Suicide – Dream Baby Dream (1979)

Wildly influential proto-electronica/post-punk (oh, yes!) from Alan Vega and Martin Rev.

Suicide started performing in the early 197os in the New York scene of the New York Dolls which then prohed into the classic ear of The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, et al.

This track was recorded in 1979 and appeared on the reissue of their second LP often known as “The Second Album” …. Pop perfection as the boys employ a rudimentary drum machine to become the Transatlantic counterparts to the Kraftwerk revolution.

Subsequently covered in his live shows by Bruce Springsteen (for example, here).

The studio version then a very rough live version from the ROIR sessions of the 1970s then an even sketchier live version from 2010. The first is the one to go for!

Donna Summer – I Feel Love (1977)

A sad day today with the passing of Donna Summer. I have previously posted her sublime “Working the Midnight Shift” here.

However, this is the all time classic. One of the most influential records of all time; techno, house and all that follows is being invented here. The genius of Giorgio Moroder keeps the pulse going and Donna’s vocals soar ….

The original 12″ version; the Patrick Cowley 15 minute remixed opus and then a live cut …

Dreadzone – The Good, The Bad And The Dread (1993)

Superb spaghetti-western inspired track from Dreadzone’s classic “360 degrees” debut LP of 1993.

Ennio Morricone samples, Don Letts providing senior guidance and John Peel playing it to death … perfect!

Could only find a truncated Youtube clip. Check here to purchase the considerably longer original!

impLOG – Holland Tunnel Dive (1980)

I taped this off the John Peel Show in the summer of 1980 and it was one of my favourite songs for years. Finally tracked it down on CD in the mid 1990s and now, seemingly, it is recognised as one of the, ahem, “classic” releases of the New York “No Wave” scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s (now easily available on the superb Soul Jazz compilation “New York Noise Volume 3“).

impLOG were Don Christensen with help from Jody Harris. They were both in The Contortions (with James Chance) and released just two records as impLOG.

Someone’s made a nice home made video for the track on Youtube.

Solomun – Something We All Adore (2011)

Hey, okay! One for the “kids” ….

My discovery of Beatport over Christmas has turned up quite a few new “all time” favourites. Check here and here for recent posts.

Here’s another. Simple bass and drum machine with a killer sample as if from the halcyon days of Trax Records/DJ International/Chicago House late 80s heaven. Admirably relentless.

Afficionados will spot that the sample is Tupac Shakur (2Pac) from his “Fortune and Fame” interview (no, me neither).

William Basinski – Disintegration Loops IV – Track DLP 1.3 (2003)

After the apparent flippancy of Dire Straits, I attempt to recover my tattered credibility with this remarkable record. (Gotta say, no apologies needed for Romeo and Juliet ….)

An accidental recording. Basinski editing his disintegrating recordings on the morning of 9/11 is overtaken by events.

Personally, I struggle to erase the images of that day. Too troubling to think of the last moments on American Airlines 11 or United Airlines Flight 175. The footage of The Falling Man is too much to bear. This music just helps somehow. A bit.

Basinski’s results are remarkable, Brian Eno, John Cage, Philip Glass-esque minamilist perfection. A wonderful record. Details here.

DJ Krush – Yeah (Alex Reece Remix) (1995)

Ah, the early 1990s! Inspired by a welcome, but too infrequent, visit from eldest daughter, father felt honour-bound to dig out the old stuff from when she was too young to know ….

In the early 1990s, US Hip-Hop was in fine fettle – Gang Starr, Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, among others were, ahem, “dropping the bombs” – or, as us we here in the United Kingdom would say, “were releasing mighty fine recordings, thank you very much”.

At the same time, “overground” trip hop was establishing itself in the UK through seminal releases by Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky.

Alongside this, was a more experimental type of instrumental hip hop. On labels like Mo’Wax and Pussyfoot.

In my view, the high water mark of this fleeting genre was achieved by DJ Shadow – his “Entroducing” LP is wonderful but he peaked even earlier with “What Did Your Soul Look Like?” – previously posted here.

Also operating at the same time was DJ Krush from Japan. He released seminal LPs on Mo’Wax and some killer singles. “Yeah” was the third track on the “A Whim” EP of 1995 – remixed by Alex Reece, the track is elevated from mere excellence into the drum’n'bass pantheon.

 

 

 

Martin Zeyss – Next To You (Maya Jane Coles Remix) (2011)

Since discovering Beatport at the tail end of last year (check here), I’ve been getting back up to speed with the wonderful world of Deep House.

Originating in the classic Trax/DJ International world of Chicago in the late 1980s (with Marshall Jefferson and Larry Heard as the godfathers) , there are now a bewildering number of releases every week.

To be frank, the technology has made it too simple for incompetent purveyors of formulaic nonsense to release their noodlings. In the world of t’internet, trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff is ever harder.

Beatport is a great help in identifying the good stuff and here is a classic example. Martin Zeyss is the latest in a long line of classic German producers and Maya Jane Coles is one of the hottest remixers of current times. A killer tune.

Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (1981)

Difficult to capture the extent to which this is the definition of pop perfection…. Beautiful synth pop and a killer vocal. Say hello, wave goodbye.

I put up with all the scenes

And this is one scene that’s going to be played my way ……..

Take your hands …. off me

I don’t belong to you, you see

Take a look at my face for the last time

I never knew you, you never knew me

Say hello, goodbye

Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love (Thomas Sonora Edit) (2011)

Just reposted, Marshall Jefferson’s “Time Marches On” from 1987 is one of the founding documents of “deep house” and one of the greatest records of all time - check here for conclusive proof.

Deep House remains one of the loves of my life and this track retains the affection.

A sublime deep house remix/edit of the Minnie Riperton classic from her “Adventures in Paradise” LP of 1975. The original is a wonderful record but this remix just soars.

Ms Riperton is best known for her wonderful “Lovin’ You” single; less well known is that she died of breast cancer aged 31 in 1979.

Prepare to wallow in genius …. and dance.

Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love (Thomas Sonora Edit) – Free Download by Kolorit Records