10 Songs for 10 Celebrations

As Silent K correctly noted, I took a short sabbatical. Without telling anyone, I took off and left this musty record shack for dust, just like those high school days spent ducking out the bedroom window and off into the smoky Liverpool night.

I needed some time away to do more human things, especially considering that I got good news last week from the doctor : As of April 20, I am cancer-free. I am now starting my 5-year surveillance period, a time chock-full of scans, blood testing and x-rays, but no more treatment for the foreseeable future. It feels fantastic - I've beaten a deadly disease, and I think the last time I was able to say that came after a rather dubious batch of shellfish at a beach-side shack in Barcelona.

All joking aside, I needed a few days of rest, celebration, beer, the occasional slab of sea bass, and a healthy dose of sun. That being said, I'm now back in the saddle with 10 songs I could not give up at gunpoint. They've been on heavy rotation, destroying two stereos with their constant repeats, and I felt like sharing them with you all as the weekend slowly oozes into our consciousness. Wherever you are, whatever yr doing, take a moment to relax and reflect. Take a deep breath. Close yr eyes. Live in the moment.

Back on Monday with some new band shoutouts [including Bump, The Station Myth, and some other discs that snuck under my door right before my last surgery]. Until then, do something fun with someone whose company you enjoy, preferably while enjoying these tunes.


JT.

---


10.
Brownsville [YNQ Remix]
DJ Rels
[Listen]

An already superb track "Diggin' in Brownswood", YNQ mashes it all up, super-sizing the beats and upping the ante with slick little horn inserts and that dreamy analog-sounded synth simmering below the surface.



9.
Show and Prove
Breakestra
Hit the Floor
Ubiquity : 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

Straight-up sunny day funk.



8.
The Needle's Eye
Gil Scott-Heron
Pieces of a Man
Flying Dutchman Records : 1971
[Listen] [Buy]

Another absolutely gorgeous sunny-day song. Scott-Heron's voice is transcendent over a luscious, soulful groove, and it radiates positivity and happiness.



7.
624 [Part I]
Fat Jon
Samurai Champloo Music Record - Departure
Victor Entertainment Japan : 2004
[Listen] [Buy]

A quiet, reflective piano hook drifts among a steady beat. Peaceful, light, airy, perfect Fat Jon.



6.
Pass It On
The Coral
Magic & Medicine
Sony : 2004
[Listen] [Buy]

A catchy hook-laden update of the classic Merseybeat sound from Liverpool's newer pop sensations. Simple song, but it'll get stuck in there [especially if you happen to be idling by the beach, or driving somewhere down sun-drenched highways].



5.
Fuzzy Sun
Jim O'Rourke
Halfway to a Threeway EP
Drag City : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

Perhaps better known for his production duties for Wilco, his membership in Loose Fur, or even as the 5th, most dissonant member [if that's even possible] of Sonic Youth, Jim O'Rourke should be better known for his gorgeous pop song-writing abilities. This song has it all : from his fragile, high-reaching vocals to his gentle, melodic guitar, I seriously broke a Discman back in college playing this constantly. No shit. There was a 5-day period where I only listened to this tiny, two-and-a-half minute song walking from class to class, when making dinner, when doing whatever.



4.
Chocolate on my Tongue
The Wood Brothers
Ways not to Lose
Blue Note : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

I guarantee this album will make my end-of-year superlatives list. But in the meantime, these alchemist brothers, "sons of a poet and a microbiologist", make rootsy blues seem easy. Effortless bass from the spiritual and rhythmic core of Medeski, Martin and Wood goes hand-in-hand with Oliver Wood's aching voice and flirty little guitar licks that populate each song.



3.
The Gash
The Flaming Lips
The Soft Bulletin
Warner Bros/WEA : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

Just when this list was becoming a little too genteel, here's a touch of nutty, psychedelic noise from the band who did exist before "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots", almost contrary to the mania surrounding them today. This was a good album [personal favorite : "Clouds Taste Metallic"], and this woozy track never fails to make me smile.



2.
Down Drinking at the Bar
Loudon Wainwright III
Attempted Mustache
Sony : 1973
[Listen] [Buy]

Classic LWIII. While I am equally obsessed with another song from this album ["The Swimming Song"], this is more appropriate right now. A ramshackle folksy rocker, complete with his signature vocal style, this song definitely encompasses and explains some of my whereabouts over the last week.



1.
Song of Innocence
David Axelrod
Song of Innocence
Capitol : 1968
[Listen] [Buy]

I know, I never shut up about this guy, but he's a big deal in the world of beatheads and crate diggers. Why? Because he loved heavy-ass drum setups, horns as big as Carnegie Hall and huge, grandiose string arrangements. No sound was small in David Axelrod's world. This song SCREAMS summer to me. Try it - sit on deck/porch with sun on face, consume cold alcoholic beverage, play this song all the way at eleven. It's a delight to listen to from start to finish, and it has brought me full circle from hopelessness to hope, now that I'm on a firm path to recovery, lifting the spirits and helping me segue back into the somewhat normal world.

You Get Fresh

Original creative design by PLAZM

--Sound--

Akero [feat. Twigy]
Hifana
Channel H [2005]
[Listen] [Buy] [Official Site]

Gakulang
Hifana
Fresh Push Breakin' [2003]
[Listen] [Buy]

Oto-Mutsu-San
Hifana
Fresh Push Breakin' [2003]
[Listen] [Buy]

Tanglang
Hifana
Channel H [2005]
[Listen] [Buy]

Wamono
Hifana
Channel H [2005]
[Listen] [Buy]

--Motion--

Fat Bros. [Feat. Art of Vibes]
Hifana
Fresh Push Breakin' [2003]
[Watch]

**Update**
Wamono
Hifana
Channel H [2005]
[Watch by clicking the small box just to the right of the large image on this page.]
**/Update**

It's been an interesting month so far, JT is on sabbatical and is doing quite well. I on the other hand have started a new job and am currently moving into a new apartment - hence the FmGT slowdown that was April. That being said, "Let's get down to it boppers."

-------

Japanese rIDM comes in all shapes and sizes. Names to know [and sounds to hear] include tune-kame[s] like Ken Ishi, DJ Krush and Yellow Magic Orchestra. But never before have you heard breakbeat quite like this...

Enter the Japanese breakbeat ronins, KEIZOmachine! & Juicey, who together are Hifana. Taking aspects of electronic music, traditional Japanese melodies, live performance sensibilities and humor - you get something of a love child between The Stanton Warriors, DJ Shadow, Talvin Singh, The Jerky Boys, The Aquabats, Daft Punk and Okinawan Soul. Saying that they're unique would be an understatement.

Not only does their skill shine through every crevice of their sound, but their live performance methods [which doubles as their recording technique] is almost unheard of. Everything that these guys do is done 'live.' There is no laying of tracks or post production edits or add-ons. Everything is done with a well equipped MPC [a sample machine where sounds are allocated to buttons, each machine usually equipped with 20+ buttons] and one turntable, all in an individual session.

To anyone in Portland, OR - Hifana is playing on April 29th at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. I highly recommend that you check them out! But fear not, for those of us who are unable to attend the show, I've selected my top 5 Hifana tracks as well as the animation-award-winning Fat Bros. music video. Additionally, there's a plentiful amount of media to digest on the Hifana official website, including music samples, music videos and a highly entertaining virtual MPC to play with.

Itadakimasu watashi no tomodachis.

Waxed [n' Taxed]

Candles
Dirty Vegas
Dirty Vegas [2001]
[Listen] [Buy] [More Info]

Remind Me
Royksopp
Royksopp's Night Out [2006]
[Listen] [Buy] [More Info]

Hardcore [Instrumental] Hip Hop
The Groove Robbers feat. DJ Shadow
James Lavelle & Nigo Present - Ape vs. Mo'Wax [1997]
[Listen] [Buy] [More Info]

Ninja Gaiden Level 1-1
More Yamasan & B.B. Hakase [Tecmo Sound Team]
Ninja Gaiden - Nintendo Entertainment System [1989]
[Listen] [Buy] [More Info]

Tsurguri no Mai
Force of Nature, Nujabes & Fat Jon
Impression [Samurai Champloo OST] [2004]
[Listen] [Buy] [More Info]

Club Soda
Thomas Bangalter
Half Daft Experience [2005]
[Listen] [Buy Common Daft Punk Stuff] [More Info]

Start the week off with a cool refreshing six-pack of FmGT.

Many are familiar with the U.K. based-electronic-three-some: Dirty Vegas, perhaps without knowing it. After all, their first big hit - 'Days Go By' in 2001, was made even more widespread as it appeared in a Mitsubishi car commercial, yeah the one with the chick in the front seat who thought that she could do liquid. I've found it increasingly entertaining that those making the decision for commercial music beds within the last few years are much closer to being my peers than ever before. 'Days Go By' had a sexy, groovy bass with a viral downward flow that couldn't\'t be ignored. 'Candles' has an inverse feel to it, an acoustic ridden bed-time-story serving as both a warning and an apology for spreading oneself too thin.

Picking up the pace from there is Royksopp's live version of 'Remind Me' from their newest release composed of live-versions of some of their well known works, with the added bonus of a cover of Queens of the Stone Age's 'Go With The Flow,' which is pretty good. The Norwegian duo have a very techno-pop sound which can at times be hit or miss - tracks like 'Eple' [found on 2001's Melody A.M.] are exquisite and must be heard, but there too are forgetables. I don't know about you, but as far as these live tracks go: I want more cowbell!!

DJ Shadow's reputation precedes him, he's something of a god in our book. This track prominently displays his influence on a track featuring that dark shadow sound mixed with organic beats and flowing melodies that might not work if attempted by anyone else. This track gets particularly awesome at 1 minute-remain.

Pushing the boundaries of what can be done with hardware limitations may often inspire artists to do more with their tools than if their possibilities were un-capped. There are many memorable tracks from the NES age [many of which we'll be featuring in one-off spurts like this in the future]. This particular quick loop takes me back to the days of playing NES as I sick, home from school - it's tracks like this for which I could never play games with the sound off.

We've posted some Nujabes in the past well as a few Fat Jon tracks. Equally, this isn't the first time that I posted material found on the soundtrack to the excellent hip-hop-samurai anime: Samurai Champloo [so check it out if you can]. 'Tsuguri no Mai' is an excellent hip-hop & downtempo track which would be fitting for a set of Five Deez vocals, though the instrumental is so solid, that vocals might just clutter up an already clean and tasty track.

Last up is a Daft Punk rarity, produced by Thomas Bangalter sans the Guy. This track has that signature Daft-bounce and makes me wonder what Guy's work would sound like on his own, has anyone heard any of it? I've yet to come across anything as of yet - or if I have, I haven't taken note.

Well, time to jump in the shower, head off to the office and find some time today to mail the ol' taxes. So, remember - for relaxing times, make it FmGT time.

Touching

First Born
Michael Garrick Trio
Cold Mountain
Vocalion : 1972
[Listen] [Buy]

Chocolate on my Tongue
The Wood Brothers
Ways Not to Lose
Blue Note : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]


I have no time today, so it's short and sweet. Michael Garrick = chill, anthemic jazz. Joyful, uplifting, positive, full of energy. As for the Wood Brothers, this fraternal collaboration involving Chris Wood [MMW] and his brother Oliver [blessed with the kind of bluesy, aged voice Jack Johnson, John Mayer and G-Love wished they had] is absolutely un-put-down-able. [Ahem]. This is the perfect summer album listening experience, and the duo work so goddamn well together, you'd think they were related [groan]. This song, lyrics and all, sums up my current state of mind to a tee, and it's burning a hole in my sound system.

More tomorrow, although from the underground tip. Enjoy.

Blogger come back

Down by the Seaside
Led Zeppelin
Physical Graffiti
Swan Song : 1975
[Listen] [Buy]

Parabens [Danca do Daniel]
Marcos Valle
Parabens
Far Out Recordings : 2003
[Listen]



The tunnel is getting shorter. The light is bright, and the future is optimistic. I've been through fucking hell and back in the last 14 days, but now that I'm back at home, it all seems worth it.

Tubes stuck in unfamiliar places. Medications. Uncomfortable beds. A nurse with a quirky bedside manner. More medications. Lights on at 6am. Regular exercise. Indescribable food. Tests. Needles in the arm. Blood. Unpleasant smells. Waking up at 3am to the sounds of an old man screaming in agony. Sickness. More regular exercise. A television with only 20 channels [and 5 of them 24-hour news].

I made sure to get pictures of myself while lying there for 8 slow, langorous days. This whole experience has changed me for the better, helping me gain a little more perspective on the world, and these grainy images on my digital camera will serve as that constant reminder.

Rehab is slow so far, and for anyone who didn't google the operation [search for RPLND], it's painful. I have a 16-18 inch incision running from my chest to my pelvis right down the center. Everytime I take a shower or step into the summer for some sun, I have an inescapable reminder of my journey, etched in flesh, seared in tissue, memorized by muscle and sinew and the whole nine bodily yards.

Of course, I am recovering, and my next trip to the doctor's [April 20] is when I'll find out all the pathology results, and whether I'm cancer free [deja vu in effect]. Perhaps then, I could celebrate in a more lasting fashion, but right now, every moment is a celebration, as I leave behind hospital room friends in far worse pain with their own uncertain ends in sight, and the view from my window of gently blossoming trees and baby blue cloudless skies is reason enough to find satisfaction.

---

This LZ song is perhaps the most appropriate song for my current situation that I've ever posted. It's nothing much, by their own lofty standards - a lazy guitar lick, a sleepy throwaway rhythm from a normally animated John Bonham - but it's such a comedown kinda track, a peaceful segue into calmer waters. I'm not only physically by the sea, but mentally too, my mind clear of skyscraper, horn-honking thoughts and busybody ideas, and I could sleep peacefully hearing this in the background.

---

Soon enough, as Silent K alluded to in the talkbox, we will be scaling back our mp3 archives a little bit. We've been meaning to do this for a while now, as it's really unfair to all the musicians we've previewed on these fair pages for over a year now. We'll probably do it month-by-month, eventually getting to a point where we have a 2-week rolling collection of songs available for download before they too disappear into the history pages.

Not only that, but I've finally figured out how to use some of my damn software, and I expect that some FMGTastes [hot little podcasts] will soon be arriving on the site for your listening pleasure in the not-too-distant future.

Also, if/when I get the health thumbs-up, we might be holding some kind of FMGT event in the NYC area to celebrate. We've floated the idea, and I still need to get an essential piece of news before we could possibly plan it, but it is in the pipeline nonetheless. If yr near to the action, you can come on down and drink with us, along with our music collections, as we imbibe into oblivion.

In the meantime, it's good to be back, thanks for having me back, and we'll continue this tomorrow. I've got a ton of music sitting here, including some samples from some excellent CDs I've received recently while recovering. Enjoy.

Free Samples

All The Critics Love You in New York [Basement Jaxx Remix]
Prince
[White Label] [2001]
[Listen] [Buy Basement Jaxx] [Buy Prince]
[Official Jaxx] [Official Prince]

F.E.A.R.
Ian Brown
James Lavelle - Global Underground 023 - Barcelona [2002]
[Listen] [Buy] [Official Unkle Site]

El Braille
Digi Onze
Novophonic '67-'97 [1997]
[Listen] [Buy]

It's a new chapter in the lives of the FMGT headz as of late: JT has been rebuilt [they had the technology] and is currently healing from an intense operation. And, I started a new job this week - which has been a great experience thus far. I feel like I've said too much to be called 'Silent K' though. So, would you like to hear about today's specials?

When I was young, I always had a thing for Prince's track 'Little Red Corvette.' I had a little red corvette toy car at the time, and as my father would blast the song for me on the car stereo in our '80-something Camaro, I would drive the toy car along the dashboard on our way to, wherever. After that I never really paid any mind to Prince. But after I heard this track, I couldn't imagine anyone else playing with it other than Basement Jaxx - it's an undeniable representation of their sound-style. The Basement Jaxx remix of 'All The Critics Love You in New York' is a funky Garage track with replay value written all over it. This track was featured on the Jaxx Essential Mix done live on UK's Radio 1 at some point in 2001 when they won the award from the now defunct Muzik Magazine [r.i.p.].

Ian Brown's 'F.E.A.R' begins like something euphoric, floating in space. It then takes an almost Breakbeat turn for the best which really gives the track motivation and flow. James Lavelle, when not in Unkle mode, does know how to pick 'em. This track is the final track on disc one of Lavelle's Barcelona disc for the Global Underground series - a series which, while still decent, has lost some speed within the last few years. It was great to see Lavelle producing two double CD mixes and really taking the GU sound away from stagnant House. No offence to John Digweed or Danny Tenaglia [masters of their respective domains] - But, Lavelle offers a flavor of Rock and Hip-hop fused into his electronic beats which can't be found anywhere else in the GU arsenal.

When my girlfriend went to Spain, she brought me back a souvenir: the Novophonic compilation CD, which seems to have become quite rare. Novophonic is a label based in Spain with a sound that at times is very Thievery sounding. Digi Onze's El Braille is a great party track - I can just see the sweaty bodies now [no, not like that cheesy rave in the second matrix film] kicking up the dust from your apartment's hardwood floor. Digi Onze shares elements with Thievery Corporation, Mr. Scruff, Rae & Christian and more, it's very chill and upbeat like a Martini chased with Red Bull.

[Enjoy]

Monday Selects: Organs & Horns

Breaker Breaks [Part 1]
Freestylers
We Rock Hard [1999]
[Listen] [Buy] [Official Site]

Shake Me
Mint Royale
On The Ropes [2001]
[Listen] [Buy] [Official Site]

Blackpool Roll
Mr. Scruff
Keep It Unreal [1999]
[Listen] [Buy] [Official Site]

Chocolate Elvis [Baby Mammoth Version 3]
Tosca
Chocolate Elvis Dubs [1999]
[Listen] [Buy] [Official Site]

Here's a few great tracks for your Monday morning, afternoon or night - hell, they'd hot-sync with your Tuesday just fine too! [That's not to say, however, that we won't have some more sweet beats setup for Tuesday though].

I dig these tracks from their electronic backbone, all the way through to [and especially due to] their addition of organs and horns. Each of these groups and artists have continued to produce solid music since the release of those suggested above.

I've got an extremely busy day today - so the words end here...

Enjoy.