On September the 6th & 7th 2003 the US-based Tokion magazine ran a brilliant seminar inviting anyone they felt relevant or important across the creative fields named (aptly) Creativity Now. The magazine later ran edited transcripts of the seminars and here we have Phase 2, Kool Herc and Melle Mel on the roots of hip hop. Nice photograph of Phase 2. The transcript of graphic designer Peter Saville’s seminar will follow soon.
[Apiento]
Mix/Piece: Tokyo-To Kissa #7
November 29, 2010
Artwork by Azuchi Gulliver – La Dolce Vita/ATCG/Love affairs #3
Sitting in a cold school playground. Neath a clear Autumn sky. Koyo in reds and browns. Pale yellows. Jealously watching my kids hot-foot it after girls. A game of “Taka Oni”. Up the slide. Round the Jungle Jim. Old tires rolled for hula hoops. I fold my arms and pull my shoulders up around my ears. I try to remember the first time I fell in love.
Was it kiss-chase at primary school? Being dragged into the red-brick Girls’ Toilets on Birchanger Road. The girl in the house opposite. Net curtains for wedding gowns. Or was it when Laura Johnson smiled?
Was it the girl I was too shy to kiss? Long weekends sat on my Chopper outside her house, waiting for her to appear. One long Saturday matinee spent frozen with fear.
Or was it the force of nature with the tattooed ankle in Corfu?
Was it a copy of Clara Bow’s bob and Kohled eyes? All dressed in black with drawn on pout. The hardest body. Dark taffeta.
Was it the tom-boy who wouldn’t take no for an answer til it was too late? A glimpse of hung-over white lingerie in a four poster bed. A glimpse of jade at the foot of her stairs.
Was it a bright red mouth. Or an overnight bag hidden under a restaurant table. My mock acquittals accompanied by a dramatic removal of glasses and flick of the fringe. So much passion there.
Was it the electricity when our lips touched on a Sunday morning after the Saturday night before. Heaven’s promise. Then Sunday nights lonely crying. Red Stripe and The Wonder Years for company. What ever happened to Winnie? Whatever happened to Croydon’s Kylie?
Was it a scrapbook? A faded beauty in 50s gear. Someone longing to be held but too used to rejection. Pressed so close to me in sleep that handprints accompany me to the shower.
Was it the green contacts and the flattery I felt? Or the impossibility of it?
Was it a shot at redemption? Or a means of escape? Something unbroken I felt compelled to break.
Or was I just too high?
Was it when my wife blushed? A goofy grin. Caught off guard as Badlands lit the ICA.
Or was it when I held my first son?
Was it with the act? Or just the idea?
Every night I dream of friends and lovers my life has left behind. These are happy dreams. Conversations, jokes and warmth. Not spectres and farewells. Love doesn’t fade. It grows. I wish I could reach out and tell these people who shaped my life that their memory makes me smile the biggest smile. I wish I could hold them. Last night I kissed my grandmother. “Good night my love” she said and I opened my eyes lonely. Lonely for a moment, then my sons awake and the day once more is given purpose.
No-man: Days In The Trees (Reich)
Scott Cossu: Purple Mountain
Haroumi Hosono: Honeymoon
Yusef Lateef: Plum Blossom
Elmore Judd: Otherly Love
Azimuth: Lina Da Horizonte
Last Night: Cool Water
Steven Halpern: Play Of Light
Chapterhouse: Epsilon Phase
Shinozaki Matasugu: From A Distance
Michael Lorrimer: Remembranza
Shakti: Bridge Of Sighs
Les Negrettes Vertes – Face A La Mer (Massive Attack)
Transglobal Underground: International Times (Haunted Dancehall)
Arvo Part: Spiegel Im Spiegel
[Dr Rob]
Just Because 016: Balearic Beats Advert & Sleeve Notes
November 29, 2010
Was looking through an old i-D from October ’88 and found this advert for the Balearic Beats compilation on ffrr. Artwork, of course, by Dave Little. Thought it would be nice to scan in Terry Farley’s classic sleevenotes to go alongside.
[Apiento]
Radio: Jon Savage – Savage Music 015 / Moon Songs 2
November 28, 2010
Sunday means Jon Savage and here’s this weeks show, the second part of the Moon Songs trilogy.
Tune in weekly to ByteFM for the Savage Music shows.
[Apiento]
The Reading List: Reggae Bloodlines & The Keith Haring Journals
November 24, 2010
This is the first of a (probably very irregular) new Test Pressing format based around the world of books. I think books are one of those things that you naturally move onto collecting if you have the collectors mindset and I seem to happily pick up any book relating to music or music-related artists so it seemed fitting to start posting a few here.
First up is ‘Reggae Bloodlines’ first published by Heinemann in 1979 and subtitled ‘In Search Of The Music And Culture Of Jamaica’. Written by Stephen Davis and Peter Simon this is a beautifully written portrait of Jamaica in the format of a 1970s school book. The first few chapters focus on introduction and the history of reggae and from there moves through hanging out with Bob Marley (“The Wailers in their prime time were the best of the part-singing reggae vocal trios. Marley’s voice was broad-reaching in its possibilities, evoking both sentimental nosralgia and bitter rage, often in the same song”), watching Burning Spear at Chela Bay, a history of Rastafari and on.
Written in the late 70s the book captures a golden time of reggae across all styles of the genre and presents the music and the stories behind it rather than taking a critical view. The photography is also pretty special with classic shots of Marley, Augustus Pablo, Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, Lee Perry and Doctor Alimantado. This is my favourite books on reggae and I suggest getting the early edition (about a tenner including postage on Amazon) not the later re-issue as it’s in a totally different format and doesn’t have the charm.
Next up is Keith haring and ‘Journals’. This is the diaries of Haring running from ’77 through to ’89 just before his death in February 1990. It’s an insight into the heart and mind of Haring as well as giving an understanding of his simplistic take on modern art. As Timothy Leary says, “I have shown his drawings to Australian aborigines who initiated me and they grinned and nodded their heads. Keith communicated in the basic global icons of our race.”
Keith Haring was a massive fan of Larry Levan and the Paradise Garage. I got given a DVD of the whole last night of the Garage (thanks Phil) and you can clearly see Haring dancing away with a female friend. Here’s an extract where he talks about his love for the club.
“Speaking of families: I’m sitting in an empty train car so I’m playing my radio real loud. I’ve got a tape on that Junior made me called Paradise Lost. It still hasn’t sunk in that the Paradise Garage has closed forever. Every time I hear a song that is “Garage song,” I get real emotional. I can’t explain exactly why, but something about just knowing it was there was a comfort, especially when I was out of New York City. There was always something to look forward to immediately upon my return. In fact, I often scheduled my trips around the Garage, leaving on Sundays and returning before or on Saturdays. It was really a kind of family. A tribe. Maybe I should open a club, but I really don’t want to deal with that headache. This is the worst headache I ever felt. It’s like losing a lover when everything was going just fine. Its like when Andy and Bobby died. Maybe Paradise Garage has moved to heaven… so Bobby can go there now. That would be nice.
The last night was pretty incredible but not as sad as I thought it would be. People were sort of numb. It’s just so weird knowing that you’re not going to see a lot of these people again. There were a lot of people I only used to see there, a lot of them I never even spoke to the whole five years I went there, but I feel like I “know” them ’cause I shared something with them. Grace came for a little while, but didn’t stay long. Larry Levan played all night and all the next day till after midnight. I had to leave at midnight because I had work to do Monday morning to prepare for this trip to Europe. ”
Music always seemed integral to the world of Haring and that comes across in his dairies. It’s an easy read, especially if you have an interest in 80s New York. The one I have was published by Fourth Estate in 1996 and again comes recommended.
[Apiento]
Radio: Andrew Weatherall – The Music That Made Screamadelica
November 23, 2010
Here’s the Andrew Weatherall show that was on 6 Music on the weekend working through the music that inspired the Primal Scream album ‘Screamadelica’. It’s still a great album – play ‘Higher Than The Sun’ loud and it’s still got it.
We also posted a piece a while back which was Weatherall’s tour diary from the Screadelica tour that originally ran in The Face in September ’91. Click here if you fancy reading it.
While on the subject of Weatherall someone has started a group to get the BBC to give him John Peel’s slot on Radio 1. As Ashley Beedle says, “Andrew Weatherall taking over the John Peel slot would be so natural and so righteous – this man has knowledge, scope, a deep love of music and is one of the great raconteurs of our generation. Come on people – let’s make this happen before Andrew decides to turn left!!” Click here to make your ‘like’ heard.
[Apiento]
Producers Series #10: Chris Blackwell
November 22, 2010
I should really have got Dr Rob to write the introduction to this compilation as he took care of the tracklisting but I forgot to ask so here I go. If I had to pick my favourite record label there would be no doubt it would be Island Records. The breadth of the music, the Compass Point years, the logo and the sleeves – all made with the utmost care.
When Chris Blackwell was at the helm of Island Records the music always seemed to come first. Not only did he own and run the label and have the common sense to sign the right artists (or employ people with great ears such as Muff Winwood and Joe Boyd to do it for him), he also often produced the albums – rounding up groups of complimentary musicians, producers and engineers, and leaving them to get on with the job. He knew exactly where to take Grace Jones when she was a down and out disco queen, and not only trusted Bob Marley with a wedge of money to go and record an album (unheard of in Jamaica at that time) but also knew exactly what was required to take him from the streets of Kingston to the rest of the world. He also gave the world U2 but we’ll forgive him that one for now.
If you feel like exploring further and want to start with one Island album then my current suggestion (especially with winter arriving fast) would be the deluxe edition of John Martyn’s ‘One World’, worth buying for the instrumental of ‘Small Hours’ (as well as the two tracks featured here). That track just about sums the label up. According to the sleeve notes they were high, it was recorded across a lake at 3 a.m (listen carefully and you can hear the animals) and Steve Winwood was in support on the Moog. Class.
Thanks to Tim H for the Winwood, Martyn’s ‘Blackman At Your Shoulder’ and the B52s.
[Apiento]
Design: Tony Wilson’s Gravestone
November 22, 2010
Feels kind of weird writing ‘Design: Tony Wilson’s Gravestone’ but I guess that’s where it fits in. I meant to post this a while back but here’s a fitting tribute from Peter Saville and Ben Kelly for their friend Anthony Wilson which, in classic Factory style, arrived three years late. The black granite headstone carries a quote, chosen by Wilson’s family, from The Manchester Man. Click here to see more images and information at the Creative Review site.
[Apiento]
Radio: Jon Savage – Savage Music 014 / Moon Songs 1
November 21, 2010
It’s Sunday and time to post a new show from Jon Savage, this time starting with the words of Neil Armstrong, as we move into the first in a series of three shows focusing on the moon. As Savage says at the start, “why the moon? because it’s to do with the sub-conscious, because it’s beautiful and because it’s been a pop staple since the late years of the 19th century”. In my humble opinion these shows get better and better. Today we go from early early ambient, to the Grateful Dead, an old R&S record and more. Click on the images at the bottom if you fancy hearing more Savage Music shows.
Tune in weekly to ByteFM for the Savage Music shows.
[Apiento]
New Release: Games ‘That We Can Play’
November 20, 2010
This is our 500th post. Wallop! Anyway, have to say thanks to Emma Warren (check her show on NME Radio if you haven’t already) for turning me on to this one – the new project of Dan ‘Oneohtrix Point Never’ Lopatin and Joel ‘Tiger City’ Ford under the name Games. Dummy Mag called it synth rock but to us this track is the best balearic pop song we have heard in ages (though perhaps accidentally so as I am guessing neither of them has a clue who Alfredo is let alone William Pitt).
Their first 7″, ‘Everything Is Working’, released a month or so ago, is also worth checking if you are feeling this, though its more on a cut-up mellow hip hop synthy tip (yeah I know that sounds terrible but if I throw in enough descriptors perhaps you’ll get the idea).
Anyway, here’s an excerpt from Games’ ‘Strawberry Skies’ – worth buying the EP for alone and you might find some other stuff that you like on it.
Games: Strawberry Skies (Excerpt)
The Games EP ‘That We Can Play’ is out on vinyl this Monday 20th November 2010 on Hippos In Tanks. It’s out on digital already if you just want this track.
[Apiento]
Mix/es: Rahaan And Brennan Green Live At Cutloose, Manchester
November 18, 2010
I’ve never been to Cutloose n Manchester but it sounds like the sort of club I would like. It’s dark, it’s in a basement and they play large variety of underground music with people getting down. Cutloose is a monthly shindig, no mean feet in these hard times, with guest DJs such as Mark Seven, the Idjut Boys, Theo Parrish, Justin Vandervolgen and Moodyman. We spoke to the chaps about reposting some of their mixes from the club for those that haven’t stumbled upon them so here we go – three hours of Rahaan ripping it up and two of a very happy Brennan Green letting go.
Check their website here for a host of other mixes and for more information on forthcoming parties.
[Apiento]
Just Because 015: Ms Grace Jones And Keith Haring
November 17, 2010
Ladies and gentlemen…
Image © Robert Mapplethorpe
Thanks to Nick Dart for digging this one out.
[Apiento]
Party: Bad Passion
November 17, 2010
Always good and Felix is playing…
[Apiento]
Design: The Beatles / Authorship And Collaboration Chart
November 16, 2010
Seems an apt day to post this lovely Beatles chart, what with the whole fab four catalogue appearing on iTunes for the first time, taken from ChartingTheBeatles.com. It’s well put together and highlights the fact that George and Ringo didn’t get a look in. Must have been pretty annoying that they were in their massive mansions and Paul and John were in even bigger ones…
[Apiento]
Radio: Jon Savage – Savage Music 013 / Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve
November 14, 2010
This week’s Savage Sunday show is all about Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve – the trip project of Erol Alkan and Richard Norris. As always it’s a great show. I ran into Richard Norris recently and hopefully he’ll get something together for us soon but until then dig in here.
Tune in weekly to ByteFM for the Savage Music shows.
[Apiento]
Got sent a lovely package of bits from Phil Golf Channel the other day which contained the new Gala Drop E.P. I must admit I don’t know much about these chaps (I think they are from Portugal) but it’s great in a modern electronic trippy disco sort of fashion and sounds more like a band than a studio project. I’ll ask Golf Channel for more information but until then you can click onto Phonica’s website and check the E.P yourself.
While chatting to Golf Channel they asked if we’d back up the Resident Advisor mix as they don’t stay up forever so here it is. It is the same mix so don’t download it if you already have it from the RA site.
Tracklisting
Spike: The Golden Eye
Gala Drop: Overcoat Heat
Ghost Note: Kapwa
Dominik Von Sender: No Name 2009
DJ Nature: Feeling Like a Woman
DJ Nature: It’s Over
DJ Nature: This Side of Heaven
DJ Nature: Everyone
Gala Drop: Izod
Ghost Note: Holy Jungle
Try To Find Me: Get to My Baby (TBD Extension)
Try To Find Me: Make Dance
Sexican: Liza Version In C#5
Justin Vandervolgen: Clapping Song
Ghost Note: Albularyo
Try To Find Me: Hey Love
Justin Vandervolgen: Sheebooyah
M.E.: R+B Drunkie
DJ Nature: Destiny Reprise
Spike: E.S. Rever
Spike: Fooling Around
Spike: Goodnight
[Apiento]
Party: No Ordinary Monkey
November 11, 2010
NYC peoples. Say no more…
[Apiento]
Mix: Joe Hart – Nuit Decadente
November 9, 2010
One of my mates told me Joe Hart wears a latex glove to handle his rare records. I have a feeling this isn’t true but like to believe it is. I think it’s also true that one of the Stones Throw lot keeps his rarest records in a safety deposit box. This is the world we live in. That of collectors and obsessives.
Joe Hart is one of the chaps behind the underground happenings Body Hammer (described somewhere as a ‘jack party’) and World Unknown. We had a great night dancing down at World Unknown to some music we’d never heard before courtesy of Joe (and partner in crime Andy Blake) so asked for a mix and it’s here. The next World Unknown is on November the 19th and comes highly recommended if you want to go and get into some good electronic sounds in a ‘do what you like’ atmosphere.
[Apiento]
Party: Fabric4X
November 8, 2010
This one’s a charity event with a great line-up (and me). It’s happening this Thursday and should be a fun one. Come down and support a good cause if you’re in the area.
[Apiento]
Radio: Jon Savage – Savage Music 012 / A Series Of Snakes
November 7, 2010
Once again it’s Savage Sunday, this time with the focus on snakes. As Savage says in the introduction, “They are very beautiful, they hide most of the time and they don’t attack unless you tread on their tails, which is not a bad rule in life”.
Tune in weekly to ByteFM for the Savage Music shows.
[Apiento]
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