The Great State of 808

Hey all. Back again after a slightly longer than expected Thanksgiving hiatus. Blame all the Rohypnol tryptophan I ate...



I guess you could count 808 State as being the act that officially introduced me to House music via their classic "Pacific"... which oddly enough was in the regular rotation at the Industrial dance night I frequented in college, played right along with the likes of Meat Beat Manifesto and MC 900 Ft. Jesus for all the kids in combat boots if you can believe it. So yes, you could definitely count that. (Instead of what's probably the real answer, Madonna's "Vogue"... but who wants to admit that, right?). One of the true great acts of the early rave scene... recognize, fools...

808 State - Nimbus (ysi)

Just like me to talk about one song and give you another. You think I'm gonna zig, but NO! ZAGGIN' ALL THE WAY, BITCHES! "Pacific" does have an awesomely cheesy 1989 video, though...



Seriously, though... that club night would go right from that to Front 242. But it was Syracuse, New York, so you gotta give 'em points just for trying. They'd only recently discovered the phonograph machine at the time...

Blog to the Future

I'm on a goofy schedule this week, supporting our show as it films all the hell the way in Australia... they're 17 hours ahead, so right now it's tomorrow there already. So I'm feeling like I'm working IN THE FUTURE! WE GOTS THE FLYING CARS! EVERYBODY NOW HATES RAYMOND! SOCCER ISN'T GAY ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU GET TO USE LASERS! IT'S CRAZY!



Anyhoo, here's some more Dubstep gear for ya, courtesy of Untold. Actually, I'm not sure what to call this one, as it's kind of on the border of Broken Beat. Is this what they call "Funky"? Because there's something they call "Funky" now...

Untold - Palamino (ysi)

Well, whatever you call it, I kinda like it. And that's as deep a statement as you're gonna get outta me today. It's way past my bedtime...

Truebeats

House Music Friday once again goes slo-mo and lo-fi...



I've already once given you all the insight I have on Mr. Rainer Truby... he's good at music and bad at not being dumb. Well, he's lived up to the first part of that again with this one... supposedly a tribute to Roy Ayers, but I'm not sure what Ayers tracks (if any) are sampled here. Don't matter though... I've been in love with this track since Matthieu Schreyer dropped it a couple weeks ago on KCRW...

Rainer Truby - Ayers Rock (ysi)

The A-side is a pretty nice Stevie re-edit, btw... and have a great weekend, you...

No can do

And now for yet another version of one of the true classics of White Boy (Plus Vaguely Ethnic Guy With Moustache) Soul...



Personally I would have to rank Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" right up there will "Billie Jean" as a contender for Best Song of the Whole Freakin' '80s. And I imagine that if this was the kind of blog that was "read" by "people" who "commented", I bet that statement would certainly set off a fierce debate in the comments. But alas, I'm not here to fool myself. Anyhoo, the Swedish producer known as Beatconductor (among about 15 other aliases) has done made a nifty re-edit of the classic, adding some tougher drums and some rhodes and generally rearranging stuff... because that's what re-edits do, ya dig? Better than the original? Heresy! But it's certainly a bit more dancefloor ready...

Beatconductor - I Can't Go For That (ysi)

But hey, you have many choices for your "I Can't Go For That" needs... from De La's "Say No Go" to that sick peaktime House White label by I Have No Idea Who from a few years back to the goofy P.J Pooterhoots version to... you get the idea... Collect 'em all!

It's better than a spring loaded shot to the nuts, at least...

You know who still likes Acid Jazz? Why, Japanese people, of course!



Yeah, it's kind of a dirty word and all but it is happy music generally and the Japanese seem to be a happy bunch. You would be too if you had flying cars and robot hamsters like they do. So you get people like Kenichi Ikeda, aka Root Soul still workin' the A to the J. I can't think of any other genre you could put this in... it's so Brand New Heavies, it hurts. Vocals by the not Japanese but British Vanessa Freeman, whose own solo record is an excellent broken beat affair that you should also go find out about. I can't do everything for you...

Root Soul - It's The Way (ft. Vanessa Freeman (ysi)

Nice one. And here's a little tip: If you ever visit Japan, do not go on a game show, no matter what the prizes are...



It's Super Happy Crush Balls Hour! Banzai!

How many channels do you get?

After unleashing all that comedy gold on you yesterday, I think I'll keep it low key today. Don't want you to pull a hammy laughing or anything...



I always thought that girls who make music (meaning girl producers) were super cool, basically because they combined two of my favorite things... girls and music. Kind of a no-brainer, eh? So, The Angel, aka 60 Channels was a gal from the L.A. scene who made music... so super cool. She did (and apparently still does) Downtempo and Drum & Bass, and though she never got terribly big it was some pretty decent stuff. To wit...

60 Channels - Laid Back & Eazy (ysi)

'Til tomorrow...

One scary lookin' dude...

What would you do... if your daughter came home... with THIS MAN...



Marcos Valle may not be as well-known as Antonio Jobim, Jorge Ben or the various assorted Gilbertos, but he is just as big a deal in the world of Brazilian music. I'm guessing it's the bad boy look he's rocking up there that turned folks off. People don't react so well to such raw, unbridled aggression, guy. You need to stop taking fashion tips from Marilyn Manson. (Quick note: My first choice for that joke was G.G. Allin, but I decided I'd like someone to get it) Anyhoo, here's an instrumental jam with some hot hot hot bateria...

(DMCA'd?!?! WTF?!?!)

And how about the Olympics being awarded to Rio? I heard that 100M Mugging and Team Kidnapping have been added as demonstration events... BOING!

Phat Beats and Phisticuffs

I don't know how many of you like the boxing, but I gotta say that was some show Manny Pacquiao put on Saturday night. He basically gave Miguel Cotto the soon-to-be-patented "1000 Fist Facial"... check out the loser's grill after the fight...


"So, where does it hurt?" "Yes."

But lucky for Cotto, Las Vegas is the home of some of the best plastic surgeons in the world and they were able to fix him up better than ever. Here's a picture of the new Miguel taken earlier this morning...


"Hey ladies... the line for moustache rides starts to the left!"

So I guess it all worked out pretty well for Cotto in the end... which is nice because he was a good fighter. Just not Saturday when he got his ass SMASHED...



Of course, none of that has anything to do with today's tune, from young British rapper Speech Debelle. This Roots Manuva-produced record made the Mercury Prize shortlist... which is, I believe, a good thing. It's one of the most acoustic and introspective Rap albums you're likely to ever hear... mellow beats and thoughtful lyrics ABOUND...

Speech Debelle - Finish This Album (ysi)

I can't wait for Pacquiao/Mayweather. Literally cannot wait. I just tried waiting and it hurt. Let's DO THIS!

I'm in Playboy and you're not.

(Click to see a bigger version and a video at Playboy.com)

I get some fun perks at my job. This has to be the best one yet.

You're killin' me, Quizno's!

Gah! What the hell happened to Quizno's meatball subs? They used to be so good, but what I just got was a soggy bun full of soggy shit. This world's goin' to Hell in a handbasket, I tells ya!



So yeah, it's a good thing that Floating Points' music is a lot better than his artwork, because... damn... that's worse than the sub I just ate. Super-vibey slowed down House goodness... wait for the bassline...

Floating Points - Truly (ysi)

Have a great weekend and stay away from the meatball...

Nerds don't do Playboy shoots... or do they?

I have been up to my tits in new Dubstep records all day... so here's some obscure French '70s Funk...



There is very little information out there about Ben & The Platano Group, but really... who wants to fill their head up with useless things like "facts" and "knowledge". That shit's for nerds. Oh, wait. I'm a nerd... hmmmm... Anyhoo, most of the album funks harder than this one, but this is where the shuffle landed and everybody loves a little "wakka-wakka" guitar, no?

Ben & The Platano Group - Culzean (ysi)

So that's all well and good, but certain things are better. Like this video. I'm the only person that talks in it, just so's ya know... and not to be a dick about it, but... yes, my job is better than yours. Suck it.

Super heavy metal

Now here's some shit an old band geek like me can really get behind...



I would be talking about the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, straight outta Chicago. And just like yesterday's act, the name tells you exactly what you need to know... except they coulda replaced "Hypnotic" with "Dayum Fonkay". But either way... you got 8 horns and a drummer. Oh, and that album title is no joke... they are all actual (half) brothers, sons of a Jazz musician (no, really?) whom I had never heard of and won't pretend to in order to seem cool. Get ready for a brass-gasm...

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Venus (ysi)

And here's an example of why both this band and NYC are very, very good things...



Yeah, if that doesn't float your boat... well then, I hope your boat sinks...

Funky beats and idle threats

Sometimes the name of an act tells you exactly what you are in for...



All Good Funk Alliance are to funky Breaks what Inland Knights are to funky House. The kinda-under-the-radar guys who are both prolific and consistently awesome. Like the Knights, these dudes simply do not put out a bad track, even though they put out a heck of a lot of tracks. It's called being good at music. The beat on this jam is crispy like bacon, yo...

All Good Funk Alliance - Swing The South (ysi)

And as I alluded there's plenty more where that came from, so get at it. Also, get out your text message device and vote for Chelsea Lately for the People's Choice Award for Best Talk Show! Text "Vote" to 24475. Do it! DO IT! DO IT OR I'LL POST NOTHING BUT KENNY G. AND MICHAEL BOLTON! DON'T MAKE ME GO THERE! Seriously, don't make me...

That's Dr. Kode9 to you!

I hope none of you are sick of the Dubstep yet, because I'm not even close...



Kode9, aka Steve Goodman (which is not nearly as Techno), was one of the first Dubstep artists I ever heard, so... well, actually there's not much more to that. He was one of the first ones I heard. So yeah. Anyhoo, he's the founder of the extremely cool Hyperdub label and also holds a Ph.D. in philosophy... which I'm sure helps him immensely in... some way. If you dug the Joy Orbison record from a few weeks ago, I'm sure this one will also make your pants happy...

Kode9 - Black Sun (ysi)

Here's Dr. Goodman showing off all that brainpower and pontificating on stuff via XLR8R..



Smart guy. Top tune. 'Til tomorrow...

Rollin' with my homies

House Music Friday is keepin' it in the family today...



I've mentioned before that I have friends that are far better at music than I am, and here's one of 'em. Sebastian Ciceri is his name, and pimpin' is his game. Well, not really, but that was a dope rhyme, yo. Homey is a crazy skilled bass player and electronic beatmeister, and his latest release is 100% dancefloor goodness... is it breaks-y house or house-y breaks? Either way, if I told you it was Plump DJs or Stanton Warriors, you would believe me, that's how fat these beats is...

Sebastian Ciceri - Groove Nation (ysi)

You need to now proceed to his website and buy it!

While you're there, check out Seb's "Moonlit Heavy" releases for a more cinematic experience and the special secret photo section for hot man-on-man action. Okay, maybe I made the second part up... have a great weekend, peeps.

Geekin' out

Let's take a break from the "A" section of my iTunes to hear one that popped up in the car the other day that I quite like.



Not too sure who this Smoove guy is but I can tell you from the pictures on his site, he's a ripe old geezer. Seriously, like creepy old. Makes some funky shit though. I really dig the lyrics in this one, although there are some extremely British references and you have to be a pretty huge music geek to know why the line "Keb Darge buys his vinyl from me/As if" is funny. I, of course, fit that description to a T...

Smoove - As If (ysi)

... although I'm really far, far past the point of caring if I'm a geek or not... which as we all know makes me extremely cool... Take me down to Paradox City! See? That joke was geeky as fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck...

Everbody Hates Barack

So Barack Obama has been President for a year now and he must feel like the title character of that Chris Rock sitcom. Dude is really getting it from both ends these days! The far right hates him because he's black a Nazi Communist Baby-Killing Terrorist who Hates America and the far left hates him because he's a Pandering Centrist Weenie who Doesn't Like To Play Basketball With Girls. Damn. Luckily most of us sane people think he's doing a fucking awesome job despite the fact that he has to deal with the bunch of corrupt, self-serving idiots that comprise Congress, and that the people who complain about the basketball thing have obviously never watched the Chinese water torture of sporting that is a WNBA game. So keep up the good work, sir. We got your back...



And hey, here's some good old-fashioned Bush-era government mistrust in the form of shuffling beats and blazing horn charts, courtesy of Antibalas, who are kind of the elder statesmen of the current crop of excellent American Afrobeat ensembles...

Antibalas - Government Magic (ysi)

Seriously, Liberals... before you start getting on my man Barry's case because he hasn't cured cancer, ended all war or won the World Series for the Cubs yet... just remember how shitty things were just one short year and a day ago... and shut the fuck up and let the man work. Toodles...

The Art of Blakey

Because I like to keep it cutting edge, up-to-the-minute and "Ripped From The Headlines!"... here's another 50-year-old record...



... because I can't believe I've never given Art Blakey any love! I mean, he's only the most famous Jazz drummer ever and I, you know, claim to like Jazz and stuff. So finally here he is on an early one ('56 to be exact) with a no-name group... some schlubs called Byrd, Mobley and Silver.

Art Blakey - Late Show (ysi)

But then again, the Jazz Messengers were known as a place where big-time playas got their start... here's a completely different group being awesome 3 years later...



Check the full list of Blakey proteges on the Wiki page as I can't be arsed to copy and paste it here. It's quite impressive...

Post #750

Hey look, it's post #750! Normally I like to do mixes for such milestones, but as you may remember, my iTunes is all 'asploded. So let's just proceed as normal...



Like most white people, I went pretty nuts for Buena Vista Social Club when it came out. Seriously, I challenge you to find one white person who doesn't have that album. I kinda still hate Ry Cooder and his stupid kid and his stupid slide guitar though. Seriously, I want to punch him in the face every single time I hear the damn thing in that movie. But hey, I'll give him credit where it's due, and he certainly opened my eyes to Cuban music and here's some O.G. styles right here. I don't know too much about Arsenio Rodriguez that I didn't learn from Jose Rizo, so I will present you these two facts. He played the tres, which is a guitar, and he was blind from getting kicked in the head by a donkey. How's that for some bullshit?

Arsenio Rodriguez - Devuelveme La Ilusion (ysi)

STICK THAT SLIDE GUITAR WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE, RY COODER! (And by that I mean up your ass).