Evenings are drawing in then...
H
Joy To The World - all I can say is 'Thank You' - genuinely 'Thank you' - not so much for the introduction but for the very, very timely reminder - what a dribblingly gorgeous thing...
Broken - you're right, it sounds absolutely immaculate - was initially torn on whether I'd ever play it but I've picked the EP up and am 87/13 on the yes side so stand by your pause buttons...
Okinawa - can't fault it in any way other than that tiny 'spark' that just somehow isn't there for me
Rift Valley - (think D conflated his description of this and your description 'The End' in his last posting - maybe not - whatever...) - the fact that I pretty much built a mix around this a while back (as H alluded to) tells you what I think of this - it's beautiful. It's wonderfully, wonderfully, uplifting. It's simple as all hell but it's so, so good. What a fantastic remix. (To suggest that it takes slightly too long to get the 'money shot' and then it's over too quickly, would be churlish...)
The End - big fan of Joe T Vanelli since 20 years ago - big fan of HS82 since 3 years ago - two of them together was never going to go wrong was it... Just about as good as 'bog-standard' house music gets in 2014 - and I mean that to sound better than it comes across when you read it...
D
C&C - always uses to get this lot muddled up with Snap! - having explored both again before writing this I think Snap! just edge it for me although 'Sweat' is better than 'Ooops Up' and 'Cult Of Snap' but behind 'The Power' and 'Rhythm Is A Dancer'. There is no need at all to bring Technotronic into it at this stage...
Bee Gees - you'll never find me saying anything bad about this lot or this tune...
Sister Sledge - or this lot and this tune - although a separate exploration of the various edits/remixes of it might be interesting to pin down a collective favourite - I think this original has been bettered...
Daft Punk - I think your description was bob-on D, 'filtered summer beach fun'...
Metallica - I'm all for the crowd involvement and atmosphere but there's only room in my ears for one Metallica tune - sorry, I know that's pathetic but that's the way it is... (it's 'Nothing Else Matters' performed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra)
S
Domain - so, we've had Pachelbel's 'Cannon' when H posted the 'original' - then I slung it up in the guise of a 90's indie band sing-a-long and now it's here again - or is it, drifting in and out between crashing wave sounds and metallic wind-charmer chimes, it's kind of there but it isn't really and yet it absolutely is - a retrospective glance back at the Future Sound of London.
Love Beat - this is the musical equivalent of meeting someone you've known for years and kind of fancied from afar but kept your 'cool' distance from because you're 'cool' right? But then suddenly you're confronted up close and personal and all pretence has gone straight out the window and you're just a gibbering wreck unable to control syllables let alone sentences as the beauty that you always knew was there is suddenly made manifest x1000 and your eyes glaze over and you don't even want to breathe anymore and then the piano kicks in and you dissolve into pointless gloop...
You Are My Sister - Boy George guests on a duet from 2005's Mercury Prize winning album - suggest you put aside the gender-bending logistics of the lyric and just wallow in the emotion of the delivery...
Reverie - every now and then a dance track leaps unheralded from the miasma surrounding it and grabs my attention. For every ten that do so there's maybe two or three that get more than one or two subsequent plays. Relatively rarely then does a track leap unheralded from the surrounding miasma, grab my attention, get played several times and then go on to be microscopically lasered into the very fabric of my musical clothing. This one did. Immense.
Hold Your Breath - piano, emotive vocal, gigantically swelling strings, thundering breakbeat, incredibly laid-back bass - repeat in various combinations - fade - genuine musical perfection
xx
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Saturday, 14 June 2014
DHS 12 - Part 9 (D)
Afternoon all,
Im off to Hampton Court Palace to watch the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with some picnic action and fireworks tonight, which could really be something - cant wait. Not that the RPO will be gracing my selections anytime soon I wouldn't have thought, but in such a setting it should be an evening of aural pleasure. Speaking of which, my grateful thanks for your recent selections...
S-Dog
Enola Gay is a tune I am sure I must have heard before - the infectious hook sounds very familiar as does the melody. Proper nice tune that, and while its very 80's the lyrics are not as asinine as you usually got from the synth bashers at that time. Nice.
Dreamy Days is a tune I havent heard before, and neither have I listened to Roots Manuva at all - MacArthur Park again - impressive effort there Kev. Best rapper from the UK ? Hmmm not so sure about that but this is a boss cut, added to my list. Top work.
Fantastic man - I see what you say about it being bonkers; its certainly that but I have no idea whether I like it or not. Even after at least half a dozen listens I cant tell, some days I like it some days its like someone dragging an iron glove across a blackboard !
Winter in June - solid enough prog record for me, cant quite feel the amount of love for it that you do my friend but nice enough.
All Together Now is a stone cold classic. Takes me back to my mis-spent youth and even though it fills me with some melancholic feelings thats more to do with what was happening at the time rather than the record. Top tune.
H-Bomb
Sorry mate, but Joy to the World is bringing no joy to me at all. To me it's really bleak, cant get onside with it, just makes my skin itch.
Broken however is an absolutely wonderful tune - so atmospheric and that bass break is immense. Great filtered vocal and a wonderfully restrained feeling to the whole thing - on a big system it would blow your socks off. Definitely deserves that medal !
Okinawa - you are right, I totally wouldnt associate this with Digweed but its been so long since I heard him or one of his mixes that to be honest I have no idea what he plays. This is very nice though, understated for me against 'hugely uplifting' for you - which says a lot about our difference in tastes I think !
The Rift Valley - no idea what 'burning man' mix you mention here, but then I am so far out of the dance music groove in the last few months thats not surprising. Care to forward on. This reminds me strongly of 'somewhere over the rainbow' by the IZ and really is very nice indeed - great use of melodies and strings you're right. Top job.
Ok my lot - a summery selection that always gets my toes tapping or makes me smile...
Gonna Make you sweat - C&C
On first impressions this is just a throw away pop song - certainly those lyrics suggest so, but I think its so much more than the normal trash that is wheeled out - the difference here is the production is immense. The layout and arrangement is very clever, bringing parts of the record in and out and thankfully keeping the 'rapping' to a minimum which actually gives it some charm for me. A step up from normal pop records.
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
I have to fight the urge to strut when I hear this and Im walking somewhere. If I was at a party or a club and it came on - I'll be giving it plenty. Proper party music.
Sister Sledge - Lost in Music
Stone. Cold. Classic. No idea why we dont have a sister sledge record in DHS already...
Fresh - Daft Punk
Filtered summer beach fun with the Punk, one of several stand out tracks on their debut.
The Ecstacy of Gold - Metallica
Pretty sure they're just playing the Morricone recording as they use this for their intro, AND we've had this before but I absolutely adore the crowd joining in, gives it another dimension. So here it is. And here it is on youtube if you are so inclined: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihimYfIbrVo
One love
Im off to Hampton Court Palace to watch the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with some picnic action and fireworks tonight, which could really be something - cant wait. Not that the RPO will be gracing my selections anytime soon I wouldn't have thought, but in such a setting it should be an evening of aural pleasure. Speaking of which, my grateful thanks for your recent selections...
S-Dog
Enola Gay is a tune I am sure I must have heard before - the infectious hook sounds very familiar as does the melody. Proper nice tune that, and while its very 80's the lyrics are not as asinine as you usually got from the synth bashers at that time. Nice.
Dreamy Days is a tune I havent heard before, and neither have I listened to Roots Manuva at all - MacArthur Park again - impressive effort there Kev. Best rapper from the UK ? Hmmm not so sure about that but this is a boss cut, added to my list. Top work.
Fantastic man - I see what you say about it being bonkers; its certainly that but I have no idea whether I like it or not. Even after at least half a dozen listens I cant tell, some days I like it some days its like someone dragging an iron glove across a blackboard !
Winter in June - solid enough prog record for me, cant quite feel the amount of love for it that you do my friend but nice enough.
All Together Now is a stone cold classic. Takes me back to my mis-spent youth and even though it fills me with some melancholic feelings thats more to do with what was happening at the time rather than the record. Top tune.
H-Bomb
Sorry mate, but Joy to the World is bringing no joy to me at all. To me it's really bleak, cant get onside with it, just makes my skin itch.
Broken however is an absolutely wonderful tune - so atmospheric and that bass break is immense. Great filtered vocal and a wonderfully restrained feeling to the whole thing - on a big system it would blow your socks off. Definitely deserves that medal !
Okinawa - you are right, I totally wouldnt associate this with Digweed but its been so long since I heard him or one of his mixes that to be honest I have no idea what he plays. This is very nice though, understated for me against 'hugely uplifting' for you - which says a lot about our difference in tastes I think !
The Rift Valley - no idea what 'burning man' mix you mention here, but then I am so far out of the dance music groove in the last few months thats not surprising. Care to forward on. This reminds me strongly of 'somewhere over the rainbow' by the IZ and really is very nice indeed - great use of melodies and strings you're right. Top job.
Ok my lot - a summery selection that always gets my toes tapping or makes me smile...
Gonna Make you sweat - C&C
On first impressions this is just a throw away pop song - certainly those lyrics suggest so, but I think its so much more than the normal trash that is wheeled out - the difference here is the production is immense. The layout and arrangement is very clever, bringing parts of the record in and out and thankfully keeping the 'rapping' to a minimum which actually gives it some charm for me. A step up from normal pop records.
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
I have to fight the urge to strut when I hear this and Im walking somewhere. If I was at a party or a club and it came on - I'll be giving it plenty. Proper party music.
Sister Sledge - Lost in Music
Stone. Cold. Classic. No idea why we dont have a sister sledge record in DHS already...
Fresh - Daft Punk
Filtered summer beach fun with the Punk, one of several stand out tracks on their debut.
The Ecstacy of Gold - Metallica
Pretty sure they're just playing the Morricone recording as they use this for their intro, AND we've had this before but I absolutely adore the crowd joining in, gives it another dimension. So here it is. And here it is on youtube if you are so inclined: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihimYfIbrVo
One love
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
DHS 12 - Part 8 (H)
Much time has lapsed and much has changed for me lately so apologies for the delay. I seem to remember posting a series of tunes from our last break in the West Country (about two years ago) under much more malign circumstances so this time will be a brighter feel :)
D,
Not really feeling this selection as much as some of your others to be honest mate... That said I like Alpha Male and Deesh for the reflective/moody vibe and they will be added to one of my electronica lists so nice one :)
S,
OMD - it's bona fide as one of the most instantly recognisable melodies of its era. Geezers voice winds me up a little, but I'm sure there was an instrumental version? A mate of mine used to play it after fabric.. Could have that wrong though given the state of us back then.
Roots - could bang on and on and on about this kid. To me he he represents the birth of true UK hip hop becoming credible and from the streets to the (semi)mainstream. I CANED his first LP Brand new secondhand at uni and it still sounds good to this day. This is also a tune... I didn't really follow him properly after the first two LPs but ll be revisiting him by the power of spot now.
William O - cheeky chirpy little number which made me grin
Dance disorder Rmx - put simply this is quite possibly one of my fave tunes of the year thus far. This and co2o absolutely sublime.
The Farm - stunning. I'll be the one with my lighter in the air shouting "ONE MORE" at the top of my voice.
So, as seems to be the case with many of my additions .... Some tunes I've been nailing recently:
T-tauri : absolute stone cold classic record. Been listening to a few of JD's mix efforts recently, old and new (see below), and i dug out the first disc of his choice mix for the train which is I think is easily one of my fave retro mixes and contains a load of stuff you wouldn't necessarily associate with the bedrock boss. Lush tuneage.
Jobe - I posted on the board a few months back "the man deserves an award/medal for that bassline"... Pretty much sums it up really. Superb build, lovely pace and an utterly filthy bass drop. So crisp, countless listens, never get bored... Great producer.
GA Rmx - fair play to sasha for churning out a couple of freebie mixes last year (1 mixmag cd, one online, both from Ibiza) which worked pretty well. Heard this Rmx and it really stuck out, immediately looked it up and was not at all surprised to see it was Gabriel Ananda... Has totally smashed it for five yrs+ now, really has this deep melodic sound nailed down... Gives it the wonky treatment on this outing which isn't usually my taste but it works superbly well.
RVD Rmx - The first two discs of JD's Argentina mixes are absolutely blinding (bar perhaps two tunes)... Again what I love about this is that you wouldn't necessarily associate this with Diggers yet if you go and see him play a full set (8hours) he will spend a good three or four hours playing lush, deep groovy records and the room has a superb party feel to it. This is a prime example. Hugely uplifting (and one a I know struck a chord with another of our number considering its inclusion in a recent online mix release!). Summer happiness.
HS82 - another total gem from "that" Lee burridge mix from burning man festival.... Think it's been caned by all and sundry to be honest and rightly so. What a totally stunning melody/string section/breakdown, vocal, production.... Just some totally lush sounding corresponding noises. Great stuff.
Hope all goes well with each of you.
As ever: keep on keeping on,
H
D,
Not really feeling this selection as much as some of your others to be honest mate... That said I like Alpha Male and Deesh for the reflective/moody vibe and they will be added to one of my electronica lists so nice one :)
S,
OMD - it's bona fide as one of the most instantly recognisable melodies of its era. Geezers voice winds me up a little, but I'm sure there was an instrumental version? A mate of mine used to play it after fabric.. Could have that wrong though given the state of us back then.
Roots - could bang on and on and on about this kid. To me he he represents the birth of true UK hip hop becoming credible and from the streets to the (semi)mainstream. I CANED his first LP Brand new secondhand at uni and it still sounds good to this day. This is also a tune... I didn't really follow him properly after the first two LPs but ll be revisiting him by the power of spot now.
William O - cheeky chirpy little number which made me grin
Dance disorder Rmx - put simply this is quite possibly one of my fave tunes of the year thus far. This and co2o absolutely sublime.
The Farm - stunning. I'll be the one with my lighter in the air shouting "ONE MORE" at the top of my voice.
So, as seems to be the case with many of my additions .... Some tunes I've been nailing recently:
T-tauri : absolute stone cold classic record. Been listening to a few of JD's mix efforts recently, old and new (see below), and i dug out the first disc of his choice mix for the train which is I think is easily one of my fave retro mixes and contains a load of stuff you wouldn't necessarily associate with the bedrock boss. Lush tuneage.
Jobe - I posted on the board a few months back "the man deserves an award/medal for that bassline"... Pretty much sums it up really. Superb build, lovely pace and an utterly filthy bass drop. So crisp, countless listens, never get bored... Great producer.
GA Rmx - fair play to sasha for churning out a couple of freebie mixes last year (1 mixmag cd, one online, both from Ibiza) which worked pretty well. Heard this Rmx and it really stuck out, immediately looked it up and was not at all surprised to see it was Gabriel Ananda... Has totally smashed it for five yrs+ now, really has this deep melodic sound nailed down... Gives it the wonky treatment on this outing which isn't usually my taste but it works superbly well.
RVD Rmx - The first two discs of JD's Argentina mixes are absolutely blinding (bar perhaps two tunes)... Again what I love about this is that you wouldn't necessarily associate this with Diggers yet if you go and see him play a full set (8hours) he will spend a good three or four hours playing lush, deep groovy records and the room has a superb party feel to it. This is a prime example. Hugely uplifting (and one a I know struck a chord with another of our number considering its inclusion in a recent online mix release!). Summer happiness.
HS82 - another total gem from "that" Lee burridge mix from burning man festival.... Think it's been caned by all and sundry to be honest and rightly so. What a totally stunning melody/string section/breakdown, vocal, production.... Just some totally lush sounding corresponding noises. Great stuff.
Hope all goes well with each of you.
As ever: keep on keeping on,
H
Sunday, 2 March 2014
DHS 12 - Part 7 (S)
H's 'hosing it down' selection;
Burial x 2 - both terrific - wonderful mood on Night Bus and Archangel is as classic a record as DHS has ever seen. I would take this opportunity to say though that I've been somewhat disappointed with the recent Burial offerings that I've heard - the guy had such a distinctive and innovative sound that it was genuinely exciting to see where he'd go next but I'm left feeling a little flat...
The Cure - Plainsong - I don't need to say anything but could probably do two thousand words on it without pausing for breath. Brilliant song from a faultless album - D, I implore you to give the album another chance...
Clubroot - Closure - this guy is beautifully mining the seams that Burial unveiled - gorgeous - fits the theme of your selection wonderfully but then half a dozen others across either album would've done.
Area Forty One - PRTCTN - the only one of the five not known to me previously - like it a lot - listened to the rest of their stuff on Spot and like it too - good work...
I would close that little section by saying it is absolutely hosing it down once more as I listen to the above again and write this piffle - all five wonderfully augmented by the rain hammering off the skylights - very apt.
D's 'all about two albums' selection;
I get somewhat conflicted by dance music artist albums - when they're good they're genuinely brilliant but by and large I just don't get them - God knows I've tried over the last 20+ years but time and again band after artist after band, album after album after album, fails to hit my spot - hey ho...
Royksopp x 2 - always had Royksopp filed under 'remixes are better than originals' - and listening back to these two does nothing to shift me from that although the initial build on Alpha Male is quite buoyant - leaves me wondering how good it could be if someone remixed it...
Mogwai - got intrigued a dozen years ago always seeing Sigur Ros bracketed alongside this lot (as well as Godspeed You Black Emperor and Mum!) so I investigated - almost all of it left me chilly if not cold but a GYBE track did make it onto Terminal Moraine. Then, out of the blue, my 17 year old nephew asked me to source this, 'Rave Tapes', album for him in January, which I duly did - so this was my second opportunity to flick through the album. Nothing here to dislike but hard to find stuff to adore - their sound seems to be halfway between Sigur Ros and God Is An Astronaut and I think I prefer each of the extremes. I'd take 'No Medicine...' out of these three.
S's 'properly eclectic' selection;
OMD - Enola Gay - I was absolutely obsessed with this tune as kid in 1980 - so much so that I really wanted to know what 'Enola Gay' meant - I remember asking my teacher at school but he, nor anybody else, could help me so, pre-internet, I had to resort to getting my Dad to take me to the local library (we ran there and back together one afternoon before tea for some bizarre reason!) to research it and thus the lyrics all made sudden sense and added a greater poignancy to what I already felt as a strangely emotional tune. Arguably THE first synth-pop classic and all about what remains the only ever unequivocal usage of WMD...
Roots Manuva - Dreamy Days - so, I've thrown MacArthur Park at you both twice, firstly in the guise of Richard Harris and then Donna Summer and I did tell you it hadn't finished - you'll find a sample thereof herein! Boss tune from the best rapper this country has yet produced. And that's me finished with MacArthur Park for now...
William Onyeabor - Fantastic Man - hang onto your hats lads, this is madness... I got sent this late last year by a message board mate who wanted to use it in a mix but needed it 'warped' so it held a constant beat and wondered whether I could help. It wasn't the easiest thing I've ever warped and by the time I was finished it was burnt into my head, where it remains to this day. Absolute stone-cold bonkers mentalism.
Snuff Crew - Winter In June (Dance Disorder remix) - this wasn't in my selection till last week - for the simple reason that I hadn't heard it this time last week. Then a (completely different message board) mate posted it on his Google Plus feed and BOOM. Hooked. Completely. Still don't know if I've made the right decision going for the remix over the original but I've done so simply 'cos the remix is longer and the bliss therefore lasts slightly longer. Fantastic record.
The Farm - Altogether Now (Classical Mix) - Pachelbel innit. Lads, I promise you now - if I ever get to play one last closing set, at a half-decent venue, with a decent crowd, this is my last, closing, tune. Savagely fabulous. Thank me later...
x
Burial x 2 - both terrific - wonderful mood on Night Bus and Archangel is as classic a record as DHS has ever seen. I would take this opportunity to say though that I've been somewhat disappointed with the recent Burial offerings that I've heard - the guy had such a distinctive and innovative sound that it was genuinely exciting to see where he'd go next but I'm left feeling a little flat...
The Cure - Plainsong - I don't need to say anything but could probably do two thousand words on it without pausing for breath. Brilliant song from a faultless album - D, I implore you to give the album another chance...
Clubroot - Closure - this guy is beautifully mining the seams that Burial unveiled - gorgeous - fits the theme of your selection wonderfully but then half a dozen others across either album would've done.
Area Forty One - PRTCTN - the only one of the five not known to me previously - like it a lot - listened to the rest of their stuff on Spot and like it too - good work...
I would close that little section by saying it is absolutely hosing it down once more as I listen to the above again and write this piffle - all five wonderfully augmented by the rain hammering off the skylights - very apt.
D's 'all about two albums' selection;
I get somewhat conflicted by dance music artist albums - when they're good they're genuinely brilliant but by and large I just don't get them - God knows I've tried over the last 20+ years but time and again band after artist after band, album after album after album, fails to hit my spot - hey ho...
Royksopp x 2 - always had Royksopp filed under 'remixes are better than originals' - and listening back to these two does nothing to shift me from that although the initial build on Alpha Male is quite buoyant - leaves me wondering how good it could be if someone remixed it...
Mogwai - got intrigued a dozen years ago always seeing Sigur Ros bracketed alongside this lot (as well as Godspeed You Black Emperor and Mum!) so I investigated - almost all of it left me chilly if not cold but a GYBE track did make it onto Terminal Moraine. Then, out of the blue, my 17 year old nephew asked me to source this, 'Rave Tapes', album for him in January, which I duly did - so this was my second opportunity to flick through the album. Nothing here to dislike but hard to find stuff to adore - their sound seems to be halfway between Sigur Ros and God Is An Astronaut and I think I prefer each of the extremes. I'd take 'No Medicine...' out of these three.
S's 'properly eclectic' selection;
OMD - Enola Gay - I was absolutely obsessed with this tune as kid in 1980 - so much so that I really wanted to know what 'Enola Gay' meant - I remember asking my teacher at school but he, nor anybody else, could help me so, pre-internet, I had to resort to getting my Dad to take me to the local library (we ran there and back together one afternoon before tea for some bizarre reason!) to research it and thus the lyrics all made sudden sense and added a greater poignancy to what I already felt as a strangely emotional tune. Arguably THE first synth-pop classic and all about what remains the only ever unequivocal usage of WMD...
Roots Manuva - Dreamy Days - so, I've thrown MacArthur Park at you both twice, firstly in the guise of Richard Harris and then Donna Summer and I did tell you it hadn't finished - you'll find a sample thereof herein! Boss tune from the best rapper this country has yet produced. And that's me finished with MacArthur Park for now...
William Onyeabor - Fantastic Man - hang onto your hats lads, this is madness... I got sent this late last year by a message board mate who wanted to use it in a mix but needed it 'warped' so it held a constant beat and wondered whether I could help. It wasn't the easiest thing I've ever warped and by the time I was finished it was burnt into my head, where it remains to this day. Absolute stone-cold bonkers mentalism.
Snuff Crew - Winter In June (Dance Disorder remix) - this wasn't in my selection till last week - for the simple reason that I hadn't heard it this time last week. Then a (completely different message board) mate posted it on his Google Plus feed and BOOM. Hooked. Completely. Still don't know if I've made the right decision going for the remix over the original but I've done so simply 'cos the remix is longer and the bliss therefore lasts slightly longer. Fantastic record.
The Farm - Altogether Now (Classical Mix) - Pachelbel innit. Lads, I promise you now - if I ever get to play one last closing set, at a half-decent venue, with a decent crowd, this is my last, closing, tune. Savagely fabulous. Thank me later...
x
Monday, 17 February 2014
DHS 12 - Part 6 (D)
Evening all. Here I am fresh back from a weekend in the country, and my 2nd farm in as many months, albeit this was the first one where I made friends with a donkey. Donkeys are brilliant Ive decided, even if they do try and eat your jacket. I also found out that sheep can (almost) climb fences and cows are bastard big when you get up close to them - especially the Angus bulls. Had a nutsack like a space hopper that lad. Christ.
Anyway, thanks once again for your latest choices chaps - my thoughts are as follows:
S
The new short tunes were my first sustained listen to Northern Soul (I presume they are all NS ?) and Judy Street is a jaunty upbeat number, cant really say anymore than that, enjoyable, wouldn't turn it off but wouldn't hunt it down either. Mama Cass was another track in a similar vein and I'd say the same really although this one was a bit better for my money. John Edwards is a nice enough soul track but it did make me laugh with some of the lyrics 'the topic of Sir Galahad' just made me think of Monty Python & the Holy Grail ! Ive listened to this several times and I still don't have a Scooby what that lyric is doing in there - spoils an otherwise nice enough tune for me. Gary Numan isn't really my cup of tea either - theres something about his voice that grates a bit I think, only really heard 'cars' before and I didn't really notice it so much but here I do. Is this still Northern Soul ? Im thinking not but I guess it doesn't matter that much really. When in Rome is ok I think, very much of its time I suppose but doesn't really do much for me im afraid.
H
Night Bus is indeed atmospheric, there's no denying that. Could it be an opener ? I suppose so, even though it doesn't do very much - would have a liked a bit more to this track as I think it sets up a mood then doesn't see it through. Nice enough though. Plainsong is not one I have heard before and I think its stunning, an outrageous piece of music. So much so that I listened to the album but the rest of the tracks sadly dont live up to the standard of this one, apart from maybe 'lullaby'. Added to favourites - top tune mate. Archangel reminds me strongly of a timbaland cut called something like 'kill you' from the first shock value album, only with a kind of garage vibe over the top. Not for me I don't think, but definitely get the walking around London when its gloomy idea ! I really like the clubroot track, nice beats and subtly done with the wailing and strings, rising and falling ever so slightly with the insistent beat, very nicely produced. PRTCTN (does that mean 'protection' ?) is nicely moody too, wouldn't always be one you'd rack up but I can see this being a late night tune that would go very well.
My selection consists of two albums really - the only job was getting it down to 5 tunes ! The first was borne of a desire all of a sudden to check the original of 'what else is there' by Royksopp and I really liked it so as I had been checking out albums for the DHS LP I decided to give it a go and I wasn't disappointed - a top album I highly recommend if you haven't heard it before, gave it several rotations and could have picked the opener 'triumphant' and the original of 'what else is there' but this one only gets 2 tracks as I think you may know it. So Im going with 'sombre detune' which is a quirky piece of electro / prog house I think, with some nice strings and perky melodies, as well as 'alpha male' which is an absolute beast with a cracking build and some wonderful variation in highs and lows - a really wonderful record. The second album is courtesy of 6 music. I love 6 music, it does play some obscure shit, but nowhere else can you hear (uncensored) public enemy, sigur ros and young mc on consecutive breakfast shows. Really resonates with me. Anyway, one night in the shower and this tune came on and it was so good I had to make a note of it straight away (gawd bless digital radios showing song titles) and that track was 'remurdered' by Mogwai from the album rave tapes which I also checked out and is very good indeed. Remurdered is also a big brooding heaving beast of a tune with a raucus break and some crashy drums that I really like. I have also gone for 'Deesh' which is a nice moody tune for me, always hinting at more to come and delivering in a quite unusual way I think, possibly the best cut on the album. I finish with 'No Medicine for Regret' which is beautifully melancholic and even quite uplifting by the end.
So there you have it. Probably way too many words as usual but that's how it goes.
One love
Anyway, thanks once again for your latest choices chaps - my thoughts are as follows:
S
The new short tunes were my first sustained listen to Northern Soul (I presume they are all NS ?) and Judy Street is a jaunty upbeat number, cant really say anymore than that, enjoyable, wouldn't turn it off but wouldn't hunt it down either. Mama Cass was another track in a similar vein and I'd say the same really although this one was a bit better for my money. John Edwards is a nice enough soul track but it did make me laugh with some of the lyrics 'the topic of Sir Galahad' just made me think of Monty Python & the Holy Grail ! Ive listened to this several times and I still don't have a Scooby what that lyric is doing in there - spoils an otherwise nice enough tune for me. Gary Numan isn't really my cup of tea either - theres something about his voice that grates a bit I think, only really heard 'cars' before and I didn't really notice it so much but here I do. Is this still Northern Soul ? Im thinking not but I guess it doesn't matter that much really. When in Rome is ok I think, very much of its time I suppose but doesn't really do much for me im afraid.
H
Night Bus is indeed atmospheric, there's no denying that. Could it be an opener ? I suppose so, even though it doesn't do very much - would have a liked a bit more to this track as I think it sets up a mood then doesn't see it through. Nice enough though. Plainsong is not one I have heard before and I think its stunning, an outrageous piece of music. So much so that I listened to the album but the rest of the tracks sadly dont live up to the standard of this one, apart from maybe 'lullaby'. Added to favourites - top tune mate. Archangel reminds me strongly of a timbaland cut called something like 'kill you' from the first shock value album, only with a kind of garage vibe over the top. Not for me I don't think, but definitely get the walking around London when its gloomy idea ! I really like the clubroot track, nice beats and subtly done with the wailing and strings, rising and falling ever so slightly with the insistent beat, very nicely produced. PRTCTN (does that mean 'protection' ?) is nicely moody too, wouldn't always be one you'd rack up but I can see this being a late night tune that would go very well.
My selection consists of two albums really - the only job was getting it down to 5 tunes ! The first was borne of a desire all of a sudden to check the original of 'what else is there' by Royksopp and I really liked it so as I had been checking out albums for the DHS LP I decided to give it a go and I wasn't disappointed - a top album I highly recommend if you haven't heard it before, gave it several rotations and could have picked the opener 'triumphant' and the original of 'what else is there' but this one only gets 2 tracks as I think you may know it. So Im going with 'sombre detune' which is a quirky piece of electro / prog house I think, with some nice strings and perky melodies, as well as 'alpha male' which is an absolute beast with a cracking build and some wonderful variation in highs and lows - a really wonderful record. The second album is courtesy of 6 music. I love 6 music, it does play some obscure shit, but nowhere else can you hear (uncensored) public enemy, sigur ros and young mc on consecutive breakfast shows. Really resonates with me. Anyway, one night in the shower and this tune came on and it was so good I had to make a note of it straight away (gawd bless digital radios showing song titles) and that track was 'remurdered' by Mogwai from the album rave tapes which I also checked out and is very good indeed. Remurdered is also a big brooding heaving beast of a tune with a raucus break and some crashy drums that I really like. I have also gone for 'Deesh' which is a nice moody tune for me, always hinting at more to come and delivering in a quite unusual way I think, possibly the best cut on the album. I finish with 'No Medicine for Regret' which is beautifully melancholic and even quite uplifting by the end.
So there you have it. Probably way too many words as usual but that's how it goes.
One love
Saturday, 8 February 2014
DHS 12 - Part 5 (H)
D,
I like natura sonoris very much, have bought a lot from the label across a 4 or so year period. The best was a label comp in 2009. Personally I think the quality has been lacking recently due to the similarity of what Saiz's artists (and indeed even himself) churn out... There are better artists and better labels out there now. That said I like the tracks you've picked, I bought the LP from beatport when it came out because it had some exclusives from Saiz's balance mix which he put out in '10.. I never put this comp in the DBOX though so if you ever feel like having these outside Spotify let me know and I can up it, although KS will prob have a higher quality copy you can have.
Underworld, classic... Still relevant now. So, so good.
S,
Judy Street, Mama Cass - classics
John Edwards - new to me, bloody lovely, repeat plays. Beautiful drum work, sounds so crisp, beautiful everything in fact.
Gary Newman - not for me this guy, just don't buy it at all. Notwithstanding I appreciate its relevance in the music we listen to now. He sounds to much like he's trying to be a modern Bowie for my liking and for that kind of sound I'd rather listen to the legend himself.
When in Rome - I feel like I know this from childhood... I very much like this.
Well, not time like the present (given half the country is flooded) to whack up my favourite tracks to listen to when it's pissing rain...
Burial - D not sure you're familiar with this kid, one day I will give you the back story. Very simply he sat on the bus and recorded the pissing rain for a journey and then built a track around it at his studio in his bedroom. I think it's lovely and atmospheric and a great opener.
Cure - I just can't begin to describe how much the LP means to me... I first heard the opening bars of this followed by the miserable mumblings of Smith in a soaking wet November of 2009 on amazon website prior to purchasing immediately and it's impact on me was immense. I didn't listen to ANY other tracks just something about this opener told me how much I would completely love the whole thing. I couldn't have been more correct if I tried. Thanks S for the recommendation.
Burial - this might sound dated because SO many people have copied his style of small studio production. But believe me when this kid put this out my ears just pricked up to a whole new level. Very cleverly done and fuses so many little nuances from other styles in. Wonderfully melancholic with a tinge of rave. Beautiful for walking round London when it's gloomy.
Clubroot - one of the guys I suspect copied Burial. More upbeat and juicy beats but moody all the same. Proper crisp, great drum programming matched with great melody stabs.
PRTCTN - wow, when tale of us used this in their renaissance mix I was massively pleased. SUCH a great production effort... Stunning all round.
Go out and get wet with your headphones in,
H
I like natura sonoris very much, have bought a lot from the label across a 4 or so year period. The best was a label comp in 2009. Personally I think the quality has been lacking recently due to the similarity of what Saiz's artists (and indeed even himself) churn out... There are better artists and better labels out there now. That said I like the tracks you've picked, I bought the LP from beatport when it came out because it had some exclusives from Saiz's balance mix which he put out in '10.. I never put this comp in the DBOX though so if you ever feel like having these outside Spotify let me know and I can up it, although KS will prob have a higher quality copy you can have.
Underworld, classic... Still relevant now. So, so good.
S,
Judy Street, Mama Cass - classics
John Edwards - new to me, bloody lovely, repeat plays. Beautiful drum work, sounds so crisp, beautiful everything in fact.
Gary Newman - not for me this guy, just don't buy it at all. Notwithstanding I appreciate its relevance in the music we listen to now. He sounds to much like he's trying to be a modern Bowie for my liking and for that kind of sound I'd rather listen to the legend himself.
When in Rome - I feel like I know this from childhood... I very much like this.
Well, not time like the present (given half the country is flooded) to whack up my favourite tracks to listen to when it's pissing rain...
Burial - D not sure you're familiar with this kid, one day I will give you the back story. Very simply he sat on the bus and recorded the pissing rain for a journey and then built a track around it at his studio in his bedroom. I think it's lovely and atmospheric and a great opener.
Cure - I just can't begin to describe how much the LP means to me... I first heard the opening bars of this followed by the miserable mumblings of Smith in a soaking wet November of 2009 on amazon website prior to purchasing immediately and it's impact on me was immense. I didn't listen to ANY other tracks just something about this opener told me how much I would completely love the whole thing. I couldn't have been more correct if I tried. Thanks S for the recommendation.
Burial - this might sound dated because SO many people have copied his style of small studio production. But believe me when this kid put this out my ears just pricked up to a whole new level. Very cleverly done and fuses so many little nuances from other styles in. Wonderfully melancholic with a tinge of rave. Beautiful for walking round London when it's gloomy.
Clubroot - one of the guys I suspect copied Burial. More upbeat and juicy beats but moody all the same. Proper crisp, great drum programming matched with great melody stabs.
PRTCTN - wow, when tale of us used this in their renaissance mix I was massively pleased. SUCH a great production effort... Stunning all round.
Go out and get wet with your headphones in,
H
Monday, 27 January 2014
DHS-LP 03 (D)
My apologies for my terrible tardiness at getting onto this great idea. I have learnt the error of my ways and will now bring it all up to date...
Interpol - can see why it's a favourite singalong album, it was enjoyable enough although indie/rock albums have to be pretty special for me to really like them and this one didn't grab me - agree with Hodge that after a while you do crave something different. I have a similar fave album which if I didn't like I'd think the same about so totally get the singalong vibe. Music is so often about the environment when/where you heard it and maybe that's a factor here.
Photek - not the sort of thing I would normally listen to and on reflection I think there are only 2 situations it would appeal - either last thing at night to get you to sleep, or driving late at night. Definitely makes more sense against a backdrop of darkness, but is subtle to the point of being sparse to these ears. No warm analog sound, very little basslines and even fewer melodies give this a post-apocalyptic industrial feel for me, all concrete and metal. The title track was the best of the lot for me but none of it comes anywhere close to the remix of 'lie down in darkness' which is a shame.
The Jam - again not my normal fare, and I have considered how much music I like that was around before I got into music properly, and it's not much. Some soul and disco mostly. However this is very enjoyable, Weller has a good voice and it wasn't as punk-influenced as I was expecting, which is all very fast beats and shouting as far as i can tell - thankfully this was far from that. Must have heard some of these before I guess but none I recall. Some really good tracks on here, well arranged and delivered with edge that makes it more listenable than say Interpol. Must have been massive when it came out. And Kingston Rifles has quite a bassline.
Dubnobass - I have never heard this album before. Seriously. The first thing that struck me is how good the 'dark train' version of dark and long is when you start from the version on here, which is also good. I imagine if you'd only heard this one then heard the remix you would be even more impressed than I was just judging it on its own merits. Also the Essex roots of these boys really comes out. I think Underworld see everyday things in an unconventional way and that helps make them different, and better. Skyscraper & DaL are both examples of this. Found this to be a very good album, surf boy is nice as is dirty epic which is certainly epic - especially loving the piano that comes in towards the end. Cowgirl is of course ace (even if the bedrock remix takes it to a new level). M.E. is a nice closer too - good album.
Richter is an interesting choice, I think it could well be the first classical album I've ever listened to (on the way home from Bath today) and so therefore have no immediate frame of reference. However music is music regardless of genre and can inspire the same feelings and emotions no matter what. It is certainly very emotive music, sometimes mournful, sometimes aggressive but always powerful and open to so much interpretation I think - will be different things to different people. I really enjoyed it and can see very obvious comparisons with dance music, certainly the pop end of it as the big parts are very immediate without too much build up. Easy to see why you rate this so highly Hodge, although as you were raised on this sort of music it would have more of an impact on you than it could on me because, like i said, i have no frame of reference but I really like it too - i even think he saved the best track to last. Excellent shout. This will be getting repeat listens.
I thought quite a bit about what album I should put up next, something that meant a lot personally to me and was firmly fixed in my roots was the order of the day I felt, and I went back to the very beginning, the album that left an indelible mark on me aged 10 years old. Now there have been other albums that maybe had more of an effect (at the time) in my formative years, like for example Bad by Michael Jackson, Bigger & Deffer by LLCoolJ, License to Ill by the Beastie Boys or Born in the USA by the Boss - all of which may appear here at some point, but nothing has lasted for me like this one. So its the album that first got me interested in music and indeed blew the world away - I am of course talking about Thriller by Michael Jackson.
After Jackson only received 1 grammy for 'Off the Wall' he stated that the next record he made would be the greatest album in music history. That's entirely subjective and up for huge debate, and I would even say is impossible to ever truly decide because different records mean different things to different people at different times. However that drive and hunger, coupled with the dream team of Jacksons undoubted singing and dancing talent and Quincy Jones' production genius created the biggest selling album of all time with estimates anywhere between 50 and 110 million copies sold. Lets think about that for a minute - 50,000,000 units of anything is a very big amount indeed.
The production of the record is so slick it could make me weep with its perfectionism - it's as if every note, every beat has been deliberately placed in the most optimal position for that track and indeed the record overall. The word genius is recklessly used and is rarely true, however this album is clearly a work of genius and that is why it is rightly the biggest selling album of all time.
Thriller is a devastating combination of talent, skill, audio and visual. An album so good that it changed the entire landscape of pop music. From the raw energy of 'Wanna be Startin' something' there is funk and soul dripping from every track - even with the almost twee 'the girl is mine' a little crowbarred in. To then have 3 of the biggest records of the decade and indeed in history one after each other on the same album is a feat that has never been matched. Thriller is a cracking track in its own right - original, creative and with a killer hook and juicy bassline. Throw in that video that aired on prime time national tv and suddenly everyone knew what was possible in a music video. Next up was Beat It and a guitar solo from Eddie Van Halen that won 'guitar solo of the decade' (whatever that means) and came with another video, also inspired by film. If that wasn't enough the 3rd track is the single greatest bassline in dance music history and a beat that personally I find impossible not to dance to. Another iconic video and a performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary show that blew everyone away and introduced 'the moonwalk' to popular culture.
Often copied, never bettered, Michael Jackson became the first black artist to have a video played on MTV and the mark he left on music history is as big if not bigger than any other recording artist. Aged 10 I simply could not have not liked it - I have no doubt I'll still be enjoying it in another 30 years, and this is my entry into the DHS-LP pantheon.
One love
Interpol - can see why it's a favourite singalong album, it was enjoyable enough although indie/rock albums have to be pretty special for me to really like them and this one didn't grab me - agree with Hodge that after a while you do crave something different. I have a similar fave album which if I didn't like I'd think the same about so totally get the singalong vibe. Music is so often about the environment when/where you heard it and maybe that's a factor here.
Photek - not the sort of thing I would normally listen to and on reflection I think there are only 2 situations it would appeal - either last thing at night to get you to sleep, or driving late at night. Definitely makes more sense against a backdrop of darkness, but is subtle to the point of being sparse to these ears. No warm analog sound, very little basslines and even fewer melodies give this a post-apocalyptic industrial feel for me, all concrete and metal. The title track was the best of the lot for me but none of it comes anywhere close to the remix of 'lie down in darkness' which is a shame.
The Jam - again not my normal fare, and I have considered how much music I like that was around before I got into music properly, and it's not much. Some soul and disco mostly. However this is very enjoyable, Weller has a good voice and it wasn't as punk-influenced as I was expecting, which is all very fast beats and shouting as far as i can tell - thankfully this was far from that. Must have heard some of these before I guess but none I recall. Some really good tracks on here, well arranged and delivered with edge that makes it more listenable than say Interpol. Must have been massive when it came out. And Kingston Rifles has quite a bassline.
Dubnobass - I have never heard this album before. Seriously. The first thing that struck me is how good the 'dark train' version of dark and long is when you start from the version on here, which is also good. I imagine if you'd only heard this one then heard the remix you would be even more impressed than I was just judging it on its own merits. Also the Essex roots of these boys really comes out. I think Underworld see everyday things in an unconventional way and that helps make them different, and better. Skyscraper & DaL are both examples of this. Found this to be a very good album, surf boy is nice as is dirty epic which is certainly epic - especially loving the piano that comes in towards the end. Cowgirl is of course ace (even if the bedrock remix takes it to a new level). M.E. is a nice closer too - good album.
Richter is an interesting choice, I think it could well be the first classical album I've ever listened to (on the way home from Bath today) and so therefore have no immediate frame of reference. However music is music regardless of genre and can inspire the same feelings and emotions no matter what. It is certainly very emotive music, sometimes mournful, sometimes aggressive but always powerful and open to so much interpretation I think - will be different things to different people. I really enjoyed it and can see very obvious comparisons with dance music, certainly the pop end of it as the big parts are very immediate without too much build up. Easy to see why you rate this so highly Hodge, although as you were raised on this sort of music it would have more of an impact on you than it could on me because, like i said, i have no frame of reference but I really like it too - i even think he saved the best track to last. Excellent shout. This will be getting repeat listens.
I thought quite a bit about what album I should put up next, something that meant a lot personally to me and was firmly fixed in my roots was the order of the day I felt, and I went back to the very beginning, the album that left an indelible mark on me aged 10 years old. Now there have been other albums that maybe had more of an effect (at the time) in my formative years, like for example Bad by Michael Jackson, Bigger & Deffer by LLCoolJ, License to Ill by the Beastie Boys or Born in the USA by the Boss - all of which may appear here at some point, but nothing has lasted for me like this one. So its the album that first got me interested in music and indeed blew the world away - I am of course talking about Thriller by Michael Jackson.
After Jackson only received 1 grammy for 'Off the Wall' he stated that the next record he made would be the greatest album in music history. That's entirely subjective and up for huge debate, and I would even say is impossible to ever truly decide because different records mean different things to different people at different times. However that drive and hunger, coupled with the dream team of Jacksons undoubted singing and dancing talent and Quincy Jones' production genius created the biggest selling album of all time with estimates anywhere between 50 and 110 million copies sold. Lets think about that for a minute - 50,000,000 units of anything is a very big amount indeed.
The production of the record is so slick it could make me weep with its perfectionism - it's as if every note, every beat has been deliberately placed in the most optimal position for that track and indeed the record overall. The word genius is recklessly used and is rarely true, however this album is clearly a work of genius and that is why it is rightly the biggest selling album of all time.
Thriller is a devastating combination of talent, skill, audio and visual. An album so good that it changed the entire landscape of pop music. From the raw energy of 'Wanna be Startin' something' there is funk and soul dripping from every track - even with the almost twee 'the girl is mine' a little crowbarred in. To then have 3 of the biggest records of the decade and indeed in history one after each other on the same album is a feat that has never been matched. Thriller is a cracking track in its own right - original, creative and with a killer hook and juicy bassline. Throw in that video that aired on prime time national tv and suddenly everyone knew what was possible in a music video. Next up was Beat It and a guitar solo from Eddie Van Halen that won 'guitar solo of the decade' (whatever that means) and came with another video, also inspired by film. If that wasn't enough the 3rd track is the single greatest bassline in dance music history and a beat that personally I find impossible not to dance to. Another iconic video and a performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary show that blew everyone away and introduced 'the moonwalk' to popular culture.
Often copied, never bettered, Michael Jackson became the first black artist to have a video played on MTV and the mark he left on music history is as big if not bigger than any other recording artist. Aged 10 I simply could not have not liked it - I have no doubt I'll still be enjoying it in another 30 years, and this is my entry into the DHS-LP pantheon.
One love
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