March 29, 2011: God MADE Me Funky

I once attended a concert featuring both Wakefield's post-apocalyptic-folk fusion combo: Hoodlum and  Toronto funk-revivalists: God Made Me Funky. The latter's band name, while surely intended to be understood as a blessing, was introduced by the former band as if it were a curse.

Exactly

Tonight, however, it is a blessing. I play fun and funky music to celebrate and reflect at this seasonal time of renewal. Happy spring! After the heavy distortion and German innovation of the last 2 weeks, it is time for fun and dancing music. 

I opened up with a track from a recent compilation: Nigeria Afrobeat Special,The New Explosive Sound in 1970s Nigeria out on Soundway in 2010. Lots of gems in there. I also quite enjoyed Isaac Hayes take on the Doors. 

Isaac Hayes at the height of his powers

Played List

Artist - Track - Album

The Martins Brothers Dance Band - O Shakara O - Nigeria Afrobeat Special

Souljazz Orchestra

Souljazz Orchestra - Kapital - Manifesto

Robot News

Robots get into reproduction

Deodato - Also Sprach Zarathustra - Prelude

Stevie Wonder - As - Songs in the Key of Life

Isaac Hayes - Come On - Live at the Sahara Tahoe

Isaac Hayes - Light My Fire - Live at the Sahara Tahoe

Funkadelic - Super Stupid - Maggot Brain

Santana - Savor - Santana

War - River Niger - Platinum Jazz

Toots and the Maytals - Sailin' On - Funky Kingston

March 22, 2011: German Town

This week saw my first pre-recorded show. Listeners will know of my new-found appreciation for German prog and psych from the late sixties and seventies after finally getting into Can.

Hallogallo, members of Neu! playing Neu! song Hallogallo at the ATP Festival in 2010

So here was a show almost all dedicated to what is mildly controversially called "Krautrock". The term doesn't really seem to relate to a particular style, but rather a time and place. A flowering of creative and unorthodox music emanating in West Germany in the latter half of the 20th century. Perhaps a good analogy is "Indie Rock". While both musics can be said to contain their own common elements, each category is really driven by its niche in the cultural spectrum rather than its sound.

!

Best Sequel Eva

The big question is why did this music get specifically associated with Germany? Look to Julian Cope's seminal work on the subject and to BBC DJ John Peel for the answers. 

Robot news got cerebral with a monologue on the Turing test and the Loebner Prize. Check out Godel Escher Bach too. Sorry Douglas, the test for human is not Turing's nor the gom jabbar, it is the capchka .

Can't do a show based on Germania without a little Saga: Canada's gift/curse to German poser-prog-pop. Apparently lead singer Jim Crichton has reunited with the band. I will go see them if that is true. They are very fun. Like a triple-cheese pizza. Enjoyable, but only if REALLY like cheese.

Played List

Artist - Track - Album

Neu! - Hallogallo - Neu!

Amon Duul II - Restless Skylight-Transistor-Child - Tanzer Der Lemmings

Robot News : the Loebner Prize

Home Base for the New York Eating Alien Insect-Bots

Can - Spray - Future Days

Saga - Don't Be Late (Chapter Two) - Silent Knight [live]

Hawkwind - Hurry On Sundown - Hawkwind

March 15, 2011: "I Like Distortion When I Bar-Chord"

Following the Sounds of the Latest Latecomers' bold choice in playing Lou Reed's Metal Machine Monster this morning, I felt the need to play songs featuring the distorted electric guitar.

A Monster of Metal

I had a vague idea of starting with the more noise-like and moving towards the mainstream. Following the short His Name is Alive track, we moved on to a solid 16 minutes of brain-busting noise from Burning Star Core, challenging to most listeners, but perhaps easier to appreciate than Reed's descent into feedback. Thanks to DJ Mary for lending me the LP.

I am clearly a fan of Conifer. I played that band twice in as many weeks. Got more mainstream with the Pixies into The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. Check out this article in the Guardian about the Metal Machine Trio comprised of Reed and members of the latter bands. I was unaware of this event when I played these bands, really. 

Reed Performing as part of Metal Machine Trio in 2010

I then got into classic metal with a fantastic early effort from Iron Maiden. Not a lot of people know this, but Maiden's Phantom of the Opera had absolutely no influence on Andrew Lloyd Weber.

We then did a sharp turn to the garage chic of Acid Toilet Rock progenitors Lemon Stomach and brotherlog. We ended things off nicely with a later masterpiece by Lou Reed, from the very accessible and critically acclaimed New York album we heard a certain Carlin-esque eulogy for America followed by a few seconds of Trans Am. 

"Raze the Fucking Sky!" -La Otracina

Check out the link below to the gemenoid robot. In the words of Captain Adama (as he then was) "now they look like us."

Played List

Artist - Track - Album

 

His Name is Alive - Torso - Mouth by Mouth

Burning Star Core - Part II - Papercuts Theatre

Conifer - Song for Krom - Crown Fire 

"Krom laughs at your Four Winds" - Conan (the Barbarian)

Fuck Buttons - Sweet Love for Planet Earth - Street Horrrsing

My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes - Loveless

Arbouretum - The White Bird - The Gathering

La Otracina - Raze the Sky - Reality Has Got to Die

Pixies - Velouria - Bossa Nova

The Jesus and Mary Chain - The Living End - Psychocandy

Oneida Loves

Iron Maiden - The Phantom of the Opera - Iron Maiden

Van Halen - D.O.A. - Van Halen II

Anvil - Mothra - Metal on Metal

Robot News: The New Cylons Arrive!

Lemon Stomach - Language - Blunt Charred Stick of Improvement

brotherlog - Dredge #25 - brotherlog e.p.

Oneida - Each One Teach One  - Each One Teach One

Frank Black - Jesus Was Right - The Cult of Ray

Lou Reed - Last Great American Whale - New York

Trans Am - A Single Ray of Light on an Otherwise Cloudy Day - Trans Am

A Famous Trans Am

Preview: There Will Be Fuzz

Dredge #5

In anticipation of Neven's special broadcast of Monster Machine Music, I will be playing more accessible music featuring the distorted guitar. (I expect EVERYTHING is more accessible that MMM).

Look forward to music by Conifer, Wooden Shijps, The Kinks, Iron Maiden, They Might Be Giants, brotherlog, Lemon Stomach and Pixies:

Please send me your requests and suggestions!

tree

March 1, 2011: Quest for Fire

Rrrrr!

I decided to re-watch the above movie, Quest for Fire. I quite enjoyed it and wish more serious attempts at neolithic cinema were forthcoming. The film starts with a narrative explaining that the drama takes place at the formation of civilization when humans could wield, but not create fire. Turns out the "humans" are three subsets of the line and the movie is about the conflict between Homos Sapiens, Neanderthalis and Erectus, with Sapiens having the ability to make fire.  It's still a pretty fun watch even if slightly dated. 

Anyway, I played some of the Toronto band of the same name, along with some devastating Chicago psych. I am very proud of myself for not playing the Iron Maiden tribute to the movie.

Inadvertent theme of fire tonight, a bit.

Played List 

Artist - Track - Album

Radiohead - Everything in Its Right Place - Kid A

Quest for Fire - Next to the Fire - Quest for Fire

Dark Fog - Color Eyes - The Ultimate Cult of Psychedelic Psychosis

My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow - Loveless

Plastic Crimewave Sound - Nil Null & Void - No Wonder Land

Robot News

Robot Marathon is a Photo Finish

One of these Atomic Roosters MUST 
have played drums with Spinal Tap

Atomic Rooster - Time Take My Life - Made in England
Nektar - Remember the Future (Part I, Images of the Past -  Remember the Furture

Steve Hillage - Afterglid - Fish Rising

Santana - Welcome - Welcome