silence is a rhythm too

5/26/02
>24 Hour Party People is a new film that tells the story of Factory Records' spectacular rise and fall.The soundtrack is fab.Lots of oldies from the late '70's on,from both the roster(NewOrder/JoyDivision/HappyMondays) and from others(SexPistols/Clash/808State/Buzzcocks).There is also a new track from NewOrder called Here To Stay,produced by the ChemicalBros.If you liked the sound of the latest NewOrder LP you'll dig the track.To sum it all up,it's nothing you haven't heard,but it sure is a fun listen!
>DJ SHADOW is putting a new album out in 2 weeks,and has released a taster single,You Can't Go Home Again.The title track reminds me a lot of Plaid(!),while the other 2 tracks are an electro track and a fat hip hop track.
CAPITOL K is a guy who combines lots of guitars and some vocals with crazy electronics....glitchy beats,lots of noise.Kind of hard to describe the album Island Row,except to say it's good!


4/27/02
BADLY DRAWN BOY's About A Boy is a new movie soundtrack(he's expected to release a proper BDB record this Fall).Fans will like this...the production on it is a lot bigger than on Bewilderbeast,but that's Hollywood baby!
CORNERSHOP's Handcream For A Generation is a big record.It blends Stones blues riffing,disco bollywood beats,drone rock,electronica and hip hop with Tjinder's stream of conciousness lyrics...fun stuff!
WILCO are the current darlings of the rock press with the release of YankeeHotelFoxtrot.On a couple of spins it sounds pretty good to me.JimO'Rourke's production is the key,as he brings a whole new palette of sounds to the band.I think this one is going to be a grower.
ETIENNE DE CRECY's Tempovision Remixes is a great set of mixes from his mates.Try and catch the videos (especially Tempovision) for some cool animation & even a little bit of political commentary!


-RIP Lisa "LeftEye" Lopes.Always my favorite in TLC with her crazy antics...



4/20/02
DAVID HOLMES' latest Mix is Come Get It I Got It,and it is a very funky ride,featuring lots of psychedelic soul,and some new tunes from his "band" The Free Association.
JOE JACKSON's Look Sharp remaster has been getting some big plays this week.Great tunes,sharp production.His best record?
URSULA 1000 is back with Kinda Kinky,and it's a very entertaining ride through loungy breakbeat,downbeat,kitschy house and more.Time for cocktails...
TTC are a French hip hop act,and the latest release from BigDada.Gritty,funky stuff,featuring DJ Vadim's production skills on 1 track.
CRAIG ARMSTRONGis best known for his arrangements for Massive Attack,and for the score to the movie Moulin Rouge.His new album As If To Nothing is a lush record filled with guests(Bono,EvanDando,Mogwai,Photek & David McAlmont),and does a pretty good job of mixing pop sensibilities with his soundtrack stylings.

So the Furries played my least fave venue in the world,and the "This is the cool show to be seen at" crowd were in full effect(too much f@#*in' mindless chatter).The band were loose,this being the first gig of the tour,but still managed to sound pretty good.Now if I could only see 'em in a bigger,better equipped venue!



4/18/02
I'm off to see SUPER FURRY ANIMALS tonight for the first time...should be a great show!You're sure to hear about it later! :-)

4/10/02
BUFFALO DAUGHTER's new record "I" is a great new set of tunes.These guys incorporate so many different types of music;big rock guitars,punk,crunchy beats,deep electronics,loungy bits,and lovely vocals & harmonising...top pick of the week!
RAE & CHRISTIAN's Nocturnal Activity is a bunch of remixes from the album Sleepwalking.I read a quote somewhere where Mark Rae said he thought that it pissed on the original,and I almost have to agree.Some of the remixers...GrooveArmada,FazeAction,OnlyChild,AtJazz,and Tom&Joyce.
WHEN SHAPES JOIN TOGETHER 2 is a compilation out on TRU THOUGHTS RECORDSand is a sample of the roster.Tracks from Bonobo,Quantic,JonKennedy,and remixes from the likes of MrScruff.Excellent!
BUSY SIGNALS' Pure Energy is a collection of remixes,b-sides and unreleased gems from this lo-fi beat pop combo.Lots of scruffy broken beats and loungy sing song choruses.



3/28/02
I hate to admit it but the PLAYGROUP & N*E*R*D records continue to dominate the CD player...I cannot recommend them highly enough!in between I've been spinning THE PRUNES' Tracks From The Darkside,CLINIC's Internal Wrangler & Walking With Thee,and an old SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL'77 Lp called Primal Roots,where they go authentically ethnic.That record is jazzy & tribal,and quite psychedelic in places too.



3/21/02
This week all you need to know is PLAYGROUP.The self titled album is the work of Trevor Jackson AKA Underdog.Many of you will know of his remix work in the '90's for bands like Massive Attack & DJ Krush.Be prepared,because this is not like that stuff at all.This is an extremely groovy record that incorporates '80's electro pop,funk,indie rock,dub and more.Features vocals from Edwyn Collins,Shinehead,Kathleen Hanna,Rowetta(HappyMondays)...wicked beats,bass & guitar,and killer catchy tunes.Two very big thumbs up!The US version also comes with a Fatboy Slim remix of Front 2 Back & the video for Number One on it...watch & be amazed at the fab robotic moves!


12/22/01
3 items of interest...ADAMF's KAOS,a slammin' hiphop record.Not a trace of jungle on it,but plenty of talent,including MethodMan,DeLaSoul,LL Cool J,Guru & more.The Twisted Nerve Records compilation that is out(see HITLIST for too long title!)has some really nice stuff on it from BadlyDrawnBoy,Alfie,AndyVotel & others.The cover of VanMorrison's Moondance by Sirconical is a real treat!Finally,LOVAGE's Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By is VERY entertaining.Dan the Automator rounds up the usual suspects(DamonAlbarn,KidKoala,PrincePaul)and adds Mike Patton from FaithNoMore and JenniferCharles to the mix.The result?Swanky,sexy luv songs over fat beats,with a dash of SergeGainsbourg.


12/07/01
I have been sick as a dog this week,so I haven't been shopping for a while...a few groovy items from my last excursion are keeping me entertained tho'.JUSTIN ROBERTSON Presents Revtone is the new solo LP from the former Lionrock mainman.This is some seriously 80's flavored pop/house/techno.Also digging the new AS ONE release 21st Century Soul.Kirk DiGiorgio brings some seriously funky space jazz disco!And my final offering is the new ALEXKID record Bienvenida,on F Communications.This is a little bit of everything thats cool about the French dance scene...some filtered house.some disco,some downtempo stuff with help from Richard Dorfmeister...tasty!


11/25/01
GOTAN PROJECT's La Revencha Del Tango is a very groovy downtempo/tango hybrid that sounds bizarre but actually works.RADIOHEAD's new live album is also pretty good if you liked the last couple of records they did...I was also listening to DJShadow's Endtroducing this week...several years old and still a certified classic!!


11/14/01
Finally got my hands on the DAVID AXELROD cd that MoWax has released.I have to say that it's pretty cool...funky beats,Serge Gainsbourg stylee sounds,spoken word and Lou Rawls,all mixed up with some major orchestration.The other record I'm spinning quite a bit is the new SUPER FURRY ANIMALS disc Rings Around The World.While it's not a classic record,it's still has it's high points,and it's always fun to see what a band can do with a major label recording budget!


11/06/2001
Loving the new KINGS OF CONVENIENCE remix album Versus...Four Tet,Riton,Royksopp and more...lovely!HUMAN LEAGUE's Secrets is also getting alot of airplay...20 years on and it's actually pretty good!On a downtempo note I'm digging the new BEATLESS album Life Mirrors,which is a very soulful,funky mix of stuff.Some Marvin Gaye type vocals,and a couple of appearances by MADLIB and Quasimoto.Also interesting is BROADWAY PROJECT's Compassion,which blends beats,big strings,loud guitars,and all sorts of vocals and FX...a somewhat unique approach.


10/25/01
I've been listening to HERBIE HANCOCK's new record Future 2 Future this week...some very cool stuff on this,with guest spots from ChakaKhan,Rob Swift,Carl Craig and AGuyCalledGerald,as well as Bill Laswell,who co-produces.Also digging the BEBEL GILBERTO remix album,with a big selection of mixers...Rae&Christian,Tuby Trio,Peter Kruder,4Hero to name a few!Also,big ups to NinjaTune on releasing the first of many SOLID STEEL SESSIONS,called Now Listen!This showcases the brilliant turntablist skills of DJ FOOD and DK.NOT TO BE MISSED!


10/13/01
FOUR TET's Pause is a great set of quirky downbeat...lots of fat beats and nice atmospherics!Also am enjoying the new STROKES record Is This It?,which finally came out here after much delay.The US version has a new cover,and in light of recent events in NYC the band chose to remove the song NYC Cops.Anyway,it justifies the hype,rockin' hard like it's 1977 all over again!Finally,big ups to 4AD for putting out COLOURBOX's Best of 82-87.I have all of this stuff on crackly vinyl,so it's too sweet to hear it in it's digital glory!These guys were well ahead of their time,and doing trip hop before we had even come up with that name!And check out the wicked dub tracks...


10/06/01
I picked up the latest issue of Muzik magazine,and the accompanying free disc is pretty cool.46(!!!) Mute classics have been cut up and put back together in a nice mix.Lots of good tunes!Am also digging the new PELDING release,especially the cover of KRAFTWERK's It's More Fun to Compute.Wicked strings...For maximum chill out try ANGELS OF THE UNIVERSE soundtrack,by Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson.The last two songs are by SIGUR ROS,very dreamy and spacy.It's a very mellow record with loads of strings.


09/29/01
As I write I'm listening to KING OF WOOLWORTH's Ming Star which is ,for the most part,a crunked chill out set...very cool.I'd also like to recommend OZOMATLI's Embrace the Chaos,a great set of Latin rock hiphop jams.As always they are on the socially conscious tip with their lyrics,and in light of recent events in NYC their message needs to be heard!Big props also go out to ROOTS MANUVA,whose Run Come Save Me is a fat set of reggae infused Brit hop...have been playing this one every day!


09/25/01
SIMIAN is still going on the stereo,and the bonus disc that comes with ORBITAL's The Altogether is proving very entertaining...Also getting considerable airtime is Angles Without Edges,from YESTERDAY'S NEW QUINTET.This is a great set of avant jazz hiphop instrumentals from the mind of MADLIB aka Quasimoto.


09/18/01
Astralwerks has released the debut album by Brit combo SIMIAN.Titled Chemistry Is What We Are,this is super genre melding at it's best!Rock,folk,dub,electronica,and more get thrown into the sonic blender,along with some bits of the Beatles,Beach Boys,Floyd & Kraftwerk.I even hear a resemblance to the ApplesInStereo.Quirky and innovative and well produced.Check them out at www.wearesimian.com


... 09/15/01
The CHARLATANS' Wonderland is out this week.This is the band's 7th album,and was recorded in LA with producer Danny Saber.He has added a bigger emphasis on beats & electronics,and so the result is funkier than shit rock tunes...excellent!Also making a return this week is GROOVE ARMADA.The album is Goodbye Country(Hello Niteclub) and is a good collection of uptempo house songs and lots of lush downtempo.Features Nile Rodgers & Richie Havens.


09/01/01
just got back from vacation and went shopping today.My 2 picks of the day so far are the new SPARKLEHORSE disc & the new STEREOLAB disc...both sonically beautiful records.Sparklehorse is more scruffy scratchy mope rock,and the Lab are all glossy and smooth.Are they the new Steely Dan...?:)


08/22/01
NEW ORDER return with new single CRYSTAL...there are a bunch of remixes,but the original is the key...Big guitars,that incredible bass,and the perfect sound.We can only hope the album is as good!
>Also new this week is"Wall of Sound presents TELLE"-this is a super cool compilation of cuts from the Norwegian label Telle.There's a good mix of styles from downtempo to funky disco.The tunes from ROYKSOPP are ace,and there are a couple of tunes from EROT,an up & comer who tragically passed away in April of this year...his remix of the Kings of Convenience tune Gold is nice downtempo folky stuff.


08/18/01
This week saw the US release of Mescalito's ep WE DISAPPEARED IN STYLE on Tummy Touch records.This is a really nice set of more rock flavored downtempo stuff...lots of cool grooves!There are also a couple of cool remixes by BENT and SKYLAB,both bringing their own unique flavors to the project.
>Also big this week is the new cd from APPLIANCE called Imperial Metric.Heard this playing in my local store and picked it up...this is very cool electro influenced space rock.They remind a little of Spiritualized,with a dash of Stereolab and some Kraftwerk thrown in.Very nice!


08/11/01
Arling & Cameron's new lp WE ARE A & C is out and boy,do these guys just keep getting better or what!?!Excellent tunes,the usual parodies of musical styles,all mixed up with big beats,big guitars,and catchy vocals.One listen and you're singing along!