Jukebox Heart 009:
Our Redemption Is Still In View
59 MB | 64 Minutes
Arriving with Jukebox Heart 009 is a new look for the blog. While I thought the last blog was beautiful, its four column architecture was not at all image friendly. This new layout solves that problem and adds some interesting functionality to keep you busy while I make up the next podcast. The above four images will play a track when clicked. They are not functional yet, but will be soon. They were originally intended to be ad space, and I’m still in the process of subverting that code. Meanwhile…
Don’t Be Afraid.
…We made this fragile thing,
it was difficult to hold,
and maybe to belong
to the stubborn and the bold.
but i believe that I discern
a new and strange time,
when the thirsty will come drink
on the newness of this wine.
When nations boil over
and cities turn to dust,
and governance decays
in the crucible of lust,
we’ll still crawl forward
if that’s all that we can do,
with music to remind us
our redemption is still in view…
The playlist, images and a whole bunch of links are found after the cut.
Playlist:
1: Boards of Canada – Sixtyniner
(Twoism CD – Warp Records, reissue 2002)
2: Shen – Causation
(Outlines CD – Native State 2006)
3: Praveen – A Sad Sad Day
(Backed by Spirits CD – Neo Ouija 2005)
4: Lena – Smoke Screen
(Floating Roots CD – Quartermass 2004)
5: Deepchild – Blackness Of The Sea (feat Andy B)
(Lifetime CD – Future Classic 2006)
6: Peachfish – Pushkin
(Seed Records Volume One CD – Seed Records 2003)
7: Psapp – Hi
(The Only Thing I Ever Wanted CD – Domino Records 2007)
8: Schwabinggrad Ballett – Geliebte Viecher In the Night
(Self-Titled CD – Schaubgold Records 2005)
9: Schwabinggrad Ballett – ICE Berthold Brecht (Ab)
(Self-Titled CD – Schaubgold Records 2005)
10: Gruff Rhys – Ambell Waith
(Yr Atal Genhedlaeth CD – Placid Casual 2004)
11: Loden – Vlugt(and more for you)
(Valeen Hope CD – Mush Records reissue 2007)
12: Lymbyc Systym – Truth Skull
(Love Your Abuser CD – Mush Records 2007)
13: Violet Indiana – Beyond the Furr
(Russian Doll CD – Bella Union 2004)
14: A Shoreline Dream – Aftershocking
(Coastal CD – Latenight Weekend 2007)
15: Loden – Valeen Hope
(Valeen Hope CD – Mush Records reissue 2007)
Research:
Boards of Canada – Sixtyniner
(Twoism CD – Warp Records, reissue 2002)
This is one of my biggest record collecting mistakes, ever. I had an original copy of the LP in my hands way back when, and I passed it up for something else. I don’t even remember what. It soon became legendary and elusive, originally released only in 100 copies. It was out of print for years. Warp put out a facsimile of the original LP, and then this CD with all new images back in 02. Boards of Canada’s unique sound is a product of their strong use of analogue equipment, mix of electronic and conventional instrumentation, use of distorted samples as well as live and radio or film lyrics, and their layering and blending of these elements. Their deliberate eschewal of a purely synthetic sound gives their music a warmer, emotive quality, often meant to inspire nostalgia. For me, it reminds me of watching old super-8 morality films in Catholic School religion class in the 70s. They have cited several acts that have influenced their work, including Joni Mitchell, The Incredible String Band, The Beatles and My Bloody Valentine. Which is why we love them.
Shen – Causation
(Outlines CD – Native State 2006)
One project of prolific musician, Noah Pred. Fabulous vocals provided by Kinnie Starr.
Praveen – A Sad Sad Day
(Backed by Spirits CD – Neo Ouija 2005)
Praveen Sharma is an electronic artist based out of New York, with releases available on all the cool labels such as Neo Ouija, Ai Records, Merck and Expanding Records.
Lena – Smoke Screen
(Floating Roots CD – Quartermass 2004)
Lena is the project of Mathias Delplanque, who also records as Bidlo for Harmsonic records. Mathias Delplanque was born in 1973 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. After classical music studies, he graduated at the Ecole Nationale d’Arts de Cergy Pontoise in France and started to work as a sound artist. His work as a composer takes on several main lines and develops through different identities. As Lena, he composes electronic music strongly influenced by Jamaican Dub.
Deepchild – Blackness Of The Sea (feat Andy B)
(Lifetime CD – Future Classic 2006)
Deepchild is Australian DJ/producer Rick Bull. A stalwart of the Australian deep-house/minimal-tech community and long-time radio presence on the airwaves of Fbi 94.5FM radio in Sydney, where he hosts the award-winning “Monday Sunsets” each week from 6-8pm. This is the shit.
Peachfish – Pushkin
(Seed Records Volume One CD – Seed Records 2003)
From the fantastic UK based Seed records comes this amazing compilation of a huge variety of sound. It was hard to pick only one track from this, but this one jumped out at me. Seed gave us the spectacular and highly collectible 5×5 series a few years back. Wonderful.
Psapp – Hi
(The Only Thing I Ever Wanted – Domino Records 2007)
I think this is the latest offering from one of our faves, Psapp. (Though I hear a new one is imminent.) Reminding me of a less threatening Baxter, I immediately want to make tea when I hear them. Check out their website for a funny bio and a guide to their wonderful, evasive, elusive recordings…
Schwabinggrad Ballett – Geliebte Viecher In the Night
(Self-Titled – Schaubgold Records 2005)
Schwabinggrad Ballett – ICE Berthold Brecht (Ab)
(Self-Titled – Schaubgold Records 2005)
Instantly recalling No Wave and the early 80s Deutsche Neue Welle, the Schwabinggrad Ballett is an open collective and understands itself as part of a network, which among other activities runs the Buttclub in Hamburg, which in turn organizes discussions, readings, exhibitions, concerts and reading groups. Resisting the band format and its marketing treadmill, inspiration for much of the musical output derives from the marching band and free jazz: accordion, timpani, shopping carts, chair improv, and brass. Instead of a lead singer, there are hoarse choirs, and instead of “discourse pop,” Dadaist agitprop takes its place. Members of the Schwabinggrad Ballett are: Der Buttclub, Thomas Butteweg, Christine Eder, Ekkehard Ehlers, Ted Gaier, Bernadette Hengst, Frank John, Thomas Lörtsch, Heiko Marn, Roberto Ohrt, Peter Ott, DJ Patex, Tina Petersen, Knarf Rellöm, Christoph Schäfer, Barbara Schulz, Christine Schulz, Christopher Twickel, Kathrin Wildner, Frank Will. Described by Christopher Twickel as: “seventeen killer tracks between caterwauling and ‘the collective.’ Seventeen sips of musical rotgut between punk and Penderecki. Seventeen pieces of adutainment between the critical mass and massive criticism. Really difficult and really beautiful.”
Gruff Rhys – Ambell Waith
(Yr Atal Genhedlaeth – Placid Casual 2004)
Solo work from singer of Super Furry Animals. Oooh. Love love love…
Loden – Vlugt(and more for you)
(Valeen Hope CD – Mush Records reissue 2007)
Loden – Valeen Hope
(Valeen Hope CD – Mush Records reissue 2007)
A product of the Brussels and Amsterdam music scenes, Loden’s productions are a blend of M83’s wall of sound, Air’s Virgin Suicides score, and City Centre Offices ever-expanding supply of laptop electronica. After some net-label work and a seven-inch for Eat This Records, Loden hit his stride with the 2003 EP, All That’s Left Is Right, which was released in Europe and subsequently licensed by Mush for the rest of the world. 2003 also saw the release of a more dancefloor based EP for Colony Productions and a spot on the Jip EP series. He returned in 2005 with Valeen Hope: a remarkable full-length that displayed a quantum leap in Loden’s confidence as a producer. With a sound that is deep, airy, and has just enough noise to keep you guessing.
Lymbyc Systym – Truth Skull
(Love Your Abuser CD – Mush Records 2007)
Hailing from Tempe, Arizona, Jared and Michael Bell formed Lymbyc Systym late in 2001. Drawing inspiration from the groups Tortoise, My Bloody Valentine and Four Tet, their compositions cleverly combine vintage keyboards, infectious melodies, analog effects, dynamic drumming, and intricate laptop programming to form melodic and cohesive tracks that blur the borders between post-rock, indie-rock, and folktronica. As the opening act for the Album Leaf, Mice Parade, and a slew of other national acts, the brothers have developed a truly impressive live show. From their self-release debut EP, Carved by Glaciers, to the current music for Mush Records, Lymbyc Systym have quickly carved out a place in the bustling underground music scene.
Violet Indiana – Beyond the Furr
(Russian Doll CD – Bella Union 2004)
Post Cocteau Twins, the Violet Indiana website points to Robin Guthrie’s blog. Which is nice enough, but when you’re looking for band blurbs and what sets them apart from the Twins, it’s kinda silly. I’ve always liked this band, but it does sorta sound like the Twins with a replacement vocalist. And Miss Fraser is a tough one to follow. The Bella Union label was started by ex Cocteau’s Robun and Simon and has a fabulous roster that should be mined by everyone.
A Shoreline Dream – Aftershocking
(Coastal CD – Latenight Weekend 2007)
A Shoreline Dream is a band combining lush sampled textures, organic instrumentation, and vocals layered like a synth similar in vein to bands such as Ride, Slowdive and Sigur Rós. Originating in Denver, Colorado they are steadily reaching out to an international fan base, which includes producers Ulrich Schnauss (yay! See Jukebox Heart 008) and Kramer (he will kill this band…) (Ween / Butthole Surfers) currently working with them on upcoming material. When they formed in 2005 they all decided to take a stand against the restrictions of a normal label and formed their own (latenight weeknight records). They can be best described as a band bridging the gap between post-rock and shoegaze with their ambient landscapes, vocals chanting through a radio at the bottom of a well, and one-take room recordings.
Not subscribed to Jukebox Heart yet? You should! But until you’re ready, you can download this podcast here.