I thought I might have been slowly
getting up to date. Seems like it was a mirage.
"Fashion International (a)", by
Graham De Wilde. KPM library goodness to kick things off. You can practically
reach out and touch the instruments. The only thing missing is a Barry White / Isaac Hayes love-talk cameo. Oh well.
"Chica Chica Bongo", by Elli et
Jacno. Staying with that early 80s vibe, we have Elli et Jacno, who (it says
here) split off from French punk band The Stinky Toys to try their hand at pop.
There's definitely nothing stinky here. (Also: record cover of the month. It
has something of a rough-n-ready Serge Clerc vibe about it.)
"Obsession (Dance Mix)", by
Animotion. And then there's this: everything you could possibly want in an
early-80s synth/dance/pop single. Note, especially, the larger-than-life
opening synth line. It even has a doinky-doink bass player and some shredding
electric guitar (but tasteful, obv.). What could possibly go wrong?
"You Don't Know My Name (But I Know
You)", by Kym Amps. The sound of 1981. This song is one of the creepiest I
have ever heard; it leaves "Every Breath You Take" for dead. Possibly literally.
"тогда было все по-другому", by
Eerie Summer. This song, by a Finnish band that may now, according to their FB
page, be a solo artist, may not be as haunting as the Kym Amps track
but they dovetail rather well. Downloadable from here, at least for the time being.
"Birds of Prey", by MiNNETONKA.
And in a yet similar vein, there's also this. Listen: I can hear my heart
melting.
"Rave On You", by A.A.L. (Against
All Logic). Against All Logic may or may not have anything to do with Nicolas Jaar. Either
way, this semi-ambient number (with bonus Space Invader sounds) is a very
pleasant way to spend ten minutes of your valuable time. It seems to have fallen
off the internet, but I have put a copy on the dropbox for the time being (so long as nobody
minds) for those who are interested.
"Another Bird", by Idjut Boys.
Ideally, you would be listening to this on a tropical beach somewhere as the
sun sinks over the horizon, mai tai in hand. Or you could play it on headphones
over your laptop in your windowless office cubicle. Whatever works.
"Mr Mistake (Boards of Canada
Remix)", by Nevermen. Boards of Canada remixes almost invariably break down as 90 percent Boards of Canada versus 10 percent original artist. This
perhaps skews the ratio slightly in the wrong direction but you still couldn't
fail to guess who was behind what's going on in the background. Stick around:
it really gets going two minutes in.
"Four (Darkstar Remix)", by
Olafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm. Darkstar have been an intriguing proposition
ever since "Aidy's Girl Is A Computer". Here, they sink their diffuse tentacles
into a fragment of a track by two of the bigger names in modern
composition/production. All they ask is that you enjoy it. I'm sure you can
manage that.
"Oriental Suite", by Anchorsong.
Your response might be that this sounds a bit too much like
"Rounds"-era Four Tet. I can't argue with that, but I'm also not
going to say that it can't stand on its own two limberly (note: may not be an
actual word) constructed feet.
Bonus beats: here he is, doin' it live, for
a certain bovine energy drink company. This is the real deal. That a plastic
box and a few knobs and wires can produce music with real heart and soul is a
thing that never ceases to astound me.
"Sgoraet", by Kedr Livanskiy. Is
Russian. Is good.
"There's A Star In You", by Don
Gere. About which very little is known. (It shouldn't surprise anybody that
Andy Votel's name is associated with its (re)discovery.) Don Gere also did a
soundtrack for a movie called "Werewolves on Wheels". I wish I'd
thought of that. As for this song: turn it the heck up and grow you hair long.
"August Twelve", by Khruangbin. If
you were listening to this blind, I think you would struggle to know from when
and where it derives. I know the answer, and I still couldn't actually tell
you. Hint: Texas and Thailand are both in the mix.
Bonus beats: perhaps it will become clearer if you watch them playing it live:
"Competition Start", by Conrad
Plaickner & His Orchestra. From an album called "Atlantic
Crossing". Not that one.
