Ridiculous Feats of Staggeringly Unbelievable Fantasy

Send me an Angel
Real Life
Heartland
Polystar : 1983
[Listen]

Talking in Your Sleep
The Romantics
In Heat
Nemperor Records : 1983
[Listen] [Buy]

Abracadabra
Steve Miller Band
Abracadabra
Mercury/Phonogram GmbH : 1982
[Listen] [Buy]

The Sound
The Rapture
Pieces of the People We Love
Universal Motown : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Paintings and Journeys
The Quantic Soul Orchestra
Pushin' On
Tru Thoughts : 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

Land of 1000 Dances
Wilson Pickett
The Exciting Wilson Pickett
Atlantic : 1966
[Listen] [Buy]

I am Music
Common
Electric Circus
MCA : 2002
[Listen] [Buy]

Sweet Magic
The Servicemen
[Listen]

Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Elton John
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
MCA : 1973
[Listen] [Buy]

Granny Scratch Scratch
Sound Dimension
[Listen]

Coffy is the Color
Roy Ayers
Coffy
Polydor : 1973
[Listen] [Buy]

Compared to What
Mr. Flood's Party
[Listen]

Bobeira
Edson Frederic + A Transa
[Listen]

So, what will you do with yourselves tonight? It is, after all, the termination of another year, the end of memories associated with flash-in-the-pan celebrity events and unsatisfying albums, the passing of yet more time when Chinese Democracy was not released.

I am lucky, in many respects. Despite all the health business, I found my dancing shoes once again. Yep, I can still shuffle despite the 20-inch scar that essentially runs the length of my torso. I am writing again, I rediscovered grunge [perhaps not the hugest victory, but if you are with me on this one, high five], I know how many calories are in a bowl of noodles, I can tie my shoelaces without looking, I've consumed more music that at any other time in my life, and I survived Las Vegas.

In one of the more questionable decisions I've made lately, a hazy afternoon coin flip decided our fate, and so Bannister & myself hit the car and the desert. Arriving around midnight, it is safe to say that the gap in my memory from about 7.30am to 10am should probably remain empty and devoid of facts. All I know is that the parked vans between which I found myself, a mile from my hotel room [that neither of us ended up using], was the best place on earth. Asphalt will always hold a fond place in my heart, as will PTs on Spring Mountain Drive. Amen.

But I digress. Now that we're on the cusp of another year, one in which a million promises will be broken and even more trends and dances will be left un-YouTubed, it's time to fucking shuffle.

Throw away that sense of self-consciousness. Feel the beats contained within, and let yr uncoordinated body swing and flail like a guy rollerblading down the Atlantic City boardwalk.

New wave, dance, hip-hop, rock; I don't give a flying fuck. The DNA of popular music is simple: rhythm + melody. These nucleotides never change.

I am honoured to be sitting here, alive enough to spend the New Year with you all. Sure, those resolutions I've been scribbling down seem wild, vague and unrealistic, but that's normal. I'm honoured that I have something in my life to be proud of, and people to share it with. So when ya dance tonight, somewhere, engulfed in laughter, joy and alcohol, think of us. Because, rest assured, we're doing the same damn thing.

---

[We're taking the day off tomorrow to recuperate, as tonight will surely hurt, so FmGT will join you again on tuesday to kick off, check in, and get back to regular business.]

Finding Brian Eno (By Force)

Dead Finks Don't Talk
Brian Eno
Here Come The Warm Jets
EG : 1974
[Listen] [Buy]

Blank Frank
Brian Eno
Here Come The Warm Jets
EG : 1974
[Listen] [Buy]

Driving Me Backwards
Brian Eno
Here Come The Warm Jets
EG : 1974
[Listen] [Buy]

Burning Airlines Give You So Much More
Brian Eno
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
EG : 1974
[Listen] [Buy]

The Great Pretender
Brian Eno
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
EG : 1974
[Listen] [Buy]

The True Wheel
Brian Eno
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
EG : 1974
[Listen] [Buy]

Taking Tiger Mountain
Brian Eno
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
EG : 1974
[Listen] [Buy]

Sky Saw
Brian Eno
Another Green World
EG : 1975
[Listen][Buy]

Golden Hours
Brian Eno
Another Green World
EG : 1975
[Listen] [Buy]

The Big Ship
Brian Eno
Another Green World
EG : 1975
[Listen] Buy]

Between visiting relatives and boozing with friends, I found some time to introduce myself to Brian Eno. Or, rather, his first solo three albums. I have to say, they knocked me on my ass. These songs have been on my playlist all week.

I’d heard of Eno is because I love the Talking Heads, and my favorite Heads albums all have his name in the credits. I knew a little bit about him but felt compelled to learn more, and doing some preliminary reading I found that in addition to blazing trails in the realm of ambient music, he’s had his hands in many a band’s business, successfully producing for both David Bowie and U2.

And before all that he was a glam rocker.

So here’s a sample of his first three solo works, right after he split off from Roxy Music, and before he started making exclusively instrumental ambient works. Hope you dig.
--

The best part of Dead Finks Don’t Talk (besides the title) is the ending that comes out of left field. I could listen to that alone for the length of a song.

Blank Frank kicks a certifiable amount of ass and is too much fun.

Drive Me Backwards begins dissonant and uncomfortable with a detuned piano. Mid dirge the piano’s mixed down as a cool synth-y instrument takes over, switching between two notes relentlessly as electric guitar stabs echo in and out of the soundscape. The whole thing does a slow pan from organic to mechanical while Eno's wild vocals lead the audience along, like a singing mad hatter.

I can close my eyes for the first 30 seconds of The Great Pretender and, give or take a couple updated sounds here and there, easily imagine this being a Beck song. I love the detuned, spoon on pot drumming atmosphere.

Burning Airlines Give You So Much More and The True Wheel prove that no matter how far out he was going, he could still put down a good poppy tune.

If you get the chance, listen to Sky Saw, then listen to Talking Head’s Remain In Light. I knew Eno worked with the Heads big time on this album (he’s got co-writing credits across the board), but I had no idea how much of his sound had directly translated to theirs.

Taking Tiger Mountain is drifting and beautiful, while The Big Ship is one of the handful of examples from Another Green Worlds of Eno’s first dabblings with ambient music. Change the instrumentation up a bit (- guitars, - drums, update synth sound) and this track could have easily been a part of Moby’s Everything is Wrong. But it’s not. Eat it, Moby.

Golden Hours is by far my favorite song from this bunch. It hypnotizes me. I melt just after the 2:00 minute mark, where the twiddling guitar comes in. Does it to me every time.

JT's Picks Oh-Six [part two]

16 ALBUMS FOR 2006
PART TWO: EIGHT to ONE

For some reason, I never get tired of ranking things. Putting things in some kind of preferential order. Which pancake I'm gonna eat first, which beer I want above all the others, which shoes look the best, which girl do I like more, which sheets am I going to use. There is no end to it. It feels like an accomplishment, but then again, how do you really know? Where does it stop? Will it hold true a month from now? Can the soul rank conviction?

Philosophy aside, let the record show [no pun intended] that this octet were simply unstoppable for me this year. No doubt. If I wasn't listening to something new, I was chugging down one of these 8 albums incessantly. I bet I drove my landlord insane, when they would come home from a busy work day and hear the same damn song pounding up from my bedroom. Those speakers pack a punch, and these releases took them round-for-round in the ring.

Enjoy the last part of the last list of the year. Enjoy what the four of us have done, and will continue to do. Thanks for spending another 365 days with us, and enjoy the fruits of our relationship.

EIGHT.
The Aliens / Alienoid Starmonica EP [EMI Gold]
[Buy It Here]

Maybe my first stretch in this list, but hear me out. Anyone out there who loves the Beta Band as much as I do? Ok, good. This is the next step for ex-BB members John McLean and Robin Jones, and it’s weirder than any destination on the map that they hit with their old group. Spacey, odd, full of quirk and sci-fi, but also full of sublime moments where all the strands come together and bring a tear to your eye.

Their debut album doesn’t come out until next year, but if I'm compiling these picks by the number of listens, this one clocks in way ahead of the heavy hitters from whom we normally expect greatness. Each rotation gets me a little deeper.

“Hey Leanne” is strange and difficult, a sci-fi country song run through a blender a thousand times over. “Only Waiting” is chock-full of bizarre lyrics and double meaning, but the crescendo and force of the music is undeniable. “Robot Man” is like Saturday morning cartoons all over again, a bright, bouncy singalong. [I imagine the Kids in the Hall sketch “If Elvis were my Landlord”. Remember that one? If KitH did it again, they would almost certainly choose this to bounce to.] And then, to close, “Ionas [Look for Space]”, a long, powerful ode to the stars with gorgeous, warm harmonies, like a hymn for the spiritual/quasi-religious/acid set.

A great sign of things to come. I’m already sold.

Quality Track to DL | Only Waiting

SEVEN.
Quantic / An Announcement to Answer [Ubiquity]
[Buy It Here]

Another great release from Will Holland. Gorgeous melodies and soul that echo his eclectic taste in music. Heavy calypso influence that'll fill yr mind with warmth. This album is the background music to the old friend, the one who stuck with you through the thick and thin back in the day, the one who'd scrap alongside you if the going was rough.

A while passes, and you drift apart a little bit, but the memories are still there. And then, one day, you randomly run into one another, and it feels like you were never apart.

Listen to this album when you rendez-vous.

Quality Track to DL | Blow Your Horn [feat. Ohmega Watts]

SIX.
NOMO / New Tones [Ubiquity]
[Buy It Here]

This album is as much fun as I’ve had in a long time. It takes that Antibalas wave of popularity from a couple of years ago and advances it into something new, something different. It’s sexy, it’s soulful, it’s warm, it’s uplifting, it’s spiritual, and it’s damn near unstoppable from the very second you press play: the opening track [also the title track] socks you in the jaw with a thumping rhythm and fuzzed-out mbira, and it doesn’t stop. The intensity builds, the handclapping gets you mimicking, and the horns sound like a thunderclap from way up above.

The album’s sound is raw, scratchy, and deliberately undercooked; the smooth flow of each composition is counteracted by the natural, earthy sound of each track. You hear the hisses and rasps of the instruments that normally get faded out or refined. The percussion rattles and echoes around you, the rhythms are loose and off-kilter as if drunk.

Don’t just write this off as afro-beat, as you’ll sound like an idiot when you realize the error you’ve made. Especially when you catch the cover of Joanna Newsome’s “Book of Right On”. If that doesn’t urge you to beg forgiveness, I don’t know what would.

New Tones is a glorious accomplishment. Pure joy to listen to.

Quality Track to DL | One to One

FIVE.
Murs & 9th Wonder / Murray's Revenge [Record Collection]
[Buy It Here]

2006 was good to hip-hop. Murs has been around for a while, bubbling under the surface like some monster in the sea. Here, he breaks out. Of course having 9th Wonder on your side helps the issue considerably, but this is good, robust, solid, honest rap with sheer superhero beats.

Quality Track to DL | Dreamchasers

FOUR.
The Roots / Game Theory [Def Jam]
[Buy It Here]

I think the Roots are in a tough spot, musically and creatively; their image [perhaps I’m wrong on this] or their general identity is so pronounced, so “nice guy” and gets them so much play in that weird upper-middle class hip-hop fan, that they’re somewhat disregarded. It’s like when you watch the new season of a show you obsess about. Even though it might be good, it is stuck on an invisible plateau, as if good output is just uniformly expected from it. And so, it gets overlooked, because it’s just supposed to be good, and therefore if something new comes along, that gets all the attention and praise because there’s no preconception, no history to build an opinion on. Does that make sense? [Think “The Sopranos”, for example. People think it’s the same or getting worse just because it has been good since the beginning, and therefore it just passes by.]

The reality is that this is perhaps their strongest record to date. Their discography has been maintaining a slow, yet upward, curve, and this is the highest point on the graph yet. It’s more emotional than previous records [can you tell yet that I demand emotion and feeling from the art that I consume?], and the anger and disenchantment it screams loudly are heavy reflectors of the disappointing world in which we live. It feels more immediate, more call-and-response, more in-tune with the woes of the world and the near constant letdowns our society experiences. [Granted, this might change politically over the next few years, but it’s hard to refute that we’re stuck at the bottom of a slide.]

There is some amazing music here, and it is more coherent than any Roots LP I ever heard. It’s all there. This track is surely my favorite track of the year, above any other I’ve heard, and this album is worth your time. Make no mistake.

Quality Track to DL | Long Time

THREE.
Ghostface Killah / Fishscale [Def Jam]
[Buy It Here]

Wu-Tang alums have a sad history of putting out shitty solo albums. With the exception of a select few [Built for Cuban Linxx, Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, Ironman], the results aren't too promising. But in '06, Tony Starks kicked the fucking mule with this one. Big, bold, brash [and other b words], this LP was never far outside my grasp. The sampling is tight, his rhymes are on point for the first time in a long time [his wordplay is frantic], and it's an all-round rollercoaster to listen to.

Weird as it sounds, the one track I listen to most is the skit "Bad Mouth Kid". Yeah.

Quality Track to DL | Whip You With a Strap

TWO.
Bonnie Prince Billy / The Letting Go [Drag City]
[Buy It Here]

Simply beautiful album. Perfect for sitting on a veranda in the middle of nowhere, with only the sounds of nature, sipping a beer and contemplating life. It's without a doubt his best work to date; heavenly, simple instrumentation, hushed vocals and an emptiness that echoes the space in each of us.

Quality Track to DL | Love Comes to Me

ONE.
Thom Yorke / The Eraser [XL]
[Buy It Here]

If I ranked my albums in terms of those I listened to most, there is no dispute that this makes the top of the list. Call it fawning Radiohead favoritism, call it pretentious, call it what you will, but this album was flawless on many levels. It was the most vulnerable music by Yorke for some time; instead of layers of metaphor and concepts, we got raw feeling. Anger, fear, self-consciousness, doubt, hatred, vitriol, concern; these are the bricks from which Yorke is built. The arrangements are sparse and haunting, never failing to bring you to yr knees. Superb album.

Quality Track to DL | Cymbal Rush

The Roy's 10 Albums to Listen to in Airports

Major airports are our little cities: intermediaries between the destination and the method of travel where infrastructure, culture, and commerce meet. In every curve and line a purpose, a direction, a puzzle piece of people moving design. Sit there. Walk here. Watch this. Stay calm. Be still.

And like cities, airports are unique. Some bustle with electric human tension, ultramodern and efficient, while others are subdued and worn, watching people come and go by the quiet dozen. Some are peppered with men and women in suits immersed in their laptops while in others bored children fiddle with long broken coin-op TV’s. Still, there is a commonality: if you are in an airport, you are probably waiting.

And if you read this blog, I’m willing to bet that one of your choice diversions is music. Now I know, “nobody listens to albums anymore”, but what better time to throw a whole LP in the queue then when you’ve got nothing to do but sit back and behold humanity? Let the static wash of voices, footsteps, plastic wheels, and intercom announcements fade to ambience as you press play and begin the soundtrack to your own little slice of reality.

---


The Books / The Lemon of Pink
[Buy It Here]

The Books are amazing. Their music is the inevitable product of non-linear recording techniques afforded by digital technology paired with technically proficient and artistically inspired composers. Waiting to board? Close your eyes, listen, and feel yourself deconstruct, part of you phasing over into the food court, your legs shifting out into the wind and sun on the tarmac. Your hands, a moment ago just in front of you, are twenty feet away holding a Korean newspaper. Your feet kicked up and resting on some stranger’s backpack. Now bring it all back for the chorus, and smile. Yes, that knowing smile, because you are both there and here. Because it is that good.

Listen in on The Lemon of Pink

Jonny Greenwood / Bodysong
[Buy It Here]

Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead fame provides a fantastic soundtrack for the movie Bodysong, and I think it’s the only soundtrack I own having never seen the movie. It’s deep, ambient, and moving. At times it’s raucous and jarring, but it opens up with Moon Trills, which is one of my favorites from the disc.

It's the first track, and a great intro as you travel down the corridor and the walls open to windows, floor to ceiling, revealing a blinding expanse of tan. Your footsteps slow as you pan to see these sleek metal beasts laid out before you. You press your hands against the glass that separates you, part museum, part zoo, from the resting, feeding giants outside. Behind them, sliding into view, one gracefully takes to the air. Blazing in the sun. Slowly. Silently.

Listen in on Moon Trills

Philip Glass / Einstein on the Beach
[Buy It Here]

Einstein on the Beach is not for everyone. It’s one of my favorites to write to, or even to lie and just chill to, but I admit that it is repetitive, and if you don’t like it from the start, you will probably hate it the more you hear it. While one of the Qatsi soundtracks might have been a more obvious pick for disconnecting yourself from this circus to get a better view, I prefer Einstein. Mostly spoken word or sung parts over various repeating instrumental chord changes, let the voices around you trickle into the performance through your headphones. The couple arguing next to you and the father calling his family behind you have no idea they’re a part of the music. Plus, at three or four discs, depending on which version you have, there’s plenty of music to last you through delays and layovers!

Listen in on Knee Play 4

Brian Eno + David Byrne / My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
[Buy It Here]

Composed of semi-funky jams and various found recordings, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts is not only deep listening, it’s a musical collage of human voices and sounds from across the globe, an aural metaphor for the teeming humanity before you. Also, did I mention that it’s semi-funky? Technically speaking, that means that your head my nod and your feet may tap, but your stride will not necessarily glide, nor will your hips involuntarily dip. Perfect to keep you moving without attracting too much attention to yourself.

Listen in on The Carrier

Neil Young / Decade
[Buy It Here]

Not just tried and true solid tunes: you can explore the future today! Pretend that the last thing you remember is slipping into the restroom to sneak a toke. It was 1977, and you were waiting for your baby’s flight to come in, but you must have fallen asleep. Now, you wake up and everything’s a bit off. Wandering around, there are televisions at every turn. Everyone’s hair is short, and they’re all using small walkie talkies or listening to miniature headphones. They must all work for the government. Dazed, you make your way out to the parking lot to try to get your bearings, but even that’s changed. All the cars look so… round.

Listen in on Broken Arrow

Mogwai / Happy Songs for Happy People
[Buy It Here]

Or maybe you’re from the future. You remember places like this from when you were a kid, and it’s all coming back in flashes. The white lights, the rows of seats, the smell of industrial cleansers. You know you’re on a mission, and that there’s nothing you can do to change the inevitable, to save these people, but it feels as if you’re losing it twice. You can’t stop walking, taking it in. You’re in a living museum, and everything around you is an integral and necessary part of history, concrete and beautiful. A young lady on a cell phone bumps into you as she passes and your get a chill. You’re surrounded by living ghosts. You make eye contact with a little girl being led along by her parents. She smiles.

Listen in on Hunted by a Freak

Pinback/ Pinback
[Buy It Here]

Okay. Maybe it’s present day, everything’s okay (as far as you know), and you’re chill. No crazy ambient music, no bullshit sci-fi daydreams, just Pinback’s slick, calculated, catchy sound. A perfect fit, in my opinion, for the contrasts of silence and motion, crowds and isolation, and the disorientation that comes from sitting in an airport terminal for swaths of time.

Listen in on Loro

TRS-80 / Shake Hands with Danger
[Buy It Here]

Sure, you’re sitting still. That doesn’t mean your mind can’t go a few beats per minute faster. TRS-80’s steady driving beats and ambient tones allow you to sit back and let the world bustle around you. Their tendency to sample from old recordings gives their work a haunted sound. Aged but contemporary, layered, rhythmic, and repetitive. Plane goes up, plane comes down, people move, always departing.

Listen in on Ten Speed

Sonic Youth / Murray Street
[Buy It Here]

There’s so much Sonic Youth out there to choose from I feel I can’t properly justify my pick of Murray Street over their other offerings. I feel this album and the songs on it have a flow to them that creates its own unique mood. A good mood, say, for finding a corner booth in the airport bar to sit behind a pair of shades, gaining elevation before your flight. Maybe smiling at the young woman with the two piece and briefcase at the bar. Maybe imagining how you’d introduce yourself to her. Later, maybe wishing you had. Hope you got an isle seat.

Listen in on Sympathy for the Strawberry

Radiohead / OK Computer
[Buy It Here]

Okay, everyone either has a copy of OK Computer or they know someone who does, so I’m not giving you anything new here. Still, I see OK Computer as one of the last great albums ever made. When I was in high school, the whole thing was mythic to me. Hell, for me, this album was 1998.

There is a density to this work that’s reflected not only in the sound but in the packaging itself. I picked apart the case, poured over each booklet page, thinking each glyph and message carried an individual and necessary importance. I suppose they don’t, really. But together they form the presence of a system in which I searched for meaning.

Exit Music (For a Film) is one of my favorites from the album. In it (starting at 2:19) ambient noise begins to play behind Thom’s vocals and the acoustic guitar. To me, it sounds like an airport: assorted crowd noises with a jet engine in the background. All garbled, all looped. It’s the smallest of details in the song, but for me it is the song.

OK Computer could serve as the perfect backdrop for many adventures, but because of this song, and because of the ghostly infrastructure imagery littered throughout the packaging, it will always come to mind for me whenever I step into an airport.

Listen in on Exit Music (For a Film)

I can think of a handful of albums that easily belong on this list, and I hope that you have too. The next time you take a trip, take some tunes with you. Give yourself some good journey music, have a seat or walk around, and take in the show. Don't forget what you hear and see, and most importantly, don't forget to come back. You are, after all, a part of the circus too.

---

Thus concludes my “I’m not hip enough to know jack about the best of any year so I have to come up with some other theme for a list” list. Thanks for the opportunity to flex my fingers and share my thoughts. Here’s to you Silent K, JT, and Codec. You keep the quality high and that keeps me from slacking. Everyone, see you around – The Roy

Silent K's Lucky 13 of 2006

Resevoir Dogs - The Bathroom Tile.

If you haven't noticed, FmGT expanded during 2006 - we've added 2 new chefs: the one, the only, The Roy as well as audiophile extraordinare: Codec. The selections have expanded, allowing us to further our main goal: feeding you good tunes - so prepare to gain that holiday weight right now.

---


Get Your Hands Off of My Woman [Feat. Corn Mo]
Ben Folds
SuperSunnySpeedGraphic - The LP
$ony : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

I've been addicted to anything that Ben Folds has done since I was introduced to him in 1997. I'm a huge fan of his mixed up Fear of Pop and it's too bad that I never had a chance to actually see the actual Ben Folds Five perform live. I have caught him in Central Park a few times on his solo giggin' at the summer stage. His stuff always gets me in a good mood [or a better mood at that]. 'Get Your Hands Off of My Woman' and The SuperSunnySpeedGraphic LP on the whole are a welcome addition to his catalog. We should feel lucky that a dude who has pumped out so many quality tunes continues to hit the keys as hard as he does.


Recurring
Bonobo
Days to Come
Ninja Tune : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Simon Green is a master of slick downbeat. His style sounds smart, sexy and moody. Days to Come, his fourth official LP, is a blend of downtempo silk. 'Recurring' is a slightly dark and moody track that makes me want to sit outside and smoke.


A Peak in Time
Cut Chemist
The Audience's Listening
Warner / Wea : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Cut Chemist broke away from J5, I won't comment on the state of J5 because of it, but I will say that it's allowed him to record what's probably my absolute favorite album of 2006. Sure, he's done plenty of solo stuff earlier and has worked with greats like Josh Shadow and the like, but this album is just pure money. We wanted his electronic, hip-hop, rockin' turntablism sound and he's delivered ten-fold. 'A Peak in Time' is to The Audience's Listening as 'Weapon of Choice' is to Fatboy Slim's Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars.


Voice [Azzido Da Bass remix]
Eri Nobuchika
nobuchika.rx
Smej Associated : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

This fine young Japanese thing is experiencing quite the career. Upon graduating from high school, Eriko recorded her first single produced by Shinichi Osawa [ a.k.a. Mondo Grosso]. At 21 years old, she's a J-pop phenomenon. Her recent remix album is no joke, featuring re-worked tracks from the likes of Royksopp, Linus Loves [featured elsewhere in this post] and Azzido Da Bass - whom you might recall had a little single by the name of 'Dooms Night' made popular by Timo Maas back in 2000. But I digress, Azzido's remix is a very groovy trip down a dark alley with a hidden dance floor. It reminds me a LOT of Evil 9's track entitled 'Restless' because of the guitar riff. The guitar riffs are rockin' indeed.


Dogstar [Feat. Perry Farrell]
Hybrid
I Choose Noise
Distinctive : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

I've already pledged my allegiance to all thing Hybrid in my previous Hybrid retrospective. These guys are the breakbeat masters, enough said. Their third full album, I Choose Noise, was quite solid. Not my favorite album - but it did feature some choice cuts. Particularly this collaboration with Perry Farrell. There was an instrumental version of this track flying around the net, which I actually like much better because it features more of Pete Hook's [New Order] guitar riff which is only really prevalent at the end of this version. Still, solid track and an excellent collaboration that I would not have expected at all. I love it when people from different worlds jump into the hot tub together - figuratively speaking of course - if I meant in real life, I'd be calling up Eriko Nobochika myself.



Radio
Jamiroquai
High Times: Singles 1992-2006
$ony : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Ah, Jay Kay, it still stuns me that I never actually listened to Jamiroquai until Travelling Without Moving was released [I know, I know]. I was immediately hooked however - I've posted them [him really] all over FmGT, I can never get enough. It does seem however like the man has had enough... usually, the release of a greatest hits collection is the symbol of someone starting to take it easy. The two new singles that we got however are pretty decent. 'Radio' is that sexy track, to which you'll be sipping on your whiskey and making eye contact with that someone on the other end of the room. Before long, it'll be more than just eye contact - Jamiroquai can have that effect - What!? I'm talking about dancing! Dancing, people. Christ.


Ce Porte remix
Kerrier District
Kerrier District 2
Rephlex : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Luke Vibert brings the funky electronic. Whether he's traveling as Wagon Christ, Plug or Kerrier District [are there any more monikers?] he's always on the level. He's nailed the art of the bouncy bass and the groovy synth. It's danceable without being cheesy and perfectly enjoyable from the couch, drivers seat or your office desk chair.


VH1
Linus Loves
Stage Invader
Breast Fed : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

All you really need to know is that if you like Mylo [who's album Destroy All Rock & Roll might possibly be the best electronic composition of 2005] then you will seriously dig Linus Loves. He's got that thick-noted, dense sound that's found in Daft Punk or Alan Braxe, but has taken it in an entirely different direction - it's extremely happy without being, well, without getting all Happy Hardcore on you. Give him a listen and you won't be sorry.


Public Transport
Plus Device
Puncture
Hefty Records : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Here's a group that knows how to get my interest. Not only have they dropped some great tunes, but they refuse to let the cat out of the bag as to who they are. I'm guessing that it's because whomever they are, they're already known very well on the music scene. This is a great tactic because it erases any predisposition that we might have towards their previous work. The PD sound is the most dark and sexy of the bunch today - and the entire body of the album is like this. Speaking of bodies, who is the cover model? Maybe she can let her cat out of the bag?


Boogie No More
Richard Dorfmeister vs. Madrid de Los Austrias
Grand Slam
G-Stone : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Downtempo fans and dopers alike will attest to the fact that Peter Kruder & Richard Dorfmeister's The K&D Sessions was one of the best compilation albums of 1998. Richard & Peter are still both on G-Stone and making exquisite tunage - albeit working independent of one other. Kruder had produced material under the name of Peace Orchestra where as Dorfmeister has released two compilations under his own name as well as being 1/2 of the almighty Tosca. Richard's second full on compilation album is a partnership with the Vienna based duo, Madrid de Los Austrias. This compilation on the whole is a fantastic listening experience - I hesitate to say 'party in a box' but it's quite good. 'Boogie No More' is a track that whips the dance floor into shape, the kinda track that makes everyone look good, even if they've never been able to pull off anything beyond a two-step.


Matchbox
The Kooks
Inside In / Inside Out
Astralwerks : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

A good friend of mine recently turned me on to these guys. It took a few listens before their album grew on me, but the description that I had been given is quite accurate - The Kooks get better every time you listen to them. 'Matchbox' is no exception - it's certainly got that Brit-rock-radio-pop sound - but when a group draws their inspiration from the Police as well as Funkadelic you know it's going to be swank. I'm still digesting the album, but these guys are quickly getting my thumbs up.


Game Theory
The Roots [Feat. Malik B.]
Game Theory
Def Jam : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Still dying to see these guys live, The Roots never fail to impress. Now, if I'm so impressed by what they've pressed to disc, then hot damn, I can't wait to see them live. The grooves behind the lyrics are truly what keeps these guys alive - they know it, respect it. Respect the MC like you respect the DJ [and studio artists]. Game Theory's title track is the easiest to be addicted to. At that time, these guys were battling Lupe Fiasco for control over my iPod - The Roots won.


Reign [Anagram remix]
Unkle [Feat. Ian Brown]
Self Defence
U.N.K.L.E. : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Self Defence was definitely the last chance that James Lavelle has in making any money whatsoever from his track 'Reign' - seriously Lavelle - enough already. That aside, James does know how to make some cool sounding beats, he knows who to work with [music industry and beyond] in order to spread the word and get the theme of his music out onto t-shirts [B.A.P.E - which is no longer cool as it's all the fuck over NYC kids] and graphic design [Futura2000 anyone?]. Never Never Land is an entirely different beast from Psyence Fiction, that being accepted, getting a few remixes of track originally from NNL is always welcome. The producers featured on Self Defence are quite impressive [Finally the RJD2 was printed to CD]. The Anagram remix is of a different phylum - being very Rock-trancesque [Yes, I can make up words]. It's groovy and addictive - spicing up the track that's surely seen too many mixes - I don't care, I love it - let it spin on repeat.

---
That's my list. Here's to the 4 Cooks, a solid 2006, the lucky 13, an extra-happy 27th & to not noticing too many errors after I've posted this. Stay Tuned & Ii o toshi o. -- Silent K

Songs That Saved My Life In 2006

This one's coming straight from the heart. No gimmicks.

When I look back at my life immediately following college, I'll remember the trials, the paychecks that didn't come, the uninsurance, the sleeping on the office couch - but I'll be remiss to put a soundtrack to it all. Blame it on whatever's convenient: for a little more than a year, I lived well outside the influence of music. I listened to little and discovered less. I went through a computer reformat that lasted me nearly a year without ever installing my iPod transfer software. Fuck, I don't think I'd even charged the thing since graduation, and the only headphones I had were attached to a microphone and not particularly mobile.

And then, a few months ago, everything went wrong. It was Snow Crash, and I had just been cut free from The Raft somewhere far, far away from a society that I wasn't sure really wanted me back. This - the clichéd hour of need - is when music came back into focus for me; its role made clear, the reasons for chasing it suddenly lit up in neon. I can't believe I ever let it go.

I write for this blog because I believe in what it is trying to do - to keep the search alive, keep music simmering in your brainpan. If you ask me, we're lucky to have it.

That said, it's time to round up my favorites of 2006. They're not all from this year - I slept on the first nine months of it, and I'm just now getting up - but they're tracks that have come into my life since the last time the ball dropped. If even one of them is new to you, take it as an early something under the tree.

[In Reverse Chronological Order (Year)]

[01]


Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt
DJ Shadow
Endtroducing...
Fontana Island : 1996
[Listen] [Buy]

I can't help but think that if I'd heard this when I was 13, I'd be somewhere else right now. For however long you've known it, this song has a singular power to inspire and change. It doesn't rust; it shines. Enough has been said about it that I could probably write a full review by taking only one, glowing word about the [1996-era] genius that is Josh Davis from everything that's out there, so I'll spare you the Amazon run-down.

Do you know that feeling you get - it's different for everyone - where you feel crushingly inspired and defeated in the face of something beautiful? That slow-burning sensation of What the Fuck Am I Doing if I'm Not Doing This? B.S.W.A.G.O.S. is a firefly in a jar, 6 minutes and 39 seconds bright.

[02]


Airplane '96
Pizzicato 5
Sister Freedom Tapes
Matador : 1996
[Listen] [Buy]

A lot of Pizzicato 5's stuff sounds like: sunny day, convertible, Japanese countryside. Airplane '96 is the on-ramp to Tokyo. It is relentlessly kinetic, a well-contained electrical fire and exactly the kind of thing I needed to happen to me late this year.

[03]


Superheroes
Daft Punk
Discovery
Virgin Records : 2001
[Listen] [Buy]

I'm not sure how I managed to avoid Daft Punk for so many years without really trying to - parallel lines never cross? - but I kind of want to blame Silent K, who despite a brilliant opportunity to proselytize (vis-a-vis Fatbaby) left me to turn this up on another company hard disk at the beginning of 2006. Cheers!

When I found this track, I left it on single-song repeat until it had written itself into my cellular make-up. And when they carbon date me somewhere down the line, they should find that five years late is better than never.

[04]


Situps Pullups
edIT
Crying Over Pros for No Reason
Planet Mu : 2004
[Listen] [Buy]

Going forward may not be the answer - maybe I should go back.

When I decided to get music back into my life, I drew up a hit list: artists I remembered from before the coma - the type I knew I could look to as a life vest, a platform to stand on. Prefuse 73 was one of them. I sought outSurrounded By Silence and was pretty quickly sure that I shouldn't have.

edIT is doing now what Prefuse was doing a couple of years ago, and that's entirely okay with me. Crying Over Pros For No Reason is a minute-by-minute soundtrack to the routine you rediscover when everything comes apart. It's got a confident restlessness going for it, the sense that change is closing in - and that you're ready for it. Glitch-Hop that will steal your lunch money!

His new album (Certified Air Raid Material, I think) is out early next year.

[05]


Humming Song (Alone Together)
Yuka Honda
Eucademix
Tzadik : 2004
[Listen] [Buy]

After so many sterile, shut-in months on an unchanging playlist, it was easy to forget that Cibo Matto had broken up at all. Realizing it again was like discovering an old love letter from that relationship you simply let drift apart, the sort that might not have been inevitable if only you'd have known.

I really, really miss Cibo Matto, and this is exactly what that feeling sounds like.

[06]


Talk To The Romans
Project Polaroid
Project Polaroid
Threshold : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

The same four or five albums' (Spankmaster, Spankmaster II, Spankmaster III, Not Dr. Octagynecologist IV) worth of Kool Keith in 128kbps won't hold you forever. If you haven't given up on the guy yet [I hadn't thought to], Project Polaroid should restore your good faith for another couple years.

Fresh as &!@%: space-raps, alligators, and beats from galaxies beyond anything Kutmasta Kurt's ever signed his name to. Like Coke Zero for the Octagon crowd.

[07]


Smash Your Head
Girl Talk
Night Ripper
Illegal Art : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

If you flew into a clonic seizure during the middle of any given VH1 countdown, you'd probably want to write Night Ripper when you came out of it - it's too good to let go. I have a special fondness for mash-ups, and this album caters to it like a wedding guest.

Maybe today is your first time on the Internet. Yeah? This album will surprise you. Here's what you can expect from the selected track:

"Smash Your Head" – 3:01

* – 0:00 X-Ray Spex - "Oh Bondage Up Yours"
* – 0:02 Fall Out Boy - "Sugar, We're Going Down"
* – 0:02 Trina - "Don’t Trip"
* – 0:07 SWV - "I'm So Into You"
* – 0:24 Public Enemy - "Rebel Without A Pause"
* - 0:24 James Brown - "Get Up Offa That Thing"
* – 0:27 Lil Wayne - "Fireman"
* – 0:27 Young Jeezy - "Over Here"
* – 0:33 Nirvana - "Scentless Apprentice"
* – 0:59 Young Jeezy - "Soul Survivor (song)"
* – 1:25 The Pharcyde - "Passing Me By"
* – 1:28 Elton John - "Tiny Dancer"
* – 1:39 The Notorious B.I.G. - "Juicy"
* – 2:29 Beyonce Knowles - "Check on It"
* – 2:42 Juelz Santana - "Clockwork"

[08]


A Lot To Say
Glue
Catch As Catch Can
Fatbeats : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Glue makes me feel like my favorite band is still together and I'm on their street team and soaked with the sweat of a hundred other fans at their New Haven show. Contrast Catch As Catch Can with their last album and you can absolutely feel how hard they're trying to sell out.

You know what? It doesn't matter. That'd be like Yoda waking up one morning and thinking, "You know, instead of harmlessly levitating things today, I feel like throwing some lightning." The underground Force is so strong with Glue that they are in really little danger of giving in to corruption. A group to watch.

[09]


Things Go Better
Soul Position
Things Go Better with RJ and Al
Rhymesayers : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

If RJ had been piloting Luke's X-Wing, they'd have been too busy blowing out the system on Coruscant to break on Dagobah. Things Go Better is one of about four hundred RJD2 tracks I've ground up, injected and become happily dependent on in the past couple of months.

I'll worry about quitting once it's time for my New Year's Resolutions.

[10]


Vi Sitter I Ventrilo Och Spelar Dota
Basshunter
LOL <(^^,)>
Wea/Warner : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

DotA Allstars (and here) is a custom map/game type for Warcraft III that my friends and I once played and, upon discovering that its community support had thrust development forth some 20 or 30 versions since January 2005, started playing again late this year. We didn't come back because of this song, but we would have.

Basshunter is a Swedish dance artist and competitive-level gamer, and this is his tribute to the only lifestyle that could possibly go with both of them. His debut album, LOL <(^^,)>, takes home my international award for best title with a board full of five-point-ohs.

This video is pretty much all of the fun.



For JT, Silent K, Roy and every album I'm counting on them to deliver.

Here's to another year.

JT's Picks Oh-Six [part one]

16 ALBUMS FOR 2006
PART ONE: SIXTEEN to NINE

SIXTEEN.
Spank Rock / Yoyoyoyoyo [Big Dada Records]
[Buy It Here]

This album is built for the dancefloor. It's been a while since I heard beats and music with this energy, with this unabashed exuberance and sheer flair. Full of blatant sex, ass-shakin' sound and fun, and for once, you won't feel ashamed to embrace it. I vaguely remember the days when hip-hop was a strong advocate of these things.

Quality Track to DL | Bump

FIFTEEN.
J Dilla / The Shining [BBE]
[Buy It Here]

James Yancey's last offering to the world is a tough, disjointed album, but one that leaves us all wanting more. As usual, a ton of quality guest MCs and singers pause to assist, and J Dilla's beats weave their way through several superb songs. Sure, it's short [36 mins], but it does not short-change the listener. You can hear the space, you can hear the rough edges where he may have taken a little more time [the LP was finished by Dilla's close friend Karriem Riggins], but overall, The Shining is a worthy farewell from a unique, gifted artist.

Quality Track to DL | Baby [feat. Madlib & Guilty Simpson]

FOURTEEN.
Junior Boys / So This Is Goodbye [Domino]
[Buy It Here]

Dark, brooding electronica. It is breathless, moody, synth-driven dance music; close your eyes and you can see the disconnectedness of the world, the unspoken miles between people, the distance to the horizon. Imagine yrself in the club, sat alone in the mist and mire of another night almost spent. The drink in your hand is almost empty, and the dancefloor is noticeably empty. Bartenders clean glasses and start stacking stools, and despite the lack of company, you've never felt more alive.

Quality Track to DL | Double Shadow

THIRTEEN.
The Wood Brothers / Ways Not to Lose [Blue Note Records]
[Buy It Here]

This was probably my summer album, the one that accompanied every lazy late-evening cookout, every road trip, every moment spent with sound other than conversation. Of course I was initially intrigued considering that one of the Wood brothers is Chris Wood, long-serving bass powerhouse of the peerless MMW, but this is a whole new sound. Laid-back, sun-drenched folk from the duo, with Chris’s upright supporting his older sibling Oliver who takes the duties of bluesy guitars and plaintive vocals.

To Oliver Wood, life is always in the balance. Things may not always go your way, but what goes down but come up, and you never know what personal joy is just around the corner. The lyrics are full of confusion and hope, and while it may not always sound happy and warm, you cannot skip a second.

Quality Track to DL | Glad

TWELVE.
Strange Fruit Project / The Healing [Om Records]
[Buy It Here]

Quality, intelligent hip-hop. What more can I say? The trio of MCs spit thoughtful, socially-conscious rhymes over fantastic beats. It might not shatter any boundaries, but in a world where people constantly aspire for complexity, sometimes it's easy to forget just how good something simple can be when it's done right.

Quality Track to DL | You [The Only Ones]

ELEVEN.
Aloe Blacc / Shine Through [Stones Throw]
[Buy It Here]

This album creeps into the top list on potential. A solid debut from one half of Emanon, reflecting and fusing the many genres that define him. Salsa, merengue, reggae, 70s soul and hip-hop; Shine Through is a winding journey through the Panamanian's life, perfect for seduction or relaxation.

Quality Track to DL | Whole World

TEN.
The Black Keys / Magic Potion [Nonesuch]
[Buy It Here]

Swampy blues-rock with the ferocity and menace of a grizzly bear. Fuck the White Stripes; this is the only drum/guitar duo I'll pay attention to. It's the aggression you've been looking for but too afraid to reach out and touch.

Think Thor's hammer, tidal waves, molotov cocktails, bazookas, nitrous oxide, the colour red. Think a pig on a spit, roundhouse kicks, John Wayne on a horse coming into town, helmet to helmet, capsaicin.

This album is savage, and unafraid. You should be too. I will warn, though: one full rotation and you'll want to fight someone.

Quality Track to DL | Just a Little Heat

NINE.
Darondo / How I Got Over [Luv N' Haight]
[Buy It Here]

Yes, I know this is a compilation of sorts, so sue me. This list business is hard work. But, I digress: once you make bail after a drunken, Black Keys-inspired rampage through town, this album might be the one to turn to while searching for the root of your problems.

Funky, soulful R&B from a lost legend, a man who deserves the attention. The basslines are tight, the horns are loose, and together, it's hard not to fall in love.

Quality Track to DL | My Momma and my Poppa

----

FmGT's Picks last all week long. Stay tuned for more.

FmGT's 2006

Just a quick note to mention that our FmGT picks of the year will start in a frenzy tomorrow. We're just getting our ducks in a row so that you, the audience, get the magic you so rightfully deserve.

Sit tight.

EDIT: This should keep you going until tomorrow morning.

Sometimes the Charmin squeezes you

California Bound
Frank Black & The Catholics
Black Letter Days
Spin Art : 2002
[Listen] [Buy]

Memory Machine
The Dismemberment Plan
Emergency & I
Desoto : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

I'm Not Bitter
Minus 5
Down With Wilco
Yep Roc : 2003
[Listen] [Buy]

Rapture Rapes the Muses
of Montreal
Satanic Panic in the Attic
Polyvinyl : 2004
[Listen] [Buy]

Like Nothing Ever Heard
The Billy Nayer Show
The American Astronaut
BSG : 2001
[Listen] [Buy]

The Farmer's Hotel
The Silver Jews
Tanglewood Numbers
Drag City : 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

It’s an inescapable part of the human condition that we are not able to appreciate or understand our lives in context until some time has passed.

This drives me fucking crazy.

California Bound – After college it felt as if what I decided to do next would determine the course of my life for the next ten years and beyond. For me, that uncertainty was a ship too big to steer, and I freaked out. I either wanted to head out California, crash on couches, find a job, and experience the west, or stay near my family and friends and find a job here. Either way I had to find a job for some stupid reason. I had my whys and doubts, but I decided to stay. I can’t be brave all day every day.

Memory Machine – Explores the same existential territory as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but not nearly as subtle. Travis’s voice mixed with stabbing synths supported by a clockwork frantic rhythm section means that every sound in the verse works together to create what too many bands lack: intensity. Emergency & I is an excellent play, and is the essential Dismemberment Plan release. So if you haven’t heard, ya heard, you hear?

I’m not Bitter – I love this song of acknowledged denial. We’ve all been there, swearing we don’t feel something because we don’t want to be the type of people who feel those kinds of things. Often folks who piss me off the most remind me of something I don’t like about myself.

You’ll hear more from me about The Minus 5 someday, but for now dig on this track. And until then know this: they kick more ass than an octopus with boots tied to a ceiling fan over a dance floor.

Like Nothing Ever Heard – This is from the soundtrack to a movie called The American Astronaut. This song is played over a montage that takes the place of the main character revealing why his long time associate Professor Hess wants to kill him, but can’t, and for me, it’s the best part of the movie. The movie itself is a musical, but this montage was the first time I took a step back from myself and from the film to say “woah, this shit is good”.

The film is written by, directed by, and stars Cory McAbee, while the music is provided by the band he’s a lead singer for. It’s a musical space-western where the main characters fly around space in a train (special effects are paintings of said space-train). It sounds like a horrible idea, and yet, it’s one of the quirkiest, most endearing films I’ve ever viewed. If you’ve ever the opportunity, give it a look.

Here's a free peek: "Hey Boy"


The Farmer’s Hotel – The best 7 minute tune about witnessing bestiality I know of.
---

Don't forget your sweet keisters about some FmGT hot list action, coming your way faster than you can say "dang, that was pretty quick. Those guys were right."

Hell yeah we were right.

Tired, Tired

Encore
9th Wonder vs. Jay-Z
Black is Back
2004
[Listen]

Encore
Kev Brown vs. Jay-Z
The Brown Album
2003
[Listen]

Encore
Metallica vs. Jay-Z
Cheap Cologne Presents: The Double Black Album
2004
[Listen]

Encore
Mr. Scruff vs. Jay-Z
???
???
[Listen]

In The Mouth, An Encore
DJ N-Wee
Jay-Z vs. Pavement: The Slack Album
???
[Listen]

Encore
Jay-Z vs. Necro
The Blood Album
2004
[Listen]

Encore
Jay-Z vs. Danger Mouse
The Grey Album
2003
[Listen]

Encore [Polyphonic Spree "Soldier Girl"]
Jay-Z vs. RJD2
Bazooka Joe Presents: The Silver Album
2004
[Listen]

There are no surprises any more. I'm pretty sure of that. Every day you see the same thing. The same guy in an ill-fitting suit on the train reading the sports section, the same dog walker, the same bagged sandwich lunch, the same stack of work never getting smaller, the same stress, the same emails, the same bullshit, the same cloudy weather, the same biting cold.

Will it get any different?

I doubt that, but, in the interest of this prevailing theme of "same-ness", here are many versions of the same song. I know it's been light years since all the Jay-Z mashup crap, but hey, no surprises, right? I'm going back there, with many different takes on his track "Encore".

Why this one? Because it was my favourite track of Danger Mouse's effort, and so I dug out the rest of 'em to see what [if anything] was done differently.

There are variations and interpretations upon the same base, and some with more novelty factor than others [and admittedly less replay-ability], but in the end, they're all creative, taking something old and giving it fresh life.

Maybe there's hope after all. [I'm still very skeptical.]

Stick around for an FmGT post tomorrow, on a saturday. Yes, we're breaking our rules, but sometimes it's just too much fun.
---

I think we're ready for FmGT's Lists Week next week, although who knows. We are a renegade bunch, and we ride like the wind on nobody's dime and nobody's time, living to our own rules. As kickass as it is, I'm thinking we'll get our ducks in a row to begin on sunday, and give you as many superlatives as possible before the holiday vacation.

I don't know about you, but I'm getting the f-ck away from here soon and heading to the West Coast.

Too Good

In lieu of something else right now, funniest thing I've seen in a while:

Enjoy. Music later.

Keep warm

Can We Try Love Again?
The Kool Blues
[Listen]

Skin Tight
Tamlins
Black Beauty
State Records : 1976
[Listen]

Junior
Aceyalone with RJD2
Magnificent City
Decon Inc : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Dogs of War [feat. Raekwon, Cappadonna, Trife & Sun God]
Ghostface Killah
Fishscale
Def Jam : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

I am weighed down at the moment. Heaviness reigns supreme. It always seems to happen in the winter time - thick sweaters, chunky jackets that keep the wind out, end-of-year projects and the holiday mayhem.

The bad weather never helps. I mean, who wants to go outside when the sky is all granny-skin grey, the clouds washed out and pasty, the air sharp with the sweet smell of bonfires the next town over?

No, the best antidote is wrap up. Keep warm. Sweat indoors, any way you know how. Dance, fuck, do push-ups, eat soup. Whatever works.
---

This quick quartet might help too. The first song is a good one to play if yr being extra-nice up to yr loved one after fucking up, while the second track would work nicely to celebrate your newly-fixed relationship. Nothing like a little warm soul and reggae entree to keep the frost out.

To close, a duo from albums that I'm toying with on my Best of 2006 lists [yep, FmGT's got their hand in the "Best of" Cookie jar once again]. As my buddy K at Analog Giant noted recently, 2006 has been a superb year for hip-hop. After an admittedly shitty 2005, several heavy hitters made their triumphant return, while several relatively unknown artists announced themselves on the scene with addictive releases. My lists will be chock-full of this glorious stuff, so consider this an appetizer. As far as the rest of the list, it is slow going. It's like telling your children that you have a couple of favourites, and that the rest should go play on the train tracks outside.

The Aceyalone/RJD2 track is catchy, pinned down with a funky sample that augments Ace's storytelling. As for Ghostface Killah, this LP [in my mind, his strongest in quite some time] is disgustingly good, and I had a hard time picking a track for yr ears. After some deliberation, I went for this cut. The samples are on point once more, Ghostface's delivery is smoother than ever, and his guests all contribute to a near-perfect track.

Perhaps my main motives for throwing some Ghostface up would be the excuse to post this video, which makes me laugh every time I watch it. But, I also learn some important lessons. I expect you will too.

More FmGT tomorrow. Kick back tonight, and watch the Bears roll once again.

Guide you in/Turn you up

Dark Road Window
Radar Bros.
The Fallen Leaf Pages
Merge : 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

The Fish
Radar Bros.
The Fallen Leaf Pages
Merge : 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

Morning Song
Radar Bros.
And the Surrounding Mountains
Merge : 2002
[Listen] [Buy]

On the Line
Radar Bros.
And the Surrounding Mountains
Merge : 2002
[Listen] [Buy]

Goddess
Radar Bros.
Radar Bros.
Restless : 1997
[Listen] [Buy]

Save Yourself
Make-Up
Save Yourself
K. : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

Am I If...
Make-Up
I Want Some
K. : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

Every Baby Cries the Same
Make-Up
I Want Some
K. : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

Pow! to the People
Make-Up
I Want Some
K. : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

White Belts
Make-Up
Save Yourself
K. : 1999
[Listen] [Buy]

I had a request for more Radar Bros., and I don’t want it to be said that I don’t deliver. Coming up with more tracks to share with you was very easy. They haven’t put out a song yet that I couldn’t enjoy at a moment’s notice. In case you missed it the first time around, I’ve said all I think I need to say about the Radar Bros. back here.

But, to say that I deeply and thoroughly enjoy every Radar Bros. song to an almost religious extent does not mean I am always in the mood for them. They’re great when I’m in a somber, reflective mood, but this past week I’ve been wound up. Cold air, hard work, bad sleep, good times.

Some days you just gotta jump on a couch. That’s why there’s bands like Make-Up

There’s an infectious simplicity to the Make-Up, and I’m guessing they’re the type of band that you’re either going to love on first listen, or you’re just going to shrug and say “eh, that’s okay. What’s with that guy’s voice? Why’s he always shouting? Next. Oh, I got a comment on my myspace. Sweet.”

Their studio recordings sound live, and their live recordings aren’t far from the studio sets. It’s a band I’d make a trip to see live. Unfortunately, it’d have to be a trip back in time, as they broke up about six years ago. Of course, I could always clear the living room, set the stereo up at one end and blast Destination: Love, while dancing around as an imaginary audience member. Hell, I could find down on their luck actors to fill out the crowd on the cheap. I could even set up a stage with mannequins holding instruments, dressed like the band and everything.

But that’d just be crazy, right?

A squid eating dough in a polyethelene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?

Sun Zoom Spark
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Clear Spot
Reprise : 1972
[Listen] [Buy]

Her Eyes are a Blue Million Miles
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Clear Spot
Reprise : 1972
[Listen] [Buy]

Circumstances
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Clear Spot
Reprise : 1972
[Listen] [Buy]

I Love You, You Big Dummy
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Lick my Decals off, Baby
Reprise : 1970
[Listen]

The Buggy Boogie Woogie
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Lick my Decals off, Baby
Reprise : 1970
[Listen]

Moonlight on Vermont
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
Trout Mask Replica
Straight Records : 1969
[Listen] [Buy]

Veteran's Day Poppy
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
Trout Mask Replica
Straight Records : 1969
[Listen] [Buy]

Zig-Zag Wanderer
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
Safe as Milk
Buddah Records : 1967
[Listen] [Buy]

I forget where I really embraced Captain Beefheart [real name: Don Van Vliet] exactly, although there are two defining moments that when put together, make a lot of sense.

- Age 15

Two of my best friends were musicians as well, and we spent many drunken, drug-fueled evenings in the basement with an arsenal of equipment. A tape-deck, half a drum kit [jazz drums, to clarify], three beaten up Fender strats, with "modifications" [think: diff. string tunings, one of them with the strings arranged and strung differently, so they were out of order from a conventional tuning], a bass guitar missing the low E, various percussion pieces [random tambourines, kitchen utensils and pieces of cardboard and plastic of varying widths], and a 4-track recorder. We'd sit in the dark and listen to random LPs that M's dad had from his university days, one of them being Trout Mask Replica.

- Age 18

Now living in the US and about to head off to college, I took a backpacking trip around Europe. The initial plan was to fly to London, where I'd see my step-siblings for a day or so, before escaping onto the Eurostar to Paris, and from there, wherever my heart decided. I dove south into the depths of Spain for a period, where I was mugged in Barcelona [losing passport, camera, other essentials, etc.] which led me to Madrid to the British Embassy. From there, I finally left Spain behind somehow and headed east, through the south of france, into germany, and then up to Prague. There, I felt I belonged. I reached the city on July 1st, in time for Maceo Parker's gig in the town square to kick off Praha Jazzfest.

There were random underground record stores around, and between bouts of drinking with people I met in the hostel, I'd go digging. Not for vinyl at that point [although I wish I'd had the mental werewithal to kickstart that], but one particular cavern was full of random cds, in no discernible order except by genre [alphabetics were in scant supply], and I spent several hours rummaging through their bins and unmarked racks.

It had been a while since I listened to Beefheart at that point [having escaped into more noisier bands, like Sister-era Sonic Youth], and I came across a small cluster of CB cds, ones I hadn't yet found. A few american dollars later, and I had completed his catalog. Stop to pick up some fortified wine and a burger, then back to my room where I spent a good portion of the night blasting him from the ratty player I borrowed from the front desk.
----

Captain Beefheart's music is difficult, at times, but incredibly satisfying. His epic LP, Trout Mask Replica, represented the best of the 60's experimental wave, embracing several genres in a psychedelic, powerful blend. Free jazz, blues, old sea shanties, slide guitar, overdubs, Bo Diddley, poetry, conflicting tempi, US politics, Steve Reich, gospel, surrealism, garage rock; all of them work within the context of this album, and as cliche as it sounds, it is one of my favourite albums of all-time. As the late John Peel once said:

"If there has been anything in the history of popular music which could be described as a work of art in a way that people who are involved in other areas of art would understand, then Trout Mask Replica is probably that work."

It's dense, it's rich, and it takes so long to climb inside and understand it that before long, there is no turning back.

I picked a few tracks from across his oeuvre [I'll get back to the TMR songs in a bit], because there is little he's done that I'm averse to.

Clear Spot, in comparison, is cleaner and more ear-friendly, but just as catchy. "Sun Zoom Spark" is a playful track underpinned by a funky guitar riff and some frantic cowbell, also representing some of Captain Beefheart's better singing [he was patchy on vocals, at times, let's be honest].

You may recognize "Her Eyes are a Blue Million Miles" from The Big Lebowski, and it's a tender, heartfelt love song. Bittersweet and perfect.

"Circumstances" is another direction again, full of grit and dirt and gutter blues.

Lick my Decals off, Baby is regarded by many to be his best album, surpassing TMR, and it covers both ends of the spectrum: incredibly experimental, but extremely accessible. The marimba playing of Magic Band member Art Tripp is out there for the era, and there's a level of slapstick humor [in both lyrics and orchestration] that makes it a fun listen. Although out of print in CD since the late 80s, making it extremely hard to find, if you are lucky to come across a copy [the ones I've seen on eBay and other websites go for very high prices], it is worth the hunt.

"I Love You, You Big Dummy" is a grimy, bluesy song, full of Van Vliet's wild harmonica stylings and the relentless drums of Drumbo [real name: John French, who also played with Zappa on the 1975 Bongo Fury]

"The Buggy Boogie Woogie" is one of my all-time favourite CB tracks, for reasons I don't think I could fully explain on this page. That line "what this world needs/is a good two-dollar room/and a good two-dollar brew" has stuck with me for years, and his grumpy demeanour is served perfectly by the lumbering bassline and dark guitar riff that hold the fort during his rant.

Back to TMR real quick.

"Moonlight on Vermont" is 4 minutes of raw, swamp rock that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go until that lunch money in yr pocket becomes their lunch money. Got me? Find a lyrics sheet and have fun deciphering what he's talking about, because believe me, it does make sense. The screeching guitar is like a lightsaber to the eardrum, and Drumbo's time-keeping is an enigma.

"Veteran's Day Poppy" concludes the long journey of Trout Mask Replica, and in predictably unpredictable fashion [yes, I know I just wrote that].

And for good measure, the second track from Captain Beefheart's debut album. Just so the journey makes sense. After all, if you want a quick idea of where you're going next, it's best to look first at where you've been. It's the poppiest CB I think in existence, and it's perfect for that post-apocalyptic roadtrip you've been planning your whole life.
---

A post like this cannot complete justice to an artist like Captain Beefheart. His music is the ultimate testament to his abilities, so sample everything here [and BUY HIS RECORDS] to get the most satisfying taste.

FmGT will take tomorrow off [as is its custom], returning on sunday with something appropriately low-tempo for the pale winter we are living in.

Here Comes a New Challenger!!

Bubblyfish?

Carving the Rock
YMCK
8BP050
8bitpeoples : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Artificial Intelligence Bomb
Naruto
8BP050
8bitpeoples : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

62 Miles
Bud Melvin
8BP050
8bitpeoples : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Alternative Fuel
Jeroen Tel
8BP050
8bitpeoples : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Kickle's Processional
The Depreciation Guild
8BP050
8bitpeoples : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Supernova Kiss
Nullsleep
8BP050
8bitpeoples : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

The Transformation of Travel
Nim
8BP050
8bitpeoples : 2006
[Listen - Full]

Like anything worth falling in love with, the 6502 has its limitations. A modified, Nintendo-exclusive 6502 [the Ricoh 2A03 - simply 2A03] is the 8-bit rock star behind the soundtrack to a hundred million childhoods. The little microprocessor that brought you your first 1-Up - and its same-era cousins - has long since gone the way of the industry, fading into non-production with the advent of sample-based synthesis and sound cards that can pay your taxes. But even a memory is enough to spark a revolution.

Chiptune is more than a style of music. It's crystallized nostalgia, thrust forth by the people who refused to let it end in 1990, gave it a chance to shine amidst so much better-sounding noise. What makes it so powerful is the community behind it and the D.I.Y. ethos that keeps it alive: The Nintendo Entertainment System, Gameboy, Sega Genesis - these are not out-of-the-box MIDI controllers or user-friendly softsynths. Access to the chips that drive these tunes forward is hard-earned through long nights spent with a command line and a soldering iron.

Most DJs dig through crates. The artists at the forefront of the Chiptune movement are the type who seem at home in a Shanghai back alley, sorting through bad batches of decades-old silicon and glass. At least, they were: community-developed tools and kits have enabled the rise of a new generation of retro-enthusiasts with ideas of their own.

All of this came together this weekend at BlipFest, a hacked-up amalgam of national and domestic Chiptune music and subversive digital art. For four days, the movement gathered between open-wire concrete at a converted bank in Lower Manhattan.

The FmGT technicians were able to break away from the labs long enough to catch Saturday night's performances, and Silent K sprung for a copy of the 8bitpeoples 8BP050 compilation - a 3 disk set of some seriously slick Chiptune tracks. Disc 1 & 2 are what you actually purchase, however Disc 3 is fully available as a free download here. Be a good reader and drop the $15 when it finally sees a net release. We know that the :30 Samples are nothing but a tease, but we hope it gets you wet, from your mouth to your ears...and then some.

YMCK sounds the way your girlfriend does when she's smiling through the phone. This song destroys objectivity - it's like watching a seratonin rainbow. There is no real way to talk about it without accidentally tethering it to reality and fucking everything up. I can already tell you're going to like it.

Silent K describes this one as "relentless" - I've got nothing to top that. "Artificial Intelligence Bomb" is like an extended 7" cut off a Megaman import album. There's rhythm here that was never meant for the 6502 - and so it feels like a scene from Back to the Future IV. You know, where Doc and Marty accidentally left behind a ROM cartridge in 1960s Japan.

Draw a Venn diagram. Where "circuit-bending wallflower" and "'live' electronic musician" overlap, a lot of Chiptune artists come up short on charisma - but not all. If the whole place had been taken down to the precinct on noise violations, Bud Melvin's the guy they'd pull out of the line-up. We at FmGT were particularly impressed-upon by this fellow for reminding us that we were at a real concert after 40-some minutes of pre-programmed trance.

Jeroen Tel's allmusic page would read: "Sounds like: Marble Zone - Act 1". Listening to this track may force you to take a side in the 1990 Console Wars all over again. Blast Processing will never die.

At any given moment, there's probably something like fifty-seven Shoegaze Rock bands performing in New York City. But there was only one at BlipFest. The Depreciation Guild stood strongly apart from the rest of the night's performances for that same dreamy, motion-of-the-tides guitar sound that would have been camoflauge against any other backdrop. If it's too much Postal Service for you, go back and beat Kickle Cubicle. We'll talk then.

Of course, there's Nullsleep - co-founder of the 8bitpeoples label and day-one Chiptune pioneer. "Supernova Kiss" is his new single debuting on the 8BP050 release. Many musicians are technically proficient, others are musically inspired. Nullsleep brings both of these elements to the workbench with an extra helping of tech-soul. "Supernova Kiss" is a frenetically layered sound scape that's melodically addictive and has an impressive tempo-switch that forces the listener to instinctively thrust his or her fucking fist into the air.

We have however hosted the full length track of Nim's 'The Transformation of Travel.' Though this is probably the least Chiptunesque of the bunch, I'd best describe this one as a whimsical flight path for your ears. This smooth gem has some seriously hypnotic synths - don't be surprised if you find it on your play list ten times in a row.

These tracks are only a portion of the Chiptune movement. More can be found on the individual artist's releases via the 8bitpeoples site as well as on 8BP050, the hard copy of which we're defending under lock and chain.

Silent K recalls another account of playing Chiptune defender:

"...Last year, while I was working with NewYork-Tokyo at the New York Comic Convention, we booked Nullsleep, Bit Shifter & Bubblyfish to perform at the NYT game lounge that we created, where people could play pre-release videogames, hang out, etc. The Wizards of the Coast area was not too far off and we got a lot of noise complaints. People would drop their Magic the Gathering decks and come over and give Nullsleep the finger - to which Bit Shifter and Nullsleep would both reply with Double Middle Fingers back - it was great. BUT - someone got very pissed when Bubblyfish went on. This one really heavy set dude ran over, toward her, at full clip, ready to scream his face off - I literally had to dive in front of him and lead him away from her or else we were thinking he would have attacked her. I am a chiptune bodyguard."

The network's nearly gone out in the FmGT labs from traffic overload in the days since the show; memos and communiques on the boundaries of music and the selection of that perfect trash can.

Tune in on Monday [and all of next week] for FmGT's first-ever roundtable.

---
[Patients interested in contributing to the Chiptune scene may want to check out LSDJ and Nanoloop, two popular Gameboy tracker/sound editing interfaces. Fair warning: they're about as easy to pick up as the jet bike level from the original Battletoads. Don't be afraid - just experiment!]
---

- Another top-notch effort from the man etherb0x.

Disco House Calls

So good you'll need a change of clothes...

Love Yourself [Bash & Vincenzo mix]
Blue Six
Nude Tempo 1 [Mixed by Miquel Migs]
Astralwerks : 2002
[Listen] [Buy]

Never Enough
Boris Dlugorsch
Never Enough [EP]
Wea : 2001
[Listen] [Buy]

Most Wanted
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke
Running [Vinyl EP]
Different Recordings : 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

Från Mig till Dig
Emma Nilsdotter
After the Playboy Mansion [Mixed by Dimitri from Paris]
Astralwerks : 2002
[Listen] [Buy]

I Hear the Music
Eri Nomuchika
Lumines Remixes
Brainstorm Records : 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

Easy
Groove Armada
Love Box
Jive Records : 2003
[Listen] [Buy]

900 Degrees
Ian Pooley
Since Then
Phantom Sound : 2000
[Listen] [Buy]

Runaway
Jamiroquai
High Times: The Singles ['92-'06]
$ony : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Santa Claus
Le Knight Club
Crydamoure Presents Waves
Crydamoure : 2001
[Listen] [Buy]

That Sound
Michael Moog
Essential Millenium [Mixed by Pete Tong]
Wea International : 1999
[Listen]

Lola's Theme [Westar mix]
Shapeshifter
Lola's Theme [Vinyl EP]
Tanga Records : 2004
[Listen] [Buy]

Number One
Sir Raymond Fang
Monsieur Dimitri's De-Luxe House of Funk
Razor & Tie : 2001
[Listen]

Music Sounds Better With You [Bob Sinclair mix]
Stardust
Music Sounds Better With You [EP]
Virgin Records : 1998
[Listen] [Buy]

I'll Be There For You
Sunburst Band
A Night at the Playboy Mansion [Mixed by Dimitri from Paris]
Astralwerks : 2000
[Listen] [Buy]

Truth be told, I'm lactose intolerant. Too much cheese will cause me quite a bit of pain. Rather than taking a pill to fix this, I've limited my cheese intake. But, when I do indulge, I only ingest the best. This comes into play with music as well. We've all surely reached our saturation point with at least one genre of music. But you'll notice that after having removed something from your diet that was once a major staple, every so often you're going to have to satisfy a major craving.

With a stranglehold-grip on the compilation disc scene, around the end of 2001, Disco House has a groove that few fans of any style of dance music could resist. Todays selection is a representation of pure Disco House: bouncy dance floor beats synced with live horns, synthesized string sections, wawa petals, dank bass lines, ensemble ambiance, and singers who know nothing but the moment. We've got a few 'classic' tracks from the heart of the movement as well as some more recent cuts that have felt the Disco House ripple effect.

I can certainly testify to the mild cheese factor that's evident in some of these tracks - but once you get past this speed bump the groove just pulls you in. Timing in at exactly 75 Minutes - look no further for solid uplifting party beats. Mixing this into a progressive session may have been too easy.

Stay tuned.
-- Silent K

All You Need

I am the Walrus
The Beatles
Love
Capitol : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Strawberry Fields Forever
The Beatles
Love
Capitol : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite / I Want You (She's So Heavy) / Helter Skelter
The Beatles
Love
Capitol : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Here Comes the Sun / the Inner Light
The Beatles
Love
Capitol : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Because
The Beatles
Love
Capitol : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

A Day in the Life
The Beatles
Love
Capitol : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Hey Jude / Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles
Love
Capitol : 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

One of my (too many) hobbies is making mix CDs. I love taking songs that weren’t written to be heard together and recontextualising them. The joy of it for me is sequencing the songs: finding which ones create magic together, and cross fading them or creating a transition for them. By bleeding them together so that none can be heard without another, the mix becomes more than a list of songs. It takes on its own life, becomes an album experience which is a dying, outdated mode of expression. (Thanks in part to mp3s, the internet, and people like us!)

LOVE is the work of Sir George Martin and Giles Martin, and as released, it the soundtrack to the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name, featuring and celebrating the most ubiquitous name in pop music, The motherfucking Beatles.

Their canon is biblical in stature, passed on now for generations, line and melody ingrained like prayer. It’s only fitting that in the tradition of the bible, we see these frameworks retold and reimagined, folding a culturally universal experience in with a fresh point of view.

Unlike The Grey Album, the Martins' revision features Beatles music as Beatles music, offering alternate takes on some songs while blending others together. Their touch is thoughtful and subtle, and I’ve yet to hear anything stand out as jarring or tasteless. The best part is how the songs are faded into each other - I can only imagine how much fun this must have been to do. I mean, could you ask for a better palate to work with?

In the end, what matters is this: when I push play and sit back, it sounds like someone made the perfect Beatles mix CD for me. Familiar and surprising, inviting and expansive. I close my eyes, sing along, and all is right in space and time.

Videos and stuff

World,
FmGT apologizes for the last few days. We've all been ridiculously busy, and the end result is that this place occasionally gets a little dusty. Normal service will resume next week, for sure, but in the meantime, fun with YouTube.

- JT, Silent K, etherbOx, The Roy.

Wooten Brothers Guitar/Bass Battle!

No-one can resist the almighty Pie. [Mr. Scruff "Sweet Smoke"]

Squarepusher "Hello Meow [live]"... the man is a stone-cold bass killer.

Interview on BBC's The Culture Show w. Squarepusher... shame the interviewer didn't do her homework. Nice little bass solo at the end, too.