I'm A Lion!

This song breaks it down pretty hard about life as a Leo. The good, the bad, the ridiculous. Being a Sagittarius myself I went to Astrology.com to see if this song and I were as compatible as I thought...

"When Leo and Sagittarius join together in a love match, the result is often fireworks! Both Signs are extremely dynamic and enjoy life to the fullest. This couple is full of life and fun to be around, with each person encouraging the other to aim high! Sagittarius's philosophical tendency warrants a distraction to Leo's obsession with the larger-than-life. The two will have genuine admiration and respect for one another. Both are warm, charismatic and charming; people enjoy being in the energy this couple radiates."

Wow, that's totally me and this song. Who say's astrology's a pseudo-science? I mean besides Carl Sagan. What does he know about stars and stuff? Anyway, I hope your sign matches up with this pitch perfect piece of disco cheese. It could be fireworks!

Dream Express- I'm a Lion

Dream Express was Belgium's pick for the Eurovision song contest in 1977. Here's the performance that failed to win Eurovision, but succeeded in winning my cheese loving heart.

No Paradise

ARAWA friend Weird Tapes sent over this edit awhile back and I got so caught up in loving it that I forgot to share it with everyone else. Shame on me. Here he pulls the tempo up, adds a wall of synths and recasts Hail Social's (the primary project of Mr. Tapes) newly released, No Paradise as the euphoric boogie monster of the future. What I just said may not make sense, but who cares... this is Philadelphia French touch!

Hail Social- No Paradise (Weird Tapes Edit)

The new Hail Social EP includes three new tracks and one new remix by Discodust faves Hot Pink Delorean. You can purchase shiny new digital copies of all four right here at Amazon and find more tracks and mixes are available at Weird Tapes' myspace and the Hail Social blog. Hook it up and find there is a paradise after all.

Toshi's Battle

Tensnake is a busy man lately. Following his three superb EPs last year, he's starting this year strong with his remix of Italo classic Fuerza Major by Camaro's Gang (incredible!), a nice rework of Alexander Robotnick's Disco Sick and his upcoming mix Sally Shapiro. He's constantly reworking the constraints of house and techno using the tools handed down by the Italo gods of legend and I for one am in love. Here's one to set you down his path if you're not travelling it already.

Tensnake- Toshi's Battle
(from 2006's Restless EP)

When those helium pumped vocals hit around 1:45... watch out.

Dreamworld

Here's another bit of sweet electrofunk, heavy on the vocoder. Sounds of crystal sands drift on the backs of mechanized camels... it's a dreamworld that we live in...

X-Ref- Dream Six-0

X-Ref was a name used by John Davis, one of the real voices behind Milli Vanilli and a man blessed with an odd sort of genius. You can buy this song and many more on the John Davis collection, Flashcan lovingly compiled by super awesome label Citinite. Buy the double vinyl here.

Rough Cuts

Growing up my favorite radio station was always Q1047. It was mostly hip hop and RnB and since it was based in the Ventura/ Oxnard area in southern California it had a heavy latin influence. Lots of freestyle and latin rap... Wait haven't I already said all this before? Actually, yeah I did. Go here for a little freestyle/Miami Bass mix I'm pretty proud of and more Q1047 musings. Plug plug. Anyway, one of my favorite latin rappers (not that there were a lot to choose from) was Kid Frost, the creator of this low ridin superjam here...

More recently though I learned that not only was he a early 90's latin kingpin, but he was also a mid 80's electro breakdance rapper and a card carrying member of Uncle Jamm's Army. Here's a couple jams for you pop to but just be careful with your back okay? We're not as young as we used to be.

Kid Frost- Terminator (Vocal Mix)
Kid Frost- Terminator (Instrumental)
(featured on IF's Mixed Up In the Hague Vol. 2)
1985

Kid Frost- Rough Cut (Dance Mix)
Kid Frost- Rough Cut (Instrumental)
(with scratches by Yella of NWA fame!)
1984

C-Jam & Kid Frost- Commando Rock (Battle Mix)
C-Jam & Kid Frost- Commando Rock (Vine Street Mix)
(nothing extra to say about this one!)
1984

Lazy Sun

Spring's upon us and finally the sun shows its beautiful face to us cold and pale San Franciscans. Should weather hold up this weekend, this melody will accompany me northwards to the river. In this track from last year's Wide Open EP, Russian producer AN-2 crafts another jewel in his cosmic crown, interweaving live and synthetic elements, creating a perfect soundtrack to a hazy afternoon, the sun passing slowly from east to west as you doze warm and cozy in the sand.

AN-2- Lazy Sun

Get the vinyl here.

Shame

Poor Stephany. It looks as if she was.unknowingly toilet-papered by some young rapscallions. Don't they know a queen of Italo funk when they see one?

Stephany- Shame

Money For Your Love?

This one's been one of favorite Italo tracks for quite a while, and despite hearing it so, so many times, I can't for the life of me figure out what it means. Is it about prostitution? Not the real kind mind you, but more the Pretty Woman kind, where the talented and beautiful escort is whisked away from the streets by some rich, sensitive and handsome suitor. I don't know, he says all this stuff about bringing her a magical world and how there's nothing to lose and then he's all about money for your love? Wha? Anyone think they've got it figured out?

Monte Kristo- Money For Your Love

Video

Has anyone seen Electric Dreams? It's insane. One of the worst made, strange feeling, badly acted movies ever. It's so rad. The plot: dude (Harold from Twin Peaks) gets computer, falls for a girl, spills champagne on computer, computer becomes a thinking entity, learns to talk (voiced by Bud Cort) and falls for same girl, so of course dude and computer fight it out. So 80's, so weird, so awkward and so beautiful (really!) in parts. It takes a certain type to enjoy and I can imagine an ARAWA reader would probably fit the description. Unfortunately it's not available on DVD and might not ever be. It's that bad. However net savvy people may be able to secure a copy if they just knew where to look...

Anyway, the soundtrack contains some cheese classics (Together in Electric Dreams by Giorgio Moroder and Philip Oakey anyone?) and this quirky Jeff Lynne solo number. Love it!

Jeff Lynne- Video
(co-produced by Richard Tandy)

Okay. Last ELO related post for today. Four is quite enough.

Drum Dreams

Here's a little rarity from another crap classic movie, Xanadu. A movie that somehow successfully blends Greek gods and rollerskating. This track, Drum Dreams is in the movie but not on the soundtrack, probably because its really bizarre. Lot's of drums, orchestra and choral hits and then undulating synths and bells, a little Xanadu! chanting and then bam! It's over. A lovely little oddity released only as the b-side of the I'm Alive 7 inch.

Electric Light Orchestra- Drum Dreams

Midnight Blue

Uh oh. I think I'm on an ELO kick...

Electric Light Orchestra- Midnight Blue

Pictures In My Pillow

Who likes ELO? I know, I know, dumb question. Who couldn't love the sumptuous soaring bliss of Electric Light Orchestra? As you know, Jeff Lynne is the backbone of ELO but one other member deserves all kinds of credit, keyboardist Richard Tandy. Tandy joined the group after the release of their first album and his inventive playing became one of the most important parts of ELO's sound. Not only was he their keyboardist but he is also listed as co-arranger on every ELO album post Eldorado in 1974. Anyone who knows ELO knows that the arrangements are no small feat, it's a lot of sound.

In 1986 he formed a group with ELO back-up singer Dave Morgan, sometimes called The Tandy Morgan Band, sometimes just Richard Tandy and Dave Morgan (I prefer the latter, Tandy Morgan Band just sounds weird) and they released their sole album, Earthrise. There's a few good moments on this mediocre album, but none fly as high as Pictures in My Pillow. As you can imagine, the keyboards and synths are awesome and it dips deep into ELO's pockets, from the melody to the vocoder to the little bits with that telephone effect Jeff Lynne always uses, but whatever. If you know what works, use it.

Richard Tandy & Dave Morgan- Pictures in My Pillow

Do You Hear Me Now?

Someone out there thought this video was a good idea. Whoever it was, if you're out there... Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jon & Vangelis- I Hear You Now