Henri Rousseau never went to the Jungle. He spent all his days in Paris and surrounds, meticulously painting images of nature that were anything but ‘natural’. He copied his designs from botanical gardens, zoo pamphlets, and children’s books, depicting animals that would never be seen in the same environment. Once he even painted a hand of bananas growing upside down. His paintings are naive, flat and disjointed.

This playlist is a musical equivalent to Rousseau paintings – “Jungle” music made by westerners. Electronic emulation of african sounds, drum machines instead of djembé. Starts off mellow before moving into more disjointed territory.

01. Joel Vandroogenbroeck – Kinderspiel
(Digital Project, 1989)
02. Brian Briggs – Aeo pts. 1&2
(Brian Damage, 1980)
03. Haruomi Hosono – Honey Moon
(Tropical Dandy, 1975)
04. Ralf Nowy – Holidays in Kenia
(Colours of Holidays, 1987)
05. Eric Vann – Random Pizz
(Bass Moods, 1987?)
06. No Zu – Tattooed Head (short)
(Tattooed Head, 2011)
07. Zazou, Bikaye + Cy1 - M’Pasi Ya M’Pamba
(Noir Et Blanc, 1983)
08. John Tender - Flowers from Fantasyland 1
(Fantasyland Vol.1, 1981)

image: detail of The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope, 1905

There are many blossoms of great beauty – many indeed. But they cannot compare with the beauty of the blossoms of blossom town, for these bossoms also have human feelings. – Sharebon. Books of Wits and Fashion. (Early Japanese Literature: An Anthology 1600-1900)

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“Saturn Strobe. Recent Minimalist Extract. Moka’s Birthday.”

01. Goldmund - Gifts
The Malady Of Elegance (Type, 2008)
02. Brian Eno – Panic of Looking
Panic of Looking (Warp Records, 2011)
03. Hauschka - Mount Hood
Foreign Landscapes (Fat Cat, 2010)
04. Pantha du Prince – Saturn Strobe
This Bliss (Dial, 2007)
05. Helios - Convivium
Unleft (Unseen Music/Forced Exposure, 2010)
06. So Percussion – Aluminum
Treasure State (Cantaloupe, 2010)
07. Boxcutter - Panama
The Dissolve (Planet Mu, 2011)

Note: Everybody says Happy Birthday to Moka. (I am late again. But I think she will just grin this time.) I don’t have many albums in my head this year, so this one is not the usual edgy pop. Instead it’s a minimalism pushed all the way near pop sensibility. An old project, how to make less common music more accessible. Basically, it’s a pop music for 2 am. in the middle of cold winter. A little cold, somewhat alone, with a tinge of warm love. Imagine having a penthouse in Finland somewhere. 30th floor with a view of city and endless field of snow on the background. Late night. Put on a good headphone and watch the night float away… I’ve been watching a lot of japanese movie, this is my impression of minimalist mood and narrative links between songs. I think at least it’s functional and doesn’t wake up the neighbor.

Image: harold.lloyd

Photo: Charles Bergquist

In summer we go to lie together beside the wather all of the things of the city mean half as much when we finally take them inside
ourseleves.
The slow water lapping the sun on our skin and the shadows we cast echo fr ages dogs also happy lying like this huddled together
on the beach in and out of sleep with ancientness hovering over like a protecting hand. [1]

• Daniel Melero – Descansa en mis brazos
  Rocio (1996)
• Star You Star Me – A Place In My Heart
  Simple Things (Force Tracks, 2006)
• Benjamin Diamond -The Rain
  Strange Attitude (Diamond Traxx, 2000)
• Everything But The Girl -Five Fathoms
  Temperamental (1999)
• Husky Rescue -Sweet Little Kitten
  Country Falls (Castkills Records, 2004)

When we are sleeping, aeroplanes carry memories of the horrors we have given
our silent consent to into the night sky of our cities and leave them there to gather
like clouds and condense into our dreams before morning. [2]

There is no changing of the seasons, in the electric city and no real darkness.
The street is iluminated all night with orange light and the concrete is like a carpet.
We have dreamed the street as a room and it has become true
There is no indoors or outdoors anymore. [3]

Let’s get drop out the funky beats of the last playlist.  Keep on the way to bed time, without losing pace.
Enjoy!

Photo: Richard Misrach

“When I think that I’m over you,  I’m overpowered”

• Tracey Thorn – It’s All True
  It’s All True (2007)
• Lacquer – Behind
  Behind (2003)
• Robyn – With Every Heartbeat (Feat. Kleerup)
  With Everyheartbeat (Konichiwa, 2007)
• Róisín Murphy- Overpowered
  Overpowered (2007)
• Bot’Ox – Blue Steel
  Babylon By Car (I’m A Cliché, 2009)

Behind this playlist isn’t there a mood, an “idea”, a moment, etc…Just the intention to share to you, what sounds on my ipod this summer.
Enjoy it.

1. Gary Wilson – I wanna take you on a sea cruise
(This Is Why I Wear My Wedding Gown 7″, 1983)
2. Solid Space - The Guests
(Space Museum – Cassette – 1982)
3. Asmus Tietchens – Trümmerköpfe
(Biotop, 1981)
4. Deerhoof – Almost Everyone, Almost Always
(Deerhoof vs. Evil, 2010)
5. Jeff Phelps – On The Corner
(Magnetic Eyes, 1985)
6. Tom Noble – Music Engine
(In Liger Vision, 2010)
7. Arthur Russell – Hop On Down
(Calling out of Context, comp, 2004)

I’ve been collecting lately – drum machines, tape delays, reverb units, anything that sounds like its from another place, decade, or planet. My record purchases have reflected this too – lots of 80s experiments, home recordings, private presses and the like. This is a succinct selection of  tracks which border on being not-quite-right. Lively drums, silly effects and a DIY attitude. Most of these tracks are from the early to mid 80s (with the exceptions following a similar aesthetic).

I’ve dropped off the posting wagon… but i will be clawing my way back on over the coming months… Many records to share.