Blog

MIXTAPE FOR MARCH 2009 - THE YEARS MIX



artwork by LiskinReloaded


Eccentric And Influential .... And Some Music That You Can Dance To


1. Neu! - Isi 1975
2. Sparks - Music That You Can Dance To 1986
3. Grace Jones - Art Groupie 1981
4. Richard Davis - Common Sense 2005
5. Telefon Tel Aviv - Helen Of Troy 2009
6. The Magnetic Fields - The Man Amplifier (Young Marble Giants) 1995
7. The Legendary Pink Dots - When Lenny Meets Lorca 2000
8. Luke Haines - Going Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop 2006
9. Jah Wobble - Il Jevedro Il Oblacno 1998
10. The Residents - Loss: Neediness 2002
11. Mercy Arms - Kept Low (Cut Copy Remix) 2007
12. Klaus Nomi - Lightning Strikes 1985
13. The KLF - Last Train To Trancetral 1992
14. Van She - Kelly 2008


Download
http://www.divshare.com/download/6770724-678









MIXTAPE FOR APRIL 2009 - THE PICTURE MIX



photograph by euristis
http://euristis.deviantart.com/


Songs for a Plumed Rebel

1. Suicide - Dream Baby Dream (Single Edit)
2. From Monument to Masses - Old Robes (Antimc Remix)
3. Blondie - Atomic
4. Disco Inferno - New Clothes For The New World
5. Gene - Olympian
6. The Smiths - Sheila Take A Bow
7. Momus - Girlish Boy
8. Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Dancerama
9. Arthur Russell - All-Boy All-Girl
10. David Bowie - Rebel, Rebel (2003 Mix)
11. Antony & The Johnsons - Blue Angel
12. The Durutti Column - Spasmic Fairy
13. Patti Smith - Because The Night


Download:
http://www.divshare.com/folder/640642-030








MIXTAPE FOR MAY 2009 - THE SHOPPING LIST MIX




artwork by palm_art



The Shopping List


1. Buffy Sainte-Marie - Poppies
2. My Life Story - Claret
3. Morrissey - Glamorous Glue
4. Black Box Recorder - Factory Radio
5. The Birthday Party - Kewpie Doll
6. Pulp - Lipgloss
7. Geneva - Fall Apart Button
8. Magnapop - Piece Of Cake
9. The Autumns - Apple
10. Cabaret Voltaire - Black Mask
11. The Chameleons - Paper Tigers
12. Lloyd Cole - Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen)
13. The Dandy Warhols - The Coffee Tea and Wrecks
14. The Replacements - Little Mascara
15. The Sisters of Mercy - Ribbons


Download:
http://www.divshare.com/folder/640823-b7f








MIXTAPE FOR JUNE 2009 - DANCING NAKED



art Dancing Water by Nevery


Dancing Naked

1. Grafton Primary - All There Is
2. Rational Youth - Cité Phosphore
3. Fiat Lux - Blue Emotion (Extended Version)
4. PNAU with Ladyhawke - Embrace
5. Silver Jews - Punks In The Beerlight
6. Kylie Minogue - Can't Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head (Bootleg With New Order)
7. Silicon Teens - Yesterday Man
8. Chris & Cosey - October (Love Song) (Five Mix)
9. Sin Fang Bous - We Belong
10. Papas Fritas - Another Day
11. Erasure - Take Me On A Highway
12. Marsheaux - Regret (New Order)
13. Elegant Machinery - Move


Download:
http://www.divshare.com/folder/641006-e94

It is time to vote in the Festive 50.
So think back ... what new music did you enjoy listening to in 2009?
Then nip over to http://www.dandelionradio.com/festive50.htm and vote



Andrew Morrison:
Andy's 2-hours of audio for November's schedule introduces the pleasures of Pseudo Nippon to the masses, with an exclusively recorded session from this OIB Records act. Andy also showcases new unsigned material from Ay Yo Volcano, Raw Milk, DeadDogInBlackBag, Paradise 9 and Curtis, amongst others. Signed new music includes The Twilight Sad, Dave Swain, Hyperdub Records, Yeti Lane, Sad Day For Puppets and former session guests The Pony Collaboration. There's a shoegazey feel to Scott's Funky Five Minutes, and you'll also be reminded at regular intervals to vote in this year's Festive Fifty listeners' poll!


Jeff Grainger:
Following a furious battle with his PC Jeff managed to cobble together a jam packed 2 hour show. Playing tracks from this months featured albums; Invasion (The Master Alchemist) and dihedral (Alpha Tree) including a selection of acts from last months 'In The City'; Sweet Baboo, Young Rival, Humanizer and Crystal Fighters. from www.mutant-ape.co.uk we have Murder Book, plus Pama International and ...erm Lulu will be joining the fun and November's session is brought to us by the damn fine The Bordellos.
Rounding things off nicely there's more philosophical musings by Professor Alfie Grainger aged 3 and a half.


Marcelle:
What's in a name?

This month Marcelle hasn't made it easy for herself regarding song titles. For example, an exciting 12-inch series on the Raster Noton label has titles like 0607_LV_1_RE'!!
There's also very danceable music from Argentinia ('Trocitos' - another killer song title) and Benin ('Dadje Von O Von Non' - say no more!). Other song title gems: 'Hallay' (from Turkey) and 'Unitel' (from Germany). A calypso artist learns German and a postman is happily singing along with a famous band on a 'cult' Look Back Bore 7-inch (of November 1979).
More new tracks, from the likes of Soom T, tapes, Ebola, The Kabeedies, Jorg, High Places, Shackleton and Soft Circle make Marcelle's November show another exciting and unpredictable journey. There's even a Look Back Bore CASSETTE and two Gift's from God - revisited!!!


Mark Cunliffe:
We move into November like a marmoset on a mobility scooter, with all that speed and then the ability to climb to the top shelf to get at the Complan ...
So this month sees Karen Mukupa making like a marmoset and chasing a rude boy for all she can. Fish'll be struggling to get their crane through it's MOT and Genticorum are flinging in a Belgium stylee. Caspa's come up smelling of roses and Windmill are detonating a sound man, I'm not sure what Windy Miller will think about that!
Drumsound & Bassline Smith are lactating humans and Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers are going stargazing.
You know, they shouldn't let a Spinal Tap loving marmoset loose with a mobility scooter, it's dangerous having a speed dial going up to eleven ...


Mark Whitby:
There are two much-anticipated exclusives for the price of none in Mark's November show: the long-awaited second session from The Pocket Gods and three exclusive tracks from the 'lost' Factory Records album by Miaow.
We're also treated to a glimpse from the new Schuman The Human album, choice cuts from Retrigger, Ras Zacharri and Nadastrom amongst others, along with a timely dip into the festive fifty of thirty years ago and a speculative glance at what might have appeared had there been one ten years earlier.
And Mark also reveals some of the contents of a mysterious bulging bag picked up from a hotel near Manchester Airport...


Matt Jones:
This month's output from Matt is a three hour blast of new tunes and a few older ones chucked in for self indulgence sake. Tune in to hear brand new stuff from Wheeler, Shemian, Cloaks, Nissennenmondai, Jookabox, Sun Araw, Roshi feat Pars Radio, Brian Harnetty, Tickley Feather, Themselves, DJ /rupture, Claro Intelecto, Beat Circus and a new track from the ever mesmeric Jah Wobble.
All this, plus an amazing session from the electronic wizardry of Preston's finest purveyer of brain scrambling bleeps, bass and beats - The one and only Dilworth!


Pete Jackson:
November's show is a right mixed bag of nuts, with new albums from Lime Headed Dog, Fuck Buttons, Part Chimp and A Place to Bury Strangers meeting the less-well-known likes of Ghetto B Boys, Applesauce Tears and Barbara's Straight Son. Pete starts a new regular feature celebrating the hardcore punk explosion of the late 80s with a band named after a seasonal illness, we've a couple of great new releases from Sacred Bones Records and there's a decidedly German feel to cover versions from Katsen and Vibravoid.


Rocker:
As usual this month we have a packed three-hour show. There are new tracks from The Monorals; Babalon Anon; The Lovely Eggs; The Pains of Being Pure at Heart; The Cubical; Emmy the Great; Violet Violet; Vivian Girls; Thom Yorke; mike downey; Vowels; The Flaming Lips; and PENS.
There's new electronica from Matzak, and Claude VonStroke, and a killer remix of Alan Fitzpatrick's "Reflections" by Petar Dundov; also new tracks by both Burial and Martyn from the "5 Years Of Hyperdub" compilation, as well as some Russian dubstep which I am sure was named in honour of your fat DJ.
This month's Peel's Big 45 is by a British guitar band from 1965 on Decca, while this month's Educating Elizabeth is singularly a cover of a hit record, an instrumental, and a 2009 recording.
In a departure for Dandelion Radio, there's also some contemporary poetry, in the form of several tracks from the live album by the Black Country's finest, Long lost Frank.
As well as little known acts, here's a little known fact: Nicolas Matuszczak, aka Matzak, is a French pharmacist.


Simon Hickinbotham:
It's great to be back with a new show, even if its only for one hour. I'll be playing a whole bunch of new stuff I've found over the past couple of months, including stuff from Moolah Temple $tring Band, Bankai, B Eitan, Alien Hand, She Moved Through The Fair, Gum, and Orange Box.
Thanks for listening!


Ste McCabe:
In November on Dandelion I finally stop dragging my feet and bring you my first ever two-hour show, which proves surely to be my best yet! As I make my way through fake lambrini and smartprice tea (not at the same time), I debate and play all kinds of joys from current queer underground stars such as drunk granny, Gravy Train!!!!! and Husbands, outstanding alternative female energy from Das Wanderlust, Hotpants Romance and Death of the Elephant, as well as 90's classic grrrl punk rock from Bikini Kill and Sister George. I also give a special dedication to the late, great Kirsty MacColl who would have turned 50 just before November and play an under-rated classic from the wonderful lady herself. Enjoy!

Further to last week, it's time to move onto the next stage of my rundown of the last decade.

Last week: My top 100 tracks 2000-09 Pt.01: 100 to 81

80
Girls Against Boys
Basstation
You Can't Fight What You Can't See
2002

The only album one of my favourite bands released in this decade, and it was a minor return to a form for a band who had been through such a bad few years previously. Following the somewhat distastrous flirtation with a major label, and a producer that simply didn't work (while some of it was great, I'd love to know who thought that GVSB would make a great industrial-rock band), they retreated, regrouped and came back with an album that followed along the perhaps more logical path from career high-water mark House of GVSB. Which meant a two-bass-player led groovy rock attack, with Scott McCloud drawling his words of wisdom over the top. Opener Basstation - also the single, of course - was a great example of this, in other words what GVSB do best. No further new material has followed since, although the band have continued to play a handful of shows each year - and somehow I've missed every one of their visits to the UK since I last saw them back in 2003...

79
Luxt
Knock You Down
Chromasex Monkeydrive
2000

A band from Sacramento that never really made that much of an impression, who went from being industrial, to industrial-metal, to all but-metal with their last release, were more than a little bit strange. The twin female/male vocals were unusual in this scene, for starters, but in addition to that was their unusually aggressive and confrontational sound and attitude. This track - from their best album by bloody miles, where they got the industrial/metal balance spot on - is a perfect example of just how confrontational they could get, the whole lyric being a challenge to just try and fuck with lead singer Anna Christine. The track rocks like a bastard, too.

78
Pitchshifter
As Seen On TV
Deviant
2000

After the commercial breakthrough - and big success, comparatively - of www.pitchshifter.com, hopes were high for the follow-up album…and let's be honest, it wasn't as good. For starters, the electronics were toned down, a more punk ethic prevailed, and worst of all, the songs weren't as good. There was one particular exception, though, and it was perhaps no coincidence that this was the track that made it to the likes of Kerrang's cover CDs. A gleefully sneering guest vocal from Jello Biafra skewering US culture, and for once the punk-feel made perfect sense...

77
Immortal
Tyrants
Sons of Northern Darkness
2002

The last album the band put out before splitting, and then reforming again recently (their first album post-reformation, All Shall Fall, is out next week), this was an astonishing album from a band that I suspect many had thought were long past their best, and this track in particular stood out. No hyperspeed blastbeats here (they were elsewhere on the album), this slowed and stretched out Immortal's sound into a monstrous, lumbering beast that proved once and for all to me that there was more to this band than cliched BM and the corpsepaint.

76
Dismantled
Purity
Dismantled
2005

At the time, the closest thing we had to the Front Line Assembly of old, this album was more than a bit of a surprise when it first landed. A trip back into the nineties for an impeccably constructed industrial album, with a seemingly vague concept about the destruction of the world and the rebuilding that would follow that helped, along with an extraordinarily dense production, to make for a release that sounded like no other that year. This was the elegant opening track, that set the stall for what was to come. Gary Zon has changed his output considerably since, moving more towards actual songs and near-pop melodies since, and indeed his side-project is effectively synthpop...

75
Electric Wizard
Dopethrone
Dopethrone
2000

I'm not normally one for stoner doom, but this album caught me back when it was first released and I've loved it (and the band in general) ever since. A staggeringly heavy, slow-moving dirge that will not by any means be for everyone, it's perhaps best listened to as it was probably created - in a dense fog of dope smoke. The unusual mixing of the track (and indeed the album), burying the vocals beneath the monstrous guitar riffs and old horror movie samples, only adds to the oppressive atmosphere, and as the track unfolds across it's near-eleven minutes, it only gets heavier.

74
Clutch
The Mob Goes Wild
Blast Tyrant
2004

Clutch never seem to stop, meaning that there have been three studio albums, three live albums and a compilation released since the album this came from, only five years back. It's still my favourite album by them, too, and this track in particular is still my favourite track by them, period. A hulking monster of rock groove, it's feel-good rush is tempered somewhat if you pay attention to the lyrics, which detail the shitty treatment of the families of those in the US armed forces who come back in a coffin from Iraq. So, let's recap: a great song, and even better lyrics (and the video is hilarious, too). Also, how have I never managed to see this band live?

73
ManufraQture
Friqtion
in spite
2007

One of the countless industrial-metal bands to have come from the Chicago area in recent years, and yet another that I first discovered on compilations put out by Sean Payne from Cyanotic. By some considerable distance the best song the band have put out, it's a thumping, raging juggernaut of a track with lyrics aimed squarely at mid-west evangelists (and their preference for money over God), by the sounds of things.

72
Gallows
In The Belly Of A Shark
Orchestra Of Wolves
2007

I really wasn't expecting to like this. At the time, they were "the next big thing", a "hardcore" band who had suddenly shot to prominence in the metal/alt press...but then I heard this. A savage, writhing beast of a track (with an absolutely killer chugging beatdown to close it) that swiftly revealed just why there was such a fuss about the band. The album was equally kick-ass, too, with a whole slew of great hardcore tracks, some intriguingly emotionally-wraught lyrics, and a nice line in wordy titles, too...

71
Sunn O)))
Cursed Realms (Of the Winterdemons)
Black One
2005

Yes, a second mention for Immortal...kind of. Not that you could really know it was originally Immortal, as Sunn O))) reduced it to a roaring, crackling drone, with guitars apparently being played through treacle, and the vocals by Malefic (from Xasthur) apparently beamed in directly from the pits of hell. A track - actually fuck that, the whole album - that demands to be played stupendously loud, it's the end of the track that is the most astounding part - where the volume is quickly increased before stopping dead - a moment that I still can't predict and still scares the crap out of me every time I hear it.

70
Paradise Lost
Ash & Debris
In Requiem
2007

This album marked the point, at last, where Paradise Lost finally seemed to have won back most, if not all of their fans, after some years of polarising them with experiments with more electronics. The one point where most cannot agree, though, is with the best song on this album. Some make a convincing argument for Sedative God, but for me it's this track, it's driving urgency, the choral-esque vocals, the string samples...oh and the glorious, heart-stopping chorus when it finally arrives. It will be interesting to see how the new album fares when it is released in a month or so, too...

69
Je$us Loves Amerika
Tolerance Versus Rage
Advanced Burial Technology
2002

Now seven years old, this album is still pretty special - and we're still waiting on that follow-up, Paddy - an impressive collection of old-school-influenced industrial, with a raging, snarling vocal to match the harsh atmospheres and heavy duty tunes. The track I've picked? The short, sharp, shock that pretty much sums up the band's politicial outlook, with the track stuffed with well-placed samples about God, the US and George W. Bush...

68
Interpol
PDA
Turn on the Bright Lights
2002

It took me a long, long time to get into this band, but looking back I loved this track all the long, I just never paid attention to who it was. My fail, obviously. Sleek, polished indie-rock, with not half as much of a slavish Joy Division sound as some like to make out, this track's gently seething lyrics and barely-restrained contempt in the delivery is always a winner for me.

67
Depeche Mode
A Pain That I'm Used To
Playing The Angel
2005

It's not an easy opening - that grinding noise that cycles the speakers for the first ten seconds or so *hurts* - even if it is toned down for the single/video edit - but stick with it and this track is a gem. Yes, it comes from yet another DM album that turned out to be not as good as it should have been, but like every DM album in the last decade or so, there are a couple of simply awesome tracks, and this in my view is the best of this whole period. The racing theme of the video is perfectly apt, too - a slow start accelerates into life for the stomping chorus.

66
Machine Head
Imperium
Through the Ashes of Empires
2003

Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the greatest comeback tracks ever - as Allmusic.com put it(it) single-handedly eclips[es) the previous two and a half albums - this six-and-a-half-minute thrash titan served as a pretty fucking shit-hot reminder that Rob Flynn and his band had far more left in the tank than was thought, something only proven even more conclusively three years later by The Blackening. Absolutely immense live (they've opened with it both times I've seen the band, including the day-stealing appearance at Sonisphere in August), on record it loses none of it's power.

65
Acumen Nation
The Wreck Of Us (Guest Vox - Eric Powell)
What the F**k (10 Years of Armed Audio Warfare)
2005

It was criminal, frankly, that this track got tucked away on what was effectively a B-sides/rarities kind of compilation, rather than being the centrepiece of the album that eventually followed (Anticore). But maybe it was that it was a little less aggressive than the norm from this band that scuppered that. Whatever the reasons, the album this appeared on is worth it alone for this track - a pounding industrial dancefloor anthem with added vocal assistance from Eric Powell of 16Volt in the fantastic chorus. If you only ever listen to one Acumen Nation track, make it this one.

64
Assemblage 23
Let Me Be Your Armor
Addendum
2001

A similar fate greeted this, again one of the best ever tracks from this particular artist. I recall hearing a story - and I might be thinking of something else entirely - that this compilation pretty much exists due to the need to get this track released in between albums (and the remixes to pad out the collection already existed anyway), and even if it isn't true, this track is simply so good that it was going to get noticed anyway. An uptempo, string-sample-drenched missive questioning the use/need for antidepressants to numb the pain, it's gloriously anthemic chorus and melodies have meant it still gets requested on dancefloors eight years on (and rightly so, too). For the record, by the way, the rest of the album was a cracking collection of remixes and one other brilliant new track (Breath of Ghosts).

63
The Judas Coven
Burn Your Soul
appeared on Endzeit Bunkertracks Act III
2007

A project that had so much promise, but seemingly got ditched when Adam returned to doing lab4-related stuff. What a damned shame - this was an extraordinary, sparse and very, very dark electro-thrill. A couple of light years from LAB4, and all the better for it in my view, this appeared out of nowhere, and it's still something of a real shame that more material never got released.

62
Gogol Bordello
Not a Crime
Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike
2005

It's easy to forget, perhaps, amid the masses of press about how fantastic a live band these guys are, and their famous friends, just how great many of the songs are too. This track - a dizzying, punk-kinda-folk maelstrom with dub interlude (no, really) - appears to be suggestion that marajuana is not a bad thing in the slightest. If the results of smoking said weed really was music this exuberant and fun, it'd be legalised in an instant. Oh, and this track fucking rules live.

61
The Damage Manual
Damage Addict
>1
2000

A somewhat testy project from the start - this industrial supergroup seemed to be finding each other's company difficult from the first interviews - just for a short while they belied the ages of the group and created some astonishing music. This came from the original EP, and despite the mechanical rhythms and various samples, the whole thing flowed so well it sounded marvellously organic (and all-but bounced along on Jah Wobble's characteristically elastic bassline). And with the members of the band's punk/post-punk roots, this was perhaps the ultimate in "industrial punk". The follow-up album, when it eventually arrived, was not the same - needless to say the uneasy union of the original line-up survived only a couple of years - but the first EP and album are well worth getting.

Next week: My top 100 tracks 2000-09 Pt.03: 60 to 41

Favourites from April and May

North Sea Radio Orchestra - Harbour Wall
North Sea Radio Orchestra - The Angel
The two best tracks from an excellent album Birds released at the end of last year.

Andrew Bird - Not a Robot, But a Ghost
Andrew Bird - Oh No
from Noble Beast
Andrew Bird - You Woke Me Up!
from its companion album Useless Creatures
Only recently discovered Andrew Bird but loving most things he does.

Tetine - I go to the doctor
Cult Of The 13th Hour - Wickedness
From the Soul Jazz Singles 2008-09 compilation. All good stuff.

Neko Case - The Pharaohs
Devon Sproule - Don't HUrry For Heaven
Miranda Lee Richards - Life Boat
Three great tracks from US country-folksters.

Röyksopp - Miss It So Much
From a real grower of an album Junior. This track features Lykke Li. Others feature Robyn and Fever Ray who has her own fine album out from which the next track is taken.
Fever Ray - When I Grow Up

St Vincent - Save Me From What I Want
Hanne Hukkelberg - Crack
Highlights from follow-ups to albums I loved last year.

Miss Li - I Heard Of A Girl
More Scandanavian pop.

Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone
Great pop track that I finally heard way after it had been number one awhile.

Bat for Lashes - Pearl's Dream
School of Seven Bells - My Cabal
Great double bill at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in April.

Golden Silvers - Arrows of Eros
Most fun track from a so-so album.

Super Furry Animals - Pric
Super Furry Animals - Cardiff In The Sun
Exhilirating tracks from the best SFA album in many years.

Antony and the Johnsons - Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground
Track that was a highlight of his recent London concert.

The Decemberists - Won't Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)
from hit and miss concept album The Hazards of Love

The Horrors - Sea Within a Sea
The Horrors - I Only Think of You
Two best tracks from surprisingly good album Primary Colours

Jah Wobble - Happy Tibetan Girl feat. Zi Lan Liao
from Chinese Dub album

Easy Star All-Stars - Within You Without You featuring Matisyahu.
Reggae cover album of Sgt Pepper. Better than you might expect.

Tune-Yards - Jamaican
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - There Is No Light
Stuttery experimental pop

Scandal: SAKURAグッバイ (CD+DVD single)
Rita: multiple
Rita: magnetism
Blueberry&Yogurt (Rita): monologue
Blueberry&Yogurt (Rita): motion
平野綾:1st LIVE 2008 RIOT TOUR LIVE (DVD)
The Cult: The Manor Sessions (Electric demos)
Marc & The Mambas (Marc Almond): Torment And Toreros (2CD 2009 reissue - finally!!)
Tav Falco's Panther Burns: The Unreleased Sessions
Various artists: Seven Seals (Nature And Organization, Current 93, Tiny Tim, Nurse With Wound)
Nurse With Wound: May The Fleas Of A Thousand Camels Infest Your Armpits - Live At The Great American Music Hall June 16th& 17th 2006 (new release sold at last night's SF show)
Nurse With Wound: Ød Lot (new release sold at last night's SF show)
Dusty Springfield: Dusty In Memphis
Brian Eno: Here Come The Warm Jets
Paul Bowles: Baptism Of Solitude
Ute Lemper: Between Yesterday And Tomorrow
Sandie Shaw: The Best Of Sandie Shaw
The Fatima Mansions: Lost In The Former West
Jah Wobble: I Could Have Been A Contender (3CD box)
detroit7: detroit7
SPARTA LOCALS: 水のようだ
SPARTA LOCALS: Leecher
Omodaka: Favorite Games (CD+DVD)
SA: Samurai Attack
Flip: 母から生まれた捻くれの唄
SpecialThanks: Seven Colors
I've Sound: Departed To The Future (5CD/6DVD box, 10th Anniversary collection)

Hello people

I hope 2009 is serving you well thus far, we are already in February and 2009 has served up some tasty treats audio wise!

So let's delve straight in shall we?? My favourite two artists of the year so far, despite what my scrobbles say, are Janelle Monáe and Lily Allen. First off, Janelle; she's a bit of a tricky one to categorise, so why bother trying? The first song I heard by her, Lettin' Go!, is straight-up R&B. And that's certainly not a bad thing - it's a feel-good tune and I would say an uptempo version of Unemployed In Summertime. It makes you smile. Where Janelle gets interesting is with the E.P. she has released this year, the bizarrely titled Metropolis: The Chase Suite. It features a handful of tracks, mostly revolving around Cindy, a cyborg who has fallen in love with a human. And in Janelle's quite frankly fucked up future vision, this is a big big no-no. Maybe to prevent the spread of electro-gonorrhea as predicted by Professor Farnsworth in Futurama, maybe just down to prejudice. Bounty hunters are ordered to kill poor Cindy with "electro daggers" and to inflict as much pain as possible. Poor, poor Cindy. The EP ends on a melancholy note with the track Smile, which beautifully showcases Janelle's vocal talents.


Grammy-nominated track Many Moons

What else? Oh yes, the lovely Lily Allen Now I've only heard her E.P. The Fear, as you see I am being good and waiting until the official release date of the new album. Or until I can steal it off of my friend Graham later on in the day. The Fear itself is a gorgeous track and not what I expected Lily to come back with, and it's peaked my interest in her. Kabul Shit is again a brilliant track, having a message without being in-your-face about it. But the best track of all? It's a tale of an openly modern love affair, one we see in society every day, a true, enduring love that transcends sexual longing and where great minds meet. It's called Fag Hag. And it's perfect. With the lyrics:

"I could be your fag hag
And you could be my gay
I'd never make you feel sad
When you come out to play"

I put it on and it makes me happy. Why? Because it reminds me of my bestest best friend in the whole wide world, the lovely Cara. Who is also my very own fag hag. Although I must say I'm not too keen on banoffee pie in all honesty. Sigh.



Next, we'll travel back in time and journey across the River Tyne and on towards The Sage in Gateshead. And who will we meet here? Miss Grace Jones. She be strutting about in a black leotard and putting all kinds of crazy outfits on over the top of it. Including what people thought at one point was a Ku Klux Klan outfit when singing My Jamaican Guy. But it wasn't. She did however wear a laser hat which lit up the entire of the room when performing Love Is The Drug, kept up a hula ring for the entirety of Slave To The Rhythm and was pulling drunken Geordies up on stage for Pull Up To The Bumper. All the while declaring "my pussy too tight" and "Grace gotta get it more regular!" She had us eating out of her hands and it was the best live performance I have ever seen. All bow down to Grace! And all the while not being as unfortunate as poor Alan Carr.

Sadly Grace's support act, TRYBEZ, were nowhere near as good. In fact, they were the worst support act I have ever seen in my life. A demented Hispanic version of the Black Eyed Peas is the only way I can really describe them. Truly atrocious.

From there, we scoot across to iTunes where we a trio of artists discovered on Janelle Monáe's artist radio (well worth a listen). Here we find J*Davey, Chrisette Michele and Little Jackie.

Little Jackie is an artist that you should have in case of a rainy day when you need a pick-me-up as it's that kind of music. The Stoop and last year's moderate (i.e. top 20) hit The World Should Revolve Around Me are the best examples of this. That's when she's not dissing New York or London mind you.

J*Davey. I did have a very insightful point to make until my Asda food shop interrupted me, delivered by a Geordie man who just spouted a sentence I didn't understand. Prompting a very unsubtle, "sorry, what?" from me. Anyway. Yes, J*Davey are a strange one. They're like a more manic version of Erykah Badu who incorporate more electronic elements into their work. Jack Davey's voice is incredible, she manages to make the lyrics

"I'm that thug ass bitch, I carry a razor blade"

sound sexy. Apparently, The Beauty In Distortion / The Land Of The Lost is simply an EP (a 90 minute long EP) and there'll be another album on its way in the not-too-distant future. Drool. Even if you're not a fan of hip-hop per se (neither am I really) I'd give this album - sorry, EP - a twirl.

Last of the trio is Chrisette Michele. Initially - and rather foolishly - I dismissed her on the basis of her name, imagining her to be another drone of the Cassie-Kat DeLuna-Ciara ilk. Oh how wrong I was. This young lady channels the likes of Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Billie Holliday through her style and voice, all the while keeping it modern. Perfect while you chill out with a glass of wine in a lovely lush bath full of goodies. I wholeheartedly recommend these:



You'll smell scrummy.

On the original journal I wrote - yes I had done this all before, before hitting the "back" button on my browser and it getting erased (note: not a happy bunny) - that would have been it. However, I have purchased (legally) several other albums since then. Now my fingers are getting tired, I'll do a brief (and I mean brief) of each:

Miho Hatori - Ecdysis. This album is beautiful. No other word for it. It makes you sit and take notice, listening to every word oozing out of the former Cibo Matto singer's mouth. Set to become a firm favourite.

Lily Frost - Ciné-Magique. I listened to this when I was tired. And it made me even more tired. I think this could become an in-the-bath album in the same vein as Chrisette's. I'll have to try it when I'm not on my way to sleep.

Nneka - No Longer At Ease. I love the elements combined on this album, and on first listen, it sounds good. Which in time, means I think it'll be great. For now...not much more to say on it, although I would recommend it methinks.

Jah Wobble - Chinese Dub. Like Sa Dingding, here Jah is bringing contemporary Chinese-style music (note: not c-pop) to a Western audience. And it works wonderfully. Recommended.

Also picked up a couple of Little Dragon tracks on iTunes that are well worth a listen, as well as the EP from former Dead Disco chanteuse Little Boots. Can't wait for an album from her.

There you have it. I'm off to rub deep heat over my poor fingers. Actually I'm off to the Post Office to send off the items I sold on eBay. Ho hum.

As always Big Love to everyone here.

Tom x x x

p.s I've hidden goodies throughout here in sneakily tucked away blue writing, much like this. Enjoy!

summer 2006
dowload: diepvries - special agent mix.mp3
http://www.flexx.be/diepvries/?p=210

TRACKLIST

01. Carlos Santana - Aqua Marine
02. Robin Trower - Caravan To Midnight
03. Lonnie Liston Smith - Summer Nights
04. Ian O Brien - Eden
05. Santana - Song Of The Wind
06. Francois Kevorkian presents Jah Wobble, The Edge, Holger Czukay - Hold On To your Dreams
07. Shuggie Otis - Aht Uh Mi Hed
08. Jorge Ben - Para Que Digladiar
09. Asche & Spencer - I Needed You
10. 10 CC - I’m Not In Love
11. Kool & The Gang - Summer Madness
12. Shuggie Otis - Pling!
13. Paul McCartney - Sunshine Sometime (demo)
14. Billy Cobham - Heather
15. Asche & Spencer - Resignation
16. A Band Called O - Coasting
17. Uusi Fantasia - Fantasia
18. Pete Rock - Pete’s Jazz
19. Boards Of Canada - Olson

Carlos Santana,Robin Trower, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ian O Brien, Santana, Francois Kevorkian, diepvries, Jah Wobble, The Edge, Holger Czukay, Shuggie Otis, Jorge Ben, Asche & Spencer, 10 CC, Kool & The Gang, Paul McCartney, Billy Cobham, A Band Called O, Uusi Fantasia, Pete Rock, Boards of Canada, flexx.be, dj mix, flexx

November
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
Juno Reactor - Transmissions
Amon Düül II - Nada Moonshine #
Amon Düül II - Live in Tokyo
led zepellin - Led Zepellin IV
led zepellin - Presence
Vangelis - Chariots Of Fire
The Future Sound of London - Environments
Marillion - Clutching At Straws
Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart - The Celtic Poets
Tangerine Dream - Atem
Tangerine Dream - Poland
Tangerine Dream - White Eagle
Tangerine Dream - Electronic Meditation
Tangerine Dream - Tyger
Tangerine Dream - Green Desert
Tangerine Dream - Le Parc

October
Cabaret Voltaire - Technology: Western Re-Works 1992
Minnie Ripperton - Les Fleurs
Jah Wobble - The inspiration of William Blake
Camel - Breathless
Van der Graaf Generator - The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
The Fiery Furnaces - Rehearsing My Choir
Ozric Tentacles - Live Underslunky
The Verve - A Storm In Heaven
Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
Rick Wright - Broken China
The Verve - Forth
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music Of Pink Floyd
Order Odonata: Experiments That Identify Change…
Underworld & Gabriel Yared - Breaking And Entering
The Prodigy - Baby's Got a Temper
Fluke - Tosh
Biosphere - Microgravity
Pete Namlook, Klaus Schulze & Bill Laswell (The Dark Side Of The Moog) The Dark Side of the Moog VII

September
Killing Joke - Democracy
The Chemical Brothers - Brotherhood
Syd Barrett - Opel
Yes - Fragile

August
Jeff Wayne The War Of The Worlds - UllaDubUlla 2 The Remix Album
Underworld - Underneath the Radar Eventually!!!
Camel - Rajaz
Camel - On the Road 1981
Amon Düül II - Wolf City

July
Shpongle - Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost
Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release
Hawkwind - Space Ritual
Eat Static - Back to Earth
Juno Reactor - Gods & Monsters

June
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
The Pigeon Detectives - Emergency
Volume One Compilation
ELO - Time
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
System 7 - Point 3 Water Album
Zabriskie Point Soundtrack
The Future Sound of London Present The Pulse EPs
Beltram & Program 2 - The Omen
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
London Elektricity - NHS12: Pull The Plug (CD Version)
Slam Vs UNKLE - Narco Tourists
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Klaus Schulze - Dig It
Portishead - Third
Dead Can Dance - Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
The Future Sound of London - From The Archives Volume 4
Charasmatix - Soma Agents
The KLF - Justified & Ancient
Aphex Twin - 54 Cymru Beats / Cock 10
Eat Static - Interceptor Remixes

May
Pete Namlook & Klaus Schulze (The Dark Side Of The Moog) The Dark Side Of The Moog XI
Artificial Intelligence
Camper Van Beethoven - Telephone Free Landslide Victory
The Black Dog - Parallel
Gonzales - Presidential Suite
Members of Mayday - Anthems
NovaMute Version 1:1
The Black Dog with Black Sifichi - Unsavoury Products

April
Howie B - Turn The Dark Off
Gary Numan - Dark Wonders
Hawkwind (and others) - The Best Of Friends & Relations
The Fratellis - Costello Music
Mellow Mellow - I Can't Stop
Pink Floyd - London 1966/1967
Plastic Compilation Volume 01
The Orb - Okie Dokie It's The Orb on Kompakt

March
M.A.N.D.Y. - Fabric38