Take the best bits, stretch them out until you're begging for more.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
I've got a tape I want to play.
This is just another reason why I love edits.
Take the best bits, stretch them out until you're begging for more.
Take the best bits, stretch them out until you're begging for more.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It keeps coming until the beat stops.
LCD Soundsystem's "45:33" is a concept album, an exercise in marketing, a trial for a (then) upcoming album and an exploration into disco, in all of its guises.
From cosmic to leftfield to four-on-the-floor beats to soft and mildly ambient synths.
The 2nd (or 3rd portion, depending on what cuts/edition you have) is probably my favorite. Although I am known to drop the next part when I spin records at parties, this is the one I pull out more often when I am looking for rainy days songs, or for a little bit of disco zen.
The song would later be re-cut and re-edited to be used in the song "Someone Great", my favorite track on "Sound Of Silver". To be honest, it was my least favorite the first time I heard it. I thought of it as a bit of a throw away.
Then one night at a friend's summer party, we sat outside, with the song blaring through the windows. It was in the middle of nowhere, and that lonesome lull of a synth-laden bassline hooked me. Right in the heart.
And then I listened. Really listened. And I understood.
The instrumental version does not have the same lyrical push to it, but I feel that by listening to it, I feel like the two songs are almost palimpsests of one another. You get the feeling it conveys, even without the melancoly lyrics. And you still feel the open space even when you concentrate on the words being spoken-sung to you.
From cosmic to leftfield to four-on-the-floor beats to soft and mildly ambient synths.
The 2nd (or 3rd portion, depending on what cuts/edition you have) is probably my favorite. Although I am known to drop the next part when I spin records at parties, this is the one I pull out more often when I am looking for rainy days songs, or for a little bit of disco zen.
The song would later be re-cut and re-edited to be used in the song "Someone Great", my favorite track on "Sound Of Silver". To be honest, it was my least favorite the first time I heard it. I thought of it as a bit of a throw away.
Then one night at a friend's summer party, we sat outside, with the song blaring through the windows. It was in the middle of nowhere, and that lonesome lull of a synth-laden bassline hooked me. Right in the heart.
And then I listened. Really listened. And I understood.
The instrumental version does not have the same lyrical push to it, but I feel that by listening to it, I feel like the two songs are almost palimpsests of one another. You get the feeling it conveys, even without the melancoly lyrics. And you still feel the open space even when you concentrate on the words being spoken-sung to you.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
New Modeselektor track
Oh, Modeselektor, how I love thee.
You know, I don't care if Silikon is four years old. I still dig it.
You know, I don't care if Silikon is four years old. I still dig it.
The Cold Song
This song just popped into my head #3
Don't ask me why.
But it did.
And I am glad.
Klaus Nomi was an alien god among men. R.I.P.
Don't ask me why.
But it did.
And I am glad.
Klaus Nomi was an alien god among men. R.I.P.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
I had forgotten...
This song just popped into my head #2
...how much I love Iron & Wine.
I mean, it goes beyond the beard love, but the first time I heard him, I thought to myself, "These are the songs that I would want to hear sung to me, in the middle of the night, very quietly, while laying in bed."
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Every song from a heart this mangled will be draped in strings, strings, strings
Image by Paul Hammond
I was lucky enough to meet Owen Pallett, a.k.a. Final Fantasy last time he performed here in Halifax. I think one of the most surreal moments I have experienced in the past few years was sitting in a dingy bar talking to him about Japanese literature while alcoholic gamblers played VLTs behind us.
I contacted Pallett a few months ago when I found out that he would be performing in Halifax during this year’s Halifax Pop Explosion. I wanted to interview him about the show, his career and his upcoming album, “Heartland”.
*
Your father was a church organist, correct? Did you grow up surrounded by ecclesiastical music, or was there any room for a bit of pop music in there?
FF: My favourite records, by age, were as follows. 3: Pachebel's Canon. 4: Vivaldi Four Seasons. 5: Bach Double Violin Concerto. 6: Holst The Planets. 7: Bartok Music For Strings, Percussion and Celeste. 8: Prokofiev Romeo And Juliet. 9: Stravinsky Rite Of Spring. 10: Digital Underground Sex Packets. 11: Jean Michel Jarre Oxygene. 12: Shostakovich 10th Symphony. 13: Black Sabbath Paranoid. 14: Sibelius 1st Symphony. 15: Bjork Post. 16: Tori Amos Boys For Pele. 17: Pink Floyd Animals. 18: US Maple Long Hair In Three Stages.
There. You can trace my entire history.
Have you ever wanted to do any arrangements of any "classical" pieces and record/perform them? I remember seeing you live for the first time a few years ago and thinking, 'I wonder what he would do with Part's "Fratres"…"
FF: No. I don't really think it's necessary. "Classical" pieces are concert pieces, meant for live performance. There's no point in trying to recreate a Mahler symphony on record. Also, in the 70s, I felt that it was pretty clear that most 'electro-acoustic' composers didn't give a shit about what was going on in pop music. Now, it's totally different. New music composers are writing albums, they're getting into how they sound. Honestly, I think 2008 was the best year for music, ever.
I heard about the performance you contributed to at Pop Montreal where you and members of Bell Orchestre created a new soundtrack to "Cruisin' 57". How did that come about?
FF: Well, Stef Schneider used his swishy-sense to contact me. I was busy banging some dude and all of a sudden, a message came in on my gaytennae. It said, "zzzzzrallyinmontrealzzzzzbringgaypr0ntothehipstermasseszzzzzzzpleaseconfirminvolvement". I thought to myself, "Gay porn? Hipsters? I'm there." Then I got in my penismobile and spurted off to Montreal. We rehearsed in between dinner parties and bathhouse visits.
In truth, Stef e-mailed me and I said, "OK."
The last time I emailed you, you were walking on something for the Pet Shop Boys. How was it working with Neil Tennant, a man who is arguably one of the greatest queer pop songcrafters of all time?
Awesome! He has a really strong Newcastle accent, though; it was difficult to understand him over the phone. Which is ironic! Because he has the finest elocution of all pop singers. But the new songs are great, they're a band that never fell off.
What was it like to work with the Pet Shop Boys?
Amazing!
Did the twelve-year-old gay kid in you get a little freaked out?
A little bit. Neil was sweet, complimented me on some Youtubes he'd seen and He Poos Clouds album. I have a hard time coming back and saying, "Well, Being Boring changed my life." I should've said so.
You've collaborated with everyone from Zach Condon to Grizzly Bear to Fucked Up. What is it about collaborations that bring about so much in you?
When you're a solo musician, there's no way of getting accurate feedback on your work. Except applause (measured in seconds). I love working with other musicians, just so that you can occasionally get a "that sucks!"
But your collaborations are rather disparate. Do Pet Shop Boys have anything in common with Fucked Up?
No, both collaborations were very different, obviously. Every collaboration is different. Pet Shop Boys, I didn't even meet the guys until later. Fucked Up, I didn't hear anything or score anything before recording, I just worked it out with them in the studio. Arcade Fire, they have clear ideas of what they're looking for, so I typically work with the entire band---especially Win, Regine, Sarah and Marika---in realizing their goals. I have a borderline perverse fascination with being entirely "at your service". It's wonderful.
Who have you yet to collaborate with that you would love to?
There are too many people to name. Thomas, my guitarist, we're only just starting to get to know each other musically, I'm really excited about working with him on writing some new songs.
Name a few, just for shits and giggles. (I personally have always wanted to do something with Yoko Ono).
Diamanda Galas, obviously. Dagmar Krause, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Dolly Parton.
Has anyone asked that you have said "No" to?
A few. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark asked me to do some work for them, orchestrating their early hits, but I those songs are too dear to me, it felt like I was asked to tattoo my children. After working on "Souvenir" for a couple of weeks, I turned them down. I once said no to Of Montreal, although I regret it. I did an arrangement for a song on Spoon's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" album, I thought it was one of the best arrangements I'd ever written, but they turned it down.
How did you react to their "no"?
I cried for about six seconds and then I stepped up my game.
You also are well known for performing covers of everything from Mariah to John Cale. Where does this love of covers come from?
I work on lots of covers at home, most of which you'll never hear.
Damn. You've done one album of covers, would you ever do another? Maybe of various artists, a la Cat Power?
I'd definitely love to do another album, covering another single artist. Or even more Alex Lukashevsky songs.
Are you sick of playing any?
Most of them, except Simon Bookish.
Have any of the artists whom you've covered contacted you to let you know what they think of your covers?
OMD did, Andy McClusky was really sweet about it.
What have you yet to cover that you think you should?
Hmm, I don't know. I used to really enjoy playing covers. In 2005, it really felt like not as many people were doing covers of contemporary songs, except for laffs. Now, though, it's out of control. You've got Glee doing po-faced versions of everything. Rappers covering indie, classical musicians covering IDM. It's mostly great, but I think the final straw for me was seeing that shiteous Dan Black cover of Biggie Smalls, that really, really damaged me and I don't think I'll ever try and cover anything ever again.
You've worked with so many people; do you ever feel like you're not giving yourself enough time for yourself and your work?
Always! But when I'm alone, I get lonely really quickly. I can work for a couple of days on my own before I start e-mailing Elton John, like, "Sir? Sir? Need an arrangement? What about now? How about now?"
How do you feel about performing with a symphony?
Excited like you wouldn't believe. There's a large part of me that wants to go out and get a camel raincoat, brimmed hat and thick brown spectacles. Walk around Halifax like an L.A. composer. But I'm restraining myself.
You were classically trained. Do you think your music fits in a symphonic format?
Not really. I studied classical but my heart and my ears are for pop albums. It's a funny thing, right? My boyfriend did cinema studies and now all he wants to watch is Lindsay Lohan. I'm dating a Cinema Studies graduate and I've never seen a single Truffaut.
That said, I've wanted to make an orchestral album for some time and I'm excited that I might be able to share some songs in that format. Nostrovia!
If you were to perform a traditional "classical" piece, what would it be?
Galina Ustvolskaya doesn't sound anything like Final Fantasy but I've always thought our music comes from the same place.
You're constantly touring. How do you find time to write/compose?
I have a laptop.
You once told me you have moments where you wonder if what you're doing is worthwhile. How do you fight that?
There are a tonne of things I could say about this, but most are best saved for therapy. Essentially, I feel that the music scene that I grew up with, and the values and currencies that shaped me, that scene is long past. I'm not talking about file sharing--although it is a hideously manic thing for a musician to consider that their music is both worthless and yet eagerly shared. I'm talking about the surprising things that free music has midwifed. The value of music writing, for example; many people would rather read about music than listen to it. Which is really interesting! But it's also kind of weird, as a musician.
*
Final Fantasy performs with Symphony Nova Scotia, Friday October 23rd, at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Into the realm of Final Fantasy
This Friday, in conjunction with the Halifax Pop Explosion, Owen Pallett, a.k.a., Final Fantasy, is performing with Symphony Nova Scotia at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.
Image courtesy of Final Fantasy Eternal
I have recently interviewed Pallett for this blog (which should be posted by Friday) as well as hopefully a radio interview for CKDU's (and J-school) The Radio Room.
I'll keep you posted!
Image courtesy of Final Fantasy Eternal
I have recently interviewed Pallett for this blog (which should be posted by Friday) as well as hopefully a radio interview for CKDU's (and J-school) The Radio Room.
I'll keep you posted!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Why didn't I listen to this earlier: Rufus & Chaka Khan
Disco is not a dirty word #15
Why didn't I listen to this earlier #1
Occasionally you will buy or find something and you might think, "I should really check this out." I'm not talking about a recent album, I'm talking about an album or an artists that is so intrinsic to popular culture (or a particular sub-culture) that you kind of ignore them because you think either:
a.) they're not worth knowing
b.) you'll hear it eventually.
And that's how I ended up buying this album by Rufus & Chaka Khan:
It's been sitting among a pile of other records that I had yet to listen to. "I'll get to it eventually".
And now, I can't take it off my turntable.
Why I didn't listen to this before, I don't know.
Enjoy
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Phenomenal Handclap Band:
Disco is not a dirty word #14
For fans of Munk, !!!, Liquid Liquid and live disco bands. A 12" was released a few weeks ago, featuring remixed by Horse Meat Disco
Enjoy.
For fans of Munk, !!!, Liquid Liquid and live disco bands. A 12" was released a few weeks ago, featuring remixed by Horse Meat Disco
Enjoy.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Pop
This song just popped into my head #1
Beth Orton, "The Sweetest Decline", from Central Reservation.
Don't mind the cheesy images. Just close your eyes.
Edit:
So as I am looking up other songs by Beth Orton, including, "I wish I never saw the sunshine", and little do I know, but it's actually a song by the Ronnettes!!!
Listen and be wowed.
Beth Orton, "The Sweetest Decline", from Central Reservation.
Don't mind the cheesy images. Just close your eyes.
Edit:
So as I am looking up other songs by Beth Orton, including, "I wish I never saw the sunshine", and little do I know, but it's actually a song by the Ronnettes!!!
Listen and be wowed.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The last episode of Moody Morning Music
I'm in the mood for this #28
Today, July 21st, 2009, is the day I finish my radio show on CKDU. I have been doing Moody Morning Music for over five years now and have pretty much loved every second of it. But because of scheduling conflicts, I can no longer continue.
I'd like to thank the guests who have come on the show (Jose Gonzalez, Joel Gibb of the Hidden Cameras, Paul Hammond, Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees to name a few) as well as team CKDU and all of those who exposed me to new music. Thank you.
You can find past playlists here and you can download the last episode here. The playlist is encoded into the mp3.
Thank you.
Today, July 21st, 2009, is the day I finish my radio show on CKDU. I have been doing Moody Morning Music for over five years now and have pretty much loved every second of it. But because of scheduling conflicts, I can no longer continue.
I'd like to thank the guests who have come on the show (Jose Gonzalez, Joel Gibb of the Hidden Cameras, Paul Hammond, Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees to name a few) as well as team CKDU and all of those who exposed me to new music. Thank you.
You can find past playlists here and you can download the last episode here. The playlist is encoded into the mp3.
Thank you.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Final Fantasy returns to Halifax
The Halifax Pop Explosion has started cock-teasing us with some of the acts which will be playing this year at the annual music fest which blows into town every October.
According to some info I found on a local messageboard, this year's crew looks as good as ever, especially since one Owen Pallett, aka Final Fantasy will be playing.
Image by Paul Hammond
According to a press release,
The Halifax Pop Explosion announces Final Fantasy, Japandroids, Japanther, The Acorn, Ohbijou & Julie Doiron with Herman Dune for 2009 line-up
...early bird passes on sale Friday, July 10 / showcase submissions deadline is July 20
(Halifax, NS) - The Halifax Pop Explosion announces Final Fantasy, Japandroids, Japanther, The Acorn, Ohbijou and Julie Doiron with Herman Dune as the initial acts confirmed for its 2009 line-up. Early bird passes for the festival go on sale Friday, July 10.
Presented by Rogers, The Halifax Pop Explosion is a five day music festival and conference that takes place from October 20 to 24 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Founded in 1993, the festival is one the country's premiere showcases of emerging music, art and culture from Halifax, Canada, and around the world.
Initial acts confirmed for the festival include: Kanye West endorsed, Fleet Foxes tour mates, The Acorn; Polaris Prize winning Arcade Fire & Beirut collaborator, Final Fantasy; critically adored noise-pop act, Japandroids; New York based punk rockers, Japanther; genre spanning legend, Julie Doiron, who will perform with renowned French folk act, Herman Dune; and Last Gang recording artists, Ohbijou.
I had heard rumblings that he would be playing with Symphony Nova Scotia.
Let's just say I hope there is more than one show. If there is, I will be going to both.
According to some info I found on a local messageboard, this year's crew looks as good as ever, especially since one Owen Pallett, aka Final Fantasy will be playing.
Image by Paul Hammond
According to a press release,
The Halifax Pop Explosion announces Final Fantasy, Japandroids, Japanther, The Acorn, Ohbijou & Julie Doiron with Herman Dune for 2009 line-up
...early bird passes on sale Friday, July 10 / showcase submissions deadline is July 20
(Halifax, NS) - The Halifax Pop Explosion announces Final Fantasy, Japandroids, Japanther, The Acorn, Ohbijou and Julie Doiron with Herman Dune as the initial acts confirmed for its 2009 line-up. Early bird passes for the festival go on sale Friday, July 10.
Presented by Rogers, The Halifax Pop Explosion is a five day music festival and conference that takes place from October 20 to 24 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Founded in 1993, the festival is one the country's premiere showcases of emerging music, art and culture from Halifax, Canada, and around the world.
Initial acts confirmed for the festival include: Kanye West endorsed, Fleet Foxes tour mates, The Acorn; Polaris Prize winning Arcade Fire & Beirut collaborator, Final Fantasy; critically adored noise-pop act, Japandroids; New York based punk rockers, Japanther; genre spanning legend, Julie Doiron, who will perform with renowned French folk act, Herman Dune; and Last Gang recording artists, Ohbijou.
I had heard rumblings that he would be playing with Symphony Nova Scotia.
Let's just say I hope there is more than one show. If there is, I will be going to both.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Italo.
Disco is not a dirty word #12
I found this today.
It's a short article by Serge Santiago about his love of Italo and twenty of the most fundamental Italo records ever made.
MP3 and crate digging, here I come.
Friday, June 19, 2009
More disco
Disco is not a dirty word #11
I can't help it. I'm obsessed.
I will be posting more about the wonderful world of disco.
In the meantime, enjoy this track which has been stuck in my head for the past few weeks.
I can't help it. I'm obsessed.
I will be posting more about the wonderful world of disco.
In the meantime, enjoy this track which has been stuck in my head for the past few weeks.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A heavy cross to bear
Watch this #6
New releases #9
Major label. A career that has humble roots in blues-tinged rawk. A recent flirt with disco and electronics.
Holy shit, I love the Gossip.
New releases #9
Major label. A career that has humble roots in blues-tinged rawk. A recent flirt with disco and electronics.
Holy shit, I love the Gossip.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Let's get busy with Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees
Let's get busy #2
Photo by Robin Hart Hiltz
Halifax has never been better for dancing since this little foursome decided to drop in to town. Recently featured in Billboard magazine, Halifax's Ruby Jean & The Thoughtul Bees have done a lot in such a small time since their inception a little under two years ago. What began as a bit of a side project for these musicians (Rebekah Higgs, an acoustically based singer songwriter, who recently opened for Jose Gonzales), Jason Vautour (Alright Already, Jon Epworth & The Improvements as well as man-about-town with a guitar), Colin Crowell (Jon McKiel, DJing about town) and Sean MacGillivray (ex-Burdock, currently playing with Jenn Grant and with Jason on Alright Already) has collectively led them to touring non-stop and recording and releasing an album out on Youth Club Records.
I sat down with these four and we talked about their new album, the vagaries of touring (swingers conventions, staying in shitty motels) and what it's like to be four musicians who are known about town for putting on a wicked show.
Tune in
Photo by Robin Hart Hiltz
Halifax has never been better for dancing since this little foursome decided to drop in to town. Recently featured in Billboard magazine, Halifax's Ruby Jean & The Thoughtul Bees have done a lot in such a small time since their inception a little under two years ago. What began as a bit of a side project for these musicians (Rebekah Higgs, an acoustically based singer songwriter, who recently opened for Jose Gonzales), Jason Vautour (Alright Already, Jon Epworth & The Improvements as well as man-about-town with a guitar), Colin Crowell (Jon McKiel, DJing about town) and Sean MacGillivray (ex-Burdock, currently playing with Jenn Grant and with Jason on Alright Already) has collectively led them to touring non-stop and recording and releasing an album out on Youth Club Records.
I sat down with these four and we talked about their new album, the vagaries of touring (swingers conventions, staying in shitty motels) and what it's like to be four musicians who are known about town for putting on a wicked show.
Tune in
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Let's get busy
Let's get busy #1
I've been doing Moody Morning Music for over four years now. In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to interview various people such as Jose Gonzales, Chr!s Sm!th and Paul Rodeo to talk about their relationship with music. I enjoyed doing these interviews, but I wanted to go a little more local. I also wanted to give these people the opportunity to do what I do, which is play some of their favorite records on the air.
So to start things off easy, I went with some of the crew here at I wanna listen to this and gathered up Loukas and Jonathan to talk about their careers in halifax as DJs, promoters, band mates, record store employees, graphic artists and more. Then we got down to the nitty gritty and played some records.
Coming up on the show (and on this site!) are interviews with The Stolen Minks, The Maynards, Dubious (aka Jon Dacey) and many more. Stay tuned and plugged in!
My guests (and myself, hidden behind them) as they do their stuff at a party we held called "Slumtown Turntable Dance Party", held at The Bus Stop, here in Halifax.
Listen up!
I've been doing Moody Morning Music for over four years now. In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to interview various people such as Jose Gonzales, Chr!s Sm!th and Paul Rodeo to talk about their relationship with music. I enjoyed doing these interviews, but I wanted to go a little more local. I also wanted to give these people the opportunity to do what I do, which is play some of their favorite records on the air.
So to start things off easy, I went with some of the crew here at I wanna listen to this and gathered up Loukas and Jonathan to talk about their careers in halifax as DJs, promoters, band mates, record store employees, graphic artists and more. Then we got down to the nitty gritty and played some records.
Coming up on the show (and on this site!) are interviews with The Stolen Minks, The Maynards, Dubious (aka Jon Dacey) and many more. Stay tuned and plugged in!
My guests (and myself, hidden behind them) as they do their stuff at a party we held called "Slumtown Turntable Dance Party", held at The Bus Stop, here in Halifax.
Listen up!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The best of the messed.
Dig this#2
It's that time of year. Blogs, magazines, websites and your idiot friends are all making their lists and checking it twice, making sure they didn't miss anything.
It's the best of 2008, according to some of us, here at I wanna listen to this.
Enjoy.
Shannon Webb-Campbell makes some of us envious by constantly getting published and interviewing cool people.
1. FLEET FOXES Fleet Foxes
2. RAE SPOON Superioryouareinferior
3. TANYA DAVIS Gorgeous Morning
4. HEY ROSETTA! Into Your Lungs
5. SARAH SLEAN The Baroness
6. JILL BARBER Chances
7. HAYDEN In Field and Town
8. STOLEN MINKS High Kicks
9. BRIAN BORCHERDT Coyotes
10. STEREOLAB Chemical Chords
Loukas Crowther is a musician, dj and design fiend. He also has a tendency of getting hit on by gay men.
Top 30 singles (I normally just do 25, but it was a special year) solely in alphabetical order.
1. Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You
2. CSS - Rat Is Dead (Rage)
3. Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire
4. Dave Gahan - Deeper and Deeper
5. Does It Offend You You, Yeah - Day of the Dead
6. Duchess Says - In Serial
7. Eric Prydz - Pjanoo (Mansion Edit)
8. Estelle - American Boy (Tenzin Remix)
9. God Is An Astronaut - Post Morem
10. Greenskeepers - Vagabond
11. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
12. Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Peaches Remix)
13. Ladytron - Versus
14. Late of the Pier - Space and the Woods
15. Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Remix)
16. M83 - Couleurs
17. Oasis - The Turning
18. The Presets - Yippyo-Ay
19. The Rapture - No Sex for Ben
20. Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
21. Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains - I Hate My Friends
22. Sons & Daughters - This Gift
23. The Tings Tings - Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)
24. Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor (Lifelike Remix)
25. Trevor Andrew - Bang Bang
26. The Whip - Sister Siam
27. Woodhands - Dancer
28. Woolfy - Oh Missy
29. Yelle - Je Veux te Voir
30. Young Widows - Took A Turn
Ok ok, some of those were technically singles released in 2008 when the albums were in 2007, forgive me; I cheated.
Top 5 albums.......
The Presets - Apocalypso
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Sons & Daughters - This Gift
Young Widows - Old Wounds
Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
Simon Thibault spent the entire summer digging through record bins and old dusty antique stores for disco records. In the meantime, he tries to find time to write and cook, all the while a steady 4/4 beat plays in the background.
Some of my fave songs of the year, in no order.
1.) Happy House, Juan MacLean
At the beginning of the year, through some strange circumstance, I found Juan MacLean on facebook. I sent him an email telling him how much I loved Give me every little thing". He actually wrote me back and told me to keep my eyes and ears peeled for a new release and that it would blow my mind. I didn't keep them peeled as well as I should have, because I only discovered this gem at the end of the year, when in fact, it had been released in March. Day-um. You mean I could've been rocking to this all summer long?
12 unadulterated minutues of disco glory.
2.)Hold on, Holy Ghost
Discovered through a remix done by Mock & Toof, this is just another example of how DFA records had an amazing year this year (see: Juan Maclean, Hercules & Love affair)
3.)Just like heaven, The Watson Twins
I love cover tunes. Who knew that a country-tinged Cure song could do me in?
4.) She & him, “You really got a hold on me”
Who knew that Zooey Deschanel could do me in?
5.) Portishead, "Machine Gun”
Why not announce your arrival through a torrent of harsh and syncopated bullet beats.
6.)Antibodies, Poni Hoax
Budapest may have heralded their arrival, but this songs annouces that they are staying.
7.)MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E., “Bounce”
All I do is party.
8.)Gnarls Barkley, "Who’s gonna save my soul"
Besides being a stunning track, the video is not only carries the song into the stratosphere, but into the realm of our dreams...
9.) Chad Van Gaalen, Willow Tree
I had kinda given up on Chad Van Gaalen. There was no hook for me. Then I heard this song and everything else fell into place.
10.)Adem, "Boy/Girl Song/How To Cure A Weakling Child".
It would of course, take someone else to point out to us that Aphex Twin can be delicate.
and last but not least:
11.)Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind".
If I had to choose one song that made it for me this year, it would be this. Released well in advance of the album, this track, featuring the haunting vocals of Antony Hegarty (of whom one would never think "disco diva") this track by Andy Butler, the mind behind Hercules & Love Affair stood out for so many reasons, not only for it's sheer wonder and scope, but for introducing countless listeners to the wonders of disco once again. No, he didn't do this alone, but he DID (arguably) forge the world of disco forward, not only for the elitists and cognoscenti, but for the masses as well.
Fave Remixes of the year, in no order
1.) "Paper Planes (DFA Remix)", M.I.A.
Yes, the album came out in 2007, but the single came into its own in 2008, thanks to a movie about two stoners. Huh.
But the track shines, IMO, under the helm of James Murphy, remixed with a sweet bassline that gives you a ride from the first beat till the end.
2.) "Hearts On Fire, (Holy Ghost remix)", Cut Copy
Although the single was actually released in 2007, the single picked up a lot of heat once the album dropped in 2008. I have my friend Hank to thank for telling me about this mix. Apparently he heard it while at Burning Man while the man was on fire. Transcendant, to say the least.
3.) "Hold On (Mock'n'Toof Remix)", Holy Ghost (tie) with "Hold On (Blackjoy Mazego Groove)"
This is such a great record that a remix not only lifts the record outside of itself, but leaves us wanting more. You want to know all the variants. From the Mock'n'toof 303-esque bassline and it's dubby vocals to the Blackjoy Mazego Groove which is ever so slightly cosmic. Just another example of why DFA is still one of the best labels out there today.
4.) "Electric Feel (Justice Remix)", MGMT.
Even just saying this record exists is like reading music blog porn for a lot of people. But forget the hype, let the speakers bang out the beat and remember why you fell in love with both Justice and MGMT all at once. Ignore the holier-than-thou hipsters who tell you you're passe. You're the one dancing, while they stand there with their arms crossed, stroking their shit. Fuck that.
5.) "Kids (Soulwax Remix), MGMT
Soulwax either hits the nail on the head or ends up hitting their thumb and we're left with listening to their expletives. Yes, this remix sounds vaguely like their work with The Gossip, but then again, wasn't that a great record anyway? All mistakes are forgiven when you can just stop and yell out, "Control yourself, take only what you need from it" at the top of your lungs.
6.) "Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Soulwax Remix)", The Chemical Brothers
In 1999, The Chemical Brothers swatted away the 2nd album curse with the release of "Hey Boy Hey Girl" featuring a dizzyingly trippy video of skeletons dancing at an all night party (we had stopped calling them raves for a few years now, thank you). It was a record you occasionally heard dropped in the middle of a set, usually when the place was ready to explode and the place was packed with people who remember hearing it the first time it came out in the clubs (which put most of us squarely in our 30's). Soulwax, for some reason, decided to play with this record this year, reminding us that the brothers never forgot how to work it out.
7.) Feed the Animals", Girl Talk
I didn't know where to put this. I'm not listing it as an album of the year, because essentially, this entire album is one giant cut-up/remix/thing. And what a thing it is. Released online early in the spring (and on cd later in the fall), Gregg Gillis not only hits his stride, he kicks it into highgear, never leaving you wanting. He has an uncanny sense of knowing when to cut, when to bring in the new beat, when to go off and when to bring you down.
Fave albums of the year, at random.
1.) TV On The Radio, "Dear Science"
The guitar, drums and bass hit you in the first three seconds. Then comes that voice. That amazing voice that brings you along for the ride. No, this album does not have a "Wolf Like Me", but it doesn't have to. This is TV On The Radio unafraid and unfettered, doing what they believe in. Their faith in their motives and practices expresses itself in their lyrics, sounds, melodies and production. This is the work of a cohesive unit who knows what it is looking to do.
2.) Sigur Ros, "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust"
Apparently the appartition of an english language track on this album was something a lot of people thought was newsworthy. But Sigur Ros isn't made to be newsworthy. It is a very private thing people listen to in quiet huddles, either alone or in tandem. Every time I hear certain Sigur Ros tracks for the first time (or see the videos), I cry. Why? Because if I could look inside myself and listen to my heartbeat, it would most probably sound a lot like this.
3.) Portishead, "Third"
A local punker I know emailed me and asked me if I could send him a copy of this album. I'm not going to admit to doing such a thing, for it is tenuously illegal, but let me say this. Everyone wanted to know what this would sound like. We have been revisiting "Dummy" for over ten years now and even though we probably won't be sick of it (if ever), it would be nice to know what this collection of dirty and dangerous minds wish to unleash upon us. It is dark, it is dangerous, and it is possibly some of the most beautiful sounds to come out of this Bristol group.
4.) Hercules and Love Affair, "S/T"
Proof that disco is not a dirty word. Andy Butler proves that there is more to him than being blind and leaves us starry eyed and not only wanting to groove, but leaves us appreciating a much maligned genre.
5.)Old Man Luedecke, "Proof Of Love"
Chris Luedecke often performs alone, armed with his ukelele and his wonderful songs, braving the stage all by his lonesome. It takes a special kind of performer to do this. It takes an even bigger man to know when to go out and ask for help. On "Proof of Love", Luedecke brings in a whole band which at first, is a little odd for fans who are used to his shows (and early albums) where it's usually just one man and his banjo filling the sound of the room. But here, Luedecke decides to bring his friends along, and we can't be mad at him for allowing us to be privy to his own personal musical party.
6.) Hot Chip, "Made In The Dark"
I am ready for the floor, thanks to this early 2008 release. Hot Chip started off the year right for many of us, still in love with our old remixes of "Over & Over" with a great video for "Ready for the Floor". "One Pure Thought" and "Shake A Fist" had us dancing while the title track showed us that Hot Chip is not just for groovin', but for lovin'.
The list finishes with EPs, a format which is often forgotten among most of us. We're used to being given an entire album. But here, we're given snippets, musical aperitifs as we await the larger meal which is to come.
7.) Antony & The Johnsons, "Another World"
The title track is worth the price of admission alone. Antony released this EP at the end of the year, with the promise of an album in early 2009. If this EP is any indication of what Hegarty is going to deliver, it is going to be a year full of people in awe of him and his amazing voice, once again. Kudos.
8.) Final Fantasy, "Spectrum, 14th century" & "Plays to Please".
Two for the price of one. Or rather, two amazing releases in their own right. In "Plays to Please", Owen Pallett pays tribute to fellow torontonian Alex Lukashevsky with an EP of covers. Pallett is known for producing his fair share of covers, both in concert and on a few releases, but it is never out of boredom or laziness, but rather in wishing to pay tribute to someone or something which has pleased and given him pause. On "Spectrum", Pallett sings dark and beautiful fables, especially "Blue Imelda" and "The Butcher". If this is any indication of what is to come in 2009, I can only dream.
Labels of the year:
DFA
To many, DFA has already had its golden age when it helped introduce dance punk to the masses with The Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers" and LCD Soundsystem's first singles. But in 2007, James Murphy, co-founder and LCD's headman released "Sound of Silver" and launched a sublabel under the moniker "Death From Abroad", highlighting some of the best disco to have been distributed stateside in quite a while. This was almost like some extended intro to what would happen in 2007, when releases by Juan Maclean, Holy Ghost, Yacht, Hercules and Love Affair and Hot Chip made us stand up and pay attention to the little label that could.
Strut
Between 1999 and 2003, Strut records was revered among dance music enthusiats for unearthing many forgotten leftfield disco records with their "Disco not disco" series as well as bringing to light many forgotten records that were only known by obsessives and the dance cognoscenti (often one in the same). In 2008, Strut resurfaced, having come back with the help of K7 and kickstarted the year with the third installment in the Disco Not Disco series featuring tracks by Maximum Joy, James White & The Blacks and Shriekback.
They soon followed this up by releasing a compilation of Compass Point recordings (a studio for which we have to thank for helping create the sounds of early 80's caribbean tinged disco, ala Tom Tom Club and Grace Jones "La vie en rose" era recordings.). They also released a collection of forgotten afro funk records, italo disco classics and best of all, "Going Places: The August Darnell years", highlighting the influence that one man had on so many records that bumped their way into the nights of so many soundsystems across the us and europe.
Jeffrey Liberatore is an elitist and a snob, but spends most of his time with undesirables.
1. Lulu Rouge – "Bless You” LP (Music For Dreams)
Kenneth Bager’s Music For Dreams Label put out this amazing piece of dark dub by two Danish kids in mid may. It quickly became the soundtrack to Sunday nights fuelled by red wine. Sounding similar to the records William Bevan has been putting out of south London lately, but with an amazing array of vocalists. The record as a whole comes off like a darker version of early basic channel dub techno, this was/is my favourite record for stalking rain soaked streets at midnight.
2. Zombie Zombie – ‘A Land For Renegades’ LP (Versatile Recordings)
If George Romero was a disco DJ this is what his nightclub would soundlike. So you combine Claudio Simonetti’s soundtracks for Argento films, John Carpenter-esque synthscapes, motorik/krautrock beats a la Neu!, throw on some Daniel Ash type vocals and you get the best horror disco record of the year, plus a bitchin’ cover of Iggy Pop/David Bowie’s “Nightclubbing”, considering the past couple of years have seen alot of records attempting to achieve this dark prog dancefloor vibe, although not totally innovative, these two frenchies make you wanna dance while being boiled alive (or something). Bonus points for agitated punk screaming on “Jay Rules” and “I scream you scream”.
3. Don Rimini – ‘Absolutley Rad’ EP (Mental Groove)
Huge rave track, worth the price of admission for Manu Le Malin’s remix of “Let Me Back Up”. Every stadium rave DJ worth their weight in gold was playing this bass heavy electro monster. Rumour has it that aside from the D.I.M/Proxy/Les Petites Pilous school of electro rave this was getting big ups on scarier dancefloors by the likes of Savas Pascalidis & the Horrorist. “4/4 dirtyoverdrive techno-rock slammer” or something.
4. Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk – ‘Love Can't Turn Around’ 12’’ (Back Yard recordings)
So you’re probably thinking this record is over twenty years old, why chart it in 2008? But this ‘Love Can't Turn Around (Boys Noize Started Like This Mix)’ was the nostalgia remix of the year. Alex Ridha adds a filter to the original bassline, filters some Isaac Hayes samples, adds his own keyboard work and time stretches Darryl Pandy’s vocals. And by the time the 3:30 mark hits and Darryl is screaming ‘Work Your Body’ at the top of his lungs, you’re in warehouse heaven.
5. VA – ‘Munich Disco Tech Volume 1’ EP (Great Stuff Recordings)
Munich gets really filthy with this EP that came out this summer, there was one track that all the crunchy rave DJ’s got behind off this EP, Tonka turns in a shuddering tech house stop-start fest called "Freeze". It was charted by TIga, Thomas Von Party, Brodinski blah blah blah. My god though it has this stomping martial beat, squealing synths that just build and build and this subermeged vocal urging you to ‘celebrate’. This was played in far too many living rooms at four am this summer.
6. Fan Death – ‘Veronica’s Veil’ 12” (Phantasy Sound)
This 12” deserved to be the pop record of the year, but everybody was too busy listening to Lady Gaga. Brilliant Icy Detached female vocals, grooving little bassline, disco strings that could’ve been written by Kelley Polar, synth’s galore and lyrics about a veil that a woman wiped Jesus’ brow with? Huh? Anyho the b-side had Erol Alkan shaking off his trashy electro rock cliché to put out a extended disco version with less of the vocal and more of the strings, that quickly became an office fave (even for the people who listen to Lady Gaga).
7. Koko Von Napoo – ‘Polly’ 7” (Trouble Records)
Koko Von Napoo are a pop band. They make elegant synth drones like Blondie fronted by Mary Hansen produced by Air singing in French. It makes me Happy each morning. The End.
8. LSB – ‘Loco Motion’ 12” (Eskimo)
Biggest Disco record of the year, period. Pete Hebert attacks the dancefloor with a nice house undercurrent, plenty of piano action, vocal samples, stuttered snares, a tonne of congas and a lovely horn section at the end.
9. Last Shadow Puppets – ‘The Age Of The Understatement’ LP (Domino)
Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) & Miles Kane (The Rascals) team up to represent their love of David Bowie’s mod output on Deram and Scott Walker's early solo records. Their two voices harmonise brilliantly, Owen Pallet writes some huge scenic string sections and the boys play Morricone-esque guitars, this album start to finish is a rush to the head.
10. Wild Beasts – ‘Limbo Panto’ LP (Domino)
The most original guitar based record i’ve heard this decade? I dunno, but it’s something special, Hayden Thorpe has the most unusual voice on a rock record, kinda like Antony Heggarty, Brian Molko & the kid from JJ72. Anyo, weird humorous british tales over melodic yet bizarre drums/guitar/bass combos. There’s odd Jazzy Waltzes, Galloping Baroque pop in 4/4 time and anthem to end all anthems “Devil’s Crayon”.
*
Sorry this took so long, but dang, we've been busy writing this stuff for you!
It's that time of year. Blogs, magazines, websites and your idiot friends are all making their lists and checking it twice, making sure they didn't miss anything.
It's the best of 2008, according to some of us, here at I wanna listen to this.
Enjoy.
Shannon Webb-Campbell makes some of us envious by constantly getting published and interviewing cool people.
1. FLEET FOXES Fleet Foxes
2. RAE SPOON Superioryouareinferior
3. TANYA DAVIS Gorgeous Morning
4. HEY ROSETTA! Into Your Lungs
5. SARAH SLEAN The Baroness
6. JILL BARBER Chances
7. HAYDEN In Field and Town
8. STOLEN MINKS High Kicks
9. BRIAN BORCHERDT Coyotes
10. STEREOLAB Chemical Chords
Loukas Crowther is a musician, dj and design fiend. He also has a tendency of getting hit on by gay men.
Top 30 singles (I normally just do 25, but it was a special year) solely in alphabetical order.
1. Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You
2. CSS - Rat Is Dead (Rage)
3. Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire
4. Dave Gahan - Deeper and Deeper
5. Does It Offend You You, Yeah - Day of the Dead
6. Duchess Says - In Serial
7. Eric Prydz - Pjanoo (Mansion Edit)
8. Estelle - American Boy (Tenzin Remix)
9. God Is An Astronaut - Post Morem
10. Greenskeepers - Vagabond
11. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
12. Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Peaches Remix)
13. Ladytron - Versus
14. Late of the Pier - Space and the Woods
15. Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Remix)
16. M83 - Couleurs
17. Oasis - The Turning
18. The Presets - Yippyo-Ay
19. The Rapture - No Sex for Ben
20. Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
21. Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains - I Hate My Friends
22. Sons & Daughters - This Gift
23. The Tings Tings - Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)
24. Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor (Lifelike Remix)
25. Trevor Andrew - Bang Bang
26. The Whip - Sister Siam
27. Woodhands - Dancer
28. Woolfy - Oh Missy
29. Yelle - Je Veux te Voir
30. Young Widows - Took A Turn
Ok ok, some of those were technically singles released in 2008 when the albums were in 2007, forgive me; I cheated.
Top 5 albums.......
The Presets - Apocalypso
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Sons & Daughters - This Gift
Young Widows - Old Wounds
Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
Simon Thibault spent the entire summer digging through record bins and old dusty antique stores for disco records. In the meantime, he tries to find time to write and cook, all the while a steady 4/4 beat plays in the background.
Some of my fave songs of the year, in no order.
1.) Happy House, Juan MacLean
At the beginning of the year, through some strange circumstance, I found Juan MacLean on facebook. I sent him an email telling him how much I loved Give me every little thing". He actually wrote me back and told me to keep my eyes and ears peeled for a new release and that it would blow my mind. I didn't keep them peeled as well as I should have, because I only discovered this gem at the end of the year, when in fact, it had been released in March. Day-um. You mean I could've been rocking to this all summer long?
12 unadulterated minutues of disco glory.
2.)Hold on, Holy Ghost
Discovered through a remix done by Mock & Toof, this is just another example of how DFA records had an amazing year this year (see: Juan Maclean, Hercules & Love affair)
3.)Just like heaven, The Watson Twins
I love cover tunes. Who knew that a country-tinged Cure song could do me in?
4.) She & him, “You really got a hold on me”
Who knew that Zooey Deschanel could do me in?
5.) Portishead, "Machine Gun”
Why not announce your arrival through a torrent of harsh and syncopated bullet beats.
6.)Antibodies, Poni Hoax
Budapest may have heralded their arrival, but this songs annouces that they are staying.
7.)MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E., “Bounce”
All I do is party.
8.)Gnarls Barkley, "Who’s gonna save my soul"
Besides being a stunning track, the video is not only carries the song into the stratosphere, but into the realm of our dreams...
9.) Chad Van Gaalen, Willow Tree
I had kinda given up on Chad Van Gaalen. There was no hook for me. Then I heard this song and everything else fell into place.
10.)Adem, "Boy/Girl Song/How To Cure A Weakling Child".
It would of course, take someone else to point out to us that Aphex Twin can be delicate.
and last but not least:
11.)Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind".
If I had to choose one song that made it for me this year, it would be this. Released well in advance of the album, this track, featuring the haunting vocals of Antony Hegarty (of whom one would never think "disco diva") this track by Andy Butler, the mind behind Hercules & Love Affair stood out for so many reasons, not only for it's sheer wonder and scope, but for introducing countless listeners to the wonders of disco once again. No, he didn't do this alone, but he DID (arguably) forge the world of disco forward, not only for the elitists and cognoscenti, but for the masses as well.
Fave Remixes of the year, in no order
1.) "Paper Planes (DFA Remix)", M.I.A.
Yes, the album came out in 2007, but the single came into its own in 2008, thanks to a movie about two stoners. Huh.
But the track shines, IMO, under the helm of James Murphy, remixed with a sweet bassline that gives you a ride from the first beat till the end.
2.) "Hearts On Fire, (Holy Ghost remix)", Cut Copy
Although the single was actually released in 2007, the single picked up a lot of heat once the album dropped in 2008. I have my friend Hank to thank for telling me about this mix. Apparently he heard it while at Burning Man while the man was on fire. Transcendant, to say the least.
3.) "Hold On (Mock'n'Toof Remix)", Holy Ghost (tie) with "Hold On (Blackjoy Mazego Groove)"
This is such a great record that a remix not only lifts the record outside of itself, but leaves us wanting more. You want to know all the variants. From the Mock'n'toof 303-esque bassline and it's dubby vocals to the Blackjoy Mazego Groove which is ever so slightly cosmic. Just another example of why DFA is still one of the best labels out there today.
4.) "Electric Feel (Justice Remix)", MGMT.
Even just saying this record exists is like reading music blog porn for a lot of people. But forget the hype, let the speakers bang out the beat and remember why you fell in love with both Justice and MGMT all at once. Ignore the holier-than-thou hipsters who tell you you're passe. You're the one dancing, while they stand there with their arms crossed, stroking their shit. Fuck that.
5.) "Kids (Soulwax Remix), MGMT
Soulwax either hits the nail on the head or ends up hitting their thumb and we're left with listening to their expletives. Yes, this remix sounds vaguely like their work with The Gossip, but then again, wasn't that a great record anyway? All mistakes are forgiven when you can just stop and yell out, "Control yourself, take only what you need from it" at the top of your lungs.
6.) "Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Soulwax Remix)", The Chemical Brothers
In 1999, The Chemical Brothers swatted away the 2nd album curse with the release of "Hey Boy Hey Girl" featuring a dizzyingly trippy video of skeletons dancing at an all night party (we had stopped calling them raves for a few years now, thank you). It was a record you occasionally heard dropped in the middle of a set, usually when the place was ready to explode and the place was packed with people who remember hearing it the first time it came out in the clubs (which put most of us squarely in our 30's). Soulwax, for some reason, decided to play with this record this year, reminding us that the brothers never forgot how to work it out.
7.) Feed the Animals", Girl Talk
I didn't know where to put this. I'm not listing it as an album of the year, because essentially, this entire album is one giant cut-up/remix/thing. And what a thing it is. Released online early in the spring (and on cd later in the fall), Gregg Gillis not only hits his stride, he kicks it into highgear, never leaving you wanting. He has an uncanny sense of knowing when to cut, when to bring in the new beat, when to go off and when to bring you down.
Fave albums of the year, at random.
1.) TV On The Radio, "Dear Science"
The guitar, drums and bass hit you in the first three seconds. Then comes that voice. That amazing voice that brings you along for the ride. No, this album does not have a "Wolf Like Me", but it doesn't have to. This is TV On The Radio unafraid and unfettered, doing what they believe in. Their faith in their motives and practices expresses itself in their lyrics, sounds, melodies and production. This is the work of a cohesive unit who knows what it is looking to do.
2.) Sigur Ros, "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust"
Apparently the appartition of an english language track on this album was something a lot of people thought was newsworthy. But Sigur Ros isn't made to be newsworthy. It is a very private thing people listen to in quiet huddles, either alone or in tandem. Every time I hear certain Sigur Ros tracks for the first time (or see the videos), I cry. Why? Because if I could look inside myself and listen to my heartbeat, it would most probably sound a lot like this.
3.) Portishead, "Third"
A local punker I know emailed me and asked me if I could send him a copy of this album. I'm not going to admit to doing such a thing, for it is tenuously illegal, but let me say this. Everyone wanted to know what this would sound like. We have been revisiting "Dummy" for over ten years now and even though we probably won't be sick of it (if ever), it would be nice to know what this collection of dirty and dangerous minds wish to unleash upon us. It is dark, it is dangerous, and it is possibly some of the most beautiful sounds to come out of this Bristol group.
4.) Hercules and Love Affair, "S/T"
Proof that disco is not a dirty word. Andy Butler proves that there is more to him than being blind and leaves us starry eyed and not only wanting to groove, but leaves us appreciating a much maligned genre.
5.)Old Man Luedecke, "Proof Of Love"
Chris Luedecke often performs alone, armed with his ukelele and his wonderful songs, braving the stage all by his lonesome. It takes a special kind of performer to do this. It takes an even bigger man to know when to go out and ask for help. On "Proof of Love", Luedecke brings in a whole band which at first, is a little odd for fans who are used to his shows (and early albums) where it's usually just one man and his banjo filling the sound of the room. But here, Luedecke decides to bring his friends along, and we can't be mad at him for allowing us to be privy to his own personal musical party.
6.) Hot Chip, "Made In The Dark"
I am ready for the floor, thanks to this early 2008 release. Hot Chip started off the year right for many of us, still in love with our old remixes of "Over & Over" with a great video for "Ready for the Floor". "One Pure Thought" and "Shake A Fist" had us dancing while the title track showed us that Hot Chip is not just for groovin', but for lovin'.
The list finishes with EPs, a format which is often forgotten among most of us. We're used to being given an entire album. But here, we're given snippets, musical aperitifs as we await the larger meal which is to come.
7.) Antony & The Johnsons, "Another World"
The title track is worth the price of admission alone. Antony released this EP at the end of the year, with the promise of an album in early 2009. If this EP is any indication of what Hegarty is going to deliver, it is going to be a year full of people in awe of him and his amazing voice, once again. Kudos.
8.) Final Fantasy, "Spectrum, 14th century" & "Plays to Please".
Two for the price of one. Or rather, two amazing releases in their own right. In "Plays to Please", Owen Pallett pays tribute to fellow torontonian Alex Lukashevsky with an EP of covers. Pallett is known for producing his fair share of covers, both in concert and on a few releases, but it is never out of boredom or laziness, but rather in wishing to pay tribute to someone or something which has pleased and given him pause. On "Spectrum", Pallett sings dark and beautiful fables, especially "Blue Imelda" and "The Butcher". If this is any indication of what is to come in 2009, I can only dream.
Labels of the year:
DFA
To many, DFA has already had its golden age when it helped introduce dance punk to the masses with The Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers" and LCD Soundsystem's first singles. But in 2007, James Murphy, co-founder and LCD's headman released "Sound of Silver" and launched a sublabel under the moniker "Death From Abroad", highlighting some of the best disco to have been distributed stateside in quite a while. This was almost like some extended intro to what would happen in 2007, when releases by Juan Maclean, Holy Ghost, Yacht, Hercules and Love Affair and Hot Chip made us stand up and pay attention to the little label that could.
Strut
Between 1999 and 2003, Strut records was revered among dance music enthusiats for unearthing many forgotten leftfield disco records with their "Disco not disco" series as well as bringing to light many forgotten records that were only known by obsessives and the dance cognoscenti (often one in the same). In 2008, Strut resurfaced, having come back with the help of K7 and kickstarted the year with the third installment in the Disco Not Disco series featuring tracks by Maximum Joy, James White & The Blacks and Shriekback.
They soon followed this up by releasing a compilation of Compass Point recordings (a studio for which we have to thank for helping create the sounds of early 80's caribbean tinged disco, ala Tom Tom Club and Grace Jones "La vie en rose" era recordings.). They also released a collection of forgotten afro funk records, italo disco classics and best of all, "Going Places: The August Darnell years", highlighting the influence that one man had on so many records that bumped their way into the nights of so many soundsystems across the us and europe.
Jeffrey Liberatore is an elitist and a snob, but spends most of his time with undesirables.
1. Lulu Rouge – "Bless You” LP (Music For Dreams)
Kenneth Bager’s Music For Dreams Label put out this amazing piece of dark dub by two Danish kids in mid may. It quickly became the soundtrack to Sunday nights fuelled by red wine. Sounding similar to the records William Bevan has been putting out of south London lately, but with an amazing array of vocalists. The record as a whole comes off like a darker version of early basic channel dub techno, this was/is my favourite record for stalking rain soaked streets at midnight.
2. Zombie Zombie – ‘A Land For Renegades’ LP (Versatile Recordings)
If George Romero was a disco DJ this is what his nightclub would soundlike. So you combine Claudio Simonetti’s soundtracks for Argento films, John Carpenter-esque synthscapes, motorik/krautrock beats a la Neu!, throw on some Daniel Ash type vocals and you get the best horror disco record of the year, plus a bitchin’ cover of Iggy Pop/David Bowie’s “Nightclubbing”, considering the past couple of years have seen alot of records attempting to achieve this dark prog dancefloor vibe, although not totally innovative, these two frenchies make you wanna dance while being boiled alive (or something). Bonus points for agitated punk screaming on “Jay Rules” and “I scream you scream”.
3. Don Rimini – ‘Absolutley Rad’ EP (Mental Groove)
Huge rave track, worth the price of admission for Manu Le Malin’s remix of “Let Me Back Up”. Every stadium rave DJ worth their weight in gold was playing this bass heavy electro monster. Rumour has it that aside from the D.I.M/Proxy/Les Petites Pilous school of electro rave this was getting big ups on scarier dancefloors by the likes of Savas Pascalidis & the Horrorist. “4/4 dirtyoverdrive techno-rock slammer” or something.
4. Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk – ‘Love Can't Turn Around’ 12’’ (Back Yard recordings)
So you’re probably thinking this record is over twenty years old, why chart it in 2008? But this ‘Love Can't Turn Around (Boys Noize Started Like This Mix)’ was the nostalgia remix of the year. Alex Ridha adds a filter to the original bassline, filters some Isaac Hayes samples, adds his own keyboard work and time stretches Darryl Pandy’s vocals. And by the time the 3:30 mark hits and Darryl is screaming ‘Work Your Body’ at the top of his lungs, you’re in warehouse heaven.
5. VA – ‘Munich Disco Tech Volume 1’ EP (Great Stuff Recordings)
Munich gets really filthy with this EP that came out this summer, there was one track that all the crunchy rave DJ’s got behind off this EP, Tonka turns in a shuddering tech house stop-start fest called "Freeze". It was charted by TIga, Thomas Von Party, Brodinski blah blah blah. My god though it has this stomping martial beat, squealing synths that just build and build and this subermeged vocal urging you to ‘celebrate’. This was played in far too many living rooms at four am this summer.
6. Fan Death – ‘Veronica’s Veil’ 12” (Phantasy Sound)
This 12” deserved to be the pop record of the year, but everybody was too busy listening to Lady Gaga. Brilliant Icy Detached female vocals, grooving little bassline, disco strings that could’ve been written by Kelley Polar, synth’s galore and lyrics about a veil that a woman wiped Jesus’ brow with? Huh? Anyho the b-side had Erol Alkan shaking off his trashy electro rock cliché to put out a extended disco version with less of the vocal and more of the strings, that quickly became an office fave (even for the people who listen to Lady Gaga).
7. Koko Von Napoo – ‘Polly’ 7” (Trouble Records)
Koko Von Napoo are a pop band. They make elegant synth drones like Blondie fronted by Mary Hansen produced by Air singing in French. It makes me Happy each morning. The End.
8. LSB – ‘Loco Motion’ 12” (Eskimo)
Biggest Disco record of the year, period. Pete Hebert attacks the dancefloor with a nice house undercurrent, plenty of piano action, vocal samples, stuttered snares, a tonne of congas and a lovely horn section at the end.
9. Last Shadow Puppets – ‘The Age Of The Understatement’ LP (Domino)
Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) & Miles Kane (The Rascals) team up to represent their love of David Bowie’s mod output on Deram and Scott Walker's early solo records. Their two voices harmonise brilliantly, Owen Pallet writes some huge scenic string sections and the boys play Morricone-esque guitars, this album start to finish is a rush to the head.
10. Wild Beasts – ‘Limbo Panto’ LP (Domino)
The most original guitar based record i’ve heard this decade? I dunno, but it’s something special, Hayden Thorpe has the most unusual voice on a rock record, kinda like Antony Heggarty, Brian Molko & the kid from JJ72. Anyo, weird humorous british tales over melodic yet bizarre drums/guitar/bass combos. There’s odd Jazzy Waltzes, Galloping Baroque pop in 4/4 time and anthem to end all anthems “Devil’s Crayon”.
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Sorry this took so long, but dang, we've been busy writing this stuff for you!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Rest in peace, oh wonderful woman
Watch this #5
On Christmas day, one of the 20th centuries most distinctive voices in pop music passed away. Eartha Mae Kitt, chanteuse extraordinaire and the woman Orson Welles once dubbed, “the most exciting woman in the world”, died of cancer at the age of 81.
I first discovered Eartha Kitt not by her music, but rather by her words. In an interview in a book entitled “Incredibly Strange Music”, Kitt talked about her amazing career, starting in Paris Cafes, signing to RCA record where she was the highest grossing artist on their roster (that is, until Elvis came along) and her infamous speech at the white house in 1968 where she decried the vietname war and reportedly made Lady Bird Johnson cry.
Kitt is known to most people under the age of 40 for her role as Catwoman on TV’s Batman, where she replaced Julie Newmar and made usage of her famous “purr”. Musically, she is (unfortunately) known for her hit, “Santa Baby”. I say unfortunate, because to many, Kitt had become nothing more than a christmas novelty. But she was more than that.
Eartha Kitt was one of the greatest chanteuses the United States has ever produced, understanding the great American songbook in a way few have presented it. Not with sentimentality (though at times the arrangements could be argued as such), but with wit, intelligence and a razor sharp sense of humour.
Au revoir Eartha. Tu serais manquee.
On Christmas day, one of the 20th centuries most distinctive voices in pop music passed away. Eartha Mae Kitt, chanteuse extraordinaire and the woman Orson Welles once dubbed, “the most exciting woman in the world”, died of cancer at the age of 81.
I first discovered Eartha Kitt not by her music, but rather by her words. In an interview in a book entitled “Incredibly Strange Music”, Kitt talked about her amazing career, starting in Paris Cafes, signing to RCA record where she was the highest grossing artist on their roster (that is, until Elvis came along) and her infamous speech at the white house in 1968 where she decried the vietname war and reportedly made Lady Bird Johnson cry.
Kitt is known to most people under the age of 40 for her role as Catwoman on TV’s Batman, where she replaced Julie Newmar and made usage of her famous “purr”. Musically, she is (unfortunately) known for her hit, “Santa Baby”. I say unfortunate, because to many, Kitt had become nothing more than a christmas novelty. But she was more than that.
Eartha Kitt was one of the greatest chanteuses the United States has ever produced, understanding the great American songbook in a way few have presented it. Not with sentimentality (though at times the arrangements could be argued as such), but with wit, intelligence and a razor sharp sense of humour.
Au revoir Eartha. Tu serais manquee.
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