Streatham Island Discs No.12: On-U Version Excursion
May 18, 2010
More On-U, I’m afraid. I seem to be listening to a lot of this stuff at the moment. These two are from early in the On-U story, 1981, when the label was focused on reggae, albeit a twisted version thereof.
First up is Jah Woosh, from the ‘Wild Paarty Sounds vol1’ compilation. ‘The Woodpecker Sound’, one of a long line of Jamaican DJ records devoted to bird calls.
After that it’s the essential dub version: ‘Chemical Specialist’ from Creation Rebel & New Age Steppers. Killer dub effects on this one.
[Tim H]
Review: Various Artists – Elektronische Musik
April 2, 2010
Tim Hayter takes a look at the new Soul Jazz ‘cosmiche’ compilation.
Oddly, there has never been a definitive Krautrock compilation. This isn’t it, but it’s close. There is some phenomenal music contained herein. Many of the usual suspects – Harmonia, Faust, Can and Neu! – make an appearance. What always amazes me about Soul Jazz comps, though, is that alongside the classic there is always a healthy chunk of stuff you’ve never heard of before. As in: ‘Rambo Zambo’ by Kollektiv, a monster kraut freak-out: classic flutes & bongos material.
If I have a criticism it’s that, in going up to the 80s for track selections, it gets into the synth-based material of people like Conrad Schnizler. All good, except that the sequencing of the CDs veers from wailing guitar madness to cold synths and back again with no discernable pattern.
That said, the quality is top-notch throughout. Well worth checking.
Elektronische Musik – Experimental German Rock And Electronic Music 1972 – 83 is released by Soul Jazz on the 5th of April
[Tim Hayter]
Streatham Island Discs No.11: The Necessaries – More Real
December 2, 2009
My fascination with all things Arthur Russell began in the mid 80s, spurred by David Toop’s championing of his work in The Face. Things like ‘Wax The Van’, ‘Schoolbell/Treehouse’ and ‘Let’s Go Swimming’ were current releases, but only gave a partial picture of the breadth of Arthur’s interests. In the background were not only his avant garde cello pieces – ‘World of Echo’ was the only easily available example – but also his short-lived career in a new wave band in 1981/82.
The Necessaries made one-and-a-bit LPs (two releases, but some tracks are common to both). You can hear how they would have fit with that almost-funky guitar sound current a the time – The Feelies, The Bongos, pre-Eno Talking Heads – the kind of thing Vampire Weekend lifted their style from.
This track is a favourite. There’s something both vulnerable and hopeful in Arthur’s lyrics and delivery which I love.
The Necessaries: More Real
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[Tim H]
Radio Show: Coldcut Deconstruct ‘Paid In Full’
November 13, 2009
[Tim Hayter]
I’m never quite sure about David Sylvian. Some of his music is sublime, but he has a tendency to take himself a bit too seriously, and sometimes his music gets a bit too over-thought and safe as a result. His first couple of solo LP’s are terrific though. ‘Taking The Veil’ is from the second. Apiento and I reworked it, stripping out most of the vocals and emphasising the rhythm section. I think it turned out pretty well.
David Sylvian – Veil (TIm H & Apiento Dub Version)
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[Tim Hayter]
Ned’s an interesting character, from a wealthy family, part of the David Geffen set in the early 70s. That’s him on the far right in the photo, next to Geffen and Joni Mitchell and (I think) Mama Cass. He then went on to make the classic Yacht Rock LP ‘Hardy Candy’ in 1976.
In 1979 he released ‘Prone’, and ‘To Prove My Love’ from that LP went on to become a soul weekender classic. It was all over pirate radio in the early 80s.
But for reasons lost in the mists of time, the version everyone knows only has vocals on the choruses – the lead vocal line is missing.This is the version with the full vocal, only released in Japan. Good song, great voice.
Ned Doheny – To Prove My Love
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[Tim Hayter]
Streatham Island Discs No.9: George Cromarty – Flight
August 7, 2009
Head to the Numero Group site for info on this chap. They put this track out on their ‘Guitar Soli’ LP last year, and are threatening to release more of his stuff in the near future. It’s an amazing piece. I need to practice my guitar more…a lot more! Love the harmonics at the beginning.
George Cromarty – Flight
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[Tim Hayter]
This is from the ‘Off The Beaten Track’ LP. Not only does it have a pile-driving groove, but the mix (by Adrian Sherwood) is phenomenal – everything is constantly shifting and shimmering as he drops the various elements in and out. One of many highlights from the On-U catalogue.
African Head Charge: Throw It All Away
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[Tim Hayter]
This is one of the first Brazilian records I ever bought, and its still my favourite, nearly twenty years later. The credits on the back of the sleeve read like half a Brazilian football team – Joaozinho, Wagner, Dadi, Bidu, Gil, and Jorge. The flute arrangements are by the great Artur Verocai. A very special record.
Jorge Ben: Minha Estrella E Do Oriente
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[Tim Hayter]
I know very little about this track. It’s from an early 90s CD called ‘Medicine Compilation from the Quiet Lodge.’ Wherever that is.
Nonetheless, it’s a lovely rolling track, some afrobeat touches and a flavour of New Orleans piano.
Haruomi Hosono: Aiwoiwaiaou
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[Tim Hayter]
1970 found Sly Stone holed up in a Bel Air mansion, the air full of post-Manson dread, and Sly’s brain slowly frying in a cocaine haze. As the recording sessions for ‘There’s A Riot Going On’ stretched out into the distance, Sly found time to release several side-projects through his own vanity label, Stone Flower.
Perhaps the oddest is this one from Joe Hicks. Sly’s new Rhythm King drum machine keeps the beat. There’s a killer bassline oscillating, as you might expect from the title, between the G and A notes. One note organ-stabs and Joe’s unhinged vocals over the top. Minimal as you like.
Second track is a re-edit of Chairmen of the Board’s later cover version. I did some very simple edits, just to tighten it up a bit. Sounds good, I think.
Joe Hicks: Life And Death In G & A
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Chairmen Of The Board: Life And Death In G & A (Tim’s Pause Button Edit)
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[Tim Hayter]
I can’t for the life of me remember why I bought this LP. It must have got a good review in the NME or something. In any case, I got it in ’81 or ’82, have never been quite sure what to make of it, but have returned to it every couple of years to give it another go.
This track is probably the highlight – great, building arrangement, killer bassline and a fantastic double-tracked trombone solo which unfortunately only comes in towards the end.
This version has been extended a bit. I think it works very well.
Pyrolator: Elefantendisco (Edit)
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[Tim Hayter]
Streatham Island Discs No.3 – Brian Eno: Mist/Rhythm
April 28, 2009
Not much to be said about Eno which hasn’t been said elsewhere, better. Have a look at Lester Bangs’ pieces about him here: it’s a good read. I like pretty much everything he did up to about ’85, and very little after that (although the ‘Another Day On Earth’ LP from 2005 was a pleasant surprise).
This track appeared as part of a retrospective box-set which came out in ’83. I think it’s an unfinished outtake – not sure from what, except that Daniel Lanois and Eno’s brother, Roger, are on it, so I’d guess it was recorded ’81 or ’82. It doesn’t do much more than set a mood, but the mood it sets is a good one.
Brian Eno: Mist/Rhythm
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[Tim Hayter]
When ‘Deluge’, Michael Karoli’s 1984 LP with Polly Eltes, got issued on CD it included a stack of previously unheard stuff. This is one of those unheard bits. Jaki Leibezeit’s on drums, playing a typically wonky drum pattern. Michael’s rhythm guitar is nice and summery, and Polly’s vocals have a nursery-rhyme simplicity.
Feelgood krautrock.
Michael Karoli & Polly Eltes: You’re The Driver
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[Tim Hayter]
Streatham Island Discs No.1 – Thomas Dolby: Airwaves
March 24, 2009
Tim Hayter is a friend and record collector of note who may or may not be familiar to some of you. With good ears and a wonderful record collection, he is a trusted source when it comes to quality music across the board. I have asked Tim to get involved in Test Pressing and post the odd song when he feels like it so here we go…
Thomas Dolby is clearly some kind of genius in the studio: you only need to hear production work with Prefab Sprout to realise that. But sometimes the technical genius gets in the way of his songwriting – listen to ‘Hyperactive’ or ‘She Blinded Me With Science’ for evidence. The gimmicks, for me, are distracting.
Not on this track though. It’s a demo of ‘Airwaves’ – cheap drum-machine, treated piano, bass & vocals. No gimmicks. I’ve no idea what it’s about, but I think it’s lovely. From 1980.
Thomas Dolby: Airwaves (Demo)
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[Tim Hayter]
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