V.A. - DJ Kicks: Mr. Scruff (!K7)

When I look at official DJ CD-mixes as releases and whole music-industry landscape: . in recent years fabric's fabric/fabriclive decide to stop at number 100, or Ostgut Ton with Berghain/Panorama Bar series went completely on streaming, also their mixes are for free - just to mention them for example. Yes, there are others, but smaller or obscurer - and even they went, on cassettes or "selectors" put their mixes online, by themself, without any label.

I can say there is only one edition that stays still  And that is !K7's DJ - Kicks, which celebrates 25 years of continuity and quality. I want to say, maybe the success of DJ - Kicks is in two simple things, first: the selection of DJ/producers/musicians, and second: selectors/DJs/producers have the freedom to play their music, but it is not essential to play their usual DJ set. They can play whatever they want. It wasn't surprising for me to see that new release for series was Mr. Scruff aka Andy Carty, one of the funniest and a synonym for fun and happiness on the dancefloor, the DJ with such a broad taste, and playing records that are made for smiling, making fool of yourself, or trying weird dance moves for the first time.


I want to say: every mix so far, I have heard, by Mr. Scruff is stripped down of every feeling of seriousness and moodiness. Every mix is all about pure fun and enjoyment, and again taking things seriously. Check them here, and you will see what I'm trying to say/write.


                          

It is not easy to pin-point what Mr. Scruff plays. Well, he plays everything!!! The word eclecticism... well his mixes are far beyond whenever you say that his/her mix is eclectic.
And to try to review his new official released mix is a perfect example of that. The amalgam of soft ambient harmonies, Soul, Funk, Roots Reggae, Dancehall, soft Indie Pop, Brazilian jazzy Bossa Nova, Samba, Boogie, P- Funk, Afro - (write whatever YOU want and feel), slow lo-fi House, Dub, Breakbeat, Electro, filtered House and Disco, melodic reminiscence of Detroit Techno, Fusion Jazz, Hip-Hop, Garage/Grime, and everything else, in-between, and mentioned up.
The style that is combinations of combinations, variations of variations, melted in one cauldron - mixed on CDJs, turntables, with samples and acappelas - everything cooked on the temperature for perfect tea and served in a plate of your own choice, with forks, spoons or chopsticks. We Love You, Sir!!!

Maybe I shouldn't write all of this, and if you want me to put it in two words: pure fun!


                             


Playlist:
1. Iona Fortune - Da You
2. Equiknoxx - The Link
3. Black Pocket - Thank You And Credits
4. Vernon Maytone - Old Pan Sound
5. Tiger - When
6. DJ Nervoso - Kuia
7. Andreya Triana - Gold (Max Graef Remix)
8. Sudan Archives - Wake Up
9. Emilio Santiago - Bananeira
10. Rosa Maria - Samba Minerio
11. Laurel Aitken - Sexy Boogie
12. Antibalas - Si Se Puede (Battle Of The Species)
13. Natural Self - The Sound
14. Tony Allen - Gbedu B
15. Dobie - Magenta
16. Errorsmith - My Party
17. Mr Scruff vs CyberPunkJazz - 3001: A Space Disco Remix (DJ-Kicks)
18. Fats Comet - Dub Storm
19. Ding Dong - Badman Forward Badman Pull Up
20. Paddy Steer - Loufoque
21. Andy Ash - Ease Yourself
22. Mr. Scruff - Where Am I?
23. Max Graef - No 5
24. Alexander Robotnick - Love Supreme (Extended) feat. Stefano Cocco Cantini
25. Hashim - We're Rocking The Planet
26. Zongamin - Nonstop
27. Bumcello - Frbom
28. Archie Pelago - Brown Oxford
29. Seiji - Loose Lips feat. Lyric L
30. Snowboy And The Latin Section - Carga Tu Bateria
31. Drymbago - Chupacabra


Like every DJ - Kicks compilation/mix, every DJ has an exclusive track for the release, so here is Mr. Scruff vs CyberPunkJazz - 3001: A Space Disco Remix (DJ-Kicks):


                             


If you want to know more about Mr. Scruff check his website, it is all there!!!





Damir Plicanic







!IMPORTANT
1. If you want to review your new music album, LP or EP contact us, send a message, or old fashioned way damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com!!!
2. If you want to show the world your fascination with music, and want to share with us, and also like to mix, or make mixtapes for your friends, sent us (only exclusive, please don-t send us something that was already uploaded or share somewhere. From Death/Doom/Extreme metal over Breakcore to Synth-Pop or Hip Hop, over Ambient till Techno and House: please send us your, on this blog as the message, or old fashioned way damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com or simply with letters and through post-office.
3. If you have any ideas you want to share with us or simply get in touch, you know the drill!

TRIGGER CUT - Buster (Not on Label)

"At the beginning of the 1980s some bands wanted to go faster, others wanted to go slower, third wanted to sound more Metal, and the fourth went... somewhere else."

When I know, it's my day off, without any responsibilities, I like beer buzz early in the morning if 9am is early morning for You. And suddenly unfamiliar German guy, with only two friends in common, sends me the link for some bend on Bandcamp. The first response, when I heard two songs was "Thank you." And the second response was, "This sounds like something for AmRep or Touch and Go." My new friend said something that's what they want to do. And with pride, there is this dedication: "This Trigger Cut- Buster LP is dedicated to James Kimball ( Laughing Hyenas, The Jesus Lizard, Mule, Ghost Forest...) and his loyal friend Buster. Thanx James!" 

 
                         

As a big fan of the aesthetics of both labels and bands, it was instant love. To say that Trigger Cut sounds just as if Steve Albini decide to play with The Jesus Lizard, and try to sometimes sing about social situations and politics just like Minutemen.
You can check what I'm trying to tell you, just listen to lyrics to songs like Free Hugs or The Miners Are Back.

You should also check brilliant opener of the album Hellcat Bob, and a possible hit Mute Driver.



                           


Album really left an impression on me, not because, during these quarantine days, where I was into those classic bands that Trigger Cut wants to celebrate. And I'm glad that they are not trying to be retro (in a negative way), Noise Rock/Post-Hardcore Punk needs more bands. Even those who want to use the same atonal riffs, fast-changing rhythm tempos - why not?! That kind of music needs 2nd generation of that kind of musical aesthetics.

And you know what??? It doesn't matter if they are not from Jordan, Minnesota.


                                   
                   




More on the band:

Bandcamp: https://triggercut1.bandcamp.com/releases
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trigger-Cut-742161089469022/


ALSO:!IMPORTANT
1. If you want to review your new music album, LP or EP contact us, send the message, or damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com!!!
2. If you want to show the world your fascination with music, and want to share with us, and also like to mix, or make mixtapes for your friends, sent us (only exclusive, please don-t send us something that was already uploaded or share somewhere). From Death/Doom/Extreme metal over Breakcore to Synth-Pop or Hip Hop, over Ambient till Techno and House: please send us your (for Don't Care About Podcast) on this blog as the message, or old fashioned way damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com or simply with letters and through post-office.
3. If you have any ideas you want to share with us or simply get in touch, you know the drill!
Contact over the blog, write email on damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com
  


Damir Plicanic

Don't Care About Podcast 15: Tijana Sevo - Funk All Up Selection

Born and raised in Prijedor, just after High School graduation she moved to Banja Luka, and now she lives and works between Banja Luka - Opatija - Prijedor. Her free time Tijana spends constantly discovering new and alternative underground spectrums of electronic music. She's constantly busy with her project, already with the cult following, under the name Illuminations. She organizes events, which are regularly held in "small, sweaty, and cozy" venue DKC Incel (old industrial space). She also promotes Somewhere In The City, special event shrouded in mystery, and always held in secret locations. Both projects are, as a representation of Tijana's own belives, that are the celebrations of underground music, with agenda on truly non-commercial values and direct alternative to commercial clubbing. Representation of true spirit of the dance music subculture, and a real education in art-forms of House/Techno/Electronica as an art-forms. Considering that she is not a professional DJ and she will never be, she picked some of the records from her collection and recorded this set. Thank You, Tijana for sharing your Music with us. And for those who never went to Illuminations, Somewhere In The City parties, it is time to scratch the surface and try to find... the underground. Good things come for those who want to go deeper.

Don't Care About Podcast 14: The Wizard Archetype - Solstice Eve

Very first mix in 2020, and we still couldn't wrap our heads, to make everything run smooth. We had some "I told You so" moments, we lost 4TB of music and documents, including reviews and a lot of new music, but, then came The Wizard Archetype, with his beautiful-crafted mix of underground dance into the rescue. We will try to write new reviews of some music we already wrote reviews, and it would be interesting to see, has that music survived "the hype". So here is something for 2020, and here are the words of The Wizard himself, about the mix: "Several years ago I started creating playlist with selected tracks from my ever-growing music collection. I guess it was the simplest way to put my favorite tracks in one place, so I can give them a proper listen. That playlist kept on growing and evolving into more playlists: hours and hours of strange electronic music, old and new tracks, various genres - yet all somehow connected by some incomprehensible, intangible idea. What was it? While listening to those playlists, I decided to explore and understand that idea.

While searching for the answer, I kept on getting myself caught in thoughts about a time of the early 2000s, a time when I actually stopped visiting raves in my hometown. I was in my early twenties back then, and from a perspective of a person that young, I had all the reasons to do so: something had changed on the scene in that time, as the “old-school” energy waned. Everything I loved about raves faded away so fast. Different people appeared, brought different music and different overall concept. Not of my liking. Not for me... so I walked away. But a dream remained - the dream of a perfect rave, where people like myself would come, share their love for music, make friendships and relationships, dance and have fun. The dream never came true - it lingered on for a while, then faded away into apparent oblivion...

In the end, I started mixing Psytrance, organizing Psy parties, loving it, though never as much as I have loved “the old school”. As the years went by (and the age of broadband Internet came), I drifted away from the Psy scene and started to explore other genres. That eventually gave birth to the abovementioned Playlists. As more years went by, I felt the urge to revisit the local party scene, which I did, albeit not expecting much. 

So, I kinda returned to the scene which I had left some decade-and-a-half ago. I wasn’t surprised by the most things I’ve found. But something did surprise me: it was the presence of something new, yet so old, and so strangely familiar. Was it... could it be...? It definitely felt like the spirit of the long-lost old scene. I felt its energy circulating among the new people that I’ve met as if they were rebuilding its material foundations. And, at the same time, more and more NEW music was filling my Playlists...

Then it hit me. I realized what are those playlists actually, and what is the basic idea that is keeping all those tracks together like an invisible glue. Right there in front of me was the soundtrack for my long lost dream of a perfect rave. It was the music for the party scene from a parallel universe, one that had evolved somewhere in the background of my consciousness. What made me realize that? Was it the old spirit returning, the one that never died, but kept on living inside the rare souls, waiting for a new chance and a new life?? I don’t know... 

All I knew was that I HAVE to start mixing tracks from those playlists. Our old mixing equipment was broken beyond repair, so I had to reach for digital mixing, and face my own prejudices about it (the same prejudices that, I guess, every old DJ has). I bought a laptop and a controller, and after only a few days of working on them, all of my prejudices disappeared, just as the darkness of ignorance disappears when illuminated by the pure light of the reason. I stepped with awe into the fascinating world of harmonic mixing, sampling, looping, effects, live remixing... and I started recording my mixes (you are, hopefully, listening to one of those mixes right now). And you can definitely expect more mixes, as well as more parties! Thanks for listening!"

Solstice Eve

01 Fluke - Expo

02 Simmetune - Rampage

03 Neikka RPM - I Ride The Flames (Brainclaw Pyrotransporter Remix)

04 Empirion - Red Noise

05 Implant - Oxynoxe (Karl Hefner & Hugh Lagerfeld Remix)

06 RadicalG - Love ain't Fashion (Demia E.Clash remix)

07 VNV Nation - Aeroscope

08 Empirion - I Am Electronic (Olowex Remix)

09 Implant - The City (Aesthetische Remix)

10 mind.in.a.box - Supremacy

11 Anne Clark - Wallies (Night of the Hunter Remix by Juno Reactor)

12 Phase Fatale - Reverse Fall

13 Xtigma - Crash City

14 Peryl - Der Sturm Das Leben

15 Boy Harsher - Come Closer

16 Rude 66 - The 1000 Year Storm

17 Talla 2XLC - Back To The Roots

Don't Care About The Podcast 13: Betomeng - Audio Virtual Reality

We are really STOKED forthis one. This mix is on our 5.1 home soundsystem, and in our ears on ipod. So we are really proud that someone like Betomeng accepted to do mix. Trust us, this mix is above your average new-age-ambient-drone mix. This is the Standard.
Also check Betomeng if he plays somewhere near you!!!

Betomeng, also known as Ivica Ljubic is a professional Dj for 20+ years (since he was 19),
born in Aleksinac, Serbia. His interests and activities in this field are not limited to only one practical side of performing,
they span across various aspects and development of music through its history. 
From : Classical, Electronic, IDM, EBM, Ambient, Drone, Krautrock, Techno, House, Abstrakt, Noise, Jazz, Experimental, World, Tribal, and span all genres and all periods.
Ivica is fully committed to this sphere of life and given his current experience Ivica acquired skills and
the right mindset to adjust musical repertoire to the imminent atmosphere and energy to which
he is exposed at the moment and reflects it towards the crowd’s wishes,
thus enabling him to never rigidly cling to only one musical genre,
but to take the energy and dynamics of his performance and synchronize it with the current moment.
Betomeng played Serbia from south to north and east to west, Germany, Sweden, Croatia & Hungary. 
He has performed in iconic europian clubs Griessmuehle, LARM & Drugstore Beograd.

https://www.facebook.com/betomengmusic
https://www.facebook.com/betomeng
https://soundcloud.com/betomeng
https://www.mixcloud.com/Betomeng
https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/betomeng
https://www.youtube.com/user/BetomengLegoman
https://www.instagram.com/betomeng_legoman

Don't Care About The Podcast 12: Pacija - Fall

Pacija is an old friend of mine. We went through some great times while he used to live in Banja Luka, now this free spirit, and one of the first DIY rave party DJs. Now he lives, work, raise a family in Belgrade, Serbia, but comes from time to time.

But if you ever ask me what is role, actually where will you put in "History of electronic music in Banja Luka, well there are three  things that Pacija did:

First of all, as Punk kid, after few rave parties, he fell in love (actually find his niche) with EBM or Body music, with early electroclash (International DeeJay Gigolos just started to release that kind of music, with old Boccaccio Techno and Acid, with healthy dose of '80s synth-pop, and he was first who played that kind of mix in Banja Luka.
Also, he was one of the first who made few hundreds copies of his mixes, throw a party and gave every single CD for free to his friends or random strangers who would show up.
Then he was the first guy who organized his crew and throws a Rave in his own house... but also he invited everyone!!! I mean everyone he would meet on the street, people from all walks of life, he invited the whole City of Banja Luka. And I remember there was one rule: if you want to drink, or eat, or do something harder - you have to bring it with yourself - but also you can buy some cheap vine and at arrival, you would pour your whole bottle(s) into one big cauldron - so sometimes those parties were called "free sangria rave at Pacija's". And I still remember, while dancefloor was still getting crowded, a bunch of skinheads danced to Body music, or modern electronic gothic sound, bands like Covenant and Bigod 20. and there were no fights or arguments at all. in the morning around 7am or 8am, you could see all those people, together, cleaning behind them - as some kind "thank you" for a great night.

And one of the most tech important stuff. In Banja Luka records were THE medium to play Techno or House, Cd's were second class (in 6 months a lot of things will change), but Pacija was a guy who wanted to play his music so much, but didn't want to buy expensive turntables, records, or CD players. He is the dude who was the first guy who played on the first consumer version of Traktor software. And imagine him, bringing his home computer (laptops didn't have powerfull processors and good sound cards), just to play his gig.

So that's some nice things I will present to a stranger if anyone asks me about Pacija, the rest is in our memory and in a strange place called past.

I hope you will enjoy this mix!!!

ALSO:!IMPORTANT
1. If you want to review your new music album, LP or EP contact us, send the message, or damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com!!!
2. If you want to show the world your fascination with music, and want to share with us, and also like to mix, or make mixtapes for your friends, sent us (only exclusive, please don-t send us something that was already uploaded or share somewhere). From Death/Doom/Extreme metal over Breakcore to Synth-Pop or Hip Hop, over Ambient till Techno and House: please send us your (for Don't Care About Podcast) on this blog as the message, or old fashioned way damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com or simply with letters and through post-office.
3. If you have any ideas you want to share with us or simply get in touch, you know the drill!
Contact over the blog, write email on damir.plicanic(at)gmail.com
  

Coil - The Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex +2 (Musique Pour La Danse)

First of all, I want to say, that my worst reviews, actually are for releases of projects/bands/producers I admire - and of course some releases I waited for a long time to get my hands on. I can talk on this subject, but because I want to be proud of my reviews, I must be concise and direct. Yes all those, at least for me, reviews were written with so much passion that I wanted to tell the whole story, so a review would go in one direction, and suddenly will go in other. So let's keep it clean and simply, with soul and controlled fire and passion.


                              


The public announcement or public educational films are professionally made movies, mostly made by state broadcasting agencies or some kind of fund, to inform the general population about certain social problems that society is trying to fight at the moment (mostly) or some phenomenons in society (rare). When you think about these movies, if you haven't watched any, think about those movies "what to do in case of nuclear attack" or "if the stranger gives you candy, but the candy is in his car", or most famous Reefer Madness (1936) - about potential dangers of consuming marijuana.



                                   

In 1992, due to many deaths of HIV and AIDS, and cure still at no sight Gay Man's Guide to Safer Sex was released to inform the general public, in this case, one part of the public, about AIDS, what is causing it, how can you protect yourself, and still enjoy in sex. It is important to say that this movie is narrated and presented by a professional in HIV treatment Dr. Mike Youle, and it is directed and edited in such a way, that without any problems you could show this movie to adolescents - just in case if you are a citizen with high moral standards.(sic)

                                              

                                                                       

Now let's back to why are we here. After the original soundtrack for Hellraiser being denied, Coil since then only did soundtrack to the last film of their friend and director Derek Jarman's Blue. Jarman was already started to lose his sight due to HIV, so Blue was his "last goodbye", and it is named that way cause during production he started to see no certain palette of colors.
                                       
                                


During pre-production Coil were chosen to make a soundtrack to The Gay Man's Guide. And after 27 years, justice has done. Finally, we have the original release of the soundtrack, which perfect blends into vast Coil discography.


                                   

Theme From The Gay Man's Guide To Sex is nice chill-out track, perfect to describe what many calls the Balearic genre, and I have read somewhere, that with those Trip-Hop beats and Robert Johnson's samples present a blueprint to Moby's multiplatinum album Play.
Then there are instrumentals that perfectly reflects the time of 1992, Exploding Frogs that sounds perfect for heavily smoked, a smooth jazz club. Then there are Nasa Arab and Nasa Arab 2 psychedelic instrumentals, with a heavy new age-y with Goa/Psychedelic Trance vibe.

                             

 In the end, all I can say we were waiting for 27 years for this record, and we can be thankful for release of it. The record is perfect for those who are new, and also those who are fanatical about Coil. Both of the groups of the fans can catch with this soundtrack, that's for sure. and yes, it was worth of waiting for 27 years... Good things come to those who wait!!!

And here you can check documentary for yourself, and see, that is not a big deal - at all for typical Balkan moral panic.

Plaid - Polymer (Warp)

Before we start, look at Warp's catalog number for this release: it is WARPLP303! Coincidence? Sure, but anyway it's a fun fact.

Plaid is a duo made of Andy Turner and Ed Handle, one of the original members of The Black Dog collective, and The Black Dog fanatics knew them under the artistic name as Atypic and Balil. And the Black Dog becomes one of the first UK Techno groups, which success was also success for their label Warp. But Turner and Handle decide to leave TBD and pursue a carrier as Plaid. and within the year or two also riding the wave of Intelligent Dance Music or better known as IDM, with their peers as Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, The Future Sound Of London, Autechre, Spacetime Continuum, The Orb, Squarepusher, Plastikman, µ-Ziq, Luke Vibert, Venetian Snares, Biosphere, Telefon Tel Aviv, and The Black Dog, LFO which all had that bad luck, like always: music critics, coined term IDM, just when Warp super-important compilation Artificial Intelligence came out. All of this you can read in our own feature written by our friend Funky Jeff, in part one and part two.

                                  

But actually, if critics did what critics usually did: they fuck things over, cause you can't just give the genre name when all of those named artists were unique, they all created an original sound, never heard before, and light-years far away from escapist hard-core that ruled at raves all around the world - so they have to give the attribute "intelligent" to their music, cause indeed, they got attention of people who were tired of boring 4/4 rhythms, and search for another evolution in electronic music, and not only music lovers, but also other musicians, searching for something new, and inspiration perhaps.

                                



So it isn't surprising that for example, Plaid's success and collaboration with Bjork and Nicolette on their second album Not for Threes. Even remixed Bjork, Irresistible Force even Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five.

For sure those early albums and climate, really establish Plaid as original musicians, what make them different from their peers is their approach to a melody, melodies and harmonies usually are in different time signatures, but they became syncopated as two or three different melodies finally start to be played, every in their own parts. So that kind of approach to producing creates melodic masterpieces, which most the times are so melancholic, or ecstatic, depends on the mood.. plus beats, heavy Hip-Hop breakbeats, that are sometimes time-stretched, so that also gives uniqueness. for example, play the video above the text, called Eyen or the video below for track Itsu:

.                             

Plaid are one of the most prolific and hard-working men in the industry,  Scintilli (2011), Reachy Prints (2014), so from the last previous album The Digging Remedy 2016, they released two ep's, and now they are ready to release their The Peel Session 2 album (coming 2019). Also worked on two soundtracks Heaven's Door (2006) and my favorite Tekkonkinkreet, with the opening track and main theme called This City;
                                             

                             



And what we got with this new album Polymer? We got a little bit harder album, with more focus on the beats, but that melodic aspect is still here. Also, there is more usage of conventional instruments like the clarinet, electric and Spanish guitar on tracks Pale Moth and Nurula, also violin, mandolin, and accordion on Crown Shy. You can hear that they grow up, and do not want to create another Not for Threes or new Double Figure, albums that made them Warp's mainstays. You can still hear experimentations and evolution. Nice and enjoyable album. Not heavy listening like Autechre (I love Autechre, but these are two different styles) or more 4/4 Techno or pure Ambient like The Black Dog (you should check mixes and ep's that TBD are releasing today) or going deep into psychedelic inspired sound like The Future Sound of London (for sure except new FSOL album soon to be reviewed). 

You may notice, on other videos, they tried to send the message about human greed, and it's an undeniable influence on the eco-system. And the new video and album do that.
It shows, and try to warn us about usage of plastic (polymer!!!) in everyday, and how much plastic bottle of your favorite drink needs couple hundreds or thousand years to decompose, so plastic stay as trash on the streets, or ends in other countries (like in here in Bosnia and Herzegowina), far away from "clean cities of Europe and 1st World", here is video, for the first single Dancers:


                            

                                                                           
         

Also on their album cover, there is a small print which says: "Thanks to Europe. We want to live there, still." And in the meantime check their website to know more about new projects and tour dates.

                                                   

Also if you want, you can hear and download the Plaid mix on the 600th XLR8R podcast. Enjoy!!!

    
                    
     

Mix: Beds Are Burning

Our so-called editor-in-chief made a mix for rainy days and trainspotting. Yes, We have playlist, but there is something for you to do, right. Ok, ok... there are Ulver, Fennesz, even Air (one of their most opscure track ever)... ok just try to track the tracks if you want, but if you want, and like some tracks - let us know in comments, we were be glad to answer. But for now it is better without playlist.

Now go away and listen, please comment, and if you want to have your mixes posted as our podcast WE WILL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT, and make new friends. Also you can mix any kind of music (Polka or 70's Mexican Psychedelic Rock or Modern Classic or Horror Movies Soundtracks but as far as mix we would like if you = can go away from the dancefloor, but we will post it if it really good, like techniqually, and tracks-wise, remeber we are 90's Techno and jackin' Chicago and Detroit first/second wave kids, also we are heavily into Ambient, Drone, Noise, Blues, Hard-Bop Jazz or Grunge, Krautrock, Prince, etc... ok we're into all great underground music new tech-house is not our game, but we have respect.

Doug Shipton - Beskrajne Dimenzije Mixtape (Not On Label/Unoffical Release)

Yes, I know we have resurgence of mixtapes, and yes tapes are back in big style. but what is fascinating about this mixtape!? Well it shows Doug Shipton's endless love for new sounds, and rare records. And on this mixtape, it is based all around Yugoslavian 70's psychedelic funk/soul/jazz rock with just a pinch of ethno jazz to make things little bit exotic, but perfect for the dancefloor. It reminds me of React's famouse series Dope On Plastic (which I followed till number 5 - after that, Bigbeat was music of moment, and Fatboy Slim became a superstar), but let's dig deeper, shall we?



Doug Shipton is one fine gentleman, with his partner-in-crime Andy Votel, "co-founder of accidental world music label Finders Keepers Records, South London rare-disc-detective", and pretty great DJ. I find, his mixing, at least on this mixtape, under the influence Hip-Hop, cause transitions are made in drum solos and breakbeats, and so fast, that keeps you wonder "where am I, which dimesion is this, now?!", but without any scratching or back-spins. And he constantly keeps your feet moving.



But what's fascinate me personally, how the hell he got these gems?! 
Almost all of this records was released before my birth, and that would for sure be a tragedy - at least for my generation, cause they would become even more obscure and lost. Also I feel joy cause this ubercool dance music is made "here", in my ex-country - but it got nothing with nationalism and patriotism, simply I'm proud cause people like Doug Shipton found it/made it cultural significant. And all of that is put on two sides of tape, with cca 20 minutes of pure funkyness.

And one more thing, this review would be impossible without Belgrade's finest Dj Brka, who helped me with the tracks ID's. We salute You, Sir Brkic!!! We Care A Lot!!

Playlist:

A-Side:
1. Iliriana Riza - Valla Bravo
2. Septembar - Florida 3. Ljubomir Sedlar - ??? 4. ??? 5. Nesalomivi - Ja Imam Ideju 6. KIM Band - Ljubi me brzo... 7. Josip Boček - Dinamit
8. Srce - Gvendolina, Kdo Je Bil?
9.  Sladana milosevic - Imam sve
10. Igor Savin - Alfa
11. Miki Petkovski - Budjenje
12.Igor Savin - U Mukama Rođena
13 - ??? (some prog-rock)

B-Side:
1.Grupa Dah - Majka Jugovica
2. Oliver Dragojevic - Sta Ucinila Si Ti
3. Radmila Karaklajic - Volecu I Sutra
4. Nada Knezevic - Neka Pati Ko Me Voli
5. ???
6. Bebi Dol - Mustafa
7. ???
8. Time - Kralj Alkohol
9. Andelko Klobucar - Tokata i Fuga u D-Molu, BMW 565 version (J.S.Bach)
10. ???
11. (???) Tamas Kelle - Laura
12. Zana - Ti Si Neko Staro Lice
13. Boban Petrovic - Meterologija
14. Pestner Oto - Novi Svijet U 2035
15. ???
16. ???
17. ??? - "Elum pasa Zumbul sadi u sred puste Arabije..."
18. ???
19. ??? - Gdje je Ljubav?

Leon Vynehall - Nothing is Still (Ninja Tune)

Leon Vynehall just a couple years prior was considered the prodigious young producer. Now, while I write these words, and his first long-play in career, he is became well established name. Was it through his ep's, his singles, or appereance on compilations (one we even reviwed, Music for Autobahns 2 curated by Gerd Janson for Rush Hour), even mixes and podcasts pretty fast cemented his future career.

                    

His main weapon is melodies and track structures, that easily allowed you to just dip-in. Even most of his tracks were house oriented, this album is perfect down-tempo future classic. Main inspiration for album was, as Ryan Keeling in RA wrote was:"The record is basically an imagined soundtrack to his grandparents' journey from the UK to New York City—and the life that followed—in the 1960s. Four years ago, Vynehall's grandfather died, and in the period of mourning his grandmother told him the story of their immigration. As he looked over his grandparents' old Polaroids, Vynehall began to conceive of the project. The resulting album, which has a pair of accompanying short films and a novella that comes with the box-set version, is a convincing musical translation of the hope, expectations and disappointments of starting a new life somewhere else."

And he is right, you can hear perfect New York's Manhattan soundtrack on jazzy tracks like Movements (Chapter III), which you can hear on video above, or Drinking It In Again one short track that last enough while you sip-it your two fingers of pure whiskey.


                       

Envelops (Chapter six) is another perfect imaginations of streeets of Manhattan on the cloudy day. While tracks like English Oak (Chapter VII) or Trouble (Chapter V) suddenly turns into darker mood, even with 4/4 kick drums. While droney and orchestred, with the sound of small birds, Ice Cream (Chapter VIII) reminds me on visiting Central Park
And of course, it is worth to mention last track on album It Breaks (Chapter IX) have a sensation of late night Manhatten skyline, a perfect ending of an album.

This album is pretty short, but it is worth to go and get it, and listen. me personally enjoyed very much, and I have still no doubts in his, let's say that word' geniusness (is it a word??? please remind me, I will change it 😎 ). Also keep in mind this, cause while I finally decide to write down review, there is out his own contribution to Dj-Kicks series.

All I can say: "I want wake up in the city that never sleeps..."


Damir "self-proclaimed editor-in-chief" Plicanic

Current 93 -The Light Is Leaving Us All (The Spheres)

"And in the First Book
And in the Last Book
And in all the Books InBetween
And between the books and the words
There is something at war with nothing
There is someone at war with no-one
And everything at war with you
Your left eye is at war
With your right eye
And your lips are at war
With your tongue
And the jaw is flaming
And just over beyond the Hill
The birds sing so sweetly
And through the flames they see That The Light Is Leaving Them All"  - Current 93 - "30 RED Houses"


"And The Light Is Leaving Us All
On Long Lane where we fall
Into the CauseWay
I heard the Stars split open
By the post–by the Moon
By the chapel–call the surgeon
The surgeon is dead
Call the PoliceMan
The PoliceMan is dead
And the Moon is drunk
And the NightNurse is sick
And the murderer's dead
The assembly is killing time
And the clock has slowed to sugar
By the way–have you heard?
The Light Is Leaving Us All" - Current 93 - "Policeman is Dead"



David Tibet, with his project Current 93, literaly gives us his heart,soul, nightmares, and fear, with his hand, he is just giving us as a present, as a gift. And when I recived this gifts (almost all Current 93 releases I own) i find this gift so heavy. It is not the burden, it is just so heavy... so heavy to even review, to express myself and my emotions. But as he was so grateful and honest, this is the most hard review I want to write, but I will do it. I guess he want to see me brave and hard-working, and to know that Light Is Leaving Us All.

Current 93 is musical project of David Tibet (with little help from Nurse With Wound's Steven Stampleton). Current 93 belongs to that part of English post-Throbbing Gristle scene, same scene from which will came cult projects as Coil, Nurse With Wound, Death In June, Sol Invictus, etc...

Current 93 with above mentioned friends.

    

I know you can't pin-point any of these bands, but their interest was influenced by psychology, occultism, magic, astrological occurrances, history of mostly Brittish forgotten traditions, runes, hinduism and buddhism, sociology, anthopology, obscure artists and arcane knowledges. 

Current 93 was on forefront of British neo-folk movement, but Current  93 couldn't simply put in the "neo-folk scene." Same goes for, above mentioned, Nurse With Wound, Coil, Psychich TV, Death In June, but instead they all create their own little scenes and art spaces, and connection with alternative and independt scene and artists, mostly squat scenes all over Europe, kraut-kosmische ex-band members, uncommon painters and writers. Also you may find some releases of these groups very, very hard to find or with hefty price tag, because of their experimental modus operandi, constant changes of band members, unfinished projects, and most important thing - their own releases, paid by and sold by the artists themselfs - without any need and desires to be in mediocre and mainstream labels and thiefery distributions. So they practise DIY (today so much used acronym), and some of them even toured all year just to eat and have shelters.

I said Tibet along with Steve Stapleton from Nurse With Wound (who produced and musically helped Tibet to achieve his visions -  and only consist member of C93, with Tibet) is interested in so much/many things and easily inspired by many, but mostly exotic, and rare artists and art techniques - that most of them are too rare, obscure and "far-away" for us "mere mortals" and "consumers" of the Art (with capitol A).
I can say he is a man who was introduced to it by early age, and spent his time with people who had similar interests into rare books, paintings, etc, so even interest in The Light That Leaving Us All. 

Noddy with bunch of Noddies

For a long time because his lyrics and his involment with TOPS (Temple ov Psychic Youth - trivia: David Michael Bunting was named by Genesis P. Orridge as David Tibet, name he still use, as we know): he was called satanist and black magic occultist, something which he always carried with his name and projects, but even his interests in buddhism or pre-Romans Brittain religions, hinduism, Crowley, runes, and of course Noddy he always said in his interviews that he is a christian. By the way have you heard... that Light Leave Us All.

For those who want to go deeper into his discography, there are plenty of releases, that will satisfy your need for knowledge, and if you like I would recommend classics such as:
Nature Unvield, Earth Covers Earth, Christ and Pale Queens Mighty In Sorrow, All The Pretty Little Horses, Of Ruins or Some Blazing Stare, and absolute classic Thunder Perfect Mind. Music where you can hear neo-folk in combination with psychedelic and experimental and post-industrial music, while he sings his beautyful poems, (my mind) creates images of woods, forgotten grave stone, birds, and bright light of Sun. His singing also has that power to make every word count. When we would start to talk about his poetry... well some people could make thesis in English, anthropologie, history, or religion, by just listening his poetry or write on how Light is Leaving Us All.
   

Cover of Thunder Perfect Mind

      
Someone called this new album as a "...deeply hallucinatory, eschatology fairy tale, that villagers will see only one in their time. Everybody, even I with all of colleagues 'reviwers' can agree that this piece of apocalyptic neo-folk/pop is one those albums that have powerfull magic, a real art that demand your time and effort to really appreciate it, and to decode it to enjoy it with use of your senses and mind and to see the way the Light Leave Us All.

                   


Here is whole album on bandcamp. enjoy and remember That Light Is Leaving Us All!!