Drone Logic

 

In 2013 Daniel Avery released his debut album Drone Logic. I have to admit that techno wasn't the road I usually walked and I've always been suspicious when a new album is praised to the skies. Of course I knew something about electronic music (especially from the Café del Mar compilations from the mid 90') but this song blew me away. A decidedly sober acid jam and so incredibly attractive precisely because of the restraint it displays. I can say that this record opened my ears for a lot of other electronic music that I could develop during the following years.

Feats Don't Fail Me Now

 

In August 1974 Little Feat released their fourth album Feats Don't Fail Me Now. It wasn't their best one but I still remember the day when I bought it. From 1979, I had to do my military service for 15 months. One day when I was at home for weekend the news arrived that one of the oldest discotheques in our town will close down and they will sell all of them records. The location was more a pub than a discotheque were me and a friend often went to because they didn't mind to sell beer to teenagers like us and they had a turntable where they played music. This place was heavily frequented by American soldiers and late hippies and we were introduced to psychedelic rock, funk and soul. It was the first time I listened to James Brown, Marvin Gaye and The Temptations on the one side and to Little Feat and comparable bands. The pub had a bad reputation because it was known as a marijuana distribution centre. And so I experienced more than one raid by the American military police. Nevertheless, it was a meeting place for us youngsters and I have seen older friends taking pictures, chairs and glasses as souvenirs with tears in their eyes on the last day. Amongst other albums, I was also able to purchase the Little Feat album, which I still enjoy listening to today, along with sentimental feelings.

Little Feat - Feats Don't Fail Me Now

Little Feat - Skin It Back

Little Feat - Spanish Moon

Little Feat - Oh Atlanta

Monday's Long Song

 

Our house has been covered in scaffolding for a few weeks now, as the façade and the wooden window frames need to be replaced. I admire the guys who have to do this hard physical labour in temperatures of well over 30 degrees Celsius. To make it easier for them, they listen to music from a portable player while they work. I would have expected to have to listen to a lot of mainstream music and was surprised to hear harder sounds from the scaffolding. As well as Pavement, they also played a song by TRAAMS, an indie rock band from West Sussex, active since more than ten years. Their musical influences reach from early Television to the motorik beats of Kraftwerk. A House On Fire is a nearly nine minutes tour de force of highstrung beat, pounding bass and simple guitar riffs that takes a leading guitar to excursions and feedbacks.

TRAAMS - A House On Fire

New Song On Sunday

 

Today's song is an appetizer from the new upcoming album by Bristol's Porridge Radio a band that is active since ten years. During the years they got lots of critical acclaim and were often named as a band you have to look for. To be honest, I know several songs by them and none of them is worse but I forgot them after listening to. Porridge Radio are also named as a good live band and yes, after watching this video, recorded at Centre Pompidou, Paris earlier this year I have to admit. Of course it is another song about overcoming heartache but the way Dana Margolin shouts out her frustration is impressive and worth to be featured at this place.

Gramercy Riffs

 

I started typing some words about the release of Dirt Bogarde's debut album when I realized that our friend Adam reviewed Love, Sweat and Beers already. He exactly described the music of Dirt Bogarde and probably better than I can. There is nothing more to add that this album is a highlight in electronic music this year and more than worth to give him a listen.

Ride A Cloud

 

Since The Woodentops released their latest album Fruits Of The Deep I listened a lot to this. I have to admit that I was a huge fan to them since I first saw them live in the mid 80's because their music was so different to many others in this era. During the last years Rolo McGinty only released several songs or reworked others. All these releases are stamped by massive Balearic beats and mood. A few days ago I discovered Ride A Cloud a song from last year remixed by Nottingham's DJ/producer Coyote. Another example for McGinty's ability of writing fantastic songs. A superb song with reduced rhythm, an acoustic guitar and a flow that could take you to a faraway beach somewhere.

 

Thomas Fehlmann

 

This Monday Khayem over at the excellent Dubhed posted a video by the Orb. There was a short appearance by Thomas Fehlmann on the decks. Watching this I thought it is necessary to look back at his career. Fehlmann is a 1957 born Swiws composer/producer and lived in the early 80's in Hamburg studying arts. He was there when in 1981 in Germany post-punk turned into new wave (not that stupid, horrible but mass-compatible NDW) and was founding member of Palais Schaumburg and overlooked new wave band. They were one of the first experimentalize with electronics, drum computers and funk to create a new kind of genre. At least they were a kind of prototype of the upcoming electronic dance-floor scene. This songs might sound strange and weird but listening several times you might see how many ideas Thomas Fehlmann and Holger Hiller (the other head of PS) included in this sound.

After two years the band was history and they disbanded because they couldn't commit on a way, every member could agree with. Fehlmann moved to Berlin and soon became a permanent fixture in the burgeoning club culture. Not least because he was part of the line-up of British rave pioneers The Orb from 1990 after meeting Alex Paterson. In 2007 he released Honigpumpe, for me his masterpiece. One of those records you can dive in and get lost in it. A journey into electronic sounds where Fehlmann leads us with his magic fingers on the rulers into another musical spheres. In the best times you can imagine that a DJ switch later in the evening playing Schaum in a club of your choice.