Back again for another month's worth of web trawling. As is
the norm, almost 12 months out of date, but whatever. We're trying.
"Ochansensu-Su", by tricot. If Tortoise suddenly,
and inexplicably, morphed into four Japanese (post) rock chicks, this is what
they would sound like. Because Tortoise plus Japanese rock-chick vocals would
be, like, hell yes.
"Far Away From You", by Sachiko Kanenobu. Also
from Japan, this time from 1972, and, more precisely, the "sunshine
pop" corner of the 1972 yard. Which possibly explains how it appeared as a
reissue on Melbourne's own Chapter Records label, although even so it doesn't
make a whole lot of sense to me. Produced by Harry Hosono, because what would one of these playlists be without at least one nod to YMO?
"I Like You", by Katy B. This song gets off to a
slow start, such that you might not give it the time of day if you were a
person of little patience. But stick with it: the chorus is an understated pop
wonder. Well, I think so anyway.
"I Could Be Happy", by Altered Images. On the other
hand, if you are going to hold someone like Katy B up against the might and
majesty of Altered Images, she is going to be found wanting. That's just the
way it is. This is the superior-in-every-way seven-inch version. It cuts to the
chase.
"Running To The Sea", by Royksopp. Latest word on
Royksopp is that they are packing it in. That's too bad: a couple of the songs
on their recent collaboration EP with Robyn are right up there. In the meantime, this is
one of a number of stray songs that they tossed into the atmosphere a while
back. It sits on something of a goth tip, which, I have to say, suits them.
"Melody", by Blonde Redhead. There is a hint of
the gothic, as well, in this mesmerising piece of mysterious pop from the always
reliable Blonde Redhead, from a few years (and albums) ago. They happen to have
a new album out, which was given the Pitchfork seal of harsh disapproval. But
we all know, don't we, that a negative P4k review isn't always an accurate
reflection of how things really are.
"How Long", by Lipps Inc. You probably know Lipps
Inc for "Funky Town", but that is most likely the sum total of your
knowledge. But -- surprise, surprise -- you also know this song. It was written
by Paul Carrack, and was a hit for a band called Ace back in the mid-seventies.
(I had thought, when I was hearing it on the radio back then, that, given the
electric piano and the rich harmony vocals, I was listening to 10CC. Or maybe
Little River Band.) It was covered, if memory serves, by an Australian group
called Scandal, during the Countdown era (this is impossible to Google). Still, it was a surprise to me to learn that
Lipps Inc did a version too, although upon hearing it I immediately recognised it as
the backing track for an early Kompakt klassik, "Timecode", by Justus
Kohncke. (Which, in turn, I learned about through hearing Marit Bergman singingthe Pet Shop Boys' "Rent" over the top of it. Layers. Upon layers. Upon
layers.)
"Projektions (Gabe Gurney Factory Floor Remix)",
by Girls Names. You could sneak this onto a compilation tape of Cabaret
Voltaire songs circa "Just Fascination" and only the most attentive
would ever notice the difference. A welcome nod to an underappreciated era of a
significant band which also serves to underscore the continuing importance of
Factory Floor.
"Break My Love", by Nicolas Jaar. This is probably
included here for the sake of completeness (there can never be enough Nicolas
Jaar music in the world; this track snuck onto a compilation album put out by
his label, but doesn't seem to be otherwise available). But I do love the way
the track opens up after its first minute of hesitant synths. Is it my
imagination or is this faster than most of Jaar's music?
"Black Savates", by DJ Steef. Otherwise known as
"Planet Caravan", by Black Sabbath, given the re-edit treatment and turned
into a lesson in beachside dance music bliss. (Like I would know.) DJ Steef is,
apparently, a "mysterious Frenchman". As if there were any other
kind. Note the distant echoes of the "Dirty Edit" of Sylvester's
"I Dig You".
"Icct Hedral (Philip Glass Orchestration)", by
Aphex Twin. "You are pulling my leg", I said. But you weren't. And it
is. (It's pretty impressive, too. Maybe not the precise mid-point between
"Koyaanisqatsi" and "Selected Ambient Works Volume II", but
it sits somewhere along that line.)
"Song Of Bliss", by The Khalsa String Band. Trends
in music can operate unfairly: some music that is created at a point in time
when that style of music is out of fashion gets lost in the (bum's) rush. It is
plausible that the only reason we don't all have this song on the mix tapes we
have been making for our significant others over the past 40 years is because
it can be easily dismissed as Hippie Music, and the world of 1973 had no place
for such things. (If Marc Bolan had continued with Tyrannosaurus Rex beyond 1970,
we may never have heard of him, either.) Whereas, detached from the world of 1973, this is quite simply a
beautiful song, and there should always be room for one of those.
"You Can Do Magic", by America. We think of them
as one hit wonders. (But what a hit.) If this is an example of what lies beneath
"Horse With No Name", pass me a shovel: it's time to start digging.
"Lay Low Day", by Don Muro. It might be churlish to
note that "More Than A Feeling" was a hit record the year before this
song appeared. But you cannot help but recognise the former at both ends
of "Lay Low Day". On the other hand, maybe that's what makes this
such an appealing song. (And, to be fair, large parts of the rest of the song
are from somewhere else entirely.) Credit, too, to Don Muro for, or so it would
appear, playing all instruments in what sounds like a professional rock-band
performance. Could one person really do all that? And, if so, why have we never
heard of him?
"My Kind Of Woman", by Mac DeMarco. It's not from
the 1970s, but doesn't at all feel out of place after a bunch of songs from
that decade. The melody line is worth a thousand words.
"Clear The Air", by Jacco Gardner. Similarly, this
cat is making the music of 20 years before he was born, and I'm darned if I can
detect the seams. This is possibly the most gorgeous song of 2013. Or 1967.
"Black Roses", by Escondido. If you put Mazzy Star
into a lead-lined box with Calexico and shook the bejeezus out of it, then
inserted a small hole at one end, attaching a filter so that only the purest
goodness could seep out, this is what you would find in the specimen jar. It's
as close to magic as science will allow. (As recommended by known hipster David
Lynch in Mojo some time back. Mojo may be a magazine largely populated
by hacks and yesterday's rock writers, and it may be statute-bound to include The
Rolling Stones, Dylan, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin on the cover at least once
every two years, but it is still worth flicking through. You just never know.)
