motel de moka

In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?

- Obama

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” Rocking You All The Way to The Future. pt.1 ”

01. Clothesline Revival - Wade in The Water
Of My Native Land (Paleo Music, 2002)
02. Betty Davis - Game Is My Middle Name
Betty Davis (Light in the Attic, 1973)
03. The Legendary Shack Shakers - Shake Your Hips
Cockadoodledon’t (Bloodshot Records, 2003)
04. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Sugar ‘n Spikes
Trout Mask Replica (1969)
05. The Jesus Lizard - Thumbscrews
Shot (1996)
06. John Lee Hooker - Stop Jivin’ Me
Face To Face (Eagle Records, 2003)
07. R.L. Burnside - Hard Time Killing Floor
Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down (Fat Possum, 2000)

Note: A charged list, something more than usual MdM post. It’s part of MdM’s musical soul. Tomorrow is a big day for everybody on the ground fighting for better future. Tho’ not a downtempo and somewhat unstable as a list, the blues center drives and urges. Root. This is the type of music that MdM is attracted to. I suppose you can see this as a way to lend a hand and a shout out to everybody on the ground. Those who are fighting for better future. Shake it baby. Why him? There are general [1] and specifics [1, 2] issues that are important to MdM’s continuing operation of course. But more importantly, his promise is backed by words and action that others have yet to convincingly persuade (war, talking to regular folks, money in politics, social justice, etc) So I suppose all these are good for everybody.

k. have fun out there. another list coming soon (downtempo next.)

image: Anthony Baker

I’m high and I’m happy and I’m free
I got my whole heart
Laid out right in front of me
- Devendra Banhart , Seahorse

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“Almost Elegant No.4c - 2007”

02. Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place
In Rainbows (2007)
03. Andrew Bird - Imitosis (Four Tet remix)
(Remix floating on the net, 2007)
04. Sixtoo - Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man Part 9
Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man (2007)
05. Iron & Wine - Peace Beneath the City
The Shepherd’s Dog (Sub Pop, 2007)
06. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Nobody’s Baby
100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone, 2007)
07. Johnny Osbourne with Bunny Brown - Love Makes The World Go Round
Summer Records Anthology 1974-88 (Light In The Attic Records, 2007)
08. Photek - Ni Ten Ichi Ryu (TeeBee Remix)
Form & Function Vol 2 (Sanctuary Trojan Us, 2007)
09. Dalek - Corrupt (knuckle up)
Abandoned Language (Ipecac Recordings, 2007)
10. Maserati - Synchronicity IV
Inventions For The New Season (Temporary Residence, 2007)
11. Castanets - And the Swimming
In The Vines (Asthmatic Kitty, 2007)
12. Two Gallants - Despite What You’ve Been Told
Two Gallants (Saddle Creek, 2007)

Moka has done her list. So what is 2007? I can’t really say. Unlike last year when I was sure what 2006 sound will be remembered for, 2007 has certain melancholic quality to it, sort of uncertain angst out of freedom where each blogs exert independent sounds. So I put that idea into the list along with little sounds and experiments I tried this year. (minimalist/sparse, small room listening, DnB within other genres, postrock) And of course MdM standart (downtempo, psychedelia, folks, folktronica). There are a lot more sound in the list. But overall the basic sound doesn’t seem to change much for this series.

Maybe I should leave this list with scariest modern quote of them all and use that for 2008:

“Man can will nothing unless he has first understood that he must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth.” -Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 1943)

see also: No.2b, No.3a-2006, Moka’s top 12 albums 2007.
image: only alice , ilmungo

Are you basically a jazz band? No, I mean we don’t really look at it like that. It’s more feeling with sounds, playing with sounds. We love jazz music and all of us have a background that involves jazz. We just take normal sounds and freak them out. - Tortoise Interview [1]

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Various postrock albums list. I start with canonical albums first.

notes: Experimental music is any music that challenges the commonly accepted notions of what music is. There is an overlap with avant-garde music. John Cage was a pioneer in experimental music and defined and gave credibility to the form. As with other edge forms that push the limits of a particular form of expression, there is little agreement as to the boundaries of experimental music, even amongst its practitioners. On the one hand, some experimental music is an extension of traditional music, adding unconventional instruments, modifications to instruments, noises, and other novelties to orchestral compositions. At the other extreme, there are performances that most listeners would not characterize as music at all.

The term post-rock was coined by Simon Reynolds in issue 123 of The Wire (May 1994) to describe a sort of music “using rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and powerchords.”

Originally used to describe the music of such bands as Stereolab, Disco Inferno, Seefeel, Bark Psychosis and Pram, it spread out to be frequently used for all sorts of jazz- and Krautrock-influenced, instrumental, electronica-added music made after 1994. Bands from the early 1990s such as Slint, or earlier, such as Talk Talk were influential on this genre. As with many musical genres, the term is arguably inadequate: it is used for the music of Tortoise as well as that of Mogwai, two bands who have very little in common besides the fact that their music is largely instrumental. [from progarchive]

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Talk Talk - Ascension Day
Laughing Stock (Umgd, 1991)
Although not considered post-rock, jazz/krautrock groups in the early nineties is the progenitor of post-rock sound, originator of many post-rock project in term of structure and texture. Talk Talk maybe one of the more representative. The postrock sound and feel are scattered all over their work. Another favorite example is ‘Future Days‘, an album by Can.

Slint - Washer
Spiderland (Touch & Go Records, 1991)
Probably the most influential postrock album, credited for introducing the form, earning Steve Albini’s rave. “Spiderland is a majestic album, sublime and strange, made more brilliant by its simplicity and quiet grace. Songs evolve and expand from simple statements that are inverted and truncated in a manner that seems spontaneous, but is so pricise and emphatic that it must be intuitive or orchestrated or both.” [2] [wiki]

Labradford - G
Mi Media Naranja (Kranky, 1997)
Is this the minimalist sound that Brian Eno is chasing? Hard to tell, this band from Richmond release several albums in the late 90’s in almost pure texture. An ambitious project for an era filled with hardrock/grunge scene. The significance of this band probably is as a raw material for Matmos, that visionary electro avant-garde duo. [more at brainwashed]

Tortoise - TNT
TNT (Thrill Jockey, 1998)
The album that probably most recognized as postrock sound. With background structure of minimalist avant-garde and jazz, Tortoise created scattered rock riff on top of big guitar texture with complex drum on the background. It is neither jazz, nor prog-rock. Too loud for experimental electro ambient and doesn’t have popular hook for radio. The use of computer is certainly consider sacrilege by many rock purist. And yet this album is the official ambient soundtrack for rock nerd of the world. [more at wiki]

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - The Dead Flag Blues
f#a# (infinity symbol) (Kranky, 1998)
This band spans the entire golden age of postrock sound. Started in 1994 and announcing indefinite hiatus in 2003, Montreal’s Goodpseed is famous for ambitiously large sound. For eg. their two discs “Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven” album are filled with viola, violin, and of course “words” the one that makes them different. They were detained in Oklahoma after a gas station attendant suspect them as radicals. There is a sign of time for you. [wiki]

Explosions In the Sky - Yasmin the Light
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever (Temporary Residence, 2001)
The Goodspeed Texas counterpart. This album was release in September 2001. Cinematic, clean, punctuated with large wave of electric storm, it is a requiem for postrock hope. That there is larger experiment in sound which can enlighten. It is a morality play in 6 minutes rock piece. Explosion in the sky probably has the most public friendly sound between the cannonical list due to their strick bass, guitar, drum sound. [wiki]

The Mercury Program - Egypt
Data Learn Language (Tiger Style, 2002)
A highly underrated group from Gainesville Florida with unusual instrument: xylophone. I like their balance composition, a cross road between various styles punctuated by a reminder that their work is rock. This track probably sums up my idea of what elegant music is about. Undefined, minimalist, well executed, texture and balance. [wiki]

see also: The Wire

image: Emmr

“Retro ‘60”

01. Moby Grape - Sitting By The Window
Moby Grape (Sundazed Music Inc, 1967)
02. The Hollies - Elevated Observations?
Butterfly (1967)
03. Bert Jansch - The Bright New Year
Birthday Blues (Castle Music UK, 1969)
04. Chuck Berry - Havana Moon (wiki)
The Definitive Collection (Chess, 2006)
05. Bo Diddley - You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover (wiki)
Bo Diddley (Checker, 1962)
06. Flat Earth Society - The Lost - incidental music to “Space Kids”
Waleeco (1968)

note: This is a follow up for ‘The Future Shine‘ list. That music influence, albeit has origin, is not as easy to track. The late 60’s was the time when British folks influence entered rock and altered the shape of basic rockabilly [1]. Lyrics form and subject broadened and the use of acoustic was not just for simple solo sound. Chuck Berry even tries some latin form. And then there is Bo Diddley with his unconventional rock rhythm for his time, which makes his work timeless. And of course everybody was doing blues black or white, folks or rocker. It was part of menu that everybody had to do. Rock suddenly was more than Elvis. That was the blend that enters psychedelia [2]. I am fro the school of mix and match. If it hasn’t been tried before, time to blend and stretch it. Make it rock.

see also: Autumn #3, #6
image: splityarn

… I’ve always liked the parts where the music stops and drifts along - you get some ridiculous string orchestra, then it just slips a bit, the pitch goes or they slow it down or something. Then the drums come back - it’s completely meaningless! I like that… What is a pain and can sometimes dilute it is the repetitive - looped or sampled - vocals…

The funny thing is, I’ve never heard a jungle record, all I’ve heard has been off the radio - the only piece of recorded jungle I’ve heard is by Ninj! It obviously operates at a different level… - Derek Bailey, interview

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“Non Metronomic. IMS no.1”

01. Harold Budd & Brian Eno - The Chill Air
Ambient 2: The Plateaux Of Mir (Astralwerks, 1980)
02. Tortoise - Reference resistance gate (web)
Remixed, 1996 (Thrill Jockey 1998)
03. Rachel’s & Matmos - The Precise Temperature Of Darkness
Full On Night (Touch and Go Rec., 2000)
04. Martin Leclerc - Sauf dans la brume (iConcert 9)
(iConcert 9 / Saison 2 (2006-07), 2005)
05. Bjork/JC Lemay - Hidden Place (web)
(Vespertine triphop remix by JC Lemay, 2001)
06. Arovane-Phonem - valid fard
AER (valid) (Vertical Form (UK), 2002)
07. Skolopender - Sondert Kokkomundur
(Teaterarasjens Kompressor compilation)
08. Harold Budd & Brian Eno - The Pearl
The Pearl (Editions Eg Records, 1984)
09. Derek Bailey - Concrete (cement-mix)
Guitar, drums ‘n’ bass (Avant, 1997)
10. Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
The Last Set At Newport (1972)

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Note: A late night DnB list. Originally this was about a blog post [@pandagon], what is music appreciation and being a music snob in general. And I thought I should make the snottiest list possible for a chuckle. Believe me I tried to build DnB + experimental rock, but it wasn’t listenable as a list. I don’t have enough interesting one and the sound ended up a complete scatter brain. So I made this DnB list instead. This list is amusing and more listenable, if only because of all the tracks are from great albums. The basic idea: this list is beat pattern drill. After one doze of beat, a short rest, then another beat pattern followed by negative pattern (dark ambient), repeat. I end up listening to this list the whole nite. It’s fun. Must have in the list: Rachel’s & Matmos (I think it’s their only collaboration. excellent mix of acoustic and electronica). Tortoise (out of their compilation albums, remix by Jim O’rourke) and Derek Bailey doing DnB in his very memorable album ‘Guitar, drums ‘n’ bass‘ . There is also an experimental modern classic by Martin Leclerc , which has crazy sound landscape. Don’t worry, there are several “melodical tracks” that can be downloaded separately if you are not into DnB (Harold Budd, Dave Bruebeck).

But embrace the future, for it is endless permutation of hyper-active beat and twisted electronic sound.

see also: Brian Eno, Derek Bailey

image: Brice Marden. (American, born 1938). Annunciation Study I. 1978. Graphite and wax on paper, 22 1/8 x 29 5/8″ (56.8 x 75.2 cm), jbushnell, fatman, 2

“The tricky thing is the arrangement, the trimming of all the unnecessary fat. Do you stop, or do you continue; or is this too crazy, or is this fun?,” says Stanier, “Those are all afterthoughts after everything is thrown into the pot. We have these giant charts on the wall where we name the parts, and they take on a life of their own.” - Battles, interview.

” Summer ‘07, best of ”

01. Venetian Snares - Electric Funeral
Black Sabbath 10″ (Planet Mu, 2007)
02. Fridge - Clocks
The Sun (Temporary Resident, 2007)
03. Shellac Of North America - Boycott
Excellent Italian Greyhound (Touch and Go, 2007)
04. Battles - Leyendecker
Mirrored (Warp Records, 2007)
05. The Nels Cline Singers - Confection
Draw Breath (Cryptogramaphone, 2007)
06. Kieran Hebden And Steve Reid - Brain
Tongues (Domino, 2007)
07. The Tuss - Last Rushup 10
Rushup Edge (Rephlex, 2007)
08. Trolle Siebenhaar - Sweet Dogs
Sweet Dogs (2006)

Note: Best of ‘07 so far? I have no idea, but these songs are truely superb. They can’t possibly exist even 5 years ago. There are simply too many new ideas and instruments. Mostly IDM, math-rock and collisions of the two, there be no cute singing in it. No 60’s retro rock, no metal from the 70’s or danceable house. This is pure rhythm construction build like a a phd thesis on fluid dynamics modeling. (ie. it’s not pretty.) Please, the time signiture has to have at least an odd number bigger than 7 in it. The people’s metric! On serious side: you think this is the shape of music to come? Come on they are quite delicious and charming. Almost danceable even.

image: gas flow model [1]

We only danced for a minute or two
But then she stuck close to me the whole night through
Can I be fallin’ in love
She’s everything I’ve been dreamin’ of

I walked her home and she held my hand
I knew it couldn’t be just a one-night stand
So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
(I asked to see her and she told me I could)
Somethin’ tells me I’m into something good
- Herman’s Hermits (lyrics)

“Innocence & Despair”

01. Langley Schools Music Project - I’m Into Something Good
Innocence & Despair (Bar/None Records, 2001)
02. Michio Kurihara - The Wind’s Twelve Quarters (audiversity)
Sunset Notes (20/20/20, 2007)
03. Lauren k. Newman - Come In From the Rain (bf)
January 2005, 10 Songs (Greyday Productions, 2005)
04. The Jesus Lizard - Deaf as a Bat [Live]
Show [LIVE] (1994)
05. Pere Ubu - Ubu Dance Party
Dub Housing (Thirsty Ear, 1979)
06. 90 Day Men - Methodist
90 Day Men / Gogogoairheart split (Box Factory Records, 2001)
07. Bellini - The Switched Lovers (web)
Small Stones (Temporary Resident Limited, 2006)
08. Felix Mendelssohn - Venetianisches Gondellied (Song without Words for piano No. 6 in G minor Op. 19b/6)
Ignaz Friedman plays Beethoven, Chopin, Hummel, Mendelssohn, etc. (1999)

Note: Thinking about hardcore and its relationship to previous rock styles reminds me of this famous postscript by Eco “At this point, having avoided false innocence, having said clearly that it is no longer possible to speak innocently, he will nevertheless have said what he wanted to say to the woman: the ‘he loves her madly’, but he loves her in an age of lost innocence. If the woman goes along with this, she will have recieved a declaration of love all the same.” (Umberto Eco, Postscript to the Name of the Rose, 1984) In essense having abandoned traditional rock form in persue of speed, ever harder and harsher texture, thicker bass line and amplification, hardcore finds itself in mathrock form. So uncompromising yet felt restrained, expressive and raw but longing for rock n’ roll simpler balance to connect. So can it be put back again like before? I don’t think it is possible to regain innocence, only the memory of it. So here is small note/playlist hardcore in the spirit of romantic expressionist. Or maybe like 90 Days Men say “revolution does not happen on buffet table, you can’t pick and choose”

see also: I’m Into Something Good
image: “Punk Love I - Innocence” by djwudi , [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]