baby baby don't drop it

Last night, DJ Bus Station John dropped this Anita Ward track, and it has been ringing in my ears ever since.



More later today!

this man can kiss my grits

Because his products keep failing on me. Only six months after my MacBook Pro was in the shop for one month, an absolutely insane I/O error (which essentially means you are fucked) has wreaked havoc on my OS again. Get this: both this time and the last time this happened, it occurred RIGHT AFTER INSTALLING UPDATES. I treat my computer well, yet there is no end to the problems I've been having with it. So once again, I had to back up a veritable cornucopia of files and am now heading to the Apple store in downtown San Francisco. I'll keep updating the blog-- after all, my external HD is quite light-- but posts may be slightly sporadic.

Sorry for the inconvenience. Here's a track to get you moving.

Tom Browne- Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)

now that's what i call fantasy

Hope you didn't buy anything today.

My friends, the boys of Teengirl Fantasy, have given me a new-ish track that they've been playing since this past spring, but which had yet to arrive in a recorded form that they liked. "Now That's What I Call Volume 2" is a slow-burner-- not too heavy on the kicks, but with a dusty bass-line, a carnivalesque main synth progression, and lush gauzy backing synths. The drum programming hisses and steams in near dub-step fashion, and the new addition of ethereal female orgasm noises makes the track's second part a real hot one. Awesome stuff from the Fantasy, as always.

Nick and Logan, as they are known to their familiars, have a new-ish remix of Telepathe out now on London's Merok, and the label is putting out a limited-edition 7" by the boys in mid-December. I would argue that they're the most interesting group that the label has put out, but this is neither the time nor place-- with one year as a group, Nick and Logan have already accomplished what takes some many years. Congratulations and good cheer all around!

Teengirl Fantasy- Now That's What I Call Volume 2

Tomorrow, some hot cool new something.

interbellum

Today, a departure from beats for a bit of relaxation, a bit of organic warmth. A few weeks ago, after I had posted a track by Stars of the Lid, a former co-owner of Kranky Records contacted me about his new label (Flingco Sound System) and its newest release, by one Brendan Burke who goes under the name of Interbellum. The record, Over All of Spain the Sky is Clear, is punctuated by gorgeous string/piano harmonies, a halting sense of melancholy, and a dreaminess that can only come from long sustains on a cello. Samples gurgle slightly in the background, as if a conversation below the oft-unusual harmonies and open musical forms that Burke conjures. Quite a lovely record that sits nicely with Stars of the Lid and other 'slow' experimental forms, Interbellum's effort comes out on December 8, and is a highly-recommended slice of music for the coming winter months.

Indeed, it is simply recommended no matter the season; I especially can't get enough of the track below-- the swells are palpable, the tones so 'pure' that the listener finds it impossible not to close the eyes and drift with Burke's music-craft.

Interbellum- Moitessier Turns Back

To all of you celebrating, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Tomorrow, a Black Friday treat from the boys of Teengirl Fantasy. Screw shopping, let's have a dance party!

i see you in my dreams

A few things: I haven't been posting that much for a couple of reasons, the most notable being that I'm doing some exciting writing projects. The other is that I've simply been listening to SO MUCH great music that I could reach my YSI quota in a day or two if I posted it all, and I want to save some space for my end-of-the-year round-up, coming in mid-December. (This year it will include Best Singles, Best Albums and Best Discoveries, the latter of which will involve some of the more esoteric stuff I occasionally post). So, ON WITH IT.

Today, I offer you another track by the astounding Norma Jean Bell, one of Detroit's finest r&b/house producers, a good friend of Kenny Dixon Jr., and a fantastic sax player to boot. "Dreams" (featuring Debbie Welch) is a Kenny Dixon-produced, 120-bpm number with some luscious synth work, some ungodly crisp drum programming, near-infrasonic bass rumbles, and some very fine vocals by Norma Jean and Ms. Welch. There's also the looped samples to mention: the mid-level, backwards warped pseudo-vocal bit forms the backbone of the track. Nobody can ever get enough Norma Jean Bell-- she is truly one of the most fabulous house ladies you'll ever come across. From her 2001 album, Come Into My Room.

Norma Jean Bell- Dreams (featuring Debbie Welch)

Tomorrow, it'll come at ya.

yeah....yeah

The mix is almost done-- features all sorts of sounds. But mostly some heavy soulful shit.

So, a new bit from Europe. There's been tons of debate about the nature of deep house recently, with two camps forming: the die-hard US nationalists and the more laissez-faire Europeans. (And some who aren't on either side). Though I lean towards the production aesthetics and musicianship displayed on US deep house releases, I also think it is a bit silly to diss The Continent unfairly. Why? Well, because of releases like this one:

Motor City Drum Ensemble is an alias of Danilo Plessow of Stuttgart, who keeps himself quite busy. Plessow's Detroit house worship is ever-present on these releases, from the label artwork to the sample-heavy tracks, the lush Rhodes synth sounds to the alias itself. One could play the 115-bpm track next to Theo or Omar or Kenny and it would make perfect sense, especially given the heavy kicks and chunky, near-smeared handclaps. So, roll down your windows and catch this joint.

Motor City Drum Ensemble- Raw Cut 3

The mix and another wild track tomorrow.

face tear

Because tear is come to your face. FACE TORN.

Experimental Audio Research- D.M.T. Symphony (Overture to an Inhabited Zone)

Tomorrow, all sorts.