DJ Screw (ca. 1999)
This dude has inspired me in every way this year. I’m stoked to see how much his sound has gone on to influence more and more music (especially within these last couple of years). Absolutely one of the leading heads in hip-hop history.
My man passed 11 years ago today. I JUST WANNA SAY R.I.P SCREW
WE MISS YOU CUZ
-Chris
Laurie Spiegel (ca. 1977)
Maybe I’m the only one who thinks this shit is sexy? Laurie was a self-taught lute and banjo player before seeing her first synth (a Buchla 100) in the recording studio of a friend. In the early 70s, while beginning her work on computer programming with Bell Labs, she also made her living teaching and composing film scores.
As she went on to more develop her skills at Bell, Spiegel discovered her own way to create lush, atmospheric compositions (inspired by her experience with folk instruments) from her analog synths using all the same complex mathematical algorithms she’d learned from programming. This woman was far ahead of her time. If you take any more interest in her music, I’d encourage you to read more into her story (and obviously check her output as well). Fantastic stuff.
-Chris
The Durutti Column (ca. 1981)
I really wish the volume on this one weren’t so low. I used to have an older version of this blog and had posted this once before, but this beautiful weather kinda put me back in the mood. This is a really dope performance of “Sketch For Dawn,” though I’m not sure where or what this was performed for. Pretty tight nonetheless.
-Chris
Klaus Nomi (ca. 1978)
“Toward the end of the show, the lights dimmed and the room was filled with a thundering musical ovation. The curtains opened and the spotlight fell on a strange, unearthly presence wearing a black gown, clear plastic cape, and white gloves. As the orchestral refrain from Saint-Saens’ ‘Samson And Delila’ was played, this strange Weimar version of Mickey Mouse began singing in an angelic voice. “I still get goose pimples when I think about it,” remembers Joey Arias, who was in the audience that night. “Everyone became completely quite until it was over.”
Steven Hager, Art After Midnight: The East Village Scene1986 St. Martin’s Press, excerpts
I don’t know that I can describe it any better than that. Klaus Nomi rules.
-Chris
Yellowman, Massive Dread, Billy Boyo, Eek A Mouse (ca. 1983)
THIS IS SO GOD DAMN NASTY
So many legends on this one lil clip. This is a short excerpt from a Jools Holland feature on Jamaican dancehall and soundsystem culture. I’M LOSIN MY FUCKIN MIND ON THIS ONE YALL
-Chris
Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux (ca. 198?)
Holy shit. More info on this tomorrow. It’s late and I can’t even get into putting in any research on this shit right now. This fucking rules though.
-Chris
De La Soul (ca. 1989)
An old press kit from the group released some time after the release of 3 Feet High and Rising. Featuring cameos from DJ Red Alert, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, and DMC at the album release party towards the end.
It’s so tight seeing these dudes at such a young age absolutely killing it and impressing some of the legends from back then. I’ve always respected the fact that Prince Paul and Mase pulled so many doo-wop and early soul samples from DEEP in the crates. Yet another little nugget of music history for y’all to enjoy.
-Chris
The Fall (ca. 1981)
One of two in-studio recordings from the otherwise live Totale’s Turns LP, this performance of “That Man” was recorded live at Leeds University. This is probably the poppiest Fall song recorded, but it’s tight, so whatever. Rumor has it if you play the record backwards you can hear Mark Smith’s dreams.
-Chris
