Dubeats

Drivers
Boozoo Bajou
Hi-Fidelity Dub Sessions, Vol. 3 [2001]
[DL] [Buy it!]

London
International Observer
Richard Dorfmeister - A Different Drummer Selection [2003]
[DL] [Buy]

Song of Sand II
Nils Peter Molvaer
Talvin Singh - Back to Mine [2003]
[DL] [Consume]

On a tangent departure from the norm, here's a little taste of Dub from three must have compilations. Yet, the fact that these tunes are of such quality isn't much of a deviation from our mission: to FyGT on the dubble.

Enjoy.

High Fidelity Stereophonic Records

Radian [Silent K's edit]
Air
10,000 Hz Legend [2001]
[DL] [Purchase]

Runaway Dreamer [Silent K's edit]
Felix da Housecat
Kittens and Thee Glitz [2000]
[DL] [Purchase]

Forte [Urbs mix]
Tosca
Souvenirs [2006]
[DL] [Purchase]

If you find yourself thirsting for minimalist electronic beats - that thirst may now be quenched. Today's tracks are new and old - featuring well known duo: Air, international DJ: Felix da Housecat and downtempo/Lo-Fi duo: Tosca.

The French duo know simply as Air is Nicolas Godin & Jean-Benoit Dunckel. Their tunes are much more adept to a living room outfitted with wall-to-wall carpet rather than a dance floor - but feel free to dance if you wanna [send us your videos and we'll host 'em]. 'Radian' is one of the few Air tracks that I am overly fond of [rivaling only 'Kelly Watch the Stars']. You've got a deep synth bass, slow and easy coupled with a nice snare, cymbal and tom-tom beat, a more than secure string set and a set of keys that sound as if they are almost too nervous to join the party. The track begins with a trippy aesthetic feeling - and though I'm all about the aesthetic, this first half of the song reminds me of waiting in line, for the real song to begin. As such, our hosted version of the track is cut directly to the chase - beginning with the soothing flutes and drinks-served-neat-beat.

Chicago native, Felix Satllings jr. [Felix da Housecat to the rest of the world] founder of Radikal Fear Records and excellent house DJ takes second place today with his track, 'Runaway Dreamer.' Felix is known for his excellent DJ sets - but he's also created a lush source of material from scratch. 2000's Kittens and Thee Glitz was accepted with much success due to the tech-house sound of 'Silver Screen (Shower Scene)' and the rolling drum and subtle bass of 'What Does it Feel Like.' 'Runaway Dreamer' is one of those strictly album tracks that didn't see very much use. I always liked this track - it's simple and soft. But there are two chorus lines that take away from the overall aesthetic by breaking the tempo - so I've taken the liberty of removing these two sections. Enjoy another 'Silent K edit' on the house.

Most electronic and downtempo fans are well versed with Kruder & Dorfmeister. If you're wondering why they haven't released anything in a while, it's because Peter Kruder went off to form Peace Orchestra and Richard Dorfmeister has been working under his own name as well as working with Rupert Huber under the monicker Tosca. Tosca's tunes are somewhere in between the stoned out beats of K&D and the lo-fi bounce of Fila Brazilla. I highly recommend two of their albums: Suzuki in Dub and Delhi 9. Today's track is from Souvenirs, which is a compilation of remixes from Tosca's 2005 effort, J.A.C [much the way that Suzuki in Dub relates to Suzuki]. The Urbs mix is the speedy track of the day, featuring a quick beat and a heavy string section. It's so good that I left it alone. [Is that cocky of me?]

Enjoy.

Tell me something I'm not aware of

I Wonder
King Gheedorah
Take me to Your Leader [2003]
[Listen] [Buy]

Chains and Things
B.B. King
Why I Sing the Blues [1970]
[Listen]

The Phantom
Bubbha Thomas & the Lightmen plus One
[Listen]


No time for love today, but a lightning-rod trio of tunes to tide over to tomorrow. Nostalgia is forthcoming!

There's plenty more where this came from

Iron Maiden
Ghostface Killah
Ironman [1996]
[Listen] [Buy]

Migraine
Edan
Architecture [2001]
[Listen]

Stress Box
MF Doom & MF Grimm
Special Herbs & Spices Vol. I [2004]
[Listen] [Buy]

Treehopper
Seal Boy
Escort Service [2003]
[Listen] [More Information]

Mark After Dark
Bullfrog
Bullfrog [2001]
[Listen] [Buy]


Not much time today (as indicated by this late-in-the-day effort), but there's always enough space to squeeze in a quintet of random, yet delicious, tunes.

From the top:

1. Ghostface Killah = you all know the story. This album was probably the last good one to come out of the Wu-Tang Clan's hypermanic solo albums from the mid-1990s, before all the semi-upsetting, not-bad second and third efforts came in the years that followed. Ghostface was always one of my favourite Clan members (a close second behind the prolific guru himself, the RZA). There's just something about his style that always appealed to me more than, say, Masta Killa or Method Man), and it's no mistake that this album is regarded as being one of the best Wu-Tang solo albums to be released. Great production, excellent samples, a ton of blaxploitation and kung-fu dubs; this track grooves like no other.

2. Edan's rapidly becoming some hot shit himself. With a top-notch album in 2005 ("Beauty & the Beat"), he's now asserting himself in that murky DJ/rapper/producer realm, and this cut from his independently-released "first" album is a excellent omen of what was to come --- Funky, addictive, filled with savvy sampling and verse.

3. MF Doom's become a grandpa of the scene. Anyone remember his days as Zev Love X & KMD or his cameo with 3rd Bass? Well, here he's behind the 'boards again, laying down his unmistakeable brand of old soul and 80s pop underneath Grimm's rhymes. Grimm is no newcomer either, having floated about in the 90s with Roc Raida, and he puts his lyrical nous to the test against Doom's beats. Another grooving track.

4. This track comes from one dusty-ass album I found deep at the bottom of the stack the other day. Fresh from the days of bargain CD challenges (great game to play in college: raid the dollar cd racks trying to find a slice of fried gold), Seal Boy was/is a Brooklyn outfit helmed by one Kevin Alexander. Having spent time under the wing of King Missile's Bradford Reed, SB emerged with a reasonably handy album, "Escort Service". It's hit-and-miss for the most part, but this track stood out as being refreshing and jazzy enough to earn the FMGT stamp. Looped piano parts swirl among a crisp horn section and gentle beat, "Treehopper" is a decent alternative to the hip-hop already proferred in this here post.

5. Closing out with something chill, Bullfrog makes the cut. Formed by Kid Koala and some groove-steady fellow Canadians, Bullfrog's sound is always pleasing to the ear: melodic, soulful, funky, full of humor and a sense of fun and personal enjoyment that is refreshing in a sometimes jaded scene. This song might be that "cuddle" song, that little 3-minute ditty that accompanies yr love moves on the couch. You know, that moment where you make that bold step, put yr arm around the one you love as the night draws in. Perfect for that, and a whole lot more.


Back tomorrow, with luck -- I smell a nostalgia post in my immediate future!

Bill Monday

Well and Truly Done
Little Barrie
We Are Little Barrie [2005]
[Listen] [Buy]

People
Silver Jews
American Water [1998]
[Listen] [Buy]

Pieces
Field Music
Field Music [2005]
[Listen] [Buy]

(Idea borrowed from Rick Paulas)

ESSENTIAL CHOICES REGARDING A BASEBALL ROSTER COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF FICTIONAL CHARACTERS PLAYED BY BILL MURRAY

Batting Lineup

1, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, SS, Where the Buffalo Roam
Experimenting with drugs is kinda like experimenting with the lead-off spot. It's dangerous, it doesn't last long, and you'll be seeing vultures overhead before long. I'll take his snappy impatience, batting mood swings, and his overwhelming speed. I'll also take his quaaludes, his coke, and methamphetamines still left in the trunk of the Cadillac. Maybe those will help me deal with his high strikeout totals and propensity for tearing off his clothes and trying to eat the face of the opposing pitcher during each at-bat.

2, Wallace Ritchie, 2B, The Man who Knew too Little
Sure, he may have a few flaws, ignorance, bemusement and idiocy being just three. However, there's precious little room elsewhere, so let's stick him in with the major leaguers and see if anyone notices.

3, Herman Blume, LF, Rushmore
Cold, ruthless, arrogant: it's as if Barry Bonds had never left. Let the fireworks fly from the 3-spot, as Blume makes light work of the RBI chances and any opportunities to fuck the ump's girlfriend.

4, Grimm, CF, Quick Change
No-one took this guy seriously, not even when he was robbing banks with Geena Davis. However, what he lacks in aesthetics, he makes up for in sheer power, comic relief, and doubles off the left-field wall. But beware: if you ask him for a balloon, he will shoot you.

5, Polonius, 1B, Hamlet
The ideal place to stick an aging, neurotic first-baseman. It worked for Richie Sexson, it worked for Lyle Overbay, it worked for Jim Thome, Eric Chavez, Ryan Klesko and Tony Clark. Wait, not Clark. Definitely not Clark. But with Polonius, you'll be sure to get snippets of wisdom commingled with trips to the opposite field.

6, Bob Harris, 3B, Lost in Translation
He's publicly suave but privately struggling, old, listless, spiritually unsatisfied. Occasionally finds success with the bat, but mostly in the team for lack of anyone else to use. Mike Lowell's new best friend in a baseball uniform.

7, Francis Xavier Cross, C, Scrooged
A little behind the times (still thinks Larkin patrols his infield), but his ruthlessness and propensity to throw out base-runners in a bloodbath of Christmas glory. Knows when to steal, and when to save. Solid at the plate, although it will catch up to him.

8, Raleigh St. Clair, RF, The Royal Tenenbaums
Baseball's equivalent of Phil Jackson: winsome, bearded, sensitive and calm. Calculating and observant, this light bat rarely misses a fly-ball, and has a flair for the detached feel of the bottom of the order.

Starting Rotation

Carl Spackler, Caddyshack
Drunk, loud, dirty -- this man makes David Wells look like Curt Schilling. His passion will win him games, his odor will win him even more. Always had an eye for the spotlight, the big game, and a pair of beer-soaked galoshes. Meeting with the Dalai Lama only serves to further his enigmatic status as the jewel of the rotation.

Steve Zissou, The Life Aquatic
A more understated version of the great Spackler, Zissou is still full of the ego that greeted his first trip to a major league mound. He is not, however, still full of the young muscles and land-bound mentality that makes good pitchers great. Occasionally wanders through self-reflective territory, but his hunger for attention will pull the squad through 6 innings of scurvy-soused theatrics.

Bob Wiley, What about Bob?
Throw out the textbook, Peter Gammons. One look at this wackadoo and you'd think of Therapy Tim Worrell. However, look past his infuriating persistency and bullish blend of narcissism and manipulation and you'll find an excellent pitcher: part-Hideo Nomo, part-Mark Prior, part-Denver the last Dinosaur, Bob will paint the corners with his screwball and change-ups that'll have you sprinting for the hills.

Middle Reliever

Dr. Peter Venkman, Ghostbusters
Unhinged, passionate, charismatic: look out J.C. Romero, step aside Tom Gordon, leave us alone Scot Shields. His unique breed of insanity and jumpsuit puts batters in their place: the New York Public Library.

Closer

Phil Connors, Groundhog Day
The ability to adapt and repeat, repeat, repeat leaves the 9th inning firmly in Team Murray's sights. Steady with the ball, kills the lineup with consistency. His location might not be stellar
yet, but he can out-patience anyone at the plate.

(Oh yeah, the music. Little Barrie are a hip little group spitting out excellent 1960s-sounding R&B/fuzz guitar/funk. They have a great sound, and this track is the perfect example. Pick that album up, for sure, as I could have posted every song today, they're that good. Think the Black Keys with a couple more people, and yr well on yr way to finding their niche. Here's hoping they catch on stateside. Silver Jews have been around for donkey's years, getting the job done with their lachrymose folk stylings. Delicious. Field Music is another band that's new in the consciousness of the masses, fresh off the boat from my homeland. Catchy, psychedelic pop music, kinda reminding me of the Shins a little bit. Stonking.)

Back tomorrow.

Cole Hauser Breaks the Silence

I AIN'T NO MIRACLE WORKER
The Chocolate Watchband
[Listen]

TOO MANY PEOPLE
Paul McCartney
Ram [1971]
[Listen] [Buy]

HEY CHICKEN
Loose Fur
Born Again in the USA [2006]
[Listen]

HITTIN' HOOKS
Quasimoto
Microphone Mathematics RMX 7" [2000]
[Listen]


Hey Guys, sorry to interrupt. It's Cole Hauser here, star of a thousand films you've never seen, and a couple you have. Who here has seen 'Dazed and Confused'? That was me. "Paparazzi'? Me again. I played a movie star in that one. How meta is that? I mean, you know when the good roles are pouring in that you get a crack at pretending to do what you really do for a living.

'The Fast and the Furious', that was another good one. Those cars were sweet!

And here I am now, taking life easy in the California hills, soaking up the sun and listening to music all day. When I dropped out of high school, I'd never have guessed I'd end up this way, so it's funny I guess. My dad was a movie star, my grandaddy was a cop, and now I'm an actor too.

Feed Me Good Tunes asked me to put a few songs down that I can't get enough of, and as you might guess, I'm a little out there. I mean, movie stars don't just listen to Beyonce and whatever's popular in town you know. Some of us dig a little deeper for our tunes, and right here, Cole Hauser, is just about as weird as you can get. The other day I was at a beach party at Jaime Pressley's house (and yes, I've hit that), and I took control of that Bose surround stereo she has all wired up. Boom! I cut that Young Jeezy shit and slam on some classics, some Steely Dan circa-Pretzel Logic, some Zevon, even a little groove for the ladies, some Andrew Hill, some Lee Dorsey..... I mean, it took a while for people to "get it", but after a while, I swear they were movin' to the music.

But today, I'll go a little easy, mix it up some. These guys have decent taste, but it's about time someone with a little star status showed 'em how it's done. Now these here, I would imagine it's what Benny from "Dazed and Confused" would be listening to, now that he's all grown up and those keg party at the moon tower days are behind him. He's still got a little of that trippy shit in his veins still, you know, because Benny doesn't forget his roots, but he's got a little sensibility to him too.

So we open with a little Chocolate Watchband - these guys were like the 13th Floor Elevators but a little ahead of the game if you know what I mean. Those Elevators, they really opened shit up, but the Watchband, they had enough tabs for the entire West Coast. He's got the windows down, cruising up the PCH, the sun is out, the air is crisp. Beautiful guitars and that borderline Jim Morrison vocal styling, it's like the steamed milk in coffee, man. Plus, who doesn't love a little mandolin solo?

Moving along, the next song keeps it in the classic era but spices it up a little. This'll keep you entertained even if you hit a little traffic on your way to Big Sur, maybe even pushing up to Wine Country if the going's good. McCartney had that pop thing down pat, sure, but he could break out a little weird shit on you too. Ram's a great album for that. He's got his swagger on, for sure. Linda's in the studio, you know, laying down some backing vocals. The family's around, the mood is good, the atmosphere's perfect. Benny loves positivity as much as beer, and Paul's got it by the truckload.

Now, we move way up-to-date with this next song. It's so new, it's not even out yet. Let's just say in Hollywood, movie stars really can get anything they want. For some, it's coke, for others, it's a little A+ pussy; for ol' Cole here, it's unreleased Jeff Tweedy/Glenn Kotche/Jim O'Rourke side projects. We all have our weaknesses, right? This track kicks off their new album, and it is the best thing I've heard since Crazy Horse.

Benny also loves a little hip-hop now and again, and Quasimoto's the chocolate strip in the Neapolitan. I always eat the chocolate first, and Benny ain't no stranger to the ice cream. This song is perfect for rolling right down Rodeo, checking out the wannabes, the starlets, the jewels, the designer drinks, the whole nine yards.

I gotta run now. The press junket for my new movie, "The Break Up", is on their way. That shit is hilarious, plus I got to hang out with Vince Vaughn! Life is good sometimes man, life is good. This is Cole Hauser, signing out, reminding you all - keep the volume loud, and your life louder.

The Days Become the Transitions

Roger Tessier
Spring Heel Jack
68 Million Shades [1996]
[Listen] [Buy]

Hora Decubitus
Charles Mingus
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus [1963]
[Listen] [Buy]

By the Bend
Spokane
Leisure & Other Songs [2000]
[Listen] [Buy]

The Stones That I Throw
Levon & the Hawks
[Listen]


Things are rough at the moment, but it seems I have a spare minute to drop in and drop off 4 songs I cannot stop listening to. They're like cisplatin for the soul, or chicken soup if you like that sort of thing. Spring Heel Jack is the nice moody undercutting drum n' bass (the broth), Spokane's equally-mordant folky outburst adds a splash of texture (the rice), Mingus is the anchor of the outfit, providing shuffle and swagger to an otherwise dull stew (the chicken), and consider Levon & the Hawks to be the parsley on top. Add them all together, and you get the JT soup of the day, the one that keeps his ribs from sticking to one another, and in a couple of days, I should be back to better strength following the "shit" part (as one of my nurses called it).


In the meantime, good health to all. Get drunk with someone you love. Read a book about something you've never heard of. Take that extra half-hour walk.

A Small Victory?

Evidence
Faith No More
King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime [1995]
[DL] [Buy]

Thru' These Architects Eyes
David Bowie
Outside [1995]
[DL] [Buy]

Here's a couple "rock" tracks - and out of utter coincidence, they are both from 1995.

Faith No More has a huge following. I knew who they were even before I began listening to them, somehow I ended up with a huge Faith No More euro-tour poster in my room when I was 10 years old, go figure. It wasn't until I reached college [at 18 years old] that I really started listening to them via a few good freshman year buddies. And though 'Easy like Sunday Morning' was played each and every Sunday [to the assured annoyance of our dorm neighbors] - it was King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime that really held the true rotation [funny enough, it battled Jamiroquai's Virtual Insanity for the most played album of that time and place]. 'Evidence' was a tough choice as my favorite track on the album, duking it out only with 'King for a Day.' Almost all Faith No More fans have now migrated to listening to Mike Patton's insane antics under the moniker of 'Mr. Bungle' - some of it's just annoying samples of car doors slamming - but other moments ['Desert Search for a Techno Allah' comes to mind] are pure genius.

David Bowie. Wow, how the hell do you introduce the man? I think that it was best done in the movie Zoolander, right before the 'walk-off' ["it's a walk-off Billy Zane!]. I can't really say that I am a true fan of Bowie - I really like the guy - but I didn't pay any mind to him until he released Outside in 1995. Outside was a completely different kind of Bowie album - at the time the man was reinventing himself by associating his work with the likes of Trent Reznor - being the fan of Reznor that I was, I learned about Bowie. Like I said, Outside was different - the entire album is a narrative of a murder mystery starring Bowie as the main character, Detective 'Nathan Adler.' It's a dark story about sex-crime, murder, minataurs and 8 men with metal parts. It was supposed to be the first chapter of 5 - alas, these subsequent chapters never appeared. The musical style is a bold departure from Bowie's former work - and produced with a very industrial attitude [which is why I gravitated towards it to begin with]. 'Thru These Architects Eyes' is a melancholy track which feels like you're driving through a rainstorm and eventually driving out of it - by far, my favorite track on the album. I would recommend picking up this album just for the neat little story alone which is printed on the album art just like a book, only the last page holds the disk itself.

As always, Enjoy.

TUnESDAY

Univerth [feat. Tetsuro Naito]
DJ Krush
Jaku [2004]
[Listen] [Buy]

Rain Dance [Instrumental mix]
Fat Jon [as Maurice Galactica]
Humanoid Erotica [2001]
[Listen] [Buy]

For the Reunion
Nobuo Uematsu
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children OST [2005]
[Listen] [Buy]

I've just returned from snowboarding in Utah - Fresh powder has never been better. Here's a few tracks for your late afternoon listening enjoyment.

If you've been following FmGT for a while, then DJ Krush needs little introduction. The Japanese DJ has worked with and influenced all of the greats - from DJ Shadow to Toshinori Kondo - he's set a high caliber standard to Hip-hop producers everywhere but still remains relatively underground. 'Univerth' is a dark and moody tune featuring a very tribal beat.

Fat Jon has been one of my new favorites as of late. You might also recognize him from one of his other identities: Maurice Galactica, Mingo Guiness, Fat Jiggie or The Ample Soul Physician - he's also one of the producers for Cincinnati Hip-hop sensation, Five Deez. His beats are found equally in the aesthetic of 'I can relax to this!' or 'Hey, can I buy you a drink?'

Nobuo Uematsu, formerly of "Squanex" is no stranger to videogame fanboys. He's composed the soundtrack bulk to every Final Fantasy game. It's made of the stuff that truly evokes emotion. Fans have finally been able to rejoice as the feature film - Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children [the animated follow-up to one of the most favored games of all time, Final Fantasy VII] - was released to Japanese audiences late in 2005 and will reach American fans in the immediate future. Everything about this film is gorgeous [the plot may confuse you if you're not familiar with the game, but that won't stop you from appreciating this stunning specimen of future art] including the soundtrack. 'For the Reunion' is an emotional dark track featuring subtle piano tracks that might make you feel like the bad guy - but it's too pretty to resist.

Enjoy.

Status: Here but Far Away

OFF THE BOOKS/JUST TO GET A REP (MF Doom mix)
The Beatnuts/Gangstarr
Special Blends Vol I. [??]
[Listen]

HINTS
Jose Gonzalez
Veneer [2005]
[Listen] [Buy]

SKIN IS, MY
Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire
Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs [2005]
[Listen] [Buy]

MOANIN'
Charles Mingus
Blues and Roots [1961]
[Listen] [Buy]

THE SMILE
David Axelrod
Songs of Innocence [1968]
[Listen] [Buy]


Day 22


So my hair began falling out this weekend. It was an oddity at first; tufts of light brown hair falling gently to the base of the shower, clogging the plug, surrounding my feet with soapy water as it struggles to drain. At first it was slow but noticeable, but now every surface or fabric my head touches leaves a trail behind, a shampoo'd calling card, a reminder of what is going on.

I'm doing well however. Being bald is not entirely unfamiliar (as anyone who knows me could attest to), as many drunken rugby trips involved me shaving my head to the skin on countless occasions. Now, I wear it a little longer, but only just, measured in fractions of an inch, but the next couple of months will be clean, smooth, and simple. I'll post pictures soon enough, I imagine.


These tracks have been getting the heaviest rotation of late; if Mingus was an athlete, he would be Mookie Blaylock: small, but sharp, keeping the groove tight and focused, power bigger than life itself, intense, the way it should be. It's full of pain, soaked in sweat and frustration, drowned in the primal urge to push and push until the breakthrough is made.

Drink in David Axelrod's moves; this song is hands-down the best thing I've listened to in a month. It's transcendent; wait until [1.15] when the entire song breaks down into a persistent beat, wispy, ethereal guitars expanding and contracting into the empty space, anchored by the hazy solo that drifts in and out of the sounds. The crescendo builds until the room fills with the orchestra at [2.08], the string section stretching, the brass rattling the heavy head riff like a championship boxer. Exhausted, the entire thing breaks down at [2.52], at which point I grab the nearest towel or cloth to wipe my face before hitting rewind.

Jose Gonzalez is that sleeper that no longer sleeps; yeah, completely forgot about this album last year until this track popped up in the shuffle on a cold walk to the hospital. Yep, it's sad, it's mournful, it's not what I should be listening to, so think of MF Doom's outrageous interpretation of the Beatnuts and Gangstarr as the emotional counterpoint bringing the upswing back to the mix. There's some up-tempo noodling from Andrew Bird's lot amid the rollercoaster too, and that'll all have to tide you over until tomorrow. Cheers, enjoy.

Keeping Warm and Introspective

NOT SO BLUE
Quantic
Apricot Morning [Tru Thoughts - 2002]
[Listen] [Buy]

THE DICTION
Schoolz of Thought
Think Fast [Independent - 2000]
[Listen]

HIGHEST
The Detroit Experiment
The Detroit Experiment [Ropeadope - 2003]
[Listen] [Buy]

GINGER JUMPS THE FENCE
The Herbaliser
Blow Your Headphones [Ninja Tune - 1997]
[Listen] [Buy]


A rare Saturday post is on the cards. Time is short, but these tracks are not. Enjoy them over the weekend, free of my over-wordy commentary.

Feed Me Obscure Madlib

DEVILS
[Listen]

MY FAVORITE LADIES
[Listen]

PUT YR HANDS UP
[Listen]

MOOD SWINGS
[Listen]

All songs by Madlib, from
Remixes 2: 1980s Saturday Morning Edition [2004?]

"(THROUGH THE WINDOW)"
Madlib
"Madlib Interpreta Azymuth" [???]
[Listen]


This cat is synonymous with the blog world. He's referenced and gushed over from here to Brighton Beach, and with good reason. His style is infectious, and his repertoire is deeper than Trump's pockets.

---

I stumbled across some hidden Madlib delights in the form of this album, the 1980's Saturday Morning Edition, and it nearly knocked me off my stool with its funky, synth-heavy disco samples from the late-70s/early-80s. Setting the table for several accappella tracks from the likes of Raekwon, Nas, Pete Rock and Jadakiss, Madlib slings a groove that is unlike no other. Hearing a track like "Devils", I feel my childhood running back, days spent listening and memorizing the lyrics to Warren G and Nate Dogg's "Represent" until I had each syllable, nailed each cadence. A lot of the samples did show up on MF Doom's "Special Blends" series, so I'm not sure who nailed them first. Regardless, they breath fresh life into the original ingredients.

---

To close out today, something from another unknown Madlib source. I've seen this floating around on Soulseek, as well as Oink, but I cannot find anything about it. Labeled as "Madlib interpreta Azymuth" (Azymuth being the under-the-radar 70s jazz/samba/funk outfit from Brazil), it brings to mind a lot of Madlib's work as Yesterday's New Quintet. But still, if anyone knows what this actually is, if it is even Madlib, when/where/under what names and labels it was released, drop me a line. There's a huge hole in the discography that this record should be filling. It's chilled-out, it's soaked in groove, and has that YNQ handmade-music effect that is synonymous with his live musician work. Over the next couple of days, I'll throw up some Azymuth to compare/contrast, but right now, Madlib's "interpretation" is reason enough to shuffle and shimmy on the subway ride home.

---

They're both worth a listen, if you can find them or identify (look for the Saturday Night Remixes on a fat US double-vinyl pressing). Get 'em while they're hot, and spin until they turn to dust. If I'm getting the album info wrong, let me know. Enjoy.

Get up Out that Chair

OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS
David Bowie
Hunky Dory [1971]
[Listen] [Buy]

ROUND-TRIP
Erik Truffaz
The Dawn [1997]
[Listen] [Buy from the UK]

SEVEN DAYS TOO LONG
Chuck Wood
[Listen]

LOVE WILL
Suburban Kids with Biblical Names
#1 EP [2004]
[Listen] [Buy]


Well it's the New Year, and the #1 resolution right now is to pay respect to our friends in the musicblog world who have somehow flown under the radar of our links bar, an error for which we're eternally sorry. This is an organic thing, and FMGT has been sadly slacking in this department. So without further ado, a song for each blog I've neglected to mention in these pages. I reckon many more of these will follow, but for the meantime, visit and enjoy this quartet of blogs with more music than you can shake a stick at.


1. Motel de Moka
Honestly, I'm humble, as I've no excuse. This blog is top-notch, and the music is more diverse than a very diverse thing. Seriously. Now a team over at the Motel, they've received some major kudos in other blogs, and now they finally get a spot in the sidebar that is seriously deserved.

2. Bushwick is Beautiful
With the amount of blogs I do read, I forget how I came across it. Regardless, the first post I saw was only a couple of weeks ago, but it was one of my favourite Donovan songs (yeah, I like the Donovan now and again). Living in Brooklyn, I undoubtedly end up drunk around Bushwick occasionally, and the mix of new/old tunes, not to mention the odd sprinkle of humor and anti-Pitchfork posting, is enough to keep going back for.

3. Ear Fuzz
We post a lot of funk/soul/RnB/jazz around these here parts, but Ear Fuzz does it with a persistence and penchant for obscurity that I could only hope to match in due course. Quality site.

4. Muzzle of Bees
It's not exactly a hidden gem as it's now at the forefront of music bloggery, but the engaging mix of news, mp3s and concert information makes it a worthwhile daily destination.


Atonement never felt better.

This foursome, sorry it took so long to get you up on that sidebar. Please forgive, and enjoy today's tunes. I haven't forgotten about Zappa week, but as you all know, I'm a little on the slack side most of the time. It will be coming, next week.