Throwback Thursdays

In the late 70s and 80s, the desperate circumstances of living in the Lower East Side gave rise to an art & music movement that later came to be known as No Wave.  Nihilist filmmakers with super 8 cameras and no budget worked alongside post-punk bands with whom they shared living spaces.  Figures like John Waters, Jim Jarmusch, Basquiat, and Steve Buscemi started their careers among these artists, many of whom either succumbed to drug addictions or died of overdoses.  The track above, “Abadan,” by Jeff and Jane Hudson, is featured in Blank City, a documentary about New York’s fascinating No Wave scene. Check it out!

DJing in Montreal.

The music of Toronto-based Nautiluss, aka Graham Douglas Bertie, is exactly what a festival goer might expect from Mutek, an annual 2-day electronic and arts event in Montreal.  Polished, precise, and even a little dark, Nautiluss represents a style of tech house comparable to Richie Hawtin or Sasha.  

Nautiluss will be dropping a set on Friday, June 1st!

Onra to release new EP June 12

Onra is set to perform at The Kava Lounge in SD tomorrow night, 5/27.  The track above, “L.O.V.E” is a delightful future funk preview from his upcoming release in June.  Enjoy!

Throwback Thursdays

Thanks to David Byrne, the music of Shuggie Otis was revived in the early 2000s after Inspiration Information (1974) was re-released on his independent label, Luaka Bop.  The LA-born guitarist and son of R&B musician Johnny Otis was practically unknown in the commercial circuit- it’s difficult to say why but perhaps his reclusive nature hindered him from the spotlight.  The featured track above, “Aht Uh Mi Hed,” is a revered classic in rare groove circles.  A little bit of psychedelic soul, r&b, and reggae, Shuggie’s Inspiration Information was a significant point of reference for what was going on musically in the 1970s.  He is surely one of the favorites!

Electro revived.

Belgium-based duo Soldout is the collaborative partnership between Charlotte, a classically trained musician, and David, a self-taught Commodore music programmer.  The featured track above is their latest single “Wazabi,” a hip electro number that grows steadily with dancefloor intensity. Soldout echoes the robustness of Peaches while quoting Giorgio Moroder-esque sequences of the past.  The US awaits them!

See what the they are up to here. 

Throwback Thursdays

R.I.P. Donna Summer. She was far too young. Contemporary disco house outfits and old school DJs like Sneak, Mark Farina, and Danny Tenaglia owe something to this influential pop diva. Rest in peace.

England strikes again.

Essex-born electronica pioneer Squarepusher, aka Tom Jenkinson, is known for his amazing, experimental live performances. Some of them, especially in his early career, were so frenzied that one was unsure of how to listen (check out an audio sample of Greenways Trajectory if you’re curious). He might have played his bass guitar while also handling two Roland synthesizers and an array of samplers, paying homage to a style of music known as musique concrète, a style in which the music itself is not restricted to elements such as meter, harmony, or melody.  The above track, Beep Street, is one of his more accessible tracks, pairing an LTJ Bukem style drum and bass lick with breezy atmospheric notes.

He just released a new album on Warp Records, Ufabulum.  

The world tour kicks off June 9th, stopping off at Rome, Barcelona, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berlin, Boston, New York, and so on.  Check the dates here.

Remember downtempo?

The Brits love downtempo. Bonobo, aka Simon Green, has been producing since 1999 and is a Ninja Tune staple.  His instrumental productions are driven by loose, undulating basslines with complex notation on the forefront.  The track featured above, “Kong,” is from his critically praised album Black Sands.

Bonobo is scheduled to perform in June starting in London, then Vermont, Kentucky, and New York. Check out the dates here.

Throwback Thursdays

I apologize for not posting TT yesterday. Today’s Throwback tragically coincides with the death of Beastie Boys co-founder Adam Yauch. R.I.P. He was 47.

Beck only has eyes for you.

Artist Doug Aitken commissioned musicians Beck, Devendra Banhart, and James Murphy to cover the classic ballad “I Only Have Eyes For You” for his light installation project at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC.  The song was popularized by The Flamingos in 1959, but was actually written in 1934 by Salvatore Antonio Guaragna, a Brooklyn-born composer who changed his very Italian name to Harry Warren. The track above is Beck’s version, featuring reverb-drenched vocals and dreamy slide guitar. Enjoy:)

Throwback Thursdays

The music of professional skateboarder-turned-artist Tommy Guerrero embodied the early 90s California vibe in a way I cannot quite describe. It is warm, lo-fi, beachy, and a little melancholic. Citing influences such as Tortoise, Latin Playboys, and John Coltrane, Guerrero’s instrumental music was as eclectic as his taste. After playing in a couple experimental rock bands in his native San Francisco, Guerrero garnered attention of the press with his solo endeavors. His classic Soul Food Taqueria album was on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2003 list. 

The above track, “Archaic Days,” is a remix by Harvey. Enjoy :)

Here’s an actual comment from one of Guerrero’s fans via YouTube: 

so CHILLED bro like my whole body is so mellow my emotions are emptied all im doin is laying down just listenin to this song

Back on the stage

Louisiana-born Jeff Mangum founded the band Neutral Milk Hotel in 1994, back when the word “indie” actually had clout.  He pleased many die-hard fans with his surprising presence at Coachella - the artist is notoriously reclusive.  Here he covers a classic by rock and roll guitarist Chris Knox, “Sign the Dotted Line.”

Another reason to go to the desert

Coachella Valley-born DJ/producer Alf Alpha, aka Rafael Lopez, might be proof of a burgeoning arts & culture scene in the Inland Empire, which for years, has received a bad rep for basically not being LA. Riverside-based entertainment collective East of LA has added Alf Alpha to its roster of integral artists, and for good reason.  His music is youthful and fun, infused with old school R&B licks and cascading beats.  Already a seasoned live performer, Alf Alpha will be playing at Coachella this weekend.

See his website.

Throwback Thursdays

Today’s Throwback is dedicated to legendary instrumental hip hop producer and sample master DJ Shadow, aka Joshua Paul Davis, who will also be playing at Coachella this weekend at the Gobi tent, Sunday April 15th. He is known for his diehard record collection, comprised of over 60,000 to date! One of his best tracks, “Midnight in a Perfect World,” was covered by singer/songwriter Mimi Page. Enjoy :)