as I had been checking out albums for the DHS LP I decided to give it a go and I wasn't disappointed - a top album I highly recommend if you haven't heard it before, gave it several rotations and could have picked the opener 'triumphant' and the original of 'what else is there' but this one only gets 2 tracks as I think you may know it. So Im going with 'sombre detune' which is a quirky piece of electro / prog house I think, with some nice strings and perky melodies, as well as 'alpha male' which is an absolute beast with a cracking build and some wonderful variation in highs and lows - a really wonderful record. The second album is courtesy of 6 music. I love 6 music, it does play some obscure shit, but nowhere else can you hear (uncensored) public enemy, sigur ros and young mc on consecutive breakfast shows. Really resonates with me. Anyway, one night in the shower and this tune came on and it was so good I had to make a note of it straight away (gawd bless digital radios showing song titles) and that track was 'remurdered' by Mogwai from the album rave tapes which I also checked out and is very good indeed. Remurdered is also a big brooding heaving beast of a tune with a raucus break and some crashy drums that I really like. I have also gone for 'Deesh' which is a nice moody tune for me, always hinting at more to come and delivering in a quite unusual way I think, possibly the best cut on the album. I finish with 'No Medicine for Regret' which is beautifully melancholic and even quite uplifting by the end.


So there you have it. Probably way too many words as usual but that's how it goes.


One love

DHS 12 - Part 5 (H)

D,
I like natura sonoris very much, have bought a lot from the label across a 4 or so year period.  The best was a label comp in 2009.  Personally I think the quality has been lacking recently due to the similarity of what Saiz's artists (and indeed even himself) churn out... There are better artists and better labels out there now.  That said I like the tracks you've picked, I bought the LP from beatport when it came out because it had some exclusives from Saiz's balance mix which he put out in '10.. I never put this comp in the DBOX though so if you ever feel like having these outside Spotify let me know and I can up it, although KS will prob have a higher quality copy you can have.
Underworld, classic... Still relevant now.  So, so good.

S,
Judy Street, Mama Cass - classics
John Edwards - new to me, bloody lovely, repeat plays.  Beautiful drum work, sounds so crisp, beautiful everything in fact.
Gary Newman - not for me this guy, just don't buy it at all.  Notwithstanding I appreciate its relevance in the music we listen to now.  He sounds to much like he's trying to be a modern Bowie for my liking and for that kind of sound I'd rather listen to the legend himself.
When in Rome - I feel like I know this from childhood... I very much like this.

Well, not time like the present (given half the country is flooded) to whack up my favourite tracks to listen to when it's pissing rain...

Burial - D not sure you're familiar with this kid, one day I will give you the back story.  Very simply he sat on the bus and recorded the pissing rain for a journey and then built a track around it at his studio in his bedroom.  I think it's lovely and atmospheric and a great opener.
Cure - I just can't begin to describe how much the LP means to me... I first heard the opening bars of this followed by the miserable mumblings of Smith in a soaking wet November of 2009 on amazon website prior to purchasing immediately and it's impact on me was immense.  I didn't listen to ANY other tracks just something about this opener told me how much I would completely love the whole thing.  I couldn't have been more correct if I tried.  Thanks S for the recommendation.
Burial - this might sound dated because SO many people have copied his style of small studio production.  But believe me when this kid put this out my ears just pricked up to a whole new level.  Very cleverly done and fuses so many little nuances from other styles in.  Wonderfully melancholic with a tinge of rave.  Beautiful for walking round London when it's gloomy.
Clubroot - one of the guys I suspect copied Burial.  More upbeat and juicy beats but moody all the same.  Proper crisp, great drum programming matched with great melody stabs.
PRTCTN - wow, when tale of us used this in their renaissance mix I was massively pleased.  SUCH a great production effort... Stunning all round.

Go out and get wet with your headphones in,
H