Monthly Archives: August 2008

Thievery Corporation Supreme Illusion 12-Inch Single

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I’ve been digging this Thievery Corporation track since hearing it on the ESL Remixed CD. That’s a disc I strongly recommend, but for the vinyl 12-inch single junkie, here’s a must-own. Thievery Corporation’s Supreme Illusion is remixed by Nickodemus in a great Near-East vibe that mercifully sidesteps all the groan-inducing cliches lesser remixers resort to when trying to impart some of those “mystic East” touches.

This is some flawless, ultra-polished post-club listening. The ESL Remixed version was non-stop on the player for two solid months–quite a feat given all the music I consume on a daily basis. If these releases were cigarettes, I’d be dead by now.

Supreme Illusion is a great track and the B-side, Thievery Corporation’s remix of Crazy Stranger by Nickdemus is no slouch, either–but I prefer the A side, hands down. For those who don’t dig singles, pick up the ESL Remixed CD instead, there’s a glorious load of tasty sounds there.

Aquaserge 12-Inch EP “Tahiti Coco”

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Oh YES, dear friends, we’ve got a genuine, unclassifiably cool anomaly on our hands here. Aquaserge starts off with a bit of the old Vampyros Lesbos soundtrack vibe crossed with a dash of Mellow (that Air side project band that did the soundtrack for Roman Coppola’s movie, CQ ) thrown in for good measure. Already I am hooked, but then this veers off into Miles Davis territory circa the Cellar Door sessions in 1970–it’s those gloriously dated keyboard sounds.

Prog, psych, and groovy all mixed together in a glorious melange all the way from the south of France where Aquaserge resides. Chris Joss, Air, Aquaserge…what is it about France that keeps me coming back for more?

I am loving this group and I have only heard the one track, La Femme De Tahiti. This is so utterly required listening that I’m not going to rant and rave about it except to say that this is my favorite accidental find in a long time. I haven’t loved an accidental find of this nature so well since I stumbled across Gang Gang Dance.

The label this is on, Manimal Vinyl is definitely worth exploring, this band is not the lone anomaly of the lot…but I’ll be damned, this is the track I’ll be stuck on for a WHILE. Aquaserge needs to come to Chicago so I can get the full skinny and bring it to you…solid stuff, this. Check out the MP3 of La Femme De Tahiti in the audio player at the Manimal site. RECOMMENDED.

So You Wanna Be A DJ?

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Back in 2006, I was working as Managing Editor at Gearwire.com, interviewing musicians and DJs about all sorts of technical issues. Here’s one I did with Chicago DJ Chess Hubbard, AKA DJ Mother Hubbard, who spins all over Chi-town and beyond. I caught up with her at the Funky Buddha Lounge and interviewed her about what it takes to be come a DJ and get down to the fine art of turntabling for money. If you’re curious about what it’s like to stand behind those decks and control the party, check this one out…

I’ve got plenty of stories of my own, most of which are connected to my work in radio, but I’ll save all that for another time. Click this to check out the interview…

Neon Musical Insight

Blogs

I was clicking on a series of random music blog links tonight when I stumbled across Neon Musical Insight‘s list of the top five albums of the 80s. It was great seeing a list that was ALL VINYL, at least in terms of what the original releases was. I agree with many of his picks –not necessarily in his order, mind–but the thing that caused me to spray single malt scotch out of both nostrils was the image which represented the album cover for The Clash’s London Calling.

I don’t know if that image is on purpose, if the site’s been hacked, or if there’s an inside joke I’m missing as a newcomer to this blog, but after reading the entries, scrolling down and hitting THAT ANIMATED GIF, I was in tears. The use of the word “revolutionary” in reference to the album seems to be a direct pun on the, er, motion of the GIF, so perhaps this is not the work of pervey-pants hackers.

I am sending this guy my hernia bill. Too funny in all the wrong ways. The Python-esque shock was probably a “you had to be there” moment, but STILL. I have yet to scan the rest of this blog, but I will do for certain, I can promise you that….

Personally I would put Elvis Costello and DEVO in that top five, but that’s just me.