On their dreamy debut EP, Cut the World [ buy ], synth pop/new wave outfit Moscow Olympics echoes the sounds of classic Factory Records bands such as Joy Division , New Order and A Certain Ratio --- by way of the Philippines. Somewhere Tony Wilson is smiling. No Winter, No Autumn mp3 Safe [...]
Neglecting my responsibilities over the past month, I'm now trying to make amend with a double post. As they, they don't make them like they use to... A Certain Ratio - Water Line Geraldine Hunt - Can't Fake The Feeling Parallels - Ultralight
After revisiting the epic Flight by A Certain Ratio ( MySpace / Wiki ) recently, here's the brittle, call & response punk-funk of their Crystal ( zShare ) from the classic Sextet & the Waterline 12" ( zShare ) from the same period (available on the Soul Jazz compilation Early ). At this rate, a Swamp Children / Kalima post can't be far off... As a [...]
A birthday track for ah: A Certain Ratio 's thrilling Flight ( zShare : 320 Kbps) (originally a 12" single & then on the The Graveyard and the Ballroom cassette on Factory ; also included on the Early compilation on Soul Jazz ). & here 's the 1979 Peel Session version ( zShare : 320 Kbps) - also included on Early. Recent-ish live version:
Greetings from the void . If anyone really cares, I'm still here, doing what I do. Today maybe doin' the du. I was playing 12" 45s the other day & I started listening to A Certain Ratio. The funky/punky dance thingy had my toes tappin' & raised my spirits. A Certain Ratio was one of the first groups to sign to the legendary Factory Records in Manchester. While many people credit New Order &/or The Happy Mondays as the group(s) who brought Dance music into the sound of Manchester (later Madchester!), it is in [...]
Clipd Beaks Genre: Psychedelic / Progressive / Thrash From: California United States California's eccentric noise terrorists Clipd Beaks belt out their hypnotically warped post punk pandemonium with a panache that defies logic. Mix in some stuttering ramshackle funk, jerky, jagged rhythms and seethingly tense proggy psychedelia and you have the perfect soundtrack to the apocalypse. [...]
Power Suits, Corruption and Lies - NME article 25 July 1992; Tony Wilson photographed by Kevin Cummins Soon after writing my post on Friday, I headed to upstate New York for a relaxing summer weekend. I left my worries behind along with most of my means of contact with the outside world: no internet access, no TV, and limited cell phone service. Just myself, some music, good friends, and nature. It was relieving and peaceful - a perfect weekend. Being a slave to technology, one of the [...]
Too many of these lately. Tony Wilson was a know-it-all prat but that certainly doesn't mean I didn't respect him. The way he ran Factory records -- split the money 50/50 with the band, artist freedom, amazing sleeves, etc --...
Factory Records founder Tony Wilson shuffled off to the great Hacienda in the sky today. I'm certain that the serious-minded music bloggers will have detailed obituaries, tributes, and analyses of the man's life and legacy up shortly, but given my areas of interest I'd figured I ought to post something in honor of the man...even if 24 Hour Party People the most mind-numbingly boring movie I've ever made the mistake of watching. My ambivalence about Joy Division is well known, and any interest I had in the "Madchester" scene was because the [...]
B esides giving rise to punk and new-wave bands, the era of 1977-1987 also birthed the bands that formed the foundation of "alternative" rock like Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Husker Du, and many more. There was so much innovation and change during this time period that just wasn't accepted by the mainstream media of the day. This era also spans a time period large enough that includes my uncle's college years and my first exposure to the music that would eventually change my life. I find it interesting that this is the music that made most [...]
Again, no top of 2006 list for me. But here's something close. Top from 1981-1986 (otherwise known as the high school years). But a couple of caveats...I tried to stick with releases that actually came out during that time period. I also avoided the big names, just because those songs are easily found. So the skipped list is long: Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way Clash - Straight To Hell Violent Femmes - Add It Up Cure - Close to Me The Smiths - How Soon is Now Scritti Politti - [...]
it's no secret that i have been deeply influenced by the design work of peter saville . but, really, who hasn't? a bunch of saville's greatest work is included in a new book - f actory records: the complete graphic album . (thanks to newly-redesigned cool hunting for the tip) in addition to lp covers and 12" single sleeves, the tome collects all accompanying ephemera from the madchester label such as flyers, posters, etc. a must have. ech, i just caught myself about to call something a "great stocking stuffer". fuck it, just buy [...]
painting: michael sieben at gallery lombardi At least, not when you're working 60 hours a week. Hey, I'm doing my best. 15minMix coming later in the week. A CERTAIN RATIO/touch BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE/can't wait (live)
I think it was the late Carl Sagan who stated that scientists for all their supposed book learning are human, with all the same personality quirks and flaws as the rest of us ignorant sods, and that their personal foibles reflect back on the public’s perception of science as a whole. Sagan, of course, was not suggesting that scientists should behave like emotionless technocrats, but was instead trying to explain that the validity of the scientific method should not be ruled invalid because of ridiculous behavior by its practitioners. I’ve been trying to keep that advice in mind [...]
My Big Mouth Strikes Again
UGLY TALENTED
Lend Me Your Ears
Nothin' Sez Somethin'
The Devil Has The Best Tuna
Friction NYC
Sound Bites
Armagideon Time
Can You See the Sunset
grapeJuiceplus
disco-not-disco
MANTHECHANGE
The Rapture: “In The Grace Of Your Love (Poolside Remix)”
ACL 2012: Lineup Leak?
Listen: Sleigh Bells x Diplo – Demons
We Gonna Party Like It’s Your Birthday
