white sands, golden branches

Okay, so I flaked out on yesterday's post-- got kind of busy. So today, I'll have two tracks for you rather than one.

First off is a new remix by Ink & Needle of James Mowbray and Leiam Sullivan's "Tropical Heights," put out recently by Four:Twenty. While the original is a pleasant if not altogether exciting mid-tempo house track, the Ink & Needle remix is a gorgeous techno banger. It moves along at 128 bpm with nicely padded kicks and great bass bounce. A hi-mid, well-panned synth note performs much of the work in the first part of the track, being twisted in and out of itself, stretched, crazily-filtered. By the track's mid-point, after we have heard the vocal sample drolly say "tropical heights" twice, an effervescent melodic line comes in just in time to complement a sampled monologue about...well, tropical heights. Hi-frequency washes, powerful hand-claps and subtle, stick-like secondary percussion also mark the track. If you can't make it to the end of Ibiza's season, this might just transport you there for a good nine minutes-- Ink & Needle's work has been impeccable this year, and let's hope the trend continues.

James Mowbray & Leiam Sullivan- Tropical Heights (Ink & Needle Remix) Removed by request



Next up is a 1970 piece written and performed by Harold Budd, a pioneering electronic musician based in California. The piece, "The Oak of the Golden Dreams," might just be one of the more warmly gorgeous works of its type and time. Written for and performed on one of the infamous Buchla synthesizers, the piece is a pulsating, overtone-filled, quite relaxing bit of oscillatory music, sounding a bit like an electronic South Indian raga. While not necessarily keeping with the usual program of new(ish) techno, house and d'n'b, "The Oak of the Golden Dreams" is much too wonderful to not share. Bliss out!

Harold Budd- The Oak of the Golden Dreams

Next up? You'll just have to wait, but I'm thinking something special.

big island odyssey

Today's first track is a real killer by Len Faki, out now on a split 12" with 2000 & One. "Odyssee I" has big pulsating bass, great kicks, finger-snaps, well-placed congas, and the synths! High, panning washes reminiscent of Basic Channel, super-bright melodic lines coupled with harsher (yet strangely complementary) lines forming wonderful harmonies, and even some low, acidy squelch thrown in for good measure. At 125 BPM, it is a mid-paced yet epic track that is made to rock the dance-floor hard. Finally, though it is altogether different as a whole, the finger-snaps and movement of the track sometimes made me think of the excellent Eulberg & Ananda remix of Cold's "Strobelight Network."

Faki himself has been having a great year, what with the success of "Rainbow Delta/Mekong Delta" (and its remixes), as well as this new work. His mixes are also terrific, and I urge a listen to them.

Len Faki- Odysee I



Next up is the newest remix from Luciano, a name synonymous with lushly minimal, complex techno. His take on "Honolulu" by the boys of Digitaline does not hold any surprises: it is fantastic. Though not as banging and bouncy as the original, Luciano takes the bass lines, bright idiophones and Hawaiian-flavored percussive elements and creates a masterpiece of syncopation and phase changes. Incorporating the panoply of sounds found on the original to create an entirely separate and different track, it is almost hard to conjure the track as a remix. (Though it is quite easy to hear a bit of mid-period Ricardo on the track). Nevertheless, most everything Luciano touches seems to turn to gold, and this narcoleptically mesmerizing record is no exception.

Digitaline- Honolulu (Luciano's Liliuokalani Mix)

Tomorrow? A new Ink & Needle remix! The next day? A break from the beats for a wonderful Buchla piece by Harold Budd! So keep on coming.

on the radio

So, I do a once-weekly radio show on WOBC 91.5 FM, Oberlin College & Community Radio. Luckily for those who don't live within a 15 mile radius of Oberlin, all broadcasts are available in real-time as streams on the WOBC website. Mark your Tuesdays from 8-10 pm for "Far from Shore," my show. Archives (and perhaps podcasts) should be available soon!

Onto the show itself: this is not a dance music show. Rather, it is an exploration of electronic music, from its beginnings to its classical heyday to its current role in experimental and dance music (as well as everything in between). I'm just as likely to play Harold Budd and David Behrman as Luciano and Jichael Mackson, so be prepared for anything. Here is a playlist from last week, just to give you a bit of an idea of what's going on.

George Lewis- Voyager Duo 5
Ame- Fiori
Nils Petter Molvaier- Tlon
Muffler- Waves Breaking
David Behrman- On the Other Ocean
Boris Kovac- Sacred Millstone
Henrik Schwartz- Walk Music
Gas- Pop 7
Brendon Moeller- Space
Closer Musik & Mikkel Metal- One Two Three (No Gravity)
Carl Craig- A Wonderful Life
Business Man- Dubby Games
Fluxion- Aviation
Pom Pom- Pom Pom 29a

This week will be a bit heavier on the experimental classical side of electronic music, but should include some of the more gratifyingly complex moments present in today's techno scene. So, tune in!!

Tomorrow, look forward to a new Luciano remix of Digitaline and a epic banger from Len Faki, who might just be one of the best producers of 2007.

for the family

Today's first track is a Robert Babicz remix of a fine electro-house track by Kolombo on Karate Klub. While the original is a harmonically good if somewhat unexciting electro track, Babicz's mix tears the original to shreds. His kicks are muddier, the bass bounces along with much more power, and the excellent panning adds a nice ecstatic feel to the track. Additionally, the melodic lines are extended upon beautifully and combined to form some excellent moments of harmony. While the sound is somewhat reminiscent of Bodzin/Romboy productions at points-- particularly at the peak-- the track is generally a bit more dry and glitchy than any of their works. One could compare some of the higher-mid synth sounds to those used by Minilogue, but really, Babicz is inhabiting a sound of his own here, and is sure to please those who appreciate lushly-arranged, epic techno tracks.

Kolombo- Model (Robert Babicz Remix)



Next up is a real mind-melter by Teebee & Noisia on Subtitles Music. "Moon Palace" begins with an ambient loop of hums and crackles more akin to drone noise groups, but eventually builds to a mid-tempo d'n'b beat replete with congas (and simultaneous synth stabs), a wormy bass-line, and half-time percussive flourishes here and there. The main, two-note descending melodic line is a lesson in how to make the synths sound big yet understated at the same time. Finally, the fact that the looped drones remain in place throughout the track-- hell, they even form the break-- is quite mesmerizing, and only make the beat-driven sections of the track that much more energy-filled. Both Teebee and Noisia are quite well-known, and many of their releases are worth checking out, so do so, and enjoy the moon palace (a wink to 170 Unit on that note ;-)

Teebee & Noisia- Moon Palace



Next up is something that only a few people have ever heard. It was made by some good friends (including the guys behind eeshirtay and 'i like it like that' blog) a few years back. During that period, they were both taking lots of E and making tracks most of the day, and this is the best of their labors. Though the leveling could use some work-- one of them loves bass a bit too much-- I still think it to be a wonderful track with lots of drama, and a hook that could put a goddamn sturgeon onto the dance floor. Enjoy!

cchg- Chinaman Papa (Mix 2)

many happy returns

Finally, after an extended hiatus, Deep Movements is back for good (barring future hard-drive failures). Hope your time has been good-- mine certainly has been. But onto the music!

First track of the day is from Convextion, also known as Gerard Hanson. Though mysterious and not especially prolific, Hanson has made a name for himself as a producer with his roots in dark, brooding Detroit techno, with a sound most easily compared to Basic Channel or the releases from their Chain Reaction label. "Consumer Identity," from the Romantic Interface EP on AW Recordings, is a slow-burning track that begins with a soft-synth drone with hi-frequency melodic blips. When the beat comes in (and the synths begin some nice phasing), the track is almost jungle-like, with descending bass hits and proggy synths. Old school string stabs punctuate the track, and a string drone along with the requisite melodic bleeps end it. Sometimes reminiscent of Quadrant, but a bit less dry in its production, this newest bit from Convextion should only continue to convince the techno world of the purity and originality of Hanson's productions.

Convextion- Consumer Identity



No longer embarassed to admit my love for Stephan Bodzin's productions, I've been quite excited about the re-release of his "Superlicious," which originally came out in 2006 on Craft Music. Released under his Swoop moniker, "Superlicious" is a typical Bodzin production: low rumbling bass throughout, monumentally epic melodic synth lines, and a flair for peaks and valleys that is almost unparalleled. Though there is little complexity here, it doesn't matter: Bodzin's productions make dance-floors lose their minds, and at the end of the night, that's what really matters.

Swoop- Superlicious


Next post, look forward to a new Robert Babicz remix of Kolombo, the sickest new d'n'b from Teebee & Noisia, and a special treat.

oh noes

My hard drive is bust. Luckily, I was able to back 99.9% of my music files up, and most of my other documents as well. Computer should be back within the week, so look for posts then. Sorry about this, and do remember to visit again!

And if you haven't heard it yet, buy the new Jichael Mackson record, as it is most certainly one of my favorites of the year so far.

get into this drive

Never thought I'd be using an lol-cat as an image, but then again, I've never posted about the mid-80s Italo group named Doctor's Cat.

In some ways, there is very little to say about these two tracks-- they are simply among the most essential Italo-disco tracks ever released, with boundless energy (or should I say NRG?), fantastic synth hooks, great male/female vocal harmonies, and just enough cheese to make them wildly fun to dance to. Listen and I'm sure you'll agree.

Doctor's Cat- Feel the Drive

Doctor's Cat- Gee Wiz

Next time, look forward to a new Jichael Mackson track and a surprise. Also, sorry for the long period between posts-- I've been moving into a new apartment, and things have been a bit crazy. More frequent updates start today!