Stinky Grooves 06.01.09 and Frying Lettuce

Yawn Yawn Yawn – Sth National (Claremont 56)
The Living Sea – Monkey Journey to The West (XL)
Tu Frances – Caballerso Con Descuento
Incoming – Cumbianauts
Cumbia Murguera – Chancha Via Circuito (Bersa Discos)
Exhibit A – Jay Electronica
Brother – Smashproof feat Gin Wigmore (Move The Crowd)
UK Freestyle – Wale
2008 Rap Up – Skillz
Moment Of Truth – Jay Z @ Studio One
Day’n’Nite (Widdler Dubstep Rmx) – Kid Cudi
Cool Out – Kind Midas Sound (Hyperdub)
Phantom – E (7even)
The Branch Is Weak (Geoim Rmx) – Shackleton (Skull Disco)
Triple Six – Coki (DMZ)
Homeless (Quarta 330 Rmx) – Cardopusher (Hyperdub)
Auntie’s Lock/Infinitum (Quarta 330 Rmx) – Flying Lotus (Warp)
Love Lockdown (Flying Lotus Rmx) – Kanye West
Natural Selection (Flying Lotus Rmx) – Martyn (3024)
Get Bright – Busy Signal (Victor Japan)
Wise Up – Busy Signal (Mangena Records)
Friends – Erup (Mangena Records)
Warlords daughter (Krishna XI Rmx) – Lexie Lee
Last Man Standing – Vybz Kartel
Slept With Your Sister – Sadiki
The Ol Chair – Busy Signal
Cash Register Rhythm - John John Crew (John John)
Moon Song (Mungolian Jetset Rmx) – They Came From The Stars I Saw Them (This Is Not An Exit)
Through The Robot Chicken Shed (Andrew Weatherall Rmx) – Le Sarge En Board (Rotters Golf Club)
Calypso On Seng – Dubdub On Seng (Japonica)
Arc _ Arcadion (DC Recordings)
Nautilus – Rune Linbaek (Drum Island)
Mutual Affection - In Flagranti (Codek)
Maja (Dub) – Cantoma (Claremont 56)
Beefy’s Tune (Long Version) – Dennis Bovell (EMI)
Trials and Crosses – Earl Sixteen
My Mammy – Ranking Dread (Greensleeves)
Cuss Cuss (New York Version – Roots Radics (Soul Jazz)

Balmy business

This week, I have yanked out a remix of a geezer who is playing here on Thursday.  Due to my hermit like xmas existence, and what seems like some pretty low key promotion, I didn't find out about that till today, but I fully intent to attend.

I wasn't initially sold on Flying Lotus, I tend to react that way when there's too much hoopla and hype and that was certainly the case early on, a year or two ago,  when people were proclaiming him as the 2nd coming. However I'm increasingly impressed by his work and he seems to have owned a style (or even template) that is being aped by many, yet his tracks always make their presence felt. I say all this despite him standing me up for a phone interview last year. His mix of Martyn's already monstrous 'Natural Selection' has been a real favourite of late, but I no have that in the chic format required. Instead here's Japanese master of 8 bit grit and Hyperdub artiste, Quarta 330  weebling the bejesus out, for EP3 of 'Los Angleles' remixerations.

AUNTIE'S LOCK/INFINITUM (QUARTA330 REMIX) – FLYING LOTUS

Smashproof - 'Brother' South Aucks video fire

Thems who knows me, I'm sure will fully understand that I'm not regarded as being an easily impressed, flag bearer for NZ muzak. It's curious how I've probably copped more grief about having (what I perceive to be) the same standards for local yokel gear as I do for international malarkey, than almost (almost!) anything else. I find it odd when I've run Round Trip Mars, a record label that has released nothing but NZ muzak for 10 years now, and have played hundreds (actually way more like four figures worth) of domestic tunes that made the grade on Stinky Grooves (and Tranquility Bass), for nearly twice that amount of time. The same standards apply on StinkInc, and the same mates, associates and otherwise, will probably have the hump with me about not posting their gear up here.

Hanyways long story short, I'm not flinging this up for making friends points or any other reason, other than it's simply wicked. This song entered my head (repeatedly) in NYC in October, and really it hasn't left between now and then. I've been waiting to have it, and run it on Stinky Grooves, ever since, and tonight I'll be doing just that .... at last. To my way of thinking this is a bonafide domestic classic, and if it isn't treated as such I'll be throwing my toys out the playpen, with some serious vigour. What gets me the most is Tyree's sung part on the chorus, that's not to say that Gin doesn't slay it (big things on the way for her, no doubt) and the verses are choice, but while most current songs struggle to find a half-decent fishing-hook, this is like the backroom of the butchers! No autotune or oh-so-current hiphouse flim flam, just solid business on multiple levels, give this a couple of plays and see if it doesn't lodge itself deep in your cranium and take up residency.
On the MTC tip I'm figuring Young Sid's 'Domestic Disturbance' mixtape is close to droppage soonest, and their new combo Kids In Space have their first (very Kid Cudi-esque) track up which you can check by clicking that link back there. 

So many Kids these days, where's my goats at?...

(buy) the empeetree ici

(buy) the video here (do people do that ? I know I don't)

Move The Crowd web

79-70 Countdown continues...

79. Das Feur (Pilooski Edit) - Holger Hiller (Dirty Edits Vol 2)
See this post.

78. Colder Than Cold – Kari Jess/Drums Of War - Flowsion (High Stakes)

For the full skinny on High Stakes check this post. Kari Jess simply kills this, what a shame then that he's talking rubbish and doesn't have the reportage skills of Flowsion who flexes necessary lyrics about the outrageous Maori 'terrorist' raids at the end of '07. The damage that hip-hop (and relatives) has done to Jamaican lyricism is truly massive, and hopefully not irrevocable, respect to Flowsion from little old NZ for reminding of reggae's value as a vital news medium for those who don't get a voice elsewhere.

(Karispace)
See this post for mas High Stakes.

COLDER THAN COLD - KARI JESS

DRUMS OF WAR - FLOWSION

77. Click My Finger – Erup (Truckback)

Erup truly planted his flag on the 'Gearbox' rhythm, and the dancehall scene in general, with his digital snapping 'Click My Fingers'. His flow is blinding on this (and he hasn't bettered it yet), while the rhythm is some crazy kind of bashment meets teddy boy tune up. The vid below is one of many featuring folks shaking a hip or two to the track, the sound is rubbish on this clip, but I rate it the mostest in every aspect, especially the location.

(Erupspace)

76. The Living Sea - Monkey (XL)
Until not so long ago I wouldn't have given Damon Albarn a light, let alone the time of day. However from his Malian musings with Pablo's bass player, to his Good, Bad & Queening with Simonon, Allen et al my respect, and enjoyment of his work, just grows. The Monkey Journey To The West soundtrack thingie is wicked but as Jamie Hewlett remarked when I interviewed him about the album (seemed like a most unaffected celebrity cartooner, and went well over time with a lot of good things to say) it's not the kind of thing you want to play everyday. This track is. Albarn seemed a little bit titchy at my suggestion that this sounded like an Orientalised The Good, The Bad & The Queen song....but it does!

(buy)
(Monkeyspace) song is on the player here
(Monkeyweb)
(Operaweb)

75. Bombon Asesino Version - El Hijo De La Cumbia (Bersa Discos)

There is so much potential in the nova-digital-cumbia gear and I'm praying that it doesn't go the way of so many interesting tangents, and just become another dancefloor diversion for hipsterati mp3 djs. Lot of faith in this geezer and the Bersa Discos crew who just keep bringing new names through with every release. This version is from one of me Stinkmix CD's (was all I had on hand, apologies) so has additional spoken verd piffle and sting-age on top, guess you'll just have to pile on the files from Turntable Lab if you want it unobscured..

(buy) digi

(ElHijoDeLaCumbiaspace)

(Bersaspace)

BOMBON ASESINO VERSION - EL HIJO DE LA CUMBIA

74. Beautiful Gloom (Dennis Young Version) – Padded Cell (DC Recordings)

Could just as easily been the original from the pretty bloody marvelous 'Night Must Fall' album, but I've plumped for the version featured on 'Death Before Distemper 2'. Dennis Young is originally from the legendary Liquid Liquid, is a percusso-power-puncher par excellence and has more collabos with DC Recordings artists on the way. Check his website (below) for detailia. The killer trumpet (and guitar) comes from Gerald Hammill, points and prizes!

(buy)

(PaddedCellspace)
(DennisYoungweb)


BEAUTIFUL GLOOM (DENNIS YOUNG VERSION) - PADDED CELL

73. 80's - Joker (Kapsize)

Were I considering taking this list riddiculation even further (don't worry I supsect I have already bitten off more than easily chewable) and going down the path of artist of the year and what have you, Joker would be right up there. More to come from him later listwardly, this is some frighteningly fierce future funk.

(buy)
(Jokerspace)
(Kapsizespace)

80's - JOKER 

72. Pendulum - Sisters Of Transistors (This Is Music)
See this post


71. Do Bodda Mi (In Digital) - Roots Manuva/Wrong Tom (Big Dada)
Wrong Tom, often found lurking around Hard-Fi remixes, did a stonking job of overhauling some of the highlights of Rodders latest epic in a dubwise slant on 'Slime & Version'. This jaunty track was a highlight on both the original and the re-jig.

(buy)


70. Zeitghost - The Time & Space Machine (5D)

Following on from the exceptional Beyond The Wizards Sleeve series of edits and enhancements to 60's and 70's hooha (made with the oft-surprising Erol Alkan), ex-Gridster and thoroughly nice bloke, Richard Norris, struck out on his own as The Time And Space Machine. This release is, if anything, even better. Pretty sure this is hard to track down now, look out for a quick (unpublished) interview with the musically very well travelled Norris, about the whole re-edit fandangle up here in the next month or two.

(Time&Spacespace)

ZEITGHOST - THE TIME & SPACE MACHINE

spanking you for your attention.....

Stinky Grooves 30.12.08

The Lie – Zomby (Ramp)
Give Me Up (LD Rmx) – Sully (2nd Drop)
Clunk Click Every Trip – Peverelist (Punch Drunk)
New Life Baby Paris – Mala (Deep Medi Music)
Brrrrrrappi! (Quiet Storm Rmx) – Dachambo (Jetset)
Shipwreck Glue (Kelpe Rmx) – Kelpe (DC Recordings)
Mutual Affection – In Flagranti (Codek)
Bonat Synthesizer – Rune Lindbaek (Drum Island)
Do The Math – Bounty Killer & Busy Signal
Judas – Bounty Killer
All About My Money – Busy Signal
Go Round Payola/Instr – Jahdan Blakkamoore/Shadetek (Dutty Artz)
Epic Mardre – Mungolian Jetset (Lunar Flicks)
Epics & Donuts (Mungloina Jetset Rmx) – Altz (Lastrum)
Das Feur – Holger Hiller (Dirty)
Blue Lipps (Idjut Boys Edit) – Depth Charge (DC Recordings)
Dripping Like Water – Zomby (Ramp)
Green Ranger – LD (2nd Drop)
Bad – Kode9 & LD (Hyperdub)
Homeless (Quarta 330 Rmx) – Cardopusher (Hyperdub)
Gather – Peverelist (Punch Drunk)
Natural Selection (Flying Lotus Rmx) – Martyn (3024)
Spread The Hot Potato (Andrew Weatherall Rmx) – Radical Majic (Rotters Golf Club)
The Legacy (Andrew Weatherall Rmx) – E.S.C. (Rotters Golf Club)
Uptown (Andrew Weatherall Rmx) – Primal Scream (B Unique)
Conservation Of Momentum – Euler (Codek)



long tracks, short playlist..time of the year

For the final burnt offering to go with the last playlist of the year here is a scorching rave-fairground-meets-bashment track from Jahdan Blakkamoore's 'We Are Raiders' EP, which really should have been amongst the EPs of the year post. With weighty geezers like DJ Rupture, Matt Shadetek and Stereotyp behind him Blakkamoore is a name you're going to be hearing a lot more of in '09, doubtless. It's available on vinyl, extended CD and digital...so there's no excuses ........

(buy) the wax

(Jahdanspace)

(DuttyArtzspace)

JAHDAN BLAKKAMOORE - GO ROUND PAYOLA

Woofah Worrying & Rhythmic Reading

Out on the streets in Blighty and surrounds, or by ye olde fashioned wonders of mail elsewhere, issue #3 of Woofah dropped in the mailbox just before Xmas. If you haven't already familiarised youself with said publication, you can get a general idea about it at their site, but like all the best mags/zines/printed whatevers, you need to hold, absorb and read it to fully get the picture. Reggae, grime and dubstep is the stated brief, and it's handled impeccably by people who know and care. Dare I even say that this issue is better than #2, and the design is spot on. 

Of particular note is the article about the Kingston asylum Bellevue and its musical connections (what next Madden's, the undertakers referred to lyrically for decades?), as well as in-depth pieces on the Bomb Squad's dubstep fascination and the perennial pounding of Mr Twilight Circus Ryan Moore, and plenty more. You only need to check the list of contributors (most of whom run top notch blogs) to know that the writing is generally excellent, even if the reviews do stray towards the ebullient and insider-y at times, it's refreshing to see some genuine passion. 

You can, and should, buy it here, painlessly paypal style and fashion.

(Woofahspace)

I strongly suggest you get to it quick smart, before they're all gone...Top Songs of 08 malarkey up next from me.

90-80 finally...

90. Special Request - Chronic Sonata (Tip Of The Iceberg)
See this post, go on have a gander.

89. Rockers Delight - O.S.C. (Steps In Time)

Babylon System's Roommate and Antiserum from San Francisco make up O.S.C. and this simple but scorching 12" lit me decks up something chronic this year. With the likes of Rusko eschewing his reggae roots for some kind of bassline arms race with Casper, and technoid noodling taking centre stage elsewhere, it has surprisingly mainly been left up to the yanks to keep the fire burning on reggae soaked dubstep biz. Sure this pushes the obvious buttons, with Scratch samples and whatnot, but them buttons do need some activation from time to time, so respect to the septics. 

(buy)
(OSCspace)
(StepsInTimespace)

88. Hustle - Collie Buddz (Columbia)/Que Lloren - Calle 13 (Sony BMG)

Exposing just how foolish the idea of a list of loved tracks like this being in any way robust, here's a meaningless tie. Truth be told the 100+ tracks were divided into three rough chunks, and the ranking from then was arbitary at best. So honkamuffin Collie Buddz' easy singjay style works a treat on Barrington/Junjo's 'Prison Oval Rock', while Puerto Rican brothers Residente and Visitante take a pop at reggaeton royalty Queen Ivy (and others) on 'Que Lloren', swimming against the regressive tide in that particualr style of music over the past 12 months. Reggaeton's year can best be summed up by Daddy Yankee's lame endorsement of John McCain, not the sort of thing you'd expect from the likes of these politically switched on geezers (who actually had Reuben Blades guesting on their latest) or their compardres Voltio and Tego Calderon.

(buy) Calle 13's 2008 album 'Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo'
(Colliespace)
(Calle13space)
(Calle13web)




QUE LLOREN - CALLE 13

87. Luddite Dub – South3rn (Clandestine Cultivations)
See this post...

86. Timekeeper - Clouds (Ramp)

A scorching 12" with a remix from Ras G that is so genuinely unhinged, it took a few plays just to get my head around the beat. Well miffed that I cannot find an mp3 to this anywhere though I know had it at some point, if I start getting into even partially digitizing stuff for this list I'm going to be in big trouble. 
(buy)
(Cloudspace)

85. In Your Eyes - Sanchez (John John)

A classic rhythm (Love I Can Feel/ Tempted To Touch), from one of the great studios and lineages (right royal Jammy's & Sons Esq) with one of the most distinctive voices of modern reggae, it's a slam dunk. Sanchez undoubtedly can cheese the fuck out, but get him on the right track and he's unstoppable, and as for what he does to the ladies when he appears on stage in JA, well that is an experience in itself. As a bonus you're getting the full Sanchez version and then a quick disc flip, before the Mighty Asterix takes over and lets off the Dionne Warwick. This was taped (thanks Anand and Vanita) at the tail end of a cracking session with the Newtown Sound/Nice Up kids down in Welli in '07. Levels are a bit straight off the desk, Asterix is sans FX and like I said this is late into the session.... so it's rough and ready. As I have commented before, Asterix is the only MC who has ever fully harnessed the pungent power and that's how it's been since we first linked the best part of 20 years ago. I'm really looking forward to our next assignment supporting the Bug in 3 weeks, and then getting a run on Vital Soundsystems' scoops at the Cuba Street Carnival in February.
(buy)
(Sanchezspace)

Sanchez in red.

His Mightyness in green.

SANCHEZ/THE MIGHTY ASTERIX - IN YOUR EYES (+)

84. Heaven At Night - Kid Cudi (10 Deep)
The hip-hop credits this year were shared by newcomers The Knux and Cleveland's Kid Cudi. We'll be hearing more about both of them further down the list, so I'l leave the talking to Cudi and this Andy Kaufman inspired stroke of genius on top of an irresistable beat from Nosaj Thing.
(Download) the whole mixtape from here for nix..
(Cudispace)
(Web)


HEAVEN AT NIGHT - KID CUDI

83. Buff Nuff - Roots Manuva (Big Dada)
My God this sounds good on a large system, Toddla T outdid himself with this one. More to come from the District of Rodney down the list.
(Rootspace)
(web)

82. Electric Love – Coco Solid (Coco Solid)

I have already rahed and rae rae'd about the wonderfulness that is Coco Solid here. 
ELECTRIC LOVE - COCO SOLID

81. Rude Effort - Bullion (One-Handed Music)

There was a whole heaping helping of wonky hip-hop beaty biz this year and this feller from Acton, who previously stuck his head above the parapet with a Beach Boys/J Dilla mixtape, nailed it with both sides of a vital (and now sold out) 7". Tis Bionicaly Bullionic.
(buy) think the 7"s are done but this is the stinklink to digital relief.

(Bullionspace)

RUDE EFFORT - BULLION

80. Trading Places - Busy Signal (Jukeboxx)/ Drop Bombs (Loudmouth Rmx) - Mz Brat ft Griminal
See this post for 'Trading Places' and this'un for some chat and links about Loudmouth's superb remix of Mz Brat & Griminal.

Top 100(ish) Songs of '08 ....100-91

And so it begins. As much time as I've spent going through playlists, reviews, piles of discs, crates and the rest, it's a very unscientific process and the numbers or rankings are pretty meaningless in all honesty. I've already remembered some stuff I've overlooked, so there will inevtably  be omissions and what have you. Some 10's will have more tracks to try, some less, avoiding anymore attention from the pullers down of posts is a must right now. I'll be trying to fling the next 10 up within a day or two, and so on, till we get to the albums. Enjoy.

100.  What Im Gonna Do – Bugle (Daseca)

This boy can whine (and I'm not talking about dancing) on some tracks, but when he's on...phew. There's a lot of aaite but ultimately average sub hip-hop rhythms running around JA these days, Daseca ALWAYS shine.
(buy)
(Buglespace)
(web)


99. Usain Bolt Nuh Linga - Elephant Man
The tribute track came almost as fast as Bolt's record breaking Olympic fun run, and it's unspeakably fine to see Jamaicans having something positive to cheer about. However by the end of the year its back to business as usual with Ice, the originator of the Gully Creepa dance favoured by Bolt after demolishing the opposition, shot and killed in Kingston. Of course that bit of news ends up in the national press. Plus ca change.
(Elepspace)
This is a good bit of written Bolt Olympic commentary from them that were there.

Usain Bolt Nuh Linga - Elepehant Man

Nuh Linga (Original) - Elephant Man

Gully Creepa - Elephant Man


98. Soft Cheese – Natural Yoghurt Band (Jazzman)
Soft but definitely not sloppy, this 45 (the b-side of the nae bad 'Voodoo') from Gerald Jazzman's eponymous label is a scorcher. First introduced to me by that man Grant in New Plymouth ( I believe they call him The General or suchlike) on a scorching night, mid-WOMAD at some bar gig that turned out real nice with Cian also on the decks, and not a little bit of sessioneering amongst some hearty back-to-backery.
(buy)
(NaturalYoghurtspace)


97. Gemini - Del Shannon (Dirty Edits)
Check this post

The late, great, oft slept on and somewhat troubled Del Shannon. There's a lot more to this man than just 'Runaway'!

GEMINI (PILOOSKI EDIT) - DEL SHANNON

96. Fuckaz – The Bug ft Spaceape (Ninja Tune)
Wrote a lot about the Bug for various mags and whatnot this year so I shall not ramble too much, but man it was good hearing this track blasting out on the bFM playlist (without a single complaint I believe) like a righteous burst of wake up-ness to all and sundry. In case you didnt know (NZ readers) the end of January is looking seismic, with The Bug and Warrior Queen visiting at the same time as Rhythm & Sound with Tikiman (if he's still allowed to be called that), personally i cannot fucking wait!! The word on AK is at Bacco Room on 31st, I've been asked to play, not sure who else, should be a stonker but I cant find a flyer anywhere. Here's the Welli haps (respect to Nice Up) .....

(Bugspace)


95. One Two Order – Tarrus Riley (VP/Deadly Dragon)
When he's not submerged in Dean Frazer's occupationally hazardous saccharinicity or veering too far down the mild side, Jimmy Riley's son is right on the money. This little gem from the 'Parables' album was put out on 7" by Deadly Dragon (check this post) and VP, so no audio!
(buy) the 7" from Deadly Dragon
(buy) Parables
(Tarruspace)


94. Last Saloon Swagger - Forsaken feat Joker and Ben Blackmore (Soul Motive)
A record that mentions swagger that isn't lamo-ip-op boasting, and a dubstep concept 12" to boot. There's more Joker on the way down the list, but nothing quite like this Wild West themed business from Bristols out-westest one-off combo. The Soul Motive label has kicked off hard, and the cover, with a fair steed borrowed from the local constabulary, is a welcome change from the usual dryballs dubsteppery malarkey.
(buy)
(Forsakenspace)
(SoulMotivespace)

LAST SALOON SWAGGER - FORSAKEN FT JOKER & BEN BLACKMORE


93. For Hoped - Black Devil Disco Club (Lo Recordings)
Yet more pulsing nonense from the BDDC, marvelous.

BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB - FOR HOPED

92. Through The Robot Chicken Shed (Andrew Weatherall Rmx) –Le Sarge On Board (Rotters Golf Club)
Frustratingly the vinyl of this has yet to be unleashed on Weatherall's Rotters Golf Club, and unable to hold out any longer I relented and bought the sappy mptrees from Bleep. This is from the 'Andrew Weatherall vs The Boardroom' release which is another indicator that the sly prince of Slough is on some of the best form he's had for years. Keep an eye on the Olfactory One Hundred for more of his superlative '08 mixes.
(Buy)

91. Tempered – Rustie (Kapsize)
Check this post, more Rustie to come....  as we proceed.

Mas countdowneration in the next day or so.....

2008'S FINEST EP HORS D'OEUVRES

As a bit of warm up to the upcoming and thoroughly scary (and time consuming) 100 renkingest tracks and probably around 40 or so olfactory albums, of 2008 here's an allegorical toe in the water with my top 5 EP's (or EP type things) of particular noteworthiness. Aside from the fact that this helped whittle down my 100 songs list from its 20+% over-budgetness, all of these five have remarkable quality control, to the extent that I could have picked pretty much any track from each. Undoubtedly two of the most mostest EPs that emerged in 08 were from The Naked And Famous, but I have excluded Round Trip Mars gear from these here charts because it's hard enough slimming these lists to a mildly managable amount, it's a bit like choosing between children, and kinda weird because I listen to RTM stuff more than anything else through its various stages. Hanyways on with the five..no particular order, was hard enough getting em down to this.

Various - Bersa Discos Volume 1 (Bersa Discos)
Based between Buenos Airies and California (San Diego from memory), the Bersa Discos crew of Oro 11 and Disco Shawn have represented solidly with four vinyl EPs of flambeed nuevo-cumbia. This first'un is the pick of the bunch for me, even though it faced stiff competition from the ZZK 12", that accompanied their sterling compilation dealing in similar hooha. El Hijo De La Cumbia has an ostentatious name that he more than lives up to, and Daleduro dishes out the damage relentlessly. The wax understandably looks somewhat sold out, but it's still available digitally (see below) for people with fingers and ting.
(Buy the mptrees)
(Daledurospace)
(Bersaspace)

DALEDURO - BOMBON ASESINO

Uncle O - Uncle O (I'm A Cliche)
Uncle O sounds like somewhat of a legend amongst the musical denizens of Paris. He's put together excellent comp series like 'Champion Sound' and 'Shaolin Soul', and he brings a whole heap of flavour and veteran vibes to the nine, all too brief, tracks on this release for Cosmo Vitelli's shockingly good I'm A Cliche label. There's delicate electro, gentle doof and Kraftwerkian machine doodles as well as a whole heap more high grade malarkey. 'Avalanche' thoroughly absorbed me for a while, what a tune!
(Buy)
(ImAClichespace)

UNCLE O - AVALANCHE


MRR/ADM feat Malcolm Catto - ? (MRR/ADM)
MRR - ADM are Mike Raymond Russell and Adam Doug Manella, also formerly known as MHE recording for the Sound In Color label. On this 10" they're joined by British sticksman/ex-Mo Wax artist/current Heliocentric and noted record collector Malcolm Catto for half of the tracks,  apparently alongside some other folk. It's all a bit sketchy, as the truly exquisitely packaged, red vinyl 10" release comes with pretty much zero information bar 'featuring Malcolm Catto'. Who cares it's spooky, soundtracky, synth-laden psychosis of top-shelf calibre, and the kind of freak shit that could only come from California and Gaslamp Killer associates. Now very much a collectors item (check Discogs for a gulp) it was one of the years most expensive small purchases (from Melbourne's top ranking Northside Records) and worth every cent.

(SoundInColorspace)
(DirtyDrumswebsite) Apparently it's them, they keep it shady. Two drum kits to bang out on your keyboard..tis fun.

MMR - ADD - TWO (Approx Title)


CLAUSE FOUR - BLUE ON BLUE (DC RECORDINGS)
It's true that I'm a longstanding, unabashed J Saul Kane fanboy, but it is undeniable that DC Recordings have had a sterling year, possibly their best ever. Tom Giles' EP under the Clause Four moniker was one of many highlights, stretching out the possibilities of wonky, glitchy beats biz into all sorts of areas. This 12" was justifiably stuck to the turntables for a good spell this year and it's one that just gets better with repeat plays, as ever the artwork from La Boca is extraordinarily good. More please.
(Buy) while you can...
(ClauseFourspace)

CLAUSE FOUR - VERSION #2

Shocking Pinks - Emily (DFA)
I think the 'Emily' EP would have to be be my pick of the bunch, though the vinyl version doesn't actually feature the title track in any form. The choice of remixers is almost spotless, and it's the sort of double 12" package that recalls the glory days of that divine vinyl indulgence. I'll be going into the Large Hadron Collider of a mix from Expanding Head Band in the 100 tunes palaver coming up but, aside from Nathan Fake's somewhat meh remix, it's all quality. Lee Douglas takes 'Cutout' to the outer stratosphere on his lengthy workout, while Detroit's Echospace/Deepchord again distinguish themselves from the post Basic Channel/Rhythm & Sound crowd, with a brace of unfathomably deep belters. I'm hoping that Mr Harte is over the health issues that kept him from the last SP gig in Auckland, the set they played on the genius pre-BDO, line-up with SJD and The Clean at the dirty old KA last January was ear-crumbling fire indeed.

(Buy)

(Shocking Pinkspace)

SHOCKING PINKS - DRESSED TO PLEASE (DEEPCHORD REMIX)

We'll be starting on them bigger lists real soon...