swagger

Bombay the Hard Way

/ David James / 10 Comments

Kalyanji Anandji is the name of an Indian composer duo known for their work on Bollywood film soundtracks, particularly action potboilers in the 1970s.  One glance at the cover artwork for this LP should be enough to give any music or film lover a head start on these sounds.

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In 1998, Dan the Automator collaborated with DJ Shadow to remix, re-title, and reintroduce this action packed eastern funk to a near-clueless western audience.  Floating from jazzy windups to frenzied spy-flick jams, it’s a slick and concise rendering of a very specific intersection of geography and time.  Imagine the best aspects of the greatest hollywood funk scores (Superfly, Coffy, Shaft, etc) reinterpreted by bollywood composers, and processed though a modern hip hop sensibility.  Or just throw this record on and get heads nodding.

[you can grab this used via amazon]

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[Credit to last.fm for info on Kalyanji & Anandji Shah and especially to beatfanatic for introducing me to this album in the first place.]

Liquid Liquid

/ David James / 3 Comments

This band is the funkiest bunch of white guys to emerge from the fertile early-1980’s NYC no wave scene. Featuring one of the most well-known bass lines in recent history, Liquid Liquid are nonetheless relatively unknown to the wider public.

Liquid Liquid is a self-titled collection of everything essential.

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To wit: if this band were James Brown, Cavern would be their Funky Drummer.  The moment that transcendent rhythm comes to life on the track, you’ll be awash in familiarity and confusion in the same instant.  Is this White Lines (Don’t Do It) by Grandmaster Flash?  Phenomenon by LL Cool J?  Both.

Despite that track’s endearing, enduring charm, it’s not even the best thing here.  This collection is overstuffed with quality material, ranging from party-ready bangers to truly outré beat and noise explorations.  None of it comes within spitting distance of mainstream pop or modern club music, by any stretch of imagination.  One listen though and you’ll be convinced that the ideas contained are the base root for a wide breadth of modern music, popular and obscure alike.

This LP is actually a set released in 1997 by Grand Royal containing basically everything you could want to hear from the band’s limited output.  First track Optimo will blow you away.  Cavern is next.  You’re now on a dark, funky rollercoaster to the end.

[grab this amazingly fresh and complete set at amazon]

bonus:  Cavern video!

Omar Khorshid melted my face.

/ David James / 4 Comments

Omar Khorshid And His Guitar conjure pure six string wizardry. This sound is perversely incredible. It’s unconscionable. The deep well of feeling I’m overcome with while hearing this – how much I must have been missing out on all these years! The change starts now. Prepare cochlea for imminent eargasm.

Rhythms From The Orient took me by complete surprise. A certain nice young fellow at Everything’s Exploding shared a raft of information about Khorshid which led my ears to this utterly sublime alchemy. It’s Dick Dale-ian surf guitar rumble meets mooged-out spacey atmosphere over a floor pounding belly dance groove. In fact, it’s everything that statement conjures and then some – hammering accordion and hand drums electrify several moments, and a sense of joyous abandon colors the entire project. It honestly sounds as if it were as fun to make as it is to listen to.  Which of course, is a blast.

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I’ve looked around for legit copies of this album in any form and this place seems to be the only source. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated!

Bullion – Young Heartache + Get Familiar

/ David James / 1 Comment

Bullion.   Are you familiar?

If not, it’s imperative you become so.  Because this guy is going to blow up big time, I guarantee.  The reason?  He is quickly becoming my favorite new producer, and I’ll relate why.

First of all:  the Young Heartache EP

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Simply put, these four tracks will blow your fucking mind in less than 15 minutes.  There’s no other way about it.  Weaving in lush classic pop-tinged (and -sampled) melodies through a romantic vibe reminiscent of early Daedelus, he hints at the impression of none other than a true successor to the Avalanches‘ definitive (and only, so far) LP.  Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but I haven’t felt this way about a record since, well, Since I Left You.  This is not to say Young Heartache is on par with my all-time Desert Island record;  rather, the potential bursting through every second of this release is unbearable.  I cannot wait to hear what he has in store next.

Fifteen minutes is insufficient time with such talent, so with that in mind I present: Get Familiar 7″

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Just two tracks and a remix, this will get your heart pumping faster than the previous EP in all likelihood.  Spinning a more beat-oriented sound inside of a space-vaccuum atmosphere of spindly synth stabs and trebly claps, the title track slams in such a way that the question, “Why hasn’t some mainstream rapper used/abused this already?” is nigh unavoidable.  Next with “Rude Effort,” Bullion absolutely shakes the listener to his core with a calamitous bass shuffle, fist-pumpingly anthemic keys and percussion which leaves absolutely no mystery about the reason behind its title.  If nothing else, this track will convince you that I’m not just high when I proclaim forthcoming popularity with this guy.

Of course, it’ll help if people are actually listening and buying these nuggets of pure 24k brilliance.  So put on the headphones, drop him a line, get familiar.

[and of course, help make my prediction reality by purchasing his work HERE at Boomkat]

Tom Waits – Bone Machine

/ David James / 6 Comments

tomwaits-bonemachine

Well I know karate, and voodoo too!

Everyone knows Tom Waits is one of those totally essential artists. You know, the ones your older brother or your first serious boyfriend or girlfriend constantly sung the praises of, reminding you that you *have to* listen. Often these artists slip by without due attention in a mixture of defiance and incredulity – how could anything be truly essential?

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