nurblecast episode 13
Holy shit, I’ve been pretty terrible about keeping this going, haven’t I? Sorry ’bout that.
Onward!
Get A Move On – Mr Scruff
If you’ve been living anywhere but a sealed up bomb shelter in Chernobyl, you’ve heard this song a million times. Fact. However, I’m pretty sure your reaction upon hearing it for the million and oneth time was, “Aww, Mr. Scruff!” or something to that effect, because you are, I assume, exactly like me. Find this on Keep It Unreal, or by turning on your television or radio.
No No – Swell Session vs. Mr. Scruff
I learned very early in my podcasting career that the easiest way to do segues is to combine songs made by common collaborators. See, also, the entire “Germany” episode I threw together. This popped up in a few places and I finally started liking it enough to hunt it down. If you don’t like it immediately, I really urge you to give it at least three more listens. You’ll find yourself either humming it absentmindedly or actually shouting the title aloud as people try to play it for you. I consider both a success. This is from the Swell Communications Sampler Vol. 1, available from most of your finer internets.
Blaze ‘n’ Cook (Peter Kruder Jiggy Remix) – Stereotyp meets Al Haca
At first I thought that said “Stereotyp meets Al Qaeda”, which would be kind of amusing. “Yeah, we still want to bomb shit and destroy the West and all, but our success has brought us a lot of new opportunities and we always wanted to make a dance record.” This was on Gilles Peterson’s best of show from like three years ago, and I only just found it on iTunes. Bastard. Blaze ‘n’ Cook mixes, if you’re curious to hear the other versions, but I’ll go ahead and tell you that this is by far the best one, it is also the funkiest thing I’ve heard in years.
Balkan Hot Step – N.O.H.A.
This is another one that you may find annoying. It’s a little like a cartoon car alarm at the beginning, but give it a chance, it’s a fun track that will win you over by minute 2 (when the trumpets arrive). From their album The Next Plateau.
Rex Drums – Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson
Again with the funny misspellings. I typed “Drumlesion”, which is less funny than just disgusting. Anyway, Christian Prommer, for those keeping score at home, is in about a thousand groups: Truby Trio, Fauna Flash, Voom Voom, and, I guess, Drumlesson. Christian Prommer snuck on me, since I’ve never really cared for either Fauna Flash or Truby Trio (and not for lack of trying), but the Voom Voom record was a breath of fresh air, and just doing the math told me that Peter Kruder was the reason. Now I’m not so sure. Prommer’s a great party DJ, not to be missed, and these side projects of his are starting to make me wonder if he’s just being dragged down by Rainer Truby and the other one (ahem, Roland Appel)… Get this little experiment of his on an EP called Beau Mot Plage.
Buttons – Sia
From her latest “Some People Have Real Problems“. I loves me some Sia, you people have been very patient with me in that regard, so just nod politely while I tell you that this is a fucking stunning album, time flies when you put it on, it’s just plain great. Not that you’ll notice it on this one, but she seems to be getting hip to the fact that her live singing voice has a lot more power and intensity than her album voice, mostly because she doesn’t pronounce anything when she sings live, she just sort of slurs her way through everything, which sounds dumb but is, in fact, awesome. Coachella ’08, people, mark it on your calendars. Or your collanders… misspellings are fun, makes me want to go register shady domain names.
Workin’ All the Time – Pimps of Joytime
This came to me the way only the weirdest of artists do, via NPR’s Day To Day. When they’re not trying to convince me to like Coldplay or Natalie Merchant, they’re pushing random art noise that takes a Sociology degree and a Masters in Music Theory to even begin to appreciate. Occasionally though, one sneaks through. Funnily enough, the premise of the report that brought this band to my attention was that the reviewer was expecting another lame urban act, but was surprised by the depth and range displayed by the Pimps. Just as I was surprised, as I sat in my car at the corner of Colorado and Cloverfield waiting to turn, that I was hearing both music I liked and a review I agreed with on NPR, at the same time! High Steppin’ is the album, and I have to admit, I sympathize with whatshisname from wherevermusicmag, Pimps of Joytime High Steppin’ would not fill me with enthusiasm either, but this is a fucking fun album.
Strict Machine – Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp have a slightly hard edge to them, don’t they? I half expect their videos to contain sadomasochism and lots of leather and latex (and yet I haven’t rushed to locate said videos, odd). This is but one great track, selected practically at random from Black Cherry. Ooh La La from Supernature is currently my favorite song, by the way.
St. Pancras – Gabriel Yared and Underworld
This is from a soundtrack for a movie called Breaking and Entering, which I have yet to see. I am terrible at having a favorite band. Underworld is my all time favorite thing ever, but I never go to their website, I rarely listen to their albums (the new one? Had it for months and have yet to get all the way through it), and if they make a soundtrack to a film, I fail to rent or download the film. I don’t even know who Gabriel Yared is! Oh well, this is a really sweet album, full of all of the best bits of newer Underworld stuff, the polished atmosphere of Rick Smith’s deepest thoughts, plus some interesting guitar stuff that you don’t generally hear from them. Kinda like a less-cheesy version of Babel.
Breathe – Telepopmusik
This one appeared on the playlist at around the same time as the Mr. Scruff track, when I was toying with the idea of putting together an episode of tracks that you probably think you’re sick of, but really are excited to hear again. This turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. I don’t have any strong feelings about Telepopmusik, I like ‘em, and the Ann Litt show I heard them on that reminded me of their existence coincided nicely with one of those quintessential LA moments where I’d just taken my first bite of an In ‘n’ Out burger, my car window was down, and I was cruising down Lincoln on a Saturday afternoon, probably headed home to play more videogames: A fleeting moment of happiness that was only complete because my radio was cooperating. Get this from Genetic World. No, to my knowledge, there is no link between Telepopmusik and Gus Gus, but I’ll look into it.
Tupelo Honey – Dusty Springfield
I’m beginning to gather a non-trivial amount of amusement from throwing a curveball onto the end of these episodes, so this one fills that void nicely, in that I can’t even explain what it’s doing here or why I picked it. For all I know, it squirmed in here on its own. Get it from Dusty’s Ultimate Collection, or, fuck it, don’t.
Doin’ the Do – Betty Boo
The thing is, it’s not really a curveball if you see it coming, so this is the change up to the previous curveball. Betty Fucking Boo. Pure pop bliss. I first encountered her on a mix cd called FSUK, mixed by Bentley Rhythm Ace (no relation), a series of CDs that is to Big Beat fans what the “From the Vaults” discs are to Deadheads. 2 minutes and 40 seconds into this song, there’s a breakdown that I find irresistible. I seem to have spent a lot of time on this playlist talking you into stuff… Must be the mood I’m in. No matter. Find this track on… Limewire. I seriously have no clue.
Thanks for your continued patronage, please form an orderly line and make your way to the exits.
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