Cracker: I've Got the Love. In the Music : Public Address

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Cracker: I've Got the Love. In the Music

Posted at 11:14AM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

It seems these days almost every post I write I'm tempted to throw in a disclaimer, explaining my increasingly characteristic space between blogs. Every day or two I have something I feel like sharing, but then a day or two passes and it seems to have dated too much to bother with.

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For example I won't tell you about the Music Awards. They were great, by the way, not that I saw too much of them – halfway through the PM's "Ain't New Zealand Music Grand, take 53" speech, I felt the need to purge the martinis I'd been quaffing on arrival. But somewhere between the bathroom and the awards, I found a room known as the media room, where the bar never closed (unlike the rest of the venue during the actual awards, which was drier than a Mt Roskill supermarket). I never emerged.

I won't bother to tell you about a wonderful Labour weekend spent at Pakiri (but I will share this photo), with an incredible night watching Fat Freddy's Drop at the Leigh Sawmill. It was definitely One of Those Nights When I Remember Why I Love Music So Much.

Which kind of brings me to the point of this post, such as it is. As a no-spring-chicken radio guy, I find it increasingly difficult to come across good new music. Gone are the days when I was self-employed and could spend hours rifling through records down at BPM or Real Groovy, pulling out things at random just because I liked the look of the label. I hate to say it, but my music collection is largely dated. Of course "old music" can be pretty good, but there's a difference between classics – well-known, obscure or otherwise – and music you played because it was new and quite good, but now it's a year old and still only quite good.

I am quite well looked after in some regards. Care packages from some of the more betterer record companies arrive from time to time, and recent musical delights include the new Black Seeds album Into the Dojo and and and and Shapeshifter’s phenomenal third album, Soulstice. Such is my respect and admiration for the latter band that when I met Devin from Shapeshifter at a recent party, I was reduced to the level of a quivering fanboy. Realising I was raving at him like, well, the Shapeshifter fan I am, I tried to extract my dignity by establishing my credentials:

“Um, I do, um a show, a show on student radio,” I wittered. “And I, um, I know your friend Graeme. Graeme that you know.”

Step aside Fonzie. There’s a new kind of cool in town.

Anyway. It was on that weekend I heard many people playing so much amazing music I hadn’t heard before, I realised I need to start making more of an effort. I might not have a whole lot of time for reading NME or browsing through record shops these days, but I do have several thousand people reading this blog, and if each of you told me just one new song that’s been rocking your world, even with a far amount of overlap, I’d be drowning in hot new tunes. That’s assuming you don’t all listen to Shania Twain or The Feelers or some shit.

You can recommend whole albums, but what I’m really looking for here is individual songs, tracks, tunes, ditties, call them what you will. New would be good, but new to me is good enough, if you have something obscure enough from the past. Please don’t write to tell me that “Wild Horses” is a great track, or “Revolver” is a great album. Let’s take that as read.

So would you mind? Please? Messers Bastard and Grigg, I’m particularly looking your direction.

In return, I will publish all the recommendations. It’ll be like our own little record club. Let me get you started with three of my recent favourites:

1. Shapeshifter – One.

Fantastic local drum ‘n’ bass, atmospheric and soulful, when P Diggs’ vocals kick in it’s just sublime. Track 10 on the Soulstice album. Gives me chills.

2. Ladyhawke – Back of the Van

Blondie meets Kim Carnes meets the Pretenders, but despite me thinking this was new wave nouveau from the US, turns out Ladyhawke is actually from Wellington, albeit living in Sydney. Fantastic but as yet unreleased – listen to it on her myspace page. It’s the sort of tune I wish I had my first ever pash to. Maybe I still could.

3. The Knife – Heartbeats

An electro cover of the Jose Gonzalez track on the Sony Bravia ad with the bouncy balls (which it turns out is actually all real, no fake balls were used – check out the Making Of Video!)

The Knife are a brother and sister duo from Sweden. Another very retro sounding track, it reminds me of nascent emotions at school discos when I lived in Singapore.

Correction: Simon helpfully points out that Jose covered The Knife, not the other way around - cheers.

Okay, I’ve showed you mine. Bring ‘em on. Click the reply button, you know you want to.

EDIT: Stoopid stoopid stoopid Damian. On the day we launch a new community feedback thingy, I go all old skool on it and encourage people to send me emails? Which you have, in droves, and thanks for that. But why not have your say directly. Flag the reply button, let's discuss

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Damian Christie
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 609
Moderator

Posted at 11:14AM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

Dozens of emails since my post on Friday indicate that not only do you all have incredibly diverse and generally quite excellent taste in music, but you're more than happy to share it with me.

Stoopidly, I encouraged everyone to send me emails rather than use this new System which is literally custom built for such discussions.

I won't repost everyone's emails here, but if you have written to me with your suggestions, feel free to cut 'n' paste.

stoopid stoopid damian.

Fraser Alaalatoa-Dale
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1

Posted at 12:30PM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

Soulful stuff:
Sleepy Brown "Dress Up"/"I'm Soul" (off 'Mr Brown')
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings "Natural Born Lover"/"All Over Again" (off 'Naturally')
Greyboy "Gotta Be A Love" [Paul Nice Remix] (off 'Soul Mosaic')
Van Hunt "If I Take You Home" (off 'On The Jungle Floor')
Yummy Bingham "Come Get It" (off 'The First Seed')
Black Ice "TakeYaTime" ft. Musiq
Freddie Cruger "Something Good" (off 'Soul Search')
Jamie Lidell "A Little Bit More" [Luke Vibert Mix]/"What's The Use"
Plant Life "Your Love" (off 'HWW8 Presents Music Is My Art')
Bugz In The Attic "Consequences" (off 'Back In The Dog House')
Escort "Starlight" [Darshan Jesrani Parks Dept. Dub]
Junior Senior "Shake Your Coconuts" [DFA Remix]
MSTRKRFT "Work On You"/"Paris" (off 'The Looks')
DJ Fresh "Closer" (off 'Escape From Planet Monday')
Goldfrapp "You Never Know" [Mum Remix] (off 'We Are Glitter')
Junior Boys "So This Is Goodbye"
DJ Krust "Belief System" (off 'Hidden Knowledge')

Music to smash things up by:
Agent Alvin "Circuit Breaker"
Klone "Bloodshot" [The Upbeats Remix]
Sub Focus "Airplane"/"Flamenco"/"Citizen Kane"
"Smack My Bitch Up [Sub Focus Remix"]

cher :)

Nick Howells
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 19

Posted at 12:40PM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

^^Nice picks.

Speaking of Swedish singers covering songs there is a cover version floating around of Justin Timberlake's 'My love' by Marit Bergman which is quite nice..

There are also some new Fat Freddy's Drop remixes out - the highlight for me being a Digital Mystikz take on 'Cay's Crays'.. Dnb/house remixes also.

Andre Alessi
From: Devonport
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 217

Posted at 1:02PM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

I'm obsessing over Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor these days, but I just have to mention Bitches Ain't Shit by Ben Folds Five.

Yes, it's a cover of the Dr Dre song. What's remarkable is it turns a misogynistic rant about women into a melancholy rumination on love and loyalty.

Brilliant and funny.

Matt Godfrey
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 10

Posted at 1:08PM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

A song called "What's the Altitude" by Cut Chemist is on my playlist right now. I'd imagine it will be there for a long time too. I'd check this song out even if you dont like hip hop.

Paul Caples
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1

Posted at 1:25PM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

best result from scanning the real groovy bins of late,
British Sea Power, Open Season.
A snip at $15, its been on high rotate since buying.
For a review of their music check out the review on the BBC's website

Rogan Polkinghorne
From: A-town
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 95

Posted at 2:31PM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

'Counting' by Heavens, from their album 'Patent Pending'; Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio's new side project. It's reminiscent of the Trio, but not as balls out...a little darker even.

Good times all round, I throughly recommend it.

Tony Judd
From: Perth
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 62

Posted at 11:12PM on 6 Nov 06. Permalink.

Joanna Newsoms new record Ys is just 5 long songs, but they're good - I'm loving 'Only Skin'. 17 mins long but. Hard work with an MTV attention span.
Also loving M. Wards new one Post War - especially 'Chinese Translation'.
And on the topic of great covers - his version of 'Lets Dance' on Transfiguration of Vincent is something wonderful.

Richard Body
From: Oxford
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 8

Posted at 11:35AM on 7 Nov 06. Permalink.

...and on the subject of great David Bowie covers... The Last Town Chorus have covered Modern Love. Possibly my favourite of recent times. And I'm with Damian on the original version of Heartbeats. Well worth tracking down.

Jesse Easton
From: Carterton
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2

Posted at 11:53AM on 7 Nov 06. Permalink.

Nothing recent here, but three tunes that rock my world:

Slowly by Amon Tobin
Sunset Rider by Manual & Syntaks
Clear Day by Ulrich Schnauss

Lovely

Paul Litterick
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 879

Posted at 1:52PM on 7 Nov 06. Permalink.

I just heard someone on National Radio saying she wanted Guns n' Roses' Nothing Lasts for Ever as her wedding song.

Recommended listening: Mr Tough by Yo La Tengo

Eddie Clark
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 258

Posted at 6:18PM on 7 Nov 06. Permalink.

Sticking to songs from the last couple of years (heavy wanky indie bias), and a single digit number of recommendations:

European Oils - Destroyer
A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left - Andrew Bird
Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod? - Mountain Goats
Entertain - Sleater-Kinney
Don't Forget to Breathe - Beulah
Blue Tomb - Comets on Fire
You Are A Conductor - Constantines
Where the Devil Don't Stay - Drive-by Truckers
Cattle and the Creeping Things - The Hold Steady

Crockett
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1

Posted at 9:03PM on 7 Nov 06. Permalink.

I'm really digging 'Day Dreaming' -Lupe Fiasco Ft Jill Scott
and 'We will vacation you will be my parasol'- Be your own Pet.
Almost forgot 'You and I' by Auckland rockers Shakey Hands

Tony Judd
From: Perth
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 62

Posted at 9:38PM on 7 Nov 06. Permalink.

Yo Damian et al -
If you really wanna stay in touch with what the kids are listening right now then elbo.ws is worth keeping an eye on. If you want indie then Teaching The Indie Kids To Dance Again is good. And if you wanna go buck-wild on the music blog front then start at The Tofu Hut. Look out though. There's a lot of music to listen to out there...

dubmugga
From: the back of your mind
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 257

Posted at 11:22PM on 7 Nov 06. Permalink.

it's all about the dubstep...

...whats that you say ???

Cutting edge electronica. FFS get with teh program. At least front like you act like you know !!!

Some would argue it's the latest incarnation of the 'ardcore continuum' according to Simon Reynolds, who is perhaps the Moses of EDM. What it is, is the first new post millenial electronic genre of substance to hit and believe me it will...HARD

A fusion of dark 2 step garage rhythms and dub philosophy with regards to bass pressure

FWIW check out what we do here in Christchurch in comparison to what others do in the epicentre of it all London

google HELL SCIENCE DEPT

then google DIGITAL MYSTIKZ

who incidentally have done the killer remix of Cays Crays for fat freddies drop...

...the other thing about dubstep is it's fanatical adherence to strict vinyl dubplate culture, an anachronism in my books but whatever floats their boat

oh and don't think just cos you got the Burial album that you're down with it. There is much more in our philosophy that can be dreamt about in your world dear travellers...

enjoy

and lastly BURN YOUR GUITARS !!!

*cue maniacal laugh here*

Joanna
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 542

Posted at 12:40AM on 8 Nov 06. Permalink.

As a cut'n paste:

I think the album Funeral actually came out in 2003 or 2004, but the song I have listened to most this year is 'Rebellion (Lies)' by the Arcade Fire. It's the kind of song that makes you want to pump your fist in the air exactly the way that Judd Nelson did at the end of The Breakfast Club, except in a much more energised and not so dated way. Although who wouldn't pump their fist in the air if they'd just pashed Molly Ringwald? Exactly. Anyway, there's my recommendation.

David Cormack
From: Aro Valley
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 142

Posted at 8:49AM on 8 Nov 06. Permalink.

A New Yorker by the name of Regina Spektor is awesome. Sounds Bjorky but without the sh*t that Bjork churns out. Her new album Begin to Hope and in particular the tracks Apres Moi and Fidelity are outstanding!

Damian Christie
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 609
Moderator

Posted at 9:38AM on 8 Nov 06. Permalink.

Tony: There was that 'Book of Right On' track or whatever it was called by Joanna Newsom on ultra high rotate on the bFM playlist for a while - tore the station in two. Not since the Springbok tour has anything polarised people so starkly.

I thought it was an okay song until Hugh Sundae pointed out to me that she sounds exactly like Lisa Simpson! Never able to listen to it the same way since.

Paul Litterick
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 879

Posted at 2:22PM on 8 Nov 06. Permalink.

"and lastly BURN YOUR GUITARS !!!"

Hang the DJ.

samuel walker
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 190

Posted at 10:18AM on 10 Nov 06. Permalink.

anything by ulrich scnuass, anytime, is fine by me.

DuBmUgga. calm down. Burial album isnt as crossover as the naysayers are saying. The Kode9 album is amazing. Sign (now Sine) of the Dub will always melt me.

Damian.....i forgot what i said about Collarbones. Fugiya and Miyagi. awesome tho'

Richard Kyle
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 15

Posted at 10:41AM on 10 Nov 06. Permalink.

Cassette Boy has been cracking me up though more a cut up rant than music per se...His Princess Di tribute "Di and Dodi do di" will have you rolling on the floor.

Simon Grigg
From: Just another klong...
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2143

Posted at 4:34PM on 10 Nov 06. Permalink.

God, I don't know Damian, here am I on the other side of the world, feeling slightly out of touch (although admittedly the joy of sitting in paradise..and finally having broadband here..alleviates the pain somewhat) and you want me to tell you what to listen to..

So newish..what works for me right now...well I've been loving the delightfully named FuckPony album, especially the track Freaky Stories of Earth..kind of 1986 Chicago mashed with the future, if you know what I mean (I don't). The Simian Disco Machine remix of The Rapture's Whoo Alright is really good loud. Ferrer & Sydenham's Timuktu as remixed by Ame is very subtle. I really like the Laurent Garnier retropsective, especially the live version of Acid Eiffel, and the Giles Peterson & Patrick Forge Dingwalls compilation is amazing. The LCD remix of Arthur Russell's Springfield that has just come out is my favourite single right now. But the record that I'm listening to most is the unreleased album from The Others (the Auckland band, not the UK one), due out next year..double album..epic landscapes, incredible verbal twists, quite amazing. I haven't played much else for the past week

Dave Leech
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 5

Posted at 4:54PM on 10 Nov 06. Permalink.

Without wanting to put my 'pedant' hat on, it was Jose Gonzalez who covered The Knife, rather than t'other way round.

The song is awesomer - not so much into their newer stuff though...

George Darroch
From: Te Ao Nui
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1022

Posted at 3:23PM on 12 Nov 06. Permalink.

On the subject of The Knife, this Royksopp tune feat Karin Dreijer is top of my books right now: http://youtube.com/watch?v=O2VxjnpxTR0

Her voice seems almost psychotic over such a monotonous meaty bassline!

Also in the favourites is almost anything featuring Seu Jorge:

Amazing voices. Why this man is not better known is incomprehsible.

Rich Flavour
From: The Games Room
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2

Posted at 12:00AM on 13 Nov 06. Permalink.

Not quite a hgih rotate Mikey Havoc March '99 club banger...

By the way is there actually a genre title for fumbling about in the dark of your career and playing six year old anthems? I quite like 'Two Stumble'.

Aaanyway...

This is the first house tune to turn me on for a while;

" Fish Go Deep - The Cure and the Cause "

Trust me Damien. I know the way you bob...

Simon Grigg
From: Just another klong...
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2143

Posted at 11:48AM on 13 Nov 06. Permalink.

I hate to say it but the new Justin Timberlake as remixed by the DFA crew is quite a wonderous thing, especially the last few minutes. But then again I quite like JT...sorry

Nick Howells
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 19

Posted at 1:51PM on 13 Nov 06. Permalink.

I hate to say it but the new Justin Timberlake as remixed by the DFA crew is quite a wonderous thing, especially the last few minutes. But then again I quite like JT...sorry

It's great, though I have to admit I somewhat truncated it when I played it on friday night - the full 8 minutes may be trying for JT haters..

Henrick Schwarz's new Dj kicks mix cd is excellent! Great combination of his deep house style with some lovely jazz and soul tunes that all somehow complement each other brilliantly. You should check it out Damian, if you like it then the unmixed vinyl can also be purchased..

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Cracker: I've Got the Love. In the Music