Nice job removing my F The President bumper sticker in the past few days. I'm glad that you feel that you are the arbiter of what is appropriate political speech.
Why didn't you remove the No W from my car as well? Was that too difficult for you to comprehend?
It was the last day of Duck Hunting for the season. And boy let me tell they were flying in like missles. There are many stories and I'm sure my good old friend at FlaDuckDays will post some of the stories, so check out his site. Well thats all for this sunday. I want to be outside so bad but i'm sick as a dog....lets hope these are not my last days...
It's going to be a busy few weeks for me at work. I'm on the road a lot right now. My travel schedule between now and mid-March looks something like this:
ATL - SAT - ATL (5 days)
ATL - CLT - ATL (4 days)
ATL - SEA - ATL (3 days)
ATL - BOS - ATL (5 days)
ATL - GRU - ATL (11 days)
You too can play the airport code game! (Yup, I stole this idea from my coworker Nick.)
Thankfully after my 2 week trip to Brazil (hey, its a clue!) I'll be home for a while. This should also get my Skymiles balance high enough for that ticket to Amsterdam with my buddy Damon later this year!
Audio
MYKAL ROSE - Let Your Love (from Congo's & Friends, Fisherman Style) (Blood & Fire)
GENERAL ECHO - Rapping Dub Style (Soul Jazz)
SAMARA LUBELSKI - Sister Silver (The Social Registry)
HELIOS - Paper Tiger (Type)
GULTSKRA ARTIKLER - Siluet Kotlet (Lampse)
SIXTOO - Songs from Next : A Primer on Urban Painting (Bully)
CEEPHAX - Hardcore Wick (First Cask)
BILL CARROTHERS - Dixie (Illusions)
DICTAPHONE - Rising (City Centre Offices)
MILES DAVIS - Directions, Live at the Cellar Door, San Francisco, Friday 18 December 1970 (Song Legacy)
EDDIE MARCON - Amime (Preservation)
WOODEN WAND AND THE VANISHING VOICE - Dread Effigy (5 Rue Christine)
RAMESES III - The Tidal Draw (Digitalis)
FANTOMAS - Animali In Calore Surriscaldati Con Ipertermia Genitale (UnHip)
RYOJI IKEDA - Data.Microhelix (Raster-Noton)
MS JOHN SODA - A Nod On Hold (Morr Music)
HALMA - Slumberland (Sunday Service)
SICKOAKES - Taking The Stairs Instead Of The Elevator (Type)
3/4 HAD BEEN ELIMINATED - Monkey Talk (Hapna)
THIS HEAT - Horizontal Hold (This Is!)
I found out today that I got into the Meet me Downtown Festival, in Boco Raton. Suppose to be a really good one. Its been going on for 24 years, so thats a plus. This will be my second art festival. I was in Volo's Mayfair by the Lake last May. I plan on doing a lot more this coming year. I will keep you posted on the progress leading up to the show. I have a lot of work to do with my display and new Poloraids that I intend to frame. I only wish I owned a frame shop......
On the photo: I'm sure a lot of you have seen images like this one, but since I have been on this nature posting kick I thought I would post this one. It was taken in Alabama, the last time I got to hang with my good friend Patrick Brown(ShadowDetails.com).
Funny Title for this one! These three pictures where taken in the Green Swamp. I used a 105 Macro. I never use a tripod when it comes to my macro work. I think you can explore more angles without it. And also when your "Swamping" you need to travel lite.
News: I want to give a shout out to andy montgomery. He has been blogging since the beginning of time. He took some time off and now he's back with some new "ramblings" so check out his site. Also, yes Andy I still own you some artwork. I'm going to start framing in Feburary so keep your eyes out for the package. Its only been a couple of months since you put your order in!!!!!
1/200 sec @ F8. This hawk let me get pretty close before flying away. As you can see I'm keeping with the nature theme. FEB, will be all Poloraids, if you know of any good blogs just with Poloraids. Drop me the address. I'm having a little trouble finding sites. Well, if I make it through this week...life will be a cake walk until March 4th & 5th. Thats when the Boca Art Festival is. Lets pray I get in.
Audio
Lightning Bolt - Captain Cavemen - (HyperMagic Mountain) cdr
The Books - Vogt dig for Kloppernok - Tomlab
Jan Jelinek - Lithiummelodie1 - Scape
John Cale - Gravel Drive - EMI
Gricer - Trumpet - Taut Recordings
Guido Mobius - Schleswig - Dekorder
Electralane - I keep losing heart - Too Pure
Zook - Bongitude - Tummy Touch cdr
Steve Reid Ensemble - Lugano - Soul Jazz Records
Stereolab - Kyberneticka Babicka Pt.1 - Too Pure pure
Eraldo Bernocchi & Harold Budd - Fragments from the inside - Sub Rosa
Decoder Ring - More Than Scarlet - Bella
Trey Max - Deep Love (Interlude) - Best Kept Secret
DJ Olive - Bin Raider/Lila Dog - Best Kept Secret
Madtone - NC-ND - Blossoms Kitchen Records
10 ft Ganja Plant - Burning James - E2 Recordings
Dean Fraser and Vin Gordon - Lions Horn Vut - M Records - M Rec
Michael Rose - Dub Glitter - M Records - M Rec
Brenda Ray - Keep on Rollin - Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove
Not Seensibles - I've Just had enough Brother - Nelcol
Billy Pikkel - Prelude in D - Eli Records eli
The Beatles - Don't Pass Me by - Apple
Akira the Don - Clones -Something in Construction
L.Pierre - Notes - Melodic
Shychild - The Noise Won't Stop - Good and Evil
7:00am @ Crooked Lake Only one more week of duck hunting left. We have spent a lot of time on this lake the past three weekends. Its one of those lakes where everytime you step in the water you learn something new. This lake has taught me many lessons but the main one is: patience. It seems like day by day our world is losing patience with one another. We tend to forget that most things will work themselves out with or without our help, patience....grasshopper..........patience
This was taken in the Green Swamp located in Polk County. Its Florida's second largest wet-lands. I bet you can't guess the first? I use to love to take hikes in the Green Swamp. Make my own trail and stay out there for hours upon hours. I think I might start doing that again....
Not much to say, memoirs where made, lives were saved and when the #$%@ weatherman says 25mph winds..........he means 45....what a jerk.
Audio
Special Guest - Snowboy
Average White Band - McEwan's Export - Rhino
Alice Russell - All Over Now - Tru Thoughts
Brass Construction - Got to be Love - Kay-Dee
M.F.O.S - El Padrino - Freestyle
Mary J Blige - Good Woman Down - Geffen
Yam who? Featuring Christian Fontana - Wrap You Up - Ubiquity
Logg - Something Else - Salsoul
Lono Brazil - Enfermo Del Amor- Cottage Groove
Defunkt - Thermonuclear - Ryko
RSL - Every Preston Guild - Ninja Tune
Dennis Mobley - Supersition - P&P Records
Fred Wesley - House Party - THe Original Selection
Anthony Hamilton - Sista Big Bones - Zomba
I am Soul - Supreme Records
Cassie - Just Friends - 12 Stones Entertainment
DJ Gensis feat. Elveria - Tonight - Subgroundz
Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers - For the Love of Money - Cannon Ball Records
Geardo Frisina - Latin Seeds - Schema
Andy, Snowboy and Pete
Photo by: Van Cannon Kirby. Thats me, we only got two ducks that day. More to come on this Friday the 13th....A shout out to my little sister.....HAPPPY BIRTHDAY....she is 14.
A Tribute to Jim Jarmusch. People got down on him after he put out Coffee and Cigarettes. It had its moments......I.E. Delirium.... Bill Murray with Gza and Rza. That one is to much to handle! "Yo your Bill Murray." I just saw his latest movie Broken Flowers. Wow what a movie. Jim jarmusch blew me away with Ghost Dog, this one sent me into outer space. It amazes me how little dialog he has in his films, but yet his characters are so developed. They convay so much emotion I guess words are not needed. Also I love the music he layers throughout his movies. There are only a few directors alive that use music like he does. He is probably the best.
A little snippet from a poem written by me two years ago today.
......Earth
dwelling inhabited by mortals of The Last Generation of HOPE
seeking a rightful maker in a sphere divided by two powers, controlling all
distinctive dwelling sprits on this entity of a place..called EARTH
Door Knob, what a funny word! What would we do with out them? Think about it. They are used a lot in our daily lives. Everytime you want to get some place, somewhere.....there is always a door knob... Do we control them or do they control us. Certain door knobs are always lock, some you have to push or pull, some don't use locks or keys. Will we be using door knobs 80 years from now? Naaaa it will be some light scanning your eye and pooof the door opens. The Door Knob.....we keep turning them to remain human.
click, click
another day is over.
How about that carpet? Man, you should see it. Its the highlight of my house! I want to say Happy Birthday to Karis. Her blog is: Cafe Cubano. Also, Patrick Brown, one of my best friends from Photograhpy school got his blog up and running. shadow details.com He is Kayaking through Mexico. We took trip through Mexico about two years ago. He posted those image leading up to the kayak trip. Has anyone been listening to Architecture In Helsinki? They're from Australia. Check them out if you have not already. They're music is really fun. It puts me in a good mood everytime I listen to it. Football season is over, my Bucs lost...looks like its time to start making art! In February I will post my art and if your into Poloraids make sure you come back to Visit
Audio
On The Wire Web Only Show
Nozomi Myanishi - Spring Yellow - International Music Series
Black Dog - D.O.G. Style - Science Recordings
Alpha 606 - Anarchy in China - Touchin' Bass
Hiroshi Watanabe - Quadra Sky -Klik Records
Ossie All Stars - Leggo Dub - Hot Pot
Glen Brown and Friends - Pantomine Rock - Hot Pot
Bembeya Jazz National - Armee Guineenne - Sterns'
Africa Orchestra Regional de Kayes - sanjina - Luka Bop
Brenda Ray - Rollin Down - Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove
Mary Ann Meets the Grave Diggers - Sailor Song - Transgressive
Busi Mhlongo and Twasa - Izinziswa - Manteca
Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe - Waiting Fir Cars - Timberland Recordings
Frightened Prisoners of the Kraken - Fly on the Wall - AAS
Red cars fo faster - Without Measure - Mediastorm
The Layne - I Don't Stand Down
Skelton Gun - In the Garden Grey
Echo Depth Finders - City of Dolls -
Phil Phillips - The Evil Dope - Beware
Initial Prayer - Whire Waters - Corrosive Growth Industries
The Eighteenth Day of May - Eighteen Days - Hannibal Records
Emir Kusturica and the NO Smoking Orcehstra - Upside Down - Warner
Jose Gonzalez - Hearts - Imperial Recordings
Do the Do - The beautiful new born children
Cornershop - What the Groove - Rough Trade
Alice Coltrane - A Love Supreme - Soul Jazz
LLOYD MCTAGGART
YOU’RE BACK
WACKIES VINYL 12
Rhythm & Sound’s championing of the Wackies has led to far most exposure, and probably sales, than the label received in its truly ‘underground’ early eighties heyday, would that a few more modern artists indulged in similar payback activity. So here we have one of Wackies' earliest and most obscure twelve inch releases by the little known Lloyd McTaggart. Featuring the Love Joys' on backing vocals and the persistent pinging of now vintage 70s synth percussion this recording comes from the same period as the altogether more serious the double sider combining the monumental Leroy Sibbles’ ‘The Time Is Now’ coupled with Stranger Cole’s ‘Revolution’, Bullwackies best single release. The lyric is typically flimsy so turn to the dub for the real interest here as the vocal side’s funky brass section is put through the mangle and the jazzy pumping sax sets up the horn to get flash over a rhythm that’s in a hurry to get somewhere fast.
SUGAR MINOTT
THE ROOTS LOVER 1978 – 1983
MOLL-SELEKTA CD/2LP
In this time of maximal access to reggae’s rich recorded legacy the name of Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott does not appear often enough in the revival releases schedules, for played a major role in the story of Jamaican music as a singer, songwriter, producer, label owner, sound system instigator and champion of youth talent. ‘The Roots Lover’ is a collection of some of the singer’s finest maxi singles with extended versions, only three tune here, ‘Leggo The Dread, ‘Superstar’ and ‘Three Wise Men’, were originally released as seven inch single A and B sides. The drum based ‘Rome Rome’, originally released as a twelve inch on the Black Roots label in 1980, demonstrates the incompatibility of Rasta beliefs with those of the Vatican. Elsewhere with similarly conscious concerns Sugar deals with afro-centrism on ‘Africa’, ‘African Girl’ (a phased version of ‘Shank I Sheck’) and ‘Careless Ethiopians’. There are two Black Roots productions featuring Yabby You and DJ Ranking Dread, the apocalyptic vision of the former’s ‘Thirty Pieces Of Silver’ originally appeared as the flip to Willie Williams’ ‘Come Make We Rally’ and the toaster’s ‘Superstar’ on Sugar’s ‘Hard Time Pressure’ rhythm. Also here is Sugar in his DJ incarnation as Papa Honey recording with Sister Ester in 1981 on the lovers’ tunes ‘Waiting for you Love’. All in all a prime selection of Sugar’s roots and lovers outings and an essential addition to his available catalogue.
LEE PERRY
DUBSTRUMENTALS
TROJAN 2CD
The direct follow-up to the Dub-Triptych set that attempted to trump Auralux’s exemplary retrieval of dub’s cornerstone, the mighty ‘Blackboard Jungle’, these two CDs pull together three albums of varying quality issued by Lee Perry in the mid 1970's. All three sets highlighted instrumental works with dub inflections and were only released in the UK in limited numbers so now the original vinyl copies are keenly sought in collectors markets, although there was a reissue of all the albums on a revivified Justice League label in 1997. In 1975 the UK’s DIP label release of ‘Kung-Fu Meets The Dragon’ had terrific sleeve art has Scratch as afro’d disciple delivering a sole kick to the big snakehead, certainly still worth searching out, but the music inside is still just as impressive with the Upsetter getting as near to a demented Morricone as he dare. Spongey, minimal dubs with wit, tension and a taut energy measured in equal amounts, more testament to the producer’s dub divinity, watch out for ‘Fungaa’ and the title track particularly. Although the ‘Return of Wax’ set attempts to stretch the idea in true exploitation style the same scam can’t be run twice. Luckily ‘Musical Bones’ save the day as Perry’s favourite boneman Vin Gordon aka Don Drummond Jnr. delivers a series of classy jazzed dubs.
BRENDA RAY
WALATTA
TAMOKI WAMBESI CD
The cover photo has Brenda in a pose between Pharoah Sanders’ ‘Thembi’ and Pablo’s ‘East of the River Nile’ with melodica pointed towards the water........ The album recorded ‘South of the River Mersey’ at Naffi Studios Universal, lair of Sir Freddie Viadukt aka the Minister of Noise. Its at this location that Tamoki Wambesi’s Roy ‘Royals’ Cousins has had his master tapes spiked up for reissue, so its only right that another occupant of the studio, Brenda Ray, becomes ‘Walatta’, Ethiopia for ‘first daughter and therefore first female artist on the label. Brenda has Liverpool music credentials going way back and her heart has always swayed between doo wop and dub. It is those influences that play out here in a mix of re-utilised rhythms and fresh beats. Old Tamkoki Wambesi stalwarts Prince Far I and Knowledge make sampled gust appearances contrasting with Brenda’s breathy Chordettes meets Julee Cruise vocals. Certainly to most unusual album to come out of Roy Cousins’ stable and maybe one that has a more legitimate claim to attention that last year’s ersatz roots affair from Sinead O’Connor.
THE ROYALS
1964 – 1981 SWEAT
TAMOKI WAMBESI CD
Roy Cousins has never been too retiring in his constant recycling of his back catalogue, usually built around the Royals signature song and a true reggae classic ‘Pick Up the Pieces’. Although this new collection might appear to be another attempt to air that immortal tune it’s more than that with material selected back from the group’s inception in 1964, covering ska, rocksteady and reggae through producers Clement Dodd, Duke Reid, Winston Edwards, Joe Gibbs and Lloyd ‘Matador’ Daley in addition to Cousin’s own later productions. With early and obscure rocksteady undergoing something of a revival of late this album hits the spot, especially with the sumptuous opener ‘We Are in the Mood’ cut for Treasure Isle and the roasting hot ‘Save Mama’ engineered by Andy Capp at Dynamics. But the original version of that anthem of positivity ‘Pick Up the Pieces’, overseen by Sylvan Morris at Studio One, turns out to be the equal of any Burning Spear track of the era and there’s a welcome bonus with the inclusion of the original version ‘Quarter Pound of Ishen’. The later rockers version is inevitably included from 1973, along with DJ takes from I Roy on ‘Monkey Fashion’ and Charlie Chaplin with ‘Tribute to Super Don’.
THE RUTS
BABYLON’S BURNING RECONSTRUCTED – DUB DRENCHED SOUNDSCAPES
COLLISION CD
I always quite liked ‘Babylon’s Burning’ interpreted as an edgy prediction from the perils of voting Tory, but like the revisiting of a loved one’s grave, the Ruts seem forever condemned to return to their finest moment back whenever it was. Not so much a one riddim album as a one lyric/one riff album, none of the remixers have a clue what’s happening before their contribution or after, and like some sonic Groundhog Day the jokes are replaced by a mounting desperation to escape and an aching desire for poor Malcolm Owen to be released from this humourless purgatory. Amongst the naively implicated are Rob Smith, Don Letts, Fundamental, Apollo 440, Dreadzone, Kid Loco, Groove Corp and Terminal Head. At least the nameless mastermind behind this hapless version hodgepodge senses the longing for relief the poor listener will be craving by the album’s close, hence the blissful calm of beatless closer by the nearly aptly named Savanarola.
SALMONELLA DUB
REMIXES AND RADIO CUTS
DUB CONSPIRACY CD/DVD
Sometimes New Zealand is portrayed as caught in a fifties time bubble, an idea that I have always found seductive. But maybe now the bubble has warped through to the eighties, for that’s what it’s like listening through to this collection of remixes and radio tracks from the island’s premier dub dance band. As the mixes come from Groove Corp, Dreadzone, Mad Professor, On U graduate David Harrow and Sherwood himself it should come as no surprise as perhaps it’s these artists’ vintage pedigrees that attract. Maybe the difference in ‘acceptability’ of these retro efforts depends on whether the music is created by the playing of instruments or largely by the manipulation of programmes, or perhaps more disturbingly the retro feel is accidental. The vocals also tend to become a minus factor, almost incidental or part of an unintentional ambience, embarrassingly worthy or naïve, devoid of wit, edge or wile, dumb.
THE SLACKERS
AN AFTERNOON IN DUB
ECHO BEACH CD
Don’t let this one pass you by, having been quietly released in summer last year this may have appealed exclusively to the coterie making up the band’s small fan base outside NYC. However this turns out to be perhaps the most cultured album of new dub of the last year, especially notable as this seven piece band are not a virtual studio outfit, but a living, breathing gigging machine. Taking the output from an after session jam (‘reggae sushi’) and a selection of their choicer previous material, the maturity borne of evolutions through punk, ska, swing, soul and reggae have resulted in an album of rare and distinct flavours. ‘Blues for Allan’ and ‘The Glide’ both decode the ‘Stalag’ bass genome, the former with splotched percussion and the latter dead-eye funk; ‘Uncle Pivo’ is one of those annoying rhythms you can quite figure (is it Studio One’s ‘Full Up’?) garnished with supine horns whilst ‘Dub for Schooling’ communes with the late Jackie Mittoo and ‘Make Me Smile Dub’ will send you searching for the vocal version.
WANG LEI
XIN
EXPRESSILLON CD
Sichuan born musician Wang Lei is now relocated to Guangzhou City, in China’s southern Guangdong Province, where he linked up with an ex-pat Swiss bassist and engineer to start China’s first working reggae band, in a jolly west coast festival stylee. As a solo musician of some pedigree Wang also managed to develop a Sinobeat hybrid that veers between gruff techno and a new strain of downbeat head-nodding electro noodlings, naively named dub ‘n bass, that proves a skank too far for the skills of most Chinese dancers. This album originally appeared in Beijing on a pre-release about a year ago since when, championed by ex-pat French promoters, Wang has toured France a couple of times, met up with HighTone and is on the point of releasing a collaboration with the Lyonnaise nudub rockers – Wangtone! Lots of sampling of local ambience, instrumentation etc. in here, enough to tick the exotica box anyway, but it’s a case of buyer beware as the leap from old-fashioned techno in the industrial beat sense to dubbing it up maybe too big a leap. Maybe the confrontation with the ruffer end of nu roots in HighTone will be enough to reveal the true nature of bass to this expeditionary from the East.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
STUDIO ONE WOMEN
SOUL JAZZ CD/2LP
Heartbeat had the same idea about five years ago with ‘Keep on Jumping’ but as they say in reggae: ‘if it’s nice – do it twice!’, and there turns out to be only one duplication in Jennifer Lara’s ‘Consider Me’. In comparison perhaps the Heartbeat set was a little rootsier than this new addition to the exemplary Soul Jazz Studio One series, which draws clear parallels between the soul queens of American r’n’b and their generally more uptempo, and therefore upful, Jamaican cousins. As per usual this is fairly pleasant listening for say, car radio or kitchen, but whack this up in the dance or to anny the neighbours and the sound becomes monstrous. Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley are featured with their first group The Soulettes and the rumbunctious ‘Deh Pon Deh’, Alton’s sister, Hortense Ellis, answer’s her brother’s smash hit ‘I’m Just a Guy’ with ‘I’m Just a Girl’, there’s four tunes from the sorely missed Jennifer Lara, plus the discovery of a rare groove pearl in Jerry Jones’ ‘There’s a Chance for Me’.
The whole HOUSE series has about 9 images in it. I used these images in a book of poems that I made last year. The title of the book is; A Flawless Chime of Romance and Reality. I'm not so sure I will post the poems but I might. I think I"m the ONLY one reading this Blog anyway so it might not matter.
News: I just took up duck hunting this year. I have only been twice and I have to say its some kind of fun. If you have never been find a way to go. We are going again on Saturday. I will have some pictures posted on myspace if you want to check them out. Other than that I have no news to report. I have to throw out a prayer for the Buccaneers. They play Washington this Saturday and I hope they come away with a W.
