The Last Broadcast (for this year anyway)...

This will be my last post before the new year as I'm heading off to Poland for the festivities. I'll leave you all a bumper post whilst I'm away and I'm sure Haydn can drum you something up for the new year.

Please stand for the first lady of Motown, Mary Wells...

Mary Wells - Satisfaction

Biba Tanga - It's The Earth That Moves

Glass Candy - Life After Sundown

Gloria Spencer - I Got It

Silicon Teens - You Got Me

Tags: Mary Wells
Tags: Biba Tanga
Tags: Glass Candy
Tags: Gloria Spencer
Tags: Silicon Teens

Chilly - For Your Love

Pat Rhoden - Boogie On Reggae Woman

Fresh Band - Come Back Lover

Flash and the Pan - Waiting For A Train

Festivus is Upon Us!

An average Festivus to you all from Ugly Talented.

Al Usher - Her Today

Southern Exposure - Headin' South

Glichy Dan - Cowboys and Gangsters (Edit de Shux)

Tags: Al Usher
Tags: Southern Exposure
Tags: Glichy Dan

Giorgio Moroder Promo Video

Lonnie Donegan - House of the Rising Sun

Yellowman - Zungguzungguguzungguzeng

Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators - If This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is)

Vibe Off

Get past the faux pre-battle tension and this video gets good. Cheers to Jez over at Innersounds for the very complimentary introduction to his 'Brothers on the Side' series - check him out, he's running interviews for all the links to other music blogs on his site and they're well worth a look. If you haven't subscribed to Innersounds, do it now - they are on our link section...

Roy Ayers - Love Will Bring Us Back Together

Herbie Mann - Walk On The Wild Side

VHS or BETA - You Got Me (The Juan Mclean Dub)

Tags: Roy Ayers
Tags: Herbie Mann
Tags: VHS or BETA

Yello - Bostich

Torrill - Over and Over

Black Science Orchestra - Philadelphia

Weldon Irvine - We Gettin' Down

Fat Boy vs The Young Punx

The Young Punx - It Doesn't Stop

Sumeria (Don Ray) - Cosmic Traveller

Yambu - Sunny

Tags: The Young Punx
Tags: Sumeria (Don Ray)
Tags: Yambu

Jurassic Format

I love this video...

DJ Format - We Know Something

Dilated People - Proper Propaganda

DJ Vadim - Sufferin' Blues feat. Jill Green

Tags: DJ Vadim
Tags: DJ Format
Tags: Dilated People

"House music is the Garage on a budget"

Watch video on iPhone

"House music," Mr. Cheren said, "is the Garage on a budget. The music Larry played, like the Salsoul Orchestra and MFSB, was made by orchestras, by live musicians. When the kids in Chicago wanted to start recording, they couldn't afford that and the computer came into being, so they did it at home and it was stripped down, with no vocals. So it was funkier. House is Garage on a budget, and hip-hop is R&B with baggy pants." New York Times, June 2000.

Sessomatto - Sessomatto

The Bombers - Dance, Dance, Dance

Ultra High Frequency - We're On The Right Track

Mel Cheren RIP

I was very sad to hear that Mel Cheren died in the early hours of this morning. I'm not going to even attempt to post any tunes for this as I will leave that in the very capable hands of Haydn who I'm sure will dig out something special for a true hero.

'Keep On Dancing: My Life In The Paradise Garage' is as tragic, heartbreaking yet undeniably life affirming and uplifting read you are ever likely to come across. If you have any interest in music at all, this book is a must.

God Bless Mel Cheren.

Electro Art Warfare

Anyone heading to CSS and Justice tomorrow at the Manchester Academy? C-Box us if you are.

New Young Pony Club - Get Lucky (The Twelves Remix)

The Klaxons - As Above, So Below (Justice Remix)

Young Punx - Drum and Bacharach

Tags: New Young Pony Club
Tags: The Klaxons
Tags: Young Punx

Pagliacci

Alessi Brothers - Savin' The Day

Maynard Ferguson - Pagliacci

Right Direction - Midnight Rhythm (Part Sixxs Underdog Rework)

Tags: Alessi Brothers
Tags: Maynard Ferugson
Tags: Right Direction

The Originals - Down To Love Town

The Originals - Down To Love Town [12" Version]

Apologies

We're still lagging behind this month on posts but good things come to those who wait. Gorillaz have released their D-Sides - lazy, low slung beats making a change from their dark melancholic vides. Plumps and The Go! Team also delivering this week.

Plump DJs - Doppler (Removed at the artists request) -click here for the iTunes link

The Go! Team - The Wrath Of Marcie

Gorillaz - Kids With Guns (Hot Chip Remix)

Tags: Gorillaz
Tags: The Go! Team
Tags: Plump DJs

Freestyling

I have already written this post once and my software crashed on me so here's goes again. I was lamenting the fact that we haven't posted as much as we would like but lo and behold, Haydn has posted tonight too - you lucky devils. The mix tape is well on it's way celebrating 6 months of Ugly Talented so we will keep you posted on it's imminent arrival.

Pharoahe Monch - Desire

Manhead - Doop

Bondo Do Role - Gasolina (Fake Blood Mix)

Tags: Pharoahe Monch
Tags: Manhead
Tags: Bondo Do Role

Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon (Prima Vera)

The Pop Group - We Are All Prostitutes

Trinity - Three Piece Suit and Thing

Eddie Palmieri - Puerto Rico

Afrika-ka-ka-ka

We've really pulled out the youtube stops in the past few days.

Check out Bambaataa.

Radio 4 - As Far As The Eye Can See

The Avalanches - Radio

Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force - Who Do You Think Your Funkin' With? (Hip Hop Mix)

T.O.N.T.O.

Michael Jackson - Sunset Driver [Demo]

Jean-Luc Ponty - In The Fast Lane

John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - Bourgie Bourgie [Extended Disco Version]

We'll Get Back to Love Tomorrow...

...but today - hate.
Must be Sunday - work impending.

The Clash - Hateful

Cat Power - Hate

Outkast - Love Hater

The Libertines - Campaign of Hate

Tags: The Clash
Tags: Cat Power
Tags: Outkast
Tags: The Libertines

Gino Soccio - Try It Out

Harry Nilsson - Jump Into The Fire

Datarock - Computer Camp Love

Latyrx - Lady Don't Tek No

Moves from the Master

Good God! Truly a You Tube experience. The Myra Barnes track was found on an album called "James Brown's Funky People" - clearly he had the credentials to assess who was funky or not judging by the video. Magical from start to finish - how we miss the God Father of Soul.

I think we may have to upload someone who is living for the next post for a change.

Myra Barnes - The Message from the Soul Sisters

Azoto - Anytime or Place

ESG - I Can't Tell You What To Do

Tags: ESG
Tags: Azoto
Tags: Myra Barnes 

Talking Heads - Burning Down The House

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Fire

Señor Coconut - Firecracker (feat. Lisa Carbon)

LCD Soundsystem - Jump Into The Fire [Radio One Live Session]

Lazyboy - Police Dogs Bonfire [Reverso 68 Mix]

Jimmy Adja - Disco Dancer

Os Mutantes - Beijo Exagerado / Todo Mundo Pastou

Recloose Feat. Joe Dukie - Dust [Demo Mix]

Hot 8 Brass Band - Sexual Healing

Panic Post

Haydn got me onto "My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts". Pure genius. Unfortunately the film I've just sat through isn't. Just because Simon Pegg is in it doesn't "Big Nothing" is any good.

Stay away.

Brian Eno and David Byrne - America Is Waiting

Mr Oizo - Straw Anxious

Tags: Mr Oizo
Tags: Brian Eno
Tags: David Byrne

The Jets - Crush On You

New Mastersounds - Nervous

Tina Turner - Whole Lotta Love

!!! - Must Be The Moon [Emperor Machine Mix]

Running Low

After a recent stint in the office my traveling has been cut back which means my music time has also been cut. I need to book some meetings.

Far away.

So despite the following artist probably already posted on here in the past 4 months I'm not going to dispute the fact they deserve another post. I'll see how much I can listen to between Manchester and Wakefield tomorrow.

Curtis Mayfield - Give Me Your Love

Jaylib - No Games

Handsome Boy Modeling School - If It Wasn't For You

Tags: Jaylib
Tags: Curtis Mayfield
Tags: Handsome Boy Modeling School   

Pleasantly Surprised

I was really surprised to hear Thom Yorkes 'Eraser' reworked into a tight disco track that is actually pretty good. The Battles track is sonically different too.

Thom Yorke - The Eraser (XXXChange_mix)

Battles - Tonto (The Field Remix)

Tags: battles
Tags: Thom Yorke

Hungover

Here's few tracks at the end of my blogging list on the iPod - I'm struggling to think at the moment but we have missed two days posts so just enjoy the tracks and we will dig out something special over the coming weeks.

The mix is still on the cards.

7 Hurtz - Malibu

The Popular People's Front - Stop On By (Chaka Khan) (LeoZero Edit)

Tags: The Popular People's Front
Tags: 7 Hurtz

How we miss Northern Soul

Lovin' Roisin's Murphy's new album. A great Northern Soul-esque video from Moloko with Paddy Considine in the background. Remember when Felix Da Housecat was actually any good? Jury's out on the new album still.

Roisin Murphy - Checkin' On Me

Felix Da Housecat - What Does It Feel Like? (Royksopp Return To The Sun Remix)

Tags: Roisin Murphy
Tags: Felix Da Housecat

"What are you doing?" - "Recording Silence!"

There's no need to wax lyrical about Hannett and his assured genius/madness so here's a personal mix from his own collection of Joy Divisions 'Heart and Soul'  -a little grittier and unpolished but still my favourite track from Closer and one of the best basslines ever. Also check out Peter Hook playing with ACR covering the same tune and his prophetic claim regarding the late, great Tony Wilson.

Volga Select popped up on a Output Recordings compilation called "Channel 2 - A Compliation of Output Recordings" - it's well worth a listen.

Volga Select - The Unconditional Discipline Of The Bastard Prince

Joy Division - Heart and Soul (Martin Hannett's Personal Mix)

Tags: Volga Select
Tags: Joy Division

Kano - I'm Ready

Kerri "Kaoz 6:23" Chandler - Rain

Gerry Rafferty - Get It Right Next Time

Electra - Feels Good [Carrots and Beets Dub]

Bloc Party Again

Apparently this is the next single. I'm seriously looking forward to seeing these guys in Manchester in November...

Bloc Party - Flux (Live)

Tags: Bloc Party

Back Online

It looks like were good to go again although the problem itself hasn't been fixed. Keep us posted if you run into trouble and in the meantime we will investigate new hosting providers.

I'm holding my hands up here

Having swept aside the downloading issues over the past few weeks I an conceding that we do indeed have problems. I think we may need to change hosting providers which means downtime. I'm struggling to get onto the hosting providers web site and also their control panel.

We shall keep you posted.

Apologies.

Populist but good

I have what some may call guilty pleasures, as we all do and Kanye drops firmly in that category although Common presents something different. In reality he has all the quality in the tunes (being mostly Kanye or Dilla anyway) but without the ego pushing its way into the lyrics. His last album is awesome and definitely worth a listen. Check out the video with him in the studio talking about one of his tracks from the album.

Now I know we posted Hip Hop way back when we started but here's a live version for you anyway.

Hip Hip (Live) - Dead Prez
Late (Live at Abbey Road Studios) - Kanye West
Misunderstood - Common

Tags: Common
Tags: Kanye West
Tags: Dead Prez    

Cassius and Pharrell

Pharrell and Cassius on making '15 Again'. No sign of Hugo (possibly the real genius?).

Cassius - Au Reve

Liars - Pure Unevil

Dappled Cities Fly - Fire Fire Fire (Loving Hands Remix)

Tags: Cassius
Tags: Liars
Tags: Dappled Cities Fly

Away we go...

... FTP sorted. Fire at will.

Hang on there...

... FTP is playing up and I can't get the links working. I'll let you know when it's fixed.

Larry, larry, larry...

It's no secret that we're big fans of Larry Levan here at Ugly Talented so there's no shame in posting more remixes in my eyes. The video is a little fuzzy but it was shot in 1987 at the closing party so bear with it - the crowd signing along is worth playing the video alone.

I've fixed the Michael Jackson link too.

Plunky & Oneness of Juju - Every way but loose (Larry Levan Remix)

Tracy Weber - Sure Shot (Larry Levan Mix)

Tags: Larry Levan

The Face Lift

After a few months we've decided it's best to have a slight change in appearance - we hope you like it. Not being at home for a week or so the posts have dried up a little despite me making a promise to get more tracks up. I will be posting in the next hour or so.

The Comeback

I promise to get back into the flow of this week but until then this is a simple, quick post...

Ray Charles - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin

Faze Action - Disco Warrior (Special Disco Mix)

The Popular People Front - I Don't Know (Evelyn Champagne King)

Tags: Ray Charles
Tags: Faze Action
Tags: The Popular People Front

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On / What's Happening Brother

Marvin Gaye, James Jamerson and Eddie 'Bongo' Brown - pure bliss.

Moodymann - I'm Doing Fine

Mid Air - Ease Out

Felix - Tigerstripes

Holiday

Were both away for the next few days so the next posting is going to be Monday.

Hopefully we'll be posting a mix at some point on our return.

As demos go...

Check out the raw genius! These are quite possibly the best demo's ever recorded. Imagine recording material this good and THEN getting Quincy Jones involved. Frightening. Milk bottles and cabassa played courtesy of Randy and Janet - pre jammin' arguments and all.

Priceless.

Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (Original 1978 Demo)

Michael Jackson - Workin' Day And Night (Original Demo 1978)

Tags: Michael Jackson

A Number of Names - Sharevari

The Equals - Funky Like A Train

Marvin Gaye - Funk Me

Leroy Burgess - Heartbreaker

There is a light that never goes out

After a night out with colleagues from work last night, I'm locking the doors for the weekend and getting down to some serious self-styled hermitology. The Twelves are everywhere at the moment popping up to rework M.I.A's "Boyz" whilst also spreading their Rio vibes over Erlend Oye's "Sudden Rush".

Is it wrong that I like Erlend Oye's Smiths cover?

Black Hollywood - Black Hollywood

Erlend Oye - Sudden Rush (The Twelves Remix)

To My Boy - Model

Tags: Black Hollywood
Tags: Erlend Oye
Tags: To My Boy

Rex vs Sly

Rex the dog is being posted purely for the intro (although I like a lot of the Depeche Mode stuff) - it keeps finding itself at the start of my ipod shuffle which is weird considering how much is on there. Again it's that analogue electro warmth that draws me to the track but one minute in a unashamedly 80's synth kicks in. Probably on the wrong side of cheesy. Check his Prototype video.

Sly gets on there for no other reason than this track tipped The Family Stone for me. They were always one of those bands that were referenced by all the modern artists that I loved, but I didn't really get them. I had the tunes, paid lip service but deep down I couldn't get into them, until this track. There's bigger tunes from Sly and probably funkier beats but the groove on this one was my wake up call. I think I was trying to master that flicky guitar riff at the time too...

Depeche Mode - Photographic (Rex The Dog Remix)

Sly and the Family Stone - Runnin' Away

Tags: Sly and the Family Stone
Tags: Depeche Mode

Liam Howlett presents the Breezeblock Mixshow

Attention all B-Boys and B-Girls!

Today we're taking a break from the norm by providing an amazing mixtape crafted by Liam Howlett from the Prodigy. This classic set was originally aired on Annie Nightingale's Breezeblock show in 1998, taking in breakbeats from The Beatles to Hendrix via the Ultramagnetic MCs. The set had an official release shortly after as Prodigy Presents: Dirtchamber Sessions Vol.1 (buy it here) but with some changes due to copyright difficulties - so if you already own the CD then you'll still love this...

Liam Howlett - The Original Breezeblock Mixshow [YSI] [Divshare]

Analogue Frenzy

Check out the analogue synths being used by Stereolab - a virtual smorgasbord of Moog goodness. I'm lovin' the cheap drum intro on Olv 26 - very DFA.

Stereolab - Olv 26

Boris Gardiner - Melting Pot

Soseme Makonde - Manzara

Tags: stereolab
Tags: boris gardiner
Tags: soseme makonde

Jose Feliciano - California Dreamin'

The Congos - Congoman Chant

Gil Scott-Heron - Grandma's Hands

Chicago Transit Authority - I'm A Man [Rub-N-Tug Edit]

So let me see that fancy footwork...

This is an un-ashamed posting for bringing Friday night forward to Thursday. And  postponing Monday to Tuesday. Long live the extended weekend. Digging around the tracks I've ear marked out for while I suspect these will make you move your feet. Modulation frenzy from Chromeo and MSTRKFT, the brilliant Digitalism remix of The Futureheads and crunchy French electro from Sebastian.

Anyone heading to see Uffie and Feadz at Sankeys? Let us know in the C-Box.

Sebastian - Walkman

Chromeo - Tenderoni (MSTRKRFT Remix)

The Future Heads - Skip To The End (Digitalism remix)

Quick

I'm shattered tonight so this will be short and sweet. Slick house from Spirit Catcher and some early nineties high pitch hip hop from the Wascals.

That's it.

Spirit Catcher - Harmonize (12" Version)

The Wascals - Stole The Show

'The Glass' Weekender - Part 2

So for part two of our Glass remixes, Arveene & Misk twist things round plus a Supertroels rework of 'Mad at You'.

Keep an eye for the full EP available from itunes and check out yesterdays post for the links to the 'Fourteen Again' remixes.

The Glass - Mad At You (Arveene and Misk Mix)

The Glass - Mad At You (Supertroels Mix)

Tags: The Glass

'The Glass' Weekender - Part 1 - New York Noise

This post is part one of an exclusive remix weekend courtesy of Plant Records and The Glass. First of all cheers to the Glen and Dominique for letting us get hold us the files for their up coming EP 'Couples Therapy' which is to be released on their own Plant records. 'Couples Therapy should be out now in Europe and later this month for the US.

Over the next two days I will be posting their remixes from two tracks courtesy of Eli Escobar, UFO, Supertroels and Arveene & Misk so please download now for a quality slice of New York Electro at it's finest. For tour dates and access to more information head to The Glass or to grab hold of their free New York Noise podcast then head here.

Want to purchase more? Buy from here.

The Glass - Fourteen Again (Eli Escobar Mix)

The Glass - Fourteen Again (UFO Mix)

Tags: The Glass

Bobby Byrd - Soul Man

Heaven just got funkier.

Bobby Byrd - Hot Pants (I'm Coming, Coming, I'm Coming)

Sammy Gordon and The Hiphuggers - Making Love

Experimental New York

Suicide have had a quite a bumpy ride all told and yet are clearly an influential band, surviving many guises and I actually have a number of tracks that I would love to post. Alan Vega and Martin Rev have been pushing the boundaries of electronic music for a while but haven't moved from cult to legend whilst some of their counter parts have, themselves never really passing into the pop echelons.

Of course the ones who did (Depeche Mode) made millions and then some didn't (New Order). I've realised that I haven't posted any New Order and given they can easily claim the title one of my favourite band, I've shocked myself. Here's the first.

Suicide - Super Subway Comedian

New Order - Face Up

Tags: New Order
Tags: Suicide

Chicago Transit Authority - I'm A Man

Joe Zawinul - In A Silent Way (In Memoriam)

Ozo - Anambra

Spacey - Dancer

Green and Green

Another trip down the M5/M6 for a weekend in the country left me to sift through some of the tracks that I've been dying to listen to for the past week or so. Grant Green is probably one of the most under-rated jazz guitar players of all time - timelessly cool and a real inspiration. He played with Elvin Jones who drummed for John Coltrane and really started making waves at the start of the sixties with his powerhouse rhythm section. Sadly he died at the age of 44.

You will now do the following;

1. Check out the video.
2. Listen to 'Sookie Sookie'.
3. Pay your dues.

Grant Green - Sookie Sookie

Al Green - I Can't Get Next To You

And for today...

It's Friday so here are a few tunes to move your feet to - have a good weekend! A Phreek tune from '77, big electro from Plus Move and an awesome track from Taj Mahal. Bluesy, but danceable.

Taj Mahal - Chevrolet

Plus Move - Boss

Phreek - Weekend (12" Extended Version)

Tags: Phreek
Tags: Taj Mahal
Tags: Plus Move

For Yesterday...

Slack posting again. Very poor show indeed.

After a quick run through the major music web sites I can't seem to find anything about Kazi who made the track below which has got to be worth a mention in itself. He keeps popping up on various Stones Throw stuff and some of the smaller LA labels and he's well worth a listen. I'm a sucker for that slow, soul sample and this track is no exception.

Plus, a Giles Peterson favourite from the multi talented instrumentalist Bonobo, from his 'Days to Come' album  (again definitely worth a listen - beautifully recorded) and my top sea shanty-esque Beirut track, Nantes. Great percussion on both tunes which can only be a good thing so long may it continue.

Kazi - A.V.E.R.A.G.E

Bonobo - Walk In The Sky

Beirut - Nantes

Tags: Beruit
Tags: Kazi
Tags: Bonobo

Llegadas

Having just returned from the White Isle slightly confused, sunburnt and dehydrated I'm relishing the posting of a couple of tracks for you (thanks to Haydn for keeping things ship shape in the meantime). Funnily enough I can't say I heard anything amazingly ground braking when I was over there but that wasn't really why I went. I have a bunch of friends who've been going out there every year for a while and always stay in San An. When I first went out to Ibiza 7 years ago I was lucky enough to get into most of the clubs free, stayed in a villa in Saint Joseph, and didn't really experience the dirty delights/horrors of San Antonio. This time, funds dictated otherwise. And I loved it...

So a shout out to Wips for selling over-the-counter lager to a group of desperate English ruffians (urban supermarket terrorists so they are), many thanks to the taxi driver who took me home from DC10's despite me falling asleep and not giving fully coherent directions plus a cautionary word regarding sunburn; factor 6 tanning oil does not, I repeat does NOT stop you burning at Bora Bora. It just makes you greasy.

So here's to dancing with people from around the world despite not speaking their language. Two of the highlights were hearing Justice in Space and The Gossip in a tiny bar somewhere in San An.

I didn't hear Booka Shade - I just like them.

Booka Shade - Something Physical

The Gossip - Listen Up (MSTRKRFT Remix)

D.V.N.O (LA Riots Bootleg Remix)

Tags: Justice
Tags: The Gossip
Tags: Booka Shade

The Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine

"Take my hand, let me stand, I'm your Mechanical Man," Jerry Butler

Jackie Mittoo - Hang 'Em High (Removed on request)

Betty Botox - Space Base (Removed on request)

Johnnie Taylor - What About My Love? [Joey Negro Reedit]

The Factory All Stars - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Phill & The Friends - This Man

Magazine 60 - Don Quichotte

The Incredible Bongo Band - Apache [Grandmaster Flash Remix]

George Kranz - Din Daa Daa

The Roots - Din Daa Daa

Devo - S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain)

M.I.A. - Jimmy

The Jackson 5 - The Life of the Party

Kelley Polar - Here in the Night

The Williams Fairey Brass Band - Jibaro

Gilberto Gil and Stevie Wonder

John Miles - Slow Down

Ian Dury and The Blockheads - Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3)

Johnny Walker - Funky Trip

I'm crying out for a remix

I've been listening to the Prinzhorn Dance School a lot recently and still don't know whether I like them... but, yeah, I do but I don't know why. This track is definitely crying out for a remix though - there must be some about given they are on DFA. I'll try and dig them out.

I know we've posted Madlib a number of times before but this track is incredible. Not many producers in Hip Hop would run with a bass line like that, break it down into a mad middle eight and then end on 19 seconds of blaxploitation goodness.

And some Silver Apples to end it tonight. Superb in its simplicity.

To Ibiza....

Prinzhorn Dance School - Up! Up! Up!

Greenery - Quasimoto

Silver Apples - Gypsy Love

The best song title in the world, probably...

The only respite from the hellish journey I experienced today came in the form of the following tracks bringing a little joy into what can only be described mundane motorway driving. I'm sure I picked up 3 points too - I am hating on the Cumbrian Mobile Safety units.

Tonight, Fat Cat provocateurs Mum with a quality track title (which I was reading on the iPod as I flew under the mobile speed camera, hence the 3 points), uber baroque pop, jazz funk producer David Axelrod from the Capitol recordings plus The Fabulous Souls.

I'll be taking tomorrow's post too before heading off to see Prince at the O2 arena and then attempting to survive 72 hours in Ibiza, saying goodbye to my youth.

The Fabulous Souls - Take Me

David Axelrod - Songs of Innocence

Mum - Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy, Let Your Crooked Hands Be Holy

Tags: The Fabulous Souls
Tags: Mum
Tags: David Axelrod

Novos Baianos - A Menina Dança

Los Javias - 1º Encuentro Latinoamericano de la Soledad

Blackjoy - Moustache [Prins Thomas Diskomiks]

Curtis Mayfield - You Are, You Are

Elektrons - Get Up

Inner Life - Moment Of My Life (12" Short Version]

John Forde - Don't You Know Who Did It

Peter Brown - Burning Love Breakdown

Yes - Roundabout

Lazy, very lazy...

Not posting last night has left me feeling guilty depriving you of much needed tuneful goodness. Here's a bumper post to see you through the bank holiday should the Electric Chair prove too much tomorrow night.

Enjoy the extra day off.

Metro Area - Atmosphrique

ELO - Living Thing

Ripple - The Beat Goes On and On

DJ Medhi - Wee Bounce

The Emperor Machine - Monkey Overbite

Wendy and Bonnie - By The Sea

We're gonna need a montage!

Francine McGee - Delirium

The Polyphonic Spree - Section 8 (Soldier Girl)

Hector Rivera - I Want A Chance For Romance

Sleepy

Christ I'm shattered - this will be short and sweet. During my travels I five star anything on the ipod that I think deserves posting but the issue trying to find the reason why you did that 7 days later.

Now I re-listen to everything before I blog aznd try and get a common theme on the go. All the posts tonight have soulful funk/groove to them with the real instrumentation. I was in the car today with Haydn lamenting that nobody makes records with full orchestras/backing vocals/horn sections anymore. Shame.

Some lavish spending on classy recordings in these days of bedroom productions would be a welcome return. No doubt you will all point out that all the tunes posted tonight are sampled to the high teeth but hey ho.

Embrace the deceit.

Love Honey, Love Heartache (Larry Levan Vocal Mix) - Man Friday

Don't Joke With A hungry Man - Quantic

How Do You Really Feel - Breakestra

Steve Dahl sucks!

"I view house as disco's revenge," Frankie Knuckles.

Black Devil Disco Club - On Just Foot [Dub Version]

Handsome Boy Modeling School - The Truth feat Roisin Murphy

Jon Lucien (RIP) - Would You Believe In Me

The slog...

Manchester to Edinburgh and back gives you time to to make your way through umpteen Ipod shuffles, 'must listen to' playlists and various never touched albums from Napster. Here are the fruits of my listening labour for your pleasure. I did have a quite a few picked out but my ongoing issues with the damn machine means I can't get iTunes to convert the handful of m4a's to mp3 so I will leave you with the three that stood out and I will post the rest later. I am hating on my computer at the moment.

More modulating synths, an incredible bass performance from Atlantic Conveyor and a mad little tune from Herman's Rocket that's probably done the rounds endlessly on the blogs but it must be posted again.

Enjoy.

Parallels - Invaders

Atlantic Conveyor - We Are

Herman's Rocket - Space Woman

Tags: Hermans Rocket
Tags: Atlantic Conveyor
Tags: Parallels

Electric Chair RIP

Inside... Mancunia... Six executions and counting...

Frank De Jo Jo Featuring Terri Pace - Turn Off The Lights

Irma Thomas - In Between Tears

Crue-L Grand Orchestra - Psycho Piano [Prins Thomas Diskomiks]

Yeah, yeah I missed a post...

Sorry guys it was my turn to post yesterday and I didn't.

OK - an ode to New York, modulated big tune electro and (sorry to beat you to it Haydn) an unbelievable dub mix from the Clash giving Simonon's bass room to breathe. Enjoy your weekend.

The Clash - Mustapha Dance
Whitenoise - Its What We Do
The Beastie Boys - An Open Letter To NYC (Removed
at the artist's request)

Mel Cheren - Godfather of Disco

Visit Mel's world here

Arthur Russell - See My Brother, He's Jumping Out (Let's Go Swimming #1)

Rekid - Lost Star 6

Ashford and Simpson - Bourgie Bourgie

Disco Jumpsuit Renegade

Just a quick one as I found two tracks that I was trying to blog during the great FTP blackout of last weekend in between dealing with my self loathing generated from a hefty Ikea flat-packing exercise.

French electro meets classic disco from 1979.

Tamiko Jones - I Can't Live Without Your Love
Kavinsky - Wayfarer (Plus Move Remix)

Tags: Tamiko Jones
Tags: Kavinsky
Tags: Plus Move

We are back online...

The FTP issues are now sorted so onwards with the blogging.

After Tony Wilson passed away on Friday night I think it's important to mention Rob Gretton too. Hannett has had plenty of press regarding who he was and what he could do behind the desk  but Gretton tends to play a less well known role to the average music lover compared to Wilson and the prodigiously talented producer.

Gretton, in a bid to save his own job as Joy Division's manager actually thought up the idea of staying fully independent because there was no way he was going to get on a train twice a week to London to deal with southerners especially now he was tasting success with Factory in it's early guise. If Wilson had his own way he would have probably have sold the bands for the cash so the original plan went.

The Hacienda was also his idea.

So to fallen heroes; especially those with their own FAC number - Martin Hannett, Tony Wilson and FAC 511.

(Here's a few tracks to make up for the lack of posting.)

Dance Floor Modulator - Juan McLean
The Comeback - Madlib
No Sale No ID - The Emperor Machine
Space Rock - Rockets
Consequence - Bugz in the Attic

Tags: Juan Mclean
Tags: Madlib
Tags: The Emperor Machine
Tags: Rockets
Tags: Bugz in the Attic

In Memoriam: Anthony H. Wilson

Many liked you, others loathed you but your contribution to the cultural landscape of this fair city is immeasurable.

A true visionary.

FTP Issues

Hi guys - having trouble getting the FTP site to work - I will post as soon as it becomes less temperamental...

Hypnotizin' (Herb Alpert - Rise)

Osunlade - Blackman

Inner Life - Make It Last Forever

Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Easy Money

The end is in sight...

Still blogging using my tracks at work and it's getting to me - it will soon be over, the computer shall be fixed and the source of all my power shall be returned!

Anyway, big shout out to everyone at Dpercussion in Castlefield at the weekend - I'd be amazed if there isn't funding found for that again next year - it's too good to let go - certainly the better DJ's/acts were on the small but awesome Sketch City stage from what Haydn and myself saw.

For everyone who missed it look no further than below:



Sister Sledge - Lost In Music (Special 1984 Nile Rogers Remix)

Pharoahe Monch - Agent Orange

Joe Claussel - Je Ka Jo

Arthur Russell Movie

The Arthur Russell Documentary is a new film by Matt Wolf in production in New York and Oskaloosa, Iowa. Arthur Russell was an avant-garde cellist and disco producer who died in 1992. To find out more go to: www.arthurrussellmovie.com

Dinosaur L - In The Cornbelt [Larry Levan Mix]

Marvin Gaye - Don't Mess With Mr. T

Queen - Fun It

Gary Numan - Films

Pre D-Percussion Posting...

Depending on what we hear at D-Percussion there could be some interesting posts after the weekend. Norman Jay from 4pm until 6-ish - see you there. Plus a shout out to our fellow Manchester-based bloggers 'Best Foot Forward' who have slot at the Sketch City stage going head to head against Norman.

£3 quid entry - worth every penny to see a melting pot of scallies, students and music snob's mingle together for a day in the Manchester sun

Mama (Metro Area Birthday Dub) - Hugh Masekela

We Got the Funk (12" US Re-Edit Version) - Positive Force

Girls in Hats (Kissy Sell Out Mix) - Loose Cannons

Tags: Hugh Masekela
Tags: Postive Force
Tags: Loose Cannons
Tags: DPercussion

Tribute to the Kalakuta Republic

To mark the tenth anniversary of the death of 'the Black President' here is our humble tribute to Fela Kuti.


Fela Anikulapo Kuti & The Africa 70 - Upside Down

Fela Anikulapo Kuti & The Africa 70 with Roy Ayers - 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free

Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight

Further reading:

The big Fela - Fela Kuti remembered (Observer Music Monthly, August 2004)

'He was in a godlike state' (The Guardian, July 2007)

Fela Kuti (Wikipedia)

Bart Simpson vs the White Stripes

The Dynamics - Seven Nation Army

Edwin Starr - Get Up Whirlpool

Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Congratulations

Loose Joints - Pop Your Funk

And into the third month...

Having made it into our third month with subscribers growing on a daily basis and the hits still coming in I would just like to thank everyone for reading the blog and long may it continue.

On the music front I'm posting what some may describe pure nonsense and quite possible they could be right but there is something compelling at the heart of these tracks from Mr Oizo. Either that or the fumes from the painting and decorating have finally gone to my head.

The truth be told, I love the fact that someone out there has made music like this and then had it released and that's why it's being posted.

A toast; to the art of noise and nonsense, from Captain Beefheart to Lou Reed and MMM (contractual obligations obliged)...

Haydn's on the next two posts - see you in three days...

Mr Oizo - (ee)
Mr Oizo - Vagiclean 2

The Scroggins and a guy called Leroy...

God bless ESG - an awesome band and influential across so many genres. Probably one of my favorite musical scenes must be New York in the early eighties and these guys were pivotal. Sampled beyond belief (to the point where they released a live album called 'Sample Credits Don't Pay Our Bills') and produced by the reverb lovin' Martin Hannett, 'Moody (Spaced Out)' has got to be an all time classic.



ESG - Moody (Spaced Out)
ESG - Come Away

Tags: ESG
Tags: music
Tags: mp3

Normal service is resumed

It appears that Tom is having a few technical difficulties so I thought I'd treat you to some more Stevie talkbox action.

Electra - Jibaro

Norma Jean Bell - I'm the Baddest Bitch [Moodymann Mix]

Common - Voices Inside My Head

Peter Brown - We Are People Too

Access Denied

Due to on going technical issues and the decorating of the upstairs of my house, my computer is still dismantled, making it hard to get tunes up here for you all.

I will have something up by Monday once I get back to work - promise.


Until then Disco Delicious have been added to our links - check out our friends down under when you get a chance.

(Cheers Andy!)

Dennis Parker - Like an Eagle

Kashmere Stage Band - Zero Point

Voyage - Point Zero

Kim English - Learn 2 Luv [Mood II Swing Club Mix]

Montana - The Toys Come to Life

Holidays, Hidden Folders and Hard Drives

With my feet back in England and the responsibility of blogging weighing heavy on my shoulders after a stint away I find myself faced with my music hard drive virtually melted on my return.

This poses a number of problems - the worst of it being how do I get my music off my iPod and onto my computer to get it back onto my iPod again (if anyone has had to do this regardless of all the freeware out there it's still an an arse to do.)

The answer? The network at work! As I am currently in a copying frenzy I have to admit that there isn't really a theme to this post and the first two tracks to appear on the network were getting posted as a means to save Haydn from a blogging U-tube addiction that has caught on in my absence. 

On that note a double act remix from Prins Thomas and Lindstrom of a personal favorite artist The Juan McLean plus Herbie reworked by Jeremy Ellis.

The Juan McLean - Tito's Way (Lindstrom and Prins Thomas Remix)
Herbie Hancock - Chameleon (Jeremy Ellis Remix)

Tags: Prins Thomas
Tags: Lindstrom
Tags: Herbie Hancock
Tags: The Juan McLean

Lasse Gjertsen - Amateur

Melissa Manchester - Bad Weather

Black Sheep - Strobelite Honey

Zazu - Captain Starlight

Escort vs The Muppet Show

Astonishing!

Paul McCartney - Temporary Secretary

Escort - Starlight

Randy Pie - Winter Song

Sahara All Stars Band Jos - Enjoy Yourself

A helping hand

Isley Brothers - Get Into Something

Kabbala - Ashewo Ara

Talking Heads - Mind [Alternate Version]

Material - Reduction

Fun with Stevie on Sesame Street

Quando Quango - Love Tempo (Mark Kamins Remix)

Prince - Sexy Dancer

Munich Machine - Space Warrior

XTC - Cairo

Can you guess the other three?

Marvin Gaye - Ego Trippin' Out

Carol Williams - Can't Get Away From Your Love [10" Promo Dub] (Ray 'Pinky' Velazquez not Larry Levan, sorry!)

The Dance - Do Dada

Rafael Cameron - Boogie's Gonna Get You [12" Instrumental Mix]

It's called "getting down"

Sheila E - A Love Bizarre

Alhaji K. Frimpong - Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu

Stevie Wonder - As If You Read My Mind

The Clash - The Cool Out

Wild combination

Dean Meredith and Andy Meecham have been moving dancefloors for almost two decades under their various noms de plume - including Big Two Hundred, Emperor Machine, Sir Drew and, famously, Bizarre Inc. Under their Chicken Lips guise they have been responsible for a slew of fantastic releases which often contain a devastating mixture of electro, dub, disco and rock.

Bell X1 - Flame [Chicken Lips Mix]

Robbie Williams - Rudebox [Chicken Lips Malfunction Dub]

Playgroup - Number One [Chicken Lips Dub]

Chicken Lips - He Not In [Greg Wilson Edit]

Mixed with Love Pt 1

Walter Gibbons was THE Don.

DJ, producer and remixer extraordinaire Walter was one of the chosen few who really understood how to move a dancefloor - it was in his DNA. Although the tracks that he worked with often ranged in quality he would always cut out the cheese or, at the very least, push it to the back of the mix whilst bringing the rhythm section and horns/strings to the fore.

Here are four fine examples of his work including a rare Gladys Knight remix where the bass is introduced after what seems like an age, a sparse and rather trebly remix of Betty LaVette's "Doin' the Best That I Can" and my personal favourite his Arts and Crafts remix.

Betty LaVette - Doin' the Best That I Can (Walter Gibbons Remix)

Gladys Knight - It's a Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons Remix)

Arts and Crafts - I've Been Searchin' (Walter Gibbons Mix)

Arthur Russell - Let's Go Swimming (Walter Gibbons Remix)

I don't wanna dance

Christmas 1982 - I was given my first record - a crisp 7" of Eddy Grant's "I Don't Want to Dance" single on ICE with an a capella version on the b-side. Happy days.

Eddy Grant must be one of the most under-rated producers of all time, he had his first number one in 1968 (The Equals "Baby Come Back") and over the next twenty years went on to produce some awesome tracks both solo and with Symarip/Pyramids, Frontline Orchestra and The Coach House Rhythm Section.

Often politically charged and always innovative - this is my chance to give the man the respect he deserves.

The Coach House Rhythm Section - Timewarp

Derek Harriot - Black Skinned Blue-Eyed Boys

Frontline Orchestra - Don't Turn Your Back On Me (Removed on request)

Eddy Grant - My Turn to Love You

From one Sylvester to another

I had a bit of an obsession with Sly & The Family Stone when I was 16, I found an old album in my parent's vinyl collection and was instantly captivated by the feel-good vibes, the horns and, most of all, the basslines.

I've picked three Family Stone originals and a cover of an early Abaco Dream song to showcase Sly's amazing grasp of funk, rock and psychedelia as well as the mark he has indelibly left on Hip-Hop.

Sly & The Family Stone - Crossword Puzzle

Sly & The Family Stone - Trip to Your Heart

Sly & The Family Stone - My Gorilla Is My Butler [Instrumental]

The Chairmen of the Board - Life and Death in G&A (Part 1)

Do you wanna funk?

Sylvester's "Over and Over " is a stone-cold classic and probably would be in my all time top 10 - if it didn't change every five minutes!

Sylvester, born Sylvester James, is probably best known for being a disco diva and latterly "The Queen of Hi-NRG", however, he made some amazing grooves especially those with synth supremo Patrick Cowley and his backing singers Two Tons of Fun.

Sylvester - I Need Somebody to Love

Sylvester - Give It Up (Don't Make Me Wait)

Sylvester - Over and Over

Annual Leave Pending...

This will be my last post for a while as I am off on holiday for a few weeks so I will leave you in the capable hands of Haydn, NuYourican Soul and Q-Tip - a shoe in for one of my favorite tracks of all time...

I Am The Black Gold of the Sun (MAW mix with Q Tip) - NuYourican Soul

A little bit of this - a little bit of that...

Three tracks tonight - quality disco from Esther Williams - one of our talented and certainly not ugly artists with a history of tracks in R&B, Jazz and Gospel. An excellent squelchy bass, cosmic disco track from The Emperor Machine and something I stumbled across from John Peel's Fabric Live 07 compilation which made me crack a smile a the top of the M62. Soukous guitar at it's best from a 12" released in 1989. My first experience of African Rumba no less...

Maloko - In the Midnight Hour

The Emperor Machine - Seka Wants Your Vcs3

Esther Williams - Last Night Changed It All

When worlds collide

I have only one recommendation to make today and that is to turn the volume up and the lights down.

Steve Miller Band - Macho City

Hell yeah!

Save me Jebus!

In a struggle to get a selection of decent tunes on the blog tonight I left myself in the hands of the iPod shuffle fate. Luckily, as always, fate delivered the goods and providence prevails.

Your Friday tunes are as follows - a Larry Levan favorite from David Joseph 'You Can't Hide' - a modulation freak out on every synth in the tune plus Todd Terje's remix of Fox n Wolf's  'Claws against Knifes' complete with dub hi-hat intro.

Enjoy your Friday night....

David Joseph - You Can't Hide

Fox n Wolf - Claws Against Knifes (Todd Terje Remix)

Tags: David Joseph
Tags: Fox n Wolf
Tags: mp3
Tags: music

The missing tracks...

Here are the missing tracks from two fays ago - a An Ed Banger effort from Sebastian on 'I Still Remember', a  remix for the B-side 'Tulips' and 'Banquet' taken from The Silent Alarm remixed album from Boyz Noize.

I Still Remember (Sebastian Remix)
Tulips (Minotaur Shock Mix)
Banquet (Boyz Noize Vox Mix)
Tags: Bloc Party
Tags: Sebastian
Tags: music
Tags: mp3

Dance Moderno

Sergio Mendes isn't just known for his forays into easy and uneasy listening, he also dabbled in R&B and disco. Here's three from the late-seventies/early-eighties...

Sergio Mendes and Brasil '88 - I'll Tell You

Sergio Mendes and the New Brasil '77 - Mozambique

Sergio Mendes and the New Brasil '77 - The Real Thing

Voices, voices everywhere...

First of all for some unknown reason I can't get the other tracks up onto the site tonight so it's a single post I'm afraid.

Over the weekend I found out, in my usually belated fashion that a Weekend In The City is a truly great album. Thank god.

In all honesty the 'Silent Alarm' past me by until 12 months later when I really got into it and the same was happening again with the second album. It takes a very close listen in my opinion  - certainly not as obvious as first set of tunes yet still retaining that angular, dance tinge edge. probably the best band in Britain.

Erol providing a different take on She's Hearing Voices...

She's Hearing Voices (Erol Alkan Calling Your Dub)

Tags: Bloc Party
Tags: Erol Alkan
Tags: music
Tags: mp3

Dancing in Wider Circles

Holger Czukay was the bassist from everybody's favourite krautrockers Can. A former music teacher who studied under Stockhausen, Czukay is famed for his leftfield excursions which often had dancefloor leanings. After leaving Can in 1977, he went on to forge a successful solo career during which he also hooked up with other likeminded artists like Eurhythmics, Jah Wobble and David Sylvian. He is also known to be accomplished with the old 'disco scissors'.

Can - Vitamin C

Jah Wobble, The Edge, Holger Czukay and Ben Mandelson - Snake Charmer [Francois Kevorkian Snake Dub]

Holger Czukay - Cool in the Pool

Can - Aspectacle