Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Shades of Love (1989)


Haven't posted any 'classic rock' type stuff here in quite some time (probably because I don't listen to it any more...).

Been cleaning out the archives in my basement, getting ready to unload a bunch of CDs (Goodwill, ebay, haven't decided yet...) and wanted to place them in the public archives. 

Old compilation from Silver Eagle Records, now defunct, purveyor of, in hindsight, all things schmaltz.

For the longest time I was into "mellow" tunes, creating illusions of what love should be based on sappy love songs such as these (though 'Black Water' and some others on here are odd choices for love songs).  I'd drive around at night for hours on end creating a false sentimentality that could never be.

However, if you dig tunes from the 70s and early 80s, this is a great compilation.

This isn't the usual download (hint: see post below) 'cause I'm too lazy to rip it to an mp3 and upload but with this file (hint: just under 1 GB) you'll never need to buy the CDs and you can choose your kbps.

Here

Info

The RIAA and Congress have pirates in their midst...

For those not up on the news, new legislation has been proposed call SOPA for short to stop what is commonly referred to as online piracy (funny how words are created as weapons devoid of any real substance).

But there are no saints among us, not even among those very organizations that seem to be the purveyors of purity when it comes to how music and movies make the rounds.

"Representatives and/or their staffs have been engaging in online piracy themselves, using computers located in the House office building, the website TorrentFreak.com, which tracks BitTorrent usage, reported on Monday.

“We found more than 800 IP addresses assigned to the U.S. House of Representatives from where content has been shared on BitTorrent,” the website said. Among the illegal downloads, it noted, were a number of self-help books, including, “Crucial Conversations — Tools for Talking when Stakes Are High;” TV shows like FX’s Sons of Anarchy; software including Windows 7; and even porn movies like Gangland Cream Pie (“just the tip of the iceberg,” said TorrentFreak)." (Source)

And from the report that not even the almighty RIAA is free from such a tarnish to their illustrious name:

"A few days ago [Torrent Freak] reported that no less than 6 IP-addresses registered to the RIAA had been busted for downloading copyrighted material. Quite a shocker to everyone – including the music industry group apparently – as they are now using a defense previously attempted by many alleged file-sharers. It wasn’t members of RIAA staff who downloaded these files, the RIAA insists, it was a mysterious third party vendor who unknowingly smeared the group’s good name." (Source)

And the battle rages on...stay tuned.

In the meantime, don't believe the hype that they care about the artists being paid. By and large they only care about protecting their own, uh, assets in a declining business model that is evolving into something they fail to understand.

Power resides with the people.

Don't be afraid of the thought police. You know what's right.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Mixmaster Morris & Jonah Sharp - Quiet Logic (1998)


This collaboration between Mixmaster Morris (aka Irresistible Force) and Jonah Sharp (aka Spacetime Continuum) is everything you'd expect and then some.

Why is this so very out of print?

Enjoy

Info

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Chill Out Or Die

Re-up with VBR V0 rip rates as well as a bonus surprise in each file (links on bottom).

For chill fans, some of these names will be quite familiar, others not so much, but these are great compilations.

The first volume was compiled and edited by Mixmaster Morris.

Chill Out Or Die! (1993)



Chill Out Or Die II (1994)



(look closely at the cover...)

Chill Out Or Die III (1994)



Chill Out Or Die 4 (1995)


Info

Chill Out Or Die America (1995)



Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Aufgang (2009)


No longer an experiment for "old school" electronic artists, younger artists are more intentional when it comes to experimenting with crossing classical and electronic music.

"Formed of classically trained pianists Rami Khalifé and Francesco Tristano, who met ten years ago while they were studying at the world-renowned Julliard School in New York, who, beside sharing a common interest in their study, also enjoyed the club scene that the city had to offer, and drummer Aymeric Westrich, also a classically trained musician who studied percussions at the Conservatoire de Boulogne in France, Aufgang became a proper entity in 2005 when they played at the Sonar festival in Barcelona." (Source

Good stuff.

Deleted...

Info

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Francesco Tristano - Not For Piano (2007)


I stumbled across Francesco Tristano during Murcof's FACT mix.

Turns out he's made quite a name for himself at a very young age.

"Tristano is one of the last students at New York’s Juilliard School to complete Bach legend Rosalyn Tureck’s master class. He also studied at the music academies in Brussels, Riga, Paris and Luxembourg as well as the esmuc in Barcelona...

Not for Piano (2007), presented his own compositions as well as versions of techno classics at the piano. Idiosynkrasia, his third album on the label inFiné, recorded at Carl Craig’s Planet E-communications in Detroit, was released to critical acclaim in 2010."

Shows the far reaching effects of electronic music...

Couple of bonuses included here as well.

Deleted...

Info

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Saite An Saite (A String Based Compilation) (2009)


Not really "classical" but it has "strings" in the title so close enough...

Found this one because of the track by Relapxych.0 (aka Anders Peterson). It was his music that first captured my interest but over time I have come to realize how often his production/mastering work graces recent releases. If you see his name, you know the caliber of the release is high.

Here's the details on this one:

"Guitar-based CD with long tracks from Aidan Baker (Nadja), Relapxych.0 and M. Sandbleistift (Licht-Ung). Sandbleistift's gauzy drones hover above a thick amplifier hum, coupled with metal-on-metal scrapes, electrical interference directed into the pick-ups, and spidery textures that wiggle into the mix as he plucks away at the bridge of his guitar...

Aidan Baker steals the show on this album. Even with his esteemed catalogue of ethereal ambience and doomdronedirge excursions, "One Step Ahead, One Step Behind" is pretty exceptional. A desolate guitar melody repeats throughout the entire track, alluding to the doom of Nadja had he kicked on the distortion pedals. But without, there's a sadness which permeates the track, accompanied by ghostly flickers of complimentary drones, bursts of static, and a slow-burning roar of distant distortion that eventually consumes the entire piece.

Relapxych.0 holds his own in creating a series of guitar-meets-the-laptop abstractions that looks to Fennesz and Tim Hecker for inspiration, and does a pretty good job in the way of an homage." (Aquarius).

Limited to 300 copies.

Try

Friday, November 25, 2011

Akira Rabelais - Spellewauerynsherde (2004)


Tagging on to the "modern classical" vibe...

This is one of the tracks that captivated me on the Reflections compilation posted earlier.  The story of this album adds depth to the music much like the story of Basinski's Disintegration Loops.

"Undertaking a project to transfer from tape to digital some old tape recordings of Icelandic vocal lament songs presumed to have been recording in the 1960's Akira claims to have been completely obsessed by them to an extent where he wished to incorporate the vocals into his own music." (Source)

Has a Johann Johannsson/Sigur Ros kind of feel to it (something about Iceland I suppose...) but it is quite unique and is quite moving.

Highly recommended (preferably in a quiet listening environment and/or with headphones).

Try

Info

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Carl Craig + Francesco Tristano + Moritz von Oswald

Lately my interests seem to have found a hybrid between dub techno in all its varieties and modern classical.  If you listen closely to the last compilation posted (and follow the link to Murcof's FACT mix) you'll hear a tune by a young wunderkind named Francesco Tristano.

I  stumbled across him through the Murcof mix.  He overtly blends the classical with the club as can be seen by his reworking on piano of Derrick May's "Strings of Life."  He is a member of the group Aufgang, another electronic/classical hybrid with some other classically trained artists, and recently released an EP with Moritz von Oswald reworking his track "Bio."

Does this elevate electronic music?  Does it dilute the classical?  Or is it just the collision of traditional forms opening up new worlds, kind of like splitting the atom?

Not a big fan of labels, tags or other superimpositions on what music is "supposed" to be, I choose the latter.

Couple of posts to come but in the meantime, here's a taste of some of the masters of the form:

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

XVI Reflections On Classical Music (2009)


Tagging on to the last Murcof post, this is a killer compilation of "modern classical" music.

If you don't think you're a fan of classical in the traditional sense (and if you aren't, give these a try) then you might just find these just what the doctor ordered. 

Put this on, open your mind and let go.

Or give Murcof's FACT mix a go.

Wonder if in 200 years this will drop the "modern" tag and just be considered "classical" as well.  

Deleted...

Info

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Rapidshare bye-bye...

After November 28th, all posts on the blog that have links to RS will be under the "delete if inactive" status meaning that if they are older than 30 days with no activity, the files will be deleted.

This will not affect posts within the last year or so as I have generally stuck with MF and MU. Most of the older files are either active enough that this won't happen or they've already disappeared even if the posts remain.

Just send updates if you find anything that needs fixed and I'll do what I can.

Thanks for sticking around!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Fernando Corona (aka Murcof aka Terrestre)

The Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 (2001)


"The term Nortec is a conjunction of Norteño ("of" or "from the North") and Techno, but mainly describes the collision between the music, style and culture of electronic music with those of norteño and tambora, two popular music genres from the North of Mexico [to] create a sound that is very Tijuana." (Source)

A group of various producers came together under the Nortec Collective banner and the result was this album. The collective achieved a healthy level of recognition in Mexico and beyond.

Though it seems to still exist in some form or other, all the original members have moved on to other individual projects.

Fernando Corona's "Terrestre" project has two tracks featured here.

Tijuana Sessions

Info

Secondary Inspection (2004)


The last project under the Terrestre name has taken the syncopated dissection of sounds found on Murcof's essential Martes album and has added a distinctive, hypnotic beat pattern.

The first two tracks are the show stealers but the whole album is a nice adjunct to those familiar with his more modern classical leanings as of late.

A very pleasant surprise if you haven't heard it.

Secondary Inspection

Info

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Futur[e]cho


1. Coppice Halifax – Royal Acre
2. A. Mayer – Sky
3. Soap – Syncro Fall
4. Dublicator – Vibronic Transition
5. Spiral Dub – Axiom Dub
6. Textural Being – Homage à Maurizio
7. ISA – Filtered
8. DeepWarmth – Cold Cities
9. As If – Rose From Above
10. Spaceci – µ2 Receptor
11. Fingers in the Noise – l’Acrobate [Ambient Version]

While listening to the Variations in Height comp, I was instantly hooked by the first track by Spaceci.

Like all junkies I go where all junkies go to get the next fix and stumbled across this one.

Dub tech goodness...

Info and free download

Friday, November 11, 2011

Moby - Destroyed (Deluxe)


Moby has been one of my favorite artists since circa 1994. Yes, I know all the criticisms leveled against him. Don't care. Love the music he makes. Respect his views and the fact he really has basically done it his way.

Anyhow, if you've got the time, I've got a story (some of you may have already heard it...).

Around the time when this album was first released, I had escaped from the 9 to 5 grind by going on a road trip to one of my company's suppliers which, in reality, was more an excuse to get out of the office for a few days. I was really struggling with feeling overworked (or, more accurately, feeling like work was getting in the way of figuring out what’s gnawing at me), fretting over being trapped by the stuff of the world and a longing for a sense of freedom. Working upwards of 80 hours every week, I was bugging out, swimming toward the deep end.

Over 900 miles of driving in two days was exactly what the doctor ordered.

On the way home I was listening to this album for the first time. I pulled off for gas at an exit in the middle of northern Michigan on the way from Muskegon to Toledo. I spotted a Goodwill. Didn't know it was there...it just seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

Now you have to understand that for many, many years I was a thrift store junkie. Any new town was a chance to scour the thrift stores (primarily looking for vinyl). I passed up more than a few Goodwills on my little walkabout, er, business trip. Yet I was drawn to this one. It had a "glow" to it.

What did I find there? Moby's Play DVD. So what, you may say. I have always been guided by signs or signals that "someone" is watching over me. For the most part these have always had to do with music.

Perhaps the most significant one I can recall was Melissa Etheridge's first album. Late 80s, school, lots of personal trauma, her first album on non-stop repeat, a balm to a wounded soul.

Six years later, at the apex of my trip to Seattle circa 1994, on the last stretch of the 2,300 mile journey home, crashing and burning all the way, I passed the same exit to the school I attended and on the radio was a Melissa Etheridge song from that very same album.

Her music by this time was just a memory for me as I was fully immersed in the burgeoning electronic music scene, Moby being pivotal in this regard. She was no longer all over the airwaves, her star slowly fading, and this song was not one of the "hits" from the first album ("Late September Dogs" I believe it was...).

Yet at that moment, at that exit, that song from that album was too obvious to miss. Coincidence? Not by my definition. It was closure. I could move on.

Anyhow, I knew immediately that this was another one of those moments. All the doubts, frustrations and fatigue I had been feeling were replaced with a moment of joy. I was excited about the DVD, certainly, but the odds of finding this DVD at this thrift store while a Moby album played in my car at this point in time hundreds of miles away from my home was no mere coincidence.

As I hopped back on the highway feeling pretty good, the album continued to play. By the time I got to "Lacrimae" at about 70 mph I was in bliss. It was one of those rare, memorable moments of sober ecstasy. I was exactly where I was supposed to be and my troubles evaporated.

Everything past was laid to rest, no regrets. Moving forward was not really on my mind. It was quite "Zen" in the sense that I was in the moment enjoying the feeling of the speed of the car, the sounds in my ears and the sensation of being guided.

Try listening to “The Right Thing” through “Lacrimae” in one sitting, either undistracted or completely absorbed in doing something like driving. It may just take you into one of those deep, personal states of being where you just know. No thinking, beyond feeling, beyond mere reminisce...just a knowing.

Why do I bring this up? Happened to have another one of those moments today with this very same album (and Florence + The Machine's "Shake It Out"...). Thought I'd share.

If you got this far, thanks for listening. May you find your bliss in those rare, pristine moments that make up a life.

This album is out in about a billion versions and I'm sure everyone has at least one version but just in case...

Here's a link to one of 'em.

Here's a photo of mine:

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Land of Baboon

Volume 1 is an essential smattering of the illbient sound.

On Volume 2 that Middle Eastern illbient vibe laid over some killer basslines never sounded sweeter...

Volume 3 spins in alternate musical territory adding a jazzy kind of touch with a roster of new artists.


Try

Info


Try

Info


Try

Info

Friday, November 4, 2011

Zoo Rave 1 and 2

Also by request...

Hate to say it but it's "old school" but man does it bring back memories of when the rave was about, well, raving.





Links

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Assemblage Compilations - Extreme

By request...

Assemblage Volume One (1994)


Deleted...

Info

Assemblage Volume Two (1996)


Deleted...

Info

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Dub Gabriel - Ascend (2003)


By request...

Hint: soulseek

Deleted...

Info

P.S. Good stuff. Thanks for the recommendation.

Angelo Badalamenti in the fog...


My drive to work this morning in the fog was with music in the spirit of Angelo Badalamenti hovering around me...simply perfect, especially the Terminal Sound System track...

1 Robert Curgenven - Acciaccatura Amplificata
2 Biosphere - Iberia Eterea
3 Circle - Bakkis
4 Terminal Sound System - Duchamp Falls
5 Pjusk - Dempet
6 Æthenor - Untitled
7 Stars Of The Lid - Music For Twin Peaks Episode #30, Part 2
8 Julien Neto - V (Rivers)
9 Yoga - Dreamcast
10 Zelienople - Aging
11 Philip Samartzis - Gut Bucket Blues
12 Windy & Carl - I Have Been Waiting To Hear Your Voice
13 Jasper Tx - Black Sleep Pt. III
14 Pluramon - Log

Deleted...

For more info, go HERE (gotta register...it's worth it).

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Music as therapy...

I have realized that the ratio of posts to stuff going on internally are related. It's been a busy month of posting.

The music consumption has been near addiction levels meaning that I have been avoiding reality to a large degree. Not that reality is bad, mind you, but cruise control doesn't work with lots of traffic, if you get my drift.

Music can play a role in healing and dealing but it can also distract us from ourselves.

Honesty comes not without cost so thanks for sharing in the (semi-public) catharsis...

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out



Play it loud...on repeat...'til you get it all out.

This is one of those songs that comes along every so often and is just about perfect. There is an energy present that reminds me of The Nationals "Bloodbuzz Ohio."

Album due out Monday...

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A Musical Statement - The Shuffle on Steroids


Now this is fun...

Seriously, these are really pretty great. Somewhat thematic, I've discovered a whole range of music well outside my radar, more than a few tunes that have instantly snagged my attention.

Kind of fits right in with the schizo mood I've been in lately where nothing is real and everything is permitted.

From the creator:

"A radio show for the musically curious: post-rock, avantgarde, old time radio, contemporary classical, plain old rock, internet buzz, voices from the past... and some fun stuff. Every other week a new selection, a new experiment, a new musical statement."

Tracklist:

Side 1
01. The Tibetan Book Of The Dead [read by Richard Gere]
02. David Sylvian - Small Metal Gods ["Manafon", 2009]
03. Explosions In The Sky - Human Qualities ["Take Care, Take Care, Take Care", 2011]
04. Jack Kerouac - The Dharma Bums [read by Allen Ginsberg]
05. Tim Buckley - Song Of The Magician ["Tim Buckley", 1966]
06. Fleet Foxes - Sim Sala Bim ["Helplessness Blues", 2011]
07. Joseph Conrad - I Duellanti
08. Grails - Soft Temple ["Burning Off Impurities", 2006]

Side 2
01. J.D. Salinger - The Catcher In The Rye
02. Elbow - Lippy Kids ["Build A Rocket Boys!", 2011]
03. Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse - Revenge (feat. Wayne Coyne) ["Dark Night Of The Soul", 2010]
04. Carmelo Bene - Il Sentimento
05. Sean Carey - In The Dirt ["All We Grow", 2010]
06. Fedor Dostoevskij - Notes From Underground
07. Jónsi - Tornado ["Go Live", 2010]

 Many more episodes can be found:

HERE

or

THERE

(Nothing to join, no password needed)

Sunday, October 23, 2011

You can't go back...

I was downtown today watching my GF finish up a 5K run and at the finish were throngs of people "partying" as the runners came across.  I stood several hundred yards up from the finish line and observed.  What I observed was sameness.

They had a DJ from a local Clear Channel station who played such things as Bryan Adams and the "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" song.  Same music, same event, same people, everything exactly as expected.  No wonder people drink and do drugs trying to shake off the sameness.

I had my mp3 and headphones and tuned into Mr. Cloudy (who may be more prolific than even bvdub) and noticed that the beats of his music seemed to flow with the rhythm of the runners' feet hitting the pavement.  It was perfect, almost surreal.

I felt strangely - and happily - out of place, a reminder that sometimes we're not meant to go along with the crowd, and that it's ok.  That's probably why music is a constant companion.

Lately my journeys have been going through various universes of recorded sounds and music.  From wire sounds to drone to field recordings of the Waveform Transmission variety to the otherworldy analogue of the guys from Echospace, deeper and deeper I go.  But I'm not sure where I'm going...

Currently listening to Alva Noto's Resident Advisor mix, contemplating dropping some cash on his new Univrs LP.  From the samples I've heard, it sounds intense.

It's such a far cry from the music I was surrounded by growing up and I'm not sure how this applies to the daily routine but I look to music for escape and, ideally, as fuel for stepping out and creating something new. 

Not sure how I got here but I know I can't go back.  The future beckons...

Can anyone relate?

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Echospace in the mailbox...


Ok, shameless plug, I admit...

But what an interesting thing this new music distribution.  Forget the majors, they can just disappear along with all the other "talent" shows on television these days.  With the exception of Marvin Gaye's 40th Anniversary deluxe deal, I can't tell you the last time I bought anything (knowingly) from a major label.

Independents are alive and well so we really need to support them or they will disappear as so many independent labels have over the years (or, worse, been bought out by a major).

Deepchord/Echospace is the one artist/label that has been a constant since sometime around 2007 with their The Coldest Season release.  I've since dove deep into their back catalogue and remain entranced and thrilled by what is there.  Been a long time since I've been so passionate about any artist...

I discovered The Coldest Season via the web.  Never would have found it any other way, not even close.  And my first listen was, of course, by a shared download.  However, since then I have probably spent 10 to 20 times (or more) the original purchase price on later (and previous) releases.

Why do I pass this story along?  Not to defend sharing files (though I do, if there is an ethic to it) but to advocate a choice, a commitment, to support the artists/labels that you dig.  It has to be a conscious choice, especially when everything is so freely available online. 

Download it, listen to it, but by all means realize the expense involved in music creation.  It's the little guy, the guy that truly loves music, that needs the support to continue, or at least supplement, the making of music. 

My daughter is a musician (went to a show of hers last night - hip-hop/rap, of all things - in a pub downtown) so I know firsthand the expense and labor involved in music creation.  It ain't cheap.  Many artists have "real" jobs to afford them the means of making music. 

So I highly value these CDs.  They came directly from the label after direct communication with people from the label who are close to the artists.  No middle man, no distribution chain, no mumbo jumbo.  You can get a feel for what the artist is really about (for better or for worse) in this way and it is perhaps the best thing about music today.  So when you give the money, you know exactly where it is going.  It is quite personal (and not in the obsessive, weird kind of way) and really cool. 

There are some really interesting stories about how the two new releases came to be and how it never would have happened in the old traditional way.  Do whatever you can to keep the feedback loop going - there are artists out there who are listening and are really in it for the music.

So here's the scoop on the albums, if interested:

DeepChord Presents Echospace – Spatialdimension (2011) - limited edition of 100

cv313 – Beyond The Clouds (2011) - limited edition of 100

cv313 – cv313 - Live - DEMF After Party In 2008 (2009) - limited edition of 300

Rapidshare account expiring...

When I began way back when everything was posted on Rapidshare.  At the time it was one of the few and was one of the best share sites.  For a while they were offering "referrals" when folks signed up by a link that was on the site.

This enabled me over time to almost two years' worth of membership which was way cool.  Files stuck around then.  Then they made all kinds of changes and, by and large, not many people use them anymore.  Sadly, they quit doing "referrals" a while ago.

Time has come...at the end of November mine expires and I won't be paying to keep it going.

Any file not downloaded within a 30 day period will disappear.  Not sure how much that will really matter as many a file has been deleted from their archives anyhow.  Most newer posts are on MU or MF or other more convenient and user friendly links.

So just giving a heads up...if any files disappear let me know and I'll see if I can "relocate" them.

Thanks all for checking out the blog.  Never figured I'd still be here several years later!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Shuffle Mix #2


Track list is a surprise so it's a great chance to maybe pick up something you haven't heard before.

Cover art shows some cassette mixes I made in school during the 80s (still have 'em as historical record). The photo is for cover art only...now that I think about it, I'm not even sure I have most these songs in mp3 anyhow...

Cheese free, no worries.

Part1//Part2

P.S. I was inspired by baroquedub (been around as long as I can remember...) to post a file of the mix.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

It's officially over...

...electronic music is now very mainstream (or maybe I'm just noticing...).

Massive Attack, M83, Burial...on NPR.

NPR - Electronic Edition

It's like 1998 all over again, with "electronic" music being touted as the next big thing.

Hopefully the media will get over it soon.

Good for the artists featured, though.

Fortunately, the underground has, once again, gone underground.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Shuffle...

So often I spend more time looking through albums to listen to while trying to decipher the mood I'm in that I end up listening to nothing.  Rarely do I have the attention span (or the ear time) to digest an entire album in one sitting so by the time I'm able to listen to something my mood has changed and I start the process again...

So in an act of frustration, I hit shuffle on the mp3 player (which brand shall remain nameless but those who remember the old blog will know...).  It's been liberating. 

Instead of trying to decipher my mood and chooose from over 5,000 songs currently at my fingertips, the random selections of songs has had the power to actually influence and/or change my mood. 

It's easy to get set in how we hear/recognize songs and then judge it in another context (which may indicate we've become a music snob or that we're just getting old...).  The songs out of context (especially when taken from mixes), especially from one style to the next with no rhyme nor reason, is enough to keep me from locking into any one particular mood.


So here's a snapshot of today's randomness just for fun:

1) Dull My Heart - Ghosts of Paraguay, Silent Souls

2) Fable from Arabian Knights - Professor Shehab & Captain Kowatchi, Land of Baboon Vol. 1

3) In From The Cold - Stasis, History of Future E.P.

4) #13 - Ryoji Ikeda, Demixed

5) Portugese Love (Album Version) - Bah Samba, 4

6) Easy We - Rob Nuca, Dub Be Good to Me

7) Silk Road Fantasy - Kitaro, Silk Road

8) XY Ungelost - 4E, Electric Ladyland III

9) North Bay - Pablo Bolivar, Motion

10) Panama Cell - Once11, Versus The Pyramid

11) Horizontal Structure 3 - Moritz Von Oswald Trio, Horizontal Structure

12) Trip - Megaperis, Coffeeshop Vol. 4

13) Würfel (Version)  - Von Schommer, dcv07

14) Mal!c!ouz "Abracadabra"  - Once 11, Versus the Pyramid

15) Live in Tokyo I - Deepchord Presents Echospace, 14 Tracks: Echospace Exclusives

16) Tyrolean Music Station - The Conet Project, Recordings of Shortwave Numbers Stations

17) Where's My Money Mastermix - Mark Broom, Excursions

18) Sigh No More - Mumford & Signs, Sigh No More

Love it will not betray, dismay or enslave you
It will set you free

Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design, an alignment, a cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

19) The Young People - Moon Wiring Club and Belbury Poly, Ghost Box Study Series 01

20) Morphin - STL, Machines Down Low


*Did not include mention of two tracks that were under 20 second each...such is the nature of the shuffle. 

Now if only the shuffle could beat and pitch match...


Feel free to share yours in the comments if so inspired.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

DJB.157 – Deepchord (June 2011)


So I'm on shuffle this week and it's kind of nice as I'm hearing tracks I probably would never get to so what a pleasant surprise when this one popped up.  All I can say is...

...you need this.

Killer deep, chunky, dubby tech mix with mostly non-Deepchord related stuff. 

You should still be able to DL it...

Here

Friday, October 14, 2011

Eluvium - Static Nocturne (2010)


Can't remember how, when or where I stumbled across Eluvium but he has developed a sound all his own ranging from slow moving, beautiful piano pieces to dissecting what is often considered "noise" to bring out the beauty found therein.

The first time I ever heard "Zerthis Was A Shivering Human Image" I sat mesmerized for 15 minutes of distorted guitar washing back and forth over me and I achieved a level of peace I could not explain.

This was a limited release from Eluvium (currently going for stupid money on discogs) that tapped into this sound.  For 50 minutes, prepare to be immersed in what he called "an homage to static/white noise."

Try

Info

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Scion – Arrange And Process Basic Channel Tracks (2002)


Been on vacation this week so I've lots of time to put on music and just let it play rather than the usual soundbytes on the way to work, on the way home, as I crash at night, etc.

Killer reworking of stuff from the Basic Channel archives by the guys from Subtance & Vainqueur (also in the Basic Channel family) with driving beats that will take you places...

Put this is in and go somewhere.

Try

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Saturday, September 24, 2011

TCH (This Crepuscular Hour) Discography

One of the more obscure gems of the Dorobo/Iridium label.

Eryn Tooey (violin) appears on Shinjuku Thief's The Witch trilogy. Peter Breuer (electronics) appears on Shinjuku Filth's Junk.

Only two releases to their credit.

YouTube has a site with many of their videos if you want to get to know a little bit more about their aesthetic.

Tough to find too, especially Abutilon at 320.

Abutilon (1994) (320 kbps)




Try

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Sinflower (1997) (VBR~256 kbps)





Try

Info

Mika Vainio - Mining (Video) (2011)



Been on a heavier sounds kick lately, finding the beauty in the apparent chaos.  Ditto the video above.  

It helps if you've seen the original film but this song and this video are a perfect fit.

Boomkat review of his Life (...It Eats You Up) album.

Just another one of those tracks that jumped out at me instantly...

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Salem - King Night (Video) (2010)

Maybe some of you know this song and the whole genre that bears this sound...

I knew of the genre (Balam Acab seems to get lumped in there) but didn't pay it much mind until I stumbled across this song (and band and album and genre) that seems to garner a lot of confusion in the press. 

I haven't had a song smack me like this since the first time I heard Ministry's "Stigmata" or Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like A Hole" and sat spellbound by the videos.

I think it was the 'O Holy Night' (a highly meaningful song for me) thing that sucked me in. 

Considering that I find music in the sound of wires in the wind or in the recordings of shortwave radio transmissions and enjoy the musical collision styles of such artists as Bill Laswell and scratch DJs, it isn't a stretch for me to see the beauty going on in the midst of what seems like blithering chaos.

Not sure the song (or video) has any meaning at all but the end result is pretty remarkable (and apparently polarizing).  Genius?  Social commentary?  Apathy? Catharsis?  Or perhaps just a moment in pop culture in which the decomposition of meaning has found a temporary repose.

If anything, there seems to be an inertia behind it which comes from a place so overly sensitized that to be desensitized would be to feel something.  Boomkat's review is well worth reading.

I suppose it takes coming from a place like that to bring forth something like this.

Check it out...


SALEM - KING NIGHT from Theo Wenner on Vimeo.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

U-cover Mixes


If you aren't familiar with the U-cover label, well worth your time to check it out.  Mostly the work of label owner, Koen Lybbaert (aka Ontayso), it offers a diverse selection of artists to be found and/or represented and a nice variety of unique musical offerings.

Couple of older mixes here that give a taste of what they have to offer:

Mix #1 (Ambient)

Mix #3 (IDM)
Mix #4 (Minimal)

Missing #2 if anyone has it to offer...

As always, support the labels and artists in any way you can.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Alan Lamb's Night Passage - The Layered Mixes


One of the more visited pieces of music in my collection (much to my GF's dismay...) is Alan Lamb's "wire music" as found on two CDs he has released of the recordings.

Several things prompted me to experiment a little.

At the end of a road trip last week, Murcof's The Versailles Sessions (another challenging yet essential work) was accompanying me and as "Spring in the Artificial Gardens" ended it struck me that David Hyke's "Rainbow Voice" (that I first heard in one of my favorite films, Baraka, essential on Blu-Ray), would blend perfectly into this.

As I started to put this together I decided to use Alan Lamb's "Night Passage" as the foundation. Something about the cacophony of the Murcof track seemed to fit. The 24:51 track length is the entire Lamb piece on its own.

There are two versions here:

#2) The recent post of The Conet Project has a video of a mix with Lamb's "Last Anzac" piece and I figured a random sample of these recordings would fit in with the mix.

Finally, thrown in to boot was "Among the Shadows" from Anders Peters' latest, Eerie Calm Reincarnate. Since he is into found sounds as a basis for his "eerie" soundscapes, it all seemed to gel.

#4) I toned down the wire music to bring out the other songs in the mix more clearly.  "Among the Shadows" was replaced with "Her Face" so this one's got some beats and The Conet Project track was replaced with "Origins" from Darrin Verhagen's Soft Ash, an "aural treatment of six different fatal gaseous clouds, most of which being mostly composed of sulphur dioxide." (Source)

Certainly not everyone's thing and certainly not "music" in the usual sense (whatever that is) but hopefully you'll find it interesting...

Night Passage #2

Night Passage #4

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Anders Peterson (aka A.P., aka Relapxych.0)


Another mix from one of my favorite artists, Anders Peterson, who operates under many aliases.

Along with being a great music maker, his production techniques grace many releases on labels such as his own Ghost Sounds label and, lately, Silent Season, one of the best labels out there right now.

By the way, his latest release, Eerie Calm Reincarnate, is one of 2011's best.  Picked up the 2 LP release upon its release.  On top of the brooding ambience, he's added beats which really give it a distinctive touch.

Give this mix a listen and give him your support.

The tracklist:

1. 0’00 Katzo – « Iterance »
2. 5’40 Atheus – « Decaedra »
3. 13’10 Alteria percepsyne – « All you see is a ghost »
4. 17’53 A.P reworks Muslimgauze – « Citadel in nightlight »
5. 23’52 relapxych.0 – « Distant radiance »
6. 27’15 Alveol – « Living crystal »
7. 31’11 Deer – « Live in Manchester » (relapxych.0 Remix)
8. 34’05 Akira Yamaoka – « Assault on the police station »
9. 36’30 A.P – « Foreverneverendeverend »
10. 37’37 The exaltics – « Negative agency »
11. 41’29 M.A.L – « Lie detector test »
12. 43’02 Katzo – « Refrain »
13. 46’00 Rhythm and sound – « Trace »
14. 47’25 Federsen – « Gamma »
15. 51’30 Andrea Porcu – « Come le onde »
16. 58’01 Skyscaper / Ekelon – « Shaping the sky »

Input Selector Mix

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Conet Project


The coolest thing I've heard in quite some time...

Some of my favorite albums are those that capture those sounds from the atmosphere that we often miss and forget that it is another soundtrack to our life.  Darrin Verhagen's Soft Ash and Alan Lamb's Night Passage come immediately to mind.

This is a collection - 4 CDs worth - of post World War II shortwave radio transmissions.  There is a conspiracy, spy element to them which makes them all the more intriguing.  You can read all about them here.

These are free on the archive.org website or you can find the recordings on the labels home page:

Here

Speaking of Alan Lamb (which is how I stumbled across this in the first place), here is a mix of his "wire music" and some samples from the Conet Project:



P.S. Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot has its roots in these recordings and they were in fact sued by Irdial, the label behind the project.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Naked Funk


By multiple requests... 

Valium (1996)



Naked Funk's first album.

This one doesn't seem to get much attention. Maybe it should...

Here

Info

Evolution Ending (1999)




I first stumbled across them on Global Underground's first Afterhours mix. The title song was one of the highlights of the mix.

I've seen their sound compared to The Crystal Method and, on a few songs, this is a fair comparison with the heavy emphasis on bass.

However, there is a bit more diversity in their sound, sometimes a bit funky in an electro kind of way and sometimes more on the downtempo.

If anything get it for the title track but listen to it from the beginning before getting there. It's a nice ride.

Here

Info

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Echospace in the mailbox...


No new music here, just a little bundle of joy to share.  Deepchord presents Echospace's The Coldest Season was one of 2007's highlights and brought the deep underground sound of Rod Modell and Stephen Hitchell into the spotlight.  They continue to turn out amazing releases.

It was originally issued as a four part series of 12" vinyl records.  A few days ago I stumbled across this find at discogs being sold "for one of the artist from Echospace, they are brand new and still sealed but from the original pressing..." 

For good measure, the CV313 "Seconds to Forever [Extended Live Version]" was tossed in.  It does not have a sticker indicating that it is one of the 200 from the limited release but it is a new digipak and still sealed and it's right from the label.

Not much gets my heart racing these days but the feeling upon opening up this package brought quite a little rush.

So, for your listening pleasure...

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Coldcut - Stoned...Chilled...Groove (1997)



Finally tracked down a physical copy of this one for a reasonable price.

A classic.

Chilled...very...

Enjoy

Info

Monday, July 25, 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Mo Wax Discography


...go here...get out your translator...be patient while you figure it out...smile for days on end...

Friday, June 24, 2011

Cotton Goods



...gotta be registered...get out your translator...

Discogs 

Monday, June 20, 2011

Dorobo Videos 1992-1995


 

Let's try this again...

The Dorobo label (now defunct) out of Australia has been one of my favorite labels for a while.  Mostly the brainchild and work of Darrin Verhagen under his various monikers, it features some interesting music of a more "industrial" nature, social commentary with an art school aesthetic.

This is a compilation of videos of artists from the label.  The videos definitely match the feel of the music.  Grainy, industrial, Kafka-esque collages.  An excellent series of videos put together by I+T=R (local designer Richard Grant credited by Verhagen with creating the entire Dorobo aesthetic)

Turn down the lights and turn up the volume for a creepy good time.

This one is long overdue for a DVD treatment.  Richard Grant has been posting some stellar videos on his YouTube account which includes everything here and then some.

TCH (aka This Crepuscular Hour) also has a YouTube account well worth checking out.

Experiment and engaging stuff, highly, highly recommended.

Tracklisting:

1 Shinjuku Filth - Detox
2 Snog - Cliche
3 Shinjuku Thief - Komachi Ruins
4 Hanging Garden - Rust
5 Shinjuku Thief - The Assessor / Stepping From Routine / Lips Of The Guilty
6 Snog - Empires
7 Ryoji Ikeda - What's Wrong / Zone 2
8 TCH - In Sensorium
9 Professor Richmann - Eis
10 Shinjuku Thief - Warm As The Blood Beneath The Clods / In The Path Of Walpurga's Ashes
11 Loggerhead - Demons In Rapture
12 This Digital Ocean - Heartbreaker
13 Shinjuku Thief - The Year Of Silence

Links

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