Machines Need Love Too

Back home



and back online at last. It only took AOL and BT 6 weeks to get their heads together and do what I suggested 6 weeks earlier... plug our broadband cable in. Still, Why Are People Grudgeful? as Mark E Smith once asked. I'm not. On with the music.

I've recently taken delivery, courtesy of ebay, of a huge number of Carl Craig, Planet E and Moodymann records from the states. I'm a bit of a Detroit Techno nut (although not so much that i'd pay £5,400 for a Drexciya 12" !!) and i'll hopefully at some point in the future spend a week or two running through some of the scene's many classic tracks... but for the time being it's gonna take me a long while to get through all this new (well, pre-loved) vinyl. Moodymann is slowly blowing me away. I used to run a mile whenever I heard his name, since he was strongly associated with those nauseous words 'Deep House'... but shit i'm a convert. He needs a bit of quality control, but hell that boy's got soul (albeit mainly nicked from Marvin & Stevie)

Detroit must have the greatest musical legacy of any place on earth. Certainly for funk and soul... and this has seeped deep into the techno sound of the city. Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Underground Resistance, Kenny Larkin, Jeff Mills, Drexciya, Stacey Pullen, Rolando, Kevin Saunderson.... the list is endless. For me though, as far as Detroit Techno goes Carl Craig is THE man. He certainly fills up more space on my hard drive than anyone but Aphex. He also remains pretty much the only one of my musical heroes i've never seen live. This is something I have to sort out.

I'm gonna throw up a couple of his more downtempo moments right now, but hell, these are two of the greatest records of all time. Period.

Desire is from one of the three EPs he released as '69' (4 Jazz Funk Classics; Sound on Sound and Lite Music). Those three records for me are the absolute pinnicle of electronic soul, and although '4 Jazz Funk Classics' is best for the dancefloor, 'Desire', from 'Lite Music' is pure headphone sex. I remember a bar in Brighton falling absolutely silent when the DJ dropped this. No pre-programmed drum patterns here. This is the sound of a computer SINGING.

69 - DESIRE

'People Make the World Go Round' is superficially a world away from Carl's techno beginnings, however the boundaries between jazz, techno, blues and soul have always been porous.. he just pushes them out in one direction depending on which guise he's in. Paul Randolph is on vocals and guitar here.. and certainly deserves a lot of credit. This is beautiful.

INNERZONE ORCHESTRA - PEOPLE MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND

The Innerzone Orchestra album came out in the UK on Gilles Peterson's Talking Loud, and also features a version of another all time classic - 'At Les'. It's well worth picking up, although it's out of print now, so second hand shops are your best bet.


(By the way i've got mp3s of that Clarence G record, and believe me it's not worth £5,000 - especially when you can pick it up here for a bargain £3,250!)

It could be so nice

This bootleg came from the DJ's Are Not Rockstars compilation... rumoured to be by DJ Hell. Most of it is forgettable, however two of the tracks are genius. One of them is the mash-up of Planet Rock with Jaques Lu Cont's 'Silver Screen Shower Scene' remix...

This is the other.

DJ's Are Not Rockstars -
Paint My Neck, My Back, My Pussy And My Crack Black (Damn, Vitalic's Supersonic!)


Three years on & I still can't get enough of that Vitalic 12". I'm hoping a few copies of the Poney EP have reached the Alps!



So as I think I mentioned I'm off for a week now. I've had to flog a load of records to pay for this holiday, so take a look & see if there's anything that tickles your fancy....... with any luck i'll manage to keep the baliffs at bay!

Laters
xx


Oh, and one last thing. All the pictures last week were by Scottish genius David Shrigley. He's best known for his drawings, but I love his photographs as well. You can buy a couple of his prints from Pictures on Walls, or buy quite a few of his books from Amazon. I'm a huge fan of his, and will no doubt be (mis)appropriating some more of his work at some point in the future.

Today's picture is by Martin Parr.

Look Out Below

I really wish I could wax lyrical about how good the Arcade Fire show was last night. My mouth was falling open further and further as the set progressed. Stunning. I was simultaneously speechless and bursting with superlatives.



Trouble is, time is something I really don't have right now. I am leaving for a much needed week's holiday at the weekend & I have a shitload of stuff to get done.

I am wary of raving about so many things that you'll start ignoring my recommendations... please don't ignore this one though. Buy.

And please please please try and see them live.

That is all.

THE ARCADE FIRE - WAKE UP



I'll try & squeeze one more track in tomorrow before I go .... and it's not to be missed!

Err.... Fish?

Couple of great tracks here, in honour of a tasty bit of monkfish I had last night.

The first is by Jahcoozi. I know nothing about them, and i've forgotten how to speak German... fortunately Google is here to help!

Jahcoozi/Fish abstract one electronic Beats from the frontiers of Ragga, BlipHop and Electronica with a feeling for Groove and the unexpected mark the TRACKS of the citizens of Berlin volume Jahcoozi. The ironical English texts of the female MCs Sasha Perera (original from London) lend the electronic Beatkonstrukten of Robot cook (Berlin) an unusual and charmingly diagonal Touch. They are supported live by Oren Gerlitz (Tel Aviv) at the bass. The compositions and productions develop in the classical volume group. All three Jahcoozis gained, work experience with various other music projects world-wide however since 2002 intensively on the common thing, which forms itself more and more to a strong Live act and imagines with "Fish" now the Vinylfreunden. Club fitness proves a Dance mixing of Natascha to that. Behind this beautiful name hide themselves equal three WMFler, which together-found themselves nearly coincidental in the WMF Natascha bar to a creative Workshop and since that time at TRACKS to tinker regular. That Highfish, Dominik Sprungala of center Karaoke and Fritz Zander would not have to do not also different one - to present, arises, makes light for example. A second Jahcoozi TRACK, Kaleidoscope, is as Remix of beige (aka Burnt Friedman, Nonplace), in order to along-present the experimental Frickelfreude of the Jahcoozis. All that knows and likes Jahcoozi. And still many more! Jahcoozi are represented with "wallpaper change" on the "Electric Pop" Compilation (new clay/tone) together with 2Raum dwelling, T.Raumschmiere, MaertiniBroes and other artists. A Remix of Jahcoozi appears simultaneous on the "Fiery Creatures EP" by panorama (Hamton Recordings). In addition "Kaleidoscope" will be on the "Bread & butter" Compilation.

I like the idea of a 'Charmingly Diagonal Touch'!

This track appeared on the 'Rebel Futurism' mix CD last year. The full version here is taken from one of the sampler 12"s that accompanied that album. It's on the Crosstown Rebels label, which replaced the legendary City Rockers when that folded.

It starts off pleasantly enough, but soon the growling bass starts... then the 'French Kiss'-esque piano stabs begin.. and it turns into a real hands-in-the-air crowd pleaser. Yeah, this is right up my autobahn. I love it.


JAHCOOZI - FISH (TEAM NATASCHA MIX)

There is a new installment of 'Rebel Futurism' out now (a bargain £7.99 from Amazon). I've not heard it yet however if it's anywhere near the quality of the previous three it's an essential purchase.


Since we're on a fish theme, I have just the thing for desert.

I doubt you need to hear anything about Mr Scruff. Tea lover. Doodler. Superstar DJ. He likes fish as well.

MR SCRUFF - FISH

Check out his superb website. Go on.. have a pie!


Lastly, check out The World's Most Gayest Referee... hilarious!

Too Much Too Young

I'm DJing at some friends' wedding reception on Saturday... and as i've not yet decided what i'm going to play, i'd like to know your guaranteed wedding floorfillers.

Help me out & leave a comment...


My only dead cert so far is 'Living on a Prayer'!

You're No Fun

A couple of very rare tracks from the racks today...

First up is Erlend Oye. If you have heard his DJ Kicks mix album (and if you haven't, this is one CD that you really really need) you will know that his technique of singing well known acappellas over electro beats is a guaranteed joy-bringer.

This song appears on that DJ Kicks CD, but as far as i'm aware the only way to hear the full unmixed version is on a 12" promo I managed to pick up - of which there are only 50 copies worldwide. It's fantastic.... although I wish he'd released his version of 'There is a Light That Never Goes Out' over the top of Royksopp. (you can produce a DIY version from the vinyl version of the DJ Kicks album though).

If you like what you hear, let me assure you that Erlend's solo album 'Unrest', and three albums as Kings of Convenience are all brilliant also. If you need more convincing, watch the fabulous video for the last KoC single right here.

And then buy the DJ Kicks CD ...

ERLEND OYE - FINE DAY (PHONIQUE CLUB MIX)


I also managed recently to pick up this rare as hell Darren Emerson remix of Ladytron's classic 'Seventeen'. There were only 75 copies of this in circulation, so chances are you've not heard it.

It's vee vee good.

LADYTRON - SEVENTEEN (DARREN EMERSON MIX)

Reverting

Indie nirvana last night on the Camden Crawl... one £15 ticket for 50 bands across 8 venues in Camden. I seem to be turning back into an indie kid.

I can't tell you too much about it - hopefully when AOL manage to get me back on line (HA!!!) I'll be able to upload some pictures and stories. A precis - The Infadels (promising); Maximo Park (disappointing); The Research (resting); The Buzzcocks (ageing); Whitey (blinding) and Two Lone Songs of Two Lone Swordsmen.



In conclusion : I need some sleep.



This is a great song from a great album.

THE KAISER CHIEFS - EVERY DAY I LOVE YOU LESS AND LESS


I think we need to get a bit more down and dirty next week. I feel some beats coming........

Free Bloc Party gig....

I can't make it... but this from the Bloc Party website:

Wanted for filming of Bloc Party music video. The band will be playing a short live set. The shoot is taking place in London the evening of this wednesday the 9th March. Please email Ade on the following email address:

blocpartygig@hotmail.co.uk

Include your mobile number, your name & also a photograph if possible.

We will call you back to book you in as numbers are limited.

Something glorious is about to happen

Bloc Party were amazing. If you get the chance to see them don't give it a second thought.

In fact, they seem to have just announced yet another tour covering most places in the UK (except London!). Busy fellas. You can still get tickets if you're quick....




As I say, they were stunning on Friday. Although my overriding memory has to do with the volume. Christ it was loud. Uncomfortably so at times - especially since as i'm a tall bugger I get the full force of the speakers! That all contributed to the general jaw-droppingness of the show though. Despite not doing a whole lot (which was a relief after The Bravery) the band are great to watch - really charismatic. I have to give a special mention to the drummer though, whose frantic rhythms drive the whole band along.

My mate Giles remarked that he didn't think much of the bassist & guitarist, but to be honest with you by the end of the third song I was starting to feel quite homosexual, and at that point wouldn't have said no to either of them!

Debut single 'She's Hearing Voices' was probably the highlight for me, not only for the band's performance but the crowd's as well. I swear every person in the Forum was screaming the 'Heys' of the opening bars at the top of their lungs. It sent quite a shiver down my spine, reminiscent of the terraces at Wycombe in Martin O'Neill's heyday! ,-)

The running order was pretty similar to the album, which led like the album to an explosive beginning and a slight lull in the middle of the set. Personally i'd have liked them to finish on a high with Banquet or Helicopter - instead I think the last couple of tracks were 'So Here We Are' and 'Compliments', which are both fantastic in an effects pedal laden trippy kinda way, but not in a leap up and down in ecstacy and leave the venue beaming from ear to ear kinda way.

So what track to post? Well i'm hoping to (finally) see Whitey on Thursday - at the third attempt - so here's their (his?) remix of 'Helicopter'. To be honest it's not an improvement on the original, but has got that stripped down dirty sound that Whitey has, and which I love.

BLOC PARTY - HELICOPTER (SHERIFF WHITEY MIX)

Whitey's album has for some reason been delayed and delayed and delayed. It seems as though it MAY finally be out next week though.... i'll believe it when I see it.


Sorry (AGAIN!) for the intermittent updates lately.... i'm finding it hard to update the site, since AOL are still incapable of reconnecting my broadband. It's only been 3 weeks I suppose, and i've only so far spent 20 hours sitting on hold on their 'help' line. C*nts.

'So how many lights do you have on your modem?'

Something Wicked This Way Comes

The Bravery - are they all they're cracked up to be? Well last night I headed off to Camden to check 'em out.

They've had so much hype that if they didn't have the songs to back it up they would be laughed out of town - and fortunately for them they had a set full of blistering, crowd-pleasing dancefloor rock tracks. Koko (as Camden Palace is now known - a superb venue it is now too) fairly crackled with anticipation before the band appeared, and by the witching hour I was getting pretty excited myself.

The anticpation was deserved... to a certain extent. I have to admit they belted out the tunes, and sent the dancefloor downstairs into a pogo-ing frenzy. Obviously 'Honest Mistake' was the one everyone knew, since it's in the top ten at the moment.... however I certainly wasn't the only one there to have grabbed a sneaky copy of the album from the net. Most people seemed to recognise every song - and 'Honest Mistake' certainly isn't their only good track. Pretty much everything from the first half of the album in particular went down extremely well.


But..



I really wasn't feeling their performance at all. They had obviously spent a LOT of time in front of mirrors getting ready for this moment, getting the rockstar moves down to a tee. A bit of Sid Vicious here, a bit of Pete Townshend there, a bit of The Strokes, a bit of Robbie Williams (!). Seriously they must have squeezed every single rock star pose I have ever seen into one set.

Mic stand behind the head? Check
Standing on the monitors? Check
Standing on the bass drum? Check
Bassist with legs unfeasibly wide apart? Check
Spraying the crowd with water? Check
Diving into the crowd? Check
Holding the mic over the crowd & getting them to sing the chorus? Check
Spitting out water in a photogenic arc? Check
Guitarist centre stage for his solo? Check
and of course.... Smashing up the drum kit at the end? Check

What really put me off was that for two entire songs a scrum of about a dozen photographers wrestled to stick their cameras up the singers' nose... they were there a long time, and as the band took it in turns to stand in front of the cameras and pull their rock star shapes I was starting to feel that they were performing for the cameras rather than for us paying punters. They certainly lost any connection I was feeling with the band, and after the photographers disappeared I started to see their posturing as rather tiresome.

There is something a bit TOO perfect about the whole set up. It's as if a supercomputer was fed the entire history of rock music and set to work in creating the ideal band... however despite all the calculations and mathematics there is still some indefinable sense of humanity (love?) that a computer can't replicate.

I wouldn't usually be so critical of a band who haven't even released their first album yet... however I think by inviting that many photographers in they provoke the criticism. It felt like I was watching a Duran Duran video.

By the end of the set, I starting thinking 'they're going to smash up the drums aren't they', I did have to stifle a yawn when they inevitably did it. The girls in front of me squealed with excitement though, so you have to bear in mind that my jaded perspective of events didn't seem to tally with most of the audience. I can assure you that based on the reaction they received, they'll be going B-I-G this year - and despite my criticisms I left the gig humming their songs, and woke up this morning stil humming their songs.

THE BRAVERY - FEARLESS


Oh, and sorry about the lack of pictures (oh the irony) 1: I forgot my camera 2: I still don't have internets at home so have had to knock this out at work



Tomorrow night : Bloc Party

:-D

AOL are complete and utter bastards

6 hours on the phone to AOL last night, who FINALLY agreed that my problem (i.e. having no internet connection) needed to be escalated to 2nd line support, who liaise with BT. Yessssssssss. Trouble was, it was 11:45pm by the time I had reached that landmark stage, so he refused to do it there and then as they knock off at midnight. 'Call back in the morning sir and your account has been marked to be immediately escalated to 2nd line support, who will (finally) resolve your problem with BT.' Thank god. At last.

So I call back this morning at 8am, anticipating that all my troubles were on the verge of being sorted out. I should have known better. The trials of Hercules were nothing compared to negotiating the AOL 'help' desk. After waiting 10 minutes for them to conduct (ANOTHER) line test I was told yet again that there was no problem and 'could I try reinstalling the modem drivers'. It was then I realised that I was trapped in Groundhog Day. Until I can find the key to unlock the time-space vortex I will be trapped for all eternity in a daily exchange with AOL where they ask me whether my Microfilters are installed and whether my modem lights are on.

I slightly lost my cool this morning having realised that all my efforts of the previous evening had been in vain, and I ended up advising the girl on the helpdesk where I would like to stick my modem. Not in hindsight a wise move. I was cut off and had to redial, join the queue, and be asked the SAME FECKING MORONIC QUESTIONS BY YET ANOTHER AOL HELPDESK RETARD. So my anticipated 5 minute phone call ended up taking an hour YET AGAIN. And I still don't have an internet connection. Sometimes I know how Michael Ryan felt.



It as it times like this that you need Ulrich Schnauss.

His two stunning albums on City Centre Offices, 'Far Away Trains Passing By' and 'A Strangely Isolated Place' are electronic classics, with an instantly recognisable (wall of) sound - like waves of colour washing over your face. It's impossible to describe without using the word lush. So why should I try. LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH. Yeah, that's about it. Both albums are available from Boomkat for a bargain price. Check 'em out. (both albums for £9.99... that's too good to miss). Ulrich is also a much in-demand remixer thanks to classic reworkings of Justin Robertson, Sia, and this one by Longview.

This mix originally came out on a very limited double 12" containing 4 Ulrich remixes... that's now ebay'sville, however all 4 tracks are now available on this limited edition CD. To be honest I don't know much about Longview themselves (or rather Long-View...since it appears they have been forced to change their name) however I know they did have a top 20 single recently & are pretty highly rated. I must get round to giving them a listen. This is lush though. :-)

LONGVIEW - CAN'T EXPLAIN (ULRICH SCHNAUSS VOCAL MIX)


Speaking of City Centre Offices, I have read numerous glowing reviews of the new album on CCO by Marsen Jules... has anyone heard it?