blog 2009/07/31 - Your weekend is finally complete with a little dose of Caitlyn.
Sorry if I'm intruding here, because I know 2 days isn't enough for some of you slowpokes, but things more forward!
Remember the motto around here: THERE IS ALWAYS MORE GOOD MUSIC.
the moral: DON'T LISTEN TO BAD MUSIC.
In conclusion: Don't fret if you miss an update. You'll catch up! And if you don't, it doesn't matter. The world keeps making beautiful ish.
Now, all I need is another CD worth of your time...
2000f & J Kamata - You Don't Know What Love Is: we kick things off with a little bit of electro funk. Daaaamn what a groove! And for the record, THAT is a talkbox, not a vocoder, not autotune. Vocoder=cybersex, talkbox=oral, autotune=onanism, got it?
http://www.myspace.com/jkamata
Adem - You and Moon: His 2006 "Love And Other Planets", pales in comparison to his majestic debut Homesongs, but luckily there is this one track off that 2006 sophomore LP that is just magic. love love love it.
http://www.adem.tv/
aus - Aslope (Isan rmx): Isan was an IDM superstar at the turn of the millennium, champion of the mellow "pillow-to-the-face" style of ambient-idm tapestries. It is great to see them back to their magic on the 2008 remix album "Lang Remixed". Definitely recommended.
http://www.myspace.com/ausmusik
http://www.isan.co.uk/
Dorrough Music + Sukh Knight - Diesel Paint Job (LOL Boys Blend): We were going to get goofy sooner or later, so here's the perfect dive in to it: Silly grind dubstep beat, with lyrics about how to paint yr car. Awesome.
http://www.myspace.com/dorroughmusic
http://www.myspace.com/sukhknight
http://www.myspace.com/lolboysparty
....aaaaaaand back to the soothing ambient IDM! Flica is far and away the best IDM act I know of from Kuala Lumpur or all of Malaysia. A solid mix of piano and guitar loops, with backward masked drones rumbling through. The Coffee & Spectacles EP from 2008 is highly recommended. For fans of the Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto collabs and Isan.
http://www.myspace.com/flicasound
Headlights - Market Girl (The Album Leaf Remix): Electro-pop-lite with some skittery beats and some detuned backing vocals. For fans of Postal Service, Styrofoam, and the like.
http://www.myspace.com/headlights
Kite In The Air - Filed Away: From the Filed Away EP, I am really digging the simple melodies on top of the subdued electro beats. For fans of Stereolab, Ladytron, or even of colder Metric songs.
http://kiteintheair.com/
Little Teeth - Between My Ears: After falling in love with Joanna Newsom way-back-when, I have had a soft spot for people singing in overwrought belting fashions. I can just picture the lead vocalist here yelling at her mic with her mouth hitting grandiose diameters. That, and it all sounds like a kitchen folk jam, and you can't go wrong there.
http://www.myspace.com/littleteethmusic
Miike Snow - Animal (Punks Jump Up Remix): PJU are one of my favourite remixers, making full-funk tracks that don't annihilate the gooey pop goodness of the original. The Miike Snow lyrics could have been ripped from a 1986 pop hit, and depending on you that might make things ever better.
http://www.myspace.com/miikesnow
http://www.punksjumpup.co.uk/
Passion Pit should need no introduction as he has been all over my blog in the past year. Bottom line: This guy is touring like crazy. You should get out to see him.
http://www.myspace.com/passionpitjams
Pink Mountaintops - While We Were Dreaming: Ooooh this track reminds me of The Cowboy Junkies, from like 15 years ago. Beautiful.
http://www.myspace.com/pinkmountaintops
Terror Dactel - DTF (Edit): TERROR DACTEL IS THE BEST FUCKING NAME FOR AN ELECTRO BAND. EVER. END OF STORY. GOOD NIGHT!
http://www.myspace.com/terrordactel
The Radio Dept. - David: The dreamy faded distortion on the vocals reminds me of Orrange Cake Mix, pillow-popper extraordinaire. The snares are a bit too much for a true cloudycloud bliss-out, but still good.
http://www.myspace.com/officialradiodept
Criminally, I had not listened to Vancougar's 2008 album Canadian Tuxedo until just recently. I flagellate myself nightly in repentance, as it is wickedly good. This quartet of women combine the wiles of Leslie Gore with some Team Dresch aggression and pop sensibilities of The Gossip.
Highly recommended.
http://www.vancougar.ca/
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS:
2000f & J Kamata - You Don't Know What Love Is
Adem - You and Moon
aus - Aslope (Isan rmx)
Dorrough Music + Sukh Knight - Diesel Paint Job (LOL Boys Blend)
Flica - Late
Flica - Open
Headlights - Market Girl (The Album Leaf)
Kite In The Air - Filed Away
Little Teeth - Between My Ears
Miike Snow - Animal (Punks Jump Up Remix)
Passion Pit - Cuddle Fuddle
Passion Pit - Moth Wings (Skinny Friedman DJ Edit)
Pink Mountaintops - While We Were Dreaming
Terror Dactel - DTF (Edit)
The Radio Dept. - David
Vancougar - (I Hope Your) Money (Keeps You Warm)
Vancougar - Let It Go
But can he do the job? I know he can get the job but can he DO the job? http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090731.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Dance Mix 1992 baaaaayyyyybeeeee!
I am going to start posting up some albums that I digitize from various sources. Most of these will be oddball or experimental things, but let's get the ball rolling with a classic:
Dance Mix '92!
I first posted this to my MP3 blog (thus the odd filename in the link) but it absolutely warrants the heraldry involved in inaugurating my dump of rare albums.
Is this rare? Well, rare enough! Everyone who owned this assuredly played the shit out of the cassette, and if you were cool enough to have the tape it probably scratched to hell from DJing every hot elementary school party you were at.
Mind you, the "Dance mix" series were a Canadian phenomenon. See that logo in the upper left? That's Much Music. That's the Canadian version of the old MTV that used to play music videos.
So for any non-Canucks out there, this might be a something entirely new. Dizzingly new. Pure ambrosia of new. BUCKETS FULL OF WIN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND???
My rip here is from an old cassette tape loaned to me by a beautiful gay man who kept this treasure for 17 long years. Steven, my gratitude!
Classic cheeseball '92 party jams, get the goodness here!
Tracklisting:
P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
Ralph Tresvant - Sensitivity
Naughty By Nature - O.P.P.
Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right Now
EMF - Unbelievable
Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy
Black Box - Strike It Up
Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations
Nomad - (I Wanna Give You) Devotion
Frankie Knuckles - The Whistle Song
Snap! - Mary Had A Little Boy
Adamski - Killer
K.W.S. - Please Don't Go (Sunshine Mix)
Lidell Townsell - Nu Nu
Betty Boo - Doin' The Do
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone
2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This
Dance Mix '92!
I first posted this to my MP3 blog (thus the odd filename in the link) but it absolutely warrants the heraldry involved in inaugurating my dump of rare albums.
Is this rare? Well, rare enough! Everyone who owned this assuredly played the shit out of the cassette, and if you were cool enough to have the tape it probably scratched to hell from DJing every hot elementary school party you were at.
Mind you, the "Dance mix" series were a Canadian phenomenon. See that logo in the upper left? That's Much Music. That's the Canadian version of the old MTV that used to play music videos.
So for any non-Canucks out there, this might be a something entirely new. Dizzingly new. Pure ambrosia of new. BUCKETS FULL OF WIN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND???
My rip here is from an old cassette tape loaned to me by a beautiful gay man who kept this treasure for 17 long years. Steven, my gratitude!
Classic cheeseball '92 party jams, get the goodness here!
Tracklisting:
P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
Ralph Tresvant - Sensitivity
Naughty By Nature - O.P.P.
Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right Now
EMF - Unbelievable
Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy
Black Box - Strike It Up
Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations
Nomad - (I Wanna Give You) Devotion
Frankie Knuckles - The Whistle Song
Snap! - Mary Had A Little Boy
Adamski - Killer
K.W.S. - Please Don't Go (Sunshine Mix)
Lidell Townsell - Nu Nu
Betty Boo - Doin' The Do
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone
2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This
Saturday, July 25, 2009
MP3 blog 2009/07/25
blog 2009/07/25 - prepare thyness for the onslaught of slack comeuppance.
Let's get to it quickly now. I have been listening to a lot of music and not posting enough to quell the flow. The result is a high-pressure backlog of awesomesauce. Ready?
Get your best of 2009 lists ready, because there certainly needs to be a place for Bitte Orca on it. The new album by the Dirty Projectors is remarkable and a joy.
Totally innovative and eclectic, but also accessible and readily addictive. Highly recommended!
http://www.myspace.com/dirtyprojectors
Dringe Augh is from Korea, and while I hate to get all "oooo neato" because of point-of-origin, I admittedly have little Korean music. This track is from his 2009 EP Individually Wrapped, and is delicate and charming.
http://www.myspace.com/dringe
Frankmusik - Confusion Girl (Don Diablo Loves To Slowdance Remix): Epic electropop fun!
http://www.myspace.com/frankmusik
Gossip - Heavy Cross (Burns Remix): Remix of a single from the new album Music For Men. Expect more tracks up here from that LP, but I thought I'd kick off with this subdued-yet-divine remix.
http://www.gossipyouth.com/
The Japandroids are another winner. The vocals have that muted-hallway Fugazi and the production is thunderous like early 90s math-punk. Their 2009 album Post-Nothing is a winner. If you are or ever were a fan of Dinosaur Jr., Fugazi, Archers of Loaf, or any of those intersections, I highly recommend you grab this album.
http://www.myspace.com/japandroids
JDP - I Was On It: I've never heard this guy before, but it's some tight production, inoffensive verses and good flow.
http://www.myspace.com/uptopjdp
Jokers of the Scene - Annie Mac Show Mini Mix: a 5-minute minimix that shows off these Ottawa producers. Not a track unto itself, but a great piece of heat to add to your "at the gym" mix.
http://www.myspace.com/sceneofthejoker
Kanji Kinetic - The Buffalo VIP: Some heavy-ass garage servings going on here, with cheeky sample usage that would even make a gabber producer smile. Goodness!
http://www.myspace.com/djkanji
Little Boots - New In Town: I have to say I was disappointed with much of the Little Boots LP, especially after some crazy underground remixes. But this single is unavoidabley addictive. Give it a chance!
http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic
Major Lazer is a cheeky collab between Diplo and Switch and their 2009 LP "Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do" is getting a lot of hype. OK so I didn't think it was 100% solid, but I rarely ever take albums like this as a whole, instead just harvest some singles.
Mad props for auto-tuning the baby on the first track here. Much of the album is a bit harder, so I def wanted to include Can't Stop Now as a taste of the mellower grooves.
And then last but not least, Ottawa producer extraordinaire DZ turns in a massive remix of the first single, Hold The Line. With a billion remixes of this track available, this is one of the tightest out there.
http://www.myspace.com/majorlazer
Mr. Chop - Snob: It has been a long time since we posted up some organic funk breaks on here, so let me rectify that with this hot little number of live drum chopping and mad flute licks.
http://www.myspace.com/mrchopchop
Nas - Hope (Beirut Remix): Is this the Beirut we all know and love? The baroque/folk wunderkind? I doubt it, but lucky for them the producer creds caught my attention, and while there are no Mexican horns on the track, it's a slick and poignant single.
Sarah Boothroyd - Some Sort of Dark Force: What's this? Another OTTAWA person? Yeegads, 3 in one post!
I had no idea this woman was from Ottawa, but hers was the strongest track from the Deep Wireless 3 compilation, a free release of contemporary radio art.
Highly recommended if you like the experimental sounds arts.
Get it all here: http://www.naisa.ca/deepwireless/2006/Radio.html
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS:
Dirty Projectors - Remade Horizon
Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move
Dirty Projectors - Two Doves
Dringe Augh - Tutelar (Vocal Eunjie Song)
Frankmusik - Confusion Girl (Don Diablo Loves To Slowdance Remix)
Gossip - Heavy Cross (Burns Remix)
Japandroids - Heart Sweats
Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire
JDP - I Was On It
Jokers of the Scene - Annie Mac Show Mini Mix
Kanji Kinetic - The Buffalo VIP
Little Boots - New In Town
Major Lazer - Baby ft Prince Zimboo
Major Lazer - Can't Stop Now ft Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell
Major Lazer - Hold The Line (DZ Remix)
Mr. Chop - Snob
Nas - Hope (Beirut Remix)
Sarah Boothroyd - Some Sort of Dark Force
Saddle up and take a bite: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090725.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
Let's get to it quickly now. I have been listening to a lot of music and not posting enough to quell the flow. The result is a high-pressure backlog of awesomesauce. Ready?
Get your best of 2009 lists ready, because there certainly needs to be a place for Bitte Orca on it. The new album by the Dirty Projectors is remarkable and a joy.
Totally innovative and eclectic, but also accessible and readily addictive. Highly recommended!
http://www.myspace.com/dirtyprojectors
Dringe Augh is from Korea, and while I hate to get all "oooo neato" because of point-of-origin, I admittedly have little Korean music. This track is from his 2009 EP Individually Wrapped, and is delicate and charming.
http://www.myspace.com/dringe
Frankmusik - Confusion Girl (Don Diablo Loves To Slowdance Remix): Epic electropop fun!
http://www.myspace.com/frankmusik
Gossip - Heavy Cross (Burns Remix): Remix of a single from the new album Music For Men. Expect more tracks up here from that LP, but I thought I'd kick off with this subdued-yet-divine remix.
http://www.gossipyouth.com/
The Japandroids are another winner. The vocals have that muted-hallway Fugazi and the production is thunderous like early 90s math-punk. Their 2009 album Post-Nothing is a winner. If you are or ever were a fan of Dinosaur Jr., Fugazi, Archers of Loaf, or any of those intersections, I highly recommend you grab this album.
http://www.myspace.com/japandroids
JDP - I Was On It: I've never heard this guy before, but it's some tight production, inoffensive verses and good flow.
http://www.myspace.com/uptopjdp
Jokers of the Scene - Annie Mac Show Mini Mix: a 5-minute minimix that shows off these Ottawa producers. Not a track unto itself, but a great piece of heat to add to your "at the gym" mix.
http://www.myspace.com/sceneofthejoker
Kanji Kinetic - The Buffalo VIP: Some heavy-ass garage servings going on here, with cheeky sample usage that would even make a gabber producer smile. Goodness!
http://www.myspace.com/djkanji
Little Boots - New In Town: I have to say I was disappointed with much of the Little Boots LP, especially after some crazy underground remixes. But this single is unavoidabley addictive. Give it a chance!
http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic
Major Lazer is a cheeky collab between Diplo and Switch and their 2009 LP "Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do" is getting a lot of hype. OK so I didn't think it was 100% solid, but I rarely ever take albums like this as a whole, instead just harvest some singles.
Mad props for auto-tuning the baby on the first track here. Much of the album is a bit harder, so I def wanted to include Can't Stop Now as a taste of the mellower grooves.
And then last but not least, Ottawa producer extraordinaire DZ turns in a massive remix of the first single, Hold The Line. With a billion remixes of this track available, this is one of the tightest out there.
http://www.myspace.com/majorlazer
Mr. Chop - Snob: It has been a long time since we posted up some organic funk breaks on here, so let me rectify that with this hot little number of live drum chopping and mad flute licks.
http://www.myspace.com/mrchopchop
Nas - Hope (Beirut Remix): Is this the Beirut we all know and love? The baroque/folk wunderkind? I doubt it, but lucky for them the producer creds caught my attention, and while there are no Mexican horns on the track, it's a slick and poignant single.
Sarah Boothroyd - Some Sort of Dark Force: What's this? Another OTTAWA person? Yeegads, 3 in one post!
I had no idea this woman was from Ottawa, but hers was the strongest track from the Deep Wireless 3 compilation, a free release of contemporary radio art.
Highly recommended if you like the experimental sounds arts.
Get it all here: http://www.naisa.ca/deepwireless/2006/Radio.html
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS:
Dirty Projectors - Remade Horizon
Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move
Dirty Projectors - Two Doves
Dringe Augh - Tutelar (Vocal Eunjie Song)
Frankmusik - Confusion Girl (Don Diablo Loves To Slowdance Remix)
Gossip - Heavy Cross (Burns Remix)
Japandroids - Heart Sweats
Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire
JDP - I Was On It
Jokers of the Scene - Annie Mac Show Mini Mix
Kanji Kinetic - The Buffalo VIP
Little Boots - New In Town
Major Lazer - Baby ft Prince Zimboo
Major Lazer - Can't Stop Now ft Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell
Major Lazer - Hold The Line (DZ Remix)
Mr. Chop - Snob
Nas - Hope (Beirut Remix)
Sarah Boothroyd - Some Sort of Dark Force
Saddle up and take a bite: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090725.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
Sunday, July 19, 2009
MP3 blog 2009/07/19
blog 2009/07/19 - What is David Byrne doing in my closet?
That guy is just everywhere. Whether slipping himself in to house music, busting shit up in indie venues, or hiding in fumigated storage lockers, David Byrne seems everywhere these days.
Let's not forget his amazing collab with Eno last year that gave us "Strange Overtones", an instant classic. And he's even been on The Simpsons!
This guy is just simply unavoidable. But he knew that. He knew he had me with his herky-jerky dancing in Once In A Lifetime. That bastard!
Well in this update we find him, lastly, on a track with X-Press 2.... and it works!
Firstly, he is part of the indie-god caucus that rules via the new compilation "Dark Was The Night". Take your indie-love-in-masturbatory-dream-list, collect all of the artists, and toss them on one album.
Make a few interact, just for fun.
I can't recommend this album enough: Dark Was The Night is a fantastic work of organizing, songwriting, and it even benefits an HIV/AIDS organization.
The tracks here from the comp are by Antony and Bryce Dessner, Buck 65 & Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti, Dirty Projectors and David Byrne, The Decemberists, and finally The National.
But you know what? This is only a small sliver of the awesome contained within. OK, Cat Power and Iron & Wine don't hit their full potential, but any minor dubs are quickly eclipsed by the immensity of WIN here.
http://www.darkwasthenight.com/
2009 brings a new Ad•ver•sary album. Entitled "A Bright Cut Across Velvet Sky", it's mostly a remix album, but with a couple entirely new tidbits in there. Kind of like the odds-and-sods halo numbers that would come after any Nine Inch Nails LP. For those that like the cutting edge of industrial goodness, this is basically your Further Down The Spiral. Recommended.
http://www.ad-ver-sary.com/
Ellie Goulding is by-and-far the delicious pop jewel of the moment. I can't get enough of these two tracks. Just as good or even better than the genius of La Roux, these tracks will be on my singles of the summer list. So incredibly addictive!
http://www.myspace.com/elliegoulding
Frightened Rabbit remind me of the lush songwriting and savoury cadences of The Twilight Sad. The big difference is that the post-rockisms are absent, leaving it just the heart-wrenching indie melancholy. A touch of the Damien Rice, a touch of the Twilight Sad, and probably a few perfect couple of songs for your next drinking-n-crying mixtape. "The Midnight Organ Fight" is the album. Highly recommended.
http://www.frightenedrabbit.com/
Kaki King - Life Being What It Is: I love delicate pop like this, and it helps that it reminds me a bit of Eric's Trip "deep in the bedroom" kind of an affair. OK, well at least until the wonderful background strings come in. That'd be one big bedroom. Who cares, we're in love.
http://www.kakiking.com/
Music of the Central African Pygmies - Men's Elephant-Hunting Song: This track is startlingly awesome. The complexity and hypnotic interplay of this chant is one thing. The building storm in the background just makes it that much more perfect. And to top it all off? It ends with the hugest thunderstorm crescendo! This is from the 1995 release "Music of the Central African Pygmies", collecting recordings from over 40 years of Pygmies of the Ituri rainforest in Central Africa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_music
Sam Amidon - Little Johnny Brown: I love the feeling of this, like it's one long sinister roots-n-whisky chant. An exorcism in a divebar? who knew!
http://www.samamidon.com/
The Tycho tracks here are from the 2006 album Past Is Prologue. An obvious nod to Boards of Canada, they don't break any new ground. But hey, for those of us that enjoy reliving the glory-days of BOC, this is a welcome addition to the march of fuzzed out idm psychbreaks.
http://tychomusic.com/
X-Press 2 - Lazy ft David Byrne (Mowgli Goes Deep Mix): So yeah, here is Mr. Byrne ending the blog roll for this week. Goddamn, you one sassy number, David! Now get out of my house.
http://www.myspace.com/xpress2
http://www.davidbyrne.com/
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS:
Ad•ver•sary - Friends of Father (Oil Sands Remix by Monoculture)
Ad•ver•sary - Just (Spookier Remix by Iszoloscope)
Antony and Bryce Dessner - I Was Young When I Left Home
Buck 65, Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti - Blood, Pt 2
Dirty Projectors and David Byrne - Knotty Pine
Ellie Goulding - Black and Gold (Sam Sparro cover)
Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed
Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms
Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leper
Kaki King - Life Being What It Is
Music of the Central African Pygmies - Men's Elephant-Hunting Song
Sam Amidon - Little Johnny Brown
The Decemberists - Sleepless
The National - So Far Around The Bend
Tycho - Dictaphone's Lament
Tycho - Sunrise Projector (Nautilis Remix)
X-Press 2 - Lazy ft David Byrne (Mowgli Goes Deep Mix)
I got the goods, you got the will, let's make some money: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090719.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
That guy is just everywhere. Whether slipping himself in to house music, busting shit up in indie venues, or hiding in fumigated storage lockers, David Byrne seems everywhere these days.
Let's not forget his amazing collab with Eno last year that gave us "Strange Overtones", an instant classic. And he's even been on The Simpsons!
This guy is just simply unavoidable. But he knew that. He knew he had me with his herky-jerky dancing in Once In A Lifetime. That bastard!
Well in this update we find him, lastly, on a track with X-Press 2.... and it works!
Firstly, he is part of the indie-god caucus that rules via the new compilation "Dark Was The Night". Take your indie-love-in-masturbatory-dream-list, collect all of the artists, and toss them on one album.
Make a few interact, just for fun.
I can't recommend this album enough: Dark Was The Night is a fantastic work of organizing, songwriting, and it even benefits an HIV/AIDS organization.
The tracks here from the comp are by Antony and Bryce Dessner, Buck 65 & Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti, Dirty Projectors and David Byrne, The Decemberists, and finally The National.
But you know what? This is only a small sliver of the awesome contained within. OK, Cat Power and Iron & Wine don't hit their full potential, but any minor dubs are quickly eclipsed by the immensity of WIN here.
http://www.darkwasthenight.com/
2009 brings a new Ad•ver•sary album. Entitled "A Bright Cut Across Velvet Sky", it's mostly a remix album, but with a couple entirely new tidbits in there. Kind of like the odds-and-sods halo numbers that would come after any Nine Inch Nails LP. For those that like the cutting edge of industrial goodness, this is basically your Further Down The Spiral. Recommended.
http://www.ad-ver-sary.com/
Ellie Goulding is by-and-far the delicious pop jewel of the moment. I can't get enough of these two tracks. Just as good or even better than the genius of La Roux, these tracks will be on my singles of the summer list. So incredibly addictive!
http://www.myspace.com/elliegoulding
Frightened Rabbit remind me of the lush songwriting and savoury cadences of The Twilight Sad. The big difference is that the post-rockisms are absent, leaving it just the heart-wrenching indie melancholy. A touch of the Damien Rice, a touch of the Twilight Sad, and probably a few perfect couple of songs for your next drinking-n-crying mixtape. "The Midnight Organ Fight" is the album. Highly recommended.
http://www.frightenedrabbit.com/
Kaki King - Life Being What It Is: I love delicate pop like this, and it helps that it reminds me a bit of Eric's Trip "deep in the bedroom" kind of an affair. OK, well at least until the wonderful background strings come in. That'd be one big bedroom. Who cares, we're in love.
http://www.kakiking.com/
Music of the Central African Pygmies - Men's Elephant-Hunting Song: This track is startlingly awesome. The complexity and hypnotic interplay of this chant is one thing. The building storm in the background just makes it that much more perfect. And to top it all off? It ends with the hugest thunderstorm crescendo! This is from the 1995 release "Music of the Central African Pygmies", collecting recordings from over 40 years of Pygmies of the Ituri rainforest in Central Africa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_music
Sam Amidon - Little Johnny Brown: I love the feeling of this, like it's one long sinister roots-n-whisky chant. An exorcism in a divebar? who knew!
http://www.samamidon.com/
The Tycho tracks here are from the 2006 album Past Is Prologue. An obvious nod to Boards of Canada, they don't break any new ground. But hey, for those of us that enjoy reliving the glory-days of BOC, this is a welcome addition to the march of fuzzed out idm psychbreaks.
http://tychomusic.com/
X-Press 2 - Lazy ft David Byrne (Mowgli Goes Deep Mix): So yeah, here is Mr. Byrne ending the blog roll for this week. Goddamn, you one sassy number, David! Now get out of my house.
http://www.myspace.com/xpress2
http://www.davidbyrne.com/
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS:
Ad•ver•sary - Friends of Father (Oil Sands Remix by Monoculture)
Ad•ver•sary - Just (Spookier Remix by Iszoloscope)
Antony and Bryce Dessner - I Was Young When I Left Home
Buck 65, Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti - Blood, Pt 2
Dirty Projectors and David Byrne - Knotty Pine
Ellie Goulding - Black and Gold (Sam Sparro cover)
Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed
Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms
Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leper
Kaki King - Life Being What It Is
Music of the Central African Pygmies - Men's Elephant-Hunting Song
Sam Amidon - Little Johnny Brown
The Decemberists - Sleepless
The National - So Far Around The Bend
Tycho - Dictaphone's Lament
Tycho - Sunrise Projector (Nautilis Remix)
X-Press 2 - Lazy ft David Byrne (Mowgli Goes Deep Mix)
I got the goods, you got the will, let's make some money: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090719.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
Thursday, July 16, 2009
MP3 blog 2009/07/16
blog 2009/07/16 - A little something special for that special spot deep inside special you.
What's been happening?
I've been busy!
Ottawa Bluesfest has been keeping me ridiculously busy, and that is even WITH me skimping on concerts.
The highlight was seeing Ornette Coleman live! He was 12 feet from me! eEEEEEE!
I also saw great performances by Iron & Wine, Okkervil River, Neko Case, and King Sunny Ade & his African Beats and so much more.
Good times!
I haven't been doing many "theme" postings as of late, but I noticed I had enough experimental stuff sitting in the "totally awesome must post" folder. To spare those of you that aren't too adventurous and are only here for the pop, this post will run the range from ambient, to metal, to experimental to IDM.
If you like interesting sounds, be sure to grab this post. If you only like the verse/chorus/verse or beat/breakdown/beat shiz, feel free to skip.
I will be following up with a much poppier one in the coming days.
DJ Sega - Dig: While it might tarnish the image of "hardness", there is something so goofy and silly fun about metal electro. Putting a booty-clap under a death metal scream? GENIUS!
http://www.myspace.com/djsegatheblackknight
One of the most astounding finds recently has been Eluvium's Life Through Bombardment box set. Released as a massive and exquisite 7 LP set, this tome covers the entire recorded output of Eluvium. Much of it is rich hypnotic ambience, with lots of acoustic piano and atmospheric sound art to boot. One of the few times I can honestly say I have say down with a set longer than 3 CDs and been captivated the whole way through.
Highly recommended.
http://www.eluvium.net/
Gnaw Their Tongues - Rife With Deep Teeth Marks: Oooh this one kind of came at me out of nowhere. I am totally unfamiliar with the band, but this track perfectly blends drone textures with slow-grind metal and noisy screeching. A winner.
http://www.myspace.com/gnawtheirtongues
I stumbled on these Grey Gersten tracks by accident. He recently curated a month at The Stone, the artist focused performance space run by John Zorn in NYC. Think The Knitting Factory, only cooler.
He does some brilliant sound-art and is apparently also a filmmaker.
http://www.greygersten.com
The first Grouper album was all the rage, but it didn't rise above the level of many similar albums that were released at the same time. The track here is from their 2009 album Way Their Crept and continues with what they do best: Spooky reverbed lofi washouts. I love the primitiveness of it. It's like recordings I used to make in my bedroom, except this person can actually sing.
http://www.myspace.com/grouperrepuorg
Jacaszek's album "Treny" is from 2008 and was a stunning surprise. The first thing it establishes for itself is the sheer quality of it's sound and production. Fusing ambience with clicks-n-cuts and IDM, the album doesn't rest in any genre-specific conventions. It delights me like in that same way when you first heard Murcof. Highly recommended.
http://www.myspace.com/jacaszek
Moderat wins for the goofiest album cover of the year with their 2009 self-titled album, featuring a woman punching her own nose on the cover. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN??? A slick album with tight production credentials, only a few of the songs really jumped at me in terms of composition. Recommended for you to sift through online at places like Beatport and buy the gems. Moderat is still riding that high-water mark of IDM production, so best not miss this wave.
http://www.myspace.com/moderat
Peter Rehberg's "Work For GV 2004-2008" album is another delightful surprise. As you might guess from an album collecting works for film, the cinematic expanses and dramatic flairs in the tracks are high. Some seriously depressing/disturbed spoken word bits anchor the record with a narrative, but for me it is the textural rumbling tracks that truly shine. Highly recommended for fans of O.S.T., post-industrial soundscapes, and disturbing sounds to play at Halloween.
http://www.peterrehberg.com/
The internet just won't shut up about Sunn O))), but not without due reason. They have been kicking butt and chewing gum for years now with a heavy release schedule and lots of touring. Their 2009 LP Monoliths & Dimensions has been praised out the wazzoo, so really, why don't you have it yet? What is you dysfunction? If you have been put off by the metal-tude of them before, this record ups the "ecstatic reverb" knob and features chanting and some bliss-out chords. Same sort of song structure as previous records, but you can tell they have been listening to lots of Bohren & Der Club of Gore, and that's always a good thing.
http://www.myspace.com/flightofthebeemoth
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS
DJ Sega - Dig
Eluvium - Seeing You Off The Edges
Eluvium - Under The Water It Glowed
Gnaw Their Tongues - Rife With Deep Teeth Marks
Grey Gersten - Fumbles In The Dark
Grey Gersten - Hard Times
Grouper - Where It Goes
Jacaszek - Martwa Cisza
Jacaszek - Rytm To Niesmiertelnosc
Moderat - Rusty Nails
Peter Rehberg - Murder Version
Sunn O))) - Alice
You will be better for it and no longer shall you regret: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090716.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
What's been happening?
I've been busy!
Ottawa Bluesfest has been keeping me ridiculously busy, and that is even WITH me skimping on concerts.
The highlight was seeing Ornette Coleman live! He was 12 feet from me! eEEEEEE!
I also saw great performances by Iron & Wine, Okkervil River, Neko Case, and King Sunny Ade & his African Beats and so much more.
Good times!
I haven't been doing many "theme" postings as of late, but I noticed I had enough experimental stuff sitting in the "totally awesome must post" folder. To spare those of you that aren't too adventurous and are only here for the pop, this post will run the range from ambient, to metal, to experimental to IDM.
If you like interesting sounds, be sure to grab this post. If you only like the verse/chorus/verse or beat/breakdown/beat shiz, feel free to skip.
I will be following up with a much poppier one in the coming days.
DJ Sega - Dig: While it might tarnish the image of "hardness", there is something so goofy and silly fun about metal electro. Putting a booty-clap under a death metal scream? GENIUS!
http://www.myspace.com/djsegatheblackknight
One of the most astounding finds recently has been Eluvium's Life Through Bombardment box set. Released as a massive and exquisite 7 LP set, this tome covers the entire recorded output of Eluvium. Much of it is rich hypnotic ambience, with lots of acoustic piano and atmospheric sound art to boot. One of the few times I can honestly say I have say down with a set longer than 3 CDs and been captivated the whole way through.
Highly recommended.
http://www.eluvium.net/
Gnaw Their Tongues - Rife With Deep Teeth Marks: Oooh this one kind of came at me out of nowhere. I am totally unfamiliar with the band, but this track perfectly blends drone textures with slow-grind metal and noisy screeching. A winner.
http://www.myspace.com/gnawtheirtongues
I stumbled on these Grey Gersten tracks by accident. He recently curated a month at The Stone, the artist focused performance space run by John Zorn in NYC. Think The Knitting Factory, only cooler.
He does some brilliant sound-art and is apparently also a filmmaker.
http://www.greygersten.com
The first Grouper album was all the rage, but it didn't rise above the level of many similar albums that were released at the same time. The track here is from their 2009 album Way Their Crept and continues with what they do best: Spooky reverbed lofi washouts. I love the primitiveness of it. It's like recordings I used to make in my bedroom, except this person can actually sing.
http://www.myspace.com/grouperrepuorg
Jacaszek's album "Treny" is from 2008 and was a stunning surprise. The first thing it establishes for itself is the sheer quality of it's sound and production. Fusing ambience with clicks-n-cuts and IDM, the album doesn't rest in any genre-specific conventions. It delights me like in that same way when you first heard Murcof. Highly recommended.
http://www.myspace.com/jacaszek
Moderat wins for the goofiest album cover of the year with their 2009 self-titled album, featuring a woman punching her own nose on the cover. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN??? A slick album with tight production credentials, only a few of the songs really jumped at me in terms of composition. Recommended for you to sift through online at places like Beatport and buy the gems. Moderat is still riding that high-water mark of IDM production, so best not miss this wave.
http://www.myspace.com/moderat
Peter Rehberg's "Work For GV 2004-2008" album is another delightful surprise. As you might guess from an album collecting works for film, the cinematic expanses and dramatic flairs in the tracks are high. Some seriously depressing/disturbed spoken word bits anchor the record with a narrative, but for me it is the textural rumbling tracks that truly shine. Highly recommended for fans of O.S.T., post-industrial soundscapes, and disturbing sounds to play at Halloween.
http://www.peterrehberg.com/
The internet just won't shut up about Sunn O))), but not without due reason. They have been kicking butt and chewing gum for years now with a heavy release schedule and lots of touring. Their 2009 LP Monoliths & Dimensions has been praised out the wazzoo, so really, why don't you have it yet? What is you dysfunction? If you have been put off by the metal-tude of them before, this record ups the "ecstatic reverb" knob and features chanting and some bliss-out chords. Same sort of song structure as previous records, but you can tell they have been listening to lots of Bohren & Der Club of Gore, and that's always a good thing.
http://www.myspace.com/flightofthebeemoth
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS
DJ Sega - Dig
Eluvium - Seeing You Off The Edges
Eluvium - Under The Water It Glowed
Gnaw Their Tongues - Rife With Deep Teeth Marks
Grey Gersten - Fumbles In The Dark
Grey Gersten - Hard Times
Grouper - Where It Goes
Jacaszek - Martwa Cisza
Jacaszek - Rytm To Niesmiertelnosc
Moderat - Rusty Nails
Peter Rehberg - Murder Version
Sunn O))) - Alice
You will be better for it and no longer shall you regret: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090716.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
Friday, July 3, 2009
MP3 blog 2009/07/03
blog 2009/07/03 - Another 78 minutes by which you can measure your life and tally your circumstances.
I just wanted to throw some mad shoutouts to Hintonburg: The ultimate place for NGO hipsters to raise children. You rock!
Salutations! We are back to get all up in your business.
Bassnectar - Art of Revolution: I always love it when a blog starts with a track like this. Pure dubstep cheeze perfection. Hard slamming bass, rad samples looped with just the right repetition, and a subbass squelch that could make it fit in to a chiller dubstep set or a streetbass party. It seems that Bassnectar, who once did more glitchy breaks-n-bass, have gone the same route as almost every single other beats producer: dancey dubstep. I guess go where the Beatport money is, right? At least it is quality, as there is more than enough poor dubstep out there.
http://www.bassnectar.net/
Dada Life - Happy Hands & Happy Feet: We keep things popping at a steady butt-jiggle pace here. Dada Life is one of my favourite electrohouse producers, churning out a number of high quality dancefloor classics. They always go out of their way to make ridiculously happy songs too. This would be a gamble for a lesser producer, but they pull off this delirious feat with gurning glee. Glowsticks for everyone!
http://www.dadalife.com/
Dan Deacon - Build Voice: Dan Deacon is that post-rave hipsterism that has been the hallmark of every "hipster electronica" album, and marks that moment in their young lives where they discovered new places they could insert their glowsticks. After that, it was all downhill. They fell in to years of jadedness and snark. Only once they came to embrace that inner glowstick again were they able to come forth, beards and all, and shout "I'm here, I use glowsticks as a buttplug, and I wish it wasn't creepy someone my age to rave!" And huzzah, joyous hipster electronica came to the clubs. Now all of the kids that once raved no longer have good hookups for their drugs and just drink and wiggle to Dan Deacon et all. It's not a bad life, just don't expect him topping my best of 2009 list. Would you ever expect plaid at a rave?
http://www.myspace.com/dandeacon
Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop: The mashup fell out of popular favour once everyone realized that novelty alone wasn't enough to make 2 songs work together. Mind you, it wasn't rocket science: You just needed basic production skills, some musical and technical tastefulness, and voila. I am overjoyed that the deluge of mashups fell out of grace (and Soulwax went on to do something new and awesome) and now we just have occasional trickles. In this post Grey Album world, I point to mashups like this as examples of the bland process executed correctly. Take notes.
Don Diablo - Pussycat Too ft Example: This gets my vote as the most amusing hiphop song of 2009 so far. "Example" (uggh get a better MC name, please!) weaves a blurry metaphor of him vs women as dogs vs cats. The fuzzy lines between his metaphorical constructs and his furry fandom fantasies just make it that much more twisted and raw. Break out the fun-fur and get funky.
http://www.myspace.com/dondiablo
Grizzly Bear will be on almost every "best of 2009" list with their new LP Veckatimest. And you know what? So will Phoenix with their "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix".
Both albums are immediately accessible and catchy. Both have great song writing and production values.
Grizzly Bear has a bit more of an indie nod and veers slightly in to the Animal Collective style chord structures. Phoenix has more catchy vocals leaning towards Vampire Weekend style twee blissout, but mixed with a maturity that would appeal to any fan of The National or Peter Gabriel.
Both albums are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
http://www.grizzly-bear.net/
http://www.wearephoenix.com/
I have been listening to a lot of Morton Feldman lately. This 20th century composer was especially known for his minimalist constructions and sometimes enduringly long pieces, some 6 hours or more.
I haven't been listening to a specific album in particular, but a number of his albums simultaneously. Literally: Layering them on top of each other with multiple players going.
The piece here is from Crippled Symmetry, a wonderfully meditative work which, while not exactly game-changing in his oeuvre, is one of the most heralded examples.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Feldman
Randy Newman - A Few Words In Defense Of Our Country: OK, I never would have expected to see this hear either. My only real reference to Randy Newman is the parody of him on Family Guy. (left foot right foot left foot right foot)
I was a bit shocked to see such glowing reviews of his 2008 album Harps and Angels, and so I had to check it out. While I can't get behind it as a whole, it was a surprise at how palatable his ramshackle rambling rants were. He has one song on it that is a total copy of Tom Waits "Picture In A Frame", which is actually a bit good, and the rest is a somewhat-awkward somewhat parodying slice of storyteller Americana. Not essential, but certainly curious.
http://www.randynewman.com/
Tarek Mansur - Destined: This is the kind of record that would get me all wet. You'd go in to your local record store and you'd dig through a crate of vinyl ambiguously titled "Electronic" and you'd find this odd EP at the back with an odd-yet-interestingly designed cover and an unknown name, on an unknown label. You'd take it up to the turntable and get floored. One side would be lush abstract soundscapes, and the other would be a dark mindfuck IDM revolution. This is the record that would make your day of vinyl buying complete, and would be the ultimate thing to get high to in your dark glowing basement. Highly recommended. Tarek Mansure is good times.
http://www.myspace.com/tarekmansur
The Acorn - Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper cover): What a surprise this was! Another little treat from Ottawa's best band, and one the greatest exports Canada has to offer. They are touring with the likes of Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Calexico now. Hopefully this will calm our nerves until they return safe and sound.
http://www.theacorn.ca/
"Thefreehoudini" is the new album from Themselves, and cleverly so, it is available free online. With a deep roster of guests (including bigger names like Slug and Aesop Rock), it is a must-have. The tracks I chose to include here have lesser-known MCs guesting, but to me they are the standouts. It is so good to hear Lionesque back in action, 11 years after first appearing on Dose One's Hemispheres.
Highly recommended for anyone in to abstract hiphop.
get the whole she-bang here: http://www.anticon.com/thefreehoudini/
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - There Is No Light: This organic duo pulses and swells. This is the most infectious throbbing music I have heard in a long time. With the orgiastic fever of Yoko Ono in her prime, but with quality song writing and DIY lust. Another perfect way to leave you.
http://www.wildbirdsandpeacedrums.com/
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS:
Bassnectar - Art of Revolution
Dada Life - Happy Hands & Happy Feet
Dan Deacon - Build Voice
Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop
Don Diablo - Pussycat Too ft Example
Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader
Grizzly Bear - Southern Point
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Morton Feldman - Crippled Symmetry, Region 3 (1999 recording)
Phoenix - Big Sun
Phoenix - Girlfriend
Randy Newman - A Few Words In Defense Of Our Country
Tarek Mansur - Destined
The Acorn - Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper cover)
Themselves - Back2burn ft Pedestrian
Themselves - Keys To Ignition ft Serengeti
Themselves - Long Time Coming ft Lionesque
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - There Is No Light
OK, one more, but then back to sleep: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090703.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
Get more details at:
DJ mixes: http://www.thetastates.com/
Blog archives: http://www.thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/
CPI fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CPI/8176899482
Buy me books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/33BOJ22WFF9B4/?&sort=priority
Friend me on Last.FM to see what I am listening to: http://www.last.fm/user/cpi23
Enjoy!
~CPI
I just wanted to throw some mad shoutouts to Hintonburg: The ultimate place for NGO hipsters to raise children. You rock!
Salutations! We are back to get all up in your business.
Bassnectar - Art of Revolution: I always love it when a blog starts with a track like this. Pure dubstep cheeze perfection. Hard slamming bass, rad samples looped with just the right repetition, and a subbass squelch that could make it fit in to a chiller dubstep set or a streetbass party. It seems that Bassnectar, who once did more glitchy breaks-n-bass, have gone the same route as almost every single other beats producer: dancey dubstep. I guess go where the Beatport money is, right? At least it is quality, as there is more than enough poor dubstep out there.
http://www.bassnectar.net/
Dada Life - Happy Hands & Happy Feet: We keep things popping at a steady butt-jiggle pace here. Dada Life is one of my favourite electrohouse producers, churning out a number of high quality dancefloor classics. They always go out of their way to make ridiculously happy songs too. This would be a gamble for a lesser producer, but they pull off this delirious feat with gurning glee. Glowsticks for everyone!
http://www.dadalife.com/
Dan Deacon - Build Voice: Dan Deacon is that post-rave hipsterism that has been the hallmark of every "hipster electronica" album, and marks that moment in their young lives where they discovered new places they could insert their glowsticks. After that, it was all downhill. They fell in to years of jadedness and snark. Only once they came to embrace that inner glowstick again were they able to come forth, beards and all, and shout "I'm here, I use glowsticks as a buttplug, and I wish it wasn't creepy someone my age to rave!" And huzzah, joyous hipster electronica came to the clubs. Now all of the kids that once raved no longer have good hookups for their drugs and just drink and wiggle to Dan Deacon et all. It's not a bad life, just don't expect him topping my best of 2009 list. Would you ever expect plaid at a rave?
http://www.myspace.com/dandeacon
Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop: The mashup fell out of popular favour once everyone realized that novelty alone wasn't enough to make 2 songs work together. Mind you, it wasn't rocket science: You just needed basic production skills, some musical and technical tastefulness, and voila. I am overjoyed that the deluge of mashups fell out of grace (and Soulwax went on to do something new and awesome) and now we just have occasional trickles. In this post Grey Album world, I point to mashups like this as examples of the bland process executed correctly. Take notes.
Don Diablo - Pussycat Too ft Example: This gets my vote as the most amusing hiphop song of 2009 so far. "Example" (uggh get a better MC name, please!) weaves a blurry metaphor of him vs women as dogs vs cats. The fuzzy lines between his metaphorical constructs and his furry fandom fantasies just make it that much more twisted and raw. Break out the fun-fur and get funky.
http://www.myspace.com/dondiablo
Grizzly Bear will be on almost every "best of 2009" list with their new LP Veckatimest. And you know what? So will Phoenix with their "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix".
Both albums are immediately accessible and catchy. Both have great song writing and production values.
Grizzly Bear has a bit more of an indie nod and veers slightly in to the Animal Collective style chord structures. Phoenix has more catchy vocals leaning towards Vampire Weekend style twee blissout, but mixed with a maturity that would appeal to any fan of The National or Peter Gabriel.
Both albums are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
http://www.grizzly-bear.net/
http://www.wearephoenix.com/
I have been listening to a lot of Morton Feldman lately. This 20th century composer was especially known for his minimalist constructions and sometimes enduringly long pieces, some 6 hours or more.
I haven't been listening to a specific album in particular, but a number of his albums simultaneously. Literally: Layering them on top of each other with multiple players going.
The piece here is from Crippled Symmetry, a wonderfully meditative work which, while not exactly game-changing in his oeuvre, is one of the most heralded examples.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Feldman
Randy Newman - A Few Words In Defense Of Our Country: OK, I never would have expected to see this hear either. My only real reference to Randy Newman is the parody of him on Family Guy. (left foot right foot left foot right foot)
I was a bit shocked to see such glowing reviews of his 2008 album Harps and Angels, and so I had to check it out. While I can't get behind it as a whole, it was a surprise at how palatable his ramshackle rambling rants were. He has one song on it that is a total copy of Tom Waits "Picture In A Frame", which is actually a bit good, and the rest is a somewhat-awkward somewhat parodying slice of storyteller Americana. Not essential, but certainly curious.
http://www.randynewman.com/
Tarek Mansur - Destined: This is the kind of record that would get me all wet. You'd go in to your local record store and you'd dig through a crate of vinyl ambiguously titled "Electronic" and you'd find this odd EP at the back with an odd-yet-interestingly designed cover and an unknown name, on an unknown label. You'd take it up to the turntable and get floored. One side would be lush abstract soundscapes, and the other would be a dark mindfuck IDM revolution. This is the record that would make your day of vinyl buying complete, and would be the ultimate thing to get high to in your dark glowing basement. Highly recommended. Tarek Mansure is good times.
http://www.myspace.com/tarekmansur
The Acorn - Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper cover): What a surprise this was! Another little treat from Ottawa's best band, and one the greatest exports Canada has to offer. They are touring with the likes of Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Calexico now. Hopefully this will calm our nerves until they return safe and sound.
http://www.theacorn.ca/
"Thefreehoudini" is the new album from Themselves, and cleverly so, it is available free online. With a deep roster of guests (including bigger names like Slug and Aesop Rock), it is a must-have. The tracks I chose to include here have lesser-known MCs guesting, but to me they are the standouts. It is so good to hear Lionesque back in action, 11 years after first appearing on Dose One's Hemispheres.
Highly recommended for anyone in to abstract hiphop.
get the whole she-bang here: http://www.anticon.com/thefreehoudini/
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - There Is No Light: This organic duo pulses and swells. This is the most infectious throbbing music I have heard in a long time. With the orgiastic fever of Yoko Ono in her prime, but with quality song writing and DIY lust. Another perfect way to leave you.
http://www.wildbirdsandpeacedrums.com/
THIS WEEK'S TRACKS:
Bassnectar - Art of Revolution
Dada Life - Happy Hands & Happy Feet
Dan Deacon - Build Voice
Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop
Don Diablo - Pussycat Too ft Example
Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader
Grizzly Bear - Southern Point
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Morton Feldman - Crippled Symmetry, Region 3 (1999 recording)
Phoenix - Big Sun
Phoenix - Girlfriend
Randy Newman - A Few Words In Defense Of Our Country
Tarek Mansur - Destined
The Acorn - Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper cover)
Themselves - Back2burn ft Pedestrian
Themselves - Keys To Ignition ft Serengeti
Themselves - Long Time Coming ft Lionesque
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - There Is No Light
OK, one more, but then back to sleep: http://thetastates.com/mp3s/blog/blog20090703.zip
Stay on top of everything new at http://djcpi.blogspot.com
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Enjoy!
~CPI
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