Classical Studies

Seeing as I'm writing a thrilling paper on Anthony and Cleopatra, it seemed to fitting to post something with a classical theme. While Hercules and Love Affair have more in common with Chicago circa 1990 than Athens circa 300 they're close enough. Their latest 12" from DFA has been out for a little while now but i just recently picked it up. Both sides of this vinyl are premium cuts, pulling in all the right directions at once. Roar is a strange trip through the twisting tunnels of some prehistoric cavern, the vocals suggesting liberation while the chunky synths keep telling you to leave the outside world behind and give yourself fully to the hands of Greek gods. Classique #2 is just as unrelenting, the heavy 909 belting you into submission, while the creeping pads offer only eerie blue light in this dark tunnel. 

hercules & love affair - Classique #2

hercules & love affair - roar

Wizardry and such

mostly new, a little bit of old mixed in for good measure. the last track is cut short, more to come.

MERLIN MIX BY JMATT

chromatics - In the City

Mocky - Catch a Moment in Time (Ewan Pearson's memory blissed remix)

Mock & Toof - K- Choppers

Lindstrom & Solale - Let's Practice

M.I.A. - Jimmy (eli remix)

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Intro

Holy Ghost - Hold On (black mazego groove)

Jodeci - Freek U (mk mix)

Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack

RAINCOUVER

Sorcerer - Pocket Check

Arthur Russell - Lets Go Swimming

Can - Flow Motion

Peace Arch

Villalobos' Fabric Live CD is wicked. here is my edit of andruic and japan, the original is 12 minutes long i got it down to eight or so, by no means short but a little more manageable.  

Villalobos - Andruic & Japan (jmatts crossing international borders edit)

MOREICONE

you can see more paintings by this artist here

Ennio Morricone - Gli Scatenati (from the cat)

Ennio Morricone - Il Giardino Delle Delizie (the gardern of delights)

Ennio Morricone - Magic and Ecstacy (from exorcist II the heretic)

Ennio Morricone - Robodog (from the humanoid)

Quick Fix

My edit of Bill Withers - Who is he, sorry about the vinyl static its kind of annoying. Let me know what you think. 

Bill Withers - Who is He? (jmatt's chocolate & ice edit)

Killa Whale

The bay area has a long hiphop tradition founded by the likes of Too Short and E40 and more recently endorsed by hyphy. However one rapper has been working underground in the bay since 1993, Dre Dog aka Andre Nickatina. While you have probably heard his crack anthem ayo for yayo, the dre dog is far from a one hit wonder with a whopping 16 albums (at my last count) under his belt. Some of his catalogue has a tendency to be a little repetitive in style (not unlike Too Short or E40), there are only so many ways to rap about slanging high quality coke, some of his records are very conceptual and dramatized. He weaves a range of stories, from gritty street scenes to deeply introspective moments where he seems to be battling the devil in the studio. Even more impressive is the wide range of production he spits over, new school p funk, barren cocaine beats, and dramatic strings. Plus this amazing cover art. 

Andre Nickatina & Equipto - Peez Paradise

Andre Nickatina - Pick Cha

Andre Nickatina - Dice of Life

Andre Nickatina & Equipto - Cottoncandland CB Mix

Street Beat

A cheerful mood permeates the tight streets of Mumbai, lizards cool themselves on the walls, dark bodies against the sun drenched streaks of ochre walls, the close smell of hot oil and cumin spice. Somewhere in the distance a macaque shrieks out and the placid calm erupts as two vespas tear through the narrow channel, leaving in their wake a chaotic outburst of dry flyers, dust and shadows. The momentary calamity is absolved as papers flutter to the ground and echoes ricochet off the alleys canyon walls, shattering down on the streets below. 

Kalyanji Anandji - Disco Cammata (edit)

R.D. Burman - The Burning Train Theme (edit)

Carpathians

A two headed beast of a 12". the a side is a slow burning cosmic trip on the beach, shimmering synths casting rays of sunlight through the reverberating blackberry sky. B side continues the ambling pace through dusk, peaking as the moon  arches into the height of its journey. the sky erupts in thunder and ushers down a frothy rain, cooling the crowds on the beach into the first gentle glimmers of morning. 

Bastards of Light

Thirteen Walls