Friday, October 31, 2008

General Makeup of Techno Songs

The Daily Flashback: You May Come To Me Now

From Buck Rogers In the 25th Century - "Space Vampire" episode.

Electric Owls EP available now.


The Electric Owls EP, which I've had on repeat for two days now, will be released next week. It plays like a tapestry of atmospheres passed through in a dream state, adrift on arpeggiated chords, synth, and an acrobatic, yet intimate vocal delivery from the Comas' lead singer. You can get it now when you order a limited-edition, hand-stamped copy directly from Andy on his Myspace. Electric Owls will be playing at the Black Cat in D.C. this Saturday. I'll see you there.

Electric Owls - Magic Show (mp3)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Daily Flashback: This Is Spinal Tap - "This Piece Is Called 'Lick My Love Pump'"

(Funk) Court's In Session



Judge, I got a boy that can't dance.
Can't dance??
Can't dance, your honor.
Well, that's 30 days. 30 days for the Boogaloo. And 30 days for the Shingaling. And 30 mo' for the Afro Twist.

Larry and Tommy - Here Come The Judge (mp3)
Ann Alford - Gotta Get Me A Job (mp3)

From SuperFunk, Vol. 1

Of Montreal, Live on The Current, 10-25-2008

Friday, October 24, 2008

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Pidgeon: California (Is For F**kers)



Lsat month, Pidgeon quietly released Might As Well Go And Eat Worms (on Absolutely Kosher), their follow-up to 2004's From Gutter With Love. Lucky for us, that is likely the only thing they will do quietly.

Pidgeon - California (is for F**ckers)(mp3)

Also: the original version of Mania in Lithuania, of which they said "We didn't put in on the record because we think we can do it better someday." An updated version is on the new record.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Careful Love



Listen to Jimmy Liggins and His Drops of Joy swagger. You believe the man. Originally released on Specialty records.

Jimmy Liggins and His Drops Of Joy - Careful Love (mp3)

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Funk obscuritee

If you like the funk, you will love YouTube user obscuritee, AND her sister, obscuritee23. And to love them is to love their father, from whom they inherited their impeccable taste.

Here's one of the treasures posted by obscuritee:



And the mp3:
Bobby Womack & J.J. Johnson - Harlem Clavinette (mp3)

Monday, October 20, 2008

Lizzy Grant - Kill Kill



I remember hearing Thom Yorke in an interview a few years ago, talking about the power of ambiguity in words and phrases. Lizzy Grant's lyrical connotations are at once sexy and sinister, while her vocal delivery carries a slinky, determined innocence straight from the trailer park, supported by throwback grooves evocative of Nancy Sinatra, with a jazz attitude. Her visual messages are dangerously alluring. You won't be able to leave her songs without assigning your own personal meaning, and you are likely to be disturbed with what you come up with.

Lizzy Grant - Kill Kill (mp3)

See her at CMJ on the 24th, before she starts filling arenas.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Ra Ra Riot - live, Black Cat, 10-12-2008 (podcast)

The Ra Ra Riot show from the Black Cat on Sunday night is up on NPR.org. Download the podcast here (mp3).

Age of Rockets - What Story Down There Awaits Its End?

Here's a multilayered lullaby from a haunted future, courtesy The Age of Rockets. Listen for the mechanical music box notes near the end of its wind, and distant muted synth organ harmonies--floating languorously toward sleep, but somehow, keenly aware. Perhaps the most daring thing about it: it's the first track on the album.

The Age of Rockets - What Story Also Awaits Its End? (mp3)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Ra Ra Riot, Live at the Black Cat, 10-12-2008

Listen to Ra Ra Riot's inspired, impassioned live performance from the Black Cat in Washington, D.C. from Sunday night on NPR.org.

Here are the first four (mp3s):

Each Year
St. Peter's Day Festival
Oh, La
Winter '05

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Juliette Commagere - Queens Die Proudly

Juliette Commagere was joined by Ry & Joachim Cooder on her forthcoming album, Queens Die Proudly. You'd swear that she also recruited Owen Pallet (aka Final Fantasy) for the looping string work that you hear at the beginning of this study in transformation, which explores pop, new wave, and disco, blending high synth notes with hyperarpeggiated chords and simple, sweet vocal melodies.

Juliette Commagere - Queens Die Proudly (mp3)