Black Gold

So lavishly appointed, there are virtually no options.

Smile!

Busy days people. Busy days. Sorry for the lack of quality postage but sometimes family, friends, food and fun come first. Wait, was that a McDonalds slogan?

Lets get back in the swing of things with Smiles. It's a little hard to figure these guys out. Two singles, both italo medleys from 1983, made with a different cast of players each time. Except for the mixer, Francesco Vaccari (producer of Mac Jr's Elephant Song). He mixes both singles. So it's the mixers project? That's so weird. Has that ever happened before (or after)? Not the producer, the writer but the mixer. Huh.

Apparently N. 1, 4/ Magnetic Dance is a cover of krautrock band P'cock's N. 1,4 (produced by Klaus Schulze!). I say apparently because I have yet to hear P'cock. I can't find it anywhere. Hint hint people.

Smiles- N.1,4/ Magnetic Dance

However, I know quite well that this is a medley of the theme of The Warriors, and John Carpenter's Attack from New York and The End from Assault on Precinct 13. Awesome spacey stuff.

Smiles- Pendulum (Space Version)

I know that you look at other blogs. It's okay. I'm comfortable with that. Well, Feldercarp cleanup is finished for the moment and Zartek has finally posted some new old music after a hiatus of (too) many light years. Scoop it up at the Awesome Hall of Fame.

On Horseback

Winter's here. The holidays are here. I for one, am psyched. I love the crisp air, the smells, sitting by sources of intense heat, the taste of a fine beer while inhaling that pine tree scent. Ah. But the one thing I love more than all these things is Mike Oldfield's On Horseback.

Slipped in quietly at the end of his epic (aren't they all Mikey?) Ommadawn, On Horseback is inspired by Mike's horseback rides around Hergest Ridge with a few of the musicians from the Ommadawn sessions. Wow, thanks Wikipedia. I loved it regardless of season until my lovely lady said one day, "Well yeah its good, but its a Christmas song". Okay, maybe it's not technically a Christmas song, but at the very least its a winter song. I hear this softly played acoustic guitar, sparkling bells and chorus of children and can't help but feel the snow brush my face as my horse (big brown beasty!) guides me through still and glittering woods.

Mike Oldfield- On Horseback

Protection

Don't let the cover fool you. This is just some sweet natured Belgian synthpop. It doesn't really want to hurt you.

Poptown Syndicate- Protection (Extended)

Going Dutch

On Thursday I woke up, had brunch with friends and was picked up by my girlfriend and her sister to go to Target. Honestly, I was pretty excited. I like Target. To my surprise, I was being kidnapped and taken to Amsterdam for my 30th birthday. Damn, no Target.

See you folks next week!

I Am Sure Sure

At one point in this little 1984 ditty, the male singer says through a thick accent, "If you come in my yellow house, I will be your little mouse". If that doesn't make you want to hear this song then I don't know what else will. Except maybe the super awesome production, catchy hooks and synth vibraphone action. You'll probably want to hear that too.

Radiators- I Am Sure

Light Is On

Remember Alien Delon? Our Russian friend so adept at crafting sad robot songs? Well, as I mentioned previously, hes also quite good at bringing his quirky italo influenced sound to the dance floor. "Light Is On" has been a popular number around my house for months, helping me through a number of especially difficult housecleanings and sleepy mornings, and it's time for you folk to share in the magic.

Alien Delon- Light Is On

Say hi to Mr. Delon on the old Myspace!

Stop the Clock

Spacefunk synth reggae produced by Paul Hardcastle? Yes please.

First Light- Stop the Clock

PS. After google image searching for "First Light" I happened upon this page, "The Infinity Bridge". Whoa. So weird.

Meine

Daso has recently jumped over to Spectral but his unique take on techno, thankfully remains intact. Starting out easy, yet propulsive, Meine chugs along with telephonic chirps, picking up chords here, panning synths there, all moving together toward this hypnotic, whirling vortex of bliss.

Daso- Meine (from the 2007 Meine Idee 12")
Daso- T Anders (from his 2005 Daybreak 12")

Purchase here or here to get more Daso loveliness...

Faces

This is SO my Italo track of the moment. Produced by synth wizard Roberto Ferrante (aka. Pineapples! I love Pineapples!) in 1985 with Clio Bianco of Clio & Kay on vocals, its an exercise in what one should do, if one was to find oneself alone, with a synthesizer, drum machine and rad 80's vocalist.

Clio- Faces

Edit: Just found out The Red Room posted Pineapples today! Go check it out and tell the other Sean I said Hi!

Homeward Bound

I'm going back to Ojai for a family fun-tastic Thanksgiving, but don't be sad. I'll find my way back home to ARAWA next week.

Jon and Vangelis- I'll Find My Way Home

Awesome Video!

Couples Only

The production's so tight on this. Minimal yet lush, funky, smooth and that drum beat... who needs cymbals when you can keep it this funky with a kick and a snare? Its the sound of you and your girl (or boy) out late, eyes fixed on each other, under the lights, for all you know the only ones left on the floor. This is Couples Only Skate people.

Womack & Womack- Conscious Of My Conscience

Sensitive Kind

Over sumptuous strings, congas, horns, vibraphones and of course, his nimble guitar work, J.J. Cale (the reigning king of ARAWA road trips) kicks up his feet, and tells us how to treat a lady. Listen up kids, he sounds like he knows what he's talkin about.

J.J. Cale- Sensitive Kind

Great Job.

My girlfriend and I have gone deep down the rabbit hole with Tim and Eric Awesome Show. If you haven't already, join us. Its weird down here.

So Giusy

Based on that belt alone, she's my nominee for official ARAWA mascot. Wow. This song isn't bad either, a cheesy but effective arena Italo anthem, but really, I just wanted to put that picture up.

Giusy Ravizza- Save the Fire

Baby Dream

Dream Disco gets lots of love from the disco fanatics but what about poor little Baby Dream on the B-Side? Its a schmaltzy love theme set at a plodding pace, with big strings, cascading pianos and warbling guitar leads all come together beautifully to create a grand cinematic feeling.

Max Berlin- Baby Dream

Two Questions...

1. Who thought these nine greased up, intense looking dudes could make such lovely sunset music?

Massada- Air Mata Tumpa

2. Best cover ever? Maybe. Phantom Slasher (AKA Idjut Boys) certainly thought it ruled.

Do You Want Marry?

I've posted this song before, but after perusing Jaz's blog and watching the live Savage videos, I was reminded how totally bonkers the video for Only You is. So I gots to put it up. There so much crazy shit here, strange hand movements and hand wraps, guns, blood, champagne flutes filled with iced tea, computer marriage, etc. All bases are covered here. And since the links still up... once again, here's my favorite Italo song ever...

Savage- Only You

Nice.

Rollerboys Recordings. My favorite label out right now. This is a little unfair being they've only released two EPs but hey, they're two for two. First Bogdan Irkuk (whose Coastal EP should be dropping soon. Yay!) and now Ultracity's Swetalic EP. Ultracity is equal parts Elias Raam from Arken (who pulls remix duties on this EP as well as on the Bogdan Irkuk EP) and Yourhighness. The EP features two originals, the aforementioned Arken mix and a really nice Fabrizio Mammarella mix. My favorite is the EP closer, Twelve Year Drive. Its just the most sweet natured song. The kind of song that would just sit still and finish the movie if you nodded off in their lap. It starts off slowly, building off a warm bassline until arpeggios start trickling down from above, washing over you in their shimmering brilliance. So damn pretty.

Ultracity- Twelve Year Drive

Buy it from Clone. I know you want to.

Weird TV

My friend Jaime (Tuscon represent!) tipped me off that Weird Tapes has a new mixtape up on his myspace and you know what? Its super sweet! Where else are you gonna hear Escort, Wings, Frida, smooth disco, Kris Menace, Bowie, Blaze, hip-house and even a dash of euro-trance in the same mix? Nowhere. Okay, maybe somewhere. But it won't be this good. So there.

Weird Tapes- Weird TV

You Are a Danger

How have I not posted this yet? This is easily one of my top five Italo tracks. Sounding like a english-as-a-second-language Elton John, Gary rides a track packed with all manners of quirky synth work and child-sung choruses. Feeling a little blue today? Gary's got your back. How can you not crack a smile to something this shamelessly cheerful and fun?

Gary Low- You Are a Danger (Extended)
Gary Low- You Are a Danger (Instrumental)

Check out this video to see Gary in all his lip syncing glory.

You Got My Soul

Oh the bottomless pit that is Italo. How I love falling in again and again and resurfacing with something this lush and gorgeous. You Got My Soul is like the theme song for an alternate reality version of Twin Peaks. Domina fills in for Julee Cruise and the rest of the regular band at the roadhouse while the clientele's rugged flannels and jeans are mysteriously replaced with brightly covered italian suits and expensive two tone angular dresses. The band strikes up, swaying slowly in time, gazes distant, their sound echoing through the dancehall. You step out onto the floor and under the single blue spotlight you find this melody...

Domina- You Got My Soul

Without Control

Argentinian super-disco heroes Fernando Pulichino and Julian Sanza quietly cruised back through our orbit last month, dropping their first LP as the Spirals in the process. For the uninitiated, Pulichino and Sanza also record as 2020 Soundsystem and Silver City (whose 2005 self titled album I still adore) and (not) coincidentally all three bands happen to sound almost exactly the same. Why not just have one band guys? It's not like The Spirals is the best name ever and you had to make an album to use it. Imagine if you went by one name (my pick being Silver City). Then you'd have like, three really good albums and a bunch of other eps and singles as ONE band. All those Discogs people would probably really appreciate it guys. Ok. Enough suggestions from me. Heres the title track to their new album Without Control. Vocoder+synth+live guitar and bass= Yay!

The Spirals- Without Control
and then...
Silver City- Another Dimension

Buy it in digital or for realsies. You'll like it.

Even Wilder

Kim Wilde- Everything We Know

Boo.

"Man lives, in the sunlit world, of what he believes to be reality. But, there is, unseen by most, an underworld. A place that is just as real, but not as brightly lit. A darkside."

Man, is that spooky or what? Welcome friends, to the darkside of the rainbow. Come in. I've lovingly prepared a spirited concoction of horrific, frightening and in one case just plain awful) Halloween treats. The faint of heart can grab one song at a time or for all you fearless vampire killers, get the whole compilation from the link at the very bottom of the post...



SSQ- Trash's Theme (Return Of The Living Dead Soundtrack)


A little ditty about a Satan endorsed disco dance party...
Peter Griffin- Devil's Reception (No not that Peter Griffin)



From the ZYX release of Christine mixes...
John Carpenter- Christine



The soundtrack to my favorite zombie movie scene ever, by the master of zombie soundtracks (sorry Goblin) Fabio Frizzi...
Fabio Frizzi- Sequence 08 (from Zombi 2, AKA Zombie Flesh Eaters)



The theme to Don Coscarelli's masterpiece gets a disco workout (thanks to The Fear Chamber for this one).
Captain Zorro- Phantasm (Disco Remix)



From the Japanese only release of the Prom Night soundtrack...
Paul Zaza and Carl Zittrer- Love Me Till I Die



A no-brainer but nonetheless, essential Halloween party music!
Harry Manfredini & Michael Zager- Theme from Friday the 13th Pt.III


From Methusalem's 1980 album Journey Into the Unknown...
Methusalem- Zombie


From my favorite Nomeansno album, 1982's Mama, a song that creeps me out in more than a few ways...
Nomeansno- Red Devil



From the Justice sampled soundtrack to Dario Argento's Tenebrae. This version of the theme is used in this AMAZING tracking shot up and down a house, from window to window, across the roof, all leading up to the murder of "the lesbos".
Goblin- Waiting Death


This is the final and probably most terrifying song on the collection. I found this in a moldy pile of records in a frighteningly dirty store a few months ago. Its awful. Yvonne Gage completely re does the Thriller beat, complete with a guy doing a little Vincent Price in the beginning and then sings about doin it. Where? In a haunted house. Wow. She doesnt mind if theres bats flyin around and theres cobwebs in her hair. Thats a real quote folks. Be afraid. Perhaps the strangest thing of all is that she thanks "Al Jourgensen of Ministry". Might he have done her in a haunted house? Eww.
Yvonne Gage- Doin It (In a Haunted House)


Well there we have it kiddies. As promised heres the complete collection, I hope it goes down better than the treats I passed out last year (pictured above).

ARAWA From The Darkside

Weird Tapes

My god, it took me forever to get around to this one. Weird Tapes sent me a few songs and mixes over the past few months and though I've enjoyed all, I've posted none. Things change now.
Weird Tapes is Dayve Hawk's (the mastermind behind Philadelphia band Hail Social) solo side project. Hail Social is getting a lot of deserved exposure lately (what with their newly released album, Modern Love and Death and remixes by Eli and Sta) but this stuff is much more my speed. A mix of late nineties filter house, Avalanches style sampadelica, a little disco, a little 80's. You know the deal. Grab these two, then head over to his Myspace to check his new tracks "Glorious" and "Nikki" (my favorite yet). Unfortunately Weird Tapes has no plans to release any of this music commercially but... maybe we can change his mind?

Weird Tapes- Heavens
Weird Tapes- Party Trash

If...

I know I know. All this remodeling and like... no songs. I'm that kind of guy, that once I sit down to play some video games, I spend half my time making sure my character looks awesome. Anyway, alot was bothering me about the last layout, too long to load, some people had some problems with it on Safari, blah blah blah. So today ARAWA goes more minimaler.

I like rainbows.

EDIT:
Already changed it again. Can't keep up can ya?

Soraya is Soraya Kaci on vocals (Cant find anything else on her) with the prolific Bernard Torelli (Venus Gang, Rockets, Visitors) and extra prolific J.P. Massieri (Visitors, Venus Gang). They released their only record entitled "Disco Star" in 1978, an album with some definite problems but this song makes it all okay. Its very similar in tone to the Lucrethia and the Azoto 14008 track, "Hey There" I posted about two months back. The singer sounds great, all echoey and disconnected, floating atop big strings, blips and bass. And seriously! The bass player goes nuts! Solos, slaps, envelope filters, the whole nine! The whole band kills it, trust me.

Soraya- If

Sleepwalking

When I was younger I would sleepwalk all the time. I would wake up in the kitchen, the backyard, not knowing what I'd done or how I had gotten there. For instance, one time I woke up and my pajama bottoms were gone. And I NEVER found them. True story.

Canton- Sleepwalking

Lio

I hate to say it, but the first time I heard Lio was on Teki Latex's "Les Matins Des Paris". I guess if I had grown up in France or somewhere near, I would have known all about her by now. Better late than never. Shes a talented Portuguese/Belgian/French singer/actress (slash mania!) who has worked with an array of people I love, including Sparks, Alain Chamfort, Jacno, and Marc Moulin and Dan Lacksman of Telex, while retaining her popularity (and good looks) for over 2 decades now. From her second album "Suite Sixtine" (recently re-released by the incomparable ZE records) heres the Marc Moulin produced, "Sage (Comme Une Image)".

Lio- Sage Comme Une Image
Lio- Sage Comme Une Image (Version Longue)

In other Telex related news check out the excellent Wiel's Time Capsule to get a nice clean copy of Transvolta's (Dan Lacksman) classic (and rare!) Disco Computer 12" including the title track and b-side "You are Disco". A must have for fans of ominous vocoder disco in the vein of Crazy Gang's "Every Sunday".

Mirror, Mirror

I just figured out how to pronounce Moev's name. I've been saying Mo-ev, but its one syllable, like "mauve" but with a long "O". Got it? Now you can sound all on top of your 80's Canadian synthpop. Moev has had many incarnations but the original lineup with Madeleine Morris is my favorite. Unfortunately she left the band after the 1982 release of their fantastic first album, "Zimmerkampf", and in my opinion, the band suffered from her absence. Here's the maxi version of their first single "Cracked Mirror". This version beefs up the drums and gives it a much more Kraftwerky sound and feel, while bringing Madeleine up higher in the mix. Good call. She really kills it.

Moev- Cracked Mirror (Maxi Version)

Driftin'

Now, look at Alessi up there, how rad are they? You don't often get the old, "twin brother singer songwriter with beautiful feathered hair" team. Lovefingers posted their tune "Seabird" awhile back, and I was enthralled. Luckily the search was fairly easy (which is usually not the case with Lovefingers tracks) and I found two of their records just down the street. Score! I think this is THE song to christen ARAWA's new look. A little disco, a little breeze, a little pop and a lot of kitsch. Driftin'...

Alessi- Driftin'

Germania! (Der Fünfte)

All good German themed music weeks must come to an end folks, so today I leave you with another Carmen. According to Woebot, Carmen is an ex-member of Die Marinas (see Der Erste) but I'm not sure, being that Discogs doesn't have her listed as a Marina. However she is listed as "featured" on the Dies Doraus Und Die Marinas' album "Tulpen und Narzissen". Aah, who cares. This song is awesome.

Since it was featured on the Munk compiled "Teutonik Disaster" (an essential collection of German oddities) I expect "Schlaraffenland" might be familiar to many. Originally off Carmen's sole (and elusive) album, "Puppe Aus Glas", it has Carmen and an unknown (to me) gentleman trading off vocal duties, over a bouncy rhythm and keys. Schlaraffenland is known as the land of milk and honey in German folklore, a mythical land of plenty, a fitting metaphor for the wealth of amazing German music out there.

Carmen- Schlaraffenland

Germania! (Der Vierte)

Here's an odd German new wave track by Foyer Des Arts, arranged over a steady disco beat with fretless bass and strings cutting through, creating some sort of funky nervous tension. Voices drift in and out, conversations start and stop, what do they say? Well, "Wissenswertes Über Erlangen" means "Worth Knowing Over Attaining". Today you get to know and attain this great song, and personally, I think thats way better.

Foyer Des Arts- Wissenswertes Über Erlangen

Germania! (Der Dritte)

Okay, I know Falco's not German, he's Austrian, so let's call this one, Germania: Cheaters Edition. I mean, come on. The song is called Munich Girls. Munich is totally in Germany. Thats also where they have the world's largest Oktoberfest celebration. Oktoberfest is soooo German. AND... Austria is like, touching Germany. Like, right there. So close.

Whatever. I cheated.

I always thought this song deserved to be in a sweet 80's movie. Being that it wasn't, I'll make one up. It's called Revenge of the Nerds V: Go Deutsch. This time around the nerds have to stop an evil millionaire from ruining Oktoberfest (No beer? Gasp!). You've got the idea. Anyway, in the end of the film, Lewis finally wins over the Oktoberfest babe he's had his four eyes on, and the film ends with their happy (and wacky) nuptials. Despite the fact that she STILL doesn't speak english. As their car pulls away from the church she tosses the bouquet in the air and bam! Freeze frame, roll credits and queue this one up...

Falco- Munich Girls

Germania! (Der Zweite)

This band eludes me. Can't find one speck of info on them other than the fact that "Jawohl", means an emphatic yes. A few examples would be... Do you enjoy things like muted guitars, big synths and bad ass German gals? Jawohl! Does extra catchy new wave anthems get you all pumped? Jawohl!

Jawohl- Rendezvous

Germania! (Der Erste)

Welcome to Germania! Fill your steins and heat up that leftover bowl of spätzle because all this week I'll be posting strange and exciting German ditties. Yay!

Die Doraus & Die Marinas is Andreas Dorau, a man with an extensive catalog of out there, awesome music, and Die Marinas, a collective of five singin ladies that must have been put together by Dorau, being that they've only done work with him. I couldn't think of a better track to kick off Germania week here at ARAWA than Blumen Und Narzissen, the title track off their 1981 album. With a melody overflowing with naivete, clickety clack percussion and snappy bass, I just don't know how else to say it. It's cute.

Die Doraus & Die Marinas- Blumen Und Narzissen

Where in the World?

Who is Carmen? She is an mystery wrapped in an enigma. Then wrapped in a fresh tortilla. I've got two songs here, the first is taken from Bumrocks (I think?) and the second I found on Soulseek. Her music is infectious synth bass boogie funk straight outta the 80's and I need more!

Apparently the French love her, since I did find one French website with photos of her records, (the labels, so of course no photos of the elusive lady) and another French site selling a used copy of Throw Down for 65 euros. No deal. I know there's at least two more songs, "Whos Lovin You" and "You and Me". After that the trail is cold, no info, no photos, no Discogs page etc. So I look to you readers. Anybody know of Carmen? Got MP3's? Photos? Links to cheaper records? If you like these tracks, join the search and share my obsession.

Carmen- Time to Move
Carmen- Throw Down

No Objection

I've had this song running through my head all week. Normally that's a bad thing, but with this tracks bouncy rhythm, big strings and soul falsettos (dude's got some pipes!) it's been nothing but sheer pleasure. You should bring this song on all your fun weekend outings, Theo would like that.

Theo Vaness- No Objection

Wah.

I'm just here, surfin it up, got the shuffle going, just havin a nice time and "It's Not the End of the World" by Le Sport pops on. I get excited. I haven't heard it in far too long. The sundrenched production, bells, New Order style bass, quirky 80's synth washes, lovely. I really hoped they would be the next great (gay?) synthpop group, ala Erasure and the Pet Shop Boys, whom they took much inspiration from. Check out "If I Was Neil Tennant's Lover" for proof. But alas, after checking their website to see what they had in the works, I saw this...

all good things must come to an end it's been two years and it has been so much fun but now, as leaves begin to fall, it is time to say good bye. since we started we have always put everything we had into our music and to everyone who downloaded it, bought it or enjoyed it at our shows, we'd like to say thank you so much. we've loved every second of it. we leave you with the photos from our last trip to barcelona and with a song: lovetrain in king's cross (by dj. c) now we let le sport go back to our fantasies where it once began. xxx fredrik & örjan ps. vi vill också påpeka att le sport inte har splittrats utan upplösts.

Umm... Wah.

I'm don't know what the PS says but its probably something sad. So, heres a couple of my faves, the first all too perfect for Le Sport's early exit. As usual with band breakups, I wish them the best, but can't help but wonder what they might have brought. Good luck Le Sport and thanks for the music!

Le Sport- It's Not the End of the World
Le Sport- I Comes Before U (Ben Morris Remix)
Le Sport- It's Not the End of the World (Mr. Suitcase Sky High T-mix)

AM/FM

Produced in 1983 by Pierluigi Giombini (Gazebo's "I Like Chopin" and Ryan Paris' "La Dolce Vita"), and featuring a then 18 year old Natasha King on sung and rap vocals, AM/FM is is the jam! A little italo, a little breakdance, and when she "raps", its not completely embarrassing. Unlike some people. Sorry Blondie.

Natasha King- AM/FM

Alien Landing

Every now and then, I'll look at my blog visitor map to see what countries you readers are from, and sometimes I'll get a lone visitor from Russia. One lonely speck on a very large piece of Earth. After receiving an email from Alien Delon last week, I'm assuming that lonely speck is probably him.

Alien Delon is a self described, 80's obsessed Moscow native with an innate talent for creating sci fi leaning, nu Italo jams that I get along well with. Aside from his solo work, he is an ex member of Supersonic Future, and has started an untitled band with an unnamed lady, "We have only one track recorded in the studio, something like Adonis' No Way Back with a ChkChkChk style live bass and, yes, Russian lyrics". Umm, that sounds awesome.

Heres what he says about his song Virtual Viktor...
"The song "Virtual Viktor" is created solely on a Nord Modular and a distorted Roland CR-68 drumbox. The voice of Virtual Viktor is only keyboard neo-romantic madness, i only changed the formant and pressure. I hope it may take a place in your sad robot songs collection."

It has.

Alien Delon- Virtual Viktor

Check his myspace for more great tracks including my fave, a melodic italo boogie jam called "Light is On", then tell him he's rad and make friends.

Dear Daniel,

Joe's right. You really are the best around.

Love,

seandonson

Joe Esposito- You're the Best

Fun fact: Joe was one of Giorgio Moroder's many collaborators and even had an entire album together entitled "Solitary Men". Get it? There's two guys... but they're both... aah forget it.

Frida und Phil

Fridas the shit. Second only to, well, Agnetha. Sorry Frida, Agnetha's got that whole gap tooth thing going. So anyway, take Abba's Frida, throw her in the studio with the one and only Phil Collins and what happens? Magic. Duh. 80's "hard" rock guitars, super tight multitracked harmonies, Phil killin on the drums and production, so hot. And this almost 10 minute mix really prolongs the magic for ya.

Frida- I Know There's Something Going On

I was inspired to post this because of the Cadbury ad with the gorilla. I'm addicted. If y'all haven't seen it, its time.

Sharing

I really don't want to get all bogged down in this, so let's make this quick and painless. We've probably all read in various places the moral debate started by one Ewan Pearson. If not read here. This thread had not come to my attention until one of my favorite blogs, Birth School Work Death, committed blogger hara-kiri last week (Can't he just pull a Monsieur P?) and cited it for reference. After reading Scott's goodbye I visited Ewan Pearson's (an artist I first heard from various blogs. oh irony.) page to understand what could bring someone to hang it up so suddenly.

Basically this argument started with Ewan's flippant remark about bloggers giving away music, and in the comments, became a fascinating discussion arguing both sides of said issue. After reading both sides (and a lot more at Little White Earbuds) I just found myself confused. The one thing that stuck in my head most was Pearson saying "Wake up now before there’s no one left except the majors". Aargh. Scary.

I started this blog because I thought I could offer something to people like me. Blogs are waypoints on my journey, a song I enjoy will set me off in another direction, into somewhere I didn't know existed. I wanted somewhere to document my trip through music and share pieces of the map with like minded journeymen (and women). I definitely didn't do it to destroy the record industry.

So, in respect to the artists I love, and not just to please Mr. Pearson, I will abide by a few rules. Posting brand new and unreleased material is now a no no without proper artist consent (i.e. the Yelle post below). Honestly, it made me feel a little filthy sometimes anyway. However I will still sometimes post newish older tracks that I think got slept on and could use a little re-promotion (i.e. the Shining post a few down), in hopes that new fans can find and love their music, buy t shirts, take mushrooms at their shows, etc, etc.

I'm not trying to say this is the right or wrong way, and at this early stage of the internet era, who really knows? What I am saying that this feels right to me, so I'm gonna do it.

Summer Jam Series Vol. 5

I'm lounging under a shady tree, a cool breeze blowing on a warm day. Everything in the park seems to slow, she speaks softly, I don't know what she says, but she can say it all day.

Yelle- Tu Es Beau

Her album is super excellent fun. Buy it. Love it. Dance to it in your undies.

Oh Susie...

Just a little pop disco happiness to start you up this Monday. Hopefully this will keep me peppy on my twelve hour road trip from Arizona to San Francisco today. Aargh.

Secret Service- Oh Susie

I'd like a little feedback on the new file hosting service. Zshare has begun to really bug me, being that it often freezes up my firefox and come on, theres like 8000 screens before the download. After a good long time checking out options, this one seems to be the frontrunner. The only con I see so far is that theres no listening to the tracks first, my apologies to my download limited visitors! Anyway, let me know how you like it. Oh, and the song too.

Shining Through

One of my favorite albums ever is Disco Volante by Mr. Bungle. A strange sprawling album with seemingly every genre dragged kicking and screaming into Bungle's bubbling cauldron. At the time of its release, I still hadn't found "my music", meaning I labored under the idea that people liked one kind of music at a time, you were a punk rocker, a metalhead, a rapper, a raver etc. I enjoyed all but could not give the rest up for one. Disco Volante destroyed that idea. It careened spastically between disparate genres and ideas, sometimes co-mingling happily, sometimes pitted against each other to the death. Whatever it was, I loved it. I loved the idea of music being the only genre.

Lately nordic band Shining has brought that feeling I had twelve years ago. Music with reckless abandon, unexpected beauty found underneath bruised and battered chords and changes. Music not doing what you think it will.

Shining- Psalm

Buy Grindstone.