ULVER Svidd Neger (Jester) cd 14.98
We're still waiting on the upcoming string quartet version of Ulver's black metal masterpiece Nattens Madrigal, but in the meantime they've released something else new, another soundtrack effort (their second, after last year's Lyckantropen Themes). As with that album, Ulver are in their current manifestation as a dark, avant-electronica act, their Nordic metal past a mere shadow cast over the proceedings. With eerie, tinkling piano and far-off, distant screams, Ulver create sonic echoes of crimes that we'll assume appear on celluloid in Svidd Neger. Melancholic horns and downtempo beats make this a creepy yet club-contemporary sounding listen. And after you're lulled into thinking it's all gonna be quiet and mellow, wham some ominous heavy chords come crashing down, Mogwai-style. Mostly though, this is quiet and creepy, and menacingly melodic.
MPEG Stream: "Wild Cat"
MPEG Stream: "Rock Massif Pt. 1"

ULVER Teachings In Silence (Black Apple) cd 11.98
Warehouse find! Not ours of course since we don't have a warehouse, but some of these classic Ulver discs turned up so we grabbed a bunch. It had been a while since we listened to this, but returning to it now, we realized what a killer disc this is, and figured a bunch of folks may have missed out on it, so here's another chance for you, it's long out of print, going on 5 years maybe, so once these are gone, they will again be gone for good...
here's our review from when we first carried it way back when:
This new cd from Norwegian avantgarde ex-black metallers Ulver isn't really new, as it actually is a reissue compilation of their two limited edition, now out of print eps "Silence Teaches You How To Sing" and "Silencing The Singing" on one handy, domestically issued disc (by a new label run by Aaron from noise-pop outfit Iran, who met Ulver while in Norway filming a documentary about the black metal scene! Which should be coming out soon, as in 2007!). So, you don't need it if you already have those two import discs, but if you don't, we most certainly recommend it -- both eps are two of Ulver's best post-black metal efforts to date, as they move into unclassifiable experimental/electronica realms. To sum up our previous commentary on these eps: "Silence Teaches You..." is a single, 24 minute track of electonic experimental improv, a slowly-unfolding collage of organic drones and beats and clicks and field recordings and post-rock piano melody etc., that might remind you of everything from Tarwater to Philip Jeck to Fennesz to Mogwai... Quite mellow, dark and beautiful, a soundscape composed, in part, of static-y electro-grime overlaying scratchy vinyl looping with occasional wordless drifting vocals. It was constructed from material recorded in a one-night "Dead City Centre jam" during the sessions for Ulver's previous full-length album, the love it or hate it "Perdition City". Unlike that album, though, this ep benefits from a lack of horrendous vocal and saxophone contributions! The similar in method/sound "Silencing The Singing" follows, three tracks providing another half hour of music, constructed of repetitive melodic and non-melodic loops (some notes on a piano, scratchy vinyl surface noise, what might be far-off voices), gradually joined by electronic blips and beats. The mood is quiet and languid, as are the rhythms, although the last track builds into a lovely few final moments of loud distortion.
Ulver of course originally made their name in the black metal scene, with such classic the-forest-is-my-throne-style albums as "Nattens Madrigal" and "Kveldsanger", full of church-burning riffs and wolverine vocals (and acoustic folk music in the case of "Kveldsanger"). And we won't deny that that's some of their best stuff -- it is. But since those days they've abandoned black metal and morphed into some sort of odd, willfully abstract electronic/experimental band -- and as well, Ulver leader Krystoffer "Garm" Rygg started up the fab Jester label to release music by all sorts of likeminded (i.e. fucked) Norwegian artists (including AQ faves When, Bogus Blimp, Origami Galaktika, Rotoscope, and of course Ulver).
And while Ulver's black metal past isn't overtly evident on these recordings, we could suppose that their earlier appreciation of the grim, lo-fi, trance-like ambience created by their (former) heroes Darkthrone and Mayhem is still a part of Ulver's sound, explaining their music's current immersion in a grimy (if not grim) background of constant crackle and buzzing drones. Well, that and the fact that such sounds are now as hip in experimental/electronica circles as they are cult in metal.
MPEG Stream: "Silence Teaches You How To Sing"
MPEG Stream: "Darling Didn't We Kill You?"
MPEG Stream: "Speak Dead Speaker"

UMILIANI, PIERO Musicaelettronica, Volume Uno (Easy Tempo) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the output of Italian '60s/'70s groovedelica reissue label Easy Tempo. Fortunately this release didn't escape our notice, 'cause it's super great. Italian composer Piero Umiliani has been the subject of numerous reissues and compilations as his "space age bachelor pad" music is finding a newer audience 30 years after it was created. And while the sticker on the cd reminds you that Umiliani's experimental synthesizer (moog, mostly) pop material can favorably be compared to the exotica of Martin Denny, the '60s rock of Jefferson Airplane, and jazz a la Ellington, we're here to tell you that at times the music sounds utterly contemporary, as modern and fresh and full of original ideas as any new "electronica" artist out there. In fact, the electronic material is so clean and avant sounding that we are instantly reminded of Krautrock pioneers Cluster and Neu. You heard me--Cluster. Yeah, it's that good! Not that it's all super serious or anything -- there's a great version of "Caravan" on here worthy of Perrey & Kingsley. Highly recommended!
RealAudio clip: "Motore a loni"

UMILIANI, PIERO Musicaelettronica, Volume Uno (Easy Tempo) 2lp 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the output of Italian '60s/'70s groovedelica reissue label Easy Tempo. Fortunately this release didn't escape our notice, 'cause it's super great. Italian composer Piero Umiliani has been the subject of numerous reissues and compilations as his "space age bachelor pad" music is finding a newer audience 30 years after it was created. And while the sticker on the cd reminds you that Umiliani's experimental synthesizer (moog, mostly) pop material can favorably be compared to the exotica of Martin Denny, the '60s rock of Jefferson Airplane, and jazz a la Ellington, we're here to tell you that at times the music sounds utterly contemporary, as modern and fresh and full of original ideas as any new "electronica" artist out there. In fact, the electronic material is so clean and avant sounding that we are instantly reminded of Krautrock pioneers Cluster and Neu. You heard me--Cluster. Yeah, it's that good! Not that it's all super serious or anything -- there's a great version of "Caravan" on here worthy of Perrey & Kingsley. Highly recommended!

UNAGI s/t (Kimosciotic) cd 9.98
A fantastic record in the sampladelic genre: fans of DJ Shadow, Barry Adamson, David Holmes should take note! It's rare that we'd quote a press release in an AQ review, but in this case the reasons why I (Windy) like this record so much are exactly what's stated herein:
"Unagi extends an invitation into his unique sonic wonderworld, constructed from forgotten vinyl and dollar bin digging. He serves up mid-fi sample based music, sidestepping the antiseptic production values dominating present day hip-hop. Influenced by luminaries such as Lonnie Liston Smith and Eumir Deodato, Unagi offers tracks carefully crafted with an ear refined through a lifetime of musical consumption. This self-titled debut album is a stylistic drive-by of love. Unagi's magazine is loaded with an array of themes ranging from space jazz, Caribbean cruise ship lounge, roller rink couples' skate and Sunday afternoon afterglow soul fusion."
MPEG Stream: "Crazy Chase"
MPEG Stream: "Blown Away"
MPEG Stream: "Tickle Time"

UNAGI s/t (Kimo Sciotic) lp 11.98
Now on LP! A fantastic record in the sampladelic genre: fans of DJ Shadow, Barry Adamson, David Holmes should take note! It's rare that we'd quote a press release in an AQ review, but in this case the reasons why I (Windy) like this record so much are exactly what's stated herein:
"Unagi extends an invitation into his unique sonic wonderworld, constructed from forgotten vinyl and dollar bin digging. He serves up mid-fi sample based music, sidestepping the antiseptic production values dominating present day hip-hop. Influenced by luminaries such as Lonnie Liston Smith and Eumir Deodato, Unagi offers tracks carefully crafted with an ear refined through a lifetime of musical consumption. This self-titled debut album is a stylistic drive-by of love. Unagi's magazine is loaded with an array of themes ranging from space jazz, Caribbean cruise ship lounge, roller rink couples' skate and Sunday afternoon afterglow soul fusion."
MPEG Stream: "Crazy Chase"
MPEG Stream: "Blown Away"
MPEG Stream: "Tickle Time"

UNGU, OBENG & JALAN BUNTU WITH GROUP UANG WAYANG OF PALEMBANG 1951: Sumatran Ladies Wearing Hats As Outlawed By Government (Hot Air) 3"cd 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
According to the *well documented* liner notes, this album was originally released on cassette in South East Asia in 1982. The story goes that Obeng Ungu (Purple Screwdriver in English) and Jalan Buntu (Mountain Sidewalk) recorded the album as an homage to all the Sumatran women who risked death in order to defend their freedom to wear western style hats, which were outlawed in 1950 by the government in attempt to stop the Westernisation of Sumatra -- known as "Barang Menceret" (literally "Diarrhea of Commodities"). They even came up with some archival photos to reinforce their story and if it's not a fictitious account then it's quite a problematic joke.
The music on the disc is classic Hot Air material though: quirky and humorous electronica, squeaks, farts and irreverence (thumbs in the face to the pretensions of high brow electronica abound.) The disc starts off with a field recording of insects buzzing on a lonesome highway and then goes into some ping pong ball bouncy electronica with ersatz-Asian melodies that almost sounds like an attempt to imitate Burmese Pat Wiang (a melodic circular set of drums that sound like rototoms). Included also are a lot of really cheesy gamelan-esque samples and synth sounds in to boot. The end result is audio tourism where the tourist never even leaves home, but just comes up with a fictional vacation. Our mysterious tour guides Obeng & Jalan (most certainly Matt Wand -- we're making an "ass" of "u" and "me" here that it's Mr. Wand behind this) have produced some wickedly funny /possibly offensive electronic fuckery. Hot Air has released this mini cd as part of their "Hot Air Global Education Series" in cooperation with "The Hotairian Institute".
RealAudio clip: "Dada Besar, Kepala Kecil"
RealAudio clip: "Rabu: Sakit Tangani, Sabtu: Sakit Pantat"
RealAudio clip: "Menyelam Pakai Pipa Udara"

UNIFORM Protocol (Planet Mu) cd 14.98
Ex 2nd Gen mainman Wajid Yaseen abandons his damaged hip hop in favor of damaged minimal glitch and drone. Noisy and weird and way abstract. Features guests Lydia Lunch, Alan Vega, Dalek and more. Cover art by infamous actionist Franko B.

UNITS History Of The Units (Community Library) cd 14.98
Moog-enabled synth punk subversion straight outta San Francisco in the late '70s/early '80s, entertaining n' agitating electronic New Wave action excavated and reissued! And it's totally timely considering how many bands in today's scene would so love to sound like this.
We won't pretend we were familiar with The Units before this fantastic anthology album showed up. Perhaps we'd heard the name before (or maybe we were confusing 'em with ol' Jandek's 1978 debut album, also under the name The Units), but we knew nothing about this band 'til we heard this disc a few weeks ago. And as soon as we did, it went into heavy rotation here at the store. These Units were definitely a important piece of San Francisco punk/new wave history, but just a bit before our time. Well, not Aquarius's time, just us folks who work here now! Actually, a close reading of the thanks list in the cd booklet will find a shout out to Aquarius, 'cause (if you didn't know) Aquarius was THEE punk/new wave record store in San Francisco in the '70s... (Which reminds us, we've got to get more of our history up on the AQ website.) And, in fact, The Units' debut lp Digital Stimulation was the very first release on seminal SF indie 415 Records (who had their biggest hit with Romeo Void), a label run in part by Aquarius' owners at the time. So this most certainly isn't the first time that The Units music has been blasting regularly in the Aquarius shop, it's just been a few years, is all.
Putting things in proper place/time/scene perspective, this archival disc starts off with an audio snippet of the late SF punk "godfather" Dirk Dirksen on stage at Mabuhay Gardens, good-naturedly mocking both The Units (accidentally referring to them by the name of another band, the Zeros) and their cheering fans (with the sardonic comment "obviously, people with as little taste as yourself would become ecstatic over such average talent"). Then, making us ecstatic, twenty tracks of prime Units music follows, The History Of The Units containing most all of the tracks from their 1980 415 Records album Digital Stimulation as well as a handful of stuff taken from early 7"s and demo tapes, as well as more experimental pieces recorded for film soundtracks and art happenings and other ephemera.
Not unlike Devo, The Units had a concept thing going, all about a critique of alienated modern industrial society, dehumanizing conformity, and corporate culture, with songs like "Cannibals" and "Work". Perhaps perversely choosing to use machines to make their point, The Units tried to take the human element out of the rock band equation, preferring for instance to project their own propaganda films rather than allow the audience to focus on a frontperson. And yes, they do also sound quite bit like Devo at times, which is way okay by us!
Their synth-obsession was also in part an anti-guitar thing, a reaction to the mainstream. In fact, they took their anti-guitar philosophy to the extreme of not only having a "stamp out guitars" logo, but also making fake guitars out of plywood to smash on stage, while letting their synths play on "cruise control". So definitely The Units were highly conceptual, art schoolish, but not academic - the liner notes are clear that the idea was to be an all-synth band that "kicks ass" (the full quote being: ""I wanted an all synthesizer band... and not some fucking polite, socially acceptable electronic experiment in academia. I didn't want a doctorate in electronic doodling. No, I'm talking about a synth band that kicks ass!") and according to what we're hearing here, they succeeded. And they were not without contemporaries. There were The Screamers, Nervous Gender, and of course Devo; all of whom wanted to take the synthesizer into punk. For many of the Units tracks, it would very easy to replace the lead synth lines with guitars and have an equally kick ass rock song, but the fact is that these are Moog-powered cuts which do oscillate between a quirky sensibility with angular chops and a full-throttle punk car-crash. If you would think the former finds the Units sounding like Devo and the latter like the Screamers, you'd be right!
Yes indeed, the songs on this disc range from urgent Devo-esque pop punk and Screamers-y rants to moody proto-'80s dance tracks to more abstract, instrumental, rhythmic/textural electronic pieces like "Tight Fit" and "East West". There's loads of electric energy, some goofy humor, and certainly serious intent. So many gems here, incorporating buzzing droning distorted synths, propulsively skittering drum beats, and monotone vocals (both male and female).
Their incredible singles "Cannibals" (a tempestuous, driving song that was pure '70s punk), "High Pressure Days", and "Warm Moving Bodies," are prominently featured here, all of which were impressively catchy. Their ability to write these hooks earned them a deal with Epic, who released two seminal 12" singles (which couldn't be licensed for this compilation) and has been sitting on another collection of recordings since 1983. But beyond the hook, the Units were plenty weird, as seen in their peculiar lullaby melodies on "Red" which almost comes across like a Rodd Keith song-poem with a very sparse arrangement. Despite the band's curses toward academic music, a few choice intertwining moments of the Units minimalist grooves come awfully close to sounding like a punked out Terry Riley! Hardly polite music!
Other selections here include the cold wave weird science of "Digital Stimulation", the gloriously grinding downer melody of "Contemporary Emotion" (apparently a cover, a song by some contemporaneous hard rock band we've never heard of called Trakstod Station), and there's even an ode to our very neighborhood, "The Mission Is Bitchin", with lyrics about burritos and marijuana!
Of course it's all a bit dated, of its era, and that's part of the charm... but like we said, a lot of this also sounds like it could be put out by a band today, since everything old is new again and the '80s New Wave / synth thing is a current retro craze. Definitely this is a good time for The Units to be reissued!
And Community Library have done a really nice job of it, the gatefold cd sleeve containing a thick 32 page cd booklet with elaborate colorful collage style liner notes by bandleader Scott "Dr. Tex Nology" Ryser, a Units manifesto of sorts, he also talks about the wild and crazy San Francisco of the '70s/early '80s era, and also there's several pages of old fliers for Units gigs at the Fab Mab and other SF punk venues... we noticed one for the Warfield too, with The Units opening for OMD and Gary Numan. Also shows with Romeo Void, Dead Boys, Soft Cell, Psychedelic Furs, Dead Kennedys, Crime, Screamers, Iggy Pop, the Police, Tuxedomoon... Definitely makes us young 'uns wish we'd been around in SF back then. (Another note about the packaging, it says copyright 2007 on the back but that that's a mistake, it's when the artwork was initially prepared, this is indeed a brand new 2009 release, with also a vinyl version upcoming as well, not sure when, though.)
MPEG Stream: "Cannibals"
MPEG Stream: "Warm Moving Bodies"
MPEG Stream: "i Night"
MPEG Stream: "East West"

UNITUS Cross Contamination (DHR) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
AQ faves Unitus get picked up and reissued by like-minded noiseniks DHR. Here's what we said about this the first time around:
We discovered the D-Trash label (and consequently Unitus) via the amazing DHR 'Don't Fuck With Us' compilation from a few lists ago. Unitus is definitely very beat heavy ala DHR, but lays the beats down in a thick, dark miasma of digital crunch and ambient drones and rumbles. Making for an almost dreamy, definitely droney, hypnotic drum and bass workout with stretches of ambient whir, reminding us quite a bit of the seminal Third Eye Foundation 12" 'Semtex' from a few years back. Nice thick analog sounding dirgescapes, with simple, skittery beats woven throughout. Really fucking great! Maybe electronic music isn't dead after all. You just have to know where to look.
RealAudio clip: "Obmutecre"
RealAudio clip: "Recombinant"
RealAudio clip: "23"

UNITUS Cross Contamination (D-Trash) cd 11.98
Along with the Schizoid, these flew out of here, so we grabbed a handful of extra copies for anyone who missed out on these when we listed this reissue a little while back:
Everyone here digs the shit out breakcore. Whether it's DJ Scud, Christoph De Babalon, all that DHR digital hardcore stuff back in the day. Just like jungle, it was a sound we never got tired of, but all the folks we loved making that sort of music seemed to just sort of drop off the map. DHR folded, or at least is keeping such a low profile we can't get their records, other Breakcore folks have moved onto different sounds. But oh how we long for those super distorted beats, those grim sprawling soundscapes, the darker and more ominous the better.
Well, lucky for us it seems that Canadian label D-Trash has stuck to their breakcore guns, keeping the sound and spirit alive, even releasing a brand new compilation, a tribute to Atari Teenage Riot (reviewed elsewhere on this list). It helps that the man behind D-Trash is none other than Schizoid, our favorite digital hardcore black metal breakcore sound manipulator for sure.
Way back when, we reviewed this disc by a group (or person) called Unitus, it totally destroyed us then, and has now been reissued and sounds just as fantastic now.
We first heard Unitus on the amazing DHR 'Don't Fuck With Us' compilation years and years ago. And when we finally got this full length it was everything we had hoped it would be. Killer breakbeats over thick distorted guitars and viscous buzzing drones. Unitus is definitely very beat heavy and was right at home on DHR, but unlike a lot of that stuff, the beats are laid down in a thick, dark miasma of digital crunch and ambient drones and rumbles. Making for an almost dreamy, definitely droney, hypnotic drum and bass workout with stretches of ambient whir, reminding us quite a bit of the seminal Third Eye Foundation 12" 'Semtex'. Nice thick analog sounding dirgescapes, the drone on and on and on with simple, skittery beats or grinding crunchy rhythms woven throughout. Really fucking great! Even still. This doesn't sound dated at all, and in fact if anything, it puts to shame much of the electronic music coming out now.
MPEG Stream: "Obmutecre"
MPEG Stream: "Recombinant"
MPEG Stream: "Metal To Ashes"

UNKLE End Titles... Stories For Film (Surrender All) cd 14.98

UNKLE Psyence Fiction (MoWax) cd 15.98
Sigh. This is not as good as those salivating music critics would have you believe. The sizable and impressive line-up of cameos does not save this disaster of an album, and shouldn't even be listed for fear of embarassing the artists associated--oh hell, UNKLE '98 is James Lavelle of Mo'Wax (what happened to the other guy?) who has roped in DJ Shadow as his new partner, with appearances by Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Mike D. of Beastie Boys, and Jason Newsted of Metallica along with a bunch of others... Psyence Fiction is like the aftermath of the collision of a Lexus and a BMW, as both drivers of the vehicles were too busy making record deals on their cell phones to pay attention to the road. You just get pissed-off waiting for it to end while the tow-trucks come to drag the sad wreckage out of your way. Mo' money, mo' problems--this is like when someone gets too rich, too fast and buys a really big ugly house. There's no accounting for taste, but somehow this ostentatious display is aesthetically offensive. It's supposed to be THE end-of-the-millenium hybrid-genre watershed record that crosses boundaries and all that crap. But we all know what's *really* gonna be playing when 1999 rolls over to 2000--"Wonderwall".

UNKLE Time Has Come (MoWax) cdep 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
You may know that U.N.K.L.E. is the breakbeat project of Mo'Wax label-head James Lavelle. They've remixed Tortoise and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and this is definitely one of the better EPs on Mo'Wax, boasting 4 delightful & very distinct versions of one source track. Highly recommended.

UNKLE War Stories (Surrender All) cd 13.98

UNKLESOUNDS (UNKLE) Edit Music For A Film (Unklesounds) 2cd 29.00
Anyone wanna play 'Name That Film" with your ol' Unkle James Lavelle? His latest release is somewhat vaguely titled Edit Music For A Film, and a little bit more helpfully subtitled Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Reconstruction. Maybe it should more appropriately be titled Edited Music From A Bunch Of Films 'cause what it featured is snippits of music and dialogue that Lavelle has nabbed from a lengthy list of movies and pieced together atop his deep bass and breakbeat meltdowns. The first disc has one single 54-minute track named "Widescreen Edit - A New Hope", while the second one is slightly longer at 58 minutes (but is also a single track) and is called "Bonus Material Edit - Strikes Back". Some clips are so fleeting that their origins barely register with the casual listener, while others are more complete and recognizable -- such as the seemingly unadulterated Sid Vicious rendition of "My Way" and the excerpts from George Lucas' early film THX-1138. He even uses two images from the latter film for one of the inner sleeves. The inclusion of the former is a bit distracting as it rudely jolts the listener out of the grooving Unkle-zone, and makes for more of a film music compilation feel. Not for everyone, but it might make a novel gift for your movie'n'breakbeat lovin' buddy.
MPEG Stream: "excerpt 1"
MPEG Stream: "excerpt 2"

UP, BUSTLE AND OUT & RICHARD EGIIES Master Sessions 2 (Ninjatune) cd 16.98
Bristol-based Up Bustle & Out exhibit a genuine fondness for world music (heck I thought this whole time they were from South America), a fetish which can be incredibly annoying when appropriated by talentless DJs, but in the hands of this duo, the results are endearing and simple, the sounds not building up to a chaotic crescendo, instead we hear just one or two elements at a time: Cuban rhythms alongside stripped down dub, "Memphis Soul Stew"-style bass, and wailing saxophone. And of course a hearty helping of groovy beats to anchor it all down, a signature of all the good Ninjatune artists (Coldcut, Amon Tobin, etc). Comes with two videos of Super 8 footage playable on your computer. Enjoy!
RealAudio clip: "Sane Men Surround"
RealAudio clip: "Dominoe Boys"

UPLAND Obliterated (Jester) cd 14.98
Along with the Bogus Blimp reviewed recently, here's another new Jester title, from this Autechre-ish glitchtronica act from Norway. We liked their first, self-titled album quite well, and now they're back with Obliterated...and again it's what you might call extreme IDM, a complicated construction of clicks and cuts and beats and yes some melodies. Machine music madness! A nicely done return (let us wax nostalgic) to the exciting heyday, not so long ago, of stuff like Aphex Twin, Autechre, and Squarepusher at their most complex and bewilderingly beat-frenzied craziest.
MPEG Stream: "00.00.00"
MPEG Stream: "Fly vs. Spider"

UPROCK RHIZOME AND THE APHASIA GROUP Jungle Green Memes (Tigerbeat6) cd + book 14.98
Uprock Rhizome And The Aphasia Group sputter, stutter and belch out a heaping platter of sampled noise stew titled Jungle Green Memes. Did we say "heaping platter"? Nay my good lord and lady, this is more like a truckload of live instrumentation and sampled field recordings, improv jazz jams, etc that have been processed and pulverized to virtually unrecognizable shards. Although the label's press release for Jungle Green Memes likens it to a namedrop-heavy meeting between Nihilist Spasm Band, Milford Graves, Tom Ze and Masami Akita or Peter Brotzmann, Eugene Chadbourne, Matching Mole, Mission of Burma and Throbbing Gristle, a closer comparison would actually be to the brutal doom'n'bass of Panacea or Atari Teenage Riot's Nic Endo. The cd comes with an accompanying book that you might think will help make some sense of the mysterious murk. but no! It's 48 pages of equally cryptic, hazy microscopic images.
MPEG Stream: "Synaptic Plastic"
MPEG Stream: "It's Raining Copies"

UUSITALO Tulenkantaja (Huume) cd 16.98

UUSITALO Vappa Muurari Live (Force Inc.) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Uusitalo is the latest pseudonym for Vladislav Delay, though I wonder if Uusitalo is perhaps his real name, as I doubt he was born Delay. Regardless, Uusitalo concentrates on the house / non-textural side of the Vladislav Delay aesthetic. Delay (as well as lots of recent Force Inc / Mille Plateaux artists) solely uses a silken organ synth patch (an unfiltered factory preset, it seems) to create the monochromatic loops of sound, with a soul-less but funky house groove. They call it "glitch-funk", if you care what they say.

V.L.A.D. Motion Institute (Warp) cd 9.99
A new recruit for Warp records, V.L.A.D. offers four tracks of tense electro beats, algorithmic arpeggiations of bleep, and minimalist melodies quite similar to the Richie Devine material from Schematic with parts of the booty-bass squiggliness from Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker" ep.

V/A Disco Deutschland Disco (Marina) cd 16.98
Oh how we've adored the Germans' take on various musical styles over the years, and we're not just talking about their obvious kosmiche krautrock brilliance. No, it's German musicmakers' handling of the more unexpected genres that have deepened our love affair tenfold. The hip '60s kitten heeled go-go pop of the In-Kraut compilations? The spaghetti (er, sauerkraut?) westerns of the Wig Wam Weste(r)n Weisse Wolfe collections? Yes and yes! Those two genres are unquestionably more commonly associated with French chanteuses and American cowboys, so the unmistakable German inflections that surface always make for a delightful twist on the familiar.
Now Marina Records, who brought us those In-Kraut comps, takes it (or is it retakes it?) to the dancefloor with this compilation of German disco and funk music circa 1975 thru 1980. They're not messin' around. This is straight-up boogie wonderland business. Awesome.
Some highlights include the 8+ minute Supermax track, a lowdown I'm so sexy unstoppable groover... the Giorgio Moroder studio band Munich Machine's classic "Get On The Funk Train"... and a disco-era hit from In-Kraut alumnus Peter Thomas and his Sound Orchestra... among 15 other mainly killer, glitterball dazzlers. Now, if the weird thing is, this isn't really that weird. Heck disco's even back "in" now. Don't go expecting krautrocky craziness, instead just get yer dancing shoes on and yer ass in gear. Seriously, this has been getting spun in the store by AQ staffers just as much or more than anything else lately, and when it's on we've been getting our work done with just a little more groove.
Includes a 14-page booklet of informative liner notes, with such interestin' tidbits as that Berry Lipman's track "Sex World" was used as the theme song for an American porno film, but originated as an instrumental from the German sci-fi TV series Star Maidens...
MPEG Stream: SUPERMAX "Love Machine"
MPEG Stream: LIPMAN, BERRY "Sex World"
MPEG Stream: PETER THOMAS SOUND ORCHESTRA "Opium"

V/A ... (Edition...) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This curiously titled compilation from Edition... doesn't want to make the process of uncovering its intentions and potential meanings an easy task, by obscuring the context of how this is to be heard, read, investigated, etc. Edition... has packaged this compilation as a digipack, complete with luminously eerie photographs that are grainier versions of Todd Hido or Dianne Jones (who has shot all of the Tarentel covers, amongst other projects) and absolutely no text. All of the liner notes have been compressed onto one of those circular pieces of paper that fits behind the cd itself and is normally filled with obnoxious marketing questions, only to end up in the trash instead of the post. But it would be wise not to dispose of that enigmatic piece of paper, as there you will learn that Colin Potter, Monos, Hazard, Jliat, M. Behrens, Toy Bizarre, Jio Shimizu, and Steven Lance Ledbetter have all contributed to this compilation. Such a line-up situates this "..." within the area of dronologist investigations, transforming shortwave, field recordings, very specific frequency modulations, and organ fans into eerie drone pieces that hover between contemplative and unnerving. Interspersed within these tracks, Edition... has included straight field recordings of errata in shortwave transmissions, fragments from SETI research, and data retreived from seismic sensors after nuclear tests in India in 1998. These very specific references are tenuously linked to the realm of the conspiracy theory. Regardless of how all of these elements are supposed to appear, this compilation makes for a great listen from begining to end.
RealAudio clip: NUCLEAR TEST FROM INDIA "11 May 1998"
RealAudio clip: TOY BIZARRE "kdi dctb 066b"
RealAudio clip: HAZARD "Rotation Evident"
RealAudio clip: MONOS "Glacier"

V/A .AIFF (12K) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Compiling the experimental / minimal / synthetic realms of post-techno from the more dancefloor friendly pulses of Taylor Dupree and Kim Rapatti (whose track is an exceptionally good variant of Sahko's frigid melodies of bleeps set against a skeletal structure of techno beats) to the more piercing sinewave modulations of Komet (Raster Music), Goem (Korm Plastics, Mego) and *O (whose pure tones are some of the most head rattling noises this side of Ryoji Ikeda). All of the tracks are previously unreleased.

V/A 0161 (Skam) cd 19.98
After licensing the "Skampler" to Silent Records, Skam has issued an excellent collection of Manchester's finest beat-heavy electronica. Following the leads set by Autechre (recording here as Gescom), the artists include Bola, Jega, Audiomontage, The Fall (yes, Mark E. Smith does electronica!) and more... The only e-music record in a long time that's good enough to excite Jim!

V/A 1-8 Split Series (Fat Cat) cd 14.98
Fat Cat Records has so far released 10 of their acclaimed split 12"s featuring a medley of engaging tracks from electronica technicians, dronologists, noise makers, and pranksters. This cd collects 11 of the tracks which had been featured on the series, with contributions from Third Eye Foundation, Gescom vs. Ad Vanz, Chasm (aka Robert Hampson of Main), James Plotkin, Merzbow, Foehn (who has contributed some of the finest dronework that few have heard!), Team Doyobi, V/VM, Speedranch & Janski Noise, and Req. Sadly the brilliant darkness from Anthony Child / Andrew Read didn't made it on the compilation, as was the same fate for a track claimed to be done by Pole (which turned out to be a fabrication of Pole's electronica dub and forced Fat Cat to order the destruction of the pressing, thus making the James Plotkin track pretty much exclusive to this cd).

V/A 10 Tons Heavy (Planet Mu) 2cd 13.98

V/A 2 Many DJ's - As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2 (PIAS) cd 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This disc is so great! It's an uninterrupted one hour mix, and it's one of the best I have ever heard. Stephen and David Dewaele, the two Belgian brothers who play in the band Soulwax plumbed their record collections for everything from totally obscure forgotten tracks to universally popular ones. One of the best pieces overlays Salt 'n Pepa singing "Push It" over The Stooges' "No Fun", which you may also have heard on the (now out-of-print) Best Bootlegs in the World comp. I find 2 Many DJs better than the best Bootlegs comp, actually, because [1] it's a perfectly sequenced smooth mix, all the tracks flow into the next, lots of overlap, and [2] it's not just popular hits being mashed up, it's gems from 2 very smart music fanatics' collections. I mean, who knew that Destiny's Child's theme to Charlie's Angels would work so well over Dolly Parton's "9 to 5", or that a Peaches chord progression's secret twin is a Velvet Underground song?
The endearingly simple 2 Many DJs website lists all the tracks used, along with juicy gossip about how hard or easy it was to get clearance for each one and tracks whose owners *refused* clearance. (If you're crafty you'll be able to find these tracks on the net as mp3s anyway -- I'm downloading the Skee-Lo/"Eye of the Tiger" mix right now.)
This is SO MUCH FUN. Look for it to go out of print sooner rather than later -- don't hesitate. Highly recommended.
RealAudio clip: "tracks 1-2 part 1"
RealAudio clip: "tracks 1-2 part 2"
RealAudio clip: "tracks 17-18"
RealAudio clip: "tracks 3-4"
RealAudio clip: "track 21"
RealAudio clip: "track 8"

V/A 200 (Planet Mu) 2cd 9.98
Great dubstep comp!!

V/A 200 (Planet Mu) 2lp 17.98
Great dubstep comp!!

V/A 3rd Base (Base Records) cd 16.98
3rd Base features a selection of varied works from Base Records artists such as Rehberg/Bauer, The Smiling Buddhas, Alois Huber, Schlund, The K, Swamp Swallow, Martha Hurry and Aural Screenshots with James Plotkin (Old, Phantomsmasher, Atomsmasher, etc).

V/A 45 Second Of: (Simball Records) cd 14.98
99 artists given 45 seconds to do as they wish. It's best to think of this like an audio equivalent of an Exquisite Corpse, the Surrealist parlor game in which a drawing or a sentence would be created by a group of people, who had concealed the nature of the preceding drawings or words, and thus often resulting in absurd creations that characterized the "unconscious reality of the personality of the group." Artists include: Safety Scissors, Stars As Eyes, Lali Puna, D84 (aka Blevin Blectum), Hood, John Tejada, Phthalocyanine, Languis, Sutekh, Tarentel, Martin Rev, Kim Cascone, Jan Jelinek, DJ Spooky, and dozens more. In case anybody cares, the Coelacanth found on this compilation is not the same Coelacanth comprised of Loren Chasse and AQ's Jim Haynes. Oh well.

V/A A Mutated Christmas (Illegal Art) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Thirteen tracks of tweaked out plunderphonic xmas madness from the twisted folks at Illegal Art and RTMark. Conceived and organized by NY sample artist Corporal Blossom (whose work has graced past Illegal Art collections, "Deconstructing Beck" and "Extracted Celluloid"), he is joined by DJ Olive, Lustmord ("Silent Night" coated with recordings of bombings and gunfire!), Grassy Knoll, Fognode, No-L, Mom & Daddy, Lovecraft Technologies, Steven (?) and DJ Kudzu. The opening "White Christmas" by Corporal Blossom features an all-star cast of unmentionable yuletide crooners set to a sampledelic hip hop backing track. Mutated indeed!
RealAudio clip: CORPORAL BLOSSOM "White Christmas"
RealAudio clip: LUSTMORD "Silent Night"

V/A A Number Of Small Things (Morr Music) 2cd 21.00
Despite its title, there's nothing really small about this double cd Morr Music compilation! Sure it collects together a bunch of the label's 2001-2007 singles which I s'pose could be thought of as small, but only if you think seven inches is small. Whoops, was that Freud knockin' on the door? Totally unintentional, honest! Anyways, some of these songs are short and most are super sweet, but they're all big hearted and fully bearhug-able, dreamy indie pop. There's thirty six of 'em from Butcher The Bar (very reminiscent of the late Elliott Smith), Benni Hemm Hemm, Seavault, Seabear, Masha Qrella, Electric President (like a twee Weakerthans), John Yoko with Lali Puna (including a lovely cover of "Papa Was A Rodeo"... that song always makes Cup weep!) as well as the latter on their awesome own, Populous, B. Fleishmann (an old aQ fave), ISAN, Styrofoam, Teamforest, and Other People's Children. Most offer up two tunes, some four. Be forewarned though, some folks might find the instrumental numbers veering too much into the bank commercial-ish tepid docility. Downy and dewy eyed and definitely recommended if you need to mellow out with an aural snuggle!
MPEG Stream: BUTCHER THE BAR "Get Away"
MPEG Stream: ELECTRIC PRESIDENT "Good Ol' Boys"
MPEG Stream: JOHN YOKO / LALI PUNA "Papa Was A Rodeo"

V/A A Psychedelic Guide To Monsterism Island (Lo Recordings) cd 14.98
For those of you not familiar with Monster Island, it's an imaginary land, created by artist Pete Fowler, filled with Technicolor cartoon monsters, bats, Yeti's, sea serpents, as well as a strange group of long haired residents, from grungy space rock musicians, to antlered rednecks, Fowler's art so dreamy and trippy and far out (and even sports some Fowler tattoos!!). A few years ago, there was another Monster Island compilation, that one was more focused on free folk and acid psych, perfectly complimenting Fowlers druggy land of wonder. Somehow, this second comp, is equally apt, exploring a whole different sound, and we can only assume, a whole different side of the island, and thus of course a bunch of new and fascinating beasts and mysterious folks...
Monsterism Island, at least sonically, is some imaginary haven of carefree, melty bliss and this is the freaky soundtrack to that wonderful world. The vibe this time around is some sort of really cool late '80s/early '90s video game soundtrack, lots of bloops and bleeps and skittery beats, imagine maybe a more tripped out, woozy and breezy soundtrack to Sonic The Hedgehog. The sound is all over the map, from colorful dreamy electronica, to groove heavy jazz to soft-psychedelic shimmer. Occasionally we're also reminded of Boards Of Canada as well as some obscure library music (makes sense that Johnny Trunk has a track on here!). We could have done without some of the 'goofy' spoken interludes and it does get a bit smooth sailin' in a party love boat kind of way, but still a nice fun ride for sure, then again, what would you expect a world of kaleidoscopic weirdness and wildly prismatic landscapes, groovy mystery bands and a wild array of wee beasties to sound like anyway?! Cool packaging too, featuring some of Fowlers gorgeous artwork.
So strap on the headphones, throw this in the stereo and head here:
http://www.monsterism.net/
And let yourself get WAY lost...
MPEG Stream: MONSTERS AT WORK "Magic Morning"
MPEG Stream: JONNY TRUNK "Nest We Forget"
MPEG Stream: LUKE VIBERT "Silver Snorse Hotel"

V/A Absolute Zero (Charrm) cd 18.98
In the liner notes for this compilation, Saburo Teshigawara states that "the nothingness of immobility is an extraordinary energy with minus quality that functions dynamically." Teshigawara is the director of the Japanese dance ensemble Karas, which has been seeking out the beauty of the human essence within a manufactured environment. As the score to the ensembles' worldwide tour of their recent production "Absolute Zero," Karas commissioned a handful of the more subtle proponents of experimental electronica to contribute exclusive tracks for their dance piece. With both a solid collection of artists and an interesting application of the Cage-ian concept of nothingness being an active participant in the world at large, "Absolute Zero" stands clearly above all of the compilations to come out this year. The participants included in "Absolute Zero" are Biosphere, Disinformation, Hallucinator, Gescom (better known as Autechre), Hazard, Jiri Ceiver, Monolake, and Zoviet France (who released this through their Charrm imprint).
As a whole, this compilation develops a simple yet effective narrative-like construction with a gentle revelation of sound that reaches a specific denoument and fades ultimately into silence. Biosphere and Zoviet France open up the album with some beautifully radiant drone work. Monolake and Hallucinator then kick things into gear with the archetypal Chain Reaction heroin house sound. Hazard and Gescom (who are surprisingly quiet!) round out the compilation with minimalist pieces more suited to the Trente Oiseaux label. Very nice work.
RealAudio clip: BIOSPHERE "Superfluid"
RealAudio clip: MONOLAKE "frost"
RealAudio clip: ZOVIET FRANCE "sifr"

V/A Across The Cell Wall (Kodama) cd 14.98
Electronica comp with Jake Mandell, Kid 606, Kevin Blechdom, Arovane, Stewart Walker, and others.

V/A Across Uneven Terrain (FatCat) cd 17.98
Not all, but some of the AMAZING 'post-rock'/electronica singles that tasteful U.K. label Fat Cat has previously issued and have subsequently let fall out of print. From Fonn & Live Human's murky yet live intrumental breakbeats to Transient Waves & Immerse's haunting scores and back to the techno throb of Chain Reaction artist Various Artists. Also featured is one of the stellar Bjork remixes by Funkstorung. If you missed out the first time, here's your chance to hear a wonderful intro to the melodic mellow side of the new 'electronica' styles.

V/A Across Uneven Terrain (FatCat) 2lp 16.98
Not all, but some of the AMAZING 'post-rock'/electronica singles that tasteful U.K. label Fat Cat has previously issued and have subsequently let fall out of print. From Fonn & Live Human's murky yet live intrumental breakbeats to Transient Waves & Immerse's haunting scores and back to the techno throb of Chain Reaction artist Various Artists. Also featured is one of the stellar Bjork remixes by Funkstorung. If you missed out the first time, here's your chance to hear a wonderful intro to the melodic mellow side of the new 'electronica' styles.

V/A Al-Jabr (Ash International R.I.P.) cd 14.98
Another 'remix' album of the processed electromagnetic radio waves released by Disinformation (the first was the Antiphony 2cd). The central analogy of these 'remixes' by Evan Parker, Jim O'Rourke, Lawrence Casserley, Mechos, Tactile, Simon Fisher Turner, and T:unk Systems is of an underground publication by 9th Century mathmetician Abu Ja'Far Muhammad Ibn Musa, who proposed the ideas of mathematical fractions to the rest of the world. Conceptually the remixes stand as 'surgical reunifications' in which broadcast data noise are transformed into pulsing drones and electrical melodies. The stand out contribution is clearly the Evan Parker remix in which is staccato blurts of multi tracked saxophone work brilliantly next to the noxious hypnosis of Disinformation's original.

V/A All Tomorrow's Parties 3.0: Autechre Curated (ATP Recordings) 2cd 15.98
This comp bring together two discs worth of artists who appeared at the Autechre-curated All Tomorrow's Parties 3.0 festival in the UK earlier in April. Featuring unreleased tracks from Masters of Illusion, Push Button Objects, Jim O'Rourke, San Francisco's own O.S.T., Dr. Dooom, Anthony Shake Shakir, Mark Broom, Disjecta, Autechre, Earth (that's right, an unreleased Earth track!), Bola, Pita, Baby Ford and Hecker as well as tracks by Public Enemy, Gescom, Made, Stasis, and BFC.
MPEG Stream: EARTH "Dissolution III"
MPEG Stream: BOLA "Magnasushi"

V/A Altered States of America (Lo Recordings) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Features solely American artists messing with your tired notions of what electronica can be. Ranges from murky and dark to threateningly heavy. With AQ-store favorites Matmos and Lesser, plus David Kristian, Chessie, Solvent, 8 Frozen Modules, and Space Wurm.

V/A American Breakbeat Rebuilt (Klangkrieg) 2cd 17.98
A compilation of remixes of a compilation (American Breakbeat, duh) that was kind of a throwaway to begin with. Steer clear unless you absolutely must own everything by Kid 606, Lesser, Matmos, Hrvatski, Sutekh, Electric Birds, Cex and the like as remixed by Panacea, Pimmon, Rosy Parlane, Com.A, Sonic Dragoglo, Andreas Tilliander, Noize Creator, Slepcy, et al. Kinda uneventful overall, though the Hrvatski track on the original release was very pretty, and the remix here by New Zealander Rosy Parlane is quite nice as well.

V/A Amunition (Planet Mu) cd 10.98

V/A An Anthology Of Noise & Electronic Music: Fourth A-Chronology 1937-2005 Volume #4 (Sub Rosa) 2cd 16.98
The curators of the fourth volume of the seven part series of Anthologies of Noise & Electronic Music are correct when they point to the fact that the history of the avant-garde is a messy one with tangled connections between competing factions, ideologies, methods, and personalities. The Sub Rosa compilations are dotted with a who's who of the electro-acoustic avant-garde from the past century, tossed in with a smorgasborg of previously unknown (and often very interesting) artists as well as contemporary musicians who are well on their way to establishing themselves within the canons of the institutional avant-garde. Sub Rosa has gone out of its way to compile a collection to scramble one's notions of the taxonomic rhetoric that may influence the perception of any of the artists present; hence you'll find Les Rallizes Denudes (already you can tell this series is not very reverential of the academic definition of experimental electronics music, with the inclusion of this incendiary Japanese psych band) next to Vibracathedral Orchestra followed by one-time Blind Idiot God guitarist Andy Hawkins then Alvin Lucier. Sub Rosa boasts that more than 75 percent of the album is unreleased material, which is all the more impressive considering that the compilation features the likes of Gyorgy Ligetti, Oliver Messiaen, William S. Burroughs, Milan Knizak, Steve Reich, Halim el-Dabh, Jean-Claude Risset, Stephen Vitiello, Laurie Spiegel, and many others. To top it all off, it's surprisingly pleasing to listen to. What that says about the state of 'noise' music may be another question.
MPEG Stream: WANG CHANGCUN "Seafood"
MPEG Stream: LES RALLIZES DENUDES "Fucked Up and Naked"
MPEG Stream: HALIM EL-DABH "Wire Recorder"

V/A An England Story (Soul Jazz) 2cd 23.00
The folks who run Soul Jazz Records must have made the best mixtapes. Heck, what are we talking about, they STILL make the best mixtapes. Their whole label is essentially based on their mixtape skills. Every release, an incredible collection of tracks, from super obscure rarities, to instantly recognizable favorites, managing over the course of a disc or two, to encapsulate and represent perfectly a sound or a scene. It's like a college course on music history condensed into a handful of songs. Whether it's Brazilian post punk, classic reggae, New York noise, Afro-Cuban music, Big Apple Rappin', modern dubstep, Tropicalia, Chicago Soul, Soul Jazz can present a super concise history of whatever sound it is. In fact, we're beginning to think, they could pick ANYTHING and we'd be willing to check it out. Easy listening, boy bands, Reggaeton, top 40, singers who used to be Mousketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club. If anyone could turn that shit into something compelling and listenable, Soul Jazz could.
Thankfully, this latest comp focuses on something much closer to our music obsessed hearts. A history of MC culture in the UK, including all the various roots and offshoots, dancehall, hip hop, jungle, garage, grime, dubstep. Anyone who dug past Soul Jazz releases like the two Box Of Dub discs, Rumble In The Jungle, any of the various dancehall comps, it almost goes without saying that this too will be some essential listening. While we recognize lots of the artists, we hadn't heard a single track here, but we've already begun compiling a list of records to track down just based on the brief samplings offered up here.
The discs aren't really chronological, or divided by genre, instead, they are deftly arranged to demonstrate the inherent similarities, to allow the listener to hear dancehall butted up against some dubstep, some UK hip hop cozied up to some jungle, the various track so different, but often incorporating similar elements and obviously drawn from the same musical history.
Some favorites: Doctor & Davinche's "Gotta Man", a loping stuttery grime jam, with a weird shuffling rhythm, a killer string stab loop, and of course some amazing tongue twisting flows. The Indian flecked hip hop groove of "So U Want Morre?" from Ty & Roots Manuva, peppered with some muted tablas, little flurries of string shimmer, a looped Eastern vocal refrain. The classic ska-infused dancehall of Tenor Fly's "Bump And Grind", soulful horns, a fluttering falsetto hook, and TF's agile gruff and raspy toasting. Riko's "Ice Rink Riddim", a convoluted grime stutter, with pizzicato guitar notes, beats made out of smeared FX and trash can lids, makes us wonder why this guy isn't as hyped as Dizzee Rascal or Wiley. "Deep" by Jakes & TC, some sort of two step garage, with some awesome fuzzed out Justice style synths, super growly vocals, and a super bouncy beat.
There are a couple weaker tracks near the end of disc two, but by then, it hardly matters, the rest of the collection is just so awesome. Funky, fucked up, groovy, big beats, killer hooks, amazing rapping and toasting, and like we already mentioned, just like the best mix tapes, An England Story leaves you wanting to hear more from pretty much every artist here!
Like all Soul Jazz releases, impeccably packaged, jewel case housed in a full color slip cover, a HUGE booklet, with liner notes, photos, interviews and more!
MPEG Stream: DOCTOR & DAVINCHE "Gotta Man"
MPEG Stream: TENOR FLY "Bump And Grind"
MPEG Stream: RIKO "Ice Rink Riddim"
MPEG Stream: JAH SCREECHY "Walk And Skank"

V/A An England Story: Volume 1 (Soul Jazz) 2lp 23.00
The folks who run Soul Jazz Records must have made the best mixtapes. Heck, what are we talking about, they STILL make the best mixtapes. Their whole label is essnetially based on their mixtape skills. Every release, an incredible collection of tracks, from super obscure rarities, to instantly recognizable favorites, managing over the course of a disc or two, to encapsulate and represent perfectly a sound or a scene. It's like a college course on music history condensed into a handful of songs. Whether it's Brazilian post punk, classic reggae, New York noise, Afro-Cuban music, Big Apple Rappin', modern dubstep, Tropicalia, Chicago Soul, Soul Jazz can present a super concise history of whatever sound it is. In fact, we're beginning to think, they could pick ANYTHING and we'd be willing to check it out. Easy listening, boy bands, Reggaeton, top 40, singers who used to be Mousketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club. If anyone could turn that shit into something compelling and listenable, Soul Jazz could.
Thankfully, this latest comp focuses on something much closer to our music obsessed hearts. A history of MC culture in the UK, including all the various roots and offshoots, dancehall, hip hop, jungle, garage, grime, dubstep. Anyone who dug past Soul Jazz releases like the two Box Of Dub discs, Rumble In The Jungle, any of the various dancehall comps, it almost goes without saying that this too will be some essential listening. While we recognize lots of the artists, we hadn't heard a single track here, but we've already begun compiling a list of records to track down just based on the brief samplings offered up here.
The discs aren't really chronological, or divided by genre, instead, they are deftly arranged to demonstrate the inherent similarities, to allow the listener to hear dancehall butted up against some dubstep, some UK hip hop cozied up to some jungle, the various track so different, but often incorporating similar elements and obviously drawn from the same musical history.
Some favorites: Doctor & Davinche's "Gotta man", a loping stuttery grime jam, with a weird shuffling rhythm, a killer string stab loop, and of course some amazing tongue twisting flows. The Indian flecked hip hop groove of "So U Want Morre?" from Ty & Roots Manuva, peppered with some muted tablas, little flurries of string shimmer, a looped Eastern vocal refrain. The classic ska-infused dancehall of Tenor Fly's "Bump And Grind", soulful horns, a fluttering falsetto hook, and TF's agile gruff and raspy toasting. Riko's "Ice Rink Riddim", a convoluted grime stutter, with pizzicato guitar notes, beats made out of smeared FX and trash can lids, makes us wonder why this guy isn't as hyped as Dizzee Rascal or Wiley. "Deep" by Jakes & TC, some sort of two step garage, with some awesome fuzzed out Justice style synths, super growly vocals, and a super bouncy beat.
There are a couple weaker tracks near the end of disc two, but by then, it hardly matters, the rest of the collection is just so awesome. Funky, fucked up, groovy, big beats, killer hooks, amazing rapping and toasting, and like we already mentioned, just like the best mix tapes, An England Story leaves you wanting to hear more from pretty much every artist here!
Like all Soul Jazz releases, impeccably packaged, jewel case housed in a full color slip cover, a HUGE booklet, with liner notes, photos, interviews and more! Y'all went crazy for Sound Way's Nigeria Special compilation a few lists back, and we expect Nigeria Disco Funk Special -- the second installment in a 3-part series -- to be just as enticing a proposition. Whereas the first Nigeria Special was a sprawling collection of sounds and styles intended to show the sheer diversity of Nigeria's musical output in the early '70s, this volume is far more musically concise, consisting of mostly instrumental cuts that are heavily indebted to the American funk and disco being imported into Nigeria at the time.
This collection of deep funk, Afro-boogie and serious disco will transport you (and your booty) to the sweat-soaked discos of Lagos, where native sounds shimmy up next to imported grooves bringing the dancefloor to a fever pitch of go-go bells, funky drums, wah wah guitar, popping bass and blasting horns. This is tight, dirty funk being filtered through afrobeat and highlife.... the results are absolutely AMAZING!
Like all things from Sound Way, Nigeria Disco Funk Special comes with gorgeous packaging, extensive liner notes, archival photos and repros of original album artwork. Take your pick between a super slick digipak for the cd version and a gorgeous gatefold sleeve for the 2LP. This is heavy shit. Don't miss out!
MPEG Stream: DOCTOR & DAVINCHE "Gotta Man"
MPEG Stream: TENOR FLY "Bump And Grind"
MPEG Stream: RIKO "Ice Rink Riddim"
MPEG Stream: JAH SCREECHY "Walk And Skank"

V/A An England Story: Volume 2 (Soul Jazz) 2lp 23.00
The folks who run Soul Jazz Records must have made the best mixtapes. Heck, what are we talking about, they STILL make the best mixtapes. Their whole label is essnetially based on their mixtape skills. Every release, an incredible collection of tracks, from super obscure rarities, to instantly recognizable favorites, managing over the course of a disc or two, to encapsulate and represent perfectly a sound or a scene. It's like a college course on music history condensed into a handful of songs. Whether it's Brazilian post punk, classic reggae, New York noise, Afro-Cuban music, Big Apple Rappin', modern dubstep, Tropicalia, Chicago Soul, Soul Jazz can present a super concise history of whatever sound it is. In fact, we're beginning to think, they could pick ANYTHING and we'd be willing to check it out. Easy listening, boy bands, Reggaeton, top 40, singers who used to be Mousketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club. If anyone could turn that shit into something compelling and listenable, Soul Jazz could.
Thankfully, this latest comp focuses on something much closer to our music obsessed hearts. A history of MC culture in the UK, including all the various roots and offshoots, dancehall, hip hop, jungle, garage, grime, dubstep. Anyone who dug past Soul Jazz releases like the two Box Of Dub discs, Rumble In The Jungle, any of the various dancehall comps, it almost goes without saying that this too will be some essential listening. While we recognize lots of the artists, we hadn't heard a single track here, but we've already begun compiling a list of records to track down just based on the brief samplings offered up here.
The discs aren't really chronological, or divided by genre, instead, they are deftly arranged to demonstrate the inherent similarities, to allow the listener to hear dancehall butted up against some dubstep, some UK hip hop cozied up to some jungle, the various track so different, but often incorporating similar elements and obviously drawn from the same musical history.
Some favorites: Doctor & Davinche's "Gotta man", a loping stuttery grime jam, with a weird shuffling rhythm, a killer string stab loop, and of course some amazing tongue twisting flows. The Indian flecked hip hop groove of "So U Want Morre?" from Ty & Roots Manuva, peppered with some muted tablas, little flurries of string shimmer, a looped Eastern vocal refrain. The classic ska-infused dancehall of Tenor Fly's "Bump And Grind", soulful horns, a fluttering falsetto hook, and TF's agile gruff and raspy toasting. Riko's "Ice Rink Riddim", a convoluted grime stutter, with pizzicato guitar notes, beats made out of smeared FX and trash can lids, makes us wonder why this guy isn't as hyped as Dizzee Rascal or Wiley. "Deep" by Jakes & TC, some sort of two step garage, with some awesome fuzzed out Justice style synths, super growly vocals, and a super bouncy beat.
There are a couple weaker tracks near the end of disc two, but by then, it hardly matters, the rest of the collection is just so awesome. Funky, fucked up, groovy, big beats, killer hooks, amazing rapping and toasting, and like we already mentioned, just like the best mix tapes, An England Story leaves you wanting to hear more from pretty much every artist here!
Like all Soul Jazz releases, impeccably packaged, jewel case housed in a full color slip cover, a HUGE booklet, with liner notes, photos, interviews and more! Or if you're of the vinyl persuasion, it's also available as two separate double lps, twice the price, but that's a lot of vinyl!
MPEG Stream: DOCTOR & DAVINCHE "Gotta Man"
MPEG Stream: TENOR FLY "Bump And Grind"
MPEG Stream: RIKO "Ice Rink Riddim"
MPEG Stream: JAH SCREECHY "Walk And Skank"

V/A Analogue Eats Digital (www.misterministeck.com) 3" cd-r 14.98
Odd 3"cd-r compilation from Berlin-based misterministeck.com - a website run by artist Norbert Bayer, who makes pictures and objects using ministeck, a children's creativity game in which plastic pins are placed on a grid to create an image. Bayer utilizes this technique to actualize pixilated pop art recreations of images, most notably video game icons. This compilation features five exclusive tracks written in dedication to Mr. Ministeck (and in a low-bit video game style) by Berlin electro-pop artists Stereo Total, Frederick Schikowski (amazing electronic artist with releases on Irritant), Art Of Kissing (with Franz of Jeans Team!), Pinknoise and Neoangin. Each disc comes with its own ministeck recreation of icons from Pac-Man!
RealAudio clip: FREDERIK SCHIKOWSKI "Wie Wird Die Liebe Gesteckt"
RealAudio clip: STEREO TOTAL "Je Reve Encore De Toi"