Lost Highway revisited

Smashing Pumpkins- "Eye" MP3

I watched David Lynch's Lost Highway again over the weekend. I am so obsessed with David Lynch and I love everything he has done. Lost Highway is a strange one and the film is basically a rock and roll puzzle piece of subjective, often disturbing art. One of Lynch's traits that I adore is his use of sound. Whether it be the loud, abrasive sounds he uses during a scary scene, or the ambience created by Angelo Badalamenti, it always fits perfectly. Lynch went above and beyond himself when he asked Trent Reznor to produce the soundtrack to Lost Highway. One of the best soundtracks of all time with great tracks by NIN, David Bowie, Rammstein, Badalamenti, and a great tune by Smashing Pumpkins. The Pumpkins tune, "Eye", is one of my favorite songs by them and Billy's voice sounds great over the electronic beat. This is by no means a new or rare track, but it is a great song that you probably forgot you had.

You can buy the Lost Highway soundtrack at any of your favorite local shops.

Undiscovered, Unreleased, Untitled

David Hammond- "Untitled" MP3 (UNRELEASED)

For every famous musician there are thousands who work hard but will
never get their big break. Sometimes it is not knowing the right
people, other times not having the right resources to create the
masterpiece that will put them on the map. In the world of electronic
music there are so many important producers out there who may never be household names, but still supply quality tracks on a regular basis. Now, with the rise of computer sofware and home editing tools, anybody can be a bedroom producer and send their favorite dj tracks to rock in the clubs.

The quantity may be increasing but quality is still the most important
factor. A good friend of mine, David Hammond, stopped by the other
day with some new tracks he has been working on. If there is one
person I know that should be signed to multiple labels and have many
records out it is David. He has been producing electronic music for
many years before any of the computer based software was even around
and he is an amazing bassist, guitarist, and keyboard player.

There are so many unsigned, unnoticed producers out there who need to
be heard. The MP3 I uploaded is an untitled, unfinished demo David
gave me to play out when I DJ.
If you own a label and are looking for new talent, email David: HERE

LIVE VIDEOS: Kraftwerk, Squarepusher, Steve Bug

Squarepusher and Kraftwerk live in Rome Videos

Steve Bug live at GOA Video

Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving. I managed to eat a plate at 3 in the morning that was the same size as the plate I had with the actual dinner. Since I am away from home and have no access to my records or the capability to upload to my server I thought I would give you a little sweet apple pie for desert. Not only does this site give you mp3's, but also rare videos for you to check out.

The first video is a live clip of Kraftwerk doing their thing with a crazy wall of images projected over them. They look like four German robots sent from the future to rock the crowd with their mechanical music. Another video is of Squarepusher assualting the crowd with his bass virtousity and nasty experimental beats. Also links to a techy three part live set by DJ/Producer Steve Bug. Bug started two of my favorite record labels- Poker Flat and also Dessous Recordings. Three great artists and now your chance to witness them live with your own eyes rather than just ears.

"if you like Air...you'll love The Egg"

The Egg- Forwards LP (2004)

"Funky Dube" MP3

Since I have posted about a few bands already that I like that play electronic-style music I thought I would post about the band that started it all for me, The Egg. Not only are they of my favorite bands, but they are a band that really got me into electronic music. I picked up their extremely funky album "Albumen" in 1996 and have been hooked ever since. I personally think this is one of the greatest electronic albums ever put out by a live band. Two years later they released "Travelator" which sounds even less like a band, and more like a full scale electronic artist production. By this time I was convinced that I was the biggest fan of this band in all of the US and I was literally force-feeding it to anybody who would listen. I was lucky enough to see them live when I was in London and their live show was an audio visual extravaganza. They wear all white and project films that they made over them while they play and everything is in synch. $$$$

Their sound has matured a bit over the years and they dropped one of the best downtempo tracks I have ever heard, "venice beach" on Twisted's wonderful "Backroom Beats" compilation. This lead to a downtempo ep titled "mellowmania" which is also very good. This year the band released their LP "Forwards" which is my pick for most underrated album of the year. If you liked AIR's "Talkie Walkie", you will LOVE this. It ranges from moody, well produced instrumentals, to New Order style vocals, to some light, Indie rock vocal tracks, and a few fast and funky tracks that put them on...well....my map.

Buy their albums, watch clips, and learn more about this great UK band: HERE

Please Be Seated

The New Deal- Please Be Seated EP (Sound and Light)

"Wind Over The Crickets" MP3

(I used the large image of this flyer because I was at that show and it was the last show I saw at Thai Joe's before it was shut down.) The New Deal is a band from Toronto that plays live house music without loops or overdubs. They are often lumped in with the jamband scene because of their ability to drop incredible improvised jams to get the dancefloor rocking. The New Deal is Jamie Shields on keys, Dan Kurtz on bass, and Darren Shearer and drums. They are a sight to see live because Jamie produces one great melody after another and alternates the lead with Dan who lays down the heavy, super low frequency bass notes. Darren is very machine-like with his drumming and sometimes it is hard to decipher whether a dj is playing or if the band is jamming.

Aside from their fantastic live show, they also know how to take advantage of their studio time. Their second album "Gone Gone Gone" was one of my favorite albums of last year. They perfectly replicated what they can do live and they also added vocals to some of the tracks. They had music left over from the recording session and released a wonderful EP of lush, downtempo tracks titled "Please Be Seated". In my opinion this is the band's finest work and each of the tracks show the band's versatility.

Buy their albums, find tourdates, and watch videos: HERE

old school shuggie

Shuggie Otis Plays The Blues (Songs from 1969-1971)

"Me and My Woman" MP3

David Byrne and his fantastic Luaka Bop label brought an obscure gem back to life when he re-released the Shuggie Otis masterpiece, "Inspiration Information". Fans of all styles of music embraced the album and it was hailed a long, lost classic. Shuggie Otis, son of blues legend Johnny Otis, was introduced to the world on his father's comeback album in 1968 when Shuggie was only 13 years old. He quickly gained media attention and Rolling Stone called him a new guitar hero. Unfortunately Shuggie's career was a short one, and after releasing only a couple albums and then later playing with Frank Zappa, he retired from music at the age of 22. Inspiration Information, with the top 5 hit "Strawberry Letter #23", is what Shuggie is best known for, however he was ripping blues numbers for years before he released his solo albums. "Shuggie Otis Plays The Blues" is a collection of blues numbers that Shuggie recorded between 1969-1971, starting when he was only 15 years old. He was a true multi-instrumental musical prodigy and a master of the guitar. The song I chose features some his best vocals and rockin' guitar solo.

Support your favorite local music shop and buy this album. It should be available everywhere.

You've Been Spiked

Chris Joss- You've Been Spiked (cristal)

"You've Been Spiked" MP3

Thievery Corporation and their Eighteenth Street Lounge label definetely know how to make the olive rattle inside of your martini. Always a fine blend of tasteful, loungey beats with a nice moody ambience. Chris Joss is one of the artists on the label and the Frenchman is a multi-instrumentalist who is also an autonomous studio producer. His new album, "You've Been Spiked", originally released on Cristal Recordings, has not left my stereo in days and is steadily climbing the ranks of my "best of 2004" list.

ESL said:
"With its thick funky bass lines, wah-wah guitars, and Rhodes and Hammond riffs pulsating overtop rootsy drums, this album is a vibrant tribute to 1960's and 1970's dance music. Obscure samples, turntable scratching, retro-futuristic ambience, and the lush vocals of the enigmatic Cosmika join in to complete a resolutely cinematic soundscape.

Now Chris Joss' You've Been Spiked is re-released by ESL Music as an enhanced-multimedia disc that includes two bonus tracks selected from The Man With The Suitcase and the video for the raucous keyboard infected breakbeat swinger "Discothèque Dancing." With You've Been Spiked Chris Joss realizes a brilliant mix between old school and new school. Vintage psychedelic 60's boogie, Blaxploitation funk, car chase soundtracks, atmospheric easy listening, and hip-hop breakbeats combine seamlessly to create an unforgettable sonic experience."

Buy: HERE

Plant Life funk

Plant Life – The Return of Jack Splash (counterfeit)

Plant Life- Luv 4 The World (Why They Gotta Hate?) MP3

I only have a few minutes as I get ready to go out to see Tortured Soul play but I wanted to flip a quick bit o funk for you. Plant Life just dropped a new album "Return of Jack Splash" which is a great dose of new funk. Usually when I get funky it is with older records from the '70's so it is nice to hear some fresh new grooves. The album has been getting great feedback from everybody so make sure to pick it up.
The promo said:
"Plant Life set out to break down the barriers between hip hop, soul, rock and good old fashioned funk music. In the tradition of legendary funk and soul godfathers like James Brown, George Clinton, Sly Stone & Prince, Plant Life serves up a healthy dose of sensuality and politics while providing a groove strong enough to shake the system to its core. With a heavy funk influence, The Return, has traces of 70's funk, 80's electro, 90's b-boy aesthetics and futuristic ideals."
Buy HERE

bangers and mash

Justin Sloe- Not For Chinstrokers MP3

The whole DJ "mash up" craze has died down considerably since everyone and their mother made a mediocre mash using the accapela's from Jay-Z's "Black Album". Danger Mouse brought it to the mainstream with his mashup of The Beatles "White Album" and Jay-Z's "Black Album" creating his own "Grey Album". This video that somebody made with tracks from the Grey Album is great:GreyVideo

Long before Danger Mouse and the zillion other bootleggers on the internet were making mashup's, DJ Z-Trip was pulling it off impeccably live. He owned the first Scratch tour with his impressive blends of rock, hiphop, scratching, and more, sometimes playing up to 3 tracks at once and 100% on the fly. It may be a bit old now, but Z-Trip and DJ P's mash-up masterpiece, "Uneasy Listening" is a great party jam.

I hadn't heard a mix of mash-ups that has impressed me in a long time until I heard this new mix by DJ Justin Sloe. He really nailed the blends and he uses a nice mix of hiphop, downtempo, and rock. MJ (the billie jean demo!), Biggie, Hall and Oates, Chic, Fat Boys...even Khia is up on this piece! The whole Blondie>The Doors>Method Man segment is incredible. This is one of the most creative dj mixes of the year.

taking a cover to a new level

Rewind 3- Original Classics Rewound (Ubiquity Records)

Jeremy Ellis- "Chameleon" MP3

I picked up a great double vinyl comp from Ubiquity titled "Rewind V.3". The album is a compilation of cover songs produced by modern day artists who recorded new versions of songs that inspired them. Everyone from Gil Scott Heron to the Monkees get a re-working by such producers and bands such as DJ Greyboy, Antibalas, and P'Taah. The track that stood out for me is Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" because Jeremly Ellis did the unthinkable- he didnt just record a new version of the tune, he re-created it, note for note.
Ubiquity said:
"Jeremy Ellis aka Ayro is mad or a genius, or possibly both. Who else would take it upon himself to reproduce the epic "Chameleon" by Herbie Hancock note for note, drum fill for drum fill, every phrase and sound - that's what he did on the Rewind 12", the version featured here is edited down to 8 minutes to allow for a few more tracks to squeeze on the comp! Ex-Detroit buddy Recloose said, "It's unreal how spot on this is! What a feat!" Why do it? Why not! If Frank De Jojo can do "Turn Off The Lights" and 4Hero "Les Fleurs" why shouldn't the talented keyboard player and programmer from the Motor City show he's got the patience and the chops?…"

Buy this record or cd here: Ubiquity Records

Hammond heroes

Johnny Lewis Quartet- Shuckin' and Jivin' (1972) Jaro Records
Johnny Lewis- Live Dance Set (1975)

"Cissy Strut" MP3

Good old Luv n' Haight remastered and released "Shuckin' and Jivin' on cd which is another gem they have given a new breathe life. D. W. Smith from Luv n' Haight has a great quote in the liner notes. He says: "There are two kinds of rare records: those that everybody has heard about and only a few people actually have, and those that only a few people have even heard about. Shuckin' and Jivin' falls into the latter category. It's a burning record of early 70's jazz funk, but until now, has been hard to come by."

The cd is made up of the full original album plus two bonus tracks from the 1975 Live Dance Set- "Cissy Strut" and "Them Changes". Every song on the album was recorded live with Johnny Lewis on tenor, alto, baritone sax, trumpet, fluegal horn, mmeloponium, and conga drums. Kenneth Drake is on drums, Joe Villa on guitar, and James "Moody" Thompson demolishing the Hammond B3 organ and Horner Clavinet. The quartet has a nice balance of soulful, quiet songs such as "Willow Weep For Me" but also brings the funk with originals like "Shuckin' and Jivin". I chose to put up their live cover of the Meter's clasic "Cissy Strut" because Moody Thompson rides that B3 solo to the next level.

Buy this one from Luv n' Haight or dig to China trying to find it now.

Sieg Uber Die Sonne

SIEG UBER DIE SONNE - +1 (Multicolor Germany)

"You better send me home" MP3

Buy it here

Having friends who have similar musical interests make life so much more fun. My friend Evan had been hyping this Sieg Uber Die Sonne album for a minute now and he was right. I finally got around to picking it up and I can't get "you better send me home" out of my head. I also really like the 12"of "hot" remixed by Swag. They have a midtempo funky sound which has both elements of modern tech house and also 1980's electrofunk. It seems like every week there is a new German artist blowing my mind and they sure are not showing any signs of slowing down.
The track I chose "You Better Send Me Home" has a hypnotic melody and some really interesting sounding vocal samples. The effect on the keys is tweaked nicely and I love how the bassline drops out and comes back in towards the end.

More Downtempo Videos!

Da Damn Phreak Noiz Phunk- "Complex Dinner Wardrobe" VIDEO (combination records)

Bonobo "Flutter" VIDEO (Ninja Tune)

Bonobo "Pick Up" VIDEO (Ninja Tune)

I nearly lost my cookies when I found this video online by Da Damn Phreak Noiz Phunk. I have already posted about them and am borderline obsessed so you can imagine how surprised I was to see a video for one of their acid break songs. The video is a pretty cool fractal-like digital design that has a striking resemblence to one of the Transformers. I assure you that this website is the only website you will find that would have a link to this video!

Also in the mix are two videos from one of the best downtempo producers out there, Bonobo. If you don't already have his album "Dial M For Monkey" you need to wake up and cop it. I think it is one of the best albums of the last few years. He has a very organic sound, full of live instruments and basslines like butter. The two videos I linked can also be found on the terrific "Zentv DVD" that Ninja Tune put out. Go buy that one for sure because Amon Tobin, Blockhead, and many more are also featured. Bonobo is also a fantastic dj and he also has been touring as with a live band. Sit back, turn up your speakers, and watch these videos.

I Love Acid!

Luke Vibert- Yoseph (Warp)

"I LOVE ACID" VIDEO

James Brown may have been the hardest working man in show business, but Luke Vibert is gaining speed. The man with a million aliases is dropping hot new albums left and right. So lets see, he has a new glitchy/IDM album under the "Wagon Christ" moniker, he put out a 2cd drum and bass album as "Plug", and he released one of my favorite albums of 2004, Kerrier District, which is mid-tempo acid disco funk. Kerrier District is a must-have album and I will add something from it in the future. Late last year he released his homage to the famed Roland TB-303 with his album, Yoseph, on WARP. (See the Da Damn Phreak Noiz Phunk post below for a picture of a TB-303) I love the album and there is a really cool video for the hypnotic track- "I Love Acid". Easily my favorite song on the LP and Spencer used the track on his award winning downtempo mix "Land Of Nod" which you can download from orchardlounge.com

...the way it makes me move...

-Ben

Psychdelic Soul Jazz Guitar

Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones-
Introducing The Psychdelic Soul Jazz Guitar Of Joe Jones (Prestige) 1968

"Light My Fire" MP3

I received quite a few emails from people who liked the "sweetback" mp3 I posted last week so I thought I would add another by my main man, Boogaloo Joe. It is too bad Boogaloo Joe was never a full time musician. He only plays in church now and I know that there have been obsessed fans who have tried hard to get him to play another show. He only released a handful of albums in his brief career and every album is fantastic. His solos are light speed yet extremely precise and full of soul. This one is dedicated to O-Dub over at Soul Sides because he dropped his own deep cover of "Light My Fire" on his site about a week ago. It is such a great song, and Boogaloo Joe kicks it up a few notches by ripping into the solo.

In 1967 Boogaloo Joe Jones released his first album as a band leader. "Introducing The Psychdelic Soul Jazz Guitar of Joe Jones" is actually two seperate albums, "Mindbender" and "My Fire" released in 1967 and 1968 respectively. They were later packaged together as an LP and he proves he not only can play jazz standards but also can rock out with the best of them. "St. James Infirmary" and "Ivan The Terrible" are also quality tracks from this album. It is a tough piece of vinyl to find but you may get lucky in a shop somewhere if somebody was crazy enough to sell this one.

Electro-Funk Saturday

Tyrone Brunson "Fresh" 1984 (Believe In A Dream Records)-MP3

I have four framed records hanging above my turntables. One of the records is the original Boogaloo Joe Jones "Sweetback". Herbie Hancock "Crossings" and Grant Green's "Main Attraction" have also made "the wall". My favorite album based solely on the looks of the album cover has got to be my copy of the 1984 electro-funk LP "fresh" by Tyrone Brunson. Tyrone, wearing a flaming red suit and matching hat, is rocking out with his bass on the sidewalk in front of an apartment building. He is even wearing a mesh black glove with the fingers cut off. He has everybody in the neighborhood dancing and you can tell by the grin on his face. I also am convinced that the kid next to him is Theo Huxtable's long lost cousin.

Tyrone's first single, "The Smurf" is one of the funkiest songs of all time. It is up there with The Whitefield's Brothers' "50 yards of soul" as one of the songs that makes my neck sore the next day. His deep bombing of the bass and totally 80's funky electro synth grooves can liven up any party. I didn't use "The Smurf" because I figured a lot people have already heard it. It is hard not to find copies of the single in the budget bins at the record store. Two years later he released "Fresh", and the funk remained the same.



If you really need your voltron fix, this mix I made earlier in the year will get you popping. Every track on the mix was released from 1982-1985. Vocoder heavy skate-town jams and also instrumental tracks which are some of the early roots of techno. Cybotron is an alias of detroit techno legend Juan Atkins. Orchardlounge.com is where to find this one and more.


Ben Silver- Linoleum Streets MP3

01. Paul Hardcastle- Forest Fire (1985)
02. Newcleus- Cyborg Dance (1985)
03. Tom Browne- Rockin' Radio (1983)
04. Man Parrish- Hip Hop Be Bop (1982)
05. Cybotron- Clear (1983)
06. Paul Hardcastle- Rainforest (1985)
07. Man Parrish- Boogie Down Bronx (1984)
08. Project Future- Ray Gun-Omics (1983)
09. Paul Hardcastle- Central Park (1985)
10. Hashim- Al Naafiysh (1983)
11. Jonzun Crew- Space Is The Place (1983)
12. Freestyle- Party Has Begun (1984)
13. Paul Hardcastle- Sound Chaser (1985)
14. Ice T- Reckless (1984)

Is your name Michael Diamond?...nah I'm Clarence

So I am still drunk from the Beastie Boys show I saw tonight. The show was fantastic and after 20+ years as a band, the beastie can still drop the funky k-nowledge. Mix Master Mike was absolutely on fire scratching like Rush Limbaugh on a cloud of vicodins and mashing beats all night long. Just about every song was flipped towards the end and everything from RUN DMC to DMX beats were mixed in. They played a lot from Paul's Boutique and Check your Head which was a nice treat. They also picked up their instruments and funked out some of their instrumentals with Money Mark on keys. The highlight for me was when they came out into the crowd for Intergalactic and they happened to appear only a few feet in front of us. I could literally reach out and touch MCA as he growled into the mic. Being 6 feet from 3 guys I have worshipped almost my entire life was an incredible experience. I have been in the front row for countless concerts and have met many of my musical idols, but seeing the King Ad-Rock, Mike D (no, he is not related to Screech) and MCA spitting rhymes that close to me was truly something else.

You can thank me later for these goodies:

This first track is some of the funkiest beastie boys I have heard:

Pauls Boutique Show Vinyl "Untitled Track" MP3

Paul's Boutique Show Vinyl "High Plains Drifter"

Check Your Head Show Vinyl "Untitled 1"

De La Soul - Squat (Scratch Perverts Remix)


I would also suggest checking out this website HERE
It lists every sample that they used making Paul's Boutique. Pretty insane how many samples were used for that album.

Performance Is The Product

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The Bays- Live electronic music done the right way

Track 3 From Jena, Germany 2004 MP3

Download the full show and learn more about The Bays

There are many bands in the US that play improvisational music with an electronic edge to it. The Disco Biscuits, Sound Tribe Sector Nine, The New Deal, Brothers Past, Lotus, and Signal Path are a handful of bands who have been known to drop the beats mid-jam. Even though they may have some electronic elements to their sound, I wouldn't classify it as "electronic music". I have been listening to a band out of the UK called The Bays and every time I listen I forget that they are a band, it is a live show, and it is all improv. EVerything from downtempo to tech house, they sound like a live pa or a dj's record...and a good record at that.

From British Council:

The Bays are Andy Gangadeen (drums), Jamie Odell (keyboard), Simon Richmond (CDs & FX) and Chris Taylor (Bass). Intentionally avoiding the influence wielded by record companies and commercial sponsors, The Bays' coined the slogan: "Performance is the Product" to sum up their philosophy. Recordings of their music cannot be bought. The Bays can only be heard live in concert or via mp3 download from the Internet.

The quartett has developed a completely unique approach to club music making and live concerts: all sounds, all songs are improvised on the spot without prior discussion or arrangement. Thus, no two concerts are ever the same. The Bays are about spontaneity and response within the group. Each musician relies on his/her awareness of the other musicians and, from a completely "blank canvas", they together create all the colours and patterns of the finished performance. No one person dominates or indulges in solos.

The Bays never rehearse as a group, yet they are all about teamwork. They practice individually, only bringing ideas together during the concert itself. This creates a unique tension which gives the performance a "first take" vibe. Bays concerts include a wide variety of styles such as breakbeat, house, electro, garage, drum&bass, hip hop, dub, ambient, funk, techno and ragga. For the past three years, The Bays have been included in the line-ups of numerous important festivals including Lowlands, Drum Rhythm, Big Chill, Pukkelpop, Ministry of Sound, Eurosonic, Glastonbury, Roskilde und Dour.

British Council Article

VIDEO of The Bays

"I don't belong here"

.

Well after a very frustrating night, I don't want to think about politics for a long time. To make things even worse, the election is STILL not over so I will be bombarded with nonsense for days or weeks regarding the impending doom. I am disappointed with the youth for only a 17% voter turnout after all of these terrific programs to motivate the young people to vote. The youth of today could have determined this election and props to those who did vote but only 1 in 5 is pathetic.
Oh well.
Sometimes I feel that maybe "I don't belong here" even though I love this country.

To take your mind off of politics for a few minutes, check out this cool flash animation video to the acoustic version of Radiohead's Creep.

CREEP video