Well here we are again, my first go on a tenth instalment of something that increases its gravitas with every version, every event in our lives has an impact on the selections and every gap or quick succession could have some great meaning, or indeed none at all. I think you Kev may have had an inkling of what this could be from the get go, or at least you saw its potential, for me not so much from the beginning but now im starting to see it I think. Maybe it needed a deeply human tragedy viewed from outside to give me the perspective it needed, or maybe its just where im at but while I always knew this was good, right now im thinking it could be whole lot more than that. But then again lets not get too anal about it, this is music and important as it is to us all, not least for its powers of rejuventaion and possibly even redemption but people are so much more so. But when you can share music constantly with two good friends, over such a timespan and possibly more, and its all recorded for posterity then there is something unique about that. Joy and pain, ups and downs, smiles and frowns - its all recorded here from time to time and in the intervening places just some great music that means nothing more than the love of a good melody, or bassline or even a surprising 'snap' in a top twenty record of all time (bold claim there Hodge, but you got your knackers out and slapped them on the line so fair play to you for that) then those moments are visceral and to be cherished.
Ok, like the man says, onwards and upwards - Hodge great to have you back, I always knew you would be, the darkness doesnt last forever thank fuck and while no-one can tell anyone else how they could or should deal with the dark parts of life we all have, I know that good music plays a big part for all three of us - it was the initial tie that bound us after all. The previous 10:
Sugar Daddy - love this to be honest, got a real feel of late 90's deep(ish) house about it, great bassline, real dark club feel about it - especially with that seductive vocal.
Bike - how chilled is this record ? Doesnt do an awful lot for me but would be great background music at an appropriate time - very nice.
Snooze 4 Love - the big chill continues here - again this is background music for me, its very nice but doesnt get the blood rushing in - but then again I guess it isnt meant to !
Relax - nice mix of this tune, although one gripe in the production is it seems 'cut and paste'd at times when it builds up to the end of a bar with a big whoosh and then just cuts off, which I found a bit jarring. This was the early 80s though so I guess things were different then... great use of the major chords though
Save a Prayer - always liked this tune, nice selection - never a big nu romantic but I heard a shut up and dance tune called 'mourning after' that used the chorus to great affect
Duw its hard / A whole world of opportunity / My Hero
Im not really going to comment on these tracks Hodge, I think its a deeply personal thing and to be honest what I think of the music is completely irrelevant as I simply cannot grasp the deeper meaning they have for you, apart from My Hero I guess - I bet the acoustic version was stunning. A wonderful tribute Ben.
Somebody that I Used to Know - you're right this is everywhere, the first time I heard it I couldnt believe it was so popular, but it was a grower and I get it now. A nice inclusion - a very cool tune.
Still Here - This is lush melancholy to me, I think thats fair. Absolutely top notch production, a track that takes its time and is in no way rushed, I'd imagine Kev loves this. I think its nice, but again I'd need to be in the right mood to really appreciate it.
Ok my next 5:
Straight Up and Down - HBO continue to select cracking tracks for their best series, this is the title to 'Boardwalk Empire' which im absolutely loving - those opening chords that they thankfully keep returning to rather than bridging are IMMENSE. I could listen to that all day.
Sweet Dreams / Fortitude / Slow - ok I thought a lot about whether to include these 3 as we have had loads of Moby, but he only went and released 'Destroyed - Deluxe' and I couldnt believe there was so much quality still to come. So I though, what should I showcase on Spot - it should be tunes that should be on there that the others might know, it could be the state of our lives, or it could just be the tunes that are rocking your world right now - and these 3 have been on heavy rotation for about 6 weeks and I still love them. Im not going to say anything about the individual tracks but there are some truly magnificent moments on there to these ears. Moby and I are on exactly the same wavelength I would say. Wonderful stuff.
Outro - When you go tot he cinema as much as I do (saw 'The Raid' last night, which was excellent) then you see the latest red bull advert a lot and its hugely uplifting, and uses this track to great affect, so it had to be on here, although it could use the language over the top that they had in the ad as its spine tingling in places "You are the world champion - enjoy it" being the best. But its plenty sufficent on its own. As good as 'lower your eyelids' ? Maybe...
One love
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Saturday, 19 May 2012
DHS 10 - Part 2 (H)
Gentlemen,
My apologies for a rather protracted period of time between the last addition, S's commencement of the X List, and my susbequent posting.
A lot has changed - I remember chomping at the bit because I had the perfect line up ready to go, almost directly after the list opened - then Spot removed one of my top 10 tracks of all time and it totally threw me off course! Then some pretty horrific events occurred and to be honest, I've barely opened my music laptop at all for a month. Time to press on now. Being good pals and understanding folk, I trust you won't begrudge me the use of this forum as a cathartic exercise, kind of an 'open letter' almost.... If anything below doesn't make sense to you, apologies...to be honest you can just ignore/disregard it and press on with the last two selections!.... Writing all this down is as helpful to me as anything else thus far - and there is no need to pass comment on the tunes at all, unless they particualrly grab you and you feel compelled to. I did originally have all 5 linked in for this but I've brought myself out of the darkness and realised that you can't get caught in the mire for too long, nor would anyone want you to. Life moves fast and you gotta keep up and enjoy the ride whilst remembering the good things.
I'm ahead of myself. A swift look back:-
End of no.9
Well, Ice Cube, P.E and Ice T played a pretty big part in my life as a kid so I'm very familiar with all three. Ice Cube "Death Cert" was always a big LP for me - then Predator came out and for a while that and Dre's "The Chronic" were all that got played on (banned) walkmans in the basketball courts at school. BIG fan of both the PE tracks - Chuck's flow remains original to this day... quite hard to grasp as a young'un (let alone the political themes!) but just immensely original hip hop performed with class. Ice T - classic...Another use of horror movie music in one of his tracks - and fittingly so... seem to remember a track which uses music from Exorcist(not sampled but replayed)... anyway this is great storytelling rap with realistic spoken word as well as lyrics . Had a huge impact this tune - made you realise how dark 'the pen' must be in the US.
Start of X
Got back into Sugar Daddy through listening to the PVD remix when trance was big in the late 90's. Great tune - original is proper epic.
Bike sounds as relevant today as it did when it got released. Had totally forgotten this LP - lovely to hear again.
Snooze4Love - have taken off my potentials list! 'Nuff said. Lush opening - hooked after first listen on Sasha's mixmag freebie cd.
FGTH - surely one of the most internationally known records ever made?! Class
DD - never EVER tire of hearing that opening. A cracking record in every sense. The chorus is just immense... brings back some absolutely comedy memories from uni for me :)
Okay - deep breath here goes.
RIP Carter 20.09.1979 - 07.04.2012:-
Boyce - I don't think anyone at the club will ever forget you and Titch singning this at the end of season drink-up. Pure class.
9's - I know we shouldn't have regrets, but not seeing you lot play this album out in Camden for the first time is one of mine... This is probably my fave track. Feel a bit melancholic about it now considering the title...Gone but not forgotten; your voice is always there when we need you.
FF - Paddy played the most beautiful and heartbreaking acoustic version of this for you as you left the service mate. Never a more fitting send off song. Kills me hearing it now, but I know its good for me.
Keep a Magners on ice for me, brother....See you on the other side, Angry.
Onwards and upwards:-
Gotye - an exorcism of sorts!! Heard it back end of last year, loved the quirky track and vocals... didn't get chance to scribble it down and then recently heard it on radio and now...... ITS EVERYWHERE!! I stand by it being a beautiful record and I think a lot of people can relate to the lyrics/choice of phrasing.
*HEADPHONES ON PLEASE*
Claro Intelecto - get out the foil, lighter and belt ready. I can't leave this alone. I first heard it on Mothersole's latest Proton mix... second track... gripped me by the short ones and didn't let go - it got mixed out, I skipped back and listened again, and again - then went to Spot and bugger me if it wasn't already on there.... cue loop listens for periods approaching an hour at a time whilst nodding off to sleep. Utterly beautiful. Simple lead melody - yet so well crafted.... the percussion arrangment alone is absolutely knock out (the first 'snap' literally almost did knock me out - spine tingling), the drum that turns out to form part of that stupidly hypnotic bassline.... To be frank; I would have been quite happy if the entire 7 minutes 18 seconds were like the first 2 minutes 20 seconds - but oh no, the elongated synth/string lines get brought forward and just make you melt.... lest I forget the pen tap sound in the latter part which morphs into a cymbal then everything dropped back in for the finish. I love this record so much that I actually hate it....I couldn't work out why at first.... then I realised it was simply this: If I could ever make music, if I could ever articulate musically any of my ideas or thoughts or feelings; this is EXACTLY how I would want it to sound. It's the central section/meeting point of a vendiagram of three/four of my favourite producers of all time and is essentially inch perfect in every way. It is a bold prediction because its such early days, but I will be bold and say that this tune has every right to be in my top 20 electronic pieces of music of all time. If anyone challenged me on its entry I know that I could bore them for a lot longer than you've been reading this waffle....20 times over. Easily.
As always....
Keep on Keeping on,
H
My apologies for a rather protracted period of time between the last addition, S's commencement of the X List, and my susbequent posting.
A lot has changed - I remember chomping at the bit because I had the perfect line up ready to go, almost directly after the list opened - then Spot removed one of my top 10 tracks of all time and it totally threw me off course! Then some pretty horrific events occurred and to be honest, I've barely opened my music laptop at all for a month. Time to press on now. Being good pals and understanding folk, I trust you won't begrudge me the use of this forum as a cathartic exercise, kind of an 'open letter' almost.... If anything below doesn't make sense to you, apologies...to be honest you can just ignore/disregard it and press on with the last two selections!.... Writing all this down is as helpful to me as anything else thus far - and there is no need to pass comment on the tunes at all, unless they particualrly grab you and you feel compelled to. I did originally have all 5 linked in for this but I've brought myself out of the darkness and realised that you can't get caught in the mire for too long, nor would anyone want you to. Life moves fast and you gotta keep up and enjoy the ride whilst remembering the good things.
I'm ahead of myself. A swift look back:-
End of no.9
Well, Ice Cube, P.E and Ice T played a pretty big part in my life as a kid so I'm very familiar with all three. Ice Cube "Death Cert" was always a big LP for me - then Predator came out and for a while that and Dre's "The Chronic" were all that got played on (banned) walkmans in the basketball courts at school. BIG fan of both the PE tracks - Chuck's flow remains original to this day... quite hard to grasp as a young'un (let alone the political themes!) but just immensely original hip hop performed with class. Ice T - classic...Another use of horror movie music in one of his tracks - and fittingly so... seem to remember a track which uses music from Exorcist(not sampled but replayed)... anyway this is great storytelling rap with realistic spoken word as well as lyrics . Had a huge impact this tune - made you realise how dark 'the pen' must be in the US.
Start of X
Got back into Sugar Daddy through listening to the PVD remix when trance was big in the late 90's. Great tune - original is proper epic.
Bike sounds as relevant today as it did when it got released. Had totally forgotten this LP - lovely to hear again.
Snooze4Love - have taken off my potentials list! 'Nuff said. Lush opening - hooked after first listen on Sasha's mixmag freebie cd.
FGTH - surely one of the most internationally known records ever made?! Class
DD - never EVER tire of hearing that opening. A cracking record in every sense. The chorus is just immense... brings back some absolutely comedy memories from uni for me :)
Okay - deep breath here goes.
RIP Carter 20.09.1979 - 07.04.2012:-
Boyce - I don't think anyone at the club will ever forget you and Titch singning this at the end of season drink-up. Pure class.
9's - I know we shouldn't have regrets, but not seeing you lot play this album out in Camden for the first time is one of mine... This is probably my fave track. Feel a bit melancholic about it now considering the title...Gone but not forgotten; your voice is always there when we need you.
FF - Paddy played the most beautiful and heartbreaking acoustic version of this for you as you left the service mate. Never a more fitting send off song. Kills me hearing it now, but I know its good for me.
Keep a Magners on ice for me, brother....See you on the other side, Angry.
Onwards and upwards:-
Gotye - an exorcism of sorts!! Heard it back end of last year, loved the quirky track and vocals... didn't get chance to scribble it down and then recently heard it on radio and now...... ITS EVERYWHERE!! I stand by it being a beautiful record and I think a lot of people can relate to the lyrics/choice of phrasing.
*HEADPHONES ON PLEASE*
Claro Intelecto - get out the foil, lighter and belt ready. I can't leave this alone. I first heard it on Mothersole's latest Proton mix... second track... gripped me by the short ones and didn't let go - it got mixed out, I skipped back and listened again, and again - then went to Spot and bugger me if it wasn't already on there.... cue loop listens for periods approaching an hour at a time whilst nodding off to sleep. Utterly beautiful. Simple lead melody - yet so well crafted.... the percussion arrangment alone is absolutely knock out (the first 'snap' literally almost did knock me out - spine tingling), the drum that turns out to form part of that stupidly hypnotic bassline.... To be frank; I would have been quite happy if the entire 7 minutes 18 seconds were like the first 2 minutes 20 seconds - but oh no, the elongated synth/string lines get brought forward and just make you melt.... lest I forget the pen tap sound in the latter part which morphs into a cymbal then everything dropped back in for the finish. I love this record so much that I actually hate it....I couldn't work out why at first.... then I realised it was simply this: If I could ever make music, if I could ever articulate musically any of my ideas or thoughts or feelings; this is EXACTLY how I would want it to sound. It's the central section/meeting point of a vendiagram of three/four of my favourite producers of all time and is essentially inch perfect in every way. It is a bold prediction because its such early days, but I will be bold and say that this tune has every right to be in my top 20 electronic pieces of music of all time. If anyone challenged me on its entry I know that I could bore them for a lot longer than you've been reading this waffle....20 times over. Easily.
As always....
Keep on Keeping on,
H
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Blast from the past...
... out of the blue I've just turned up an old email of H's that was sent just before the end of DHS6 and is therefore not on the blog, until now...
==================================================
The music tool that just keeps giving - loving it as much as I ever have, lads - word up.
Kanye - gold - love the first three LP's - get major play on my ipod.
Big Love - bought the single the day it got released as a nipper - nuff said. sounds extra mint now the weather's here.
Summertime - another tune that brings back extremely fond memories of getting pissed and pulling birds in Butlins - simple life; simply led.
Smokey II - octo-lush 1440 - same comments as Sully really - sounds a bit off at the start then builds into a monster melody - gut wrencher.
Hawley - big time grower - the thing that annoyed me initially is now the thing that I now love the most; cracking understated vocal
Heaven - another feel good belter in the sunshine in the car...... the geezer cant really sing but it just works. Sometimes reminds me of the Roses a wee bit.
Embrace - great band who perhaps were a bit mis-understood at the time cos they sound better now I'm older - enjoyable, but not my fave track of theirs but good build.
Moby - the most selected artist...says it all really. Brilliant part of the film, brilliant track - 90's rock-esque.
Lionrock - pulls a lot of house music elements together, brilliant sound - not overly struck on the vocal - massive record none the less.
Having banged on about variety being the best thing about Spot - I feel obliged to mash it up a bit for my final selection instead of going down the 'dance' track route which I so often do... having said that; it would be rude not to start off with a little bit of house wouldnt it?!? Hope these melt in with the sun for ya...
OLD SKOOL Shades - Extacy (using a sample from that Sky's the limit track which Sully talked about). happy memories of my Peacefest '94 tape :)
HOUSE Ben Watt feat. "Maitreya" - Maitreya, believe it or not is Terence Trent D'arby's alias...attempts to re-invent himself. Fair play works well on this imo.Lush bass driven house track which I first came across on the Buzzin Fly mixes Watt did.
FILM Vangelis - Chariots of Fire. Surely must be considered one of the modern film music maestro's. An artist in his own right and this is masterful. Simple and beautiful. Simply beautiful. HUGE impact on me as a kid when I watched the film with my old boy. Emotive. Goose bumps.
POP/ELECTRONICA Primal Scream - Loaded (Weatherall mix) Genre-busting, cross-over monster record. Bump it up. Love the pace of it. Fucking sun's properly out, the bbq is on and I'm drinking Spanish beer, smoking tabs lapping this bad boy up extra loud (much to our neighbour's dismay)
80's Style Council - Shout To The Top. The Modfather does switches is it up and nails it. Another feel good classic. Epic strings. The vocal and delivery?! Oh stop it mate - he's the Don Daddy as far as I'm concerned.
Fuck I feel good when the sun shines!! Hope you're lapping it up an' all.
:) :) :)
H
The music tool that just keeps giving - loving it as much as I ever have, lads - word up.
Kanye - gold - love the first three LP's - get major play on my ipod.
Big Love - bought the single the day it got released as a nipper - nuff said. sounds extra mint now the weather's here.
Summertime - another tune that brings back extremely fond memories of getting pissed and pulling birds in Butlins - simple life; simply led.
Smokey II - octo-lush 1440 - same comments as Sully really - sounds a bit off at the start then builds into a monster melody - gut wrencher.
Hawley - big time grower - the thing that annoyed me initially is now the thing that I now love the most; cracking understated vocal
Heaven - another feel good belter in the sunshine in the car...... the geezer cant really sing but it just works. Sometimes reminds me of the Roses a wee bit.
Embrace - great band who perhaps were a bit mis-understood at the time cos they sound better now I'm older - enjoyable, but not my fave track of theirs but good build.
Moby - the most selected artist...says it all really. Brilliant part of the film, brilliant track - 90's rock-esque.
Lionrock - pulls a lot of house music elements together, brilliant sound - not overly struck on the vocal - massive record none the less.
Having banged on about variety being the best thing about Spot - I feel obliged to mash it up a bit for my final selection instead of going down the 'dance' track route which I so often do... having said that; it would be rude not to start off with a little bit of house wouldnt it?!? Hope these melt in with the sun for ya...
OLD SKOOL Shades - Extacy (using a sample from that Sky's the limit track which Sully talked about). happy memories of my Peacefest '94 tape :)
HOUSE Ben Watt feat. "Maitreya" - Maitreya, believe it or not is Terence Trent D'arby's alias...attempts to re-invent himself. Fair play works well on this imo.Lush bass driven house track which I first came across on the Buzzin Fly mixes Watt did.
FILM Vangelis - Chariots of Fire. Surely must be considered one of the modern film music maestro's. An artist in his own right and this is masterful. Simple and beautiful. Simply beautiful. HUGE impact on me as a kid when I watched the film with my old boy. Emotive. Goose bumps.
POP/ELECTRONICA Primal Scream - Loaded (Weatherall mix) Genre-busting, cross-over monster record. Bump it up. Love the pace of it. Fucking sun's properly out, the bbq is on and I'm drinking Spanish beer, smoking tabs lapping this bad boy up extra loud (much to our neighbour's dismay)
80's Style Council - Shout To The Top. The Modfather does switches is it up and nails it. Another feel good classic. Epic strings. The vocal and delivery?! Oh stop it mate - he's the Don Daddy as far as I'm concerned.
Fuck I feel good when the sun shines!! Hope you're lapping it up an' all.
:) :) :)
H
Friday, 13 April 2012
DHS 10 - Part 1 (S)
And so...
DHS moves into double figures. A hair-brained idea was born one lazy lunchtime, has grown and is smoothly passing through all the usual milestones connected with maturation. It has cut teeth and learnt to bite - is now more than capable of standing alone and will continue to drag its increasingly hairy backside toward its 1000th track.
Happy 10th iteration DHS.
*glances backward*
Com Truise - it's like Jean Michel Jarre produced by someone half decent from the last five years - I should love it - not sure why I don't - *can't quite put my finger on it*
Anoraak - as you suggested, potential for a set opener - like it. A lot.
Moby - his eminent frequentness makes his quintillionth appearence - Photek doesn't half get some punch into his kick drums. I have done it 'in headphones' and it is immaculate in it's production - just seems to be missing *something*
Com Truise again - the 'acid-bassline' is tremendous - hmmmmm... Needs more listens.
Booka Shade - reminds me massively of something - the main synth melody line - ohhhhhhhh Godddddd... *fails to put finger on it again* - yeah, tune - Booka Shade churns it out
Ice Cube - prefer the intro to the actual track it prefaces - he was one of the artists I figured back then that I should've been paying more attention to but then sank myself back into the house stuff. Not sure it's dated brilliantly but I totally accept that if you were into it back then it stays strong material.
Public Enemy - the sax sample and break in "Show 'Em..." are outstanding. The 'Arizona' track is from an album I'm much less familiar with - classic Chuck though - not my favourite backing track but another indisputable rhyme
Ice T - standout track of this selection - the break, the sinister keys and mood and T's delivery which, for my money, is only matched by Rakim. Dark, moody and flat out h.a.r.d.
DHS10 then...
Sugar Daddy - back from '93 - one of the best trance records ever - when 'trance' was a mood induced by the record rather than a specific sound
Bike - also from '93 but that's just coincidence - skittish beats and jittery keys - love the mood and feel of this - really want to work it into a mix
Snooze 4 Love - flip side of one of the big club records of last year (check out 'Ragysh' if you're not familiar) - oh to smash this in the sunshine somewhere...
Relax (New York Mix) - very last second inclusion - was going to hold this back but really no reason to - simply THE best mix of one of the most iconic records ever
Save A Prayer - after having spent years keeping this quiet but I've been out and proud for a while now - I love this band - the whole album is fantastic (although probably just a tad dated for your ever-so-slightly-younger ears) and this is one of the most recognisable intros/synth lines in pop music
Respect...
S
x
DHS moves into double figures. A hair-brained idea was born one lazy lunchtime, has grown and is smoothly passing through all the usual milestones connected with maturation. It has cut teeth and learnt to bite - is now more than capable of standing alone and will continue to drag its increasingly hairy backside toward its 1000th track.
Happy 10th iteration DHS.
*glances backward*
Com Truise - it's like Jean Michel Jarre produced by someone half decent from the last five years - I should love it - not sure why I don't - *can't quite put my finger on it*
Anoraak - as you suggested, potential for a set opener - like it. A lot.
Moby - his eminent frequentness makes his quintillionth appearence - Photek doesn't half get some punch into his kick drums. I have done it 'in headphones' and it is immaculate in it's production - just seems to be missing *something*
Com Truise again - the 'acid-bassline' is tremendous - hmmmmm... Needs more listens.
Booka Shade - reminds me massively of something - the main synth melody line - ohhhhhhhh Godddddd... *fails to put finger on it again* - yeah, tune - Booka Shade churns it out
Ice Cube - prefer the intro to the actual track it prefaces - he was one of the artists I figured back then that I should've been paying more attention to but then sank myself back into the house stuff. Not sure it's dated brilliantly but I totally accept that if you were into it back then it stays strong material.
Public Enemy - the sax sample and break in "Show 'Em..." are outstanding. The 'Arizona' track is from an album I'm much less familiar with - classic Chuck though - not my favourite backing track but another indisputable rhyme
Ice T - standout track of this selection - the break, the sinister keys and mood and T's delivery which, for my money, is only matched by Rakim. Dark, moody and flat out h.a.r.d.
DHS10 then...
Sugar Daddy - back from '93 - one of the best trance records ever - when 'trance' was a mood induced by the record rather than a specific sound
Bike - also from '93 but that's just coincidence - skittish beats and jittery keys - love the mood and feel of this - really want to work it into a mix
Snooze 4 Love - flip side of one of the big club records of last year (check out 'Ragysh' if you're not familiar) - oh to smash this in the sunshine somewhere...
Relax (New York Mix) - very last second inclusion - was going to hold this back but really no reason to - simply THE best mix of one of the most iconic records ever
Save A Prayer - after having spent years keeping this quiet but I've been out and proud for a while now - I love this band - the whole album is fantastic (although probably just a tad dated for your ever-so-slightly-younger ears) and this is one of the most recognisable intros/synth lines in pop music
Respect...
S
x
Thursday, 5 April 2012
DHS - moving into double digits...
...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...
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...
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
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