Since I've already started the tenuous 1982 link I might as well try to drag it out a bit longer now, so here's another beauty from that musically great year. From their Tench EP, imho still sounding fresher (& better) than most of the new releases I've listened to this week...
I didn't actually plan this but here's another from 1982. Bit of a coincidence but must have been a good year for electronic synth pop type stuff I guess.
Whilst posting the below, it also reminded of this great track. I'll have to do a proper Ryuichi Sakamoto post one of these days...amazing to think how much brilliant music he's produced over the years. I'd love to know what other peoples favourites are too, feel free to leave any recommendations in the comments below.
My internet connection is f&cked to put it plainly so posting individual tracks on the upload speed available is the best I can be bothered to do unfortunately. I'll start with this slightly obscure beauty from Explorer's 1982 'Untitled' LP which came out on X Records (Germany). Plenty more to follow...
Yup, it's another Friday and what better way to get in the mood for the weekend than some more (slightly camp sounding) disco inspired tunes/edits. These have been sounding particularly good this afternoon.
Keeping with the random nature of music on this blog, here's three gems I re-discovered whilst digging through some old stuff today (all released in 1997 I believe). The 'Live Garage Version' of Gabriel is still the best but thought I'd post the below remix since it took me a bit by surprise (never properly listened to them all before) and everybody's heard the other version a hundred times already. 'Tings In Time' still sounds great as does the MAW remix.
After hearing him again on the Recloose track below and also on the new Jazzanova LP (cheers AC), thought I'd post his first demo LP from back in 98/99 which never got an official release. Bootlegged like crazy and all over the net, just in case anyone might have missed it though (and since it still sounds good). Download it here. Also can't seem to find another unreleased demo LP of his anymore, 'Beat Dat'. If anyone has a link, please feel free to share it. A few bonus tracks...
..tracks on a similar vibe to the below comp. Deep, dark, driving and slightly 'dubby'? Is that a word. Best enjoyed played at a high volume imho. Also check the Herbert remix of 'Can't Take It' if you never have before, a classic. These four just happened to be easily available here on my HD, can dig a bit deeper for plenty more similar stuff if people enjoy them.
Dug this out again from a few years back. Compiled by Volcov aka Isoul8. Some deep detroit techno/ housey/electro-ish/broken beat 'esque' shit is the best way I can describe it. Shocking description I know but just download it and see for yourself, some good stuff. Thought my reviews would at least be getting better by now...
"Excellent, very hard to find mixes packed with obscure horror themed proto-punk, eccentric glam-rock, disco, supernatural soundtracks and more. Cunningly interspersed with dialogue from the creepiest of giallos and voiceovers from the sleaziest, drive-in, horror double-bills that you can possibly imagine - pure grindhouse!" 
As requested and since it's still sitting on my desktop coincidentally, here it is in double quick time for once. Still not too sure about his LP 'Welcome' but this mix is right up my street.
Three of my favourite Metheny related tracks (ideal background music for reading the Sunday papers to I find...) , but probably his most well known ones too. I'm sure many of you knowledgeable readers are much more familiar with his vast array of work than me, so what other albums and particular featured tracks of his should I be checking out? (obviously apart from the 3 lp's these are taken from) Any recommendations would be very welcome.
Charlie & Tony compiled this great comp a few years back now but it's only just recently been back on my headphones again. I love the feeling you get when you haven't listened to an album you've had for ages and are surprised by a tune you hadn't really 'got' or listened to properly the first time round for whatever reason. The opening Pal Joey track on here is definately one of those for me that I've re-discovered. Plenty more quality tracks on here as well though. Anyone know if X:Treme records is still going?
'Far superior to its vinyl counterpart, the CD version of Relics adds numerous full-length tracks and intervals that were not included on the (often bootlegged) vinyl version. Regarded by many not only as one of the definitive Detroit techno comps, but also as one of the greatest releases electronic music has ever known. The best versions of "Wiggan" and "Strings of Life" are right here. The Carl Craig intros and tracks sound as if they were beamed to the early nineties from the very distant future....often imitated & never duplicated brilliance.' & 'Detroit at its finest. Many hard to find rarities sit alongside more common tracks, all of them linked trough small pieces courtesy of Derrick May, give to this compilation a true album feel, that you want to listen to from start to finish in one go. Beautiful soundscape and darker grooves alternate perfectly. This music comes from (what was at the time, 1987-92) one of the hardest cities in the world, yet I put it on myself to escape unpleasant realities.' Two short but concise reviews on discogs which sum it up really.
Great mix CD from the Environ boss which is an excursion through obscure electronic funk and disco from 1978-1985. Featuring rare cuts from A. Robotnick, Plastic Mode, Gaz Nevada, Zodiac & many more. Wicked artwork by Julian Morey (Factory Records, Hacienda) as well. Read a much better review about it here. As ever, if you like what you hear, please try & purchase the CD/Vinyl/MP3 etc.
' The ‘More G.D.M.' series is an eye-opening multi-genre compilation from French label cum website, Tigersushi. There have already been five vinyl EPs in the series, but this compilation pulls together their entire contents plus five exclusive bonus tracks. The idea behind the series is that it brings to light quality electronica cuts of yesteryear and sets them alongside the musical works of contemporary visionaries. German artist Gina X's 80s offering, ‘No G.D.M.' (that's ‘No Great Dark Man') - forms the title track. The punk-electro march with Gina's Germanic-android vocal was (perhaps unsurprisingly), a favourite at New York's infamous Danceteria club way back in 1981. Then there's Bush Tetras' mad Banshees-style guitar track, ‘Things That Go Boom in the Night', Max Berlin (the French underground's own Barry White), with ‘Elle et Moi' and even Seven Grand Housing Authority's 90s feel good US house track ‘Love's Got Me High' which all stand out. In fact, the retro element here has a lot more to offer than the contemporary – save for French act Alice Machine with seedy electro offering ‘Night Hunt', nu wave tech house bod, John Tejada - who adds a smattering of dub with ‘Present Pretense' - and the Tigersushi Bass System featuring Jamalski, which warns of a dangerous “funk invasion” while detonating its own hip hop/electro explosives. Pretentious? Well, it does have a tendency to go off the deep end in places; Silver Apples ‘Salad' cacophony and Tokow Boys insane juvenile ditty ‘Swinging Pool' had me scratching my head and looking up “post modernism” in the dictionary, but in general this is a great collection of obscure goodies.'
It randomly dawned on me today that I haven't posted any drum & bass for a while. What better way to begin the track posts again eh. From Factory Records to this, ha. I'm far from up to date on whats going on within the 'scene' at the moment or on any of the big tunes either. The below Matrix & Futurebound track being the last current thing I have. What tracks do I need to check out, taking into account the more soulful/musical style of d&b I personally prefer? Any recommendations or even links would be much appreciated. Merci beaucoup.
To cut a long story short, after hearing the below track again recently and being blown away at how good it still sounds, I ended up delving into my collection and re-discovering this superb compilation. Half way through uploading the first disc I did a quick search and lo & behold, someone else has already posted it which saves me a lot of time & energy. Lazy shit I hear you say. You'd be right. Apologies to the author of the blog I'm linking to but I'm sure he/she won't mind. This is a brilliant retrospective of one of the greatest record labels of all time. For the very few who may never have come across or heard of Factory Records before, check the info link.
