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three conga drums on the M train
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Jimmy Takeuchi — La Pioggia
from Drum Drum Drum (1968?)
Yesterday we heard Gigliola Cinquetti singing her San Remo entry ‘La Pioggia.’ Here’s an instrumental version, as performed by Japanese R&B/soul/surf drummer Jimmy Takeuchi and his group The Exciters.
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David Axelrod — The Auction
from The Auction (1972)
The name David Axelrod may bring to mind Obama’s strategic adviser. Now meet the other David Axelrod—prolific jazz and funk producer/composer.
This percussion-heavy spoken word groover appears on Axelrod’s 1972 slavery concept album The Auction. If you like this, make sure you check out Lincoln Chase, who operates on a similar plane…
Thanks to Know Your Conjurer for posting this gem. Get yer audio there…
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Sly Stone — I Ain’t Got Nobody
from Recorded in San Francisco 1964-67
Killer psychedelic soul track by Sylvester Stewart—aka Sly Stone—recorded in 1967, eventually released as a Sly and the Family Stone single in 1972. The bass & drums break about halfway in is outlandishly good—don’t miss it. The rest of the album is a bizarre collection of spoken word pieces, funky singles like this, and a Herbie Hancock cover, ‘Watermelon Man.’
Sly is reportedly living in a van in LA right now, too paranoid to go into his rented house, but friends say he’s content and recording tunes on a laptop in the van.
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WALSH — Landing Strip
from Don’t Want 2 Fall In Luv (2011)
Everything Brandon Biondo (aka WALSH) touches turns to funk. He literally presses a key on his synthesizer and a leopard-print leotard jumps out of the speaker.
I mean these mechanical drum hits are just TOO MUCH. Kinda nasty. I think Biondo’s officially turned into a robot. And you will too, if you aren’t careful with this song. Also don’t miss the other standout track, ‘Kommissar.’
Like all his work, this EP is a real winner. If you’re feeling generous, grab it over at bandcamp at the pay-what-you-will rate… or you can try it on for free at label Dracula Horse. (follow Dracula Horse on tumblr for more goodies)
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Bernard Purdie — Song for Aretha
from Soul Is…Pretty Purdie (1972)
As far as tributes go, this one claims the heavyweight title: Bernard Purdie’s ode to Aretha Franklin, for whom he served as musical director from 1970-1975. He’s said that “backing her was like floating in seventh heaven.” His monologue on this track, too, is exploding with Aretha-love:
“There’s a woman.. who brings love and laughter, whenever she sings, to the people standing beneath her. Yes, she gives strength to the weak, whenever she speaks. And her name, her name, her name, is Aretha. Aretha. ARETHA! ARETHA! ARETHA! Cause she’s soul sister number one!”
This track is the most transcendent on the album—there are some other high points, like the breakbeat-fest ‘Heavy Soul Slinger,’ but many of the tunes remind me of checking-into-a-hotel music, not too far afield from the soulful jazz of Purdie’s contemporary, William S. Fischer.
But even if you’ve never heard of Purdie, you’ve probably heard his drumming. Other than Aretha, the acts he’s worked for read like a who’s who of modern music: James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Hall & Oates, Isaac Hayes, Cat Stevens. Beck also sampled this song on his 1996 track ‘Hotwax.’
If this song doesn’t have you shuffling for an Aretha album… nothing will.
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Ponytail — Honey Touches
from Do Whatever You Want All The Time (2011)
Like hooking up to an espresso IV while keeping a finger firmly jammed in an electrical socket. Pure joy. This new Ponytail album is just slaying me…
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Givers — Up Up Up
from In Light (Glassnote, June 2011)
Crisp little curlicue guitars twisting to and fro on top of a thumpity-thump-thump beat, with sing-along vocals that just make you wanna screeeeaaaam!! Tiffany Lamson’s raspy voice is really to die for. And if you stick around til the end, they’ll actually slay you with huge drums and synth hits.
I quickly fell in love with sunshine and bounce of this single from Givers. The chorus is just is just contagious, rapturous glee, and the joyous afro-beat keeps the track bopping along. The gang vocals and alternating male and female vocals are some of the better I’ve heard. First available on their debut EP, it now leads their debut album, In Light, available June 7th through Glassnote Music.
- Tyler Hanan
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The Gamelatron — Bukaan
Aside from a pot of steaming high mountain tea, gamelan music may be the best way to wake up in the morning, with all of the shimmering beauty of a “get up!” gong but none of the head-shattering side effects.
As it happens, I stumbled out of bed yesterday to these very sounds, a resonance conjured up not by dozens of human arms, but by those of a laptop-commanded orchestral robot called the Gamelatron, built by sound artist Taylor Kuffner aka Zemi17.
The occasion for this Indonesian wake-up call was a special live performance on Marty McSorley’s show on WFMU…well worth revisiting.
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Luz y Fuerza — We Can Fly
from We Can Fly (1971)
If you’re a fan of the Funky Drummer, feel-good sitcom themes, rainbows, or the vaguely menacing horns of the Taxi Driver soundtrack, then I recommend checking out this bizarre 1971 track from the Mexican group Luz y Fuerza.
Luz y Fuerza (Light & Power) was born during the Mexican counterculture movement of the late 1960s, La Onda Chicana, which culminated in 1971 with a sort of “Mexican Woodstock,” Avándaro, at which Luz y Fuerza played…and lots of jipitecas danced.
Dntel — Peepsie
from After Parties II (Subpop, 2010)
Lots of beautiful sounds and colors in this video. Around 9 seconds in there’s what I swear is the synthesizer equivalent of ripping off a band-aid. And wooden-box drumming that sounds like it must be coming from just behind your head. Is it just me? Try it, you’ll like it.
Also, Jimmy says: “I made this video so people will buy my new EP’s on Sub Pop. They are called After Parties I & II.”
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Charles Albright — I’m on Drugs
Look at that pile of heads! Behold the blaring vocals! And the noise! It’s only a minute and fifteen seconds! YES.
WFMU’s still hollering for dollars, and every day over at the blog they’ve been posting mp3s from each DJs thank-you-for-pledging mix cd. Liz Berg is one of my favorites, and this headbanging track comes from her premium, aptly titled “Bratty”:
When the world turns against you, mouth off with these unruly, sophomoric, tantrum-fueled tunes fit for throwing a conniption.
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Thick Business — Smoothest Runes
‘Smoothest Runes’ starts out innocently enough, with gleaming acoustic and electric guitar loops. But soon the tape tricks and alien gibberish drop in, accompanied by Egyptian hand drums and driving pizzicato disco beats, turning it into an unexpected trip down the rabbithole.
But the magic appears to be limited to just a handful of tracks from this Brrokklyynn-based group. Can’t find much about them (I dare you to google “Thick Business”) and they were last seen around myspace way back in October. Apparently Thick Business, whoever it is or was, has embarked upon other journeys.
Pick up these orphaned songs at the Free Music Archive.
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The Rolling Stones — No Expectations (outtake)
The acoustic, country-tinged tunes on Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed have always been my favorite Stones, so when Captains Dead posted this compilation of acoustic Stones studio outtakes last week, I jumped on it.
‘No Expectations’ is the cream of the crop, presented here in raw form, without the drums, Hammond or piano trills featured on the Banquet version. No studio gadgetry here, no overdubs either. To record the song, they simply set up open mics in the studio between band members and played live.
The result is an incredible open sound, where you can hear every rattle and hum of Brian Jones’ tear-jerking slide lead. And Keith backs things up on guitar, playing with the open tuning he later used for ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ (also featured on this comp). Go grab it!
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Delicate Steve — Butterfly
from Wondervisions (2011)
Three of my favorite recent releases, Nightlands’ “Forget the Mantra,” Dustin Wong’s “Infinite Love” and Delicate Steve’s “Wondervisions” are the product of a singular vision: genius guitar guy surrounded by reams of pedals, especially the loop pedal. (In fact, Dustin and Steve are mutual admirers.) And these guys are coaxing some astonishing epics from those humble bedroom tools.
This is one of them, from Delicate Steve’s new release on David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label, carefully constructed with majestic, on-mountain-high guitar strums, a sweet Harrisonesque lead, and heavy-hitting drums and church organ that send it fluttering up to guitar heaven.
Steve has a sweet Daytrotter sesh out. And he’s on tour now with Akron/Family, so try to catch him. In NYC Sat March 5th at Bowery Ballroom.
