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).

Tuesday Heartbreak

Title refers to the Stevie Wonder song that I was just exposed to the other night, thanks to the vinyl game. It continues tonight!

Foreigner's Agent Provocateur was up first for me. I thought, "is today a good day for Foreigner?" and that was quickly followed with, "don't be an idjit. EVERYDAY is Foreigner day." Side hip thrusts for Agent Provocateur! 

Here is Steven, looking slightly disheveled with this new 7" from Ceschi with Count On It.

I had a huge change up with Redd Foxx's You Gotta Wash Your Ass. Timeless.

Steven got Push Button Objects' 360 Degrees Remix from Prefuse 73. I actually have this too. Go us! 

I got Paquito D'Rivera next, with Live At Keystone Korner. He is a Cuban saxophonist that I have never listened to until now. Very good, but I wasn't in a bebop jazz mood today, so I didn't listen to the whole thing. Most of it though! I will save it for a later date.

Steven got real lucky with this next 12", Cyne-Running Water. It has remixes by Four Tet and Floyd the Locsmif, two artists I enjoy very much. 

The Spinners were up next for me with Yesterday Today & Tomorrow. I was definitely not in the mood to hear sappy love songs (80's love ballads by Foreigner, yes) so I had very little patience with this. Although I enjoy Honey, I'm in Love With You and You're Throwing A Good Love Away, I think I can trade this album. It's driving me crazy that I can't remember who sampled the beginning of You're Throwing A Good Love Away, it's right on the tip of my tongue...grr! I will probably wake up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, shouting it. Don't worry, I will make an edit.

3 record LP up next for Steven, DJ Shortee-The Dreamer from Bomb Hip Hop Records.

A 45 was next for me, Creedence Clearwater Revival with Bad Moon Rising and Lodi on the flip. Is there ever a time that this song isn't amazing?  

Since Steven got caught up with his 3 LP, I got to go hunting again. The Persuasions-Street Corner Symphony. This was one of my first records I bought and I haven't listened to it in years. The cover of The Man in Me is so excellent. I found out today that Frank Zappa was responsible for their first album being recorded. Reason why Frank Zappa is cool #183. Love this cover photo, which is by Ron St. Claire, who I can't find a single thing about on the world wide internets. Damn.

Finally, Steven's hip hop vinyl was done, so he got to move on to some amazing jazz. He lucked out with Les McCann & Eddie Harris with Swiss Movement.

I got a rare 10" next, Boss Hog-Girl+ EP. Boss Hog is Jon Spencer and his super sexy wife, Cristina Martinez. This came in a crate of practically near mint records I bought all at once. There are a ton of things in there that I plan on selling on ebay. This is one of them, although, it was pretty good. 

One of my favorite hip hop/electronic artists is Steven's next pick, Alias w/ Marcus Archer-Unseen Sights. 

I got some more jazz with Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport. There is a damn sweet photo on the back that I just had to scan. After some diddling in PS, it's now a new banner for my site. Thank you Mr. Brubeck! 

I just want to see the photos those cameras took. man. The caption under the photo says, "The First Camera Quartet".

Steven got to get funky before he went to bed with Charles Earland-Black Talk!

My last pick was the soulful Esther Phillips with Performance. INCREDIBLE! I actually listened to it twice, and I'll probably listen to it a third time before I put it back. I really hope I have more Esther Phillips in my collection. 

sunday kind of love

Vinyl love. Maybe not the best kind of love, but a damn good kind. Our vinyl hunt continues on a Sunday evening.

Steven got real creative with my first hunt, picking crate 1, record 1, which led me to Johnny Cash-Bitter Tears. I forgot how weird the song White Girl was, and how Cash imitating an Native American chant sounds a bit like Bing Crosby attempting the same. However, still a fine record for a Sunday afternoon.

My first hunt for Steven sent him to a more hip hop response, landing him with Y Society's Travel At Your Own Pace. Y Society is made of Insight and Damu the Fudgemunk.Speaking of white girls in my last pick, on my second hunt, there is the whitest of white girls on the cover, Wes Montgomery's California Dreaming, Verve, 1966. I really enjoy Wes's interpretation of California Dreaming, and on the second side, there is some wonderful improv. Montgomery and Green are probably my two favorite jazz guitarists, so this was a nice listen.Speaking of improv, for Steven's next pick, he got the Argentine experimental noise trio, Reynolds with Deportation Symphony. This is written on the back of the release, "On March 9th 2003 we were denied entry into the United Kingdom. This piece was conceived during the six hours of detention preceding the deportation. We made this music playing only photocopies of the papers given to us by the UK Immigration Services. We are very sad that because of absurd politics, the British people was denied to enjoy our music. However, spiritually we did play in UK. Music can never be deported." Notice how Steven threw in a copy of Cormac McCarthy's Suttree to even up our pictures content. Next up for me was a 45 of Stevie Wonder with You Are the Sunshine of My Life with Tuesday Heartbreak on the flip. I swear I just happened to be wearing this obnoxiously yellow shirt.This next pick for Steven proves that he has much more eccentric records than me. An alias of Otto Von Shirach, DocNuke.com with Petroleum G-String. Check it out, it comes with a latex glove! This was released on Beta Bodega Records, which is the mother label of Botanica Del Jibaro. Have fun with that Steven, but not too much fun.Up next for me is another 1966 release, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass with What Now My Love. Although this record is good, I have quite a bit of ol' Herb and this will make it's way across the ocean to Steven's collection. Steven's final pick for the night was another hip hop goodie, the 1986 album, Just-Ice-Back to the Old School. Not just a clever name, DMX has definitely been served a big heaping of Just-Ice lately here in the desert. My final pick for the night was The Beatles-Hey Jude 45 (Revolution on the flip), in the original Apple sleeve! Added bonus, conveniently placed cleavage hole.

saturday vinyl hunting

Here we are again, vinyl hunting in our own rooms. Sure, we're not going to be adding to our collection or nerding it out with fellow diggers, but this way is a lot cheaper and it's fun finding something you thought you didn't have. And you, yes you there, can nerd out with us. Just send me a picture of how your vinyl is stored and we'll get you hunting in no time! Share your results, make us jealous!

Steven's first rummage brought him to this fine release from Diplo back in '05, Hollertronix #3. I don't have it in my collection, but I damn near should. I have slacked on my Diplo vinyl, just barely being able to pick up the I Like Turtles mix. 

Steven made me go digging in my 45s, about a quarter of which are promos from my time spent working in record stores. Interpol-The Heinrich Maneuver with Mammoth Instrumental on the flip side. This is from the '07 album, Our Love to Admire. I'm not the biggest Interpol fan, but if you are and want to purchase this (or trade!), then send me an email or leave a comment with contact info. 

Steven made a nice transition with his second find, the dubby '08 release, Skream-Midnight Request Line.

One of my favorite trumpeters, Hugh Masekela was up next for me. A '67 release, Hugh Masekela's Latest. Side 2 was much more enjoyable to me, for it had more instrumentals, although it was a bit samba-ish. 

One of my favorite current LA artists is Steven's 3rd find. The extremely talented Aloe Blacc with Dance For Life from Stones Throw. I'm pretty sure I have this somewhere, but, if I don't, I need it.

Hot Chocolate - Man on Man is probably the most ambiguously gay title I've ever heard, regardless, it was the next thing I listened to. I now want "Heaven Is In the Back Seat of My Cadillac" on a shirt. And I want it now. 

Steven also got a chance to get his groove on with the 1988 12" T La Rock-Flow With the New Style.

 A 12" was also up next for me with the Canadian hip hop duo, Swollen Members with Lady Venom. I think I had plans for this instrumental at one point in time, but I don't anymore. This goes in the "to trade" stack. Or, like I said above, you can let me know if you are interested in it.

Steven's next pick was also from a Canadian hip hop duo, Bending Mouth with The E.P.. Thesis Sahib and Self Help make up Bending Mouth and this EP was released on Vulgar Records back in '04.

I really lucked out with the 5th album Steven sent me hunting for. George Benson with Body Talk. It was arranged and conducted by Pee Wee Ellis of James Brown fame. Earl Klugh is the other guitarist and everything all together makes this a great album. Also, if you know my photography, you know I love the cover! A weird little fact is that Pee Wee Ellis now resides in the county of Somerset, just like Steven! See, this game is fun :) 

Steven wasn't as lucky with his next pick, Lenny White with Venusian Summer. Apparently, he wasn't too fond of it. Time to trade!

Luck was with me again when Steven made me go find Ray Bryant's Me and the Blues, from 1974. This is a double vinyl and has beautiful instrumentals of your favorite blues songs. Quite a moving pianist. His rendition of Angel Eyes almost brought me to tears and deserved a second listen. 

Up next for Steven is a 12" from Shockout, a sublabel of a label I have been fond of for years, Tigerbeat 6. Tracks are versions of Buckle Up by Wayne Lonesome made by The Bug and Kid606. Makes me want to go dig up some of my Kid606. 

And since my double LP from above has been playing for a looong time, Steven is up with his next pick, Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns with A Blow For Me, A Toot For You. So, not only was it a bit weird that Pee Wee Ellis now lives in Somerset, but Steven goes and randomly picks out another JB allstar. Are our hunting patterns not so random afterall? Strange.