Saturday, August 22, 2009

Vinyl Listening on 08.22.09

It's been a long time since we've actually blogged about what we've been listening to. We have been pretty good about meeting up online and picking out records for each other at least once a week though. Just bad about blogging about it. That won't be the case today!

Steven's #1: Bong-Ra - Colony of Electric Machines (Vinalogica, 2005)
Dutch breakcore DJ and hardcore junglist ear damager Bong-Ra is usually responsible for tracks of exquisite thunderous noise and Amen break tomfoolery galore. However this 12'' was commissioned by the Center for Electronic Music in Amsterdam, who encouraged the shuddering sound scamp to muck about solely with the vintage analogue equipment they had in their studios. The result is four tracks of a more sinister, moody abstract wash of noise and menacing low-end bassy warblings, rather than the regular manic drilled drum assault he is more famed for producing. It's kind of like his usual breakcore madness, only trapped inside a big sonic jelly and made all sludgy and wobbly and squelchy. Pretty damn pleasant really and a far nicer way to start a relaxed Saturday evening than i was expecting.

Sol's #1: African Roots - Act III - Strictly Dub (Wackies, 1983)
Excellent way to start of my Saturday. I have all three acts, but have never actually gave them a good listen. This LP has an excellent line up with Jackie Mittoo on keys and Sugar Minott as the "dub voice" on a few of the tracks. Minott also co-produced the album. "Stay On Dub" really stuck out for me.

Steven's #2: Grouch & Eligh - No More Greener Grass b/w Picture This (Up Above, 2004)
Another 12'' picked for me by Sol and another which i had yet to listen to. Living Legends, The Grouch & Eligh, ganging up with Good Life Cafe alumni Pigeon John for some real laidback, soulful fine hip hop on the title track. Extra pleasant production and super nice rappish flows makes for a most lovelisome listen.

Sol's #2: Sound Providers - Street Keys b/w Apples (Quarternote/ABB, 2000)
Both tracks are instrumental goodness. I think this must have been a freebie sent when I ordered An Evening With the Sound Providers through UGHH.com. Good lookin' out UGHH! I haven't ordered from them in a long while, but when I did regularly, I remember they were always throwing promotional items in with your order.

Sol's #3: Lusine - Emerald EP (Ghostly International, 2006)
I discovered Lusine in 2007 when Podgelism released, which is a remix album for Serial Podgelism (2004). There are some great remixes on there, and if I remember correctly, I was first attracted to the album by seeing that Matthew Dear did one of them. Unfortunately, that remix is not on this EP. Still a great, chill spin though.

Steven's #3: Astronautalis - You and Yer Good Ideas (Fighting, 2005)
I am a huge big fan of Astronautalis, so kudos and love to Sol and her rekkid selecting ways for picking this double LP out for me. This is his first full length release wondrously well produced with the aid of Radical Face (one half of the Morr Music electronica duo Electric President) - hip hoppish story-telling over delicate electronicky sounds and foot slappingly fine beats makes for a happy listener.
Spilling a pint glass of water over a nearby stash of listened to records because you are a clumsy footed, ale supping oaf however can put a serious dampener on such happy listenings.
A very damp dampener.
Silly flapping narrow feet, booze, small bedrooms, record sleeves and water do not go well together.
Harrumph.


Sol's #4: V/A - Motown Love Songs/Motown Dance! (RCA, 1984)
This double LP comp was and IS a DJ's dream and for some reason, my copy has never been played. Things I'm not afraid to admit, I skipped over Endless Love and almost cried during Never Can Say Goodbye.

Steven's #4: Mr. Cooper - Amongst Strangers (HHV.de/Project Mooncircle, 2006)
The puddle in my bedroom has now been soaked up. Mostly by my records sadly. It is late and i am sleepy. So this next record choice better be something fine...
And it is.
This is Mr. Cooper's first solo release (he's a UK producer and previously had conspired with a rapper called Sketch as Mummy Fortuna's Theatre Company on Lex records and then combined with Legs MC as Amateur Dramatics). It's a blend of sampling, some live instrumentation and a whole lot of computer jiggery-pokery, all combining to a most satisfying and soggy man cheering up instrumental hip hop whole. It's on Project Mooncircle, a label who continually put out the good fine stuff, and comes most highly recommended.

Sol's #5: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Butt of Course... (Atlantic, 1974)
Besides the incredible artwork, this album is a good funk find. Although, I found the switch between the funky, nasty Bertha Butt Boogie to the sappy, almost rock ballad One Precious Word to be...interesting. Then, to my surprise, they do a slightly calypso, sitar laced, instrumental cover of Elton John's Daniel. I love that song and the cover wasn't horrible.

Steven's #5: Lab Waste - Can I Get It How You Live? (Ooohh! That's Heavy, 2008)
Last vinyl spin of the night for me, since it is fast approaching 3 of the bleary eyed morning clock and i'm still all sore and irked about my watery fumblings.
Ooohh! That's Heavy is a little 'vinyl only' record label specialising in limited runs of picture discs. This particular 7'', by Lab Waste (a hip hop duo consisting of the ludicrously talented and awesome Thavius Beck and Giovanni Marks), was one of a run of 500. The record was produced jointly with Vulgar Records, a similarly small and lovely record label based in Montpellier, France.
The music lurking on the 7'' more than lives up to Almyum's fine painty art sported on the front and rear of the disc. Skittish beats and angular electronic melodies coupled with Thav and Gio's usual slightly abstract wordy delivery. Pretty damn sweet.

Sol's #6: David Bowie - Tonight (EMI, 1984)
I know absolutely nothing about this album. Allmusic.com categorized this as "Blue-Eyed Soul" and "Sophisti-Pop". Those are two terms I hope to live out the rest of my life and never hear again. So far, the album has gone disastrously downhill from the first track, which wasn't bad, Loving the Alien. I can never forgive Bowie's horrible rendition of The Beach Boys God Only Knows. Never.

Sol's #7: Bobby Blue Bland - His California Album (ABC, 1973)
Love this album and know it well. This was one of the first records I purchased for myself. The sleeve is dingy and falling apart but the record is in great shape, so until I find a cleaner copy, this'll do just fine. Highlights are This Time I'm Gone For Good, his cover of Luther Ingram's (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right and Where Baby Went (great horns in this track).