Review: Mock & Toof – Tuning Echoes
March 31, 2010
I really like this record the more I listen to it. Recommended for those who like their disco with a bit more wobble. Reminds me of the good end of Will To Powers. Get it.
Mock & Toof’s ace ‘Tuning Echoes’ is released 24th May 2010 on Tiny Sticks.
[Apiento]
Mix: Paul Williams – Sleepy Moon
March 29, 2010
Paul Williams steps up to the plate at Test Pressing with a super mellow mix very much living up to its title. Apparently Sleepy Moon is what the Chinese call the last full moon of the winter. That was last weekend so this is perfect timing.
[Apiento]
Review: Various Artists – Down To The Sea & Back: The Continuing Story Of Balearic Beat – Volume One
March 28, 2010
New style of review for you all. Albums will be marked on how balearic they are (The Alfredo Scale), how kooky they are (The Kate Bush Scale), Psychedelic (Animal Collective), Jazz (Miles Davis), Disco (FK) etc etc. First up we have ‘Down To The Sea & Back’, a new set compiled by Balearic Mike and Kelvin Andrews.
Down To The Sea & Back: The Continuing Story Of Balearic Beat is released on 24th May 2010 on Wonk Music.
[Apiento]
Shiki. I’m out here talking to an architect about building a house in the mountains. Or rather I’m talking to my wife, and my wife is then talking to the architect. I’m trusting that record storage is not being sacrificed for Jimmy Choos.
To reassure me that they understand, the head architect has brought me to the local jazz kissa, Bunca. Up a tiny un-signposted staircase to the second floor of a residential block. Above a small florists. You’d never know it was here. Into a space like a darkened corridor. A library. Around the walls are 40,000 Long Players. I get my camera out, and the architect smiles.
I don’t know much about hi-fi, but when I showed these photos to my Japanese mates, who are the kind of guys who read text books on acoustics and sound engineering on the commute into work, they all nodded sagely and muttered noises of agreement. Two speakers stand from floor to ceiling. Then there’s the Macintosh stack. Wanting to demonstrate the quality of the equipment, the owner’s wife, asked me to try to lift one of the components that was set aside for repair. I could lift it, but only just. Which, since I can easily lift my 9 year old son, and he’s a big lad, means it must be over 40 kilos. There are 4 components in the stack. Greater than 160 kilos. The owners have the same set up at home.
I’m given the best seat in the house, with the kind of courtesy I have always received in Japan, and have never received in the UK. They switch the system on. A record by the Dudley Moore Quartet goes on the turntable (I was not allowed close enough to photograph the deck properly) and it’s the most fantastic music I have ever heard. For a few moments I even think about trying to find a copy to play at home. Everything takes some time to warm up, but while I’m eating my pork curry, it sounds as if the band are playing next to me in the room.
The only problem with this place is that it’s a good 20 minute train ride outside of central Tokyo. Too far for some people. The owner of Ebisu’s Bar Jam just laughed when I tried to convince him to meet me here for lunch. It is frustrating. I’d really like to plot here, sink a good few and test the system and test that 40,000 strong collection. But the school hours that currently define my day have so far prevented me from doing so.
Visiting Bunca has further complications. The owner is bipolar and suffers from bouts of severe depression. Often leading to him barricading himself in his house, leaving his wife to open up the café. During these periods he will spotted making trips to buy more records. Spied stepping out of taxis weighed down with bags. Being something of a vinyl compulsive/obsessive myself, I wonder quietly if his record collection is a symptom or possible cause of his condition. 40,000 records filed and cross-referenced by alphabet, label and lead instrument. He knows where everything is.
Since the owner requires so much care, the café opens sporadically. You need to call first to make sure they’re gonna open. And if so, for how long. Still I try to spread the word. And the place is a centre for young Japanese jazz musicians. Sometimes they are given the opportunity to play, but they have to be prepared for the voluble consequences of the owner’s displeasure. If he deems it not to be “Jazz” then there will be trouble. Shouting and ejection are not unheard of.
No arguments here. This guy can play.
[Dr Rob]
Mix: Balearic Beats Volume 2
March 27, 2010
We did this one back in the mid to late 90s (I think) at the JBO label. We all sort of felt it was time for a follow up to the original Balearic Beats compilation so one summer we recorded a load of records, gave (Terry) Farley a pen and here we go.
[Apiento]
Mix: Cosmo – Spring Affair
March 24, 2010
Spring is here and here’s a mix to sum up the season from DJ Cosmo. Cosmo has, for a long time now, been involved with good good things for the right reasons – from the Loft through to her record label, mixes and productions. Then there’s the record collection to die for.
On the subject of her productions it’s worth noting that Mancuso played her remix of Mavis ‘Revolution’ twice at the Loft on Sunday. That one will be coming out on Bitches Brew on limited 10-inch vinyl with hand printed sleeves and hand stamped labels – artwork courtesy of James Morrison. You can get a taster here. Also, if you have a minute check the Cosmodelica Facebook group. Anyway over to Cosmo to give you a heads up on what this is all about…
It has been a long cold winter but alas! London has rays “yellow sunshine” and it is “un dia bonito”. Let’s celebrate a “festival of the sun” by shedding some layers, letting our hair down and shaking our hips. Enjoy this “spring affair”. Cosmo
[Apiento]
Back In The Pirate Days: Kiss 94 Newsletter #2
March 23, 2010
Here’s another great newsletter from the Kiss vaults. Thanks again to Strictly Kev on this one.
[Apiento]
Mix: Jolyon Green: Songs For Neuromantics
March 21, 2010
Jolyon’s back with ‘Songs for Neuromantics’. In a balearic fashion of course…
[Apiento]
Happy to welcome Andy M back with more stories on island life and a mix of favourite dub sounds.
Saturday night – ‘Soup and sound’ with Dexter Campbell (below), the Ska Professor. Now, as multi-sensory concepts go, soup and sound leaves Jean-Michel Jarre’s son et lumiere trailing in its wake. A low-key downtown bar in Kingston with tables outside, full of characters with stories written all over their faces. Groups of old guys playing dominoes. An old woman in the corner sits on her own all night listening and meditating (or is that sleeping?) to the music. Dexter runs the Echo Vibration soundsystem and at 70 he’s still going strong and regularly tours Europe and Japan. He played an amazing selection of rare-as-hen’s-teeth ska, rocksteady, early roots and jazz all night. The first time in my almost three years in Jamaica that I’ve heard vinyl being played out and a welcome change from the usual diet of dancehall and the canon of 20 reggae classics that gets rinsed out in 30 second/tune doses at most dances. A great night, although I woke up in the morning feeling slightly cheated. The rum had been flowing so freely that we forgot to sample the soup…
Sunday morning – beach cricket with Luciano. The best thing to do when the kids wake you up with a sore head on Sunday is to head half an hour out of town to Fort Clarence beach. A beautiful stretch of white sand, fringed by almond trees and with a little shack that sells the freshest fish. Mid-morning and the beach cricket was in full swing when the bowler’s head was turned by a fragrant aroma and greeted by the sight of Luciano (‘Jah Messenger’, not the minimal DJ) striding through the covers resplendent in a HIM style solar topee, drawing on his pipe.
Sunday night – Beres Hammond in concert. I’m still amazed that there’s not more live music in Jamaica. A lot of the great old artists are more in demand and make more money touring Europe and the US these days. When they do play it’s normally at ‘stage shows’ with 10-20 artists on the bill sharing an unfamiliar backing band. The show always starts late, only leaving time for two or three songs per singer before the next act is rushed on. Thankfully someone has spotted the gap in the market and Pulse have started hosting regular full-length concerts – John Holt and Freddie McGregor in recent weeks were followed by Beres Hammond on Sunday. He put on a great show and had the 500-strong crowd on their feet singing along with every word. Jamaican crowds don’t hold back which I like. My personal highlight was Ken Boothe walking through the crowd, blessing everybody and shaking hands with one hand whilst carrying a burning joss stick in the other.
And finally, I’ve been listening to a lot of dub recently. Sadly it’s disappeared from the music scene here but dub is the foundation…
Andy’s Hi-Fi: Dub Is The Foundation
Tappa Zukie: MPLA Dub
Augustus Pablo: Pablo In The Dance
The Mighty Light Of Saba: Lambs Bread Collie
Wareika Hill Sounds: Tears In Exile
King Tubby And The Aggrovators: Ruffer Version
The Skatalites: Herbsman Dub
Russ D: Spiritual Dub
Jah Shaka Meets Aswad: Aswad Special
Dennis Bovell: Rowing (12″ Version)
Rhythm And Sound With Cornel Campbell: King In My Empire
3 Generations Walking: Midnight Bustling (Midnight Rockers Mix)
Musical Youth: Pass the Dutchie (Special Dub Mix)
[Andy M]
Spin: Burning Down The House / House Piece (November 1986)
March 18, 2010
This one comes from the November ’86 issue of the US-based Spin Magazine. House fact for the day, the voice on Adonis’ classic ‘No Way Back’ is a vocalist by the name of Gary B.
Thanks to Phil Mison.
[Apiento]
Mix: Phil Mison – Days By The Sea
March 16, 2010
Following the lovely ‘On A Clear Day’ mix from Moonboots here’s his long term cohort Phil Mison with a new mix for you all. We’ve also done an interview with Phil regarding his new Cantoma album (out at the end of April) so we’ll post that soon…
[Apiento]
Video: Look De Ibiza
March 12, 2010
We posted this one before but it was terrible quality on YouTube so we’ve uploaded it again. This was the holy grail for many people and has been passed around on DVD for quite some time now. As many of you know it was a promotional video by the Ku nightclub in the mid 80s, has an amazing soundtrack (which may or may not have been an inspiration for one of Harvey’s most famous mixes), incredible scenery, great club shots and very balearic people.
Thanks to Phil Mison (originally) and Tim H on this one.
[Apiento]
Straight steal from Shawn Stussy’s blog – here’s London’s chapter of the International Stussy Tribe in 1990 when Stussy was alive and kicking. As he says, ‘When it meant something, the original London chapter of buddies that kind of gravitated into a loose knit crew… Left to right, Michael Kopelman, James Lebon, Mick Jones, Barnzley and Alex Turnbull… This was a period when all this seemed so right, not strained or sponsored, done for the right reasons… I am very proud to have had a hand in this period of time, think of the wave that has followed…’. Classic style that’s style holding up today.
[Apiento]
Here’s news on a party Felix Dickinson is doing with the Idjuts. Dates and venue details on the flyer. Here’s Felix on what to expect…
“O.k. party people – the Idjuts and I are having another party in Brixton. Different venue from the last one but same kinda vibe (dirty railway arch, Mickey Boyle doing the sound, no music policy, everyone gets fucked up and has a laugh). The last one was great fun and I hope all who came last time can make it again. The new venue is a bit bigger, so why not invite some friends.
BRING IT !!!”
[Apiento]
Mix/Piece: Tokyo-To Kissa #4
March 10, 2010
I watch Tokyo go by from the window of a Metro train. Mejiro, Takadanababa, Shinjuku. I wonder if I will miss any of these places. I am leaving.
I have grown tired of Tokyo. Or rather, she has worn me out. This beautiful lady has a bounty to offer but only if you have an abundance of money and free time. Currently I have neither. Great place to visit. Hard place to live.
I am guilty of only really appreciating things when looking back. In the moment, I am always questioning. Often my mind is on what’s next. I should learn to live in ‘The Now’. Neal Cassady without the crank. Instead I try to keep moving, afraid that if I stop, nostalgia will hit me like a wave.
Las Vegas tango. Last tango in Paris. One last joyless fuck in an apartment in Bayswater. Angry and hurt, she grabs the headboard and forces her hair in my face. Some things are best forgotten, but I guess the old mental scrapbook doesn’t work that way. Sketches Of Spain bring the myth of my conception. Supposedly in Stiges. On the honeymoon. But since I was a couple of months premature, I reckon that’s the kind of truth people felt forced to tell in the early 60s. Sting sings a song about man’s crimes against man. I try to remember being in another place, but I am lost in Tokyo. No one bothers to translate. I hear a lover on the phone. Just out of the bath. Wrapped in a towel. Propped up on pillows. Flirting. I’m trying to be clever. Funny even. Before long, she’ll end up disappointed. There’s a soft focus TV promise of what love should be. Slow. Gentle. Understanding. “Hey, we have all the time in the world. Relax.” Instead, stolen moments and lies.
I watch days go by on lost roads. Clouds scream across a blue sky shot in time-lapse. I’ll get my deck-chair out. Eagles rise on a warm swell in Nepal. Gangs of small children crowd a mountain path. Following me for the sweets I brought as gifts. Dahl for breakfast, Dahl for lunch. Dahl for tea. I ain’t never been to New Orleans. The only voodoo I know is in the thunder of the London Underground and the sodium orange on deserted streets going east. The only healing chant, silence.
“Come with me”, she sings. I`m in Ronnie Scott’s. Two couples before the children, drinking champagne. (Another) one of those transient bubbles I questioned. I’ll never question anything again. I promise. Pat dreams of Mexico but I’m in Reckless in Islington. Tara’s letting me trade my boxes of Trance for a grounding in Funk and Rare Groove. I cut my hair, take the medication, and stop going out. For eight years.
Sing me to sleep. Weatherall soundtracks a film in a chapel off Oxford Street. Days of Shoreditch, Small Fish, and Silas. Nights watching Sav collect glasses. Walking between Borough and Brick Lane when the snow stopped everything.
Hendrix plays and I’m acting. Living out a role in ‘Withnail & I’. Pulling on a tattered overcoat as I pull myself off a mattress on the floor. Pulling on a joint, for effect, and to keep out the cold. A room on (H) Ash Grove where the rent was a tenner a month. Working out Pence:Brain Damage ratios. Drinking Thunderbird all day. Pints of cider with ice. Playing at it. I thought I’d never miss that place either.
I am leaving Tokyo, but I am not leaving Japan. I am heading for the hills. Half-way up an active volcano to build a mountain retreat. Friends worry that I might become isolated, but I am isolated now and I fear that to feel isolated in one of the busiest cities in the world may be harder than feeling isolated in the middle of nowhere with only the bears for company. I’m taking the easy way out.
I worry that if I stay in Tokyo I will become a bigot. My patience and enthusiasm exhausted. Cursing the endless armies of school children as I pass on my bike. I have already retreated from Tokyo. Minimizing my trips out of the house. Metro journeys filling me with despair. One more carriage full of blank faces. Any conversation limited to pleasantries or apologies. Any hope of depth, any bond, seems impossible. It would be easy to give up, yet the small successes I have with language light my days. I will never give up. But I am not winning. Retreat. Regroup.
There was a time when I could flick my toes and greet it all like one big adventure. I’d get my kids to sing “row row row your boat” in a round. Life is but a dream that so quickly passes. I think of my first friend here. The chain-smoking delivery guy who brings my records. Shin-Otsuka, and the woman with the thick scar that marks her hair-line who jokes with me in 7-11. Otawa-Dori, and the old man we used to greet everyday to and from school. Dragging his tiny dog along on stiff legs in the heat and the cold. The dog died and the man disappeared. Kohinata, and the woman with the magenta bob, ever-present shades and tight leather skirts, who lives round the corner with a Ryuichi Sakamoto lookalike. Probably in her late 60s, but you still might.
My children play under Mejiro-Dori’s highway, where we feed the stray cats, and the cats piss on the parked cars.
It’s not places that are important, but people. And I’ll take them with me.
David Sylvian: Nostalgia
Michael Shrieve: Las Vegas Tango
Miles Davis: Sketches Of Spain
Sting: Fragildad
Vangelis: Good To See You
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Before Long
Cerrone: Corruption
Jean-Luc Ponty: Ethereal Mood
Bill Laswell: Lost Roads
Neville Brothers: Healing Chant
Finis Africae: Armadilha
Tania Maria: Come With Me
Pat Metheny: Sueno Con Mexico
Bowery Electric: Sleep
Jimi Hendrix: Little Wing (Live)
[Dr Rob]
The Test Pressing Information Service has returned to notify you that you can download Leo Zero’s mix of Weller’s new track here courtesy of the PR company. Nice work Elstob.
[Apiento]
Mix: Moonboots – On A Clear Day
March 7, 2010
We’ve had a run of stunning mixes over the past year and here’s another one. Moonboots is one of our favourite DJs, someone who along with a few others has always stayed true to the alternative balearic spirit. As a resident of Aficionado alongside Jason Boardman he has long given Manchester a mellow balearic focal point. Recently they came to London and showed the Lowlife crew how they do. Apparently they rocked it. Get in touch here if you want to get hold of him/them and we’ll hook you up. Anyway, enjoy ‘On A Clear Day’.
[Apiento]
The Prophet In Paris – Wally Badarou & Friends Live
March 5, 2010
All your lucky Parisians are in for a good one. On March 19th Wally Badarou is getting a bit of an all star crew together for a concert at La Machine, 90 Bld de Clichy, Paris 18, France. Phil Gould, Mike Lindup, Manu Dibango, Alain Chamfort, Berenice (“M” Robin Scott’s daughter), Jim Palmer (of Robert Palmer), Paulo Goude (of Grace Jones & Jean-Paul Goude), Barry Reynolds (Compass Point All Stars), Mark King and many other guests will be appearing.
Tickets are €15 and you can reserve tickets here (recommended) by sending your last name, first name and number of tickets required. Put ‘WB’ as the subject. Should be a good one.
[Apiento]
i-D: Body Beats / Acid Tracking
March 5, 2010
Release yourself… Photograph by Dave Swindells.
Thanks to Matthew J.
[Apiento]
Mix: Tamas Jones (Hey Convict!) – Thumb Tripping
March 2, 2010
Test Pressing is happy to welcome Tamas Jones to the fold. Tamas is half of Hey Convict! alongside Jason Evans. They formed through a series of high-spirited Sunday afternoon Melbourne rooftop parties held during the summer of 2006 which allowed them to develop their own specific take on party music. They are in their own words, ‘equal parts hippie and disco diva, never the same thing twice, yet always a good time.’
Next up for the duo will be a follow up to their ‘Time To Noodle’ mix CD for the always good Golf Channel and dates around Europe in May/June (more news on that as it comes).
Until then, here’s Tamas and the sound of Hey Convict!
[Apiento]
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