2010 Favourites - Part 1

Back to the middle and around again.
Ten favourites from twenty-ten.

'2010 Favs - Pt.1' mixed by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACK LIST:
Real Estate - 'Out Of Tune' (True Panther)
Surf City - 'See How The Sun' (Fire Records)
Super Wild Horses - '15' (Aarght! Records)
Aloe Blacc - 'Femme Fatale' (Stones Throw Records)
Mystery Claws - 'Phony Checks' (Jodie & Victor)
Mim Suleiman - 'Nyuli (vocal)' (Running Back)
Space Dimension Controller - 'Journey To The Core...' (Royak Oak)
Night Plane - 'Str8 To Ur Heart' (CCC)
Falty DL - 'All In The Place' (Rush Hour Recordings)
Lone - 'Angel Brain' (Magic Wire)

Take It Personal (Covers) 2

EXHIBIT B:


A 1988 UK indie anthem by likely Liverpool band The LA's. Future Dad-rock royalty and experts of the dead-pan Northern English interview.

AS RUINED BY:
Sixpence None The Richer.

A match made in heaven, just as long as your idea of heaven is a 90's romantic comedy crossed with a sanitary pad advert. Thanks very much SNTR. No wonder people say romance is dead...

Get Down On Bleeding Knees

Queensland's Bleeding Knees Club lost their Virginity when they released a five-track EP of that name a little while back. Not sure how they slipped by for that amount of time because they are now a firm listening favourite - and carpet-burned knees has become a way of life. The two brothers play lo-fi garage punk in the vein of Harlem and Male Bonding, citing the surf punk scene as a primary influence. There's not much more that can be said except to make sure your year doesn't end without experiencing some Knee action. Now signed with the I Oh You mob, you can download some tracks for free or purchase the entire Virginity EP from your local iTunes or some such shop of music sales.

Bleeding Knees Club - 'I'

Argh! Pop Tekkers In Helsinki

Newly signed to UK's Heavenly label (home to Saint Etienne, The Soft Pack and Edwyn Collins) is Helsinki duo Le Corps Mince De Francois. These Finnish sisters create a baggy pop funk that the label quite rightly compare to Shaun Ryder but their current single 'Gandhi' also recalls the '80s beat-driven pop of King Trigger, Kissing The Pink and Altered Images. There are also obvious nods to the late '90s electropunk scene from which they have arisen. There's an album promised next year and, for now, there are dub'd up reloves by Andrew Weatherall available for you to purchase from your nearest online record store.

Le Corps Mince de Francoise - Gandhi by cooperativemusic_germany

Death Of A Disco Dancer - Sleazy RIP

Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson, founding member of pioneering UK industrial outfit Throbbing Gristle (pictured above, Christopherson on the right) died on Wednesday 24 November, aged 55. Gristle members Chris & Cosey announced the news on their website. After TG broke up in 1981, Christopherson formed another wildly influential band, the psych experimental electropunk band Psychic TV as well as creating more industrial music as Coil. Christopherson later embarked on a career as a music video director, making clips for Marc Almond, Front 242, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine and Jah Wobble as well as making the Hearts Of Darkness-style-crazed-on-location-in-Sth-America 'Infected' clip for The The. He also made clips for Australian artists Silverchair ('Pure Massacre') and Abba tribute band Bjorn Again ('A Liitle Respect') - TG members were always vocal fans of Abba. As a photographer/designer (working as a part of art collective Hipgnosis), Christopherson designed the covers for the first three Peter Gabriel self-titled albums (known as Car, Scratch and Melt) as well as also being credited for involvement in the artwork of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here and Animals - he also created the lesser known, but possibly his best, artwork for Dave Ball's In Strict Tempo. In recent years, Christopherson took part in a TG reformation as well as starting Soisong and recording as The Threshold HouseBoy's Choir.

Throbbing Gristle - 'Hot On The Heels Of Love' (1979)

Coil - 'Windowpane' (1991, clip directed by Christopherson)

Psychic TV - 'Godstar' (1988)

Front 242 - 'Rhythm Of Time' (a clip Christopherson made for the Belgian nu beaters in 1992)

Windy City Mix Show - 02

Mixed (a)live!

Going by the weather here, this could have been the Rainy City Mix Show.

'Windy City Mix Show - 02' by Adam Askew (direct download)

TRACK LIST:
Victor Romeo & The Move - 'I Want Your Love (dub)' (Dance Mania)
Kevin Irving - 'Children Of The Night' (Trax Records)
Fingers Inc. - 'It's Over (dub)' (Underground)
ABC - 'The Real Thing (Frankie Knuckles mix)' (Phonogram)
Ten City - 'I Should Learn To Love You (inst)' (Atlantic promo)
Irving & Romeo - 'Brighter Day (club mix)' (Dance Mania)

Take It Personal (Covers)

Cover versions make the world go round. They're familiar, sometimes they're tongue-in-cheek - hey, you can't keep a good song down. Now, I'm as ever-loving and open minded as the next person, but sometimes... sometimes you have to take some cover versions PERSONALLY. Not because the original song is sacred or precious, but because the cover version messes with the original in such a way that it rips apart your musical memory and forever haunts you. Like fingernails down the musical blackboard of your mind.

EXHIBIT A:


A later period Smokey Robinson solo song (lifted off his 1979 LP 'Where There's Smoke...'), but hey it's not like Smokey ever really lost his voice.

AS RUINED BY:
Gwyneth Paltrow AND Huey Lewis.

There's not much more to say. Except that their version was a massive hit and has now moved into the elevator/supermarket music hall-of-fame, just like Smokey's cover of Norah Jones' 'Don't Know Why'.

Why Smokey, why? Boo hoo.

The Amazing World Of Record Inserts

By the late 90s Coldcut were releasing albums (see 1997's 'Let Us Play!') with interactive CD-ROMs full of music videos, custom music software and games. Rewind to the late 80s though... and it was all about badges, caps and laminates. Check the insert from the 1987 2x12" compilation 'Out To Lunch With...', released on Coldcut's first record label Ahead Of Our Time.

Death Of A Disco Dancer – Ari Up R.I.P.

It has been announced via John Lydon's website that Ari Up, founder of UK punk dub outfit The Slits has died after a serious illness. She was a true innovator and was making exciting. original and challenging music right up to the end.

Countdown To Leo Zero

UK DJ/blogger/tune-editor Leo Zero has been quietly posting edits and remixes online for some time now. He seems willing to tackle any genre or any artist - from Freddie Mercury and Bryan Ferry to Massive Attack and Nas (even Empire Of The Sun). As a promoter he's drawn in the likes of Andrew Weatherall, Bow Wow Wow's David Barborosi and Rusty Egan to play his parties - honouring his wonky dance roots while placing them in a modern context, not just going for a retro bandwagon jump. Zero's own past has involved Chicane (who also spun off A Mountain Of One) and being championed by Idjut Boys and Harvey. In 2004 he caused a buzz with his rework of Lou Reed's 'Satellite Of Love' and last year remixed Zarrylade ('Eyes Above Your Head' was one of last year's slow growers). Now he is dazzling with a northern soul inspired remix of 'No Tears To Cry', lifted from one of the albums of the year, Wake Up The Nation by the man with the best hair in music Paul Weller. He's also putting his artful touch to newer indie music like 'Skin Orders' by LA rockers Historics. He's creating post-Balearic bagginess.

Historics 'Skin Orders' ( Leo Zero Remix) by Leo Zero

Paul Weller - 'No Tears To Cry (Leo Zero Remix)'

R.I.P. Aaron Carl

How Do You Spell 'Autre Ne Veut'?

With more than just a passing nod to the likes of The Associates' Billy MacKenzie, the pop troubadour is king again. Vocal histrionics and pop electronics are bedfellows once more. It could be heard as far back as Antony Hegarty's collaboration with Hercules & Love Affair in 2008 and it's there on Parenthetical Girls' 'Young Throats' from their new Privilege EP. But quite possibly the most likely contender to be passed the late MacKenzie's mantle is Autre Ne Veut. The NY lad's self-titled album (on Olde English Spelling Bee) is non-ironic falsetto, lo-fi R&B electro arrangements and post-Balearica. The album, released last week, was preceded by clips for a few album cuts ('OMG', Soldier') that go some way to indicating what lies ahead but the ten tracks of the self-titled Autre NV album need to be heard in context of each other - just as listening to the entirety of The Associates' Sulk made the seemingly 'novelty' value of MacKenzie's vocals, on the band's singles, make perfect sense.

Autre Ne Veut - 'Wake Up'

Autre Ne Veut - 'Soldier'

Windy City Mix Show - 01

Blow the house down.
All original vinyl, all the way.

'Windy City Mix Show - 01' by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACK LIST:
MESH - 'Meet Every Situation Head On (rmx)' (Wax Trax)
Mark Imperial - 'J'Adore Danser (club mix)' (DJ International)
Turntable Terror - 'Stephen's Overture' (Bassment Records)
Risque Rhythm Team - 'More Than Just A Dance (JM mix)' (Chicago Connection)
Mix'n'Tell/Pierre - 'Feel The Beat' (WCMS edit)
PFantasy Club - 'Never Give Up (Acid mix)' (Dance Mania)
Nasty Jack - 'In The Mix! (A Nasty Mix)' (Housetime Records)
Victor Romeo - You Can't Fight My Love (Elementary/Radio mix)' (Bright Star)

The Amazing World Of Record Inserts

Not strictly an insert, but scans from an early 70's Motown inner LP sleeve (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 'One Dozen Roses'!).

"Impress someone! Use Official Motown fan stationery and memo pad, similar to those used by Motown executives and stars."

Harlem, Texas

Harlem hail from Austin. The trio released Hippies, their second album of garage power pop, in April through Matador. The album is a solid set of short, punchy cuts that only proves its worth over time... well, over the past six months anyway. Five months ago Harlem went online with the first of a handful of clips made for tracks from Hippies. Lifting 'Gay Human Bones' was a good choice as its Standells-ish qualities sets Harlem apart from the hip(pie)ster scene and plumps them squarely with fellow music-before-mushrooms types The Soft Pack and Jeff The Brotherhood. It was also a good choice to feature queer Cali rawker Hunx (of Hunx & His Punx and Gravy Train!!!!) in a song called 'Gay Human Bones'. Another clip followed for 'Friendly Ghost', a no-nonsense roller in the early-Elvis (Costello) vein (actually, two clips appeared for the song...). Most recently 'Someday Soon' has been clip'd (this time by Focus Creeps who made Girls' attention-getting 'Lust For Life' clip), highlighting another aspect of the band's sound - Harlem's lo-fi take on the girl group sound of the '50s and '60s.

Harlem - 'Someday Soon'

Harlem - 'Gay Human Bones'

The Amazing World Of Record Inserts

Mo Wax mailing list postcard circa late 90s.

I reckon the "OTHER" (where do you purchase your Mo Wax records?) box would get a bit of a work-out now.

Dominant Legs Move Limbs

Simple really, two kids from San Fran make sweet music together. Originally it was just Ryan William Lynch with Dominant Legs but somewhere along the way Hannah Hunt got connected. Not-so-simple is how they acquired a sound that is so steeped in Scotland's Postcard past. Fresh indie nostalgia? Old nu gaze? Lo-fi pastoral pop? Dream folk? Let's not start on all the Arthur Russell comparisons (move along now). And, let's not start on how they were born with names more suited to British children's book authors of the '40s. But look closer, Lynch's day job is as a member of last-big-thing Girls and has this sideline signed to Lefse Records (Neon Indian, Houses). Now the Legs are to deliver their first EP, Young At Love And Life (order here). The four-tracker sounds like a skim through the various stages of Aztec Camera, from the conscious indie 'Clawing Out At The Walls' (Aztecs circa 'Oblivious') to the lush alt.soul of 'About My Girls' (Aztecs circa Love). Check these Legs out: the 'Just Silly Ones' clip from a year ago and the 'About My Girls' cut from Young Love.

Dominant Legs - 'Just Silly Ones'

Dominant Legs - 'About My Girls'

Adam Askew - Death Mix

It's 2010, let's get a move on.

"Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn..."

30+mins of Autobahn house.
Mixed LIVE with love.

'Death Mix' by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACK LIST:
The LESP - 'And We Still Do Not Get It' (Sacred Rhythm)
Subway - 'DBO' (Deadly People)
Allez-Allez - 'Hideous Racket' (Rvng Int'l)
Pepe Bradock - 'Intriguing Feathered Creature (AK-Pella)' (Atavisme)
Dan Curtin - 'Pregenesis' (Elypsia)
Larry Heard - 'Direct Drive (long mix)' (Track Mode)
Manuel Tur - 'Golden Complexion (live dub)' (Freerange)
Space Dimension Controller - 'Cosmo30 Travel Duration' (Royal Oak)
Schizophrenia - 'Schizophrenia' (NovaMute)
Urban Tribe - 'Program 5' (Mahogani Music)

The Amazing World Of Record Inserts

I thought this was a little bit cruel at the time...

'Soul Skate' flyer found in some 2008 Mahogani Music releases. Sadly, none of the releases had a plane ticket to Detroit tucked inside. 5hrs of skating, free food, $1000 in prize money and KDJ DJing is pretty tempting though.

Ça Plane Pour Telex

So Plastic Bertrand has admitted that he didn't sing the vocals on the original recording of his 1977 hit 'Ca Plane Pour Moi'. However, we'll always have Telex's sinister synth version from 1979. Like Bertrand, Telex hailed from Belgium. Unlike Bertrand, the band supplied their own vocals on their recording. Telex's cover can be found on the Looking For Saint Tropez album alongside their hits 'Twist A Saint Tropez', 'Moskow Diskow' and, another cover, 'Rock Around The Clock'.

Telex - 'Ca Plane Pour Moi' (1979)

Grant & Robert in Canada

Grant McLennan and Robert Forster being interviewed on Canadian TV program 'MuchMusic' back in 1987. Proving sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind.

The Amazing World Of Record Inserts

... AKA those extra bits of paper that come inside record sleeves. Kind of like subscription cards that fall out of magazines, but usually alot more interesting. Mail order sheets, tour flyers, fan club info, love letters from record companies that don't exist anymore. They're a glimpse into a parallel world just beyond the piece of vinyl you hold in your hot little hands.

This is both sides of a New Alliance Records 7" insert, circa 1986-ish.

San Pedro, California sounds exotic.
Bummer... the Husker Du 'In A Free Land' 7" is out of stock.

Den Haan's Cock Is Hot

Don't be fooled into thinking Den Haan is some Norwegian cosmic house DJ who is slumming it with the pop plebs when he remixes Little Boots. Nah uh. Haan is actually the Glasgow-based team of Matthew Aldworth (aka Creme De Menthe of 'Plastique' notoriety) and Andrew Gardiner, two lads who happened to fall in with the Optimo crew while comparing Italo 12"s. Single #1, 'Night Shift/Theme From Den Haan' appeared in '07 on the short-lived Balearic label Dissident (also responsible for releases by The Off-Key Hat and Optimo's Naum Gabo project). Last year they had releases on their own The Courier Of Death label and Optimo Music. [The Courier label name being a nod to the soundtrack of a film they champion - another long, but worthy if true, story altogether.] On the remix front they have been selective and have nailed it each time, discofying The Phenomenal Handclap Band's '15 To 20' and, most recently, Hot Chip's 'I Feel Better'. Now they have unleashed their masterpiece 'Burning Cock Theme', the dark disco track that leads off the De Brandende Haan EP on Supersoul Recordings (the German camp out for blackstrobe). But before you get 'Burning Cock' (you can buy it from Juno) make sure you perve on their past money shots.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - '15 To 20 (Den Haan Remix)' (Tummy Touch, 2009)

Den Haan - 'Release The Beast' (Optimo Music, 2009)

Music credited to Daniel Fiebiger - Opening scene from Courier Of Death (Soundtrack on The Courier Of Death, 2009)

Erasers - Death Mix

In the spirit of interstate love, we present an exclusive Death Mix by Rupert from Perth group Erasers.

30+ minutes of post punk, hello fi, ghost sounds, left field pop, surfilosophy and new age truth.

'Death Mix' by Erasers (direct link)


TRACK LIST (with notes from Rupert Erasers):

The Ghost Of 29 Megacycles - 'Dusted' (Sound & Fury)
This track is off The Ghost Of 29 Megacycles debut album 'Love Via Paper Planes'. Greg self released a bunch of CD-R EP's, but this record was released through Sound & Fury. This particular track was chosen because it is the shortest track on the album, the rest of the album is made up of 10-15 minute tracks. It's an album that is best listened to in isolation.
Craig McElhinney - 'Surfer Realisation' (Meupe)
For me is the stand out track off Craig's 'Loser Orientation' CD-R, released through Meupe. This release is the follow up to Craig's full length album 'You And Me Are Young And Brutal' also released through Meupe. Craig's fairly prolific, playing in heaps of improv based projects around town including WigWam and Splendid Friends. He constantly has new recordings and new projects and his live set seems to evolve every time I see him, his live show is a truly immersive experience.
Cease - 'Three' (Badminton Bandit)
The first time i saw Cease they were playing as a two piece, with long live sets of doomy guitars and sluggish drumming. On this record they have expanded to a three piece. Again this track is the shortest track off the release with the other tracks being around the 10-15 minute mark. Everything just works so well together throughout this release, the beats are awesome and the addition of bass to the band seems to give the tracks more structure and momentum. Released through Perth label Badminton Bandit also responsible for releasing the amazing Mental Powers album. Strongly suggest you buy both, well worth it.
The Wednesday Society - 'Pedant' (independent)
In my opinion these guys are probably one of the most under-appreciated bands in Perth. These were one of the first local bands I used to go see when i was still underage, along with Melange, Hoopers Store and Eleventh He Reaches London. They used to play heaps around town, but now they only play once every few months, if at all. This is a track off their debut and it was well worth the five or so years wait.
Explode Into Colors - 'Sharpen The Knife' (independent)
Nice three piece all girl band from Portland, Oregon. This track is on a tape i got off them titled 'The Sean Rocky Zach & Dekum Tape', which has since sold out. This is a really great song with amazing drumming and a great melodica led melody. They have also released a series of three 7"s through three different labels, Kill Rock Stars, M'Lady and Just For The Hell Of It Records.
Gold Tango - 'Just An Experiment' (Exo)
This track is off the debut EP by this Melbourne trio. Out through the great Melbourne label Exo Records, also home to Melbourne's Bachelor Of Arts and many more. This excellent three track EP and is something we have been listening to heaps. Can't wait to hear more.
Tickley Feather - 'Natural Natural' (Paw Tracks)
Out of somewhere in the U.S., this is a track off Tickley Feather's album out through Animal Collective's label Paw Tracks. The album is basically a collection or home recordings from the past few years, recorded to a 4 track. Rebecca enjoys a lot of this "left-field pop" kind of stuff.
Wind Waker - 'Jerka' (Heartless Robot Productions)
Three piece from Perth. This is a song off their debut EP, recorded by the band's bass player. A really great release out through local label Heartless Robot Productions, who have also put out the Predrag Delibasich 7" and helped fund the amazing 'Three Hams In A Can' documentary. This shows their more post-punky/ surf rock side, their newest songs are heading into a more proggy sound.
Downtown - 'Dumped' (independent)
After trying to get this CD-R for a long time from the band, I finally managed to get hold of a copy while in Melbourne a couple of years back. They are three girls from three different states and for that reason don't play live much. The CD was left for me behind the counter in a bagel shop in Fitzroy (presumably where one of them works). I was given no artwork or track listing, just a white disc with "DOWNTOWN" and a love heart written on in thick artline pen. Nisa from the band also plays in the awesome Fabulous Diamonds, another plays in Wasted Truth and I think another plays in a band called Good God who do a similar sort of thing, although i can't be sure.
New Order - 'Truth' (Factory)
This is from New Order's first album 'Movement', it's the only album I like by them, but seems to be the album that got the worst press. People were saying it just sounded like a worse version of Joy Division, but I don't agree with this. This is a great album and if you have listened to New Order and thought they were average, listen to this album.
Predrag Delibasich - 'The Serpent Bites The Young Lion' (Heartless Robot Productions)
This is the A side of the debut 7" single out through Heartless Robot Productions. Apparently this release was recorded with a cheap computer mic and a free music program. Predrag, or Pex as he is known around town has been involved with a whole bunch of different projects in Perth over the last few years, most of which leans towards the Punk side of things, this is completely the opposite of that, with processed drums and Eastern European folk influenced guitars. This project has evolved over time and is now a full band project smRts with two drummers and three guitarists. This record was limited to 200 copies and is now pretty much sold out.

Erasers have a brand new 7" called 'Autumn' out now on Metal Postcard. Head over to their MySpace for east coast launch/tour dates (don't snooze, they're playing in Melbourne tonight).

And... keep your eyes peeled for a new tape release on US label Solid Melts later in the month.

It's As Easy As ABO

UK band Archie Bronson Outfit were already one of the most intriguing rock bands around before they hooked up with DFA label founder Tim Goldsworthy to record their latest album. And, their Aus tour a few years back proved they were one of the most intense live rock bands in the world. Their third album Coconut slipped out quietly in March and quite simply is a stunning effort. What's more stunning is that more people aren't shooting their wads over it. Hopefully new single 'Hoola' will change that - on Coconut it sounded like an extra-raunchy pop punk number, remixed by House Of David and it sounds like The Fall with Mark E Smith on a wild bender. Explore.

Archie Bronson Outfit - 'Hoola (House Of David Remix)'

Archie Bronson Outfit - 'Hoola (Album Version)':

Dreams Don't Last Forever

When i'm not doing one armed push-ups, waxing my car and chewing tobacco I sometimes like to listen to music like this. In a busy world it's nice to take some time out to think about my feelings and work on pretend song lyrics. Sadly, dreams don't last forever, and it's not long before I'm back to the pursuit of happiness, mixed martial arts and hot chicks.

Requests - Pt.4

Adam Askew - No Wave Hookers 3 - pt.2

Side B of the mixtape follow up to No Wave Hookers 1 & 2. The A side was more for the floor space, this side's for the head space (or vice versa depending on your taste).

Aired once on our Kiss FM radio show back on October 18th 2005.

'No Wave Hookers 3 (side b)' by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACK LIST (side b):
Liquid Liquid - 'Scraper Out' (99 Records)
Alphonse Mouzon - 'Space Invaders' (MPS)
Out Hud - 'JGNDG' (Gold Standard Labs)
Jackson And His Computer Band - 'Rock On' (Warp)
Bauhaus - 'Earwax' (Beggars Banquet)
Bill Laswell - 'Hindsight' (Elektra)
The Clash - 'The Cool Out' (Epic)

Tonight's The Nite Jewel

LA-grounded outfit Nite Jewel is mainly a musical project of Romana Gonzalez with sometime assistance from husband Cole MGN (of Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti), Emily Jane (of The Bubonic Plague) and Corey Lee (aka Corey Lee Granet of The Warlocks). They sound nothing like you'd expect that combo of hipster types to resemble at all. Nite Jewel create a cosmic pop/lo-fi disco hybrid that is sweet. Yep, sweet. First catching attention with the My CD/Your CD release(s) in 2008 which featured the waiting-for-a-Baleric-revival, wonky disco 'Suburbia' - resurfacing as a 7" last year. The Nite Jewel brand has also appeared on two of this year's best remixes: 'Odessa' by Caribou and 'Die Slow' by Health. Now Nite Jewel are offering a free download of 'Tonight', a cover of a track by cult San Fran club enigma Prophet from 1984. Thank them first for such a great song (and gesture) and then, if you've previously been ignorant of Prophet, thank them for making you aware.

Nite Jewel - 'Tonight'

Prophet - 'Right On Time'

Nite Jewel - 'Suburbia'

Exile Off Mainstream

There's so much hoo-hah surrounding the reissue of The Rolling Stones' 1972 album Exile On Main Street, it seems like as good time as any to select five favourite Stones' covers that have intrigued over the years. This is not an all-time top five (which would include 'Satisfaction' by Otis Redding, 'As Tears Go By' by Marianne Faithfull and the is-it-a-cover-or-did-they-cover-it 'Wild Horses' by Gram Parsons) nor is it the five craziest covers (coz that would include Jimmy & The Boys' 'Get Off My Cloud'). It's just five randomly selected covers that came to mind and have brought some dance-around-the-lounge-joy at some time or other.

Laibach - 'Sympathy For The Devil'

1988 Slovenian industrial cover of the 1968 track lifted from Beggar's Banquet and it's recording session was central to Jean Luc Godard's French student revolution film of the same name.

Mo-Dettes - 'Paint It Black'

1980 British female punk outfit's reworking of the 1966 Aftermath song.

The Soup Dragons - 'I'm Free'

Scottish indie rock band who, after the summer of house, went baggy on the 1965, fittingly from Out Of Our Heads.

Rotary Connection - 'Ruby Tuesday'

In 1968, this psychedelic soul band from Chicago (featuring Minnie Ripperton) got crazed on their cover of the song released a year earlier.

Devo - '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'

The iconic US new wavers bent this 1965 hit out of shape in 1977.

Laibach - 'Sympathy For The Devil':

Mo-Dettes - 'Paint It Black':

The Soup Dragons - 'Im Free':

Rotary Connection - 'Ruby Tuesday':

Devo - '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction':

Adam Askew - No Wave Hookers 3 - pt.1

The mixtape follow-up to No Wave Hookers parts 1 & 2.

Aired once on our Kiss FM radio show back on September 6th 2005.
Limited edition of three hard copies.

'No Wave Hookers 3 (side a)' by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACK LIST (side a):
Frontline Assembly - 'Vexation (remix)' (Concrete Productions)
Steven Murphy - 'Dit Is Belgisch' (Sabam)
Micro Chip League - 'Communicate (#1 Atomik Part)' (Oak Lawn)
DAF - 'Brothers (Gabi's mix)' (Illuminated Productions)
Skinny Puppy - 'Burnt With Water' (Capitol)
Liaisons Dangereuses - 'Kess Kill Fe Show' (Hit Thing)
Test Department - 'The Faces Of Freedom 2' (Some Bizarre)
Cabaret Voltaire - 'Yashar (John Robie reproduction 1)' (Factory)
Fad Gadget - 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' (Mute)
Thug - 'Dad' (Blackeye)

Requests - Pt.3

Super Wild Horses - Death Mix

We're super excited to present an all-new Death Mix by Hayley from ace Melbourne duo Super Wild Horses.

Odes to carpark burn-outs, zine love, psychedelic drum beat borrowing, mental walls of sound, death cream, sunburn, Cambodian rock music AND The B-52's. What more could you want?

'Death Mix' by Hayley SuperWildHorses (direct link)


TRACKLIST (with notes from Hayley):

Sonny & The Sunsets - 'Death Cream' (Soft Abuse)
7" comes with a neato zine. Great little ditty from one of my favourites.
Medication - 'Didn't Wanna Know' (HoZac Records)
Listened to this sad old number on repeat when i first heard it. Great album released by Hozac in the states. Hozac are gonna put out our album this year too ... so excited.
Pearl Harbor - 'Sunburn' (Mexican Summer)
Unsigned LA band. Two EPS out. Love the guitar line in this.
The Moles - 'Europe by Car' (Seaside)
We recently played a show with Woollen Kits and The Twerps who are two of our fave local bands. Each band made each other a mix tape for the night. Rick from The Twerps put this song on his mix and I think it rules. Makes me wanna do burn outs in a beach car park.
The Moffs - 'Another Day in the Sun' (Citadel Records)
Iconic song from this old Aussie band. I think I accidentally ripped off their drum beat in one of our new songs. Woops.
Best Coast - 'Something In The Way' (Post Present Medium)
Another great US band out on No Age's record label. Still a fan of tinny, overblown vocals and big booming drums. This was the kind of sound we wanted for our first EP. Mikey Young who recorded our EP did a darn good job of replicating the noise in our heads.
Meas Samon - Unknown (Sublime Frequencies)
Sublime Frequencies is one of my favourite record labels. They gather cassettes from around Asia and reissue them on comps. This song is real quirky and makes me grin. Off their Cambodian Cassette Archives compilation.
The B-52's - 'Dance This Mess Around' (Warner Bros.)
Best song ever? Could be. Slightly obsessed with this right now .


Super Wild Horses' debut album is due out June/July on Aarght! Records (Australia), and HoZac Records (USA). They're also doing a 7" for round 2 of the HoZac Hookup Klub series.

Their debut EP is out-of-print, but you can still grab the digital version over at iTunes. Keep your eyes on the Super Wild Space for upcoming gigs.

Requests - Pt.2

The Ears In Space

Last August in the midst of the Dogs In Space mania that swept through Melbourne due to the iconic film's release on DVD with companion doco We're Living On Dog Food, '80s art punk ensemble The Ears reformed. The band took to the stage at the Corner (in Richmond, of course, coz that's where the film was set) to commemorate their influence on the new wave, share household film - Dogs In Space was their story, the band at the centre of the film was based on The Ears - Michael Hutchence was portraying their singer Sam Sejavka. The gig was gob-smacking, one of last year's best. The Ears were ferocious and the songs were sounding fresh as they ever did - hey, these were the guys who put the anger in angular (if you shove hard enough, it will fit). Another gig has been announced as The Ears are set to headline a reunion of-sorts for those who used to frequent this city's most important band venue of the '80s, St Kilda's Seaview Ballroom - footage from the venue's heyday almost stole the show in ...Dog Food. With the Ballroom no longer host to gigs of this nature, the Sunday 9 May gig will be at Ding Dong and also on the bill will be legendary mod revivalists Little Murders (and while you're at it, track down the lil '71 comedy they took their name from). Also playing are The Pang (ex members of Blue Ruin, International Exiles and genius Wild Dog Rodeo) and you can expect to see/hear some faces from the Seaview days spinning 7" vinyl on the decks between bands.

Dogs In Space - The Ears (live at the Corner, August 2009 - filmed by Diabolik68):

Pair-Shaped - 40 Thieves & Hot Chocolate

San Fran DJ qzen (above) supplies vocals for noddy disco outfit 40 Thieves' cover of Hot Chocolate's 'Don't Turn It Off', which first appeared back in 2008 on Permanent Vacation. The track resurfaced on Chinatown Records last year, remixed by label owner Brennan Green (as heard here on December's Balearic Death Mix), and has sprung to life again thanks to a re-edit included on Greg Wilson's Credit To The Edit Vol 2 (Tirk).

While many have written off UK soul band Hot Chocolate as cod disco, 'Don't Turn It Off' was the band at its super slinky best and appeared on the b-side of their 1979 flop single 'Mindless Boogie'. Commercially it it appeared during a slump period for the band who had enjoyed a string of global hits from '73 to '78 ('Brother Louie', 'Emma', 'So You Win Again', 'I'll Put You Together Again'). Hot Chocolate's mainstream comeback, that made them household names, didn't happen until '82 with 'Girl Crazy', damning them to the casino circuit for eternity. Yeah, they could be schmaltzy ('It Started With A Kiss') and sound like they were cranking out jingles ('Every1's A Winner') but it's hard to deny they could sex it up with the best of them when they set their crotches to it ('Heaven's In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac').

NY team Rub'N'Tug recognised the sultry nature of 'Don't Turn It Off' and included it on their seminal '05 mix set Campfire. An early morning seduction anthem was born. And the song fit 40 Thieves like a condom. Comprising qzen (ex-The Invisibles), Corey Black (Imperial Dub label manager), Jay Williams (Jaswho?) and Layne Fox (engineer on Woolfy's The Warehouse), 40 Thieves followed up their 'Life Is Special' 12" (Rong) with 'Don't Turn It Off' and there's just no getting tired of what could well be a modern disco classic. And the track was the perfect lead-in to last year's 'Beats In Space' 12" (Rong) of edits that shows they can do flamboyant disco too on 'Love To Shake It Baby'.

'Don't Turn It Off (Greg Wilson Edit)' - 40 Thieves feat qzen:

'Heaven Is In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac' - Hot Chocolate:

Buy: Credit To The Edit 2 - Various/Greg Wilson; 'Don't Turn It Off' - 40 Thieves.

Requests - Pt.1

Pair Shaped - Roky And Kenny

Roky Erickson's new album 'True Love Cast Out All Evil' was released this week. It features Okkervil River on backing, and sounds great!



Butthole Surfers covering a track by Roky's legendary band 13th Floor Elevators. Lifted from a 1990 tribute compilation called 'Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye'.




Newish track from Kenny Bobien via France. As Melbourne DJ Ms Krystal would say, there's nothing like a bit of 'Jesus House'.



Classic Shelter sounds from 1997.

I Still Play Vinyl Because...

A few years back lots of people were talking about the death of vinyl, except now it's 2010 and black data discs are still not dead. In fact, it looks like vinyl might be making a comeback. Could it be true? People always bang on about how good vinyl sounds (and looks), but what's the real reason DJs still play records?


"I still play vinyl, because... "

- my Mum wont let me use her credit card on Beatport.

- it's a good opportunity to borrow the house needles and swap my old styli over.

- I can't get enough of trolly bags with telescopic handles.

- turntables make me feel nostalgic, plus they're a handy place for me to rest my drinks.

- when I'm famous, a framed gold USB stick wont look as good hanging in my toilet.

- I love the sound of oxidized SL1200 headshell inputs.

- the new CDJ 2000 still doesn't have a 'dust bunny' mode.

- I have half a crate of upfront white labels for sale.

- I don't read enough books to fill up the shelves of my Ikea Expedit.

Death Of A Disco Dancer – Malcolm McLaren R.I.P.

Malcolm McLaren died 8 April at age 64. The Guardian's obituary put it best, describing him as "a musical provocateur". The infamous Brit encouraged and made music that didn't just provoke a response, it demanded a response. Although best know for his punk shenanigans (the street fashion store he had with Vivienne Westwood, taking on the monarchy with Sex Pistols, briefly managing New York Dolls), McLaren always had an interest in dance music. The first sign was 'Black Arabs', the ironic disco medley of Sex Pistols songs on The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle soundtrack - it was 'Pistols On 45'. Always an early adapter, at the start of the '80s he stole Adam Ant's band to bring the Burundi drum rhythm to the new wave sound of Bow Wow Wow, a pirate-meets-cassette explosion of post-punk club music. Then in '83 came McLaren's first real solo musical project Duck Rock, a mesh of African music and hip hop (working with pop producer Trevor Horn and electropop pioneer Thomas Dolby), which featured global hit 'Buffalo Gals'. In '84, he followed with the electronica opera album Fans, which featured another global hit in 'Madame Butterfly'. In '89 McLaren mixed classical music with house for Waltz Darling - collaborating with Bootsy Collins and early UK house advocates Mark Moore and William Orbit - including another global hit 'Deep In Vogue'. He continued to make music but never again reached the apogee of this late '80s dance triptych.

'Black Arabs' - Black Arabs:

'C30 C60 C90 Go (Live)' - Bow Wow Wow:



'Something's Jumpin' In Your Shirt' - Malcolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra:

Pair-shaped Past: Neighbourhood Watch Edition

Two of the most exciting/unpredictable acts to take to the stage in Melbourne during the '80s were The Shower Scene From Psycho (above) and Tombstone Hands. Shower Scene were all shrill electropunkcabaret covers (they tackled The Monkees, The Seekers, Mental As Anything amongst a myriad of others from a variety of genres) while Tombstone Hands were a swampy garage precursor to the grunge scene. Nothing in common musically but they shared local cult hero guitar thrasher "Feedback Jack" Bloom (above centre). Psycho have since become the thing of myth: one member embroiled in tabloid scandal due to his family's political connections; singer Simon Grounds mutating into underground producer extraordinaire (God, Underground Lovers, Dave Graney, etc); and the band recently immortalised with a two-cd retrospective. However there is little to be found of the Hands outside of a good old rummage through you friendly neighbourhood vinyl shop. Here's a little reminder of why both bands deserve even more respect. Clips of both bands filmed live in the mid-'80s: the Hands covering The Standells' 'Good Guys Don't Wear White' (swoon at Jack's gravity-defying mohawk) at the Prince Of Wales (circa 1984) and Shower Scene covering The Strangeloves' 'Cara-lyn' at, what looks like, Melbourne's then uber-hip/midweek late niter Users Club (circa 1986):

You should order this: Exploding Hits - The Shower Scene From Psycho (Omni Recording Corporation).

You should look for this: Asleep At The Wheel - Various (a 1984 collection of garagesque Melbourne acts including Tombstone Hands, Crushed Buzzards and Olympic Sideburns that could be kicking around in record stores somewhere).

Recommended reading: Doug Wallen interviews Simon Ground (mess + noise, Dec '09)

Easter Fuzzday

"I wanna die like Jesus Christ

I wanna die on a bed of spikes

I wanna die come see paradise...

I wouldn't sell my soul

But I'd hang for this"

('Reverence', The Jesus & Mary Chain)

Dam The Human League

LA's Dam-Funk can usually be found purveying nouveaux soul and boogie on Stones Throw Records or DJing at his hometown boogie funk night Funkmosphere. But last week he dropped his contribution for the Dr Martens 50th anniversary campaign - which involves ten directors shooting clips for ten participating artists' covers. The grand Dam has chosen to digitise the funk out of/into The Human League's 1981 synthpop standard 'The Things That Dreams Are Made Of' - and it sounds how you'd kinda expect it to, like Dolby's Cube let loose to make a teen movie theme in Paisley Park. [FYI, other acts involved in the Doc covers project include The Duke Spirit covering Sham 69; Buraka Som Sistema covering Neneh Cherry; The Raveonettes covering The Stone Roses.] For Dam's effort he was paired with clip maker Ace Norton who has previously made vids for LCD Soundsystem ('Big Ideas'), Mickey Avalon ('Jane Fonda'), Patrick Wolf ('Hard Times') and Sebastien Tellier ('Divine'). Here's how it turned out: