deep movements

NIGHTMARE SEX TAPE

2010-11-20T13:25:00.001-08:00

Check out my the new blog, Nightmare Sex Tape.

And thanks for being patient. It's been a crazy couple of months. Hope all of you are well.

NEW BLOG

2010-07-12T13:27:00.001-07:00

Within the next week, I will officially 'retire' the Deep Movements blog and premiere a new blog called CHILDRRN'S FAERYLAND. The new blog will be of a more all-inclusice approach to culture through the eyes of the maniac you see below:

This means that I'll be posting everything from the music you've come to expect from me, plus thoughts on literature, film, cock sizes, and so on. So follow here for news & the URL of the CHILDRRN'S FAERYLAND blog.

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH

2010-03-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

My house was burglarized last night. My computer is gone. I'm going to try to keep posting despite these shite circumstances, but I might be a bit out of commission for the week...SORRY.

Also, to the teenagers who jacked our shit: FUCK YOU.

carry on

2010-03-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

Today marks the first 'official' day of the Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair, and so I'm letting you in on one of the most brutal hardcore bands of the '90s, His Hero is Gone. Turns out their bassist, Carl Auge, got his MFA in painting at CCA, where I'm finishing up my MFA in poetry at the moment. (I KNOW, FUCKIN' DUMB IDEA, DON'T GO TO GRAD SCHOOL KIDS). The painting above is by him, and you can check out more of his work here. And dig "Carry On," because its changes are just way too amazing.

His Hero is Gone- Carry On

Tomorrow, some Black Tambourine.

travelin' girlz

2010-03-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

First off, tonight is another installment of an epic lineup featuring two of our favorite bands here; namely, Shannon and the Clams and Hunx and His Punkettes. It's a tour kick-off party, so check out their pages for dates (and thank yr lucky stars if yr gonna be in Austin for SXSW), and say hi (or do more) to them when they're in your town. QUEER ROCKNROLL MADNESS!

Shannon & the Clams- You Can Come Over

Next, as a send off (and an intimation of my jealousy of Shannon, Hunx and crew), here's a track from the AWESOME upcoming album from The Bitters, which will be released on Mexican Summer in April. Anyway, who wouldn't want to be a travelin' girl? Dangz.

The Bitters- Travelin' Girl

i am secretly an important man

2010-03-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

Forecast in chrome and plastic. Tyrants breathing alloy of slavery, planet hunger, versions of Jackie O. Sherry, Sherry baby, won't you come out tonight? And the stars whisper like old blood at the edges of the body of night. She stood with one hand on the phone for four hours, poised as though only a few seconds had passed. I watched her through the crack between the shade and the sill. She waited for a forecast in human trembling, together with other important women. Come, come, come out tonight. The world suffers for her: The clock hurries like a terrified animal, then stops, dribbling saliva. She has eaten chicken pie and bubble gum. For a month the Luftewaffe lived on raisins. Same with the French, after the war. Jackie O. received fresh oranges from John Kennedy. Silly girl. She cannot put down the telephone receiver. She is waiting to receive my body of work. She wants to take it in her ear. A mottled flush builds under her cheeks. She eats Xmas candy while she waits. The telephone rings and rings. I am not at home. I am with Jackie O. We are eating oranges from the president. We are alone on the roof of a Park Avenue penthouse. Picture of Marilyn Monroe in my back pocket molded by the heat and sweat to the shape of my buttocks. You are gripping the phone smiling, eating candy, crying. I am with the important women, now. I am secretly an important man. Hang up the phone. I can't dance with you, anymore. Go to your freezer and get a popsicle. Go to your TV. Turn on your TV. You will see me and Jackie O. She will be taking it in the ear, my body of work. In the planetarium. You will receive a forecast. I will always be more important than you. You will never be important enough. You will never be on the whip-hand end of slavery, never be the one to wield hunger against humanity. Heaven will never be an extension of your body. Your body will always belong to someone else. The picture of Marilyn Monroe flutters across the roof, steaming, shaped like me. Shaped like my ass. The sky is filled with oranges during the war. We eat them. The president is alone in a room. He is unimportant. As we eat his oranges the sky grows blacker. The moon ripens and turns red. It rots and is swallowed by the darkness. You are still by the phone. It is ringing and ringing, dead. Sherry, Sherry baby, won't you come out tonight? It is completely dark. The earth freezes. You put down the receiver and go to the window. Come, come, come out tonight.

I first heard this when I was eleven years old. Changed my life. For more on Steven Jesse Bernstein and his work, do go here.

i don't know why i need you so

2010-03-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

If you're not familiar with the output of Kleenex/LiLiPUT, then I recommend going over here to learn the history...

What's exciting is that KRS are putting out yet another compilation of the group's output, this time featuring two live sets from Kleenex and LiLiPUT, as well as a DVD of videos and a tour film. Unreleased as of yet, I can't resist putting up a track from Kleenex's live set from Biel in 1979. A love song of sorts.

Kleenex- Madness

Tomorrow, maybe something from the land of corn?

sun tone

2010-03-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

IT'S SUNNY AND WARM AND I'M LISTENING TO THESE AWESOME DAVE NADA EDITS OF SLOWED DUTCH HOUSE AT REGGAETON SPEEDS. PUMP THIS UP RIGHT NOW AND GET IT ONNNN!!!! ASS-SHAKING MIND-MELTING SPINE-CURVING!

Dave Nada- Ruffcut - Moombahton Dub

tell us that we're young and funny

2010-03-04T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hey! No downloads today— I promise their return tomorrow— but wanted to voice my enthusiasm for this awesome show tonight, featuring Myles Cooper USA and Juiceboxxx. The latter is also spinning tomorrow at the special J.D. Samson edition of Hella Gay in Oakland, but $15 is STEEP, so come out to 2211 Mission @ 18th (aka NIGHTMARE CITY) tonight to party down. And check out the awesome video for Myles' hit song above!

this is a church on fire

2010-03-01T10:28:00.001-08:00

Hey, check out this post dedicated to me over at Dennis Cooper's blog. It's all videos of churches on fire, a filmic subject that I became obsessed with one night a couple of weeks ago. Pretty amazing stuff, watch it while listening to some Burzum. Or maybe this awesome Born Against track below... 'I WANT THIS BEAUTIFUL RELIGION TO BURN.'

Born Against- Eulogy

Tomorrow, something you can dance to.

wake and eat

2010-02-25T17:47:00.000-08:00

BUSY, SORRY, HERE ARE SOME TRACKS.

Trus'Me's last album, In the Red, didn't get a whole lot of attention because of its unfortunate December 2009 release date. However, it is one of the more interesting and varied albums to come out of the past year, with amazing collaborations featuring Amp Fiddler, Dam-Funk, and others. "Sweet Mother" is sort of a perfect deep house track: nicely syncopated percussion, melancholic pianos, and some soulful male vocals riding over it. A slow burner, this one is a secret sort of earworm that'll be stuck in your ears for days...

Trus'Me- Sweet Mother

Next up, another favorite from the Philadelphia hardcore/punk scene of the mid- to late-'90s. 2.5 Children Inc. were the hardest of the West Chester/Creep Records crew, and definitely the best, in my opinion. With a sound somewhere between Poison Idea, Conflict, and Avail (weirdly enough), "Wake and Eat" was the sort of thing I put on every mixtape I made for every friend for about five years. Get at it.

2.5 Children Inc.- Wake and Eat

good cop bad cop

2010-02-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

Another weekend, another hit to my brain and liver...

But that's besides the point. Today, I'm offering up an awesome track from one of my favorite Philly hardcore bands. Kill the Man Who Questions was one of the most unapologetically political, amazingly thrashing bands of the late '90s. A KTMWQ live set was always bound to turn into a circle-pit of cute sweaty crusty boys and grrls screaming along to all the lyrics, with Pat's Iron Maiden-like guitar shredding and the dueling yells of Mike and Nikki leading the sonic assault. To boot, the band-members whose whereabouts I know of are fucking awesome people. (Andrew is still playing in xLIMP WRISTx, FYI).

So here's "Good Cop, Bad Cop," which "is about being fed shit for entertainment and still being happy to wait in line to pay for more of it. This is about what's on your TV, what's on your radio, what's in your magazines and your movies. The Romans had a saying about keeping the unruly masses in line. Give them Bread and a Circus and they won't raise a fuss. Today, our bellies are full and our eyes and ears are busy, but our heads are fucking empty. So stay tuned, coming soon, after the break,...etc."

Kill the Man Who Questions- Good Cop, Bad Cop

House tomorrow.

covered in white

2010-02-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

In 2006, my old experimental electronics group opened for Excepter, whom I'd booked at the Oberlin College club. In the haze of the next day— the Excepter dudes know how to party— my friends and I realized that one of them had left a backpack with an amazing iPod inside of it. Needless to say, we ripped a lot of stuff off of the iPod, sent it back to its owner, and the whole thing seemed to be over.

Then, in 2008 (or 2009?), I got a note from the guy whose iPod had been left behind, and it turned out we were both living in the Bay Area. Now, that guy (Mr. Girardin to you) does this amazing one-man project called Jaws. While sometimes similar to early Excepter tracks in terms of the density of sound, there's something infinitely more troubling, paranoid, and awesomely confrontational about the early Jaws output. Though he assures me that new material is more danceable and less claustrophobically great, I thought that I'd share a track from the older stuff with you today, since Jaws is performing tonight at AMNESIA, b/w 19th and 20th on Valencia in the Mission. See you there, and check out the spacey doom (and absurd panning) of the slice below.

Jaws- Covered in White

Tomorrow, some pppuuunnnkkkkkk.

wishez

2010-02-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

Intense Italo sounds on so, so many hits of acid. "and ten treed leaves" by Zeljko McMullen's Wish alias sounds like Moroder telling all the schranz dudes to calm the fuck down and eat some yellow sunshine and watch the fuckin' ocean. Get to it.

Wish- and ten treed leaves

And while yr at it, check out all the other stuff going down with Shinkoyo family AND the Paris London West Nile performance space in Brooklyn that serves as a home and studio space to many of its members.

Oh, and also, there's another mp3 write-up I did for Wish today on XLR8R.com. Check that track here.

Later today, a post featuring the death dubs of San Francisco's very own Jaws.... get scared.

growth

2010-02-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

I need to calm the fuck down and just let things happen. This new album from The Seven Fields of Aphelion is pretty much perfect for that purpose. Like running through fields holding hands with yr best friend at the end of summer. Warm synth drones, delayed sentimental piano lines, a real glow that is unbelievably gorgeous yet sort of sad because it doesn't last forever... though if it did, that would make it unremarkable. Paradox.

The Seven Fields of Aphelion- Grown

Oh, and just FYI, Shannon & the Clams and Hunx & His Punkettes KILLED IT last night at Ghost Town Gallery. Check them out when they're in yr town!

Tomorrow, some stuff from one of my boyz in Brooklyn.

body work

2010-02-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

Need a masseuse over here... because I'm covered in scrapes and bruises, and obviously need a lecture on making good choices, especially in terms of who to make out with at the party.

AND, of course, this AWESOME SHOW tonight. Hunx, Magic Kids, Shannon & the Clams.... Ghost Town Gallery, 25th & San Pablo, Oakland.... Be there.

weather

2010-02-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

Once in a while, the requests for reposts of tracks comes to a fever pitch— recall the repost of Norma Jean Bell a while back— and I yield to pressure.

Today, a classic remix of an even more iconic track. Here's my original post:

Today, I give you a classic remix of Hardrive's "Deep Inside," done by "Little" Louie Vega himself. The Heavy Weather mix of "Deep Inside" is some prescient house music-- the bass-line is an echoey and weirdly arpeggiated monster that sounds as if it could be contemporary, and accompanied by deep kicks and the classic Barbara Tucker vocal sample, it is an astounding piece of dance music that is sure to get as many people on the floor now as it did in 1993.

Hardrive- Deep Inside (Heavy Weather Mix)

To all who requested it, thanks for your interest!!

feels so good

2010-02-11T23:10:00.001-08:00

Ah, a still from my favorite vintage porno.

PLUS, THIS IS THE BEST TECHNO TRACK EVER FUCKING COMPOSED. SERIOUSLY. IAN LOVEDAY RIP.

Minimal Man- Treatment Feel

See you tomorrow.

leopard sun

2010-02-09T10:09:00.001-08:00

All right, I'm an asshole, haven't had the time to digitize the queercore, so let's just hold off on that 'til later in the week. Tight? Tight.

Instead, another blast from the past: Double Leopards! One of those legendary noise bands lost to the sands of time, there was a point some years ago when I was talking with Mike Bernstein, one of the group's members, about playing a show in the noise chapel in Ohio. Unfortunately, Double Leopards went kaput before that could happen...

Nonetheless, their discography shows a breadth of sounds and approaches to sonics that would make a lot of noise groups blush. From hallucinogenic sine-wave madness to guitar-based emotional drones, the 'Leopards were among the most-played groups on my old radio show, Melting Glaciers of the Synapses, which I hosted with treasured friend and associate P. Corwin Lamm. I miss those heady days.

Without further ado, tho, here are some tracks for your ears...

Double Leopards- Glissando Harmonization of the Skeletal Remains of Stalin (from The Axe Helve LP)

Double Leopards- Meadow Phantasm (from the Soulless Dust, Speed, and Strength CDr)

Double Leopards- Daughter + Sun (from the Circa 1999-2001 CDr)

how we rock

2010-02-07T10:53:00.000-08:00

Every couple of months, something in my head clicks and I get really into Kompakt-style minimal and hard acid techno again. Not that I ever really got out of it, but sometimes, its hardness and lack of 'soul' goovin' aren't my cup of tea. This time around, I've been pumping a lot of older Reinhard Voigt tracks and Jurgen Paape slices...

Taken from Kompakt's Speicher 13, "Protekt" wouldn't be out of place on a mix from one of the Underground Resistance crew, what with its acidy melodic lines, hard dry kicks, and punctuating stabs. And with a nicely-synced bass throb, mixing this with some Dopplereffekt is also highly recommended...hearing "Cellular Phone" slowly creep in during this piece is some ace shit.

Reinhard Voigt- Protekt

Jurgen Paape's "Take This" is from 2007, but sounds like it could be from minimal's early days, its simply harsh melodic line and two-note bassline providing a steely backbone to intrusions from bells, echoey brass. Truly excellent panning work begs that this piece be blasted on a loud, multi-channel system. Taken from Kompakt's Speicher 45.

Jurgen Paape- Take This

Okay, tomorrow, some hispanic punk and some queercore. Get yr fuckin' rocks off.

kartwheelin'

2010-02-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

Been getting a lot of goodies in the box during the past two weeks of illness, so before I start today's post in earnest, would just like to mention that the upcoming Tanlines EP on True Panther is really something, as is the upcoming Santiago Salazar joint on Aaron-Carl's Wallshaker Music. Lastly, the final effort from one of Oakland's finest groups, Gowns, is up for FREE DOWNLOAD here. It is a lovely 17-minute dirge, well worth your time.

Ah, and a new crew! Boston's White Haus Family Record will be releasing a split between that city's Truman Peyote and Many Mansions in March. The former's "Kartwheels" is a shimmering slice of shiny beats, echo-chamber vocals, crisp guitars, and a lengthy, loop-driven intro that hypnotizes the more one listens to it. Totally in line with some of the stuff coming from friends in NYC, it's nice to see that Boston has something going for it after a long drought!

Truman Peyote- Kartwheels

Tomorrow, punk scum....

let's eat doritos and kill everyone

2010-02-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

And breakdance like Qusay Hussein.

Regular posts return tomorrow. Finally feeling up to it again after a LONG WHILE of wallowing in the terrible shit of sickness.

Hope all of you have been well!!

punched in the throat

2010-01-26T10:27:00.000-08:00

This is pretty much how my body and head feel right now. Sorry for lack of posts. Be back soon!

night living

2010-01-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

If you're in the Bay Area tonight, no excuses: come out to this awesome show!

WEST OAKLAND RAVIN' WITH:

Eats Tapes

Sex Worker

Bookworms

Jaws

PLUS ALL NIGHT:

MINDFUCK VISUALS by 7EV3
&
QUEERJUNKTECHNOPUNK DJ SETS by TREES (aka deep movements)

in the basement

2010-01-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

Today, the first in a special mix series coming at you from deep movements associate DJ Leo. That's him above in my old co-op bedroom in Ohio. Ugh, that yarny blanket! So gross. But that room was killer.

Anyway, DJ Leo does a weekly radio show on WOBC called "In the Basement," and it is always a treat full of deep grooves from the crème de la crème of house, including many of my favorites from the Nu Groove catalog and some newer Euro joints. Last Thursday's show was particularly rolling (as I'm CERTAIN this week's episode will be), so we've decided to include some of his live radio mixes on the blog every once in a while. Check out the playlist and download the biz below— you won't be disappointed.

Pepe Bradock - Life
STL - Moonlight Reflections
Hunee - Rare Silk
Chicago Underground Council - 2 Days
Unknown Artist - b1 untitled (The Nature of Retribution, Prescription)
Liberty City - Some Lovin'
The Utopia Project - File #3
Noni - Be My (Friend)
Underground Solution - Luv Dancin
Melchior Productions - Everyone's A Winner
New York House 'n Authority - Park Avenue South
Abacus - Come On
Simply Red - Thrill Me (MAW Mix)

DJ Leo- In The Basement 2010-01-14

Tomorrow, surprize...

homoerotic

2010-01-18T11:34:00.001-08:00

Because we have a special treat coming up in the next day or two (!!), right now I'm going to give props to my boy Aaron-Carl, one of my favorite Detroit producers. A fabulous and fierce (and kind!) queen, Aaron's been tearing it down since 1996, working with everyone from "Mad" Mike Banks to Johnny Dangerous to Kelli Hand to Dyed Soundorom. A major force in the LGBTQ house/techno and hip-hop communities, Aaron is ALL ABOUT IT. Check out the W.A.R.M.T.H. Sessions, his weekly radio show, here.
Now for some YouTube love. Seriously, watch/listen to all of these. Imagine if he came to the Bay sometime soon! MMMM.

2010-01-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

It seems that every few years or so, a new generation of people gets really excited about the life and work of Leigh Bowery. If you don't know who Leigh Bowery was, I will leave your education up to this very comprehensive summation from a few years back at Dennis Cooper's blog (which you should be reading anyway). Another great place to start with Leigh is the Charles Atlas documentary, The Legend of Leigh Bowery, which is available in its entirety for viewing here.

When you're done looking through all of THAT, watch this:

And then when you're done watching THAT, download the remix of Minty's "Useless Man" by The Grid, who are apparently still extant and making new albums. Kind of a product of its time, yes, but there's something about it that I find wildly charming. Perhaps it is that British electro-house sound that led to electroclash that does it...Anyway, enjoy!

Minty- Useless Man (The Grid Extended 12" Mix)

i get a feelin'

2010-01-15T09:03:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm going to be a little lazy because I have tons of stuff to do. But here is my XLR8R review of Anthony "Shake" Shakir's retrospective collection, out soon on Rush Hour, as well as one of his most jackin' tracks for your listening pleasure.

Real Detroit techno heads have been repping Anthony "Shake" Shakir's work for years, but only a few outside of that small scene have given him his due, if only because his profile's rise has been restrained by health issues and limited-run releases. Thanks to Amsterdam's Rush Hour, though, Shake's obscure status is finished. A rhythm master in the truest sense of the phrase, Shake's many skills are displayed here: there's the jacked electro-funk of "The Floor Filler," the dusty Dilla-like beats of "Detroit State of Mind," and the dubby techno hypnotics of "Perseverance." Paired with tracks like "Assimilated," which sounds like a hissy predecessor to today's UK funky, or "Arise," which incorporates what might be the best Steely Dan sample in dance music history, Frictionalism guarantees that Shakir's amazing work will never be overlooked again.

Anthony "Shake" Shakir- Get A Feeling

Weekend lazes tomorow.

for real

2010-01-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

Whenever I feel sick I get all emotional and listen to Arthur Russell tracks and become a weeping lovelorn mess. Give me one more day and I'll have some techno tracks for you... but for today, "Me For Real."

"Its me

Still on my bike

Love is turning

Do it again

It's you that I like

Do you you say it's not true

Do what I want

When I want to

Now I want to

In my heart beating

Beating far

Into the far, far future

Me for real

Me for real"

Arthur Russell- Me For Real

ergh

2010-01-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

Feelin' a little low— seems like the cold might be back? Who knows. Anyway, I'll post two tracks for download tomorrow. Right now, though, I just want to drink some tea, take a bath, and laze.

(By the way, Skeletons are the shit! I had forgotten about the track above until just recently, when the melody came into my head. Check out the Ghostly site or Shinkoyo site for more info on their jams).

world on wires

2010-01-12T11:38:00.000-08:00

One of the most anticipated records of 2010 is the new slice from Pantha Du Prince, Black Noise. It continues in the direction taken on his accaimed 2007 record, This Bliss, but contains more glassy atmospherics and a more defined indebtedness to minimal classicists like Steve Reich. "Welt am Draht," which may or may not be a reference to the synonymous made-for-TV film made by the always-welcome Rainer Werner Fassbinder, is exemplary of what the album can do: hi- and mid-frequency melodies weave in and out of each other in lovely syncopations, warm synth and vocal washes provide spine-shivering ecstatic moments, and explicit, heavy kicks are eschewed in favor of propulsive prepared bells. Certainly an early contender for 2010's album of the year, this is perfect to jack up loud on snowy days while wistfully looking out at winter sunlight.

Pantha Du Prince- Welt am Draht

Faggin' it up tomorrow, maybe.

can't forget

2010-01-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

JUST LOOK AT HER!!!

Marlena Shaw is my girl, and the Diplo remix of "California Soul" always reminds me of how much I love her AND how much California (depite some of its BULLSHIT) is the place for me. It was great to sleep in my bed in West Oakland again.

Tomorrow, new sounds, but before anything else happens, I DEMAND that you go to Light Asylum's myspace page and listen to everything these two have up. They KILLED it last Friday (and so did Blondes and Teengirl). Seriously, this is my new favorite band.

But without further ado:

Marlena Shaw- California Soul (Diplo Remix)

swipe that

2010-01-07T06:23:00.001-08:00

Off to New York... look forward to another post on Saturday.

But for today, I give you a track from one of the finer deep house producers coming from Europe, Amsterdam's Makam. Amazing how he gets a perfect sort of Kerri Chandler feel down here, propulsive yet high, laid-back but forever hustling.

Makam- New York Hustler

And if you're in the five boroughs, come out to this great show on Friday! Obviously, all of these people are the shit, and all of them are friends. Escape the cold to dance in the heat of a smelly Williamsburg basement!

TEENGIRL FANTASY —– homecoming show!
:::: Blondes
:::::: Light Asylum
| MONSTER ISLAND BASEMENT |
128 River St @ Metropolitan Ave | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L-Bedford, G-Metropolitan, JM-Marcy | 8pm | all ages | $7

Be there or be lame.

work me goddamnit

2010-01-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

One of my top-played old-school house tracks is Jack & Jill's "Work It Girlfriend," originally released on Strictly Rhythm back in 1992. The queen behind the opening a cappella, as well as the track itself, is the almighty Franklin Fuentes (pictured above). A legend of the New York house and ga(y)rage scene, Fuentes also was the impetus behind Junior Vasquez's 1996 Billboard #1, "If Madonna Calls." Seems the ball'rs have been dissing Madonna for being a stealing, unoriginal hag long before DJ Sprinkles manifestoes on the subject ever saw the light of the day. Today, I present both "Work It Girlfriend" and "If Madonna Calls," so get voguing. And work me goddamnit.

Jack & Jill- Work It Girlfriend

Junior Vasquez- If Madonna Calls (Junior's House Mix Radio Edit)

Both of these tracks have classy garage rhythms, fierce vocal clips, and enough jackin' power to make a corpse dance. Do it.

caught with the meat in your mouth

2010-01-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

I have a cold. I was supposed to go to New York tonight to see Salem play, but that isn't happening. However, I encourage any in the five boroughs to go to that show, and then party it up at West Nile (just down the street) with Teengirl Fantasy and loads of other awesome people afterwards. I will be in town for the Blondes/Teengirl Fantasy/Light Asylum show on Friday, so I'll see you there!

As my Facebook friends know, I've been all over these early-to-late-'90s issues of Cometbus that I bought in elementary and middle school, and just unearthed from years of detritus at my parents' house. What's weird is that as I've been reading them, my musical tastes (along the punk gamut) have been coinciding with bands mentioned in specific issues of Cometbus. So, Aaron tells one of the Kevin stories about The Dicks playing a show at Berkeley High (it got cancelled), and what do you know? I'd been listening to Kill from the Heart for two days straight. Or Aaron makes a reference to some dude saying, "Fuck you, do you know the Dead Boys?" And I'd been listening to "Sonic Reducer" on repeat for an hour earlier in the week.

As a sort of tribute to Cometbus, which is my favorite zine ever produced (and it continues, miraculously!), and to Aaron himself (though I doubt he'll read this), I'm posting a track from each of these fine punk bands. If you don't know them, you've been missing out, so get wild.

The Dead Boys- Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth

Gary Floyd lives! Check out the Queer Issue of MRR from a while back for an awesome piece by him about how the Dicks started in Austin.

The Dicks- Little Boys Feet

Tomorrow, something more house-bound.

cause you belong to me

2010-01-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, I missed yesterday. Whatever. Happy New Year!!!

Since I first posted it in 2008, I've been receiving endless requests for a re-up of Norma Jean Bell's "I'm the Baddest Bitch (In the Room)." Understandable, duh, because it might be one of the best tracks to ever grace a set of speakers. And the Moodyman mix below is even better.

I sent this text message to my girl J9 at 2 am from a car in Ohio. I was coming back from seeing Tortured Soul with Nick from TGF, occasional deep movements contributor Leo, and this boy Tristan, who might be the most insane fucking driver I've ever experienced in my entire life. Sure, he was drunk, but he'd be holding a cigarette, rolling windows up and down compulsively, changing CDs, and changing lanes, all at the same time at like 90 mph. And braking. A lot.

The only thing that kept me from leaping out of the car was when this track came on, and I got all warm and started vamping out because who cares if I'm going to die in a fiery crash? I'm the baddest bitch in the room.

We eventually made it back okay, and almost two months later, J9 puts this up on Facebook. God to the damn.

Norma Jean Bell- I'm the Baddest Bitch (In the Room) (Moodymann Mix)

Oh, and I forgot to mention that once I got back to town from the insane drive, I go up to my friend Alie's place and the party has cleared out but my three best bitches are all dancing around like maniacs to "Orinoco Flow" by Enya, spilling beer all over me and kissing me. Truly one of the best nights of 2009. More to come in 2010, sans the insane driving, hopefully.

...then we take new york

2009-12-30T05:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, I had a headache yesterday. Fuck that! But today, I'm leaving the awful climes of Philly for the even more awful climes of New York City, though at least there are more than five awesome people living in the five boroughs. Philly is weird, like a ghost town. I know so few people here any longer that whenever I come to visit my parents, I spend most of my time reading and listening to punk rock in my bedroom. Guess things don't change much in ten years...

So, a jazzy, pseudo-house number for you, courtesy of Mandy. Just can't wait to get out of here for a few days!

Mandy- I Just Can't Wait (Cool & Breezy Jazz Version)

Have a good New Year's Eve, and be prepared for some soothing music for your hangover on the 1st!

are you a girl boy or are you a boy girl

2009-12-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

I was gonna post a breezy, sexy pseudo-house track today, but then my (actual, real-life) uncle started regaling me with stories of seeing Human Sexual Response all the time back in Boston in the early '80s. I decided to post something from them because, well, they were one of the punkest, gender-fucking bands of their time. Even now, their sound and aesthetic is just right on. Watch the video above, for example— that was LIVE TELEVISION. Imagine that happening today! Sad that such a thing is almost impossible to fathom. Nevertheless, dance around your room to "Blow Up," and then go here to download their second album, In A Roman Mood.

Human Sexual Response- Blow Up

Tomorrow, we'll see.

rub me out

2009-12-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

On the venerable Crass Records label, The Cravats were a British band who were around from 1977-1982. Penny Rimbaud of Crass describes the group as "an aural assault which, although showing some kinship with the then current punk modes, was closer in its intelligence to experimental freeform jazz, which I have always loved, and German 'industrialist' avant garde." A better description could not be given of the group's weird inheritance of many different modes of noise-making, from records containing entirely found sounds to the post-punk political skronk of "Rub Me Out," featured below. Love this band, and encourage all to seek out The Land of the Giants, probably their best recording.

The Cravats- Rub Me Out

Tomorrow, something a bit more breezy.

top thirteen full-length boners of 2009

2009-12-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the wait! I'm visiting family and friends on the east coast, and the internet connection is slow...as...fuck. So much so that I am sitting in a café with free, fast wireless right now, just so I don't tear out my hair trying to upload tracks and pics for you. Hope you've enjoyed the first two installments of 2009 boners, and that this installment is just as illuminating and hardening.

1. DJ Sprinkles Midtown 120 Blues (Mule)

Given that nearly every electronic music site has placed this record in its top five records of the year, if not the number one spot, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm giving it props as well. A treatise on house music, appropriation, and notions of gender and exclusion, Midtown 120 Blues is a timeless piece of electronic music that will outlive many of the other records released in the past year. And with the atmospherics, flowing bass-lines, lush synths, and piano elements displayed in the track below, I'm sure we can all agree on this record's 'classic' status.

DJ Sprinkles- House Music Is Controllable Desire You Can Own

2. Redshape The Dance Paradox (Delsin)

Redshape's analog opus is the sort of record that makes people say, "This is just so fucking good." And yeah, it is: perfect mixture of atmospherics, deep kicks, lush pads, squelchy moments, and bass-lines that are straight-up second-wave Detroit shit. A perfect record in every way, choosing between this and DJ Sprinkles was actually a rough decision to make... but I went with my politics, though my ear pulls me towards Redshape's sounds so much more. Seriously, check out the track below— the bass drops in so unexpectedly, and then when it does, it's like an aural epiphany. Fucking excellent.

Redshape- Globe

3. Luke Hess Light in the Dark (Echocord)

A lot of reviewers didn't like this album, and I don't really blame them— it is a rather cold affair, but something about it has stuck with me since its release, and I've found myself getting really into its icy veneer. With a more jackin' style than Echocord contemporaries, Hess manages to produce dub-techno that isn't appropriate for naptime, instead being more apt to make an appearance on a 6 am dancefloor. "Son Beams" is certainly my favorite track on the record, with its expansive pans, high-frequency whooshes, and weird little vocal elements, as well as its echo-driven synth stabs. In fact, this track sort of reminds me of driving around Detroit on a cold, snowy day...kind of perfect, yeah?

Luke Hess- Son Beams

4. Alland Byallo Brick by Brick (Nightlight)

Alland Byallo is one of the West Coast's hidden secrets, a techno producer whose sophisticated dancefloor jams can compete with the best of what comes out of Europe, but whose profile has remained low despite his residency at San Francisco's [kontrol] parties and excellent releases. His first full-length finds him in top form, mixing deep techno vibes with some dubby textures, Detroit gestures, and nods to the weird tribal African house vibe that has been sweeping the Innervisions crew over the past few years. "Casual Sax," in some ways, is exemplary of this mixture of sounds, with blaring horns, astounding polyrhythmic percussion, and spacey squelch that would make Detroit denizens proud.

Alland Byallo- Casual Sax

5. Lawrence Until Then, Goodbye (Mule)

Taken from my review in XLR8R: Peter Kersten's output has never been filled with sunshine; in fact, one could argue that his oeuvre is downright melancholy, filled with minor-key melodies and sentimental chord progressions. For his latest full-length under his Lawrence moniker, Kersten continues the trend, delivering an album that is more cloudy Sunday than clubby Saturday. Tracks like "Grey Light" and "The Dream" channel Angelo Badalamenti, and "Todenhausen Blues" recalls European seaside towns awash in drizzle. There are beat-oriented moments, of course, like the hazy synth shuffle of "Jill" and the organic house stylings of "In Your Eyes," but overall, Until Then, Goodbye, is a gorgeous and moody trek through sonic textures that invoke intense emotions; if there was ever a perfect example of 'teardrop house,' Lawrence's latest would be it.

Lawrence- Jill

6. Moritz von Oswald Trio Vertical Ascent (Honest Jon's)

Moritz von Oswald, with the help of Sasu Ripatti and Max Loderbauer, has created a record that perfectly combines contemporary minimal classical, dub-techno, electronic ambient, and dancefloor efficacy. It is difficult to imagine anone else achieving such a feat, or achieving it to such pleasing effect.

Moritz von Oswald Trio- Pattern 1

7. White Rainbow New Clouds (Kranky)

Taken from my XLR8R review: Adam Forkner (a.k.a. White Rainbow) continues to astound on his second full-length for Kranky. The Portland resident's loop-based jams have always had a truly organic, 'free' feeling, but New Clouds emphasizes these tonal elements while simultaneously being the best-sounding record he has ever created. With synth washes and guitar lines whipping in and out amidst Forkner's soaring vocalizations and subtle percussive elements, the music floats in the ether—a track like the epic "All the Boogies in the World" recalls traditional Irish music, Brian Eno's ambient works, Enya, fuzzed-out garage punk, Underworld, and jazz-fusion percussive styles. There is no pinning White Rainbow down, as Forkner defies easy definition in favor of creating gorgeous aural structures that uniquely bend both time and genre.

From the first time I saw Forkner live, playing from the back of a truck on the site of a cement factory in the Hunter's Point section of San Francisco, I knew that his was a unique talent. Do pick up this record— it is gorgeous.

White Rainbow- All the Boogies in the World

8. Meanderthals Desire Lines (Smalltown Supersound)

Gorgeously balearic, slo-motion, hazy disco: only a combination of the Idjut Boys and Rune Lindbaek could craft such sounds without seeming like a bunch of oldsters. With just enough Scandinavian disco, Jan Hammer, and California acid-folk thrown into the mix, Desire Lines proved one of the most endearing records of the year, if only because it was probably the best to get blazed to while driving along a coastline. Just check "1-800-288-SLAM" below, and tell me that you don't wish you were on the PCH, digging this and watching the sun set.

Meanderthals- 1-800-288-SLAM

9. port-royal dying in time (n5md)

From my XLR8R review: Though the album's starkly snowy cover might have something to do with it, Genoa's port-royal do evoke a crystalline, wintery quality on their third full-length. High-frequency washes, plaintive delayed guitars, and tinkling synths abound amidst rhythm structures that evoke Squarepusher and Aphex Twin. The icy sheen is spread over eleven tracks, so that the listening process feels a bit like a slalom ride down Mont Blanc, the apex coming towards the album's midpoint with the M83-like glassiness of "I Used To Be Sad." Other tracks, like "Susy: Blue East Fading," recall a louder Stars of the Lid, but with a nice shuffle behind the synth swells. if one can stand its brilliant cold without shivering, dying in time might be one of the most fulfilling records of the year.

This record really is unbelievable, and I highly recommend it for any fans of ambient music, Pantha Du Prince, and crystal-clear production.

port-royal- Susy: Blue East Fading

10. Black Jazz Consortium Structure (Soul People)

I've played this record for some people who have absolutely despised it, saying that it isn't jackin', isn't jazzy, isn't really much to write home about. Well, those people don't know what the fuck they're talking about, because this is old-school style shit à la Larry Heard, with jazzy undertones, and some moments of real synth bliss. Love this project, and can't wait for Fred P. to make more! (And yes, 'vogue' is spelled wrong on the CD, so I've left it unchanged).

Black Jazz Consortium- Watching You Vouge

11. Hieroglyphic Being So Much Noise 2 Be Heard (Mathematics)

Old school readers of the blog know how much I adore Jamal Moss and his Hieroglyphic Being project, and so when his latest double-LP came out, I bought it, and quickly wore it out. Keeping with his insanely rhythmic, noisy, acidy Detroit techno, So Much Noise 2 Be Heard is a pleasure to listen to. Peep the track below.

Hieroglyphic Being- Behind the Green Door

12. Italoboyz Bla Bla Bla (Mothership)

From my XLR8R review: Techno is often an over-serious genre, so listening to the first Italoboyz full-length is a breath of fresh air—the duo crafts rich, funky tracks that are full of humor, esoteric influences, and the London transplants' penchant for intense rhythmic play. A prime example is found on "Chinese," a piece that utilizes extensive bits of Chinese-influenced piano, cut-up vocal portions culled from Chinese language instruction software, and jazzy house percussion that shimmers in just the right spots. "Techno Tower," on the other hand, recalls a more playful Gaiser, but it is "Bahia," a hypnotic techno slice based entirely on licensed John Coltrane loops and deep kicks, that really stays with the listener.

Italoboyz- Chinese

13. Dam-Funk Toeachizown (Stones Throw)

The only reason Dam-Funk's boogie-funk opus is at the bottom of the list is because there are definitely some tracks on the four-volume collection that are better than others. That said, the collection might be one of the most fantastic achievements of 2009, finally bringing Dam-Funk into a well-deserved spotlight. Now roll up that blunt.

Dam-Funk- Boogie Slyde

Dig all of these tracks, and if you especially like something, seek it out and support the artists! Coming up tomorrow: some anarchist post-punk for you, from the Crass Records label!

bonus

2009-12-23T07:08:00.000-08:00

When I was in sixth grade, my favorite band was either Philadelphia's The Boils or Boston's The Showcase Showdown. The other day, whilst flipping through an old CD booklet, I found Appetite of Kings, the only Showcase Showdown full-length album. It is still such an amazing record, full of speedy, bouncy punk, clever and erudite lyrics, and some of the more excellent vocals that came out of punk in the 1990's. Below is "Ancient Chinese Secret." Enjoy, and be prepared for full-length boners of 2009 tomorrow!

The Showcase Showdown- Ancient Chinese Secret

top ten remixed boners of 2009

2009-12-21T15:21:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the top ten remixed boners of 2009. Some old-school readers might be aghast at the dearth of deep house and techno fare, but if it isn't already evident, I kind of lost touch with a bit of that scene this year, mostly because I was poor and the whole vinyl-purity thing makes releases hard to buy when one's broke. But! The best album boners of the year will not disappoint, as the trend this year seems to suggest more quality house and techno albums are the new thang.

Without further ado...

1. Pictureplane "New Mind (Teengirl Fantasy Wide Open Edit)"

The Teengirl boys get two number ones in a row, but only because this remix (it isn't an edit, IMHO) just opens up Pictureplane's original in such a lush, delay-ridden way that it emerges more dubby, housey, and jackin' all in one fell swoop. Not to knock the original, which is a masterpiece of frenetic, early-'90s synth energy with a lovely stutter.

Pictureplane- New Mind (Teengirl Fantasy Wide Open Edit)

2. Rustie "Keesha Resmak"

Though it appeared on his Myspace only a few weeks ago, grime/dubstep wizard Rustie's unofficial remix of Keyshia Cole's "Shoulda Let You Go" is just so disgustingly good, it raises his game to new heights. As I said to one of my editors at XLR8R, "If all of this shit coming out of the UK had soulful female vocals over it, I'd be the happiest faggot in the world." And girl can really sing, which is no surprise since she's from Oakland. Seriously, this is a MAJOR JAM and will force people to get down.

Rustie- Keesha Resmak

3. Glasser "Apply (Lemonade Remix)"

The boys of Lemonade really outdid themselves here, taking the gorgeous vocals of Cameron Mesirow's original and laying them over what could be called a tropical dubstep beat, making the already-danceable original into something a DJ could lay on a floor during an early club set. Did I mention that Mesirow's vocals are just unbelievably gorgeous?

Glasser- Apply (Lemonade Remix)

4. Djuma Soundsystem "Bipolar (dOP Morning Remix)"

Take a rote tech-house track that sounds like a Booka out-take and give it to the boys of dOP and they're sure to mine some gold out of it. Adding super-processed vocals, delaying bits of the original's percussive flourishes, and building to an insane peak that I would LOVE to hear late night at a club sometime, this is certainly my favorite tech-house remix of 2009.

Djuma Soundsystem- Bipolar (dOP Morning Remix)

5. Omar ft. Stevie Wonder "I'm Feeling You (Henrik Schwarz Remix)"

Another unofficial remix that hasn't even seen release, as far as I know. A mastermind of remixes, Schwarz literally takes the original of this track and fucks it up so hard that all that's left are the soulful vocal intonations of Omar and Stevie. Nothing else remains, and quite honestly, this is a great thing.

Omar ft. Stevie Wonder- I'm Feeling You (Henrik Schwarz Remix)

6. Monika Kruse "Don't Come Close (Mark Broom Remix)"

It's a bit weird how much I like Monika Kruse, given that she's been doing the same sort of thing since the late '90s. Nevertheless, Mark Broom's remix of "Don't Come Close" darkens the original's tonal color, adds some excellent pans, and most certainly crafts a more tense peak, which explains why this piece was on all the Euro club floors this past summer.

Monika Kruse- Don't Come Close (Mark Broom Remix)

7. Hunx & His Punx "Dontcha Want Me Back (Teengirl Fantasy RIP NRG Remix)"

A work of gay house wizardry. Love everyone involved here, love this track, and despite my comments a few months back, really miss NRG.

Hunx & His Punx- Dontcha Want Me Back (Teengirl Fantasy RIP NRG Remix)

8. Codebreaker "Follow Me (The Juan Maclean Remix)"

This is the transformation of an Azoto-like Italo-disco number into a Chicago house track, replete with lovely piano flourishes and stretches of acid squelch. A summer jam if there ever was one, I can honestly say that The Juan Maclean are one of my favorite groups around, and I can only hope that everything fares better for them in the new year.

Codebreaker- Follow Me (The Juan Maclean Remix)

9. Toecutter "Best Party Ever (Flight Facilities Remix)"

As I wrote at XLR8R.com in September: Australia's Toecutter incorporates a Kool And The Gang sample into a filter-house track par excellence, then Flight Facilities reverse the process, using the original source material and pumping it up into a beardo-disco number that actually improves on Kool & The Gang's "Tonight," a near-impossible feat. Essentially, Flight Facilities just take out the stupid, stupid verses, and make this track all about the AWESOME SAX SOLO and the earworm of a chorus. Fuck yeah.

Toecutter- Best Party Ever (Flight Facilities Remix)

10. Tortoise "Gigantes Version (Mark Ernestus Remix)"

The Basic Channel member dubs out the best track from Tortoise's last album, adding subsonic bass, weird claps, and a foreboding sense of impending doom that the original just doesn't contain. Though I do like the remix that Eye (from Boredoms) did of a different Tortoise track, I find this one to be a lot more subtle in its slight tweaks of the original.

Tortoise- Gigantes Version (Mark Ernestus Remix)

FUCK YEAH. Coming at you on the 24th are the FULL-LENGTH BONERS OF 2009. WATCH YOUR EYES, GIRLFRIEND!!!

top fourteen music boners of 2009

2009-12-19T07:55:00.001-08:00

After a break in year-end lists in 2008, I am happy to present my top fourteen music boners of 2009. These are all singles (or singles culled from larger works) that appeared high on my iTunes Most Played list, or simply those I consider the most interesting music of the year. Some, if not most, have mp3s attached, except in cases where it seems a bit superfluous. So, on with it, and remember to SUPPORT THESE ARTISTS.

1. Teengirl Fantasy "Love Don't Live Here" (Dick Move)

I know, Logan and Nick from Teengirl Fantasy are good friends of mine, so it might seem a bit unfair to name this the track of the year. But you know what? Fuck being fair. This is the most played song on my iTunes, the most spun 12" from the past few months on my decks, and genuinely the piece that gets stuck in my head the most. From their first official show in Oberlin (which was awesome, by the way) to insane European tours and mentions in BUTT magazine (among others), these boys got it going on.

Teengirl Fantasy- Love Don't Live Here

2. All Leather "I Don't Hate Fags, God Does" (Dim Mak)

I posted the video of this track a while back. For some reason, I totally adore this band, and though people have laughed at me for it, I'm not really one to care that much. The lyrics (after a bit of deciphering) are totally bizarre, transgressive, sexy, anti-capitalist rants. And there's so much bile in Justin Pearson's screaming that listening to All Leather is sort of like someone throwing up in your ears. In a good way.

All Leather- I Don't Hate Fags, God Does

3. Ancient Methods "Else (Ugandan Methods Mix)" (Ancient Methods)

Another weird one. Intense, stripped-down techno with an industrial bent that just fucking slams. If you're ever up at six in the morning and want to stay awake, just turn off all of the lights and play this polyrhythmic, raw-as-hell filth until your ears bleed.

Ancient Methods- Else (Ugandan Methods Mix)

4. Culoe De Song "African Subway" (Innervisions)

The tech-house wunderkind of the year, Culoe De Song's first EP actually lived up to the hype. However, "African Subway" was pushed aside by "The Bright Forest," which seems a bit cloth-eared to me since this piece is more interesting rhythmically and melodically, as well as being infinitely more anthemic.

Culoe De Song- African Subway

5. Lusine "Two Dots" (Ghostly International)

If you aren't singing along with this track by its mid-point, there's something wrong with you.

Lusine- Two Dots

6. Jackpot "Night Flight" (Rvng)

The Scandinavians continued to bring the disco insanity this year, and this piece by Jackpot sounds like it could have come out of the golden age of Italo. All that it needs now are some ridiculous lyrics, and you'd have the perfect throwback, replete with bouncing bass and lush synth groovage.

Jackpot- Night Flight

7. Azari & III "She's An Illusion" (I'm A Cliche)

Another Italo-inspired piece that also has some serious debts to pay to Detroit. Though "Reckless With Your Love" and "Hungry for the Power" are a bit more my style of well-produced gay diva house, something about "She's An Illusion" is really special.

Azari & III- She's An Illusion

8. Girls "Lust for Life" (True Panther)

As I type this, I'm in an airplane 37,000 feet over Colorado. I'm listening to this song, and I already want to insist that they turn the plane back because leaving the Bay Area is something that feels good in theory, but in practice, kind of sucks shit (in the bad kind of way). This song IS California, as far as I'm concerned, and I can't wait to get back so I can cruise around Oakland on my bike blasting this like I have during the past few months. Check the NSFW video below, featuring a cast of Bay Area miscreant homos and gender-fucks, including Hunx and Alexis from SORE.

9. Hunx & His Punx "Hey Rocky" (True Panther)

True Panther is the best new(ish) label in the states, duh, and though the original single of this track came out in 2008 (I believe— correct me if I'm wrong), it is still the best track from the Gay Singles album: catchy, fun, hip-shaking, and sexy in that cute-boy-you-smile-at-on-the-BART kind of way.

Hunx & His Punx- Hey Rocky

10. Sugar & Gold "Slice Me Nice" (Antenna Farm)

Not an original, so maybe it shouldn't be on here, but it is so catchy and so much gayer than the original that I sort of fell in love with it. With a fuller, brighter sound, along with vocals that are considerably less creepy than those of schlag-crooner Manfred Alois Perilano, the track actually makes the connection between cake and sex work quite well. Hungry guys eating pies, ha.

Sugar & Gold- Slice Me Nice

11. dOP "Horny" (Eklo)

These guys are the best thing that happened to techno in the past five years. Live instrumentation, jazzy arrangements, great rhythmic energy, and a lyric playfulness that just kicks the shit out of most other dance music out there. I gave this track to my girl Alie, and a week later she texted me like, "HOLY SHIT "HORNY" IS THE KILLER SHIT." And I was like, "DAMN RIGHT. LISTEN TO DAT SHIT WHEN YR FUMBLING WITH HER BRA, GIRL."

dOP- Horny

12. Electrik Red "We Fuck You" (Def Jam)

It's confusing to me that Electrik Red haven't caught on with anyone except journalists and faggots (LOL big dif right) in the US. "We Fuck You" is like the sonic equivalent of this hot bitch in heels kicking the drunk, sexist Tucker Max clone so hard in the balls that he wishes he'd never been born. Only Tricky and The-Dream could have helped these ladies pull this shit off so well. (Because I'm scared as fuck of Def Jam, just peep the vid below).

13. Nima Gorji "Hopp Hopp" (Murmur

I'm a sucker for ethnic vocal samples in techno tracks. The fact that the peeps repped here are the Romany nomads of Europe and not the usual (though still awesome) South American street kids or African shamans makes it all the more interesting.'

Nima Gorji- Hopp Hopp

14. Bookworms "African Rhythms" (Solos)

People in real life and on the internet keep on talking about this track, and how it should be released on vinyl, and how it is just so effing deep. And yeah, it is. I never want it to end.

Bookworms- African Rhythms

So party through the new year with all this biz. It was a great year, and I'm hoping that excellent stuff just keeps coming!! Stay tuned for the 10 best remixed music boners of the year, cumming at ya on Monday.

goin' home with you

2009-12-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

So, a while back Brontez from Gravy Train!!! gave me a CD of his ga(y)rage project, The Younger Lovers. It is full of lovely gems of punky, gay garage hits, including one of the most catchy tunes of recent memory, "Sha-Boo-Bee." Totally tight, yeah? Yeah! He also sent me the past two issues of Fag School, which is his awesome porno punk zine that made me spit out out my 40 while I was reading because shit is so funny. And look at him in the picture above! What a fuckin' hot number! Get down with the two tracks below, then go out and find some ass to squeeze.

The Younger Lovers- Can I Come Over?

The Younger Lovers- Low Top Chucks And Skinny Jeans

Tomorrow, the top 15 singles of 2009, including mp3s!!

come over

2009-12-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

Love this image— so ridiculous.

Anyway, sorry for the long wait. School, parties, and sex kept me from fulfilling my duties.

But I'm back. Tomorrow, the massive end-of-year lists begin. First up? Top ten tracks of the year.

Today, though, felt like I should give you some love, so I got a copy of Mai Tai's "History" and digitized it. This one goes out special for Nick (aka DJ DICKTIP) and Hannah Salty Pienerz, who played this endlessly last May when I was visiting them.

Mai Tai- History

Another post for you later today!!! Gay-rage...

feels so good

2009-12-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm going to dump some related and unrelated YouTube videos on you.

First, I've become obsessed with Baby Ford and Ian Loveday's Minimal Man project. Especially this track:

Sick, right? Everything that techno should be.

Next up are two tracks that mix gorgeously, so try to do that YouTube mixing thing that everyone's doing nowadays. Though a vinyl or Ableton mix would obviously be preferable...

Lastly, my girl Sade has a new album coming out in February. It has been ten years since Lovers Rock, and given the new album's cover art, the new record should be as totally fierce and amazing as one would expect. So here's my favorite old school Sade track for your pleasure...I have a friend who used to call me 'The Sweetest Taboo,' which is probably the most excellent nickname anyone has ever given me.

Tomorrow, some downloadable tracks for your pleasure.

2009-11-29T19:37:00.000-08:00

3 Teens Kill 4 were a post-punk band based on the Lower East Side in the 1980's, perhaps best-known for including among their members one of my favorite artists and writers, David Wojnarowicz. (I like him so much that I got a small part of one of his pieces, "Fuck You Faggot Fucker," tattooed on my ribcage, which you can see above). The band is amazingly prescient sonically and politically, and their album No Motive is a must for any fan of post-punk or music by illustrious fags. Below is a track about Ronald Reagan getting shot, but not dying, called "Tell Me Something Good," which riffs in a fun way on the original. Enjoy.

3 Teens Kill 4- Tell Me Something Good

i don't know what this world

2009-11-23T23:40:00.000-08:00

Terre Taemlitz is a gender outlaw, theorist, and electronic music producer. There's a lot to read, so it would make sense for you to just search around.

An album under a moniker of DJ Sprinkles came out a while back.

DJ Sprinkles- Sisters, I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To

All I will say is that Thaemlitz mixed Midtown 120 Blues very low, so that the only way this track (or any others on the album) will come across full throttle is if you TURN IT UP FUCKIN LOUD.

I wrote this about the record a few months ago: it really isn't a house record, but an electronic treatise on house music, a music that has been co-opted in the worst way, driven away from its queer origins into a space of almost total consumption of garbage. Obviously, many DJs and producers are making amazing sounds...but those that I admire are pretty few and far between. Just wait for my end of year lists....

whateva

2009-11-22T22:12:00.000-08:00

Whateva whateva whateva you say whateva whateva whateva.

I WANT YOU TO WORK THAT WHATEVA.

Ralph Falcon feat. Alex K. & Alan T.- Whateva (Tom Stephan Works The Whateva Remix)

(I know, a bit gay electro house, but it has bitchy charm).

i never want to fall in love

2009-11-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

Disco legend and gay icon Patrick Cowley has seen a renaissance recently, with much credit going to the boys of Honey Soundsystem for helping to bring collaborative tapes between Cowley and Jorge Socarras to light. Catholic is an amazing album, filled with disco-punk energy, meditative and emotional synth-based tracks, and vocals that often recall a gayer Ian Curtis. Today, I'm giving you a piece that is more post-punk than disco, and sort of sums up my state of mind quite often, though I tend to fall in love quite easily....

Patrick Cowley & Jorge Socarras- I Never Want To Fall In Love

Do go buy the album— it is a real treat.

never this again

2009-11-16T22:13:00.000-08:00

I've had a headache all day for reasons beyond my comprehension, and this song has been making me really emotional.

Here's the original:

And here's the edit with an actual video featuring a truly hot model.

Sort of like slow-motion Scandinavian disco with Dave Gahan making us all cry. Totally amazing, I think. Check out the download over at XLR8R in a few days.

2009-11-15T12:19:00.000-08:00

When freedom is in hiding from morality
when you've finally scrubbed this great land clean
of those values you hold in such high esteem
when you've finally divorced the numbers from the names
we can return to your good old days bound and gagged by sex and race
chained by family crazed by god while we while we

raise the flag shout down the past the stars and stripes stream by at half mast
your eyes well up with tears and yeah so do mine

I never knew
the high price of hypocrisy so pledge allegiance to the death penalty
believe in your drug war bow down to the tv set
you need to cultivate that apathy that swells inside your threat

raise the flag shout down the past your stars and stripes stream by at half mast
your eyes well up with tears and yeah so do mine

half mast dehumanized
half mast divided
half mast overloaded
half mast who the fuck cares

so long as you can sleep well under the iron fist.

Born Against- Half Mast

cum togetha

2009-11-14T17:29:00.000-08:00

There's so much going on tonight! The Norma Cole & John Sakkis reading at SPT, the big queer party at YBCA, and a truly exciting night at the Bersa Discos party monster known as Tormenta Tropical.

First things first— L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok are DJing tonight upstairs at the Elbo Room, and given the fact that I am usually averse to newer dubstep and bass-driven sounds, my excitement about these two is noteworthy. Check out the video for L-Vis 1990's "Come Together" below— it is sick sick sick.

At YBCA, there'll be dancing, drinking, and great performances. I'm planning on being there for Tim Miller's piece— part comedian, part incisive commentator on issues of being queer in the US, he's really quite something. Check out the amazing video below.

Finally, I'm getting really excited about the upcoming album from the UK's Trus'me, which features collaborations with some favorites of mine: Amp Fiddler, Dam-Funk, and Paul Randolph, among others. Just listen to the samples on his myspace linked above— this is killer deep house that isn't faking. Here's a piece from his latest EP, $tilnocheck. It's already been featured prominently on some mixes recently, and its popularity makes sense: "Good God" has a lovely Detroit feeling that is much tighter and infinitely less lazy than what many European producers are pushing these days. Check it.

Trus'me- Good God

Tomorrow, some hardcore...

rash decision

2009-11-13T21:02:00.000-08:00

So, Ian Loveday died this past July. RIP. Until today, I had forgotten about this amazing track that he did under the R. Rash moniker called "Smokin Jakkit," which Luciano remixed in 2004. Check out the original below— totally slamming, no?

Downloads resume tomorrow!

all leather dreams

2009-11-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing All Leather play at local punk bar Thee Parkside. Though I'm usually not too into anything associated with the electro-shite monstrosity known as Steve Aoki, I really dig All Leather, which features members of the Locust, the Crimson Curse, ex-members of Some Girls, as well as a load of other bands. Like a queer Suicide for the 21st century is how I'd describe the sound— venom, drum machines, noisy frenetic guitars, etc. Check out the SPA remix of "Please Jesus, Send Me Someone to Fuck" below, as well as the video for "I Don't Hate Fags, God Does."

All Leather- Please Jesus, Send Me Someone to Fuck (SPA 1995 Remix)

Next up is a track from the lovely Daniel Wang. "Like Some Dream I Can't Stop Dreaming" is one of those tracks that uses old samples in a fashion that is so exemplary that it is almost magisterial. With the vocal loop coming from Sleeque and the instrumental bit coming from Eddy Rosemond's "Funk It," this is a disco track made in 1993 that sounds a hell of a lot older. Turning this up in a car is almost religious, especially when the drum break comes in...

Daniel Wang- Like Some Dream I Can't Stop Dreaming

late night jam

2009-11-09T23:06:00.000-08:00

Against my better judgment, I'm posting this ill jam by Levon Vincent. It's too bad that so many of the techno parties in San Francisco are full of shit people, but I guess this is true of any club...I think the last time that I had fun at a techno night was when Kendig did his last night at Honey Soundsystem's weekly party. But then again, I licked Beth Ditto's arm that night, so it had to be good.

Anyway, "Late Night Jam" makes me want to get much drunker than I am now. And slamdance. With you.

Levon Vincent- Late Night Jam

From Ostgut Tontrager's Panoramabar 02 Pt. II.

reckless

2009-11-07T23:26:00.000-08:00

Azari & III's "Reckless (With Your Love)" is my jam right now. Sounding like a lost gem of early Chicago house, this track is perfect... It also speaks to certain contradictions of being queer. But figure that out for yourself, and listen!

Azari & III- Reckless (With Your Love)

On the always excellent Permanent Vacation label out of Munich.

i'm baaaaack

2009-11-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, I could go on an on about the last couple of weeks. Instead, I'll do a list:

1) I've been writing for school, XLR8R, and a few other places. Thesis hell, but it's good times.
2) I've been having LOTS OF CRAZY FUN. And sex.
3) For a while, I've felt that I need this to be even more...attuned to my interests. After mulling things over, I've decided to keep doing the blog, but in a much less 'music critic' fashion, since I do enough of that already. This is going to be more about my musical interests, favorites, and whatever.

So without further ado....

Behead the Prophet No Lord Shall Live were a seminal queercore band from Bellingham, WA, whose sound can be best described as 'experimental.' I mean, they had a fucking violinist, their shows were bloody and sweaty and full of sex, and their sound is just pummeling. When I was 13, they were my favorite band. Somehow, twelve years later, they've come to be one of my favorite bands again. "Lewd Lewd Lewd" is the fourth track from their only LP, I Am That Great And Fiery Force, a 22-song album that clocks in at a little less than 20 minutes. It is a gem, and well worth downloading in entirety from this fine blog. For now, I give you that fourth track, which starts with one of my favorite samples of all time.

Behead the Prophet No Lord Shall Live- Lewd Lewd Lewd

And on a completely different note, the Japanese masters of awesome known as Force of Nature did a remix/edit of Diana Ross and the Supremes' "I'm Coming Out," which is really quite nice. Always forget how much I truly dig Diana's vocals, and the reverbed handclaps and deep kicks that FoN put on here makes this a real treat. Also worth mentioning is that one half of FoN, KZA, has a new album out, and it is totally amazing. One of the best of the year, for sure. Check it, spread it.

Diana Ross & the Supremes- I'm Coming Out (Force of Nature Remix)

Thanks to Sergio from the GO BANG! parties for giving me the heads up on that slice.

Some more eclecticism tomorrow....for reals!

rest soft

2009-10-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Usually, I don't post non-electronic contemporary classical on the blog, but today I'm making an exception. David Lang, a composer as well as a founding member of Bang on a Can, won a Pulitzer in 2008 for his work entitled The Little Match Girl Passion. The piece takes the format of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, but "intersperses Andersen’s narrative with [his] versions of the crowd and character responses from Bach’s Passion."

The result, performed by Theatre of Voices led by Paul Hillier, is a gorgeous, deeply sad meditation on death, charity, and transfiguration. I cannot help but want to listen to this piece over and over again, its layers so many, its counterpoint so graceful...it is really quite something. Below is the last 'section.' Do enjoy, and thanks to friend Peter for playing this on his radio show and bringing it to my attention.

Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier- The Little Match Girl Passion: We Sit And Cry

Imagine a techno ReComposure of that!

intact

2009-10-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

The fourth installment of Dam-Funk's 5-LP debut Toeachizown drops October 20 on Stone Throw, and the theme for the latest chapter is 'hood,' music of the street corners and boulevards of Southern California. "Hood Pass Intact" features a deep, one-note bass pulse, a dreamy bell-synth loop, and the gauzy boogie synths that Dam is known for. Add some gunshot sounds and the high frequency hip-hop squelch endemic to LA, and you have a perfect piece for cruising through the hood. The man just keeps getting hotter.

Dam-Funk- Hood Pass Intact

Going classical tomorrow.

the tension

2009-10-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Recently got a piece from Lot49 label head and tech-funk producer Meat Katie. Though I've been a bit 'meh' on his productions in the past, "Tension" is a really slamming piece of tech-house. Featuring chunky handclaps, a funky bounce of a bass-line, and some nice mid-frequencies coming in and out, this is prime for the apex of the night. Paired with some actually unplayed diva vocal samples and hi-frequency washes, it is a perfect example of how tech-house can actually be emotionally resonant while maintaining its dancefloor efficacy. Culled from the upcoming The Tension EP.

Meat Katie- Tension

Later today (I promise!) some other new stuff.

2009-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

Realized the other day that I've never posted a track by Paul Randolph, the neo-soul crooner and bassist who has put out records on KDJ's label, worked with Jazzanova, and generally been a supporter of funky underground music for years. Today, I give you "Break By Stone," a jammer with a killer bass-line, a nice house shuffle, and some positive vocals to keep your spirits up. Recorded under his last name, this is a great tune from a great musician.

Randolph- Break By Stone

Next post, something new and wonky.

2009-10-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of posts this past week— I moved to beautiful new place in West Oakland, and needless to say, moving is always more trying than one expects.

Today, though, marks my 25th birthday. I'm not going to elaborate as to why I'm posting the track below, except to say that it feels appropriate.

Kate Bush- Sunset

Tomorrow, something more techno-tinged. Have a good one!

RIOT

2009-09-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

My good friend and former roomie Kalan Sherrard was arrested and charged with numerous crimes while demonstrating against the horrific forces of capitalism this week in Pittsburgh. The picture above is real, and very much an indicator of Kalan's love of life, theater, and art, as well as his antipathy towards authority and those that wield power over us. In celebration and solidarity, I present Underground Resistance's "Riot." If you would like to help with K's legal fees, you can go here to make a donation.

Underground Resistance- Riot

Tomorrow is moving day, so I'll provide something apropos.

rubber or leather?

2009-09-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

Today is the day of the Folsom Street Fair, so in case you're not really into the shitty progressive trance stuff that seems to blast from the event, I'm giving a piece of experimental, queer punk stuff from the almighty God Is My Co-Pilot. "Rubber or Leather" is a classic track about fetish wares...so the question is: Rubber? Or Leather?

God Is My Co-Pilot- Rubber or Leather

A return to 'normal' programming tomorrow.

house music is for fagz

2009-09-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

Praise Mary! So, the Bay Area's very own Hunx & His Punx have been given the remix treatment from another queer, Nick of the amazing Teengirl Fantasy. Exactly how he turned a fun, trashy rock track like "Dontcha Want Me Back" into something Carl Cox could have produced is a mystery to me, but he managed to do it. The remix features bright, lush synths, bouncy pop-house bass, thrumming kicks, and those lovely major-key piano stabs that all queers seem to salivate over. Since the most astoundingly gay-pop, progressive house radio station in the City, if not the world, just switched formats a week ago, this track ought to keep our briefs hot and steamy until the hopeful reversal of said format switch. Though I admit that I've never been a regular listener of Energy 92.7, it is true that the station was a cornerstone of the LGBT world...all over the world, and it is a shame that such a unique radio phenomenon was usurped by yet another staid Top 40 station.

Hunx & His Punx- Dontcha Want Me Back (TEENGIRL FANTASY RIP NRG Mix)

Obviously, you should be listening to Teengirl Fantasy and Hunx & His Punx all the time, because they are two of the best groups around right now. AND both groups have upcoming albums on my friend Dean's True Panther label.

Finally, a last queer note: one of my favorite writers, Dennis Cooper, gave a shout-out to Deep Movements on his blog today. Check it out, along with some insane Halloween horror goodies.

dead space

2009-09-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

Redshape comes out with a new album this October called The Dance Paradox, and with my powers of getting advance copies, I've been rocking it pretty hard the past few days, especially on late night drives. The edit of "Dead Space Mix" sounds like early C2 on some dark drugs, with intensely organic-feeling percussion, an astounding, swelling synth loop, some bright harmonies, and finally, some bleeps and blips that bring to mind the acidy backing portions of Jamal Moss' work. Raw, analog techno at its finest! Definitely place your orders right now, as I'm sure that Delsin will sell out quickly. Highly recommended.

Redshape- Dead Space Mix (Edit)

fallin'

2009-09-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

Though autumn in the Bay Area doesn't have same charms as, say, autumn in New England, that lovely scent of dead leaves and smoke still fills the air, and light becomes more distilled, sharper. While Nobukazu Takemura's "Icefall" from the Scope LP might be an attempt to evoke wintery landscapes, there is something about the piece that screams autumn to me. It is perhaps the two-chord pulse that begins and then runs throughout the track, its lifting appeal. Who knows. But no matter the reason, "Icefall" is one of those pieces that I cannot stop listening to, perfect in every way.

Nobukazu Takemura- Icefall

Dancing again, later today.

teengirlz in amsterdamn

2009-09-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

So, in case you missed it, friends and compatriots Teengirl Fantasy have an interview up on Pitchfork that you can read here. Also, there was a feature on them up on Pukekos last week in which yours truly is mentioned (I'm Ted, by the way), which is available here. Enjoy, and BUY UP THOSE 12"s. They are beautiful to look at and listen to...and not to be crass, but they'll probably be worth a shit-ton of money someday.

Love you boys, and miss you much!

(Get ready for some awesome shit tomorrow— two posts, two completely different tracks!)

dreamed

2009-09-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the 'shuffle' function alerts me to tracks I've overlooked due to my propensity to acquire disgusting amounts of music every week, month, year. Recently, it alerted me to another track by the mysterious One of Them, whose "He is Dancing in New York" I posted back in May. Here, Sean Palm gives the remix treatment to "Niko It's A Bad Dream," transforming a dark techno banger into a bright, tech-house piece that is perfect for that 3 am dancefloor apex. With some sonic and rhythmic similarities to Glove Disco's remix of 2raumwohnung from 2007, this is a propulsive slice featuring excellently syncopated percussive elements, a wriggling bass-line, a very Loco Dice mid-frequency five-note harmonic element, and a washed-out break that is sure to drive crowds crazy. A sleeper hit of 2009 for certain! On Chris Fortier's Fade imprint.

One of Them- Niko It's A Bad Dream (Sean Palm's Bits & Pieces Remix)

Next up, an older slice.

perfect

2009-09-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day

and the best at murder are those who preach against it
and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace

those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach peace do not have love

beware the preachers
beware the knowers
beware those who are always reading books
beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their love is average
seeks average

but there is genius in their hatred
there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody
not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect

like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock

their finest art

- Charles Bukowski

dOP- The Genius of the Crowd

stars

2009-09-10T19:03:00.001-07:00

Around autumn, no matter the year, I get a thing for guitars again. Usually this means listening to GBV or Pansy Division or Ariel Pink a lot, but this year, I discovered the totally awesome Night Control. Like a strange mix between Ariel Pink, Kurt Vile, and more lo-fi GBV moments, this stuff is weird enough to please weirdos and poppy enough to please those who enjoy more mainstream tunage. A departure, yes, but sometimes you need to slow it down.

Night Control- Star 129

Tomorrow, a return.

2009-09-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today, while sitting in a cafe, a track by Rhythm & Sound came over the speakers, and I remembered that I was going to post a track from them last week, an action which I didn't complete. Today, though, I think we're ready.

To introduce Rhythm & Sound would be somewhat superfluous, so I won't bother doing so. Instead, I ask that you listen to the message that Rod of Iron brings to "Lightning Storm," and pump up your system's bass to the maximum. Perhaps the most vocally rich track in the R&S oeuvre, "Lightning Storm" is a pleasure to listen to, and presents issues that humanity grapples with on the daily.

Rhythm & Sound- Lightning Storm (featuring Rod of Iron)

Tomorrow, some weird tunage from Night Control.

ring in

2009-09-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while— I've been busy with the start of my second MFA year, and I've also been debating the ethical issues surrounding posts of mp3s that are culled from relatively new releases. After some inner debate, I've decided that I will continue to post old classics as well as newer tracks; however, in terms of the newer stuff, I must note that such posts are put up only in the service of getting the artists more exposure— I won't post anything that I don't believe should be bought and enjoyed in full.

Without further ado, here's a piece from Alland Byallo's latest, Brick By Brick. The album is a gorgeous collections of hypnotically deep, tribal techno that has fantastic presence and is sure to please fans of Fuckpony, Shonky, and many others. "Ring in the Dead" is the album's opening track, and really brings it with monstrous bass, a dubby delayed brass melodic line, some darkly panning vocals, and truly propulsive percussion with prominent congas and reversed splash cymbals. A great piece to begin a late-night set, Byallo is truly one of the jewels not only of the San Francisco techno scene, but the US scene in general. Highly recommended! On Byallo's own Nightlight imprint.

Alland Byallo- Ring in the Dead

Tomorrow, something a bit different.

synchro

2009-09-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

Japanese Synchro System are among the more underrated producer duos in the world— from their lovely cover of "I'm on Fire" to the soothing deepness of "A Day In The Life," the two know their shit, and it shows. Take the track below, for example: "Japanese Synchro System" sounds like something Delano Smith or Carl Craig would have done during the second wave in Detroit. A rhythmically complex, lush piece, this track has returned to me in a big way during the past week. Highly recommended!

Japanese Synchro System- Japanese Synchro System

Get out yr joints for some ill dub styling tomorrow.

house montage

2009-09-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

First off, some goods from a friend over at ILX. Smooth Touch was one of those Strictly Rhythm monikers from the early '90s that released one single that defined a sound at the time, and what a single it was. "House of Love," here given the remix workout from one of its producers and NY house legend Erick Morillo along with Ani Phearce, is a sweaty, attitudinal number that makes people want to slam. Never underestimate Morillo, my friends— the man did co-produce "I Like To Move It," after all.

Smooth Touch- House of Love (More/Phearce Mix)

Next, a flip to more ponderous techno from Derrick May, who worked with techno-ambient luminaries System 7 on a lovely record called Mysterious Traveller back in 2002. "Icon (Montage Mix)" is a mix of a lush, magisterially European synth loop smashed with May's acidy Detroit rhythms. Perfect for the fall, this is one that gets a lot of play on my headphones.

Derrick May/System 7- Icon (Montage Mix)

Tomorrow, some more.

tiaaaa

2009-08-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

Been thinking about techno tracks with strings recently, and one of the old gems that instantly came to mind was a little number called "Tia" by Richard Wolfsdorf, aka Ricardo Villalobos. With his earlier, more jacking style on full display, Mr. Villalobos crafts a track where the strings subtly build until they become the track. Not an amazing trick, but a truly pleasant and effective one. Would love to hear this on a huge system sometime, as I'm sure the mids and hi-frequencies are just brutal by the track's end.

Richard Wolfsdorf- Tia

Tomorrow, thinking something new!

yo let me get a grape

2009-08-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

Donnacha Costello is most well-known for his Color series, and perhaps my favorite of these is the Grape edition. The B-side is legitimately one of those tracks that begs to be heard on a monstrously large system or some high-end headphones, as this is the only way the subtle shifts and insane pans will really come through. With acid squelch, a wildly propulsive bass-line and an excellently synched mid-range siren working as a clock, this is one of the more versatile tracks of the decade, I think, and most certainly one of Costello's best efforts. Highly recommended.

Donnacha Costello- Grape B

Tomorrow, surprise.

heart heart hearts

2009-08-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

Friend unit Ablehearts has just completed his first album under the moniker. The Flood is some weird, warbly, naked electro-acoustic music with bits of punk, anti-folk, and a lot of insane knowledge of electronics. "May at the Farm" could very well be on Type Records, with its hallucinogenically pitched-up, multi-tracked vocals, and its slow, hissed-out acoustic guitar line. Like a transmission from a melancholy alien barn one hundred years from now. Really amazing things are happening with the guy behind this— watch out. (Released digitally on Shinkoyo).

Ablehearts- May at the Farm

Tomorrow, thinkin' some Philly raw shit.

tubular

2009-08-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

Been rather busy these past days, but I promise to post some downloadable tracks here tomorrow. For now, though, some YouTube vids that I've been enjoying recently.

I don't really know what to say. Sure, it's just a remixed track from Amélie, but Jay Haze knows how to take those wistful piano lines, loop them, and make a pounding house track with an endless emotional depth.

Obvously, I'm going through a Lusine period.

This might be one of the best videos on YouTube. Ripe for remixing, indeed.

I love Lil Jon, and quite honestly, this video is the biz.

See you tomorrow!

who is responsible

2009-08-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

I don't think I need to introduce this track, or its creator, Lusine. In all honesty, this track is so perfect, it brings tears to my eyes. I'm serious.

Lusine- Two Dots

Tomorrow, a vinyl rip or two pour vous.

re-worm

2009-08-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Back in July, I wrote about how the boys of Teengirl Fantasy were playing a show with San Francisco's own Bookworms, and posted a track from the latter. Well, the show was excellent, and I've seen one more ofthe man's shows since then, and it was also excellent— in fact, both were slamming affairs, very beat-heavy and pleasing to the techno heads in the audience.

So when the latest EP from Bookworms on Solos arrived in my inbox, I was pleased, and for good reason: this is top-tier stuff. The original of "African Rhythms" is an epic, Detroit-style marathon run through wild polyrhythms, KDJ-like synths, and some echoey, disembodied vocal samples culled from Ganja & Hess. If Culoe de Song had grown up in Detroit and befriended Kyle Hall, his tracks only might sound as good as this... but I doubt it.

Bookworms- African Rhythms

As if the original wasn't awesome enough, the EP also comes with two remixes, one by Bookworms' close associate Fat Transfer and another by compatriot Yao a.k.a. Yaoser. The first is a softer, more washed take on the original piece, and the second is a stuttering, Theo Parrish-like number with some extra funk for your junk. Exciting sounds, my friends.

Bookworms- African Rhythms (Fat Transfer Remix)

Bookworms- African Rhythms (Yao Remix)

Tomorrow, some shimmerings...

luck of...

2009-08-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

As I'm sure most of you know, Luciano has a new record coming out in December, titled Tribute to the Sun. I've been listening to it for the past couple of days, and can honestly speak to its greatness as an album— though it contains elements that will be familiar to anyone initiated into the Cadenza sound, it also has a fresh and brilliant sonic palette. On top of all that, it is perhaps the first danceable full-length that Luciano has ever created, eschewing the tool-kit sound of No Model No Tool and the more esoteric Blind Behaviour. Certainly will be considered one of the best full-lengths of the year by many, and for good reason.

And no, I'm not giving any of it away. Wait a few months, friends.

In the meantime, though, I've been digging through Luciano's back catalogue, going from the cold heat of "Octogonal" to the trancey shimmer of "Amelie on Ice." The Switzerland-based producer is also well-known as a master of the remix and the edit, and for this reason, I'm sharing two of my favorite examples of this work with you today.

First, we have Luciano's remix of Salif Keita, the Malian afro-pop master known as the Golden Voice of Africa. "Yamore" was originally a collaborative track with the fado/morna doyenne Cesaria Evora, and might just be one of the saddest songs written in the past ten years. Watch and listen below.

Luciano turns this lament into a twelve-minute long workout, keeping the melancholy tone intact whilst adding pounding kicks, stretching the strings into hallucinogenic dubby echoes, and providing a breakdown that is one of his best. Gorgeous stuff.

Salif Keita- Yamore (Luciano Remix)

Next, we have the re-edit of Nina Simone's take on "Sinnerman," which takes the tune's piano line, loops it, and stretches it for thirteen minutes.

Furthermore, the most wailing parts of Simone's vocalizings are isolated and brought to the fore, allowing for another intense, kick-heavy hypnotism that is bound to cause as many tears as dancefloor antics. Quite something.

Nina Simone- Sinnerman (Luciano Re-Edit)

Tomorrow, some old school stylings.

rapidement

2009-08-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

Jimi Tenor is among the producers who have dipped into many different genres, and so it is no surprise that his ReComposed installment from 2006 is an insane ride through some of the 20th century's more innovative composers. Perhaps the best piece on that record is Tenor's re-working of the 'Tres Rapide' section of Pierre Boulez's "Messagesquisse." (One can see a performance of the original piece here). Tenor turns the bit into an insanely fast, near-breakbeat number, replete with punctuating grunts and some brass. Truly energetic stuff from a truly excellent producer.

Pierre Boulez- Messagesquisse (2. Tres Rapide) (as ReComposed by Jimi Tenor)

Tomorrow, a return to more techno stylings.

frank talk

2009-08-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Margaret Dygas has been creating waves with her unorthodox approach to techno, incorporating elements of noise, industrial music, and even folk into her sonic palette. The b-side of her latest 12" on Perlon is a fine example of what this Polish-born, California-raised producer is capable of— "Frankly" features deep kicks, funky congas, and a truly jackin' groove. With washes of hi-frequency sound leading to acoustic guitar-based sample builds, the piece is an unmistakable summer jam, with pans and background atmospherics reminding one of a traffic-clogged beach-side roadway. Big ups here!

Margaret Dygas- Frankly

Tomorrow, leftfield.

gettin' down again

2009-08-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

So, after a week of recovery, I'm back! Strep throat is one hell of pain— can't imagine how I managed to survive so many bouts with it as a child.

Anyway, today I'm bringing you a 2005 joint from Theo Parrish, whom I've been thinking about quite a bit since my attendance at a recent poetry reading by Peter Culley. It isn't often that I meet other poets who are into house and techno, so when Peter read his astounding piece, "House is a Feeling," I was heartened. (You can read that poem here and order his excellent book Hammertown here). After the reading, we ended up talking about Theo Parrish, Mr. Fingers and other old-school heads for a while. Peter, this one's for you.

"Capritarious #7" is a slo-mo deep house beat featuring some crystalline hi-hats, heavy kicks, and secondary percussive flourishes that really make for a funky good time. Paired with one of the wonkiest synth lines Parrish has ever come up with and hi-frequency string rides, the piece has an excellently dusty, epic feel. It really is ten minutes of deep house bliss! Highly recommended.

Theo Parrish- Capritarious #7

Tomorrow, a brand new flavor in your ear.

sick

2009-07-31T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hey, I am terribly sick and haven't really been up to posting— one of those summer cold/flu things that always circulates around this time of year. Will be back soon! Sorry.

walls and wires

2009-07-27T11:33:00.001-07:00

Perhaps one of the more emotionally resonant house producers out there is Lawrence (aka Sten, aka Peter Karsten), whose work since 2000 has straddled the lines between deep house, minimal and ambient electronic sounds. He is dropping his next album, Until Then, Goodbye, on mule musiq in late August, and I can honestly say that it is a gorgeously melancholic, cloudy Sunday of a record. Not surprising, given Lawrence's reputation for obsessing with minor key arrangements and nostalgic synth sounds. To get everyone prepared for the record, I dug around my collection and found two of my favorite Lawrence tracks to share.

The first is from Lawrence's only outing on Ghostly International. "Wasting a Fall" begins with some nice, lush organ synths, brassy harmonies, and hi-frequency swells that give the whole thing a lovely feeling of lightness. With kicks and some stuttering secondary percussion arriving a bit later, and the bass-line suddenly dropping in as if from heaven, the track takes on some seriously dreamy momentum about halfway through. It doesn't let up, and even switches tones entirely, becoming a darker, near-Chicago piece by its end.

Lawrence- Wasting a Fall

Next, a track that I had forgotten about until several months ago, when I found a mix CD that I had made in autumn 2006. Superpitcher's remix of Lawrence's "Along the Wire" is just...unbelievably beautiful, a minor-key track with intense harmonies, excellent drum programming, and a sad tone color that puts it at the top of the 'teardrop techno' category, right there with Villalobos' "Dexter," and any number of Frankie Knuckles tracks. Seriously, this is the sort of track that sends chills up my spine and makes me weirdly emotional, not to mention the fact that it is a hell of an earworm.

Lawrence- Along the Wire (Superpitcher Remix)

Tomorrow, think I'm going to digitize some treats for you.

fates

2009-07-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

A discussion on the ILM boards about stuff that might be similar to the fag-jazz of the DJ Sprinkles record brought The Necks back into my life. One of the best bands to ever come out of Australia, the Necks are a perfect mix of ambient, jazz, and aleatoric music. Sometimes sounding like a more speedy Angelo Badalamenti, sometimes like Sonic Youth, sometimes like Alice Coltrane, these dudes aren't fucking around— this is some deep-ass shit that really kills at high, high volumes. Today, giving you one of my favorite tracks, "Fatal," from the Chemist album of 2006. Enjoy.

The Necks- Fatal

Tomorrow, jackin' again?

cajual day

2009-07-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that one of the most well-loved and off-beat DJs and producers of our times is Cajmere— after all, the man wrote "Percolator," a piece that has undoubtedly entered the popular consciousness. Today, I'm doing a bit of a tribute to the man, featuring two bits of his that I've been repping a lot recently.

First off, a 1992 track featuring the inimitable Derrick Carter on vocals. The dub of "Dream States" is a jackin', hypnotic number featuring a four-note melodic loop, bass harmonies, some sickly crisp drum programming, and Carter channeling some serious Gospel preaching stylee. Though ostensibly a track about wet dreams, the collaboration is much more than some adolescent sex fantasy sound; rather, it's a celebration of losing and finding oneself in the sound.

Cajmere featuring Derrick Carter- Dream States (Dub)

Next, one of the better remixes of recent years: Cajmere's remix of The Juan Maclean's "Give Me Every Little Thing." The bright, lush synths and disco beats of the original are replaced by a mirrored, extraordinarily squelchy melodic line, powerful Chicago house kicks, and a drop-out that drives crowds insane. I know it has been blogged quite a bit, but this is the real thing— it'll be stuck in your head for days.

The Juan Maclean- Give Me Every Little Thing (Cajmere Remix)

Tomorrow, out to the left field.

but it lives here

2009-07-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

Teengirl Fantasy have certainly come a long way since I first posted about them back in February of 2008— not only have they been one of the main attractions at the past two Whartscapes, they've also officially remixed Radiohead and Pictureplane, released numerous limited-edition records, and performed countless times with such a dizzying array of groups that it makes the head spin. Everyone from techno-heads to raging queens to psychedelic-neon-beard-rainbow types are into the Fantasy, and it makes perfect sense. It's like Nick and Logan are constantly sending out old-school PLUR vibes through their sounds and spirits. All the better for us.

Their newest piece is a four-track digital EP (available over at Pukekos for free) featuring two new tracks (which will be released on record in Amsterdam in September) and two remixes of the a-side, "Hollywood Hils." Though this track is some excellent deep house lushness, I have been aching for the b-side to be recorded and released since I first heard it live. "Love Don't Live Here" is an 81-bpm number that liberally samples Rose Royce's 1978 hit, "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," and turns it into a near-boogie track, layering on top with lush, swirling synths, some nice double- and quad-time percussive flourishes, and eventually landing thoroughly in a sound that's more Dam-Funk than not. However, with loops and samples as thick as on a good Moodymann track, this is most certainly a rawer, more soulful version of that LA electro-funk sound. Highly recommended!

Teengirl Fantasy- Love Don't Live Here

Tomorrow, a Cajual swing, if you know what I mean.

we is the freaks and we is sex

2009-07-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a bit hectic, and I apologize for the lack of dub. My promises to get you back later this week.

I've been going through my files recently, and came upon an old favorite of mine: "Things Just Ain't The Same" by Freaks, aka Luke Solomon and Justin Harris. The 125-bpm track track came out in 2001, but could have emerged from Chicago's golden era of seriously jackin' house— the duo's work begs to be mixed with some Cajmere or Derrick Carter or Ron Trent. With its tight drum programming (including some monstrous kicks), mid-range worming melody, and lovely vocal loops, "Things..." is a real gem, guaranteed to be heard in any set that I do for the next couple of months.

Freaks- Things Just Ain't The Same

Tomorrow, some great new tracks from the lovely boys of Teengirl Fantasy.

paradise dancin'

2009-07-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, a track's title does a poor job of reflecting its sonic content. Such is the case with "Let's dance all night" by the almighty Mr. Fingers, aka Larry Heard. To me, the track's bright string and vibraphone synths, crisp handclaps and meandering, jazzy bass-line make it more of a late afternoon, lushly hot number. Perfect for lazing on the porch, driving into the nature, barbecuing, and maybe getting a little Sunday groove on. Dance all night? Maybe, but this track is for warming up. From the Amnesia album.\

FUCK THAT THIS IS THE BUSINESS.

Mr. Fingers- Let's dance all night

Tomorrow, dub sandwich for those hungry Mondays.

love and music are the same

2009-07-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

I'm going to break a promise here and post something that DJ Bus Station John has been rocking recently, not only because I haven't posted any disco recently, but also because this track is so special.

A favorite of early house DJs in Chicago, Ris's "Love-N-Music" is one of the more epic italo-disco tracks ever recorded, perhaps being matched only by Doctor's Cat "Feel the Drive." With an excellent driving italo beat, warm synths, and truly disgusting pans, it is Celeste's vocals that put the icing on this already delicious cake. Her voice speaks, soars, moans, intones and just gets it so right that one wants her voice near at all times. This one, like most, is best played incredibly loud— you'll know what I mean when you listen to it.

Ris feat. Celeste- Love-N-Music

just juxtaposing

2009-07-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

Today, a seriously rare piece from Mark Anthony Heide from his album, New Music for Use, released in 1983 and considered a weirdo-synth classic. "Dance in Juxtaposition Part Two" is some serious analog synth swells, electric guitar harmonies, and a vibe that's a bit like if you transported Jan Hammer to Ypsilanti or Canton and made him write according to those surroundings rather than Miami's warmer climes. Also would go well with some Arthur Russell, perhaps? Judge for yourself, but I know that I have been rocking this album ever since I got it from the truly excellent Mutant Sounds blog.

Mark Anthony Heide- Dance in Juxtaposition Part Two

Tomorrow, thinking something acidy.

and on

2009-07-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

Dam Funk, the king of LA electro-boogie, has just released a new album of sexy, funky tracks titled Toeachizown Vol. One. On the venerable Stones Throw label, the record is a true gem, mixing LA boogie styles with 80s electro-rap vibes, plus a dash of Detroit electro-funk thrown in for good measure. "On & On" is slow grooving ride, replete with fuzzed-out bass, a sparkling main synth line, and some timely stabs and flourishes. Vocoded vocals add a nice lushness to the mix, and there you have it: a sensual piece of modern funk that is bound to get you all hot inside and out. Worth mentioning, too, is that Dam Funk is one hell of a great live DJ, and with his sets floating around the internet like wildfire, one has no excuse to not dig this man's vibes.

Dam Funk- On & On

Tomorrow, think I'm going to share something kinda weird and rather rare with you...so get ready.

so so hot

2009-07-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Today, a piece from Ron Trent's highly recommended recent double CD offering, Dance Classic. "It's Hot" begins breezily enough with bright, lush synths, moans and intonations from Trent himself, and a fuzzed-out electro-inspired bass-line. As the track swings forward, some vocoder, hi-frequency secondary synths, and piano make appearances. In truth, the track becomes so full with different sonic elements that the listener is overwhelmed by the sheer amount of material, and its power to elicit some very real bodily ecstasy. Seriously- this might be one of the best things that Trent has ever put out, and given the breadth of the man's oeuvre, that is saying something. Turn it up loud and hallucinate 'cuz it's just that damn good! On the revitalized Prescription label.

Ron Trent- It's Hot

Tomorrow, thinking something from one of the group's performing at Sunday's San Francisco installment of the Upset the Rhythm showcase at the LAB.

subbin'

2009-07-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'm now writing for XLR8R, so you can check me out over on their site-- my first reviews are for the Silk Flowers' self-titled first album and Chris Tietjen's Vier mix CD on Cocoon. Check them out!

Also, I've abandoned today's original post idea to present a track that I totally slept on last year which Tietjen's mix introduced to me: Timo Maas' 2008 big-room banger, "Subtellite." Jesus, this track is fucking insane: deep kicks, secondary tribal percussion with plenty of flourishes, gorgeously-syncopated stuttering Spanish-guitar bits, and a bass-line that propels the listener into the outer hemisphere, with the builds to make it even more evident. Images of people losing their shit to this dance on the eyelids. Most definitely one of the best tracks of 2008, in retrospect, and I cannot get enough of it. Something that you should hear, for real! On Cocoon Recordings.

Timo Maas- Subtellite

Tomorrow, mayhaps something jazzy.

sweeping

2009-07-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

Usually, I'm not too pleased when I read the Top 50 Charted Monthly Tracks over at Resident Advisor- usually, the best stuff is in the middle, or at the bottom, but occasionally, a fantastic track ends up somewhere in the top 5. In June, the number one charted track was Joris Voorn's "Sweep the Floor," a genuinely sick and slick piece of tech-house. Slowly emerging synth stabs, a bouncy bass-line, crisply syncopated percussive elements- the track has everything to make a dance floor explode and then some, what with the female vocal clips, a very MJ-esque 'woo' and apex-delivering male vocal samples. Voorn's work has been coming up a lot more recently in terms of my rated European tracks, and listening to "Sweep the Floor," it is pretty easy to see why. On Voorn's own label, Rejected.

Joris Voorn- Sweep the Floor

Tomorrow, thinking something a bit left-field...

myspazz

2009-07-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

I think it had been nearly six months since I'd last cleaned the dust off of deep movements' myspace page, but alas, I have given in to the power of the site and updated it with a self-promise to keep updating from now on. Two tracks for your listening pleasure and more stuff coming soon! Add me- I like new friends.

Late today, as promised, a slick piece of techno that's been getting blasted from all over recently.