GUEST MIX : : Chris Geddes (Belle & Sebastian)

Next up in our guest mix series is a wonderful yule tide mixtape from Chris Geddes, keyboard player with Belle and Sebastian, DJ with B-Music collective and all round top bloke. Chris's Christmas specials are well know nights out round Glasgow way, and not a Chris Rea in sight....enjoy and Happy Christmas

Download Here

Bot'ox

Bot'ox is the brain child of car obsessed Cosmo Vitelli and Julien Briffaz. They have just released their first LP called Babylon by Car, a 12" of the same name was released way back in 2007 (even though it feels like last week!)
Cosmo for me as always been way ahead of his other French contemporises who may have been stuck in the Touch scene for a bit too long, he has an obsessive take on production which, for me serves him well as he generates a very original sound, he makes dance music the way I like it. This has a sense, though of being from another time yet very now, maybe because having met him a few times, he has an unbelievable knowledge, and broad taste, and a very genuine excitement in music, which serves this particular project well. Motorick, psychedelic souful dance music, but sure isn't all the best that way



Having come out from behind the studio door, Bot'ox have unleased themselves as a fully fledged live band, check out this live video, which features Kilkenny's Jeremy Hickey, aka R.S.A.G on drums.

Could be worse, could be Finland

It is freezing and snowing outside and bad and all that it is here, remember it's always colder somewhere else. With that in mind some favourite Finish tracks

First up the awesome Tasavallan Presidentti, brilliant band, who never seemed to do that well outside their own homeland. A pity, worth checking out, but it does go prog in later records, so beware the jazz flute if it's not your thing.

Tasavallan Presidentti in fine form, oh and not prog



What do you get if you cross 3 keyboard players and a drummer, well Shogun Kunitoki, a really incredible band signed to the equally incredible finish label Fonal. Tried to get them over to Dublin an number of years ago but it fell through unfortunately, Anyways 2 albums under their belt, this is from the last LP Vinonaamakasio, here's hoping there's more and that they make it our way someday. Check it.

New Pier Mix

Thanks to Sam at GetnLoose.com - New Pier Mix. Bass-y stuff

http://getnloose.com/2010/12/20/mixtape-monday/

The Canterbury Scene

Little interview with Steve Hillage and Daevid Allen about the "Canterbury" Scene. Glad to hear the acknowledgement of Robert Wyatts denail of the period with his respect still kept intact.

Dead Kennedys

This is the first bassline i learnt as a snotty teenager. Hightly effective tune due to Jello Biafra's skills as a lyricist and that bassline again...

Beardyman

Beardymans rendition of the wonderful Massive Attack song " Teardrop".
Check that bass! ...PARP!

Captain Beefheart

The Man, the Icon, the Legend. RIP



Respect
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118029256

Chris Abrahams

Chris Abrahams’ “Play Scar” album is without hesitation my favourite record of the year. I was expecting an album of solo piano – he is the pianist with The Necks after all – so I was surprised to find myself listening to an album that mixed electronics, musique concrete, noise and drone with hardly any piano.

He played recently enough in Café Oto in London (a venue I have yet to visit but consistently puts on some of the most amazing acts) but unfortunately, I couldn't get over to see him.

Here is an incredible live clip of Abrahams live. (Not at Cafe Oto.)

The album sounds nothing like this.

Shackleton

The amazing Shackleton. Psychadelic Electronic Bass orientated music to loose yourself too. not everyones taste but i love it!
respect.

What about this love?

in dub

I dont wanna go by Sensations Fix

70s Italian band that I know next to nothing about. This track though is killer and has a lovely cosmic kosmiche vibe to it... also it ends way to soon.

I dont wanna go by Sensations Fix by Minimalmanimal

Senking - Unlighted

This is a live version of a track from Senking's fantastic album Pong. It's dark. It's dubsteppy and comes with a second disc with a computer game - Almost Pong - on it. All albums should come with a computer game, although, admittedly, this would be hard to do on vinyl...

The album seems to be out-of-stock on the Raster-Noton site. I got my copy on Wikileaks-hating Amazon.

sun araw

sun araw's album finally arrived in my post office today.

this isn't on it

Ilyas Ahmed

just picked up the double LP Between Two Skies / Towards The Night recently from Plug'd in Cork. Missed these before. Has not been far from my turnatble, but i wasn't too sure about it at first but i keep getting drawn to the minimalism and his haunting vocals. Dig it.

The next Iceage

I saw Iceage play a few months ago in Copenhagen - fantastic energy live and great songs that are full to the brim with dark pop ability and pure no wave sensibility - perfect!

Here's 'New Brigade' from their debut album out in January 2011 on Escho
(LP) / Tambourhinoceros (CD/DD).




Iceage

Wooden Xmas Shjips

Porky Pig - Blue Christmas

OK, so it's not Mel Blanc, but this is funny.

Stereolab - Jump Drive Shut-Out

Still haven't picked up the new 'Lab album. (Santa, if you are reading, you know where I live.)

Here's a great (and rare) tune from 2006.

Mala Morska Vila

awesome Czech movie worth searching out. soundtrack has shades of Broadcast about it, or is that the other way round....

Django Django - Skies Over Cairo

The B-side from Django Django's 'WOR' 7" - hypnotic eastern space-beat jams.



Django Django

Beat Classic

Bamboo Houses

best track every to do the dishes to......

just wait for Sylvian's voice...kills it!!

kalyaji anandji

The Theme from Don re re-released. Absolute Killer

boo radleys - lazarus (12 inch mix)

One of the great songs ever...

Rave on

Tidying up at the weekend, I came across this compilation.

I hadn't listened to it in years, but when I stuck it on all the memories (vague as they were) came flooding back. This compilation was the soundtrack to numerous parties.

Stand out track for me (apart from the Global Communication one) was this stomper from Abfarht.

The Soft Moon - Breathe the Fire

Dunno anything about these guys apart from the fact that this track appeared on Andrew Weatherall's Vice mix. (Download the mix it if you don't have it - it's ace.)

This is a nice bit of Kraut.

Gate - Freak

From the fantastic A Republic of Sadness album from Dead C's Michael Morley's Gate side-project, here is one of my songs of the year.

Pier Mix for "The Visitors"

here is a mix i did a while back for the infamous "Visitors" Blogspot. Link via Smokelessfuels blog.... multiple-plugging :-)
Big Tings
http://smokelessfuels.blogspot.com/2009/04/flutes-vibes-6-pier.html

1970 - Wolfgang Dauner

Bit of an epic year for auld Wolfgang, 4 LP's 2 bands all classics, well Et Cetrea formed in '70 and released in '71, but for the purpose of this post we'll squeeze it in here. Dauner is one of the granddaddy's of the Krautrock movement and in my opinion one of its greatest practitioners, his first record, cut in 1964 is one of the first free jazz records recorded in Europe. A brilliant jazz pianist and collaborator with some European greats of the time, like Jean-Luc Ponty, Fred Braceful, Sigi Schwab and Nani Neumaier to name a few, check out a track from each LP and keep exploring....

Mount Saint Helens - VA Pt 2

This is the second mix in the Mount Saint Helens series with a little bit more of an Italian electro pop influence going on towards the end. There are a couple of early 80s Irish artists included as well such as the peridots and Operating Theatre.

Mount Saint Helens - Various Artists pt2 by Minimalmanimal

Take this break and dance

Was reminded of the Rexy record yesterday. Also love the track Don't Turn Me Away



And as it sits next to it on the shelf, here's some Propaganda. An incredible tune this, knocks the anti pan pipes argument on its arse.....
big spins by Darren back in the day!

RIP Sleazy

Tame Impala - Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?

bored of all those end of year lists yet?? haven't decided on your favourite? you could care less right.... damn right!

Gene Clark - No Other

Jah Wobble - Beat the drum for me

TAC POUM SYSTEME

Demdike Stare : Repository Of Light

remember to keep your ears (and eyes) peeled for the release of Voices of Dust, extremely limited to 300 vinyl copies. Sean kindly sent me the album, and I have to admit it's my favourite yet. Check out the brilliant track Repository Of Light below for a flavour

03-Repository Of Light by kessakushu

Miss Mauger by Operating Theatre

Operating Theatre were a performing theatre and music act with two core members in experimental composer and musician Roger Doyle and actress / performance artist Olwen Fouéré. As well as developing performances that were produced for the original Project Arts Centre and Douglas Hyde gallery they also released a number of EPs and singles. In 1986 a quest for stardom led to a release on Mother records produced by Bono who also contributed some guitar to the mix. Alas it was not to be and instead they had to contend themselves with cultdom instead. Miss Mauger is taken from the mini LP of the same name. It is a beautiful testament to Roger Doyles skill as a composer and pianist.

Miss Mauger by Operating Theatre by Minimalmanimal

Amon Tobin

This is a sublime track by "Amon Tobin" from the seminal album "Supermodified".
This and "Permutations" are both worth parting with your cash for.

Von Lmo

a kind of oddity that i've thought about selling several times but keep coming back to. Von Lmo was mixing drums and synths since the early 70's with bands like Funeral of Art and was later part of Red Transistor, the No Wave act, before launching into space trying to break the sound barrier like the bastard son of Hawkwind and the Ramones. check it out, search it out and ADVANCE YOURSELF!

Keith Fullerton Whitman - Generator

Generator 2 (Demo Video) from Keith Fullerton Whitman on Vimeo.

KFW with some finger-licking modulator synth action. I urge you to get his Generator cassette on Root Strata if you can. Easily the best release, on any format, this year.

Pizza or Pasta?

I have just returned from a week of relaxation with my lovely lady in Florence. Usually, me being me, I like to check the record stores (and replace the clothes in my suitcase with lps; which can cause problems), however, due to my money restrictions on this particular holiday & the fact Miss G. is a little more Kings of Leon than Mulatu Astatke, i had to restrict myself to the better / bigger stores.
The first one I tried was “Data Records”. http://www.superecords.com
Its actually the oldest record store in the Florence (and its an old city!) The 2 gentlemen in the store were extremely friendly and equally passionate, although some communication issues, we all managed to get our points across.
At first glance, i thought id do the store in about 15 minutes max as they had a mixture of cds and lps in the front section. (When i see CDs in larger music shops, it usually suggests that the shop might not be for me). It was a plesent suprise to find a 100% vinyl room out the back well stocked with psych, prog, kraut, kosmic etc..
Im not exactly sure why but the old presses of records in Italy are unbelievabley expensive no matter if its the first or second press / pressed in Uk or Italy.
Due to these really unfortunate restrictions i couldnt buy any originals (sad face), so i settled for the “Dacored” press of Ennio morricone “Gil Occhi Freddi Della Paura” (or “Cold Eyes of Fear” as named in the USA). Yes yes, a reissue i know but still nice with some previously unreleased material)
This is an improvised soundtack of the Italian thriller from 1971 preformed by “Gruppo Di Improvvisaione Nuova Consonanza”.
This is the title track and reminds me of a mid 70’s Robert Fripp / Miles Davis standoff

Here is another section of of semi improvisation from the same film. “Seguita”

The next Store i tried was “Rock Bottom Records” http://www.rockbottom.it
This was an interesting one for anyone looking for the “Black Sabbath” album on “Fontana” or “Punkys Whips” on “Zappa live in New York.” (The actual track, not just the name on the sleeve). They specialised in indie / new wave and punk by the looks of things but as im not that way inclined i didnt sive through those sections.
This shop had a serious amount of vinyl. Actually way too many for the shop. They were packed so tightly together i had real trouble flicking through them, It was just incredible just how many important presses i found there but unfortunaly as i wrote above, Italian shops are way way WAY too expensive. In 2010, ebay creates the benchmark prices not record collector price guide. I have no idea why 1, the prices are generally higher than the latter and 2. They can actually sell anything.
I , again, was forced to choose a cheap lp so my choice was “Captain Beefheart” “Dust Sucker”. The reason for this choice was that i have been a Beefheart fan since i was 15. Im 35 by the way (sad face again) and already have all the original presses of his official albums but Bat Chain Chain Puller had some issues getting released and the original recordings got lost. I wont ramble on about this story (but if you want to know more you are more than welcome to comment and ill answer while scratching my beard no probs)... anyway this lp contains some of these “lost” recordings and i was just interested.
On the off chance you havent heard is before , here is a clip of him playing the title tune from a live gig in 1980 (around the “Dock at the radar Station” period – another great lp)

Overall, to summerise, due to the prices, it was the first holiday i can remember buying almost no records. A very sad occasion for me but an insite all the same. Not a city for finding the properly obscure records unless you have a contact and a lot of money.
However, a really good city for walking, affordable Cuban cigars, incredibly cheap large measures of good quality single malt Whisky (of which i enjoyed in tandium on a number of occasions!) If you are one of those people that needs to eat, eat here. www.ilsantobevitore.com ... amazing.

Sonic Youth - Within You Without You

Because I refuse to buy deluxe edition re-issues, I'd never heard this before.

Neil Young - Sample and Hold (Live)

Global Communication 14:31

This is one of those pivotal tracks in my musical education - a gateway to The Orb, Future Sound of London, Aphex Twin's SAW II and a whole slew of ambient, electronic music and eventually, drone and noise music.

I first heard it, credited to Mystic Institute and titled "Ob-Selon-Mi-Nos (Re-Painted by Global Communication)", on a fantastic compilation which did the rounds back in the day - Narcosis: A Journey Through The Outs And Ins Of Underground. The compilation was split in two - bangers made up one half and chillers the other. I must have had a 100th generation copy of that compilation. (When I found a CD copy, I was initially disappointed that it lacked the warmth -no tape hiss!- and that the tracks were noticeably faster!)

The ticking of the clock throughout the track and crashing waves reminds me of Neu!'s "Leb' Wohl".

FFWD - Suess Wie Eine Nuss

Here's a track from one of my favourite albums (yes of all time!). This is a collaboration between Thomas Fehlman (before he was a full-time Orb member), Robert Fripp and the Orb (Kris Weston and Dr Alex Patterson). Released in 1994, this album is suess wie eine Nuss!

Demdike Stare

November 29th sees the release of Voices of Dust, the 3rd LP be Demdike Stare this year. Demdike is the name of the woman involved in the trial of the Pendle witches, so straight off the occult references hit home and you'll and you might be expecting some sort of folk-y witch finger plucking, and yes the sense of the Lancashire moors about it, probably as the perpetrators Sean Canty and Miles Whittaker are local boys, but it's far from it, not a hooded cape in sight. Actually what where treated to, and believe me when I say treat, is some sort of global take on a local ghost story, and the kids are freaked, but still dancing..Dub out Anatolian chants and percussion mixed with Finnish drones and Chi-town House and many variants on the theme. Electronic music made for an yet unknown soundtrack. A lot of instrumental music takes you places and sets the imagination flowing, but with a lot of library records and soundtracks, the narrative is dictated by the visual. I get the feeling from Demdike Stare have seen this unknown movie and are playing along to it, and it's for us now to crate the narrative.

Dawn

Wake up sleepy heads... this track is taken from the first release on the Modern Love label. Miles has been a longtime affiliate of Modern Love as one half of Pendle Coven and under his own MLZ alias. The bass on this packs a punch, and just when you think your settled in, it shifts tack and just drifts off

Bardo Thodol

Eastern samples to the fore here, used to brilliant effect, and most certainly has the finger prints of Sean Canty, a well know digger round Manchester way as well as the man behind the Haxan nights and a member of the Finders Keepers team.

Be sure to keep your ears (and eyes) peeled for the release of Voices of Dust, extremely limited to 300 vinyl copies.

Katmandu - I can make the future (1980)

Belfast band, seemingly never had much luck, but this is great with a wonderful wigout at the end. Apparently the best live band in Dublin back in the day, and it shows in this performance.

Dr Cribben's Waiting Room

I had a great time at Dr Cribben's Waiting Room in the Mengarie on Saturday.

Fantastic music (including a DJ set by B-Music Dublin's Mark Winkelmann) and some cool looking people dressed up in their finest Carnaby Street frocks.

This song is stuck in my head.



www.myspace.com/drcrippens

The Menagerie is a great venue, I'd only been there once before, but with Samual Smith's Bitter on tap (£2.50 a pint!) and BrewDog's Punk IPA in the fridge, I'll be spending a lot more time there in the future.

DR Crippen's is an ireggular event so not sure when the next one will be, but I will be there with bellbottoms on.

This Heat

Was chatting to a mate over the weekend about this brilliant footage of This Heat live.

This Heat are probably more discussed as a studio act, hold up in their studio Cold Storage, while they used the studio to brilliant effect on there records i think this also shows them as just simply a incredible band. Check it out for yourselves

Ulster Defence by Bronx Irish Catholics

Great minimal synth track by completely unknown band. There is fuck all information about them except that this track appeared on an early 80s compilation called 'The Pulse of New York'. It has since appeared on a Daniele Baldelli mix and there may be some connection with XEX who also appeared on the Pulse compilation.

Either way this is stirring stuff with the lyric riffing on the political and social difficulties of that time in Ulster. This is juxtaposed with proper dirty machine music with a punching metronomic beat that has a real kick.

Ulster Defence - Bronx Irish Catholics by Minimalmanimal

Bruno Spoerri

in german but who cares... loads o knobs ...

The Whitefield Brothers

really been liking parts of this lp for a while. all one big happy family
connie price / the lions etc.

Funny Eno Interview!

Pier Mix :-)

Brand new Pier Mix to be found in the Audio section under DJ Mixes, Dope Beats & sweet soul. Check the audio section Here...
www.alphabetset.net

Girl's Names

Here's nice bit of jangly pop confection from Belfast's Girls Names.

This is taken from a split 7" with Brilliant Colors due end of November.

I really should check these guys out next time they play here in Belfast.

Girls Names - "I Lose" by Tough Love

Liminal - Unhinged

The Fear has released Liminal - Unhinged - a soundtrack to a horror movie that doesn't exist.

This is essential listening for all fans of Italian horror. Unhinged is equal parts Goblin and John Carpenter.

You can download it free from the Fear site.
(It is also avaialbe on limited edition CDr)

All the tracks can be previewed on Liminal's Soundcloud page.

He's even made a promo video...

Flexi Fun #2

Flexi Disc is the name of the track by the Human League released on a flexi disc, which isn't musical but is a discussion about the merits of releasing this very same flexi disc! Confused? You should be. Plus it also discusses the prospect of people talking about the product, and I'm sure if this medium was around it would be some ejit with a blog. They also discuss the artwork of the 12", which is called Dignity of Labour Parts 1-4, which is actually instrumental and is probably my favourite record by them, the flexi came free.
It has Yuri Gagarin on it, and the record has a nice story about Yuri going for a cup of tea...

Flexi Fun #2 by kessakushu

Lakker - Kleure

Another excellent free track from the Lakker lads.

More stuff here:
http://lakker.wordpress.com/free-downloads/

dub funk disco

Black Sabbath

hadnt seen this clip before so i thought id share.
suprised geezers bass didnt break in half. looks like he was sawing it
more than playing. classic track

Osanna Osanna Osanna

italian prog psych niceness

Melodica Deathship

The Melodica Deathship album is about to drop. Check out the cool promo video below and an interview with Tim here.

blaxck shjip cxoming : melodica deathship from pockets // A.D:M on Vimeo.

Labradford - G

Something gentle to start November with. From the fantastic Mi Media Naranja album.

Rollers/Sparkers - C.I.E. Action Figures

A classic from the Rollers, from their fantastic Hames album
C.I.E. Action Figures by Rollers/Sparkers

Zvuku - Half Full

I missed the physical release of this track by Zvuku (nee Slug of Droid & Slug fame.)
It was released on Rural Colours, but is now available for free download.

It's a beautiful 20 minute piece of droning ambience. Perfect for the post Bank Holiday weekend blues.

You can download it here.

More Zvuku links:
Myspace
Soundcloud

Area C - Trick With a Knife

Track was released on 7" by the wonderful, but sadly defunct Trensmat label.

Free Shark

check out the awesome new, and free, track from Gruff Rhys. Produced by Andy Votel

http://www.gruffrhys.com/shark-ridden-waters/

This is one for all you fly monkeys out there ... funky jazzy greatness and perfect for this autumnal friday morning. I was only introduced to this sucker this week but its a keeper!

ersen

my latest ersen 7 arrived today
time to share the luurve

Bach on Acid

Thread Pulls mix

Here's a mix Thread Pulls made for Skinny Wolves back in July.


1. Alle med balloner og terrasser - Skuffer med jord i
2. Cabaret Voltaire - No Escape
3. Factory Floor - Lying
4. The Human League - The sound of the crowd
5. The Police - Voices inside my head
6. The Dead C - Bad Politics
7. The Selecter - Too much pressure
8. The Residents - Suburban bathers
9. Magik Markers - Taste
10. Dark Day - Don’t bother
11. Autechre - Known(1)
12. Kraftwerk - Antenna
13. Arthur Russell - The platform on the ocean

Electric Eden - Unearthing Britains Visionary Music

This is a really great book on British folk music throughout the 20th Century to the present day that focuses on its 60s 70s heyday. It pays particular attention to Folk music as a medium for expressing a peoples relationship with their community and landscape, a response to seminal events such as industrialisation and WWI and ultimately as a lament for a Golden Age long gone or utopian vision never fully realised. Quite a lot of areas are covered from 19th Century Arts and Crafts founder to Warp and The Caretaker.

Here is an excellent primer on the book that was featured as part of Wire magazines Salon series. Its an interview with the author Rob Young and features some great tuneage.

Mt St Helens mix - Various Artists pt 1

Here is a mix of mainly early 80s minimal and electronic stuff, that I put together. The Desire track is the contemporary exception, it being an IDIB/Johnny Jewel classic!

Mount St Helens / various artists by Minimalmanimal

the bells

Saw this at the weekend and it blew me away. It's a scene from Herzog's Bells from the Deep: Faith and Superstition in Russia.

hypnotic

Guest Mix : : MOONER

Mooner is a one man Cosmic machine, if in slow motion. I’ve got to know Mooner over the years and he's my kind of crate digging adventurous DJ, always willing to experiment with music, and the records he plays, from the latest records to early German electronic music to cumbia.

The psychedelic record collection of his mother´s definitely contributed to his style of mixing. Mooner´s sound is influenced by italodisco-B-sides, obscure cosmic-cassettes from his young days, electro, acid, rock, punk-funk, krautrock and the Club le Bomb wildstyle mixing. Club le Bomb was a anti-techno-wildstyle-club, art project at the same time, which he hosted together with some collegues (Catriona Shaw, Benjamin Bergmann) from the art academy. It took place in the late nineties underneath Munich downtown in a forsaken hydroelectric power plant.

Mooner is probably best known for the compliations for Compost, ELASTE and Zombocombo, Mooner´s current longtime project together with Pollyester, DJ Kaput and Kitt Bang, took place monthly at the famous Club Die Registratur in Munich and enriches now Munich´s nightlife at different locations. Topics like “Medicine Congress”, “Aerobic” or “Good vs. Evil” abrogate the usual situation of a club night. Zombocombo is a interactive party with costumes, shows and idiosyncratic dance music. This is seriously a great party night!!

Together with his wife Pollyester, Mooner has also founded the label called “Love in C-Minor” – a countdown edition, which stops after 10 releases. Not forgetting my personal favourite the brilliant edits of Conrad Schnitzer rare tracks, in conjunction with the great man himself.

Any way here’s a great mix, an hour long of Exotica from Mooners view point.

Digital Cowboy Mix#3 Exotica by kessakushu

Fine Form

here's a video of Dublin's Thread Pulls in really awesome form recently

If you haven't already do yourself a favour and pick up there brilliant LP HERE

oh and pick up the Hunter Gatherer record while your at it

Hot and Spicy Indian House

This is a great mix of Indian house from DJ Pastek.

Hot and Spicy Indian House by Dj Pastek

Eugen Thomass Undergroovin'

nice kraut tune from the film Scarabea from the late 60's
easy listening.... boooiiiing!