Iconic feminist electro-punk band Le Tigre might have rocked roller skate jams for the "all the ladies and the fags, yeah." But it's JD Samson and Johanna Fatemen's whose latest project is strong enough for a man. The DJ duo Men, comprised of two women, are armed with super fly outfits -signature ball caps, stripes and polka dots - the DJ/remix/production established their masculine musicality in March 2007 with their all-female play lists, including 90s super single "I Saw the Sign."
Bust Magainze's annual "Men We Love," April/May '08 special hit newsstands last week. An exceptional interview by Alison Felman can be found with the duo. Or for a more retrospective insight into Le Tigre, check out Belletristic Impression's Q&A.
I'm in the mood for this#10 Cover Me #4 Disco is not a dirty word#4 Remember this? #3
It's amazing what can happen when you reconnect with people.
I sent an old friend a quick email, asking what he was doing. Apparently he's doing covers of Xiu Xiu and recording under the name of Archivist. For this latest installment of Cover Me, here he is with his cover of Fabulous Muscles.
I felt like re-visiting a little disco for this week's edition of "Moody Morning Music" as well as a bit of early 90's dance. First the disco:
I discovered Kebekelektrik by accident. I was at a record convention in Montreal digging through a box of old 45's when I saw this 45:
It looked interesting. The name sounded vaguely disco so for I picked it up for a buck. When I got home, I was stunned, not by the title track, "Mirage", but by the minute and a half of the B-side, titled "Star Dance". A couple of months later, I came across a copy of their first album, a US issue on SalSoul. I took it home, put the needle on the record and was blown away by its deep cosmic disco beauty. The last track, War Dance included the piece known as "Star Dance". The track is nothing more than pure disco deliciousness.
The opening and title track is featured twice on the album, once as a vocal the second in an instrumental disco version, featuring a hook-laden "doot doot doot doot" and a sweet little synth that takes you the early glory days of disco.
As for the early 90's dance pieces, I was flipping through some old records and felt the need to play some of them on my show.
Soul II Soul's first album, "Keep on Movin'" was one of the first albums that I bought that made me go, "Wow, this is what dance music could and should be." Admittedly, I was only 12 at the time the album came out, but the album's sound played a huge influence upon me and what I later came to enjoy and seek out in terms of dance music, especially the music which came from the UK and the scene in which the members, especially Jazzy B. and Nellee Hooper were involved, namely, The Wild Bunch.
A few years later, after the sound system based grooves of Soul II Soul had left the clubs, the new inhabitants, hungover from the post summer of love rave daze, were going more and more underground, digging into different genres (and record crates) for new sounds. The Future Sound of London found that sound in an old Dead Can Dance record.
Papua New Guinea was considered by many to be a milestone in the development and growth of underground dance music, as well as the rising popularity and acceptance of this new genre of dance music. The song almost feels like an anomaly when listening to some of FSOL's later works, namely, "We Have The Explosive", a track which went on to have a life of it's own a few years later.
Enjoy the show as well as the video links in the tracklisting.
Gonzales, "Overnight" Laura Nyro, "Brown Earth", Christmas and the beads of sweat Archivist, "Fabulous Muscles (Xiu Xiu Cover)" Jane Siberry, "Slow Tango", City Jennifer Warnes, "Fanous Blue Raincoat", Famous Blue Raincoat Sunset Rubdown, "Winged/Wicked Things", Random Spirit Lover Born Ruffians, "Red, Yellow, Blue", Red, Yellow, Blue Forest City Lovers, "At The Border" Superfantastica, "Turn on me", Choose your destination Immaclate Machine, "Jarhand", Fables Dog Day, "Oh Dead Life", Oh Dead Life EP Sugarcubes, "Hit", 12" Portishead, "Smell", Third Buck 65, "The abandoned cars of INverness County", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1 Soul II Soul, "Jazzie's Groove', Keep On Movin' Future Sound Of London, "Papua New Guinea" Massive Attack, "Unfinished Sympathy", Blue Lines Goldfrapp, "Cologne Cerrone Houdini", Seventh Tree Crown Heights Affair, "Dreaming A Dream (Disco)", Dreaming A Dream Kebekelektrik, "War Dance", Kebekelektrik Feist, "My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)"
Yes that's right, punk is dead It's just another cheap product for the consumers head Bubblegum rock on plastic transistors Schoolboy sedition backed by big time promoters CBS promote the Clash Ain't for revolution, it's just for cash Punk became a fashion just like hippy used to be Ain't got a thing to do with your or me
Movements are systems and systems kill Movements are expressions of the public will Punk became a movement cos we all felt lost Leaders sold out and now we all pay the cost Punk narcissism was a social napalm Steve Jones started doing real harm Preaching revolution, anarchy and change Sucked from the system that had given him his name
Jeffrey Lewis first heard Crass while attending university in 1993. Like a handful are able to, he was able to get past the shotty production quality, repetitive instrumentation (even for punk) and appreciate the band's radicalism, wit and uncompromising sound. Crass were one of those bands who's lyrics were intended to be read rather than heard.... until Jeffrey Lewis came along and recorded his album 12 Crass Songs. The album holds twelve acoustic rendititions with minimal backing musicians and vocalists. Although I've listened to Crass for about six or seven years now, going through recent phases of pure hatred towards them, mere appreciation for their lyrics only, and at first loving everything about them, I never truly appreciated this song until now. It's aggressive, sardonic punk rock idealism blended with Lewis' own hopefulness and sunny guitarwork. Lewis plays the bearer of bad news in place of Crass here. His version is much less alientating, which may finally make people appreciate what Crass had to say. Not everyone wants to be shouted at. They'd rather be told bad news from a gentle voice.
I'm in the mood for this #9 Cover me#3 New releases #2
First things first. On April 28th, 2008, Portishead's third album will be released.
It has been over ten years since they had put out a studio album. Beth Gibbons had started a small side project in the interim, and there were murmurs of a reunion after the release of their cover of Serge Gainbourg's, Requiem for Anna for the tribute album.
It's about time. And I believe that the wait was well worth it.
Arguably one of Canada's greatest poets, lyricists and perhaps one of the greatest canadian cultural icons, Leonard Cohen was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has decided to go on a world tour while he's at it. I discovered Cohen's work while watching a well meaning early 90's teen flick and was stunned. In university, I discovered his early poems and began to understand not only how brilliant this man's work was, but rather, how transcendant a good poem could be.
As for this week's covers, this episode of Moody Morning Music includes Antony doing Leonard Cohen, Calexico doing Arcade Fire and Final Fantasy doing (improving?) Bloc Party. Click on the links for videos or mp3s.
Portishead, "Cowboys (Instrumental)", 12" Old Man Luedecke, "Notes form the banjor underground", Hinterland Great Lake Swimmers, "I could be nothing", Bodies & Minds Meryn Cadell, "Secret", Angel Food for thought Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne", Songs of Antony, "If it be your will", I'm your man Calexico, "Ocean of Noise (Arcade Fire Cover)" Final Fantasy, "This Modern Love (Bloc Party Cover)" Forest City Lovers, "Country Road", Haunting Moon Sinking Bell Orchesrte, "Throw it on a fire", Recording a tape the colour of the light Goldfrapp, "A&E", Seventh Tree Portishead, "Sour Sour Times", Glory Times Portishead, "Glory Box (Mudflap Mix)", Glory Times Portishead, "Undenied", S/T Portishead, "Only You", S/T Portishead, "Hunter", Third Portishead, "Nylon Smile", Third Dog Day, "Ironhide", Oh Dead Life Glass Candy, "Iko" Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind" Hot Chip, "Ready for the floor", Made in the dark
I discovered this group yesterday. Think Bob Dylan and the Band's "Basement Tapes" era if Dylan had formal vocal training and actualy lead the life of the trainhopping carnie that he spoke of in his early days. There's something to be said for music that adheres to old traditions that does not come off as contrived, but authentic and with so much urgency.
I have a strange love-hate relationship with Phil Collins. I think he's a loser, but a loser who has moments of grandeur. I mean, c'mon, as annoying as Sussudio is, you have to admit it's a catchy little pop ditty. And I don't even want to think about how many weddings have played his songs. So I begrudgingly respect some of his works. Very begrudgingly.
But I forgive him when I hear other people play his songs. Namely, The Postal Service's cover of "Against All Odds". I mean, c'mon, even the New York Post thinks it's one of the best covers of all time. But then again, they did vote for Animal Ant Farm's cover of "Smooth Criminal".
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Cat Power, "Wild is the wind", The Covers Record Keren Ann, "Not going anywhere", Not going anywhere Richard Buckner, "Mud", Bloomed Beirut, "A sunday smile", The Flying Cup Club Nina Simone, "Love me or leave me" Gentleman Reg, "It's not safe", Darby & Joan Meryn Cadell, "The Sweater", Angel food for thought Meryn Cadell, "Barbie", Angel food for thought Arctic Monkeys,"You know I'm no good" Postal Service, "Against all odds" The Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination Buzzcocks, "Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't)?", 30 M83, "Teen Angst", Before the dawn heals us Buck 65, "Spooked", Cretin Hip Hop Vol. 1 Burial, "Archangel", Untrue Thom Yorke, "Skip Divided (Modeselektor remix)" Thunderheist, "Horny" Jahcoozi, "BLN" Cadence Weapon, "In search of the youth crew", Afterparty Babies Tricky, "Brand new you're retro", Maxinquaye New Young Pony Club, "The Bomb (Phones Edit)" MSTRKRFT, "Work on you (Para One Remix)", 12"
For more covers, just click on the links to lead you to the originals.
Iconic feminist electro-punk band Le Tigre might have rocked roller skate jams for the "all the ladies and the fags, yeah." But it's JD Samson and Johanna Fatemen's whose latest project is strong enough for a man. The DJ duo Men, comprised of two women, are armed with super fly outfits -signature ball caps, stripes and polka dots - the DJ/remix/production established their masculine musicality in March 2007 with their all-female play lists, including 90s super single "I Saw the Sign."
