The Four Seasons: Walk Like A Man

The Fall: Walk Like A Man

Divine: Walk Like A Man

flying lotus

Lush, smashed up beats from the US-based Warp signing with his own computer game




myspace.com/flyinglotus

My Robot Friend - Robot High School

Not only one of the best live acts full stop - which obviously means he dumps all over the opposition in the electronica sector - but now responsible for one of the most weirdly hypnotic videos (and eerie songs) this blogger's seen for a long while.



www.myspace.com/myrobotfriend

My Robot Friend is one guy from New York - I heard an early demo via Sean at 12 Apostles and offered to sign him to Spiky on the strength of 'Walt Whitman' and 'I Know What Women Want' (worth checking out). But Soma (who, let's not forget, also brought the world Daft Punk first) had already got there.

Album reviews

Two LPs, the full reviews will be appearing in the next iDJ magazine....

Example
What We Almost Made
(All The Chats)
Great beats but what on earth is this Streets-affiliated UK scene face rapping about? Girls, girls girls..... Yawn. 2 Live Crew split up years ago fella.

James Pants
Welcome
(Stones Throw)
A kind of modern twist on the retro digital funk age of the 80s from this Washington State-based producer, with echoes of later period George Clinton, Cameo, Rick James, Rockit-era Herbie Hancock and Juan Atkins' electro project Cybotron. Excellent and original.

Adam & The Ants (with three drummers!!)

My first proper brush with pop. Me and my brother were lucky enough to sit on the famous beanbags for this episode of Jim'll Fix It (filmed in what is now the Shepherd's Bush Empire), that featured one lucky swine who got to be the third drummer in Adam & The Ants. The show also featured an opera singer smashing a wine glass with her voice, almost as amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVDib7thl0c

I remember Jimmy Saville coming over to us beanbags kids before filming started and telling us "any trouble from any of you lot and you're out." He wasn't joking.

Logistics

Cambridge-based d&b producer Matt Gresham aka Logistics has a new album (his second) called 'Reality Checkpoint' out on Hospital Records... Brother of equally beloved breakbeat scientist Nu-Tone, Gresham has specialised in more melodic beats in the past but this album spans everything from Clipz-style frequency abuse to shuddering, dubstep-inspired rhythms.

Free new Logistics DJ mix:
http://www.dogsonacid.com/mixes/

R.O.C.

The R.O.C. site has had a new makeover, with tons of free downloads, press cuttings, pics and vids...
http://www.rocmusic.com/

Given my involvement in the band - if relatively late in their career and in a fairly marginal rhythm guitar/remix role - I probably shouldn't go too over the top recommending them to you, but don't take my word for it; they count Radiohead, Brian Eno and Orbital (not to mention Dannii Minogue - seriously) among their fans.

Saul Williams

Saul Williams' brilliant 'List Of Demands.' Can anyone name a better single from the past five years?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1llNYAlYrc

Die & Clipz: Indian Summer

Well, having told you I was going to be bringing you loads of new music I've been on a slight nostalgia trip recently - at least, YouTube can bring a bit of that out in you. So, to redress the balance I'm going to start bringing you reviews of some of the lovely promos that get sent to lucky me.

Die & Clipz: Indian Summer

Superbly driving, functional drum and bass beats with a Bollywood twist that lends this floor-killer an unexpected hint of goofy Missy/Timbaland charm. Flip track 'Back Inside', with its Hollie G vocal, is equally hard hitting but again topped off with a memorable hook or two. An inspired joining of forces from relative newbie Clipz and veteran Die, whose pedigree stretches back as far as collabs with Roni Size in '94/'95.

hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efcHFvylcrQ

Die's myspace
http://www.myspace.com/djdiefullcycle

Vintage Die production from '95 - 'Live and Direct'
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXsboKDg_-4

The first of many Clipz classics - 'Cuban Links'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXo_jMa2lvs

Best Gig Ever?

Having done my best DJ set ever I should probably even things out by doing my best gig – again, not quite because there are lots to mention, but again this is one that always crops up in the list

Atari Teenage Riot, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.

One song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqsVKC7W-HQ

Just ferocious! I remember leaving at the end, walking past Sir John Peel about half way back in the audience, still applauding.

It’s still weird to think neither Sir John Peel nor Atari rapper Carl Crack is around now because, at the risk of sounding like an old duffer this does seem like yesterday.

Ten Years Of Valve

It's ten years since Dillinja and Lemon D started one of the best labels for tough drum and bass - and gathering by the intruiging 'coming soon' message on what used to be their website, now replaced by http://www.thegrandeunion.com they've got something special up their sleeve.

For a taster of Dillinja's beats, up there with Photek's as the most innovative and distinctive in d&b, visit his myspace...

http://www.myspace.com/dillinjavalve


And here's a documentary on the Valve Sound System - in the Guiness Book Of Records as the country's loudest (very Spinal Tap) - as good as it is pulverising! Not for nothing do they hand out free earplugs on the door at their events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o3IOdwE9Zs

Terry Hall To Rejoin The Specials

In celebration of the news that two tone legends The Specials are to reform for a tour in the Autumn...

Too Much Too Young
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ivvM7VH7U

Guardian Website

I've got an article on the Guardian website!

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/03/punk_rescued_pop_culture.html