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.
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.
The "hurrah" became a "holy shit" when the idea blossomed into 20 bands in 3 days and a document of not only a house that has housed many musicians and artists (members of such bands as Die Brucke, The Memories Attack and Dog Day have all lived in the house) but also the Halifax music scene, or rather, the scene which often operates, creates and plays in Halifax's north end.
Our two friends, Paul Hammond and Jeff Parker enlisted not only the bands into this project (and by extension, a whole bunch of their friends) but also director Mark Mullane and (later on) editor Evan Elliott. This "holy shit" had now transcended into a full fledged "HOLY FUCK" as the film was now no longer a document of a weekend in someone's house, but rather, a document of a scene, a city and an artistic endeavour which was now bigger than the two people who had thought of it, almost jokingly.
In this episode of Moody Morning Music I interview Paul and Elliott about their work on this film, about 6015 Willow and how the little film that could is now the big film that is.
Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war Merryn Cadell, "Secret", Angel food for thought Grizzly Bear, "He Hit Me", The Daytrotter Sessions Buck 65, "Devil's Eyes (Piano Version)", Secret House against the world The Watson Twins, "Just Like Heaven", Fire Songs Belle & Sebastian, "I'm waking up to us", 12" Beautiful South, "We are each other", 0898 Stars, "Take me to the riot", In Our Bedroom after the war G. Love & Special Sauce, "Cold Beverages" Dog Day, "End Of The World", Night Group Les George Leningrad, "Fifi F", Sur Les Traces de Black Eskimo G Love & Special Sauce, "Cold Beverages" King Khan & THe Shrines, "Took my lady to dinner", Supreme Genius Of... Annie, "Chewing Gum", Anniemal Annie, "The wedding (Live Mix)" Annie, "I know your girlfriend hates me" Annie, "I know your girlfriend hates me (Feel The Moog Remix)" Sebastien Grainger, "When you go out" Peaches, "Downtown", Impeach my bush CAN, "Aspectacle (Holger Czukay Edit)" Crystal Castles, "Crimewave (Dances With White Girls Remix)" Poni Hoax, "Antibodies", Images of Sigrid Tiga, "(Far from) Home (the speed of sexor reprise)", Sexor MGMT, "Electric Feel (Justice is AWESOME Remix)"
I wanna listen to this #25 Disco is not a dirty word #10 Give me some soul #3
A few years ago, I discovered a series of book published by ReSearch Publications called Incredibly Strange Music.
The book is a collection of interviews with musicians, collectors, weirdoes and hardcore vinyl enthusiasts. At various points in the book, the name Andre Williams is thrown about, often in regards to his raunchy record. I started seeking out his recordings, many of whom were incredibly hard to find (his stuff had yet to be re-relased at this time, at least in any official capacity) but I did find a quasi-bootleg CD of his early 60's recordings including such songs as "Bacon Fat" (a minor hit for Williams) and his most notorious record, "Jail Bait".
Williams' life is one of incredible ups and downs. The authour of the famous Five Du-Tones hit, "Shake a Tail Feather" who used to hang out and collaborate with Ike Turner later became a strung out beggar and junkie during the 80's but soon cleaned himself up and with the help of musicians and collectors wanting to hear him perform (and with a little help from The Sadies, Williams soon found himself recording and developping a new fan base. His old recordings have, over the last few years, been re-released by various companies. Click here to check some out and scroll down for a video of the man himself performing "Jail Bait".
Every once in a while you'll see something mentioned on a blog and pay no attention to it. Six months later it pops up again. Then someone plays you something. At this point you're kicking yourself for not checking it out earlier. Such is the case with Black Devil Disco Club.
Originally released in 1978 and revered by disco enthusiasts (not to mention hard to find) this album was brought to light in 2004 by Rephlex Records. While this may have caused the album to lose its record-collector-geek-sheen, it soon found itself blowing the minds of many a disco fiend not only for its pedigree, but for the sheer dark and beautiful imagination behind its grooves. The album, written and composed by Bernard Favre, was soon followed, almost 30 years later since its original release, by two more albums, "28 After" and "Eight Oh Eight" (not to mention a few 12"s).
Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war Hidden Cameras, "We Oh We", Mississauga Goddamn Buck 65 feat. Laura Peek & Mike Catano, "Kennedy Killed The Hat" Adem, "To Cure A Weakling Child + Boy/Girl Song", Takes Islands, "The Arm", Arm's Way Wolf Parade, "Soldier's Grin", At Mount Zoomer Beck, "Profanity Prayers", Modern Guilt Dog Day, "Bullet", Oh Dead Life EP The Stolen Minks, "Minks Riot" The Stolen Minks, "Black Widow" The Stolen Minks, "Rip It Up", Family Boycott The Stolen Minks. "Peppermint Twist" Superfantastics, "Tonight, Tonite", Pop-Up Book Junior Byron, "Dance To The Music" Kid Creole & The Coconuts, "Double On Back", Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1974-1982 T-Connection, "Groove To Get Down" Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind", S/T Cut Copy, "Hearts On Fire", In Ghost Colours CSS, "Left Behind", Donkey MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (Feat. N.O.R.E.)" N.E.R.D., "Everyone Nose" Holy Fuck, "Milkshake", LP
Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war Caribou, "Melody Day (Four Tet Remix feat. Adem, Luke Lalonde & One Little Plane)" Old Man Luedecke, "Just like a river", Proof Of Love Ron Sexsmith, "This is how I know", Exit Strategy For The Soul Belle & Sebastian, "A Summer Wasting", The Boy With The Arab Strap Tanya Tagaq, "I want (feat. Buck 65)", Ak-Blood Beck, "Youthless", Modern Guilt Brednan Canning, "Churches under the stairs", Something for all of us Bloc Party, "Two More Years" CSS, "Left Behind", Donkey Duchess Says, "Black Flag", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs controller.controller, "Watch", History Andre Williams, "Bacon Fat" Buck 65, "Dirtywork", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1 Danger Doom feat. Talib Kweli, "Old School Rules", The Mouse & The Mask Hercules & Love Affair, "Raise Mer Up", S.T Candi Staton, "When you wake up tommorrow", Bran Van 3000, "Astounded feat. Curtis Mayfield", Discosis Black Devil Disco Club, "Free For The Girls", Eight Oh Eight Yello, "Bostitch" Holy Fuck, 'Royal Gregory", LP
One of my favorite Halifax bands, The Stolen Minks are launching a new CD on Friday, August 22nd at Gus' Pub, here in Halifax.
(It's a bit of a contentious trifecta between them, Dog Day and Windom Earle. It's only contentious for me, because I don't like to choose.),
Apparently, there will be a cupcake eating contest, which makes me incredibly giddy. Also playing are Halifax wunderkinds-cum-legends The Maynards (one of whom is actually my next door neighbour, howya doin' Heath?), Bloodsport as well as Memories Attack.
I'll be there with bells (and my Stolen Minks t-shirt) on. Check the thread on Halifax Locals for more info.
Kid Creole & The Coconuts's latin-inflected disco magic has been collected on various compilations (see below) yet remains mostly forgotten save by die hard disco fanatics. I remember seeing his records in bins at record stores, but I never really gave them a spin. This compilation, entitled "Going Places: The August Darnell Years" makes me regret my poor selector choices. The Kid (Darnell himself) worked as a producer before starting his own band, working on tracks for Cristina among others.
MP3: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, "Sunshowers"
And speaking of disco...
A big shout out to my friend Frank B for giving me a copy of the Mutant Disco compilations as well as the first two Disco (Not Disco) comps. I, my blog and my record collection are forever indebted to you. If you wish to be indebted to Frank and myself, simply click on the links to discover the aweseomness of these albums. Also, for your perusal, scroll down for a video of one of the tracks from the second Disco Not Disco compilation, Laid Back's anti-coke disco tirade, "White Horse". The track, as well as a few others, are played on this week's episode of Moody Morning Music. Also played on this week's episode is a classic bollywood track sung by Geeta Dutt, called "Meera Naam Chin Chin Choo" (My name is Chin Chin Choo)". It's one of those songs that you can NOT get stuck out of your head, so might as well indulge it and put it on repeat.
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Moody Morning Music for Tuesday, August 12th, 2008.
Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war Antony & The Johnsons, "Frankenstein", The Lake EP Great Lake Swimmers, "Song for the angels", Bodies & Minds Sun Kill Moon, "Moorestown", April Bloc Party, "Blue Light (Engineers Blue Light Remix)", Ron Sexsmith, "Thoughts & Prayers", Exit Strategy For The Soul Laura Peek & The Winning Hearts, "A Name", From The Photographs Brendan Canning, "Something for all of us...", Something for all of us Beck, "Youthless", Modern Guilt The Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination The Stolen Minks, "Stop Talking", Family Boycott Windom Earle, "Kitten Vs Pegasus", Gold Wave Geeta Dutt, "Meera Naam Chin Chin Choo" Dr Buzzard's Original Svannah Band, "Sunshower", Kid Creole: Going Places Laid Back, "White Horse", Disco Not Disco 2 Was (Not Was), "Wheel Me Out", Mutant Disco Yello, "Bostitch", Disco Not Disco 2 Ghislain Poirier feat Face-T, "Blazin' (Modeselektor Remix)"
Laid Back, "White Horse"
Geeta Dutt (as performed by Helen ), "Meera Naam Chin Chin Choo"
I'm in the mood for this #23 Give me some soul # 2 Cover me# 7
A few months ago, I discovered an interesting tunesmith by the name of Beaufort. What can I tell you about them? Nada. I know two songs, "I don't wanna die" and "Fuck the Google". I found a myspace (see link above), a few links to blogs talking about them, but very little real info. All I know is that I am now inspired to make all of links for this post google answers (this could get interesting...)and that I can encapsulate the brilliant simplicity of Beaufort and their lyrics in one simple quote: "Fuck the emo".
Halifax keeps on getting good shows. First Leonard Cohen, then Jose Gonzales, Bloc Party in September and now, a (unfortunately forgotten until now) soul songstress Betty Lavette will be playing the Great Atlantic Blues & Beyond Festival on Saturday, September 20th. Her 2005 album, "I've got my own hell to raise" re-invevnted songs by female songwriters such as Dolly Parton, Lucinda Williams and Fiona Apple(???).
Speaking of strange covers, Adem has put out a new album featuring nothing but covers of some of his favourite songs, including "Boy Girl Song" by Aphex Twin and Bjork's "Unravel" (played on the latest episode of Moody Morning Music, see below). I'm such a sucker for covers.
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Richard Buckner, "22", Bloomed Beirut, "Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)", Gulag Orkestar Neutral Milk Hotel, "King Of Carrot Flowers", In The Aeroplane Over The Sea Laura Peek & The Winning Hearts, "Stand Right There", From The Photographs Mates Of State, "Re-Arranger", Re-Arrange Us Superfantastics. "Tonight, Tonite", Pop-Up Book Wolf Parade, "Soldier's Grin", At Mount Zoomer Beck, "Gamma Rays", Modern Guilt Vancougar, "Unmanned", Canadian Tuxedoes Gonazales, "Working Together", Soft Power Lyn Collins, "Think About It" Sharon Jones & Dap Kings, "How Long Do I have To Wait", Naturally Carrie Lucas, "Dance With You" Kid Creole, "Double On Back", Going Places King Khan & The Shrines, "Land Of The Freak", The Supreme Genius Of... Buck 65, "Dang", Situation Ghislain Poirier, "Blazin'", No Ground Under Ratatat, "Mirando", LP3 CSS, "Jager Yoga", Donkey Beaufort, "Fuck The Google" Peaches, "Shake Yer Dix", FatherFucker N.E.R.D., "Everyone Nose" Annie, "Loco"
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Archivist, "Fanulous Muscles", Final Fantasy, "Many Lives --> 49 MP", He Poos Clouds Adem, "Unravel", Takes Watson Twins, "Just Like Heaven", Fire Songs Wax Mannequin, "Animals Jump", Orchard & ire Got to get got, "Blood tests", Canadian Arts Collective Dog Day "Night Group", Night Group Wolf Parade, "California Dreamer", At Mount Zoomer Betty Lavette, "You're a man of words, I'm a woman of action" Baby Huey, "Hard Times" Buck 65, "Spooked", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1 Danger Doom, "Old School Rules", The Mouse & The Mask Girl Talk, "Let Me See You", Feed The Animals Liquid Liquid, "Cavern" Ian Dury & The Blockheads, "Spasticus Autisticus" Hercules & Love Affair, "This is my love", S/T Kid Creole, "Double ON Back", CSS, "Move", Donkey Annie, "I know your girlfriend hates me" The Ting Tings, "That's not my name" Bloc Party, "Flux"
In honour of my previous post, I have decided to change my theme music to the Stars' opening track from In Our Bedroom After The War. You can hear said post being read at the beginning of the show as my intro.
Stars, "The Beginning of the end", In Our Bedroom After The War Stars, "In Our Bedroom After The War", In Our Bedroom After The War Julie Doiron, "Ce Charmant Coeur", Desormais Magnetic Fields, "Book Of Love", 69 Love Songs Old Man Luedecke, "Quiet Creek", Hinterland Lou Barlow, "Royalty" Forest City Lovers, "Don't Go". Haunting Moon Sinking Ron Sexsmith, "Throughts & Prayers", Exit Strategy For The Soul Liz Phair, "Nashville", WhipSmart Coco Rosie, "Noah's Ark", Noah's Ark Sigur Ros, Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur", Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust Portishead, "We Carry On", Third Ann Peebles, "I can't stand the rain Wolf Parade, "The Grey Estates", At Mount Zoomer Dog Day, "Oh Dead Life", Night Group Bloc Party, "Two More Years" Modeselektor feat. Thom Yorke, "The White Flash", Happy Birthday Death From Above 1979, "Romantic Rights (Girls are Short Remix)", Romantic Rights EP Crystal Castles vs Health, "Crimewave", S/T Cut Copy, "Out There On The Ice", Ghost Colours Girl Talk, "Like This", Feed THe Animals Ghislain Poirier, "Blazin' (modeslektor remix)"
The last time I saw Stars was when they opened for Broken Social Scene in 2004. It was one of those cases where the opening act blew the main attraction out of the water. Vocalists Torquil Campbell was emphatic at his worst and beyond stunning at his best. Amy Campbell serenaded us over the hard guitar for "Ageless Beauty" and someone passed me a Heart shaped potato which I passed to Torquil. He told the crowd that after the show he would make a bong out of it.
I'm not expecting another one of those, but I am expecting a great show.
Speaking of shows, this week's edition of Moody Morning Music contains a few fun covers, as well as a few more tunes from my rapidly expanding collection of soul 45s, hence a new category for this blog, aptly titled, Give Me Some Soul. But more on that later. Right now, I wanna talk about girls with pretty voices.
The Watson Twins have released a full length album to follow up their teaser of an EP, "Souther Manners". The album includes a remarkably sincere cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven". Scroll down to the track list to hear the original.
So I'm digging through that infamous stack of 45s I just mentioned and I find one by some dude named Wayne Cochran. I drop the needle and all of a sudden, this crazy voice and rhythm ripples through the grooves. Holy Shit! Who is this dude? I google him and am confronted with a white guy in a crazy blonde pompadour. Once again, Holy shit! I need some more tunes. Check him out by scrolling down and clicking on the link in the track listing.
As for this week's dose of disco, a (somewhat)unlikely candidate who goes by the name of Gonzales.
After having worked with Feist, Peaches and Jamie Lidell and having released a critically lauded album, Gonzales has put out a love song to all things AOR Friendly, influenced by everything from Yacht Rock to french disco strings. The latter can be found in wonderful abundance on this week's download called "Let's Ride".
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Watson Twins, "Just Like Heaven", Fire Songs She & Him, "You've really got a hold on me", Volume 1 Ron Sexsmith, "Brandy Alexander", Exit Strategy of the soul Betty Harris, "I'm evil tonight", 7" The Joe Tex Band, "Chocolate Cherry", 7" Wayne Cochran, "Some a your sweet lovin'" 7" Duffy, "Mercy", Rockferry Gnarls Barkley, "Who's gonna save my soul", The Odd Couple Stars, "Elevator Love Letter", Heart Stars, "Your ex-lover is dead", Set yourself on fire Stars, "Ageless Beauty (Most Serene Republic Remix)", Do you trust your friends? Stars, "The Night Starts Here", In Our Bedroom after the war Stars, "Take me to the riot", In our Bedroom after the war Bloc Party, "She's Hearing Voices", Silent Alarm Architecture In Helsinki, "Like it or not (version 2)" Gonzales, "Let's ride", Soft power CSS, "Believe Archive", Donkey Crystal Castles, "Knight", S/T M.I.A. "Paper Planes (DFA Remix)", 12" Girl Talk, "Give me a beat". Feed The Animals N.E.R.D., "Everybody Nose" Swayzak, "Smile & Receive", Some Other Country
I remember the first time I saw the video for "Kennedy Killed The Hat". I was working in a dingy gay bar, it was mid-afternoon and I was watching MuchMusic.
Now, I had heard Buck's earlier stuff under the monkier Stinkin' Rich and a few pieces of his work with Sixtoo under the monkier of The Sebutones. I had loved his last album, "Talkin' Honky Blues", and I remember seeing him as a clerk at my local news stand. I even remember telling him I had found some bootlegg stuff of his online from an unreleased album. He thanked me for telling him and told me he would find out who leaked it.
To me, Rich Terfry was the face of Halifax Hip Hop.
And then he pulled out with Secret House Against The World. Gainsbourg references (both lyrically and musically), rough edged drum breaks, a cover of an old Halifax band and of course, my absolute favorite, Kennedy.
There he was, his shirt off, that rip roaring, DFA 1979 sounding guitar (whom one of its members, under another moniker would later remix), that delivery, and that chorus that just gets stuck in your head, the words points of reference to the strange world in Buck's head:
And we're surrounded by assassins fantomas mutantes and serpents werewolves and sex fiends New York New York City Lafayette Street Alright now Bang Bang London Paris shoot the lights out Come on now baby
That was in 2005. Three years, another record and all of a sudden, I hear another version of Kennedy, this time featuring CKDUers Mike Catano on drums and Laura Peek on vocals and other sundry musical items. Gone is the heavy drum beat, here is a melancoly dirge, accented by Peek's voice, supporting and lifting Buck out of the netherworld of his own deadpan.
Moody Morning Music for June 1st, 2008. Now with over 70% CanCon! Enjoy.
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Sigur Ros, "All Alright", Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust Arcade Fire, "In The Backseat", Funeral Feist, "Limit to your love", The Reminder Jose Gonzales, "Love will tear us apart", Veneer Young & Sexy, "The city you live in is ugly", Stand for your mother Portishead, "Machine Gun", Third Islands, "J'aime vous voir quitter", Arm's Way Wolf Parade, "The Grey Estates", At Mount Zoomer Immaculate Machine, "Wo Xiang Tanbai (Dear Confessor)", 7" Broken Social Scene, "Windsurfing Nation", S/T Stars, "Take me to the riot", In Our Bedroom after the war Duchess Says, "Rabies (Baby;s got the)", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs You Say Party! We Say Die!, "Downtown mayors goodnight, Alley Kids Rule", Lose All Time Gwen Guthrie, "7th Heaven", Padlock EP Crystal Castles, "Air War", S/T Gonzales, "Slow Down (Feat. Teki Latex)", Soft Power Cut Copy, "Out there on ice", In Ghost Colours MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (feat. N.O.R.E.)", Bounce EP Thom Yorke, "The Clock (Surgeon Remix)", 12"
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Buck 65 feat Laura Peek & Micheal Catano, "Kennedy Killed The Hat (acoustic mix) Thom Yorke, "Harrowdown Hill (12" mix) Black Keys, "All you ever wanted", Attack & Release Wolf Parade, "Language City", At Mount Zoomer Sigur Ros, "Goddledigood", Med Sud I Eryum Vid Spulum Endalaust Bloc Party, "Tulips (Club Version)" Stars, "What I'm trying to say", Set yourself on fire Tokyo Police Club, "The Nature Of The Experiment" The Gossip, "Jealous Girls (NYPC Remix)" !!!, "Heart Of Hearts", Myth Takes Duchess Says, "Tenen Non Neu", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs Danger Doom feat. Cee-Lo, "Benzie Box", THe Mouse & The Mask Zapp, "Dance Floor" Santogold, "Les Artistes (Molecule Mix)" Girl Talk, "Give me a beat", Feed The Animals Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T Cut Copy, "Heart's On Fire", In Ghost Colours
Monday afternoon, I was able to interview Jose Gonzales for my radio show on Halifax's campus-community station, CKDU.
I asked him about his creative process, both solo and with others (Embee, Zero 7), how he feels about the Sony Bravia ad and even asked him a few questions from the famous Proust Questionnaire.
In honour of his playing this thursday, I also played a large amount of his songs on the show.
Methinks this interview is the beginning of a big and beautiful thing on I wanna listen to this. I plan on posting the interview, outside of the show, very soon. Keep checking.
*UPDATE:You can listen to the inteview in its entirety, here. Please note that the file is in .wav format and is about 15 minutes long, so it might take a little while to download, depending on your connection.*
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Aaron A Wallace, "Godspeed yr death emproror" Bonnie Prince Billy, "For every field there's a mole" The Watson Twins, "Fall", Fire Songs Jose Gonzales, "Time To Send Someone Away", In Our Nature *Jose Gonzales Interview* Jose Gonzales, "Teardrop", In Our Nature Jose Gonzales, "Love will tear us apart", Veneer Wolf Parade, "Call It A Ritual", At Mount Zoomer Fembots, "Count Down Our Days", The City Destroyer, "Foam Hands", Trouble IN Dreams The Superfanatstics, "Van Gogh", Choose Your destination Stars, "Ageless Beauty", Set yourself on Fire Dog Day, "Ironhide", Oh Dead Life Bloc Party, "This Modern Love", Silent Alarm Buck 65, "The abandoned cars of Inverness County", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1. Sebastien Grainger, "When you go out" Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind", S/T
Thankfully, some wonderful people at CKDU filled in for my show for my time away. Upon my first week back, lots of new cd's at the station and amazing news, that on monday morning, I get to interview Jose Gonzales for my show!!!!
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Gonzales, "Apology", Soft Power Bonnie Prince Billy, "You remind me of something", Lie down in the light Embee feat. Jose Gonzales, "Time to send someone away", Tellings from Solitaria !!!, "Take esctasy with me" Magnetic Fields, "Three-way", Distortion Portishead, "Plastic", Third Black Keys, "All you ever wanted", Attack & Release Destroyer, "Dark leaves form a thread", Trouble in dreams Battles, "Race: In", Mirrored Ann Peebles, "I can't stand the rain" Betty Lavette, "You're a man of action" Buck 65, "You know the science", Man Overboard Ghislain Poirier, "Blazin' (Modeslektor Remix)" Modeselektor, "The RapAnthem", Hello Mom Crystal Castles, "Air War", S/T Cut Copy, "Hearts On Fire", In Ghost Colours Hercules & Love Affair, "You Belong", S/T M.I.A., Boyz", Kala Bloc Party, "Flux", MSTRKRFT, "VuVuuVuu"
I'm in the mood for this #17 New releases # Disco is not a dirty word# 6
From the same label that brought you Disco Not Disco comes Disco Italia, a compilation of some of the most essential and influential Italo Disco tracks that have ever graced dancefloors.
If anything, it's thanks to my friend Jeff that I discovered the wonders of Italo, as well as Canadian DJ/musician Dubious with whom I had one of my first ever DJ gigs. Between these two, I began to discover the world of such artists asKano, Kebekelektrik. Through my own research, record digging and conversations/mixes with other DJs, I have come to appreciate and admire the subtleties that come from the world of Italo (and how it's world escapes its eponymously named boundaries) and its (arguable) twin sister, Cosmic Disco.
I've said it once and I'll say it again: Disco is not a dirty word. It is glorious.
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Jose Gonzales, "Remain", Veneer Bonnie Prince Billy, "Love Comes To Me", The Letting Go Adem, "Warning Call", Love & Other Planets She & Him, "You've really got a hold on me", Volume 1 Ghost Bees, "Vampires of West Coast", Tasseomancy Archivist, "Fabulous Muscles" Lou Reed feat. Antony, "Perfect Day", The Raven Portishead, "Hunter", Third Final Fantasy, "Many Lives --> 49 MP", He Poos Clouds Old Man Luedecke, "Send My Troubles Away", Proof Of Love Betty Lavette, "Sleep To Dream", I've got my own hell to raise Bloc Party, "Like eating glass", Silent Alarm LCD Soundsystem, "Someone Great", Sound Of Silver Material, "Don't Lose Control (Dance Version)", Disco Not Disco 3: Post Punk, Electro & Leftfield Disco Classics, 1974-1986 Red Dragon Band, "Let Me Be Your Radio (Part 1)", Disco Italia: Essential Italo Disco Classics 1977-1985 Buck 65 feat Old Man Luedeceke, "Indestructible Sam", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1 Thom Yorke, "Skip Divided (Modeselektor Remix)" Moby, "Disco Lies", Last NIght Crystal Castles, "Courtship Dating (J. La Bootleg Mix)" Holy Fuck, "Frenchy's", LP
I discovered Leonard Cohen when I was a teenager. I heard his voice and was blown away. I found his arrangements strange, almost archaic. Here was a man who sang in his distinctive deep voice, surrounded by cheap sounding synths, cooing women. It was all so idiosyncratic. I didn't always get it, but I knew I had found something special.
As I got older, I discovered his earlier work, I learned to understand the subtleties of his prose, of his delivery. I was fascinated how a jew was obsessed with distinctively christian icons and had become a buddhist monk. The man was obviously on a journey and wanted to understand it. He told us about, so that when he spoke, he would understand it himself.
When news hit that Cohen was coming to town, I knew I had to get tickets. Two shows were announced with gold seating at $125.00 (which I would have paid in a heartbeat) and regular seating at $87.00. When the tickets went on sale, the first two shows sold out in less than an hour. They soon added a third, then a fourth and even a fifth show, the latter being the one I attended.
I was in the tenth row. He came out, bowed to the audience. He was thinner than I expected, in a well tailored double breasted suit. He smiled to the audience, an air of beneficence on his face. He opened with Dance Me To The End Of Love. His voice was still there. Deep, sandy, frighteningly soft.
He sang most of his well known songs from the 80's and 90's ("Anthem", "Democracy", "Everbody Knows") and the 60's ("Suzanne", "Bird on a Wire", the latter which was wonderfully arranged). He also sang a few new songs, and recited a poem or two.
In the 2nd part of the show, he came out on stage, pressed a button on an old Yamaha keyboard and began to sing this. When he played the small flourishes on the keys between the verses, the audience applauded and cheered. He smiled, embarassed, moved and humbled. It spoke of the reverence the audience had for him, for his voice, his songs, his craft.
He was gracious. He was tremendous. He did three encores.
And I am glad I was able to see him.
Note: I only have a small caveat. When he sang "Anthem", he changed the lyric of "Give me crack and anal sex" to "Give me crack and dangerous sex". I was a bit shocked. I wanted to hear the man sing about anal sex.
In honour of Cohen's coming to Hali, I played a bunch of his songs on the May 13th episode of Moody Morning Music. I hope you enjoy it
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Jose Gonzales, "Killing for love", In Our Nature Old Man Luedecke, "Just like a river", Proof Of Love Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne", Song of Rufus Wainwright, "Chelsea Hotel No.2", I'm your man Leonard Cohen, "If it be your will", Various Positions Antony, "If it be your will", I'm your man John Cale, "Hallelujah" Leonard Cohen, "Tower of Song", I'm your man Grizzly Bear, "Knife", Yellow House Wolf Parade, "The Grey estates", At Mount Zoomer The Long Blondes, "Erin O'Connor", Couples Heloise & Savoir Faire, "Illusions", Trash, Rats &Microphones Radiohead, "15 Steps", In Rainbows Gnarls Barkley, "Who's gonna save my soul", The Odd Couple Modeselektor, "The Dark Side of the sun (feat. Puppetmastaz)", Happy Birthday Crystal Castles, "Untrust Us", S/T Hot Chip, "One Pure Thought", Made IN The Dark Hercules & Love Affair, ""Raise Me Up", S/T Holy Fuck, "Super Intuit", LP MSTRKRFT, 'VuuVuu", Bounce EP BoysNoize, "Lava Lava", Oi Oi Oi Remixed
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Jose Gonzales, "Time to send someone away", In Our Nature Sun Kill Moon, "Moorestown, April Old Man Luedecke, "Wake up Hill", Proof Of Love Islands, "The Arm", Arm's Way Wolf Parade, "The grey estates", At Mount Zoomer Superfantastics, "Lullaby Punches", Choose Your Destination Portishead, "Machine Gun", Third Thom Yorke, "Harrowdown Hill", The Eraser Jamie Lidell, "Where'd You Go", Jim Gnarls Barkley, "Going On", THe Odd Couple Hercules & Love Affair, "Time Will", S/T Matmos, "Rainbow Flag", Supreme Balloon Zapp, "Dance Floor" Kano, "Now Baby Now (Kotey Edit)", Disco Italia: Essential Italo Disco Classics 1977-1985 Crystal Castles vs Health, "Crimewave", S/T Thunderheist, "Bubblegum (Hatchmatik Birdflu In June Remix)" Windom Earle, "Kitten Vs Pegasus", GoldWave Duchess Says, "Rabies (Baby's got the)", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
My favorite Leonard Cohen song, performed by one of my favorite artists, Antony Hegarty
At Mount Zoomer, Wolf Parade's eagerly awaited second full length will be released on June 17th here in North America. Of course, if you're smart (or immoral, depending on how you look at it), the album has been leaked to the internet on various torrent sites and a few singles have been popping up on various blogs.
The bands has been touring with the new songs, teasing audiences (and youtube fiends)for a while now. Now, with the new album finally being released (or leaked), fans no longer have to deal with inferior sounding mp3s and videos.
In honour of such a thing, I did a small profile on the band, playing tracks from all three of their SubPop releases, as well as a track from Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner's respective side projects, Sunset Rubdown and Handsome Furs.
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Jose Gonzales, "Lovestain", Veneer Old Man Luedecke, "Little Bird", Proof Of Love Forest City Lovers, "Waiting by the fence", Haunting Moon Sinking Final Fantasy, "This Modern Love (Bloc Party Cover)" Immaculate Machine, "Dear Confessor (Wo Xiang Tanbai)", 7" Jamie Lidell, "Another Day", Jim Gonzales, "Working Together", Soft power Wolf Parade, "Shine a light", Apologies to the Queen Mary Wolf Parade, "I'll believe in anything", Apologies to the Queen Mary Wolf Parade, "Disco Sheets", EP Sunset Rubdown, "Winged Wicked Things", Random Spirit Lover Handsome Furs, "Cannot get started", Plague Park Wolf Parade, "Call It A Ritual", At Mount Zoomer Wolf Parade, "Soldier's Grin", At Mount Zoomer Thom Yorke, "Jetstream", 12" Taana Gardner, "Heartbeat", 12" LCD Soundsystem, "Freak out", 12" Delta 5, "Mind Your Own Business", Disco Not Disco 3 Hot Chip, "Hold On", Made In The Dark
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Jose Gonzales, "Cycling Trivialities", In our Nature Keren Ann, "Not going anywhere", Not going anywhere Beth Orton, "Sisters of Mercy", I'm your man King of Convenience, "Free Fallin'" Low, "In Silence", Daytrotter sessions Meryn Cadell, "Barbie", Angel food for thought Stars, "Your ex-lover is dead (Final Fantasy Remix)", Do you trust your friends Final Fantasy, "This is the dream of Win & Regine", Has A Good Home Xiu Xiu, "I do want what I want", Women as Lovers Wolf Parade, "I'll believe in anything", Apologies to the queen mary Gnarls Barkley, "Going On", Odd Couple Heloise & Savoir Faire, "Downtown", Trash, Rats & Microphones The Long Blondes, "I Like Boys", Couples Handsome Furs, "Dead & Rural", Plague Park Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T Hot Chip, "Shake a fist", Made IN The Dark Hercules & Love Affair, "You Belong", S/T MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (Feat. N.O.R.E.)", Bounce EP Poni Hoax, "Budapest (Joakim Italo Dub)"
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano She & Him, "You really got a hold on me", Volume 1 Great Lake Swimmers, "Moving Pictures, Silent Films", S/T Radiohead, "Videotape", In Rainbows Old Man Luedecke, "Proof Of Love", Proof Of Love Forest City Lovers, "Country Road", Haunting Moon Sinking Belle & Seabatian, "If you're feeling sinister", If you're feeling sinster Beautiful South, "We are each other", 0898 The Magnetic Fields, "Three-Way", Distortion Nouvelle Vague, "Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't), Bande a part Fantastic Plastic Machine, "You must learn all night long" !!!,"Heart of Hearts", Myth Takes Battles, "Race: In", Mirrored Meryn Cadell, "Spelling Bee", Angel food for thought Gnarls Barkley, "Neighbours", The Odd Couple M.I.A., "Paper Planes ( DFA Remix)" 12" Buck 65, "Sleight of hand", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1 Hot Chip, "One Pure Thought", Made in the dark Crystal Castles, "Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs Health)", S/T Duchess Says, "Black Flag", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs Dee-Lite, "What Is Love", World Clique MSTRKRFT, "Vuuvuu", Bounce EP
Broken Social Scene, "Capture The Flag", You forgot it in people Old Man Luedecke, "Sad as a forest", Proof of love Forest City Lovers, "Monsters", Haunting Mon Sinking Final Fantasy, "This lamb sells condos", Has a good home Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination Yeah yeah yeahs, "Fancy", Show your bones Wolf Parade, "Call It A Ritual" Buck 65, "Dang", Situation Santogold, "My Superman" Portishead, "Machine Gun (Live on Jools Holland)", Third M83, "Couleurs" Gnarls Barkley,"Charity Case", Odd Couple Hercules & Love Affair, "Theme" Goldfrapp, "A&E (Hercules and love affair remix)" Hot Chip, "Hold On", Made In the Dark Crystal Castles, "Courtship Dating, S/T Jahcoozi, "BLN" Thunderhiest, "Jerk it" MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (feat. N.O.R.E.)" Duchess Says, "Tenen Non Neu", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs Holy Fuck, "The Pulse", LP
Portishead, "Machine Gun", Performed on Jools Holland
I'm in the mood for this #12 New releases #4 Disco is not a dirty word #5
Although they're not really disco per se, two bands who are highly influenced by leftfield disco are Canada's own MSTRKRFT and Duchess Says. Jesse Keelor and Al P's respective solo projects owe a lot to dirty disco and dancey post punk as much as the fair duchess. In honour of this connection, I played a few choice tracks in honour of both of these acts putting out new releases for the spring.
The first time I saw Duchess Says was at a show at the Marquee in Halifax duing the Halifax Pop Explosion in 2006. I didn't know anything about them, all I remember was seeing this girl with brown hair up on stage, a keytar in her hands and a huge ass sound coming out of the speakers. Screaming, bleeps, bangs and a tangle of hair crowd surfing into the adoring public.
Then last week I was very excited to find and hear their new album when it came into the offices of CKDU. The album, "Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs" comes out April 17th in record stores across Canada. In the meantime, check the links at the end of this post for an MP3 of the opening track, "Tenen Non Neu"
Ever since The Looks dropped in 2006, MSTRKRFT have been riding a crest of hot press, sweet remixes (of their own work and for others) and capacity crowds. Laurels aside, there is something to be said for a duo who are just as comfortable producing rock records as they are working on remixes for UK Girl bands. In the middle of all that, there is a steady beat, a dirty bass and a sweaty sound. DJs are bored of playing the same records, crowds want something new and with their new single, out on Dim Mak. The single landed on April 1st, with a new album slated for release this fall.
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Feist, "Intuition", The Reminder Richard Buckner, "Desire", Bloomed Old Man Luedecke, "Little Bird", Proof of Love Forest City Lovers, "Don't go" Xiu Xiu, "I do want when I want", Women as Lovers Nouvelle Vague, "Just can't get enough", Nouvelle Vague Fred Hughes, "Baby Boy" Etta James, "Seven Day Fool" The Flirtations, "Nothing but a heartache" Mark Ronson feat Amy Winehouse, "Valerie", Version Gnarls Barkley, "Who's gonna save my soul", THe Odd Couple Merryn Cadell, "Job Aplication", Angel Food For thought Buck 65, "Indestructble Sam", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1 Radiohead, "15 Steps", In Rainbows Hot Chip, "Shake A Fist", Made In The Dark James White & The Blacks, "Contort Yourself", Disco Not Disco Vol 3 Maximum Joy, "Stretch (Disco Rap Mix)" Duchess Says, "Rabies (Baby's got the)', Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs Holy Fuck, "Frenchy's", LP Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T Modeselektor, "Silikon (feat Sascha Pererra)", Hello Mom MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (feat. N.O.R.E.)", Bounce EP
Weeks happen, time moves faster than you want it to and blogging goes by the wayside. Thankfully, I keep a record of certain things. Like last week's episode, as well as this week's. Two for the price of one. Scroll down for more. In the meantime, let's talk about what is one of the best (and most ambitious) singles I've heard in a long time.
My current fixation is the new single by Gnarls Barkley, called "Run". It sounds more like The Go! Team than a Gnarls Barkley, but then again, there is that unmistakable voice. When the duo broke out with "Crazy", everyone and their dog went apeshit over it. Pitchfork loved it, hip-hop fanatics loved it, music video stations loved it, bloggers went ape shit for it and even your mom liked it (hell I hear it on the CBCat least once a week on Sounds Like Canada during their Bleep segment.). The band released a few more singles and although they were good, none of them hit the high peak established by "Crazy".
The album, "The Odd Couple", is available now on iTunes and came out last week in retail stores. Due to a leak of the album, as well as all the buzz on the internet due to this single, the duo decided to release the album a few weeks earlier than it's original April 8th delivery date.
For once, I'm not upset about someone else's premature ejaculation.
Gianfranco Reverberi, "Nel Cimitiero del Ruscon" Broken Social Scene, "I'm still your fag", You forgot it in people Old Man Luedecke, "Hinterland", Hinterland Beirut, "Cherbourg", The Flying Cup Club Antony & The Johnsons, "I fell in love with a dead boy" New Pornographers, "Challengers", Challengers Doug Mason, "Local Culture", Invisible Star Stolen Minks, "Boys on the floor", EP Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination Wolf Parade, "Shine a light", Apologies to the Queen Mary Peter, Bjorn & John, "Object of my affection", Writers's Block Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy", St. Elsewhere Gnarls Barkley, "Run" Skratch Bastid. Pip Skid & John Smith, "I ain't lazy", Taking care of business Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees, "Ameliaa Erahart" Santogold feat Spank Rock, "Shove it (Switch Remix)" Hot Chip, "Bendable, Poseable", Made In The Dark Poni Hoax, "Antibodies (To The Bone Edit)" Crystal Castles, "Untrust Us", S/T Syntonics, "Rock2Nite" Thunderheist, "Suenos Dulces" Modeselektor, "Kill Bill Vol 4", Hello Mom BoysNoize, "& Down (Boysnoize vs Siriusmo Remix)", Oi Oi Oi Remixed
Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano Lou Barlow, "Royalty" Great Lake Swimmers, "Where in the world are you?", Ongiara Old Man Luedecke, "At The Airport", Hinterland Old Man Luedecke, "Just Like a river", Proof Of Love Rufus Wainwright, "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", I'm your man Forest City Lovers, "Watching the streetlights grow", Haunting Moon Sinking Grizzly Bear, "Knife", Yellow House Portishead, "Plastic", Third Wolf Parade, "I'll believe in anything", Apologies to the Queen Mary Battles, "Atlas", Mirrored Merryn Cadell, "Flight attendant", Angel food for thought Tricky, "Tricky Kid", Grassroots Buck 65, "Dirtywork", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1 Sebastien Grainger, "When i go out" Bjork, "Alarm Call", Homogenic Radiohead, "15 steps", In Rainbows LCD Soundsystem, "Thrills", LCD Sounsdystem Duchess Says, "Tenen Non Neu", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs Hercules & Love affair, "Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)" Spektrum, "Kinda New (Dirty South Remix)"
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)"
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
