feeling's tight

Today, a 1979 disco classic from GQ, "Disco Nights (Rock Freak)." Nice wah-ed out guitars, some great work on the organ and keys, and excellent vocal harmonies. Just wish the track was a bit longer!

GQ- Disco Nights (Rock Freak)

Also, I behoove you to check out some advance proofs of the first official book to be released by DJHistory, The Disco Files 1973-1978 by Vince Aletti, including some amazing photos, playlists from Larry Levan and other DJ pioneers, and Aletti's own weekly analysis of the disco movement from its infancy until its heyday. Download a PDF of some proofs here. Looking great, yeah?

drift therapy

My brother in house, Leo, sent me a wonderful track from Fred P.'s latest split release with Connecticut's DJ Jus-Ed. "Theropy" is a 126-bpm deep bit, with hypnotic congas, a nice muffled kick, and synths reminiscent of Carl Craig's early work. Delayed vocal samples and crisp hand-claps make the track real winner, something nice and groovin' perfect for starting off a deep set. Check it, spread it!

Fred P.- Theropy



Next up, a track from Glimpse's upcoming record on Planet-E. Carl Craig's remix of "Drifting" is a 125-bpm, more restrained take on the original. The melodic loop is kept back until the point of breaking, then the piece explodes as excellently-panned pseudo-squelch and hi-frequency washes abound. The main loop itself is given more reverb, some hallucinatory alterations and excellent snips which will sound great on a big club system. The drum programming is also consistently more interesting and subtle than the original-- not surprising given Mr. Craig's penchant for such! Excellent stuff, hop on this.

Glimpse- Drifting (Carl Craig Remix)

Tomorrow, some stuff about books and some disco for your ears. I am in Chicago from the 11th until the 15th, so expect some wildness in the next week, especially because I am finally witnessing a live Moodymann set on Valentine's Day!!

on our way home

Past week has been insanity with work, new friends just moved to town, housing interviews, and what not. Sorry if this blog has been dusty!

That said, I've been listening to lots more hip-hop-oriented stuff as of recent-- nothing too radio-friendly, but some gems. Perhaps one of the most heralded albums of 2008 was Los Angeles by Flying Lotus, and with good reason. Along with some more danceable numbers like "Parisian Goldfish" (which also functioned as a soundtrack to an unaired Tim & Eric bit), the album is full of some truly insane, left-field beats. "RobertaFlack" is a smoothed-out, almost neo-soul number with a nice, lazy roll to it, an excellent melodic loop, hi-frequency synth squawks and lazered moments, and some very ethereal vocals, courtesy of Dolly. The track's end features some hallucinogenic acid lines of great sonic texture. A fucking plus.

Flying Lotus- RobertaFlack (featuring Dolly)



Next up is a track from Omar-S' hip-hop record. "Turn and Walk Away" just has that special sound of old-school hip-hop: beautiful cracklin' piano samples, crisp hi-hats and near-explosive snare hits. The nostalgic quality to the track is inescapable, and really makes me feel great. Should do the same for you! Now we just need some vocals on this biz.

Omar-S- Turn and Walk Away

Soon enough: a great, unheralded deep piece from last year.

detroit cruise

Yesterday, I caved and bought some records at Tweekin in the Lower Haight, and also had some good talk with Chris, who runs this blog and is quite a knowledgeable head. Though I eventually settled on an '05 joint from Theo Parrish and the fantastic Move Me EP on Philpot from MXM, Chris wisely recommended the excellent Serge Ponsar track below-- a regular feature in Ron Hardy's sets back in the day, and definitely a fantastic buy.



Some downloadable stuff coming later today-- I'm gunning for this amazing upcoming track from Space-cadet Nima Gorji, but who knows?

channel spirit

Today, a track from a somewhat fresh face in house, Pierre LX, who cut his teeth in Brazil and now resides in London. His upcoming EP on Initial Cuts, Sketch Drive, is astonishing in its pure homage to deep, US house along the lines of older Delano Smith and more mellow Kerri Chandler. "Gabita" is a 120-bpm mellow bit, with booming kicks, sopping hand-claps, a subtle little bass-line, and lush backing synths. A familiar descending melody, horn punctuations and truly crystalline tambourine bits round out this track, making for some perfect house music that is sure to please even the Euro-haters on this side of the pond. The EP comes out in February, and features an awesome remix by Jus-Ed, so watch for it!

Pierre LX- Gabita

Later today, thinking some left-field hip-hop? Yeah.

returning from the hunt

I uploaded this for a friend a couple days ago, so jump on it quickly! African Pygmy music is some of the best in the world, and definitely some of my favorite stuff to listen to. A serious jam, this one-- the rhythms make you weep.

The Ba-Benzele Pygmies- Song of rejoicing after returning from a hunt (rhythm djoboko)

More. Later.

you got the love

Sorry for the absence-- friends in town, sleeping in my bed, going out to brunch, etc. In other words, I was having fun away from the computer for a bit.

But as promised, here is a track from 1991, which features the inimitable Candi Staton and the Source on a rework/mash of Jamie Principle's "Your Love." Sent to me by a dear friend, I'd never heard this piece. Quite shocking considering my love for Staton and Jamie Principle, but wonders never cease. Though I miss the sexy gay-ness of Principle, Staton's pipes really get to me on this track-- what a lovely voice, and what a fantastic career this woman has had!

Source featuring Candi Staton- You Got the Love

Later today, something new or (perhaps_) a bit older? And the 'later today' caveat is for real!