...so, that's drawn a line under the first nine lists.
Piece of cake.
Piece of very enjoyable, hugely nourishing, not-too-decorated and certainly not slathered-in-butter-icing cake.
Hoorah.
Hip for D. Hip for H and hooray for S.
Tenth instalment countdown...
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Sunday, 1 April 2012
DHS 9 - Part 18 (D)
Right then, actuallybefore Sully decided to tell me what should be important in my life, I was actually about to do this anyway, and one late replacement in and Im ready to go. Firstly of course, some words on the previous 10.
Kev you kicked off with The Clash and London Calling, a track that ever American filmmaker seems to think must be played when the action moves to the nations hub. Seems a bit lazy to me but thats not th clash's fault and this is a top record with great lyrics - one of the few punk records I actually like (probably because its more accessible). Then you moved onto the Jam, a band I have heard of but never heard any of their stuff before - Paul Weller was in them wasnt he ? Sounds like him anyway. Decent enough I guess but doesnt do much for me, cant really get the 'lyrical intensity' you talk about Kev im afraid. Then you know its Madness from the very first chord, they definitely had their own sound. The story telling is not bad, but it is all a bit grim isnt it ? Not a big Madness fan im afraid, 'must be love' excepted. Morrisey might well be a genius but hes simply not my bag. At all. And then you fucking nail it you beauty, with what i would certainly say has to be the best pop ballad for a very very long time. The lyrics are wonderful, the voice is immense and the musical change from minor to major keys is pitch perfect. You go girl is what Im thinking, and the change of the lyrics to 'dont come back at all' is simple genius. This has been on massively heavy rotation for me for ages - theres also an 'ocean sessions' version which is even better for my money as it has a slightly rougher edge to her voice and a change to the cadence which works very well. An absolute shoe-in for the best of.
Onto Hodge for your dance selection fella - starting with 'Com Truise' who thankfully is better at music than he is with names. Definitely has 80s stylings I agree, grooves along rather nicely. Then its onto Midnight Sunset which is very nice indeed, chuggy & melodic definitely sums it up, its all rather pleasant. Then you dropped a bomb with the Moby remix, which has also been on heavy rotation with me - thats aonly about 60-70 bpm but it just too intense - dont remember the track on the album being anywhere near as good, and ive just looked it up and it really isnt at all - stunning use of drums, especially with the filtered build up to when a beat comes back. Really tremendous work. Onto my personal list straight away and another 'best of' contender. Then its back to Com again, and I know what you mean by a marmite track Hodge - definitely gives a huge great nod to early hip-hop and electro, but you called it correctly, not really one for me - its ok though. You wrap up with Booka Shade and I can definitely see Digweed playing this, reminds me of 'discopolis' in the tune - but that bassline is huge and definitely needs a big system to do it justice, a great piece of mood music for sure. Love that moody break !
So what am I going to do with the prestigious last slot of single digits DHS, before we embark into double figures. Well im going back into my hip-hop roots with three artists who heavily influenced me some 20 years ago (and earlier) and some of their lesser well known tracks...
Ice Cube 'The First Day of School' & 'When will they shoot?'
"Aint nobody talkin when im talkin fellas so shut the fuck up !" sets the tone for Ice Cubes best album perfectly and the launch into the tremendous opening track means you cant have one without the other. Recorded just after the '91 riots its Cube angry and aggresive and at his very best. The antithesis of the (rightly so) most popular 'It was a good day' track. Check out the lyrics - "they killed JFK in 63, so what the fuck you think they'll do to me ?" fantastic.
Public Enemy 'By the time I get to Arizona'
This record is genius. Great tune, and even better lyrics, from 'sista soldier' at the beginning, through to the dissing of De La Soul when they were hugely popular to the 'whats a smiling face when the whole state's racist ?" Great political commentary and bang on the money i reckon. Brilliant.
Ice T 'The Tower'
A great prison story, not too dissimlar to PE's 'Black steel' and very well put together, with his trademark smooth rap and the lyrics from what was easily his best album, a great tune for the subject and the 'interview' technique as a chorus of such. Love the line 'go toe to toe with a sucker no matter what size' so evocative.
Public Enemy 'Show 'em whatcha got'
Well now at least I know where they got the tune from (cheers K). But theyve done good things with it I'd say. Freedom is a road seldom travelled by the multitude...
And on that note I bid farewell to 9 hugely impressive DHS list, spanning almost 3 years and over 800 tracks. Well played gentlemen, well played indeed.
One Love
Kev you kicked off with The Clash and London Calling, a track that ever American filmmaker seems to think must be played when the action moves to the nations hub. Seems a bit lazy to me but thats not th clash's fault and this is a top record with great lyrics - one of the few punk records I actually like (probably because its more accessible). Then you moved onto the Jam, a band I have heard of but never heard any of their stuff before - Paul Weller was in them wasnt he ? Sounds like him anyway. Decent enough I guess but doesnt do much for me, cant really get the 'lyrical intensity' you talk about Kev im afraid. Then you know its Madness from the very first chord, they definitely had their own sound. The story telling is not bad, but it is all a bit grim isnt it ? Not a big Madness fan im afraid, 'must be love' excepted. Morrisey might well be a genius but hes simply not my bag. At all. And then you fucking nail it you beauty, with what i would certainly say has to be the best pop ballad for a very very long time. The lyrics are wonderful, the voice is immense and the musical change from minor to major keys is pitch perfect. You go girl is what Im thinking, and the change of the lyrics to 'dont come back at all' is simple genius. This has been on massively heavy rotation for me for ages - theres also an 'ocean sessions' version which is even better for my money as it has a slightly rougher edge to her voice and a change to the cadence which works very well. An absolute shoe-in for the best of.
Onto Hodge for your dance selection fella - starting with 'Com Truise' who thankfully is better at music than he is with names. Definitely has 80s stylings I agree, grooves along rather nicely. Then its onto Midnight Sunset which is very nice indeed, chuggy & melodic definitely sums it up, its all rather pleasant. Then you dropped a bomb with the Moby remix, which has also been on heavy rotation with me - thats aonly about 60-70 bpm but it just too intense - dont remember the track on the album being anywhere near as good, and ive just looked it up and it really isnt at all - stunning use of drums, especially with the filtered build up to when a beat comes back. Really tremendous work. Onto my personal list straight away and another 'best of' contender. Then its back to Com again, and I know what you mean by a marmite track Hodge - definitely gives a huge great nod to early hip-hop and electro, but you called it correctly, not really one for me - its ok though. You wrap up with Booka Shade and I can definitely see Digweed playing this, reminds me of 'discopolis' in the tune - but that bassline is huge and definitely needs a big system to do it justice, a great piece of mood music for sure. Love that moody break !
So what am I going to do with the prestigious last slot of single digits DHS, before we embark into double figures. Well im going back into my hip-hop roots with three artists who heavily influenced me some 20 years ago (and earlier) and some of their lesser well known tracks...
Ice Cube 'The First Day of School' & 'When will they shoot?'
"Aint nobody talkin when im talkin fellas so shut the fuck up !" sets the tone for Ice Cubes best album perfectly and the launch into the tremendous opening track means you cant have one without the other. Recorded just after the '91 riots its Cube angry and aggresive and at his very best. The antithesis of the (rightly so) most popular 'It was a good day' track. Check out the lyrics - "they killed JFK in 63, so what the fuck you think they'll do to me ?" fantastic.
Public Enemy 'By the time I get to Arizona'
This record is genius. Great tune, and even better lyrics, from 'sista soldier' at the beginning, through to the dissing of De La Soul when they were hugely popular to the 'whats a smiling face when the whole state's racist ?" Great political commentary and bang on the money i reckon. Brilliant.
Ice T 'The Tower'
A great prison story, not too dissimlar to PE's 'Black steel' and very well put together, with his trademark smooth rap and the lyrics from what was easily his best album, a great tune for the subject and the 'interview' technique as a chorus of such. Love the line 'go toe to toe with a sucker no matter what size' so evocative.
Public Enemy 'Show 'em whatcha got'
Well now at least I know where they got the tune from (cheers K). But theyve done good things with it I'd say. Freedom is a road seldom travelled by the multitude...
And on that note I bid farewell to 9 hugely impressive DHS list, spanning almost 3 years and over 800 tracks. Well played gentlemen, well played indeed.
One Love
Sunday, 25 March 2012
DHS 9 - Part 17 (H)
Greetings Gentleman,
My sincere apologies for a month off.... at least I didn't do an Underworld on you and give you Two Months Off (sorry I just had to considering its in the first line up to report on)
RD - your strongest additions for a while imo. Cracking stuff - very loud car tunes which I have been playing a lot, especially Dosem. Anyway, we're off and running...
Hazy March - SUPERB prog opener - love this track, good memories.
Dosem - simply beautiful - the breakdown and the choral tinges and layers of gentle melody .... smashing track - sort of stuff I'd like to hear played out. highlight of that transitions mix for sure. loved as soon as i laid ears on it.
Dosem - modern prog of sorts I suppose. Shows it isn't dead and can still work a dancefloor which this driving bassline certainly would I reckon.
TMO - classic. absolute classic. first time I heard it (before it got played at Bedrock, even) was Lawler at Harlem Nights.... he closed the night we all thought it was the end.... he turned the lights on (very bright - we all looked hideous!).... then air raid sirens kick off on the system - we all do the "what the f...???!" look and then we just get "You bring light in"....... "You bring light in" over top of the air raid (we obviously later discovered the vocal was from later in the tune and he'd looped it - but that's how he intro'd it and we thought that's how the record began..... in fact we thought the track actually started with that siren and the vocal!! hehehe.... I remember us all saying in cabs home "gotta get that siren track - immense clsoing record" !!) Anyway when the melody and beats kicked in the place just went bloody beserk and it was such a buzz - absolutely top memories and great fun bouncing about with 200 other friends and strangers at 3am...felt like a proper rave really.... aaah the good "old" days!!
Starecase - solid and cracking build/trancey rave feel but I will have to be honest and say I prefer their cheesier track that's in my options list.
KS - quite a two track opening from you old son...
Clash - WOW. Not sure I really need to say a huge amount more. Such a hugely influential record; an anthemic aural assault (some allit. for you, D) and a truly quintessentially British piece of punk. A National Treasure.... and it's not hard to see why even modern electronic producers sight it as influential.... it is, basically, 4:4 format of sorts.
Jam - big fan of these boys - I must admit more their angry early stuff but I do love their more "romantic"/soulful records too... this is super and I LOVE LOVE LOVE "English Rose"...
Madness - not big on Madness on the whole - it's ok. If I'm gonna have a dose of this style I'd rather listen to the Specials to be honest.
Moody depressing c..t - very good indeed. very very good. his outlook and interpretation of life is so melancholic it's almost laughable....and now I'm older I get that that's the whole point. from a vocal perspective and having done/tried a few bits myself I truly admire this guys unique quality and his pacing - pure class.
Perri - heard it on radio - looked it up immediately and dropped it in to my 'potentials' list. Totally welcome addition - stunning and really nice to hear top quality pop on the radio amongst some of the absolute sh1te. Restores faith in modern artists.
Right - my final offering before this project goes double on the digits - well done to us all for cracking on with it.... long may it continue:-
Com Truise - make no apology for including this kid twice in one sitting.... this re-issue extended EP (didn't catch it the first time round) has been like being a teenager again... it reminds me SO much of discovering DJ Shadow.... and he's basically picked up where Shadow left off (in the good old days prior to him going all heavy/dark hip hop/getting too many vocalists involved). LOVE this quirky tune.... the pace change ups (he likes those - see below).... and the 80's stylings.
Anorak - god bless this sort of music... so glad its making a come back in the modern era... it seems to have come around a year or so after a I discovered the "morning Goa sound" through Mothersole.... this really reminds me of that stuff and is beautifully produced.... got that chuggy 80's thing going for it.... the drums in the last quarter are just like those of an 80's rock band - i love it. Would make a great opener to a moody chuggy melodic mix imo...
Photek on Moby (!) -------- !!!!!!!! erm..... If he keeps churning out records and keeps getting top class acts like the recently back on point Photek to remix them then I cant promise I'm not gonna pick it!!! it's too good to be missed.... was unsure of this initially - thought it too samey..... then I got it on the headphones............JESUS WEPT it's soooo good on headphones - you just drown in all Ruperts heavy prduction and attention to detail; again its like being 15/16 again and hearing his modus stuff for the first time but in a dub format - granted its opressive but that's the point..... those synthy stabs - almost horror-movie-esque. Then that simple piano lick..... the ending left me shivering cold (in a good way)
Com Truise - total f-ing marmite track. Me? I'm double dropping this all over both of my morning slices of toast then licking the knife clean and trying to refrain from cooking up the entire jar and mainlining it all at once. Enough of the marmite/heroin metaphors....The first time that acidy bass dropped follwed by the cut up style drum pattern I did a little accident... then i cleaned up, rewound and listened to it again. and again. and again. This track hopefully goes a bit further in explaining why its like finding the new DJ Shadow.... just remarkable stuff to my ears. more a KS than an RD tune but I do hope you both give it at least one full play. it is heavily influenced by early 80's hip hop and has actually sparked my memory back to a classic piece of electro/hip hop crossover which will be featuring in a future list - of that I can assure.
Well I'm gonna round off with what i believe to be a modern classic piece of house/techno. The Germans are renowned for their attention to detail.... and over the last decade or so the Booka Shade boys have been the pinacle of German electronic music and dropped by all sorts of DJ's from lots of different sections/pigeonholes in the scene.... the only other person to come close is Ellen Allien imo but that's another debate. I first heard this on Digweeds 2007 Esssential Mix from The Warehouse Project in Manchester.... what a mix and what a tune. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do..... "Numbers" - play it LOUD.
K.O.K.O
H
My sincere apologies for a month off.... at least I didn't do an Underworld on you and give you Two Months Off (sorry I just had to considering its in the first line up to report on)
RD - your strongest additions for a while imo. Cracking stuff - very loud car tunes which I have been playing a lot, especially Dosem. Anyway, we're off and running...
Hazy March - SUPERB prog opener - love this track, good memories.
Dosem - simply beautiful - the breakdown and the choral tinges and layers of gentle melody .... smashing track - sort of stuff I'd like to hear played out. highlight of that transitions mix for sure. loved as soon as i laid ears on it.
Dosem - modern prog of sorts I suppose. Shows it isn't dead and can still work a dancefloor which this driving bassline certainly would I reckon.
TMO - classic. absolute classic. first time I heard it (before it got played at Bedrock, even) was Lawler at Harlem Nights.... he closed the night we all thought it was the end.... he turned the lights on (very bright - we all looked hideous!).... then air raid sirens kick off on the system - we all do the "what the f...???!" look and then we just get "You bring light in"....... "You bring light in" over top of the air raid (we obviously later discovered the vocal was from later in the tune and he'd looped it - but that's how he intro'd it and we thought that's how the record began..... in fact we thought the track actually started with that siren and the vocal!! hehehe.... I remember us all saying in cabs home "gotta get that siren track - immense clsoing record" !!) Anyway when the melody and beats kicked in the place just went bloody beserk and it was such a buzz - absolutely top memories and great fun bouncing about with 200 other friends and strangers at 3am...felt like a proper rave really.... aaah the good "old" days!!
Starecase - solid and cracking build/trancey rave feel but I will have to be honest and say I prefer their cheesier track that's in my options list.
KS - quite a two track opening from you old son...
Clash - WOW. Not sure I really need to say a huge amount more. Such a hugely influential record; an anthemic aural assault (some allit. for you, D) and a truly quintessentially British piece of punk. A National Treasure.... and it's not hard to see why even modern electronic producers sight it as influential.... it is, basically, 4:4 format of sorts.
Jam - big fan of these boys - I must admit more their angry early stuff but I do love their more "romantic"/soulful records too... this is super and I LOVE LOVE LOVE "English Rose"...
Madness - not big on Madness on the whole - it's ok. If I'm gonna have a dose of this style I'd rather listen to the Specials to be honest.
Moody depressing c..t - very good indeed. very very good. his outlook and interpretation of life is so melancholic it's almost laughable....and now I'm older I get that that's the whole point. from a vocal perspective and having done/tried a few bits myself I truly admire this guys unique quality and his pacing - pure class.
Perri - heard it on radio - looked it up immediately and dropped it in to my 'potentials' list. Totally welcome addition - stunning and really nice to hear top quality pop on the radio amongst some of the absolute sh1te. Restores faith in modern artists.
Right - my final offering before this project goes double on the digits - well done to us all for cracking on with it.... long may it continue:-
Com Truise - make no apology for including this kid twice in one sitting.... this re-issue extended EP (didn't catch it the first time round) has been like being a teenager again... it reminds me SO much of discovering DJ Shadow.... and he's basically picked up where Shadow left off (in the good old days prior to him going all heavy/dark hip hop/getting too many vocalists involved). LOVE this quirky tune.... the pace change ups (he likes those - see below).... and the 80's stylings.
Anorak - god bless this sort of music... so glad its making a come back in the modern era... it seems to have come around a year or so after a I discovered the "morning Goa sound" through Mothersole.... this really reminds me of that stuff and is beautifully produced.... got that chuggy 80's thing going for it.... the drums in the last quarter are just like those of an 80's rock band - i love it. Would make a great opener to a moody chuggy melodic mix imo...
Photek on Moby (!) -------- !!!!!!!! erm..... If he keeps churning out records and keeps getting top class acts like the recently back on point Photek to remix them then I cant promise I'm not gonna pick it!!! it's too good to be missed.... was unsure of this initially - thought it too samey..... then I got it on the headphones............JESUS WEPT it's soooo good on headphones - you just drown in all Ruperts heavy prduction and attention to detail; again its like being 15/16 again and hearing his modus stuff for the first time but in a dub format - granted its opressive but that's the point..... those synthy stabs - almost horror-movie-esque. Then that simple piano lick..... the ending left me shivering cold (in a good way)
Com Truise - total f-ing marmite track. Me? I'm double dropping this all over both of my morning slices of toast then licking the knife clean and trying to refrain from cooking up the entire jar and mainlining it all at once. Enough of the marmite/heroin metaphors....The first time that acidy bass dropped follwed by the cut up style drum pattern I did a little accident... then i cleaned up, rewound and listened to it again. and again. and again. This track hopefully goes a bit further in explaining why its like finding the new DJ Shadow.... just remarkable stuff to my ears. more a KS than an RD tune but I do hope you both give it at least one full play. it is heavily influenced by early 80's hip hop and has actually sparked my memory back to a classic piece of electro/hip hop crossover which will be featuring in a future list - of that I can assure.
Well I'm gonna round off with what i believe to be a modern classic piece of house/techno. The Germans are renowned for their attention to detail.... and over the last decade or so the Booka Shade boys have been the pinacle of German electronic music and dropped by all sorts of DJ's from lots of different sections/pigeonholes in the scene.... the only other person to come close is Ellen Allien imo but that's another debate. I first heard this on Digweeds 2007 Esssential Mix from The Warehouse Project in Manchester.... what a mix and what a tune. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do..... "Numbers" - play it LOUD.
K.O.K.O
H
Friday, 24 February 2012
DHS 9 - Part 16 (S)
DHS moves inexorably forwards - one more selection each and then it's into double figures. Next landmark will be the 1000th selection...
But a period of reflection before progress; the last ten...
Slacker - A Million Dreams: there have been a few 'scene' deaths in recent months and given the relative youth of our generation they're all no-doubt tragic to greater or lesser extents. But, by and large, the deceased were just names - not even acquaintances, let alone friends - and so the tragedy can be acknowledged but not really felt. Slacker/Shem McCauley's recent passing absolutely fits that niche - he wasn't a friend - for heaven's sake the only time I ever met the man was through his recordings - but something about his passing affected me more than I expected. Yes he did some good records and remixes, both as RAMP and Slacker but I think what resonated with me more than that body of work was his story. He rode the wave of 'house success' from the mid 90s for ten years or so, became thoroughly disenchanted, disappeared, laid musically low, changed tack, found some peace and got drawn back to his passion. Started making music again and then, tragically, died. Yes, I've listened to a lot of his RAMP/Slacker tracks/remixes again recently - none are bad, some are great, most have dated. This latest album of his isn't dated in any way. It's a proper album, and the fact he did it on a laptop in a coffee shop in Thailand, with no engineer/production/support, only makes it more admirable. I won't go on any longer but I'm glad H chose to recognise the album. My favourite track on the album is 'Come With Me' which, without getting daft about it, is unwittingly soaked in the melancholy which his passing has engendered in many - chilled and chilling.
Scuba - Before (After): the man did a couple of the best tracks of last year - this is much lower energy but still lush. I have a daft, personal, issue with the fact he deliberately works some 'needle-on-old-vinyl-crackle' noises into all his productions - but aside from that, yeah, this is nice.
Photek - Aviator: Photek has been (for far too long), on the list on names that I've intended to give more attention to - takes a very good producer to occupy/switch/straddle several distinct genres and this lad seems to have been mastering house/techno/d'n'b AND exploring all the gaps in between for a good little while. This track is lush and right up my alley.
Maceo Plex - Can't Leave you (Tale Of Us Remix): MP and TOU (along with Edu Imbernon and Maya Jane Coles) summed up what I bought to play out last year. I was on this early, played it endlessly and still love it.
Sei A - Frozen Flower (Midland Remix): I've got several Sei A productions/remixes, plus I am one of Midland's main biatches so this is a nailed on success. Except... Except, somehow, it never quite rises above being 'functional'. They've both done much, MUCH, better work.
Flash Brothers - Hazy March: I've got to be honest and say that it was the breakbeat remix of this that was preferred version - this is not in any way bad though - the break 2/3rds of the way through is lush - could just be my ears but it doesn't sound like the best (sound) quality on Spot - sounds a bit like a below standard mp3 has been offered up - sounds bit harsh at both ends of the spectrum?
Dosem - Don't Look Back: sits in the middle ground that isn't 'progressive house', isn't 'tech-house', isn't 'techno' and is another example of why genre titles are only needed by journalists and DJs who don't trust themselves or the music they play. Quality track - who cares which pigeon hole?
Dosem - Spiral Attraction: like the previous track this is new to me - couldn't ever see where I'd play the last one out but could easily see me playing this. Lovely feel to it.
Underworld - Two Months Off: Flat out classic. Should probably leave it there but... Fairly sure I played this the first time that D/Goodall/Stuckey/plenty others had heard it when I played Junktion in Greenwich(?). Only reason I really say that is 'cos it was weird that I have no, NO, idea how I got hold of the mp3 of the track. None whatsoever. I woke up on the Saturday morning of the gig, checked my PC and a file had downloaded to my desktop. Played it, loved it, burnt it to cd, took it with me, played it, went down a storm. Weird. Also notable 'cos (whichever year it was released) my family asked Ashleigh to sing a song on Christmas Day to 'earn' herself a small 'tree-present' (family tradition) and she jumped up, pointed a finger in the air and chanted, 'You let light in, you let light in...' - everyone else looked non-plussed and I proper welled up with big-time paternal pride!
Starecase - First Floor Deadlock: think your own comment summed it up D - admirable for some of its content and production but boy-oh-boy is that just too quick for now!
Ok, let's do this - I'm fairly sure this is my shortest ever selection and is focussed on songs - five great tracks from across the years, in chronological order - various musical styles, all of which, good though they are, play second fiddle to their fabulous lyrics...
The Clash - London Calling: end of the 70's, England is a bleak, BLEAK, place, punk had turned music on its head and then The Clash dropped this. Lyric all about urban mayhem - cultural, sociological, political - full of doom and should be uber-depressing but the funk/punk/ska backing track lifts it and the whole thing just... *sighs*
The Jam - Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow): for a few years in the late 70s and very early 80s no-one writing lyrics could get close to Paul Weller. This song was him beginning to end the punk/mod roots of The Jam and start to embrace the soul/funk influences that led to The Style Council. I've put earlier Jam songs on DHS that were musically angrier but there's a lyrical intensity to this which few other people have ever got close to.
Madness - Grey Day: staying with the early 80's theme of bleakness, Madness emerged out of the two-tone/ska scene, then turned their hand to some BIG pop songs and then came back with this sort of thing that married the two elements perfectly. Late night fighting, drunkeness, oblivion and yet SO uplifting. No matter how grey your days get there is hope to be found if you look for it.
Morrissey - November Spawned A Monster: jump through to early 90s - Morrissey had made his name writing and singing very complex, clever and controversial lyrics with The Smiths. But no-one had ever, EVER, written a 'pop' song about dark fascinations with the disabled and overtones of incest. It's very dark, very easily taken the wrong way, hugely ambiguous and, as all Morrissey's best songs are, (sickly) funny. Google the lyrics and read as you listen - they're remarkable. And all set against a kind of 'white-boy-funk' backing track with a great bassline and some lush production. "... a hostage to kindness and the wheels underneath her...". Genius.
Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts: another big jump to 18 months or so ago - and one of the songs I'm most grateful to my little girl for introducing to me. Beautiful American girl singing, against piano and strings, about her defiance in the face of a lad who's taken the romantic mickey out of her. Strikes all sorts of (long-quiet) chords with me - we've all done what this girl is singing about, but never maybe seen it from her point of view before. Humbling. Haunting. Brilliant.
One love
K
But a period of reflection before progress; the last ten...
Slacker - A Million Dreams: there have been a few 'scene' deaths in recent months and given the relative youth of our generation they're all no-doubt tragic to greater or lesser extents. But, by and large, the deceased were just names - not even acquaintances, let alone friends - and so the tragedy can be acknowledged but not really felt. Slacker/Shem McCauley's recent passing absolutely fits that niche - he wasn't a friend - for heaven's sake the only time I ever met the man was through his recordings - but something about his passing affected me more than I expected. Yes he did some good records and remixes, both as RAMP and Slacker but I think what resonated with me more than that body of work was his story. He rode the wave of 'house success' from the mid 90s for ten years or so, became thoroughly disenchanted, disappeared, laid musically low, changed tack, found some peace and got drawn back to his passion. Started making music again and then, tragically, died. Yes, I've listened to a lot of his RAMP/Slacker tracks/remixes again recently - none are bad, some are great, most have dated. This latest album of his isn't dated in any way. It's a proper album, and the fact he did it on a laptop in a coffee shop in Thailand, with no engineer/production/support, only makes it more admirable. I won't go on any longer but I'm glad H chose to recognise the album. My favourite track on the album is 'Come With Me' which, without getting daft about it, is unwittingly soaked in the melancholy which his passing has engendered in many - chilled and chilling.
Scuba - Before (After): the man did a couple of the best tracks of last year - this is much lower energy but still lush. I have a daft, personal, issue with the fact he deliberately works some 'needle-on-old-vinyl-crackle' noises into all his productions - but aside from that, yeah, this is nice.
Photek - Aviator: Photek has been (for far too long), on the list on names that I've intended to give more attention to - takes a very good producer to occupy/switch/straddle several distinct genres and this lad seems to have been mastering house/techno/d'n'b AND exploring all the gaps in between for a good little while. This track is lush and right up my alley.
Maceo Plex - Can't Leave you (Tale Of Us Remix): MP and TOU (along with Edu Imbernon and Maya Jane Coles) summed up what I bought to play out last year. I was on this early, played it endlessly and still love it.
Sei A - Frozen Flower (Midland Remix): I've got several Sei A productions/remixes, plus I am one of Midland's main biatches so this is a nailed on success. Except... Except, somehow, it never quite rises above being 'functional'. They've both done much, MUCH, better work.
Flash Brothers - Hazy March: I've got to be honest and say that it was the breakbeat remix of this that was preferred version - this is not in any way bad though - the break 2/3rds of the way through is lush - could just be my ears but it doesn't sound like the best (sound) quality on Spot - sounds a bit like a below standard mp3 has been offered up - sounds bit harsh at both ends of the spectrum?
Dosem - Don't Look Back: sits in the middle ground that isn't 'progressive house', isn't 'tech-house', isn't 'techno' and is another example of why genre titles are only needed by journalists and DJs who don't trust themselves or the music they play. Quality track - who cares which pigeon hole?
Dosem - Spiral Attraction: like the previous track this is new to me - couldn't ever see where I'd play the last one out but could easily see me playing this. Lovely feel to it.
Underworld - Two Months Off: Flat out classic. Should probably leave it there but... Fairly sure I played this the first time that D/Goodall/Stuckey/plenty others had heard it when I played Junktion in Greenwich(?). Only reason I really say that is 'cos it was weird that I have no, NO, idea how I got hold of the mp3 of the track. None whatsoever. I woke up on the Saturday morning of the gig, checked my PC and a file had downloaded to my desktop. Played it, loved it, burnt it to cd, took it with me, played it, went down a storm. Weird. Also notable 'cos (whichever year it was released) my family asked Ashleigh to sing a song on Christmas Day to 'earn' herself a small 'tree-present' (family tradition) and she jumped up, pointed a finger in the air and chanted, 'You let light in, you let light in...' - everyone else looked non-plussed and I proper welled up with big-time paternal pride!
Starecase - First Floor Deadlock: think your own comment summed it up D - admirable for some of its content and production but boy-oh-boy is that just too quick for now!
Ok, let's do this - I'm fairly sure this is my shortest ever selection and is focussed on songs - five great tracks from across the years, in chronological order - various musical styles, all of which, good though they are, play second fiddle to their fabulous lyrics...
The Clash - London Calling: end of the 70's, England is a bleak, BLEAK, place, punk had turned music on its head and then The Clash dropped this. Lyric all about urban mayhem - cultural, sociological, political - full of doom and should be uber-depressing but the funk/punk/ska backing track lifts it and the whole thing just... *sighs*
The Jam - Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow): for a few years in the late 70s and very early 80s no-one writing lyrics could get close to Paul Weller. This song was him beginning to end the punk/mod roots of The Jam and start to embrace the soul/funk influences that led to The Style Council. I've put earlier Jam songs on DHS that were musically angrier but there's a lyrical intensity to this which few other people have ever got close to.
Madness - Grey Day: staying with the early 80's theme of bleakness, Madness emerged out of the two-tone/ska scene, then turned their hand to some BIG pop songs and then came back with this sort of thing that married the two elements perfectly. Late night fighting, drunkeness, oblivion and yet SO uplifting. No matter how grey your days get there is hope to be found if you look for it.
Morrissey - November Spawned A Monster: jump through to early 90s - Morrissey had made his name writing and singing very complex, clever and controversial lyrics with The Smiths. But no-one had ever, EVER, written a 'pop' song about dark fascinations with the disabled and overtones of incest. It's very dark, very easily taken the wrong way, hugely ambiguous and, as all Morrissey's best songs are, (sickly) funny. Google the lyrics and read as you listen - they're remarkable. And all set against a kind of 'white-boy-funk' backing track with a great bassline and some lush production. "... a hostage to kindness and the wheels underneath her...". Genius.
Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts: another big jump to 18 months or so ago - and one of the songs I'm most grateful to my little girl for introducing to me. Beautiful American girl singing, against piano and strings, about her defiance in the face of a lad who's taken the romantic mickey out of her. Strikes all sorts of (long-quiet) chords with me - we've all done what this girl is singing about, but never maybe seen it from her point of view before. Humbling. Haunting. Brilliant.
One love
K
Sunday, 19 February 2012
DHS 9 - Part 15 (D)
Greetings and salutations one and all, its that time again - time for another spot of Dness on the good old DHS playlist. Now then gentlemen, you are always worthy, as I have elucidated before, of a tip of the cap for your fair selections. More often than not, nothing less than a doff will suffice. However you have outdone yourselves on this occasion and I feel that only a fully subservient flourish of the hat could adequately convey the pleasure you have provided with your latest selections - so consider yourselves well and truly flourished ! In order:
Squeeze - never heard this before but those lyrics are brilliant ! Im pretty sure I have a Prince record that uses the same music at the beginning, but this one is much better. Excellent work.
Toto - porn rock is it Kev ? Thats a wonderful riff, again I only know it from another track - MC Lyte's 'poor gerogie' but this is equally good and dripping with soul. Love it.
Monyaka - I know what you mean about the huge smile on your face chap, it really does do that doesnt it, its just a superb slice of reggae infused summer pop. Quality !
The Polyphonic Spree - this is the only dud for me fella, I have tried so hard to like it, and it starts off promisingly enough with a good guitar riff. But after that... urgh... sorry mate but it sounds like its out of some happy clappy musical, or glee or something - just too saccharine sweet for me im afraid.
Damien Rice - Well Closer was a good film mate - I borrowed yours I seem to recall, and not only because it introduced me to one of the coolest walls in london. This is beautifully sung, and the lyrics - are they from some famous big band number that has an absolutely huge middle section beloved of cabaret performers (I'll be fucked if I know who its by) ? But no matter, a lovely acoustic tune.
Hodgson old man:
Slacker - excellent ! Couldnt tell you what this is though, a song ? An interlude ? Who cares - when he says the title over that lovely simple piano there is something ethereal about it. Quite trippy and very unique. Poor old Shem - couldnt find anywhere what he died of - anyone know ?
Scuba - Sounds like the opening to that great Alicia Keys track to me. But then the phat slow bass beats kick in and there the similarity ends. Absolutely lush vocal, I can absolutely see why this is your new nighttime track fella, very relaxing and beautifully produced.
Photek - I absolutely adore this my man, excellent choice. Would sound AMAZING on a big system as a cracking warm up track - in fact the next warm up set I ever do will contain this track without a shadow of a doubt. Its fucking ace and I love the insistence of the synth over that wicked bass line - I just cant not bop my head to it. Tremendous.
Maceo Plex - You werent lying about the moody here fella ! Love it though, and totally agree about the warm up potential for a deep house set here - but fuck me it would have to be properly deep because this one isnt messing !
Sei A - Not sure what you mean by 'burial-esque' vocals im afraid, they are kind of haunting I guess. This one doesnt ring too many bells for me but then Midland really doesnt at all, there's just something missing for me with this lad.
Now its DDD part 2 from me:
Flash Brothers - Hazy March
Loved this record from the very first time I heard it and just knew I HAD to begin a mix with it. Its pitch perfect in every possible way and I adore the build and the frankly hugeness of it from the get-go.
Dosem - Dont Look Back
Oh my. Oh my fucking christ. This is just pure love as far as im concerned. After that wicked transitions mix I went looking for more of his stuff (Beach Kisses is still on heavy rotation for me, ever since one of you put it on Spot) and I heard this. Then listened to it again. Then put it on headphones and went out and half way to the tube I just stood still and didnt know what to do with myself - it was just utter bliss as the music washed over me. What a tune. In fact im going to pause this right now and stick that on the big speaker loudly - and me and my neighbours can enjoy 7 mins of heaven...
Oh my fucking christ. I think I just came. I fucking love it when music does that to you. If that came on in a club I was at I think I would dance myself senseless and have to be led away, a gibbering mass of happiness. Wonderful. Anyway, some more from Signor Dosem:
Dosem - Spiral Attraction
A rather big building progressive monster here, real lead-into-peak-time business, and another 7 mins of wonderfulness, this guy just continually goes up in my estimation.
Underworld - Two Months Off
Just had to be on here i reckon. Remember Digweed dropping it at the Bedrock where JXL was guesting and it was a proper dance your socks off moment. Must have been 2002 I think.
First Floor Deadlock - Starecase
One of the best records I never recorded in a mix - probably just because it was just too unique and didnt really go with anything else. A big acidy squelch, percussive behemoth of a tune. Sounds a bit fast these days but thats where i was at back in '99.
Music is still the answer.
One love
Squeeze - never heard this before but those lyrics are brilliant ! Im pretty sure I have a Prince record that uses the same music at the beginning, but this one is much better. Excellent work.
Toto - porn rock is it Kev ? Thats a wonderful riff, again I only know it from another track - MC Lyte's 'poor gerogie' but this is equally good and dripping with soul. Love it.
Monyaka - I know what you mean about the huge smile on your face chap, it really does do that doesnt it, its just a superb slice of reggae infused summer pop. Quality !
The Polyphonic Spree - this is the only dud for me fella, I have tried so hard to like it, and it starts off promisingly enough with a good guitar riff. But after that... urgh... sorry mate but it sounds like its out of some happy clappy musical, or glee or something - just too saccharine sweet for me im afraid.
Damien Rice - Well Closer was a good film mate - I borrowed yours I seem to recall, and not only because it introduced me to one of the coolest walls in london. This is beautifully sung, and the lyrics - are they from some famous big band number that has an absolutely huge middle section beloved of cabaret performers (I'll be fucked if I know who its by) ? But no matter, a lovely acoustic tune.
Hodgson old man:
Slacker - excellent ! Couldnt tell you what this is though, a song ? An interlude ? Who cares - when he says the title over that lovely simple piano there is something ethereal about it. Quite trippy and very unique. Poor old Shem - couldnt find anywhere what he died of - anyone know ?
Scuba - Sounds like the opening to that great Alicia Keys track to me. But then the phat slow bass beats kick in and there the similarity ends. Absolutely lush vocal, I can absolutely see why this is your new nighttime track fella, very relaxing and beautifully produced.
Photek - I absolutely adore this my man, excellent choice. Would sound AMAZING on a big system as a cracking warm up track - in fact the next warm up set I ever do will contain this track without a shadow of a doubt. Its fucking ace and I love the insistence of the synth over that wicked bass line - I just cant not bop my head to it. Tremendous.
Maceo Plex - You werent lying about the moody here fella ! Love it though, and totally agree about the warm up potential for a deep house set here - but fuck me it would have to be properly deep because this one isnt messing !
Sei A - Not sure what you mean by 'burial-esque' vocals im afraid, they are kind of haunting I guess. This one doesnt ring too many bells for me but then Midland really doesnt at all, there's just something missing for me with this lad.
Now its DDD part 2 from me:
Flash Brothers - Hazy March
Loved this record from the very first time I heard it and just knew I HAD to begin a mix with it. Its pitch perfect in every possible way and I adore the build and the frankly hugeness of it from the get-go.
Dosem - Dont Look Back
Oh my. Oh my fucking christ. This is just pure love as far as im concerned. After that wicked transitions mix I went looking for more of his stuff (Beach Kisses is still on heavy rotation for me, ever since one of you put it on Spot) and I heard this. Then listened to it again. Then put it on headphones and went out and half way to the tube I just stood still and didnt know what to do with myself - it was just utter bliss as the music washed over me. What a tune. In fact im going to pause this right now and stick that on the big speaker loudly - and me and my neighbours can enjoy 7 mins of heaven...
Oh my fucking christ. I think I just came. I fucking love it when music does that to you. If that came on in a club I was at I think I would dance myself senseless and have to be led away, a gibbering mass of happiness. Wonderful. Anyway, some more from Signor Dosem:
Dosem - Spiral Attraction
A rather big building progressive monster here, real lead-into-peak-time business, and another 7 mins of wonderfulness, this guy just continually goes up in my estimation.
Underworld - Two Months Off
Just had to be on here i reckon. Remember Digweed dropping it at the Bedrock where JXL was guesting and it was a proper dance your socks off moment. Must have been 2002 I think.
First Floor Deadlock - Starecase
One of the best records I never recorded in a mix - probably just because it was just too unique and didnt really go with anything else. A big acidy squelch, percussive behemoth of a tune. Sounds a bit fast these days but thats where i was at back in '99.
Music is still the answer.
One love
Friday, 10 February 2012
DHS 9 - Part 14 (H)
Into it..
MJ - don't really need to say anymore other than this is the first album that I can truly remember LOVING... I was 4 years old. I did two originals (one of them my "Uncle" Nicks - mum's bessie mate) and four copies. A shout must go to Quincy imo. The concepts are his but the realisation of the sound belong's QJ not MJ. Those first three (utterly classic) LP's are, in my eyes and with adult hindsight and a little knoweldge of their delivery, his too.
Allen - not really my cup but it has to be said that this is a bit of a modern classic in terms of summing up the ill fitting attitude of, sadly, the British female nation in the 00's.
Orb- stone cold classic. The end.
Plan B - expect big things from this kid... either that or falling into obscutity. I reckon the former. I heard an interview and he knew what he was doing. He transformed himself from rude bwoy grime to new swing r'n'b soul of which this is the breakout record. He nailed his following and dragged them with him when he switched it up - that's something many new artists fail to do OFTEN. And he can still modern rude bwoy good - as the 'flow' section is testament to.
Celeda - Pre-Digweed warm up tune at The Fortune of War and then by the pre-Digg-DJ at the Beach in Brighton. It works and made the club groove big style.
Squeeze - Heart FM. Pleasant - raises a grin.
Toto - The original of the hip hop track which D selected some time ago. Classic groove. The new chugger extension on S-Cloud is fncking cool.
Monyaka - smile and be happy -life's good. Not a fncking scooby what any of it means but it brings back memories of thursdays, my local disco back home.
Polyphonic - until the drums it sounds like an advert, then it opens up. A grower. Can't remember the film but it always gets rave reviews.
Rice - beautiful and heartfelt. Simple when you know how - delivering it is another matter. Rice smashes it.
Moody as f--- for me, I'm afraid:-
Slacker - Without wishing to sound too Septic:- Rest well fella. Cheers to KS for the heads up on this LP - a total antithesis to the club tunes (of which there were many classics - Head Honcho, Your Face and the Locust remix to name a few). 1:11 The dreaded Nelson. A beautiful and short reprise with some sound references for a producer..." A million dreams"... "No, this is not Piano?! This is dreaming.." Totally lush - I wish it were longer. RIP
Scuba - all over this guy's stuff at present as you know. My new nighttime tune.
Photek - never expected him to break out the way he has recently. Re-invented, re-juvenated. One of my top 10 producers of all time busting out some strangely uplifting chugg electronica. Strangely uplifting to my lug's.
TOUS rmx - I refuse to apologise for such amnother swift entry for this guy/these guys. When someone is on point, you pick them. This is where my head's at 90% of the time when I'm not listening to hip hop right now. Perfect wintery moody soundscape with tinges of melody - reflective of my mental position which is why we all love tuneage imo. Lovie the drum production as much as anything else. Techy rat-a-tat-tat high hats - gold. Groovy enough to play as a moody opener to a deep set. Not even bothered with the original - call me ignorant but I'm not convinced I need to.
Midland rmx - the boy's at it again....Picking the best moody, already Burial-esque vocals and making them more groovy and Burial whilst dropping them over a deep, deep drummy churner. The original is actually very beautiful and serene. The boy just techs the fnck out of it and makes it so right for the early morning dancefloor scene... perfection. Christ, I hope he can keep his skills up - listening to his stuff can literally transport me.
I've wanked on enough. I hope at least a couple suit your head space.
Whatever life chucks at you.... always remember music loves you and Keep on Keeping on,
H
MJ - don't really need to say anymore other than this is the first album that I can truly remember LOVING... I was 4 years old. I did two originals (one of them my "Uncle" Nicks - mum's bessie mate) and four copies. A shout must go to Quincy imo. The concepts are his but the realisation of the sound belong's QJ not MJ. Those first three (utterly classic) LP's are, in my eyes and with adult hindsight and a little knoweldge of their delivery, his too.
Allen - not really my cup but it has to be said that this is a bit of a modern classic in terms of summing up the ill fitting attitude of, sadly, the British female nation in the 00's.
Orb- stone cold classic. The end.
Plan B - expect big things from this kid... either that or falling into obscutity. I reckon the former. I heard an interview and he knew what he was doing. He transformed himself from rude bwoy grime to new swing r'n'b soul of which this is the breakout record. He nailed his following and dragged them with him when he switched it up - that's something many new artists fail to do OFTEN. And he can still modern rude bwoy good - as the 'flow' section is testament to.
Celeda - Pre-Digweed warm up tune at The Fortune of War and then by the pre-Digg-DJ at the Beach in Brighton. It works and made the club groove big style.
Squeeze - Heart FM. Pleasant - raises a grin.
Toto - The original of the hip hop track which D selected some time ago. Classic groove. The new chugger extension on S-Cloud is fncking cool.
Monyaka - smile and be happy -life's good. Not a fncking scooby what any of it means but it brings back memories of thursdays, my local disco back home.
Polyphonic - until the drums it sounds like an advert, then it opens up. A grower. Can't remember the film but it always gets rave reviews.
Rice - beautiful and heartfelt. Simple when you know how - delivering it is another matter. Rice smashes it.
Moody as f--- for me, I'm afraid:-
Slacker - Without wishing to sound too Septic:- Rest well fella. Cheers to KS for the heads up on this LP - a total antithesis to the club tunes (of which there were many classics - Head Honcho, Your Face and the Locust remix to name a few). 1:11 The dreaded Nelson. A beautiful and short reprise with some sound references for a producer..." A million dreams"... "No, this is not Piano?! This is dreaming.." Totally lush - I wish it were longer. RIP
Scuba - all over this guy's stuff at present as you know. My new nighttime tune.
Photek - never expected him to break out the way he has recently. Re-invented, re-juvenated. One of my top 10 producers of all time busting out some strangely uplifting chugg electronica. Strangely uplifting to my lug's.
TOUS rmx - I refuse to apologise for such amnother swift entry for this guy/these guys. When someone is on point, you pick them. This is where my head's at 90% of the time when I'm not listening to hip hop right now. Perfect wintery moody soundscape with tinges of melody - reflective of my mental position which is why we all love tuneage imo. Lovie the drum production as much as anything else. Techy rat-a-tat-tat high hats - gold. Groovy enough to play as a moody opener to a deep set. Not even bothered with the original - call me ignorant but I'm not convinced I need to.
Midland rmx - the boy's at it again....Picking the best moody, already Burial-esque vocals and making them more groovy and Burial whilst dropping them over a deep, deep drummy churner. The original is actually very beautiful and serene. The boy just techs the fnck out of it and makes it so right for the early morning dancefloor scene... perfection. Christ, I hope he can keep his skills up - listening to his stuff can literally transport me.
I've wanked on enough. I hope at least a couple suit your head space.
Whatever life chucks at you.... always remember music loves you and Keep on Keeping on,
H
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
DHS 9 - Part 13 (S)
Ok - four selections each into DHS9 - crazy business - seems like the DHS juggernaut has recently crested a long incline and is now about to descend at pace - hopefully not out of control - towards the finishing line of DHS9 - two more picks each and then DHS is into double digits...
Madness.
Ok - the recent ten - H;
Midnight Juggernaughts - this M83 geezer can't do a damn thing wrong - I seem to 'slightly' prefer him when he's remixing other's but his own stuff is generally right up my alley - as proven by his recent double album - want to explore the rest of this release...
This Mortal Coil - weird one this - found it on Spot ages ago whilst searching for the track by The Dust Brothers that shares the same name - it's become a cultish song - and with good reason - lovely sentiment - sound/mood evokes the end of Gladiator...
Ronni Simon - Hmmmm - the Network compilation it comes off is IMMENSE - and Sure Is Pure did a whole load of really good production stuff in the early/mid 90s - this isn't their best
Stereogen - got to love this - but then I also have to say I've got a shedload of stuff from back then that is no worse, or better. Classic early mid 90s British house - released when the attitude was 'progressive' rather than the genre...
Union Jack - flat out mid 90s trance - I've got no problem with it - I loved quite a lot of it - I've got 3 or 4 Union Jack 12"s - just not this track. Couple of elements short of being HUGE - maybe a remix could've helped.
... and D;
Michael Jackson - classic tune - always, unfortunately for me, tainted by the fact it's played in every fairground I've ever been in - 'pikey-funk'...
Lily Allen - proper 'pop' record - you can play this all day long and Ashleigh and I would happily luz what street cred we individually/collectively have out of the window and sing right along to this - '... weapon of massive consumption...' - quality...
The Orb - sample-tastic - the Doris who talks about the clouds and an Ennio Morricone sample in there too - a million different mixes of it and this straight up album version stands tall against any other - stone cold, straight up, get down and eff-off classic record...
Plan B - hmmmmm, big white guy who's much better than this does weak Amy Winehouse impression - don't know all his stuff by any means but have heard stuff I prefer to this ("Prayin" being one of them - single version of 'Hard Times' too) - he's a fella to watch for the future though for sure...
Celeda - this is basically a Tenaglia track isn't it? Or did she do vocals on another of his tunes - 'Music Is The Answer' maybe? Either way, big old epiglottis on the Doris and fair play to her - quality late 90s/early 00s American house...
Ok - the next five, trying to keep with my recent eclecticism...
Squeeze - I could claim that the lyrics in this are profound but then so could several million suburban men of a certain age - fact is it's just a great record
Toto - I really only knew this band for 'Africa', 'Hold The Line' and 'Rosanna' - but then someone recently posted a link to an edit of this song - the edit is probably the best thing I've heard in months so I searched out the original - and here it is. The edit stretches the track - teases the piano beautifully and loses most of the vocal but it really did have good elements to work with from the kick off. Late 70s/early 80s American porn-rock. Outstanding.
Monyaka - it's 1983 and I was loving a whole load of 'electro' from, mainly, New York. This arrived on an import - reggae flavour to it but on the same label as championed a lot of the NY sound of the time - ended up getting licensed to a UK label and I picked it up a few monhs later. Cannot hear it now without a HUGE smile on my face - summer tune.
The Polyphonic Spree - can't exactly remember where I heard this first - think it was on the BBC - Glastonbury highlights from a year or two before I went - short and very sweet - "follow the day and reach for the sun..." - 'nuff said...
Damien Rice - I had heard this before the film but it really hit home on the closing credits of 'Closer' (which I thought was a great film - but what do I know - I'm an absolute amateur on films...) My daughter loves Ed Sheeran at the moment and, bless her, was amazed to hear that other men have previously sung heart-felt lyrics over acoustic guitar - she thought she was on to something of a discovery whereas, of course, her old man had got there WAY before her (and ANYONE else...)
*clears throat*
S
x
Madness.
Ok - the recent ten - H;
Midnight Juggernaughts - this M83 geezer can't do a damn thing wrong - I seem to 'slightly' prefer him when he's remixing other's but his own stuff is generally right up my alley - as proven by his recent double album - want to explore the rest of this release...
This Mortal Coil - weird one this - found it on Spot ages ago whilst searching for the track by The Dust Brothers that shares the same name - it's become a cultish song - and with good reason - lovely sentiment - sound/mood evokes the end of Gladiator...
Ronni Simon - Hmmmm - the Network compilation it comes off is IMMENSE - and Sure Is Pure did a whole load of really good production stuff in the early/mid 90s - this isn't their best
Stereogen - got to love this - but then I also have to say I've got a shedload of stuff from back then that is no worse, or better. Classic early mid 90s British house - released when the attitude was 'progressive' rather than the genre...
Union Jack - flat out mid 90s trance - I've got no problem with it - I loved quite a lot of it - I've got 3 or 4 Union Jack 12"s - just not this track. Couple of elements short of being HUGE - maybe a remix could've helped.
... and D;
Michael Jackson - classic tune - always, unfortunately for me, tainted by the fact it's played in every fairground I've ever been in - 'pikey-funk'...
Lily Allen - proper 'pop' record - you can play this all day long and Ashleigh and I would happily luz what street cred we individually/collectively have out of the window and sing right along to this - '... weapon of massive consumption...' - quality...
The Orb - sample-tastic - the Doris who talks about the clouds and an Ennio Morricone sample in there too - a million different mixes of it and this straight up album version stands tall against any other - stone cold, straight up, get down and eff-off classic record...
Plan B - hmmmmm, big white guy who's much better than this does weak Amy Winehouse impression - don't know all his stuff by any means but have heard stuff I prefer to this ("Prayin" being one of them - single version of 'Hard Times' too) - he's a fella to watch for the future though for sure...
Celeda - this is basically a Tenaglia track isn't it? Or did she do vocals on another of his tunes - 'Music Is The Answer' maybe? Either way, big old epiglottis on the Doris and fair play to her - quality late 90s/early 00s American house...
Ok - the next five, trying to keep with my recent eclecticism...
Squeeze - I could claim that the lyrics in this are profound but then so could several million suburban men of a certain age - fact is it's just a great record
Toto - I really only knew this band for 'Africa', 'Hold The Line' and 'Rosanna' - but then someone recently posted a link to an edit of this song - the edit is probably the best thing I've heard in months so I searched out the original - and here it is. The edit stretches the track - teases the piano beautifully and loses most of the vocal but it really did have good elements to work with from the kick off. Late 70s/early 80s American porn-rock. Outstanding.
Monyaka - it's 1983 and I was loving a whole load of 'electro' from, mainly, New York. This arrived on an import - reggae flavour to it but on the same label as championed a lot of the NY sound of the time - ended up getting licensed to a UK label and I picked it up a few monhs later. Cannot hear it now without a HUGE smile on my face - summer tune.
The Polyphonic Spree - can't exactly remember where I heard this first - think it was on the BBC - Glastonbury highlights from a year or two before I went - short and very sweet - "follow the day and reach for the sun..." - 'nuff said...
Damien Rice - I had heard this before the film but it really hit home on the closing credits of 'Closer' (which I thought was a great film - but what do I know - I'm an absolute amateur on films...) My daughter loves Ed Sheeran at the moment and, bless her, was amazed to hear that other men have previously sung heart-felt lyrics over acoustic guitar - she thought she was on to something of a discovery whereas, of course, her old man had got there WAY before her (and ANYONE else...)
*clears throat*
S
x
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