Spandau Ballet isn't just about slow dances and PM Dawn sample fodder. These guys can throw an all out new romantic herky jerky disco party like nobody. Really nice synth work, funky new wave bass and a minute and a half drumbreak in the middle? Glow!
Weekend at Bernies anyone? Today Wally Badarou brings you the sweet sound of tiny microchips dancing on the beach.
This one deserves an edit. Two minutes?!. Spacey whistles, washing acoustic strums, humming synths, its just so breezy. I can just see myself sprawled out on an inner tube, slowly floating downriver, half awake, half asleep, baking under the sun, my hands drifting slowly across the cool water. The only problem here is that two minutes is hardly long enough for a good downriver trip.
Sometimes you just need a good kickstart in life. ARAWA has been mine. There's just something about this little place that has really got me going in the past year. I'm not saying I'm there's some great art to what I've been doing here, but it's a channel I've used and that channel has widened and widened, slowly overflowing into other aspects of my life. I feel more open, more creative and am just more productive than I've been in a long time. I really have all of you to thank for that (even the quiet ones). Just knowing that somebody else is having as much fun as I am is enough for me.
Tequila. What can I say? I've loved it ever since Pee Wee borrowed the janitor's shoes, got up and that table and did his thing. Eww gross. I meant dancing. Originally performed by The Champs in 1959 and covered in just about every way and style possible, Tequila is a bonafide novelty classic. And more importantly, Tequila was my childhood JAM. Eight year old me rocked out to it. Hard.
We all know Popcorn right? Written by Gershon Kingsley (or a computer program if you believe the rumors) in 1969, popularized by Hot Butter in '72 and then covered by everyone from Aphex Twin to Crazy Frog (check out this list!) its a instrumental standard. The world of Italo was never one to leave a dead horse alone, so the Magic Men popped up in '83 to give the poor thing another beating. Magic Men was a pseudonym of P.L.R.D. which is itself a pseudonym for the brilliant (and alias happy) Nicolosi brothers, Lino and Pino. How cute is that? Maybe they were twins or something. Anyway, they pull it off. Using their trademark sound they'd later popularize on tracks for Valerie Dore, Domina and Mike Rogers, they create a propulsive track that could almost be some new Kris Menace or Lifelike track. That is, until those little Popcorn blips come in.
I've been meaning to post these three songs for awhile. They're all covers of (mostly) instrumental classics and for whatever reason I have them all grouped together mentally. Most of them are pretty "Italo 101" but they're worth another listen regardless of how many times you've heard them...
On this little piece of galactic joy, Chromium along with superproducer Trevor Horn, invite you to join The Forces of Light. Genuinely evil folk need not apply.
This one's for all you role players out there. No, not D&D. You know, like the sexy kind. Jeez. You guys are such nerds. Natalie Ann (whoever you are!) sounds great, all nonchalant and icy as she gets dolled up like its frat boy Halloween and plays some doctor games.
Post 200! This calls for the big guns. How about something with a nice disco rhythm, bouncy bassline, a wobbly acid didgeridoo type thing and on top of that, that Andy Samberg lookin dude up there, singing in the most ridiculous warbly falsetto I've ever heard? Afraid? You should be. This is a big fat slice of insanity. Crazy pie. Cuckoo cake. You get the picture. I was listening to this today and I thought there was something so familiar about his voice... Though he reminded a little of Mrs. Garrett from The Facts of Life (Girls!) I knew that wasn't exactly it. Thirty seconds into playing for my girlfriend she nailed it, Casey and His Brother from Tim and Eric Awesome Show. That's sooo it right?
Are we all familiar Pacific! yet? Blending 80's electro pop, sunny California 60's pop and a touch of disco these Gothenburg boys are someone to watch. Runway to Elsewhere is a their only instrumental track that starts out with a synth lead straight out of Secret Service's Oh Susie (check here) and quickly moves into a glittery disco workout ala Alan Braxe. You love it.
Lately I've been digging a lot of 70's top 40 stuff, maybe it's just a natural reaction to the weather outside. It's pretty grey and uninviting out there these days and I think all this sunny pop music is just what I need.
My girlfriend found the best record of the Amsterdam trip and I'm a little jealous. I found some good stuff and all, but it was mostly albums I've had digitally and finally came up on the vinyl. You know, cool, but nothing new to me. However Jesse was combing through all these 45s and buying whatever had cool looking covers or funny titles because hey, they're cheap and she makes these really awesome calendar books with them. As you can see, the cover's amazing, with it's windblown hair, leather jackets and neon brooms, and it has a funny title, Broom (With Me). It's really good too. Broom (With Me) is an uptempo Ganymed-esque number with some great vocals and spacey synths, but the b-side is where it's really at for me. On Not Easy (To Love) they knock the tempo down to a plodding thump and just get really out there. Let's call it... Cosmicbluesyarenapoprock. Unless you have something better to call it. Here's the whole 45 in nice little zip.
Jez over at the always excellent Innersounds has a little interview with me up as part of his ongoing Brothers on the Side feature. If you've always been curious about my opinions on politics and topical news items, you will surely be disappointed.
I just can't keep this to myself anymore. It's too crazy. I don't speak French, but I imagine this crimped lil' gal is just expressing her love for her robot friend that helps with her homework and pushes her on the swings at the park. Just a guess.
