Musical Discoveries of 2008 Part 3 of 3

Peter Broderick - Float (Type, 2008)

Peter Broderick had a big year: he released two solo albums, did all the arrangements for Horse Feathers, and toured with Efterklang. Float's main melodic drive comes from subtle piano arrangements backed by a large variety of instruments. As the title suggests, no individual track really steals the show. The album feels like one complete tracks meandering about picking up sad melodies along the way.


Pigeon Funk - The Largest Bird in the History of the Planet... Ever! (Musique Risquee, 2008)

Kit Clayton, Sutekh, and Safety Scissors show how being technically apt with the studio and instruments can pay off for fun's sake. Pigeon Funk's second album hits many genres: glitch, techno, lounge, polka, big-band, musique concrete, and more. A great reminder to everyone that techno usually takes itself way too seriously.


Quiet Village - Silent Movie (!K7, 2008)

Taking some of the same ideas from the Avalanche's Since I Left You, and removing the dance beat, Quiet Village leaves us with tracks that sound like a family's old 8mm home movies. Swelling strings, beach sounds, and smooth bass, it could make for a cheesy romp through kitschy 50s and 60s soundtracks, but somehow Quiet Village pulls it off.



Sixto Rodriguez - Cold Fact (Light In The Attic, 1970)

The reissue world is often riddled with music snobs who use music's obscurity to show how academically superior they are to everyone else regardless of the quality of the music. However, the best part of the reissue community is when people and labels such as Light In The Attic manage to commericially channel their passion for a lost musician into something that sounds relevant even today. Rodriguez's Cold Fact is one of the those that has all the right ingredients: poetic lyrics about society, poverty, love, life, and psychedelic guitar breakdowns.


SOS - Balance 013 (EQ/Stomp, 2008)

Doing a thoughtful well through out mix over 3 CDs is not something I recommend anyone try. SOS manages to pull it off using just about every style of music: baleric disco, 80s new wave, house, jazz, and more. SOS shows they understand a variety of music styles and blends it into a perfect ebb and flow mix.


Stimming - Resident Advisor Podcast #111 (www.residentadvisor.net, 2008)

The one exception to my list of albums. Every Monday morning, I look forward to the new Resident Advisor podcast. They manage to get many of the hot DJs right now to do an exclusive mix just for RA. My mind was blown when I heard the Stimming live set mix. Essentially all tracks are his productions minus the first track remix, so I would consider this his album. I have not heard any dance music this year that has the same sense of urgency as Stimming. He understands that the high tempo bass beat should service the rest of the track which he often feels with amazing melodies. My favorite new dance artist for sure.


Subtle - exitingARM (Lex, 2008)

For Hero: For Fool left me a little disappointed after A New White really promised a new sound. exitingARM is more effective at what they were trying to do last album: better melodies, harder and faster raps, and no dead songs. A fitting way to leave the Subtle project for a while.


Susanna - Flower of Evil (Rune Grammofon, 2008)

Another form of recontextualization of music that I believe is more difficult is the cover song. In most cases, the artist covering the song doesn't really bring anything new to the track. Susanna Wallumrød is notorious for her covers. Her melacholic and sweet voice has transformed some pretty untouchable classics in the past like "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Flower of Evil has her in full piano diva mode with subtle guitar and drum arrangements on select tracks. This is perfect Sunday morning music.


Various Artists - Disco Italia: Essential Italo Disco Classics 1977-1985 (Strut, 2008)

Last year, minimal techno was king: repetitious drums, very minor melodies, and quiet shifts in dynamics. Thankfully, disco made a huge comeback this year notably in musicians like Hot Chip, Hercules & Love Affair, Lindstrom, Prins Thomas, and others. To mark the landmark year in awesome disco music, Strut has put together an amazing collection of Italo Disco. Heavy percussion, early synths, and spacey melodies showcase the best of the period. Stevie Kotey, owner of the best current disco labels, Bear Entertainment and Bear Funk, mixes them all together with a few exclusive re-edits. Vintage bliss!

Musical Discoveries of 2008 Part 2 of 3

Harmonic 313 - EP1 / Dirtbox (Warp, 2008)

Mark Pritchard has flirted with using old synth sounds with hip-hop previously on the Global Communication Fabric mix and his nod to old library music project, Harmonic 33. He fully realizes those sounds on his latest project, Harmonic 313. Releasing two EPs this year, EP1 finds Pritchard in similar territory as some of J Dilla's electronic hip-hop producations while Dirtbox has mostly a dubstep sound. Harmonic 313's remix work is also worth a listen.


Jacaszek - Treny (Miasmah, 2008)

Miasmah continues their excellent output with Polish musician, Jacaszek. Combining chamber orchestra, female vocals, and prepared electronic sounds, Jacaszek manages to portray music of forgotten memories.


Kail - True Hollywood Squares (Alpha Pup, 2008)

This year was a little short of hip-hop for me, but Kail's concept album featuring different characters describing the true seedy underbelly of Hollywood rang to for me. Producation ranges from 8-bit video game samples to big band horns. Kail is a true ghetto tour guide.


Lambert and Nuttycombe - At Home (Fallout, 1970)

In a simiar style of Simon and Garfunkel, Lambert and Nuttycombe feature subtle guitar strumming with delicate two-part harmonies. There is a terrible sadness to this album that really shows the issues of Lambert's heroin addiction. I think I listened to this album more than any other from this last year.


The Left - Jesus Loves The Left: The Complete Studio Recordings (Bona Fide, 1984)

With all the recent so called punk music rotting on modern radio, many people want to claim that punk is dead. There are a few bands carrying the punk torch, but no other punk album that I heard this year hits like The Left. The Left capture what is best about punk: tiredless teenage boredom, asking questions, and wonderfully sloppy melodies.


Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound, 2008)

Dance and electronic albums typically suffer from having one or two tracks that are great, and the rest of the tracks sound the same. I guess dance music is usually best in DJ mixes and live sets. That said, Lindstrøm manages to craft an album that combines many of the best parts of current dance music trends - am bient keyboard flourishes, disco breakbeats, and melodic dynamics - all into 3 epic and ambitious tracks.


Märtini Brös - The MB Factor (Poker Flat, 2008)

A mix album of the Märtini Brös best tracks from the last 10 years. Not since Tiefschwarz' Fabric mix has a minimal house mix sounded so good. Throw in some subtle flourishes over the 70 minutes with funky basslines, and it's all good.


Metro Area - Fabric 43 (Fabric, 2008)

The Fabric serious this year has some great contenders: Luciano, Ame, Robert Hood, and Mark Farina. Metro Area's mix beats them all out of sheer fun. The album starts with them commentating over the first track to give it a goofy feel, and then they settle into some rad Italo-disco and electro from the past 20 years.


Nik Bartsch's Ronin - Holon (ECM, 2008)

The European Jazz scene is one which has many different niche's and different styles. I am a fan of free jazz and improv jazz, but no other jazz album from the last year had the most intriguing mix of styles as this Swiss pianist's Ronin group. Modern classical, jazz, funk, electronic drone, and world music all find their way into these 6 varied tracks.


Noisia - Fabriclive. 40 (Fabric, 2008)

Each year, Fabric has a shining example of what's hot in the drum and bass world via their Fabriclive series. Noisia's release foregoes much of the cheesier vocal sounds of typical drum and bass and aims for dark complex beats. For 80 minutes, this mix consistently deals with the ebb and flow of the beats attempting to descend into glitch chaos.

Musical Discoveries of 2008 Part 1 of 3

My apologies for not blogging in so long. I've been busy working, reading, playing Call of Duty, socializing, playing with my dog, watching movies, and hanging out with Capree.

Typically, in years past, I would be up on the current year of music enough to do a full list of music from that year. I have listened to enough music from this last year to do a list, but I felt that this year also had a lot of older music that affected me. I'm also getting rid of numbering albums because I feel like all of these albums had something I really enjoyed in some way.

The list is simply albums (with one exception). This rules out much of the music I listened to this year. I spent much of time this year listening to dance singles, web mixes, and podcasts. This allowed me to continue to listen to music even though my work environment is more complicated and less music friendly than in the past. This next year, I'll make sure to document what I'm listening to regardless of format, year, or genre.

So without further ado, here is part 1. Part 2 will follow tomorrow, and part 3 the day after that.


Aaron Lightman - Aaron Lightman (Fallout, 1970)

Similar in style to some of Donovan's music as well as other more successful musicians of the baroque pop tradition, Aaron Lightman intersperses shorter pop tracks with longer orchestral arrangements. The reissuer, Fallout Records, is a UK label that specializes in reissues of lost music from the 60s and 70s. I attribute my interest in baroque pop music this year to the label's strong output.


Blue Sky Black Death - Late Night Cinema (Babygrande, 2008)

Having been blindsided by their first album, A Heap Of Broken Images, back in 2006, I have been eagerly anticipating their next instrumental full length. Kingston and Young God combine samples from classical, blues, soul, movie soundtracks, and other places unknown with their own instruments such as pedal effects guitar, cello, and keys. The eclecticism of their tastes really shines in their style of Godspeed dramatics with boom bap beats.


Colin Blunstone - One Year (Water, 1971)

Another baroque pop gem. Colin Blunstone is the singer from The Zombies who took to doing his own work after The Zombies broke up. Tracks like "I Can't Live Without You" highlight the sheer madness of Blunstone's vocal dexterity over chamber orchestral arrangements.


David Axelrod - Seriously Deep (Dusty Groove, 1975)

Long out of print, Seriously Deep is one of the most sampled records during the golden age of hip-hop. David Axelrod was known for his productions, and his own album captures his variety of styles: jazz, funk, electronic, classical, and the prototypes of hip-hop. Capree says this sounds like cheesy porn music, but I don't care!


The Final Solution - Brotherman OST (Numero Group, 1975)

A funk and soul soundtrack for a blaxploitation film that never came out. Numero Group has been doing fantastic deluxe reissues of lost funk and soul of the 70s and 80s for a few years now. This is my favorite release of theirs from this year.


The Frogs - It's Only Right And Natural (Homestead, 1989)

The Frogs do what most irreverant gay music cannot: avoid kitsch and novelty. The Frogs sound like early Pixies or Nirvana demos, but with a passion and humor really unheard by my ears since Xiu Xiu. While Xiu Xiu's main drive is emotional intensity, The Frogs use satire to highlight the ridiculousness of the fears of the socially conservative.


Graham Lambkin and Jason Lescalleet - The Breadwinner (Erstwhile, 2008)

Two musicians known separately for their work in experimental music come together to remind us how to use the physical space of a studio. All sounds on this album were original recordings from Lambkin's home: the radiator, the creaks in the floor, the silence/noise of the various rooms/hallways, the neighbors talking through the wall, etc. Using the physical medium of tape to stretch, distort, and splice, Lambkin and Lescalleet remind us of the power of sampling: the ability to recontextualize and present something new from something old, tried, and common.


Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill (Type, 2008)

Grouper has always had potential, but I found the concepts on her earlier stuff to be done much better by bands like Charlalambides and Christina Carter's solo work. With Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill, she has given more structure to her typically ambient/drone folk. What ended up happening is a melancholic fresh take to the late 80s 4AD roster such as Cocteau Twins and His Name Is Alive.


Guilty Simpson - Ode To The Ghetto (Stones Throw, 2008)

I first heard of Guilty Simpson from Madlib and Jay Dee's Jaylib project and Dabrye's Two/Three. I have always found his brash rapping about living in Detroit to be hypnotising. It captures the documentary style found in the best rap and hip-hop. Madlib, Oh No, Black Milk, Mr. Porter, and J Dilla all contribute fantastic production. My favorite hip-hop album of the year.


Gultskra Artikler - Kasha Iz Topora (Miasmah, 2007)

Miasmah is hands down my favorite label currently. Erik Skodvin, half of Deaf Center, snatched up Gultskra Artikler after Lampse put out the fantastic 2006 release, Pofigistka. Kasha Iz Topora is a continuation into the Siberian madness of previous releases. Classical cello and piano, electronic flourishes, and field recordings are combined to evoke haunted Lynchian memories with Russian folk tale flair. Miasmah is the new Kranky!

Concept albums

Top five concept albums that I create in the next twenty years.

1) A gangster rap album from the perspective of a persecuted Mormon travelling west. (Album title: "Mo' Ghetto")

2) A chin stroking album of field recordings from the wild Savannah of computer programmers talking to each other. (This one has to be under my musical alias "The Swami of Bits")

3) A country western album told from the view of a rogue cop in Detroit (Album title: "Bringin' Home The Red, White and Blue Bacon")

4) A musique concrete album of different animals giving birth. (Album title: "Physiological Expulsion")

5) A death metal record with the backup, harmony vocals done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (Musical alias: "Fall From Grace").

9 to rinse and repeat

Now Playing: Bill Fay - Time Of The Last Persecution

The energy comes and gos.

I voted FOR the referendum. I felt that more choice for people has more potential. In the long run, there could be alot of wasted breath over the issue because of lack of volume. Teachers afraid of losing their jobs or thinking that the referendum is a vote of no confidence in regards to the public school system are also in the wrong. If anything, the best part of capitalism - competition - will help spur both of these systems to excellence. Public schools will be subsidized for any defectors from their schools anyway. The 24 children per teacher policies are stupid anyway, and I don't think NCLB is helping either.

Winter is coming and the sky turns gray. I think we'll make it this year. Conquering (and eventually painting) the new place. I'll find my way with music yet. Flirting with the idea of making a music profile page on MySpace. I need 1 or 2 more tracks to be finished....if only I had the time or energy to do it right now. I would rather work on a mix for that house party I promised a while ago.

Capree and I have been absolutely captivated with Weeds. We've watched 3 years of television in a two week span. There is something about the jacked up suburban family being portrayed in such a biting, satirical, and yet light-hearted way. Mary-Louise Parker and Kevin Nealon pretty much carry the show.

I need to set goals and follow them through. Life can pass me by way too easily now that I'm done with school and working my mind off.

Sunday Music Recommendation: Porn Sword Tobacco

Sunday is a lazy day for me. In order to gift wrap my laziness, I listen to appropriate music. Something that I keep finding myself coming back to is Porn Sword Tobacco.



Porn Sword Tobacco is a guy from Gothenburg named Henrik Jonsson. His music sounds like music from lost 1970s movie soundtracks, or a lost memory, or something cliché like that. His sound isn't simply melodies played on synthesizers - he really makes things interesting with the noise that he places through each track. Whether he uses the sound of a record that has finished, tape hiss, or the motor from some unknown machine, each sound complements the sound of nostalgia bursting through a broken radio in slow motion.

Some links to preview his tracks:

U.S. Saloon Props
En Hyllning Till Cyckeln

Moving Through The Void

Now listening to Listening Garden by Christopher Willits and Taylor Deupree. I love installation recordings like this for their simplicity of intent. Further information about it can be found here.

Capree's show went off without a hitch. Preparations for the event pushed all the way up to when the reception began, but kudos to everyone for their great work to make the gallery's artist reception a success.

Being Capree's first show, it seemed to generate quite an interest. Many people from family and friends showed up (thanks everyone!) to complete strangers keeping a look out for new artists during the gallery stroll. It was rewarding to hear the positive support given to Capree as the road to get from conception to being placed in a gallery was not an easy task. If I recall, the black and white photos were shot late 2006/early 2007, and I remember speaking with Capree about the Seven Deadly Sins shoot a year or so ago. Through changing implementations of the basic concept, she was able to create something really quite beautiful.

For my own personal enjoyment, I saw many people lost to my nostalgia in the flesh who, along with myself, have found our paths crossing yet again. It's a beautiful experience when it occurs, and I never want to take it for granted. For those I spent time with, thank you.

For those who couldn't be there, you were missed. There are a list of people that I have in mind that I would love to see again soon if busy schedules would allow it. Mostly congratulations and also a few grievances are in order to those missed. I would love to see you soon.

As I attempt to juggle and fill in the various voids of life, I hope to be able to have people into my home once we have things somewhat in order. Expect an invite!

Dusty Groove

Continuing along the line of recommendations, here is a record store/record label that everyone needs to check out once: Dusty Groove

They pretty much have the rare soul/funk/r&b thing pegged down. They just started a record label branch for stuff that was sadly out of print. Anyway, have a look around...

Welcome to Cardboard City

In a desperate attempt to reignite my social life, I've given myself to flightful fancies. This, of course, comes at a time of relative change. A change that may or may not be drastic to others, but significant enough to send those crazy chicken prophet teachings through my head. I embrace the change, but my genetic makeup keeps me from completing The Letting Go. I find ways to manage it in a healthy manner, but it manages to inconvienence me during stressful times.

I keep running into old acquaintances in odd places. For example, I saw someone in the ice cream aisle. I saw my freshman roommate at the gym. As I type this, I realize it is no large feat as Provo is not the largest place nor does it claim many diverse places to see someone socially. Especially in the summer.

In addition to this physical location change, work is throwing many new experiences and challenges my way. My coworkers are a joy to work with, and I feel somehow indebted to almost each one of them for the great atmosphere that allows me to me. With the minor exception, they are more brilliant, more sincere, and more loyal people than I can muster in my angry early 20s.

My musical education continues down unexpected avenues as I find myself into quite an Internet seeker. I've taken it to the near most extreme edge of the definition of a hobby as it is the most intriguing cultural experience to me. Where else can I gain an appreciation for a group of 5 Japanese hippies that I would know no other way? Or perhaps the group of Brazilian revolutionaries who would hide their politics of the 1960s through thinly veiled romantic metaphors? Never before my love affair with music (don't tell the wife) would I gain such a positive and enriching view towards this all-too-easy-to-pin-ugly-on society? While the act of record collecting and musical exploration can often be a insulated, ego-driven activity, I hope to be able to use my own experience to bring the light to people's eyes when they hear something I play that they never they were born to love.

I will continue to make mixes and hone my skills that way, but I hope composition continues to treat me well. I've written 2 or 3 tracks I could proudly put my name to. I don't know what I want to do with them. I need to come up with a plan of where I want my music to go (i.e. publicly through record labels, intimately through close friends, or safely on my shelf only to be heard by Capree and myself).

Godspeed, discipline! I'm better for it. And Blogger is getting tired of my attempts to reignite my sad weBlogs to publically make my thoughts known (est. 2001).