Although Rabih Beaini sure likes to improvise (check him performing live with his analogue setup whenever you can), he has managed to develop a puzzling signature sound that is as rough and ready as it is beautifully textured and detailed. In comparison to this album, most of 2011‘s other productions in electronic music sound like wringing a handful of mediocre ideas to death with a considerable array of gadgets, but no result. Truly individual music from a true individual.
02. Reel By Real: Surkit Chamber – The Melding (Artless)
Considering how long Martin Bonds was an active part of Detroit Techno’s history books, the actual released output was irritatingly scarce. Listening to 2010‘s retrospective on the same label, I had the feeling that he was perfectly fine with keeping his back catalogue slim but impressive. And then this came along, a collection of more recent tracks, and I just felt grateful that this lovingly curated album made public what could have been missed so easily, yet again. Employing a much wider set of references, this is the sound of Motor City transcending the paralysis of its own tradition and then some.
Admittedly some of the most determined space traveller’s recent output is not without flaws, but never enough so as to get me tired of his ongoing mission to refine his sound. Still, every single one of his releases seems to be more unique and consequent than the majority of Techno productions some are ready to dismiss him for. He has created his own universe, and he roams in it. His music has surpassed club credentials, and even if some of his concepts may be pretentious, I would never blame him for pursuing his interests and painting them with his increasingly more spaced-out sounds that are so obviously his own. Let others try to reach the point where they become their own reference. Most will be forgotten when Jeff Mills will be heading for yet another galaxy.
So many tales about the ruthless business tactics of the early Chicago House labels, and unfortunately most of them are true. I don’t even want to know how many gems have never seen the light of day because not every artist was willing and able to take a stand against that. I’m just grateful that sometimes things turn out how they should have, no matter how long it takes. This box set has not a track on it without the power to name and shame legions of clueless copycats. It is a testimony to musicians doing music because they just have to, even without anybody even having the chance to notice it. For every House afficionado still admiring the sheer beauty of their original Trax releases, they did more, in more styles, and now, at last, it can be heard.
It is almost ridiculous that Surgeon is regularly drawn into the debate about what will become of Dubstep since it embraced Techno. For certain, he does not have to worry to deliver less in a genre newly discovered than in a genre left behind. Both Dubstep and Techno owe a lot to his work as DJ and producer, and this album does not even stress that, it just shows how he keeps getting better and better with what he does, and how he will thus be ever important to what is going on.
It seemed that as soon as rumour spread about the two collaborating in a session, the album was about to be released. But it certainly does not sound like a quickfire result. It is impressively accomplished, and already after a short while in, you begin to care less about who contributed what to the proceedings. It is just what modern electronic music should sound like when two major talents get together and nothing less. Keep the continuum and post-whatever talk for those who artistically vanish trying.
07. Container: LP (Spectrum Spools)
And suddenly, among all the good ole warehouse days mimicry, be it by means of analogue equipment or software replica, appeared this album. And it blew most of the competition to bits. I still do not know much about the artist nor do I care. I just hope he continues with this considerably psychotic and no less gripping take on the sounds of way back when and transforming it into something way ahead. A fine example for that it is always better to deconstruct than to reconstruct your references. It just lasts longer.
08. Drums Off Chaos + Jens Uwe Beyer: Drums Off Chaos + Jens Uwe Beyer (Magazine)
One of the most interesting German labels around. All their releases so far do not only look great, they sound great as well. I do not have the slightest doubt that it will be this way for quite some time to come. I’m not particularly knowledgeable in the Krautrock area but enough to maintain that the label’s initial agenda to fuse the modern sound of Cologne with the vintage sound of the German experimental ‘70s is so well-executed that it not only matters but becomes something else entirely. And I trust those people to come up with surprises as well. This project is of course already convincing by the names of the people involved. Jaki Liebezeit is not one to rely on past laurels, and his drumming is as tight and complex as ever, plus it mingles perfectly with the sounds of Beyer’s synths. The generation gap is hereby closed.
I can quite understand some people having their doubts about the music of Ekoplekz. To the passing listener it might seem chaotic, unstructured, aimless even. Retrofuturism drawer opens, Ekoplekz disappears. I, however, am old enough to vividly remember the vast output of the ‘80s tape circuit and all the wonderful ideas that came with it. And the ideas of Ekoplekz are so wonderful that they merit whatever release he has in mind. Kudos to Punch Drunk for featuring someone not afraid to merge the UK progress in bass and beats with sounds lifted from a romantic take on all the library musicians and electronic sound experimentalists who never had their say. Keep soldering that DIY gear and make me happy!
10. Kid Creole & The Coconuts: I Wake Up Screaming (Strut)
Of course the Kid’s comeback could not compare to the masterpieces of his past. The Coconuts are not the same, nor is his band. But as with his cohort Coati Mundi’s recent album, the lyricist wit is still there, as are some of the songs. As if I would mind. For me August Darnell is a genius and forever will be, and just to know that he keeps on doing what he is doing is well enough for me.
The Staple Singers – Trippin’ On Your Love Vance And Suzzanne – I Can’t Get Along Without You Lou Rawls – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine Curtis Anderson – The Hardest Part The Jackson Sisters – I Believe In Miracles Lamont Dozier – Breaking Out All Over Beverly And Duane – Take A Ride Tony Troutman – What’s The Use Switch – Keeping Secrets Arnie’s Love – I’m Out Of Your Life Michael Wycoff – Looking Up To You Howard Johnson – Keepin’ Love New Goldie Alexander – Go Back Johnny King And The Fatback Band – Peace, Love Not War Love Unlimited – Under The Influence Of Love Sister Sledge – Thinking Of You Damaris – What About My Love? Gene Chandler – Make The Loving Worthwhile Bobby Womack – Daylight Flowers – For Real The Fabulous Play Mates – Ain’t Gonna Be No Fool (For You) The Miracles – Do It Baby Creative Source – You Can’t Hide Love Bobby Reed – The Time Is Right For Love Keni Burke – Risin’ To The Top Lamont Dozier – Take Off Your Make Up Jackie Wilson – Beautiful Day Main Ingredient – Work To Do Taj Armstrong – You’ve Got So Much Feeling (In Your Love) Carol Williams – You’re So Much A Part Of Me The Detroit Spinners – One Of A Kind (Love Affair) Johnny Bristol – Do It To My Mind Delegation – 12th House Five Stairsteps – Ooh Child Tom Brock – If We Don’t Make It Nobody Can
True Example – As Long As You Love Me The O’Jays – This Time Baby Carol Douglas – My Simple Heart Family Of Eve – I Wanna Be Loved You Timeless Legend – I Was Born To Love You The Montclairs – Unwanted Love Bill Harris – Am I Cold, Am I Hot Melvin Moore – All Of A Sudden Ernest Baker – Alone Again Bobby Sheen – Something New To Do Coke Escovedo – I Wouldn’t Change A Thing Winfield Parker – I Wanna Be With You James D. Hall – I Wanna Get Into You Tom Brock – Naked As The Day I Was Born Norman Connors – Once I’ve Been There Tony Fox – Love, Let Love And Be Loved Jean Carn – Time Waits For No One The Independents – I Love You, Yes I Do Candi Staton – I Know Blaze – Get Up Bay Brothers – What Does It Take Jesse Henderson – I Did It Again Delegation – One More Step To Take The Four Tops – Am I My Brother’s Keeper The Detroit Spinners – Ghetto Child The New Birth – Don’t Blame The Young Folks (For The Drug Society) The Inner-Section – I’m In Debt To You Ashford & Simpson – Stay Free
True Example – Love Is Finally Coming My Way Leon Debouse – Every Fella’s Girl Jackie Wilson – Don’t You Know I Love You Caress – Opportunity Delegation – The Promise Of Love Blue Magic – Stringin’ Me Along Universal Robot Band – Love And Understanding Moment Of Truth – Helplessly David Rhodes – Hung Up In Mid-Air The Main Ingredient – Rollin’ Down A Mountainside Solid Gold Revue feat. Ray Crumley – She’s So Good Nolan Porter – If I Could Only Be Sure Detroit Emeralds – Feel The Need Four Below Zero – My Baby’s Got E.S.P. Gloria Scott – (A Case Of) Too Much Love Makin’ Jackie Wilson – Because Of You Charles Johnson – Never Had A Love So Good Veda – What It’s All About Delegation –Stand Up (Reach For The Sky) Storm – Can’t Nobody Love Me Like You Do Sister Sledge – Love Don’t You Go Through No Changes On Me Margie Joseph – Taking All The Love I Can Ace Spectrum – Beautiful Love The Philly Devotions – Hurt So Bad Melba Moore – This Is It Carol Douglas – Let Me Come Into Your Life Jewel – Paradise Ultra High Frequency – We’re On The Right Track
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – The Night Labi Siffre – It Must Be Love The Drifters – You Gotta Pay Your Dues The Montclairs – Hung Up On Your Love Leslie Uggams – Love Is A Good Foundation Jeanie Tracy – Making New Friends Target – Give Me One More Chance Getto Kitty – Stand Up & Be Counted The Dells – It’s All Up To You Bobby Taylor – There Are Roses Somewhere In This World King Tutt – You’ve Got Me Hung Up Moment Of Truth – So Much For Love Moments – Nine Times The Carstairs – It Really Hurts Me Girl Tavares – Don’t Take Away The Music Collins & Collins – Top Of The Stairs Otis Clay – The Only Way Is Up Benny Troy – I Wanna Give You Tomorrow Rhonda Davis – Can You Remember Best Friend Around – It’s So Good To Know Patterson – Gonna Find A True Love GD & The Big J – Movin’ On Touch Of Glass – I Just Can’t Say Goodbye Spinners – Are You Ready For Love Dennis Mobley & Fresh Taste – I’d Do Anything For Your Love Family Of Eve – Please Be Truthful Nina Simone – Touching And Caring The Main Ingredient – Happiness Is Just Around The Bend
This month, the D*ruffalo Hit Squad pays their dues to Northern Soul, the most stubborn of all underground dance music scenes. And in contrast to nearly all compilations documenting decades of ridiculously dedicated digging, this two hour set consists entirely of supreme anthems. Or “oldies”, as the veteran rare soul jocks and dancers call them (meaning neglected guilty pleasures that opened sesame all those years ago, more or less). Which is the same twisted logic applied that led to the term “Modern Soul”, the majority of which is not that modern at all. But that is another story that shall be told even more indulgently on you know where, but you don’t know when, but it could be soon.
In the meantime, lay out the towel, spread the talc, put on appropriate gear, turn it up some, and get seriously going. And keep the faith, of course!
Barrett Strong – Gonna Take A Journey Tommy Sears – Get Out Fred Hughes – I Keep Tryin’ Jackie Lee – Would You Believe Clifford Curry –I Can’t Get A Hold Of Myself The Valentines – Breakaway Dobie Gray – Out On The Floor Darrell Banks – Our Love Is In The Pocket Dave & Ruben – (I Love Her So Much) It Hurts Me Maurice Williams – Being Without You Gloria Jones – Finders Keepers The Olympics – The Same Old Thing Shirley Lawson – One More Chance Chuck Wood – Seven Days Too Long Edward Hamilton & The Arabians – Baby Don’t You Weep Ed Crook – That’s Alright The Inspirations – Touch Me Hold Me Kiss Me The Ballads – I Can’t See Your Love The Parliaments – Don’t Be Sore At Me Sid Barnes – I Hurt On The Other Side Trade Martin – She Put The Hurt On Me The Ad Libs – Nothing Worse Than Being Alone Duke Baxter – I Ain’t No Schoolboy Maurice Williams – The Night The Angels Cried Ronnie & Robyn – As Long As You Love Me Roscoe Robinson – That’s Enough Vivian Carroll – Oh Yeah Yeah Yeah Larry Santos – You Got Me Where You Want Me Ann Sexton – You’ve Been Gone Too Long Bobby Treetop – Wait Till Get To Know Ya The Inspirations – No One Can Take Your Place The Adventurers – Easy Baby Mill Evans – I’ve Got Have Your Love Sam Dees – Lonely For You Baby Don Thomas – Come On Train Barbara Lewis – I Remember The Feeling Fred Hughes – Don’t Let Me Down Joanie Sommers – Don’t Pity Me Rhetta Hughes – I Cry Myself To Sleep Steve Flanagan – I’ve Arrived The Barons – Walking In The City Willie Parker – I Live The Life I Love Sam Fletcher – I’d Think It Over Kenny Wells – Isn’t It Just The Same The Winstons – Color Him Father Clarence Hill – A Lot Of Love Goin’Round Little Esther Phillips – Just Say Goodbye The Exits – Under The Street Lamp
Pere Ubu – Non-Alignment Pact Richard Hell & The Voidods – Blank Generation The Members – Sound Of The Suburbs The Exploited – Attack The Ruts – Babylon’s Burning The Cockney Rejects – War On The Terraces The Undertones – Teenage Kicks The Damned – Disco Man The Business – Smash The Discos The Buzzcocks – Oh Shit! Mission Of Burma – Dumbells The Wipers – Romeo Joy Division – Failures Age Of Chance – Be Fast Be Clean Be Cheap The Fall – Prole Art Threat Dead Kennedys – Take This Job And Shove It Bad Brains – Sailin’ On Patrik Fitzgerald – All Sewn Up
Now we’re the king of the swingers, the jungle VIPs. We’ve reached the top and had to stop and that’s what’s botherin’ us. So we want to be like the other people, people, and stroll right into town. We’re tired of monkeyin’ around!
Here, have a banana.
Smoke City – Aguas De Marco (Restless Soul Movement) The Neville Brothers – Fly Like An Eagle (Slippin’ Dub) Julio Iglesias – Guajira/Oye Como Va (Un Beso Dub) Tom Tom Club – You Sexy Thing (Deep Bass) J. – The Promise (Deep Dub Mix) Rodeo Jones – Natural World (Reese Deep Mix) Bette Midler – To Deserve You (MK Dub 1) Trey Lorenz – Photograph Of Mary (Bass Hit Dub) Definition Of Sound – Pass The Vibes (In House Mix) Queen Latifah – Come Into My House (Zanzibar Mix) Kiss AMC – A Bit Of… Paul McCartney – Ou Est Le Soleil? Pet Shop Boys – Where The Streets Have No Name (David Morales Remix) U2 – Lemon (Bad Yard Club) Pet Shop Boys – So Hard (Red Zone Mix) Siouxsie And The Banshees – Fear (House Of Fear Extended) Grace Jones – Love On Top Of Love – Killer Kiss (The Cole & Clivilles Garage House Mix) Les Negresses Vertes – Mambo Show (Tee’s Freeze Instrumental) Les Negresses Vertes – Mambo Show (Tee’s Freeze Mix – The Shulimambo Edit) Patricia Kaas – Reste Sur Moi (BlueVelvet Mix) Jodeci – You Got It (Mack Dub) Deee-Lite – Call Me (Ralphi Rosario Extended LP Mix) Herb Alpert – North On South St. (Deep Dub Version) The Associates – Fire To Ice (Late Night Frozen Beats) Ryuichi Sakamoto – Love And Hate (Love Mix) Shakespear’s Sister – Black Sky (Dub Extravaganza Part II) Prince – The Future (Remix) Raven Maize – The Real Life (Original 12” Mix) Different Gear Vs. The Police – When The World Is Running Down (Original Bootleg Mix) Par-T-One Vs. INXS – I’m So Crazy (Original Mix) Finley Quaye – Spiritualized (Vibin’ Vocal Mix) The Beloved – Deliver Me (Eau De Livami Vocal)
The D.H.S. gives the dance the D.H.S. treatment, in a punky reggae fashion.
The D.H.S. rules the dance.
Seen?!
Scritti Politti – The Sweetest Girl The Flying Lizards – Ash And Diamond Au Pairs – Headache Colourbox – Baby I Love You So The Beat – Drowning The Special AKA – Racist Friend The Specials – Ghost Town UB40 – Food For Thought A.R. Kane – Catch My Drift Grace Jones – She’s Lost Control The Clash – Armagideon Time Kid Creole & The Coconuts – Schweinerei The Flying Lizards – The Window The Raincoats- No Ones Little Girl The Bodysnatchers – Too Experienced Orange Juice – Flesh Of My Flesh Colourbox – Shotgun World Domination Enterprises – Asbestos Lead Asbestos XTC – Dance With Me, Germany Wayne County And The Electric Chairs – C3 The Selecter – The Dream Goes On Gang Of Four – Woman Town Material – Ciquri Czukay/Liebezeit/Wobble – Where’s The Money Madness – Yesterday’s Men Patrick Cowley & Jorge Socarras – Burn Brighter Flame A Certain Ratio – Funaezekea Steel An’ Skin – Afro Punk Reggae Dub Dislocation Dance – Show Me 400 Blows – Black And White Mix Up Pere Ubu – Humor Me Young Marble Giants – Eating Noddemix Sad Lovers & Giants – Sleep (Is For Everyone) The Cure – All Cats Are Grey
The D.H.S. DJ selector mixing selecting a M-A-S-S-I-V-E special post- (or pre-) carnival set selection. Praise!
Harry Mudie Meet King Tubby‘s – Dub With A Difference Horace Andy’s Dub Box – Dub Larking Horace Andy – Skylarkin Junior Dan – A House Is Not A Home Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves Niney – Quiet Barrington Levi – Under Mi Sensi Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking Ken Boothe – Everything I Own Gregory Isaacs – Cool Down The Pace Dennis Brown – Changing Times Max Romeo – Chase The Devil Mikey Dread & King Tubby – Parrot Jungle Super Chick – Roach Killer Sister Nancy – Bam Bam Connie Bell – Vampire Harry Mudie Meet King Tubby‘s – Dub In Rema Horace Andy – Money Money Jah Warrior – Dub From The Heart Anthony Red Rose – Tempo Tenor Saw – Ring The Alarm Robert Lee – Dreams Clement Irie – Kolo-Ko Wayne Smith – Under Me Sleng Teng Ackie – Call Me Rambo Ricky Melody – What A Act The Icebreakers – Work Out Linton Kwesi Johnson – Doun Di Road The Heptones – Message From A Black Man Nicky Thomas – Love Of The Common People Willie Williams – No One Can Stop Us A.L.T. Joe – Hitching A Ride The Paragons – The Tide Is High Derrick Harriott – Groovy Situation Marcia Griffiths – Feel Like Jumping Jim Brown – Seen Him Michigan & Smiley – Eye Of Danger Harry Mudie Meet King Tubby‘s – Full Dose Of Dub Lone Ranger – Badder Den Dem Ras Clifton – Look Over Yonder Otis Gayle – I’ll Be Around Ken Boothe – Memories Cocoa Tea & J.C. Lodge – Time For Love Dandy Livingstone – Big City Horace Andy – Quiet Place The Heptones – Mistry Babylon Linton Kwesi Johnson – Dread Beat An Blood Dillinger – Cocaine In My Brain Sound Dimension – Granny Scratch Scratch Richard Ace – Stayin’ Alive Norma White – I Want Your Love Risco Connection – Sitting In The Park Little Girl Wonder – It’s My House Dread And Fred – Warriors Advance Anthony Red Rose – Electric Chair King Tubbystyle – Deuteronomy Foxy Brown – Love Is Where You Can Find It Johnny Clarke – Wante Wante Can’t Get It Jacob Miller – Healing Of The Nation Johnny Osbourne – We Need Love Horace Faith – Black Pearl The Cimarons – We Are Not The Same Marvels – Rock Steady Toots & The Maytals – Funky Kingston Greyhound – Black & White Bob & Marcia – Young Gifted And Black
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